New-York tribune., 1886-03-07
SERGEANT BUSH.
AN ESCAPE FROM DANvILLE.

IN ono of the charnel houses that composed the hye
military prisons in the picturesque town OF Dan
ynIe Va Prison No. was situated on hill a
Ett,o to the northwest of the town, and was
asomed the most secure of the five. The prisoners
IN No 4. most of whom were captured at the
hattie of Chcamauga, were very restless under the
restraint imposed upon them by the commandant
of the post, Major Mofat The Major was gentle
man of education, and, considering the influences
by which he was surrounded, of refinement, but ne
was a strict discipinarian and ruled the prisoners
with rod OF iron. The guards were Instructed TO
shoot the first one that made any attempt to parey
with them. while on duty. To lay ones mana on
the window would be sure to bring shot from tho
guard and to accomplish the feat of shooting
"Yapkr was 10 secure furlOugh for thirty days.
So anxious did the younger guards become to Sc
cure the coveted furlough that, did prisoner
merely come near the window, ballet from
Confederate musket was sure to break the glass
SO often was this repeated that there was scarcely
o whole pane of glass in the building
Ii was after such an occurrence that the group OF
prisoners with whom this story begins gathered IN
one corner and engaged In earnest conversation
II was dark and no one DOtlced them. before thlS
many attempts had been made 10 escape but only
10 be frustrated just when success seemed AT hand
The leading spirit In these attempts was Sergeant
Bush, Of l,lO
who enlisted in Grant County, Wis
The Sergeant had been practical MINER and
soon after his capture he planned escape which
was mt into operation. Prison No had
been erected for tobacco manufactory. was four
stories high and had deep cellar underneath
In this collar Bush with few chosen companions
began tunnel in the hope OF securing an out
lot Bush took the dimensions OF the cellar maze
calculation rs to the length of the tunnel us
height and width and found that the cellar would
hold all the dirt the excavation would make. Inc
Marty boped by this tunnel to lberate not only the
prisoners in No. 4, but also those III the
other prisons seize the arms of the Rebel guard ana
strike for the nearest Union force. The plau was
practicable if they could only succeed in making
way ont under the Lrick wall. To accomplish this
Bush and his companions worked with wliI'
digging out the dirt with knives made ont of hoop
iron. and carving it back to the cellar in their
caps. The parties engaged were pledged to
secrecy and so silently was the work car
ried on that they were able to drive their
tunnel thirty five feet, and had struck the black
SOIL when the work was stopped until the next day
in order to notify the most trustworthy OF the
completion Of the work. and the bright prospect OF
seeing home once more. Man appoints God dlsap-
points On the following morning when the Sergeant
entered TO call the roll the Major came into the
prison and each of the patient workers as his num-
ber was called was ordered TO stand one side. until
the whole number engaged in digging the tunnel
wero standing by themselves in one squad. As they
stood with hearts palpitatng aud faces that would
have revealed their chagrln but for tho CRIME and
dirt that concealed their burning cheeks each knew
the meaning of the unusual proceeding. The Major
did not leave the rest long in doubt. Men,, said he.
"yOu have done very fine thing; your enterprise
was well planned and no doubt you thought that
you were winning Immortality for yourselves.
have known of this scheme ever since u was De,
gun; tonight YOU would have made break ana
before tom lTrOws sun had set hundreds Ot Yankee
prisoners would have been laid beneath the SOD
Sergeant Bush will be bucked and gagged TIL
morning aud the others can carry The DIRT back IN
their caps Sergeant turning to the re0e. az hlS
side "dO your duty The sergeant soon had the
indomitabe Bush securely fastened, and then be
led the others into the cellar where the kind
hearted man had shOvels provided, and IN a re,
markably short tine the dirt was securely replaced
from the first unless the Major lledi but who
would forever remain a secret. All hope was de.
srOyed by some one for Loaf OF bread OF plug o1
But those brave spirits could not be dis
mayed by failure. The greater the dill
cu!tIos the greater would be the victory
Previous to digging the tunnel, tho prs
oners had been allowed the use Of the ground floor
End many of them had their quarters there After
tho attempted escape by that means they were
driven upstairs. The length of the building was
east and west. At the west end was "a door open
4
made of two-lnoh plank rlyeted to SOLD frame
work of oak, On the north side of this inclosure
was the gate through which provisions were
brought into the prison. Into this Enclosure linn
iteG number OF prisoners were allowed 10 come at
one time 20 perform the duties of nature. to wash
etc After the prisoners were driven from tho
lower floor ut night there were two guards placed
inside the building. one at the bottom of the steps
leading from the second to the ground floor, and
at the door opening into the yard. The prison
who had 10 60 out at night were compelled to
fall IN line on the stairway and pass out slngy as
came In.
IL will not be necessary to give the names Of all
the party gated III the OF the room at
the commencement of our story, as many OF them
were afterward rejected as not trustworthy. Suf
flee IL to say that Bush was the ruling spirit. He
sergeant of the second floor and had charge of
that part of the building. The prisoners on each
floor were divided into companies, and the com
panIes into squads to facilitate tho issuing of ra
tons The sergeant of the floor was allowed an axe
with short handle TO break the bones Of hat lit
tie meat furnished. This was the private
property o! tho sergeant and he sworn not
TO allow any one but bim5cf TO have It
in possession until relieved by the order of
the commandant. Bush tail, mus
Cular. wel!-bullt man, and brave as a lion
Just the man TO lead fororn hone or 70 command
expedition where brains We're required TO take
advantage Of every circumstance to accomplish Its
end or 10 avoid anything that would lead to a re-
verse. desperate circumstances require desperate
measures 10 relieve them. 80 argued Bush. 10
stag where they were would only secure lnger-
ing half famished existence and III the end, death.
at probably no distant day. The little group of
men readily asscnted. Fight men had been selected
by Bush as those he know he could trust not that
he doubted all the rest but one of them he thought
must have betrayed the tunnel The men engaged
in the present undertaking were Sergeant Bush,
Sergeant Painter, Sergeant Curtis Sergeant Hurst.
Others whose names have escaped my memory.
These men were pledged TO secrecy and fidelity to
each Othereven unto death. The plan of action was
formed. Bush being the sergeant of the floor,
and the best adapted for such position, was 10
take the lead concealing his short axe under his
overcOat and descend the staircase followed
hV pap M No
quietly knock down the guard at the foot of the
stairs and then go on in as uncOncerned manner
es possible aud put qulctus on the guard NJ the
door pass into the yard and dispose Of the guards
there the same way, break down the fastening of
the gate and let the whole party ont. 1t was
bold and dangerous attempt, and required extra
md nH md u