can enter, or even a sailing vessel, unless piloted by an old
residenter of that neighborhood. The creek is very crooked and
the channel is very narrow.

All the people about that country seem to be very closely
united and watch a stranger's movements very closely. On the
evening of the 27th, we left this creek with the schooner, and
on the afternoon of the 28th, we arrived in the Pungateague,
and started on the steamer, towing the schooner for Point
Lookout, where we arrived at 9 P. M.

On the morning of the 29th we left the Point with the two
schooners, but afterwards let go the "Burgess," and sent her
up under sail to Baltimore, where she arrived at 4 P. M.,
after encountering a very heavy sea. We arrived here at 9.20
P. M.

I could find nothing of the schooners' "Despatch" or "Glib," I
made many inquiries for the schooner "Washington," but could
not find her.

On our way back to the city Captain Seward, of the "Trifle"
said that there was a sign "Washington" painted on it, in the
hold of the "Trifle," which I afterwards found to be true. I
think by the actions of all connected, that "Washington" was
sometimes substituted for "Trifle"; this sign was hid away and
only by accident found.

Both the "Burgess" and "Trifle" have been confiscated before,
two or three times.

I have this day been on the Cutter, twice, to ascertain to a
certainty if the "Burgess" left on the 23d inst., and the
officers say they will swear she passed out on that day; that
she was in here I know. I then went to the Custom House and
found that she did not enter or clear on that trip but left
without any papers, and did not stay in Port over 24 hours.

I have the honor to be,

Very respy. your obdt. servt,
(Signed) H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. 5th N. Y. II. A.

Lieutenant Andrews and George G. Nellis, "tied up" to Quinn and Lewis,
the blockade-runners, had been, respectively, Provost and Assistant
Provost Marshals at Fort McHenry, prior to the assignment of Captain
Holmes and myself to those offices.

It pleases me to note how vivid my memory is, after forty-seven years,
of the incidents connected with this expedition. Our party of eight,
after landing in Accomac, split up, and straggled over the country about
ten miles, through fields and timber, in snow and slush nearly