Itwasabraveplan.TheywouldsailsouthonthePotomacRiver.ThentheywouldsailnorthtoNewJersey.Thetripwasabout360 kilometers(225 miles).

ThePearl hadnotsailedfarbeforethewinddieddown.Thesailswentflat.Theshipdroppedanchorsothetidewouldnotpushitbackupthe river.

Meanwhile,theslaveownerssawthattheirslavesweregone.Theywereangry.Theybeganasearch.TheirsteamboatsoonfoundthePearl.Theslaveswerecapturedandtakenbackinto slavery.

Thereweretwoteenagesistersonboard,MaryandEmilyEdmonson.Fouroftheirbrothers‑Samuel,Ephraim,Richard,andJohn‑werealsothere.Iwantedtolearnmore about them.

Washington, D.C.

Maryland

Virginia

PearlCaptured here

Chesapeake
Bay

St.Mary’s
County

Potomac River