The Democratic advocate., 1882-02-25
The Virginia Oyster War.
Gov. CamerOn's Expedition Against Un-
laWfuI Dredgers.

The Governor military expedition to the
Rappahannock river to suppress the oyster
pirates of that section returned to Norfolk
Saturday night and reported highly success
full campaign, though the number of captured
vessels and prisoners was smaller than was
hoped for at the outset. The expedition got
away from Old Point some time before day.
light Friday morning. On the steamer Peed
were Gov. Cameron, with Gen. V. ID. Groner
in command. and detachment OF artillery
and infantry, ofiicered by Capt. {. A. Nash,
Lieut.. c. c. Loand, Lieut. Fl. c. Whitehead.
On the Louisa was Col. ii. {. Carter, IN
command Capt James A. Gimera and l4leuts.
Hodges, Walton and jackson, with detach-
ments ofartillery and infantry. Both steamers
were armed with howitZers. The steamers
arrived off the mouth of the Rappahannock
about o clock in the morning and discovered
a fleet of seven schooners. The Peed took
the Louisa in tow as a ruse, and sailed up
abreast of the mouth of the Rappahannock,
where the feet was dredging about two miles
distant The Peed then cast loose her tow
and dashed at full speed into the fleet OF
dredgers, creating no little CONSERVATION
among the oystermen.
When within a mile of the first schooner
Gen. Groner ordered volley of musketry
and one solid shot to be fired across the bows
of the nearest vessel, named the George W.
CressweH. Capt. VIM. kellum, of Onancock,
which Immediately surrendered: Another
shot and volley was fired across the bow of
the schooner j. c., of Norfolk, owned by
Malthy L Co. and commanded by Capt. Lu-
cas-. which also surrendered promptly, with
five men. At this juncture the Louisa came
ON the scene and captured the following yes
sells: Schooner Fannie Tarline. of New ork,
with crew of nine men schooner Fashion,
of Onaneoek, Capt. f. ID. Chandler, and nine
men; schooner Hamburg, of 0nancock, and
FIVE men. and schooner Annie and Ahee, OF
Onancock and FIVE men. While the crews of
several OF the captured vessels were being
transferred to the Louisa it was noticed that
the schooner Philip Kirkwood, Capt. Crocket'
Of 0nancock, was sailing away at full speed,
with every stitch of canvas ON she could pos
sibly carry. A solid rife shot was sent after
the fugitive from the steamer Peed, and then
began a most exciting race down Chesapeake
bay. The schooner had full three miles start
of the Peed and spanking breeze to favor
her. After the chase had lasted about two
hours and half or more the wind lulled and
a solid shot was dropped few feet in advance
Of the escaping schooner. Eight more shots
were snccessively fired before the kirkwood
stopped and surrendered. The race was about
forty miles from the mouth Of the Rappahan-
mock. nearly Ia Fortress Monroe, Nine more
prisoners were thus secured and placed IN
The hold Of the Peed The steamer then put
hack with her prize in tow fer the Piankatank
river. the point in Matthews county 10 which
the other schooners had been taken by the
lsoaisa.
Saturday morning Sheriff Sands smith. OF
Matthews county, was summoned on board
by the Governor, and the batch Of slxty-Onc
prisoners was turned over to his custody for
safe keeping until such time as they can be
bruagh, 10 tria The sheriff at once sum.
moned a posse oi sfty citizens, and, receiving
from the Governor a suitable supply Of arms
and ammunition. marched the prisoners oa to
Mat,hcws county Jail, distance Of FIVE miles
from the river. The captured oystermcn
claim that thsy arr NirginiAas aud that the
dredeers from Maryland and other states
mostly went up the bay on Thursday and es-
capped trouble Those caught were eaiirely
taken by surprise, and showed no resistance
whatever after being pat under arrest. fhey
arr all wsll. known IN Norfolk