The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-24
THE POTOMAC BLOCKADE.
Experiences in Running it During
the War.
How Dick Edelin, Managed to Escape
From the Federal Soldiers Who
Were After Him-A Thrilling Sit
uation.

uation.
Most of US have read thrilling tales of
blockade running on the sea, of desperate
attempts to carry medicines, provisions
and war materials through the blockade
of the Union fleet into the Southern ports,
and thence to the Confederate armies.
But very few have heard another kind of
blockade running, equally exciting, and,
if possible, much more dangerous than
the first, when the men engaged had to
run the gauntlet of both the fleet and the
army. l refer to the Potomac blockade
and the attempts on the part OF the Fed
eral Government TO prevent the South
ern sympathizers on the Maryland side
from communicating with and giving aid
to the Confederate forces in Virginia.
Many a 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 dist
ance, a sailing vessel here and there max
ing its lazy way to the bay, with now and
then great river steamer coming pulling
round the bend, which had hidden it from
view, the whole landscape, in its rural
beauty, making almost perfect Arcadia.
All Is quiet along the Potomac" once
more, ana she sleeps as calmly as if she
had never dreamed of evil strife. But i'll
war time it was far different. Then, dur
ing the Hve!ong day and far into the
night, great steamers, heavily armed tor
transporting large bodies of troops,
churned up her waters, while small ves-
sells patroled every mile OF her shore,
guarding against Southern Taiding par
ties 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 AleXau-
dria down TO Point Lookout, the river
runs through a peaceful rural country.
Hlgh bluffs, heavily wooded, and great
marshes, in which one could hide Tor
days, vary the lines OF the open fields,
while every few miles large creeks indent
the shore, running for miles back into
the country, easy traverslDle by skitfs
and often by small sailing vessels. These
creeks ana 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 sporlsmen and had
gained their knowledge by hunting III
the autumn. When the war came haV-
ing strong sympathy for the South, they
used their knowledge to assist her.
Every dark night swift skIns 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 could be
hidden until an opportunity occurred to
gain the southern lines. 1t became al
most highway Tor 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 III southern hos
pitfalls, and even young girls seeking TO
aid the South, would ride 10 the banks of
the Potomac, go TO the house OF some
Southeruer well-knoWn to them, and on
the first dark night would run the CANT
let of the river patrol and gain the NIr-
ginia shore.
one of the principal scenes of this
traffic was the quite lutte country village
OF PlScGtaWay, about four miles from the
mouth OF the Piscataway Creek. 4 few
houses and stores scattered here and
there on each side of a dusty country road
leading TO Il bridge over the creek, were
all that Union officer would notice as
he rode into the place, and he would pass
by II with contempt. ct that general
store across the way, with its yard rum
ming down to the creek, belonged TO one
on the Potomac, man, who, under the
quiet exterior of a country store keeper
and good fellow. hid Shrewdness which
enabled him to Outwit the Union author
tiles for three years, and then TO make
good his escape. And it Is Of this escape
l am going to tell.
Under the guise of keeping his country
store, Dick Edelin, was constantly order
ing a large amount OF clothes, shoes and
other necessaries, which he promptly con-
veyed across the Potomac to his agents
and by them to the Southern army. de
was rapidly making money, as his goods
brought extraordinary prices. SO Dick
became more and more rockies every
day, ordering larger and larger quanti-
ties OF goods, until the Union authorities
began to notice it and to wonder at the
marvellous increase in the consuming
power OF that quiet country neighbour
mood. Finally they became suspicious,
and the Provost Marshal of the district
soon found ont enough facts 10 give him
an inkling into the true state OF affairs,
and measures were taken to capture
Edelin, red-banded ii possible. Mean
while Edelin, had received warning
from a friend that he might have a visit
from the blue coats some fine morning,
and that he had better make his prepare
tons for escaping.
A week or two went by. September
came, and with it the ortolan and the
reed bird, and Edelin, had almost come TO
the conclusion that it was q false alarm.
One dark night, however, just as he was
going TO bed, he heard the regular thud-
thud of the horses hOofS coming down
the dusty road, and now and then the
clank OF steel as Saber struck the STIR
rup. He made dash down the stairs
for the rear door, which he threw open,
but at that moment he heard the troopers
coming round the corner of the house 1t
was too late to reach the swamp, and he
jumped back into the store. Where was
he 10 hide? w hat was he TO do? In less
than a minute the place would be swarm
ing with troopers. Already an officer
was demanding admlttance at the front
door, and rapid steps were heard as the
troopers closed around the house.
Edeliu's eye glanced over the large
store-room. There was nothing there
that would hide cat for ten minutes, but
the long old-fashioned counter, three feet
broad and four feet high, with its barrels
of sugar, coffee, flour and meal ranged
underneath, leaving space of some ten
inches between their tops and the coun-
ter. 1t was the only place, poor as it was.
So Edelin, dived behind it, and forced his
way between the tops OF the barrels and
the counter just as, under the command
from the officer, the door was broken
in, and Union troopers poured into the
room! They looked everywhere for him,
searching the house from top TO bottom
under the beds, in the closets, and III
every place man could possibly hide.
fhe officer i'll command stood leaning
against the counter under which Edelin,
was lying, giving his orders to his men.
He don't appear to be here, Captain"
said Lieutenant. we have searched the
house thoroughly"
L. - ,.,4 IL,