The National tribune., 1890-03-27
LIBBY pR1soN.
Tho Experience OF One 5f tfis Successful Tunn

Inc experience or Une OF the SUCCESSFUL IunnelerS
The following private letter Of the expert
ence of one of tho Officers who were successful
in escaping from Libby Prison by the famous
tunnel, has been given usI for publication by
Hon. II. l.. Morey, Member of Congress from
tho Seventh Districtiof Ohio.
SPRINaFIEBb, OHIO, Dec. 81, 1889.
Hon. II. l.. MoREy. Washington. d. G.
DEAR FRIEND AND CoMRADE: As You are
aware, was one of the Is men that formed
Col. Thomas l.. Roses tunneling party. that
dug the Libby Prison Tdnnel in the Winter
of 1863, 64, and through which 100 Union Of
fcers made their escape.
i was what you might torn digger" in the
tunnel, and ail my work was under ground
The tunnel being so long, and eight feet under
the surface, starting away back in that Deep
damp cellar, it was almost impossible for us to
get pure air enough TO sustain life while work
ing in the tunnel We were often pulled out
by our comrades, suffocated and exhausted,
nearer dead than alive. At first our tools were
only two old case-knives and piece of little
sheot-iron shovel. l have one of those old
knives in my possession now. and assure You
/ prize 1t very highly as n relic
Two tunnels were commenced before the
third and last one, but both Of them were fail
ures Downhearted and discouraged, we again
made the effort, which to our great joy was q
success. / cannot describe to you my feelings
as would enter that damp and dismal hole,
20 work and wallow through tho icy cold water
that would settle in the bottom OF the tuu-
mel through the day. but suffice IL to say that
on the evening of the Sth of February, 1864,
we finished our tunnel. 1t was my turn to
work in the tunnel that night, and Col. Rose
told me that we were far enough, and for me to
open up to the surface, which did, coming to
the top about / o'clock Mt night. We supposed
that we were far enough to come out on the
opposite side Of the board fence from the rebel
fs.,N a
on the side next to him, close up to the fence
The guard heard me burst through the surface
and he left his beat and came aud stood right
astride my face, leaned on the fence and looked
over into the inclosed yard He thought the
noise was over tho fence. He stood there
suppose, for about half minute. 1t seemed
like half century to me- Great drops Of cold
sweat stood out on my forehead | couldn't
breathe; the events of my life seemed TO fit
before mo. and lived ages in u moments time.
But ho did not see me, aud went away. Scrap
ing some dirt on my old Overalls / hurriedly
stuffed them into the hole. stopping ID up. We
then dug downwards and uader the fence, and
came up in the little shed on tho opposite side
Of the fence.
carpenter was sent into our prison to do some
work. and we stole an ncIl-and n quarter chisei
from him, and finished our digging with It,
After we finished the tunnel, IL was then too
near morning to try TO escape that night, so
Maj. Hamilton closed up both ends of the
tunnel, and we all went back into Libby aud
remained another day. At 7:30 p. m. on the
evening of the 9th of Feb. 1864, we started out.
Our last meeting aud parting in that old cellar
that night will never be forgotten until the last
one of that little party is laid away In the
grave. We went only two at a time We mover
met again, % few of us only having seen each
other since When the digging party left the
prison, we left tho tunnel in charge OF Col.
Hobard, of the 2lst Wis. Ny working partner.
and my partner all through. was Lieut. n. s.
Mexican, of tho 2ist ILL., (tien. Graut's old regi-
ment.l We locked arms and walked right mp
through central Richmond with but little real
trouble; but We bad many " air-breadth es-
capos, We got through their Notifications and
picket-lnes, making eircuitous route first
north, then northeast, and then east until VIC
reached our lines. My shoes gave out the FIRST
night WHOM we waded the Chickahominy, and
the grecnhriars aud hedges and thickets
robbed ns Of nearly all onr scanty clothing.
j suffered dTeadfully with my frozeH and
laceratcd feet, aud we almost perished with
hunger We often found ourselves in the
midst OF our enomies at night, but somehow We
managed to escape them. "a
They trailed us with bloodhounds, but We
broke their trail with cayenne pepper that wns
sent To me In roll of butter, in a box that
pepper was in bottle. aud the roll OF butter
was made around IL. We finally came in sight
of what we supposed to be rebel cavalry dressed
In our uniform. We watched them for long
time, aud after hiding from them for nearly q
whole day. they came close 60 me that
could sea the L. s. on their belts. They did not
see mo though: was SO we'll concealed. After
satisfying myself that they were our men,
came out OF nay hiddg place, greatly 10 their
suprise aud my Joy. They were detachment
OF the 1lth ia. Cav This certainly seemed to
be the crowniDg event OF my lilc
We were sent 10 Washington, where we met
the Hon. T.. NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of War
shall never forget his looks when wo came into
his presence; IL was u mingled look Of pity,
grief and hatred
Every Kindness was shown us after We
reached our lines, aud we felt that our suffer
ings had not been In vain. We felt as though
we had been tried as by fire. and our love for
our country and devotion to the old flag was q
thousand times stronger than before our cap
tnre. ! entered the prison weighing l60
pounds and came out weighing less than 80
pounds, and never have reached 40 pounds
since.
But pardon me, dear comrade. for taking up
so much of your valuable time. bnt earnestly
hoping this letter may be change" aud
read with some interest / remain, AZ ever,
very respectfully, IS. B. RANDALL.