Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-09
The Capture OF the st. NichOIas---Letter
from Col. w. Il. Bate.

AcQUIA CREEK, July ,, 1861.
/ Editors Of he Richmond DiSpdtcb:
SIRS-A copy OfyOur yesterdays paper has JUS
been handed to me, and my attention directed to al
editorial mot editorial, only the detailed repor
] gathered by the reporter from such sources q.
were accessible-EDs. DISPATCH,1 which in my
opinion does injustice to those under my command
in the late expedition which resulted in the capture
of the steamer st. Nicholas and other valuablG
prizes. The Objectionable part Of the article is as
follows:
capt. Geo. N. Hollins, late United States Navy
who had gone aboard at Point Lockout. then as
sumed command of the steamer and ran her into
Cone river expecting to meet the Tennessee Iegi
ment ard jointly commence further operations
against the enemy The Tennesseans, however, did
not arrive the ground till late Saturday morning
1t was then too late for any demonstration up the
river as originally intended and the steamer was
headed down the stream. On her passage she cap
tured two schOoners and one brig. Each had a
crew of about ten men, who were taken prisoners
You state "the Tennesseans, however, did not ar
rive on the ground until late Saturday morning. 1t
was then too late fO= any demonstration up the
river as originally intended, and the steamer was
headed down the stream" Your statement is in.
correct, sir the Tennesseans did arrive not late
but early Saturday morning Our advance was
in ear-shot Of the steamers whistle, when short
time before daylight she arrived in Cone Creek.
We had marched on foot. bearing guns and KNAPP
sacks more than twenty miles, through an incessant
rain during Friday night, and, having arrived at
Heathville, within two miles of the Cone Greek
landing, ordered halt t. rest and await further
orders, and Immediately upon receiving further
orders, the Tennesseans, not withstandng the con-
tinuous rain, moved to point near, but out Of
sight of, the landing. / proceeded at once to the
St. Nicholas to ascertain what those in command of
her desired at our hands, l was on her decks bes
fore seven O'Clock Saturday mOrnng-as early,
understood, as | was expected. The programme
was than changed by those who seemed to be in
command of the steamer. i was then asked for one
hundred armed men to defend the steamer in her
passage TO the RappahanOek, which were rendered,
and in few minutes were on the spot. The requi-
sitiOn then changed, and arms alone were asked
for, which given to Lieuts. Linn and ThOrburn,
of the Navy, who had not twenty sesmen under their
command, and who had been associated with the
Tenness cans, together with ten fifteen naval Of
fcers from the time of our leaving Fredericksburg,
most of whom went aboard the st. Nicholas and
were present at the capture Of the other prizes.
The Tennesseans were kept at Cone creek to defend
the St. Nicholas, if chased in by the steamers Of the
enemy.
We were not ordered to leave our camps until ten
O'Clock Thursday night, and at one o'clock we were
aboard the Virginia at Fredericksburg, with four
days provision. We were detained until next day
in sight of fredericksburg in consequence of the
receding tlde-not until TOO late" however, as
made forced march through the rain during the
entire night. / write this not on my own account
but IN justice to those Tennesseans under my ccm-
mand, who have never yet been "toO late to serve
their country event the most hazardous enterprise
have nothing to say Of any one connected with the
affair outside of my own command, except was
informed that Commander II. II. Lewis, of the Ma
wy originated the scheme, and my communications
and movements were made through him. Hoping
you have no disposition TO 60 injustice to those
gagged in defence of the South, ask insertion of
this in your columns. You're respectively,
WM B. BATE, Walker Legion,
Tennessee Volunteers.