There has been some brilliant fighting by several brothers
named Ashby, who led a mounted company near Romney. One of the brothers,
Richard, was slain. Turner Ashby put half a dozen Yankees hors du combat with
his own arm. He will make a name. We have accounts of an extraordinary exploit of
Col. Thomas, of Maryland. Disguised as a French lady, he took passage on the
steamer St. Nicholas at Baltimore en route for Washington. During the voyage he
threw off his disguise, and in company with his accomplices, seized the
steamer. Coming down the Bay, he captured three prizes, and took the whole fleet
into Fredericksburg in triumph. Lieut. Minor, C. S. N., participated in this
achievement. Gen. Patterson, who conciliated the mob in Philadelphia, which had
intended to hang me, seems to be true to his pledge to fight the Southern
people. He is now advancing into Virginia at the head of a brigade.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 57-8
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