Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-10-01

Escape from Fort McHenfY--HlS Sale Ar.
rival Among His Friends.
We had an interview last night with Acjntant
Geo. W. Alexander at the Powhatan Hotel where
he arrived yesterday from Gen. Jobnsons head
quarters His escape and subsequent adven: Ures
are equal to Trenck romsnce.
Alter Col. Thomas and Alexander had captur-
ed the ST. Nicholas, they started upon another
secret expedition, and by ore of those unaccount-
able accidents the Colonel was captured. Alex
ander was at this time in charge of schooner,
steering boldly up the Chesapeake. The wealth
er came on squaly snd very bad and seeing
suspicious movements among some steamers, he
concealed his men in the hold Of the vessel, pla-
ced his brother at the helm, and he himself on
deck disguised as an Oysterman, he ran into An
napelish and anchored under Fort Seveni AT
day yligat got under way and stood over to Ches
ter river. Here a terrific gale threw his little
craft high upon Eastern Neck Island. He then,
in disguise, boarded the steamer ARROW got
the papers and saw the account of the Coionefs
arrest; then placed the main body of his men
under the charge of L eutenant Backiston, with
orders to him TO make the best of his way to
Virginia, across the Bay and through Calvert
county; which Blackston, succeeded molly in
doing. Alexander then, with his brother-in law
and two m D, started fr Accomac, down the
Eastern Shore OF Mary land. Everything went
tn swimmingly until bis arrival at Cambridge,
where, one Of the party being recognized By
Judge Spence, and hebeing a relative, Molteitn
like proveds8 fIatar sDd j. formed on thern.-
In atsIioftstime Governor Hicks ordered out the
Dorchester Guards; the Hotel was surrounded,
and they were taken in custody, dragged to the
common jail placed in room, and kept until
morning. Then closely guarded, they were Goa
veyed to the steamer. On the wharf an i'm
mense throng surrounded Governor Hicks, and
shouted loudly for the ha6eas corpus Alexan-e
der demanded OF Governor Hicks TO be treated
as gentleman. The Governor replied, "You
are in the hands OF the military" 81 am glad
to hear it," sail Alexander, ''for thought | was
in your hands,"
Here the crowd attempted rescue; but, over
powered by numbers, Alexander was borne on
board the steamer and conveyed to Fort McIIen-
ry. His wife, who was in Virginia at the time,
Immediately saw President Davis, who kindly
assured her that everything possible should be
done to save him. She then went to Mary LAND,
procured a pass to visit her husband, and at
once commenced the invention OF plans for his
escape. She procured Federal soldiers uni
form, cloth. line, and an Initiating life preser-
wing wastcoat These she smuggled to his cell
beneath her garments. During the arrangement
she purchased plants and made for her husband
little garden at his cell window, thus disarm-
ing al! suspicion that any escape was meditated
Sixteen days ago, everything being in read-
ness, just after dark, Alexander donned his dis
guse, and while Col. irvona (Thomas) engaged
the attention of the sentinel, be slipped by, gain
ed the ramparts, passed over the mortar battery,
and sprang from the curtain into the ditch
The fall being great, he discovered, on rising,
that lie was crippled. Nothing daunted, he
crawled through the abattls, over the glacis, in
to the river, Inflated his waistcoat and made a
bold stroke for freedom.
After being in the water q long time, he land
ed and crawed three-fourths of mile to house.
There be found some friendly disposed people
two Catht lie girls washed him and dressed him,
put ''scapula" round his neck tor protection,
placed him in the bottom of a carriage, and,
themselves cODcealing him with their garments,
drove to friends house where he was taken care
of.
The next day man Of war was hauled into
the riser, and fred guns for long time to raise
Alexander's body, suppOsing he must have been
drowned After this, friends of the cause in
Maryland conveyed him from place to place by
night for concealinent, until at last he was Chr
ried to the shore of the Potomac. Here by the
merest accident, he tell in with Lieut.. Dunott,
who had escaped from Washington, and George
Bear, young man who was making his way to
Portsmouth, Va. Alexander purchased boat
Dunott and Bear carried him ON their shoulders
a mile. Bear tore off his coat-skrts and muffled
the oars, and although the guard vessel was
within 100 yards, they quietly pushed off and
succeeded in reachug the Virginia shore in safe
ty. A man, taking the boat for reinnneraIlon
carried them i'll his conveyance to Gen. Johnson's
pcke:s.
Alexander speaks very feelngy of his fiend,
Lieut.. Donott, who while bearing hin Oh his
back, at every alarm turaed to face tie Danger,
thus showing the devotion OF one soldier To au-
other.-Dispatch
Hiram i,hr ha.xl