The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-17
The Oyster War between Maryland
and Virginia

and Virginia.
Captain Levitt, who writes the following
letter to the Norfolk Journal, is evidently
man Of good sense and sound judgment
There is no "foolishness in his official
acts, nor in his account Of them:
Having just returned to Norfolk from
the Tangier and Pokomoke sounds, after an
absence of ten days, and hearing so many
improper statements rs to what is termed
the oyster war it is doubtless proper |
should give correct statement of facts as
they occurred.
Under the instructions of the Auditor
of Public Accounts, on Tuesday the Sd in
slant | left Norfolk in the oyster revenue
steamer W. F. Taylor, and on Wednesday
morning was joined by Inspector Spots
wood in the Virginia, and by Deputy In
spector Parker in the Tredegar, in the
Wicomico river. At 10 4. NJ. all three OF
the steamers left the Wicomico in company,
ran across the bay, and at ! P. NJ. passed
through Keager's straits, ran down the
rangicr sound, and at P. NJ. sighted five
vessels dredging oysters in Virginia waters,
and Immediately gave chase. The TAYLOR
/,
which proved to DE the Nabob, of Accomac
Evans master, and for satisfactory reasons
ne vessel was released on license being
aiken out by the captain and crew. The
)thcr four vessels in the mean time escaped
nto Tyler's creek. At ?. M. anchored
he Taylor and the Tredegar off Horse Ham
mock, and sent the Virginia around to
blockade the creek. Near our anchorage |
boarded the schooner Seamans Bride, of
baltimore, G!nse master, and finding she
vas loading with oysters without having
obtained the necessary permit, arrested
The parties, seized the vessel, and ordered
acr TO be taken to Onancock Town; but the
captain elcctins to pay fine of $3.50, |
discharged the parties and released the
vessel.
"On Thursday at . A. N. got up steam,
md in company with the Tredegar ran
INTO Tyler's creek alongside of the Virginia,
| zhen Captain Spo!tswood, with two men,
vent up the creek in a yawl boat to sound
| The channel, bnt returned about II A. NJ.
when all the steamers started up the creek,
seeing which the oystermen got three of
their vessels under way and ran further up
the creek. The crew Of the fourth painted
out the name Of their vessel, scuttled her,
took to their yawl boat, and escaped to the
shore. Ran the steamers up in pursuit
until they grounded but succeeded in
overhauling one of the vessels, which proved
70 be the schooner Fly, of Baltimore, her
captain and crew claiming to belong to Vir-
,inia. Ascertaining we were in Maryland,
told the captain would not seize the yes
sci or arrest the parties, it being my inten-
lion not to do any act calculated to produce
conflict between the two States, but, upon
lis application, granted him and his crew
license, stating that the license would not
relieve him from past offences. The cap
tains of the other two vessels further up
then came on board, declared that they
md their crews were Virginians, and would
take out license next morning.
"This arrangement being made, the Fir-
sinia and Tredegar started down the creek,
he Taylor, at the request of the captain of
the schooner Fly, being detained pulling
ner off the mud, the Virginia and Trede-
yar stopping at the sunken vessel, waiting
Tor the Taylor 10 come up with them on her
return down the creek. Before the Taylor
reached them they we're fired upon from the
shore by some twenty or thirty persons,
who had secreted themselves behind pile
of cord wood near the position the steamers
were then occupying.
1.-The firing was repeated from the shore
before those GU board the steamers returned
it, which they did in sprightly manner,
causing the mi&creants on shore to retreat
behind n house hard by. About this time
me Taylor came up, having the schooner
ely in tow. With her captain on board
plotting us down the creek; and while pass
ing between the steamers and the shore,
the firing ceased, but was resumed on both
sides as soon as she had passed, and con-
,inued until all the steamers were out Of
range. Fortunately, no one was hurt on
either Of the steamers, although large
number of buckshot took effect on different
parts Of the steamers.
"From the mouth Of Tyler's creek for
several miles running up is doubtless Nir-
sinia waters. the supposed line between the
States running across the creek near its
head. Had the vessels been overhauled in
Virginia waters they would certainly have
been seized and held for the penalties in
Cured, Notwithstanding the mob on the
shore, as the steamers could have easily
dropped down the creek and bl0ckadcd 1t
until suitable force could have been pro-
cured.
"Oa the following morning the captains
and crews Of the two vessels farthest up
the creek came on board the Taylor and
took out their licenses.
"a number Of oystermen desiring q
deputy inspector on Smiths island, APP
pointed Major Evans to act for that part OF
the island located in Virginia and for the
waters adjacent thereto. After which the
Taylor and Tredegar left to attend to other
points in the Third Oyster District.
CIV. H. C. LovITT,
"Chief Inspector of Oysters"