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not catch Gray and myself, for they went right on in our direction. Twice, as the bullets whistled by us, we stopped to surrender, think- ing that the cavalry was upon us, but seeing that they were occupied with stragglers in our rear we pressed on deeper into the forest. It was our first and last run. We were running, not from Federal cav- alry, but from Federal prisons, which we knew were more to be dreaded than battle with Sheridan's men. It was nearly sundown when we came in sight of Mahone's Division, drawn up on the ridge which leads to the High Bridge, near Farmville. As we and other stragglers from that day's engagement appeared in sight a body of Confederate cavalry moved out to meet us, and to protect us from further pursuit. Crossing Sailor's creek on a little bridge we as- cended the hill beyond, where Lee and Mahone were waiting and watching, and soon were in the bosom of what was left of the Army of Northern Virginia.

C. F. JAMES, Roanoke Female College, Farmville, Va.

[From the Richmond Dispatch, January 17, 1897.]

A DARING EXPLOIT.

The capture of the Steamer Saint Nicholas.

conrioDORE HOLLINS' ACCOUNT.

At 6 o'clock A. M., June 18, 1861, I left Baltimore on the Mary Washington, a steamboat running to the Patuxent. On landing at one of the landings on the river, I went to the plantation of Mr. S., where I suggested the idea (which originated entirely with myself), of seizing the Saint Nicholas, a boat running between Baltimore and Washington, and manning her with volunteers, and then to take the Pawnee, a United States steamer commanded by Yankee Ward, and which was a great annoyance to the boats on the Potomac. I was told that the plan could not be carried out, as there were so many Union men about; that it must be certainly discovered before it could be executed. Finding I could not act there, I crossed the Potomac in an open boat pulled by four negroes. On reaching the