Just Interesting...

[L Verge]

I often have a hard time convincing some younger historians that they really need to study the Confederate underground, especially its routes through Southern Maryland. In researching an agent named Charles Hume, who was killed in this area, I found that his brother, Frank, also joined the espionage ranks. Here's a short and humorous description of the "boat" that young Frank used to get across the Potomac into lower Maryland:

Under cover of night, Hume started across, but made poor time; when the sun rose Union soldiers on the Maryland bluff were treated to the spectacle of a lone rebel sitting in the middle of the river, paddling a coffin case with a fence paling. From his luckless situation, they concluded that Hume must be a deserter; Hume was able to land, and to make himself scarce.