Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-06-16


The explosion at City Poi Mt, Aug. 1861,
of vessel laden with nun ition of war was
supposed at the time to hS We been caused BY
the careless dropping Of a loaded -hell BY
some one engaged in los ding the vessel. 1t
now appears that it was caused by rebel
torpedo provided wit , a clock work aupara-
tus to FIRE it at Il Sc; time; and that there
was a special org aaizaJion Tor carrying on
such operations. An extract irom the te-ti-
mony given at Washington, on Monday,
before the military commission j. - iollow,
EXAMINATIONS OF ASST. ADyr.-GEN = D. TOWN.
SEND.
By Judge Il droegie HcE-o. State whether
you ave acquainted with c. J. Rains, Brigad-
Ter General IN the Rebel military service? 4.
WAS v''.y we'll acquainted with q. J. Rains, who.
in Is 81. resigned his commission Of Lieutenant
Colo iel OF the 9th Regular United States Infant
ry
Q. wereyou acquainted With his handwriting
A. les sir.
q Look at that Endorsement and state wheih-
er you believe it 10 be in MS handwriting lex
hi biting paper TO witness y A. To the best Of
N 3 knoSledge aud belief il Is.
The paper referred 10 was given in evidence
without objection. Ii is dated Dec Il. 1864.
and is addressed to Capt T. Mcdaniel, CON-
mandng Torpedo Company, and signed John
Maxwell. II SITS forth ia substance that in
obedience to the order Of the person 10 whom it
?. addressed and with toe means aud equipment
.la.l ir- i'm fha Ii
the 10Th Of July, 1864, f1r the line OF the james
River, TO operate with the horological torpedo
against the enemy's vessels navigating that
river. The writer was accompanied by r. X
DIilard, whose services were engaged for the
expedition. After sundry Adventures these
two men reached City Point before dnybreak
on the 9Th Of august last. and the writer gives
the result Of ms operations as follows "Roques-
ting my companion 20 remain behind about hall
y mile, cautil asly approached the wharf with
Iny machine ard powder covered by small box
huiing the Captain had come ashore from q
barge thcE al the wharf, se'zel the occasion to
hurry forward with ny tox being halted by
one q the Slarf ~euiuels ] succeeded IN passing
hlm by representing that the Captain hal order
ed me to convey the box ou board hailing a
man from the barge. put the machine IA mo-
, ton and gave II "a his charge he carried it
..4
PVtNuS Po"u'r IJ''nlis ny companion We
20 nc 'Al0- TO wines 'he eu,ct oil
III '''u' 'n HOUR .he ,Ap'osioh
~ eneet was communicated 10 an
o,"'i ''i "e9 Onl 'le oNs fe'''vi upon anu
$50. az - ~la'' u-li'uS containing the
s''Ies' "h'yu NAS ,'N'y destroyed,
,i' - va ''rI'H'' anu 'he enc, dei'eiel
-, r.--ri a -' 80. '.'I N-..SH ne "a
shocked, bu, am thankful to Providence that
w nav ,O'4 's''iei without issuing injury
from the enemy's pew.6apers. which aff5r,i Their
testimony Of the terrible effects II the blow
ia wounded hg, We have no r,s.,n A ~ b sa
it greatly exceeded that The reeuniary dam'ge
We h.'iu 's'lfna'eI al e''''"" out OF course
The writer details the capture Of the ve.-.l Jane
Daihe.d' by party u which Acting Master VIII.
m.nl,rs I'M. .r ..,,,.,. "a, Il, ,b ~ Te, ~
- mixer lat IN Warvics River.
Iae parry 'aF'h , ,i.'',- That he was finally
n uence of the yiciant watch Kent upon bim and
ms eoaiju'o's by our frees. The indor.ement
On Sns ,.'.sI 1.Ie =! q N,p e, 1Apt. OF T.