Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-03
CONDEMNED AS a SPY.


Con gave an interesting account OF his
capture during the war, his sentence
to death by court-martial in Balti-
more and his confinement and escape
from Fort McHenry. He was recruit
ing for the Confederate army in West
Virginia when captured and was sent
to Baltimore, where he was tried as a
spy and sentenced to be hanged. Con-
fined in the same room with him In
the fort were Colonel La Mar, also
charged with being a spy, who was
captured in Baltimore in citizens
dress; Captain Gubbins, of the Fifth
Louisiana Regiment, described by
Mr.. Compton as having been a most
intrepid and gallant man and pro-
fessional escaper, afterwards killed in
battle; Lieutenant Dorsey, of Whites
Battalion, OF Maryland; Capt. George
Scherer and one citizen prisoner
named Skalley, who was charged with
some political offense.
While in the fort Mr. Compton wrote
three letters, one to President Jeffer-
son Davis, one to the Secretary OF
War and one to an old friend in Ken
lucky, but none of them ever reached
it's destination. He had given up
hope, for President Lincoln had said
lie must die as an example to other
Southerners. But about this time
prospects began to brighten. Capt.
Robert Baylor, OF Charlestown, w.
Va, who had commanded company
at Gettysburg, was brought into the
prison one day, under the charge OF
having violated flag of truce at Har-
per's Ferry. This charge was proved
to have been utterly false and it was
also proved that upon the very day
that the flag of true was said to have
been violated he was in Harrisonburg.
When Captain Baylor was placed in
the room in which Mr.. Compton and
his fellow-prisoners were confined, he
had in his hand-satchel among other
things, razor and a poeket-knife.
but a few days afterward, when he
was released, it is needless to say, he
did not take those two articles with
him.
On the Sunday following Captain
Baylor's release Mr. Compton and his
friends determined to make an effort
to escape. The dreaded day set for
his execution was drawing very near,
and he realized that unless something
should happen very soon his days
among the living were numbered. A
fearful storm was raging outside, and
it may have been the seemingly pitt
less patter of the raindrops on the
roof and against the window panes,
coupled with the awful doom await
ing him, that caused him to become
desperate that morning, but certain
it is that he became so, and calling
aside Captain Gubbins, with whom
he had previously made an agreement
to escape at the very first opportuni-
ty, he told him that he was fully de-
termined to 20 out on that very night.
Gubbins quickly assented, and soon
they made the first attempt, which
was by cutting a hole through the
meath soon stopped their efforts in
that direction. Then they cut out one
of the windows, but as sentinel was
stationed just opposite, they had to
desist from that attempt also.
Mr.. Compton knew well that if he
was detected in the slightest attempt
to escape he would be shot with very
little ceremony. In fact, this was
Just such an opportunity as his cap
tors desired. President Davis had de-
clared his intention Of hanging i've OF
the Union officers the moment he
should be informed of Mr.. Compton's
and the commandant OF
Fort McHenry sought to prevent this
in the manner described.
Inspired by the courage and nerve
displayed by his brave companion,
Captain Gubbins, Mr.. Compton pre-
pared for the third and successful at
tempt to escape. Mounting upon a
store-box which happened to be In
the cell, he jabbed the knife through
the plastered ceiling, and turning 10
his companions, said: Boys, l am
going out right through here" This
was about II o'clock Sunday morn
ing. A man was placed at each win.
dow and one at the door to watch,
while the other stood on the box and
cut the hole in the ceiling. In order
to keep any guard or officer who
might come in from becoming aware
of their attempt, they stretched line
across the room upon which they
hung their coats, vests, socks, ETC., to
make it appear that they were giving
their clothing an airing, while their
real object was to hide their work
from view. They worked on through
the long, dreary hours OF that dismal
Sunday afternoon and until 8 o'clock
that night, by which time they hao
cut through the plastering, iaths and
sheeting, and nothing remained oe-
tween them and the sky overhead but
the tin roofing.
To cut through that piece OF tin
with no other tools than an old pock-
et-knife and razor, while every inch
of ground just few feet away was
being pressed every moment by the
foot OF some heavily armed sentinel,
was a difficult task. But there was
no time for preference. To the per-