The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-08-05
DARING FEAT.

On Friday the 25th ult. some half dozen men
attached TO the Prince George Cavalry conceived
the idea OF destroying more of the Fed.
eral vessels, which for several days past have
literally covered the surface of the river in front
OF Gen McClelan's camp Having procured
boat lthe largest accossibe,l Corp1l Cooks, Thos.
Martin, Wiunl Daniel, Aiexauder Dimity and
1 " lillian Williams, embarked from Coggius' T.int
about one o clock Stsntaay morning, aud pulled
GIT quietly for very fine looking schooner of l63
tons burden, lying in the stream some half a mile
from the Southern shore As they neared the
vessel, small dog on board discovered their
movements and commenced barking furiously.
Two gunkoats were lying hut few hundred Yards
Distant aad many steamers aud sail vessels in
close proximity but the enterprise had been
undertaken, and the brave boys could not think of
returning without accomplishing their object.
Making fast to the vessel, they endeavored to
seize the dog and stop his mouth by sending
him to the bottom, but the animal would not allow
a strangers hand to be placed upon him. His
barking had now aroused the Captain Of the yes
sci, who came upon deck, aud desired to know the
cause of the unti:nely visit He was answered
by Martin, who quickly sprang to the deck of the
schooner, and informed the Captain that he had
come at he bidding Of Gen, Mcclellan, to effect his
arrest. The Captain expressed great surprise
declared his innocence of crime, and wished to
know what were the charges against him He
was told by Martin that he was not there to decide
upon his guilt or innocence, to prefer charges
OF any sort, but to effect his arrest as Gen Nc
Clelan had ordered. The Captain then consented
to submit, and manifesting no disposition to resist,
was allowed to get in the boat united In the
meantime the other five soldiers had reached tho
deck OF the vessel, and gone into the cabin.
Here they found straw bed, which was ripped
open, set on fire, and the cabin door closed The
party speedily dsembarkcd leaving the crew be-
hind, who, 1t is supposed have escaped on tho
small boats belonging to the schooner They
were not taken because the boat used by tho
boarding party, had hole near its top, and could
carry but seven men. AS the surprise party
pulled off for the Southern shore, the Captain of
the schooner had his suspicious aroused as to the
arrest having been made by order of Mcclellan
and remarked to his captors that the Generals
Headquarters were not On that side of the river.
lie was told 10 "hold his peace that his captors
knew what they were about; that they had chang
ed their mind and Intended taking him to
Confederate, instead of Federal General. The
Captain now became alarmed, and bes0ught the
clemency OF his captors, stating, with tears in his
eyes, that he had wife and children in New
Iork, who would be not only deeply distressed at
his loss, but greatly impoverished. His fears
were quoted by the assurance that he would not
be harmed, but that as he was subject of the
Lincoln Government he must consider his capture
as entirely legitimate, and himself a prisoner OF
war.
L ,on reaching the shore the Captain declared
that had he seen his captors approaching from tho
Southern bank, the adopted would not have
availcd for he had arms aboard, enfield Rhes)
and would have only surrendered with his life
In the passage from the vessel to the shore,
not ray Of light, save the lamp in the rigging,
was to be seen, and boys had made up their
minds that the vessel would not burn, and that the
arrest Of the Captain was the only result Of their
ont I(r,tt tl,pNy nah 10
disappointed, for they ascended the bank, the
fire suddenly burst out, and in few minutes the
flames licking the sides Of the vessel from
bow to stern She burned slowly but brightly,
and the flames Illuminated the river and the c6un-
try around for miles. Our informant states that
it quite amusing to witness the commotion
among the fleet Of Old Abe, consisting OF some
two hundred steam and sailing craft. Steam was
crowded on gunboats and transports, and the sail
ing craft quickly towcd-out of the reac!i of
the burning schooner. She continued TO bnrn
from haf-past until the dawn of day, when
only such portiens as were below the waters edge
remained.
The schooner was nearly new, called the Louisa
Rycs, and commanded by Cast John A. Jones,
Of New York. She was l63 tuus barthen,
loaded with corn aud provisions, anj.vaued at
! S8 OG0, exclusive Of cargo. Capt. Jones was
brought to Petersburg and lodged ia jnil, whore
he now ruminatcs on the daring Of the rebels, and
laments over the fortunes Of war.
Just above the Louisa Rivcs, several schooners
were moored, but gupboat lying alongside, il
was considered somewhat imprudcnt TO attempt to
burn them. Another batch of vessels lay not far
below the Louisa Riyes, but gunboat was pear
these also. Between the destroyed vessel and the
Berkeley shore, the water studded with ycs
sels but the Confederate force was too small 70
! venture in their midst.
7 The light from the burning vessel reflected
brightly on the north bank Of the james, aud for
miles aud miles the tents Of the Federal army
were distinctly visible.-f'ne1Sbar9E Erprcss.
THE SUPPLY OF SALT-Ths IL matter which
at the present time is Of great importance to the
people OF the South, and it may bs interesting to
know something with reference the preparations
in progress for obtaining the fall supply The
principal salt works in the South, those of South
! western Virginia, arc now turning out about
1900 bushels per day, and the company owning
the works improving their facilities for increa-
sing the amount. The States Of Georgia and
North Carolina putting up works at the
Virginia wells, in order to supply their people
Those of Georgia are ncarI; completed, and wiil
soon commence operations. The salines are very
rich and are believed to be inexhaustible. -h1ch
DiPdfch