The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-18
LIBBY TUNNEL.
The True History of Its Construction as
Told by One of It's Constructors

| to give full and complete history of the Libby
| Prison tunnel He says that he knows well
| that am reluctant to do this, but he assigns
reason therefor which hardly think just 1t
| is not false modesty that makes me reluctant to
do so, but it is because am not accustomed to
writing articles for publication. Besides, can
| not write correct history of the Libby Prison
tunnel without dwelling on my own connection
with its entire construction. In this case, how
| ever, Colonel Dodge says that it is duty that
owe to my comrades to write this history for
publication:
Captain A. G. Hamilton, Twelfth Kentucky
Cavalry afterwards promoted) ana myself be-
gan the tunnel scheme in the eastern cellar OF
the prison shortly after my arrival there Octo-
Der 1, 1868 We continued our work but for
few days, when we were compelled to suspend
it by reason of the shifting of the prisoners to
different rooms; also, the tearing down of stair
ways, walling up doorways, etc, which
tinued for two or three weeks During this time
Hamilton and myself cut our way down into the
carpenter shop, out of which we prepared to
make dash for liberty.
party of us went down into the shop
for this purpose on more than one occasion, but
the unexpected shifting Of the prison-guard
prevented the attempt. This party at that time
consisted of Hamilton Fitzsimmons, Mcdonald.
Lucas and myself. This shop continued to be
accommodating ground for some time, and
large party, consisting of seventy men, was
organized to operate from this place, the object
being to overpower the guard and break away,
whenever the approach of radng parties
of our own troops or other circumstance would
render this plan of escape practicable. AT
length the shifting of the prisoners ceased
and the work of the prison officials seemed fin
ished. Then Hamilton and myself again turned
our attention to the tunnel project; but we were
now cut off from the eastern cellar, the only
place from which tunnel could be made with
far fhofit ,lxy Il
where we could conceal the dirt, and where we
could work without interruption for several
hours at time The hospital and hospital
Office were Immediately over this cellar. The
carpenter-shop and the dungeons were along
side of it. We had access to the dining-room,
which, fortunately, was seldom visited
by anyone at night. 1t was from
this place that we had cut into the carpenter
shop directly underneath, and we could cut
through the carpenter shop wall into the cellar,
but the hole in the wall could not we'll be con-
cealed. We could cut through the dining room
wall into the hospital, then through the hospital
floor into the cellar, but this plan would not do
for many reasons. We therefore resorted to
device, the execution of which has never been
surpassed for care and SKILL when it is con
sidered that instruments little better than
pocket knives were used. We went to the
| chimney, between the dining-room and hospital,
close to the dining room door, where the rebel
sentinel stood. In the fireplace Of this chimney
was large amount Of SCOT and ashes.
In front of the fireplace were some stoves.
We lifted the stove a little, removed
the SCOT and ashes from the fireplace
and placed them in a gum blanket A
hole was then cut in the back just far
| enough not to make hole into the hospital;
| then straight down through the wall to below
| the hospital floor, and just wide enough not to
| make an opening into the carpenter shop; then
| straight out under the hospital floor into the
cellar, making a hole through the entire wall
somewhat in the form of the letter S-from the
! diningroom into the cellar, large enough to adj
| NIT the passage of man. The material was
cut that after the hole was completed it could
| be replaced and removed at will, and not q
vestige of the work DC seen when the material
was replaced and the SCOT thrown back. For
| the careful execution of this ingenious work the
| credit is due entirely to Hamilton
We now went down into the cellar by means
of a strong rope which was afterwards made
into rope ladder, and recommended the work
which he had begun several weeks before.
There was no more very ingenious work to be
| done after made way back again into
| the eastern cellar but there was great deal of
| hard work before us. Three holes were cut
| through the heavy foundation wall on the east
] ern side of the cellar before place was found
| where the dirt was firm enough to support the
| tunnel We were now SO much
| secure from interruption and discovery that
| determined to organze party
of workmen. The great readiness that
had been shown by the prisoners to engage in
| the other adventures led rae to suppose that
| there would be but little difficulty in organic
| ing party that would push the work through in
| very few days. Four men could be on duty at
| one time-one to dig, one to fan fresh air into
the tunnel, one to draw the dirt back and deposit
| it, and to stand guard the rebel sentinel
| and give the danger signal A party of fifteen
was, therefore, sufficient to be divided into three
! leliefs, each to work one night and have two
nights rest, and still have supernumerares in
| case of sickness or accident.
| Fifteen men, therefore, including Hamilton
and myself. were selected to compose this party.
| found more difficulties with this arrangement
| than had anticipated. The men were totally
unused to the circumstances. The profound
| darkness of the place caused some of them to
| become bewldered when they attempted to
! move about, and absolute silence had to be
observed, they could not find their way to places
where they were needed, find their way
| out of the CELLAR and, what was worse, as the
| cellar was very large and no one must speak
| above whisper, it was matter of great diff
| Guilty to find them / sometimes had to feel all
| over the cellar to gather up the men that
| were lost. The indescribably bad odor
and impure atmosphere of the cellar made
| some of them sick. The uncomfortable posi-
! tons in which they had to work amid crawling
rats-the cellar called rat h---l-was un
| endurabe to some To the unrefecting the
scheme seemed iInpracticable as the
| first burst Of enthusiasm over. The work
1 did not progress as thought it should. In a
very shor; time this party was disbanded, and
| Hamilton and myself continued our dreary
work alone, as before, for many nights Every
day added to our experience. and l resolved to
organize the working party anew. The same
men that composed the first working party, as
nearly as practicable were assembled, and,
taking advantage of acquired experience, the
party was organized with great care. A few
! of those who composed tho first party, from
| sickness or other cause We're not available, and
new men were selected to fill their places. The
| party divided into three permanent reliefs
/ as before and no man was permitted to do but
| one kind of work. If he was not an expert at
4 fha ind IF orb UVad4 IN aim h0
| joined upon to tecome quickly as possible
| This party now worked with energy and system,
and, although their work progressed very slowly
at first, it increased each night, and in seven
| teen nights the tunnel was completed from the
cellar to the shed in the yard. on the west side
of the warehouse, from which the escape of the