MEMOIR OF STANLEY. 465 



on the following day, and defeated the enemy, General Johnstone being 

 among the killed. Many Confederate prisoners were taken in the retreat, 

 among whom was Mr. Stanley. 



" While being conveyed with a number of others to prison, Stanley deter- 

 mined on making his escape, and in the most daring manner burst through the 

 armed escort, and, plunging into a river, swam across, and got clear off. 

 More than a dozen shots were fired at him, but he escaped without a scratch." 



He returned to England immediately after making his escape, and visited 

 his mother in South Wales. After a short stay he went to Liverpool, where 

 he filled a situation as clerk for several months, living with some of his father's 

 relatives. Having some difference with his friends, he shipped again for the 

 United States, and landed at New York. The war was still raging, and he, 

 with characteristic promptness and audacity, enlisted as a common seaman 

 in the Federal navy. His quality rapidly asserted itself, and within four 

 months we find him secretary to the Admiral, on board the Ticonderoga, the 

 flag-ship. " This apparently unwarlike appointment," says his biographer, 

 " did not prevent him from embracing ojDportunities of showing the stuff that 

 was in him, and his next step in promotion was the most fitting reward for 

 a most gallant and daring exploit. In the heat of an action, he swam five 

 hundred yards under the fire of a fort mounting twelve guns, and fixed a 

 rope to a Confederate steamer, out of which the crew had been driven by 

 the Federal fire, thus enabling the Ticonderoga to secure her as a prize. 



" He was raised to the rank of ensign on the spot. He fought in several 

 engagements, both on sea and land, and concluded his fighting career as a 

 naval officer, by taking part in the second attack on Fort Fisher, on the 13th 

 January, 1865. Ten months after this decisive engagement, the Ticonderoga 

 was sent on a cruise, and arrived at Constantinople in the year 1866." 

 Getting leave of absence, he visited Denbigh, and was well received by his 

 relatives and friends. Visiting the old castle, the scene of his birth, and 

 the first four years of his life, he made the following entry in the visitors' 

 book : — 



December Hth, 1866. 



John Rowlands, formerly of this Castle,* now Ensign in the United States Navy, 

 in North America, belonging to the U. S. Ship " Ticonderoga" now at Constan- 

 tinople, Turkey; absent on furlough. 



It is worthy of notice, that while he was known in the world as Henry 

 M. Stanley, and all his friends and acquaintances in and around Denbigh 

 knew that he had assumed that name — in the scene of his infant years he 

 makes use of his baptismal name — John Rowlands. He called upon all his 



* The houses built within the walls of the Old Castle were, and are still, spoken of as the Castle. 

 K 2 



