The officer in command came in to look at us on the same night, and said to the officer of the guard: "If anyone of the prisoners attempts to escape, dispatch and run him instantly through!" About midnight, or a little after, I rose, according to our plan, and cried out: "Surrender!" &c, and then ran for the door and knocked down the sentry posted immediately at the outside of the door. My three companions by pre-concert
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jumped up the moment I gave the signal, shouting to the extent of their voices: "Surren- -der!" &c, and seizing the arms of the guard. They got the muskets from the guard and threw one to me over the fence, but I didn't get it. I jumped over the fence adjacent to the Schoolhouse followed by my three friends, and passed close to the second sentry posted behind the fence about twenty feet from the house. It was dark as Egypt, and the second sentinel fired but missed us. A third sentinel was posted on the road in advance about eight or ten rods off, and he fired as we supposed at the second sentinel's flash and killed him dead. When we formed our plan of escape there was a report current that the Refugees were coming up to liberate us, and this report materially aided our escape, as it intimidated the guard when we shouted out and made them think they were surprised. After our escape we went through fields and woods to Stanwich when we knew where we were, and