Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-11-20

Shepsrdstown, Lieutenant George
u. Shsarer Was sent bv General
Bradley T. Johnson, with a squad
of Maryland Cavalry into Hag.rs-
town to see If any Yankee troops
were IN the town Yesterday Morn
ing twenty I've yesrs later, Lieuten.
ant Shasrer walked INFO Gen. John
sons Office and laughingly reported
that he had faund plenty Of Yankees
there He would have rsportsd
sooner he said but circumstances be-
yond his control prevented him.
J The fact is he had been taken pri.-
oner III Hagsrstown and confined in
Fort Delaware. Lieut.. Shsarer
went into the confederate army in 81
and served through the War in the
Maryland Line. except d ring the
intervals while he was in prison
After the war he went to Idaho
His curiosity and love of adventure
had not been entirely grsti6sd by
his four years experience III the CON
fcderate army, and he engaged in
the Indian wars in the West. He
INV -OAnS " ucIc III DSuF,
two bullets as souvenirs of the no
torious Nez Perces Chisf Joseph, who.
ten years ago, made one Of the most
famous resistances to United States
troops that has taken place since the
Black Hawk war
The confederate Lieut.. Shsarer
is now Major Shearer having won
his commission as major in the Ter
ritorial Volunteers. He has served
several terms in the Idaho Lesisla-
tura and is now clerk of the States
District Court IN that Territory.
This is the first time he has been
east since the close of the war, and
he felt In duty bound to make his
report sto his general a report
which, though long delayed, got
there Just the same, While a pris-
onsr at Fort Delaware Lieutenant
She4rer was the victim q of curious
mistake A man who's name Was
the same as his had been convicted
by court martial ST Fort McHenry of
killing the provost marshal of Mar
tinsburg. West Virginia, and had
been sentenced to fifteen years penal
servitude. He escaped from Fort
heHenry about the time LieuteRans
WAS taken to Fort Delaware |
Gen. Norris, com msnder of Fort Nc |
Henry, heard of the arrest and sent |
an order to put Lieutenant Shearer |
NJ work at once- Tse Lieutenant I
remnnstrsted against this, I
insisting on proving An alibi. He I
was promptly marched off before 1
two bayonets, however, aad put to
work with the chain gang. clad in
he uncomfortable, If picturesque,
Of a conrict. On his vav.
while arguing with his guard he met /!
/ Union officer who knew him, and
had him sent to Fort
for Identification.
Sometime previous to his capture
IL H.gerstova Lieutenant Shearer
lad been captured ,nd confined in
''rt hcHenrv and had escaped
When he WAS taken before General
Norris FOR Identification that officer
him st once. but not re-
the circumstances said he
vas the man who had been seuteuc-
T. II teok his whole staff to CON
ince him to the contrary The
'hsaror then standing before him
vas SIX feet two and a half inches
a while the escaped Shsarer was
'ut tive feet aud six inches IN height
lie VAS then sent to the Old Capital
'rison. where he escaped while the
,uards were within ffteon feet of
i'm He WAS in 4 room with Clagett
'Itzhugh- Two guards were set to
Satch him and these we're coutinu-
lly pacing beneath the window.
They would stand directly under the
widow with backs together. and
walk of fifteen paoes, turn about.
walk toward each other till they met,
urn and 20 back again. The pris-
ners tore a blanket INTO strips, and
'hearer was requested to 60 first
While the guards were walking
way from eech other Shearer slid
lown the improvisvd rope which
vas Immediately hauled up by Fisz-
iugh, and then Shearer ooollv walk
d up past one of the guards who
'aid no attention to him not think
nS he was enc of the prisoners He
vent up the street. came down on the
'ther side and coolly sat on ns::curb-
tone opposite !: Eis prison to wait
or Fitzhugh. After w.iting for
ome time without Fitzhugh's max
ng an appearance, he began to wiis-
lie for him. The guard ordered MIN
o stop and move on, to which he
splisd, 'Oh, all right old fellow
I you don't ike my society about
iere, reckon I'll b. nsvin'," aad
lie moved. Fi,zhugh did not at
empt to escape. Shearer wac sent
outh through tho assistance of the
wife Of Union officer who gave him
me Of her husbands old uniforms.
which was of great assistance to him. !,