Capture of a Yankee transport.
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Captains Edwards and
Reasons, with sixty-five men, captured a Yankee transport at
Friar's Point, on the
Mississippi river, on the 6th ult. The particulars of the affair, as given in the
Southern (Miss) Motive, are as follows:
‘
Captain Edwards dressed himself in citizen's clothes, stationed his command in the cane about a half mile from Friant's Porat, and mounted himself on an old poor horse and rode up in town. --When he arrived there he saw a transport anchored in the river.
He walked up to some Yankee traders, and remarked that he had some thirty bales of cotton which he wished to get on that boat, expressing great uneasiness at the same time, if it remained there a great while it might be destroyed by the guerilla bands in the bottom.
After conversing a few minutes they told him if he would hurry up his agens they would take his cotton afford.
He started as if for that purpose, but went to his command and put on his uniform and ordered his men to follow him, and in a short time they arrived at the spot where the transport was, and the order was given to fire, which was compiled with.
About one hundred shots were fired when the order was given to cease firing, but to shoot every one that attempted to cut the cable.
Capts. Edwards and
Reasons and a Texan got in a skiff and paddled to the transport, and boarded her, and forced the crew to take her to the wharf.
All the command then went aboard.
They captured $37,000 in greenbacks, $60,000 in Confederate, overcoat, hat, and pair of boots a piece, and
pocket knives, pistols, etc. They then set the boat on fire and burned it to the water's edge.
They killed three, wounded five, and took eighteen prisoners. The boat had on board 600 bales of cotton and a large lot of merchandize, which were all destroyed.
The prize is said to be worth $1,000,000. This daring deed was accomplished with only about thirty-five men, the balance being left to guard the town.
’
