The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10

a small iron cannon. recently addei to
the collection OF war relics in the posses
sion Of Mr.. Frank Hume CT this city. IL
associated with an interesting incident Of
the civil war, the piratical seizure Of tho
steamer George Post, in the Potomac River
by adventurous secessionists.
In ante-bellum days this cannon formed
the ornament Of a sloop in the service of
the state OF Virginia. which was employed
principally with the recapture of escaped
slaves. The northern boundary Of y.rgicia
was the first objective point Of the runaway
black on mis- way to the free States Once
beyond he was certain OF assistance such as
he required Sympathizers would furnish
food and clothing, ard would direct him en-
his journey along the chain CT the under
ground railway which led to Canada AMI
liberty. To prevent this was the objsct
OF the sloop's service. and she patro.eI
the waters forming the boundary betwe u
Virginia and Maryland. as far up the Po-
tomac as the river was navigable for ves-
sci Of her draft. Constantly on the alert,
she was often called upon to use this gun
for hating such vessels as were suspected
Of concealing fugitiyes.
! When Virginia seeded from the Union,
! in April, 1861, was a time OF general un-
rest. Sumter had fallen and at Baltimore
demonstrations had been made by the Sc
cession sympathizsrs against the Federal
volunteers. en- route for Warrington.
Hostilities in the field had not COM
| nenced. but both the Unionists and the
Corfederates were preparing. and were
tensely braced for the approaching con-
| liet- Virginia initiated her withdrawal
! from the Union by the confscation OF such
| property-Federal or private-as she re-
| quired for defence in the struggle which
must inevitably ensue. Arms and muni-
! tons OF war. available water craft, fortifi-
cations. public buiidings-eyerything Of
possible Utility was seized
| Prior to this. steamboat lines, plying be-
tween Baltimore and Washington, trans
acted the necessary business OF carrying
| passengers and freight. and made sched-
uied stops at various towns between the
two terminals. Owing. in some Instances.
| to the seizure of the steamers engaged in
| this trafife. and in other cases to the an
ticiDation Of such a result. this business
was suspended.
The George Post was one of the last
steamers to attempt this trip. On Satur-
day. April 20. 1861. she started from her
wharf at Washington loaded as usual with
freight and passengers. The George Post
never reached Ter destination. Rumors
were published In the local papers on the
following Monday that she had been seized
by the Virginia authorities at Alexandria,
and later it was circulated that she had
been struck or sunk by a cannon shot, in
attempting to pass Fort Washington, while
on her way to Aqua Creek in the Con-
fsderate service. Nothing definite. how
ever. was known for some time OF the par
ticulars.
Cbo til tr;r III
five passengers costumed in female attire,
who in engaging passage had represented
themselves as school teachers. These wom-
en- were Of large stalwart type with mein
more suggestive of the Steiner sex than that
to which they were supposed to belong. In
the hurry Of departure they escaped more
than casual comment, and made themselves
invisible as soon as possible up to the mo-
ment of departure. From that time they
became very much in evidence AT the in
slant when the boat LETT the wharf they
made their temperance. Separating. they
were observed making their ways to diff
ferent parts Of the boat. Their manly
strides and resolute manner might have
been attributed to habitual self-reliance,
but had more the appearance of that mas
culine quality of decision demanded in the
execution Of a design.
One or these individuals found the way
to the pilothouse. and opened a CONVERSE
tion with the captain who was then guiding
the boat through the narrow river channel.
To his surprise this person suggested an
ability to act as pilot. and insisted upon
taking the wheel for that purpose. Thor
oughly astonished at such a request the
captain turned around In order to observe
the person who yentured it. A transfor-
nation had taken place. The officer of the
ship found himself confronted by a man
who undoubtedly proposed that the sug-
gestion offered by the school teacher should
be followed. and he seconded his persist
ence with a revolver. The movement OF
the captain to summon assistance. was
quietly prevented. The persuasion. in the
way it was offered. was unanswerabie and
effective The wheel and the vessel
changed hands without further disturbance.
The four companions in this piratical adj
venture. having dispensed with their dis
guises OF school teachers. had with SINH
lar persuasion suppressed any hostility
from the engineer. The complement Of the
ships manifest were likewise convinced
that resistance was futile
These five men formed part Of the crew
of a sailboat which had been quietly fol-
lowing after the George Post. This was
the sloop used for the capture of runa-
ways. now disguised as an innocent pleas
ure craft.
The engine of the George Post were
stopped and the sloop. when signaled.
came alongside The cannon was raised
to the deck of the steamboat, and then
forward. The George Post was
now a vessel OF war in the service Of the
State of Virginia. This seizure was, OF
course, denounced By the Government as
an act OF piracy.
The course of the steamer was now di-
rected toward Alexandria. Here she was
unloaded and her freight confscated She
was hurriedly prepared for the needs OF
the Confederate authorities. This done
she was directed 20 proceed at once to
Aquia Creek. where cars had been sent to
Richmond to obtain men and ammunition.
The steamer started for this destination
and in passing Fort Washington she was
fred upon. Although struck she was not
disabled, and succeeded in making Aqua
Creek In the meanwhile Federal Reve-
nue. cutter had been sent after her. and
soon after she left Aqua Creek on her re-
turn Journey. fell in with her.
With all steam on the George POST
endeavored to evade the Union boat sand
escape, but the cutter gave pursuit. fir
Ing at frequent intervals shell from
, small gun. which it carried, and al
though a fieeter boat the Post was una
Die to dodge the fire of the enemy.
1t was a stern chase, and the chased
boat was unable to use her cannon. which
vas forward Her case was soon hope
ess, escape was impossible. She had
been struck in vital places. and was fast
sinking. 1t was determined to beach the
boat and having been set on fire the ILL
ated vessel was turned toward the shore.
NJ the moment of Bleaching she explod-
Il b,,. tai IN the ter