The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-18
MORE OF GENERAL MoRGAN'S
 ESCAPE

eral Morgan and the SIX officers who ac- companled him. The account of that eS- cape by Captain Thomas Il. Hines Is, in my opinion, the most accurate and lucid which has appeared, and leaves, indeed, but little room for correction or addition A few particulars, in which my memory differs from hts, will be noticed ID the course of this article.
 In advance, however, l cannot refrain from passing notice of the assertion re- gently made by Captain Hooker smith that Hines has unjustly and untTuthfully assumed to himself the credit of devislng and directing thls movement. Twas sur, prised to sec Cap: ain Hockersmith' S arti- cle. as doubt not all or certainly most of his prison associates will be. For nearly twensy-two years Captain Hines has oeeI the universally accepted author of the enterprise. As did not CSC ape, saw none of the southern public ations at the time but 1t is my understanding, from members of the command, that the accounts of Morgans es ape published immediately afterward in southern papers correspond with Hines version | un- derstand further that, in a publication made upon General Morgan's authority, Hines is mentioned as having origin a,ed and conducted the enterprise. Major John B Castleman informs me that Gen. eral Morgan personally mace the same statement to him very shortly after the escape think therefore, that Captain Hockersmith is mistaken in supposing that General Morgan, if alive, would h ave attributed to him the credit which he charges Hines with falsely assuming.
 My personal knowledge amounts to nothing more than as follows, but it is sufficient to satisfy my own mind Cap tain Hines and Captain Hockersmitn did not know personally until after our imprisonment. There became intima ate with Hines, and was very friendly with Hockersmith. Captain Sheldon 1 kne~ intimately, as he was captain of my o~n company. Captain Taylor was raised in my neighborhood, and we had been friends all our lives. Captains Bonnet; and Niece l was friendly with, but we were not intimate. Owing to wound received l did not reach the prison ull some time in August, five or SIX weeks after the others. Alter few weeks Hines and myself commenced a course of read ing together-l believe reading G,bbon $ Rome. We usually occupied my cell during considerable par. of the morn. ing. During this intercourse l found that Hines mind vas continually occu- pied with plans of escape With an m domitable courage and will, he possessed most active and enterprising mind He had devised or obtained key for secret correspondence with friends outside. Al ter while Hines. without explanation to me, suddenly broke off the course of reading, and renamed during the morn ings aoout his own cell 1 vas little hurt about this but the cordiality of his manner soon satis6ed me hat there was no ground of offense between us. Alter few days Hines revealed to me the req son for his course. He informed me that himself and the others were then en- gagged in the effort to make an escape, and explained the plan and the grounds which he had to hope for success My recollection is distinct that At this time Hines informed me that from conver- sat,on wi,h Mir. Heavey-an old prison guard, and the klndiest one we ever had he had succeeded ln obtaining the in- formation that an air-chamber, in the form of blind arch, underlay the range of our cells, and that at once, he con ceived the idea this could be successfully used for tunneling out of the prison In speaking of the personnel of the little company who were to escape, Hocker- smith was assigned a most important DO sition because of his mechani cal skill he being brick-mason By the valuable work which Captain Hoe kersmith after ward performed he certainly vindicated his title to great credit ID the execution of the plan. Other modes of escape had been considered and dis u ssed previously to this and, according to my recollec- ton, General Morgan was then seriously considering plan of escape by cap ture of the penltentiAry. Upon this sus gestion of Hines, however all other methods were immediately abandoned, and every effort WAS concentrated on the successful accomplishment of this one It is true that l never heard Cap ain Hockersmith state that Hines devised the scheme, but neither did ever hear hlm claim the credit. As soon as the matter was mentioned to me by Hines ex- pressed desire to assist in the work These men were all my friends, and felt the keenest interest in seeing them escape My own cell was located so near the ordinary station of the guard, that | recognized at once that could no, be of the parry. With the consent of the others however. immediately commenced work in the air-cham Der, and continued th at work until its end. believe l did the greater part of the work ia cutting through the cell of Captain Sam Taylo the only tool used being an ordinary steel case knife.
 shall never forget an occasion upon which l came very near causing dis- covery of the work that was going on The original entrance into the arch am Der had been made thr ough Hines cell The lest of the work was done in he ar chamber, cutting from beneath. Hines usually sat at the entrance to his ctlt glving notice or causing notice to b. given to those at work whenever guard or any off1-iaI should come into the hall