Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-16
s.53@s g /, Il For the STANDARD.
THE YANKEES AND THE FISHERMEN.

I: "a 4 Il Ii; For the Standard.
+ TIE YANKEES AND THE FISHERMEN.
Ma EDiToa: The latest refinement Of Yankee
rascality is the Introduction into their warfare
against the South Of hand.cuffa When it was first 4
that large number of these interesting
specimens Of Yankee Ingenuity had been found up
on the field where the battle Of Manassas was fought
the public received the statement with incredulity,
but this feeling was soon superseded by one Of hon.
est and deep-seated indignation, when the rumor
was abundantly confirmed. Accidental circumstan.
ces which have lately happened in the vicinity Of
Bogue Inlet, just opposite the town Of Swansboro,
Indicate that the enemy did lose all their hand
GUNS 9 at Manassas On Tuesday morning last some
nsnermen who were pursuing their calling on the
Deacn, near Bogue Inlet on coming out of their
SamPs just before day break, observed one or more
lights IN molten at sea, and near the land After
snort interval they heard some one halloa on the
point Of the beach South of them, and went down
IN that direction to ascertain what the matter was
They bad not proceeded far, before they met three
men who were advancing at little distance ahead
Of some twenty-five Others On seeing the fisher.
men, one Of the three men exclaimed, 's suppose
we are your prisoners !" to which the fishermen re.
piled, No, that can't be-for we are nothing but
fishermen and are unarmed except with our fish,
knives; SO fear instead of your being oar pris-
oners, we are yours" Being much alarmed, they
were greatly relieved when the Yankees immediate
ly assured them that they did not come there to
harm any one. In explanation Of their presence on
the beach, they stated that they We're off in their
boats taking soundngs, when they approached too
near the shore, and their boat was capsized and
stove upon reef; that they lost large lot of arms
worth between $500 and 81 $780, and that three
Of their men were drowned The boat that had
been upset they had succeeded in hauling upon the
beach, and soon another boat filled with armed men
left one of the ships, which were by this time plain
ly visible, and came to the place where this boat
was, and not long after three other beats came to
the shore. In one ofthese boats the fishermen said
they saw about three pecks of hand cuffs piled up
in the bow, together with lot Of arms, and on the
day. at low tide they found opposite the place
where the boat was said to have been capsZed sew
eral pairs Of handouts and ankle-fetters, pistol
boarding-pke, two cutlasses, and jacket They
state that there were between forty and fifty of the
Yankees upon the beach at the same time; that
there were two of the ships, the names of which
they understood to be the Cambridge and the Alba
tross that they did not tender to them the oath of
allegiance. nor inquire of them whether they were
loyal to the u. S. government there was no con.
versation between them upon the present state of
the country, except some remarks made by one of
them who claimed to be Frginian, and who
seemed to be acquainted with the localities therea
bouts and the navigation of the Sound to the effect
that in his opinion the North and South were equal
ly dependent upon each other; that he had heart
for this war, and believed that some adjustment
would be made soon-a consummation most agree
able to his feelings. The citizens of Swansboro'
suspecting something, sent to inquire into the
matter. The fishermen stated that the Yankees
had landed and the other circumstances of the case
but said nothing about their having found any arms
or handouts, but it was ascertaned from an old
fhoro how had md cnfF,
This omission, together with their failure to COM
municate to tue people of Swansboro the fact Of the
landing Of the Yankees engendered suspicion against
them, and induced the citizens of that place to
rest them and bring them to Fort Macon, in order
both that all the circumstances of the landing might
be impaired to the military authorities of the post
and also that the conduct of the fishermen might
| undergo investigation. They were brought to Beau
fort and underwent examination before the Safety
Committee of the town. and Lieut. Col. Sloan of the
Fort when the above facts were disclosed. NJ
disloyaty was fastened upon the fishermen, and il
was decided that they be dismissed with an explain
alton Ct the offence OF treason and caution to avoit
the appearance of treating the Yankees as any
thing else than their mortal and INSCRIPTIONS foes
There are many people of this class living in thi
and the adjacent counties, on the coast, who in
position to be tempered with by the Federasts an
whose ignorance sometimes leads them into impru
| OeNG communication VIII the OOdtS tnaC are
quently landing on the beach from the blockadin
vessels-and they ought either to be enlghtene
upon the precise nature of their relations to them
and in respect to their conduct and conversation
| with them, their fisheries the side ough
to be discontinued. do not mean to question thei
loyalty, for no matter how loyal man may be, it
not impossible to extract information from him b.
adroit questioning, especially when he is ignoran
as those men are. On the day after this affair q
Bogue Inlet about forty Of the Yankees landed frot
one of the blockading vessels on this side of Cap
Lookout; they pulled their boat across the point
the Cape, and then rowed off in pursuit of a su a
vessel The attention of the authorities ought to
called to the ease with which the blockading yesse
can procure information on the banks, and their OF
portunities for tampering with the ignorant fishe
men, who at this season of the year, are occupyin
them by the seaside. This letter has expanded VI
der my hand to much greater length than had a
first designed and will conclude it with an apolt
gy for taking up so much of your valuable spac
Yours, &C., p.
BEAUFORT N. G., Oct. II, 1861.