The daily gazette., 1883-03-19
ESCAPE FROM rokr DELAwARE.
A War Reminiscenoe with Some Local
Interest.

| a War Reminiscenue with Some Loea
| Interest.
fPhliadelphia Times.
In the summer Of 1864 concluded had
| been at Fort Delaware long enough, and,
thinking ! should never be exchanged, de
termined TO make my escape, If possible. ]
had a friend of the same way Of thinking
and we procured an oil-cloth and cut 1t into
four pieces, of double thickness. We then
got some shoemakers' wax and thread aud
sewed the pieces of oil-cloth together into a
sort of bag, making the seams water-tight
with the wax. Leaving an opening in the
upper end we inserted a spool, with an air
| tight plug then fastening strap to sus-
peHd the bag upon the neck, leaving It
to hang down on the chest, with
straps at the lower end to tie
around the back, the "Ironclad," as we
called it, was complete. When we wished
to fill 1t with air, 1t was only necessary to
bend the head little, place the mouth to
the spool and blow and the thing was soon
| filled. With this contrivanee itwugfosslble
to float for hours. After preparations were
completed, the next thing was TO get to the
| river without being detected. Well, as good
| luck would have 1t, the barracks next to
ours were occupied by the oath-takers, or
"galvanlzed," as we called them, and, as
they were considered loyal, they were al
lowed to roam about on the island until
nearly dark, especially those who worked on
detail. So, by going through the cook room,
there was nothing to prevent a prisoner get
ting ont on the island aud, once out, to pass
for detail.
WAITING FOR DARKNESS.
We concluded our hest chance lay in that
direction and, getting everything ready,
waited for our opportunity, which came on
the 23d Of July, 1864. detail came into
the yard to clear up the dirt aud trash and
we thought 1t best to go out with them in
stead OF passing through the cook room
Putting ON our "ironclads" under our shirts
and over all blue blouse, we helped the
detail to load their cart and then passed out
with them. After getting outside we walked
slowly towards the fort and watching our
opportunity darted under an old carpenter
shop which was raised two or three feet from
the ground. While waiting there for dark
ness chicken, chased by little darkey
and couple of dogs, took refuge with us,
but was driven out without much trouble,
and we remained undiscovered. At one
time, however, | thought we were "gone
up" The little darkey came 50 near that
could easily have placed my hands on him
and the dogs were smelling about alarm
ingly close to us.
BETWEEN HOPE AND FEAR.
About dark IL began raining and blowing
very hard. Between eight aud nine o'clock
we crept down to the barracks occupied by
a Yankee regiment on duty at the island.
These barracks faced Delaware City and
were about 30 or 40 feet from the banks of
the river. We crawled under them and
took view OF the situation. 1t was not
very encouragins just then, for we found
we had to pass two sentries to get to the
river. We felt that our chances were rather
slim, but we were playing for a big stake
ar were determined TO make the venture
The night being very dark our hope was
that the sentries would take lis for their own
men and let us pass without scrutinizing us
very closely, as there was no countersign on
that part OF the island. At all events we
concluded TO try 1t, for 1t was "sink or
swim" with us then.
So just as the sentry sang out, "Two
O'Clock, and ALPS we'll, we crawled out
from under the barracks and started on a
run for the bridge leading to the sinks. The
sentry on the bridge took us for members of
his regiment, as we had hoped he wood ,and
let us pass. remarking, with laugh: "You
fellows must be in d big hurry
thought Eyes," but kept my mouth shut.
The sentry on the front did not notice us at
all, and on we went to the sinks. We found
no one there, and began operations at once,
fearing the sentry might suspect there was
something wrong If we did not return in a
short time. We got into the water and in
hated our "ironclads' in short order, and
fastening them securely put out from the
shore. We found the tide running out, but
knew that at II O'Clock it would turn.
THE ESCAPE.
When we were about 200 feet from the
bank large reflector, which was raised on
platform near the prisoners barracks, was
turned directly on us, but | suppose the
sentry thought it was not necessary to look
very closely in that direction, so he turned
it toward the barracks again. After that
we were safe from his observation. The
reason no alarm was given and no suspi-
cion aroused was that the sentries we had
passed were relieved very soon after
and, thinking we belonged to their regi-
ment, they said nothing about us to those
who relieved them. When we were about
halfway across the river II was slack water
and we swan directly for the shore, but be-
fore we reached it the tide was coming In
rapidly and we landed near the entrance of
the Chesapeake and Delaware canal. After
getting out of the water we waited half an
hour and then struck out below the town
called Delaware City and, after going some
three miles, we stopped in patch of woods.
We were in the water about two hours aud
a half
In the morning we resumed our journey
and soon came upon little dairy in the side
of hill and about 100 yards from q farm
house. The dairy was built Of logs, and as the
door was locked and we were rather hungry
we concluded to turn burglars. With the
aid of fence rail we forced an entrance
and found some pies and plenty of milk,
cream and butter Helping ourselves liber
ally we again resumed our march.
Here the manuscript ends, but 1t is only
necessary to add that the escape was q sue
cessful one, and the adventuresome priso-
ners, after some further service In the Con-
federate ranks, surrendered with Lees
army and returned to their homes in