And....the shape (from wind) of their hats and the way they wear them. "Generally they are far better men than any of the secesh prisoners we had here before"--- unnamed reporter.
Not everyone attempted to escape Camp Douglas, but these men did and some made it. From To Die in Chicago: De Land had the "disagreeable duty to report a serious break of the Morgan's prisoners in this camp on December 3, 1863". Approx. one hundred of them made a successful escape through a tunnel. It was the inspiration for The Great Escape movie-----
not really, but it could have been so.