The Washington Chronicle gives the following particulars of a hold adventure hit up by a number of our brave officers, while being conveyed, on board of a steam boat, to Fort Delaware, having been refused exchange. It is decidedly good, and shows what a few fearless and daring spirits may do:
On Wednesday last, the steamer Maple Leaf, Captain Wm. H. Deal, left Old Point for Fort Delaware, having on board ninety Confederates, all commissioned officers, who, it was understood, were not to be exchanged for the present. Everything went on quietly until the steamer was just beyond Cape Henry Light, when the prisoners gradually approached the guard, only twelve in number, and suddenly disarmed them, placing them and the officers and crew under close arrest, and would not permit them to see in what direction the vessel was steaming.
After proceeding about forty-five miles beyond Cape Henry, the steamer was run in near the Virginia shore, where all but twenty six landed in the yawl boats of the Loaf. They piloted the steamer themselves, and attended to the fire room and engine. It is said that the muskets of the guard were without bayonets and unloaded, and each man was seized by four of the confederates thus rendering resistance useless.
During their possession of the boat they refrained from doing any damage to the steamer, and treated the officers and crew with civility. The ringleaders of the party were a son of Semmes, of the Alabama, and a man named McGowan, of Texas.
The entire party were mostly from the extreme Southern States, were all dressed in new and handsome uniforms, and seem to be in possession of a considerable amount of money. Soon as the party had effected a landing, Capt. Deal resumed the command of the steamer when she put back immediately to report to General Dix. The fact were made known to the General, who instantly ordered out a strong detachment of Colonel Pierce’s cavalry, and it was thought they would be able to overtake the party before they got beyond the Federal lines.
The Camden Confederate, Camden, SC
