Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-10-27

!; M tl> medicines, pro
v~isionsand war
-=[S+ IN a terlal 5
~ through the
blockade of the
union fleet into the southern ports,
and thence to the confederate armies,
But very few have heard OF another
KIN OF blockade running, equally eX-
citing and if possible much more
dangerous than the first, where the
men engaged had to run the gauntlet
OF both the fleet and the army, re-
Ter TO the Potomac blockade and the
attempts on the part of the federal
government to prevent southern sym
pathl2ers on the Maryland side from
communicating with and giving aid to
'he confederate forces IN Virginia
Many a reader has, 10 doubt, made
the pilgrimage from Washington to
Mount Vernon, and has noticed the
air of peace and quiet that prevails
everywhere, with the broad smooth
river the green fields on either shore
rolling away into the distance, a sail
ing vessel here and there making its
lazy way to the bay, with now and
then a great river steamer coming
putting round a bend, which had hid
r'Scn 1t from view, the whole landscape,
in its simple rural beauty, making al
most a perfect Arcadia. All is quiet
along the Potomac once more.
and she sleeps as calmly as il
she had never dreamed of civic
strife. But in war time it was
far different. Then, during the
lVeloAg DAY ana lar into the night.
great amer heavily armed for
transporting large bodies OF troops,
churneo up her waters while small
vessels patrolled every mile of her
shore guarding against southern raid
ing parties and attempts to run the
blockade. Armies were constantly
marching along her shores, first union,
theh confederate, while small bodies
OF troops and scouting parties rode
aown her banks n drank of her
waters every day From Alexandra
GOWN TO folnt Lookout the river runs
through n peaceful rural country.
llie olu1ts, heavily wooded, and
great marshes, IN which m could
mae lor days vary the lines of the
open helds' while every few miles ,
large creeks lndent the shore, running
lof mics BACK INTO the country, easily
'ra'erSaole by sklffs and often by
small salllng vessels. These creeks
anu marshes are the nome OF the
oIuolah ana t'le reed blrd' n are the
N'ecea u enc sportsman
Inc southern Maryland planters and
knew every nook and corner
0, the river and Its marshes, as most
VI Vhelh were great sportsmen and Rad
e"iheu 'heir khoWleage ny hunting
III .ne autumn "heh the war came
having strohs sympathy Tor the south,
.ney useu 'helr kloWiedge to assist
ner' Every oark night swift skiifs
"ou'o epooe o"' rom creek or marsh,
e"rryihg olspatches' medicines and
ii"hy o'ner 'h'hgs needed by the
WeaferS Vi lne gray TO the Virginia
sue, "here .hey would be hidden
until IN opportunity occurred to gain
'ie eou'nerh INES III became almost
d highway lor tlose VINO wished to
pass olspalches from the north to the
south scouts spies and volunteers
an used this route. Women going t"
one ana Oh wounded relatives III s,uth-
erh hospitals ana ever yoang girls
seeking TO and the south, would ride to
the n O F~'Potomac, go to the
GUST. some s~outherner well known
" theih' II on the hrst dark night
would run the gauntlet of the river
patrol ana gam the Virginia shore.
one OF the principal scenes of this
traf1c was the quiet little country vii
lage OF Plscataway, about four miles
from the mouth of the Piscataway
creek. A few houses and stores scat
tered here and there on each side of u
dusty country road leading to a bridge
over the creek, were all that a union
officer would notice as he rode into
the place, and he would pass by it
with contempt Yet that general
store across the way, with it's yard
running down to the creek, belonged
to one of the most successful blockade
runners on the Potomac, a man, who, '
under the quiet exterior of a country
s~torekeeper and good fellow, hid a 81.
shrewdness which enabled him to out
wit the union authorities for three !
years, and then to make good his es-
cape. And it is of this escape l am 60
ing to tell.
Under the ruise of kceninp his co,r.
try store, Dick Edelin, was constantly ,
ordering large amounts of clothes. :
shoes and other n~ecessaries, which he =.
promptly conveyed across the Potomac :
TO his agents and by them to the !,
southern army. He was rapidly MAX
ing money, as his goods brought ex-
80 -1.--.