Between the Lines: Secret Service Stories Told Fifty Years After
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Title: Between the Lines: Secret Service Stories Told Fifty Years After
Author: Henry Bascom Smith
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BETWEEN THE LINES
Secret Service Stories
Told Fifty Years After
by
BVT. MAJOR H. B. SMITH
Chief of Detectives and Assistant
Provost Marshal General with
Major General Lew Wallace
Civil War
[Illustration: H. B. SMITH.]
Booz Brothers
114 West Fifty-Third Street
New York
Copyright, 1911, by
Henry Bascom Smith
Press of J. J. Little & Ives Co.
New York
DEDICATED
TO
SAMUEL GRAHAM BOOZ
TO WHOSE PERSISTENCY IN THUMPING OUT ON
HIS TYPEWRITER THE WORDS HEREIN HAS
RENDERED IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO INFLICT
MY FIFTY-YEAR-OLD STORIES ON MY FRIENDS
CONTENTS
PAGE
APOLOGY 17
FILE I
The Harry Gilmor Sword--General Wallace's Comments 21
FILE II
1861-1862 New York Harbor--Fort Schuyler--Fort Marshal--Aunt Mag 25
FILE III
1862-1863 Fort McHenry--General Morris--Colonel Peter A. Porter--
Harper's Ferry--Halltown--Trip to Johnson's Island--Lieutenant-General
Pemberton and other Confederate Officers--Ohio Copperheads--Incident
of York, Pa., Copperheads--Dramatic incident on July 4th, 1863, at
Fort McHenry 30
FILE IV
A taste of the Draft Riots, July 13th, 1863, when conveying wounded
Confederates from Gettysburg to David's Island, New York Harbor--
Governor Seymour's questionable conduct--A mysterious Mr. Andrews of
Virginia--"Knights of the Golden Circle"--"Sons of Liberty" and a
North Western Confederacy--Uncle Burdette--The Laurel incident 37
FILE V
Appointed Assistant Provost Marshal at Fort McHenry, where I began
my first experience in detective work--Somewhat a history of my
early life--Ordered to execute Gordon by shooting 50
FILE VI
Detective work required an extension of territory--A flattering
endorsement by Colonel Porter--Introducing Christian Emmerich and
incidentally Charles E. Langley, a noted Confederate spy 57
FILE VII
Investigator's education--I branded E. W. Andrews, adjutant-general
to General Morris, a traitor to the Colors 63
FILE VIII
Initial trip down Chesapeake Bay after blockade runners and contraband
dealers and goods, incidentally introducing Terrence R. Quinn, George
G. Nellis and E. W. Andrews, Jr.--A description of a storm on the
Chesapeake 66
FILE IX
General Wallace assumes command of the Middle Department--General
Schenck's comments on Maryland--Colonel Woolley 79
FILE X
Here begins my service as an Assistant Provost Marshal of the
Department and Chief of the Secret Service--Confederate General
Winder's detectives--E. H. Smith, special officer, War Department
--Mrs. Mary E. Sawyer, Confederate mail carrier--W. V. Kremer's
report on the "Disloyals" north of Baltimore 83
FILE XI
Mrs. Key Howard, a lineal descendant of the author of "The Star
Spangled Banner," forgetting her honor, prepared to carry a
Confederate mail to "Dixie"--Miss Martha Dungan--Trip on the steam
tug "Ella"--Schooner "W. H. Travers" and cargo captured--James A.
Winn, a spy--Trip to Frederick, Maryland 92
FILE XII
F. M. Ellis, Chief Detective U. S. Sanitary Commission--Arrest of
W. W. Shore, of the New York "World"--John Gillock from Richmond 100
FILE XIII
Ordered to seize all copies of the New York "World," bringing in one
of the great war episodes, the Bogus Presidential Proclamation--
Governor Seymour's queer vigor appears 103
FILE XIV
Arrest of F. W. Farlin and A. H. Covert--The Pulpit not loyal,
reports on Rev. Mr. Harrison and Rev. Mr. Poisal--Comical reports
on a religious conference and a camp meeting--Seizure of Kelly &
Piet store with its contraband kindergarten contents--Sloop "R. B.
Tennis" one of my fleet, and an account of a capture of tobacco,
etc.--Arrest of Frederick Smith, Powell Harrison and Robert
Alexander--Harry Brogden 109
FILE XV
General pass for Schooner "W. H. Travers"--Trip down the Bay after
blockade runners and mail carriers--Gillock and Lewis, two of my
officers captured by Union pickets--Commodore Foxhall A. Parker--
Potomac flotilla--Arrest of J. B. McWilliams--My watch gone to the
mermaids--The ignorance of "poor white trash" 121
FILE XVI
Captain Bailey makes a capture--Sinclair introduces me (as Shaffer)
to Mr. Pyle 132
FILE XVII
A Confederate letter 136
FILE XVIII
Confederate army invades Maryland in 1864--General Wallace's masterly
defence of Washington--Trip outside our pickets--Confederate General
Bradley Johnson and Colonel Harry Gilmor--The Ishmael Day episode--
Uncle Zoe--Arrest of Judge Richard Grason--Report on certain
"Disloyals" 138
FILE XIX
Trip to New York regarding one Thomas H. Gordon 149
FILE XX
Thomas Bennett, a U. S. mail carrier, disloyal--Samuel Miles, a
prominent Baltimore merchant, a blockade runner--A laughable letter
about an overdraft of whiskey--Dr. E. Powell, of Richmond 151
FILE XXI
Terrence R. Quinn 155
FILE XXII
The Great Fraud attempted in the Presidential Election of 1864,
wherein the misplacing of a single letter led to its detection and
may be said to have saved our Nation from disruption--Involving
Governor Seymour and Adjutant General Andrews--Arrest of Ferry,
Donohue and Newcomb, one of the most successful kidnappings on
record 159
FILE XXIII
John Deegan, a forger, captured--A report that led to a historic
raid by Colonel Baker on the Bounty Jumpers and Bounty Brokers of
New York 175
FILE XXIV
General Wallace's letter to Secretary of War, Charles A. Dana
(afterwards editor of the New York "Sun") asking for an extension
of territory for my work, incidentally introducing Colonel John S.
Mosby, giving a list of his men and their home addresses--A train
robbery, paymasters robbed--I recapture part of the money--Commissions
in promotion declined 184
FILE XXV
Capture of Confederate bonds and scrip--Arrest of Pittman, Brewer
and Fowler; Lieut. Smith, alias I. K. Shaffer, alias George Comings,
led them, victims, into a maze, to their undoing 193
FILE XXVI
Arrest of T. A. Menzier and exposé of a prominent railroad official
--Arrest of Barton R. Zantzinger, involving Milnor Jones--Arrest of
John Henry Skinner Quinn, alias J. Y. Plater, alias Simpson, a spy--
Arrest of E. R. Rich, a spy 200
FILE XXVII
Statement of Illinois Crothers, giving valuable and reliable
information, implicating Mr. William Mitchell and a Mrs. Keenan of
Winchester, Virginia--Report on Daniel W. Jones, and Joseph Bratton
--Am given unlimited access to prisoners in Baltimore City jail 205
FILE XXVIII
Statements of Jeremiah Artis, a real deserter from the Confederates
--William J. Bradley, an honest refugee--Charles E. Langley, an
official Confederate spy--Langley personating a correspondent of the
"New York Tribune," was a most successful and dangerous spy 210
FILE XXIX
Patrick Scally, an honest deserter from the Confederate service--A
sketch of the defences of Richmond 222
FILE XXX
Confederate Colonel Harry Gilmor, the raider, telling how he did not
"come back" as a conquering hero; of the sword he never received; of
his capture, etc.--The arrest and conviction of the fair donor 227
FILE XXXI
Steam tug "Grace Titus"--Statement of George Carlton, containing
valuable confirmatory information 236
FILE XXXII
The pungy "Trifle" (one of the captures)--Colonel McPhail---Major
Blumenburg and his corrupted office--"Boney" Lee, Bob Miller, and
other thugs 243
FILE XXXIII
Statement of James Briers, Bollman, McGuarty and Welsh--United
States marine corps 246
FILE XXXIV
General W. W. Morris in command in General Wallace's absence--General
Sheridan's order to arrest E. W. Andrews, formerly adjutant general
to General Morris 250
FILE XXXV
Ordered to New York--Interviewed Secretary of War Stanton relative
to an independent command and extension of our territory--Major
Wiegel's weakness exposed 252
FILE XXXVI
Paine, who was afterwards one of the conspirators in the assassinators'
plot, in my custody--Miss Branson appeared to plead for him--Paine
released on parole, lacking evidence to prove him a spy 255
FILE XXXVII
Missionary E. Martin, an agent of the Confederate Treasury Department,
arrested, his big tobacco smuggling scheme exposed--Kidnapped him
from General Dix's department--Manahan involved 259
FILE XXXVIII
Secretary of War consulted about the extension of our territory to
include the district between the Rappahannock and the Potomac Rivers
--Robert Loudan, alias Charles Veal, a boat-burner and spy--A
kidnapped colored boy 271
FILE XXXIX
The chase after the steamer "Harriet Deford," which was captured by
pirates, supposedly to supply a means of escape to Jefferson Davis
from the crumbling Confederacy--Captain Fitzhugh 275
FILE XL
Ordered to Northern Neck of Virginia the day before President
Lincoln's assassination--Martin Van Buren Morgan's statement, and
order for his disposal 281
FILE XLI
I am introduced to General Grant--The assassination--Capture of Samuel
B. Arnold, one of the conspirators, sent to Dry Tortugas--Arrested the
Bransons and their household, uncovering Paine's pedigree; thereafter
he was Lewis Paine Powell--Paine had my parole on his person when
arrested--Paine hung 290
FILE XLII
Richmond had fallen--Class of detective work entirely changed--
Counterfeiters--Secretary McCullogh--Go to steamboat of the Leary
Line and capture a youthful murderer--Arrest of Mrs. Beverly Tucker 312
FILE XLIII
Camp Carroll rioting--Troops being mustered out 317
FILE XLIV
Indicted for assault with intent to kill, the only clash between
the Military and Civil Authorities during General Wallace's
administration 322
FILE XLV
Trip to Norfolk and Richmond--Ralph Abercrombie--Miss Elizabeth L.
Van Lew 324
FILE XLVI
My muster out--Reëmployment as a civilian--Ordered to Philadelphia--
Twice ordered to Washington with horse-thieves 327
FILE XLVII
Captain Beckwith convicted--Gambling--Order to take Beckwith to
Albany penitentiary 331
FILE XLVIII
Trip to Carlisle, Illinois, to unravel a fraudulent claim--John H.
Ing 335
FILE XLIX
Brevetted major--Governor Fenton's letter 342
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
H. B. Smith frontispiece
after page
The Monitor Waxsaw 28
Lieutenant Joseph H. (Joe) Barker 30
The Maples, Laurel, Md. 48
Major General M. W. Lew Wallace 78
John Woolley 82
Ishmael Day 144
Lucius F. Babcock 162
Charles E. Langley 218
Map of Richmond Defences 224
Colonel Harry Gilmor 226
Lewis Paine 256
Samuel B. Arnold 292
APOLOGY.
Fifty years ago! Gracious me! It makes me think of my age to talk of it.
Yes, just fifty years ago was enacted the greatest tragedy the world
ever saw, THE CIVIL WAR.
I entered the service at twenty and one-half years of age and served
three and one-half years.
At different times I have told of some of my experiences, which seemed
to interest. Sometimes I have talked to literary men, story writers, who
have expressed a desire to write me up in magazines and newspapers, but
lack of the romantic in my make up, notwithstanding romance might be
seen in the stories which to me were but cold facts, has kept me from
consenting.
I am actuated now by other reasons. I have a lot of documents and
memoranda that are wearing out, liable to be mislaid or lost. In fact I
have already lost one document, a letter from General Lew Wallace, a
very valuable and important one (to me); it was his letter of
presentation to me of the Harry Gilmor sword, written on the eve of his
departure for Texas (on a secret mission, known only to Lincoln and
Grant), to receive the capitulation of the Confederate General
Slaughter, hence I feel that these matters ought to be recorded
somewhere.
The New York Historical Society and Columbia University have offered
some of these documents place in their archives. The affidavit and
signature of Paine, the Conspirator who attempted to assassinate
Secretary Seward, ought to be in some substantial depository as a link
in history. I presume it is the only finger mark extant of any of the
conspirators. The reason why I have not deposited it is that the
statement appears garbled, requiring me to explain the gaps and hidden
meanings between the lines, which I shall try to do in these pages.
Another motive for putting these experiences in writing, is in the
interest of Graham, and his children, Curtis, Evelyn and her children,
Nettie and DeLos. It is to be expected these younger ones will remain
longer here under the old Flag, and perhaps they may get some
consolation from the fact that some of their ancestors did something in
simple patriotism. Nettie has complained that her school history did not
mention her uncle. I told her I could only be found by reading "between
the lines," because there were so many "pebbles on the beach" besides
her uncle.
But how can I make it interesting? I am afraid I shall injure the facts
in trying to write them. A story writer might make a romance out of
almost any one of my stories, for he would dress it up so. Every day and
hour of my Secret Service experience was crowded with events; they came
swift one after another; for instance the Election Fraud case of 1864 to
which Appleton's Encyclopedia devotes columns, took less than five days
to develop; the story would take nearly as long to tell.
BETWEEN THE LINES
SECRET SERVICE STORIES
FILE I.
The Harry Gilmor sword--General Wallace's comments.
The sword of Harry Gilmor, the Confederate colonel, which General
Wallace had given me, had aroused Graham's interest so much that I
presented it to him; I had, prior to this, presented to Curtis, my
Creedmoor rifle trophies. I had become tired of telling the history of
that sword and how it came into my possession, having no other evidence
than my word for the truth of the story, since I had lost General
Wallace's letter. However, quite unexpectedly, the story was revived in
the following manner:
Evelyn, who was but a baby in those days, remembering that I was with
General Wallace, on Christmas day, 1908, presented me with his
Autobiography (two volumes) much to my delight. A few days later Aunt
Mag, glancing through the second volume, discovered that I was
remembered by the General and the sword incident was there officially
described, so that now the sword is really vouched for in history, for
Wallace's volumes will be in every important library in the world.
I quote from General Lew Wallace's Autobiography, page 687 and on:
"From what has been said, it would seem my friend, General
Schenck, had found a disturbing element in the Secession
ladies of Baltimore, and in some way suffered from it. His
description of them, and the emphasis with which he had dwelt
upon their remarkable talent for mischief in general, I
accepted as a warning, and stood upon my guard.
"Every one into whose hands these memoirs may fall will see
almost of his own suggestion how necessary it was that, of the
inhabitants of the city, I should know who were disloyal with
more certainty even than who were loyal; of the latter there
was nothing to fear, while of the former there was at least
everything to suspect. We knew communication with the enemy
across the line was unceasing; that interchange of news
between Richmond and Baltimore was of daily occurrence; that
there were routes, invisible to us, by which traffic in
articles contraband of war was carried on with singular
success, almost as a legitimate commerce--routes by water as
well as by land. General Butler, at Norfolk, exerted himself
to discover the traders operating by way of the Chesapeake
Bay, but without success; with a like result I tried to
unearth the landward lines.
"_Captain Smith, my chief of detectives, a man of ability and
zeal_, at last brought me proof incontestable that Baltimore
was but a way-side station of the nefarious commerce, the
initial points of active transaction centering in
Philadelphia.
"As to Baltimore, this simplified our task, and shortly
General Schenck's sagacity was again vindicated--those working
in the prohibited business were ladies who moved in the upper
circles of society.
"Should I arrest the fair sympathizers? What was the use? The
simple appearance of distress was enough with the President;
and if that were so with a man in concernment, what would it
be with a woman? In sight of the hopelessness of effort on my
part, over and over, again and again, in the night often as in
the day, I took counsel of myself, 'What can be done?' At last
an answer came to me, and in a way no one could have
dreamed--the purest chance.
"A woman in high standing socially, alighted from a carriage
at the Camden station of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
carrying a mysterious-looking box. At the moment she was
stepping into a car my chief of detectives arrested her. The
box being opened, there, in velvet housings, lay a sword of
costly pattern inscribed for presentation to Colonel ----, a
guerilla officer of Confederate renown.
"A commission was immediately ordered for the woman's trial.
The word and the inscription upon it were irrefutable proofs
of guilt, and she was sent to a prison for females in
Massachusetts. The affair was inexcusably gross, considering
the condition of war--so much, I think, will be generally
conceded--still, seeking the moral effect of punishment alone,
I specially requested the officials of the institution not to
subject the offender to humiliation beyond the mere
imprisonment. In a few days she was released and brought home.
_The sword I presented to Captain Smith._"
General Wallace makes a slight error. I did not arrest the woman at the
station, but captured her messenger with the sword, and upon his person
were credentials to Gilmor, which I used myself, and of which I will
tell later on. Later on I arrested the woman herself.
FILE II.
1861-1862 New York Harbor--Fort Schuyler--Fort Marshal--Aunt Mag.
During the first year of the war ('61) I remained at home, but I was
really ashamed to be found there when service called. Burdette was
already in the Army, and A. P., though equally patriotic, was compelled
to remain home to "fight for bread" for the family. I started to go but
mother restrained me; finally, however, Olive persuaded mother to
consent, and on January 10th, 1862, I began my service as 2d Lieutenant
in the 5th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. In the early part of '62 our Regiment
garrisoned the forts of New York Harbor. I was stationed first at Fort
Wood (Bedloe's Island), and afterwards at Fort Schuyler, where I was
Post Adjutant.
Fort Schuyler is a very extensive fortification guarding the entrance to
New York from the east, situated on a peninsula called Throggs Neck,
where there is an abrupt turn from the waters of the East River as it
enters Long Island Sound; the channel is quite narrow at that point. The
fortification comprises two tiers of casemates surmounted by a parapet,
and on the landward side barbette batteries. A first-class formidable
defence for the arms of those days. The interior of Fort Schuyler was
large enough to enable a battalion to form in line. At that time there
was under construction on the opposite, or Long Island, shore, on
Willet's Point, a fortification which has since been completed and is
called Fort Totten.
In May, '62, we were withdrawn from the forts in New York Harbor. We
were ordered to the front, to join the army at Fortress Monroe,
Virginia. We were assembled, taken by steamers to Amboy, thence by the
old Camden and Amboy Railroad to Camden and Philadelphia, thence by the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad to Baltimore. We were
handsomely treated to a meal in the "Soldiers' Rest" in Philadelphia, by
the patriotic ladies. God bless them! We were transported in box freight
cars, rough board benches for seats. No drawing-room cars in those days.
On arriving in Baltimore we were loaded upon a steamer for Fortress
Monroe. At this point our orders were changed. Being a heavy artillery
regiment, we were ordered to garrison Fort Marshal (near Baltimore),
relieving the 3d Delaware, an infantry regiment. We were marched through
the city to Fort Marshal. Later we learned that the Baltimoreans dubbed
us the "toughest" they had seen. Our appearance was misleading, we
thought.
Fort Marshal was an earth work, a parapet with bastions, erected on an
eminence just east of Baltimore, commanding the harbor and the city. It
has since been demolished, crowded out by commerce and residences.
When we arrived at the fort our men were hungry, having had but "one
square meal" in forty-eight hours--the one the Philadelphia ladies had
given us, plus what was picked up from pie peddlers on the way. We
learned the lesson all green troops must learn, when inefficiency of the
commissary is shown. I volunteered to get feed for the men; the Colonel
accepted my tender. I went down to the city limits, pressed three wagons
(those deep box-wagons in use in Baltimore) into service, drove to the
Quartermaster's Department in South Gay Street, represented myself as
Acting Quartermaster (which was a little out of "plumb" but excusable by
the emergency) and drew three wagon loads of aerated bread and coffee,
drove back to camp, turned the kettles up and had the men banqueting
inside of two hours. Inefficiency was surely our Commissary's right
name.
At this point I want to tell something about Aunt Mag, my "Star in the
East," who has ever since guided me.
Union people and the Star Spangled Banner were not so plenty in
Maryland. Not far from Fort Marshal I espied a cheerful looking house.
In its yard from a flagstaff was unfurled our glorious emblem. That was
the house of Aunt Mag. I fell in love with the premises, and very soon
with its occupant. Later on I was stricken down with that dreadful army
plague, typhoid fever, and I was very near to death. That house was my
hospital, and Aunt Mag was my nurse. I lived, and so here we are after
fifty years. Many friends have remarked, how romantic! but we say it is
just love. If the "Over-ruling Hand" was not in it, it certainly has
proven a fortunate "happen so" for our lives have so nicely matched in
the "pinions" as to have needed no other lubrication than love for all
these years.
The house referred to was the home of Thomas Booz (the father of Graham
and Curtis). He was a real "19th of April" Union man; and on that
eventful day he defended his premises with a gun. He was of the firm of
Thos. Booz & Brother, shipbuilders; also he was a member of the
Legislature, and was talked of for Governor. Their firm built the
pontoons that McClellan used to recross the Potomac at Harper's Ferry in
1862, after Antietam; they also built one of the first turreted monitors
(the Waxsaw), patterned after Ericsson's Monitor which fought the battle
with the Merrimac.
[Illustration: THE MONITOR WAXSAW]
What do I mean by an "April 19th" Union man? Well, I will tell you: On
that day was shed the first blood of the war. A mob attacked the 6th
Massachusetts Regiment in Pratt Street, as it was proceeding to
Washington (April 19th, 1861). Like magic all Marylanders took sides,
one part for the Union, the other for Rebellion. Ever after the prime
question or test of loyalty was, how did you stand on April 19th? A
Union man on that day was ever after one. Families were divided. It cost
a deal to be a Union man there or in any of the border States. I have
often thought they deserved as much consideration as those who fought
battles.
In August, 1862, two companies, A and F, of our Regiment were detailed
to go to Harper's Ferry to man batteries there. There being a vacancy in
the line (in Co. A) I requested to be detailed to it, but my superior
objected, claiming I was necessary with my own company. I was not
permitted to go. Had I gone I would have been in that fight and would
have been in the Colonel Miles surrender, along with Joe Barker and the
rest. Joe's story of spiking the guns of The Naval Battery on Maryland
Heights, preparatory to surrender was always interesting. His story of
the four days' fighting, sustained as it is by Confederate documents,
makes new history. He makes it quite plain that the detention of the
enemy there saved us Antietam and perhaps Washington.
FILE III.
Fort McHenry in 1862-1863--General Morris--Colonel Peter A. Porter--
Harper's Ferry--Halltown Trip to Johnson's Island--Lieutenant-General
Pemberton and other Confederate Officers--Ohio Copperheads--Incident of
York, Pa. Copperheads--Dramatic incident on July 4th, 1863, at Fort
McHenry.
In the winter of '62-'63 our Regiment was removed to Fort McHenry, where
Confederate prisoners of war were detained. General W. W. Morris, an old
regular, commanded the Brigade (Headquarters were there) and Colonel
Peter A. Porter (whose monument is at Goat Island, Niagara Falls)
commanded the Post. We were carrying there about one thousand
Confederate and political prisoners. A large percentage of them were
commissioned officers.
Early in '63 our Regiment was ordered to the front by way of Harper's
Ferry. When we arrived at the Ferry I was the first officer detailed for
a two-days' turn of picket duty on Bolivar Heights.
[Illustration: LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. (JOE) BARKER.]
Harper's Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and
Shenandoah rivers. The Potomac cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains
there. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal runs along the north bank of the
Potomac, rugged mountains enclose it, presenting an alpine appearance.
Here the "John Brown raid" began. It was formerly the location of one of
the great national arsenals. When encamped there in '63 the Regiment was
in tents on Camp Hill; the officers were quartered in a building which
had been the home of the officers of the arsenal.
Our Regiment, nominally a heavy artillery regiment, was thoroughly
schooled in the heavy tactics and also as light or field artillery and
infantry; able or qualified to be used in either arm of the service with
equal facility. The order to proceed to the front was hailed with
delight, duty in the field being a panacea for garrison bickerings.
Later the regiment was moved to Halltown, encamped on the Miller farm,
and threw out pickets. I was on first detail there. I learned how to get
a fair sleep on top of a "herring-bone" rail fence. My proclivity for
"prying into things" manifested itself there. An attack was expected, so
our regiment slept on arms, anxiously waiting; it became tedious. I
asked permission to reconnoitre alone, and was permitted. In the dark I
sneaked out about a mile, and listened; three or four cavalrymen came
whirling down the road as if riding for life; they roused the regiment.
They were blood stained, but upon examination the blood was found to
have come from one of their own horses. Such scares and mistakes were
frequent, especially with fresh troops. I was in a dilemma to get back
into line without being shot, but it was accomplished. The regiment was
ordered back to Baltimore for garrison duty.
I was detailed to convey prisoners away many times. Once I took ninety
odd Confederate officers to Johnson's Island, Sandusky, Ohio. Among them
was Lieutenant General Pemberton, who had commanded at Vicksburg, and
who had, on July 4th, surrendered Vicksburg with thirty-seven thousand
men, fifteen general officers and sixty thousand stand of arms. I was
surprised at the great number of "Copperheads" we met in crossing Ohio.
My exhibition of Confederate prisoners was treated as a first-class
circus; it "drew" the "Copperheads" and they flocked to the stations
along the route to express sympathy and admiration. What was a
"Copperhead"? I will try to tell you: he stood, relatively, as the
Tories to the Revolution. They were composed of several elements; some
wore so greedy of gain they wanted no war that might interfere with
their finances; some were too cowardly; some were too partisan
politically, really thinking their fealty was due to those who were
fighting against an administration nominally representing an opposing
political party; all of them forming a mass to be influenced by
conspirators who were pursuing an intelligent purpose to destroy the
Union; just such material as was needed by Vallandigham, Seymour,
Andrews, Morgan and Lee to help their projects of further disruption.
What became of them? They sank out of sight when the Confederate cause
was lost. Naturally they were scorned by the men who had fought for the
Union. As time goes on, they and their work is being forgotten. Future
historians may be more kind to them than we who suffered because of
them, but it is not likely that the descendants of any Copperhead will
claim public honors for their anti-Union forbears.
I am reminded of an incident that was told widely through the armies:
When Lee's army reached York, Pa., on the way to Gettysburg, these
Copperheads went out to meet the Confederates, and assure them "how they
had always loved them." The Confederates wanted tangible proof of this
love; they demanded that one hundred thousand dollars in gold be paid at
once; else the town of York would be burned. Now, wasn't that unkind!
but lovers must ever be ready to prove, you know.
On our way home we had a railroad smash at Mifflin, Pa. I was curled up,
asleep in my seat, but received only a scratch on my forehead. I crawled
out of a window and helped recover bodies from the wreckage.
Fort McHenry is an historic spot. The scene described in our "Star
Spangled Banner" was dedicated to it. It was its ramparts Key referred
to in his first verse. In 1812 the fort was garrisoned by one thousand
men under Major Armisted, to guard Baltimore from an attack by sea.
September 13th, 1814, the British admiral, with sixteen heavy war
vessels, opened bombardment upon the fort. Its guns failed to reach the
fleet till some of the vessels approached nearer. He met so warm a
reception that they withdrew, badly damaged. A force of one thousand men
landed to surprise the fort in the rear, but they were repulsed. At
midnight the firing ceased. Next day the fleet withdrew and Baltimore
was safe. During the bombardment Francis Scott Key, a prisoner on board
the British fleet, wrote the "Star Spangled Banner."
I shall never forget July 4th, 1863. The crucial battle of the war,
Gettysburg, was being fought. Meade had just succeeded Hooker in command
of the army. Anxiously the wisdom of the change was being watched by
every soldier. It was my fortune to be detailed as officer of the guard
at Fort McHenry that day. Guardmount is always an inspiring exercise,
for then troops are carefully inspected and instructed before entry on
their tour of duty. Fort McHenry is an ideally beautiful spot, situated
on the point of a peninsula formed by the confluence of the north and
south forks of the Patapsco river. The spot is loved by every American.
A picture, a combination of events, produced the most strikingly
emotional effect upon me. We were formed on the exact ground overlooked
by Key when he wrote:
"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
I was trying to examine arms. Our Post Band, the 2d Artillery Band, one
of the grandest in the service, was playing that soul lifting piece. The
north fork of the Patapsco was filled with transports, carrying bronzed
veterans (I think the 19th Corps), who were hurrying to Gettysburg, and
these boys were yelling for twice their number; cheers upon cheers. On
the balcony of one of our prison buildings was a prisoner of war, a
lineal descendant of Francis Scott Key, overlooking the scene. And I
thought of our flag over yonder to the northwest, forty miles away at
Gettysburg. Yesterday and day before we had listened, straining our ears
to hear the guns. Was our flag still there? Had our boys with Meade
stood fast against the lion of the Confederacy, or had the Stars and
Bars been flaunted victorious upon the battle ground? God knows how our
hearts were strained in those hours. And when I heard the cheers of our
soldiers upon the transports and thought of Francis Scott Key and how he
had watched to see if Old Glory still waved, my eyes were blinded with
tears. I had to suspend my inspection to dry them. I was not alone
affected; there were many. Such tears one need not be ashamed of; they
are not evidence of weakness. An army of men inspired by such emotions
would be best to avoid.
I shall never forget the relief which came to our anxiety the next
morning (July 5th), Gettysburg was ours. Lee was started back to
Virginia. Vicksburg, too, was ours. Indeed, crucial was the day, July
4th, 1863. Every one of our ninety millions of united Americans should
ever give thanks for the events of that day.
FILE IV.
A taste of the Draft Riots, July 13, 1863, when conveying wounded
Confederates from Gettysburg to David's Island, New York Harbor--Governor
Seymour's questionable conduct--A mysterious Mr. Andrews of Virginia--
"Knights of the Golden Circle"--"Sons of Liberty" and a North Western
Confederacy--Uncle Burdette--The Laurel incident.
I had a little taste of the draft riots during that memorable week
beginning July 13th, 1863. I was ordered to David's Island, New York
Harbor, with seven hundred wounded Confederates from Gettysburg. The
demonstrations of the mob of onlookers in Philadelphia were so very
unfriendly that we had to use the butts of our muskets to control the
crowd. They threatened us saying, "to-morrow will be our day." I
understood the threat when I learned later of the rioting. We were
advised that our train was to be intercepted before reaching New York,
and transportation was, therefore, furnished on the steamer "Commodore,"
by the outside course. After leaving our prisoners at David's Island, we
landed at the Battery, and there I addressed my men, cautioning them not
to reply to any assault unless ordered by me. We marched up Broadway to
the City Hall Barracks (where the New York Post Office now stands) and
stacked arms inside the enclosure. I was proud of my men. Each one
appeared a giant, steady, firm of step, lips compressed; two-thirds of
them were foreign born, yet no better Americans ever paraded Broadway.
Immediately after stacking arms, a lot of rioters who had just overcome
their guards, seized our stacks. Our boys jumped on them and I had a big
job to keep them from crushing their ribs. Exceeding my orders, I
permitted my men to visit their homes, to report back at midnight. The
cars were running but had no passengers. I rode on the Eighth Avenue car
to 48th Street, my home. Our house was locked, but Cousin Wilbur F.
Strong was there alone. He said Brother A. P. had taken the family into
the country for safety. A. P.'s loyalty had made him a "marked man," and
he had been threatened. After eating, Wilbur and I walked down to John
Hardy's, in 35th Street. Stores were all closed, no one on the streets
but an occasional corner loafer, who snarled at us. Hardy had been
hiding his colored servant in the coal cellar, to save her life. Wilbur
afterwards entered the service, and went on the "Hunter raid" up the
Shenandoah Valley in 1864. He died from the exhaustion of the marches.
At midnight every man was behind his stacked arms, ready for duty. The
city was deserted, as if plague stricken. I shall never forget the
desolation.
Ostensibly the draft was the excuse, but with the moving spirits it was
but a subterfuge. The ring-leader of the mobs in New York was a
mysterious stranger, a "Mr. Andrews" of Virginia. On July 13th, 1863, at
40th Street and Fourth Avenue, while the firemen were at work in Third
Avenue, he ascended a shanty which stood opposite the burning ruins.
Thousands were assembled behind this shanty in an open space of untilled
ground, and the Virginian orator proceeded to address them. He cried out
that he wished he had the lungs of a stentor and that there was a
reporter present to take down his words; he said he had lately addressed
them in Cooper Institute, where he told them Mr. Lincoln wanted to tear
the hardworking man from his wife and family and send him to the war; he
denounced Mr. Lincoln for his conscription bill which was in favor of
the rich and against the poor man; he called him a Nero and a Caligula
for such a measure, etc. He then advised the people to organize to
resist the draft and appoint their leader, and if necessary he would be
their leader (uproarious cheers). Immediately after, the mob destroyed a
beautiful dwelling at Lexington Avenue and 47th Street. And they did
organize. Mounted leaders were seen to give orders to subordinate
leaders of mobs; one of these mounted men rode on horseback into the
hardware store of Hiram Jelliffe in Ninth Avenue and seized what arms
and powder he had. Mr. Jelliffe afterwards identified him as a clerk in
one of the City departments.
Governor Horatio Seymour, in answer to a call from Washington, had
hurried off the militia to Pennsylvania. He made a memorable speech
standing upon the City Hall steps, in which he addressed the rioters as
"my friends." A report of it says: "Standing near him on the steps was a
ring-leader of a mob, who had just made an inflammatory speech and who
had recently come from an assault on the 'Tribune.'" The "Tribune"
(editorially) said practically that: "the sending of the militia out of
New York was with a knowledge that it would be desirable to have them
away when his (the Governor's) 'friends' wanted to riot." I am aware
that Governor Seymour has been a sort of idol with many, and that if I
lay my poor weak tongue on his fair name, I will incur their
displeasure; but I have always disliked shams.
Not wishing to be tedious, I want to recall that when the war broke out
the Confederacy was thoroughly equipped to take its place as a fully
organized nation at once. This fact was commented on and efforts were
made to explain how it was accomplished. No comprehensive history of the
struggle can be written that does not include the secret societies that
abetted. They played as important a part as did the army which opposed
us, and was vastly more dangerous by reason of the insidious character
of its movements.
One State after another swung into line under some mysterious talisman,
although there was a strong sentiment against leaving the Union.
In delving into affairs generally, I became possessed of information
that, so far as I know, has never been in print. I learned that a secret
organization known as the "Knights of the Golden Circle" was the nucleus
of the Confederacy. That under its secret fostering the Confederacy was
fully developed, ready to take its place among the nations. That the
Knights were an outgrowth of the defunct "Know Nothing" society that had
become disrupted on the subject of the extension of slavery (which also
divided churches). That as soon as the Confederacy was in the saddle, no
longer were there any initiations into the "Knights of the Golden
Circle," but a subordinate society was organized to do further work,
i. e., to further disrupt the Union. This society was known as the "Sons
of Liberty."
The purpose of the "Sons of Liberty" was to form a northwestern
confederacy. My source of information said that it was understood in
that circle, that Governor Horatio Seymour was to give the signal for
disruption, which was to be a refusal from New York to furnish its quota
of soldiers. Seymour failed them. He did not refuse, but he protested
and procrastinated. He obstructed the draft as adroitly as he could,
claiming inequities. And on August 7th, 1863, Mr. Lincoln in a
communication to Seymour regarding these claims, said: "We are
contending with an enemy who, as I understand, drives every able-bodied
man he can reach into his ranks, very much as a butcher drives bullocks
into a slaughter pen; no time is wasted, no argument is used." And Mr.
Lincoln repeatedly wrote Governor Seymour of the cost in blood and
treasure by the delays he was causing.
The bloodiest and most brutal riots this country ever saw ensued in New
York, Boston, Portsmouth and other cities. The draft riots were, in
fact, but the first step of the "Sons of Liberty" in uprising, towards
forming another rupture. To this secret movement of the "Sons of
Liberty" I refer to the following documents:
Head Quarters, District of Indiana,
Indianapolis, Sept. 3, 1864.
1st. Large numbers of men of suspected loyalty to the United
States, have heretofore, and still are immigrating to the
State of Indiana, and in some localities their open and avowed
hatred to the Government, and treasonable designs are fully
expressed....
By order of
Bvt. Major General Alvin P. Hovey,
And. C. Cemper, A.A.G.
An order had previously been issued by General Heintzelman, Commander of
the Department, prohibiting the transport of arms into the Department by
Railroads.
Governor Oliver P. Morton, in his message to the Legislature in June,
1865, said:
"Some misguided persons who mistook the bitterness of party
patriotism and ceased to feel the obligations of allegiance to
our Country and Government, conspired against the State and
National Government and sought by Military force to plunge us
into the horrors of revolution.
A secret organization had been formed which by its lectures
and rituals inculcated doctrines subversive of the Government,
and which carried to their consequences would evidently result
in disruption and destruction of the nation.
The members of this organization were united by solemn oaths,
which if observed, bound them to execute the orders of their
Grand Commanders without delay or question, however
treasonable or criminal might be their character.
I am glad to believe that the great majority of its members
regarded it merely as a political machine and did not suspect
the ulterior treasonable action contemplated by its leaders,
and upon discovery of its true character, hastened to abjure
all connection with it.
Some of the chief conspirators have been arrested and tried by
the government, and others have fled, their schemes have been
exposed and baffled."
The arrest of Clement L. Vallandigham, of Ohio, for treason, uncovered
part of the conspiracy; he was, in fact, the Grand Commander of the
Order. Of him Mr. Lincoln said:
"I solemnly declare my belief that this hindrance of the
military, including maiming and murder, is due to the course
in which Mr. Vallandigham has been engaged, in a greater
degree than to any other cause, and it is due to him
personally, in a greater degree than to any other man."
The Indianapolis "Journal," July 2d, 1864, said:
"Members of the Sons of Liberty were advised that Morgan (the
Rebel raider) would be in Kentucky, and Vallandigham in
Hamilton, on or about June 14th (1864). It was through
information furnished by members of this order that Governor
Bramlette of Kentucky was apprised of Morgan's intended raid
and attack upon Frankfort.
The rumor that there was collusion between the friends of
Vallandigham and Morgan seems possible. In the letter of
Governor Bramlette, which we append, significant allusion is
made to it. It would seem strange indeed, that the Sons of
Liberty should be so advised of the simultaneous raids of the
Canadian and Kentucky Confederates unless a common
understanding was had between the two traitors, and concerted
action determined upon. That they were so advised is evident
from the fact that certain of their number admonished Governor
Morton of Indiana beforehand, who in turn advised Governor
Bramlette of the approaching danger in time for him to provide
for it.
Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Executive Department,
Frankfort, June 22, 1864.
Governor Oliver P. Morton,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Dear Sir.--I return you my most grateful thanks for your
prompt assistance during Morgan's recent raid. The timely
arrival of the 43d Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, gave us
entire relief against apprehension of danger.
Although the citizens had repulsed the Rebels, yet the large
numbers still infesting this section at the time of their
arrival kept us upon constant vigil and serious apprehension
of another assault.
The patriotism and kindly feeling which prompted the gallant
veterans of the Forty-third to rush to our relief without
delaying after their long and arduous labors to even greet
their families, deserves the highest commendation from their
countrymen, and will ever command from us of Kentucky, the
profoundest gratitude.
The appearance of Vallandigham, of Ohio, simultaneously with
Morgan's raid in Kentucky, fully confirms the matter made
known to me through General Lindsey, by you.
The defeat of Morgan has frustrated their movements for the
present, but vigilance in the future must still guard us
against the machinations of evil doers.
Yours truly,
THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE."
Arms for the Sons of Liberty were seized in Indianapolis and New York,
and at many other places. The organization was said to have a membership
of one million members, all bound, by oath, to sustain the Southern
Confederacy.
In many instances, to outward appearances, they were merely social or
political clubs that could be attended by the unsuspecting, when they
were not in executive session.
The draft riots, hotel burnings, attempts to destroy our water supply,
and kindred work, down to and including the assassination conspiracy,
are all to be charged to the Sons of Liberty. They are also to be
charged with the presidential election fraud of 1864. Its virus
permeated all. No man has ever admitted being a member of it.
And Governor Seymour was expected to be its "bell wether" in the
disruption movement. Evidently his nerve failed him. The riots in New
York probably demonstrated to him that real war is real h----l, and it
scared him. I do not assume that any considerable portion of the
Confederates were members of either of the secret societies; soldiers
are seldom conspirators.
There were characters in the Confederate service whom a Union man could
well admire: Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, Alexander H. Stevens and others,
but there should be contempt only for men who, while holding office
under the protecting arm of a magnanimous government, bent every nerve
to trip up their benefactor.
Uncle Burdette's service was exclusively with troops. First with the
90th Regiment at Key West (Graham has yet a bottled scorpion that he
sent home from there, found in his sleeping blanket), then with the 16th
Cavalry in Virginia, and finally with the 162d Regiment in the assault
on Port Hudson. He was also with the Banks Red River expedition. No
better man ever straddled a horse; he could have acquitted himself as a
champion "bronco buster."
The following incident belongs right here:
Headquarters, Fort McHenry, Md.,
Sept. 18th, 1863.
Special Order No. 190.
Lieut. H. B. Smith, of Co. D, 5th N. Y. Arty, with a guard
from Co. G., N. Y. Arty., consisting of one sergeant, two
corporals and twenty-two men, with two days rations, will,
when transportation is provided, proceed to Alexandria, Va, in
charge of ninety-three soldier prisoners, and turn them over
with lists and charges of same to the commanding officer of
Camp of Distribution, near that place.
II. This duty performed Lieut. Smith and guard will return
without delay and report to the commanding officer of this
post.
Lieut. Thos. Grey, the quarter master, will furnish the
necessary transportation.
By command,
Col. P. A. PORTER.
Ford Morris,
1st. Lieut. 6th N. Y. Arty.
Post Adjutant.
Lieut. SMITH,
D. Co., 5th N. Y. Arty.
[Illustration: THE MAPLES, LAUREL, MD]
On our way to Washington, at Laurel, Md., we found the railroad bridge
crossing the Patuxent river had been washed away by a recent freshet.
We were forced to disembark, go down a high embankment and cross the
river by a foot bridge. By some means some of the prisoners had obtained
some "fire water" and were troublesome; some of them were fighting on
this foot bridge. I took a hand in it and tumbled a few into the river
(not very deep). Just then I noticed three or four of them scurrying
away, running through a field of grain. I really felt more sorry for the
owner of the field than for the loss of the men. Aunt Mag had often
spoke of our visiting her brother William and sister Mary at Laurel, but
we never went there until after our marriage, when I found, on arriving
there, that the owner of the grain field my prisoners had so ruthlessly
damaged was brother William. He could not remember the instance, as such
events were of frequent occurrence, but we had a laugh over it.
FILE V.
Appointed assistant provost marshal at Fort McHenry, where I began my
first experience in detective work--Somewhat a history of my early
life--Ordered to execute Gordon by shooting.
I was on duty with troops until detailed as Assistant Provost Marshal at
Fort McHenry. The administration of prisoners confined at Fort McHenry
had become unsatisfactory; escapes were frequent. Colonel Porter
selected Capt. Holmes of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery and myself to
reform the prison.
Headquarters, Fort McHenry,
October 25, 1863.
General Order No. 51.
I. Lieut. George Nellis, Co. D., 5th Arty., N. Y. V., is
hereby relieved from duty as Asst. Provost Marshal and will
without delay report to his Company Commander for duty.
II. Lieut. H. B. Smith, Co. D., 5th Arty., N. Y. V., is hereby
appointed Asst. Provost Marshal and will without delay assume
the duties of that office.
P. A. PORTER,
Col. 8th N. Y. V. Arty.
Com. Post.
Lieut. H. B. SMITH,
D. Co., 5th Reg., N. Y. V., Arty.,
Fort McHenry, Md.
Right here was begun what led up to my ultimately becoming a
full-fledged secret service operator. Born in the green foot-hills of
the Catskill Mountains (near where Rip Van Winkle dozed), I learned my
"A B abs" in the little brown school house at Cornwallville. Father died
when I was four years old. Mother traded the farm for some New York
tenements, and we all located there, when I was ten years old. I
attended the public schools where I was properly "hazed" and got what
was "coming" to all country boys; finally I graduated under the tutelage
of Dr. Joseph Finch (a patriot indeed, who made a lasting impress for
earnestness on thousands of boys), and then went to business as an entry
clerk with a large importing metal house, where I remained until the war
broke out. You will therefore see I had had no former experience (my age
was 22 years) and whatever wit I had for such service was inborn or
home-made. Zeal I know I had; perhaps its birth was from a chalk legend
some pedagogue had inscribed over the door-frame in the little brown
school house, reading: "What man has done, man can do." At any rate I
have remembered it.
My education in the burning political questions had been sharply marked
by the presidential campaign of 1860. My brothers, A. P. and Burdette,
were "Douglas" Democrats. My fellow clerk, Clarence W. Meade (later
Judge Meade), was a "Bell and Everett" Democrat. I was a born "Lincoln"
Republican. So between the discussions at the house and the office, I
was somewhat sharpened. I remember how I struggled against their
arguments that Lincoln was an uneducated, uncultured rail-splitter. I
knew of his discussions with Douglas, but never did I completely
vanquish them until Mr. Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg oration, and
"that ball fetched all the pins and knocked a hole through the alley."
And it must be noted that I thought myself, somewhat like a Demosthenes,
for I had practiced in that little school house on "Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star" and two verses of "On Linden When the Sun Was Low," much to
mother's delight. So equipped, or so not equipped, I began my duties as
Assistant Provost Marshal.
Confederate mail carrying, spy promoting, blockade promoting, recruiting
for Confederate service, were being engineered right from among these
prisoners. I "under-grounded" it all. Through this channel I enlisted
for the Confederate service. Of course you know that when I enlisted in
the service of our enemies, I did so to discover their actions, and was
what most people call a "spy." I had often read the story of Nathan
Hale, the splendid patriot of the American Revolution who was a spy in
the service of General Washington and who gave up his life to the
service. (The Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York have
erected a fine monument to him in the New York City Hall Park). Perhaps
there would be less danger in being a soldier in the ranks who goes
forward with arms in hand and fights openly in battle and dies thus,
than to be a spy and constantly in the shadow of death, night and day,
and no soldier's death for him, but the death of the hangman's noose;
yes, I knew all this.
I worked a blockade running outfit, involving General Morris's adjutant
general, Capt. E. W. Andrews (of whom I will tell more later on), and I
captured Confederate mail carriers, none of which were any part of my
duty, but all contributed to the general good of the service. Strictly
speaking, my duties were completed by caring for the safe keeping,
discipline and comfort of the prisoners in our charge. To do more was
supererogation, and ought to be credited to zeal.
In a short time I found that these Confederates worked their escape
through the use of gold supplied them by their sympathizers in bribing
the guards. But we stopped that and thereafter the soldiers for sentry
duty at certain posts were selected for their known probity. Escapes
continued for a time (but they were always recaptured when they supposed
themselves safe outside our guards). When these escapes (?) were
accomplished there was great jubilation among the Confederates. They had
a great "laugh" on the Yankees; which laugh was changed to "the other
side of the mouth" when all the escaped (?) ones were marched back into
camp, one bright morning. About a mile down the road leading from our
exterior gate to Baltimore was a hotel called the "Vineyard." I engaged
the upper floors of it in which to domicile my escaped (?) prisoners.
When we had accumulated there about fifteen we marched them all back to
our prison.
After telling their fellows of the futility of their plans no more
escapes were attempted.
The government was kind to prisoners. We clothed them and gave them
blankets to keep them comfortable. I have receipted rolls now showing
such issues. They came to us in rags or worse than rags, in fact, and
left us fat and well clothed. On one occasion when an exchange of
prisoners was ordered, I judged that one good suit of clothes was enough
to start them off with; but orders came from Washington to allow them
to carry away all the clothing given them by their friends, which in
some instances was three or four suits to a man. Our prisoners were
confined in buildings known as the Ringgold Battery Barracks, quite
insecure for the purpose. We constructed about the premises a plank
fence twelve feet high, with balcony and sentry boxes on top, leaving no
good chance for communication between prisoners and guards.
The first unpleasant duty devolving on me is described in the following
order:
Headquarters, Fort McHenry,
Nov. 19. 1863.
General Order No. 53.
In pursuance of General Order No. 54 and 56 issued from
Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, Oct. 26, and
Nov. 3, 1863, and General Order No. 92, issued from
headquarters 2d. Separate Brigade, Defences of Baltimore, Nov.
19, 1863, William F. Gordon, a prisoner in confinement at this
post, will be shot to death with musketry, between the hours
of 12 M. and 3 o'clock P. M., on Friday, the 20th inst., on
the Parade Ground at Fort McHenry, according to military usage
in such cases, provided the approval of the President of the
United States be received.
The Asst. Provost Marshal of the Post, Lieut. H. B. Smith, is
charged with the execution of this order.
(Signed) By Command of
Col. P. A. PORTER,
8th N. Y. V. Arty., Com'd'g Post.
GEO. WIARD,
Lieut. 8th N. Y. V. Arty and Post Adjt.
A harder duty could not be directed. In cases where execution is by
shooting, a firing party is picked, and their rifles are loaded for
them. One gun among them is loaded with a blank cartridge, so that each
member of the firing party can hope he has it. In case death does not
result from the firing it becomes the duty of the officer commanding the
firing party to complete the execution of the order. That was not a
cheerful prospect for me. I had twenty-four hours for serious
contemplation; suppose the men should aim wrong? Then I would be
compelled to shoot the man as a mere cold duty. We were spared its
execution by the following telegraphic order:
War Department,
Nov. 20, 1863.
Major General Schenck:
The President directs that the execution of sentence of death
against Gordon, now in Fort McHenry, be suspended until
further orders.
(Signed) E. M. STANTON,
Sec. of War.
FILE VI.
Detective work required an extension of territory--A flattering
endorsement by Colonel Porter--Introducing Christian Emmerich and
incidentally Charles E. Langley, a noted Confederate spy.
For the purpose of showing how I grew in the service I will ask you to
read each order carefully. Sometimes they explain themselves, sometimes
not.
Investigations started in the prisons required work to be done outside
the garrison, throughout Maryland and perhaps into Virginia, which would
carry me outside our post limits and required authority from Department
commanders. The Department comprised Maryland, parts of Delaware and
Virginia. The following personal letter was addressed to Colonel W. S.
Fish, Provost Marshal under General Schenck:
Headquarters, Fort McHenry,
Nov. 27, 1863.
Dear Colonel.--Our Assistant Provost Marshal, Lieut. Smith,
has got hold of a sloop and her Captain. He was to be examined
before you, but Smith says that McPhail's men have other and
earlier accounts to settle with him. I suggest this as you may
have a great deal to do and may prefer to transfer the case to
those already familiar with it.
Very truly,
P. A. PORTER,
Col. 8th N. Y. V. Arty.,
Com'd'g Post.
The following will show my progress in such matters:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, Dec. 23, 1863.
Lieut. H. B. Smith, Assistant Provost Marshal, Fort McHenry,
is hereby authorized to visit and search any house in the City
of Baltimore that he has good reason to believe contains Rebel
mail, or any treasonable matter.
By order,
W. S. FISH,
Col. and Provost Marshal General,
8th Army Corps.
My work at Fort McHenry absolutely required freedom to act outside.
Office Provost Marshal,
Fort McHenry, Jan. 8, 1864.
_Confidential._
Colonel Fish,
Provost Marshal, 8th Army Corps.
Dear Sir.--I am at last able to report that we have gotten
underway an underground correspondence between Trought and
Emmerich. At first the correspondence was unimportant (which
was, of course, policy for them), but now they have become
confidential. I, with some others, intend to enlist in the
Rebel service, but my plan is too long to explain here.
Now, Colonel, if you will drop a line to Colonel Porter,
asking him to allow me to organize a squad of reliable men,
say twelve or fifteen, and instruct them, whom we can call
upon at any time, we will guarantee to show some rich
developments inside of three weeks.
Emmerich is not alone but is connected with some of the
largest houses in Baltimore.
Trusting this will meet your approval, I am, Col.
Very resp'y,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. and Asst. Pro. Mar.
This was officially approved first by Colonel Fish, and then by Colonel
Porter.
Office Provost Marshal,
Fort McHenry, Jan. 26, 1864.
Col. P. A. Porter,
Commanding 2d Separate Brigade,
Defences of Baltimore.
I respectfully beg leave to lay before you the following and
ask for authority to proceed further.
Four recruits for the Rebel Army are in Baltimore, also two
Rebel officers. I want authority to follow them and make the
arrest when about to cross the Potomac, thus implicating all
the parties connected in recruiting for the Rebel Army in and
about Baltimore. I have it so arranged that it will be
impossible for them to get away from me, if I am allowed to
proceed. And as I have some more operations in process of
development, I would respectfully ask to have the authority
extended to cover them also.
I could make some of these arrests in Baltimore, but as it is
perfectly safe, by allowing them to get a little further, it
would make the case a still more fatal one for the parties
concerned.
I am, Colonel, Very Resp'y,
Your Ob'd't Serv't,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. and Asst. Pro. Mar.
The endorsement on the back of the above paper has always been a source
of gratification. No man from New York State was ever more highly
esteemed than Colonel Porter. He was talked of for Governor. A brave,
true, and generous man, loved by all. He was killed at Cold Harbor,
leading his regiment. His body was dragged back to our lines in the
darkness of the night.
Headquarters, 2d Separate Brigade,
Defences of Baltimore.
Jan. 26, 1864.
I approve of the proceedings of Lieut. Smith, who has my
entire confidence as an upright and skillful officer. I have
referred him to the Provost Marshal for advice, instruction,
and authority.
P. A. PORTER,
Col. 8th N. Y. V. Arty.,
Commanding 2d Separate Brigade.
On the same day the application was approved at Department Headquarters.
The centre around which this recruiting and other disloyal schemes
revolved was one Christian Emmerich, a fashionable shoemaker on South
Gay Street. His place was a convenient centre for all important
Confederate sympathizers. His residence was in a fashionable part of the
city. We were entirely successful, capturing the whole party, including
a conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, who was caught
transporting these recruits, well knowing their character. We
simultaneously seized the Christian Emmerich store on South Gay Street,
and his residence; in the latter we found much incriminating evidence,
such as orders for Confederate uniforms, gold braid, buttons and
Confederate letters. Emmerich was not a common mender of "old soles,"
but was the shoemaker to the bon-ton of Baltimore. We entirely destroyed
the Confederate recruiting business conducted through that channel.
I have a photograph of the conductor referred to, taken together with
his pal or partner, who was a spy. The spy's name was Charles E.
Langley. I will tell you all about him and his mysterious backing when I
come to my regular work in December, 1864, where his statement is
printed.
FILE VII.
Investigator's education--I branded E. W. Andrews, adjutant general to
General Morris, a traitor to the colors.
In our prison were confined prisoners of all classes, Confederate
officers, spies, blockade-runners, pirates, civil and political
prisoners. Our office was the reception room where these persons
interviewed their "sympathizers," much of such interviewing taking place
in my presence. Their mail passed through our hands, what better place
could there have been to develop an "investigator?"
War Department,
Washington, Feb. 27, 1864.
General Morris, commanding at Fort McHenry, will allow Mr. W.
G. Woodside to see Thomas I. Hall and ---- Baylor, Rebel
prisoners confined there. General Morris will be present at
the interview.
By order of the Secretary of War.
(Signed) C. A. DANA,
Asst. Secy. of War.
This was endorsed:
To the Provost Marshal:
You will allow Mr. W. G. Woodside, the bearer of this, to see
the prisoners mentioned within, Hall and Baylor. Lieut. Smith
will be present at the interview.
(Signed) P. A. PORTER,
Col. 8th N. Y. V. Arty.,
Commanding-Brigade.
Fort McHenry,
Feb'y 28, 1864.
Baltimore, Feb'y 15, 1864.
Sir.--Will you be kind enough to deliver the joined letter to
Jules Klotz, a French subject, detained at Fort McHenry. He
wrote to me to direct my letters to yourself.
I should be very obliged to you to let me know the reasons why
he has been arrested and his true situation towards the
American government.
Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) A. SAUVAN,
French Vice Consul.
To Mr. SMITH,
Lieutenant, Fort McHenry.
You will see by these documents that my survey of prisoners and their
letters was always by authority and not merely to gratify my own
curiosity.
The Adjutant General is the confidential reliance of a commanding
officer. General Morris was advanced in years and depended implicitly on
his Adjutant General, Captain E. W. Andrews. I branded Andrews _a
traitor to the colors_. It was a serious position for a subaltern to
assume, but I had the evidence to substantiate the charge. In searching
the house of one Terrence R. Quinn, a noted blockade-runner, then a
prisoner in Fort McHenry, I found evidence that Andrews was a partner in
his crimes. And I found that my predecessor, the former Assistant
Provost Marshal, was also incriminated; then it became easier for me to
understand how so many prisoners had been allowed to escape (as many as
sixty-five in one night). Later on I will have two more references to
Andrews, which will explain what became of him.
Andrews was a man of brains. He started in life, I believe, as a
minister of the gospel, then turned to law. By his suavity and
impudence, he gained control of General Morris. The post was important
because it carried so great a number of prisoners. Andrews had his son
made Provost Marshal, and the escapes of prisoners by one means or
another, were made so easily that the scandal of it had appeared in many
Southern newspapers. When I finally imprisoned Andrews on General
Sheridan's order, in his half intoxicated condition he admitted his
Confederate sympathies.
FILE VIII.
Initial trip down Chesapeake Bay after blockade runners and contraband
dealers and goods, incidentally introducing Terrence R. Quinn, George G.
Nellis, and E. W. Andrews, Jr.--A description of a storm on the
Chesapeake.
My initial trip down the Chesapeake Bay after blockade-runners was made
under the following order:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Mch. 22, 1864.
Special Order No. 73.
2d Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th Regt. N. Y. Artillery, is hereby
ordered to proceed down the Eastern shore, Virginia, and
arrest ---- Jacobs (citizen) and such other persons as may be
found in company with him. If Lieut. Smith has reason to
believe that they are engaged in the practice of smuggling or
running the blockade, and seize all contraband goods in their
possession.
Lieut. Smith will seize and hold the following named vessels,
viz.: Schooners "Trifle," "Frances E. Burgess," "Despatch,"
"Washington," and "Glib," wherever he may find them, and will
convey them to the nearest place of safety within our lines.
Lieut. Smith will assume command of the steam tug placed at
his disposal by orders from this office, and having
accomplished the object of this order will return to this
city, and make immediate report to the Commanding General.
Lieut. Smith is permitted to use his discretion as to the
disposition of the vessels named in case of emergency. By
command of
Major General LEW WALLACE,
(Signed) SAM'L B. LAWRENCE,
Asst. Adj. Gen'l.
Quinn, the prisoner referred to above was out on parole and was thus
able to pursue his business. He was in the habit of purchasing much of
his supplies from a certain ship chandler on Pratt street, a friend of
mine, and, in fact, a good Union man, who so concealed me in his
premises that I learned much of Quinn's plans from his (Quinn's) own
mouth; and this order was to enable me to develop the matters he had
disclosed.
Blockade running, mail carrying and "spy" carrying, along the Potomac
and Chesapeake, was carried on in such a cute manner as to necessitate a
peculiar service to meet and stop it. Gunboats nor troops could baffle
it; it was done in skiffs, canoes (called cunnas), small sail boats
with dirty sails hardly to be seen in broad day light. These little
"creepers" would run right up under the bows of gunboats unnoticed; as
soon as shore was touched, if a plug was pulled out of the bottom of a
boat it would immediately and entirely submerge itself, until wanted for
use again.
The price for carrying one person across the river was fifty dollars in
gold, which tempted to the business the most dare devil men on either
side of the line. As to merchandise, the plan was to "work" the local
storekeepers, for in the North it was perfectly legitimate to allow all
the merchandise desired to go to the line just on the borders of
territory patrolled by us, which might be only an hour's sail with fair
wind to put it at night within the reach of the Confederates. These
stores were not in villages, as was the case further north, but were
isolated, very frequently on a cross road in the woods.
Oystering was a favorite cloak for blockade-runners. Sometimes vessels
of little value (three hundred dollars or so) were loaded in Baltimore
with goods and purposely _swamped_ on the south side of the river to
allow the Confederates to confiscate. I was "on the inside" once when a
Captain was offered fifteen thousand dollars to allow his vessel to be
loaded and to permit its destruction when in reach of the Confederates.
There was some delay in the preparation of my written report which
caused anxiety at headquarters, which was expressed in the following:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Apl. 5, 1864.
Colonel.--I am directed by Major General Wallace to request
you to inform him what is the latest information you have
concerning Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. Arty., who was sent
with a squad of men on the 22d ult. to make certain seizures.
Please state near what point he was last known to be.
Resp'y your ob'd't serv't,
SAM'L B. LAWRENCE,
A. A. G.
To Col. Porter,
Com'd'g 2d Sep. Brigade.
The above I find among my papers. I cannot understand it in view of the
fact that I reported March 30th (see following), and was appointed Chief
of the Secret Service by General Wallace on April 3d. The years are many
since then and it is hard to remember details, but my present theory is
that as General Wallace had but recently assumed command, the Adjutant
General's office was in confusion. "I am directed by Major General
Wallace" is the usual language for an _Adjutant General_ to use; at any
rate my report is dated March 30th, and I was interviewed by General
Wallace on April 2d, this I clearly remember.
Fort McHenry, Mch. 30, 1864.
To the General Commanding,
8th Army Corps, Middle Department.
General.--I have the honor to report that in compliance with
Special Order No. 73, Mch. 22, 1864, I proceeded with a guard
of 12 men on board the steam tug "Adriatic," but on account of
the weather did not leave until the morning of the 23d.
I was alongside the Cutter (Revenue) and notified the officer
commanding to arrest any of the vessels named in my order. I
was afterwards hailed, and ran back to the Cutter again, and
learned that the schooner "Frances E. Burgess," Capt. J. J.
Lewis, had left just one-half hour before. On the morning of
the 22d, she came in and just touched at the wharf,
immediately dropping out in the stream. This last fact,
connected with the previous one, also the fact that Quinn was
much worried about the "F. E. B." led me to believe that the
"Burgess" was not all right, and that Captain Lewis had
learned of my moves and had attempted to evade me. I made
chase for her.
At Hill's Point (below the Choptank river) I arrested the
schooner "Trifle," and took her in tow to Point Lookout. By
her papers she is with bonds given by E. R. Quinn, T. R.
Quinn, and George G. Nellis, stated in her license, dated
Feb'y 3, 1864. Her enrollment dated Feb'y 3d, 1864, shows that
T. R. Quinn, master, is a citizen of the United States, and
had sworn to it, when he was then on his parole as being a
British subject.
Her crew consisted of Captain Seward, Farrell, Reddick,
Zervicks, and Bailey, deck hands. Captain Seward has
acknowledged that he ran the blockade, and that he was in
Richmond about last Christmas, but did not go on this vessel.
I believe the balance of the crew are innocent men. I found
Bailey to be of great service to me on the balance of my trip.
I remained at Point Lookout on the night of the 23d. On the
24th, went up to St. Mary's river for a harbor, on account of
a heavy blow. On the evening of the 24th, I started for and
arrived at Pocomoke Sound (Accomac), where we remained that
night. On the 25th, went into Onancock Creek, where I landed
with eight men, and sent the Steamer around to the Pungateague
river to wait for us. In the evening we arrived at the house
of one T. W. Jacobs, on the sea side. We entered and searched
his house; next morning we learned our error, and although he
is undoubtedly a Rebel, I released him.
We then made our way to the house of one William E. Jacobs,
on the bay side, where we arrived at 3 P. M., on the 26th. At
this place I found the schooner "Frances E. Burgess"--Captain
Lewis. I arrested Mr. Jacobs, and found him to be the man
engaged with Quinn. I searched his house and barns but found
nothing contraband, as they had been duly warned by the
arrival of the "Burgess."
Captain Lewis stated that he left Baltimore on the 11th of
March, and arrived at Accomac Creek on the 14th, and said that
was his last trip. Mr. Jacobs made same statement.
Captain Lewis was arrested about last June, about the same
time that Quinn was arrested. He said that he was caught in
the act of leaving the Eastern shore with contraband goods and
that his intention was to run the blockade; he said he was
examined by Captain E. W. Andrews, and afterwards released
after taking the oath of allegiance.
Both Jacobs and Lewis say that Lieut. Andrews, Capt. Andrews'
son, was to go into business on the Eastern shore; that they
engaged two stores for the purpose, but that Andrews did not
come down there.
Mr. Jacobs said that Quinn had often remarked that he could
get anything done at Fort McHenry with the Adjutant General.
At first both Jacobs and Lewis denied all knowledge of any man
named Andrews.
Jacobs said that J. J. Hodge (the writer of some of the
letters found in Quinn's possession) was arrested on the
Eastern shore about the same time that he and Quinn were, on
the charge of attempting to go south; said that he heard Quinn
speak of letters that he had from Hodge, but did not know
their contents. Quinn was the first man that employed him
(Lewis) after his release, and said it was Quinn's own seeking
(to employ a man of that character appears rather suspicious).
The creek where we found the "Burgess" is one that no steamer
can enter, or even a sailing vessel, unless piloted by an old
residenter of that neighborhood. The creek is very crooked and
the channel is very narrow.
All the people about that country seem to be very closely
united and watch a stranger's movements very closely. On the
evening of the 27th, we left this creek with the schooner, and
on the afternoon of the 28th, we arrived in the Pungateague,
and started on the steamer, towing the schooner for Point
Lookout, where we arrived at 9 P. M.
On the morning of the 29th we left the Point with the two
schooners, but afterwards let go the "Burgess," and sent her
up under sail to Baltimore, where she arrived at 4 P. M.,
after encountering a very heavy sea. We arrived here at 9.20
P. M.
I could find nothing of the schooners' "Despatch" or "Glib," I
made many inquiries for the schooner "Washington," but could
not find her.
On our way back to the city Captain Seward, of the "Trifle"
said that there was a sign "Washington" painted on it, in the
hold of the "Trifle," which I afterwards found to be true. I
think by the actions of all connected, that "Washington" was
sometimes substituted for "Trifle"; this sign was hid away and
only by accident found.
Both the "Burgess" and "Trifle" have been confiscated before,
two or three times.
I have this day been on the Cutter, twice, to ascertain to a
certainty if the "Burgess" left on the 23d inst., and the
officers say they will swear she passed out on that day; that
she was in here I know. I then went to the Custom House and
found that she did not enter or clear on that trip but left
without any papers, and did not stay in Port over 24 hours.
I have the honor to be,
Very respy. your obdt. servt,
(Signed) H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. 5th N. Y. II. A.
Lieutenant Andrews and George G. Nellis, "tied up" to Quinn and Lewis,
the blockade-runners, had been, respectively, Provost and Assistant
Provost Marshals at Fort McHenry, prior to the assignment of Captain
Holmes and myself to those offices.
It pleases me to note how vivid my memory is, after forty-seven years,
of the incidents connected with this expedition. Our party of eight,
after landing in Accomac, split up, and straggled over the country about
ten miles, through fields and timber, in snow and slush nearly ankle
deep, avoiding the highways and stopping only at negro huts to inquire
our way. We arrived at T. W. Jacobs' house quite late and began our
search; right here I want to say our search was orderly, endeavoring not
to unnecessarily annoy.
About midnight a great commotion was raised outside the house by the
tramping of horses, rattling of sabres, and loud voices. We were
surrounded by a troop of cavalry (our cavalry). They were very excited,
and they threatened us with everything, until I took the Commandant
aside and made him aware of who we were; even then he soundly upbraided
me for giving him such a scare. He finally departed.
The next day we went over to the Chesapeake Bay side of the peninsula.
When we arrived there we divided into two parties, in order to approach
the harbor from two directions. When we arrived on the bluff (about
twenty feet above water) my party of four was first to discover that
there were a number of sailing vessels at anchor in the little bay.
What to do was the question. I determined that we four must capture the
whole fleet. Which we did in this way: As quietly as possible we
possessed ourselves of one vessel and from it, under the persuasive
influence of our revolvers, we compelled the men on all the other
vessels to go below deck. Then we searched the vessels in detail,
detaining only the "Frances E. Burgess."
This harbor was an ideal place for such "traders," i. e.,
blockade-runners. It was perfectly land-locked, could not be seen from
the bay, and was very hard to get in or out of; it was impassable for
gunboats, and so it was well chosen for the business.
The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are indented almost continuously
with smaller estuaries, which make excellent hiding places. Beautiful
places for residence, and likely spots for romance.
While laying at Point Lookout on our way home a severe March storm came
up, dreadful to a land lubber like me. The point is where the Potomac
empties into the Chesapeake. Storms are felt there nearly as greatly as
at Old Point. It blew so hard I feared it would blow us over onto the
wharf. The water was up to the wharf's surface, and there was no sleep
for us that night. Next morning, when we started for Baltimore (ninety
miles away), as we were rounding the Point a big boiling sea took the
yawl of the "Burgess," davits and all, throwing it high in the air. But
to turn back spelled death. Our pilot was Captain Cannon, an old bay
pilot. He did not conceal that he was frightened. He said he never had
seen such weather. We breasted that storm for about twelve hours. The
only encouragement from Captain Cannon was that if our boat could live
until we got under the influence of North Point we would be all right;
we lived.
The heavens were never more unkind in appearance. I did not spend much
time in gazing that way, for the awful waves occupied me. Captain Cannon
kept the vessel as near head on as possible, first on top of the wave
and then in a trough of the sea. Half the time our screw was revolving
in the air. Everything loose on deck washed away. I never had a better
chance to contemplate my past and future than in that twelve hours. I
remember my great regret was that if we should go down, no one could
know what became of us, for I had not reported at Point Lookout and we
were unknown on the peninsula. The severity of this storm became a
matter of history. Seagoing steamers remained tied to their wharves. The
shores of the Chesapeake Bay were strewn with wrecks. The "Adriatic"
(our vessel) was iron bottomed and drew six feet of water. The
Chesapeake can kick up a sea, give it a northeaster, that would gratify
the most hungry tar.
When we were opposite the mouth of the Severn river we saw the steamer
"Nellie Pentz" headed out, her bow tossing up and down in the air like a
cork. She did not dare come out, to certain wreck, dared not turn
around, so she backed up the river again. When we got under the lee of
North Point I became courageous and generous; off towards the west was
in view a schooner, on the rocks. Her crew of four men were in the
rigging. I proposed to Captain Cannon to rescue them. He said it was
impossible, as our boat drew more water than theirs and would be wrecked
before we could reach them. However, we notified the revenue cutter and
they were rescued. When we arrived at Baltimore (nine o'clock P.M.) the
wharves were afloat. The big Bay Line steamers, sea-going vessels, had
not left the wharf. They had not dared to venture out in the storm our
little eighty-foot craft had passed through.
[Illustration: MAJOR GENERAL M. W. LEW WALLACE]
FILE IX.
General Wallace assumes command of the Middle Department--General
Schenck's comments on Maryland--Colonel Woolley.
General Wallace assumed command of the Middle Department, 8th Army
Corps, March 22d, 1864. The Department headquarters were located in a
large mansion on the northwest corner of Calvert and Fayette Streets,
just opposite Battle Monument. I can give no better description of the
Department than to quote General Schenck, who formerly commanded there,
in his words to General Wallace:
"Your trouble will have origin in Baltimore. Baltimore viewed socially
is peculiar. There is more culture to the square block there than in
Boston; actual culture. The question of the war divided the old
families, but I was never able to discover the dividing line. Did I put
a heavy hand on one of the Secessionists, a delegation of influential
Unionists at once hurried to the President and begged the culprit off.
The most unfortunate thing in connection with the Department and its
management is that it is only a pleasant morning's jaunt by rail from
Baltimore to Washington. There is another thing you should know, without
being left to find it out experimentally, Baltimore is headquarters for
a traffic in supplies for the Rebel armies the extent of which is simply
incredible. It is an industry the men have nothing to do with. They know
better, and leave it entirely to the women, who are cunning beyond
belief, and bold on account of their sex. They invent underground lines,
too many and too subtly chosen to be picked up by the shrewdest
detectives."
General Wallace exactly "fitted the niche," a soldier, lawyer,
statesman, and an even tempered man. He so ably administered the
Department as to overcome all obstacles. One permanent order was that
every prisoner should have a hearing at once. If evidence would stand
law, the prisoner was to be held; if not, to be at once released. The
Paine case is an apt illustration. I felt sure I could get evidence that
he was a spy, but had it not at hand and so had to let him go (I will
tell about this later on). There was never a suit for false arrest
during General Wallace's administration.
One of my duties was to collate the evidence in cases for trial. I
learned what was evidence. I was a witness almost constantly before
courts martial and military commissions. It was good experience for me
and it has served me ever after in civil life. I am proud to say (but
perhaps ought not to) that General Wallace gave me credit for aiding in
his able administration of the Department.
No better man could have been found for Provost Marshal General than
Colonel Woolley. He was a soldier and a thorough business man.
The Provost Marshal General's Department was located on the southwest
corner of Camden and Eutaw Streets. It was in a handsome three-story
brick building and had a massive marble entrance. Adjoining it was what
had formerly been a slave pen. Between the corner building and the slave
pen there was an open court which had been used for the slave mart. The
slave pen we used for our prison purposes. The first floor of the main
house was used as our public offices. The second floor was General
Woolley's headquarters. The third floor was my headquarters. In the rear
of the main front corner building was a three-story brick extension,
running back about a hundred feet (to an alley) in which were quartered
the troops (our guards). The buildings were admirably constructed and
centrally located for our purposes.
From now on I was Assistant Provost Marshal General and Chief of the
Secret Service. I had a corps of about forty (men and women) under my
direction. To illustrate my general lines of work I will give copies of
some memoranda which I have. To give all would take more room than I can
spare. In looking these memoranda over the greatest gratification I
feel comes from the evident fact that I was not a drone, but tried to do
my duty. And fifty years further along in our nation's history it may be
a satisfaction to my then living relatives to know it.
[Illustration: JOHN WOOLLEY]
FILE X.
Here begins my service as an assistant provost marshal of the department
and chief of the Secret Service--Confederate General Winder's detectives--
E. H. Smith, special officer, War Department--Mrs. Mary E. Sawyer,
Confederate mail carrier--W. V. Kremer's report on the "Disloyals" north
of Baltimore.
The Secret Service, as its name implies, is the most confidential arm of
the service. Its information intelligently guides the commanding
general. It gives him to know of the conduct of the enemy and discloses
weaknesses, if any exist, in his own armour. There is always a "cloud of
mystery" thrown around it by outsiders. But its pursuit, on the inside,
is not that of romance, but simply of cold facts; it deals with business
propositions. In telling my stories, not being a story writer, I shall
tell plain facts, leaving the reader to clothe them with the glamour
that a fiction writer would usually apply. Were I to attempt to tell
something of all my many stories it would weary a reader; so I will try
to select some that are really historic, or interesting from their
unusual character.
Provost Marshal's Office,
Fort McHenry, Apl. 10, 1864.
Lieut. H. B. Smith,
Asst. Provost Marshal 8th Army Corps.
I have just been informed by Mrs. Myers that a detective of
General Winder's staff from Richmond, Virginia, is in the city
in disguise.
Respy.,
J. W. HOLMES,
Capt. and Provost Marshal.
General J. H. Winder commanded the Department of Henrico, headquarters
at Richmond, Va. Many of his detectives were Marylanders, among them
were John Lutz, Wash Goodrich, T. Woodhall, ---- Taylor, and William
Byrne.
I perfectly imitated General John H. Winder's signature to passes which
we used with success. I had a close imitation of his stationery; only an
expert could detect our passes. If he is living I am sure he will pardon
the liberty I took, for it was all in the game.
Following is one of General Winder's genuine passes:
Headquarters, Department of Henrico,
Richmond, Va., March 26th, 1864.
Mrs. James Gordon & (3) children, a citizen of Great Britain,
having sworn, in good faith, not to reveal, either directly
or indirectly, any information that may benefit the enemy, is
hereby permitted to pass beyond the limits of the Confederate
States, by the route herein designated: and none other.
Strictly forbid to pass through General Lee's lines. Go by the
lower Rappahannock.
This passport is given, subject in all cases to the approval,
delays and restrictions of military commanders through whose
lines the persons or person may pass.
By command of the Secretary of War,
JNO. H. WINDER,
General Comdg.
Hair: light
Eyes: blue.
Age: 33.
Complexion: florid.
Height: ----
Our sources of information were numerous, as our own officers were
always on duty, and officers in other departments worked in conjunction
with us, thus forming an extended net work.
Baltimore, April 14, 1864.
Lt. Smith,
Sir.--I am very unfortunate in always coming when you are out.
How has Kremer progressed with the case, anything been done? I
go to Washington per order of the Secretary of War. I am
obliged to go to New York within two weeks. I wish the case
here might be disposed of before I go to New York. Would you
oblige me by writing P. O. Box 62, Washington?
Very respy, your obdt servt.,
E. H. SMITH,
Special Officer, War Dept.
The following is Kremer's report of progress:
United States Military Telegraph,
War Department,
April 17, 1864.
H. B. Smith:
Two men answering description but under different names left
here for Leonardtown on the 16th. Shall I follow? If so,
answer and send White.
W. V. KREMER.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
April 22, 1864.
Special Order No. 43.
Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. Arty., will proceed to
Washington with Mrs. Mary E. Sawyer, Rebel mail carrier, turn
her over to Supt. of Old Capitol Prison, taking receipt for
prisoner. Will then deliver to Hon. C. A. Dana, Asst. Secy. of
War, all the papers in her case, after which he will report
without delay at these headquarters.
Quartermasters will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Lew Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Col. and Provost Marshal.
Persons were not disturbed in the enjoyment of their opinions so long as
they did not become actively disloyal, but it was my duty to learn who
were disloyal for the purpose of keeping them under surveillance. The
following report I put in to illustrate that character of work:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, Apl. 24, 1864.
H. B. Smith,
Lieut. and Chief:
I have the honor to report that I left Baltimore as per orders
and proceeded to Reisterstown and stopped at a tavern and was
accosted by a citizen who told me there were detectives in the
house, and that he knew I was from the other side, and sent me
to a woman named Mrs. Hofman, who keeps a hotel there. I went
to her house and represented myself as a Rebel captain.
I had been there a short time when Mrs. Hofman took me
upstairs in a bedroom that was in the back part of the house
and told me if the detectives came upstairs, to get out of the
back window and take a horse that she would have saddled ready
for me; she said she did not care for the horse as the
citizens would make it up to her.
The detectives did not come upstairs, but a man named C. L.
Alder came up to the room and told me to get ready and come
down stairs, that he had a buggy ready to see me safe and that
he would die before I should be taken and that he had helped
many of the Rebels out of just such scrapes by taking them to
the Rebel lines.
We went about a mile and a half from Reisterstown and stopped
at the house of Dr. J. Larsh, and held a conversation with him
and another man that I could not learn the name of; about the
best plan for me to adopt was to keep away from the
detectives; he, the Doctor, told me that he was very busy or
he would take me safe through himself, but told Alder to take
me to Charles T. Cockey's, and that he would see me all right.
We then went to C. T. Cockey's and Alder explained to him who
I was and Mr. Cockey then introduced me to John C. Brown, of
Busson Parish, La., and lately manager of the Rebel Secretary
of War's plantation. Mr. Cockey told me to remain there all
night and he would see me safe, as he was engaged in the
business ever since the war commenced, and had run off a great
many men to the Rebel army; in fact he said that men from all
parts of the country were sent to him to take across the
lines, and that he always went into the Rebel lines with them.
Among the rest that he had taken across was Capt. Simms and
Capt. Beard and Gus Williamson. He said when General McClellan
was following Lee into Maryland, a man came to him from
Washington and gave him the number of men that McClellan had,
and the direction he was going to take, and that he went to
Frederick, and gave the information to Lee; and would, he
said, do so again, if it would do any good to the Southern
cause.
Cockey receives papers regularly from Richmond. He also said
that Capt. Harry Gilmor stops at his house whenever he comes
over the lines, and that a great many men from the South come
to his house, and he always helps them. I remained at his
house all night, and listened to him and John C. Brown cursing
the government for everything they could think of, and telling
what they would do if the Rebel army would come into Maryland
again. C. T. Cockey was also engaged at the time of Lee's raid
into Pennsylvania; he took men to the Rebel army and was in
the Rebel lines several times, and gave them all the
information that he could get hold of that would do them any
good.
Mr. J. C. Brown gave me the name of his brother, Benj. F.
Brown, of Frederick, Md., agent for the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Co., and in charge of the government warehouse which
he surrendered to the Rebels without endeavoring to destroy
the goods, or to get them out of the way. J. C. Brown told me
to go to his brother and let him know who I was and everything
would be right, and that he would meet me there with a lot of
recruits, and a Rebel mail to take south.
The next day, 21st April, I expressed a wish to go into
Pennsylvania for a few days, and promised to meet Mr. Brown in
Frederick. Mr. C. T. Cockey took me in his buggy to T. D.
Cockey of "I" at Ellingown, near Texas, on the Northern
Central Railroad, where I met T. D. Cockey, of "I".
T. Deye Cockey and Philip Fendel, who are violent Rebels, say
they have been running men off ever since the war commenced.
And T. Deye Cockey says that he has been in the Rebel lines
several times, and at one time took three recruits from
Harford County to Hanover Junction, when the Rebels were
there, and gave them all the information he could.
Richard Worthington, a very wealthy man, whom I met, offered
me a horse, and any assistance in his power, to enable me to
escape, and stated that he had rented his farm out, and was
endeavoring to get his property fixed in such a way that the
damned negro government could not confiscate it. He was going
to leave the damned Yankees and go to Canada, and from there
to Nassau, and take a vessel and go to the Confederacy, where
he would be free to do as he pleased. He said he had invested
a portion of his money in Confederate bonds, and only wished
he had a chance to invest more in them, as the greenbacks, or
Yankee shinplasters were not worth a damn.
These men were under the impression that I was the Rebel Capt.
Harry Thompson, who, as it was published, had made his escape
from a Federal prison. I told them I had escaped from the Old
Capitol.
Very respy.,
WM. V. KREMER,
U. S. D. 8th A. C.
You will notice Mr. Kremer speaks of T. D. Cockey of "I." That is a
common way in Maryland and Virginia to designate the lineage of that T.
D. Cockey, to obviate confounding him with some other T. D. Cockey.
Later on, in July, when the Confederate Army swung around north and east
of Baltimore, the information contained in Mr. Kremer's report became
very valuable to us.
FILE XI.
Mrs. Key Howard, a lineal descendant of the author of "The Star Spangled
Banner," forgetting her honor, prepared to carry a Confederate mail to
"Dixie"--Miss Martha Dungan--Trip on the steam tug "Ella"--Schooner "W. H.
Travers" and cargo captured--James A. Winn, a spy--Trip to Frederick,
Maryland.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Apl. 28, 1864.
Special Order No. 48.
Lieut. H. B. Smith, Chief Officer, Secret Service Bureau, 8th
Army Corps, will proceed to Washington, D. C., in charge of
prisoners, Miss Martha Dungan and Mrs. Key Howard.
On arrival you will deliver prisoners to Mr. Wm. P. Wood, in
charge of Old Capitol Prison and receive receipt for same,
after which you will report to Hon. C. A. Dana, Asst. Secy. of
War, deliver all papers in prisoners' cases and return to
these headquarters without delay.
Quartermasters will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Lew Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
Here is a sad incident illustrating what Hamlet meant when he said: "To
what base uses may we return, Horatio!" Mrs. Key Howard, a lineal
descendant of Francis Scott Key, author of the "Star Spangled Banner,"
having obtained a personal pass direct from Mr. Lincoln, permitting her
to pass our lines, had actually gathered a Confederate mail, to carry
through, under its protection. Honor of a truly "Blue Blood?"--it was
absent.
The pass was written on a plain card, and read:
Pass Mrs. Key Howard through the lines.
A. LINCOLN.
I might have retained the card, but turned it in with the case. Mrs.
Howard, in discussing with me the lack of honor in so abusing a great
favor, became very angry; she said: "Lincoln was vulgar, not a polished
man; he sat with legs crossed while talking to me." Young and
inexperienced as I was, I was so forcibly struck with the shallowness of
_pretended culture_ that I have many times told the story to illustrate.
I have no doubt that Mrs. Howard traded upon her family name with
President Lincoln. He undoubtedly trusted her, believing that she had
honor in her composition.
Blockade running schemes were without limit as to variety or manner of
evasion. Vessels were loaded in Baltimore, clearing for any port.
Trading schooners were loaded, taking shipments for various stores on
the rivers and bays of the Chesapeake Bay; some of the shipments would
be honest transactions, but others would be especially designed for
Confederate consumption.
In April, 1864, the schooner "Wm. H. Travers" (Captain Rice) had been
under surveillance. She was loaded at Baltimore with a mixed cargo, part
of which was of honest shipments. I learned that it was intended to
swamp the vessel within reach of the Confederates, thus permitting them
to take the entire cargo regardless of ownership. I allowed its loading
and permitted the captain to leave port with her, but after she got well
down the stream I overhauled her with the steam tug "Ella," and brought
her back to Baltimore. Her cargo was worth about six thousand dollars.
Mr. Blackstone, of St. Mary's County, was the guilty party.
Depot, Quartermaster's Office,
Baltimore, Md., April 30, 1864.
Captain,
Steam Tug Ella:
You will proceed with your tug under the orders of Lt. H. B.
Smith, and render such service as he may require; after
performing those duties you will return to Boston wharf and
report to me.
Respectfully,
A. M. CUMMINGS,
Chief Quartermaster.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 4, 1864.
H. B. Smith,
Lt. Comdg. Detective Corps.
Lieutenant.--You will please order the guard in charge of the
schooner "W. H. Travers" to remove and put her in such
position at Boston Wharf as will not interfere with the
vessels in the government service at the wharf, and not to
interfere in any way with or be in the way of the vessels in
public service.
I have addressed a note to the Quartermaster asking to be
allowed the privilege of unloading the vessel at the wharf.
Very respy,
Your obdt. servt,
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 11, 1864.
Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report that I have completed the
discharge of the goods on board the schooner "W. H. Travers"
to the shippers, excepting those named on the enclosed list.
I enclose herewith all the papers in connection with the case,
two lists, one of goods not on the manifest, and one of goods
not permitted, but on the manifest. I also enclose a note from
Mr. McJilton, clerk of the Custom House, showing that some
transactions there in this case are not all right.
Mr. McJilton, the Surveyor of the Port, stated that he would
not grant a permit for percussion caps, unless by permission
of the military authorities. The impression at the Custom
House is that the whole transaction of shipping these goods is
a fraud, and they do not know what to think of their books and
papers.
I have a package of gold leaf in my possession, also two
Confederate uniforms. Some of the cotton cards I found stored
away in the cabin, and some away under the stairs. The second
box on the manifest, shipped by Bolton to R. P. Blackstone,
contained one box soap, and one box of glass. I have a
certificate from Bolton to that effect. Mr. Passano, who
shipped the box containing the glass, denies any knowledge of
the contents of the box, as it was a cash bill and he had no
record of it.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut Com'd'g, D. C.
We subsequently returned to the innocent shippers their goods, but
confiscated the balance, and also the vessel. I afterwards used the
"Travers" to capture other blockade runners, and quite successfully. A
sailor will recognize a vessel as far as the eye can reach, as surely as
a man can recognize any familiar object. She was known as a
blockade-runner to the fraternity; we used her to crawl upon others.
Any citizen or soldier from the Confederacy found within our lines was
considered a spy; some were executed. To escape such treatment it was
necessary to report to the nearest officer and take the oath of
allegiance. Even then we were not protected, but had to carefully
examine the purported refugee, or deserter, to ascertain their possible
honesty. We captured a great many spies.
An official spy, sent out by the Confederates to perform a specific
duty, had no conscience to answer to, that would prevent his taking our
oath.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore May 3, 1864.
Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report that this evening we
arrested James A. Winn, a member of Co. E. 1st Md. Rebel
Cavalry, in a house, No. 42 Saratoga street. He was dressed as
a citizen; under his coat, with the flaps rolled back, was his
uniform jacket. His coat was buttoned, thus hiding his
uniform. He wore a black slouch hat.
I placed the inmates of the house, Mrs. Hall and Miss McAlden
in arrest, and searched the premises.
Both of these ladies admitted they were aware of Winn's
character, and that their sympathies were with the South. I
found nothing contraband in the house. They live neatly, but
are evidently poor. Miss McAlden remarked that they were too
poor to aid the South even if they were so disposed.
I have a guard in charge of the house awaiting your
disposition of the case.
Messrs. Allen and Sampson, clerks at Department Headquarters,
are, I am informed, boarding at this house.
I am Colonel,
Very respy, your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. Com'd'g D. C.
The papers and pocketbook that I handed you were found on his
person.
Any incautious information dropped by Allen or Sampson was likely to be
immediately reported to the Confederate authorities. The Department was
honeycombed with just such points of insecurity, leaks which it was my
duty to stop.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 4, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Send a good detective to Frederick, Md. He may possibly get
track there of some of the 1st (Rebel) Maryland Spies. Send
him on the first train.
LEW WALLACE,
Major General Commanding.
The above order is in General Wallace's handwriting. Winn, whom we had
arrested, was of that regiment and we were searching for others.
FILE XII.
F. M. Ellis, chief detective, U. S. Sanitary Commission--Arrest of W. W.
Shore, of the New York "World"--John Gillock from Richmond.
United States Sanitary Commission,
244 F Street, Washington, D. C.
May 7, 1864.
Lieut. Smith.
Dear Sir.--Your favor was received in due time and after
diligent search I am satisfied that no such man is now in
Washington; however, I shall keep a close lookout, and any
information worth while, I shall give you at once.
When you have any business to be done here I shall esteem it a
favor to assist you.
Your obdt. servant,
F. M. ELLIS,
Chief Detective, U. S. Sanitary Com.
Mr. Ellis's offer of service was without price; in fact there was an
entire absence of what is called "commercialism" in those days. Loyalty
and zeal were the currency. After three and a half years in such
service it was hard for me to get down to a dollars-and-cents business
again.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 8, 1864.
Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report that Officer Horner
arrested William W. Shore, who is, or has been the
correspondent of the New York World and News. He says he left
Fort Monroe on Feb. 14, and used to forward Rebel papers to
New York, until he was ordered away by General Butler.
Enclosed herewith is the telegram on which he was arrested.
I am Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 14, 1864.
Special Order No. 40.
Guard in charge of John Gillock, political prisoner, will
proceed to Fort McHenry. On arrival you will report to
Commanding Officer, deliver charge with accompanying papers,
receive receipt and return to these headquarters without
delay.
By command, Major General Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
I remember this young man very well. He was from Richmond. Subsequently,
after testing his reliability, I made use of him for detective purposes.
He was well acquainted with General Winder's men, hence his value to
us.
FILE XIII.
Ordered to seize all copies of the New York "World," bringing in one of
the great war episodes, the Bogus Presidential Proclamation--Governor
Seymour's queer vigor appears.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 18, 1864.
Provost Guards,
or U. S. Detectives.
Seize all copies of the New York World of this date, that may
arrive from New York, or that you can find in the city.
By command, Major General Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
This order is innocent enough in its appearance, but it is really the
executive action upon a subject almost as vital in its effects as any of
the great battles of the war.
Under date of May 17th a proclamation, calling for four hundred thousand
more troops, purporting to be from President Lincoln, was issued, and
was published in certain papers; among them the New York "World". The
following is a copy:
Executive Mansion, May 17, 1864.
Fellow Citizens of the United States:
In all seasons of exigency it becomes a nation carefully to
scrutinize its line of conduct, humbly to approach the throne
of Grace, and meekly to implore forgiveness, wisdom, and
guidance.
For reasons known only to Him, it has been decreed that this
country should be the scene of unparalleled outrage, and this
nation the monumental sufferer of the nineteenth century. With
a heavy heart, but an undiminished confidence in our cause, I
approach the performance of a duty rendered imperative by my
sense of weakness before Almighty God and of justice to the
people.
It is not necessary that I should tell you that the first
Virginia campaign, under Lieut. General Grant, in whom I have
every confidence, and whose courage and fidelity the people do
well to honor, is virtually closed. He has conducted his great
enterprise with discreet ability. He has crippled their
strength and defeated their plans.
In view, however, of the situation in Virginia, the disaster
at Red river, the delay at Charleston, and the general state
of the country, I, Abraham Lincoln, do hereby recommend that
Thursday, the 26th day of May, A.D., 1864, be solemnly set
apart throughout these United States as a day of fasting,
humiliation and prayer.
Deeming, furthermore, that the present condition of public
affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, and in view of the
pending expiration of the service of (100,000) one hundred
thousand of our troops, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and
hereby do call forth the citizens of the United States between
the ages of (18) eighteen and (45) forty-five years, to the
aggregate number of (400,000) four hundred thousand, in order
to suppress the existing rebellious combinations, and to cause
the due execution of the laws.
And, furthermore, in case any State or number of States shall
fail to furnish by the fifteenth day of June next their
assigned quotas, it is hereby ordered that the same be raised
by immediate and peremptory draft. The details for this object
will be communicated to the State authorities through the War
Department.
I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid
this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the
existence of the National Union, and the perpetuity of popular
government.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city
of Washington, this 17th day of May, one thousand, eight
hundred and sixty-four, and of the independence of the United
States the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
This was immediately contradicted by the Government, as follows:
To the Public.
Department of State, Washington, D. C.
May 18, 1864.
A paper purporting to be a proclamation of the President,
countersigned by the Secretary of State, and bearing date of
the 17th inst. is reported to this Department as having
appeared in the New York "World" of this date. This paper is
an absolute forgery. No proclamation of this kind has been
made, or proposed to be made, by the President, or issued, or
proposed to be issued, by the State Department, or any other
Department of the Government.
WM. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
Under the head "Freedom of Press" Appleton's Encyclopedia for 1864
gives twelve columns of space to this matter. The excitement resulted in
the greatest distress. Gold advanced four or five per cent., a panic
prevailed, and great calamity, of course, followed.
Soon thereafter we seized every telegraph instrument and office record
in the Department, and arrested the officers and clerks. I became so
tired with the extraordinary labor and loss of sleep, that I actually
fell asleep while standing at a desk in one of the offices. I had heard
of such experiences, but had believed it impossible.
The object of seizing the newspapers, telegraphic instruments and
records, was to prevent the disaster that must follow the further
spreading of the impression created by the bogus message, that our
Government was in dire distress.
Copperhead conspirators and Confederate agents here and in Canada, had
been and were at work to undermine us by every means. Distress to us,
however brought about, was their purpose. They sought to create in the
minds of the masses the idea that the war was a failure.
These conspirators had tried to use the conscription, in 1863, to
disrupt us, and they were again trying to scare the people with a
prospective draft, in 1864, to unsettle the public mind before the
Presidential election, then soon to occur (in November).
Governor Seymour relentlessly pursued General Dix, seeking to have him
indicted for arresting (he claimed) illegally, persons party to the
fraud. But the grand jury refused to indict him. Seymour claimed that he
(Seymour) was trying to preserve _personal liberty_, from the general
government's encroachments, which was also his attitude in
Vallandigham's case in 1863.
The New York "World" and "The Journal of Commerce" were the newspapers
involved in the affair, but the odium should not attach to the present
papers.
The bogus proclamation spread faster and further than the denial of it
possibly could.
FILE XIV.
Arrest of F. W. Farlin and A. H. Covert--The Pulpit not loyal, reports on
Rev. Mr. Harrison and Rev. Mr. Poisal--Comical reports on a religious
conference and a camp meeting--Seizure of Kelly & Piet's store with its
contraband kindergarten contents--Sloop "R. B. Tennis" one of my fleet,
and an account of a capture of tobacco, etc.--Arrest of Frederick Smith,
Powell Harrison and Robert Alexander--Harry Brogden.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 21, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest of A. H.
Covert and F. W. Farlin, as per order annexed.
I have it from a reliable source that Mr. Alexander Civin went
to Philadelphia this morning, I therefore telegraphed to the
Provost Marshal there, for his arrest, and to send him under
guard to this place.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.
To discover persons engaged in creating sentiments of disloyalty, or in
pandering to such sentiments, was a part of our duty; the pulpit was not
always loyal.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 22, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report in regard to the sermons
of the Reverends Harrison and Poisal: Neither preached a
political sermon nor dealt in any way with the affairs of the
country, except in one or two instances Mr. Harrison spoke of
the present deplorable condition of affairs in this country
and seemed to be very much downcast in both preaching and
praying. He (Mr. H.) did not utter one word of prayer for our
President, Army or Government.
I know of Mr. Poisal's being a correspondent of some of the
Rebel prisoners in Fort McHenry.
At both sermons they had very slim audiences.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. and Chief.
On one occasion it was my duty to attend a State conference in one of
the churches; it was rather slimly attended. We were invited to come
nearer the altar, and I, with the rest, complied.
We were then asked to in turn arise and announce what district in the
State we represented, and report on its condition. I was embarrassed,
but kept my eye on the ceiling or on the floor. I presume my dumbness
excused me. The closing hymn was No. 701, on page 417, and the first
verse was:
"Jesus, great Shepherd of the sheep,
To thee for help we fly,
Thy little flock in safety keep,
For O! the wolf is nigh."
They were correct in the guess, about the wolf, but I did not say so out
loud.
A very laughable report was made to me by one of my officers who was
sent into the country to a meeting in the woods. This officer knew more
about guns than about religious meetings. He reported nothing disloyal
was said, but urged the necessity of going there next Sunday, as they
said: "they would have some big guns there then." The officer was used
to guns, and so he assumed that they meant cannons, whereas they were
referring to popular speakers who were to be present there the following
Sunday.
General Wallace was just the man to administer the affairs of a
department so complex in sentiment. No better illustration can be
furnished than the following circular letter issued to the churches at a
time when the public mind was so wrought up by the assassination of the
President. It is too fine a document to be lost. To the General's memory
I insert it here:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Md., April 19, 1865.
Circular.
The conduct of certain clergymen in this city has in some
instances, been so positively offensive to loyal people, and,
in others, of such doubtful propriety, to say nothing about
taste, as to have become a cause of bad feeling with many
well-disposed citizens.
As you must be aware, the recent tragedy, so awful in
circumstance, and nationally so calamitous, has, as it well
might, inflamed the sensibilities of men and women who esteem
their loyalty only a little less sacred than their religion.
In this state of affairs you will undoubtedly perceive the
wisdom of avoiding, on your own part, everything in the least
calculated to offend the sensibilities mentioned. You will
also perceive the propriety of requiring members of your
congregation, male and female, who may be so unfortunate as
to have been sympathizers with the rebellion, not to bring
their politics into the church.
So profound is my reverence for your truly sacred profession,
that, in the sincere hope of avoiding any necessity for
interfering with the exercise of your office, I choose this
method of respectfully warning you of the existing state of
public feeling, and calling upon you, in the name of our
common Savior, to lend me your influence and energetic
assistance, to be exerted in every lawful way, to soothe
irritations and calm excitements. You know that what I thus
request I have the power to enforce. You ought also to know
that, to save the community from the dishonor and consequences
of a public outbreak, it would be my duty to exercise all the
power I possess, without regard to persons or congregations.
If you feel that you cannot yourself comply with this
fraternal solicitation, or that you are unable to control
evil-disposed members of your flock, I suggest that it is
better, far better, in every respect, that you should close
the doors of your church for a season at least.
I have no fear that the kindliness of my purpose in thus
communicating with you will be mistaken; and that you may not
understand yourself as accused, or specially selected from the
mass of your professional brethren, you are informed that a
copy of this note has been or will be addressed to every
clergyman in the city.
Very respectfully,
Your friend,
LEW WALLACE,
Major General Commanding.
The firm referred to in the following two documents was one of the
largest stationers in the city. Their reputation for disloyalty was well
understood by us. An important part of their business was the
dissemination of articles which tended to have the kindergarten effect
of schools of disloyalty.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Md., May 23, 1864.
Lieut. H. B. Smith.
Sir.--We have the honor to report that this afternoon we went
into the book store of Kelly & Piet, No. 174 W. Baltimore
street, and told them that we were book agents on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and had just arrived from
Frederick City. We asked Mr. Piet if he had any books of
Abraham Lincoln Trials; he hesitated for a short time, then
told us that he had. We then asked him if he had any of the
Life of Jackson; he said he had a few, and said he would send
and get us some more in half an hour. He then showed us some
different books and also some playing cards with the
different Rebel Generals on the face of them, which he offered
to sell at $4.50 per dozen: also some writing paper and
envelopes with the Rebel Flag on, which we bought and you will
find the bill enclosed.
We are, Lieut., your obdt. servants,
I. W. STERN and
GEO. R. REDMAN, U. S. D.
The bill attached was $34.24.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 23, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report that I this day seized
and searched the store of Kelly & Piet, No. 174 West Baltimore
street, and enclosed hand you a list of contraband articles
seized. I also enclose the report of the detectives.
Mr. Piet states that he has been arrested before on a similar
charge.
I brought to our office Messrs. Kelly & Piet, but did not lock
them up. I have the key of their store in my possession.
I am Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.
List:
90 Assortments of photos. 212 total.
19 Vols. Morgan and His Men.
2 Vols. Life Stonewall Jackson.
1 Vol. 1st Year of the War.
4 Vols. 2nd Year of the War.
97 Pamphlets Trial Abraham Lincoln.
2 Vols. Rebel Rhymes.
4 Vols. Three months in Southern States.
5 Vols. Confed. Reports of Battles.
3 Vols. Southern History of the War.
1 Package note paper, Rebel flag.
1 Package envelopes, Rebel flag.
8 Steel Engravings, Rebel Generals.
57 Packages Playing Cards, Confed.
All of this was inflammable matter.
The Captain Bailey, spoken of in the succeeding report, was the same
Bailey that I captured in March previous. I had found him to be an
excellent sailing master, and a man whom I could trust. The sloop "R. B.
Tennis" was one of my fleet.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, May 28, 1864.
Major H. Z. Hayner,
Provost Marshal.
Major.--I have the honor to submit the following brief report
of the seizure made by sloop "R. B. Tennis," Capt. Bailey,
with three detective officers on board.
Enclosed I hand you report of Detective Lewis, who was placed
in charge, which report is not quite so full as it should be,
covering all remarks and acknowledgments made by the
prisoners.
I will state that they said several times that they were
blockade runners by occupation.
Enclosed is the statement made to me by Fred. E. Smith, who, I
think, is rather faint hearted in his profession.
Harrison acknowledged to have run the blockade several times,
but don't seem willing to talk much, as he thinks "he might
implicate some near and dear friends," he has talked a deal to
some of the officers, whose statements I shall get when they
return to the city.
Alexander refuses to talk, but I shall be able to get it all
out of them soon.
I received from Detective Lewis the following which he states
was all that was taken from the parties:
Gold and silver, $188.75.
U. S. Currency, $159.00.
Southern States money, $190.00.
Northern States money, $1.00.
1 gold watch.
1 silver watch.
23 large and 2 small boxes tobacco.
1 large yawl boat.
I have stored the tobacco in the store of W. W. Janney, a
receipt for which is annexed. The boat is in charge of guard
on board the schooner "Travers."
I will get fuller statements from all the detectives as soon
as possible, and give to you. The prisoners are Fred. E.
Smith, Powell Harrison and Robert Alexander.
I am, Major,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. and Chief.
Attached to this report is a memorandum of statements made to me:
Fredk. Smith:
"I am from Northumberland County, Va. I left Northumberland
County on Wednesday last. I was with Mr. Harrison and Mr.
Alexander, no one else with us. I am a citizen. I have been
about eight months in Va., all of that time in Northumberland
County. I was formerly from Caroline Co., Md. I started to
come North for clothes and things. I had some orders for goods
for families in Northumberland County, which I threw overboard
after we were hailed, also had twenty odd boxes tobacco.
Mr. Harrison has lived in Northumberland County since I have
been there, but has been north of the Potomac three or four
times.
I don't know much, of Mr. Alexander, except that he came from
Maryland with Mr. Harrison on one of his (Harrison's) trips.
I came over as a passenger with Harrison and Alexander. Some
of the tobacco belongs to me. I had about $250 in gold, and
about $100 or more in greenbacks, and $50 or $60 in Virginia
money. Had no particular point of destination. I was to pay
Harrison and Alexander $200 for my fare. I think they intended
to land on the Eastern shore, Md., or perhaps on Western
shore. I think Harrison and Alexander are blockade runners by
profession. They intended to return to Virginia. I think we
were about going into Choptank river. I think at about James
Point.
I started for Little River, Virginia. I think another party of
two or three started at about the same time; they had some
tobacco. I did not know their names; they were in a little
sloop, dark color. I saw them again about Point Lookout. I
think perhaps they had about two or three thousand pounds. The
sloop and sail looked rather old. It was Wednesday night that
I last saw the sloop. I think Mr. Harrison was over about
three or four weeks since."
Powell Harrison:
"Northumberland County, Virginia. I am a farmer, I have lived
there about three or four years. I have been north of the
Potomac three times since the War."
Robert Alexander:
(Made no statement.)
You will notice the brevity of Harrison's statement, and that Alexander
made no statement. Alexander and one other man, named Bollman (if I
remember right) were the only ones who defeated me in my efforts to
learn something about them from their own lips.
The tobacco was best Virginia plug, worth about one dollar per pound
(about three thousand dollars' worth). This little yawl (with a dirty
sail), worth about twenty or thirty dollars, was earning two hundred
dollars in one night in carrying Smith and his tobacco over.
As I said before, the Potomac was patrolled by gunboats, and the north
shore was garrisoned at many points with troops, yet these little
fellows would creep right in between them. My plan was to go equipped as
they were, and meet them on their level.
We did not consider the neck between the Potomac and the Rappahannock as
the enemy's country, yet the Confederates had a signal station on the
Potomac all through the war; it was in charge of Harry Brogden, whom I
knew. When I get along in my stories to June 30th, I will show you how
well it was understood in the Confederacy.
FILE XV.
General pass for the schooner "W. H. Travers"--Trip down the bay after
blockade runners and mail carriers--Gillock and Lewis, two of my officers,
captured by Union pickets--Commodore Foxhall A. Parker--Potomac flotilla--
Arrest of J. B. McWilliams--My watch gone to the mermaids--The ignorance
of "poor white trash."
To save delay in getting out of the harbor the following request was
made:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, June 9, 1864.
Capt. Cornell,
Commanding Revenue Cutter,
Baltimore Harbor.
Captain.--I have the honor to request that you permit the
schooner "W. H. Travers" under command of Lieut. Smith, to
pass your vessel without Custom Clearance. She is employed in
the Secret Service Bureau, 8th A.C.
Respy, your most obdt. servt.,
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 9, 1864.
Special Order No. 76.
Lieut. H. B. Smith with detachment of Secret Service Corps,
will proceed on schooner "W. H. Travers" to such points on
Eastern and Western shore of Maryland, Eastern and Western
shore of Virginia, and Southern and Northern shore of the
Potomac river, as he deems proper and necessary to further the
instructions of the Government.
By command of Major General Wallace,
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.
The chain of war vessels extending along the Potomac under the command
of Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, he having jurisdiction of the waters,
was known as the Potomac flotilla.
When I attempted to approach the Commodore on his flag ship I was, in my
raiment, a sight. The marines viewed me with curiosity. Upon introducing
myself to the Commodore, he laughed. His wife being present, also
enjoyed a laugh at my appearance. No "Johnny" ever looked more
dilapidated. I presented my orders for the Commodore's endorsement.
Headquarters, Cavalry Detachment,
District of St. Mary's.
Leonardtown, Md., June 16, 1864.
Lieut. H. B. Smith,
Chief Detective on board
schooner "W. H. Travers."
Some of my scouts last night arrested two men in a boat at the
head of Britton's Bay, who claim to be Government detectives,
and under your charge. If such is the case I desire that you
will in some manner identify them, as they have nothing with
them which would lead me to suppose them to be such.
These men give their names as John Gillock, and J. W. Lewis.
I shall hold these men in confinement until I am fully
satisfied of the truth of their statements.
I am, Sir, very respy, yours, &c.,
F. W. DICKERSON,
Lt. Comdg.
These were our boys and they were set at liberty of course. The
Lieutenant was doing perfectly right, as our appearance and conduct was
suspicious. Our plans always were to appear to be blockade-runners, so
we never carried on our persons any evidence of our true character. We
carried forged Confederate documents when we were going where it was
desirable. We could imitate General Winder's signature to passes,
defying detection, and we had the same kind of paper, a light brown.
The Confederate Government had poor stationery.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 23, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the following on the trip
on the schooner "W. H. Travers" down the Bay, and on the
Potomac river. I seized about three boxes tobacco (three
hundred dollars) on the farm of Mr. Evans, Smith's Creek, St.
Mary's County, Md, which he said was placed in his hay stack
by some blockade runners.
I got from the Provost Marshal at Leonardtown, St. Mary's
County, the canoe which was seized by Detective White sometime
since.
In the Wicomico river, near its mouth, we seized a small yawl
containing five men and one woman, who were on their way to
Virginia. Wm. H. Hayden owned the boat and was to receive
fifty dollars each for conveying the passengers over; he is
engaged in this business constantly. About one week since he
carried over two persons, one a Doctor; they were in the woods
a day or so before they started.
Hayden has been carrying a mail to and fro. A small package
of letters with a stone attached was found in the boat and I
presume they were in Mr. Hayden's charge, as in the letters
Mr. Hayden is mentioned as "carrying letters."
Wm. R. Horton, a passenger, was formerly in the Confederate
army; said he was going to return; says he applied in this
office for a position a short time since.
Wm. Gellatly and wife, passengers, were making their way to
Columbia, S. C., Mr. Gellatly says he came within our lines
early in April last, but did not report to any Provost
Marshal, as he did not wish to bind himself not to return. He
claims to be a British subject. They had a small trunk and
some other baggage. Both Gellatly and Horton say that they
made arrangements with Hayden in Chaptico, St. Mary's County.
I found in the trunk a small revolver. This arrest was made by
Detectives Horner and Stern, who were posted as a picket near
the mouth of the Wicomico.
There were two more men in the boat who succeeded in making
their escape in the dark, and whom all the other passengers
state were Confederate officers who had escaped from Point
Lookout, named Bruce and Howell. I am informed that one of
these parties left his horse with a Mr. Dent in Chaptico.
The yawl boat in which they were was very poor, worth about
five or six dollars, and I did not bring it to Baltimore as it
was not worth towing.
I took from Mr. Hayden a small gold watch. I also arrested Mr.
J. B. McWilliams on the charge of aiding Rebels, contraband
traders, &c., and of defrauding the Government. All of which I
will state in a separate report.
On the trip we have labored under many disadvantages. The
vessel is in no way fit for the business, being too large and
a miserable sailer. We could not get about as we ought, we had
but one day's fair wind during the whole trip. We started from
Wicomico river on Sunday at 3 P. M., and arrived in Baltimore
this P. M.
Mrs. Gellatly states that she tried to persuade her husband to
remain North but he would not and she was compelled to
accompany him. She came to this country about six months
since.
I could not get permission from Commodore Parker to enter
Virginia on account of the raid then being carried on, but he
said under any other circumstances he would give permission
and let a gunboat accompany me.
Hoping that my action in these matters will meet with your
approval,
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. and Chief.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, June 24, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to make the following report in the
case of J. B. McWilliams of Charles County, Md., whom I
arrested and brought to this prison.
While anchored in the Wicomico river on the trip down on the
schooner "W. H. Travers," W. H. Seward and myself took a small
yawl which we had captured from Wm. H. Hayden in attempting to
go South, and rowed up the Potomac river as far as Cobb creek.
We were hailed by McWilliams as we neared the shore at this
point, he saying, "I used to own that boat," asked us where we
were from. I refused to answer, but he said, "I am all right,
you need not fear me." We landed and went up into the bushes.
He advised us to remove the mufflers from the oars as they
could be seen from the gunboats and they would know
immediately that we were from Virginia. He informed us where
the soldiers were posted and how to avoid them, and advised us
to leave our boat on his shore as it was known and would not
be suspected, informed us of Grant's move on Fort Darling,
&c.; called our attention to an article in the Baltimore
Gazette which he said "done him good," and would do any
Southerner good.
He said he wanted to send some copies to Virginia as he knew
they would be so highly appreciated; wanted to write by us to
his son who was in the Confederate army; said he traded yawl
boat with Hayden about one week previous, when Hayden was on
his way to Virginia with two men, one of them a Doctor; said
he talked with these two men nearly all one day, and sent a
letter to his son by Hayden. He had sent his son a large
revolver and wanted to sell me a double barrelled gun to take
back with me to Virginia; said he had a full set of cavalry
accoutrements that he had been keeping, awaiting a chance to
saddle up and fight the Yankees.
He said he saddled his horse and started for Frederick to
assist when Jackson made his first raid but he could not get
through the lines. He said many times that the people of
Maryland only wanted a chance to turn on the Yankees. He said
Dr. Coon of Washington had a yacht in which he carried over as
many as three hundred to join the Confederates, from near his
place; he said he was much afraid of his negroes as they would
go and tell the Yanks all that was going on; he advised me to
watch the negroes especially on Sunday and advised us to
scatter about the woods.
He brought us three meals in the woods. He whipped one of his
negroes because he threatened to inform the Provost Marshal
that we were there; he suggested to me the idea to lash one of
his negroes down and carry him to Virginia; he said there were
but four or five loyal men in the County.
Said he was caught once by the Yankee gunboats and they found
seventeen thousand dollars worth of contraband goods in his
cellar, but that he had a frolic at his house, invited all the
ladies about there and the Officers of the gunboats and thus
this was all hushed up; said he could bribe any Yankee.
He said at one time he stored $25,000 worth of contraband
goods in his buildings and aided in getting them away but was
not caught.
He said that about three weeks since, two Confederate
soldiers, came across the river and secreted themselves in the
woods; he went to see them; one of his slaves reported the
case to the Provost Marshal, who sent a guard to make the
arrest. He saw the guard approach. The Confederates were
scared; he told them to keep cool and when the guards came
near to say they wanted to know where the Provost Marshal was,
to say they were refugees and wanted to take the oath; said he
came near being caught but the Yanks were not smart enough;
said he thought these men had returned to Dixie by this time.
He said the Government had attempted to confiscate his son
Frank's one-third interest in some property there which was
worth about ten thousand dollars, so he got Mr. Higgs, Post
Master at Newport, Charles County, to make out an account
against Frank amounting to about ten thousand dollars and sue
the estate; he went security to pay the amount in five years
and thus got the property in his hands.
I seized from his house the double barrelled gun and the horse
equipments.
I arrested Mr. McWilliams and brought him to this city as I
thought him too dangerous a man to occupy the position he does
on the Maryland shore. His remarks were made voluntarily
without my making much effort, apparently, to ascertain his
actions.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
I remember the following incident which occurred on this trip: I tried
to qualify as a deck hand. Leaning over the vessel's waist, I tried the
difficult trick of scooping up a pail of water while the boat was in
motion, and while so engaged my watch slipped out of my pocket, and into
the water. We were then just below Fort Carroll, mid-stream. The watch
is there yet, unless some mermaid has carried it off. I would not have
lost it had I not divested it of the chain, to help appearances. On
these trips one could not discover that we were not ordinary helpers
"before the mast."
Many of the crews on such vessels were of the class called by the
negroes "poor white trash," and they were ignorant beyond belief; to
test which I once pointed out land to the east as being Ireland, to
which they assented. The captains and mates, of course, were not so
ignorant.
A strange picture presented itself to me one moonlight night. We were
laying in St. Mary's river when a cunna (canoe) came along side, and
three or four black men crawled upon our deck and hid themselves down
behind the boat's waist. They wanted to go away with us, telling a
pitiful tale of oppression, but slavery was yet in vogue there, and so
we forced them to go away home.
FILE XVI.
Captain Bailey makes a capture--Sinclair introduces me (as Shaffer) to Mr.
Plyle.
The following report was of another capture, by Captain Bailey:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 29, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report that Capt. Wm. Bailey
returned to this city this morning bringing three prisoners,
and their skiff. They were first seen near James Point, and
afterwards were taken on board the schooner "Thos. H.
Northern," Capt. Wells; from which schooner Bailey took them
along with Capt. Wells, and brought them to this office. I had
a conversation with each one separately and then confined
them.
George Hull stated that he was in the 9th Virginia Cavalry,
from which he deserted some three months since; that he has
been in the Confederacy since 1862; that he ran the blockade
into Virginia on the schooner "Sarah Elizabeth" from
Philadelphia, loaded with an assorted cargo, and landed in the
Rappahannock river; that he did not know he was going to run
the blockade when he started. A man named Edwards, commanded
the schooner.
Nicholas McKee states that he was a member of the Home Guards
in King and Queen County, Virginia. He went into the
Confederacy by the same vessel and at the same time with Hull,
but did not know she was to run the blockade when she started.
Neither Hull or McKee know who loaded the schooner; both deny
all knowledge of their destination when they left
Philadelphia.
Samuel Lewis was a member of the 9th Cavalry, Virginia. He
states that he ran the blockade about June or July, 1863. He
sailed from New York on a sloop with fifteen or twenty barrels
of whiskey on board. They anchored under Ragged Point,
Virginia, on the Potomac river, where they unloaded the
whiskey. For some reason the men on the sloop got frightened
and left him on the beach. He does not know the name of the
sloop nor the name of the Captain, nor any person on board,
and he, like the other two, did not know that the vessel
intended to run the blockade.
It seems strange that none of them knew their destination
when they shipped, and it also seems strange that after
sailing from New York to the Potomac river, Wells had not
learned the name of the vessel which he was on, or the names
of any of his companions. He states also that he was the man
sent ashore in Virginia, to do the business, but says he had
to do it as it was orders from his Captain.
I have sent two detectives to see the schooner on which they
were found, and to examine the cargo as it is discharged.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
The following letter to Mr. Plyle, introducing me as Mr. Shaffer, was
the commencement of negotiations for the purchase of a lot of
Confederate bonds, which purchase was consummated in the following
November. For an account of which please refer to my report of the
arrest of Brewer and Pittman, November 24th.
Baltimore, June 30, 1864.
Mr. Plyle.
Sir.--I expect to go to Norfolk or Richmond to-day. I send my
partner, Mr. Shaffer, who will hand you this, to talk with you
about purchasing your bonds. He will answer as well as I in
the matter.
I will be back about July 10th.
Yours respy.,
SINCLAIR.
To Col. Plyle,
Franklin House.
FILE XVII.
A Confederate letter.
The following discloses how perfectly the Confederate government
understood the travelled route through the lines. It was by way of their
signal station on the Potomac, that was their official channel. I was
determined to break it up.
Westmorland and Northumberland counties, Virginia, are the south shore
of the Potomac river. Mosby, or at least part of his command, covered
this country.
Confederate States of America,
War Department, Ordnance Bureau,
Richmond, June 30, 1864.
Captain:
The bearer, Mr. White, is confided in as trustworthy. He
desires information as to the best mode of proceeding to
Maryland.
I will thank you to give him any assistance you can
consistently.
Mr. W. is engaged in procuring stores for the Government,
through the blockade.
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
J. GORGAS, Col.
Chief of Ordnance.
To Capt. Barker,
In charge Signal Corps.
Approved,
By order,
J. A. Campbell,
A. Sec. War.
July 1, 1864.
This has endorsed on it:
Signal Bureau,
Richmond, July 1, 1864.
The officers in charge of Signal Station on Potomac, will
furnish Mr. White any assistance in their power, in crossing
into Maryland.
WM. M. BARKER,
Capt. in ch. Signal Corps.
FILE XVIII.
Confederate army invades Maryland in 1864--General Wallace's masterly
defence of Washington--Trip outside our pickets--Confederate General
Bradley Johnson and Colonel Harry Gilmor--The Ishmael Day episode--Uncle
Zoe--Arrest of Judge Richard Grason--Report on certain "disloyals."
About this time our efforts were pointed in another direction, for a
portion of Lee's Army had been detached and had begun the invasion of
Maryland (June 28, 1864).
General Wallace gathered up his scattered troops and prepared to meet
the enemy at Monocacy. He was not well matched to meet them, but
strongly resisted them long enough to enable Grant to reinforce
Washington, and, strategically speaking, Wallace's fight saved
Washington.
Appleton's Encyclopedia, page 130, under army operations 1864, says:
"Meantime the enemy after tearing up some railroad from
Frederick to Baltimore, sent their main body south of it and
detached a cavalry force towards the Northern Central Railroad
from Harrisburg, Pa., to Baltimore. This Cavalry expedition
overran Maryland, 25 miles of the Northern Central Railroad
was destroyed, and on Monday the 11th (July), a force appeared
on the Baltimore, Wilmington & Phila. Road and captured and
set on fire the trains at Magnolia station, seventeen miles
south of Havre de Grace.
In one train Major General Franklin was captured but
afterwards made his escape. Some damage was done to the track
and Gunpowder Bridge was partially burned. The Cavalry heavily
loaded with plunder came within six miles of Baltimore, then
turning southward they joined the force near Washington which
had been sent in that direction to guard against surprise;
part of it halted before Fort Stevens on 17th street."
I remained in Baltimore until July 14th, when I started out to scout the
country east and north of the city.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, July 14, 1864.
Pass H. B. Smith and George W. Thompson on Department business
out and in Picket Lines at all hours.
By command Major General Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. & Pro. Marshal.
General Wallace had been compelled (by Lee's invasion) to take away to
Monocacy nearly all of his troops, and so we had to appeal to the
citizens for the defence of the city. All loyal citizens were appealed
to and they responded nobly; they made, however, a motley army, but
patriotic to the core, they vigorously performed their duty.
I had a serious experience with them when I tried to get inside our
picket lines. We scoured the country quite thoroughly.
I find among my papers no copy of a written report except the one I find
endorsed on and in connection with the report on Judge Grason's arrest
on July 24th, which is the following:
"When Bradley Johnson's Brigade, and Harry Gilmor's Cavalry
was in Maryland, and after they destroyed the Gunpowder Bridge
on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, one of
my detectives named Thompson and myself went out past the
Pickets on the Philadelphia Pike as far as the Rechabite
Church and then changed onto the Belair road, where I hailed a
man named ---- ----, who was afterwards caught with a wagon
loaded with contraband goods intended for the Rebs. He talked
to me for some time. I told him that I wanted to get to see
Harry Gilmor, that I was from New York, and that if Gilmor
remained long enough in Maryland, I could get some recruits
from New York.
This man offered me money to aid me in this glorious
enterprise. He told me that if I would go over to Towsontown
and see Richard Grason, that he (Grason) could tell me just
where Gilmor could be seen. This man also told me about the
man that Ishmael Day shot.
We left him and went over to Towsontown, where we had dinner
and then went into Baltimore, after being arrested by (our)
pickets almost every mile.
That evening we again started out for Towsontown; at
Govanstown we were surrounded by about ten or twelve of the
13th Md., who lowered their pieces at us and demanded us to
dismount; Thompson did so immediately, but I used more time.
They said they had been waiting for us for some time. This of
course was an error; finally we were released and proceeded on
our way. We could not find Grason.
On our way back we were again arrested by some of the Citizen
Cavalry, but got back into Baltimore at about 2 A. M."
(From the Baltimore "American," July 12, 1864.)
"Major Harry Gilmor, who, from a misguided leniency, if not
something worse, was released from capture by General Wool,
during his administration of affairs in this Department, was
the commander of the Rebels who have worked so much
destruction of property in this immediate vicinity.
After his successful plundering operations in Carroll and
Frederick Counties he concluded to visit his own county and
receive the congratulations of his friends and admirers. On
Sunday he spent the day and evening at Glen Ellen, above
Towsontown, at the residence of his father, Mr. Robert Gilmor,
and no doubt a very pleasant time was had.
A force of about three hundred of his companions are said to
have been encamped in that vicinity. On Sunday a delegation of
five visited Towsontown and the joy of the Rebel males and
females of that neighborhood is said to be beyond description.
Mr. Richard Grason who frequently performs the office of
special Judge of the County, was unable to restrain his
emotion and kindly feelings to his friends, and took them to
his dwelling where they feasted and whiskeyed to their hearts
content."
Judge Grason in trying to escape arrest for his disloyal acts in
connection with Harry Gilmor, tried to use a stolen pass issued to an
assumed name, "Jenkins." I remember well my lecture to him on the
heinousness of his offence. It was picturesque, a boy chiding a judge.
But it was due him.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, July 24, 1864.
Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest yesterday of
Judge Grason of Towsontown.
I questioned him; he stated that a good friend of his whose
name he refused to give, procured a blank pass and he filled
in the name, residence and destination and attempted to pass
on it.
I asked him the reason for assuming the name "Jenkins." He
said he understood he was to be arrested and did not want to
be detained. He said he received a letter from his home (near
Queenstown), stating that his father was very poorly, and
wanted to see him.
I asked him where the letter was. He said he threw it in the
stove and burned it up. I asked if it was in his kitchen stove
at home. He said no, that it was in his office stove. I asked
him if he had a fire in his office stove (July). He said no,
but that he set fire to the letter from his pipe that he was
smoking.
He said he first heard he was to be arrested about the 11th,
or 12th inst., and acknowledged to having kept out of the way
as he did not want to be arrested then, as it would be some
time, probably, before he could get a hearing, on account of
the pressure of business on the Military Authorities.
He is everywhere known as being a bitter Rebel. He
acknowledged to have spoken to Harry Gilmor while in
Towsontown, but said it was only to get him to save some
property.
He said he would rather receive the punishment than to allow
the friend who gave him the pass to be punished.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
The Ishmael Day incident was quite as romantic, or dramatic, as the
"Barbara Freitchie" episode, but it was never dwelt upon, however, by
the poets, nor can it be demolished as a myth. Ishmael Day, single
handed and alone, defended his little miniature flag against the
Confederate hosts. The incident rang over the country through the press.
My uncle, Zoeth Smith, a patriot indeed, wrote me to get Ishmael's
picture, which I did. Recently, in looking over my papers, I found Uncle
Zoe's letter and sent it to his sons, Truman and Addison, to show them
the manner of man their father was when loyalty was needed.
[Illustration: ISHMAEL DAY]
The following appeared in the newspapers:
"We had the pleasure this morning of an interview with Mr.
Ishmael Day who yesterday morning shot down one of Harry
Gilmor's men whilst in the act of taking down the flag over
his gate in Harford County. He gives the following correct
statement: 'On Sunday night he had heard that a party of
Rebels were encamped in the vicinity, but did not give
credence to the report. Early on Monday morning one of his
negroes reported to him that they were coming down the road.
He immediately hoisted his flag over the gate, and shortly
after, two armed men came riding along the road and one seeing
the flag burst out with a loud laugh, one of them advancing
and seizing the halliards.
The old gentleman, who is nearly seventy-three years of age,
ran back into the house, threatening to shoot them if they did
not desist. They paid no attention to him, but the halliards
being twisted they had some difficulty in getting it down. By
this time he had reached his second story, where his guns
were, and raising the window fired a load from his duck gun
just as the miscreant had succeeded in getting hold of the
flag, and he fell back on the road seriously, and he thinks,
mortally wounded, the whole load having entered his breast.
Seizing another gun and a loaded Colt's revolver, he came
down stairs and endeavored to get a shot at the other, but he
had run up the road. He then, in his anger, leveled at the
wounded man, but he begged for mercy, and said he surrendered,
and Mr. Day, thinking that he would never be able to haul down
another flag, left him lying on the road.
Hearing the approach of a large squad Mr. Day escaped with his
weapons to the woods and eluded their pursuit. Mrs. Day was
still in the house when the Rebels came up, and they
immediately commenced to set fire to it after plundering it of
such articles as they took a fancy to, and then set fire to it
as well as his barn, which were entirely destroyed. They did
not allow Mrs. Day to save even her clothing, and he fears
that some two thousand, three hundred dollars of Government
Bonds were destroyed with his deeds and papers. He has not yet
seen Mrs. Day, who found refuge for herself and family in one
of the neighbor's houses.
The only regret of the gallant old patriot is that he did not
get a shot at the other Rebel.'
We learn this morning that the man who was shot by Mr. Day was
named Fields, formerly of Baltimore; that he was left by the
Rebels at Dampman's Hotel, fifteen miles from the city on the
Belair Road."
After the Confederates retreated I made a thorough examination into the
disloyal conduct of various persons residing east and north of
Baltimore, for the purpose, more particularly, to guide us in the
future. The following is my report:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Aug. 7, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the connection of the
following named persons with the Rebel raiders.
Herewith I hand you a transcript of the evidence in each case.
No arrests have been made in these cases.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
List of Names.
Andrew Gill,
Stephen Gill,
Charles Alden,
Jackson Dorney,
J. Berryman,
---- Harriman,
---- Jones,
Francis Shipley,
Chas. Shipley,
John T. Johns,
Henry Balton,
Mal Guyton,
Wm. Price,
Henry Wesley,
John Y. Day,
S. Berryman,
Benj. Worthington,
Samuel Stone,
Jas. Reynolds,
---- Walker,
Henry Walker,
Murray Gill,
Wm. Gore,
Ed. Storm,
Robert Elder,
---- Smith,
Jos. Scarborough,
Wm. Knight,
Mat. Shorman,
Marion Guyton,
David Gittings,
Henry Emmick,
Wm. Lowrey,
John Grovner,
Jas. Mannon,
Miss Lizzie Grason.
FILE XIX.
Trip to New York regarding one Thomas H. Gordon.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Aug. 13, 1864.
Special Order No. 111.
1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps, 8th Army
Corps, will proceed to New York on business connected with
this office. After completing his search and investigation he
will return to these headquarters without delay.
Quartermasters will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. & Pro. Marshal.
The following is the report of the case I went to New York about:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Aug. 24, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the following in the
case of Thomas H. Gordon, paymaster.
I have on your order procured the check book ordered by him.
Mess. Hoen & Co. say they have written to Nashville and
Washington but have had no reply.
I also hand you two letters, one from Gordon and one from
Galloway, both in the same handwriting, as you will see on
close examination.
Gordon represents himself as Captain.
The checks are entirely different from the usual paymaster's
checks that are furnished by the United States depository.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
FILE XX.
Thomas Bennett, a U. S. mail carrier, disloyal--Samuel Miles, a prominent
Baltimore merchant, a blockade runner--A laughable letter about an
overdraft of whiskey--Dr. E. Powell, of Richmond.
As our work progressed, we accumulated from Confederate mail, refugees
and deserters, a mass of information as to the disloyalty of persons,
which was carefully tabulated in a pigeonhole cabinet; we were
constantly referring to it.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Aug. 17, 1864.
Col. Woolley:
I have information that a Thomas Bennett, U. S. mail carrier
between Princess Ann and Newtown is in the Confederate service
and is engaged to carry letters, &c., for them.
Let Smith put a sharp detective after him. Mr. E. J. Smith
will talk with you about it.
LEW WALLACE,
Major General Commanding.
War Department,
Washington, Sept. 16, 1864.
Memo.
Mr. J. P. Gulick, policeman at the Capitol grounds, gives
information to the Department that Samuel Miles, a wholesale
forwarding merchant in Baltimore, has been engaged in sending
goods to the South.
Mr. Gulick lived at Wicomico Creek for some time during the
war and while there observed the transaction, the goods coming
to that point direct from Miles, and being from there run over
into Little River by Samuel Langford, Miles's nephew.
The following is a Confederate letter addressed to Samuel G. Miles,
referred to by Mr. Gulick. Miles was a merchant in high standing
commercially. The letter is reproduced literally:
Monticello, Va.,
Feby. 29, 1864.
Mr. Miles.
Sir.--I take this privaledge to write to you asking the favour
of you to send me by the gentleman that may hand you this
letter to send me a few articles, you are well aware of our
condition as to getting grocerys or a great many other things.
Mr. Miles you will confer a great favour upon me to let me
have a barril of sugar, one bag of coffee, 5 lbs. of tea, 15
gal. of Rye Whiskey.
I would have sent money but you know that our money would not
be of any survace to you. But if you send the above articles
whether I get them or no you shall certainly be paid.
I was very sorry that I could not see you when you pass
through to Richmond, as it would have afforded me great
pleasure to have you at my house.
Give my respects to Mr. Langford and all enquiring friends. If
it is not in your power to send the above name articles you
will do me the favour to present this letter to Mr. Thomas
Lumking and perhaps he may send them. By so doing you will
oblige,
Your Friend,
HENRY D. BARRICK.
To
Mr. Samuel G. Miles.
The quantity of rye whiskey, compared to the other articles seemed
pretty large. It reminds me of the story of the sloop captain who sent
his man for supplies for a trip. The man brought two loaves of bread and
a gallon of whiskey, at which the captain growled out "what made you buy
so much bread?"
And here is another Confederate letter:
Richmond, Va.,
Oct. 24, 1864.
Mr. Steele.
Dear Sir.--I have been waiting very anxiously to hear if you
had succeeded in making the arrangements with Allison to take
us to Baltimore.
If it is possible to get Allison or any other person with a
schooner to make the trip to Baltimore and bring back goods,
make the arrangement for the trip and let me know when I am to
come down and I will come prepared to make the trip.
Any goods you may wish to bring I will take through in my
name. Let me hear from you as soon as you can hear from
Allison.
Your obdt. servant,
Dr. E. POWELL.
Cor. Main & 10th Sts.,
Richmond, Va.
FILE XXI.
Terrence R. Quinn.
Terrence R. Quinn, previously spoken of, backed by his military friends,
complained of abuse which he alleged was put upon him by our officers,
and I was called upon to make the following statement in reply:
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, Md.,
Oct. 20, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to make the following statement
regarding the arrest of Terrence R. Quinn, and the causes for
such arrest.
On or about March 18, 1864, I arrested Quinn by order of Major
H. Z. Hayner, then Provost Marshal of this Department.
This arrest was caused by statements made by one John W.
Lewis, to the effect that during a period of six or eight
months then last past, at different times Quinn had stated to
him that he was engaged in running the blockade and held out
great inducements for Lewis to join him. He (Quinn) stating
that he was the owner of several schooners, and told how he
got clear on a former charge of the same kind, at the same
time admitting his guilt.
On searching Quinn's house, No. 23 Constitution street, I
found a great many letters addressed to parties in Richmond,
Confederate officers and others, which were letters of
introduction, stating that it was Mr. Terrence R. Quinn's
intention to visit Richmond and recommending him as "always a
friend of the South."
These letters were written by Rebel officers in confinement at
Fort McHenry. There were also other letters showing that Quinn
had aided in defrauding the government out of some bonds, and
letters corroborating Quinn's statements in regard to
contraband trade. All of these letters were given to Major
Hayner.
On arresting Quinn I took him in a carriage to Vineyard Hotel,
as it was deemed proper to keep him closely confined until I
could have time to go to the Eastern shore of Va., and seize
his schooners.
He was given a fine room at this hotel and his expenses, about
seventeen dollars per week were all paid by me. He was placed
under a Military guard, and was afterwards transferred to the
prison attached to this office, for examination by an officer
sent here by the Secretary of War.
On seizing Quinn's schooners I found Capt. J. J. Lewis in
command of one. This Lewis was formerly arrested and confined
in Fort McHenry on a charge of blockade running. He admitted
his guilt to me but stated that he was released without a
trial. He is a specimen of the characters in Quinn's employ.
In 1862 Quinn was arrested on charge of blockade running but
was released without trial. He stated to Lewis that he was
guilty but the government was not smart enough to prove it.
I again caused the arrest of Quinn on Sept. 8, 1864, on an
order from General Stevenson, commanding at Harper's Ferry, on
the charge of running negroes away from Va., on forged passes.
General Stevenson also ordered search for passes. I also
caused the arrest of a negro named Andrew Jackson, who stated
that Quinn tried to get him in the army as a substitute, and
also that he did not go to the Provost Marshal for a pass but
that Quinn sent another negro.
As to his being treated brutally: When arrested he was
intoxicated, and two or three times called the officers names,
whereupon the officers struck him, once only. My first
acquaintance with Quinn was when I was Assistant Provost
Marshal at Fort McHenry.
He claims that he is a British subject and not amenable to our
laws.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
FILE XXII.
The great fraud attempted in the Presidential election of 1864, wherein
the misplacing of a single letter led to its detection, and may be said
to have saved our nation from disruption--Involving Governor Seymour and
Adjutant General Andrews--Arrest of Ferry, Donohue and Newcomb, one of the
most successful kidnappings on record.
The Presidential election of 1864 was then upon us, and indeed it was
most momentous. The issue was to determine the life of this Union. Mr.
Lincoln was renominated, and General George B. McClellan was nominated
to run against him. And quite fittingly, Horatio Seymour, who was to
have been leader of secession in the North (according to my
information), who had lent his whole influence towards obstruction, was
made chairman of the convention that nominated McClellan.
A resolution of the convention read:
"Resolved, that this Convention does explicitly declare, as
the sense of the American people, that after four years of
failure to restore the Union by experiment of War * * * the
public welfare demands that immediate efforts be made for a
cessation of hostilities."
In the convention Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, said:
"The delegates from the West were of the opinion that
circumstances may occur between noon of to-day and the 4th of
March next (inauguration day) which will make it proper for
the Democracy of the Country to meet in Convention again."
What could he have referred to? Solve the riddle if you can. Ponder on a
"Northwestern Confederacy"; the Sons of Liberty, and the seizure of
their arms; and also on Lincoln's assassination, only a few days after
March 4th, 1865.
All of this leads me to what I am about to tell about that election,
wherein the same influences that failed with bullets to disrupt the
Union were now trying to accomplish the same purpose with ballots.
I will not charge McClellan with disloyalty, yet I can not help asking
why did he lend his name to the disloyal movement? There were disloyal
Northerners, but not one of them voted for Lincoln.
I do not claim that all who voted for McClellan were disloyal, but that
all the disloyal, including all blockade-runners and bounty jumpers,
voted for him.
On the 21st of April, 1864, a law was enacted in New York State called
"an act to enable the qualified electors of this State, absent therefrom
in the military service of the United States, in the Army or navy
thereof, to vote."
This law provided for a power of attorney appointing a proxy who would
present his (the soldier's) sealed envelope, addressed to the election
inspectors in his home or residence district. The ballot was to be in a
sealed envelope, and to be opened only by the inspectors; this envelope
was to be enclosed in another, outer envelope addressed to his proxy.
The outer envelope was to contain also the power of attorney for the
proxy to so present the sealed ballot.
And now I will tell you how merely the misplacing of the letter "L"
betrayed one of the greatest crimes of the period, entirely defeated its
perpetration, and helped to save our Union.
On Thursday afternoon, October 20th, 1864, General Wallace came to my
office with Mr. Orville K. Wood, of Clinton county, New York.
Mr. Wood had a blank or partly blank document which he had found in
possession of a soldier from his county. It was a blank power of
attorney, such as were provided for voting under the law of April 21st,
1864. The jurat was signed in blank:
C. G. Arthur
Lieut. 11th U. S. Cavl.
--and their conclusion was that this officer may have signed a number
of such papers in blank, and passed them out, to be used by any soldier,
perhaps to facilitate voting; an illegal act in itself; but upon
examination I pronounced the officer's signature a forgery. My
conclusion was based on the fact of the letter "l" in "Cavl." I assumed
that no officer of cavalry, more especially in the regular service,
would abbreviate in any way other than Cav. or Cavy.
General Wallace saw the force of my reasoning, and a new light was
thrown on the matter.
Had the one letter "l" been absent I should have concluded as General
Wallace and Mr. Wood had, i. e., that the fact of such a document,
entirely blank except the officer's jurat, being in public hands, was a
wrong merely laying the officer liable for having attached his name to a
blank paper.
The point then was to find out where the work was done. Mr. Wood had
visited the New York State agency office in Fayette Street and I
arranged for him to go there again the next morning (Friday), he to tell
the representative, Mr. Ferry, that some friends would call to be
assisted in preparing their votes. We agreed that my name would be
"Phillip Brady," from West Chazy, Clinton County, New York.
Friday morning I equipped myself as became a private soldier, in a
uniform much worn and shabby. One of my men, Mr. Babcock, accompanied
me, he was similarly attired. We provided ourselves with "2 hour"
passes from the Camden Street Hospital, and sicker looking convalescents
never were seen outside of a hospital. When we arrived at Ferry's office
we appeared much exhausted. Mr. Wood introduced me, and then I insisted
on Mr. Ferry's reading my pass so that he would know exactly who I was;
I told him I wanted to vote for Mr. Lincoln, because he was the
soldier's friend.
[Illustration: LUCIUS F. BABCOCK]
He went in an adjoining room and brought out one of the same powers of
attorney that Mr. Wood had shown me the day before, for me to sign; the
jurat was executed and the ink was not yet dry on it. To give myself
more time to examine, I hesitated in signing my name, I was so sickly
(?) and weak, I had Mr. Ferry help guide my hand. I had by this time
located Mr. "Arthur" in the next room.
Mr. Ferry then discovered he had no Lincoln ballots, but said he
expected them from the printer. He volunteered, if I would leave it to
him, to put in a proper ticket, and mail it for me, to which I
consented. I told him I did not know when I might get another pass.
Ferry gave me a plug of tobacco and a pair of socks, to illustrate, I
suppose, the Empire State's interest in her volunteers.
Babcock then went through the same process, which gave me all the time
needed to survey the surroundings, whereupon we left.
Mr. Wood remained, but came out afterwards and met me by appointment, on
Charles Street. He was startled at the condition of affairs in the State
Agent's office, where a corps of men were engaged in forgery, and did
not want to return there, but was persuaded to go back and put in the
day. The character and magnitude of the crime prompted us to great
secrecy.
The next day (Saturday) General Wallace went to Washington. A Cabinet
meeting was held to consider the election frauds.
Next morning (Sunday), the following order was issued by General
Wallace, personally, and is in his handwriting:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Md., Oct. 23, 1864.
Lt. Col. John Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
You will immediately arrest the following persons: M. J.
Ferry, Ed. Donohue, Jr., and such clerks, assistants, &c., as
they may have in the office of the New York State Agency in
Baltimore. You will also seize and take into your possession
all books, papers, letters, &c., which you may find on the
persons or in the rooms and baggage of the persons above
named.
The prisoners you will take to the City jail and confine them
separately, allowing no visitor to have communication with or
the prisoners to have communication in any manner with each
other.
LEW WALLACE,
Major General Commanding.
(You will also station a guard at the door of the office of
said Agency. L. W.)
Upon my request to be allowed to conduct the arrests and seizures in my
own way, the General ran a pen through the words that are bracketed.
It was my desire to kidnap the parties, so that warning might be given
to other places, such as Washington, Harper's Ferry and City Point, to
look out for similar crimes, to accomplish which it was desirable to
leave behind each person, at his home or office, a reasonable excuse for
his absence for a few days, and to keep the State Agency office open to
callers.
I employed a hack and a confidential driver, one used to me, and who
would carry out instructions to the letter.
With one of my men I drove to near the State Agency Office. We entered
and were met by Donohue, who was alone (it was early Sunday A.M.) and
was pugnacious when he was made aware of his dilemma. I arranged with
him, that for friendly appearances, we would walk out arm in arm to our
carriage. Then we were whisked away to my office. I left Mr. Kraft, one
of my men, in the office to run it and tell callers that Donohue had
"gone out."
I learned from Donohue that Ed. Newcomb was stopping at Barnum's hotel.
At the hotel I found Newcomb's room number, went to it and rapped on the
door. I informed him there was a party from New York at the office, and
that Donohue wanted him at once; he accompanied me out the private
entrance and into my carriage. After a while he remarked that the driver
was not going right. I told him I was a stranger but I guessed the
driver knew the way; finally I told him of his position, that he would
meet Donohue, but not at the State Agency office.
When we came near our office I changed hats with him to prevent
recognition. An Albany regiment, the 91st, was guarding our
office--Newcomb was an Albany lawyer. I placed him in my office with
Donohue, but with officers both inside and outside the door. I took his
pocketbook, room-door key, and papers, and I returned to Barnum's to
"put them to sleep."
Shawls were commonly used then, especially by Northerners. I searched
his room, muffled myself up in his shawl, presented his key at the desk,
asked for and paid his bill, putting the receipt in his pocketbook, and
told them that Mr. Newcomb would stop over Sunday and a few days with
friends, in case of inquiry. I handed Newcomb his pocketbook and
baggage.
Meantime Mr. Kraft was running the State Agency office, answering
callers all right.
The next move was to get Mr. Ferry, who resided in the far west end of
the city. I drove out there accompanied by Mr. Babcock. Ferry had not
returned from church (think of the moral tone of one who had forged all
the week). On his return I told him there were important parties at his
office from New York and that Donohue wanted him at once; he excused
himself to the ladies and accompanied me in the carriage. The ride was
long, so we visited in a friendly way, but finally he, too, remarked
that the driver was going out of his way, and after protesting
considerably, I informed him of his true status. He did not quite
collapse. I assured him his years would earn him a gentleman's
treatment. He was soon landed in my office.
I had a good dinner served all of them from my hotel. So that the ladies
at Mr. Ferry's house would not worry, and waiting until it would have
been impossible for them to reach the boat, I wrote them on his own
letter head asking for clean clothes enough to last about a week, as he
was going to City Point--so I wrote--on the Bay Line boat, on important
business. The clean clothes I gave Mr. Ferry.
I then went back to the office to see how much business Mr. Kraft had
accomplished. He was much warmed up over his discoveries in that room
adjoining, where the forgeries were done.
While there a brusque, loud-mouthed man came in and asked for Donohue,
announcing in a loud way what he had done at Harper's Ferry. I told him
he was a fool, and that I would not have anything to do with the
business if such as he were in it. The chiding acted like a charm. He
thanked me for cautioning him. He said he would not have spoken so but
he knew that I was all right. He said he was stopping at the Fountain
House, but readily agreed to go and get his bag and go with me to my
hotel; he accompanied me and landed where the others were. His name was
Kerley, and if my memory is correct, he was running for sheriff of
Washington county.
After dark, having prepared a separate corridor in the city jail, I
placed them there, taking the following receipt:
Baltimore, Oct. 23, 1864.
Received of guards the following prisoners:
Edw. Donohue.
Edw. Newcomb.
M. J. Ferry.
Peter Kerley.
(Signed) THOMAS C. JAMES, Warden.
JOHN W. SINDALL.
On Monday (24th) we had a conference with Mr. Fred. Seward, Assistant
Secretary of State (he was accompanied by Mr. Benedict, of the State
Department), to ascertain if some one of the batch would confess. I
suggested Newcomb, and went in the carriage for him.
The city jail was in a gloomy location. The hour was well along in the
evening, and Newcomb's nerve was shaky. I took him to the Eutaw House,
before General Wallace, Colonel Woolley and Mr. Seward. At first he
(Newcomb) stoutly denied knowledge of the forgeries; my judgment as to
his probable weakness was in jeopardy. I asked Newcomb to come out in
the hall, where I told him that he could do just as he saw fit about
confessing, but that I was the convalescent soldier who voted right
there in the office when Donohue and he were doing the work. Then he
begged to be again taken before General Wallace, whereupon he confessed
all.
In the meantime I had choked up the mail and express companies for all
matter bearing the New York State Agency label, and among the mass we
got my document, but it contained a good straight McClellan ballot, as
did Mr. Babcock's.
On Tuesday (the 25th) the Doubleday Military Commission of Washington
was convened at Baltimore, and before the day was over Newcomb had
confessed and Ferry tried to, but he so falsified his statement that it
did not merit consideration. The desirability for haste to make public
the fraud was because the country had been flooded with these fraudulent
papers, which could not be intercepted, except by publicity through the
channel of the newspapers; therefore after the 27th of October the
matter was made public.
Appleton says they were arrested on the 27th, but the facts, "between
the lines," are as I have told you. The kidnapping was a success. Four
public men were taken away from their business and usual haunts, and
hidden for four days without leaving a trace.
I found in Ferry's office many rich things. Among them was a letter from
Ferry to John F. Seymour, Hudson, Columbia County, New York (the
Governor's brother), accompanying a package of these forged papers, and
telling him to use them where his judgment suggested, or words to that
effect.
I offered General Wallace to try to incriminate Seymour, if I could have
two or three days' time; but the General advised against it, having so
little time even then for publicity before election day.
The whole country was roused to action. The matter was treated by the
newspapers as of as much importance as the army movements. It was given
first column, first page, place, with flaming, startling headlines. One
paper had it: "Great Soldier Vote Fraud. Arrest of Governor Seymour's
State Agents. The Most Stupendous Fraud Ever Known in Politics." "A
systematic and widespread conspiracy has been brought to light, carried
on by agents here (Washington), at Baltimore, Harper's Ferry and in the
Army of the Potomac. Men now in custody have been actively engaged in
this business for weeks, as one of the parties involved (Newcomb)
declared. Forged ballots have been forwarded in dry goods boxes, etc."
Such startling accounts were continued for many days. It was also
treated editorially. It was not considered merely as a political move to
secure office, but as a move to secure a false verdict on the matter of
the continuance of the war. Appleton's Encyclopedia for 1864 has several
columns of matter on the election fraud case.
The following order was issued by Major General Hooker, commanding the
Northern Department.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Oct. 27, 1864.
"The Commander of this Department has received information
that it is the intention of a large body of men on the
Northern frontier, on each side of the line, open on one side
and in disguise on the other, to so organize at the ensuing
National Election, as to interfere with the integrity of the
election, and when in their power to cast illegal votes, &c."
A number of Ohio election officers were arrested for imitating the New
York State Agents' rascalities.
Notwithstanding all efforts made to publish the facts, the conspirators
came too near success. New York polled about 730,000 votes; Mr.
Lincoln's majority was only about 6,700; and of the total vote of
2,401,000 in the great States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, if less than three per cent. had been cast on the other
side, Lincoln would have been defeated and the Union destroyed. A twig
may change the trajectory of a cannon ball; a letter "l" misplaced, may
have saved the nation.
Will any one conclude that Ferry, the State's Agent, and Donohue and
Newcomb, were not acting under orders from their superior, Governor
Seymour?
Just now while I am writing I have before me Watson's Magazine for
March, 1911, speaking of Headley's account of his part in retaliatory
acts in the west and east: "The evidence there found of the extent of
the copperhead movement in the upper Mississippi Valley in 1863-1864 is
entirely essential to a history of both sides of the great war. It
becomes startling to contemplate to what imminence revolution in the
States of the north and west had approached, etc."
"Mr. Davis (Jefferson Davis) delivered an impassioned speech at
Palmetto Station, near Atlanta, in Sept., 1864, in which he declared the
opinion that McClellan would be elected over Lincoln at the November
elections, and in that event the west would set him up as president over
itself, leaving the east to Lincoln."
Thus it is shown that the Confederates fully expected a rupture of the
North on lines to be worked out by the "Sons of Liberty" and their
co-conspirators.
After a time President Lincoln pardoned Ferry and later Donohue. The
President's big-heartedness led him first to pardon Ferry because of his
advanced age.
Newcomb came into my life again in 1882, in the impeachment proceedings
against Judge Westbrook. Somebody hunted me up and subpoenaed me to
testify as to the character of Newcomb. He had been a receiver of a life
insurance company (if my memory is right) under an appointment by Judge
Westbrook, and it was represented that he had misapplied large sums. The
session of the committee was held in the St. James Hotel, corner of
Broadway and Twenty-sixth Street, New York. When I entered the rotunda I
was hailed by a Mr. Fox, who wanted conversation with me. He knew my
mission and told me it would be worth a thousand dollars if I would
"walk up the street with him." The proposition did not flatter me; he
did not correctly size up my moral tone. I testified concerning the
circumstances of 1864, of Newcomb's crime and his confession. Newcomb
followed me out of the committee room, and expressed great surprise at
my appearance on the scene. I was not astonished to find him in
questionable business.
Donohue I have met several times since the war. For a time he was in the
employ of the New York Central Railroad, later holding a small political
appointment in one of the New York City departments.
I found another document in the State Agent's office that finished
Adjutant General Andrews' usefulness instanter. It was written on
headquarters' letterhead and spoke disrespectfully of Mr. Lincoln, the
Commander-in-Chief. Andrews was unceremoniously dismissed from the
service.
FILE XXIII.
John Deegan, a forger, captured--A report that led to a historic raid by
Colonel Baker on the bounty jumpers and bounty brokers of New York.
Here follows a rather interesting case. One Deegan, an expert penman,
who had formerly been a clerk in one of the regular cavalry regiments,
had been forging discharges and final statements of fictitious soldiers,
employing an accomplice to present them at the various paymasters'
offices and draw the money. Being familiar with the officers'
signatures, he was very successful in forging their names. To make the
final statement cover a large amount of money--many hundreds and
sometimes thousands of dollars--the statements represented the parties
to have been prisoners of war, one or two years, which, with all the
allowances, would carry the amounts up into large figures.
United States Army, Pay District
of Pennsylvania.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 9, 1864
Colonel:
I have had a full explanatory conversation with your Chief of
Detectives in reference to forgeries lately perpetrated upon
the Government and have given him every clue in my possession,
to the perpetrators.
The name and recent address of the party who escaped from your
office has also been obtained by me. I have therefore to
request that you give him every facility he may desire in
visiting both Philadelphia and New York, and that you will
instruct the calling to his assistance experienced detectives.
I have ordered my orderly to report to him as he is acquainted
with this Deegan. The case is one of importance and no delay
should occur in ferreting it out.
Very respy. Colonel, your obdt. servant.,
FRANK M. ETTING,
Chief Paymaster.
To
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.
Headquarters, Mi
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