The citizen., 1902-09-05
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Prominent Parts Taken by
Western Maryland in the
Days of the Revolutionary
War.
BY DIR. BERNARD STEINER, PHI. d.
Courtesy Johns Hopkins Press.

BY DIR. BERNARD STEINER, PHI. d.
Courtesy Johns Hopkins Press.
The prisoners were taken to
Frederick on the next day and
were at once met by a colonel of
militia, lately returned from Bos-
ton, who knew of COnnolly's
northern trip. This ended all
hopes for release and vigilant eX
animation of their baggage was
ordered. Nothing was found on
the first search, but when Samuel
Chase arrived in Frederick to
preside at the prisoners examina-
tion, fresh search was directed
by him. DR.. Smith said "they
examined everything SO strictly
as to take our saddles to pieces
and take out the stutfing and even
rip open the soles of our boots.
The papers in the pillion sticks
escaped detection and were de-
Stroyed by the servant; but in
Connolly's portfolio, a rough draft
of his propositions was found.
The Committee of Observation put
the prisoners under separate
guards as soon as they were re.
ceived and ordered that no person
speak to them, save in the pres
ence of one of the committee or
by their permission. When the
papers were found, copies of them
were sent to the Convention of
Virginia and Maryland and to
Congress. The Tories were kept
in the house of the colonel of
minute men under constant
guard. In addition to previous
restrictions. they were forbidden
the use of pen and ink, save in
the presence of member of the
committee, and anything written
by them was directed to be exam
iucd by one or more of the com.
mittee. Connolly, who becomes
querulOuS at times in telling of
the hardShipS of his captivity,
admits that the prisoners had no
reason to be dissatisfied with the
lodging and diet they had III
Frederick, but he complains bit
terly of the 'clamorous gabbling
OF this raw militia" as "eternal
and noisy beyond conception.o
TIE guards were ignorant and
stupidity turbulent and gave
nights "Of entertainment to them
selves and visitors and of tantal.
izing perturbation to me, whose
heart was necessarily painting
after other scenes aud different
opinions"
a negro girl who waited on the
prisoners became their friend and
brought them ink horn and paper
which she left "between the bed
and sacking bottom unnoticed by
the guard" With these, Con-
molly wrote letters to the garri.
sons in the west. 1t was decided
that DR.. Smith should make an
attempt to escape and take the
letters to their destination. The
prisoners had noticed "that, to-
wards daylight, our guard, fire.
quently, exhausted by their own
noise and folly, were inclined to a
momentary quiet and, as no sentry
was regularly relieved, but all
were Oh duty at the same time"
they concluded that an escape was
possible.
This was accomplished in the
nick of time. On December 80, a
letter from John Hancock, presi.
dent Of Congress, was received,
ordering the prisoners to be re-
moved to Philadelphia. The
committee directed DR.. Adam
Fisher and ten men to escort them
on the morrow. That very night
the prisoners unScrewed the lock
and while the guards were nod
ding Smith slipt down stairs un.
observed. Scarcely had they
time to screw the lock on again
when the guard entered, but see
ing some of the prisoners in bed.
concluded all We're there, cried
"all safe" and retired. When
morning came Smiths escape was
discovered and the others were
loaded with ''opprobrious epi
thets.' Smith was recaptured by
the committee for the Upper Dis
trict and was brought TO Phila
delphia. There he made IA second
unsuccessful attempt TO escape
and after being removed to Balti
more, finally succeeded in a third
attempt, in December, 1916.
Cameron was retained as a pris-
oner until the winter of LIS,
while Connolly was not released
until July, 1880, when he was ex
changed for Lit. Col. Ramsay.
Smith gives curious account
of his capture, in narrative of
his adventures, published in 1874,
but which is not very relia bla