Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-09
A Gallant Exploit im Jnnaes River
RnslecaI E.rannnorL nealroyed.

EEGtEaA transport 1esAEOyCaa
On Saturday morning, party Of five of the
Prince George Cavalry, Captain Marks, censist-
ing of Corporal Teller Cooke, and Privates
Thomas Niartin, William Daniel, Alexander
Dimitry, and William Will ans, conceived, and
carried cut successfully, a private little enter
prise Of their own, which resulted in the burn
ing Of largo FedFai transport, capture OF her
commander, the CONSERVATION and surprise OF
the Yankee feat in the immediate neighb0rhood.
The party left Coggin's Point, on the South Size
Of James river, FIVE miles below City Point,
about enc o'clock, Saturday morning, ia an open
boat, armed with naked sabers and their Tevol-
veTs The Federal feet OF transports and gun
boats lay all around them. One gunboat was at
anchor about one hundred yards above them,
and another half mile immediately below,
while several others, invisible at the time, were
off in various positions. The transports lay
scattered along the channel, some not twenty
yards apart
After getting amidst them, the party made a
reconnaissance TO discover the largest, and finally
selected splendid looking schooner, OF two
hundred tons burthen, which proved to be the
Louisa R;ves, of New York, loaded with corn,
oats, and other articles Of forage and commanded
by Captain John A Jones. AS they approached
her dog on board commenced barking furious
", but they piled their oars vigorously and qui-
y
schooner without faltering. The crew were
sleeping sOuudly, but the captain, awakened by
the dog, rushed on deck from the cabin, and was
met at the very door by Martin, (himssf sail
Or) who seized him by the collar and placing a
pistol at his head cautioned him that to speak a
word was death.
Taking the surprised captain back into his
cabin, he was allowed 10 dress and secure what
ever valuables he wished to carry away with
him. The mattresses were then drawn out rip
ped open and fred, the door locked and the cap
tain escorted to the boat In few minutes, the
party reached tho shore, when the flames burst
rom the fred vessel, aud the whole feet was 10
eommofion. Small boats piled about in every
direction, hawsars were attached to vessels, an
cboTs weighed and general pulling and tug
ging c5Iamsrcsd to keep clear of the burning
vessel.
In the meantime, the crew of the Louisa
Rives, awakened By the smoke, yelled " Ere "
aud scamperod over the deck with buckets Of
water with all the volubiiiy and nimblonsss Of
New York " pings 4 boat was sent from enc
Of The adjacent vessels &c their reliet and assist
auce, and for the additional purpose of saving
The schooner if possib!e. Bat the crew had
scarcely mounted the deck before shell and
some rifles, which were IN the csbin, exploded
All hands commenced a general stampede, and
tumbled over the bulwarks in the utmost con-
fusion. No further attempt was made TO save
the vessel and she burned to the waters edge.
The heroes Of this achievement, concealed in
the woods above Coggin's Point, watched the
event with the utmost satisfaction, and then ear.
Iied their prisoner into quarters.
They stated that they would have taken the
whole crew, but their boat was leaky, with a
hole in one side Just above the water line, SO
that, if they had taken the crew in, all would
have gone down together. Had they stopped 10
lower a boat from the vessel, the vancouver
would doubtless have been observed, and their
capture the consequence-R Richmond Enquirer