Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-08-08


CoNGREssNlAN MORGAN.
with their liberty on the Federal side Of
the limo. Five times did he cscapr from
rebel prisons. and four times was he re.
captured
"Thc first time was tn1,en - said Mr.
Morgan in telling mo The story of his re
markable experiences II WAS sent with a
lot of Other prisoners ia Jibhv prisou. I
had not been there very long before | be
gan mcditatinp plans of escape While
knocking around in the room where we
were confined | discovered that the chin
ncy led down to an unoccuped room in
the basement. Tho guards al)parcntly had
no susuicion that we could reach the base
mcnt hv tho fluc. but we did. climbing up
through the fireplace and then slipping
down the chimney. BY working quietly
and in regular RELAYS we were able to dig
tunnel from this basement under the
foundations of the buildinp across the
street and into an adjoining open square.
We had some trouble in disposing of the
earth taken out of the tunnel but piled
most of il IN in the rem Of the basement
room. By careful management VIC kept
M our tunnolinp for several we rs without
attracting the attention OF the guards. On
the appointcl night Colonel Strait and 125
men passed safely through the tunnel and
ont the other end Who're the openirp was
concealed from view from the prison by
some bushes 1t was n very successful
break. but only about half of us succeeded
in getting safely TO the Union lines. was
caught the next dav on the Chickaholniny
and carried back to Libby. They confined
me in an underground coll and mt me ~,
half ratiops.
Before night had n hole ,brourh the
floor above and Was in communication
with nv fellow prisoners mn stoirs Tbcv
shared their meat and tobocco with me |
had inst laid NV plnns for another psronc
when the authorities concluded TO transfer
us to Macon. We were six DAYS ON the Jour
nev. which we made in box cars. On the
way several of nv companions and myself
cut "A big hole through the bottom Of the
car. notwithstanding the fact that several
armed guards were in the car with ms
Tho noise of the train helped us. and we
kent ND n singing and shouting MS we
worked When the train stoned in the
night we slippcd through the hole and rot
AWAY. This time was out q week and
really Thought | had succeeded in making
Good NV escape. | had got cloar of thc
Coufoderate lines and was right opposite
oup own army when n ycbcl skirnishiny
partv came ND and caught two companions
, and my.olf. We were sent to Macon.
ST did mot have the rleasure of escapin,
/ from, tho Macon nrison We did have y
tunnel duo under thc walls and were about
ready to dieanpcar when orr plaps were
exnosod nv some one on the inside. proba-
! blv n Confedorote nI,cod among us for tho
/ purnose of uiyiur away our schemes of cs-
cane Twas neyt scnt To Canp SORGHUM.
as it was called. at Columbia, :. c, Tho
prisoncys thcre-corn broad and sorghum
! molasscs Ono day a few of the hoys and
,,vsolf mada a break and succeeded in not
,ing through the lines bur we're all taken
tho newt dav Later made nrorhor break.
having for co,pn,pione Crrtnin F,vinor and
/ Cor+ein R,ldu,ir tho la+.cr nrc ~ INV
congrcseionnl chums in tho bousc He is a
,uon,hor from nIiproso,n Won know and
ri,rbt c,.d ,v.-o ,,,o To discovar oro ,jo,.
while sit,ipg ont in tbe lobby tokinr =
smoke thot Syo had been co,nnnnions ON
thot doring thougb uns,,ccrsful effort l.,
get away from our good friends, the John
nv Rebs We got along famously after Civ
ing them tho slip this time and thought
we were going to reach the Union lines.
But at the end of the third day Ewing
broke down completely, and we said by
him and were caught and sent back
| My fifth and successful attempt to es-
cape was made from moving train. We
We're being taken by train 70 Charlotte,
n c., and two other prisoners and myself
cut hole through the bottom of the car.
At the first opportunity we slipped through
the opening and made II run for it. The
night was very stormy one, with snow
and sleet. None of Us had any shoes, and
was bareheaded, having lost my hat in
getting away from the car We were thin