We decided that our chance of escape would be
much better then than after we reached the rebel capital. We,
therefore, formed a plan for defeating the intentions of our
captors.
"Though the building assigned to us as a prison consisted of two
stories, we were confined in the lower part. This was more
favorable to our designs. During the night we busied ourselves in
loosening two of the planks of the flooring, so that we could
remove them at any time. Then lowering two of our number into the
cellar, we succeeded in removing enough of the stone foundation
to allow the escape of one man at a time through the aperture.
Our arrangements were hastened by the assignment of a particular
day on which we were to be transferred from our prison, and
conveyed to Richmond. Though we should have been glad to enter
the city under some circumstances, we did not feel very desirous
of going as prisoners of war.
"On the night selected we waited impatiently till midnight. Then,
as silently as possible, we removed the planking, and afterwards
the stones of the basement wall, and crept through one by one.
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