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.