Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-01-15
GENERAL Nl0RaaN'S ESCAPE FROM
PRISON.

GENERAL M0RahN's ESCAPE FROM
PRISON
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE ENQUIRER
DANv1LLE, VA, Jan. 2, 1864.
As I have not seen any detailed account
of Gen. John H. Morgan's remarkable es-
cape from the Ohio State Prison, [ have de-
termined to send you the following, as re-
ceived from him. How often does it occur
that truth is stranger than fiction" and to
hear the General in his modest way, repeat
all the incidents connected with his escape,
until his safe arrival within our lines,
sounds more like tale of the Arabian
Nights, than true record of facts, which,
We know, have but recently taken place:
In the first place, the prison is one of the
strangest, either in this country or Europe
as I can testify from personal inspection,
and few men would have the courage to at
tempt to get out from such place. even If
there were no other obstacle than the walls
to overcome: bat when it is remembered
that there were three lines of santinels to|
pass, besides bull dogs, we can but admire
the deterp ation v hich could resolve, and
the fersility Of resource which could sue
cessfully accomplish, such vast underta-
king.
On the 2ath day of July Gen. Morgan,
with others of his officers, was taken to the
penitentiary. He was first carried into the
Securing room" and ordered to diyeet
himself OF his clothing each article being
carefully searched as he laid it aside. He
was next ordered into large hogshead of
| water and severely scrubbed by convict.
During all this time he was subjected to
| the vulgar gaze Of large number of peo-
| pie, who ware attracted by curiosity to see
the great chief This being over he was
taken into the Shaving room and re-
CURED to sake seat, and then commenced
the "barberizing process" While this was
going on, Col Cluke and DR.. Steel came in
and exclaimed in great surprise, 'sMy
Heaven, General, what are yon having
yourself so disGgured for?" He very mild
! ~ and pleasantly replied. "Wait few
moments, gentlemen, and you will see:"
and sure enough they did. From here he
was politely conducted to his room, which
consisted ofaarrow cell, four and half feet
wide aud eight feet long The grated door
was closed, and he now recognized bis aa-
fu! condition: prisoner 10 the hands OF
barbarlans-he who bad ever been lenieDt,
bordering On weakness be who had time
aud again released their officers allowing
them TO retain their horses and side arms.
and even furnished their privates with
money to defray their way houle. scrubbed,
shaved and locked in felorl's cell Like
a true philosopher, equal to any emergency,
he met his fate checrfully. urging bis COM
rades all the time to prudence and forttuae
remarking quietly, "that their time would
come; though late, it would surely Gomez
And thank God, he is out now, and it wfU
come. BY his prudence and amlable de-
pertinent, he SO won the good feeling Of
some of the subaltern attendants that they
were disposed to treat him kindly and do
small! fayors for him. After few days of
solitary confinement he and his officers
were allowed to walk in the passage way,
on which their cells opened.
The cells consisted Of two long rows of
holes in the wall, one over the other -
( They opened into passageway, twelve feet
wide and ninety feet long Every morning,
at o'clock, they were turned into the pass
age way and allowed to communicate with
each other, and at 4 o'clock we're again
locked up. Immediately on the outside of
the wing of the building, in which they
were confined, was a wall twenty feet high,
separating them from the female depart
ment, and on the outside of the department
was another wall, thirty FIVE feet high, with
large oyer-hang upon which the senti.-.ssi,zr
walked their beat. On the ground, be-
tween the inner and the outer wall chain
OF sentincls was distributed, and then on the
outer wall during the day. but at night
were transferred to the ground on the out
ades Last, and most difficult to clude, was
the sentinel who entered the prison at all
times during the day, and at stated inter
walls OF two hours during the pigEt, to see
that everything was going on we'll. When
the determination to escape at all hazards
was fixed upon, the first thing was to &c
hold of some supplements to work with
80 the General got sick and was obliged to
have his meals brought to him in his room,
and at convenient opportunities his plate
went back minus a case knife When {
suflcient number had thus been procured
MS brave comrades vent to work. Sepa
rate holes had to be made, as they were con.
hned IN separate cells. Their bedstead
were small iron stools fastened to tie wal
+, WITH hinges. They could be hooked up or al
iowea 10 stand on the floor and to proven
any suspicion for several days before any
WORK was attempted, they made it habi
TO let them down aud sit at their doors ane
read. Captain Hines, superintendent th,
work, while General Morgan kept watcl
, 20 divert the attention Of the sentinel
whose duty it was to come around
during the day, and observe if any