Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-27
A SOLDIERS
THANKSGIVING.
By LIEUTENANT TRIGG.

BIZ LIEUTENANT THIGG.
Copyright. 1896. by American Press Associa-
toni
We started to dig our way out of the
prison pen at Salisbury, N. c., ON the
I'd day of August. 1868. There were five
of us, all of whom had been captured at
the same time. and we reached the pris-
On in May.
In all prison pens the inmates paired
of at least, and in many instances four,
five or six men formed sort of close
corporation. All clothing, blankets,
money and other articles went into
common fund, and the men shared alike
in the comforts and discomforts. It SO
happened that none of us was despoiled
when captured, and on entering the
gates Of Salisbury we had 500 in cash,
each good blanket and full uniform,
and we were thus enabled to live in far
greater comfort than the great majority.
We had u choice Of ground OH which to
pitch our tent, and having an eye to q
the fence as possible. The distance to
the dead line was 6 feet and to the
fence about 90.
Up to this time o score of prisoners
had escaped by means Of tunnels, and
dozens Of tunnels had been discovered
while being dug. The Confederates en-.
tered the pen almost daily through the
months Of June, July, August and Sep
TENDER and made a close search for dig
gers. Such vigilance acted to discourage
the prisoners, and believe our tunnel
was the only one begun in the month of
October. Our tent was roomy one,
and we began operations, sinking
shaft five feet deep and large enough to
allow man to work i'm. This hole was
in the middle of our tent, and when not
in use was covered with four sticks and
blanket. All the dirt was carried
away in our pockets and flung into
abandoned wells or scattered over the
ground. A spoon, the two halves of a
canteen and the handles CT a skillet
were our tools for digging. As we had
noticed that every visit of the searchers
was made in the afternoon or evening
we began and prosecuted our work in
the forenoon. After couple of weeks
some digging was made after 10 O'Clock
at night, but We never felt safe while
thus engaged. When the tunnel proper
was begun, two men We're working at
the same time below ground. A third
stood watch at the door, and tho fourth
and fifth carried away the dirt.
The tunnel was three feet below the
surface and but q trifle larger than q
mans body. The digger had to pull
himself in by using his elbows, and he
drew after him q tin basin and string.
The dirt was placed in the basin and
drawn out by the man in the shaft.
Crawling into hollow log is fun COM
pared to wrig8ling in and out of such q
tunnel The body shuts ont all the air,
the place is sitting hot, and after half
an hours work the strongest man is used
up.
When our tunnel had reached the
fence. we had to go down four feet to
work under the ends of the logs, and the
air became 80 foul that we made but
slow Roadway and some days, did not
work at all We had planned to run the
tunnel close to the dispensary, and after
passing the fence the digging became
easier, but delay from one cause or an
other prevented the completion of our
enterprise until the goth Of November.
At noon of that date we had dug our
full distance and had only to break
through q foot Of crust TO be in the open
air outside the fence. We must wait for
night, Of course. The weather was fine,
| with promise of starlight night, but
during the afternoon we made all our
arrangements to go. Twice during the
afternoon alarms were given that search
ing parties were coming in, but they
proved to be false. Night finally came
with our plan undetected, and about 8
O'Clock the first of the five entered the
tunnel. crept to the far end and broke
through the crust. We had dug within
12 inches Of the wall of the dispensary.
The building was used as sleeping quar-
tiers for twOor three men connected with
the hospital department, and as we pass
ed ont Of the tunnel in turn each Of rs
heard them talking and moving about
Each man crept away to the left, climb.
ed over q fence and followed it for 20
rods. and then made for . certain tree
which could be seen from the stockade
and which had been agreed upon AZ the
rendezvous. We encountered no guards
| and raised no alarm, and within half an
hour from the time the first man enter
ed the tunnel the i've Of rs were gath
ered under the tree.
[ We travelled all night, with ouly
t-ie ssors 20: :est. AID when dsy,iS..