Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-20

before mn alarm was given. ! had no
hope from it.
But the other plan could not fail if every
man did his exact duty, and we were now
so well acquainted that we had perfect
confidence in each other. 1t was simply
to attack our foes in broad daylight.
When our food was brought in the after
noon, and the door opened, we could rush
out, selling and holding perfectly quiet
the jailer and his assistant, threatening
them with death if they moved, unlocking
all the doors so that we might have the
assistance of all the prisoners, and then
charge upon the seven soldiers below, dis
possessing them of their muskcts in the
first rush; and if this was done hout
noise or alarm, march them up ii.iu ,ur
room and gag them there. 1t was moi
likely, however, that we would be able to
keep everything quiet enough for this; in
which case we were to run as soon as an
alarm was raised, for we knew that there
was strong reserve close by, and did not
feel able to reckon with any more than the
seven rebels on hand.
In such an attack, the element Of time
and exact planning of every mans work
so that there is no confusion and hesita-
ton, are of vital importance. We ar
ranged with the utmost nicely Capt.
Fry was to begin the movement, for he
was the oldest, and we gave him the post
of honor; | was to stand by and help him
with the jailer and the Waterman Thoer.
If the latter was on hand, as he usually
was; probably was given this place from
the correct view that with my poor eyes
/ would be of more service in scuffe in
the hall than in the glazing light outside.
Then Buffum, who was as agile as n cat,
was to snatch the keys and, waiting for
nothing else, to open all the doors above
There were three, and the fitting of keys
from the bunch under such excitement
was likely to make this take some time
| think no one of us felt that Buffum had
n desirable Office. But it waS desirable to
TO have all the prisoners released if only
| to distract the pursuit. All the others
were arranged into two bands with lead
ers, to slip down the stairway at the pro-
per time and break out on the guards at
the front and rear doors simultaneously
| Then quckness, courage and desperation
were to be pitted against loaded muskets
and bayonets, and the issue left to the
God of battles.
We had also chosen our comrades and
routes. We were 70 travel in pairs and
! in every direction. Capt. Fry was to be
my partner and al, the rest considered
| that / was fortunate, for he would be at
home in the Cumberland mountains to-
ward which we were to Journey. The
| intended course was marked out for each
couple and everything done to forward
the movement on which we believed de-
pended our last chance of escaping the
gallows. We did not forget to make most
earnest supplications i'll prayer, and to
vow, in the old time manner, that we
would render faithful service 10 the Lord
of Hosts if he would aid us in this great
emergency.
1t was afternoon when we received the
intelligence which determined our action
and we could not very we'll be ready to
start that day. SO the work was set for
the following afternoon. We patched our
shoes as well as we could, and made cloth
moCCaSins to protect our feet for many
shoes were worn out. We gave messages
to each other beginning with the form,
"lf You get ont and | do not'-for we
could not tell who would be the fortunate
ones in the effort or how many might
fail. We had a strong conviction Of sue
cess, but whether seven guards would
allow their muskets to be taken without
using bullet or bayonet against some of
their aSsailants with fatal effect, seemed
more than doubtful, have made ready
for battle more than once, but never had
50 deep and solemn a realization OF the
uncertainty Of the issue as on this occa
sion