The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-04-16
Capt. Fred. Fora.

Capt. Fred. Ford.
Durirg the late stirring events through
which I'VE have passed, no man has &C,
ted pinoblef port, nor to any are we
moro indebted, tbon to the fearless Capt.
FoId. When on tina. eyentul Sunday,
while quietly pursuing his journey
down the Ksnawha, all unconcious of
danger, and unsu'poc,ing tho propin,
guilty OF the barbltous, willy foe, his boa,
was suddenly cnvirono with a sheet Of
fire from concealed enemies; but heed
less Of the lOaICn hail, obiyiols to the
unseen dangers ahead, and dgfsntIy
disrcgarling their "chiyalrous" demand
for surrender, he instantly took position
on the Hurricane deck and her IDEALLY re.
solved 10 stick TO his boat, and run the
gauntlet ofdeath, rather than hcaeG to,
and thusavoid personal danger. Stand
ing BY the side Of his dauntIess pilot
Stape Wrisht--hc, with unoquallGd
courage, assured him oiipstaut succor,
saying ISLAND to Che wheel Sape, il
you're shot, I'll take your plare-we'lI
nersr gice up tie Joi," and Stapo did
stand to the wheel, ani stecrel through
the tempest of bullets aud-5oth Cap
tain and Pilot miraculousIy escaped the
onbascada unframed, though complete.
ly exposed lof more than a mile.
Only by contemplating the probable
results OF surrender can we properly
estimate the value of tho services rem
dered by the intrepid Captain. Had he
to insure safety, given up his boat, the"
enemy wOul have filed her with troops
and surely captured the Gen. Meigs--
following in her wakc-~and all things
being in readiness, made a descent upi
on this place,--thcn al uasuspec,ing
OF danscr,-rahen by surprise our little
band OF soldiers, paroled those in hospi.
tai, captured part and burned the rest
Of the government stores, AMI tlen re.
embarked and attacked GalIipolis with
similar results; and, il not appriscd Of
their approach, would doubtless have
burned that aourishing Town, and thence
continued theirjourney down the Ohio
and up the Guyan, then, abandoning
and burning the two steamers, betook
themselves. with their portable plumber,
to their mountain Businesses, beyond
dOnger of successful pursuit.
Well may we shudder, in rejecting
how imminent was osruction-the least
timidily or irresolution in Captain; F.
and all Government property aud for.
ces, both at this place and Gallipolis,
would in all human probability, have
been captured, and what else none can
tell.
We chronicle these patent facts from
gratitude to the unas.uming, heroic
Captain; and trust the Washington au.
thori'cs vii lose no time ia promoting
Captain Ford. He surely should, be-
lore all Others, be made ME C1mmod5rs
Of The Government traapoti on he Kama.
m1a. This is tho bird unsuccessful at.
tempt to cap'orc the Captain and his
boat, but dis is the one to which we
call public attention; and in cur humble
judgment, whether we consider the rare
exhibition Of determined, leGan. bravery
or contemplate the destructive, disas.
ttou' and humiIiotng probable results
OF different action On tho par! Of GOpt.
f. The Government cannot, without man.
itesl disregard Of meritorious action, or
cerioin iojustice to tho public service,
fail 10 promote Captain Ford to the com
mand of the Klnlwhn fleet thus put.
ting him in position for usefulness
commensurate viii tho sterling quail.
ties often, heretofore, exhibited, and re.
Gently SO severely tested, Much orsuc.
cess is dependent upon "toe righ, man
in the right place" "IlonOr to whom
honor is duo
---n-- s------..--
Fra quictus was given to the 1uos.
ton ofrccognilon, in tho British Parlia.