Raiding with Morgan

by Byron A. Dunn

  CHAPTER XXII.

  PRISON DOORS ARE OPENED.

  When Calhoun parted from Joyce he sank back in the carriage and gavehimself up to the most gloomy thoughts. The sorrow of parting from hertook from him the joy of his escape. During the journey his dusky driverdid not speak a word. The drive seemed a long one to Calhoun, and he wasthoroughly wearied when the carriage drew up by a log house, surrounded bya small clearing.

  "Heah we be, Massa," said Abe, as he alighted from his seat. "Hope Massahad a good ride."

  The door of the house was opened by a motherly looking colored woman, andAbe, taking Calhoun once more in his arms, carried him into the house.Aunt Liza, as the wife of Abe was called, seeing Calhoun looking so paleand thin, put her fat, black hand on his forehead, and said, "Po' chile,po' chile, don't yo' worry. Aunt Liza take good care ob yo'."

  Calhoun felt that he was among friends--friends that would prove faithfuland true. He was carried up a ladder to a chamber. The upper part of thehouse was all in one room, rather low, but the rough walls werewhitewashed, and everything was neat and clean. He was placed on asnow-white bed, and soon sank into a peaceful slumber. When he awoke thesun was shining in at the window and Aunt Liza appeared with a breakfastgood enough to tempt the appetite of one far more particular than Calhoun.

  The invalid remained with his kind friends two weeks, treated like anhonored guest, and protected from every inquiring eye. He gained strengthrapidly, and at the end of a week was able to walk out evenings, whenthere was no danger of being seen. Once men who were searching for himentered the house, and Calhoun could hear every word that was said. Hisheart beat painfully, for it entered his mind that Abe and his wife mightbetray him for the sake of the reward offered. But the thought didinjustice to these simple-minded people. As for the searchers, the loft ofthe house of a poor negro who had run away from slavery was the last placethey thought of looking for an escaped Confederate.

  Through Abe Calhoun often heard from Joyce. She cheered him with words oflove and comfort, but absolutely refused to come and see him, saying itwould be dangerous. In this she was right, for Andrew Harmon was alert. Hebelieved that Joyce had had something to do with the disappearance ofCalhoun, and had her closely watched. Fortunately his suspicions did notextend to Abe, so that communication between Joyce and Calhoun was notinterrupted. At the end of two weeks he felt able to leave his place ofconcealment. But where should he go? He longed to be South, in the midstof the strife, but his heart was drawn toward Columbus, where his comradeslay languishing in prison. What could he do at Columbus? He did not know,but something might transpire that would enlighten him. At least he wouldgo and look over the field. Once out of the neighborhood, in his Federaluniform and with Brown's discharge in his pocket, there would be littlefear of detection. He made his preparations to go, wrote Joyce the letterwhich she prized so highly, and bade his kind protectors farewell, placingin their hands a hundred dollars. Their surprise and joy over the giftwere about equal.

  "De Lawd keep yo'!" said Aunt Liza, wiping her eyes.

  Calhoun had determined to start early in the evening, travel all night,lie concealed during the day, and travel the next night. By that time hethought he would be so far away from the place of his escape that he couldventure to take the cars without danger. Aunt Liza had supplied him withample provisions for the two days. He carried out his programme, and onthe morning of the second day found himself near a small town where heconcluded to take the cars, but deemed it safer to wait for the nighttrain. The conductor eyed him sharply when he paid his fare instead ofshowing a pass, for soldiers generally travelled on Federaltransportation. But the conductor took the money and passed on withoutremark.

  Opposite Calhoun in the car sat a gentlemanly looking man, and much toCalhoun's surprise, when the conductor passed, he saw the gentleman makethe sign of recognition of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and it wasanswered by the conductor. When the conductor next passed Calhoun gave thesign. The man stared, but did not answer. But he seemed to be troubled,and passed through the cars frequently, and Calhoun saw that he waswatching him closely. At length, in passing, the conductor bent down andwhispered to the gentleman opposite. Calhoun now knew another pair of eyeswere observing him.

  Watching his opportunity, Calhoun gave this gentleman the sign ofrecognition. The gentleman shifted uneasily in his seat, but did notanswer.

  "I will give you something stronger," thought Calhoun, and the next timehe caught the gentleman's eye, he gave the sign of distress. This was asign no true knight could afford to ignore. Leaning over, the gentlemansaid, "My boy, you look pale. Have you been sick?"

  "Very, and I now need friends," answered Calhoun.

  "Come over here and tell me about it," said the gentleman.

  Calhoun took a seat by his side, and the man whispered, "Are you adeserter, and are they after you?"

  "Yes," said Calhoun.

  "Where are you going?"

  "To Columbus."

  "That is a poor place to go to keep out of the hands of Lincoln'sminions," answered the man.

  "I am not afraid," said Calhoun. "What I want to know is where I can findfriends in Columbus whom I can trust--true, firm friends of the South."

  "My name is Pettis," replied the man. "I reside in Columbus. Once let mebe satisfied as to who you are and what you are wearing that uniform forand I may be able to help you."

  "That is easily answered," said Calhoun; "but first I must be fullysatisfied as to you. Let me prove you, my brother."

  Calhoun found that Mr. Pettis was high up in the order, and was violent inhis hatred of the Lincoln government. He could be trusted.

  "I am not a Federal soldier," said Calhoun after he had fully tested him."I am wearing this uniform as a disguise. I am a Confederate officer."

  "What! escaped from Johnson's Island?" asked Mr. Pettis, in astonishment.

  "No, I am one of Morgan's officers."

  Mr. Pettis nearly jumped off the seat in surprise.

  "Morgan's officers are all in the penitentiary," he gasped.

  "One is not and never was," answered Calhoun.

  Mr. Pettis regarded him closely, and then said: "It can't be, but it mustbe. Is your name Pennington?"

  "It is," replied Calhoun.

  "Why, the papers have been full of your escape. But the general opinionseemed to be that you wandered away in a delirium and died."

  "Which you see is not so," said Calhoun, with a smile.

  "How in the world did you get away?"

  "That is a secret which I cannot tell even you."

  "Very well; but, Mr. Pennington, you must come home with me. You will findfriends in Columbus, many of them, who will be delighted to meet you."

  When Columbus was reached, Calhoun, on advice of Mr. Pettis, bought a suitof citizen's clothes, for, said he, "We Knights hate the sight of thatuniform; it's the badge of tyranny."

  Calhoun saw that he had found a friend indeed in Mr. Pettis. No Southernercould be more bitter toward the Lincoln government than he. He fairlyworshipped Vallandigham, and said if he would only return to Ohio, hewould be defended by a hundred thousand men. He was especially indignantover the way Morgan and his officers were treated.

  "We have schemed and schemed how to help him," said he, "but see no wayexcept we storm that cursed penitentiary as the Bastille was stormed.And," he added, with emphasis, "the day is fast approaching when we willdo it."

  For three days Calhoun remained at Mr. Pettis's, wearying his brain as tohow he might help his general, but every plan proposed was rejected asimpracticable. On the third morning he happened to pick up a paper, andglancing over its columns, saw an advertisement which caused every nervein his body to tingle. It was an advertisement for a boy to work in thedining-room and wait on the table at the penitentiary. The advertisementstated that the sole duty of the boy was to wait on the table when theConfederate officers ate, as they objected to being waited upon byconvicts
. In less than five minutes Calhoun was in his Federal uniform andon his way to the penitentiary to apply for the position.

  "You do not look very strong," said the warden, kindly; "do you think youcould fill the bill?"

  "I am sure I can," said Calhoun. "Only try me and see."

  "Well," replied the warden, "I had rather hire a boy who has served hiscountry, as you have, and I will give you a trial."

  Thus to his great joy Calhoun found himself hired to wait upon his oldcomrades in arms. With what feelings he commenced his duties can beimagined. Would they recognize him, and in their surprise give him away?No, he thought not. They knew too well how to control themselves for that.It was with a beating heart that Calhoun waited for the time of the firstmeal. It came, and the Confederate prisoners came marching in. HowCalhoun's heart thrilled at the sight of his old comrades! But if theyrecognized him they did not show it by look or sign.

  When the meal was finished and the prisoners marched out, Calhoun managedto give Morgan a little slip of paper. On it was written: "I am here tohelp you if I can. Be of good cheer."

  But how could Calhoun help them? Even at meal-time guards stood everywherewatching every move. His duties did not take him out of the dining-room.Calhoun began by making a careful survey of the building in which theprisoners were confined. Fortune favored him. One day he made a remark toone of the employees of the prison that the floor of the building seemedto be remarkably dry and free from damp.

  "It should be," was the reply; "there is an air chamber under the floor."

  Like a flash there came to Calhoun a plan for escape. If this air chambercould be reached a tunnel might be run out. He took careful note of allthe surroundings, and drew a plan of the buildings and surroundinggrounds. These he managed to pass to Morgan unobserved. At the nextmeal-time as Morgan passed him, he said, as if to himself, "No tools."

  This was a difficult matter. Nothing of any size could be passed to themwithout discovery. But in the hospital Calhoun found some large and finelytempered table-knives. He managed to conceal several of these around hisperson, and one by one they were given to Morgan.

  Calhoun now waited in feverish excitement for the success of the plan. Hehad done all he could. The rest depended on the prisoners themselves.Through the shrewdness and indomitable energy of Captain Thomas H. Hinesthe work was carried to a successful termination inside the prison wall.

  General Morgan occupied a cell in the second tier, and could do nothing.Only those who occupied cells on the ground floor had any hopes ofescaping. Captain Hines, with infinite labor made an opening through thefloor of his cell into the air chamber. Once in the air chamber they couldwork without being discovered. With only the table-knives to work with,these men went through two solid walls, one five feet, and the other sixfeet in thickness. Not only that, but they went through eleven feet ofgrouting. Then, working from under, they went through the floors of sixcells, leaving only a thin scale of cement, which could be broken throughby a pressure from the foot. The work was commenced November 4, andfinished November 24. Thus in twenty days seven men, working one at atime, had accomplished what seemed almost impossible.

  During these days Calhoun could only wait and hope. As the prisonerspassed him in the dining-room, all they could say was "Progressing," "Notdiscovered yet," "All is well so far." At last, on the 24th, Calhoun heardthe welcome words, "Finished. First stormy night."

  Calhoun now examined the time-tables and found that a train left Columbusfor Cincinnati at 1:15 A. M.; arriving in Cincinnati before the prisonerswere aroused in the morning. So he wrote on a slip of paper: "Escape assoon after midnight as possible." He believed that train could be takenwith safety. The afternoon of November 27, the weather became dark andstormy. At supper-time Calhoun heard the glad word, "To-night."

  As soon as his duties were done he hurried to the home of Mr. Pettis,exchanged his uniform for citizen's clothes, telling Mr. Pettis his workat the penitentiary was done, and he had decided to leave. "Ask noquestions; it is better that you know nothing," said Calhoun.

  Mr. Pettis took his advice, but he was not surprised in the morning whenhe heard that Morgan had escaped. For General Morgan to escape, it wasnecessary for him to occupy a lower cell. His brother, Captain DickMorgan, occupied the cell next to Captain Hines. The Captain, giving uphis chance of escaping, effected an exchange of cells with his brother.This was easily accomplished, as they were about of a size, and it wasquite dark in the cells when they were locked in.

  The General had been allowed to keep his watch. When a few minutes aftertwelve came, he arose, fixed a dummy in his bed to resemble a mansleeping, and breaking through the thin crust over the opening with hisfoot, slipped into the air chamber. He gave the signal, and was quicklyjoined by his companions. Captain Morgan had made a ladder out of stripsof bed-clothing, and by the aid of this ladder they hoped to scale twowalls, one twenty feet high, which would stand between them and liberty,after they had emerged from the tunnel.

  A little before midnight Calhoun made his way as close as he durst to theplace where he knew the wall must be scaled. Not three hundred feet awayseveral guards were gathered around a fire. The night was cold, and theguards kept close to the fire. Slowly the minutes passed. The city clocksstruck half-past twelve. Would they never come? Had their flight beendetected?

  Suddenly a dark spot appeared on top of the wall. Then another, andanother, until Calhoun counted seven. They were all there. Silently theyslid down the rope ladder, the talk and laughter of the guards ringing intheir ears. But noiselessly they glided away, and the darkness hid them.

  "This way," whispered Calhoun. When out of hearing of the guards, theystopped for consultation. It would not do to keep together. They decidedto go two and two. Calhoun handed each a sum of money. There was a strongclasping of the hands, a whispered farewell, and they who had dared somuch separated.

  The next morning there was consternation in the penitentiary at Columbus.The news of Morgan's escape was flashed over the country. The Federalauthorities were astonished, dumbfounded. A reward of five thousanddollars was offered for his recapture. Every house in Columbus wassearched, but to no purpose. John Morgan had flown.

  ESCAPE OF MORGAN FROM PRISON]