Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-20

fcdcra;c Eunhoa,s sailed forth from,
the York River, capturing many small
vessels and annoying the enemy.
This was given up when Magruder
evacuated the Peninsula
II remains now 10 mention the et-
forts made to fortIfy the wonderful
harbor ut tho mouth o: the Jam -
and Hampton Roads. Hero the Con-
fcdcrate navy quickly lmproviscG the
James River iicet whose work. with
that OF the Merrimac. Will come later.
Fortress Monroe remained in Fed
oral hands. and the fleet after evac-
uating Norfolk. remained under her
guns or at Newport News.
Guard Month Of River.
Al Fort Norfolk. Elizabeth River
a battery of i've guns was placed
commanded by Commander Il r
P!nkncy. Sewcll's Point. Comman
w. l.. Maury (Nirginia): Fort Nelson
Commander Charles T.. Mcintosh (Nir-
ginia): and jamestown Island. Cap
tain James Earron Nirginia). I'm
mouth dcfenscs scouting forays into
the Chesapeake We're carried on most
successfully by the Confederate navy
IL had been observed in June. 1862
that the steamer ST. Nicholas. Baiti-
more To the Potomac, would meet the
u. 5. :. Pawnee and exchange papers
and supplies several times week
Colonel Richard Thomas. ST. Marys
County Md. conceived the idea oi
capturing the st. Nicholas and by Il
surprise attack. the P.wncc. In ac-
cordancc with this plan. approved by
Secretary Mallory, Colonel Thomas s
with picked party. got on board the
st. Nicholas at Baltimore and other
shipping points June %. 1862. cap
tured the vessel. and M Cone River
tNirGinia turned her over 10 Captain
IiOllins tNirEinia) and Lieutenant
Lewis WirEinia). with the TcnncS.
see troops. Unfortunately the Paw
nee had heard of this capture and
steamed away. The ST. Nicholas hy
a daring cruise, captured three Fed
cral vessels. One laden with coffee
was sent 10 Frederick sburI where
she was burned At time If the local
battle.
Two Vessels Captured.
In August. 1863, two vessels. the
Satellite and Reliance. Of the United
states Chesapeake hotilia. were cap
tnrcd off the mouth Of the Kappa
hammock by Lieuteman, John f.
Wood NirEinia). wAh four boats
losing two men killed and thirteen
wounded. After cruising Ground for
some hours in heavy weather the
Satellite returned to the river mouth
and the next day was spent IN the
lookout for shipping. About night
fall three vessels were captured. one
with coal of which Lieutenant Wood
was in dire need. and after coaijng
his vessel and the Reliance. the cap.
turcd vessels were towcd up to Port
Royal, where their valuable cargocs
were sent to Richmond. everything
of use taken from tho ships which
were then burned. These exploits
were a mort!fying blow To the Fed
eral Chesapeake forces and created
CONSERVATION among Northern coast
wise shipping.
Merrimnc Makes History.
In the meantime. events of world.
wide import had occurred at Hamp-
ton Roads. On May 30. 1861. til,
burned Mtrrimac was raised from the
Elizabeth River bottom. and later
under plans suggested by Commander
John NJ. Brooke and carried out b,
Engineer w. +. Williamson and Con
structor John l.. Porter. was con
vertcd into an irOnclad floating bat
terry. On March 8. 1862. with Captain
Franklin Buchanan in command, this
watcr-logged hulk slowly steamed
down the river and crossed over to.
wards Newport News. where the Fed.
ernl fleet was Mt anchor.
The Mcrrimac was accompanied by
] tho James River feet, Commander Jno