Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-01-15

came in while Hokersmith was down under
the floor boring away, and, missing him.
said 'sWhere is Hokersmith ?" The Gen
eral replied, HE is in my room sick, !" and
Immediately pulled document out Of his
pocket and said to him !: "Here isa memo
rial have drawn up to forward to the Gov
ernment at Washington what do you
think of it," The fellow, who, perhaps,
could not read. being highly fattered at
/ the Generals condescension, took it, and
very gravely looked at it for seAeral mo-
ments before he vouchsafed any reply
Then handing it back. he expressed hia-
self highly pleased with it, In the mean
time, Hokersmith had been signated, and
came up, protesting to feel Every unwell. :"
This sentinel was the most difficult and dan
gerous obstacle in their progress, because,
there was no telling at what time he would
enter during the day, and at night he came
regularly every two hours to each cell, and
inserted light through the bars Of their
door to see that they were quietly sleeping;
and, Frequently after he had completed his
rounds, he would slip back ia the dark with
pair Of india rubber shoes on, to listen at
their cells if any thing was going on. The
General says that he would almost inyaria-
! bly, know of his presence by cer~
tain magnetic shudder which it would pro-
duce; but for fear that this acute sensibility
might sometimes fail him, he broke up
small PARTICLES of coal every morning and
sprinkled it before the cell door, which
would always announce his coming.
Everything was now ready to begin the
work. So, about the latter part of Octo-
Der, they commenced to bore. All were
busy-one making ropeladder by tearing,
snd twisting up strips of Bed tick, another
making bowie knives, and another twisting
up towels. They labored perseyeringly
for several days; and after boring through
nine inches of cement. ard nine thickness of
brick placed, edgewise, they began to WOO
der when they should reach the soft earth.
Suddenly brick fell through. What
could this meau? What internal chamber
had they reached ? It was Immediately en-
tered, and, to their grea. astonishment and
joy, it proved to be an aIrchamber extend
ing the whole length Of the row Of cells
Here was an unexpected interposition ia
their favor Hitherto they had been obliged
TO conceal their rubbish in their bed ticks.
each day burning a proportionste quantity
Of straw; now they had room enough for all
that could dig. They at once commenced,
to tunnel at right angles with this air cham
Der, to get through the foundation; and day
after day they bored, day after day the
blocks OF granite were removed, and still the
work before them seemed interminable.
After twenty three days Of unaemitfing
labor and getting through granite wall
Of six fe ct in thickness, they reached the
soil. They tunneled up for somedlstance,
and light began to shine. How glorious
was that light. It announced the fulfill
ment Of their labor, and, if Providence
would only continue its favor, they would
soon be fee. This was the morning of the
Goth day Of November 1868. The next
night, at twelve o'clock was determined on
as the honr at which they would attempt
their liberty. Each moment that interyen-
ed was filed with dreadful anxiety and sus-
pense, end each time the guard entered in
creased their apprehens;ons. The General
says be had prayed for rain, but tie morn
ing of the 9th dawned bright and beauti-
full. The evening came. and clouds began
to gather. How they prayed for them to
increase. Ifrain should only begin their
chances Of detection would be greatly los
aened. While these thoughts were passing
through their minds the keeper entered
ssith letter for Gen. Morgan. He open
ed it, and what was bis surprise, and may
say aconder to find it to be from poor r.
ISL woman Of his aeqaaintace. 10 Kentucky,
commencing, Ny dear Gineral, / feel GER
tain poa are going to try to git out Of pris-
on, but for your sake don't you try it, my
dear Giural. You will only be taken pris-
oner again. and made to suffer more than
you do now The letter than went on to
speak of his kindness to the poor when be
lived at Lexington, and concluded by again
exhorting him to trust in God and wait his
time. What could this mean : No human
being GA the outside had been informed Of
his intention to escape, just as all things
were ready for him to make the attempt,
here comes a letter from Winchester Ken
lucky, advising him not TO '.try it." This
letter bad passed through the examining Of
(, fee of Gen. Mason, and then through the
hands of the lower officials What IL it
should excite their suspicion and cause them
to exercise an increased vigilance Their
situation however, was desperate Their
fate could not be much worse, and thew re-
solved to go. Nothing now remained to
be done, but for the General and Colonel
| Dick Morgan to change cells The hour
approached for them to be locked up. They
changed coats, and each stood at the other S
cell door with his back exposed, and pre-
tended to be engaged in making IN IT,.
beds. AS the turnkey en,++ssrca shey ..t,9n.
! ca i1g' and pulled their doors shut. Six
eight, ten (10) o'clock came. How each
pulse throbbed as they quietly awaited the
approach Of twelve! 1t came: the sentinel
passed his round--ail we'll. after vaisipn
a few moments to see if he intended to slim =
back. the signal was given-all quietly
slipped down into the air chamber. first
stuffipg their flannel shirts and placing them
10 bed as they were accustomed to lie. As
they moved quietly along through the dark
recess to the terminus where they were to
emerge from the earth. the General prenar-
ed TO light match AS the lurid glare fell
upon their conntenances, SCENE was pre-.
sented which can mover be forgotten
There were croucned seven brave men, who
had resolved to be free. They were armed
with bowie Knives made out Of case knives
Life IN their condition was scarcely to be
desired, and the moment for the desperate