Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-02-25

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and the guard was outside this fence.
The prisoners then commenced to dig al
the other side Of the chimney, and after a
few handfuls Of dirt had been removed
found theufselves-stopped by stone wall
which proved, afterward, to be three feet
thick. With penknives they commenced
operations upon the stone and mortar. and
after nineteen nights hard work they again
struck the earth beyond the wall and push
ed their work forward. On the 9th or 9th
of February the working party supposed
they had gone sufficient distance and
commenced to dig upwGrd. When near
the surface they heard the rebel guards
talking above them, and discovered they
were some two or three feet We; outside OF
the fence. The tunnel then continned
some six or seven feet more, and when the
working party supposed they were about
ready to emerge to daylight, Others in the
prison were informed. One hundred and
nine prisoners decided to make the attempt
to get away. Others refused, fearing the
consequence il they were captured; and
others yet. among whom was Gen. Neal
Dow. declined to make the attempt be-
cause. they said. they did not desire TO
have their Government back down from
its enunciated policy Of exchange.
About half-past O'Clock on the evening
Of the 9Th the prisoners started out, Col.
Rose of New York. leading thevan Be-
fore starting they had divided themselves
into squads of 9. and 4. and each squad
was to take different route. and after they
were out were to push for the Union lines
as fast as possible. 1t was the uHderstan-
ding that the working party was to have
an hours start OF other prisoners. and
consequently the rope ladder in the cellar
was drawn out. 81 aaf
Before the expiration OF tho hour. how
ever, other prisoners became impatient,
and were let down through the chimney
I successfully into the cellar. Col. w. p.
Kendrick. "a Tennessee; Capt. d. j. Jones.
1st Kentucky Cavalry; and Lieutenant II.
Y Bradford, I'll West Tennessee, were
elected to 60 ont last; and from the window
Col. X. could see the fugitives walk out
OF the gate at the other end OF the carriage
house. and fearessly move off, The APP
erture was SO narrow but one man could
get through at time. and each squad car
ried with them provisions in haversack.
Armidnight false alarm was created,
and the prisoners made considerable noise
in getting to their quarters. Providen
TALLY. however. the guard suspected moth
ing wrong. and in a few minutes the exo-
dus again commenced. Col. Kendrick
and his companions looked with some
FORMULATION thox 6 f,,x,
tives, as some Of them, exercising but lit
tie discretion. moved boldly out of the in
closure into the glare of gas light. Many
OF them were, however, in citizens dress.
and. as all rebel guards wore United States
uniforms. but little suspicion could be ex
cited even if the fugitives had been accost-
ed by the guard. Between one and two
o'clock the lamps were exiinguished in the
streets, and then the exit was more safely
accomplished. There were many officers
who desired TO leave who were so weak
and feeble that they were dragged through
the tunnel by main force, and carried to
places of safety until such time as they
would be able to move on their Journey.
, Once ont, all moved off in different d.
rections. each squad looking ont for itself
and choosing what it thought the safest
(. and speediest way to some point in the
t National lines. The officers have signei
' the following tribute to Butler and others
D The undersigned, officers of the Unitej
: States army. and recently prisoners of war
/, desire to express their deep gratitude Il
Mai. Gen. Butler, Brig. Gen. Wistar, Col
s West, one regiment Pennsylvania a..:illerv
+ and the gallant officers and men of tn
a Pennsylvania cavalry, and one regiment o
9 mounted rifles. for their effective assistance
: IN completing our escape from the rebe
Libby Prison at Richmond, and the lines
: of pickets and blood hounds of the rebe
h army and also for many acts of kindnes,
so gracefully rendered us in our presen
y time of need. We desire. also. in com
! mon with every loyal heart in the Union
t to tender to Maj. Gen. Butler our high ap
q probation of bis prompt and extensive ef
"a forts to aid our comrades yet in the rebe
lines. in attempting to elude their vigilance
u and make good their escape from tina
, prison of refined cruelty and slow death
t. The following are oil the names of th
II Indiana officers attached to the above:
J.P. Collins, Major. Doth; G.. r. Fit7
. simmons. Major. Both: Matt Boyd. Capt
/ ain. 73d; Jno. G. Fistar, 1st Lieut.. I'll
he w. Reynolds. 1st Lieutenant, 73l; l.. I
Williams, Lieutenant, 37th.
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