The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-07-10
from tie RichuionA DiRnntcL
From DC RtcItnonA Dispatch.
Full Particulars of the Capture of the
Prize Vessel, St Nicholas, by the
Confederates.

frlze Vessel, st. Nicholas, by the
Confederates.
Lieut. Geo. w. Alexander, of the Ist
Regiment of Mary land Zouaves, reached
Richmond on yesterday morning, with forty
"di LInc"lnite prlsOners.uf war, captured
on the Potomac early Saturday morning.
1t "Ppca-s that the Zouave Regiment has
oeen Tor some time past in process Of
formation by Col. X. Thomas of Richard
Lieut. Alexander. (Adjutuht) Lieut. +. Glib
son, and others, in Baltimore
short time since, Col. Thomas went
from Baltimore to Philadelphia in drguise
and procured supply OF arms. Himself
and comrades then conceived the project of
capturing the st. Nicholas, II large steamer
IN the employ of the "Gvneral Government"
running between Baltimore aud Washing
ton. The boat started ~ four O'Clock, on
Friday evening from her wharf in Bati-
more. Previous thereto, Col. Thomas went
aboard with twelve men-thc latter as pas
scugrrS, and their commander dressed a. a
frrncE Lady The vessel got under wly
and stopped ut Point Lookout, where, ac-
co'dIng 10 The plan previously agreed on,
ldeui. Alexander, with another detachment
| % men, came on board and secured passage
i"r Washington. By accident O. liuut
At"Nandcr went iato the cabin of the stca-
mrr and recognised the French lady @ a.
| an old acquaintance from Paris Both
| ih"imda anu Alexander -pcahiug the lam
! guH-" tiucut'l, thcj found 40 difficulty in
| maturing thcr plan OF operations During
! the conversation that cnsucd between the
ffcnch lady and her acquaintance, instruc-
! u"ha were gwen a. 10 how the party should
! proceed The arms, Which had prcNiuusly
! been carefully loaded and concealed were
made ready for Instant po-Srsston. At one
o'clock. on Saturday morning, the time for
| striking the blow having arrived, Col
! Ihoua- threw oil his disguise, appeared in
| his UNIFORM, and ordering his urn to do
! their duty, ihe steamer N live INMATES was
| priLu To the iuIcr- OF the Confederate
! States. The Captain and Crcw surrender
/ cd "t'houi >irIN!hS blow, and were con
hned without trouble They appeared over-
whrimed With surprsc
Captaln Geo. \. iluiiins, late L. S Navy,
who had gone aboard at Point Lookout,
then assumed CuumaIid Of the steamer and
IAN her lnty Iunc kHcf, CNucCtIng TO meet
tie IcnncsSrc Regiment and Jointly com.
uienrc further operations against the enemy
! The f"nue-eeans, hUWr'cr, did not arrive
"m HE gromnd uii ta'c Saturday morning
IL wns then too Iate tor any DEMONSTRATION
"p the river a. originally int"mded, aud the
steamer WAS headed down the STRAIN. On
her ph~Sag" she captured two schooncrs
| and one brig. i.ich had Il crew Of about
ten men, vino were taken PRISONERS.
One Of the vessels was loaded " ith B.,
800 bags of coffee, another with anlh:ucItc
coni, aud another with Ice The Steamer
J ~. Nicholas u - first class boat, 275 feet
! long. side "hrv.
All al the p'lrs were safely ,owcd to
thc mouth Of The RaPp ihannocE, and thence
To Fredericksburg. Their value is roughly
! estimated at $4,000.
The captains OF thc respective vessels,
with their crews, inciuiing several negroes,
are nov lodged in the prison depot OH Main
| street in lLis city.