The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-03-12

the prison.
The tunnel was then continued some six
or seven feet more, and when the working
party supposed they were about ready to
emerge to daylight, others in the prison
were informed that there was a way now
open for escape. One hundred and nine oil
the prisoners decided to make the attempt to
get away. Others refused, fearing the con
sequences if they were recaptured and
others yet (among whom was Gen. Neal
Dow) declined to make the attempt, because
(as they said) they did not desire to have
their Government back down from its enun.
ciated policy of exchange. Col. Rose, OF
N. Y, Col. Kendrick, of Tenn, Captain
Jones, Lieut.. Bradford, and others, informed
Gen. Dow that they could not see how max
ing their escape would effect the policy OF
exchange. Their principle was that it was
their personal right to escape, if they could,
and their duty to their Government to make
the attempt.
About 81 o'clock on the evening of the
9th, the prisoners started out, Col. Rose, Of
New York, leading the van. Before start
ing, the prisoners had divided themselves
into squads Of two, three and four, and
each squad was to take different route,
and after they were out were to push for
the Union lines as fast as possible. 1t was
agreed that the working party was to have an
hours start of the other prisoners, and,
consequently, the rope lader in the cellar
was drawn out. Before the expiration of
the hour, however, the other prisoners be-
came impatient, and were let down through
the chimney successfully into the cellar.
Col. w. P. Kendrick, of West Tennessee,
Capt. D. J. Jones, of the First Kentucky
Cavalry, and Lieut.. R. Y. Bradford, of the
Second West Tennessee, were detailed as a
rear guard, or rather to go out last and
from window Col. K. and his companions
could see the fugitives walk out of gate at
the other end of the Enclosure of the car
riage house, and fearlessly move of. TIE
aperture was so narrow that but one man
could get through at a time, and each squad
carried with them provisions in haversack.
At midnight false alarm was created, and
the prisoners made considerable noise in
getting to their respective quarters. Prov
MENTALLY, however, the guard suspected
nothing wrong, and in a few moments the
exodus was commenced. Col. Kendrick
and his companions looked with some trep-
idation upon the movements of the fugi-
tives, as some of them, exercising but little
discretion, moved boldly out on the inclos-
ure into the glare OF the gas light. Many
Of them were, however, in citizens dress,
and as all the rebel guards wear the United
States uniform, but little suspicion could be
excited, even if the fugitives had been ac-
eosted by guard.
Between 1 and o'clock the lamps were
in the streets, and then the exit
was more safely accomplished. There were
many officers who desired to leave, who
were so weak and feeble that they were drag
ged through the tunnel by main force and
carried to places of safety, until such time
as they were able to move on their Journey
At % o'clock Capt. Jones, Col. Kendrick,
and Lieut.. Bradford passed out in the order
IN which they are named, and as Col. K.
emerged from the hole he heard the guard
within a few feet of him sing out, "Post
No. 7, half-past two in the morning and
alps we'll" Col. K. says he could hardly
resist the temptation of saying "Not so
veil as you think, except for the Yanks."
Lieut.. Bradford was intrusted with the pro-
visions for this squad, and in getting
through he was obliged to leave his haver-
sack behind him, as he could not get through
with it upon him.
Once out, they proceeded up the street,
keeping in the shade of the buildings, and
passed in an easterly direction through the
,ity.
A description of the route pursued by
his party, and Of the tribulations through
which they passed, will give some idea Of
he rough time they all had of it. Colonel
Aendrick had before leaving the prison map
ped out his course, aud concluded that the
pest route to take was the one toward Nor
ok or Fortress Monroe, as there were few
II rebel pickets in that direction. They
therefore, kept the York River railroad to
he left and moved toward the Chickahom-
ny river. They passed through Boar
Swamp and crossed the road leading to Bot
ON Bridge. Sometimes they Waded through
nud ana water almost up to their necks, |
md kept the Bottom Bridge road to their
eft, although at times they could see and
lear the cars travelling over the York River
DAD.
While passing through the swamp near
he Chiokahominy, Col. Kendrick sprained
lis ankle and fell, Fortunate, TOO, was that
all for him and his party, for Wlniiie he was
ying there, one of them CHANGED to look up,
md saw in direct line with them swamp
bridge, and in the dim outline they could
perceive that parties with muskets were
passing over the bridge. They therefore
moved some distance to the south, and af
Ter passing through more of the swamp,
reached the Chickahominy about four miles
below Bottom Bridge. Here now was
difficulty. The river was only twenty feet
wide, but it was very deep, and the refu-
gees were worn out and fatigued. Chanc-
ing, however, to look up, Lieut.. Bradford
saw that two trees had fallen on either side
Of the river. and that their branches were
interlocked. By crawling up one tree and
down the other, the fugitiVes reached the
east bank of the Chickahominy, and Col.
Knndrinlr no,,lI rnt hnln ram Linz that hn