of a certain number of armed men, who are detailed to act as their escort. Barse followed a squad that observed all this necessary formality; but the officer and guard were none too bright; and Lieutenant Barse went on, rejoicing no doubt at his good fortune, until he reached the woods, when he claimed that he was a hospital steward, and had nothing to do with the men, whom he had only chanced to walk out of camp with. Luckily, there was no one present to contradict his assertion, and, without further ceremony, he marched off at his pleasure.

Great excitement prevailed just now over Sherman's terrific march through Georgia, which was just beginning to develop itself. The Legislature removed to Macon, and Governor Brown issued a proclamation ordering to the front every man capable of bearing arms.

THANKSGIVING DAY

but

Brought us much to be thankful for, to be sure, little heart to enter into the celebration of such a day. There was great suffering in camp on account of the severity of the weather. We had heavy frosts frequently, and many, having no blankets, were obliged to find warmth in exercise. Hampton, Richardson, and myself, possessed a small blanket each, but with even these it was almost impossible to keep from freezing. We sleep in the middle by turns, and this privilege with us is a matter of the gravest importance. So unpardonable was the offence of attempting to deprive one of his equal

rights in this respect, that many quarrels originated from no other cause. In a case involving so much interest we did not trust to memory, but, on turning out in the morning, marked upon the ground the name of the individual who was to have the choice of position at night. This method was not resorted to until we found it to be our only safeguard against disputes. The one who slept in the middle was usually quite comfortable, although his sphere of operations was rather limited, for those on the outside naturally inclined to crawl away from the chilly flanks towards the centre. In this way we could get some sleep one night in three, if not drowned out by a rain storm.

MUD BURROWS.

After waiting our turn for more than three weeks, we at last succeeded in securing an old shovel, with which we dug a cave in the ground large enough to crawl into at night, and during storms.

There seemed no prospect of a general exchange, and the prisoners were determined to make the best of their miserable situation. So far as I was concerned, it was not my intention to spend a single night in this bear's den, if possible to effect an escape; and yet we always thought it worth our while to be prepared for the worst.

The greater part of the 25th was spent in digging, and we accomplished as much during the "long, weary day," as a first-class ditcher might have done in an hour. I became tired of it, and fully resolved

to make my escape on the 26th. Saw friend Lemon, and proposed to him a plan by which we could relieve "Camp Sorghum" from any further care of our persons. We could not think of being longer dependent on the bounty of our enemies, and determined to strive for some advantage of situation which would enable us to return their compliments.

PLAN OF ESCAPE.

It was customary to extend the guard-line in the morning, for the purpose of allowing the prisoners to pick up wood on a piece of timbered land just opposite camp; and it was our intention to take a shovel, when permitted to pass to the woods, and make a hole in the ground large enough to receive our two skeletons, and then have our friends cover us with brush and leaves. Thus concealed, we hoped to be left without the camp when the guard should be withdrawn. Should we succeed in escaping the vigilance of the sentinels, it was our purpose to strike for Augusta, Georgia, feeling assured that General Sherman would soon occupy that place. Many preferred to strike for Knoxville, Tennessee, considering that the safer, though it was much the longer route to our lines. Our course would incur more risk, but the sooner bring us within the Federal camp. Indulging these expectations, we lay down to rest.

On the morning of the 26th Hampton and Richardson asked if we should continue work on our "mud burrow." I replied that I should dig no more holes

in South Carolina; that they need make no arrangements in their cellar for me, as I did not propose to have any further use for subterranean caverns. They looked at each other with a knowing smile, doubtless thinking a temporary disgust had come over me, which would soon wear away, and I would again return to my quarters. Under the circumstances, I am disposed to pardon them.

Lemon and I kept a careful lookout, anxiously waiting for the guard to be extended out into the woods. But the morning was cold and rainy, and the guards not caring to leave their snug tents along the line of the encampment, we were left without fires.

Thus our hopes were again blasted, and nothing was left us but to make a bold strike, and pass the guards by a plentiful exhibition of "brass." How this was accomplished will be set forth in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ESCAPE FROM COLUMBIA.

FIRST DAY.

LEXINGTON C. H. ROAD, SIX MILES FROM COLUMBIA, S. C.,
0., }

Saturday, November 26, 1864.

"

WHILE taking a stroll through "Camp Sorghum in the morning for the purpose of discovering a weak point in the guard-line, I observed one of the guards to be a stupid-looking fellow, and proposed testing his abilities before he should be relieved by one of brighter appearance. Accordingly I hastened in pursuit of Lieutenant M. W. Lemon, of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, a man of courage and enterprise, and with whom I had decided to escape. I only told him to meet me at a certain point, and be ready to leave the pen in threeminutes.

No time was lost in packing or checking our baggage to any given point; and we also deemed it

*Written during the escape, while in the swamps and cotton gins of South Carolina and Georgia, where we were secreted by the ever-faithful negroes.