George St. Leger Grenfell facts for kids

George St. Leger Grenfell (born May 30, 1808 – died March 1868?) was a British adventurer and soldier. He was known for fighting in many different places around the world. He claimed to have fought in Algeria and Morocco. He also said he fought against pirates and with a famous leader named Giuseppe Garibaldi in South America. Later, he took part in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Grenfell then moved to the United States. There, he fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He was also involved in a secret plan to take control of parts of the Northern U.S.

George Grenfell's Story

Early Life and Adventures

George Grenfell was born in London, England. He was a very experienced sailor. Before coming to America, he traveled a lot and fought in many conflicts. These experiences made him a skilled soldier.

The American Civil War

Grenfell arrived in America in 1862. He joined the Confederate States Army as an officer. He served with important cavalry leaders like John Hunt Morgan and J.E.B. Stuart. He also worked with General Braxton Bragg.

A Dangerous Plan

In 1864, Grenfell left the Confederate Army. He joined a secret group that planned to take over the governments of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Their goal was to create a new "Northwestern Confederacy." However, their plan to take over Chicago was discovered. Grenfell and about 150 other people were arrested.

This event became known as the "Chicago Conspiracy." Grenfell was put on trial and found guilty. He was sentenced to a very serious punishment. But, because the British Minister in Washington helped him, his sentence was changed. Instead of the original punishment, he was sent to prison for life.

Life at Fort Jefferson

Grenfell was sent to Fort Jefferson. This was an isolated military prison. It was located about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The prison was in the Dry Tortugas islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Grenfell arrived there on October 8, 1865.

Most of the 527 prisoners at Fort Jefferson were soldiers. Many of them were there for leaving the army without permission. There were also some civilians held for crimes like robbery. Grenfell was a special kind of prisoner, called a "state prisoner."

A Famous Doctor

There were only four other state prisoners at Fort Jefferson. These included Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, Edmund Spangler, Samuel Arnold, and Michael O'Laughlen. They had arrived at the fort a few months earlier. They were all found guilty in the trial related to the Lincoln assassination.

A few days before Grenfell arrived, Dr. Mudd had tried to escape. Because of this, the prison guards were worried about the state prisoners trying to escape. So, Grenfell and the other four men were kept together. They were held in a ground-level cell known as the "dungeon" for three months.

Yellow Fever Scare

In September 1867, a serious yellow fever outbreak happened at the fort. Colonel Grenfell became very sick with the disease. Dr. Mudd, who was also a prisoner, helped care for him. Dr. Mudd wrote in letters that Grenfell was very ill and his chances of survival were low. However, Dr. Mudd was able to save Grenfell's life, and he recovered.

The Escape

Dr. Mudd's last mention of Colonel Grenfell was in a letter dated April 14, 1868. In it, he wrote that they had not heard from Grenfell since he escaped on March 6. He also mentioned that it was very stormy at the time.

Colonel Grenfell, being a highly experienced sailor, escaped from Fort Jefferson. He and three other people left in a small boat. Many people believed that Grenfell and the others died at sea because of the storm. However, there were rumors that he had survived.

On June 5, 1868, an announcement appeared in The New York Times. It had first been published in the Advertiser in Mobile, Alabama. This announcement suggested that Grenfell might have survived. However, most historians believe that such notices were not true. What is known for sure is that George Grenfell was never heard from again after his escape.