Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-21
F0r the Gallipolis Journal.
FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY.


FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY.
CArLETsBuRss Kr., May II, '6S
DEAR gRrEsD HARyER:-Saturday
morning last, our town was thrown in
to considerable excitement BY The ar
rival Of the news that the steamer
"Transfer" had been captured. The
circumstances. as near as have been
able to collect them, are as follows:
Thursday last, abou. Eve hundred
horses we're left at this post, intended
for Gen. Whites army, up Sandy
Friday morning the Transfer was load
ed with horses and started up the San.
dy River; Saturday morning, i was
concluded to send her up snd to bring
down two hundred men TO ride the
horses up as il was rather q slow pro-
cess TO send them up BY 6fties on the
boat. She had proceeded but about
seven miles when the notorious Bill
Smith made his appearance on the Vir-
ginia side and ordered Capt. Hi Ds-
Wis 10 land his boat. the Captains re-
ply was TO Ego to h-n." Again be
was peremptOrially ordered to "rouud
in. when q similar reply was made
him. Thereupop the squad commenced
firing. Capt. Davis turned and went
into the pilot house. and told his pilot
he intended to run her through. Pls-
cling his mouth on the engineers trump
ct, told him to put on all The steam,
when Just as he removed his lips, the
trumpet was shot away close to his
mouth. The rebels perceiving their
intention to run her through, started at
FULL gallop "a part Of them being mount
ed. to gain the bend, so as to contin-
ne their firing. Seeing there was no
use in trying to get away from them.
the Capt. landed his boat. but took
good care to land her on the Kentucky
side. The crew got of. and the Ere
man and the Captain's son came down
and gave the alarm as soon as they
could. The steamer SwaUn was manned
and sent up Immediately. but upon ar
irving at the scene Of action. they found
nothing but the smouldering ruins of
the Transfer. As the river was very
high, the rebs could not ford il. but
they we're not required to wait long un-
I'll two citizens came along in skiff and
ferried two Of them scross, who fred
the boat As soon as they found that
they had effectually fred her. they
"skedaddled," which gave the Captain
{ who had concealed himself on the hill
side aDd watched all their movements,
a chance to do something. Gathering
a few neighboring women and children,
he hurried to the boat and by almost
superhuman efforts. succeeded in doing
some good; had it not been for their
efforts, the boat would have been to-
tai loss, as il is. her hull is not much
injured and some parts Of her engine
may b. made OF some use She has
gone to Cincinnati to rebuild.
Capt Davis says he counted their
number three times as he lay concealed,
while they stood on the opposite bank,
and make out forty. Word was sent
to Headquarters as soon as possible,
and large party sent in pursuit; they
followed all that night and the next day,
but found none Of them. They con
versed with men who saw them, and
say there we're only nine rebels; only
nine could be heard Of anywhere, either
before or after the capture; so any
body can see that we have rebels among
US. They must have been joined By some
Of our neighbors along the Sandy river.
Steps are being taken TO ferret out these
rebel allies.
The 9Th Va, hss again pulled up
stakes and gone. l believe. to Charles
ton. This leaves the people in the low
er portion Of Virginia without any pro-
lection. Maybe this is right. ! hope
so at least. This embraces all the news
Of interest l believe, at present.
Yours, &c. GROTIUS,