Year: 1869

The following is translation of hith-
erto unpublished letter written by Louis
Napoleon just after his escape from the
Fortress of Ham, to the editor of news
paper to which he had contributed during
his Imprisonment. In certain poverty
and awkwardness of diction it is faithful to
the original, which was evidently not in
tended for publication


My Dear Mr. DeGeorge: The desire
OF once more seeing my father in this life
has made me attempt the boldest under
taxing that have ever attempted, and for
which l needed more frmness and courage
than at Strasbourg and Boulogne, for was
resolved not to endure the ridicule that
fastens on those who are arrested under a
disguise, and failure would have been no
longer endurable But to come to the par
ticulars of my escape.


You know the fort was guarded by four
hundred men, who furnished daily guard
Of sixty soldiers, who were on duty within
and without the fort; furthermore, the door
Of the prison was guarded by three jailors,
two of whom were always on duty. 1t was
necessary, therefore, in the first place, to
pass before them, then to traverse all the
inner court before the windows of the Com
mandant; having reached there, it was
necessary to pass through the gate where
were an orderly and sergeant, gate-keep-
er, sentinel, and finally post of thirty
men.


Not having been willing to establish any
communication with corruptible jailor
or SOY, disguise was, of course, necessary.
Now, as several rooms of the building
inhabited were undergoing repairs, it was
easy to take the costume of a workman
My good and faithful Charles Thelin pro-
cured a blouse and wooden shoes. l cut
off my mustache and took board on my
shoulders


Monday morning | saw the workmen
come in at quarter-past six clock When
they were at work, Charles took some drink
to them In room, so as to get them out of
my way; he was also to call one keeper up
stairs, while Doctor was talking with the
others q


Meanwhile, l was hardly out of my room
when was accosted by workman who
followed me, taking me for one of his COM
rades; at the foot of the stairs l found my
self front to. front with keeper Luckily,
lput the board before his face and reached
the court, always holding the board be-
tween myself and the sentinel and those
whom l met


When passing before the first sentinel 1
let fall my pipe, but l stopped to pick up
the pieces. Then l met the officer of the
guard, but he was reading letter, and did
not notice me- The soldiers of the post at
the gate seemed to wonder at my dress the
drummer in particular turned several times
to look.


Meanwhile, the orderlies opened the
door, and found myself outside the for
tress; there met two workmen, who were
coming toward me, and looked at me at
tentively. then turned the board on
their side, but they appeared SO inquisitive
that l thought | could not escape them,
when heard them exclaim


"Oh it is Berthoud."


Once on the outside, walked rapidly
toward the Saint Quentin road


A little later, Charles, who had engaged
carriage for himself the preceding day,
overlook me, and we reached Saint Quentin.


passed through the town on foot, after
taking off my blouse.


Charles had procured post-carriage,
under pretense of going to the races at
Cambria We reached Valenciennes with
out difficulty, where took the railway.


had obtained Belgian passport, but
it has nowhere been asked for During
this time Canneau, always so devoted, re-
mained in prison, and gave out that was
i'll, SO asto give me time to reach the from
tier


hope he will not have been illtreated;
that would be, as you may suppose, great
grief for me.


But, my dear Mr.. DeGeorge, if expe-
rienced lively sentiment of joy when
found myself outside the fortress, l was
very sadly impressed on passing the from
tier; the certainty that the Government
would never set me at liberty, unless con-
sented to dishonor myself, was necessary to
deo de me to quit France; finally, it was
necessary that l should be urged to this step
by the desire of trying all means to console
my father in his old age. Adieu, my dear
Mr.. DeGeorge. Although free, feel N.Y.
self very unfortunate. Be assured of my
warm friendship, and, if you can, try to be
useful to my good Conneau.


LOUIS NAPOLEON.