April 26, 1862
Sinking of the Steamer Eunice.:A dispatch was received in this city yesterday, announcing that the Government steamer Eunice was run into by the commodore Perry on Thursday night, and sunk in thirty feet water. The accident occurred near Ashland, and the dispatch, which is dated at Gallipolis, says it is feared that everybody on board is lost. The Eunice was built and owned in this city. She left here the other day with a load of Government stuff, for the Kanawha river. She was commanded by Capt. Murdock, and many of her employees were residents of this city.
April 29, 1862
Seizure of the Commodore Perry.:On Sunday night about 11 o'clock, the steamer Commodore Perry, Capt. Andrews, touched at the landing for the purpose of taking on some coal. Officers of the government were lying in wait, prepared with the proper documents and a file of soldiers, to seize her for running into and sinking the government steamer Eunice on Thursday night last. Deputy Sheriff Houston served the process upon the Captain after which there was reason to suspect that the boat intended to shove out and proceed up stream. Accordingly the Captain was informed that if he moved the boat, the battery on the Island would sink him before he got a hundred yards above the bridge. After some further par[?] during which several officers and soldiers and a number of distinguished spectators, including this deponent, got into the mire up to their several middles, much to the secret gratification of the enraged boatmen, the boat was dropped down to a place of safety where she now remains. The Commodore Perry is heavily loaded with tobacco and wheat for Pittsburgh. She will be required to give security for the recovery of damages before she will be permitted to depart.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: April 1862