Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 5. Page: 62
xxi, 916 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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62 OPERATIONS ON THE POTOMAC AND RAPPAHANNOCK.
I note briefly the prominent points furnished by Lieutenant-Com-
mander Phelps, of the Coast Survey steamer Corwin:
To a certain degree this trade extends from St. Mary's River to Swan Point, but the
principal depots appear to be Leonardtown and Wicomico Bay, from which place
the trade is greater.
It is. carried on in flatboats or small schooners (frequently manned entirely by
negroes), often by daylight, but principally at night. Nomini River, Pope's, Bridge,
Mattox, Rosier's, and Upper Machodoc creeks arq the most prominent places where
the goods are landed, and thence they find their way to the Rappahannock and the
York rivers, to Richmond and beyond.
Nearly all the grain bound to the Maryland shore is exchanged for articles to be
sent South
A Mr. C. C. Spalding, of Chaptico, St. Mary's County, Md., is the principal fur-
nisher in Wicomico Bay.
Fishing schooners, or vessels passing for such, are much engaged in this traffic.
As a general rule all boats and small schooners bound to the Virginia shore may be
considered as either engaged in trading illicitly or in carrying mails and passengers.
From Pope's Creek and the creek above it, and the inlet on the oppo-
site shore in the neighborhood of Cobb's Point, there is much of this
traffic going on.
If you have any of the ordinary bateaux or flat-bottomed boats with
sliding keels in your possession, or can get hold of any, by putting an
armed crew properly disguised in the rough dress of the country on
board of them and visiting these localities at night, you will be able
to capture a number of these traders.
I rely upon your activity and discretion, and hope soon to hear of
further results of your efforts.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ANDW. A. HARWOOD,
Commodore.
Lieutenant-Commander SAMUEL MAGAW.
Order of the Secretary of the Navy to commandant navy yard, Washing-
ton, for the rigid enforcement of blockade.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, August 16, 1862.
SIR: I have received your letter of the 14th instant, enclosing report
of Lieutenant-Commander T. S. Phelps.
General Wadsworth assures me that he gives no permits. There
must be an entire interdiction of all traffic until the blockade is raised.
The flotilla will be vigilant to enforce the blockade and seize all vessels
that violate it.
I am, respectfully, etc.,
GIDEON WELLES.
Commodore A. A. HARWOOD,
Commandant Navy Yard, Washington.
Report of commandant navy yard, Washington, regarding capture of
prize stoop Blossom, and skirmish in Sturgeon Creek, Virginia.
COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY YARD,
Washington, August 16, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the steam tug Leslie
arrived here last night, bringing with her the sloop Blossom, a prize to
the Reliance, captured by Acting Master Josselyn, on the 12th, off
Currioman Bay.
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Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion: General Index (Book)
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United States. War Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 5., book, 1897; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192840/m1/87/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.