Point Pleasant Register
February 11, 1864
For the Register.
Capture of the Steamer B. C. Levi - Independent Scouts.
UNION RIDGE, February 6, 1864.
For the Register.
Capture of the Steamer B. C. Levi - Independent Scouts.
UNION RIDGE, February 6, 1864.
Mr. Editor: - On Tuesday, February 2d, at Red House, the steamer B. C. Levi, was captured a little before daylight, with about 40 Federal soldiers on board, a cannon, Gen. E. P. Scammon and part of his staff, all of which it is said, were captured by the 1st-famed horse-thief "Pete" Carpenter and nine of his lonely followers. We understand the soldiers were all parolled, the armory destroyed, and valuables taken off by 'Pete' and the ragged crowd commanded by the infamous James Nowning, who waited in Winfield for the boat. The boat was burned at Vintroux's landing.
The intrepid Captain Rucker, was in Gallipolis at the time, but having given special orders to Lieut. J. J. Ball, to be on the alert and watch without ceasing - and as the following will inform you - placed confidence in the right man. - For at 11 o'clock A. M., on the 3d inst., the patriotic J. W. Ball came into camp, after running about six miles - and in an almost breathless manner informed the Lieutenant, of what was going on on Kanawha River - and in ten of fifteen minutes he started with twenty-two of the Independent Scouts, who double quicked 12 miles, to get between the robbers and Hurricane Bridge; got in sight of them and raised the yell, gave chase, run them two miles, and being entirely exhausted, came to a halt, and then returned, picking up what their flying enemies had thrown away in the race. They gathered up arms, tobacco and dry-goods, to the amount of about $1,000, and about sixty rebel letters directed to residents of Mason and Putnam counties, and arrived safe in camp about 7 P.M., without a scratch, or the shedding of blood that they know of.
If anything of note transpires, you may again here from your friend.
QUICK STEP.