, 1869-04-25
A CURIOUS LETTER
Louis Nnpoloon's Own story of ttla
EscMpc from tho Fortress OF Ham.
in 1870

LOUIS Nhpo1con'& Own Story of Hts
Escnrc from tho Fortress OF Ham,
in 1870
TIC following Il translation Of hitherto un-
pubHsntd letter Written BY Louts Nbn >leon iu1,
after biz escape from the Fortress oi Inul 10 the
editor o. newspaper 10 which he h1d "a ;rbutcfi
aad aasx nn ps,s0P%ena 81 san II eera Dvery
tII1 osissnai which Was evidently moi t.: led foT
iirMY pr4a NJ; Droroaar: The t,e- /. .; once
nolo eetinR my father In this ufe h., made mo
attempt the oo!deat undertaking tint lay. ever
Atempted, and for which needed mon, flrrnnts7
anu courage than 1t SznsboosK ana Douiosuc. for
J. ! ~ reaolyed no, to cndntu the ndIcule that
1Asfens On those who are arrested undEr 1 dIs.
guihe, Aud failure would have been no Inn nrrr
gsoufaMe But 10 come To the particulars Of nv
You know the ford wlS guarded By four hnn,
dsed men, Who furnished q daily quart Of sisty
soodIcis, sos i, Tho were On 1usy Within aud without
guarded by three jAlora two Of whom VEN n.
Ways on duty. 1t waa necessary Therefore. il tbc
a!n place, to pass before them, then to tlaVeese
Conmsntlant Having reached there. il wss
nceess8sy 70 rass through the gate whcrc wc,a m
orderly and ! sergeant sate-keoper. ssnuuei
shot having been willing = establish n, com.
muncatfon with oorrupube jaIlor or 10. = t,I1,
Eu!se w. of oouIse. nscessarJ: Nor, ~ several
scra1rs, II WAS cH1y to take tho costru1t OF Wnrf
nA1L NJ good and faithful Charles Theitu mo
cured blouse And wooden shoeA cnt Cd nv
Monday morning SAW the worfmcn corn, In
1t ~ O'Clock. When they were At WORK Chnr7rs
took some drink to them tn ruo,t, 20 a. to rel
teepes vhs bee,o, g. ~ aso e es G
the uthcfA a "'a
.Meanwh1c, ! was hnr1, out Of u,y room when
taking ne for ono Of bis comradea ii the fooi 81
Inc ethlFcaee found myself front to frpnt with a
Keeper: Lpcxlly, nut the board before his face
ana reached tnc conrt A1Ways holding the hoant
lnct- >ASSS ''oA1
when passing leforc the init sc,t,ns, I lei fa,,
= M5 rils, ndi ! .torrc,! 70 pick Up the pieces
trading letter and tld mol notice lnc. Tho Sal.
Niere " the post AT the gate Reemt! to wonicr nt
N! rtss: the d1lmuser In particular turned sey
"Mran~ AIIc, the or,erllrs npcnct, .hc t,oor a,d
Iouhn fnfrelf outside the fortreas; ehcrr inrt
,wo Wpft1nen. who were rom!ng toxhr,l mr. ani
lpfe+l h& me- attcHtlrrly. then turned the ,sosni
4n stelt s'c, but shry appeared 40 lnqnI.iivc that
thought could mol eseapc them, when / heard
"tnh! II ts lIerthouu'
nnee on the outside, walkctl rspldy toward
,.S ~ '1S atc sha,,s rso as engaged
NM, NC reached IT. puentn. S'
IT,. (:sec ~ through tho town on foot, after TAX
"thar!ts i,aI. rrucurel ros,rarrisYc unt,cr
rtctrnra ~ EninR to shr race. al CAtni,r4, W.
fsssh.si sa,ehcenhcs Without dllZ,cul.y, wiicre i
"lh.d obtained 1lrlstan passrort, hu, /, ,,as
nowhere bccn asked tut. Dnftnv nh tl!nc CDs1.
''ran, h!H nts ~ tscsntcd rrnAltol in lr,son AID
essS "nt tlat was III no ~ 10 giro mo tllAo 10
~ horc4,c viii Ho1 havn fcen llltrca,cn: lin,
w, Would he' ~ you may suppose, i grrat grief tor
"1'It, my dear Mr. Dcerorec, II cxpcrtcnccx,
!vc', seninl1snt " t,J wf,rr fo,lii,, t,,Yrolf
oa9iic ~ tortssss, wn VERY Eau1y Impressed Of,