The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-11-22
a SOLDIERS
THANKSGIVING.
BY LIEUTENANT TRIGG.

Copyright 1895, by American Press Associa-
toni
We started to dig our way out of the
prison pen at Salisbury, N. O., on the
Cd 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
Off at least, and in many instances four,
i've or six men formed sort of close
corporation. All clothing, blankets,
money and other articles went into a
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 choice Of ground on which to
pitch our tent, and having an eye to a
tunnel we got as near the dead line and
the fence as possible. The distance to
the dead line was 8 feet and to the
fence about 80.
Up to this time a 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 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 a
shaft five feet deep and large enough tc
allow man to work In. This hole was
III the middle of our tent, and when not
In use was covered with four sticks and
a 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 {
canteen and the handles Of skil!e
were our tools for digging. AS we hat
noticed that every visit Of the searcher!
was made in the afternoon or evening
we began and prosecuted our work il
the forenoon. After couple of weel,
| some digging was made after 10 o'clocl
| at night, but we never felt safe Will,
thus engaged. When the tunnel prope
was begun, two men were working a
the same time below ground. A thirc
stood watch at the door, and the fourtl
and fifth carried away the dirt.
The tunnel was three feet below th
surface and but a trifle larger than
mans body. The digger had to pull
himself in by using his elbows, and b
drew after him tin basin and string
The dirt was placed in the basin an
drawn out by the man in the shaft
Crawling into hollow log is fun com
pared to wrig9ling in and out Of such
tunnel. The body shuts out all the air
the place is sitting hot, and after hal
an hours work the strongest man is use
up.
When our tunnel had reached til
fence, we had to go down four feet t
work under the ends Of the logs, and tn
air became so foul that we made bu
slow Roadway and some days did nc
work at all We had planned to run tn
tunnel close to the dispensary, and afte
passing the fence the digging becam
easier, but delay from one cause or al
other prevented the completion of on
enterprise until the goth Of November
At noon Of that date we had dug OF
full distance and had only to brea
through foot Of crust to be in the opo
air outside the fence We must wait fc
night, of course. The weather was fin,
with promise Of starlight night, br
during the afternoon we made all OF
arrangements to go. Twice during Il
afternoon alarms were given that searcl
ing parties were coming in, but the
proved to be false. Night finally can
with our plan undetected, and about
O'Clock the first Of the five entered Il
tunnel, crept to the far end and brol
: through the crust. We had dug with
lie inches of the wall of the dispenser,
The building was used as sleeping qua
tiers for two or three men connected wit
the hospital department, and as we pas
ed out of the tunnel in turn each of ,
heard them talking and moving abou
Each man crept away to the left, elm
ed over a fence and followed it for
rods, and then made for certain TT
which could be seen from the stocka,
and which had been agreed upon as t
rendezvous. We encountered no guar
and raised no alarm, and within half
hour from the time the first man ente
ed the tunnel tie five of US were ga,
cred under the tree.
We travelled all night, with OH
brief stops Tor rest, and when day. <
came we judged that we had made
good rs miles. We haA followed {
highway on and of, but without G
countering any one, AID as tho d
broke we sought tho cover Ct a th;cl
and lay down 10 rest and sleep. II W
afternoon before any oEe awake, ii
then the first move was to look (
water. We soon found that, and tn