The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-01

hahsas city, Kan, February 10. lsl"
"Mr. w. H. Frenger. Cape Charles. Va,
Ny Dear S.r--In reply 10 your re-
quest will say that 50 long time
has elapsed since the Cherrystcne Ex-
petition that have forgv<ten the ex-
act dates, but will refer you to the
War Records. as published by Congress
for 1854 Armies of Northern Virginia,
Ga which will be found my ofsicial re-
pOrt. and also that of Captain Duvai,
% the Federal army.
After the Seven Days fghts aronnh
Richmond. while serving on the stan
OF Major General Ripley. there wAs an
order for General Ripley to select a
reliable offcer with a detail OF men to
be sent to the Chesapeake Bay. with
headquarters at Mathews Courthouse.
and report TO the Confederate War De-
partment daily the movements OF Nc
Cieilan's transports on the bay-hss
Headquarters being then at Harrisons
Landing. on the James River.
While at Mathews Courthouse
met with persons from the Eastern
Shore tof yirginia). who reported to
me the military situation at Cherry
stoae. Northampton County. also. at
end about Eastville. learned that
there was a xunbos,. the @. q. Nc
riellan.' lying on Cherrystone. . small
cavalry guard and General Lockwood's
Headquarters at Esetviise in the Kerr
house with infantry campsd ~ Fssh-
,r's farm. on the sea SIDE.
IT At once conceived the feasibility
Of crossing the bay ~ night and cap
turing the suncoat and cavalry guard,
transfer the prisoners on board the
boat and then on cavalry horses has
ten 20 Tastvils ana capture General
lockwood and his star and hurry them
III ~ n -
moved up the bay 20 . point opposite
Tastville
Il reported my plane 20 General J.
L r. stuart and asked the privilege
Of undertaking the expedition. which
request was refused, a. he said mat
g. second expedition would be needed
70 release me and my men from Point
Lookou. Prison But In March. 1885,.
when my regiment. the Fifth Virginia
Cavalry IVES sent home to recruit ana
remount I asked OF General LcmaS
perm. ss.on 20 go on q raid during my
absence from the regiment not men
sionine 70 him the nature or direction
of my expedition, which request was
granted.
so er-rly was convinced OF the
.xpeSiency of the Eastern Shore raid
that as soon as we reached Mathews
Courthouse 7 took steps TO secure two
<-,,od omen heats and with ten picked
men. Lieutenant Hewlett and SER
sesut Marchalt. ! started ore after
noon about dusk. reaching the Eastern
Ehor. before DAY the next morning
ana landed At . creek near and below
.-ber-v-tons called DEVILS Hole
There We secreted our boats in the
rushes AMI went upon shore TO
citizens house with q view TO finding
out til. s.tuation and force OF the
enemy. particularly about Cherrystone
and Eastvtle; but finding him toe
much alarmed for his own safety 70
give information of any kind detail
ID a GOOD man, directing him TO go
70 Che-rystone and Eastvilie. learn
all he could and report to me that
afternoon
on his return ne reported tneFe
Was q guard of fourteen cavairymen
and a sergeant at Cherrystone' aiso
Major White IN command at East
1-iIIe with a company of cavalry: that
there was a large lot Of comnissar,
supplies lust landed the night before
for the use Of the troops aud freedom
on the opposite shore II was DECIDED
20 go up Cherrystone Creek, landing
above the wharf and make our attack
on the guard from the land eide. But
that afternoon, however. on arrang-
sng our plans q man I had taken across
+he bay a. pilot. who Hye1 In SortH- !
anpton county. deserted. and thinking
his object Was TO inform the enemy OF
our presence, I decided to change our
plaus-hence we crossed fields and
wood. until striking the cape Charles |
Poad. We cautiously marched up this
road until striking the Cherrystone
read. and when about quarter OF
mile W. came Up with a sentinel
asleep on his post. where he was an
easy capture As soon as securing
this sentinel. we hurried under his
guidance 20 the soldiers quarters. the
telegraph once and other places
where the Federal employees were
ouartered all of whom We secured pc
prisoners.
I've destroyed the telesrsphic COM
munscathcn with Fortress Monro@ |
There was out IN the creek q large
ssdewheeJ steamer. and learning Hs
captain was spending the night on
shore at the hotel. we took him a pris- |
on~r. We then conveyed him on
board OF his boat with strict injurc- |
ION to obey orders. In which case, IL
~ n. complied. bis boat would be |
spared.
IT. v!ta three men and the captain.
~~a. en- board az 10 we were Federal |
s9idsers. as we wore overcosts OF the
captured men We were all given
most oorsisi reception and assisted on
board where oficers and crew were /
rnaae prisoners and quietly escorted /
s.fo- Geek under guard. Everything /
wa. 20 quietly conducted that 81 was
rot observed By some oysterrnen work |
Ing but a few yards from the boat |
And as tse captain had engaged the
1870 ,af,-s the delivery Of some Of 4
.n>.. ovpers on board OF HE boat /
sergeant Nsrchant kept tally OF the
nur,ber g bushels 30 received
The sta vas expected TO arrive
shat rnonins from Fortress Monroe
about o'clock. made arrangements
for her opture also by secre;ing some
Of my nen behind boxes and other ]
u.s. on ne wharf - I expected she
vas On fme. AZ the captain OF the
-Tlfan- vss securing the boat to the i,
~~rarf demanded his surrender ard