Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-12-21
Excitement Mt Johnson,s Island

From the Sandusky Register. of the
l4th. we take the following account of
the attempted escape of the prisoners
from Johnsop's Island. on Tuesday morn
ing:
About one o'clock yesterday morning.
by a preconcerted arrangement, a rush
was made by twenty-four prisoners, upon
the centre of the guard line, on the north
west side of the prison. The prisoners
hsd improvised eight scaling ladders by
attaching elects" ~ boards AMI strips,
very light, easily carried and just the
thing for scaling the high prison fence.
The rush upon the guard at once occa-
stoned the proper cry turn out the guard!'
accompanied by quite u rafting fire from
the guard line, but the rush was so i'm
petuous. and by so many prisoners. that
in spite of the guard, four men out of the
twenty four scaled the fence, passed the
guard, escaped from the Island, crossed
the north channel of the Bay, and went
some distance upon the Peninsula. Of
the others, who did not get through, one
received a shot cu.tin, away mis- coat pref
ty severely at the waist. was knocked
down and captured. Another, Lieuten-
ant Bank. Kentucky, was shot twice
IhAOOSh INT pb0N aOOuS ZIG cdil luSlduA.
and killed. The other eighteen found
the work too hot and retreatei 10 their
barracks.
The rush on the guard was Immediately
followed by the long roll and the prop
er signal gun. By the way. this is the
first long roll occisioned By any demon
s~tratiou of the prisoners since last March:
and the only other one was on the night
of the 23d of September. when at least
one-third Of the prison fence was swept
away in an instant by q tornado.
Under a standiog order, all the troops
were promptly i'll pos ton, ready to give
proper attention TO the rebels should any
further efforts be made within the en-
closure. To make sure of any who might
be lurking on the Island, awaiting better
opportunities 10 elude observation, three
companies of the 9th V. R. c., were Or
dered out TO patrol the Island. and make
n thorough search. At the same time sew
eral attachments OF the l28th regiment
were ordered ofiu pursuit of the escaped
prisoners, who had passed the picket on
the northwest side of the Island. receiv
ing A fire from them at long range. The
fleeing rebels made the best time possible,
but were holly pursued; and with soldiers
on their rear and both TANKS and the 10y
al citizens of the Peuinsull lwho had
been aroused by the discharge of the 20
FOUNDER Parrott) in their front, their
ezcapesoon terminated in ito them) u very
mortifying recapture.
The morning roll call and muster of
prisoners showed that but four OF them
had left the prison. They wore all back,
and returned to their home in the Bull
Pen" this morning. The unwilling dem
liens Of that locality are full of their
schemes and threats, and seem disposed to
make the very most of their opportuni-
ties, while the ice is practicable as an
highway; and it remains to be seen wheth-
er the future. with whatever aid they
may receive. will be very productive of
gratifying results to themselves.
Three of the fugitives were seen run
ming across the Peninsula by Mr.. G. B.
Wright, a gentleman wh6has a vineyard
there. As soon as he heard the firing,
he got out with his gun, and seeing the
three escaped prisoners, called 70 them
Stop, or I'll put a hole through you as
big as my hat!' At this they halted, and
he marched Thorn back to quarters. An
other was brought in by the guard about
10 o'clock yesterday morning.
The firing of cannon was by the ord
nance officer, with a view of breaking
the ice, so as to prevent the prisoners
from crossing.
Mr.. Wright's vigilance and bravery are
greatly to be admired.