The name "Charles A. Pillsbury" does not appear in the Fort Delaware Society's database nor could I find the name in the National Park Service's Index to the Compiled Military Service Records. This may be a pen name used by the author.

Use of the term "Tiger" in the headline for the news article implies that he was a Louisiana soldier. His claim to have been wounded on 2 JUL 1863 in front of "Cemetery Heights" puts him in Hay's Brigade (the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th Louisiana Infantry regiments). Evacuation of the wounded and the capture of many of these men near Waynesboro, PA is factual.

I also quickly checked a Union guard's diary for mention of any escapes from Fort Delaware on 28 JUL 1864 and found none.

Right now I am expecting holiday company and had to clean up my research room. All of my research materials, including my escape collection, are neatly boxed and unavailable. If you can provide a transcription of the newspaper account, I will try to work on your query over the holidays.

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
Website: www.fortdelaware.org
E-mail: society@fortdelaware.org