Matters in Gloucester — Raid on the oyster craft.
A gentleman from
Gloucester on Friday last, gives as some information of the state of affairs in that county.
The Yankee commander at
Gloucester Point--
Col. Davidson--had moved
Mr. Dobson and his family from their residence and taken the building for his own headquarters.
On Friday, the gunboat
Chicora ran up
York river and captured five oyster craft, and on Tuesday the
Seth Lew chased four boats into
Caffey's Creek, and captured them.
She then went up to
West Point and broke up the oystering establishment of
Mr. Blessingham, who, they alleged, had ‘ "taken the oath,"’ and violated it by trading with the rebels.
The
Chicora, which is commanded by
Captain Parker, a native of
Westmoreland county, Va., went up North river, into
Mathews county, and a dingbeing made at
Mr. Warner Taliaferro's, that gentleman's carriage was stolen and carried aboard She then went up East river, where a negro with his wife, came on board and asked to be taken away.
To the inquiries of
Capt. P. whether he had a good master and mistress, affirmative replies were given, and the negro was then advised ‘"if he knew what was good for him,"’ to go back home.
The servant replied that he had gone too far, and was afraid to return, and was carried off,
Capt. Parker telling the slave that his orders were not to refuse the application of any negro to be carried into the
Federal lines.
The negro's wife, however, who probably wouldn't be so available as working ‘"contraband,"’ was left behind.
While the
Chicora was on this trip, two of her crew, an officer and a sailor, went ashore, and did a slashing business killing turkies and chickens; but our pickets pounced on them and took them prisoners before they could get back to their vessel.
Two Jews--one from
Richmond and the other from
North Carolina--were captured in
Mathews county by our pickets last week.
They had heard that salt was cheap down there, they said, and had gone down to buy a ‘"few bushels."’ In the lining of their vests was found a plentiful supply of U. S. green backs, and they were taken into custody.
