Chapter M: E. Martin, (2)

"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.