Running the blockade — the captured schooner Catalina — escape of the crew.
Mr. I. J. Holmes who sailed from
Charleston on the night of the 18th ult., in the schooner
Catalina, (
Capt Robert Johnston,) and was captured by the enemy, arrived in this city on Tuesday morning. The
Catalina was overhauled by the
Federal steamer
Alabama on the morning of the 19th, about forty miles out from
Charleston, a prize crew of six men was put on board, and the vessel sent to
Philadelphia.
Previous to the capture, during the night, the schooner
Sarah, also running out, was hailed by the U. S. steamer
Keystone State, and not stopping nine cannon balls and a volley of musketry were fired into her, when she surrendered.
Some of the crew of the
Sarah gave information that the
Catalina had gone ahead, and it was thus that she, too subsequently fell into the hands of the enemy.
When the
Federals came alongside one of them remarked.
‘"You've got a very snug sailing schooner there."’ ‘"Yes"’ replied
Captain Johnston. ‘"she goes very well as long as she sticks to the water, but if she gets up in the air she's uncommonly dangerous"’ This hint of an intention to blow up the vessel caused the prize crew to sleep on deck during the entire passage, refusing to go into the cabin for a moment even when it rained heavily, and constantly wearing their side arms.
On arriving at
Philadelphia the crew of the
Catalina were put on board the prison ship
Princeton, where they were kept for twelve days, and then; after an examination, were allowed to ashore, with the liberty of the city.
At a subsequent period, they visited New York, and went thence to
Newcastle, Del., where they perfected their arrangements for a trip to
Richmond.
Mr Holmes thinks that two-thirds of the people of
Delaware are thoroughly Southern in sentiment, the ladies being especially ardent in their devotion to the ‘"rebel"’ cause.
The men say that if the
Government resorts to a draft, they will not refuse to go, but that it will be a ‘"bitter draft"’ for the
United States as they mean to go over to the
Southern lines the first opportunity.
While walking on the wharves at
Newcastle, looking for a boat to come off in, the party from the
Catalina were approached by a lady to whom they were utter strangers, and who took them to her house and kept them there three days. furnishing them meanwhile with additional facilities for escape.
The people of
Washington,
Philadelphia and New York seem to have no hope of taking
Richmond except by an overwhelming force, and are much depressed by the constant arrivals of sick and wounded.
In Philadelphia enlisting for the army goes on very slowly; and our informant, who visited several recruiting offices, could see no one present except a clerk, and one or two lounging
Sergeants about the door.
In
Baltimore, as in
Delaware, the ladies persist in wearing the
red and
white colors, even if they have to insert them in diminutive proportions in some part of their dress.
Inhabitants of
Delaware say that the troops purporting to be from that State were chiefly recruited in
Pennsylvania, and that there is not in reality a Delaware regiment in the U.S. army.
In Washington it is generally believed
Pope has 60,000 to 70,000 men. There are very few troops in
Washington, and only a regiment or two stationed on
Arlington Heights.
On the trip down through
Virginia our adventitious party saw numerous Federal deserters; and two, whom they met on Saturday last, said they didn't come to
Virginia to fight for niggers, and they'd be d — d if they were not going home.--Mr,
Holmes and his companions brought with them a dozen chests of tea and other articles; and, as a specimen of charges for transportation on the Rome, they had to pay $20 on eight chests from
Port Royal, to
Sparta, $20 from
Sparta to the
North Anna river.
and $2 from that point to
Hanover Junction.
On Saturday a party of eleven Yankees visited
Port Royal, piloted by a white man and a negro, and our informant made a very narrow escape from capture.
Mr. Holmes was formerly a citizen of
Richmond,
Edward Mitchell, of
Charleston, was among those captured on board the schooner
Sarah, and is now a prisoner in
Philadelphia.
The treatment of the crew in that city was generally kind.
