The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-10
PRISONERS AT CAMP CHASE.
The Enterprise Displayed in Planning and
Constructing Tunnels-Tools Used.

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Constructing Tunnels-Tools Used.
While at Camp Chase we learned in va
rious ways how some of our fellow-prison-
ers at Camp Morton were kiled-wan-
tonly as we thought-while attempting to
escape by tunnels which they had made
from within their prison inclosure. Pos
sibly these statements were made to check
us in similar efforts for escape, as the
planning and constructing Of tunnels, car
ried on with great secrecy, was popular
enterprise for several months in Camp
Chase after all hopes of an early exchange
were destroyed. We learned and had rea-
sons to believe that when it was known by
those in command ut Camp Morton that
such @ tunnel would come out at certain
point beyond the walls, the guards had
orders to shoot any prisoners who made
their exit there, and that some were SO
shot without any other attempt to secure
them. For the correctness Of this state
ment we must rely on men then confined
at Camp Morton to corroborate or deny 1t.
Certain it is that attempts at "tunneIng
outn were continued at Camp Chase In
spite of such statements, up to the very
time that all officers confined at Colum-
bus, Ohio, including those of Gen. john
H. Morgan, were removed in March, 1864,
to Fort Delaware, where, If they sue
ceeded in tunneling, their tunnels would
come out in the waters of Delaware bay.
When we left, shaft and tunnel were in
progress under the floor Of our mess-room
Some idea of the extreme difficulty and
slowness Of these efforts for liberty may
be formed from the following facts: All
the work was done in the darkness Of the
night, after "taps" by details and reliefs
from the most trusted men Of our number
for spies were kept among us, and it was
hard to identify them. After "taps" our
fire was allowed to die down. The stove
was moved enough from it's position to
take up some of the rough boards of the
loose floor as noiselesly as possible. In
this way the shaft was sunk in the earth
Immediately under the stove, the floor
being near the ground Toward morning
everything was carefully put back in its
place, and no visible traces of the nights
work were left. 1t may be asked, how
did you get tools for digging, and what
was done with the dirt removed from
these tunnels? A file was obtained by
Careful IldIluSSeuleuU, lueit " otiap-iihSS
was taken from an out house. This hinge
made two excellent small hoes for tunnel.
ing.
How? With the file the two straps" of
the hinge were cut apart where they
unite. The broad part Of each strap"
was heated and bent, and then sharpened
like hoe on the broad edge. Each strap"
was fastened with the screws taken from
the hinge to small wooden handle, less
than foot long. This made convenient
and effective hoe for such work, "in close
quarters" as the men did who formed the
working force in their unique mining. The
dirt removed from the tunnels was put IN
large pockets" concealed in the clothes of
the workers. When these pockets were
filed they were emptied into the common
asink,n within the prison walls, to which
prisoners were allowed access at all hours
Of the night. Our "sappers and miners"
found this work warmer than one might
suppose on those winter nights in Ohio;
for they were working in narrow tunnels
under ground, and they were buoyed by
the exciting hope Of escape. Your readers
would be astonished if Informed of the
amount Of work accomplished by these sim.
pie contrivances of our southern soldiers.
j. w. A. Wright in Southern Bivouac.