The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-17


ton. AL. abandoned camps are bad
those OF the rebels were hideous, especially
to such tidy campers as the 20Oth Ind. had
grown to be. But the boys recognized not
only that they would have to stay there
anyway, but that it was an excellent To-
cation from which to go sight seeing. They
started fires to cook their dinner, and while
some busted themselves cooking, the rest
started in to clean up the grounds.
Fascinating as were the sights all
around them, they were too good soldiers
to neglect their dinners or their camp
grounds for them. Before they pitched
their shelter-tents, or allowed their
blankets to touch the ground, they cleared
up all bricks and other debris, and care
fully swept its surface into the fire, to get
rid of all insect legacies from its former
occupants.
By the time those engaged in this work
had finished it, had the tents pitched and
the blankets spread out inside, their
bunkies had finished the cooking, and after
a wash all around, dinner was in order.
Then they lighted their pipes and began to
take in the sights.
First, and most interesting of all, was
the notorious Libby Prison, the wicked
fame Of which had begun after the first
battle Of Bull Run, with the confinement
there of Gen. Wilcox, Col. Michael Corco
ran, Congressman Ely, and other victims
every month after by the sufferings of
other distinguished defenders Of the Union.
The boys saw across the street a large,
grimy warehouse, or rather three large
warehouses built together, three stories
high in 'front.' four stories in the rear,
where the ground sloped down toward the
river. All the windows were heavily
barred, and the aspect Of the building
was gloomy and sinister to the last degree.
But the Star-Spangled Banner now fioated
from the flagstaff on the roof, and the
sentries pacing their beats around the
prison were negroes, wearing the good old
blue. From the faces seen at the windows
it was evident that the building was full
OF prisoners, but they were Of different
political stripe from the occupants Of the
past four years.
A young Captain was sitting out in
front of the office corner of the prison.
ON the very chair the brutal Maj. Turner
used TO occupy, md as he looked frank
and "folksey," the boys walked up to him.
saluted, and Monty Scruggs inquired:
it, Captain"
"Yes, or infamous, rather" replied the
Captain. where do you beiong?'
They proudly announced their member-
ship in tie 2OOth Ind. with the customary
air Of its being the best regiment in Sher-
mans army, and Sherman's army the best
Captain smiled indulgently. as il accus-
toned to that sort OF thing. He said:
II remember q good many Indiana men
in prison here with me- boarded inside
there for several months myself. / knew
Col. Streight and all his officers very well.
But don't remember any from your regi-
ment."
"No; none Of our officers had the luck
to be captured. About everything else
happened to them, though, except being
taken prisoner You knew Col. Streight,
then? Can you show US where he made his
escapeY
~Certainly; I'll be glad to- I was in the
prison at the time, and was awfully dis
appointed that did not get a chance to go
ont when he did. But it was the best
kept secret ever knew. generally mani
age to know whatever is going on around
me, but 1 never dreamed Of that thing,
as many weeks as they were working at ii
and as many men as were ia the secret.
When did find out everybody knew of it,
and there was such a rush for the hole
that / couldn't get within rods OF it be-
fore daylight. / don't blame Streight. He
properly gave the preference to the men
who had been working at the tunnel, and
then to the rest Of his Indiana friends.
You see, Streight made two attempts to
escape. The first time he bribed the
guards, or thought he did, at the east end
of the building-come around here and I'll
show you. They walked down the street.
to the farther end, and the CAPTAIN pointed
up.) There, that was bis window. The
guards agreed for two silver watches aud
$50 fin greenbacks, which Streight gave
them, to let him and his Adiutnnt slide
down from his window by rope, and
skip out through those vacant buildings
there. They let Streight and his Adjutant
come down, but when they started TO walk
of the guards fred on them and made
them hait. They were brought back and
put in the dungeon in the basement there.
In the meanwhile the tunnel was being
pushed along. 1t came through the wall
right where We are standing, aud ran over
to that shed there, where il came up be-
hind some boxes. which concealed those
escaping from view. They walked leis-
urely up the street there, and made their
Something like ITO got out, and about haif
OF them succeeded in getting through t.
our lines Col. otreight and his sAdjutanIl