Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-11-19
The Efficacy Of Pruyer,
BY JoHS ?. HICKEY Is THE FAIR RECORD

At two O'Clock a. M, on the l4th
day of August, 1862. there assembl-
ed at Leonardtown, st. Mary's Co,
Md, 10 young men who had deter
mined to link their fortunes with the
Southern Confederacy. Asmy men,
ory serves me, sixteen of these were,
Warren Moore, Albert Fenwi
George Simms, Frank Yates, Alex.
Hayden, Frank Russell, Edmond p.
Hickey, Edgar Combs, Willie and
Frank Simms, Charles Drury and
brother, John +. Hickey. Edward
and James Warrea a1li Charles
Foxwell The three other names
are forgotten. We took passage in
York River row boat, our baggage
loading it down to the waters edge,
the objective point being Blackstone
Island. On reaching the North side
OF the island, we were informed that
there was police Yankee tug boat,
with fifteen soldiers aboard anchored
near the Blackstone Island light
house. 1t was not yet daylight, but
the fore wheels of a wagon were
found, upon which the boat was
placed and hauled by hand across
the island and launched at the ex-
treme southern point into st. Glenn
ent's Bay. Across the mouth of the
bays the boat was swiftly rowed.
Reaching DIR. Abell's wharf, the
boat was again taken ashore, placed
on an OK cart and launched in the
waters of Flood Greek. | well re-
member that il was Wednesday.
The hospitality of DIR. Abel in fur
nishing broiled chicken breakfast,
corn cakes and an abundance of de-
lightful milk.
We remained all day on the banks
of Flood Greek, waiting for night in
orden to cross the Potomac. Dark
black clouds of an approaching
storm, with occasional flashes of
lightning, admonished us of the risk
we were about to take in the attempt
to cross the eight miles of water to
themouth of Lower Machodoc Greek.
A vote being taken, it was decided
to brave the storm. At s o'clock
Charles Eoxwell was elected captain
of the boat and the author commander
on landing in Virginia. Four of the
best oarsmen were selected, with in
structions not to cease rowing from
start to finish, no matter what oc-
Cured" There not being room on
the seats, five of the party were
stretched at length in the bottom OF
the boat, with orders not to change
position. The order came at about
8 o'clock, and our craft glided out OF
Flood Greek into the wide and deeu
waters of the Potomac. When about
two thirds the river had been made,
10, we were within short distance
of tug. A fash light was thrown
across our bow, and an order tc
heave to, there seemed no escape
but we turned about and in the
darkness of the night and the roll.
ing of the waves, the Police Tug
was lost sight of and, to me, in ar
incredible short time, our boat was
at its mooring in Flood Creek, an6
the first evidences of Thursday ap
pearing in the eastern horizon, i
was decided to content ourselves
until Thursday night. Guards were
put out and repose ordered. Hard
ly had quiet obtained sway, wher
the picket at the mouth of the creek
reported two boats entering. Cauti
ously the intruders approached
and as they were about to land ter
reyolvers and as many voices or
dered a surrender. In the frs
boat Miss Hettie Carey and Majol
Bangs, with passes from Gen. r. L
Lee, were greeted with whispered
apologies, and in the second W,
found David Windsor, of Alexandria
Va, a well-known blockade runner
with three others. They were pass
ed ashore also, and FASTENED on thei
journey shorewise. The rest of tn
night passed without incident.
AT noon on Thursday we receives
a dispatch from Leonardtown that
squadron of Indiana Calvary ha'
, made a dash into Leonardtown cap
turing two young men who, coul'
not get passage on our boat. and no
being known, were left TO the tende
. mercies of the Yankees. The Office
in command inquired the road {
Flood Greek, and was supposed I
be on our track. At or about 3.
p. m, our videttes reported clou
of dust approaching, and about
mile distant. 1t was instantly d.
termined by vote to take chance
|. on the water, although it was eigt
miles.
The same noble and expert oar:
men were placed at the oars, an
lorders given by Can't. Foxwell. ths