The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-02-25

Inc Escape from Nlc0m0uOs
BALTIMORE, Feb. 1.-THE escaped
Union offers reached here this morning
and 90 to Washington this afternoon.
The account of their escape is full of
thrilling interest, but for prudential
reasons many particulars are withheld
frompublication at present.
They were 81 days making tunnel. |
Having managed to find access to the
cellar they commenced work, relieving |
one another as opportunity offered.
Their instruments were case knives,
pocket knives, chisels and files. Twice
they had TO abandon their work and
commence anew, on account OF the OBJ |
structions which they could not pass.
They had hoped to avail themselves of
culvert, but found it impracticable.
After getting through the wall, they
disposed of the excavaled soil by draw
ing it out in spittoon, which they at
tached to cord. This would be filled
by the party at work in the tunnel aud
pulled out into the cellar bv their com
panions, who disposed of it by spread
ing it in shallow layers over the floor,
concealing it beneath the straw.
The work was necessarily very slow.
So close was the atmosphere in the
tunnel, that they could remain in it but
q few minutes at time, and their can
dies wo-ld 90 out At one time they
got so near the end of the street that a
samll hole, about the size of a stove
pine, broke through, but fortunately
this was not discovered by the guard,
and was of great service, admitting air
and enabling them to prosecute their
work more rapidly. The tunnel, when
completed, was about 60 feet long, aud
opened into an old tobacco shed, be-
yond 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 un-
til they got clear of the guards, max
ing their way towards the Williams.
burg road by the shortest routes. The
darkness favored them, and the
fact that the rebel soldiers whom they
met were habited in 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 attired in
our army overcoats, and many of them
had their haversacks, they found the
national uniform better disguise than
if they had been provided with genu-
inc rebel uniforms.
In order to elude the pursurers whom
they knew would soon be on their
track, they scattered as much as posi-
BILE Many were their hardships and
sufferings, and frequent their narrow
escapes from the rebel cavalry, who
the next morning were bushwhacking
in every direction for them.
The Joy which they experienced
when they first caught sight of our
troops, sent out to meet them and pro
tect them from their pnrsnrers, cannot
be expressed To the officers and men
of the llth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
whom they express the most profound
gratitude for their unbounded kindness,
and also bear testimony to the gallan
try with which these gallant fellows
pursued the rebel cavalry, and rescued
many Of the wayworn fugitives who
otherwise would have been recaptured.
There is good reason to hope that
many more will yet come in safe.
The undersigned escaped officers
held meeting here to-day, and passed
q vote of thanks to Gen. Butler and
other officers and men who had assis,
ted them in completing their escape
from Libby Prison, and the lines of
pickets, aud for many acts of kindness,
etc: Col VIM. b. McCreery, 2lst
Michigan Infantry Lieut.. Col. Geo.
G. Davis, 4th Maine Volunteers Lieut..
Col. T. s. West, oath Wisconsin Vol
unteers Lieut. Col. III. G. Hobert, 2ls,
Wisconsin Volunteers Capt. S. e.
Boz, 4th Wisconsin, Cavalry Capt. T.
G.. Clark, 79lh Illinois Infantry; Isl
Lieut.. Albert Walker, 26th Wisconsin
Lieut. Col. James NJ. Wells, 9Th Micli
gan Cavalry.