North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-03-02
Escape OF Union OHicers from the Libby
Prison

by Prison, in Richmond, on the 10th inst
Twenty-one of them were unfortunately re
taken on the 11th, but the remainder, it is
hoped and believed, are safe within the U:1or
lines. Twenty six of the escaped officers
reached Washington on Wednesday evening
and others are daily coming in.
Among the names Of the escaped are sew
eral Pennsylvania Colonels, Captains and
Lieutenants, but none that we recognize as
from Reading. q"
The following interesting account Of the
manner in which these brave unfortunates
gained their Liberty, as Richmond journal
says, "wi,hout the prelimnaries ofparole or
exchange" is from the papers of Thursday
BALTIMORE, Wednesday, Feb. II, 1864
The escaped Union officers reached here
this morning and 60 to Washington this
afternoon.
Tue account Of their escape is full of thrill.
ing interest, but for prudential reasons many
particulars are withheld from publication at
present.
Libby Prison is divided into three grand di
visions, known as the Eastern, Western and
Central Rooms. About the middle of Dec
ember, eight Of the more hopeful officers
commenced an excavation on the side of the
basement of the middle apartment, which
was Occupied as dining room.
They were fifty one days making tu mel
Having managed to find access to the cellar,
they commenced work, relieving one another
as opportunity offered
Their instruments were case knives, pock-
ct knives, chi-eIs and files. Twice they had
to abandon their work and cummence anew
on account of the obstruct;oms which they
could not pass. They had hoped to have
avaled themselves Of cuivert, but found it
impracticable.
After getting through the wall they dis
posed Of the excavated soil by drawing 1t out
IN a spittoon, which they attached TO a
cord
This would be filled by the party at work
in the tunnel, and pulled out INTO the cellar
by their companions who disposed Of il by
spreading it in shallow layers over the floor,
concesllng it beneath the straw. The work
was necessarily very slow. So close was the
atmosphere in the tunnel that they could re-
main in it but a few minutes at a time, and
their candles would 60 out. At one time
they got SD near the head of the streat that
small hole about the size Of stove pipe
broke through, but fortunately that was not
discovered by the guard, anG was a great
service, admitting air, and enabling them to
prosecute their work mJre rapidly. The
tunnel, when completed, was about so feet
| long, and opened into an old tobacco shed
beyond the line of guards. As soon as they
found the way clear, they emerged slowly in
small squads Of Two or three, and sauntered
off until they got clear Of the guards, making
their way toward the William sburg road by
the shortest routes
The darkness favored them, and the fact
that all the Rebel soldiers whom they met
were habiled in the army coats of"Cncle San
which they had stolen from the supplies sent
to onI prisoners by our government, was o.
! great help to them.
Although they were attired in our army
overcoats, and many OF them had their haver
sacks, they found the National uniform bet
ter disguise than if they had been provides
with the genuine Rebel uniforms.
In order to elude the pursuers, who the,
knew would soon be on their track, they
scattered as much as possible. Many wer'
their hardships and sufferings, and frequer
were their narrow escapes from the Reb'
cavalry, who the next morning were bush
whackirg in every direction for them.
The joy which they experienced when the
first came in sight ofour troops sent out t
help them and protect them from their pur
suers cannot be expressed.
To II officers and men of the 1lth Penn
sylvania Cavalry, whom they first -met, the
, express most profound gratitude for their III
bounded kindness, and also bear tes,imon
to the galan:ry with which these gallant fe
lows pursued the Rebel cavalry, and rescue
> many Of the warworn fugitives who other
y wise would have been captured.
II is believed that more then half Of thos
, who got out of the prison will reach our line
The officers who are now in here were fro
; five TO eight days in getting from Rchmor
> to Williamsburg, and think that many mo-
: will follow successfully down the Peninsul
that some viii escape via the Army of IL
, Potomac, and that Others will eventually
- heard from in North Corolina .. a.
WHAT STATESMAN Is LINCOLN Write