The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-20
And the Strange Bringing Together Of Its Captors
and Defenders Truth Stranger Than Fiction.
BY FRANK p. o'BRIEN.

Washington, which had taken place on
the 1st Of April.
During the hand to-hand encounter re-
ferred to a bomb-proof was captured by
Private G.. M. Williams (Morte), two
others and the writer. When we enter
ed the enclosure we discovered five lieu
tenants, color corporal and Major John
II. Burnam, all of the Sixteenth Connec-
ticut Volunteers. AS we entered we dis
covered the corporal in the act of con-
cealing his flag underneath his coat. He
said, when he realized that capture was
inevitable, he stripped the flag from the
staff and sought to save 1t in the way
above described. Mortie Williams, who
was nearest to HIM, caught hold of the
flag, the end of which was still in sight,
and got possession of it. The poor fellow
begged piteously for his charge. stating
that he had carried 1t proudly for two
| years, that he would willingly give up
| every cent of money all his valuabes,
| which included in a fine gold watch, il
! he were permitted to have those colors
which he and his comrades priced so
highly. The captors declared that as the
| trophy was a battle flag, the emblem of
| one of the strongest regiments In the
| Yankee" army 1t was intrinsically of
more value than all the money and valu-
ables he and the whole crowd possessed.
When they realized that their request
would not be granted, the color corporal
begged that portion of the flag be given
him as memenro. The request was ac-
coded to, and Mortie Williams cut tri-
angular piece from the lower corner and
handed 1t to the color bearer.
All prisoners captured at Plymouth
were sent to the rear, some going to Sails
bury, N. c., and some to Andersonville.
Ga. Major Burnham was among the
"a 10 tha fnrY1 ,,Iaa
diately after the capture of Plymouth
was assigned to my old place on scouting
duty and was instructed to report to
Captain Cooke, of the iron-clad, Able
marie" Immediately upon reporting for
duty, l was ordered to go down the river
and learn. II possible, where torpedoes
were being planted by the enemy l was
permitted to select my own comrades on
all my trips, and was frequently ac-
companied by Signal Officer, Albert
Chalk. Pilot James H. Hopkins, both of
the "Albemarle," and always by Mortie
Williams
For some reason, known only to the
powers at Richmond, Captain Cooke was
relieved of command of the "Albemarle"
and was succeeded by Captain Jam es
Maffitt, of Florida fame 1 continued to
report to Captain Cookies successor. who
being a fellow-countryman soon became
very fond of men. so much so that he con-
fided many confidential messages from
Richmond to me. During frequent trips
over the Chowan and In and around Eliz-
abeth, | learned that two mail boats
made regular semi weekly trips between
Roanoke Island and Norfolk, and that on
certain day the mail boat "Fawn"
would carry United States paymaster
and sufficient money to pay off the troops
stationed on the island, who had received
no pay for several months. l returned to
Plymouth and made detailed report of
the inform alton given me by reliable citi-
zens of Elizabeth and Edenton. 1 sug-
gested plan, had thought out, to Cap
tain Maffitt; my idea was to PROCEED to
point on the pontoon road leading from
Windsor. in Bertha county, to Elizabeth.
At the point selected there was draw
bridge crossing the Albemarle and Chesa-
peake canal; my plan was to capture the
draw bridge keeper, force him to respond
to the signal Of the "Fawn" as she ap-
preached, and when within short dis
lance to close the bridge.
This was readily approved by Captain
Maffitt and a boat crew was organized
to carry out the idea. Major James H.
Long, at one time county surveyor. of
Jefferson county, then master mae of
the Albemarle. was detailed to select the
~
on the eve of departure, Mr.. Shelley, the
sailing master, was ordered to relieve the
former. as he was not considered strong
enough to endure the hardship incident
to such exposure, having Just recovered
from a severe spell OF fever
The expedition left Plymouth September
"a, early in the morning. and reached the
draw bridge an hour or two after dark.
Signal Officer Chalk and myself went for
ward quietly and captured the draw
bridge and made all arrangements to re-
ceive the Pawn" and her crew and
guards next morning. The detachment
was equally divided on each side of the
canal, Chalk and myself remaining con-
cealed In the draw-bridge house with the
keeper Orders were given to the men
that at a signal, to be given by the firing
Of my pistol all were to rush forward and
board the vessel. This was easily done,
as in many places along the bank the
men could step from the shore to the
boat. Every detail was carried out, UP
to and including the opening of the
bridge; at this point, Assistant Engineer
Disher, of the Albemarie, who had been
detailed to take charge of the boat after
capture, became greatly excited jumped
up from his place of ooncealm ent and |
fired his pistol. This gave the alarm and |
Drecipitated the attack. After some de- |