The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-19
The Capture of the s. French Lady

From the Baltimore American.
Lieut.. Thomas H. Carmichael, OF the
Middle district police, and Mr.. John Hor-
ner, of this city, captured yesterday after
noon no less an important parsonage than
Captain Thomas, of st. Mary's county, ali.
as the French Lady," whose exploit in
seizing the steamer St. Nicholas short
time since, While in the Pawtuxent river,
was so boastingiy proclaimed by the seces-
sion journals OF this city as "brilliant ex
ploit." The particulars OF the aff'ir, as
narrated by passenger on board the steam
er Mary Washington, were as follows ::
Lieutenant Carmichael, with Mr.. Horner,
lett this city on Sunday morning in small
s!oop for Fair uaven on Herring Bay, near
the lower portion of Anne Arundel county,
for the purpose OF arresting certain Neale
Green, a noted barber doing business on
Pratt street, near Frederick, who is charged
with being participant IN the assault on
the Massachusetts regiment on the 18th OF
April, and with other offences. Owing to
headwinds the sloop did not reach the place
of destination until about I o'clock yester-
day morning. On landing the officers pro-
eeeded to house in the vicinity and arrest
ed Green, who had designed remaining there
for some time, but proposed sending his
wife to this city by the steamer Mary
Washington, which usually stops at FAIR
Haven.
The officers, with Green and his wife, took
passage on the Mary Washington without
any knowledge of those on board. shortly
after leaving the lieutenant entered into con
versatiOn with number of passengers, aud
ascertained that Captain Kirwan, with an
engineer and another officer of the steamer
St. Nicholas, as we'll as others who had
been taken prisoners when the steamer was
seized by Thomas, the "French Lady," and
his party, who had been released by them,
and were returning to this city Oh the
Mary Washington. The officers also ascer.
tanned that amongst the passengers on
board we're seven or eight of the captors,
with Captain Thomas himself, who, doubt
less, exhilirated by the success attending
their first achievement, were disposed to
make another venture, probably on the
steamer Columbia or some other steamer
plying on the Maryland rivers.
AS soon as satisfactory information on
this point was obtained, and each one of the
party recognized beyond doubt, Lieut.. Car
michael directed Capt Mason L. Weems,
the commander of the Mary Washington
to proceed, on reaching this harbor, to land
the passengers at Fort McHenay. The d.
rection was given while the steamer was
near Annapolis. Shortly after, while Lieu
tenant Carmichael and Mr.. Horner were n
the ladies' cabin they were approached by
Thomas, who desired to know by what au.
thority the order had been given for the
steamer to touch at Fort McHenry. The
Lieutenantintormed him thati it was through
authority vested in him by Colonel KenIy,
provost marshal of Baltimore On hearing
this Thomas drew bis pistol, and, calling
his men around him, threatened to seize
and throw Carmichael and Horner over
board. The latter drew their revolvers and
detled the other party to proceed to execute
their threats. The utmost confusion pre-
vailed in the cabin for short time, the fe-
male passengers running out screaming
but the other male passengers stood up with
Carmichael aid Horner, and compelled
Thomas and his companions to remain quiet.
Matters thus stood on the boat until the
steamer approached the Fort wharf, when
the Lieutenant went up and informed Gen.
Banks OF bis important capture.
The general instantly ordered out CON-
pany OF Infantry, who marched to the
steamboat and secured all the accused ex-
ceptiDg Thomas, for whom search was made
for an hour and half. He was then found
concealed in the drawer of bureau in the
ladies cabin in the aft part of the boat. At
first it was apprehended that Thomas would
make desperate resistance, but he dis
claimed any such design, alleging that be
was too weak to resist. He and the other
prisoners were then marched to the fort and
placed in confinement.
The witnesses, some ten or twelve in mum.
Der, were also detained at the fort during
the night. Of the prisoners Thomas was
the only one who had any baggage, be hav~
ing 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 COM
mission in the confederate army. The
names of those arrested with him could not
be ascertained last evening.
On the 4th of July, certain suspected par
ties were seen examining the steamer Col
umbia, of the same line as the St. Nicholas,
now lying idle at Fardy's shipyard, near
Federal Hill They went aboard and in.
quired of Captain Harper what was her
speed, how much coal was on board of her,
and whether she could be chartered On
being told that she was not for charter, one
of them on leaving the boat was heard to
say that they "wouId have her anyhow" !"
The facts were Immediately laid before
Provost Marshal Kenly, who, suspecting it
to be their intention to seize her quietly at
night, get up steam and move out of the
harbor, Immediately ordered an armed guard
on board, whilst part of her machinery was