The National tribune., 1883-03-15
DARK DAYS IN DIXIE.
Experiences in Southern PriSOn-PenS'
A Sketch of CahaWba.
Something About Cahamba Prison.
o the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

In your issue of the lst inst. Francis Wright of
Adrian, Michigan, calls for good description of
CahaWba Prison am not certain that Cali fill
the bin but can describe the prison as remem-
ber il now. ] lived there much against my wiil)
six long weeks in the summer of 1864. ! was
one of twelve who were sent there from the
battle-ground of Tupelo, Miss, through some mis-
take of of General Forests officers and our
sourrn only lasted until the mistake could be
rected which-thanks to the kindness of the officer
in command of the prison-his either
Fitzgerald or Fitzpatrick, have forgotten which
did not take longer than was necessary. The
prison cotton shed, standing on the south
west bank of the Alabama River about thirty feet
back from perpendicular bank or ledge twenty
five feet high, reaching to the waters edge.
sockade of timber started from the northeast cor
OF the cotton shed, extending to the margin of
this ledge; thence down along its brink, nearly to
the south end OF the shed thence across a little
gully, Joining the wall of the cotton shed about
fittv feet from its south end forming a ward about
thirty by three hundred feet This seems to have
been built for the convenience of the guards. At
the front north end a small room had been built
in which the relief stayed when off duty. The
prison proper WAS about one hundred and fifty by
three hundred and fifty feet Its wall of brick,
about twenty feet high. The north end, for dis
tancc of fifty feet inside, was covered with roof.
\ roof about twenty feet wide also extended
along the east side. The south and west walls
were bare. On the outside of these two walls
n walk for The guards about three feet down from
the top. Inside, on the ground, about ten feet
from these ;~o walls, the dead-linc," :" which
it WAS instant death to cross. Ii was marked by
posts set fifty feet apart Guards stationed
along the north and part of the east wall, and
would not allow crowd to collect them. ~
the northeast corner of the prison was built IL
room. which, a. ! remember it, thirty by
hundred feet. This was of boards. built up to the
roof. Tiers of hunks built the sides and
through the centre, CxteN;ling from ground to ROOT
In this room all the prisoners were confined at
night-as soon rs it was dark. Guards walked
through the alleys About one thousand feet west
Of the north end of this shed was II large artcsan
well. siX-inch pipe was laid from that, under
ground, to point near the centre of the prison.
where it discharged into sewer, which open
for about fifty feet running daGonay TO the east
The last thirty feet of this archcd over
and had heavy iron CRATE where the open and
closed part joined. The water in the open part
OF this sewer about one and cnc-half feet deep
and came nearly up to the level OF the ground.
This built Of brick, and the ground
paved with brick for scvcr; Irct each side Of both
the open and closed part. Immediately over the
place where the closed part wen, under the east
wall of the prison hole had been cut in the wall
and door put in. ON .lC outside and within the
storkade and in the gully spoken of aiovc 81
story SheG-root hi:i!dih@. SIX by twentNiour feet
had been buiit for tiIc convenience of the prisoners
Outside the wall of this building this sewer took
the form of = deep box two by four feet; auc! eX-
tended through the south wall of the stcCkadc.
The boys conceived the IDEA OF making heir escape
through this sewer. 80 some old Tin or sh"ct-iron
cooking utensils were cit up mo strips about
inch wide. T4@n, just before dark. Il crowd would
collect about the door OF This out house, and while
come were shouting and singing ~ loud rs they
could others WoNu get up ~ NOES quarrel, or do
anything they could To make noise, while u few
skilled workmcn wuuid I've removing the bricks
in The arch over the closed part of tie sewer near
the grating, and by the use OF the IAN strips making
ii sort of movable basket II cover 10 a hole large
enough to let man through. Ii took us lust >lx
days to complete the job. Then while Il crowd
round, the six men Who could swim, chosen
by lot, would pass out through this sewer after
another; then the hole i'll the sewer vOuldv v.bc
closed up bat the noise would be continued IossSn
hour The first oLwoud go out Just at dark then
again at about one a. M another crowd would col
lcyt round the GooT, ami six would go out.
In this way about one hundred got ont before any
We're rcCaptured. Then the watch became so vigi-
liant that we dare not Send any more out. As left
mi .rEs.a tt,, II q
Of the sewer path" Perhaps Mr. Wright can
tell for ii he was blown up on the s;u!tanua he
must have been in Cailawba after was
Il l.. ANDEEws
Late Co. B. 18th Iowa.