The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-01
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
PLOTTING ON THEPOTOMAC
Bold Seizure of the Schooner st. Nicholas
in 1861.


Bold Seizure of the Schooner st. Nicholas
in 1861.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The capt
ure of the steamer ST. Nicholas on the 20
tomac River near Point Lookout on June
90 1861. created the widest excitement In
SHINING circles at the time. The st. Mich
olas was a sde-wheel passenger steamer OF
about 1,200 TONS running between Balt-
more and Georgetown, ID. c., stopping at
intermediate landings. She left Baltimore
on her usual trip the evening of June %,
1861. Among her passengers was quiet,
demure-looking lady, who spoke with
French accent and had rather masculine
features. She seemed uneasy as to the time
the boat would reach Washington.
The passengers booked for the different
landings dispersed themselves about the
boat. holding but little conversation among
themselves, and none whatever with the
French lady. The officers were, Of course,
not aware of the character of their passen-
gers, and observed nothing peculiar In their
conduct or actions. They were unprepared
for what followed.
The steamer proceeded on her course, with
no occurrence worthy of note until the land
ing at Point Lookout was made Two more
passengers came on board, one of them an
elderly-looking man, who took his position
on deck and in the rear of the ladies cabin.
The st. Nicholas proceeded upstream 1of
Washington. When about mile or so from
the landing heeupposed French woman had
removed her wig, curls and peiticoats and
emerged from her stateroom in the uniform
of a Zouare. with sword and revolvers.
This passenger was Col Richard Thomas, of
ho old r1xr
came on board at Point Lookout was Capt.
George n. Hollins, who was to command the
ST.. Nicholas
Both officers repaired below deck, where
further transformation was being made
among the % alleged passengers, who now
appeared as Z0uaves, armed and determined
10 hold the steamer. The few real passen-
gers on board were greatly alarmed at the
unexpected turn of events, but were quoted
with the assurance OF safety and respect.
The steamer was then taken possession OF
in the name of the Southern Coniederacy.
All lights were extinguished aid her head
turned for the Virginia shore. reaching Cone
River wharf about $3.50 in the morning.
While there the ST. Nicholas was boarded by
men from Tennessee regiment, detailed for
the purpose, after which she was headed up
the Potomac in search OF the u. s. 5. Pawnee.
Not finding her, Capt. Hollins rounded TO
and steamed down the river towards the bay,
where he fell in with and captured the brig
Monticello, with $500 bags OF coffee the
schooner Mary Pierce, with 260 tons of ice,
and the schooner Margaret, with go tons Of
coal.
These prizes were sent TO Fredericksburg,
where the ice WAS sold for $4,000, and the
ST. Nicholas was condemned Feb. 3, 1862,
selling for S1e.924.73.
Within the Coniederaey was great rejolc-
ing over this deed, and Col. Thomas was
commissioned as Colonel OF Volunteers by
Gov. John Letcher. OF Virginia. The VEN
ture, however, did not prove very profitable,
as the Confederafes were compelled to
evacuate fredericksburg in the Summer of
1862 at which time the st. Nicholas and
several other vessels were burned also, sew
eral bridges and about 10000 bales of cotton.
Col. Thomas, evidently prompted by his
success and the praise and flattery it brought
him. determined 10 return again to Balti-
more and make another capture. The
authorities became aware of his movements,
and the Proyoe,-Marshal of Baltimore de-
tailed Capts. Thomas u. Carmichael and
John Horner to watch out for him. and, if
possible. effect his capture.
On Sept. 10 1861, Col. Thomas and his
party boarded the steamer Mary Washing
ton, of the same line TO which the St Nicholas
belonged. Their inquiries excited some
suspicion. and officers were sent for. The
steamer WAS then ordered to Fort McHenry,
where Thomas and his party were put in
prison on the charge of piracy and treason.
Some valuable and interesting documents
were found in his possession. Thomas was
well known in Baltimore, and his arrest
created the widest excitement. He proved
TO be very troublesome prisoner, and after
spending some months at Fort McHenry he
was transferred to Fort Lafayette, in New
York Harbor. from which he attempted to
escape on the night of April 80, 1862 He
was not successful, and was kept in close
confinement until April, 1863 when he was
discharged, and was not heard of again dur
ing the war.
The official report of Commodore Geo. n.
H0liins contains the following:
AT o'clock a. m, June IS, 1861, left
Baltimore on the Mary Washington, steam
boat running to the Patuxent. On landing
al one OF the landings on the river, i went
10 the plantation OF Mr.. s., where ] sug-
ges ed the idea, which originated with my
self. OF seizing the St Nicholas.
was told that the plan could not be
carried out, as there were too many Union
men about; that it must certainly be dis
covered before il could be executed. Find
ing i could not act there / crossed the
Potomac in an open boat pulled by four
negroes. On reaching the Virginia side ]
went to the residence Of DIR. Howe, about 20
miles from Fredericksburg.