The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-08

My discovery was this, that one OF the plank
contained a series of small holes, each an
inch In diameter, and two feet apart, from
bottom to top. The thought occurred to
me that by shaping half a dozen stout pegs,
one might take advantage of a stormy night
and crawl to the wall, and by inserting peg
after peg reach the top swing over; and
lurk under the platform of the "sentry-walk'
until a favorable moment to scud away down
the beach into the water. 1t would then
be necessary to wade out as far as possible
to avoid detection from the guards on the
parapet of the "Privates Pen"
There was, Of course, great risk of being
shot by the %sentry's who were under orders
to shoot down any prisoner seen within ten
feet of the walD, or of breaking ones neck
by falling from the fence; or of drowning in
the turbulent surf. But these were
merely risks, whereas our daily torture
was a certainty-and apparently limitless.
Several officers agreed to make the attempt;
and all hands turned to secret preparation,
getting articles of citizens dress, canteens for
water, a supplyo of crackers wrapped in greas-
ed paper Ito preserve from the salt-water)
and a chart of the country north of the Point,
SO far as could be drawn by Mai. Bronaugh.
and other Marylanders.
The project had so far advanced that
Lieut.. S. one rainy night crept to the wall,
and tried several of the pegs, placing them
In the holes, and resting his weight there
upon. The fence creaked, the sentry stopp-
ed in his pacing, and a sudden flash of light
ming (which seemed to last ten minutes. as
mid summer lightning often does showed
the dark form at the foot of the wall so
plainly that | cannot account for the sol
dier's not seeing it unless he We're terrified
by the vivid CLEAN itself.
A few days later our plans received much
discouragement by the return of three pris-
oners who had contrived to secret them
selves when sent out on some fatigue
duty" They had wadedi into the Bay until
only their noses remained above water: and
had crouched thus In the sand until after
nightfall. Then, they began to move
Northward, and thought themselves free.
Alas! the stockade had been carried out to
deep water at each end, and the wind-driven
waves dashing against the huge logs pre-
vented any attempt to pass around the pro-
lection unless by an excellent swimmer.
Only one could win aud he met with worse
luck than the other. For, after escaping two
miles up the peninsula he came to a dense
morass, a small Dismal Swamp impassi-
BILE except upon the narrow corduroy road
way. Stepping out upon this he was dis
covered by a cavalry picket, and returned
to the Prison an hour or two after his COM
rades. All were tied hand and foot, and
thrown down in the sand of a filthy guard
tent, without blankets, or any clothing upon
their persons except their shirts and draw
the waves. and thickets. After several
days of this brutal treatment Ut IS brutal
to punish a military prisoner for attempting
to escape. since it is his Dirty to do SO it he
cam they were allowed to return to the
PEN" to ~acquaint us with their mlstor-
tunes. All how | then reproached my
self for never learning how to swlm But
we did not give up our endeavor.
RTNOR OF REMOVAL-A BIG PLOT TO
SEIZE THE VESSEL -TREkCHERY IN
OUR w RANKS, ETC.
We were growing desperate. Bad news
from Richmond, added to the daily loss OF
some cOmrade whom we had learned to
like, and the facilitating effect OF the poison
Gus we'll water, rendered us almost demen-
ted. There was not a tree on the Point, nor
aDv green thing, to lessen the glare OF the
July sun. on the hot sand, and CLASSY Wa
tiers: the sieve-like tents afforded no shelter
the high fence cit off every Whit Of breeze
and the PEN seemed like the bottom OF a
great gravel pit, glowing at white heat.
To enhance our torment came intelligence
of the total cessation of Exchanges OF
Prisoners" followed by rumors that we
we're about to te transferred to that Lower
most He'll" uf Human Hells. Fort De "a
ware Death-Pen!
As the report ran from tent 20 tent faces
Grew white, and hands were clenched, In
Universal resolution to suffer it not Many
wild projects were mooted: but as all knew
the attempt would be as desperate as the in,
citing causes, common consent finally allotted
the planning of the campaign to a few per
sons. Mai. Branch, OF Petersburg, a gallant
Young Virginian of a well-known family,
HE survived the war only to perish within
sight of his own home by the breaking down
Of the Bridge over the canal at Richmond
at the time of the great calamity a few years
aeo) was chosen as leader, by virtue OF his
rank, as we'll as because he hax secured a re
~volver struggled to him in a keg Q! peer oy
a friend who paid some prison othclai $.oo
for the pri, elage, on the plea of the Majors
III haaltn-