Point Pleasant Register
February 11, 1864
Capture of the Government Steamer B. C. Levi.
Capture of the Government Steamer B. C. Levi.
On Tuesday evening the 2d inst., the Government steamer B. C. Levi, with Brigadier-General Scammon, several members of his staff and about 40 re-enlisted soldiers on board, left this place for Charleston. After proceeding up the river to Red House, the night being dark and stormy, she there laid up. - A short time before day light, Wednesday morning, a Lieutenant and nine or ten men, crossed the river at Winfield, going a short ways above the Levi, and came down on the Red House side, and boarded her, the Lieutenant proceeding to the cabin and demanding an unconditional surrender, stating that he had ample forces to back him. Some of the soldiers were lying on the floor of the cabin, mostly armed - some with guns and some with revolvers - and they were surrendered by General Scammon without the firing of a gun. The force on board the boat was sufficient to have prevented its capture, had Gen. Scammon showed any disposition to fight. - After parolling the men and one or two officers, they forced the pilot to take the boat across the river to Winfield, they then took on-board Maj. Nowning with the remainder of his force - numbering in all fifty men - and then proceeded down the river to Vintroux's landing, and after taking everything that was of use to them from the boat, they set her on fire. As soon as the boat began to burn, they retreated by way of Hurricane bridge, mounting Gen. Scammon on a miserable old white horse, without either saddle or bridle. The crew of the boat were not molested.
The Independent Scouts, hearing of what was going on, started to head off the rebel force, but came in on the rear guard and commenced an attack upon them, when the rebels scattered in all directions, throwing away their arms and amunition [sic] and much of their stolen plunder. The Scouts recovered about one thousand dollars worth of property.
We understand that the 2d Virginia Cavalry and a detachment of the 34th Ohio were sent in pursuit of them.