The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-01-12
HISTORY OF GEN. MORGAN'S ESCAPE
FROM PRISON.
A THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF HIS
ADVENTURES

A THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF HIS
ADVENTURES.
A special correspondent of the Richmond En-
quirer, writing from Danville, Va, under date Of
January I'd, gives the following thrilling account
of Gen. Morgan's adventures in making his escape
from the Ohio Penitentiary
AS have not seen any detailed account; of Gen
John Fl. Morgan's remarkable escape from the
Ohio State Prison, have determined to seId you
the following, received from him. How often
does it occur that "truth is stranger than felton,,
and to hear the General, in his modest way repeat
all the incidents coBhected with his escape, until
his safe arrival within our lines, sounds mose like
,a,tae 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 strong
est, either in this country or Europe, can
tify from personal inspection, and few men would
have the courage to attempt to get out from such
place, even if there were no other obstacle than
the walls to overcome; but when it is remembered
that there three lines of sentines to pass, be-
sides bull dogs,--we can but admire the determine
.tion which could resolve, and the fertility of re-
source which could successfully accomplish, such
a vast und ertaking.
On the Goth day of July Gen Morgan with
others of his officers taken to the penitentia-
ry. He was first carried into the SECURING room"
and ordered to divest himself of his clothing each
article being carefully searched he laid it aside.
He was next ordered into large hogshead of
water and severely scrubbed bya convict. During
all this time he was subjected to the vu gar gaze
of large number Of people, who were attracted
by curiosity to see the "great chief" This being
over he taken into the shaving room and
required to take seat, and then commenced the
"harberizing process" While this going on,
Col Cluke and DR. Steel came in and exclaimed in
great SURPRISE "My Heaven, General what are
you having yourself so disfgured for? He very
mildly and pleasantly replied, await a few
ments, gentlemen, and you will see )" and sure
enough they did. From here he was politely con-
Quoted to his room, which consisted of narrow
CELL four and half feet wide and eight feet lo"g.
The grated door closed, and he now recog-
nized his awful condition prisoner in the hands
of barbarians-he who had ever been lenient bor-
dering on weakness he who had time and. again
released their officers allowing them to retain their
horses and side arms, and even furnished their
privates with money to defray their way home
scrubbed, shaved and locked in felon's cell.
Like true philosopher, equal to airy emergency,
be met his fate cheerfully, urging his comrades
all the time to prudence and fortitude, remarking
quietly, "that their time would come; though late,
il would surely come" And thank God he is
out now, and Il ac'W come by his prudence and
amiabe department., he so won the good feeling of
some of the subaltcrn attendants that they were
disposed to treat him kindly and do small favors
for him. After few days of solitary confinement
he and his officers allowed to walk in the pas
sage way, which their cells opened.
The cells consisted of two long rows Of holes in
the wall, one over the other. They opened into
a passageway, twelve feet wide and ninety feet
long Every morning, at o'clock, they were
turned into the passageway and allowed to commu-
Il Al > L
locked up. Immediately the outside of the
wing of the building in which they were confined,
was wall twenty feet high, separating them from
the female department, aud on the outside Of this
department was another WALL thirty five feet high,
with largo overriding upon which the sentinels
walked their beat On the ground, between the
inner and the outer wall, chain of sentinels
distributed, another the outer wall during the
day, but at night were transferred to the ground
on the outside. Last aud most difficult to eiude,
was the sentinel who entered the prison at all
times during the day, and at stated intervals of
two hours during the night, to that everything
was going on we'll When the determination to
escape at all hazards vas fixed upon the first thing
was TO get hold of some implements to work with.
So the General got sick and was obliged to have
his meals brought to him in his room, and at con.
venient opportunities his plate went back minus
case-knife When a sufficient number lad thus
Separate holes had to be made, as they
fined in separate cells. Their bedsteals were small
iron stools, fastened to the wall with hirges They
could be hooked up Or allowed to stand on the
floor; and to prevent any suspicion for several days
before any work attempted, thcy made it
habit to let them down and sit at their doors and
read. Capt. Hines superintendent the work, while
Gen Morgan kept watch to divertthe attertion Of
the sentinel, whose duty it was@to around
during the day aud observe if anything was goSg
on. One day this fellow came in while Hoker-
smith down Under the floor boring away, and,
missing him, said Where is Hokersnth ?" The
General replied, ale is in my room sick, and i'm
mediately pulled document out of his pocket and
up to forward to the Government at Washing ton-
what do you think of it 2" The fellow, who, per-
baps, could not read, being highly fattered at the
Generals condeseenson, took it, and very gravely
looked at it for several moments before he vouch-
safed any reply. Then handing it hack, he ex-
pressed himself highly pleased with it. In the
meantime, Hokersmth had been signaled, and
came up, protesting to feel Every unwell." This
sentinel was the must difficult aud dangerous OBJ.
stacle 10 their progress, because there tell.
ing at what time he would en err during the day,
and at night he came reguar every two hours to
each cell, and inserted light through the bars of
their door to that they were quietly sleeping;
and frequently after he had completed his rounds,
he would slip back in the dark with pair of in-
dia rubber shoes on to listen their cells if any
thing was going on. The General says that he
would invariably know of his presence hya certain