The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-01

as milliners use. They contained arms aud
ammunition. ] told Col. Thomas to hold
himself IN readiness. AS so0u as we cleared
the wharf we would take the steamer.
In few minutes we left the wharf, and
made the appointed signal. The trunks
were then opened, and the men seized their
arms j took Sharpe's rifle and pair of
pistols, and ran up to the wheel-house, put
my hand on the Captains shoulder, and told
bin / had captnred the boat. l then
ordered that the boat be taken over to Coan
River. About an hour after our arrival at
Coan River landing body of Confederate
soldiers and sailors, commanded by Capt.
Lewis, came down to assist me- then read
some Baltimore papers, from which l learned
OF the death of Capt. Ward. and the Cum
boats had gone TO Washington to attend the
| funeral.
There were several passengers on board,
but landed them and gave permission for
all who wished 10 return TO Baltimore to do
So Few returned. as nearly all were on
their way South and although it was Sun
day the ladies amused themselves by max
ing Confederate flags out of the Yankee
flags had captured on the steamer.
Finding there was no chance of captur-
| ing the Pawnee and deeming it unsafe to
stay where ! was, in 4 steamer without
guns resolved to 20 up to Fredericksburg.
and Immediately ran out into Chesa-
peake Bay. j saw fine brig and ran along
SIDE of her. She proved to be the brig
| Monticello, from Rio, loaded with coffee and
bound for Baltimore ! put Lieut. Robert
Minor on board, with orders to take the
brig to Fredericksburg. The coffee was a
great treat TO our boys in gray. In an hour
or so l captured schooner from Boston,
| loaded with ice and bound for Washington.
] placed an officer aud prize crew on board
and dispatched her TO Fredericksburg The
ice got there in time for the wounded and
sick in the hospitals.
II next captured another vessel from
Baltimore, loaded with COAL bound to Bos-
ton; a most fortunate prize, as l needed
the coal on the st. Nicholas. / filed up as
/ went along, as began to feel little fear
full that some of the gunboats might be
after me.
So we went up to Fredericksburg, tow
ing my prize. We reached there safely. The
Government bought the ST. Nicholas, and
| turned her into gunboat.
then went TO Richmond, and was
| ordered to the Notifications on the James
| River After being there for sometime /
applied for other duty in line of my profess
sion, and was ordered to New Orleans, with
the rank of Commodore
George n Hollns was born in Maryland,
| bnt claimed to be citizen of the State Of
Florida. He was appointed Midshipman in
the q. S. Navy. Feb ]. 1914; promoted Lieu
tenant, Jan. 13, 1926; Commander, Sept. 8,
1915; Captain, Sept. IA, 1865, and was in
command of the sloop Susquehanna when
the civil war commenced.
He was dismissed from the Navy, June 6,
| 1861, and offered his services to the Confed-
crate Government. by whom be was assigned
to duty on the Mississippi River at New
| Orleans, Aug /, 1861, and continued there
until February, 1862 He was relieved by
Captain William C. Whittle. Hollins was
then ordered to the upper Mississippi to
contest the passage of the river by the West
ern FIotilla of Union gunboats, under Flag
Officer Foote.
Hoiins was defeated at New Madrid, ISL
| and No. 10, and several other places, and
seeing no prospect OF success decided to re-
turn to New Orleans and assist in the de-
tense of that city. He was relieved at Fort
Pillow by Commander Pinkney, and he sue
ceeded by Capt j. G. Montgomery.
Capt Hollins undertook to prevent the
| Union vessels under Admiral Farragut from
ascending the Mississippi, but utterly failed
| i'm his undertaking. His vessels were nearly
all destroyed and himself made prisoner.
He was released on parole, and rejoned
the Confederates at vicksburg about May /,
1862.
He deserves notice in this connection on
account of an effort he made to destroy the
blockading squadron at the mouth of the
Mississippi, Oct. b. 1861. The force on duty
at the time consisted of the sloop-of-war
Richmond, Capt. John Pope; the Vincennes,
Capt Robert Handy the Preble, Capt. Ii.
French, and the Water Witch, Capt Francis
Winslow.
Hollins's force consisted of the ram Man
assas, steamers McRea, Ivy, Calhoun Jack
son. Watson, and Tuscarora. The affair was
not a success, but resulted in making the
blockade more effective.--WM SIMMONS,
Philadelphia.