New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-27
A YANKEE IN ALEXANDRIA.
Capture Of a Secession Flag.

T have already apprised you by telegraph Of tho
leading features of tie bold and achieyemenr
of Boston banker which resulted in the taking Of
Confederate" aag The details will be found highly
interesting and exciting On Tuesday, Mr. Charles e
Fuer. accompanied by his brother, w. j. A. Fuller,
prominent New-York lawyer spent the day IN looking
abont Alexandria, having no purpose except curiosity
to ace what Virginia troops looked like. They regis
tered their real names and residence and Of course,
were marked men from that moment After thor
on1h exploration Of the city, they dned at the hotel
with about fifty officers of the Secession army, and the
elder brother took tho lss stage for Washington which
he reached that night without any striking adventure
The younger brother declared his determination 70
bring home the only Secession flag that was flying in
the place. il he sacriced his life IN the auemp' he
said he could not stand 1t the rebel bunting
.faunting detantly in full sight of the CAPITOL ana
have it he would, at any hazard. No persuasion
could make him forego the rash attempt. lie tooA
a room at the hotel--the Marshall House-where
the proprietor kept the hag flying swearing he VIZ
"a bloody old Secessionist, and Lincoln could nos
make him haul it down." He expressed strong ds'
,ire TO see auy i'd Yankee attack that flag NJ.
+. got exceedingly irate at this boast, and thought
he would let him Anow that Massachusetts men BID
more pluck than wss credited them by the "Chvairy'
The hotel is q large fosr-story building and w,s
filled with Secession troops. Mr.. +. by Little adfv
management. had room assigned him In the na .
building, from the roof of which the flagstaff ran NJ
through an open scuttle. Aer tea be goped his va
toward the roof and found the upper doors locke :
He then climbed the nearest window, eight or tea
feet above the sairway and found it nailed doy -
lie bought hammer at hardware store went b; Z
and drew the nails. Being perfect eynnast soo
active az a cat he expected TO climb to the roof ~
the spout, but this proved rotten as paper and con-
PEELED him 70 abandon the attempt. He next seched
about the city and found locksmth, whom he tod
that he wanted bunch Of keys to open closet. TIE
man offered 10 60 with him and ft the lock, but ".
+. did lot see il" in that light. He said he woni
not trouble him to Co. but would take bunch Of ke
aud leave i've dollars deposit for their return.
Armed with ten keys be returned TO te
hotel watched like cat for his opportunity, ad
when the clear ascended TO the upper stsy,
and tried his KEYS. Six of them tried unsuccs
fuy, and the seventh had turned the lock, when lie
nearly surprised by party Of soldiers who caae
up the stairs He rushed into sort of dark cose ad-
Joining, secr.ted himself under a mattress and wGee
with breaihess anxiety until they passed into the rext
room, where they soon became absorbed In lively
game of "poker," at five cents ante" He then
went back, unlocked the DOR fen bis way in the dark
to the flagstaff, tried the signal balyards found that
everything worked beautifully and that be was sure,
st least; of hauling down the flag. He mounted to the
roof and took general survey Of the premises. ThH
was about eight o'clock in the evening. The streep
Were full of citizens and troopers and the full moor
shone bright as day. lie was again alarmed by
party of soldiers mounting the stairs, and feared thai
the slight lowering and raising Of the flag, made when
LIE was irving the haly ards had been observed from
the He stood behind the door, determined to
Jump by the first comers and over the heads Of those
coming after and make for the dock,
some four or five blocks of, jump In ana
swim to the Pawnee. The Massachusetts, boys
of the 5th Regiment who know him well, say that "s
man must be- swift on foot 10 catch Charlie" Hap
PLY the troops went into another Hethen wet
toward the river TO alter the moorings Of small yes
sell that her change Of position might signify TO hi
brother who had concerted TO bis swim toward
the Pawnee, that the boat could approach within hail
lie was turned back by sentines at every street ap.
preaching the river. The whole shore was guarded
lie then determined to go back to the hote haul dowr
the flag, and trust the chapter Of scciderts. After
a careful reconnaissance, at about 10 o'clock, when.
every bodys attention engaged by the passing OF
three cavalry companies he hauled down the flag, Gu!
the hayards and made them fast to the elect that they
might not be observed swinging loosely. To his hor
ror he discovered that be bad caught an elephant The
flag WAS over 30 feet long, and about Is feet wide. He
took off his coat, vest, and pants, and commence
winding the aag about bis body. To use bis own ex
presson he thought he never should get it AZ conee
away. He succeeded however, by making sort o'
Daniel Lambert of himself, in tying up bis panis
and coat 80 as TO efectuslly hide the Pirauca.
emblem. He marched down stairs, got out Q.
the house, without exciting suspicion, and started
ON his travels Critical as was nis P0saon' "''a
the river bank lined with senries, ana tne
extended 10 Long Bridge, where he knew 'ne a's"
Yas raised il soon became perious In the extreme
=. ,,.na,sI alarm. which was given in consequence Of
,hs f,ct that the dag was missed. lie saw pasroimen
,h;u in every direction, be concluded 70 conceal
h,.alS !, an old she'd, until the moon should be 90.
u,ed by passing clouds, when he determined TO push
q, M back country, make circuit above the tawn
a,d swim across TO Ellsworth's Zouave camp WHO'S
fires he could plainly see. He saw his orosher %"
with detachment of twelve men from tho mssT
chuse,ts h living oil In the middle OF the nver ."
dared not hail her. for fear Of causing bis certain
He managed to push from picket to picket, oy wV
advances at one time lying fat on bis back Tor hs.
hour. while the guard was smoking within lew 'ss'
of him. until he broke cover IN the open co"A-s,
beyoud the suburbs, when the moon shons ~:
brightly, and he found himself suddenly e'on1 ...
by Two sentries. He made rush 70 pass 'he" A.
both of them seized him. He grasped one
breast aud threw him to the ground win so'n
l.uce tbat he vreuched of one Of the Vhgn'aa
but,ons which he now wears On his wse
a. q trophy. The Other ssutxy GpDese