Kalorama Triangle in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Courage of Hortense Prout
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La valentía de Hortense Prout
| — | National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom | — |
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 16, 2026
1. The Courage of Hortense Prout / La valentía de Hortense Prout Marker
The Courage of Hortense Prout
In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, 20-year-old Hortense Prout fled from slavery at John Little's manor house, which once stood on the lawn in front of you. She ran two miles east to an encampment of Ohio soldiers near today's North Capitol Street and Rhode Island Avenue. We know of her escape because her capture made news:
A Fugitive.— A slave woman belonging to Mr. John Little having eloped, Mr. Little made diligent search and ascertained that she was in one of the Ohio camps. He made a visit to the camp and told the colonel commanding what he wanted, and the reply was, "You shall have her, if she is here." Search was made and the fugitive was found completely rigged out in male attire. She was immediately turned over to the custody of Mr Little, and was taken to jail. Every opportunity is afforded loyal citizens of loyal States to recover their fugitive slaves.
Washington Evening Star, June 17, 1861.
Public records show that John Little committed Hortense Prout to the squalid City Jail on June 15, 1861. She was released to him 10 days later.
In April 1862, President Lincoln emancipated all enslaved African Americans in the Districct of Columbia. On John Little's farm, 17 men, women and children—including Hortense and three generations of the Prout family—were freed.
Hortense Prout's bold act of resistance, like the acts of others who risked their lives seeking freedom, helped end slavery in the United STates. The National Park Service in 2008 named Kalorama Park a National Underground Railroad to Freedom site in honor of her courage.
[Captions:]
Above: John Little's manor house, which filled the grassy oval in front of you, circa 1900.
Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Right: Hortense Prout ran away from Little's farm (red star, left) to an encampment of Ohio soldiers near today's North Capitol St. and Rhode Island Ave. (blue star, right), as shown on this 1861 map by A. Boschke. Library of Congress
En 1861, al comienzo de la guerra civil, Hortense Prout de 20 años de edad, escapó de la esclavitud de la casa patronal de John Little, que alguna vez estuvo en el prado que se encuentra frente a usted. Ella corrió dos millas hacia el Este, hasta un campamento de soldados de Ohio, cerca de donde hoy se cruzan las calles North Capitol Street y Rhode Island Avenue. Sabemos de su fuga porque su captura fue noticia:
Fugitiva.—Luego de la fuga de una eslava perteneciente al Sr. John Little, éste, tras una diligente búsqueda, confirmó que ella estaba en uno de los compamentos de Ohio. Él visitó el campamento y dijo al Coronel a cargo lo que buscaba, y la respuesta fue: "Si ella está aquí, usted la tendrá." Se hizo la búsqueda y la fugitiva fue encontrada completamente vestida de hombre. Fue inmediatamente entregada, a la custodia del Sr. Little, y llevada a la cárcel. Se hacen todo los esfuerzos para que los ciudadanos leales, de los estados leales, puedan recuperar sus esclavos fugados.
Washington Evening Star, Junio 17, 1861
Los archivos públicos indican que John Little llevó a Hortense Prout a la escuálida cárcel de la ciudad el 15 de Junio de 1861. Fue liberada y entregada a él mismo 10 días después.
En Abril de 1862, el presidente Lincoln emancipó a todos los afroamericanos esclavizados del Distrito de Columbia. En la finca de John Little, 17 hombres, mujeres y niños—incluyendo a Hortense y tres generaciones de la familia Prout—fueron liberados.
El valiente acto de resistencia de Hortense Prout, como el de otras personas que arriesgaron sus vidas en búsqueda de libertad, ayudaron a poner fin a la esclavitud en los Estados Unidos. El año 2008, el National Park Service nombró el Kalorama Park como sitio integrante del National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, en honor a su bravura.
[Pies de foto:]
Arriba: Casa patronal de John Little, que por 1900 ocupaba el óvalo que está frente de Ud.
Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Izquierda: Hortense Prout se fugó de la finca de Little (estrella roja, izquierda) a un campamento de soldados de Ohio, cerca de donde hoy se cruzan North Capitol St. y Rhode Island Ave. (estrella azul, derecha).
Plano de 1861, A. Boschke. Library of Congress
Erected by Kalorama
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Law Enforcement • War, US Civil • Women. In addition, it is included in the Network to Freedom series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1862.
Location. 38° 55.207′ N, 77° 2.67′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Kalorama Triangle. It is on Columbia Road Northwest north of Kalorama Road Northwest, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1865 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic,
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 16, 2026
2. The Courage of Hortense Prout / La valentía de Hortense Prout Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Kalorama Triangle (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Urban Renewal Era (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Best Addresses" (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Artistic Life (approx. 0.2 miles away); Building a Better Neighborhood (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wyoming Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Changing Faces of Adams Morgan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tragedy at 18th and Columbia (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
