The Daily Dispatch: August 1, 1862., [Electronic resource]

Depredations on James River.

‘ Last night a small Yankee steam tug, carrying one gun, ventured up the peaceful waters of the upper Chip Oak Creek and carried off a lighter heavily laden with wood, which was lying at White House wharf. The lighter belonged to Captain Myers. They also stole a fine schooner belonging to Major Wm. Allen, of Claremont. The schooner was in charge or Captain Cropper. It is supposed that the Lincoln thieves were piloted up the creek by Captain B. F. Fowlkes, who formerly resided near Cabin Point, and ran a vessel up the creek during two years or more.

The waters about Berkeley, I hear, are crowded with Federal transports, all of which could be easily reached by heavy guns on the south bank of James river. Is there another nation in the world which would allow a hostile fleet to float undisturbed in its very centre, when it could be so easily scattered if not destroyed?

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