The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-01


tivity and proves Of the gallant brig and
her crew.
The year 1881 was not without few
incidents OF q more cheering character
than that just mentioned. We learn OF
the capture Of an enemy's vessel of the
mouth of Happahannock river by a
Captain McLane. The particulars are
few, and as tie name of the officer does
not appear on the rolls OF the Virginia
navy, he may have been privateer. His
prize was found to have on board mum.
Der of noted prisoners. who, having just
escaped from confinement, had stolen a
vessel, procured arms, and were on their
way to join the enemy when retaken
Among them was well-known Tory
from Delaware, who was 10 have been
tried for high treason. In April, 1871, a
sharp action took place between brig
belonging to Maryland and two British
vessels, the Hibernian brig and the
schooner Trimmer This is said to have
occurred also of the mouth OF Rappahan'
mock river, and, although within the
limits of Virginia cannot properly be
claimed as pat of her naval history.
The gallant Merylander bore himself well
i'm the face of his two antagonists. His
vessel mounted sixteen guns, but, having
such odds against him, the action was
long and severe He finally caused the
enemy 10 seek safety in flight He pur-
sued them out into the Chesapeake, but
their better sailing qualities enabled them
to escape.
In the spring of 1881 occurred the daring
and successful attempt Of Capt. Joseph
Meredith in the ship Marquis Lafay-
cite" to elude the entire British fleet
lying in Hampton Roads, and thereby TO
save his vessel by getting out 10 sea The
ship had been built al Suffolk, was
pierced for twenty-siX guns, but at this
time mounted only twelve six-pOunGers,
and had Il crew of forty men. She had
already experienced adverse fortune
having been twice submerged TO escape
destruction upon the appearance Of Phil
lips and ArnOlds' invading forces. She
had once more been raised from her
watterv retreat, refitted, and now lay in
river, exposed to destruction
at any moment, should the euemvs ma
parties discover her. In apt.
Mercdiths' anxiety 10 save his vessel, he
saw his only chance was To- ruE the
gavrllet Of bis cnomy's fleet at night, and
so, ii possible, reach the open sea. This
being his only hope, he was not long in
making up his miid.
Late Oh certain afternoon be quietly
lett his moOrings and dropped down 10
the mouth OF the NansemOnd river.
In, l,n h. al
sudden appearance Of a strange vessel in
that quarter, to MS surprise and gratifi
cation manifested no concern whatever.
lie very well knew however, that ii would
not be prudent to trust to their indiifer-
ence About midnight of the same day,
after having made himself and officers
familiar with the positions OF the British
ships, he proceeded 10 carry out his de
sign. Orders were given for ,he main
tenance OF the strictest silence on board
the ship, and the officers enioined 10 pre-
serve perfect calmness. His guns we're
slotted, but were not 10 be fired unless
by his individual order. The largest of
the fleet lay under Newport News, off
Hampton Bar, and close under Old Point
{ omiort, Just in the track of the passage
to the outer bay. Near a hundred trans
ports lay at anchor in different parts Of
The Roads. All being ready, Captain
Meredith, as silently as posi-
BILE, got under way and passed
out of the mouth of the river. A lively
breeze from the nOrthward and strong
ebb tide favored the movement lie soon
found himself gliding rapidly past some
of the enemy's men Oi-War ana in among
the transports SO far he had not been
discovered. This he attributed to the
dark ess Of the night and TO his showing
no lights. He directed the course Of his
own vessel by .lhe lights of the enemys
ships, and mad thus been fortunate in
escaping detection until he had passed
the vessels off Old Point but OFF vii
loughby Point he was suddenly hailed
by man-ofwar but gave no response.
This was the limit to the enemy's fleet,
and lac soon found himself once more at
liberty with his gallant ship out on the
open sea The adventure had been so
boldly made that the enemy must have
mistaken him for friend, or perhaps
transport detached on some special duty
NdpldlD MtTcullH now sHuptu MS Cpulst
northward. The following day, when off
the Capes of Delaware, he had Il long and
anxious run before a British frigate.
His little ship was, however, TOO fleet
Of wing for the tagging stranger, who,
little by little, dropped 50 far astern as to
allow The Marquis TO proceed on her
way to Rhode Island, her original place
of destination. Here the ship was more
equipped, battery of twenty
four guns was furnished her, and her
crew increased TO one hundred and forty
men, Meredith did not long remain idle.
He at once proceeded southwark in
search of the enemy's armed tenders who
we're ever lowering along the Virginia
and Carolina coasts of Charleston he
captured three merchantmen, whose car
goes proved valuable prizes. These
captures were secured after great diff
Guilty. While conveying them he had
he misfortune to be chased by a hostile
irigate much larger than his own ship
His hO c of saving the prizes lay alone
in resort 10 strategy. As The irgate
was bearing down upon him he made n
shON Of fight by changing his course ~ if
to meet his adversary This manWuvrc
rave time for the flight OF the ntiZps