Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-12
Of Homer.

no the Editor OF the Dispatch;
There occurred many incidents curing
the late war between the North and une
South that are worthy of mention ana
among which none are more so than the
coun de main enacted on the coast III
lSsS. by O squad OF Confederate prison.
ers This interesting incident is known
- but few outside OF those who took
mart in this daring feat 1t WAS on the
S,h Of April. 1853. that Colonel }. u
Green fwho. by the way. is a scion OF the
Old North State, and is now an hoho'eu
and highly-respected citizen OF CoVlhs-
TON West Tennessee, with four or hVe
other soldiers Of the lost Cause was
c.utured near Memphis by the Federal
forces. then holding possession OF that
mart OF the State. These prisoners were
sent on circuitous route to Norfolk
Va. there TO remain until an opportunity
offered 10 send them along with other
nrisoners to Fort Delaware. ! here give
an extract from the diary Of Colonel
Green:
Three days after our arrival at Nor
FOIL. all the prisoners marched on board
NJ tho good steamer Maple Leaf, bound
for Fort Delaware. Her officers were
white men: her crew consisted of negroes
entirely. about fifty or sixty In number.
we were under the charge Of lieutenant
and twelve soldiers, armed with muskets.
The two sets of prisoners mingled To-
gether, and IL soon became known among
them that the steamer was to be cap
tured. A low. bulky heavy-set man,
totr nj
Ell out as captain. whose orders We're
20 he obeved. He was a sailor and had
been captured on board and in command
ola Confederate gunboat. He was sur
fering al the time from a severe wound
He had laid his plans while In prison;
had appointed n stan 20 assist MIN, ana
now there was nothing 10 do but TO WIN
our crowd TO his purpose, which was an
easy lob and by the aid Of his stalI-ol-
dcers TO assign every man TO his duty
There were thirteen soldiers, inclnding
the lieutenant, and about as many whlte
men. officers OF tho steamer. We were
divided into squads OF three. each squad
to deal with guard distinctly
pointed out Tlss took about two
thirds OF our number. The remaining
third was held together under cap
tain TO overawe the crew, and TO give
help wherever needed. The signal OF at
tack was 10 be the ringing OF Ahc biSae
bell Of the steamer by. our captain. All
these arrangementslv were quietly made
while we steamed out OF James river into
the Chesapeake bay. Norfolk, the forts
ON either side Of the channel. and the gun
boats were all lett 10 our rear. In front
of us and 10 our right was Cape Henry,
and TO our left Cape Charles. About the
middle Of the afternoon, every squad be-
tne, as convenient az possible TO the
guard 20 be attacked, and ali chattering
among themselves or with the guards,
suddenly the great bell began to rattle, as
81 the steamer were on fire. In a
twinkling each squad sprang upon IT,.
man and bore him down upon the deck,
aud wrenched his gun from his hands.
There was but one blow struck The squad
with which ] acted was 70 seize a
yentinel az the foot OF the gangway.
Our position was unfavorable for very
quick action, and our man proved 20 be
a stalwart, brawny Irishman. He was
brave. and put forth all his strength.
we could not bring him Gown. nor get
possession OF his muskrt until one OF
pur men, who had finished his fob. came
running with muskct poised over his
shoulder and gave him o blow between
the ewes with the butt which settled him
effectually.
ONLY a MINUTES WORK.
''In one minutes time from the ringing
Of the bell the steamer was in our pos