The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-10
CHAPTER XIV.
A DARING ESCAPE PLANNED.

DARING ESCAfE PLANNkD.
From the very beginning of our impris-
onment we had thought and planned about
escape. A very hopeful scheme had been
foiled ut Chattanooga by the separation of
the band when the twelve were sent to
Knoxville Andrews and Wollam had
actually gotten outside the prison walls
the latter remaining at large for many
days. How to escape was &c topic of
conversation which never lost S interest.
We felt that IL once more in the open air
our chance of reaching our lines in the
clear October weather, and with the abun.
dant supplies in the fields, would be fai
greater than in the spring. We went
over all the errors committed on first
leaving the train, and each gave all others
the benefit of all the knowledge of geog.
raphy he possessed.
But in many other respects we were less
favorably situated now for an escape than
we had ever been before. The distance
was greater to be traversed, for Gen.
Buell. had been forced back almost to the
Ohio river. Our own number was dimin-
ished by death. We were MI weakened
by more than six months Oh terrible inn
prisonment, and some of our best men
were too sick to take very active part in
the struggle, while strong guard was
constantly on duty and we were in n
strongly barred and locked upper room in
the edge of city which was almost in
the center of the Confederate.
But we resolved ut every hazard to
make an attempt if there should be the
slightest intimation of an intention to
bring us before another court martial. 1t
was better to die on the bayonets Of the
guards than on the scaffold.
Long before this, when utterly wearied
with captivity, we wrote letter to JEFF
ferson Davis-still preserved in the gov.
eminent Notwithstanding our case from
our own point of view. This brought no
response. More recently we wrote again
to Gen. Bragg, commanding the depart
ment in which we were. This had been
forwarded, step by step, to the president
of the Confederacy, bringing from him q
savage question as to why we had not all
been executed like our comrades! This
letter and its numerous Endorsements are
published II the War Records. We only
knew of the danger it indicated at tho
time indirectly. Our guard was strength
ened; the jailor was overheard b.
prisoner in another room saying: sThose
Ohio men will soon all be hung!" The
commander of the post, Col Lee, visited
us and asked of us almost the same ques-
ton Davis asked, as to the difference be-
tween our case and that Of our comrades,
and urged great vigilance on the guards.
These things convinced us that our only
chance of life was by taking the matter
in our own hands. One plan proposed
was to try to get out secretly, at night,
by saving OF the bars Of our windows
and lowering ourselves, one by one, to the
ho fafo 81. 70
that it required US to await dark night,
and even then 1t was scarcely possible
that more than one or two would get out
before an alarm was given. I had no
hope from it.
But the other plan could not fail IT, every
man did his exact duty, and we were now
so well acquainted that we had perfect
confidence in each other. IL was simply
to attack our foes in broad daylight
When our food was brought I'm 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 IL 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 muskets in the
first rush; and IL this was done without
noise or alarm, march them up into our
room and gag them there. 1t was not
likely, however, that we would be able to
keep everything quiet CROUCH 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,
II the latter was on hand, as he usually
was; probably was given this place from
the correct view that with my poor eyes
l would be Of more service in n scuffie in
the hall than in the glaring light outside.
Then Buffum. who was as agile as a cat