The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-10-26

|
union feet into the southern ports,
and thence to the confederate armies.
But very few have heard of another
kind 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 feet and the army. re-
fer to the Potomac blockade and the
attempts on the part of the federal
government to prevent southern sym
pathizers on the Maryland side from
communicating with and giving aid to
the confederate forces in Virginia.
Many reader has, no 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, sail
ing vessel here and there making its
lazy way to the bay. with now and
then a great river steamer coming
putting round bend, which had hid
den it from view, the whole landscape,
in it's simple rural beauty. making al
most perfect Arcadia. All is ''quiet
along the Potomac" once more.
and she sleeps as calmly as if
she had never dreamed of civic
strife. But in war time it was
far different. Then, during the
livelong day and far into the night.
great steamers, heavily armed for
transporting large bodies of troops,
churned 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,
then confederate, while small bodies
of troops and scouting parties rode
down her banks and drank of her
waters every day. From Alexandria
through a peaceful rural country.
High bluffs, heavily wooded, and
great marshes, in which one could
hide for days, vary the lines of the
open fields, while every few miles
large creeks indent the shore, running
for miles back into the country, easily
traversable by skiffs and often by
small sailing vessels. These creeks
and marshes are the home of the
ortolan and the reed bird, and are the
Mecca of the sportsman.
The southern Maryland planters and
farmers knew every nook and corner
of the river and its marshes, as most
of them were great sportsmen and had
gained their knowledge by hunting
in the autumn. When the war came,
having strong sympathy for the south,
they used their knowledge to assist |
her Every dark night swift skiffs |
would shoot out from creek or marsh,
carrying dispatches, medicines and |
many other things needed by the |
wearers of the gray to the Virginia |
side. where they would be hidden |
until an opportunity occurred to gain
the southern lines. 1t became almost
a highway for those who wished to
pass dispatches from the north to the
south. Scouts, spies and volunteers
all used this route. Women going to
the aid of wounded relatives in south
srn hospitals, and even young girls
seeking to aid the south, would ride to
The banks of the Potomac, go to the
house of some southerner well known
70 them, and on the first dark night
would run the gauntlet of the river
patrol and gain the Virginia shore.
One of the principal scenes of this
'raffic was the quiet little country VII
age of Piscataway. about four miles
rom the mouth of the Piscataway
:reek. A few houses and stores scat
cred here and there on each side Of
iusty country road leading to bridge