The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-27
Potomac Jim
A RIVAL TO ToUssAINT L'oUvER-URE

, Maryland shore IRON the nelghborhood of Aqui
Greek, by Col. Graham of Matthias and VIII
have been located in the vicinity Of the cam
OF Gen. H0oker's division at Liverpool Point
" james Lawson was born near Hampstead
Virginia, and belonged to Il Mr.. Taylor Ii
made his escape last December On hearing
his praises spoken By the Captains OF the gun
boats on the Potomac, | was rather indisposec
to admit the possession Of all the qualities they
give him credit for, and thought possibly biz
exploits had been exaggerated. His heroic
courage, truthiulness and exalted Christian
character seemed too romantic for their realiza.
ton however, my doubts on that score were
dspellea, and | am @ witness Of his last crown
Ing act
Jim, after making his escape from Virginia
shipped on board the Freeborn, flag gunboat,
Lieut.. Samuel Magaw commanding. He fur
nlshed Capt Mas aw with mach valuable intel
ligence concernlng the rebel movements, and
from his quiet. everyday behavior, soon won
the esteem of the commanding officer.
Capt. Masaw, shortly after Jim's arrival on
board the Freeborn, sent him upon scouting
tour through the rebel Qualifications, more to
test his reliability than anything else and the
mission, although fraught with great danger.
was execn ted by jim in the most faithful man.
ner. Again Jim was sent into Virginia, land
ing at the White House, below Mount Vernon.
and going into the interior for several miles, en-
counterng the fire Of picket guards and posted
sentries returned in safety to the shore, ana was
brought off in the Captains gig, under the fire
of the rebel musketry.
Jim had wife and four children at that time
still in Virginia. They belonged to the same
man as Jim did he was anxious to get them
yet il seemed impossible. One day in January,
Jim came to the Captain room and asked for
permission to be landed that evening on the Viz
gnia side as he wished to bring off his fa,ni-
ly.
Why, JIM said Capt. Mag4v, how will
you be able to pass The pcke;s I
want to try, Captain ; | think can get
'em over safely, meekly replied jim.
ell, you have my permission ;; and Capt
Magaw ordered one of the gunhoats to land i'm
chat n ght on whatever part Of the shore Jim
and return for him the following eve
ming.
True to his appointment, jim was at the
spot with his wife and family, and were taken
on board the gunboag and brought over to Liv-
crpool Point, where Col. Graham had given
them q log house to live in, just hack of his
own quarters. Jim ran the gauntlet of the
sentrcs unharmed, never taking to the roads.
but keeping in the woods-every foot path Of
which and almost every tree he knew from his
boyhood up.
Several weeks afterward another reconnois-
sance was planned, and Jim sent on it. lie
in safety, and was highly compliment
ted ny Generals Hooker, Sickles, ard the entire
Aotilla.
On Thursday, week ago, il became necessary
to obtain correct information Of the enemys
movements. Since then, batteries at Shipping
and Cockpit Points had been evacuated, and
their troops moved to fredericksburg. jim was
the man picked out for the occasion by Gen.
SickIes and Capt. Magaw. The General came
down to COL GrAham's quarters about nine in
the evening" and sent for Jim. There was pre-
sent the General, Col. Graham and myself
Jim came into the Colonies tent
Jim, said the General, Il want YOU to 20
over to Virginia tonight and find out what for
ces they have at Aqua Creek and Fledcricks-
burg. Ii you want any men to accompany you,
pick them out
Il know two men that would like TO Co., Jim
Well, get them and be back as soon as pos
sible
Away went jim over to the contraband camp,
and returning almost Immediately, brought into
our presence two very intelligent looking dar-
keys.
Are you all ready?' inquired the General.
All ready, sir. the trio responded.
Well, here Jim, you take my pistol said
General Sickles, unbuckling it from his belt.
and if you are successful, Will give you one
hundred dollars.
Jim hoped he would be, and bidding MS good
bye, started off for the gunboat Satellite, Capt.
Foster, who landed them u short distance below
the Potomac Creek batteries They were to re-
turn carly in the morning, but were unable,
from the great distance they went in the inte-
rior. Long before daylight on Saturday morn
ing the gunboat was lying off the appointed
place.
AS the day dawned, Capt. Foster discovered a
picket guard near the beach, and al
most at the same instant saw Jim at the left of
them, in the woods, sighting his gun at the rebel
cavalry lie ordered the gig to be manned
and rowed to the shore. The rebels moved along
slowly, thinking to intercept the boat, when
Foster gave them shell, which scattered them.
jim, with only one of his original companions,
and two fresh coItrabands came on board. jim
had lost the other. He had been challenged by
a picket when SOME distance in advance of Jim.
ana the negro, instead of answering the sum.
mons, fired The contents Of Sickles revolver Mt
me picket. 1t was an unfortunate occurrence,
Tor at that time the entire picket guard rushed
out OF small house near t,e spot, and fired the
contents OF their muskets at jim 3 companion,
killing him instantly. Jim and the other three
ma themselves In IL hollow, near fence, and
alter the picketsgave up pursuit, creeped through
the woods to the shore From the close nrox-