Thursday July 4th 1861
Our Virginia Correspondent
Richmond Virginia July 1 1861
Charleston Daily Courier
Extraction;
"Ten days ago had you happened in the Convention you might have seen standing in the broad aisle of the hall, engaged in close conversation with the Lieutenant Governor of the State, a gentlemanly looking individual perhaps 30 years of age, attired in loose fitting roundabout, baggy trowsers, leather leggings and inimitably jaunty fez cap of the species "Zouave". Accustomed though we are to all sorts of men and all sorts of uniforms, there was something about the sun burst face and rosy independence of the stranger, which involuntarily allotted the curiosity of almost every person in the room and as we stood there quietly whispering, who is he? Where did he come from.
Nobody seemed to know, he conducted his business and disappeared. The incident was forgotten and probably would have remained had he not again turned up today in the character of the Colonel of the First Regiment of Baltimore Zouaves, and hero of an expedition the result of which accumulated in the short space of 24 hours, he has generously laid as his offering upon the alter of the Confederate Government in the shape of a valuable steamer and three loaded prizes. The telegraph has already apprised you of the general features of the affair, but from an official source I obtained the following details which I am sure cannot prove otherwise than interesting to your readers.
The object of the interview with the State authorities to which I have adverted, was to obtain the necessary authority from them for proceeding as he has done. Thus supplied he selected two of his lieutenants and twelve trusty men upon whom he knew and could rely. With these he made his way to Baltimore, and so shrewdly that not the slightest suspicion was aroused. Arriving there, and leaving his comrades, he proceeded at once to Philadelphia, where as an agent of the Federal government , he brought three trunks full of breech-Loading carbines, revolvers and bowie knives. He then returned . On Friday, the steamer St. Nicholas was to sail from Baltimore with passengers and freight for Washington. The Colonel and his little band determined to be among the number, and accordingly for an hour or two before the departure of the steamer, they might have been seen dropping along one by one with their carpet bags and other baggage and soberly taking their places about the boat. They were of course disguised as citizens.
Among these arriving passengers was an apparent French lady, who spoke very bad English, and directed it principally towards the deck hands, injunctive to take very good care of her three weighty trunks. Whether the said female was too passé in her looks to be effective in her appeals to the gallantry of the porters has not transpired, but as the sequel will show they did not take all the care they might have done. The lady retired to the cabin, the boat started, and night set in. In the course of the evening a landing was made at Point Lookout, where Captain Hollins of Greytown notoriety, formerly of the United States Navy and lieut. Alexander, of the Zouaves, both in disguise, were taken on board. The steamer proceeded on her way. Meanwhile one of the officers had secretly unlocked the trunks, and word was passed among the men to [arouse] themselves separately and quietly as possible. This they did in short order, concealing their weapons under their clothing, and returning to several positions to which they had been assigned, in readiness if required to strike an instant blow.
The French lady had dropped her crinoline and from the chrysalis of calico skirts stepped forth a full fledged Colonel armed [cap apse] still in citizen dress. One o'clock arrived, Captain Hollins happened to be near the Captain of the steamer, and suddenly turning with a drawn revolver mildly suggest the propriety of resigning all further control of the craft. It is unnecessary to say that the idea was met with hearty concurrence, upon which he was introduced to a couple of the men. Simultaneously, the Colonel put his revolver into the wheel house and gave intimation to the pilot that he was the new master, one of his lieutenants did the same in the engine room with the accompanying remark to the Engineer that if he touches the throttle without orders he would very likely be throttled himself, and so the boat had exchanged owners. The whole affair was finished as quickly and artistically as if it had been done by deed of transfer. Nobody was hurt; nobody was scared and it was not till morning that the passengers seated around the breakfast table discovered they had new hosts.
Not to get ahead to rapidly, however as soon as the St. Nicholas was fully in possession of our party, they started down the Coon [Coan] river, but for an object which I deem improper to make public at this time. There they laid two or three hours waiting for a certain appearance, but from peculiar causes they were doomed to disappointment. Determined not to be wholly baffled, however, and that the expedition should not be a failure in every respect the two commanders went on a privateering expedition. The Federal flag was, of course still flying, and cover of this they were enabled to run alongside of three vessels, severely loaded with coffee, coal and ice and take possession. The crews were transferred to the St. Nicholas without resistance, the prizes were taken in tow, and the little fleet all arrived safely under our batteries in the Rappahannock river on Saturday morning.
At first the tale was hardly credited, but seeing is believing, and in a short time the whole population of Fredericksburg, where two of the prizes were brought, were alive with rejoicing. Thirty five prisoners were taken. These have been brought to Richmond.
Successful as has been the exploit, the Colonel is yet mortified to think he was not allowed to exercise his own judgment, carry out his plan entirely untrammeled by others, and accomplish the object he had in view. With a carte blanch to do as he pleased, there is not a doubt but a perfect howl of rage would now be ringing out from Washington and Fort Monroe, while every man of the brave little band would have his name blazoned in honor from one end of the Confederacy to the other.
As [it is], it is discreet, for the present, to conceal them. The names of the Officers may be mentioned however. They are Colonel R. Thomas Commanding; Lieutenant George W. Alexander, Adjutant; and Lieutenant F Gibson.
Colonel Thomas is a plain farmer from Richards County, Maryland, but has one of those sky rocketry dispositions which start him into motion with the slightest percussion. The result of it is that he has seen "hairs breath escapes by flood and field" enough to fill a book. He fought with Garibaldi in Italy; was I believe, in the Crimean war; speaks two or three languages; has traveled extensively; is well read; a man of means, brave, hardy, ingenious, and in every way a splendid representative of American character generally. Personally is not handsome; but he has a frank; honest, open face, which would be a letter of introduction anywhere. I have called him Colonel here to fore because it is the intention to make him one he having been the active man in getting up the Regiment of Zouaves, besides having performed a variety of services to the General Government, which need not just now to be known.
Lieutenant Alexander, his comrade is a suitable counterpart. Both were companions in a tour of Europe; each possesses the confidence of the other; and with the influence, spirit and knowledge they posses in common, they form as they have shown themselves, as valuable a brace of men for any service, no matter how venturesome, as any two of the genus Homo this side of Paradise. They have gone into this contest from a patriotic and personal motives to defend their country and make their mark; and now you may depend upon it that many weeks will not pass by before you again hear of some desperate adventure with these two men as "the head and front of the offending".
Personne.