A strong star fort was thrown up at a little distance from the southwest corner.

Eleven field pieces were mounted in this in such a way as to rake the Stockade diagonally.

A smaller fort, mounting five guns, was built at the northwest corner, and at the northeast and southeast corners were small lunettes, with a couple of howitzers each.

Packed as we were we had reason to dread a single round from any of these works, which could not fail to produce fearful havoc.
Still a plot was concocted for a break, and it seemed to the sanguine portions of us that it must prove successful.

First a secret society was organized, bound by the most stringent oaths that could be devised.
The members of this were divided into companies of fifty men each; under officers regularly elected.