The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-11
The Capture of the French LADY,"

Lieut.. Thos. H. Carmichael and Mr. John
Horner lately captured no less an important
parsonage than Capt. Thomas, of ST. Mary's
County, alias the 9 French Lady" whose ex-
plot in selling the steamer s.. Nicholas short
time since, while in the Patuxent River, was
so boastingly proclaimed by the secession .ourn-
ais of Baltimore as " brilliant exploit" The
particulars of the affair, as narrated by pas
senger on board the steamer Mary Washington,
were AS follows
The officers took passage on the Mary Wash
1ngton, without any knowledge of those on
on board. Shortly after leaving the Lieuten-
ant entered into conversation with number of
passengers, and ascertained that Capt kirwan,
with the engineer and another officer of the
steamer 81. Nicholas, as well as Others who had
been taken prisoners when the steamer was
seized by Thomas, the - French Lady, and his
party, he'd been released by them, and were re-
turning to this city on the Mary Washington.
The officers also ascertained that among the
passengers on board were seven or eight of the
captors, with Capt. Thomas himself who,
doubtless exhilerated by the success attending
their first achievement, were disposed to make
another venture, probably on the steamer Co.
htmbad, or some other steamer plying on the
Maryland rivers.
AS soon lis satisfactory information on this
point was obtained, Lieut.. CARR; cnae] directed
Capt. Mason L. Weems, the commander of the
Mary Washington, to proceed, on reaching this
harbor, to land the passengers at Fort McIlenry.
Shortly after, while Lieut. Carmichael and Mr..
Horner were in the ladies' cabin, they were ap-
preached by Thomas, who desired to know by
what authority the order had been given for the
steamer to touch at Fort McIIenry. The Lieu
tenant informed him that it was through au-
thority vested in him by Col. Kenly, Provost
Marshal of Baltimore On hearing this, Thorn
as drew his pistol, and calling his men around
him, threatened to seize and throw Carmichael
and Aorner overheard. The latter drew their
revolycrs and deted the other party tc proceed
to execute their threats. The utmost confu-
sion prevailed in the cabin fer a short time the
female passengers running out screaming, but
the other male passengers stood up with Car
michael and Horner, and compelled Thomas
and his companions 10 remain quiet. Matters
thus stood on the boat until the steamer ap-
preached the Fort wharf, when the Lieutenant
went up and informed Gen. Banks of his i'm
portant capture.
The General instantly ordered out a company
OF infantry, who marched to the steamboat and
secured all the accused, excepting Thomas, for
whom search was made for an hour and half
Tie was then found concealed in the drawer of a
bureau Ill ZIG ltules CaDln, IN the alt part OF
the boat. He and the other prisoners were
marched to the fort and placed in confinement.
OF the prisoners, Thomas was the only one
who had any baggage he having a small valise
with bundle, in which was contained full
uniform of Zouave, including cap, ~ number
OF letters and papers, among which was said to
be commission in the Confederate army.
Thomas, alter being conducted into the fort,
demanded that his papers should be restored to
him. lie boosted that he was an officer in the
Confederate Army, and that when his trial was
had he desired to be tried as bcftted his position
While in Richmond, Thomas and his pals con-
cocted a scheme, which plainly shows that he
lisa man of great schemes. and would have prob
ably given the Government considerable trouble
had he not been arrested
His last scheme was, that when he arrived in
Baltimore he would organize band and proceed
to New York, and, with his crew, take passage
in one CT the many large steamers belonging to
that port. Once in possession of the steamer.
his intention was to run the blockade at some of
the ports, and take his prize into the Conieder-
ate waters. The Lady," however, has been
caught in her own trap, and a long time will
elapse before she can have opportunity of
putting her scheme through.
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