Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-23
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THE ESCAPE FROM LIBBY.

LIE 6bChFE EhUm LIBBY.
The Washington correspondence of the Tribune
gives further description Of the remarkable es-
cape Of our officers from the Richmond prison:
Libby Prison is divided into three grand divi-
sons, known as the Eastern, Western, and Cen
tral rooms. About the middle Of December, eight
Of the more hopeful Of the officers commenced an
excavation on the side of the basement of the
middle apartment which was occupied as a
diLing-room.
This was continued carefully at intervals until
sewer was encountered, when the attempt was
given up as failure. They then removed some
stones Of the fireplace, and commenced digging
down obliquely toward the eastern base Of the
building, pushing the work by night, and re-
placing the stones carefully before Daylight
They cut their way with hatchels through wall
five feet thick Of solid masonry, and then ran it
directly outward under the street.
They had large wooden spittoons, which diggers
heaped with dirt in the narrow passage, and
others drew out with ropes and deposited care
iuliy IN obscure corners of an unfrequented cell
lar. By this time many OF the more ambitious
entered heartily into the plot, thus keeping up
the work through all the safe hours Of the night
At last, after tunneling forty five feet, they
sought daylight. What was the dismay of the
pioneer in the enterprise 6hen at dusk he poked
hole through and found himself under the OPP
posite walk, and within two feet Of the beat Of
the sentries who guard the prison
As the ground fell in, he Leard one outside
calling another's attention to the noise, and re-
ceive for his reply, Gratis" The mistake was
quickly corrected. The Captain quietly kept his
hole, and pair of old pantaloons was flled with
dirt and stones, and lifted into the cavity. The
direction of the tunnel was now slightly changed,
AMI carried twelve feet further, within the fence
and on feeling again, it was found to open under
shed in the very place intended.
The first man left the tunnel at g. 80 Tuesday
evening, and was followed as rapidly as possible
by the others, and such friends as they might
designate to have precedence. Many in the
prison did not wish to take the chance of escape
with the accompanying perils. Only one man
could be within the tunnel at o time safely, il
being necessary to admit fresh air. The passing
caused great rumbiug sound. which created
constant apprehension of discovery:
Escapes succeeded each other az closely as
possible until daylight, when they stopped, and
the officers within awaited the developments Of
roll call. The sentries seemed utterly obrvious
of everything, and to the fact that they were new
recruits and recently put on duty is ascribed to
the complete success Of the movement.
After leaving the subterranean passage, the
fugiiives made their way through a wagon-house
aud across an open space into Canal street.
TIE night was not very dark, and as they
tNrned in different directions, in squads Of three
to six, they saw the sentries passing their beat.
EAGu Nhuul btTttl Nucy euuCh out IN all ulFeC-
tions, radiating from Richmond north, south, and
east. In planning and accomplishing the escape
they were assisted by no co operation from out
side whatever. They all left the shed aud the
city in the saue blue overcoats they had worn in
prison, trusting in their own sagaoiiy and the
cover Of darkness for safety.
Ii is believed that more than half Of those who
got out of the prison will reach our lines. The
officers who are now in were from Eve 10
pioht dap n unttinu frnn Rirhmand In Williams
burg, and think that many more will follow sue
cessiully down the Peninsula, that some will es-
cape via the Army Of the Potomac, and that
others will eventually be heard from in North
Carolina.
Tie narratives of the dangerous flight across
the country are various, but slmewhat similar to
that Of officers who have escaped before. Most
of those arrived struck noriheastward, avoiding
the Chickahominy swamp, and came down the
Peninsula via the White House. Many Of them
either encountered or saw and avoided rebel
cavalry scouts, securing the country in search Of
them.
The steamer from Fortress Monroe, which
reached Baltimore on Thursday morning, brought
as passengers twenty i've of the Union officers
who had escaped from Libby Prison. One re-
mained at Fortress Monroe, viz: Lieutenant
Colonel J. F. Boyd, United States Quartermaster.
On the passage up from Fortress Monroe the
escaped officers held a meeting, and selected QUE
Of their number, Captain ]. NJ Johnston, Of the
9th Kentucky Infantry, to prepare thorough
and Trustworthy account Of the entire affair from
its conception TO the successful issue.
Captain Johnston was one of the originators
of the scheme, and We were informed by the
party yesterday that at no time were their more
than twelve persons engaged in the work, aud
who were aware Of the arrangement, until the
day before the escape was made. The following
is a statement Of some of the incidents of the
escape, as derived from one of the escaped pris-
oners.
On the evening Of the escape, the FIRST man en-
tered the tunnel OF 81 O'Clock, aud about every
five or ten minutes another one would follow
As each man would get out under the shed he
would signal his brother prisoners in the cellar,
by means of a rope, thai oil was we'll. Five days
were ocolpied in making their way TO the Fed
eral lines, and some were compelled from ex-
( haustion to give themselves up 10 the Confed-
crate cavalry who were on their track.
A number Of the escaped officers were caught
10 the city, while others were tracked and caught
on the Peninsula with the aid Of bloodhounds
The full and correct narrative Of the escape
will be soon published by Capt Johnston.
A number Of the officers came into our lines by
way of the Chickahominy river. "ffow did you
cross p asked gentlemen of one Of thOm. HC
replied, "TWo trees had providentially fallen
over the stream, forming temporary bridge,
over which we climbed. We got safely to the
other side and heard the bugles of alarm, but
/ we were beyond pursuit"
' The negroes, in every instance, took the ON
GERS into their cabins, giving them food, and
rendering every assistance in their power