Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-06-06
Thrilling Adventure : How a
Bold Yankee Captured q Sc.
cessiOn Flag.

cessiOn Flag.
| A Washington correspondent of tb
New York Tribune gives this graphic az
count of daring Yankees exploit:
| y WASHINGTON, May 23, 1861.
have already apprised you by ,ele
graph of the leading features of tie Dol,
and dangerous achievements of Bosto
banker, which resulted in the taking of
Confederate" flag. The details will b
found highly interesting and exciiine.-
On Tuesday, Mr.. Charles E. Fuller, accom-
panied by bis brother, w. J. A. Fuller,
prominent New York lawyer, spent tn,
day ip looking about Alexandria, having nc
purpose except curiosity to see wha
Virginia troops looked like. They regis
tered their real names ard residence, and
of course, were marked meH from that mo
ment. After a thorough exploration Of
the city, they dined at the hotel, with a.
bout fifty officers of the Secession army
and the elder brother took the last stage
for Washington, which he reached that
night without any striking adventure
The ounger brother declared his detefmi-
nation TO bring home the ouly Secession
flag that was flying in the place, if he sac
rificed his life in the attempt. He said he
"could not stand it" to see the rebel bunt-
ing faunting defantly in full sight of the
Capitol, and have it he would, at any haz-
ard. No persuasion could make him fore
60 the rash attempt. He took room at
the hotel-the Marshal House-where the
proprietor kept the flag flying, swearing he
was "a bloody old Secessionist, and Lin
coin could not make him haul it down."
He expressed strong desire 10 see any
ad-d Yankee attack the flag. Mr.. F.
by little adroit management, had room
assigned him in the main building, from
the roof Of which the flagstaff ran up
through an open scuttle. After tea he
groped his way toward the roof and found
the upper doors locked. He then climb
ed the nearest window. eight or ten feet
above the stairway, and found it nailed
down. He bough hammer at a hard
ware store, went back and drew the nails.
Being perfect gymnast, and active as
cat, he expected 10 climb to the roof BY
the spout, but this proved rotten rs paper,
and compelled him to abandon the attempt.
He next searched about the city and found
a locksmilh, whom he told that he wanted
a bunch of keys to open closet. The
man offered to 60 with him and fit the
lock, but Mr.. F. .did not see it" in that
light. He said be would not trouble him
10 90, but would take bunch of keys, and
leave five dollars deposit for their return.
Armed with ten keys, he returned to the
hotel. watched like cat for his opportuni-
ty, and when the coast was clear ascended
10 the upper story, and tried his keys. Six
of them we've tried unsuccessfully, and the
seventh had turned the lock, when he was
nearly surprised by a party of soldiers who
came up the stairs. He rushed into sort
of dark closet adjoining. secretad himself
under mattrass, and waited with breath
less anxiety until they passed into the next
room, where they soon became absorbed
in a lively game of "poker," at five cents
"ante." He then went back, unlocked the
door, felt his way in the dark to the flag
staff, tried the signal halyards, found that
everything worked beautiful, and that he
was sure, at least, of hauling down the
flag. He mounted to the roof, and took
a general survey of the premises. This
was about eight o'clock in the evening"
The streets were full of citizens and troop
ers, and the full moon shone bright as day.
He was again alarmed by party of SOL
diers mounting the stairs, aud feared that
the slight lowering and raising Of the flag
made when he was trying the halyards,
bad been observed from the streets. He
stood behind the door, determined to jump
by the first corners and over the heads Of
those coming after, and make run for the
dock, some four or five blocks of, jump in
and swim to the Pawhee. The Massa-
chusetts boys Of the 5th regiment, who
knew him well, say that "a man must be
swift on foot to catch Charlie" Happily
The troops went into another room. He
hen went toward the river to alter the
mornings of a small vessel, so that her
.bange of position might signify to his
,rother, who had concerted TO cover his
win toward the Pawuee, that the boat
,ould approach within hail. He was turn
ID back by sentinels at every street ap-
oroaching the river. The whole shore was
guarded. He then determined to 60 back
q the hotel, haul down the flag and trust
o the chapter of accidents. After a Care
'ul reconnaissance, at about 10 o'clock,
when everybody's attention was engaged
~ the passing Of three cavalry companies,
,e bauled down the flag, cut the halyards,
md made them fast to the elect that they
night not be observed swinging loosely
70 his horror he discovered that he had
,aught an elephant. The flag was over
30 feet long, and about Is feet wide. He
ook off his coat, vest and pants, and COM
nenced winding the flag about his body.
70 use Lis own expression, he thought he
never should get it all coiled away. He
however, by making sort Of
Daniel Lambert of himself, in tying up
his pants and coat, SO as to effectuaIly hide
he piratical emblem. He marched down
stairs, got out Of the house, without excl
ling suspicion and started or his travels
Critical as was his position, with the river
bank lined with sentries, aud the picket
guards extended to Long Bridge, where he
knew the draw was raised, it soon became
perilous in the extreme, BY general alarm
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