The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-11-09

DlOkALAUEllAllN'
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NN1Ai/fNIfl4lk NNH read thrilling
AN mn N - - VI tales OF block
l,plNNIbi q ~ ade-running on
JIMMY =. X ~ the sea, Of des-
WINE 81 III perate at
AifEn ~ tempts 70 carry
al, - medicines, pro-
- - yisionsand war
- - m terials
.<z=5sis:ssls3 through the
blockade OF the
union heet into the southern ports,
and thence 10 the confederate armies.
But very few have heard OF another
kind Of blockade running, equally ex-
citinees and II possible much more
dangerous than the first, where the
men engaged had TO run the gauntlet
Of both the fleet 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 o 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 20 the bay, with now and
then . great river steamer coming
putting round bend, which had hid
den II from view, the whole landscape,
in is simple rural beauty. making al
most perfect Arcadia. All Is quiet
alorg the Potomac once more,
and she sleeps as calmly as II
she had never dreamed Of civic
strife. But in war time il was
far different Then. during the
liyelong 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
down "a Point Lookout the river runs
| through peaceful rural country.
High bluffs, heavily wooded, and
great marshes. In which gould
hide Fl Mays, vary the hue the
open fields, while every Aew miles
large creeks indent the shore, running
for miles back into the country, easily
trayersable by sixiifs 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 riverand It's marshes, as most
1 Of them were great sportsmen and had
gained their knowledge by hunting
1 in the autumn. When the war came,
having strong sympathy for the south,
they used their knowledge 10 assist
! her Every dark tight swift skiffs
would shoot out from creek ormarsh.
carrying dispatches, medicines and
many other things needed by the
wearers of the gray TO the yirginia
side, where they would be hidden
until an opportunity occurred to gain
the southern lines. II became almost
| highway for those who wished to
pass dispatches from the north 70 the
south. Scouts, spies and volunteers
all used this route. Women going 10
the aid OF wounded relatives in south
ern hospitals, and even young girls
seeking to aid the south, would ride to
the banks Of the Potomac, 60 TO the
house OF some southerner we'll known
TO 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
traffic was the quiet little country VIII
iage Of piscataway, about four miles
from the mouth Of the Piscataway
creek. A few houses and stores scat
tered here and there on each side Of o
dusty country road leading to q bridge
over the creek, were I'LL that a union
officer would notice Us he rode into
the place, and he would pass by It
with sontempt Yet that general
store across the way, with its yard
running down to the creek, belonged
20 one of the most successful blockade
runners on the Potomac, a man, who,
under the quiet exterior VI country
storekeeper and good fellow. hid .
shrewdness which enabled him to ont
wit the union authorities for three
years, and then 70 make good his es-
cape. And It Is of this escape am go-
Ing to tell
Under the guise of keeping his coun-
try store, Dick Edelin, was constantly
ordering large amounts Of clothes.
shoes md other necessaries, which he
promptly conveyed across the Potomac
to his agents and by them TO the
southern army. He was rapidly maxi
ing money, as his goods brought ex-
traordinary prices. So Dick became
more and more reckless every dny,
ordering larger and larger quantities
Of goods, until the union authorities
peBah " NOTICE ~ anu 70 Wouuer AZ
the marvellous increase in the con-
Stunning power Of that quiet country
J neighborhood Finally they became
suspicious. and the provost marshal OF
the district soon found out enough
facts 70 give him an inkling into the
true state OF affairs, and measures
were taken TO capture Edelin,, red
handed II possible Meanwhile Edelin,
had received warning from n friend
that he might have visit from the,
biuecoats some fine morning. and that