Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-07
Seizure of Two Steamers by the Confed-

crates.
ONE CARRIED OFF AND THE OTHER BONDED
OBSTRUCTION OF TELEGRAPHIC C0MMUNICA.
TlON BETWEEN FORTRESS MONROE, WASH
INGaoN. AND BALTIMORE.
"A daring and successful expedition by a band
OF Confaderates took place at an early hour on
Saturday morning last, the results of which
was food for much speculation by citizens of
Baltimore yesterday. The scene of the expe.
oition was Cherrystone Greek, Eastern Shore
OF Virginia. The facts Of the daring raid are
as follows The steamer Ioias, Capt. Webster,
and steam transport Titan, were lying in the
aboye,named creek, Gust Off Cherry stone
Point,) about O'Clock last Saturday morning,
when the officers and crew of both vessels
were awakened from sleep to find themselves
under arrest and their vessels in possession OF
armed men, who announced themselves as
Confederates, and that they had seized the YES.
sells in the name OF the Confederates States of
America. There was no alternative tor the Of
fcers and crew but to surrender.
The 1olas is q medium sized steamer and is
owned by Capt. Webster, who has been en-
gagged from time 10 time in collecting produce,
&c, from the Eastern and Western shore couu-
ties OF Maryland and the Eastern shore counties
OF Virginia, and carrying it to Fortress Monroe
tor the use OF sellers, and at intervals his
steamer would be specially chartered for the
use OF the government. Capt. Webster Is q
Baltim korean, and resides with his family in
the caste IN section of the city. Capt. Webster,
of the lolas, was compelled to give up I,100 in
money, besides other valuables. The en- 5ineer
OF the vessel informed the Confederates that it.
would take four hours for them To get up stsam
and they concluded to bond the Iolas; whicn
they did for $4,000. They released Captain
Webster and his crew, except three eoiored
men, OH parole. They then put theiIe canoes
three in number on board the steamer Titan,
ana placed the officers and crew Of that vessel
together with the three colored men from the
lolas, under surveillance, and proceeded up
the bay into The Rappahannock river. Moth
ng OF aey consequence was taken from the
lolas. The Titan w as loaded with com,nissa-
~ stores, and had put into Cherrystone Point
on Friday night on account OF stress OF wealth
ef. Ihe vessel was valued at Si0,000 and the
cargo at ta5U,ot0.sg "a ce7F
The most important part OF the damage sns.
tanned from the expedition was from their de.
structicn of the telegraph station al Cherry
sioLe Point, and the destruction of the subma.
Flne telegraph cable running from that point
to Fortress Monroe, and which was the only
means OF telegIaphic communication between
Fortress Monroe, Baltimore and Washington.
How tar out from the point the cable is de-
stroyed could not be ascertained, as q portion
OF the Confederates were at work az this de-
structiop while The remainder were seiztng the
steamers. The lighthouse near Cherry stone
Point was also thought TO bs destroyed by
them, bnt tins latter statement has received no
official con frma;ion. -
The Coniederates numbered about thirty
me n, and weIe under. the command OF Capt.
Fitxhugn ard Captain Taylor Wood, fnephew
OF aenera' zachary Tayl0I,s Gosn no q the Con;
des patches from the Secretary of War, an.
nofncine the fact of the destruction OF the
submaIiLe cable, and also that the work of
r. psir would be at once commenced II v1as
also stated that several gnnboats had ieft
Fortress Monroe for the Rappahannoer rfvsr
Tor the purpose OF recapiuring or sdestrovtng
the sfs amer Titan. At a late hour last eyenjng
noibing bad been heard from them by tina au,
thoriiies at Washington. The scene wnere the
above mentioned rad took place Is now In
.Generaf Buffers department-Baiiinere San,
7th. 81 . ~