THE ST. NICHOLAS.
The St. Nicholas, of Baltimore, was a sidewheel steamer of about
twelve hundred tons, plying regularly between Baltimore and Georgetown,
D. C., and carrying supplies to the Pawnee, of the Potomac flotilla.
Its capture for Confederate service was planned and executed by
Richard Thomas, of St. Mary's County, Maryland, a young gentleman
in sympathy, as were so many residents of that state, with the cause of
the South. The capture was thus effected: Mr. Thomas, in female attire,
and personating a French lady, took passage on the St. Nicholas on
Friday, June 28, 1861. Of medium height and light weight, and
speaking French with a good accent, he was able to carry his disguise
without awakening any suspicion. At different landings of the boat,
the few whom he had trusted with his plans, and who were to assist
him, came on board as passengers. Among these was Captain Geo. N.
Hollins, who had resigned from the United States navy, and was to
command the St. Nicholas if her capture was made. When the steamer
had left Point Lookout landing a mile or so behind, and was headed
for Georgetown, Mr. Thomas threw off his disguise, appearing armed,
and in Zouave costume. Surrounded by about twenty-five "passengers,"
who also were transformed into armed Zouaves, he demanded
the surrender of the boat. Its officers, the crew being unarmed, accepted
the situation, and Mr. Thomas took possession of the steamer.
The alarm of the genuine passengers was quieted with the assurance
that they should be treated with every courtesy and landed at the
earliest moment possible; the officers and crew were confined in the
hold, the lights were extinguished, and the steamer headed for the
Virginia shore.
At 3:30 the next morning she stopped at the wharf at mouth of Cone
river, where she took on board some Confederate States naval officers,
part of the First Tennessee Infantry, and sailors from Yorktown, waiting
there by previous arrangement. Captain Hollins then took command
of the boat. The intention was to bear down from that point
on the Pawnee, and with these reinforcements take possession of that
boat with or without a fight, as might be. This capture was feasible,
as the St. Nicholas was allowed to come alongside the Pawnee with
supplies unchallenged every trip. But a delay at Cone river for the
arrival of the infantry gave time for the Pawnee to receive notice of the
capture of the St. Nicholas, and the plan of surprise and capture was
frustrated, the Pawnee retreating toward Washington.
On June 29th, Captain Hollins, with the St. Nicholas, captured three
vessels: the brig Monticello, from Brazil to Baltimore, cargo 3,500
bags of coffee; the schooner Mary Pierce, Boston to Washington with
200 tons of ice on board; schooner Margaret, Alexandria to Staten
Island, with cargo of 270 tons of coal. On the Monticello was also
found important mail and dispatches revealing the plans of the United
States squadron off Brazil, which was promptly forwarded to Richmond.
Lieutenant Simms, Confederate States navy, took the Monticello
up the Rappahannock river, where she was unloaded, after which
her former crew were permitted to take her back to her owners in
Baltimore. Lieutenant R. D. Minor, Virginia navy, took the Mary
Pierce to Fredericksburg, where her cargo of ice sold for eight thousand
dollars. Lieutenant Robert D. Thorburn, Virginia navy, took temporary
command of the Margaret. The St. Nicholas and the two
schooners were a valuable addition to the Confederate naval force, the
captured cargoes were highly appreciated, and, altogether, the service
rendered in the two days by Mr. Thomas and Captain Hollins, with
their assistants, was not only brilliant and inspiriting, but of great
value. The St. Nicholas remained in Confederate service until burned
with many other vessels at Fredericksburg, when that city was evacuated.
Captain Hollins was transferred, July 10, 1861, to command of
the naval defenses of the James river.
On July 1, 1861, Governor Letcher, in recognition of Mr. Thomas'
services, issued a commission as colonel of Virginia volunteers to him,
under the name of Richard Thomas Zarnova, and enlistments were begun
for a regiment of Zouaves to be commanded by him. Colonel Thomas-Zarnova,
elated by his success and the resultant praise, conceived the
idea of repeating the exploit. He returned to Baltimore and took passage,
July 7th, on the Mary Washington, with friends who were to assist
him in her capture. He was recognized and made prisoner on the boat,
near Annapolis, and confined at Fort McHenry, where he was treated
with great rigor, and made several unsuccessful attempts to escape. On
December 3, 1861, he was transferred to Fort Lafayette, and held prisoner
in close confinement there until released by exchange in April, 1863.
It was the first intention of the Federal Government to refuse him recognition
as a prisoner of war, General Dix having officially recommended
that he be treated as "a traitor and a spy." Only the vigorous protest
of Governor Letcher and of the Virginia legislature against such
treatment of one holding commission as a Virginia officer, accompanied
by threat of retaliation, saved him from this fate. He returned to Richmond
after his release, but took no further active part in the war, having
suffered in mind and body from his long and close confinement.
