Albemarle Tradewinds February 2020 Web Final

10 Days of the Greatest Escape of 1863 from the Ship Maple Leaf - Part 1
By Dr. Dave
Many thanks for knowledge of information
for this article by the following: The Museum
of the Albemarle By Wanda Lassiter and
Paul Vicient, The Bethel Baptist Church Records
and Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs for the pamphlet
of Tom Parramore and Charlie Skinner. And an
extreme thanks to Bruce Long for his extensive
knowledge. Also, the extensive research of Alex
Leary of Camden, North Carolina.
On June 18, 1851 a steam ship called the Maple
Leaf was built in Kinston, Ontario Canada
and used as a luxury excursion and passenger
ship among other tasks. On one excursion in
the early 1800s on a July 4th trip consisting
of Canadian sympathizers of the southern
confederacy. As the ship’s band struck up to
playing “Yankee Doodle” instead of the requested
“Dixie”, the band was bombarded with
sticks and rotten fruits and vegetables. By 1862
the shipping line was not making the desired
money from the Maple Leaf as it originally did
and was sold to a Boston, Mass. firm which in
turn leased it to the Yankee government for the
amount of $550 per day. The Maple Leaf was
put to use as a transport of troops, equipment,
and supplies along the Atlantic coast under
Yankee control. As time went by it was also
used for transporting confederate prisoners
from a war which had been initiated and started
by Abraham Lincoln which was known as
Lincoln’s War of Northern Aggression. On June
8th, 1863 the triple decked Maple Leaf had
transferred to them 71 Confederate Officers
as prisoners of war (the Yankee prison officials
separated the officers from the enlisted men).
The prisoners were originally picked up in New
Orleans by the U.S.S. Catawba and were told
that they were on their way to City Point, VA.,
to be exchanged or paroled at Fort Monroe,
VA. An additional 26 wounded confederate
prisoners were picked up there which brought
to a total of 97. At this time the prisoners were
told that all exchanges and paroled had been
canceled due to a decision by Lincoln and
Grant who canceled all prisoner exchanges.
Now all of these prisoners of war in transport
were transferred to the Maple Leaf and were
being sent to Fort Delaware prison and eventually
to the dreaded Johnson’s Island Prison in
Ohio. Upon hearing this depressing change of
orders, plans were being formulated for an all
out escape. C.S.A. Captain Fuller and a secret
concave had been formed and took immediate
notice that there was only a small detachment
of soldiers and sailors to guard them. Being that
the C.S.A. Prisoners were all officers they were
wise in the ways of military tactics. The Yankee
guards had in their minds that the P.O.W.’s
being on the open sea would be easy to keep
submissive. Some of the prisoners had signed
paroles in St. Louis that they would cooperate
with their captors (unlike the Yankees, a southerner
keeps their word). As the Maple Leaf
left Norfolk, VA around 1:30pm on June 10th,
1863 the guns of the guards not on duty were
stacked carelessly unprotected around the deck
of the ship (an open invitation for the prisoners)
and it was also knowledge that the guns of the
guards on duty were unloaded.
Historical Marker at Hwy 168 and Maple Road
Sons of Confederate Veterans
We meet at Vickie’s Villa in
Elizabeth City the 4th Tuesday
every month at 7pm
Dr. Dave is an Ivy League Trained
Executive Chef and
Early American Historian
Anyone who has confederate
ancestors and would like to
join our group in the Sons of
Confederate Veterans please
call 1-800-693-4943
or www.scv.org.
For more Dr. Dave recipes, a book is
available by contacting Dr Dave at
252-312-0295
All proceeds go to the Oak Grove
United Methodist Church
Potato Pancakes
Combine 2 eggs
1 slice of onion
1 teaspoon of salt
chopped parsley
1 cup of diced potatoes in a blender
if available
Turn blender on high, remove cover
and add 1/4 cup of flour and a
second cup of diced potatoes (do
not over blend)
Riverside Gospel Sing
1FREE ADMISSION
7:00 PM EACH SATURDAY NIGHT,
CALL BENNETT EMORY 252-926-8621
Snack Bar with Hot Dogs, Popcorn,
Candy & Drinks available
Located at Riverside CampGrounds, HWY 45 North,
Ponzer Look us up on facebook
Riverside Gospel Sing
17 River Ln, Belhaven, NC 27810, USA
02/01/20 Dymond City Express - Jamesville,NC
“Bluegrass Gospel”
Whole Program
02/08/20 The Good Old Boys- Washington NC
“Southern Gospel”
Whole Program
02/15/20 Chris Gibbs - Engrlhard, NC
Brenda Tyson - Greenville, NC
“Southern Gospel”
02/22/20 Three for One - Chesapeake Va.
Triffie Braddy- Pinetown, NC
“ Southern Gospel”
02/29/20 Ray’s Ministry- Suffolk,Va.
Reggie & Glenda Paul- Grantsboro, NC
“Southern Gospel”
Pour batter on to hot greased griddle
and cook until browned on both
sides. Serve with sour cream.
Did you know the
Albemarle Tradewinds
is located in more than
250 locations in NENC
and Chesapeake?
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