Latest news
capture of prize vessels.
daring Exploit of Maryland Zouaves!
Lieut. Geo. V. Alexander, of the 1st Regiment of Maryland Zouaves, reached Richmond on yesterday morning, with forty odd Lincolnite prisoners-of-war, captured on the Potomac early Saturday morning. It appears that the Zouaves Regiment has been for some time past in princess of formation by Col. R. Thomas, of Richard, Lieut. Alexander, (Adjutant,) Lieut. F. Gibson, and others, in Baltimore. A short time since, Col. Thomas went from Baltimore to Philadelphia in disguise and procured a supply of arms. Himself and comrades then conceived the project of capturing the St. Nicholas a large steamer in the employ of the ‘"General Government,"’ running between Baltimore and Washington. The boat started at four o'clock on Friday evening from her wharf in Baltimore. Previous thereto Col. Thomas went aboard with 12 men — the latter a passengers, and their commander dressed as a French lady. The vessel get under way and stopped at Point Lookout, where, according to the plan previously agreed on, Lieut. Alexander, with another detachment of men, came on board and secured passage for Washington. By accident (!) Lieut. Alexander went into the cabin of the steamer and recognized the French lady (!) as an old acquantance from Paris. Both Thomas and Alexander speaking the language fluently, they found no difficulty in maturing their plan of operations. During the conversation that ensued between the French lady and her acquaintance, instructions were given as to how the party should proceed. The arms, which had previously been carefully baded and concealed, were made ready for instant possession. At one o'clock on Saturday morning, the time for striking the blow having arrived, Col. Thomas threw off his disguise, appeared in his uniform, and ordering his men to do their duty, the steamer in five minutes was a prize to the forces of the Confederate States. The Captain and crew surrendered without striking a blow, and were confined without trouble.--They appeared over whelmed with surprise.
Captain Geo. N. Hollins, late United States Navy, who had gone aboard at Point Lookout, then assumed command of the steamer and ran her into Cone river, expecting to meet the Tennesses Regiment and jointly commence further operations against the enemy. The Tennessesans, however, did not arrive on the ground till late Saturday morning. It was then too late for any demonstration up the river as originally intended, and the steamer was headed down the stream. On her passage she captured two schooners and one brig. Each had a crew of about ten men, who were taken prisoners.
One of the vessels was loaded with 3,500 bage of coffee, another with anthracite coal, and mother with ice. The steamer St. Nicholas is a first class boat, 275 feet long, side wheel.
All of the prizes were safely towed to the month of the Rappahannock, and thence to Predericksburg. Their value is roughly estimated at three hundred and Seventy-five Thousand Dollars.
The captains of the respective vessels, with their crews, including several negroes, are now lodged in the prison depot on Main street, in this city.
