Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-04
INTERESTING ACCOUNT or THE ES-
CAPE OF UNION PRISONERS.


CAPE OF UNION PRISONERS.
BALTIMORE, Feb. IL
The escaped Urion officers reached here
this morning, and go to Washington this al
teinoon. The account Of their escape is full
Of thrilling interest, but Tor prudential res-
soma mauy particulars arc withheld from pub
lication at present. They we're ffty-one days
in making a tunnel. having managed to find
access to the cellar. They commenced work,
relieving one another as thoy had opportuni-
ty. Their instruments were case knives, pock-
ct knives, ohisels and files. Twice they had
to abandon their work and commence anew.
on account Of the distinctions which they
could not pass. They had hoped TO avail
themselves OF culvert. but found it imprao-
tcable. After getting through the wall they
disposed Of the soil by drawing it out in
spittoon which they attached to cord. This
would be filled by the party at work in the
tunnel and pulled out into the cellar by their
companions, who disposed Of il by spreading
II in shallow layers over the floor and con
cealing it beneath the straw. The work was
necesserily very SLOW so close was the at
mosphere in the tunnel ths, they could not
remain in ii bat few minutes at time, aud
their candles would go out. At one time
small hole about the size Of a stove pipe broke
through, but fortunately was not discovered
by the guard, and was a great service in adj
hitting air and enabling them to work more
rapidly. The tunnel when completed was a.
bout sixty feet long and opened into an old
tooaoco shed beyond the line Of guards. As
soon as they found Il e way a. by emery
ed slowly in small squads OF two or three
md rod oH Al . kop al. Of a.
guards, making their way towards the Will
liemsburg road by the shortest routes. The
darkness favored them, and the fact tn all
the rebel soldiers VIII they met we're habited
in the army coats Of Uncle Sam, which they
had stolen from the supplies sent to our pris-
oners by our government was Of great ser
vice to them Although they we're attired in
our army overcoats, and many Of them had
their haversacks. they found the national uni
form better disguise than If they had been
provided with genuine uniforms. In order
to elude their pursuers who they knew WI ud
soon be on their trock they scattered as much
as possible.
Many we're their hardships and suferings,
and frequent we're their narrow escapes from
the rebel cavalry, who the next morning we're
bush-whacking in every direction for them
frs caught sight Of our troops sent out TO
help and protect them from their pursucrs,
canno. be expressed. To the officers and men
Of the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry whom
they first met, they express most profound
gratitude for their unbounded kindness. and
also bear testimony to the gallantry With
which these gallant fellows pursued the rebel
cavalry and rescued many of the way-worn
hf, 9th trss
captured. There is good reason to hope that
many more will yet come 10 safe.
Some Of the officers just from Libby pris-
on, express confident expectations that at least
half Of the 10 who escaped will resoh our
lines safely, some by way OF the Kappaban-
mock, and others by North Carolina. Capt
Morton Of the 18th Massachusetts, says tina,
Higginson and Davis of the lst Massachu-
setts cavalry, certainly got away from Rich
mond. Many of the officers who arrived. Ell
ther encountered or saw and avoided rebel
csvalry scouts, securing the country in search
Of them Some Of Capt. Phelps party and
Others we're pursued and fred upon. All Of
them kept out of the sight Of whites, but
trusted implicitly the blacks, aud never had
their trust betrayed After the first ofh ers
had discovered themselves to the negroes and
asked for food, on the Chickahominy, the ne
groes organized into relief squads and search
ed the woods for the fugitives, carrying them
food from their scanty rations, and helping
them every way in their power
On the evening Of the escape the first man
entered the tunnel at baf past clock, and
every five or ten minutes one followed. As
each man got out under the shed be signalled
his brethren 10y a rope that all was right
Five days were occupied in tracking their
way to the federal lines and some were com
PEELED by exhaustion to give themselves up to
the confederate cavalry, who we're on their
track.
A number were caught in the city, whilst
others we're tracked and caught on the penn-
sula, by the aid Of bloodhounds