The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-05-01
Adventure in How
Reid Sanders Lost His MaiI
and His Liberty.

ana His Liberty.
In May, 1861, Arnold Harris visited
Buffalo. 1t was the day of the depar
ture of tho Twenty eighth Regiment fol
the seat of war, and recognizing num-
Der of his friends in the ranks he enlist,
ed, and marched by their side Soon
after his arrival at the Army of the Pc.
tomac, he was transferred to the naval
service and placed in command of the
Island Belle, of the Potomac fotilla.
A few months later he lost his vessel and
applied for another command.
The Department proposed to send
him TO Richmond, to Illustrate, if posi-.
BILE, the projects of George N. Sanders,
who had just then secured contracts from
the rebel Government for navy to be
built in England. He accepted the
perilous mission, and soon made his way
to the Confederate capitol. Without
any disguise of name or person, he sue,
ceeded in acquiring the confidence Of
the rebel authorities and established
himself on intimate terms with several
of the most important officials.
His situation, however, was danger.
ous in the extreme, and be was arrested
and confined in Castle Thunder for sew.
enteen days, He was recognized BY
two Marylanders as the former command.
er of the Island Belle. Upon his trial
he acknowledged his Identification, claim.
ing to have done the Confederacy more
service while holding command in the
Federal Navy than be could have done
by openly joining its cause at an earlier
day. His audacity triumphed,' and he
not only obtained an acquittal but con-
tinued to enjoy the confidence of the
rebel authorities, or, rather, of all but
Benjamin, who was suspicious of him
throughout.
Soon after his discharge from Castle
Thunder he became participant of the
enterprises Of Sanders, who had recent
ly returned from Europe. As soon as
Sanders had perfected his arrangements
with jeff. & Co., be was to return to
England with money and documents nee.
essary to the carrying out of his schemes.
His son, Reid Sanders, and Harris were
to accompany him. The aim of the lat>
ter was to secure Sanders mail. He
succeeded in having it arranged that
George, with his friends, should proceed
by way of Matamoras to Halifax, while
Reid Sanders and he, with the documents
and dispatches to be taken, were to run
the blockade at Charleston, and get to
Halifax by way of Nassau. In accord.
ance with this plan, Sanders junior and
Harris proceeded to Charleston aud pur.
chased a yacht, which they loaded with
turpentine and started gaily out, in Jan,
uary last, to slip through the blockading
feet and make for Nassau. Great in.
terest was taken in the enterprise, and
before leaving, the voyagers were enter.
tanned al dinner party with Beaurs.
gard and the leading celebrities Of the
city.
Meantime, Harris had succeeded in
communicating with one of the vessels
of the outside feet, and putting its com.
mander upon the watch. The yacht, as
she ran out of the harbor, was speedily
detected, and subjected to cannonade
which frightened Sanders out of his wits
and made him eager to surrender. The
mailbag, heavily freighted with iron,
was thrown overheard, bht Harris had
previously distracted from it portman.
teau containing the important dispatches
and documents, substituting in its stead
his own, which happened, as a remark.
able coincidence, of course, to be its OK.
act counterpart. ..t
The capture of Reid Sanders will be
remembered. Harris is at present in
Buffalo on visit to his friends. He
ranks as Lieutenant in the Navy.