St. Mary's County
MDGenWeb
Richard Thomas was born in 1833 to one of the wealthiest, most
influential families in not only in St. Mary's County but in the entire
state of Maryland.
His uncle was James Thomas who served as
Governor of Maryland from 1826-1832 and his grandfather was William
Thomas who served as a Lieutenant in the Continental Army and later as a
Major in the famous Maryland Line; was Judge of the Orphan's Court of
St. Mary's County from 1797-1800; Chief Judge of the County Court,
1800-1802; Member of the General Assembly, 1791-1796 and 1802-1813; and
President of the Maryland Senate, 1806-1813.
His father, also
named Richard Thomas, served a number of terms in the Maryland
Legislature and at the time of his death, was the President of the
Maryland State Senate. Richard Thomas, Sr. was born June 20, 1797 at
"Delabrooke" and died October 30, 1849 at "Mattapany." His obituary
follows.
St. Mary's Beacon, November 1, 1849: Death of Richard
Thomas. We deeply regret to announce the death of Hon. Richard Thomas of
this county, who died at his residence on Tuesday last. Mr. T., we
understand, seemed to be in excellent health in the morning, and started
to ride over his farm; he had left the house, however, but a short time
when he was found by one of his servants lying in the road, speechless,
having apparently been taken suddenly ill and fallen from his horse. He
was immediately conveyed to his house, but survived only a few hours.
Mr. Thomas was a courteous, high-toned and talented gentleman, and by
his social virtues and his public usefulness had become endeared to the
people of St. Mary's and won for himself an enviable distinction
throughout the state. He had repeatedly served in the Legislature, and
for several years was President of the State Senate--a station which he
filled with distinguished ability. For some time previous to his death,
Mr. T. was looked to as one among those most likely to succeed to the
vacancy in the U.S. Senate occasioned by the resignation of the Hon.
Reverdy Johnson. He is gone, however--and having died at a period when
his experience and matured judgement had qualifed him for greater
usefulness, his death may be truly regarded as a public loss. The
remains of Mr. Thomas will be interred today at "Deep Falls", the
residence of the widow of the late Ex-Governor James Thomas.
The
younger Richard Thomas, the subject of this story, was nicknamed Dick by
the family. It is thought that at the time of his father's death, he was
attending Oxford, a military academy in Talbot County.
He was
admitted to West Point on July 1, 1850 at the age of 16 years, 8 months.
Obviously he wasn't happy there. According to their records, in June of
1851, Dick was ranked 39th in mathematics, 59th in French, and 50th in
English studies out a class of 71. He did, however, place 7th in the
number of demerits received, having received 189, falling just 11 short
of being declared deficient in conduct, and recommended by the Academic
Board to the War Department for discharge.
On June 24th of that
year, Dick was granted an absence for the benefit of his health. He was
scheduled to return to West Point on August 28th but instead sent a
letter (dated August 25th) asking for an additional leave of 12 months.
He enclosed a letter from a physician in Baltimore who recommended that
he take a sea voyage for the restoration of his health. A medical board
was appointed and examined Dick in Washington, D.C. on September 19th.
On September 29th, a letter was sent to Dick stating that the
medical board "cannot find any good and sufficient reason arising from
the present state of your health (bodily and mental) which would warrant
it in recommending the leave asked for by you." He was directed to
return to West Point with as little delay as practicable.
As of
October 13th, Dick had still not returned to West Point. There is a
letter in the files, in his handwriting, dated October 21st from
Baltimore that reads "Sir, I received your communication informing me
that the leave asked for by me could not be granted. As I do not think
it would be well to go back to West Point so long a time after the class
has commenced, I respectfully offer my resignation." His resignation was
accepted, despite the fact that no letter from his guardian accompanied
it, which was normally required.
Some time prior to March of 1852
Dick tried to return to West Point! The file contains a letter dated
March 20th of that year stating "The Secretary (of War) has requested
that you will report the grounds on which the Academic Board decided
that Richard Thomas of Maryland, late a Cadet, ought not to be permitted
to return to the Military Academy." The response was that the unanimous
decision of the Board was based on the history of the case of Cadet
Thomas. No other details were provided.
There are a number of
stories about what he did after he left West Point. Some say that he
went to China and fought as a mercenary. Others say that he went to
Italy and fought with Garabaldi. Yet others say that he went to
California where he worked as a surveyor for the government. Whatever he
did, he was back in St. Mary's County at the time of the 1860 census
living with his mother at "Mattapany." His occupation was listed as
engineer. Was this an assumed title? West Point was a part of the Corps
of Engineers, but surely one year of studies did not entitle one to
carry that title!
I have not been able to locate a portrait or
picture of Dick Thomas, but in my mind's eye I envision him to be about
5'5 to 5'7, slightly built, blonde, and very fair skinned. This
description would fit with the next important turn in life he was to
experience.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, the War of the
Rebellion, or as we sometimes call it in St. Mary's County, the Invasion
of the North, the Union Army occupied St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert, and
Prince George's counties in an effort to protect Washington, D.C. There
have been a number of studies trying to determine whether or not
Maryland would have seceded from the Union had she been given the
opportunity. In my opinion, she would have, but it was a little hard to
make that decision when most of the Legislature was either locked up,
replaced, or had guns at their heads when it came time to vote.
There have been many arguments about the causes of the so-called Civil
War. Some say it was about slavery and others that it was about States'
rights. Maryland, more than any other state, found that, when it came
down to it, they had none. Yes, slavery was an issue and had been for
many, many years prior to Mr. Lincoln's election, but it was not the
primary issue.
The fact of the matter is that at least 95% of the
population in St. Mary's County didn't own slaves, so why would they
care? What they cared about, more than anything else, was intrusion and
suppression. Many of the men, and not just the younger ones, fled to
Virginia and enlisted, sometimes using an alias. When the Union forces
began drafting local men, some went into hiding while others, with the
help of local physicians, were declared unfit for duty.
By the
time of the beginning of the Civil War, Dick Thomas was calling himself
"Zarvona." In later years, he legally changed his name to Richard Thomas
Zarvona. In June of 1861, he went to Richmond where he met with Governor
Letcher and was commissioned a Colonel and formed his own company of men
called Zarvona Zouaves. Shortly thereafter, Governor Letcher introduced
Dick to George H. Hollins, a Marylander by birth, who had resigned his
commission after serving 46 years in the U.S. Navy and who was now
offering his services to the South.
Together, Dick and Hollins
devised a plan to capture a passenger ship named the "St. Nicholas" and
to use it to capture the "Pawnee," a Union gunboat. They knew that the
"St. Nicholas" provided supplies to various Union boats and would not be
suspected. The Confederate Navy was all but nonexistent at this time and
these vessels were badly needed. Governor Letcher was so enthused about
this plan that he gave them $1,000 to put it into effect.
The
plan called for a Dick and his recruits to board the ship (some say they
boarded disguised as workmen and others saying that they boarded en
masse calling themselves New York Zouaves). The plan called for George
Hollins to board at Point Lookout and at that point they would then take
over the ship. Hollins gave Dick the cash they'd received from Gov.
Letcher and instructed him to go to Baltimore, buy weapons and to gather
members for the raiding party.
The "St. Nicholas" left Baltimore
on the evening of June 28, 1861. There were over 60 passengers on board
including 16 men who had been recruited by Dick. But where was Dick?
George Watts, one of the recruits, was quoted as saying "What worried me
a lot was I couldn't find the Colonel or anyone who looked like him. I
could see the future of the whole expedition as also I could see myself
behind bars in Ft. McHenry, and the picture didn't look a bit good to
me." It was going to be a long ride to Point Lookout.
During the
trip, a passenger by the name of Madame LaForce flitted about, flirting
with some of the young Union officers. George Watts would later say
"(She) was a mighty pretty young woman, stylishly dressed, flirting
outrageously with some of the young officers. She talked with a strong
French accent and carried a fan which she used like a Spanish dancer.
That young woman behaved so scandalously that all the other women on the
boat were in a terrible state over it."
Descriptions by others
who were on board state that she was petite, wore a hoop skirt, and had
a veil over her face, exposing only her bright red lips.
Shortly
after their departure from Baltimore, Madame LaForce excused herself
from the group of young Union officers surrounding her, telling them
that she was tired and must retire. Perhaps she needed to sort through
the three different trunks of the finest French hats for the ladies of
Washington (as they had been described). To the dismay of the Union
officers, she remained in her cabin for the remainder of the trip.
When the ship arrived at Point Lookout, George Hollins came aboard,
as planned. After they had headed upriver, the signal was given and all
hell broke loose. Under the finest French hats for the ladies of
Washington were cutlasses, carbine rifles, and Colt revolvers, which
supplemented the weapons brought on board already.
Of course,
Madame LaForce was actually Dick Thomas who now made his entrance. From
the various descriptions, this must have been a sight, not to mention an
extreme embarrassment to the young Union officers. Dick, who typically
kept his head shaved anyway, appeared, resplendent in a bright red
Zouave uniform, with a revolver in each hand.
Needless to say,
the "St. Nicholas" was captured and a legend was born.
Dick Thomas and his compatriots quickly took command of the "St.
Nicholas" which was now placed under the command of George Hollins. The
Union soldiers and the ship's crew were locked in the hold. The
passengers, said to be mostly Southerners, stated that they were well
treated. "The ladies were told by the commander that they were in the
hands of Southern gentlemen and would be treated as his own sisters."
Captain Hollins added, "Although it was Sunday, the ladies amused
themselves by making Confederate flags out of the Yankee flags I had
captured."
The plan was to take the "St. Nicholas" to the Coan
River in Virginia but the plan was altered when one of the men happened
to pick up a Baltimore newspaper found on board that included a notice
of the funeral of James Harmon Ward. The article happened to mention
that the "Pawnee", the original target of the operation, as well as most
of the Potomac flotilla was then anchored at Washington to allow the
crews to attend the funeral. For this reason, it was decided that it
would be in their best interest to stay away from the Potomac River and
instead head toward the Rappahannock River by way of the Chesapeake Bay.
As luck would have it, while enroute they encountered three more
ships that made the detour more than worthwhile. These included the
"Monticello" loaded with 3,500 bags of coffee; the "Mary Pierce", with
200 tons of ice; and the "Margaret", loaded with 270 tons of coal. The
value of the cargoes captured was estimated at a value of $375,000 (a
huge sum for that day).
Dick and the other men became instant
celebrities. An article appearing in the Richmond Enquirer stated, "We
wanted coffee, ice, and coal and we wanted the steamer and vessels and
the country is loudly praising the bold officers and brave men who have
supplied the market. They have done splendidly."
There was
considerable celebration on the arrival of the "fleet" in
Fredericksburg, where a cannon was added to the side-wheeler (St.
Nicholas) and it was rechristened the "C.S.S. Rappahannock." The gaiety
spilled over to Richmond where Dick was the guest of honor at many
parties and, at one ball, even asked to display his famous disguise. The
crowd grew impatient for Zarvona's return until a fetching young thing
lifted "her" skirts to reveal boots and the tip of a cutlass!
As
a result of this military action, Dick received a commission as Colonel.
The document read:
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA TO RICHARD THOMAS
ZARVONA, greeting: Know you that from special trust and confidence
reposed in your fidelity, courage and good conduct our governor in
pursuance of the authority vested in him by an ordinance of the
convention of the State of Virginia doth commission you a colonel in the
active volunteer forces of the State to rank as such from the 1st day of
July, 1861. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name as
governor and caused the seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed this 2d
day of July 1861. JOHN LETCHER.
Dick was not one to rest on his
laurels and his next target was the capture of the "Columbia", a sister
ship of the "St. Nicholas" which was then lying in the port of
Baltimore. On July 8, 1861, Dick and four of his men boarded the "Mary
Washington" to put the new plan into effect, but Dick's luck had run out
in a big way. Aboard this ship was the captain of the St. Nicholas, who
was on his way home after being released by the Confederate authorities!
Dick's men were taken prisoner, but he managed to disappear. An
intensive search followed and after almost two hours Dick is said to
have been found "unarmed, his small body squeezed into the crowded
confines of a bureau drawer."
Dick was imprisoned at Ft. McHenry.
Although he was confined on a charge of piracy, he was indicted by a
Maryland federal grand jury for treason. He was held as a criminal
defendant, not a prisoner of war, despite the fact that he carried his
written commission when seized. Further, the case was considered of such
importance that six witnesses to the taking of the vessels were
imprisoned along with Dick so as to be available to testify against him!
These witnesses were still being held in late 1862 when Mrs. C. A.
Wilson, the wife of one of them directly petitioned Secretary of State
William H. Seward. Her letter reads, in part, "Wilson was a hand on
board the schooner "Margaret" when taken by Thomas. Please let him come
home or please let me know why not. My three children have been sick for
some time and two at present lie at the point of death, and myself in a
state of destitution, and have I might say no aid at all. It depends on
you whether we live or die. For God's sake let my husband come home."
Escape was always on Dick's mind and Union officials knew it. In
July 1861, Major General N.P. Banks described him as "a dangerous and
desperate man," who might attempt escape."
It's obvious that the
Thomas family was using its wide array of political and personal
contacts to obtain Dick's release. Several weeks later, General John
Adams Dix wrote to Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, referring to Dick as
"the celebrated Thomas or Colonel Zarvona, commonly known as the French
lady. He is of one of the first families in Maryland; is rich,
intelligent and resolute. His nervous system is much broken by
confinement and want of active occupation and he has made earnest
appeals to me for the privilege of walking about the garrison within the
walls on his parole of honor not to attempt to escape. There is no doubt
it would be sacredly respected. I have not thought proper to extend the
indulgence to him, though I think his health requires it, without your
direction." The answer was no.
By December 3, 1861, Dick was
transferred to Fort Lafayette in the middle of New York Harbor. Within a
few weeks, he was being closely watched by his Union captors for what
appeared to be "secret ciphers" in his correspondence. Although the full
story may never be known, I can't help but believe that Dick was, in
fact, sending and receiving "secret ciphers." From the official records:
FORT LAFAYETTE, February 26, 1862. See to-day's Herald, column 6,
pages 1 and 2. Please inform me if any books or letters from France for
me addressed to care of J. have arrived. Please thank little Mary and
give her my love, and my love to you also. Affectionately, RICHARD.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, February 27, 1862. [Adjt. Gen. L.
THOMAS.] DEAR SIR: I have been informed that Thomas, the French lady
imprisoned at Fort Lafayette, has a cipher by which his correspondence
with a Mrs. Norris and others in Baltimore passes without suspicion. For
instance, his quotation of a line of poetry will in some way convey a
request for acids, files or anything he may desire and which will be
conveyed to him under the case of a breast-pin or something apparently
harmless. He is a desperate man and very restless under his confinement,
and designs escaping if he can. My informant was lately released from
Fort Lafayette, where he seems to have been confined under a
misapprehension and where he says he became acquainted with the above
fact. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. D. TOWNSEND.
Perhaps, because of these suspicions, Dick appears to have been
imprisoned elsewhere for a short time. Unless the "house of detention"
was a part of the prison complex at Ft. Lafayette, the following letter
is really quite humorous. Dick gets an "A" for effort:
APRIL 9,
1862. Major-General DIX and Hon. Mr. PIERREPONT. SIRS: Presuming that
you have no idea where I am I inform you that I am at the house of
detention. I am subject to additional inconveniences and am very unwell.
I request you to return me to my former prison. You will oblige me by
allowing me to go unattended, and I will report myself this day to the
lieutenant commanding, Wood. Respectfully, ZARVONA.
On the night
of April 21, 1862, Dick asked for, and was granted permission to use the
water closet located on the wall of the fort. Although he could not
swim, he threw himself into the sea and headed for Long Island, but he
was soon recaptured. I find it hard to believe that someone who could
not swim would just throw himself in the water unless he knew there was
help waiting. On the other hand, remember that for the duration of his
imprisonment, Dick was kept in solitary confinement and under the worst
of conditions. His cell was described as dark, filled with water, with
only a small hole for light. On cloudy days, he could not even see to
walk around his cell.
After the botched escape attempt, Secretary
of War Edwin Stanton personally intervened and revoked Mrs. Thomas's
pass to visit her son and ordered that Dick be held in even closer
confinement.
Dick's mother was obviously worried about her son
and she wrote to Union officials repeatedly to get any news of him that
they might be willing to provide:
BALTIMORE, April 3, 1862.
Colonel BURKE. SIR: I have written to Colonel Wood, also Lieutenant
Wood, to know how my son, Colonel Zarvona, is situated. My letters have
not been noticed by either Colonel or Lieutenant Wood. Excuse a mother's
anxiety in requesting you to inform me of the situation of my son; also
the state of his health. Knowing the active mind that my son has I fear
much the effect of solitary confinement on his mind. Direct Mrs. R.
Thomas, care of St. George W. Teackle, corner of Courtland and Lexington
streets, Baltimore, Md. Yours, respectfully, MRS. R. THOMAS. P.
S.--Please let me know if he received my several letters dated March,
&c., a suit of clothes, &c., sent by Adams Express March 22, 1862.
Throughout the war, there were exchanges of prisoners, but since the
Union did not consider Dick to be a prisoner of war, he was not
included. His family vigorously pursued efforts to have his status
changed to allow for his exchange.
In November 1862, his brother
George Thomas wrote directly to his own commanding officer, Stonewall
Jackson, asking permission for a third brother, Sgt. James William
Thomas, to visit President Jefferson Davis "relative to the case of our
brother, Colonel Zarvona, now for more than sixteen months an inmate of
a Northern prison, and subject to more maltreatment and cruel hardship
than one could deem possible as coming from a people claiming
Christianity and civilization. I have seen Mr. Davis several times upon
the subject but have never been able to get anything more satisfactory
than a formal demand on the part of our agents under the cartel for the
exchange of prisoners for the release of my brother. This demand was
made about the latter part of August last. I immediately notified my
friends in Maryland of the fact, requesting them to bring what influence
they could to bear upon the Government at Washington."
He
enclosed a note from a cousin containing a description of "Dick"
provided by his mother on her visit to Fort Lafayette: "When he came in
she did not recognize him at first he was so changed. He looked so tall
and was very thin and emaciated and had hardly strength to speak." His
cell was described as 'without light or air' and partly under water."
Pressure on Union officials increased as time passed. It was now 20
months without trial and four of the witnesses against Dick were also
still imprisoned! There were originally six, but one had escaped and the
other one had been released. Unfortunately, Mrs. C. A. Wilson appears to
have not been successful in having her husband released.
JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, March 18, 1863. SECRETARY OF WAR:
Charles Wilson and three others committed as witnesses against one Col.
Thomas Zarvona, charged with having committed piracy, have been in
confinement at Fort McHenry since July 1861. There were originally six
of them, but one was released by General Dix and one escaped. The
remaining four have been imprisoned for about twenty months without any
pay or allowance except their daily rations. One of them, Charles
Wilson, states that he has a wife and children in New York without
support from any one, suffering all the miseries of poverty; so much so
that one of his children perished the last winter for want of medical
aid. In the meanwhile Thomas Zarvona, though long since indicted and
still confined, has not been tried. The cause of this delay is stated to
be the continued ill health of Chief Justice Taney, and in consequence
there seems to be no prospect of an early trial of the case.
Why
were they waiting for Taney if, indeed, he was all that ill? It is
obvious, at least to me, that Maryland officials were being used for the
Union's dirty work. Remember that Maryland was being occupied by Federal
troops from the beginning. A Maryland grand jury indicted Dick and now
it was intended that Roger Brooke Taney, a native of Calvert County, and
the Chief Justice of the United States himself conduct Dick's trial!
There must have been a reason behind this. Undoubtedly, the Taney family
and the Thomas family knew each other as Roger Brooke Taney's wife was
the great-granddaughter of Philip Key and Susanna Gardiner, also of
Chaptico. These families traveled in the same social circles. Was this
simply another example of attempting, one way or the other, to pound
Maryland citizens, one way or the other, into submission?
Perhaps
Mr. Taney was to be further "tested" as the Republicans had been
incensed with the Dred Scott decision and then when the war came, Mr.
Taney had ruled against the President's suspension of the writ of habeas
corpus (albeit in vain). It is well known that Mr. Lincoln considered
Mr. Taney to be an arch foe. Whatever the real reason, Dick remained in
prison.
The Judge Advocate General finally wrote to Stanton on
March 18, 1863: "(M)eanwhile 'Thomas Zarvona', though long since
indicted and still confined, has not been tried. The cause of this delay
is stated to be the continued ill health of Chief Justice Taney, and in
consequence there seems to be no prospect of an early trial of the case.
The imprisonment of a witness for so long a period of time and under
such circumstances is without a precedent and should not be long
permitted. The same letter mildly pointed out that 'Zarvona', held in
military custody, really was 'beyond the reach of civil process'."
Powerful political influences were also being brought into play as
the United States Senate unanimously adopted the following resolution on
January 28, 1863: "That the Committee on Military Affairs and the
Militia be instructed to inquire for the purpose of extending such
relief as the circumstances may require into the case of Mr. Thomas
[Zarvona], of Maryland, now a prisoner of war at Fort Lafayette, who it
is represented has been confined in a dungeon of that fortress since
June last and is now hopelessly insane by reason of his sufferings."
The U.S. Army apparently did not agree with Dick's mental status. On
February 2, Dr. W. H. Studley, Acting Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army,
submitted the following report:
FORT LAFAYETTE, February 2, 1863.
Col. M. BURKE: In obedience to your orders I have this day examined Col.
Richard Thomas Zarvona, C. S. Army, and find that his health is
generally good; according to his own admission that it is better than
when he entered the fort. In reference to his mental condition I find
him social and rational, but somewhat eccentric in some of his ideas,
and yet no more so than in thousands who may be said to be born with a
certain turn of character. Therefore in my opinion I should deem his
peculiarities perfectly consistent with sanity of mind. Respectfully,
yours, W. H. STUDLEY, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army.
Now, I'm not sure who was exactly insane at this point, but I cannot
make myself believe that Dick would have said his health was better than
when he entered the fort! This statement would, in fact, be contradicted
at the time of his release (see below).
About this same time,
Governor Letcher wrote directly to President Lincoln. In his letter (in
which, incidentally, he credited Zarvona, not George Hollins, with
planning and executing the expedition by which the vessels were
captured), he noted that he saw no reason to treat "Zarvona" other than
as a prisoner of war to be exchanged in the normal course.
But
Letcher went even further. He challenged Lincoln by advising him that if
Dick were not considered to be a prisoner of war, then his right to a
speedy trial, under the provisions of the U.S. constitution, had been
violated. The clincher was when Letcher informed Lincoln that he had
ordered that seven Union officers and soldiers from regiments "of the
usurped government of Virginia" each be held in solitary confinement
pending their exchange for Dick or his release and return to Richmond.
These Union prisoners, being held at the orders of Governor Letcher,
even made their own plea:
PENITENTIARY OF VIRGINIA, Richmond,
February 5, 1863. Hon. G. W. DUNLAP. SIR: Your petitioners are prisoners
of war confined in the penitentiary of this city. We are held as
hostages for one Colonel Thomas, who we understand is confined in
Baltimore or some other place. We have been prisoners more than three
months, one and a half of which has been in this loathsome place where
we have suffered extremely. We were brought to this place on the 31st of
December last, since which time we have been kept in close confinement.
Our rooms are very small and of course not very comfortable. Our diet is
the same as the convicts. We were captured by General John B. Floyd,
commanding the Virginia State Line, in consequence of which we are
deprived of the cartel for the exchange of prisoners between the two
Governments. There are seven of us held for the release of one man. We
should think our Government ought to make the exchange without
hesitation. It would certainly be to their advantage to get seven men in
place of one. There are four officers among us and very gallant ones,
too, at that, viz., Captain Damron, of Western Virginia State Guards;
Lieutenant Damron, Western Virginia State Guards; Isaac Goble, first
lieutenant Thirty-ninth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers; David V. Auxier,
second lieutenant Thirty-ninth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers. The
privates are Samuel Pack, Virginia State Guards; William S. Dils,
Lawrence County, Ohio, and John W. Howe, Johnson County, Ky. Goble and
Auxier are residents of Johnson County, Ky.
We have written
several letters to Secretary Stanton upon the subject but have received
no reply; we therefore concluded to write to you as our representative,
imploring you to aid us in our present suffering condition. The whole
matter is at the discretion of our Government. Governor Letcher has long
since notified our Government of his readiness to exchange us.
Capt. Thomas Damron, W. S. Dils and S. Pack request that you show this
letter to Hon. Kellian V. Whaley, of Virginia, for perusal, request that
he aid you in our release. Please write to my father, and Nathaniel
Auxier, Johnson County, Penceville Post-Office, Ky., and acquaint him of
my situation and you will greatly oblige his son David V. Auxier. Please
write us as soon as possible and let us know whether we will be
exchanged or not. Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
DAVID V. AUXIER.
ISAAC GOBLE.
J. W. HOWE.
W. S. DILS.
SAMUEL PACK.
THOMAS DAMRON.
WILSON DAMRON.
The involvement of the U.S. Senate, the communication from Governor
Letcher to President Lincoln and the letter from the Union soldiers
being held by the Confederates must have turned the tide. In less the
six weeks, the following documents were written:
FORT LAFAYETTE,
New York Harbor, March 24, 1863. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General,
U.S. Army, Washington, D.C. SIR: I wrote you some days since in regard
to a parole for R. T. Zarvona (the French lady). He now desires me to
say that if released he will leave the country and give his parole of
honor not to return to the United States or the Confederate States
during the war, and that he will not take part in the rebellion. He says
he will do this because his health is destroyed by the confinement he
has undergone. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, MARTIN BURKE,
Lieutenant-Colonel Third Artillery, Commanding Post.
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, Va., April 4, 1863. Col. W.
HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. COLONEL: Inclosed I have the
honor to send to you a copy of communication from Hon. G. V. Fox,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Will you please have all the persons
referred to and who may be confined at Fort Lafayette sent to Fort
Delaware to be ready for delivery to me at the same time with the
Confederate officers now on their way here? If there are any others
referred to in the letter of Mr. Fox who are confined in other places
please have them sent to me in time for same delivery with those above
mentioned. The Secretary of War has authorized me to exchange Zarvona.
Will you also please have him sent from Fort Lafayette to Fort Delaware
at the same time with the rest? I am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, WM. H. LUDLOW, Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of
Prisoners.
Dick finally left Fort Lafayette on April 16, reaching
Richmond on May 6, where temporary living quarters in the Executive
Mansion were made available to him and shortly thereafter he left for
Europe. My guess would be that he probably returned about the time of
his mother's death on April 3, 1870.
After their mother's death,
the brothers had apparently tried to divide the estate of their parents
among themselves, but had been unsuccessful.
On February 14,
1873, Dick filed suit against his brothers for his share of "Mattapany"
stating that the parties involved could not agree among themselves on
how it should be divided. The court appointed a commission who made
their report on May 20, 1873.
The brothers obviously drew lots.
George Thomas got Lot #1 which, in addition to acreage, included the
dwelling house. R. T. Zarvona was assigned Lot #2 which included a barn,
tenement house, and acreage. James William Thomas was assigned Lot #3
which included acreage only. Each of the three lots was appraised at
equal value.
Dick Thomas died on March 17, 1875. Surprisingly,
the "Beacon" only had one brief entry, which reads: "Died. During the
night of the 17th ult., Col. R. T. Zarvona, at the residence of his
brother, J. Wm. Thomas."
Governor Letcher wrote a tribute to Dick
a few days after his death. He and Dick had maintained contact during
his imprisonment and then afterwards. He described Dick as "a most
interesting and extraordinary man. He possessed a very fine intellect,
was highly cultivated, and had acquired a fund of valuable and useful
general information. He was a good conversationalist and a most
agreeable gentleman. As an officer, he was as brave as the bravest,
sagacious, intrepid, and daring almost to rashness."
His tribute
continued by saying, "If any man has ever lived of whom it might be
said, 'He was insensible to fear,' Zarvona was undoubtedly that man. He
universally sought the most hazardous undertakings and fearlessly
exposed himself to the most formidable dangers. And yet modesty, candor,
and sincerity were marked characteristics of his nature. Gentleness,
kindness, and tenderness were his predominant traits. He was a sincere
and devoted friend, a true citizen, and a patriotic and gallant soldier.
He was somewhat eccentric, but that tended rather to inspire regard for
and excite interest in him."
Governor Letcher also provided us
with the reason for Dick's change of name. "After the capture of the St.
Nicholas, the Northern people became increasingly bitter toward Zarvona,
and he requested me by legislative act to have his name changed from
Richard Thomas to Richard Thomas Zarvona, which was done and he was
commissioned colonel as Richard Thomas Zarvona."
Dick was laid to
rest at "Deep Falls," where his parents are also buried. According to
Jerry Fitzgerald (whose wife is a descendant of George Thomas), Dick's
red Zouave cap with blue tassel is preserved in the Confederate Room of
the Maryland Historical Society, while the flag of the "St. Nicholas" is
supposed to have been presented by Mrs. Jefferson Davis to the Louisiana
Historical Society.
My special thanks to Cynthia Buck-Thompson and Carolyn Billups of the Colonel Richard Thomas Zarvona Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy; Sheila Biles of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; and to Jerry Fitzgerald for their generous support and sharing of information in the preparation of this article.
Written and contributed 2003 by Linda Reno
Copyright © 1996- The USGenWeb® Project, MDGenWeb, St. Mary's County. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Templates in Time
This page was last updated
01/18/2024