Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-01-22
N]AlIRRA7TIWIE Oh d|EN
MORdAIEgI' S IEggAIRIEE.
One Of the Most Remarkable Escapes in History Occurred
the Night Of November 18th, 1863, when Gen. Morgan
Released Himself from the Ohio Penitentiary.


the guard entered increased their
apprehensions. The general says
he had prayed for rain, but the
morning of the 27thsdawned bright
and beautiful. The evening came,
and clouds began to gather. How
they prayed for them to increase.
Ii rain should only begin their
chances of detection would be greatly
lessened. While these thoughts were
passing through their minds, the
keeper entered with letter for Gen.
Morgan. He opened it, and what
was his surprise, and / may say won
der, to find it from poor Irish
woman of his acquaintance in Ken
lucky, commencing:
"My Dear Ginral: / feel certain
you are going to try to git out OF
prison, but for your sake, don't you
try it, my dear ginral. Iou viii
only be taken prisoner agin, and
made to suffer more than you do
now"
The letter then went on to speak
of his kindness to the poor when he
lived at Lexington, and concluded by
again exhorting him to trust in God
and wait his time. What could this
mean? No human being on the out
side had been informed of his inten-
tion to escape, and yet, just as all
things were ready for him to make
the attempt, here comes letter from
Winchester, Kentucky, advising him
not to "try. it," This letter had
passed through the examining Office
of Gen. Mason, and then through the
hands of the lower officials. What Is
it should excite their suspicion and
cause them to exercise an increased
yigilanoeF Their situation, how
ever, was desperate. Their fate
could not be much worse, and they
resolved to go. }SNothing now re-
mained to be done but for the gene
ral-and Col. Dick Morgan TO change
cells. The hour approached for
them to be locked up. They changed
coats, and each stood at the others
cell door with his back exposed, and
pretended to be engaged in making
up their beds. AS the turnkey en-
tered they "turned in" and pulled
their doors shut. Six, eight, ten
o'clock came. How each pulse
throbbed as they quietly awaited the
approach of twelve. 1t came-the
sentinel passed his round--all well.
After waiting a few moments to see
If he intended to slip back, the sig
nal was given-all quietly slipped
down into the air chamber, first
stuffing their flannel shirts and plac-
ing them in bed as they were accus.
toned to lie. AS they moved quietly
along through the dark recess to
the terminus, where they were to
emerge from the earth, the general
prepared to light match. AS the
lurid glare fell upon their counte-
nances a scene was presented which
can never be forgotten. There were
crouched seven brave men, who had
resolved to be free. They we're
armed with bowie knives made out
of case knives. Life, in their condi-
tion, WINS scarcely to be desired, and
the moment for the desperate chance
had arrived. Suppose, as they
emerged from the ground, that the
dog should give the alarm-they
could but die.
But few moments were spent in
this kind of apprehension. The hour
had arrived, and yet they came.
fortunately-yes, providentially--
the night had suddenly grown dark
and rainy; the dogs had retired to
their kennels, and the sentinels had
taken refuge under shelter. The
inner wall, by the aid of the rope
ladder, was soon scaled, and now the
outer one had to be attempted. Capt.
Taylor, (who, by the way, is
nephew of old Zack,) being very
active man, by the assistance of his
comrades, reached the top of the
gate, and was enabled to get the
rope over the wall. When the top
was gained they found rope ex-
tending all around, which the gene
nal Immediately cut, as he suspected
that it might lead into the warden's
room. This turned out to be- correct.
They then entered the sentry box on
the wall and changed their CLOTHES,
and let themselves down the wall.
In sliding down the general skinned
his hand very badly, and all were
more or less bruised. Once down.,
they separated-Taylor and Shell
ton going, one way, Hokersmith,