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niggas hole your breafh； And make de banjo chime。〃
How to escape from prison was ever the thoughts by day and dreams
by night of the incarcerated。 Plans were concocted； partly put into
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execution； and then proved failures。 Some of these caused increased
suffering to the prisoners after their discovery； for； where the real parties
could not be found； the whole were ill…treated as a punishment to the
guilty。 Tunnelling was generally the mode for escape； and tunnelling
became the order of the day； or； rather； the work for the night。 In the latter
part of November； 1863； the unusual gaiety of the prisoners showed that
some plan of exit from the prison was soon to be exhibited。
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CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE GREAT TUNNEL AND THE MISTAKE
FOR several weeks； some ten or fifteen of the most able…bodied of
the prisoners had been nightly at work； and the great tunnel； the
ever projected by men for their escape from prison； was thought to be
finished； with the exception of the tapping outside of the prison wall。 The
digging of a tunnel is not an easy job； and； consequently； is of slow
progress。 The Andersonville prisoners had to dig ten feet down into the
earth； after cutting through the floor； and then went a distance of fifty feet
to get beyond the wall。 The digging was done in the following way： As
soon as the operator was below the surface； and had a place large enough
to admit the body； he laid down upon his face； at full length； and with his
knife； spoon； piece of earthenware； or old iron； dug away with all his
energies； throwing the dirt behind him； which was gathered up by a
confederate； carried off； and hi。 This mode of operating was carried on
night after night； and the flooring replaced during the day； to prevent
suspicion。 The want of fresh air in the tunnel； as it progressed to
completion； often drove the men from their work； and caused a delay；
which proved fatal to their successful escape。 The long…looked for day
arrived。 More than three hundred had prepared to leave this hated abode；
by the tunnel。 All they waited for was the tapping and the signal。 The
time came； the place of egress was tapped； and the leader had scarcely put
his head out of the hole； ere he was fired upon by the sentinels； which
soon alarmed and drew the entire guard to the spot。 Great was the
commotion throughout the prison； and all who were caught in the tunnel
were severely punished。
This failure seemed to depress the spirits of the men more than any
previous attempt。 Heavy irons were placed upon the limbs of many of
the prisoners； and their lot was made otherwise harder by the keepers。
Clotelle； though often permitted to see the prisoners and contribute to their
wants； and； though knowing much of their designs； knew nothing of the
intended escape； and therefore was more bold in her intercessions in their
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behalf when failure came upon them。
The cruelty which followed this mishap； induced Clotelle to interest
herself in another mode of escape for the men thus so heavily ironed。
Pete； the man of all work； whose sympathies were with the Union
prisoners； was easily gained over to a promise of securing the keys of the
prison and letting the men escape； especially when Clotelle offered him
money to enable him to make good his own way to the North。
The night of the exodus came。 It was favored with darkness； and it
so happened that the officials were on a spree； owing to the arrival of
Confederate officers with news of a rebel victory。
Before getting the keys； Pete supplied the sentinels on duty with
enough whiskey； which he had stolen from the keepers' store…room； to
make them all drunk。 At the chosen moment； the keys were obtained by
Pete； the doors and gates were opened； and ninety…three prisoners；
including the tunnel workers； whose irons were taken off； made their
escape； allowing the faithful negro to accompany them。 Nothing was
known of the exit of the men till breakfast hour on the next morning。 On
examination of the store…room； it was found； that； in addition to the
whiskey Pete had taken a large supply of stores for the accommodation of
the party。 Added to this； a good number of arms with ammunition had
been furnished the men by the African。
The rebels were not prepared to successfully pursue the fleeing
prisoners； although armed men were sent in different directions。 Nothing；
however； was heard of them till they reached the Union lines。 Long
suspected of too freely aiding Union prisoners； Clotelle was now openly
charged with a knowledge of the escape of these men； and was compelled
to leave Andersonville。
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CHAPTER XXXIX
CONCLUSION
THE fiendish and heartless conduct of a large number of the people
of the South towards Union men during the war； and especially the
unlady…like demeanor of rebel women at New Orleans and other points； is
a matter that has passed into history。 In few places were the women more
abusive to those of Union proclivities than the female portion of the
inhabitants of Greenville； Alabama。 While passing through this town； on
her return from Andersonville to New Orleans； Clotelle had to encounter
the fierce ill…treatment of these chivalrous daughters of the South。 There
were； during the rebellion； many brave and generous women； who； in the
mountains and lowlands of Alabama； gave aid to Federals；soldiers and
civilians； in their wanderings and