The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-22
Tram tho New York Times OF Sunday lsst.l
rro rirst Escape from the Libby.

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rr,ou the New York Times Of Sunday iss''1
rrs Yirst Escape from the Libby.
NARRATIVE OF CArTAIS B. F. PORTER, of
80" THE NEW JERSEY CAVALRY.
r,n,sin Porter's narrative is put in bis own
unrds as nearly as possible.
From the fifst moment when II oeeauie
,,r,ain that the SUBJECT OF excnsnge Was W
=. ;Ddeiuitely postponed resolved Win ,he
N,brrs that would escape; but soon as
.nysred that their plan could not be mine.
Y,n,. before I saw the Libby the famous
,'ndafcround tunpel bad been commenced
= fscI, worked at 1t frequently BY nighf,
Ming to give my companions IN captlVlv
,ss h.nett OF my bands while stayed, though
.So ~, ,nnneI could not help me. AT the time
~ nv csnture-outSide Port HUDSON, June
:, i.G3 i received a wound IN the leg
~, -, csrbipe ball, which gave me no
.,omhp until my confinement. But after
! 'y~. had been lodged in the Libby it be-
came sore and irfiamed, either from
t.T si- or water, or perhaps the confinement
;..a,S ..a Il grew better after time; but as
i,,,., ,%o,nnnel approached completion, and Colo
i sIi S,rsight and the Others were making
.n.;- ~, 6nqi nrepsratious for escape, realized
.he, .ne,' ! wss not vigorous enough to take my
.harcss with them in the wild fight which
,L.r rcdita,cd, and that if attempted 1t l
.So,,d 49, n.rtsply lag behind and be picked up
hr thn rebel cavalry that would scour the
.onn,rv NV only hope, l thought, was to
70, outside long enough before the general
sl,rm was given TO obtain good start, and
-eqrl, onr line near Yorktown. And If this
vas % be done at all it must be done at once.
THE ,uppcl had been constructed IN the daily
dread Of discovery, and every day Increased
tho chance ;ba, it would be discovered. l
consulted with some of my companions, and
re.oIyed TO try my luck alone several days
hn,orn they would be ready for their great
attempt.
Was favored by the promise Of assistance
from an unexpected source, which came TO
mrin very strange way. was standing oy
the grated window one day, looking out into
the yard when lady PAS ed on the other side
oftbc way. followed by negro. She saw me
=, the window, and, with quick motion OF
bprh1rd. she put aside her shawl, showing me
,mall Union flag in the bosom Of her dress,
and Instantly covered itagain. Regarded 1t
asa pleasant and unusual incident, but never
dreamed Of bearing of it again. In less than q
wcek, however, saw the same negro who fol-
loved the lady. He was allowed to come 10
among Us to sell fruit, and, passing near me,
be tossed me large sweet potato, with q
knowing lock, which l did not fail 10 CON-
preherd. After the guard bad left the room
] examined the potato, ard took from the
cer,re of it a sm III folded paper. The paper
bore the uame of the lady whom had seer
from the window, and contained minute
directions for finding her home. Addressing
me as "the unknown Union officer" she
promised that If could get out OF prison
and come 10 her she would conceal me faith
fully until could make good my escape.
This was a ray of hope that lent encourage
menl TO me. Considering the condition O
my leg, it seemed really providential; and
went TO work Systematically and with en-
ergy, and get With the caution that was then
second nature TO Us, to devise ways and
means for an escape. The plan that adopted
and in which succeeded, was simply te
collect together articles enough to make the
uniform Of rebel soldier, to put them on,
and 10 quietly wear them out Of the prison.
Nor was II SO difficult 10 obtain this kind oi
clothing as might be supposed. Most OF our
officers hsd one or two gray garments which
they had purchased as their own wore out, Oh
obtained in some way from the negroes and
soldiers TO whom they bad access; and as
cold weather came on they could do SO, and
wear that kind of clothing without suspicion
made my plan known to number OF the
officers, and speedily bad the coveted dis
guise slowed away behind some movable
bricks in the wall. / was troubled for some
time TO get gray cap, but that obtained o
one of the guard with the help of one o.
several gold pieces which I had concealed In
the lining Of my blouse after my capture be-
fore Has searched. Then / borrowed 3
razor and pair of scissors, which had beer
lealously concealed by some of my comrades,
and With my preparations as nearly made g.
they could be, waited for the morning thai
bad selected Tor my attempted escape. - -
This is simple narrative of facts; there
lore Will omit any statement of how l felt
IL tlis critical time. 1t was very early in the
morning, and not soul was stirring in the
L!boy save the guards, who tramped back
aud forth heavily in The halls above and be-
low, when went to the window, and with
the help OF little water that was left in-my
can, and trusting great deal 10 the sense OF
ID! ieeslng, shaved of the long, dropping
mous'ache and luxuriant beard which my
seven months confinement had given me.
AeSt shaved my hair almost as close as q
colviels, and with the help OF little store
o' lrk that we had among Us dyed my
naturally light eyebrows. After this put on
my gray suit, bultoning the coat up tight to
Tue Chin, that might look something like an
oiuefIy without side-arms; and then ]
"AiSed patiently ntar the door. In about
tn a hollr the norniDg allowance of food was
brought 10; and this was xny time. walked
snaght out of the door, and passed the
suafd In the AaaL Ipassed h'm with firm
Sp SSlep and an erect bearing. He looked care
;;sssiy al me aDd said not word. Descend
lug lhe stairs passed another guard in the
@ ro"ef nall IN the same way Acting ia exact
pursuance ~, Of the plan bad formed, went
.nS 'he prson-esaee at the end Of the hall,
Nuu asked the clerk the time. =. /.-e's 4. s,,,s
fretty near7," be said, locking at his
s"a,ee, and then iudiferently, at. me. I saw
St. ~ ela mol krow me, bat it WAS with some
dcui'y diiy That succeeded ip keeping the
uS'ScoYery ~ out OF my face when ( recognized
- 'ls same clerk an old friend, those ac-
a.ailAsnce wv with me dated back. before the
ha, aeio Who left a situation ln q wholesale
NJ Sase % ~ Aew York 10 enter the civil service
a. a. tae Ccntederacy. But + Was Scesl, and..
srau sa" ,he perfection of,ms Disguise; I
e. n,,s ~ confident. From the ofsce walked,
.Ss sae ae ooor, and here net MAJOR Tusner,l
b;,n 'ommandanf, just entering. u salpted
tw. promptly, and boldly walked out be-.
Il I,se rec tbe nuskets that guarded the door.
tns mo ~. minutes more I was out o. sight OF!
NC hateful Libby. es xS,SjsF
~ u''lag in nay freedom, / did the most
escsssS ttrsish. with lG7 other Ussen cheers,
!;s !;s.s, D. q Mnnsi sscsysssd nsea ine Ssl;s I'D
'sseLsc ibss sixty, ancladlnk CpasasS s,gsighs