incursions. Our desire to "possess" him was perhaps as great as that of
any of his lady admirers.

On November 1st, 1864, I intercepted the sword on its way to Harry. From
the person of the messenger I got a letter which was to make him "solid"
when he should arrive in the Confederate territory. Gilmor was
understood to have been wounded, and as being then laid up at the
Inglenby Mansion, three or four miles from Duffield Station, Virginia,
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (the Inglenby family were descendants
of one of the original colonists).

The letter was somewhat blindly framed, it did not mention the bearer,
except to say that "he is perfectly reliable" or something to that
effect.

I proposed to General Wallace that I would be the messenger, using this
letter, and would thus locate Gilmor, so that he might be captured.

With one man, Mr. Kraft, I started for Harper's Ferry, reported to
General Stevenson, engaged one of his scouts, Corporal George R. Redman
(who at one time was of my corps) to go with me and equipped with the
below described pass, I started out on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
for Duffield Station.

     Office Provost Marshal,
     Military District of Harper's Ferry.

     Nov. 5, 1864.

     Guards and Pickets will pass bearer in and around this
     Military District. Good for three days.

     By order of

     Brigadier General STEVENSON,
     Commanding.

     A. D. PRATT,
     Capt. & Provost Marshal.

It was my custom never to have about me anything to indicate my name or
identity. And to conceal my passes, I frequently hammered them down into
a small wad in the finger of a glove. This pass shows such an
appearance. The pass did not indicate Duffield, because that destination
was a secret.

Duffield was a small way station, and any stranger alighting there,
especially in those days, would be noted. Many of the employees of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were Confederate sympathizers (some were
quite active). To give no chance for warning, we waited until just after
the train started up, and then we dropped off, on the far side,
covering view of us until the train was again under headway.

We separated and I went ahead, across fields, until I was so far away as
to apparently have no connection with my men, who were following; we had
about three or four miles to go thus. Finally, when I reached the
Inglenby house, my boys were near enough to be in sight, yet concealed.

At the house I introduced myself and presented my letter. For the
purpose, I represented myself as a Baltimorean, of course--a "hack
driver at Barnum's Hotel," I learned that Gilmor had been there, but
only recently had gone down the valley. I told them of the sword, that
the donors wanted to learn how to reach Colonel Gilmor, accurately;
hence my trip. They treated me very nicely, prepared a good meal for me
with true Virginia hospitality; finally I departed.

When I arrived where the boys were concealed, I found them extremely
anxious to get away from that section. While they were laying there a
man had approached them, saying that he knew they were "deserters from
the Yanks"; the boys admitted it. He asked them if they wanted to go
South. They told him "yes." He told them he knew it, and after it got
dark he would take them. He told them that some of Mosby's men were just
over on the road. My boys were not really hungry to go South, but wanted
to start across the country for Harper's Ferry without delay, which we
did, arriving there late in the evening, in the custody of our own
pickets, who had captured us at Halltown.

Had I reached Gilmor I believe I might have tried to capture him, had I
found the odds favorable. He was a giant in stature. How game he was I
do not know. I will give you a reproduction of his photograph, which I
have.

Upon my return to Baltimore I arrested the representative fair donor of
the sabre, as General Wallace has told. She resided in the ultra
fashionable neighborhood, not far from Monument Square. After I had
searched her house, she accompanied me to the sidewalk, but absolutely
refused to enter my carriage. I informed her that it would be much more
agreeable to ride than to walk, but still she refused. I then told her
that I would be gentlemanly if allowed, but I insisted that she must get
into the carriage. She finally complied.

The lady was tried before a military commission of which Lieut. Colonel
J. H. Barrett was president. She was sentenced to five years
imprisonment at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and to pay a fine of five
thousand dollars.

A Mr. William J. Ives, who purchased the sword in New York, was also
tried. He escaped punishment on the plea that he was ignorant of the
purpose for which the sword was purchased.

One of Gilmor's officers I subsequently captured. He had come into our
lines, having one of those "remount" leaves from his command. It was not
proposed to treat him as severely as a spy, but to hold him as a
prisoner of war. I did not make him aware of this, however, but left him
under the stress of the impression that he might fear the worst, and I
proposed to him that we would permit him to return to his command
provided he would agree to make it easy for General Sheridan's scouts to
capture Harry. I knew my man and had confidence he would carry out his
part of the bargain, especially since the stake played for was, as he
supposed, his life. I let him go, and advised General Sheridan of the
arrangement. The following is the acknowledgment of my communication:

     Provost Marshal's office,
     Headquarters, Middle Military Division.
     Winchester, Va., Jany. 25, 1865.

     Lieut. Smith.

     Dear Sir.--I have submitted your communication to General
     Sheridan, and he has taken action in the case.

     With respect,
     JOHN A. GERNOS.

The expedition connected with the following pass through the pickets at
Harper's Ferry was pertaining to Gilmor's capture:

     Office Provost Marshal,
     Military District of Harper's Ferry.
     Jany. 27, 1865.

     Guards and Pickets will pass Capt. H. B. Smith to any place
     about the Ferry, Sandy Hook, or Berlin.

     Good for two days.

     By order of Brigadier General Stevenson.

     A. D. PRATT,
     Major & Provost Marshal.

On February 6th, 1865, Gilmor was captured by General Sheridan. Major
Young, Chief of his Scouts, brought him to Colonel Woolley's office, on
his way to prison in Fort Warren. Mr. W. G. Woodside, paymaster of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a mutual (?) friend of Gilmor and myself,
came to my office and invited me to be introduced, saying that Harry
said he knew me. General Woolley's office was crowded. Gilmor was asked
by Mr. Woodside to point me out, but he could not. I had never
advertised my face very much; it better suited my purposes to be
unknown.

Gilmor said to me, if he had had the sword, he would have killed many a
Yank with it. A safe enough proposition under the circumstances. Gilmor
in appearance was attractive, as a soldier, tall, fairly stout, but he
had one defective eye and was rather coarse in manners.

After the war I saw the officer of Gilmor's regiment who had been our
prisoner and who agreed to surrender Gilmor, or rather make his capture
possible. I was sorry to see that he had become dissipated. He told me
the cause was his social ostracism by the "Blue Bloods." I have never
mentioned his name, and never will. I have, I think a fair amount of
moral tone, and I cannot see that this man's act was low. He supposed
that he was obtaining the privilege to live, in exchange for the mere
incarceration of Gilmor. It was not the trading of a life for a life. I
sincerely trust the young man has not suffered a lifetime for the act.

On June 15th, 1873, I received from Gilmor the following letter:

     Baltimore, Md.,
     15th June, 1873.

     Lt. H. B. Smith,
     New York.

     My Dear Sir.--I have been trying for some time past to learn
     your address, and hope I have at last succeeded, with the
     assistance of Major Wiegel.

     My object in writing is to know whether or not you still have
     in your possession the sword which the ladies of Baltimore
     intended for me, but which fell into your hands.

     If you have the sword still, and would be willing to dispose
     of it, will you say what you will take for it, as I would like
     very much to own it, if it did not cost too much.

     I have been lately elected to the Command of a Battalion of
     Cavalry in this city, composed of men who were on both sides
     during the "late unpleasantness," and am very anxious to make
     a fine battalion of it.

     If you will do me the favor to communicate with me on this
     subject I will be very grateful.

     Address, very truly yours,
     HARRY GILMOR,
     Cor. President & Fawn Streets,
     Baltimore, Md.

At that time everything was being done to "heal the wound" and I was
disposed to do my little part. I was disposed to present the sword to
him, first getting General Wallace's approval. But on conferring with
Union people of Baltimore, I concluded not to; they thought any
ostentatious display of the sword would help keep the wound open.

FILE XXXI.

Steam tug "Grace Titus"--Statement of George Carlton, containing valuable
confirmatory information.

     Depot Quartermaster's Office,
     Baltimore, Jany. 16, 1865.

     Captain, Steam Tug
     "Grace Titus."

     You will proceed with your tug as directed by Lieut. H. B.
     Smith, who will hand you this.

     Upon completion of the service demanded by Lieut. Smith, you
     will return to this port and report to me.

     Respectfully,
     A. M. CUMMINGS,
     Capt. & Quartermaster.

I cannot recall what the expedition was for. Incidentally, I may say, I
am continually recognizing that many good stories will be omitted from
lapses of memory, but you will not lose much, as the ones I am
furnishing serve to show the general varied character of my work. My own
personal work and the work of my men, employed in every direction, kept
me busy. I had a man on every steamer plying Chesapeake Bay.

In glancing over subpoenas to attend courts, I find name after name,
none of which occur here; but the most important proposition before me
was to gather information that would assist me in my proposed work to
cripple Mosby's damaging work in the territory known as "between the
lines." It was the country outside our lines and outside the Confederate
lines, peopled by our enemies, always willing to serve the Confederacy,
never serving us; acting as a sponge to draw supplies from us by means
of blockade-running, which could in turn be absorbed by the
Confederates. The efforts of our gunboats to stop the traffic were
futile, as I have heretofore remarked.

     Office Provost Marshal,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Jany. 19, 1865.

     Statement of George Carlton, deserter, Battery Baltimore,
     Rebel Horse Artillery, says:

     "I am a native of Brooklyn, New York. Went South in the year
     1859; went to Mobile. I was engaged in a dry goods store. In
     May, 1862, I was put in the Rebel Army at Richmond, which
     place I was taken to from Mobile. I had the chance to join
     what command I pleased and I joined the Baltimore Battery in
     Richmond. I staid in the company two weeks, then was detailed
     in the Quartermaster's Department at Gordonsville, Va.

     "I remained there until the spring of 1864, when I was sent to
     my Company, then in the valley, under Early. I stayed with the
     Company until Oct. 1864, when I deserted from my Company and
     came to Westmorland County, Va., and then took a boat and
     crossed the Potomac River and landed in St. Mary's County,
     Md., and from there I walked to Baltimore.

     "I was afraid to attempt to desert before that time. (Oct.
     '64.) I deserted during Early's retreat. The Battery that I
     was a member of lost all their guns. I heard officers say that
     they lost forty-four pieces.

     "I had a hard time getting through Westmorland County. I did
     not cross the river until about two weeks ago, and during that
     time I have been on my way from St. Mary's County to this
     city.

     "Now I wish to give certain information to the Government:
     John J. Spaulding, who lived near Leonardtown, Md., and now
     lives on the Virginia side, at Westmorland Court House, six
     miles from the Potomac River, and boarding with a Mr Harvey,
     who keeps tavern at the Court House, brought me over the river
     and eight persons besides myself.

     "He brought us over in the night; he seemed very much afraid,
     and kept out of sight, and landed at Caywood's Bluff, near
     Britton's Bay.

     "Spaulding is a blockade runner, and keeps a large store of
     blockade goods at Westmorland Court House. He brought a large
     lot over the river a few days before I arrived at the Court
     House. He keeps his boat in Poor Jack Creek, and in a small
     gut. From what I heard, I think when he comes over after goods
     he goes to St. Clemmen's Bay in St. Mary's County, up to a
     certain Merryman's store, and I know that Merryman sells goods
     to Spaulding and a much larger quantity to Watkins & Pumphrey,
     two blockade runners at the Court House.

     "Pumphrey did belong to my company; Watkins to the 1st
     Maryland Infantry (Rebel) and deserted, and they are now
     running the blockade.

     "Watkins and Pumphrey were over about a month ago, and while
     on their way up St. Clemmen's Bay, while landing in a creek
     near Merryman's store, the Federal Cavalry, being informed by
     a citizen came near capturing them, but they hid in their
     hiding place, and then they went in the night to Merryman's
     store; he told them that if they were not more careful, he
     would not sell them goods.

     "Pumphrey told me about it when he came back to the Court
     House. They bought at that time about five hundred dollars'
     worth of goods; Pumphrey showed me the bill made out by
     Merryman. The kind and quantity of goods were, sugar, coffee,
     dry-goods, gray cloth, hats, boots and shoes, gun-caps, powder
     spices and other goods, shot, &c.

     "I have seen them haul the goods from the boat to the Court
     House, and have seen most of the things, including the powder
     and caps on Merryman's bill. The powder came over in cans,
     weighing about five pounds each. The party who hauls the stuff
     from Merryman's store to the boat is named Bows, or Bowers,
     who lives near Leonardtown.

     "Jarboe and Molacy, blockade runners who were captured, bought
     their goods of Merryman, sometimes. Certain vessels running
     wood from near Leonardtown to Washington or Alexandria as a
     pretext, drop in on the Virginia shore and land goods and
     recruits for the Rebel Army, so I learned at the Court House.

     "John J. Spaulding had a brother, a Doctor, in Leonardtown,
     who forwarded goods to the river shore for his brother John;
     he, Dr Spaulding, was drafted and ordered to report. He
     deserted and went over to the Virginia shore to his brother,
     and took Blair, Bailey Bowers, a son of the man who hauls
     goods, and Hayden; they were all drafted men.

     "Since Dr. Spaulding left this side, his wife, Mrs. Dr. Eck
     Spaulding, has attended to all the business in that line; she
     has the name on the Virginia side of being the smartest of the
     three in that business. The Spauldings told me that she
     forwarded stuff to them.

     "They understood that I had a furlough and that I was on my
     way to Maryland to make what I could and return to Virginia.
     John Harvey, the keeper of the tavern, runs refugees over the
     river, but I can't say whether he brings goods back or not,
     but runners say he does.

     "While I was at Westmorland Court House, some four companies
     out of seven, of Mosby's men, came down and camped at
     Heathesville, some twenty or twenty-five miles from where I
     was. They intended to winter their horses there. Mosby was not
     in command; they were commanded by a Major. I heard Mosby was
     wounded.

     "John J. Spaulding showed me a bill of exchange, fifteen
     pounds sterling, on Brown Brothers and Company, Baltimore, in
     favor of Thomas Levering. John J. Spaulding, on arrival on
     this side, passed it into the hands of Dr. Spaulding's wife,
     for collection.

     "About six weeks ago Spaulding brought over to the Md. shore,
     a Lieut. Smith, of Mosby's command, and Russel Low, and Daniel
     DeWolf Low, and at another time Wm. H. Sweeney, of Washington;
     he is engaged to get married, and came over to get wedding
     clothes. Sweeney has been over before, in company with
     Watkins.

     "Spaulding also brought over a man by the name of Richy, who
     was a detective in Richmond, and has carried two Rebel mails
     to Richmond from Maryland. Spaulding also brought over one
     Carroll, of Baltimore; also some Jew blockade runners, and a
     great many others. The Jews run a great deal of medicine for
     the Confederate Government.

     "It is my opinion that a cavalry force, landed above on the
     Neck, could cut Mosby's four companies off, and capture them
     in the position they lay.

     "There is a Signal Post on the Potomac River, near Mathias
     Point, Va., in charge of Captain Caywood, of the Confederate
     Signal Corps. He has a boat, and in good weather he comes over
     twice a week. He carries the regular mail and the foreign
     mail; it is a regular government concern.

     "I tried to find out who assisted him on this side, but could
     not do so. I found he would carry no one over without a pass
     from the Secretary of War. In crossing the river they sometime
     pass within 1200 yards of a gunboat."

     (Signed and sworn.)

FILE XXXII.

The pungy "Trifle" (one of the captures)--Colonel McPhail--Major
Blumenburg and his corrupted office--"Boney" Lee, Bob Miller, and
other thugs.

     Office of Provost Marshal General
       for Maryland.
     Baltimore, Jany. 19, 1865.

     Capt. Smith,
     Asst. Provost Marshal.

     Sir.--The pungy "Trifle" now stands in the name of Conrad
     Prince. She changed owners on the 10th of June, last.

     She had not cleared by permit since then, but may have done so
     by manifest.

     Yours, &c.,
     MCPHAIL.

Colonel McPhail was the Civil Provost Marshal of Maryland, having
exclusively to do with enrollments and drafts; the office was entirely
separated from the military service. He was a very clean, upright,
honorable man. There was, however, a district under him, having at its
head a Major Blumenburg, that was very corrupt.

Soldiers were fleeced out of bounty money. Substitutes, quite
frequently colored men, were paid large sums as bounties, more money
than they had ever seen before. By collusion between officers and clerks
in Blumenburg's office, and the substitute brokers, the substitutes were
induced to invest in valueless gewgaws, sometimes paying for a
two-dollar Oride watch as much as one hundred dollars.

One of the largest substitute brokerage concerns tried to reach me with
an offer of five hundred dollars a week, for a period as long as I would
let them alone. The offer was not "dangerously near my price." I cleaned
up the whole business very soon.

Blumenburg appointed a lot of cut throats with authority to arrest
deserters, paying them ten dollars for each deserter brought in. Their
operations were conducted this way: One of these fellows would hail a
soldier who was out on pass take it away from him, pronouncing it
fraudulent, but would allow him to proceed on his way; shortly he would
be hailed again, by a "pal," and having, of course, no pass to exhibit,
he would be arrested charged with desertion.

I was over in Anne Arundel County one night with three or four of my
men, intending to look after some blockade-runners, when four or five of
Blumenburg's thugs picked us up, supposing we were deserters or else
persons come to invade their territory. They were going to do all sorts
of things to us and pulled out their revolvers. I made no parade of
mine though my hand was on it all the time. I quietly informed them of
their error, and promised them, each and every one of them, to give them
a chance to "play checkers with their noses," and I kept my word, for
within a short time I caught them in their nefarious treatment of honest
soldiers.

The party was composed of "Boney" Lee, Bob Miller, ---- Fletcher, and
two others, each one was known to have "done time," yet Blumenburg
licensed them. I broke it all up, and they became as meek as lambs.

FILE XXXIII.

Statement of James Briers, Bollman, McGuarty and Welsh--U. S. Marine
Corps.

     Office Provost Marshal,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Jany. 26, 1865.

     Statement of James Briers, late of Richmond, Virginia, who
     says: "I am a native of England, came to this country about
     1853, remained in Baltimore, Md., about six months then went
     to Richmond, and went into the employ of the Virginia Central
     Railroad Co., and remained with them up to this time.

     "About December, 1863, I was sent into Lancaster County, by
     the Railroad Company, to buy pork for them. I remained about
     three weeks, bought a great many hogs.

     "November 20th, 1864, was again appointed agent to buy hogs
     for the Railroad Company, and was sent to Lancaster,
     Westmorland and other Counties, where I bought about one
     hundred and fifty head in Lancaster and Richmond Counties, and
     then returned to Richmond on night of 25th of December.

     "I was sent back about January 9th, 1865, into the same
     Counties, to buy pork. Then having a chance to escape I made
     my way to Westmorland Court House, and there crossed the river
     into Maryland.

     "I stopped with Harvey, who keeps the tavern at the Court
     House, and who has a boat, with which he runs the blockade.
     John J. Spaulding, a blockade runner, keeps a store at the
     Court House; he runs over a great many goods; comes over twice
     a week for goods.

     "I came over with Spaulding. He thought I was coming over on
     business for the Railroad Company, and he was to have his boat
     over for me, and some goods, in two days' time. I was to be in
     the neighborhood of Caywood's place; he, Caywood, was
     recommended to me as all right. Spaulding charged me fifty
     dollars in gold and was to bring me back. Gilson, a blockade
     runner, came over with me. He is a noted blockade runner, and
     he is in this city now. He ships his goods from here by
     vessel, marked to New York. The vessel on the way puts out the
     goods; I have seen the goods. A Confederate Captain also came
     over with me; he intended to get a boat and cross the Bay to
     the Eastern shore of Maryland, on a visit.

     "Watkins and Pumphrey, two blockade runners at the Court
     House, also run the blockade on a large scale; also a man by
     the name of Hayden.

     "Dr. Spaulding, a brother of John J. Spaulding, came over a
     few days since and took his wife over the river with him; she
     lived near Leonardtown.

     "Judge Irving, Captain Thomas, and Fred. Smith, an old
     blockade firm on the lower river, are still in that business,
     with the exception of Smith, who was captured by Colonel
     Woolley with a large lot of tobacco, and now said to be in
     Fort McHenry. Their goods are marked for New York, and landed
     down the Bay, so Gibson says, and then run to Smith's Point
     Light-house, to a man called James Sutton, who lives on the
     Virginia shore of the creek running between Smith's Point and
     the Virginia shore.

     "Bows, Wells, Hayden and Pumphrey, a party of blockade
     runners, have a plan laid to bring over to the father of a
     late Confederate soldier, living in St. Mary's County, a noted
     horse upon which the son was killed in battle; they are to
     come over the first dark night when the ice gives away in Poor
     Jack Creek.

     "The names of the blockade runners I know are J. J. Spaulding,
     Dr. Eck Spaulding, Frank Simms, Warren, Hayden, Bowers, Wells,
     Watkins, Pumphrey, Harvey.

     "The blockade runners generally sink their boats in the creek,
     when not in use."

     (Sworn and subscribed.)

     460 15th Street,
     Washington, D. C.
     Feb. 3, 1865.

     Lt. Smith,
     Chief of Detectives.

     Sir.--I desire to call your attention to the cases of Bollman,
     McGuarty, Welsh and another, privates in the U. S. Marine
     Corps, wherein I submitted affidavits to you some weeks since.

     Their commanding officer has once or twice enquired of me what
     disposition had been made of their matter. I told him that I
     had in accordance with the instructions of Colonel Woolley,
     submitted the papers to you and that you had told me they
     would be attended to in due course of business. He is,
     however, very anxious to have the matter disposed of as soon
     as possible, as the men are at any moment liable to be
     detailed on distant duty.

     If you will, kindly inform me, as soon as practicable, what
     determination you have come to in these cases.

     Very respy.,
     SELDEN HETZEL,
     Attorney at Law.

I cannot recall the cases.

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.

General W. W. Morris, who had been in command of the First Brigade, with
headquarters at Fort McHenry (of whom I have spoken before), was placed
in command of the Department.

To make himself familiar with the work in the departments, he
interviewed the heads; finally he wanted to see me. He made the call
pleasant by saying: "I hear your work well spoken of," for which I of
course thanked him. I told him I had been Assistant Provost Marshal
under him at Fort McHenry. The old soldier brightened up and remarked:
"Oh, yes, now I remember; my Adjutant General blamed you for all his
troubles. Do you think Andrews was wrong?" I answered: "Yes, he ought to
have worn the grey."

Not many days after, I received a telegram from General Sheridan,
directing the arrest and confinement of E. W. Andrews, captain, and
formerly Assistant Adjutant General.

Believing that if Andrews was in Baltimore he would first call on
General Morris, I went there at once, and showed the General the
telegram. Very soon Andrews, with his usual pomp, came in. He espied me
at once. I showed him my authority from General Sheridan, to arrest him.
I permitted him to see General Morris--in my presence, however--and
extended him all courtesies I consistently could; finally taking him in
a carriage to Fort McHenry, I obtained the following receipt:

     Feb. 25, 1865.

     Recd. from Captain Wiegel, E. W. Andrews, a prisoner, for safe
     keeping.

     DAN. MACAULEY,
     Col. 11th Ind. Vet. Vols.,
     Commanding Brigade.

This receipt was given me in the room formerly occupied by E. W.
Andrews, as Adjutant General. What a fall was there!

This was Andrews's exeunt, for I have never seen him since. I
subsequently, however, learned of his offense in the Valley. It was more
flirting with the enemy. Some of Mosby's men had been captured, and
Andrews came to their rescue and vouched for them as being peaceful
citizens, upon which they were released, but in a few days they were
again captured while committing warlike depredations.

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.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Feby. 10, 1865.

     Special Order No. 27.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Arty. and Commanding
     Detectives, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, with one man,
     Lucius Babcock, of his force, will proceed to New York City,
     on special government business. After transacting same, he
     will at once return to these headquarters.

     Quartermasters will furnish transportation.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General Morris.

     WM. H. WIEGEL,
     Capt. & Actg. Provost Marshal.

The following refers to my seeking extended territory:

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Feby. 21, 1865.

     Unofficial.
     Captain:

     General Morris desires you to write a letter about Lieut.
     Smith, asking such an appointment as will suit him. Address it
     to the Adjutant General and send it to me and I will get the
     General to put an endorsement on and forward it.

     Don't you think you could take it to the Secretary and
     accomplish something?

     Yours truly,
     SAMUEL B. LAWRENCE,
     Assistant Adjutant General.

     To
     Capt. Wiegel.

Pending the issuance of a commission which was to give me an independent
command, to operate in the Shenandoah Valley, and also south of the
lower Potomac, I had been striving to get authority to extend our
operations to the Rappahannock, to avail ourselves of the valuable data
we had accumulated.

Captain Wiegel and I went to Washington, as suggested by Colonel
Lawrence, to see Secretary Stanton. When we arrived at Mr. Stanton's
door I discovered the mental makeup and character of Wiegel. Mr.
Stanton, in manner, was not pleasant to interview. He was brusque,
rough, and appeared to think the world was made for him. Wiegel had much
avoirdupois, but not deep brain convolutions. He had been on General
Butler's staff in New Orleans. He was full of egotism, but when he
approached Mr. Stanton's door he wilted, and asked me to do the talking,
while he listened.

Mr. Stanton did not eat me, and on March 20th our request was granted. I
have always found it pleasanter to do business with the proprietor than
with the man that sweeps out.

There is no doubt but that Secretary Stanton made many critics by his
brusque manner. One did not need to waste words with him, but if a
communication was couched in terse language it pleased him. He disliked
a cringing interviewer. I did not dislike to have business with him, nor
have I ever with men similarly constituted.

Wiegel was a domineering blusterer to his subordinates, but a cringing
sycophant to those over him. Stanton's office was not a congenial
climate for him.

Secretary Dana was a most agreeable gentleman and no less an executive
than Stanton.

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.

I will now introduce the material from which was builded an actor. Lewis
Paine, who brutally hacked at Secretary Seward while Booth was
assassinating the President. He was one of the characters produced for
the closing scene in that greatest tragedy.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Mch. 12, 1865.

     Major Wm. H. Wiegel,
     Actg. Provost Marshal.

     Major.--I have the honor to report the arrest of Lewis Paine,
     a refugee from Fauquier County, Va.

     He was arrested at the house of Miss Maggie Branson, No. 16
     North Eutaw Street. She is a noted Rebel.

     I was promised evidence to prove that he had been in
     Baltimore before, but the witnesses are not forthcoming, and I
     believe him innocent of that charge, but I think it would be
     well to remove him from that family. I would respectfully
     recommend his release.

     Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
     H. B. SMITH.
     Lt. & Chief.

When I entered my office on Friday morning March 10, 1865, Captain Webb,
my clerk, was trying to obtain from Paine some part of his pedigree, but
was baffled by the prisoner's dumbness. Then I tried with the result as
follows:

     Baltimore, Md.,
     March 10, 1865

     Lewis Paine, refugee from Fauquier County, Virginia, my
     parents reside near Orleans, in that County. I am eighteen and
     a half years old. I have not been out of Virginia since the
     war commenced, until this time.

     I was never in the Rebel army. Mosby used to stay at the house
     of Joe Blackwell, until his house was burned.

     Willie Tung, of Warrenton.

     Daniel Moffit, of Fauquier County, members of Mosby's command.

     Miss Maggie Branson, with whom I was stopping, is related to
     me by marriage.

     [Illustration: LEWIS PAINE]

     I bought the coat and vest of grey cloth in this city,
     since I came here; my pants of grey I bought in Washington.

     I don't remember of hearing any disloyal remarks from any of
     the boarders at the house No. 16 North Eutaw Street. I whipped
     a colored woman at that house on Monday last, because she
     insulted me; her name is Annie.

     (Signed) L. PAINE.

     Sworn and subscribed to, before me, this 10th day of March,
     1865.

     H. B. SMITH,
     Lt. & Chief.

Paine was a sullen, dumb looking, overgrown young person. To get
anything out of him I alternately prodded and fondled; he was a cross
between a big booby and a sullen animal.

His statement is disjointed. Between the joints you must imagine my
questions, eliciting his words; for instance, "I am eighteen and a half
years old," was in reply to my query about his pretensions to never
having been in the army. To my remarks about his new grey clothes,
certainly pointing their use, where grey was worn, he tried to explain
his innocence, etc, etc.

While in the midst of his examination, Miss Branson, accompanied by a
Mr. Shriver, came in. Miss Branson pressed right up to my desk,
enquiring what charge was against Mr. Paine. She said he was her
cousin, and that she knew he had never been north before, etc.

I informed her that her word on such matters was not valuable, since I
had her history for disloyalty in my cabinet. I said to Mr. Shriver,
whom I knew to be reckoned as a loyal man, that he should not have lent
his presence.

I was not in good humor because persons who had promised to testify that
Paine had been in Baltimore before had failed to respond. I felt in my
bones he was a spy, but could not prove it, and therefore could not hold
him, hence my recommendation for his release. Finally, on the 12th, he
took the oath of allegiance, before me, and I paroled him, inserting in
the parole, "to go north of Philadelphia and remain during the war."

After the assassination, this paper was found on Paine, but he had
obliterated the restriction "to go north of Philadelphia," etc.

I took from him his pass and parole, issued at Alexandria, Virginia,
January 13th, 1865. In it he was described as of dark complexion, black
hair, blue eyes, height six feet one and a half inches.

I will now leave Paine until after the assassination, which was just one
month later, April 14th, 1865.

I presume my order to go to New York (following) may have hastened my
disposition of Paine.

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.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Mch. 12, 1865.

     Special Order No. 44.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. Arty., and Commanding Detective
     Corps, 8th Army Corps, with one man of his force, will proceed
     to New York City, arrest a certain man, and return to these
     headquarters without delay, with his assistant and prisoner.

     Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General W. W. Morris.

     WM. H. WIEGEL,
     Major & Actg. Provost Marshal.

The cause for this trip will be explained by the following copy of a
letter, and a contract.

     New York, Mch. 10, 1865.

     Dear Manahan:

     It is said Fredericksburg and tobacco is captured. I feared
     this.

     Have written to Maddox and sent him a copy of contract. I
     enclose yours.

     Now it is for you to go to work at once and see that this
     property is taken care of. I believe you will both do it; see
     to it that no innocent parties suffer. Act promptly, for I
     assured my friends that the property was safe at that point,
     and I did it on your representations. Let me hear from you,
     care of Burnett & Funkhouser, this city.

     Yours truly, M. E. MARTIN.

     Baltimore, Md.,
     Dec. 8th, 1864.

     I hereby agree to deliver to Mess. Maddox & Manahan, during
     the month of Feby. and March, 1865, at Fredericksburg,
     Virginia, on the Rappahannock River, Four Thousand Boxes
     (4,000) of good sound merchantable tobacco, to be paid for on
     delivery, by my Agents at said point, in United States
     currency, at the rate of Forty-seven and a half (47½) Cents
     per pound.

     Said tobacco to be of the quality known as good manufactured
     Virginia Leaf. I reserve to myself the privilege of increasing
     the quantity to 5,000 boxes, if I see proper.

     (Signed) M. E. MARTIN.

Manahan was of the firm of J. F. Manahan & Co., No. 17 South Charles
Street, Baltimore, Md. This letter, by mistake, fell into my hands on
March 12th. It was necessary to act quickly in order to intercept
communication twixt Martin and Manahan, and for that purpose I left
Baltimore on the 12th, and had my man wire to Martin, as follows:

     Baltimore, Md., Mch. 13, 1865.

     M. E. Martin,
     c/o Burnett & Funkhouser,
     New York.

     "Your letter here. Shaffer, my friend, will call to-day. Let
     me know the result by telegraph immediately."

     MANAHAN,
     Maltby House.

I assumed that if Martin wanted to reach Manahan, he would address him
at the Maltby House, the telegraph office there was in my possession.

I at the same time had myself wired to as follows:

     Baltimore, Md., Mch. 13, 1865.

     I. K. Shaffer,
     Merchants Hotel,
     New York.

     "Call on Martin immediately, I have his letter of 10th."

     Manahan,
     Maltby House.

This wire was to be my introduction to Martin. I located Martin and
Burnett & Funkhouser in Broad Street near Beaver. I did not call on him
immediately, as I wanted him to get anxious to see me first.

To keep him quiet on Maddox, I had him wired as follows:

     Washington, D. C.,
     Mch. 14, 1865.

     M. E. Martin,
     c/o Burnett & Funkhouser,
     New York.

     "M. leaves here to-night, you can rest fully satisfied all is
     right."

     J. F. MANAHAN,
     Willards Hotel.

Poor Manahan was asleep to all this use of his name, of course. Martin
did get anxious. He wrote me the following note and sent it to
Merchant's Hotel:

     Mr. Shaffer:

     Dear Sir.--Have despatch from Manahan that you will call and
     see me here. Will be in at half past eleven to twelve, half
     past twelve to one, and at half past one.

     Either wait for me or leave your address.

     Yours, &c.,
     M. E. MARTIN.

I called but failed to find Martin, and later I received the following
from him:

     Mr. Shaffer:

     I waited for you all the early part of the day, at B & F's,
     and then left a note for you, requesting you to leave your
     address.

     Am unwell; if it is important you should see me before
     morning, please come up to my hotel, Gramercy Park House, if
     not, please meet me at B & F's, nine to nine thirty, t-morrow
     morning.

     Yours truly,
     MARTIN.

I met him in the morning, as appointed. He was hungry to meet me, just
as I wanted it.

I found Mr. Martin to be a man evidently well fitted for the job, in
appearance tall, rather lank, energetic and gentlemanly. We visited off
and on, nearly all day. He believed, from what I told him, that I and my
friends were financially interested through Manahan. He explained his
position as representing Mr. Trenholm, Secretary of the Confederate
Treasury. He told how he had formerly run cotton through the lines on
the Mississippi river.

Now that the tobacco had been seized, his plan was to press a claim upon
our government, representing the tobacco to belong to Union people. He
told me he had papers at his hotel which would corroborate him.

In the afternoon, nearly dark, we parted in the Howard House (then at
the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway) with the understanding that I
was returning to Baltimore and Manahan, satisfied with his assurances.

My man (Mr. Kraft), who had been following me, to be handy if help was
needed, and who had been watching for the signal to make the arrest,
came to me hastily, thinking he might have missed the signal, but I
assured him it was all right to let Martin go. I had a further purpose,
I wanted to get the documents Martin had spoken of as being at his
hotel.

Kraft and I dined at the old Lovejoy Hotel (then at the corner of
Beekman Street and Park Row) and afterwards went up to the Gramercy Park
Hotel, then quite a fashionable hostelry. We waited until Martin came
out of the dining-room. He was in his dinner suit, and was quite a dude
for such a raw-boned Southerner; he was surprised to see me again. I
told him I wanted some further talk. I asked if we could not go to his
room. After starting for up stairs I introduced my friend.

When in his room I informed him that my sole object was to obtain the
information needed by the Government. Any man's face would be a study
under such circumstances. Martin was game; his first question was:
"Well, what is your name?" "Smith," I replied. "Oh, I mean your right
name," he said. (There are some advantages in the name Smith, I really
needed no alias.)

Martin thought a treat was "on him," and he paid it. I then invited him
to show me the documents he had described when down town. I took
possession of all. They gave a very good history of his doings on the
Mississippi river, and his connection with the Confederate Treasury
Department.

In answer to his question, I told him that I did not know what the
government would do with him, but I was sure his proposed claim against
the government would not be collectible, and perhaps he would be
detained until the end of the war, to prevent a recurrence.

Pending my first call on Martin, I visited General Dix, commanding the
Department of the East. He declined to endorse my order to make the
arrest of Martin, unless I explained fully the case. Rather than do so,
just at that time, I concluded to disregard courtesy and take my man
away without his endorsement, which I did.

The "Gold Room" which was then more important than the Stock Exchange,
was in Twenty-fourth Street, back of the Fifth Avenue Hotel; it was open
evenings. I permitted Martin to send there for money, and to advise his
friends that he would be away for a few days.

During the evening Mr. Martin said to me, "Last evening, when I was
expecting you, waiting for you, I lay here reading Colonel Baker's book
on the Secret Service. He had no case as slick as this. Smith, you were
so frank and open, I would have told you anything you wanted to know."

I presume he was reading Baker's book to see how such cases as his were
treated, not dreaming of an ocular demonstration so near at hand. At
midnight we started for Baltimore.

The following from the Richmond "Whig" explains better, perhaps, than I
can, just what Martin and the case meant, from the Confederate
viewpoint:

     (From the Richmond "Whig")

     The Tobacco Transaction--A Prominent New York House Concerned.

     "We have obtained the main facts of the great tobacco
     speculation, in reference to which there were so many rumors
     last week. It appears that an agent of a New York mercantile
     house, whose name it is deemed inexpedient to publish at this
     time, proposed to certain parties in this city to contract
     with them for the delivery of a specific quantity of
     manufactured tobacco at Fredericksburg, he undertaking for his
     principals to remove the tobacco from that point, with the
     implied consent of the United States authorities, provided
     the Confederate authorities would indicate their consent, in
     writing, to the proposed transaction. The tobacco was to be
     paid for on its delivery at Fredericksburg. The New York house
     was vouched for by an influential member of Congress, who had
     intimate business relations with the concern.

     One of the Confederate bureaus became identified with the
     scheme, by reason of the representations which had been made
     to its officers, and by the prospect of advantageous results
     from the fulfillment of the proposed agreement by the parties
     on the other side.

     The contract was accordingly entered into, "sealed, signed and
     delivered," with a satisfactory endorsement from the
     predecessor of the present Secretary of War, who was no doubt
     induced to believe that it was "all right." Nothing was said
     in the contract about bacon. The quid pro quo was money.

     In execution of the contract on this side, about four thousand
     boxes of fine to extra manufactured tobacco were purchased
     here, at rates ranging from four dollars to seven dollars per
     pound, Confederate currency. Of this amount one thousand two
     hundred and seventy-three boxes, weighing one hundred and
     thirty-two thousand five hundred and seventy-eight pounds, and
     valued at seven hundred thousand dollars, were forwarded to
     Fredericksburg in charge of Dr. Rose, who was induced by
     assurances from Richmond, which he could not discredit, to act
     as consignee and custodian of the tobacco until delivered
     according to agreement. He was not in any sense, as we
     understand, a party to the contract. What became of the
     tobacco is known to our readers. Dr. Rose was carried off by
     the Yankees for engaging in contraband traffic.

     The name of General Singleton has been connected with this
     transaction. We state on the authority of an officer of the
     bureau referred to that he has no lot nor part in it, directly
     or indirectly. The loss of the tobacco will fall upon the
     contractors here unless the New York parties to the contract
     will fulfill their obligations by indemnifying the bureau with
     which they contracted."

After action by Congress, President Lincoln endeavored to extend some
relief to persons within the Confederacy who were Unionists at heart;
they were to be encouraged by allowing them to work their products up to
and through the lines. What was intended as a great beneficent
proposition was seized upon by the Confederate government to help itself
financially.

The following order will explain the experiences with cotton on the
Mississippi river. I presume these orders drove Martin to turn his
attention to tobacco in the east:

     Headquarters, Major General Washburn,
     District West Tennessee.
     Memphis, May 10, 1864.

     "The practical operation of commercial intercourse from this
     city with the States in rebellion, has been to help largely to
     feed, clothe, arm and equip our enemies."

     "To take cotton, belonging to the Rebel Government to Memphis,
     and convert it into supplies and greenbacks, and return to the
     lines of the enemy, or place the proceeds to the credit of the
     Rebel Government, in Europe, is safe and easy.

     "I have undoubted evidence that large amounts of cotton have
     been and are being brought here to be sold, belonging to the
     Rebel Government."

     "It is therefore ordered, that on and after the 15th of May,
     1864, the lines of the Army at Memphis be closed and no person
     be permitted to leave the city, except by river, without a
     special pass."

     "By order of
     Major General C. C. WASHBURN."

A similar order was issued by Colonel Farrar, at Natchez, Miss., and by
General Sherman at Vicksburg, in which they said:

     "The amount of trade through the lines at all these points,
     with the isolated localities, where trade stores were
     situated, was estimated at not less than a half million
     dollars, daily."

On the 6th of March, 1864, General Roberts, with one thousand five
hundred men, and with naval help, left Fortress Monroe for
Fredericksburg. He captured and destroyed three hundred and eighty
thousand dollars worth of tobacco.

Martin was the representative of the Confederate Treasury Department. I
recovered his correspondence with Secretary Trenholm. It was understood
that the proceeds of the sale of this tobacco was to go to Paris to help
pay Confederate debts incurred there.

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.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Mch. 18, 1865.

     Lieut. Smith:

     I want to see you at the office this evening at 7.30.

     The Secretary of War wants to see you in Washington, and you
     will have to go to-morrow morning.

     Yours, &c.,
     S. B. LAWRENCE,
     A. Adjutant General.

I do not remember what the Secretary wanted, but as the following order
issued the next day, I assume it was to learn more of my purpose in the
extended territory asked for:

     War Department,
     Washington, D. C.,
     Mch. 20, 1865.

     Major W. H. Wiegel:

     Provost Marshal at Baltimore is authorized to extend his
     operations into the region between the Potomac and
     Rappahannock Rivers known as the northern neck of Virginia.

     (Signed) C. A. DANA,
     Asst. Secretary of War.

     Headquarters, Department of Missouri,
     Office of Provost Marshal General,
     St. Louis, Mo., Mch. 21, 1865.

     Provost Marshal General,
     Middle Department,
     Baltimore, Md.

     Sir.--In October last, the Military Prisons of this city being
     in danger from the Rebel forces under Major General Sterling
     Price, it was deemed prudent by General Rosecrans, then in
     command of this Department, to transfer the occupants to the
     Alton Prison. While this transfer was in progress, one of the
     prisoners, Robert Loudan, alias Charles Veal, made his escape
     from the guards by cutting his irons and jumping from the boat
     into the river. He was then under sentence of death for being
     a spy and a boat burner.

     Loudan was lately heard from at New Orleans, where it was
     reported he was in the custody of the Military authorities,
     by whom he was subsequently released for the want of
     sufficient evidence to hold him.

     It is possible he has gone beyond our lines, but, if not, he
     would be likely to make for some of the large cities of the
     loyal States.

     Loudan is a native of Philadelphia, where his wife now
     resides; height, about five feet eight inches; complexion,
     fair; large blue eyes constantly rolling and displaying a
     great deal of white; hair and whiskers, fair; square
     shoulders; usually wears a false moustache; wears his hat on
     the back of his head.

     This office is charged with his execution, and will incur any
     amount of trouble to recapture him. If he is found within the
     limits of your jurisdiction, please secure and forward him to
     me or notify me of his arrest and I will send for him.

     Very respectfully,
     Your obdt. servt.,
     J. H. BAKER,
     Col. & Provost Marshal.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Mch. 31, 1865.

     Special Order No. 55.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Arty., Commanding Detective
     Corps, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, will proceed to
     Washington, D. C., for the recovery of a colored boy,
     kidnapped from Norfolk, Virginia, and will report to the
     Provost Marshal of Washington, for any assistance he may
     require.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General W. W. Morris.

     WM. H. WIEGEL,
     Major & Actg. Provost Marshal.

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.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Apl. 5, 1865.

     Major:

     I have written to Commodore Dornin requesting him to send a
     small steamer in pursuit of the "Harriet Deford," if he has
     one ready, and to permit Lieut. Smith and his guard to
     accompany her.

     If Commodore Dornin can not send a steamer I have written to
     Colonel Newport, to request him to place a tug at your
     disposal.

     You will please see that Smith goes in Command with sufficient
     guard and ammunition. If you want a Howitzer, send to C. O.
     Fort McHenry, or let the steamer stop there and get it.

     Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
     SAMUEL B. LAWRENCE,
     A. Adjutant General.

     To
     Major Wiegel.

     Commandant's Office.
     Naval Station,
     Baltimore, Apl. 5, 1865.

     Colonel:

     I regret that I have no steamer in the proper condition to
     start off; if we had it would be furnished promptly.

     Very respy. your obdt. servt,
     THOS A. DORNIN,
     Commodore.

     To
     Col. Sam'l B. Lawrence,
     A. Adjutant General,
     Middle Department.

A report had reached us that the steamer "Harriet Deford," plying
between the Patuxent river and Baltimore, had been captured by a gang of
pirates, in Fair Haven bay, which is midway between the Patuxent river
and the Severn river; the passengers were robbed and put ashore.

Richmond had fallen; Jefferson Davis was seeking to escape, and the
theory, quickly arrived at, was that this steamer had been seized to
furnish the means, perhaps, to run him to the Bahamas, or Bermuda.

The bay and its tributaries were alive with anxiety. In a very short
time I was away in a tug. I put the guards below decks, in the
coal-hole, where they were nearly smothered, until night came on.

Early in the evening we arrived at the mouth of Fair Haven bay. Our
pilot did not know the harbor, but soon discovered he could not run his
boat on the mere appearance of water. He ran us onto a bar, where we
thumped and thumped, backed and poled off, and then ran onto another. We
finally concluded to back off, go back to the Severn river and
Annapolis, and wait for daylight.

When we arrived in the Severn, we found the shore and water full of
alertness. We were hailed and threatened until our character was
understood. To my delight I found there a large steamer, with two
hundred men on, that Colonel Lawrence had sent down to support me. A
landlubber feels better on a larger vessel, so I took my men on the
steamer, and we started again for Fair Haven. We arrived there early in
the morning.

My theory was that I could pick up some clue there to follow up, and
events sustained me. I sauntered up from the dock towards a store. I met
two men, and to my question, one of the men admitted he was pressed into
service by the gang in the mouth of the Patuxent. He said the party had
crossed the Potomac in a small sail boat, and compelled him to pilot
them, to overhaul the "Harriet Deford." He said they steamed down the
bay, after leaving Fair Haven. We held him, and at once ran on down the
Chesapeake, to the mouth of the Potomac. We were then in Commodore
Parker's territory, which he was covering clear across the bay with
gunboats. Our duty was done, and we returned to Baltimore.

I learned afterwards that they ran the "Deford" into Mobjack bay, where
she was burned, after first stripping her joiner work. I visited, and
afterwards married, Aunt Mag, in the region of Mobjack bay, but never
referred to the incident. I thought it might not bring up pleasant
recollections. I have often wondered if some of the "Deford's" saloon
trimmings might be in use in some of the houses there. Let us forget it.

The following account of the affair appeared in the New York papers
under date April 6th, 1865, with big headline: "Another Pirate!"

     "Baltimore, April 5th, 1865. A daring act of piracy was
     perpetrated at Fair Haven, Herring Bay, about fifty miles from
     this city, the Steamer Harriet Deford being seized by a
     company of Rebel soldiers in disguise. The Deford had scarcely
     left Fair Haven Wharf before a dozen or more of newly received
     passengers threw off their overcoats and drawing revolvers
     revealed to the astonished gaze of the passengers the uniforms
     of Rebel soldiers.

     The passengers, about seventy in number, thirty being ladies,
     were ordered to the saloon and guards placed over them while
     the balance of the pirates proceeded to take command of the
     Steamer. Captain and officers were forced into obedience at
     the muzzle of the pirates' revolvers. One of the pirates
     assumed control of the wheel, the Pilot and Engineer being
     compelled to proceed to sea. Mr. A. Donnell, clerk of the
     Deford, believing that he had met the leader of the outlaws on
     a former occasion, accosted him as Captain Fitzhugh, when the
     latter acknowledged the recognition and said he was Captain of
     the Fifth Virginia Cavalry and acting under orders of superior
     officers. Under the persuasive eloquence of a revolver the
     clerk handed over to the pirates nearly twelve hundred dollars
     belonging to the owners of the Steamer and different firms in
     this City; which Fitzhugh carefully robbed.

     When about a mile from Fair Haven, Fitzhugh compelled the
     Engineer to sound the steam whistle three times, in answer to
     which signal three boats containing thirty-two men put off
     from each side of the river and stood for the Steamer. The
     crews of these boats having been taken aboard, the Steamer was
     headed down Chesapeake Bay. On the way down Captain Leage,
     Captain Dayton, officer in charge of the Steamer and several
     old gentlemen with ladies and children, were placed on board
     of the Schooner Hiawatha, bound for this city. The balance of
     male passengers, Engineer, Fireman, and twenty colored
     freedmen were retained as prisoners.

     The Deford was valued at fifty thousand dollars and had a
     cargo of tobacco, potatoes, grain, furs, &c., valued at eighty
     thousand dollars. Fitzhugh would not permit his men to rob
     passengers.

     The captured Steamer is a fast sailer, having repeatedly made
     fourteen knots per hour. The intention of the pirates could
     not be learned, but it is supposed they will endeavor to run
     outside the Capes, transfer the cargo to a larger vessel, burn
     the Deford, and proceed to Nassau.

     The paroled passengers arrived here this morning. One of them
     positively asserts that Jeff. Davis was among the party who
     came out in small boats, but no reliance whatever can be
     placed in the possibility of Jeff. having thus escaped from
     Richmond. The receipt of this news caused great excitement
     here, and measures looking to the defence of the Bay boats are
     being made.

     A steamer has also been despatched to intercept the pirates
     before they reach the Capes."

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.

At this time in 1865 General Lee was about surrendering. All the people,
North and South, were rejoicing at the prospect of peace, excepting
those bitter, poisoned-with-their-own-venom conspirators hid away in
dark corners, who were rehearsing for the closing scene.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Apl. 13, 1865.

     Special Order No. 61.

     1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, in accordance with instructions
     received from the Hon. Secretary of War, will proceed to that
     part of Virginia known as the Northern Neck, with two of his
     men, and prisoner, M. V. B. Morgan, for the purpose of
     arresting certain outlaws in that part of Virginia.

     Military and Naval commanders will please give all assistance
     required.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General W. W. Morris.

     WM. H. WIEGEL,
     Major & Actg. Provost Marshal.

This was to be my first opportunity to set foot in the district I had
been seeking to. I had intended to capture in detail every known
blockade-runner, and lock them up until the end of the war, but now that
the war was practically over, my purpose was to capture the contraband
goods to be found hidden in hay stacks, barns, etc.

Martin Van Buren Morgan had been with these blockade-runners, and had
himself been somewhat in their ways, so I had become satisfied he would
serve me, for pay. An order was placed in my hands, to be used under
certain conditions. If he proved loyal and valuable, it was not to be
used. If he was not valuable, I could use it and send him north. If he
proved disloyal, I had verbal instructions to use my own judgment as to
his disposal. This was the order:

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Apl. 13, 1865.

     Special Order No. 61.

     2--M. V. B. Morgan, citizen prisoner, is hereby ordered to
     proceed north of Philadelphia, Pa., and remain during the
     war, provided he takes the oath of allegiance to the United
     States Government.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General W. W. Morris.

     WM. H. WIEGEL,
     Major & Actg. Provost Marshal.

                       Morgan's Statement.

     "My name is Martin Van Buren Morgan. I was born in Palmyra,
     New York State. My father was named Irvin Morgan, my brother
     is named Francis Morgan. My father one year ago was in
     Nashville, Tenn. I was so young I can not remember when I
     lived in Palmyra; as far back as I can recollect I was in
     Oswego. When three years old we moved to Cleveland, Ohio. When
     about sixteen I moved to Wheeling with my mother. From
     Wheeling I ran on the river from Cincinnati to Pittsburg.

     "In November, 1860, I was in Cleveland, Ohio. I voted for
     Abraham Lincoln. From Cleveland I went to Cincinnati, to
     Pittsburg, and then to Queen's County, Virginia, in January,
     1861.

     "On March 4th, 1861, I was still in Queen's County, Virginia.
     I did not vote in Virginia. Mr. Thompson took me to Virginia.
     I never belonged to any regiment in the South. I lived in
     Queen's County until last spring, lived there all the time. I
     worked there at farming and oystering. I own a little place of
     about ten acres. I worked for Mr. Richardson and Captain
     Baggs.

     "Since last spring I have been living in Westmorland and
     Northumberland Counties. They ran me away from Queen's County.
     I lived near Union, in Northumberland. I used to oyster on the
     Wicomico River, &c.

     "When the raid was made last June, on the Necks, I was there.
     They did not find my boat that I oyster with, as it was hauled
     up and covered with pine boughs. I remained hid. I saw a few
     colored soldiers. Have seen conscripting officers and I always
     ran away from them. Have never been to Richmond since 1861.

     "I sent a letter by George Booth across the river and heard
     from my father the same way. The carrier who works from
     Rap---- to Potomac, is named James Wilds; I don't know the
     points he stops at. Charles or George Booth carries the mail
     across the Potomac.

     "I addressed the letter I sent to my father to Nashville,
     Tenn. I have a brother in the Southern army; he belongs to the
     fourth Georgia regiment; he is a Captain. I received an answer
     to the letter I sent my father. I never wrote to him again,
     and have had no letter from him since.

     "I left Northumberland County last August, and crossed over
     to the Maryland side. I came across in an oyster punt, at
     night. The boat belonged to me. I came over alone, brought
     nothing with me; landed on the Maryland side, at the barns,
     near Marshal's store, on the St. George's Island. Bennett and
     King live there.

     "When I landed on the Maryland side, I saw Ben. King, Bennett,
     and Mr. Snyder, who all came to the barn. I went over to
     Maryland to get shoes and to dredge, but could get no work and
     had to come back. I also got some sugar; I got Ben. King to
     get it for me. I got one pair of shoes, one pound of coffee
     and one pound of sugar. This is all I could get. I paid five
     dollars for the shoes, seventy-five cents for the coffee and
     thirty cents for the sugar. I bought these things for Mrs.
     Kent: I was living with her. King has been driven off the
     Island. I stayed in Maryland a week and then paddled back to
     old Virginia, to old Virginia shore.

     "About the 1st September I came to Maryland shore again,
     paddled over on a dark night, brought nothing over with me,
     again landed at the same place. I came over for stuff. Pickets
     were on the shore and I could not land, and had to put back. I
     carried over forty dollars in greenbacks.

     "After about a week I went over again, taking over the same
     thing; nothing. I landed this time at Chicken Cock, above
     Smith's Creek, a _leetle_. I got my goods at Mr. Bean's. Mr.
     Bean keeps a store. I got a pair of boots for eight dollars,
     one pair pants for five dollars, one fine-tooth comb for
     fifteen cents, and also a bottle of hair oil at thirty or
     forty cents, and had three or four glasses of whiskey.

     "I treated a Lieutenant and a Captain who were there from
     Piney Point. I had to lay in the bushes about two days, the
     weather being so rough I could not cross. I spent about thirty
     dollars.

     "On last Monday night I came over again; came over alone, and
     in a canoe worth one hundred and fifty dollars; left the canoe
     on the beach. I bought this canoe about a week before I came
     over. I bought this canoe to run the blockade with. I was
     going to run Jews across for Mr. Dawson. Mr. Dawson lives at
     the head of Large Creek, Yocomico River. Colonel Claybrook, of
     Home Guard, lives on the road from Large Creek to Union
     Village.

     "I saw in Northumberland County about three months since,
     Albert Klockgether, who gave me his address in Baltimore, and
     desired me, when I came over, to call and see him. Bill Hayden
     carried over Klockgether, in one of Dawson's boats.

     "I left my boat near Britton's Bay, on the beach. Bill Hayden
     has been captured twice, and is now back in Virginia. I came
     to this city on the West River boat, and landed this
     afternoon. I bought this shirt I have on from Mr. Wm. Hudson,
     a blockade runner; paid him six dollars for it about three or
     four weeks since. I have heard that Hudson is now captured.
     Bought my hat for five dollars from the same one. I bought my
     satchel from Richard King, a blockade runner. I bought the
     revolver from a Jew in Virginia; paid twenty dollars for it.

     "A man named Brown is a blockade runner. I heard that he
     brought over a load of Enfield rifles, in a sloop; the Home
     Guard are armed with them.

     "A Jew named Rosenfield is connected between Wilmington and
     Canada and England, in running the blockade. A woman named
     Mrs. Hays, of Baltimore, was with Rosenfield; she had a trunk
     and satchel; she came over to Dawson's. She was coming from
     Richmond.

     "Rosenfield said he was going back. I knew three Jews by
     sight, who have brought medicine across--I think from Eastern
     shore. I don't know their names.

     "A Rebel officer, Captain Berry, came over to the Maryland
     side in full uniform, and came back again. I have seen him
     lots of times; he is stationed above Boler's, who lives at
     the ferry over the Rappahannock, about twenty miles from mouth
     of the river.

     "They have large flat boats to carry over men, oxen, wagons,
     &c.--have two there now. This ferry is about fifty miles from
     Richmond. There is a large camp of Cavalry about eight miles
     from the ferry on the south side of the river. Gunboats can
     come up as far as Boler's. Captain Moon lives opposite the
     guard ship, on the Virginia side, at the windmill.

     "Foster Maynard took the oath at Point Lookout, and is now
     conscript officer; he is a Captain. Maynard lives about one
     mile from King's Sail. King's Sail is on the Yocomico River.

     "About two weeks since, Bill Hayden and Joe Cooper came over
     to Britton's Bay, to a little creek this side of the Bay, just
     above Piney Point; a white house is on the shore. The house
     right by the saw mill is the house they go to. They go to this
     house to buy goods to run the blockade with. I bought a little
     cutter from this place; bought over three sacks of salt, hats,
     caps, boots, shoes, and a jug of whiskey.

     "Richard King, of Northumberland County, a blockade runner,
     comes to this side of the river and buys canoes and yawl
     boats. King has been over here for the last three weeks. About
     four weeks ago King got a canoe from Alexandria, and took it
     over to Dawson's and sold it to him. He came to Baltimore
     once, on a pungy.

     "John Olison owns a pungy; dredges around St. George's. He
     lives on the Virginia side. Elias Steele, blockade runner,
     lives in Westmorland County. Captain Wm. Dawson lives at Large
     Creek.

     "Union Village is where the mail comes. It comes every week
     (not certain). Mrs. Frank Lewis gave me the letter addressed
     to Mr. Steele, to give to Mr. Steele. (I never gave it to
     him.) Union Village is about eight miles from the beach. I
     found out that Mr. Steele had crossed the Potomac.

     "I have seen large quantities of tobacco hid under corn
     shucks, and I know he has a large sum of money and a number of
     watches in his house (Dawson's house).

     "At Dawson's house are the following persons: Mr. Dawson, Sr.,
     Mrs. Dawson, Miss Dawson, Mrs. Nancy Clarke and her daughter,
     and Dawson, Jr. (a boy).

     "There are two canoes at Dawson's."

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.

The saddest day in our nation's history was Friday, April 14th, 1865.
Early in the evening I was introduced to General Grant, in his private
car; he was on his way from Washington to Philadelphia. The private car
was standing on Howard just north of Camden Street. At that time the
cars of through trains were hauled through Baltimore by horses up
Howard, down Pratt to President Street, and to the depot.

Mr. Wm. G. Woodside, the paymaster of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
had asked me if I would like to be introduced to the General. We entered
the car from the rear door. I do not remember there being any person in
the car except the General and Mrs. Grant. It was understood in
Washington that General Grant was to have accompanied the President to
the theatre that evening.

We retired at about 10 o'clock, prepared to start the next morning,
Saturday, the 15th, for the northern neck of Virginia, with Morgan, as
outlined in the file preceding. Soon after retiring we were informed of
the assassination. There is no word in the language to describe the
shock I felt. I put on my clothes and did not take them off again until
Wednesday, the 19th. Adjutant General Lawrence sent for me, and
instructed me to abandon my trip to the Northern Neck.

The following telegram came early Saturday morning; in it Paine is
described quite perfectly, but at that time I had no idea that he was
the person described:

     United States Military Telegram,
     Apl. 15, 1865.

     The following is a description of the assassin of the Hon. W.
     H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Hon. Frederick W. Seward,
     Assistant Secretary. You will use every exertion in your power
     and call to your aid the entire force under your control to
     secure the arrest of the assassin.

     Height 6½ feet, black hair, thick, full, and straight. No
     beard, nor appearance of beard. Cheeks red on the jaws, and
     face moderately full. 22 or 23 years of age. Eyes, color not
     known, large eyes, not prominent. Brows not heavy, but dark.
     Face not large, but rather round. Complexion healthy. Nose
     straight and well formed. Medium sized mouth, small lip, thin
     upper lip, protrudes when he talks. Chin pointed and
     prominent. Head of medium size. Neck short and of medium
     length. Hands small and fingers tapering, showed no signs of
     hard labor. Broad shoulders, taper waist, straight figure,
     strong looking man; manner not gentlemanly, but vulgar.

     Overcoat double breasted, color mixed of pink and grey spots,
     small; was a sack overcoat, pockets inside and on breast, with
     lapels or flaps. Pants, black, common stuff. New heavy boots.
     Voice small, inclined to tenor.

     (Signed) N. S. JEFFRIES,
     A. P. M. G.

     Headquarters, Middle Department
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Apl. 16, 1865.

     Colonel:

     I have some important intelligence, send Lieut. Smith to me at
     once.

     SAMUEL B. LAWRENCE,
     A. A. G.

     To
     Colonel Woolley.

The information was about a letter that had been found in Booth's trunk,
written from Hookstown, Md., from Samuel Arnold, showing his
(Arnold's) complicity in the assassination.

[Illustration: SAMUEL B. ARNOLD]

I at once, with one of my men, Mr. Babcock, went to Hookstown. We
avoided our pickets, traveled across country, and reached Arnold's home
about noon. We sat down, as if to rest, on Arnold's porch, asking no
questions, but waited to be questioned. A colored woman opened the door,
and I asked her if she would give us something to eat, for money. She
agreed and invited us into the sitting room, while she prepared
something for us.

There was no white person about. We ate and visited, she questioning us
about the murder, and we cautioning her. Finally, when we were about to
leave, we told her we knew Mr. Arnold. She said he had gone away some
days since to Old Point Comfort. Our purpose was accomplished. It is not
necessary to say we hurried.

Everybody bound for Old Point had to get a pass at our office. A record
was kept of each, together with the name of a person as reference. An
examination of the register disclosed at once Samuel B. Arnold's name,
vouched for by Mr. Wharton ("Wickey" Wharton), whom we knew; he was
sutler at Old Point. We wired to him to know where Arnold was. He
replied: "A clerk in my employ." We then wired for his arrest.

He was arrested and sent to Baltimore on the Bay Line boat, reaching
Baltimore on the 18th.

The following was my order to go to Washington with him:

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, Apl. 18, 1865.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith (in citizen's clothes) and officer Babcock,
     will accompany the officer in charge of S. B. Arnold, to
     Washington, to aid in securing Arnold's safe delivery. The
     duty performed they will return to these headquarters without
     delay.

     By command of Bvt. Brigadier General Morris.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. Chf. Staff Prov. Mar.

Arnold was sentenced to Dry Tortugas for life. Following is a copy of
Arnold's letter, found in Booth's trunk:

     Hookstown, Baltimore County, Md.,
     March 27, 1865.

     Dear John:

     Was business so important that you could not remain in
     Baltimore till I saw you? I came in as soon as I could, but
     found you had gone to W----n. I called also to see Mike, but
     learned from his mother he had gone out with you, and had not
     returned. I concluded, therefore, he had gone with you.

     How inconsiderate you have been. When I left you, you stated
     we would meet in a month or so. Therefore I made application
     for employment, an answer to which I shall receive during the
     week. I told my parents I had ceased with you.

     Can I then, under existing circumstances, come as you
     requested? You know full well that the G----t suspicions
     something is going on there; therefore the undertaking is
     becoming more complicated. Why not, for the present desist,
     for various reasons? which, if you look into, you can readily
     see without my making any mention thereof to you. Nor anyone
     can censure me for my present course. You have been its cause,
     for how can I now come after telling them I had left you?
     Suspicion rests on me now, from my whole family, and even
     parties in the country. I will be compelled to leave home,
     anyhow, and how soon I care not.

     None, no, not one, were more in favor of the enterprise than
     myself, and to-day would be there, had you not done as you
     have--by this, I mean, manner of proceeding.

     I am, as you well know, in need. I am, you may say, in rags,
     whereas to-day I ought to be well clothed.

     I do not feel right stalking about without means, and more
     from appearance a beggar. I feel my independence; but even all
     this would be, and was forgotten, for I was one with you.
     Time more propitious will arrive yet. Do not act rashly or in
     haste. I would prefer your first query, "Go and see how it
     will be taken at R----d," and ere long I shall be better
     prepared to again be with you. I dislike writing; would sooner
     verbally make known my views, yet you know writing causes me
     thus to proceed.

     Do not in anger peruse this, weigh all I have said, and as a
     rational man and a friend, you cannot censure or upbraid my
     conduct. I sincerely trust this, nor naught else that shall or
     may occur, will ever be an obstacle to obliterate our former
     friendship and attachment.

     Write me to Baltimore, as I expect to be in about Wednesday or
     Thursday, or, if you can possibly come on, I will Tuesday meet
     you in Baltimore at B----. Ever I subscribe myself,

     Your friend,
     SAM.

Notwithstanding the opprobrium attaching to the name, Arnold, in
American history, I have always looked upon this Arnold with some
feelings of pity.

The following account of Paine's arrest is borrowed from Mr. Osborn H.
Oldroyd's "Assassination of Abraham Lincoln":

     The doorbell of Mrs. Surratt's house, No. 541 (now No. 604) H
     Street, N. W., was rung by Major H. W. Smith, in company with
     other officers, about eleven o'clock Monday night, the 17th.
     When the bell rang, Mrs. Surratt appeared at the window and
     said: "Is that you, Mr. Kirby"? The reply was that it was not
     Mr. Kirby, and to open the door. She opened the door, and was
     asked: "Are you Mrs. Surratt?" She said: "I am the widow of
     John H. Surratt." The officer added, "And the mother of John
     H. Surratt, Jr.?" She replied: "I am." Major Smith said: "I
     come to arrest you and all in your house, and take you for
     examination to General Augur's headquarters." No inquiry
     whatever was made as to the cause of arrest. Mr. R. C. Morgan,
     in the service of the War Department, made his appearance at
     the Surratt house a few minutes later, sent under orders to
     superintend the seizure of papers and the arrest of the
     inmates. While the officers were in the house a knock and ring
     were heard at the door, and Mr. Morgan and Captain
     Wermerskirch stepped forward and opened the door, and Lewis
     Payne stepped in with a pickax over his shoulder, dressed in a
     gray coat and vest and black trousers. As he had left his hat
     in the house of Secretary Seward, he had made one out of the
     sleeve of a shirt or the leg of a drawers, pulling it over his
     head like a turban. He said he wished to see Mrs. Surratt, and
     when asked what he came that time of night for, he replied he
     came to dig a gutter, as Mrs. Surratt had sent for him in the
     morning. When asked where he boarded, he said he had no
     boarding house, that he was a poor man, who got his living
     with the pick. Mr. Morgan asked him why he came at that hour
     of the night to go to work? He said he simply called to find
     out what time he should go to work in the morning. When asked
     if he had any previous acquaintance with Mrs Surratt, he
     answered, "No," but said that she knew he was working around
     the neighborhood and was a poor man, and came to him. He gave
     his age as twenty, and was from Fauquier County, Virginia, and
     pulled out an oath of allegiance, and on it was "Lewis Payne,
     Fauquier County, Virginia." Mrs. Surratt was asked whether she
     knew him, and she declared in the presence of Payne, holding
     up her hands: "Before God, I have never seen that man before;
     I have not hired him; I do not know anything about him." Mrs.
     Surratt said to Mr. Morgan: "I am so glad you officers came
     here to-night, for this man came here with a pickax to kill
     us."

     From Mrs. Surratt's house Payne was taken to the provost
     marshal's office. Mrs. Surratt was informed that the carriage
     was ready to take her to the provost marshal's office, and
     she, with her daughter Annie, Miss Honora Fitzpatrick, and
     Miss Olivia Jenkins (the latter two boarded at the house),
     were driven away.

The telegram received on Saturday morning the 15th, giving a description
of the person who tried to kill Secretary Seward, was quite accurate,
considering it was made by persons under great excitement. The oath of
allegiance which Paine pulled out of his pocket when arrested, was the
document issued from our office. He had erased, however, the restriction
which ordered that he was to "go north of Philadelphia and remain during
the war."

Before telling of what I did after discovering Paine to be the person I
had released on March 14th, I want you to read the account Mr. Oldroyd
gives of his clumsily brutal attack on Secretary Seward:

     "Lewis Payne (his real name was Lewis Thornton Powell),
     boarded at the Horndon House, corner Ninth and F Streets,
     where the Loan and Trust Building now stands, for two weeks,
     leaving there on the afternoon of April 14th. He paid his bill
     at four o'clock, and requested dinner before the regular time,
     and it was served to him.

     Very little is known of his whereabouts from that time until
     10 P. M., when he rang the bell of the Seward mansion, which
     stood on the ground now occupied by the Lafayette Opera
     House.

     When the door was opened by the colored doorkeeper, Payne
     stepped in, holding a little package in his hand, saying that
     he had some medicine for Secretary Seward, sent by Dr. Verdi,
     which he was directed to deliver in person and give
     instructions how it was to be taken.

     The doorkeeper informed him that he could not see Mr. Seward,
     but he repeated the words, saying he must see him. He talked
     very roughly for several minutes against the protest of the
     doorkeeper, who said he had positive orders to admit no one to
     the sick-chamber.

     The doorkeeper finally weakened, thinking perhaps he was sent
     by Dr. Verdi, and let him ascend the stairs. When at the top,
     he met Mr. Frederick Seward, a son of the Secretary's to whom
     he told the object of his visit, but Mr. Seward told him that
     he could not see his father; that he was asleep, but to give
     him the medicine and he would take it to him. That would not
     do; he must see Mr. Seward; and then Mr. Seward said: "I am
     the proprietor here, and his son; if you cannot leave your
     message with me, you cannot leave it at all."

     Payne started downstairs, and after taking a few steps,
     suddenly turned around and struck Mr. Frederick Seward,
     felling him to the floor. Sergeant George F. Robinson, acting
     as attendant nurse to Mr. Seward, was in an adjoining room,
     and on hearing the noise in the hall opened the door, where he
     found Payne close up to it. As soon as the door was opened, he
     struck Robinson in the forehead with a knife, knocking him
     partially down, and pressed past him to the bed of Mr. Seward,
     where he leaned over it and struck him three times in the neck
     with his dagger.

     Mr. Seward had been out riding shortly before the fatal day,
     and had been thrown from his carriage with great violence,
     breaking an arm and fracturing his jaw. The physician had
     fixed up a steel mask or frame to hold the broken bones in
     place while setting. The assassin's dagger cut his face from
     the right cheek down to the neck, and but for this steel
     bandage, which deflected two of the stabs, the assassin might
     have accomplished his purpose.

     The carriage disaster was after this night almost considered a
     blessing in disguise. Frederick Seward suffered intensely from
     a fracture of the cranium. The nurse attempted to haul Payne
     off the bed, when he turned and attacked him the second time.
     During this scuffle Major Augustus H. Seward, son of Secretary
     Seward, entered the room and clinched Payne, and between the
     two they succeeded in getting him to the door, when he broke
     away and ran downstairs and outdoors.

     The colored doorkeeper ran after the police or guards when
     Frederick Seward was knocked down, and returned and reported
     that he saw the man riding a horse and followed him to I
     Street, where he was lost sight of.

     In some way Payne's horse got away from him, for a little
     after one o'clock on the morning of the 15th Lieutenant John
     F. Toffey, on going to the Lincoln Hospital, East Capitol and
     Fifteenth Streets, where he was on duty, found a dark bay
     horse, with saddle and bridle on, standing at Lincoln Branch
     Barracks. The horse no doubt came in on a sort of byroad that
     led to Camp Barry, which turned north from the Branch Barracks
     towards the Bladensburg road. The sweat pouring from the
     animal had made a regular puddle on the ground. A sentinel at
     the hospital had stopped the horse. Lieutenant Toffey and
     Captain Lansing, of the 13th New York Cavalry, took the horse
     to the headquarters of the picket at the Old Capitol Prison,
     and from there to General E. O. C. Ord's headquarters. After
     reaching there, they discovered that the horse was blind of
     one eye, which identified it as the one Booth purchased in
     November, 1864, from Squire George Gardiner."

Immediately upon the identification of Paine I arrested the Bransons and
all the occupants of their fashionable boarding house, No. 16 North
Eutaw Street. Following is a list of the persons arrested:

     Mrs. M. A. Branson,
     Miss M. A. Branson,
     Miss Maggie Branson,
     Mrs. Early,
     Mrs. Croyean,
     Miss Croyean,
     Mrs. Thomas Hall,
     Miss Josephine Hall,
     Mr. Joseph Branson, Jr.,
     Mr. C. H. Morgan,
     Mr. C. S. Shriver,
     Mr. Chas. Ewart,
     Mr. C. E. Barnett,
     Mr. J. C. Hall,
     Mr. W. H. Ward,
     Mr. E. A. Willer,
     Mr. C. H. Croyean,
     Mr. Aug. Thomas,
     Mr. Winchester,
     Mr. Thos. Hall,
     Mr. S. T. Morgan,
     Mr. H. D. Shriver.

I began my examination of the individuals in the house, seeking to find
who, if any, were intimate with Paine, and might, therefore, have had
some knowledge of the crime "before the fact."

Not all of these people were known to be disloyal. Messrs. C. H. Morgan,
S. T. Morgan, C. S. Shriver and H. D. Shriver are marked on my list as
"loyal," and there may have been others.

I have a lead pencil memorandum of the examination in the house (No. 16
North Eutaw Street) but it is so disjointed as to be unintelligible, and
I will not put it in here. Finding that the most valuable source of
information was the Bransons, I released all others, resuming the
examination of Miss Maggie Branson in my office where I could be more
deliberate.

Her statement is mixed and disjointed and there are repetitions. It took
me much time to elicit the facts. She broke down and wanted me to
destroy a great part of her statement and let her replace it with a
truthful one, which I refused, requiring that all she had said should be
put down.

               Examination of Miss Maggie Branson.

     "I was at the General Hospital at Gettysburg about six weeks
     in 1863. I was there in the capacity of nurse. I don't know
     any of the surgeons except Dr. Simley, of Philadelphia, who
     would remember me. I went there to assist all the wounded
     soldiers. While there I saw a man known as Lewis Payne; he
     went by the name of "Doctor" and "Powell," he wore a pair of
     blue pants, I think, and a slouch hat; I did not have much
     talk with him while there.

     "I did not learn during the time I was there what he was. I
     don't remember of giving him my address. Sometime in the same
     year, after the above named occurrence, I saw him at our
     house; he called to see me. I can scarcely remember how he was
     dressed; but I think in a Federal uniform. I think he was
     stopping at Miller's Hotel.

     "He said he wanted to cross the lines but did not say where
     to, nor in what direction; he did not tell me where his home
     was; I don't remember what I replied.

     I did not ask him anything about his intentions as to crossing
     the lines. I don't know that he told me what his intentions
     were; it was in the afternoon when he called. He again called
     at our house about the middle of January, 1865; he was dressed
     in black clothes; he said he was from Fauquier County,
     Virginia; he said he had just come in on the cars, and he
     wanted to board, but we could not at that time accommodate
     him; there was no one else present; he said he was a refugee
     and had his papers; he wanted to show them to me.

     He said at Gettysburg that his name was Powell; on his second
     visit at the house he said his name was Payne."

At this point in the examination Miss Branson broke down. She realized
that I was drawing her into a net of contradictions, and she thereafter
proposed to be more frank and truthful with me.

     "He said his father was a Baptist clergyman; said he had two
     brothers that were killed in the army; it is my impression
     that they were in the Confederate Army.

     "He said a great deal of Mosby, and I should judge by his talk
     that he belonged to Mosby's Command. I have some slight
     recollection of his saying that he assisted in capturing a
     wagon train and some amount of newspapers on one occasion.

     "I have occasionally walked out with him. I called once or
     twice at Mrs. Heim, No. ---- Race Street, with him, we saw
     Charles and William Heim there; he did not see Mr. Heim, he
     (Heim) was in Richmond; I never saw any one else there when I
     went with Mr. Payne. He told me that his proper name was
     Powell; he said this when he came here this year.

     "We also called on Mrs. Mantz, on Baltimore Street, near Green
     Street. I introduced him there as Mr. Payne. I might have
     called twice at this place. I often went to church with him.
     He was arrested at our house on March 12th, 1865, by Colonel
     Woolley's officers. I saw him after his release, on the day he
     was released; I have not seen him since. I heard from him only
     once, that was by a letter to my sister from New York.

     "I have sent provisions, &c., to prisoners of war at Fort
     McHenry and Johnson's Island. I consider myself loyal. I have
     a great many friends in the South, and many relatives. I have
     never taken the oath of allegiance.

     "Mr. E. W. Blair used to meet Mr. Payne at the house very
     often. On one occasion he went with him to the theatre. Mr.
     Chas. G. Heim used to call on us and would see Mr. Payne.

     "If he had on a blue uniform when he came from Gettysburg, it
     was worn to aid him in getting South; it was not worn to act
     as a spy. I am confident that he never was North before. My
     sister said she thought at Gettysburg that he was a Federal
     doctor. Some called him Powell; I think he was introduced to
     me as Powell when he first came to our house. I think his
     correct name is Powell; he said his father was a Baptist
     minister, that he had lost two brothers in the war and that he
     did not know but that a third. His name may be Lewis Payne
     Powell. When he came to our house to board this year it was
     about the last days of January. Before coming there he boarded
     at Miller's Hotel about ten days. He called on us several
     times while he was boarding at Miller's Hotel. Sister or I
     entertained him when he came; his talk was principally of the
     ladies; he complained of his education.

     "After he came to our house to board I introduced him to the
     boarders as Mr. Payne. I said to Miss Hall, one of the
     boarders, that he (Payne) was from Frederick County, Md.

     "He was not particularly intimate with any one of the
     boarders. He was acquainted with all of them. My sister played
     chess with him; Mr. Barnett played with him. I have seen him
     speak to Mr. Joseph Thomas. I do not think they were intimate.
     I have spent considerable time with him. I think I spent more
     time with him than my sister or any of the other parties in
     the house. I walked with him very often. I was accompanied by
     Mr. Payne over in old town, on a matter of business, to employ
     some servants. I proposed to call on my cousin, Mrs. Dukehart,
     corner of Fayette and East Streets, and he agreed. I left him
     in the parlor alone, and went up stairs to see the family, and
     staid a short time and left. I am sure not a member of the
     family saw him; in the evening we called again. I called with
     him on Mrs. Heim on Paca Street, I might have called several
     times, we took tea there once; at other times only made short
     calls, at no time when we called was there any visitors there.
     Mr. Heim's business was in Richmond. Mr. Payne went to New
     York before Mr. Heim came home from Richmond. Mrs. Heim knew
     Mr. Payne was from Virginia. I don't know that she knew he was
     in the Rebel Army. I do not think Charles G. Heim was at any
     time home, when we called.

     "We (Mr. Payne and I) called on Mrs. Mentz, on Baltimore
     Street; she is my aunt. I think we called on her twice. She
     knew he was from Virginia. I don't know that my sister ever
     went out with Mr. Payne. I don't remember going to any other
     place except to church. I went several times; do not know
     exactly how many.

     "I remember his arrest on or about March 12, 1865, by Colonel
     Woolley. I came to this office and saw Lieut. Smith, about
     Mr. Paine. I thought he was arrested through malice on account
     of his whipping a colored servant in our house; that was very
     saucy. I told Lieut. Smith that he (Paine) had not been North
     before since the war commenced. I at the same time knew he
     had; I did this to shield him from harm. After his release he
     came to our house and left almost immediately. My impression
     is that he went directly to New York.

     "After he arrived there he wrote me from the Revere House,
     directing me to address him at Revere House. I wrote him one
     letter; I addressed him as Lewis Payne. I never heard from him
     again, never saw him again after he left for New York; no one
     that I know saw him. I have always been a Rebel sympathizer. I
     have sent provisions, &c., to Confederate Prisoners at Forts
     McHenry and Delaware, Johnson's Island, Camp Chase, and
     Elmira, but only on permission of the military authorities."

When she had finished she was anxious to learn what I thought the
Government would do to her. I informed her that she was responsible for
Paine's acts; that if she had told me the truth when I had him in
arrest, he would have been kept in arrest, and could not have attempted
to assassinate Secretary Seward.

Miss Branson was detained a long time. Whenever you hear Paine spoken of
in history as "Powell, the son of a Baptist minister" you will now
recognize where the information came from.

The following from the New York "Tribune," April 29th, 1865, describes
one of those who had knowledge before the act. He had been intimate with
Paine, and undoubtedly we were creeping up too dangerously near him. The
suicide was buried in Greenmount Cemetery, and in the darkness of night
we dug the body up as mentioned by the "Tribune." This was the only time
I ever acted the part of a ghoul. If I remember right, the man was a
builder and committed suicide out behind a barn in the country:

                      Suicide in Baltimore.

     "A well known citizen of Baltimore committed suicide last
     Monday, a short distance from this city, by shooting himself
     with a pistol. No cause could be assigned for the rash act
     except that he had recently seemed depressed and melancholy.
     Subsequent events have induced the suspicion that he was
     someway implicated in the conspiracy, and last night the body
     was exhumed, embalmed, and sent to Washington, by orders of
     the Government. The affair causes much speculation, and there
     are many reports in connection with it as well as some facts
     which it is deemed imprudent to publish at present."

               (New York Tribune, April 29, 1865.)

Paine was hanged, along with Mrs. Surratt, Herold and Atzerodt.
Considerable silly sentiment was manufactured in Mrs. Surratt's case; it
was entirely wasted. If you will carefully examine her record you will
say that her sex should not excuse such cold-blooded villainy. General
Wallace was second in rank on the commission that tried the
conspirators.

When President Lincoln's remains were lying in state in the rotunda of
the Exchange in Baltimore, I remained at his head long hours, watching
the faces of the people passing. Truly they were mourners, not the idle,
curious, nor frivolous of mankind.

It had been intimated that the procession of people might be turned into
a mockery. That mock ceremonies elsewhere would be attempted by some
relentless furies. But even the suggestion was unhealthy. As a matter of
history one of the earliest expressions of regret came from the
Confederate prisoners of war confined at Point Lookout. Was ever man
more universally loved?

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.

Richmond had fallen, Lee had surrendered and the end was near.
Disbandment and readjustment, to a civil basis, was then in order.
Whatever work I did after this was of that character. I was no longer to
chase my dream of crippling Mosby. Probably he did not know I lived. He
might have smiled at my proposition, but I enjoyed the dream
nevertheless.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, May 13, 1865.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith.

     Sir.--From what I can learn there are several gangs of
     counterfeiters of United States currency in this city, driving
     a good trade. I had the name and description of one of them
     but have lost it.

     I now find that a certain John Mitchell (whom I know) engaged
     with a huxter in Washington, D. C., by name Henry High, knows
     all the particulars.

     Mitchell will not come to this city as he is afraid of being
     arrested, upon what charge I do not know.

     Yours,
     WM. L. HOPKINS.

This was a new field for me and I delved into the matter with success.
Counterfeit money, in slang, is called "queer," and those who pass it on
the public are called "shovers." Its manufacturer never "shoves" it, but
sells it in quantities to small shop keepers, car conductors, and
others, at a certain percentage of its face value--50 per cent. quite
usually; the percentage, however, depends on whether it is well done or
not.

Ramsey, at No. 146 Sixth Street, below Race Street, Philadelphia, was a
medium. It was represented that the headquarters of the product was at
Mahanoy City, Pa. I bought twenty-five dollars, face value, in
twenty-five cent fractional currency very well done.

This was now a matter to be submitted to the Treasury Department, which
I accordingly did, which was the reason for the following:

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, June 15, 1865.

     Special Order No. 86.

     1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, Assistant Provost Marshal, will
     immediately proceed to Washington, D. C., for the purpose of
     conferring with the Hon H. McCullogh, Secretary of the
     Treasury.

     On accomplishing the object of his visit, he will immediately
     report to these headquarters.

     By command of Major General Wallace.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col & Pro. Marshal.

     Lieut. H. B. Smith,
     Asst. Provost Marshal.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, May 25, 1865.
     12 P. M.

     Lt. H. B. Smith,
     Asst. Provost Marshal.

     You will proceed to the Norfolk Boat, "Lary Line," foot of
     Frederick Street, to-morrow morning, with a guard of one
     officer and twenty men, and carry out the instructions given
     you in compliance with orders of the Hon. Secretary of War.

     By command of Major General Wallace.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Pro. Marshal.

The above was an interesting case. The party to be apprehended was a
young officer, described as very youthful in appearance, who had shot
and killed a private soldier under very aggravating circumstances. He
ordered the soldier to do a menial service, and killed him for refusing.

The steamboat had three hundred or four hundred passengers. We did not
want to delay innocent persons, so I allowed all to pass off who were of
age sufficient to warrant the conclusion that they were not wanted. Then
I searched the boat and found a mere boy who appeared to be not over
fourteen years old; he was the one wanted. He had been tried and
convicted, and was on his way to jail (I think the Albany penitentiary)
when he escaped. We started him on again under a guard. When in the
Thirtieth Street station of the Hudson River Railroad, in New York City,
he was permitted to go into a water closet alone. He never came out the
door. He must have crawled out through the window, though it seemed not
large enough to permit even a boy's egress. The guards became frightened
and deserted. No one ever heard of either prisoner or guards so far as
I know. This boy officer was certainly living a charmed life.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, May 25, 1865.

     Mrs. Beverly Tucker will be arrested. Seize and search her
     baggage for papers, and also cause strict examination to be
     made to discover any papers concealed on her person. Much
     depends on your diligence and skill in executing this order.

     Watch carefully what companions she has, if any, male or
     female, and cause similar search to be made of such persons.

     By command of Major General Wallace.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Pro. Marshal.

     To
     Lt. H. B. Smith,
     Asst. Provost Marshal.

FILE XLIII.

Camp Carroll rioting--Troops being mustered out.

The muster out of troops and return to civil life of the men who had
been hardened soldiers was attended with difficulties. The men often
began to feel liberty while yet with arms in their hands, and rioting,
the effect of too much "fire water" was frequent. Camp Carroll was a
muster out rendezvous in the western end of Baltimore.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, June 6, 1865.

     Lieut. Smith:

     I have sent four companies of infantry and a detachment of
     cavalry to report at Camp Carroll at once. They will be
     provided with ammunition. Find Colonel Johannes, 11th Md.
     Infantry, if you can, and direct him to take command of all
     reinforcements and enforce order in the Camp and neighborhood;
     if Colonel Johannes is not there, see the senior colonel at
     the Camp and impart the order to him.

     Brigadier General Lockwood has been ordered to proceed to Camp
     Carroll at once and take command.

     Please report state of affairs from time to time.

     By command of Major General Wallace.

     SAM'L B. LAWRENCE,
     A. Adjutant General.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     June 6, 1865.

     Lt. Smith:

     Send all the Cavalry you have to spare at once to report to
     the Commanding Officer, 11th Md. Infantry at Camp Carroll.
     Read the order I have written to him. Keep the three orders I
     wrote to General Lockwood and C. O. Federal Hill, and if you
     do not need them to-night, return them to me in the morning.
     Send the order at once to Commanding Officer, 11th Md.

     If anything serious occurs to-night send an orderly to me.

     Yours, &c.,
     SAM'L B. LAWRENCE,
     A. Adjutant General.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Provost Marshal's Office.
     Baltimore, June 6, 1865.

     Colonel:

     I have the honor to report in the case of the disturbance at
     and near Camp Carroll this evening.

     I proceeded to the spot, assisted by Capt. Jones and Lt. Smyth
     with their commands. I arrested some forty of the
     ring-leaders. I then proceeded to the Camp to quiet the men.

     I gave the Comdg. Officer of the 11th Md. a verbal order to
     place his men on guard over all of the troops not armed, and I
     promised him a written order from you, placing him properly in
     Command, in which case I herewith return you the orders given
     to Mr. Babcock.

     After placing a guard over the Camp I had the country about
     patroled and all ordered in. Everything is now quiet. It had
     become a very serious matter and I felt justified in placing
     the 11th Md. on duty. Hoping my action in this case will meet
     your approval, I am,

     Very respy. your obdt. servt,
     H. B. SMITH,
     Lt. & Asst. Provost Marshal.

     To
     Col. Lawrence,
     A. A. G.

     Lieut. Smith:

     Your action is approved. I have no material present to write
     the order for Colonel Johannes, but will do so and send it to
     him.

     Let me know where the Md. Brigade is, and if you apprehend
     danger or think the Brigade and the 11th Md. will fight if
     they are encamped together, let me know.

     I send you the orders for General Lockwood and Federal Hill.
     If all is quiet, and likely to remain so, retain them, but if
     there is any indication of further trouble send them at once.

     Please let me know where the Brigade is. I directed it to be
     encamped at Carroll, and cannot understand why it is not
     there.

     Respectfully,
     SAM'L B. LAWRENCE,
     A. Adjutant General.

     If the Brigade is at Carroll, the Commanding Officer should be
     directed to take command of all and use his troops. Let me
     know and I will give the orders.

     The whole cause of the trouble, and reason why I know so
     little about it is that they were ordered to report to Colonel
     Brown, A. A. P. M. Gen'l.

I remained at the head of my department during all of 1865, and saw the
veteran armies disbanded. It seemed strange to see the Confederates
(Marylanders) who had been so long shooting at us, come home and resume
their occupations at the desk or plow right before our eyes.

There were not many disturbances like the Camp Carroll riot. America may
well be proud of the peaceable disbandment of the two great armies.
There was no evidence of remaining venom between the fighters. Not so,
however, with the slimy secret society disturbers who brought on the
war, and nursed its continuance. Whenever a sneering, vitriolic sound is
heard, you may be sure that it emanates from the copperhead element.

FILE XLIV.

Indicted for assault with intent to kill, the only clash between the
military and civil authorities during General Wallace's administration.

June 25th, 1865, the Baltimore papers said: "Lieut. Smith, Wm. Earle,
Kraft, and Babcock, of Colonel Woolley's office, were indicted for
assault with intent to kill one Jacob Ruppert."

General Wallace had always encouraged the civil authorities, so that the
establishment of martial law might be as little burdensome as possible
on the citizens. In this instance the fact of the military being yet in
control was overlooked. This Ruppert kept a low saloon on "the
Causeway," one of the hardest spots in Baltimore. I had sent for him to
report to me. He scorned the invitation; accordingly I went to his
place. He blocked the doorway. I pulled him out, a scuffle ensued and he
bled some, but came away with me. His (Ruppert's) father had some
political influence from being able to control votes on "the Causeway";
he asked for an indictment. A warrant was issued from Judge H. L. Bond
(Judge Bond was a Union man).

Jake Dukehardt, a deputy sheriff, met me on Baltimore Street, and
informed me he held the warrant for my arrest. I assured him it would be
foolhardy to try to execute it, for one of us would certainly be
injured. I recommended him to report to Judge Bond, and I assured him I
would be responsible for the results.

Judge Bond called on General Wallace, and explained how impossible it
was to withdraw the order. General Wallace advised the judge to use his
own judgment, but telling him, at the same time: "If you take Smith, I
will place Alexander's Battery on the hill opposite the jail and blow it
down." This was the only clash between the military and civil
authorities under General Wallace's administration.

FILE XLV.

Trip to Norfolk and Richmond--Ralph Abercrombie--Miss Elizabeth L.
Van Lew.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Office Provost Marshal,
     Baltimore, July 5, 1865.

     Special Order No. 93.

     III. Lieut. H. B. Smith, Assistant Provost Marshal, 8th Army
     Corps, will proceed to Norfolk, Va., with prisoners Manuel
     Desota and Morris Moran. On arrival he will deliver the
     prisoners to the Provost Marshal at Norfolk, taking receipt
     for same. This duty performed, Lt. Smith will proceed to
     Richmond, Va., for the purpose of obtaining information in the
     case of Ralph Abercrombie, after which he will return to these
     headquarters without delay.

     Quartermasters will furnish necessary transportation.

     By command of Major General Wallace.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Provost Marshal.

The above starts a train of reminiscences. Ralph Abercrombie, it was
alleged, had been used as a spy upon our men confined in Libby Prison.
He was confined with them, as though he were a prisoner also, but it was
his business to worm out the confidences naturally confided to fellow
prisoners, and to report them to the Confederate authorities.

One of the purposes of my visit was to interview a lady residing in
Richmond who was a staunch friend of the Federal government, and who had
encouraged and aided our soldiers in confinement in Libby prison and on
Belle Island. Her name was Miss Elizabeth L. Van Lew. She resided in a
fine mansion on an eminence overlooking Richmond from the east.

I was greatly entertained by her stories of her experiences; she had
come close to the danger line of confiscation of her property and her
personal incarceration. She had at one time concealed in the cupola of
her house, our soldiers, who had escaped from Libby prison, while
Confederate officers were being entertained in her parlors.

I desired to learn if she recollected anything regarding Abercrombie's
actions. As a recognition of Miss Van Lew's loyalty, President Grant
made her postmistress of Richmond in 1869, which post she filled for
eight years.

A few years after the war I gave a friend a letter of introduction to
her, which she honored. I was much pleased to be remembered by such a
person. How such a kind hearted woman must have grieved, with a view
constantly present from her home, of our suffering soldiers on desolate
Belle Island!

Abercrombie was formerly a lieutenant in the 13th U. S. Infantry. He
resigned in 1862 and went into the Confederacy through the blockade from
Nassau. He was charged with having been the principal witness against
Captain Dayton, who was executed at Castle Thunder, Richmond, on the
charge of being a spy. He was arrested on the 18th of April, 1865.

FILE XLVI.

My muster out--Reëmployment as a civilian--Ordered to Philadelphia--Twice
ordered to Washington with horse thieves.

The following is a copy of my release from duty to be mustered out:

     Headquarters,
     Middle Military Department.
     Baltimore, July 19th, 1865.

     Special Order No. 1.

     I. Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Artillery, is hereby
     relieved from duty as Assistant Provost Marshal, 8th Army
     Corps, and will rejoin his regiment without delay.

     By command of Major General Hancock.

     ADAM E. KING,
     Asst. Adjutant General.

     Official.
     (Signed) GEO. H. HOOKER,
     Assistant Adjutant General.

     Lt. H. B. Smith,
     5th N. Y. H. Artillery, D. Co.

     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     8th Army Corps.
     Baltimore, Md., July 20, 1865.

     Lieutenant H. B. Smith, 5th New York Artillery, was on
     detached service as Assistant to the Provost Marshal, Middle
     Department, 8th Army Corps, at Baltimore, Maryland, during
     sixteen (16) months, 1864 and 1865, and always performed his
     duties zealously, efficiently, and promptly.

     He won the confidence and esteem of the General Commanding,
     and all the officers of the Staff. As Lieut. Smith is to be
     mustered out of service, I take pleasure in thus furnishing
     him with evidence of the meritorious service he has rendered,
     and my belief that he will be equal to any trust that may be
     reposed on him, and entirely worthy the confidence of all with
     whom he may be associated in civil life.

     SAMUEL B. LAWRENCE,
     Lieut. Col. & A. A. G.

On August 1st, 1865, I was appointed as a civilian to perform the same
duties:

     Military
     Headquarters, Middle Department,
     Office Provost Marshal.
     Baltimore, August 31, 1865.

     Special Order No. 106.

     1st. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps. Middle Military
     Division, will proceed to Philadelphia, Pa., for the purpose
     of obtaining information regarding a certain commissioned
     officer of the U. S. Vet. Res. Corps.

     On completion of his duty he will report at these headquarters
     without delay.

     Quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

     By command of Major General Humphreys.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. General.

     Headquarters,
     Middle Military Department,
     Office Provost Marshal General,
     Baltimore, Sept. 20, 1865.

     Special Order No. 116.

     IInd. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military
     Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington,
     D. C., in charge of the following-named horse thieves:

     Michael Shea and H. J. Hoffman. On arrival he will deliver the
     prisoners with accompanying paper to Colonel T. Ingraham,
     Provost Marshal General, Defences of Potomac, receive receipt
     and report at these headquarters without delay.

     Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.

     By command of Major General Hancock.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. Gen'l.

Horse stealing was much in fashion at this time.

     Headquarters,
     Middle Military Department,
     Office Provost Marshal General,
     Baltimore, Sept. 22, 1865.

     Special Order No. 117.

     II. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military
     Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington,
     D. C., in charge of the following named horse thieves:

     Wm. H. Smith and R. B. Franklin, alias Robert Nelson. On
     arrival he will deliver the prisoners with accompanying papers
     to Capt. Geo. B. Russell, Acting Provost Marshal General,
     Defences North of Potomac, receive receipt for same and report
     at these headquarters without delay.

     Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.

     By command of Major General Hancock.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Lt. Col. & Provost Marshal General.

FILE XLVII.

Captain Beckwith convicted--Gambling--Order to take Beckwith to Albany
penitentiary.

Along about August and September, 1865, the Government ordered
surveillance of all gambling houses, to discover if disbursing officers
were gambling. This was my first experience in the art. It was a free
school, for the tuition was on Uncle Sam. The lessons have served me all
my life, and I have never wanted to go to that school since.

We appropriated from five to ten dollars an evening, to be spent in each
house visited, depending on its standing. That gave us entry and made us
welcome so that we could spend the evening. I gambled and observed,
along with Captain Beckwith. I saw him win, and also saw him lose; lose
far more than he could afford to. That was his undoing. Powerful
interests were extended in his behalf and he was pardoned. Now read the
two documents following:

     War Department,
     Adjutant General's Office.
     Washington, October 19, 1865.

     General Court Martial.
     Orders No. 584.

     The action of Major General Hancock, Commanding the Middle
     Department, designating the Penitentiary at Albany, New York,
     as the place of confinement in the case of Captain D. L.
     Beckwith, 22d Regiment Vet. Reserve Corps, Assistant
     Commissary of Musters, sentenced by a General Court Martial
     "to forfeit all pay that is now or may become due him to the
     date of promulgation of this sentence; to be cashiered and to
     be forever disqualified from holding any office of trust or
     emolument in the service of the United States, and to be
     confined for two years without pay, at hard labor at such
     penitentiary or Military Post as the Commanding General of
     this Department may direct."

     This sentence to be published as presented by the 85th Article
     of War, as promulgated in General Orders No. 23, dated
     Headquarters Middle Military Department, Baltimore, Maryland,
     Oct. 10, 1865. Is approved. By order of the Secretary of War.

     E. D. TOWNSEND,
     Assistant Adjutant General.

     Official.
     E. D. TOWNSEND,
     Assistant Adjutant General.

     Headquarters,
     Middle Military Department,
     Office Provost Marshal General,
     Baltimore, Oct. 29, 1865.

     Special Order No. 127.

     I. Special Officer, H. B. Smith, with one guard will proceed
     to Albany, New York, in charge of prisoner D. L. Beckwith. On
     arriving at Albany he will deliver the prisoner with
     accompanying papers to Amos Pillsbury, Superintendent of the
     Albany Penitentiary; receiving receipt he will report with the
     guard at these headquarters without delay.

     Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.

     By command of Major General Humphreys.

     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Bvt. Brigadier General & Provost Marshal.

The "one guard" detailed to accompany me was General Woolley. He wanted
a little rest and availed himself of this opportunity. Upon our arrival
in Albany I hunted up my cousin, Edgar Jerome, who spent the evening
with us at the Delevan House. We had a delightful evening listening to
the General's stories. He was a charming story teller. Ed will remember
especially his rendering of "The Arkansas Traveller."

Now, Nettie, don't find fault with your history because your Uncle is
not mentioned in its lines. In the histories of great events, such as
our Civil War, it is an honor to be, even though hidden, "between the
lines." Thousands who are mentioned in written history to-day will not
be there when it becomes more ancient. Later on, when other great events
crowd, only three names may remain. Lincoln, Grant, Lee. Perhaps still
further on, only Lincoln, the martyr for liberty's sake, may be found.

Much of my work was between the lines of the two contestants, a more
dangerous place than in the lines, for I was exposed to the bullets and
sabres of both Southern and Northern Armies.

FILE XLVIII.

Trip to Carlisle, Illinois, to unravel a fraudulent claim--John H. Ing.

We closed our headquarters in December, 1865, packing all records in
finely arranged cabinets, which were then transferred to the War
Department in Washington.

When my relation with the government was terminated, through the
instrumentality of General Woolley (Woolley had recently been
brevetted), I was engaged by Mr. Archibald Sterling, an attorney (a
prominent Union man), to go to southern Illinois to ravel out a
contested will case. The contestants were a group of neighbors, headed
by a shrewd woman.

If I remember right, under the Maryland laws, if a child died before
maturity, there was no inheritance. Mr. Sterling claimed that the young
man was not of age when he died, and that he died in 1835; but he had no
evidence to prove it. He had only a death notice clipped from some paper
with no date on it. But he had an anonymous letter signed: "Veritas,"
postmarked at Carlisle, Illinois, in which the writer, for a
consideration, offered to put Sterling in possession of evidence that
would defeat the claim; this letter was a few months old. Mr. Sterling
could not comply. He could pay for no evidence without compromising his
clients. With these facts only and equipped with the following letter of
introduction, I started West:

     Headquarters,
     Middle Military Department,
     Office Provost Marshal General,
     Baltimore, Dec. 27, 1865.

     Capt. Silas F. Miller,
     Burnet House,
     Cincinnati, Ohio.

     My Dear Sir.--I shall be greatly obliged if you will make
     Lieut. Smith, the bearer, acquainted with one or more of the
     conductors of the O. & M. R. R. Co.

     Lieut. Smith is one of my officers, and comes west on business
     which takes him on the line of that road.

     This is not for the purpose of securing a pass, but in order
     to get information. I have the honor to be,

     Very Respectfully,
     Your obedient servant,
     JOHN WOOLLEY,
     Bvt. Brigadier General U. S. Vols.
     Provost Marshal General M. M. D.

The field was entirely new to me. All the way to Cincinnati and the rest
of the way to Carlisle, Illinois, I put in much of my time in
speculating as to the best course to adopt on landing in a small town,
among a lot of villagers, who were banded together in this scheme. My
name was to be Comings, and I came from New York; that was all settled
in my mind; but what was my business there? I expected to be there a few
days, and there was the rub; finally, after failing to fix up a story I
concluded to "keep mum," entirely. Later you will see the fix which that
conclusion came near leading me into.

I arrived there at night. I asked the landlord not to put me high up in
the hotel, and he didn't; I learned the next morning that the hotel was
only two stories high. I lounged about the tavern and the village two or
three days, making myself aware of the surroundings. I tramped out to
the fork of the Kaskaskia river, where the affidavits alleged the boy
was buried in 1836. The river was a muddy little brook. No grave was to
be found, but some little distance away was a burying ground. I went
there searching for the grave. I found it not, but lying up against a
fence was a headstone having the boy's name on it, and the date of his
death.

In walking about the village I had many times passed the residence of
the woman who had framed up the claim; she had noticed me. I wrote one
of my old officers in Baltimore to wire me, in language about like
this:

     "See Mrs. ----, confer fully and write me."

I instructed him to sign John H. Ing's name to it. Mr. Ing was this
woman's attorney.

Equipped with this telegram I would be prepared to introduce myself to
the woman as apparently having come there in the interest of Mr. Ing,
her attorney, to look over the ground to see if matters alleged in the
affidavits were susceptible of demonstration.

While waiting for the telegram I obtained the confidence of the
postmaster. I impressed him that I was an agent of the Post Office
Department, seeking to learn if he remembered a letter coming to his
office addressed to "Veritas" (Sterling had replied to Veritas); he,
having the too frequent curiosity of a village postmaster, said he
remembered it well, and told me who the recipient was, and where he
lived. He promised to keep secret my mission, and he did.

Mr. Truesdale, the proprietor of the tavern, kept horses, and I hired
him to carry me to this man's house, quite a drive of three or four
miles. On our way I found it desirable to seek his confidence too, and
impress him I was an agent of the Post Office Department, etc. Mr.
Truesdale seemed much relieved. He then told me he was so glad to know
my true character. Being the only "unaccounted for" man in the village,
I had been the object of suspicion, which, unrelieved, might have
proven uncomfortable.

Carlisle was on the edge of the prairie. Live stock (marked) ran wild,
until taken in; much had been stolen. A vigilance committee had been
organized to punish the thieves. These people were about to conclude
that the only "unaccounted for" man about was the "look out" for the
thieves. Truesdale was wonderfully pleased to stand sponsor for me to
them, without divulging my mission. Keeping perfectly mum came close to
being poor judgment under these circumstances.

I saw Mr. "Veritas" and had a private talk with him. He promised to meet
me in Carlisle the next day, which he did. Before communicating the
information which he said he had, which comprised the name of the
storekeeper who sold the material used for preparing the coffin in 1836,
and who had books to sustain the statement, he demanded a promise in
writing to pay him a large sum of money. Having a smattering of "legal
lore" I drew up a bond to pay the required amount, in event of success.