From "The Blue and Gray: The Patriotic American Magazine Vol. 2: by Frank P. O'Brien.
He reported that during his scouting trips around Chowan Sound and Elizabeth City, he found that there were two mailboats making regular semi-weekly trips between Roanoke Island and Norfolk and that on a certain day the U.S. paymaster would go to Roanoke Island from Norfolk on the mailboat Fawn.
"I returned to Plymouth and reported the information, which was perfectly reliable, to Captain James [John] Maffitt, of 'Florida' fame, who was soon after the engagement of May 5 (when the CSS Albemarle attacked the Union fleet off Plymouth, N.C.), had relieved Captain Cooke of the command of the 'Albemarle."
"Captain Maffitt organized a a crew to carry out my idea of capturing the boat. Master's Mate James H. Long was placed in command, but on the eve of leaving he was ordered not to go, as he had but recently recovered from a severe spell of sickness.
"Mr. Shelley, sailing-master, took his place."
So, evidently an aim was to get the paymaster funds.
--Old B-Runner
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