Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-01-11
GEN mGRaAN's EgeAFE RHoEE
FRRzOE.

As have not SesB any detailed account Of
Gen. Jehn Il. MoTgaa,s remarkable escape
fem the Ohio S.ate prison, nave determined
70 send you the following, sgTsesiyed from him.
How eften dess il occur that "tIath is stranger
than ictioR," and to hear the General, in his
modest way, repsst all the incidents connected
with his escape, until his safe arrival within our
lines, sounds m0re like tale Of tho Arabian
Nights than true record Of fsels, which, we
knew, have but recently taken place:
IN tie iiTst place, tho prison is one Of the
strongest, either IN this country OF Europe, As
can ta5'iiy tron personal iAspsoiiou, and few
men w0u.d have the courage 70 attempt TO get
out irem sHch place, even If thore were no
other obstacle than the walls TO OveTcoms; bat
when It is remembered that thoTe we're thres
lines Of Ssntinels 10 pass, besides ball dogs wo
can but admire ibe determination which esuld
resolve, snd the legtility ofresoUIce which could
successfully accomplish, such q vast undbE-
taking.
On the 26ih Of July, Gen Morgan, with
others Of ans 5ficsrs, was taken 20 the peniten-
tsTy. He Was first carried iuto the securing
roeEs,' and ordered 70 diYest himsalf of his
clothing, each article being carefully searched
a. he laid it aside. Hs was next ord 5rcd inlc
large hogshead of water and severely scrubbed
by convict. Daring eli tins tiao he was sub
jseied 20 the vulgar gaze of a lsTEs number Of
tho - g4set chief" This being over, hs vTss .s-
ken into the "shAving roem,'' and required te
take = seat, aud thsn esHlmsneed tbs " bzr6sy-
izing process" Whils this vas going on, Col
Cluke and DR.. Steal came IN and exclaimed, in
great surprise, Ny HsAven, General, what arc
you having yourself 80 disfguTsd for Hs
very mildly and pleasantly replied, wait =
low moments, gentlemen, and you will see. ="
And sure enough .hsy did. From hare he ygss
politely conducted to bis rcon, which consisted
# 3 narrow cell four sad 8 half feet aide and
eight leel long. Tbs gated door was closed,
and As nsW recognised his awful condition
a prisoner ia the hands Of sarbsrAHs-ho who
hxd besn lenieat bordering On weakness no
who had time and again released iasiT oficsTs
allowing thrH 10 retRin their boysss and side
arms, sud even furnished tbeiT privalos with
money ts aefraY sheiT way herno, esrabbed
shaved and l0sked in 3 felen's coll. Like e
truo philosopher, eqaal to any emergency he
met his fate ehesTfully, urging his comrades oil
tie limo 20 prudence and fortitude, ssIn4fking
quietly shag " their time would cone though
lase, It would surely come" And, tbsBk God
lie is cat now, and Il sOiH come. By his pTu-
dfnes and amisble depoTtmeUt, hs SO won ils0
good feeling Of some Of the subslteTn s3tsnj-
snis that thoy were disposed 70 tTest him kindly
and DO small fAg0rs for him. After few days
Of solitary confinement, ne and his officers were
allowed 70 walk ia the passage way on which
their cells 0psasd.
The cells consisted Of two long rows Of holes
in tbs wall, one over ths other. They opened
inta psasageway, twelve feet wide and ninety
feet leng Every morning, at 8 O'Clock, they
were turned into the rsshsgewsY and allowed
to communicate with ezeh othsT, ard at o'clock
.s4e again locked up. Immediately On 5ho
outside of TIE wing Of the builsiDg in which
they voro confined, was a wall twenty feet high,
sepsrnting them fTom tho female department.,
end on the oalaide Of this department was an.
e,her wall, thiTty-ava fess high, with largo
over hang upon which the sentinels walked
lheiT beat On tho gEonEd, heiween the innoT
snd the outer wall = 0hsin OF sentinels was dis
trihutsd, another on the cutter wall during The
dry. bat a. night were transferred to the ground
on the outside. Last, and ncst difficult 10 eude,
was the sentinel who entered the prison at all
times during ihe day; and Al stated inhrvals OF
two houTa duribg tae night, to sse that every
thing was gong On well.
Wl,en The determination to escape 1t all bsE-
ards Was fixed upon, The aTEs thing was 20 get
Hold ef seIne implements 70 weik with. SO lhe
General got sick and was obliged to have his
meals brought 10 him in his room, and at coz
yenient opportunities his Plais went back minus
4 case kRlfe. When s sufficient number had
thus been proauged, his brave comrades went to
work Separate holes hsd TO be made, as they
yye.s confined ia sepaTste cells. TheiT beaGtesds
we're small iron stools, fssien 70 the wall with
huges. They could be hooked up OF allowed 70
stena en- the door and 10 prevent any EuBpi-
eion, for several days before any werk was At
tempted, they made i hsDit to Let then down
and sit q. their doors and read. Capt Zines
superiniendod The work, Whlio GsR. Morgan
kept wAieh to divert TIE attention. Of tho senii-
ne. whose duty il was to come around during
the dsy and observe If anything WAS going %.
One day this fellow csne In whils 6okeTSmith
was down under the Asof beTing away, and,
Uaissiuq hin, said "Where Is hokeTsmlth T.
The General replied, "He is in ny room, sick,
and Immediately pulled , document cut Of bic
soekef and said % him; Here is . memorial
have dTaVn up 70 forward 30 the Government ak
WAshlngion--whas do ysu think Of III" The
fellow, who, perhaps, eOule not read, Being
highly Battered st the Generals cOnaesoension,
took it, and very grsvsly locked ati ior several
mopaeHts before be vOuehsafsd any reply. Then
haading il back, he expressed himself highly
pleased with 4.
In tho meantime, HOksEsmith had been sig
nsle1, and Cams up, protesting 10 feel very
uavsu' 1'lja seaEInel was the a0st difficult
/ and dszgeTs1s obstacle ia their progress, be-
canes there was no tslling 50 what time no
! ,renid enter during the dey, sEd at night he
/ esu.a regulsEly every two hours 70 each coll,
/ snd innerEsd light threHgh the bars OF tfeir
5oar 10 see thas they ware quietly sleeping and,
ITeauenIIy after be had completed his reuads,
Id s-ould sip back in tho dslk with pair o.
Is5,s rpbhsr e3oss on, TO listen 81 their cells il
en-lblpq was gOiHg On. Tho general Eays thai
IL v~auld almost invariably know OF his pres
sacs by a certain magnetic sh1daer which Il
voald prodHes bat for iaar tnst tnss aen1e
s,nsib;litv might homssimes fail him, be broke
m smslf particles Of coal every morning anc
sarinIlcj f before tbs osll 9oog, which woaic
! always announce his eefainE.
/ Eyervtbiar Yves ROW ready to begin the work
30. Nbout ths lG.ssT pSTt Of October, thsy com
meneed 10 bore All we're busy-OBe making !
rope ladder By tearing au6 twisting up strips