The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-01-29
OUI Of ANDERSONVlE
,eoa NV e II. Lewis !

/ ~
| Twas no sooner inside Of the Ahoer'
sOnyille prison pen as a prisoner u
E, war than the idea of tunnea caHe
into MY mind
At that tin 10 the dead line was
close in to the stockade itself, ana the
| Confederate sentinels on the elevated
platforms on the outside of the pen
were satisfied with calling out 70
man who approached too near. Tents
were allowed within three feet Of the
furrow which represented the dead
line.
A tunnel from twenty to twenty
feet long would clear everything.
Fonr Of us set up tent, and that
very day we began our tunnel. The ex.
cavation was made at the back end OF
the tent and d blanket kept at hand to
cover up all evidences
We worked only ut night, because
the dirt had to be carried down to the
creek to be disposed Of. and the only
tools we had were an old case knife. a
tin plate and u piece of board sharp
ened for a spade.
II was sixty three days from the date
Of beginning the tunnel before we estt-
mated that we were twenty feet be-
yond the line The moon was now full
and the evenings as light as day. While
waiting for a favorable night our third
man, a member OF an Ohio regiment,
was taken iii. We cared for him as
fn- aS A.,vrc
when he was taken outside to the hos
pital. We agreed to postpone our es-
cape for ten days. II he did not re-
turn by that time we were to give him
up as dead.
1t was long after the war before as
certained what happened him. He
Inended so rapidly that he would have
returned to Us on the seventh day, hut
was unfortunately included in draft
Of prisoners for exchange. He had no
way to send US word, and we had no
list Of names, and for many years be-
lievcd he was one of the thousands bur.
led at AndersOnville.
During our wait of ten days the Con
fcderates came in twice to probe and
search for tunnels, but fortunately
missed us both times. AS many as
eight or ten others were discovered.
Yet our greatest danger was from
our fellow prisoners. A man named
Sharon. who belonged to New Eng
land regiment. In some way got sus-
picion that we had tunnel and one
day entered our tent and announced
that II lie W as not allowed to escape
with MS lie would stop our going. We
attempted I'd bluff him off when he
made straight course for the gate,
presumably TO fulfill his threat.
He was not permitted to 90 far be-
fore being overtaken and charged with
attempted robbery. 1t would have
gone hard with him had we pressed
the charge. but we dropped it with the
understanding that he should keep his
mouth shut regarding US. From that
hour he was Kept under surveillance
BY two men hired by us and was not
permitted to go near the gate Per-
haps he would not have carried out hia
threat, but n prison pen brings out the
bascness in human nature very fully.
1t was three days after the trouble
with Sharon before the weather be-
came favorable. and we had not taken
anybody into our confidence Never
theless, we argued. as we had done be-
tore, that IL dozen or more got ont
the chances Of escape would be in.
creased. We waited until we saw that
the night was to be dark and drizZly.
ana then we passed around among
such acquaintanccs as We felt could be
trusted and Invited them to call ut our
tent at Q o'clock. Each thought he was
the only one invited. and each believed
he was to be- let into a plot to over
power the guards and free all prisoners.
AT exactly s o'clock my cl,um crept
INTO the turn and | followed. Not
more than ten minutes later we
emerged from the hole outside Of the
stockade and set Oft into the darkness.
II those who followed on had been rs
cool and cautious as we all would have
gone well with them. but an incident
occurred to rnnerve them. Six others
had wriGgled their way through the
mole when the relief guard came march
ing along 30 close that one OF the prls-
ohers cried out and brought detection
70 all. VI course an alarm was raised.
the tunnel discovered and all further
escape cut of.
The escape of the six greatly fayorc,,
us. however, as they scattered in differ
eat directions, and none Of them was
recaptured for two days. while one
went as far south as Albany.
At o'clock In the morning the man
sharon heard Of the tunnel and sneaked
away ana gave information at the
gates.
1t was Mt first believed that over 900
prisoners had escaped, and the widest
excitement prevailed inside and OUT.
II was not until o'clock in the morn.
ng that the true number was discov-
cred. and then the Confederate force
II mana was too small for a vigorous
pursuit of all.
MY chtim q fterward told me that his
ran was followed for some miles by
bloodhound and that twice he caugbt
'ight OF pursuers on horseback.
by the time the six who came ont
liter US had been recaptured we were
ven out Of the neighborhood. The
eiegraph was no doubt used to notify
Rax.s. ~.