Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-19

CAPTAIN KELLY ON A RAID


The following extracts from a priya,.
letter, handed in for publication, win in.
terest our readers;
On Tuesday afternoon, April 2sth
Capt. Kelly with twenty picked men
mostly from company B, went out with
the avowed intention of capturing a lot
of rebel soldiers engaged in fishing tor
the Confederate States Government near
Swansboro, N. C, Swansboro is small
sea- port village on the right bank Of
White Oak River, twenty one miles south
west ofus, and near Bogue Sound. The
fishermen We're accustomed TO cross the
Sound to the Banks "a long, low, is.
land on the COAST set their net over
night, and in the morning haul 1t in, 90
back to the village, pickle down the pro.
ceeds and return to the Banks again at
night. Capt, X. had an eye on their
movements, though twenty miles away
and on Tuesday afternoon crossed the
Sound near the Block House, moved
leisurely up the Banks twenty miles, and
on Wednesday about noon, found the
camping ground of the fishermen. They
We're gone to the village, as Capt, X. ex.
pected, but knowing both how to labor
and to wait, he waited for them, and tow.
ards night was disappointed at seeing
only five men coming in two small
boats. But thinking that small favors
should not be scorned, he gobbled"
them, and after making them fish
while for himself he set out on his re-
turn. On his way down the Banks he
captured reb-supposed to be spy
who had stolen one of the Captains
boats and was making for the rebel
lines. On Friday morning the Captain
arrived in camp with his six prisoners;
a fish net valued at $500 in Dixie and
fish enough to stock market in Mer-
chants Row.
Thus ended raid No. |, but the Cap
tain not being satisfied with his fish in
vestment, applied to Col. Ripley for
leave to strike harder, and the Colonel
gave him "blank paper" for men and
means. On Friday plight April Goth, the
Captain started with about twenty-five
cavalry and the same number of infant
ry, mounted on all varieties of four
footed beasts of travel. The party car
ried their own pontoon bridge called by
Col. VIM. Y, W. Ripley, the Gushing
Waters, ~ on baggage wagon, the said
bridge being the floor of deserted man.
sion. At O'Clock Saturday morning
the party reached White Oak River and
the Gushing Waters" was launched
and twenty-five men crossed and seized
the town. After searching the houses
for arms and soldiers, and burning the
commissary building containin" nearly
two hundred barrels of fish, the party re.
turned, and arrived in camp Saturday
p. NJ, with sixteen prisoners, including
one Lieutenant. Among the spoils were
one horse, two fine sail boats, about
twenty shooting irons" Of all sorts,
three sabres and three hundred pounds
of tobacco The captured Lieutenant is
a native Of Massachusetts, and quite a
smart fellow, but was one day too slow
for Capt. X. He says he expected him
but not so soon. The circumstances of
his capture are quite pleasing. Capt, X.
knocked at his door and calling him by
name, told him to get up and see an old
friend. The Lieutenant put on his pants
and opened the door Just a little, when
the Captain held six-shootcr in I'M
pleasant nearness to his nose and de-
manded an immediate surrender The
Lieutenant saw the joke and compiled.
The members of company B contem-
plate this affair with much satisfaction.
There are exciting times in North Car
DINA, and when and how they will end
we are anxious to know.
The health of the regiment is moder.
ately good.