Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-06-27


Tobacco, how hast thou advanced in the his
tory of thy country to find notice in Greedy
New York Tribune or the Washington Erenins
Star!
The following extract from the Star speaks
for itself:
''The steamer Mount Vernon, which left the
navy-yard night before last, having on board two
ment, went down to Chapel Point, miles from
Port Tobacco, where the two companies discmbark
ed, and marched to Port Tobacco in quest of seces
| sion troops, supposed to be there. II seems tba
Port Tobacco has been a head quarters for Mary
land secession recruits, and when ten to twenty
would arrive there and enlist, they were boateo
across the river to Virginia. The military, on ar
irving at Port Tobacco o, found only soldier in
the place, and he bore a captains commission from
Governor Hicks, of Maryland While the belle
among the soldiers was that the man was seces-
sion recruiting officer, the commission refer red te
saved him from arrest. Taking survey OF the
country Whereabouts, the men returned to the boat
and steamed back to Washington"
To those of our readers who reside immedi-
ately in the vicinity of Port Tobacco, this story
of the Stars correspondent, is simply absurd
but as there are many who are not personally
acquainted with the facts of the case, it may be
necessary to state a few facts.
In the first place, as we announced in our
last issue, the Federal troops s,ever came to PORT
Tobacco, and if they got within three miles Of
the place, oteven the "niggers" knew it. Next
as to Port Tobacco being recruiting post for
secession troops, not one of our people ever knew
it, or dreamed of it, and the correspondent Of
the Star must be "gfted" or green to suppose
lit. 'The military on arriving in Port Tobacco
found only one soldier in the place, and he bore
a commission from Gov. Hicks" says the Star.
Well olive and learn" is the old adage, and
the Star has truly learned us something on this
"pop." In Port Tobacco we know of but one
man who holds captains commission. II
there be any other in this town, it is something
nobody here knows Of, aud as to that ono, !;
Captain Ellis or any of his men saw that com
mission, there has been little sharp practice
we know not OF, and as to their seeing the man
WHO bore the commission, they must have been
gifted with "second sight, for there was certainly
a space of three miles between them.
Setting all jokes aside, this commissioned Of
fcer it seems owes a great deal to the said COM
mission, for without it he would have been ar
rested. Will the Star inform us upon what
authority, or where the proof to convict him or
justify such arrest? Is the suspicion of ire
sponsbe soldiery sufficient to arrest man in the
discharge of his usual and peaceful employment,
the same in which he has been engaged for
twenty years. and he citizen of State not at
war with the Government, but in the Union ?
What pity it is that bold, brave military
officers, in charging upon the dangerous post
of Port Tobacco-a modest little country village
of two hundred inhabitants male and female,
old and young, white and black-what pity,
we say, that after such a daring charge correct
account of the conflict cannot be given! Now,
the only charge made by the troops, of which
we are aware, was upon an innocent an unof-
Tending sheep some three OF four miles from this
village. A file of soldiers were drawn up before
his sheepsAip and the order given, .by 6le-ire,"
when crack wen six good rifles in quick success
'ylon andsaway x1nJ Mr.: sheet with a broken
shoulder. Pursued by determined soldiers, the
poor fellow fe||'a prey to hungry foemen, who
having paid the owner for his sheep, bore the
poor creature off in triumph. The Star does
not report this feat
One question and we drop the subject. Is
Maryland considered in or out of the Union ?
If in. is Port Tobacco considered in or out of
Maryland? We pause for reply.
------<0<-.
MATTHIAS PoINT.-On Tuesday morning
last, our little town was aroused at an early
hour by the sound of heavy artillery. Suppos-
ing the British" had arrived, we tumbled out
of bed, and pulling on our 'trowserloons," took
up our march in the direction of the "big guns y
We however stopped, in consequence of wide
expanse of water intervening between us and
the object of pursuit. On the placid bosom OF
the beautiful Potomac, we discovered several
savage "war dogs" with open mouths, barking
furio,,sly at Matthias Point and vicinity, dan
gerous looking bomb shells Kissed through the
air from the ships, but we saw no return Of fire
from the Point. Two boats went off from the
Pawnee, but we are of opinion that no landing
was made. Rumor, however, says the boats ef-
fected landing and captured two horses. This
however we doubt. 1t is reported that the
dwelling house ofDr. Howe, some distance below
Matthias Point was fired and burned, either by
shots from one Of the boats or by persons sent
on shore, but of this also there is no certainty.
The object of this demonstration by the Pawnee
was doubtless to unmask blind batteries which
are believed to have been erected at this Point.
The ANNAPOLIS NAVAL AcADEMY.-It is
stated that deputation of prominent citizens
Of Annapolis, headed by Judge Brewer and
Alexander Randall, waited upon the Secretary
Of the Navy oD Thursday, to urge the restora-
ton Of the Naval Academy to Annapolis They
made strong appeal, and presented various
reasons why their petition should be granted.
They were however, told that the school could
not be reinstated during the present exciting
condition of affairs, and that its ultimate restora-
ton would be subject for future consideration.