Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-07-31
From the Petersburg Express, July E eth


On Friday last some half dozen men attached to the
Prince George Cavalry conceived the idea of destroy
ing of the Federal vessels, which for sew
era days past have literally covered the surface of the
river Ia front OF Gen McCellan's camp. Having pro-
cured boat, (he larges5 accessbe Corporal Cooke,
Thos Martin, William Daniel, Alexander Dimity and
William Williams, embarked from COggns Point about
O'Clock Saturday morning, and palled off quietly
for very ue looking schooner of l63 tons burthen,
lying in the stream some half mile from the Southern
shore As they reared the vessel small dog board
discovered their pgtment and commenced barking fu-
riouSly. Two gunboats were lying but few hundred
yards distant, and many steamers and sail vessels 10
close 6xmity but the enterprise had been undertaken
and the brave boys could not think of returning without
accomplishing their obj Ct Making fast to the vessel
they ndeavored to seize The dog 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 aroused the Captain
of the vessel, who came upon deck. and de-
sired 10 know the cause of the untimey visit He
answered by Martini who quickly sprang the deck Of
the schooner, and inf rmed the Captain that be bad
come at the bidding Of Gen. Mcclellan to ell 5ct bis ar
rest The Captain expressed great SURPRISE declared
bis innocence of crime and wished to know what were
the charges agalts. hin. He told by Martin thai
he there to decide upon his guilt Innocence
to prefer charges OF any Sort but to ell CT his ARES
as Gen. Mcclellan had 'rdtred. The Captain III Il
rnsented to submit, aud 1nesting no disposition to
resist, allowed to into the boat untied II the
meantime the other five soldiers had reached the deck Of
the vessel, and gone into the cabin. Here they found
straw bed, which was ripped open, set fire, and the
cabin door closed. lie party speedily diserhbarked
leaving the crew behind who it is supposed escaLei
on the small boat belonging to the schooner They
were taken becaus the boat used by the boarding
party had hole its top, and c)ud carry but seven
AS the surprise party pulled of for the Southern
shore the Captain OF the schooner had bis suspicious
aroused as the arrest having made by order of
Mcclellan aud remarked to his captors that the Gener-
ais Headquarters were not that side of the river
He was told to hold bis peace " that his capors knew
what they about that they had changed their
mind and intended taking him to Confederate, in
stead of Federal General The Captain now beclme
greatly alarmed, and besough the cemency of his Cap
TORS stating with tears in his eyes, that he had wife
and children in New York, who Wclld be not only
deeply distressed at his oss but greatly impoverished
His fears Quoted by the that he would
not be harmed, but that as be was subject OF the Lin
coin Government be must consider bis capture as en-
| tirely legitimate, and himself prisoner of war
Upon reaching the shore the Captain declared that
had be his captOrs approach from the Southern
bank the ruse adopted would 1o have awaited, for he
had arms aboard, (En6eld Rhes and would have only
surrendered with his life.
In the passage from the vessel to the Shore not ray
of light the lamp in the rigging was to be seen
and our boys had made up their minds that the Vess
would not burn and that the arrest of tie Captain was
the only result of their enterprise But they were soor
most agreeaby disappointed for as they ascended the
bank the FIRE suddenly burst out, and In few minutes
the flames were licking The sides Of the vessel from bow
to stern. She burned slowly, bat brightly, and the
flames Illuminated the river and the country around o
miles Oar informant states that it quite amusing
to witness The commotion among the feet OF Old Abe
consisting of some two hundred steam and sailing craft
/ Steam was crowded on gunboats and Transports ant
The sailing craft quickly towed out OF the reach
| the burning schooner. She continued to burn from
halEpast one until the dawn OF day, when only sucl
portions as were below the waters edge remained.