ng resume the careless appearance
of everyday life.

So cautiously would this work be carried on that officers sleeping only a
few feet away would not be disturbed, and never suspect that anything
unusual had been going on. Thus, night after night, would the work be
prosecuted, the men spelling each other in digging and doing sentry duty,
until, by careful measurement, it was ascertained that the tunnel had
reached a sufficient distance beyond the stockade to insure an escape. No
one in the prison, except those engaged in the work, would be let into the
secret until the work was completed and the tunnel was to be opened. This
secrecy was necessary to prevent a curious crowd from hanging around,
which would attract the attention of the rebs, who, in blissful ignorance
of any plot, would sing out: "Post number fo, twelve o'clock, and a-l-l's
w-e-l-l. Post number six, twelve o'clock, and a-l-l's w-e-l-l!" When,
perhaps, some wakeful wag of a Yankee prisoner would answer: "Post number
fo, twelve o'clock, and the Confederacy has gone to h--l," in the same
sing-song way the reb guard had just given it. Sometimes the Johnnies
would take all of this good-naturedly, and at others would call out:
"Here, you Yanks, if youens don't keep still I'll shoot in thar," which
would have the effect of quieting them for a time.

On the 17th of May, we were moved into the stockade, and it was not long
before we commenced prospecting to find an opening for an escape.

A tunnel was commenced almost immediately, but after working ten nights
upon it, it was discovered and filled up. This did not discourage them,
however; they must have something to occupy their time; and although we
were busy all day building sheds, this did not prevent us from trying
nights to find a way out of our confinement. When the first tunnel was
discovered, that had just been started, all hands were fell into line, and
a general search was made for tunnels, but none were discovered. On the
next day, however, Captain Tabb succeeded in discovering another, and in
an altercation with Maj. Pasco, of the 16th Connecticut, who was claiming
that he had a right to escape whenever he could, slapped the Major in the
face for asserting his rights. This was a cowardly act, for Tabb was not
only armed, but surrounded by a guard, while, of course, Major Pasco was
an unarmed prisoner. It made a fellow's blood boil to witness and suffer
such indignities; but what could we do under suc