Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-06
AN EYEWITNESS.
Enlargement at Matthias, Point.

FREDERICKSBURG, July /, '6l.
Another engagement occurred at Matthias POINT on
Thursday afternoon in which nine OF the enemy were
killed and many others wounded. Our troops took
LARGE number of picks, spades and sand-bags, and
left the field unscathed as usual From the accounts
which have reached me, Judge the enemy number
ed about fftv and landed for the purpose of erect
ing some kind of defence The accounts are so va
que that am unwilling to give any statement posi-
tivelv except that of the number killed and the
quantity of implements found in the deserted boat
Captain Ward, of the Freedom, was killed.
Our citizens were thrown into quite Juror OF ex-
element yesterday afternoon, about Ct o'clock, by
the arrival at the wharf Of the steamer st. Nicholas
of the Baltimore and Washington line, and at very
late hour of the night the wharf was crowded with
those dubious about her identity, and curious to
know the circumstances under which she came.
For several days past, the town has been highly
excited with curiosity about the secret expedition
which left here Friday morning, and even now the
excitement of the ignorant in regard to 1T has not
abated in the least The arrival of this steamer was
the cause very naturally, of alarm to some, while
it increased the intense curiosity of others. The
The circumstances connected with her transfer from
the Baltimore and Washington line to one of the
ports of the Confederate States, may be summed up
as follows:
The steamer ST. Nicholas left the wharf at Balti-
more Thursday about l o'clock P. NJ, having on
die When she reached one of the Maryland capes
the Capt and crew suddenly found themselves in the
hands of some "Rebels," and were necessarily obi
ged to surrender in the name of the Confederate
Government. Resistance was useless, and the Cap
tain seeing how futile would be any such attempt,
quietly submitted to being deposed.
The gentleman who conducted this affair deserves
a great deal of credit and it is only for important
considerations (Which he will underStand) that
can forbear calling his name. He will receive the
source.
The steamer, after undergoing change of CON-
manders and crew. proceeded to Cone river to await
renforcements and to execute the remainder of the
mission for which she was captured; but owing to
some encouragement or misunderstanding, was
compelled to leave undone the most important part
of the programme. She left Cone river Saturday,
and while proceeding down the Bay to the mouth of
the Rappahannock captured two schooners-one
named Margaret, of New York, ladened with coal
from Alexandra, to Staten Island the other, Mary
Pierce of Boston, ladered with 26S tons of ice for
Washington. The latter proves a very valuable &C
QUESTION, as stock of ice is growing very small.
The Virginia captured schooner the name of which
] could not learn, laden with coffee, from Rio, for
Baltimore; and, as the neutrality of Maryland has
been recognized presume her cargo will be pur-
chased. The Captain of the schooner Margaret is a
Virgnian, and should be dealt with as he deserves
The Captain of the schooner Mary Pierce is undoubt
edly Yankee.
The report of fighting at Matthias Point has again
reached me- and | am inclined to believe that we
shall soon hear of glorious victory on our part
from that place. NJ.