The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-07
19-s71.ag KEOKUK IOWA: NO NDAY, April. 4, 1862.

KF
the Virginia side, as he wished to bring
"Why, jim. said Captain M.gav,
: hoy. how win you be able @ pass the pick
81 want TO try, Captain; think I can
get 'em over safely" meekIy replied
-. We'll, you have my permission and
CAPT. Magaw ordered one q the gun boats
to land Jim that night On whsseysr part
Of the shore Jim designated, and return
for him the following evening.
True TO his appointment, Jim was nj
the spot with his wife and family, and
were taken ,n board the gunboat ard bro't
over to Liverpool Point, where Ccl Grs-
ham had given them log house 70 live
ia, just back Of their own quarters. Jim
ran the gauntlet Of the Sensries unharrn-
ed, never taking to the roads, but keeping
in the woodss every foot path Of which,
and almost every tree, he knew from his
boyhood up a, ars seA sisgr25 {
Several weeks afterward another recon
noissance was planned, and Jim sent on it.
He returned in safety, and was highly
complimehted by Gems. Hooker, Sickeis
and the entire Rotills. =
On Thursday week ago It becsme nec-
essary to obtain correct information Of the
enemy's movements Since then batter
les 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. Sicklcs and
Capt. Aagaw. The General came down
TO Col. 0faham's quarters about 9 o'clock
in the evening, and sent for Jim. There
were present the General, Col. G1ham,
and myself.
"Jin,a said the General, "I want
you to 60 over to Virgins tonight, and
End out Whist forces they have at Aqua
Greek and Fredericksburg. II you wan.
any men to accompany you, pick them
out."
" / know two men that would like TO
co. Jim answered.
Well, get them, and be back as soon
As possible.
Away went Jim over to the contnband
camp, and returning almost Immediately,
brought into our presence two very intel
igent looking darkies.
" Are yoa all ready inquired the
General.
"All ready, sir" the trio responded.
!" Well, here, Jim, you take my pistol, /"
said Gen. Sicksis, unbuckling il from his
bell, Hand Il you are successful l will
give you tl0O.u, @
Jim hoped he would be, and, bidding
ns goodbye, started of for the gunboat
Satellite, Capt. Foster, who landed them
short distance below the p ctsmac Greek
They we're to return early in
the morning, but wers>unabls, fron the
great distance they went in the interior.
Long before daylight on Saturday morn
ing the gunboAt was lying of the appoint
ed place. Az the day dawned Capt. Fos-
ter discovered mounted picket guard
near the beach, and almost ct the same
instant saw Jim to the left Of them, in
the woods, sighting his gun at the rebel
cavalry, He ordered the egg to be
manned and rowed 10 the shore. The rcb
els moved along slowly, thinking to inter
cept the boat, when Foster gave them
she'll, which scattered thsn. Jim, with
only one Of his original companions, and
two. fresh contrabands, came on board -
jim had lost the other. He had. been
by picket when SOME distance
in advance Of Jim, and the negro, instead !
a answering the summens, fired the con-
tents Of Sickels' revolver 1t che picket. |
It was an unfortunate occurrences, Tor It
that time the entire picket guard rushed
out Of small house near the spot, aud
fred the contents Of their muskes At Jim's
killing him instantly. Jim
md the other three hid themselves in 4
hollow, near fence, and after the pickets
gave up pursuit, crept through the woods
10 the shore. From the close proximity
of the rebel pickets, Jim could not dis
play light which was the signal fer Fes-
ter to send boat.
Capt. Foster, after hearing Jim's story
of the shooting Of his companion. deter
mined to ayenge his death, SO, steaming
his vessel close in TO the shore he sight |
ID bis guns for barn where the rebel
cavalry were hiding behind, He fred
two shells--one went right through the
barn. killing four Of the rebels and seven
of their horses. oapt. Foster, seeing the
effect Of his shots, said 70 Jim, Who stood
BY: 4" Well, Jim, I've avenged the death
of poor Cornelius, (the name of Jim's
lost companion.
General Hooker has transmitted to the
War Department an account of Jim's re-
sonnoissance % fredericksburg, and unites
Tith the army and navy stationed on the
left wing Of tho Potomac, in the hope
that the government will present Jim
With = fittins RECON- nense FIR his Oallant