Hillsborough (NC) Recorder
July 10, 1861
Page 3
AN
IMPORTANT CAPTURE
Richmond, July 1, 1861
Our
city was thrown into a state of the most joyous excitement this forenoon, by
the arrival of the Fredericksburg
train, bringing several passengers and thirty-nine prisoners of war. These prisoners were captured by a band of
courageous Baltimoreans, under circumstances which show what a few brave,
determined men can do. It seems that 12
young men, by a preconcerted arrangement, arrived at
the wharf of the steamer St. Nicholas, in Baltimore,
last Saturday, and took passage for Philadelphia,
the destination of the steamer. To avoid
suspicion a majority of the young men were disguised in female apparel, and
were driven down in carriages. They were
all well provided with small arms, the amplitudinous
skirts of the gentlemen enabling them to conceal as many weapons as they
desired. The whole party was commanded
by Capt. Thomas, a son of ex-Governor Thomas, and the balance made up of
excellent men in all respects, one of them being an experienced pilot.
In due season, the St. Nicholas started down the Patapsco for Philadelphia. When clearly beyond the city, at a given
signal, petticoats dropped as if by magic, and what had seemed to be very
sensitive, delicate ladies, suddenly appeared as strong-armed, stalwart men,
heavily armed with pistols and bowie knives.
The Captain and crew of the St. Nicholas were ordered to surrender,
which they did, and were sent down below.
The
steamer was now taken charge of by her new commander and crew, the Baltimore pilot put at the wheel, and the mouth of the Rappahannock steered for.
While en route for that point, three vessels were overhauled—one a
schooner loaded with ice, another a fine barque,
containing 3,500 bags of coffee, and a third a
schooner laden with anthracite coal.
There were all secured as prizes, and with their crews taken into the
Rappahannock, the fleet reaching Fredericksburg
safely during Sunday night.
The
vessels and their cargoes, at this particular juncture, are all very valuable,
and the gallant Baltimoreans who effected the capture,
deserve the thanks of the entire Southern Confederacy. Many of the crews of the respective vessels
are negroes, and as Butler
has stolen several slaves around Hampton,
these negroes will do well to fill their places. The ice and the coffee are also valuable and
much needed. Maryland will yet be right. Such a people cannot be conquered.
I
understand that the object of the Baltimoreans and others
who took passage on the St. Nicholas, was at first, to have reached some point
on the Rappahannock where a portion of one of
our regiments is located. These were to
be taken on board and an effort made to capture the villainous Pawnee, but
meeting with three such inviting prizes, it was deemed best to secure them, and
let the Pawnee slide for the present.
--Correspondent Petersburg
Express--
[Transcibed by Sharon Strout]
