The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-02-25


BALTIMORE, Feb. 1.-THE escaned Irnio,
officers reached here this morning and @ot
to Washington this afternoon. The acco1nt
OF their escape is full of thrilling interest
but for prudential reasons MANY particulars
are withheld from publication at present
They We're fifty one DAYS making a tunneI
Having managed to find access 10 tbe cal
lar, they commenced work, relieving one an
other as opportunity offered. Their ipstrn-
ments were case knives, pocket knives ehis-
els and fles Twice they had to abandon
their work and commence anew. on account
o., the distinctions which they could net pass.
Ihey had hoped to avail themselves of a cul-
| vert but found 1t lmpracticable after getting
through the wall They disposed Of the ex1
cayated soil by drawing it out in a spittoon
winch they attached to a cord. This would
be llIled by the party at work in the tunnel
ana pulled out into the cellar by their com
Panlons, who disposed of it by spreading it
III shallow layers OF the floor, concealinr it
beneath the straw. The work was necessa
nly very slow. So close was the atmosphere
IN the tunnel that they could remain in it
but few minutes at a time, aud their candles
| would go out. At one time, they got so near
the head Of the street that a small hole about
the size OF stove pipe broke through; but
fortunately this was not discovered by the
guard, and was q great service, admitting
air, enabling them to prosecute their work
more rapidly The tunnel when completed.
was about 90 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 single squads of two or
three and sauntered off until they Got clear
OF the guards,nIaking their way towards the
Williamsburg Road by the shortest routes.
The darkness favored them, and the fact that
the rebel soldiers whom they met were hab-
tied Ill the army coats of Uncle Sam. which
they had stolen from the supplies sent to
our prisoners by our Government was of
great help to them Although they were
attlred III Our army over coats, and many Of
them had their hayersacks they found the
national uniform better disguise than if
they had been provided with genuine rebel
uniforms In order TO elude the pursuers
who they knew would soon be on their track
they scattered as much as possible
Many were their hardships and sufferings
and frequent their narrow escapes from the
rebel cavalry who the next morning were
bushwbaclling in every direction for them
The JOY they experienced when they first
caught sight OF our troops sent out to meet
them and protect them from their pursuers
cannot be expressed.
To the officers and mon of the 18th Penn
sylvania cavalry who they first met, they
express the most profound gratitude for their
unbounded kindness, and also bear testimo-
ny to the galIantry with which these gal
liant fellows pursued the rebel cavalry, and
re scued many of the way-worn fugitves
whootherwise would have been recsptured.-
There is good reason to hope thatmany more
will yet come in safe
BALTIMORE, Feb l7.-1he undersigned es
capped officers held meeting here to-day,
and passed vote of thanks to General But
Ter, and other officers and men who have as
sisted them in completing their escape from
Libby Prison and lines Of pickets, and for
many acts of kindness, &c
VIM. B. McCrcery, Col. Dist Mich init
Geo. g. Davis Lieut. Co.. 4th Maine vol
T. Streat IT. Col. 25th Wis. vol
II. G. Hobart, 1t. Col. 2lst Wis vol.
S. q. Rose Cap 4th regiment Wis. cav.
L. e. Clark, Capt. 10th Illinois infantry.
Albert WalIber, list 1t Both Wis.
Jas NJ Wells, It. Col sth Mich. cav.
WAsuuSGToE Feb. 17.-Twenty seven of
the escaped onion officers from Libby pris-
on j,ave arrived here,an are nearly all from
the West and Northwest.