It was several days before the Confederates captured at South Mountain and Sharpsburg were moved back through Frederick. By noon on September 20, 1862, they had been marched about five miles beyond Frederick to the rail depot. At dark, a freight train arrived with empty box cars. The men were ordered aboard, the doors were locked and they headed for Baltimore. They reached there at about sunrise, but were not removed from the boxcars until about nine o’clock. As they marched through the city, thousands of people came out to look at them. Many of the ladies fell into each others’ arms and shed tears of sympathy for the poor, dirty, ragged soldiers. They had brought hundreds of packages for the men, but they were not permitted to give them to them. As the men marched along in a careless, indifferent way, the request came down the line for the men to get in fours, hold their heads up and “catch the step”. This was done at once and never did soldiers keep the step more perfectly. It seemed to do the ladies so much good and the men could hear them say, “If they are ragged, they can march.” When the men reached the city wharf, Captain Belcher of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment said to Captain Williams, “I am going to see if there is a good Mason in this immense crowd.” He made the sign and was recognized by a Yankee Colonel, who pushed his way through the crowd until he reached Captain Belcher. “I see you are a Mason, what can I do for you?” he asked. Captain Belcher told him that he had nothing and did not know where he was going. The Colonel told him that he belonged to General Bank’s staff, who commanded that department, and “you are on your way to Fort Delaware.” He said he would send some clothing by the next boat. The Colonel kept his promise and sent some nice blankets as well. The men left that evening on a steamer and reached Fort Delaware about noon the next day.
[2] When they arrived there, the men were sent into barracks just outside the fort. The officers were taken into the fort.
[3]
[1]Guarding Greensboro” by G. Ward Hubbs, page 139
[2] Greensboro Record, December 24, 1903, “Captain Jonathan Whitehead Williams – His Life and Times With the 5th Alabama, C.S.A. Company “D” Greensboro Guards”
[3] Greensboro Record, January 14, 1904, “Captain Jonathan Whitehead Williams – His Life and Times With the 5th Alabama, C.S.A. Company “D” Greensboro Guards”