y as they would
otherwise have done. We were in constant movement ourselves, and had to
keep the ship in constant movement to prevent her from forming a bed for
herself in the sand. The tide, which was ebbing when we got on shore,
at last turned and began to flow. Slow enough it came in to suit our
impatience. At length dawn appeared. The crokers were of opinion that
the clouds looked threatening. "If a gale springs up, the old ship will
leave her bones here, that's very certain," I heard one or two of them
remark. I watched the current as it came sweeping by us; the water was
evidently rising round the ship. Again all the strain we could command
was put on the hawsers. None but a seaman can understand the
satisfactory sensations we experienced as her vast hulk yielded to our
efforts. We felt that she was gliding off the bank. "She moves, she
moves! hurrah, hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Her speed increased,
round went the capstan right merrily. Again and again the men shouted.
She was clear of the bank. One after the other the anchors were
weighed, sail was made on the ship, and rapidly we glided up the mighty
Chesapeake. We proceeded up as high as Newportneuse, and so suddenly
and unexpectedly did we come on the enemy that a considerable number of
merchantmen were unable to make their escape. As soon as we had brought
up, the boats were lowered, and away we went in chase.

The moment the crews made out who we were, they cut their cables and
ran, while we in hot speed went after them. Some few gave it up as a
hopeless case and hauled down their colours; others ran on shore, and
their crews set them on fire, or we did so, to prevent any one from
benefiting by them. They were mostly loaded with Virginian tobacco. No
one in the fleet wanted a good supply of the fragrant weed after that.
We took or destroyed a dozen or more brigs and schooners. It might have
been necessary, but it was cruel work, and I did not think it was the
best way to make the planters of Virginia love us the more. Such was
the way our expedition commenced operations.

Before I proceed I must recommend my readers to look at a map of
Virginia bordering the southern or rather western side of the
Chesapeake, and examine the scene of the operations which, under the
directions of General Arnold, we were about to commence against the
rebels. To the east will be found that large estuary of the Atlantic
running nearly north and south