The daily gazette., 1875-04-14
From the Baltimore Sun of Yesterday.
The Capture Of the Steamer NJ
Nicholas.

! Messrs. Editors 1 have read one or two
articles in the newspapers, copied from
the Port Tobacco Times, which, in allnd-
ing to the death of the late gallant Col.
| Thomas, or Zarvona, are caiculateu TO
| lead 10 an erroneous idea OF the capture
Of the capture of the st; Nicholas ana
of the officers of the Confederate navy
connected Herewith. Having been an
eyewitness I vouch for the truth OF the
following statements:
Captain George n. Hollins, in June,
1851, was in command of the, United
States frigate Susquehanna, in the Med
iterranean squadron. He was ordered
to the United States and arrived in bos;
ton June 5, and Immediately rendered
his resignation. He was not retired
officer. June IS he left Baltimore in the
steamer Mary Washington for Rich-
mond, via the Potomac. On reaching
! St Mary's county he went to the estate
of q prominent gentleman, when he (H)
suggested the idea, which originated en-
tirely with himself, of seizing. the, st.
Nicholas and manning her with voiun-
teers, and then proceeding to capture
the United States steamer Pawnee, Cap
tam Ward, a vessel that annoyed the
boats crossing the Potomac to Virginia;
The plan or proposition was discouraged
owing to the number OF Union men
thereabouts. Hollins crossed the Poto-
mac in an open boat, and after Landing
was driven by gentleman in all open
buggy to fredericksburg, where he ar
rived at P. M. Next morning he went
to Richmond and Immediately on his ar
rival reported to the Secretary OF the
Confederate States Navy and received
his commission as Captain in the Q. 5. N.
He then went to the bureau OF details
and meeting there many of his old friends
he openly and unsuspiciously stated his
views and plans, which were discouraged
and he was told that Mr.. Mallory would
never agree to them, but that the Gov
|. erncr would." He got Mallory's permis-
sion to make application to the Govern
or. He Immediately proceeded to Coy.
Leucher and made his proposition. Ii
was promptly agreed to and the Cover
nor placed at Hollins' disposal a draft
for one thousand dollars, for the pur-
pose of procuring arms, &C., from the
North.
Governor Letcher then and there in
troduced to Cart Hollins Col. Thomas,
or Zaryona,- as o person who could be
trusted to proceed North and procure
the arms, OF to transact business requl-
! ring secresy and dispatch.
! That same afternoon HolIns returned
to Fredericksburg, and from thence TO
Point Lookout, passing across through
MARYLAND with his two sons and seven
men. in an open wagon through pour
ing rain to Point Lookout, where the st
u Nicholas touched on her way to Wash
ipgton. After reaching the Maryland
side Hollins signed the draft for thou
4 sand dollars and gave it to Col. Thomas
or Zaryona, who took it and proceeded
10 to Baltimore and Philadelphia for arms
" Capt. Hollins directed Col. T. to .tr.
and get as many men as possible to Joii
him ON his return to Point Lookout
where they agreed to meet On tn
night appointed Capt. Holhhs ana Paft
went on board the st. Nicholas at Poin
:, Lookout, where he at once perceive,
~ Col. Thomas in the disguise OF Frencl
/ lady. He had taken the precautlon o
a. nuttinQ the arms in large trunks such
milliners use for packing A signal an
plan of operations were agreed upon
In few minutes after leaving the whal
Hollins gave the preconcerted sigma
IN when the trunks were thrown open, tn
men arming themselves. Col. Thoma
m in the meantime having gone to chang
his dress. N
mir of pistols, ran to the wheel-hous,
and laying his hand on the captain
shoulder, told him he captured him an
his boat in the name of the Confedera1
STAKES. and ordered him, the captain
"a IKirwin was his name, think y to tai
the boat over to Cone river, which
refused to do, and Capt. Hollins tol
him he would burn the boat If he dl
not. He said he was not q pilot, pt
HoIlins said he knew he could take nc
2, over: but another man was tound wh
II. did pilot her to Cone river. An hour
nv two after landing there they were Jolne
Oh bv a body of Confederate soldiers, undt
in command of Capt. Lewis, q. s. Navy.
ls- AT that point Hollins read in the Ba
1s timore papers of the death OF Captal
10 Ward, Of the Pawnee, he having bee
Id killed while shelling at Matthias Poln
Id All the gunboats had gone up to Wasi
ne ineton that the officers might atten
,Ie Wards funeral. leaving the Potomf
comparatively unguarded.
Deeming it unsafe to remain whei
he was. Hollins decided to take steam
boat to Fredericksburg, and ran out
- the Chesapeake bay, where he saw
y,e fine, large brig; he ran alongside
: her, when she proved to be the pr
We Monticello, from Rio, loaded with &C
he he fee. He captured the brig, put Lie
nd Robert Minor, meritorious and
I ant Young officer, land never retire
one1 in command, with orders TO tai
- her to Fredericksburg. The coffee W
most acceptable in Richmond, whe
,o it was already scarcity and luxur
d. In an hour or less Hollins capture
m another prize crew were put ON boa
= of her and she was sent up to Fredt
icksburg..
nd in time. The sick and wounded in q
lsss:t hospitals were in sore need OF &
~ Ice.
"a as The coal of the st. Nicholas W
Dr.; nearly exhausted, and Hollins had ju
leu ordered the engineers to fire up wi
+. the cabin furniture or any other av'
tables when another vessel have
- sight. 1t proved to be brig load
with coal for Boston. She was al
captured. After filling up with CO
he took her in tow and went up
Fredericksburg, being fearful OF
naming longer with his charge al
, not being possessed of any means
1afapca