New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-15
NAVAL OPERATIONS ON THR WEST.
RBN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
Inpsrsa.s Capture Of Rebel Vessels.


The United States steamer Hercules, Thomas S.
Dungsn, Lieutenant commanding, reached this por.
this morning, having with her the schooner Pude,
previously noted a. being captured, and the slooIs
Wren and vclrna, both Of Great Wycomico River,
western shore o. virgnis, also price
The Hercules left this por short Ii ne since, tow
ing down the lght-ship, which had been previously
t,ed up for the t Of Hor,e Shoe shoai. After this,
Lieut.. DUNCAN crnsed in the vinity of Smith I
Island and succeeded in capturing the schoonert
Wbig and Pride He tlen placed on board the latter
Lieut.. J. q. Baker, with IN armed crew, who on
Friday nigh, observed in Coger's Straits, off Fog
Island Light, the sOop Wren, sud, after chase q
two hours the latter wss run ashore at Shark Point
by her crew, who escaped.
Tie sloop was i'm nedis,.ly bearded, but no goods
or cargo of any description were found 10 her. Il
tho stove found she remains Of certain paperr
which bad been partially burned. among them a
rssni, Of leetie to trade sigued BY the Clerk Of
Northumberland County, Va.
The Hercules, with her new eonsor,s, crnised
about, and On Sunday . sail wss noticed. about siI
ssiles on, steering directly for the steamer which,
b, the moment, wss anchored. The steamer iInme.
d.stey got under way, and proceeded toward the
vessel, lie captain Of which, OH percevpy the Her
cucs, changed his courre. aud endeAvoscd TO snec,
his eecape. Aher chase OF half An hour, the HeF-
eues came W to tho ,ss.s, which proved to be the
soop VelDs, ha'ing on her stern the pamo VI
q" Bidgeiown," bu: balls from Great Wyoomico
River, ia Westsrp Virgins. Possession was taken
Of her, together with the captain. S,pusl u. lank-
ford II Great Annelnsn and crew, with five pssser-
gers, from Richmond. One Of the latter was a csr-
tain in the Rebel army.
On searching the Velma there was found large
usl, containing about 200 letters, . number o.
which were addressed TO perrons in Baltimore. snd u
large number to pe'sons in vnrous parts Of the State
Of MARYLAND On searching the crew there was also
found 500 in old Virginia bauk-no'ss. Tho Velma
bad some tine previously, been cleared from this
yort for Pokomoke Sound, with cargo consisting Of
provisions Of various kinds. This cargo, instead Of
eng discharged in y Mary land port, wss taken over
10 Grea, W,coniico River, and there discharged
within the boundaries Of Virginia. The sloop, in
ballast, was coming back to Get new cargo.
The Rebel captain previous TO being captured,
burned his commission in the FIRE, remnsnts Of which
being found among tho ashes, he acknowledged the
fact and aso that be had betn engaged in tho battle
Of Manassas.
Lankford, the Captain, 10 part owner Of the vessel
and hos been engaged in this consraband trade fer
five months.
The passengers and crew were all, with tbosc cap
,ured few days since by the Rnsnce, given in
charge Of Col. Morris, at Fort Mctienry. The fol-
low ing 10 list Of the passengers ou board the vems
John O. Little Of Nsw.york; jos C. wison late .
OF Brlimore John Stsiey late Of the house OF
e. Martin Of EauoIe and II A. Erooks son Of Prof ~
C. Brooks Of Baltimore Captain In the Rebel army
The crew are:
CAPT Samuel d. Lankford, Robt II. Cressweil Samuel
Sou iers and A. J. WhittngtoD. who 10 psrt owner
John f. McJilton, e'q, Surveyor OF this port, went
Oh board and in finding the mails and money