The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-13
A CAMP CHASE STORY.
How Confederate Prisoners Plotted for Lib
erty In Expectation of Outside Aid.

How Confederate Prisoners Plotted for Lib
erty in Expectation of Outside Aid.
Fort Worth Letter in st. Louis Globe remocrat.
Capt E. E. Rankin, well-known citizen of
Tarrant county. living at Arlington, having read
the disclosures recently made In the press re-
gardlng great conspiracy to release Southern
prisoners of war in Northern bastlles, furnishes
the following very interesting account Of the or
ganization of an Escape League" in Camp
Chase prison. He SAYS:
l reached Camp Chase, O.. on the 9th of
August, 1864 From then until some time in
September we were treated as well we could
expect Under the circumstances; had more rations
issued to rs than we could eat But as we'll as
/ now remember about the 10Th of September
we were notified that our rations would be cur
tailed, and that nothing would in future be sold
to prisoners that could be used as food being
told at the same time that it was done by gen.
eral orders of the War Department asretaliaton
for treatment of Northern prisoners at Ander-
sonville, Libby and other Southern prisons.
Small pox broke out among some time
during November great many dying in the
hospitals and of those sent back in the prison as
convaescent. but few recovered, as the ratlons
were not sufficient, either in quality or quantity.
to build up the system, making them an easy
prey to pneumonia During December of that
year we learned that there was a secret organl-
cation in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, organized
by those opposed TO the policies of the gov
eminent at Washington, and would lend US all
the assistance in their power to aid US IN our es-
cape to the South, if we could once get out OF
prison. We were dying at fearful rate from
starvation and disease and had been told that
no more prisoners would be exchanged, conse.
quently were in just the right frame OF mind to
undertake any desperate chances for liberty A
secret organization was formed with that object
in view-a requisite to mem bershlp being that
the applicant must be recommended by some
member who could voueh for his loyalty to the
Southern cause. and take an oath that he would
reveal nothing and obey any and all orders from
his officers at any hour, though he knew that IN
doing death would be certain,
A commander-in-ch was selected, clothed
with discretionary powers as to when and how
to make a break for liberty. We were then or
ganiZed into companies, regiments and brlgades,
with the necessary commissioned and nOn-com-
missioned officers. We were then set quietly TO
work making preparation. Every man who
could spare blanket was ordered to manufac-
ture it into q rope ladder, which was done as
follows: The blankets cut into strips
about four inches wide. and plated together like
rope making a large knot every sixteen
inches) of sufficient length to reach to the
top OF the parapet On one end a forked
stick was fastened to act a grapple when
thrown to the top of the parapet Others were
ordered to prepare sings (such AS school
boys use) and to gather up stones
pieces of iron, or anything that could be
used, of sufficient size and weight to kill or dis
able o man. Others were ordered to secure any
thing they could find. when the orders were
given, to answer as battering rams to break down
the prison walls Others had orders to rush TO
the armory, which was just IN front of the pris-
on gates and secure the arms and ammunition
and overpower any of the guards who had not
been killed or disabled. All of these prepare
tons were so quietly made that no one not a
member would see or hear anything which would
ever cause him to suspect that an organization
of any kind was In existence. We were ordered
not to talk to each other on the subject, but
could readily distinguish each other by signs and
pass words. All details were arranged by the
commander-in. chief, and his orders issued to the
officers by couriers, they being changed every
day by detail from the different companies.
The plan mapped out was. when we found
ourselves outside the prison walls, to mount as
many men as we could find horses or mules for
at the prison. who had orders to take every
horssRhey could find and bring them into the
marching column Those unmounted were TO
make hurried march to Columbus. six miles
distant, where we were assured that our friends
would have horses and arms in readiness for
large number of US, and the government, car and
livery stables, State arsenal and gun shop would
be drawn on for the remainder
We wera then to make a forced march to the
Ohio river, where we expected to find boats In
readiness to land US on the sunny coil of Dixie.
Some time after thorough organization and
preparation, we were notified on Saturday night
about o'clock to be in readiness at o'clock
next morning when the gates were opened for
the scavenger carts) to make the break. few
minutes before o'clock We were notified to wait
until T. NJ, al Wnlcn LlIn0 tue gates WOulO D0
open again. Again we were doomed to disap
pointment, as a few minutes before the time we
we're ordered to hold ourselves in readiness until
"A. NJ. Monday. Again the order was counter
manded and time set FOR p NJ, and again the
time changed to A. M. Tuesday. Again the
order was countermanded. Why the attempt
was not made on Sunday and Monday we never
knew, but Tuesday it was plain
enough to our minds that the attempt then could
end only in disaster, as the guards had been
largely increased on the parapets, and every
thing betokened that our plans had been dis
covered, or at least suspected. / am of the opin-
ion that if the orders had not been counter
manded the movement would have been sue
cess, as we had reliable information that there
were only 400 or 500 armed men to guard US,
while we were 5000 or 5000 strong. though not
expected that all would join when they saw It's
object. The enthusiasm and determination was
at fever heat and would have carriA' them over
obstacles that, under ordinary circumstances,
would have been unsurmountable.
AS may be imagined, when we found that our
hopes of liberty and fond antcipations of meet
ing loved ones at home had been blasted the
reaction was fearful. We believed that our
commander had betrayed us. and had he not
been removed to another department. of the
prison he would have been roughly treated,
men then acted upon impulse and reasoned after
wards.
The reports of the reverses and defeats of our
armies soon effaced the affair from minds
AS for myself, / had long since regarded the idea
of the help then promised US from the States be-
fore mentioned as a myth, until read the ar
ticles published last month, but l am now salts
fed that the statements were true.
The Way 1t Works.
Puck.