The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-07-31
A Confederate Officers Escape.

A thrilling episode in the life of
the late Colonel George W. Alexander
was his escape during the war from
Fort McHenry, where he was confined
as prisoner. AT the time he decided
to make the attempt, his wife had Just
arrived from Richmond, having crossed
the Potomac at night in small boat in
such weather as would have kept most
men ashore. BY an order of the secre-
tary of war, she was permitted to visit
her husband daily. A plan was formed.
She brought him little preserver in
the form of waistcoat and clothes
| line, both concealed under her hoop
skirt. Standing near the corner of the
cell, she cut the string that supported
the waistcoat and line and kicked them
under the cot. She had brought also a
letter-head which depicted Fort Nc
Henry and its surroundings. On this,
after careful observation, she had
dotted in blue ink the positions of the
various sentinels about the fort. 1t
was Saturday. She made Alexander
promise he would wait till Monday, so
she might see him again before he
should make his perilous attempt. And
80 they parted. But as twilight came
on, Alexander resolved to escape that
very night and be his Own messenger
to his wife.
About dark, Alexander arranged his
bed 30 that it would seem to be occu-
pied, and, getting behind the door, put
on the life preserver and over that a
federal uniform his wife had also
brought him. Stepping then to the
door as the guards back WAS turned
he moved briskly forward, the door be-
ing open to permit him to take exer-
else when 80 disposed. Meeting the
guard as he returned on his beat, Alex
ander saluted him and was saluted in
return, the guard not suspecting his
identity. The mortar batteries that had
been erected to fire on Baltimore in
case of need were soon reached. In
passing one of them, he knocked down
a crowbar. 1t fell with clang 80 loud
that the fugitive thought all the bells
of Baltimore had struck. He hurried
the faster to the rampant on the Poto-
mac side. The height was consider
able and the clothesline was provided
for this place, but he had forgotten it.
There was nothing to do but to jump.
Jump he did and landed on hard
ground. Attempting to rise, he found
his right leg and shoulder badly in
jured. But, with some effort, he
crawled into the water and eluded the
guard who was passing. The cold
water lessened his pain, but the sky
was black and the wind was roughen-
ing the Patapsco. When at length he
inflated his life-preserver and struck
out, weak and faint, his prospect of see
ing his wife again seemed gloomy one.
He swan, however, with such speed
as he could, and after two and half
hours reached land at point near
Riverside Park and crawled to where
he saw a light. 1t shone from the
window of cabin, and in the door sat
an old man. Badly hurt" was his
reply to inquiries, and he was carried
into the house by the old man and his
daughters. Presently the girls recog.
nized him, for they had seen him at the
fort. The old man at once said Alex
ander must go. His property would be
confscated if an escaped prisoner were
interceded for him, and at length pre-
vailed on their father to get buggy
and take him elsewhere They them
selves got into the buggy and con-
cealed him with their skirts as he lay in
the bottom of the vehicle. He was
taken first to the house of W. H. Nor
ris. He was then taken in a carriage
by Owen Norris to Hoffman street,
where he saw his wife for moment,
and thence to the home of E. Law
Rog ers, where he had the services of a
surgeon. Later he was taken to Car.
rollton, where Charles Carroll and wife
received him with the utmost kindness.
There was an offer of $4,000 for his
capture.-Baltimore Sun.