Chapter I: K. Shaffer (1)

Telegraph Office
Barnum's Baltimore

Disposed of documents as you desired will see you in New York
on 26. Your telegram recd.

G. B. LYMAN.

I "fixed up" and went over to Washington on the same train with Pittman. I entered a forward car and Hassing saw to it that Pittman took one in the rear. At Washington I took a cab and landed in Willard's Hotel ahead of Pittman. Willard's, as you know, is in the shadow of the Treasury Department.

I was a sight to look upon; I wore a beaver, had my hair curled, had a birth mark on one cheek, and carried a cane; I was a New York swell in appearance surely. It almost made me sick to look in the mirror.

We introduced ourselves, each to the other, and then we went to my room. Pittman was very cautious; he said every other person in Washington was a detective. I assured him of my sympathy and told him that in New York we did not suffer from such surveillance. He said he was happy to become acquainted. He said he was so timid that he did not dare bring his bonds and scrip along, until after meeting me, when his confidence came to him, and said he would go over to Alexandria and return in the morning ready to do business.

We went down stairs; my two officers (Babcock and Horner), who were following me to make the arrest when I indicated the propitious moment, were there. Pittman passed out the side entrance, and then Babcock and Horner invited him into their carriage. He protested, of course, but to no use; in the carriage they searched him and then hurried him on to Baltimore. They could not get out of him who had been with him up stairs in the hotel.

I then went into the barber shop, had my curls straightened, washed the birth mark off, and went to bed. In the morning I wired myself, using Pittman's name. The telegram I used as an introduction to Dr. Brewer, as follows:

Washington, D. C.,
Nov 22 1864

Geo. Comings
Washington Hotel
Baltimore

Go to see Dr. Brewer yourself. I will come on as soon as I see
my mother in Alexandria. Telegraph me the result of your
visit.

J. T. PITTMAN.

Dr. Brewer resided at the corner of Sharp and Conway Streets, not far from our office. I rang his bell and he responded. I unceremoniously rubbed my telegram under his nose as an introduction, giving him no chance to survey me. After considerable talk, explaining the necessity for my early return to New York, he said he would go and get the bonds and scrip. Having previously engaged a room at the Maltby House, I offered to walk with him, hoping thus to learn where the bonds were deposited, but that did not work. He later met me at the Maltby House, and we went up stairs to count over and settle; the two officers following to make the arrest when signalled, remained in the rotunda.

It took until dark came on to finish our business. We packed it all into a carpet sack. I gave Brewer $1,300 in currency, and then we went down stairs. The arrangement had been for my men to arrest him after he got far enough away from me, but so much time had elapsed, I presume my men had become careless, at any rate they were not in sight. I did not dare let Brewer get out of my reach, so I proposed to walk with him, to get some fresh air. When near his home, and when I had about made up my mind that I would have to make the arrest, to recover my $1,300, my men appeared; I skipped, and they made the arrest. Brewer was obstinate, but finally assumed a more reasonable attitude.

In their defence they tried to lighten the case by claiming the paper was forged, but when the Government demanded to know where they got the paper, they failed to inform.

FILE XXVI.

Arrest of T. A. Menzier and exposé of a prominent railroad official-- Arrest of Barton R. Zantzinger, involving Milnor Jones--Arrest of John Henry Skinner Quinn, alias J. Y. Plater, alias Simpson, a spy--Arrest of E. R. Rich, a spy.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 4, 1864.

Capt. W. H. Wiegel,
Asst. Provost Marshal.

Captain.--I have the honor to report that by direction of
General Wallace, I arrested Mr. T. A. Menzier and locked him
up in this jail, and ordered the officer of the Navy that was
in company with him, Surgeon L. J. Draper, of the
Receiving-Ship "Princeton," Philadelphia Harbor, to report to
you at ten o'clock A. M. to-day. These parties were in town
yesterday morning and intend to return to Philadelphia this
evening; neither of them had papers. Menzier's sister, at
whose house I arrested them is a rebel.

The rebs were having a grand jubilee over his visit. The
Doctor had no arms.

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

I found in this house a number of prominent citizens, among whom was a very high officer in a big railroad company. He begged me not to report his presence, with which request I complied, in my written report, but did not, of course, fail to report verbally to General Wallace. This man was in confidential relations with the departments at Washington.

Menzier was a Rebel assistant surgeon. Both were turned over to Commodore Dornin, for the Navy's disposition.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 5, 1864.

Capt. W. H. Wiegel,
Asst. Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.

Captain.--I have the honor to report that I confined Barton R.
Zantzinger, from the Rebel Army.

Herewith I hand you his statement, which places Mr. Milnor
Jones in a worse fix than ever. Perhaps this corroborative
evidence will be sufficient to convict Jones of blockade
running.

I think Zantzinger should be detained as a witness, if for
nothing else.

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

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 6, 1864.

Capt. W. H. Wiegel,
Asst. Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.

Captain.--I have the honor to report the arrest of John Henry
Skinner Quinn, alias J. Y. Plater, alias Simpson, on charge of
being a spy.

I hand you two sworn statements that he made to me, also his
memorandum book in which is a partial description of his first
visit to Baltimore, also some entries, some of which he
explains in his statement. I also hand you his furlough, which
he said he did not have, in his first statement.

On this trip he registered at Miller's Hotel as "Simpson." On
23d April last, he registered at same hotel as John Y. Plater.

You can see by his statements that he tries to conceal the
Rebel sympathizers of this Department, and some he positively
refuses to name, but asks me to kill him, and not ask him any
more questions.

He came to this office to report as a Rebel deserter, but when
he found that I had been on his track, he owned up, but
refused to implicate his friends.

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

As General Wallace had said, it was our duty to ascertain by every means, the status of all persons; our archives were crowded with information, which materially helped us to avoid the dilemma General Schenck described.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 7, 1864.

Capt. W. H. Wiegel,
Asst. Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.

Captain.--I have the honor to report the arrest of E. R. Rich,
of the 1st Md. Rebel Cavalry, on the charge of being a spy. He
came to this office to report and take the oath of allegiance,
but I think he did not come until he heard from his friend
Quinn, with whom he came to this city. I hand you herewith his
sworn statement, memoranda and pocket book, which show his
character.

You will also see an entry in his memoranda where Skinner
Quinn (now in prison) started for Baltimore last spring, which
corroborates Quinn's statement. You will also see that he
registered under several names.

The memorandum book shows that it was his intention to return
for good to Virginia.

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

Both Quinn and Rich were sentenced to be hanged, but their sentences were finally commuted to imprisonment during the continuance of the war.

FILE XXVII.

Statement of Illinois Crothers, giving valuable and reliable information, implicating Mr. William Mitchell and a Mrs. Keenan, of Winchester, Virginia--Report on Daniel W. Jones and Joseph Bratton--Am given unlimited access to prisoners in Baltimore city jail.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 10, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to hand you statement made by
Illinois Crothers, of 1st Md. Rebel Cavalry, who came to this
office to report.

I questioned him closely and on every point of importance, he
seemed very ignorant. He was in this city several days without
reporting, and to all appearances is as bitter a Rebel to-day
as ever.

I took from him a document marked "A," which shows that it was
generally known to the authorities in Virginia, that he was
coming to Maryland, and unless they were sure he would return,
he would not have been granted the liberty. You can also see
that he came an unusual route, for a deserter, i. e., by the
way of Richmond.

I have reliable information that all of the Rebel Spies,
commissioned as such, are from the Signal Corps.

Harry Brogden, named in the document, was once in our hands,
tried as a spy. Herewith I hand you Brogden's history.

I think that this document shows that he, (Crothers), came
with the consent of the Rebel authorities, and with the
intention to return.

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

P.S.--Mrs. Keenan, of Winchester, should be arrested.

This is not the first transaction of the kind implicating Mr.
Wm. Mitchell. (H. B. S.)

It required experience and skill to cull out the spies from among real deserters and refugees. Spies would swallow the oath of allegiance as easy as water. One of the best tests of probabilities, was to ascertain the route travelled in coming out from the Confederacy.

Harry Brogden was the Confederate secret signal officer on the Potomac. No real deserter or refugee came by his way. I knew him, and if my operations had been extended to the peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock, as we desired, I would have caught him; personally he was a fine fellow. He was a prisoner at Fort McHenry under me; he and I joked about turning our "arms into ploughshares" many times. He was certainly as loyal to his side as I to mine.

The following is a report made from the records in my office, and it serves to show how thorough in detail our data had come to be:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 13, 1864.

Lt. Col. John Woolley,
Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.

Colonel.--I have the honor to give you a history of the
previous arrests of Daniel W. Jones, and Joseph Bratton, of
Somerset Co., Md.

The first arrest of Daniel W. Jones was made in 1862, and he
was placed in Marshal McPhail's custody, under charge of
attacking an enrolling officer. He was afterwards released on
giving bonds to the amount of $2,000 to keep the peace, and to
deport himself in every way becoming a loyal citizen. A copy
of the bond is on file in this office.

He was again arrested by General Lockwood, May 7, 1864, on
charge of having violated his parole; on this last charge four
sworn statements are on file in this office, one to the effect
that he drew a revolver on a Union man because said Union man
declared his sentiments.

Joseph Bratton was arrested March 31, 1864, on the charge of
disloyalty, and aiding the Rebels. A sworn statement now on
file in this office shows that Bratton aided an escaped
prisoner from Point Lookout to evade military and get back
within the Rebel lines.

I am, Colonel,
Very respy.-your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.

The following gave me unlimited access to our prisoners confined in the city jail:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Dec. 19, 1864.

Col. Thomas C. James,
Warden, City Jail.

The bearer, Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Arty., who
commands my detective Corps, is permitted to see any prisoner
in the City Jail who belongs to this office, and at such times
as he may deem necessary for the good of the service.

He will be permitted to have private interviews if he desires
them.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

FILE XXVIII.

Statements: Jeremiah Artis, a real deserter from the Confederates--William J. Bradley, an honest refugee--Charles E. Langley, an official Confederate spy--Langley, personating a correspondent of the New York "Tribune," was a most successful and dangerous spy.

I have told you that it required experience and skill to determine who were honest deserters, sick of the Confederate service, and seeking homes in our lines, or who were refugees, entitled to a refuge, or who were spies. Under the head of spies were placed those who came North to visit friends, or gain a remount intending to return to the Confederate lines; these latter were not being especially employed as spies, but they were persons who might carry valuable information. But it was the real official spy that we were after.

By a "remount" I mean those who were granted leave of absence by the Confederates for the purpose of remounting. These were mounted men who having lost their horses, were given a "remount pass" which was practically authority to come within our lines and gain a horse by any means; therefore without desire to weary you I will give you the examinations of one of each class, to wit: Jeremiah Artis, a real deserter; Wm. J. Bradley, a refugee; Charles E. Langley, one of the most expert and successful official spies, who is the one I referred to in the Emmerich case as the "pal" of the conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.

In reading these statements, you will notice jumps, or gaps, where these occur; it indicates a question from me eliciting the statement following.

Statement of Jeremiah Artis (real deserter).

"I kept store in Smithville, St. Mary's County, seven or eight
miles from Point Lookout, about one and a half miles from the
Bay. I joined the 1st Va. Cav., then was transferred to the
1st Md. Cav., was then transferred to the 2nd Md. Infty.,
Com'd by Capt. Crane. Lt. Col. Herbert is the field officer. I
left Md. Sep. 1861, crossed the Potomac at night. I first
heard of the President's proclamation, saw it in a Baltimore
paper sometime early in the spring of 1864, the paper was an
old one. I was in Maryland at the battle of Antietam or
Sharpsburg, was also at Gettysburg, was transferred from
Cavalry to Infantry but wouldn't stay, rejoined the Cavalry,
was with Bradley T. Johnson at Chambersburg; had no hand in
burning it, was kept outside of the city. I had been arrested
while trying to cross the Potomac in July, was kept in
Richmond awhile, then sent to my Regiment. Got as far as
Winchester when Early came into Maryland. When I was arrested,
I was trying to get home to stay; was on the Virginia side at
the time I was arrested by the conscription officers. When I
was in Maryland I would have deserted but had no chance.

I left my Regiment this last time about Sept. 22 or 23d, in
the Shenandoah Valley, near Port Republic, crossed Brown's
Gap, then through Green County, Madison, Orange,
Spottsylvania, Stafford, King George, Westmorland Counties, to
Northumberland County to the Potomac River, crossed over to
Britton's Bay. I had no furlough or pass. The Confederate Army
was moving at the time and I had no trouble in going through
the country.

If I had been arrested I would have said I belonged to no
regiment, as my time was out. I walked from Britton's Bay
direct to the Patuxent River to Spencer's Wharf, and took
steamboat to Baltimore, arrived there at 11 at night and slept
at a hotel; next morning I reported to the Provost Marshal's
office. I had no uniform except a jacket that I threw away in
Virginia, near the river. I bought a coat from some young men
I saw there.

D. Hammell came with me all the time. I expected when I
reported to be allowed to take the oath of allegiance and to
be allowed to remain at home. I prefer soldiering to anything
else in the world, and if I was as strong a Southern man as I
was when I first went away, I would stay in the Rebel army, no
matter how much hardship I would have to endure. I think I
could be a truly loyal citizen.

When I landed at Britton's Bay I did not go home because I
wished to come to Baltimore and report. I knew there was a
Provost Marshal to report to in Baltimore. Have seen no new
recruits from Maryland in our regiment lately. We got a few
recruits while in Maryland this last time. I did not know any
of them, or where they were from; there were very few. I don't
think our Company got any of them. Captain Brown was formerly
our Captain; he was killed."

Statement of William J. Bradley (a refugee), a Californian:

(Dec. 31, 1864.) "I left Richmond, Virginia, on Dec. 11th. I
was given the following directions and a pass by order of the
Rebel Secretary of War, to come North; the directions were
given by the Chief Signal Officer, viz: get off the cars at
Milford, see Boles at Bowling Green, Gibbs at Port Royal,
Rollins at Port Conway. I went to Oak Grove one and a half
miles from the Signal Camp. The Signal Camp is on Bridge
Creek, five miles from its mouth. At a point on the creek
where there was an old bridge which was burned, is where you
strike the road that leads to camp, which camp is about three
hundred yards from the creek, and on the site of the birth
place of Washington. They have a boat there in which they
cross the Potomac; it is about twenty-six feet long, and
capable of carrying about sixteen persons; they keep it about
three-quarters of a mile above, on the creek.

At the Signal Camp I saw about twelve men, commanded by
Sergeant Harry Brogden; they were armed with revolvers. They
collect passes that are granted in Richmond, run the mail and
Rebel agents North, and back again. They told me they were
expecting some twelve or fifteen parties back from Maryland
again, very soon.

When I came over in the boat it was manned by four oarsmen and
one steersman, and as passengers, Norris, an Englishman and
myself, and brought over a mail. We landed at Cobb Neck.
Morris said he would start back from the other side of the
Wicomico.

The following are additional names of members of the Signal
Corps:

---- Rowley.
---- Reed, formerly a boatman on the Potomac.
---- Brockenborough.

These men said they were daily expecting members of Mosby's
command on the Neck."

The route Bradley came was the exact route of the regular spies; but the information he gave me was of a character to prove that although he came by the official route, he was being honest with me. Some of the information was new, and all of it was true and valuable. I drew out the detailed information about the signal camp to guide me. I was determined to capture it, and in April following my expedition was planned to start, but was prevented by the assassination of the President.

Baltimore City Jail,
Dec. 23, 1864.

Statement of Charles E. Langley (official Confederate spy).

"I was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia. I resided in
Baltimore some time previous to the breaking out of the war. I
was in Washington at the Inauguration of President Lincoln;
was keeping a butter store in Baltimore.

In the summer of 1861, or perhaps early in the fall, I went to
Winchester; my parents resided there. The cars ran through to
Winchester. I went on the cars, no passes were required from
me on the road. The Confederate troops occupied Winchester at
the time. I went to work on the Winchester Railroad after I
arrived; worked a short time. I remained at Winchester all
that winter; was not in the army.

The next spring (1862), I went to Richmond. Went to work
driving an express wagon. Worked at that until the next fall.
I worked for the Southern Express Co.; a man named Holbrook,
from Baltimore, was at work for the Express Co. at the same
time. The draft came off that fall and I left for Winchester
to escape it. I tried to pretend I was from Maryland, and
therefore exempt, but as I was too well known it would not
work. I did nothing after I returned to Winchester, and staid
there till Christmas. The town was then occupied by Union
troops. About the last of Jan. 1863, I visited Baltimore and
tried to get a situation; I remained in Baltimore about two
months, doing nothing. I stopped at Mann's Hotel, that is, I
got my meals there, as I wanted them. I stopped part of the
time with "Bonis," a tinner, out Fayette street; I used to
board with them before the war.

I went back to Winchester about the first of March, but could
get nothing to do. I staid about a couple of weeks and then
came back to Baltimore. I tried again to get work here, tried
to get on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. I worked on that road
before the war, about three or four years. I offered my
services to Mr. Smith, Master of Transportation, as a kind of
scout for them, to ascertain when the road was injured, and
where, and other information relative to the safety of the
road. I did go up the road for him on several occasions in
1863 and gave him satisfaction.

I went up the road for Mr. Smith at the time Lee was crossing
into Maryland; could not get back, and went home to
Winchester; the Rebels occupied the town. I was arrested for
being in Maryland, as a Yankee spy, was kept about a week and
then discharged, as they had no proof and my friends in
Winchester got me off.

In the fall of 1863, when the Rebels left, I came back to
Baltimore. I went to see Mr. Smith, but could not get any work
from him. I remained in Baltimore until about Nov. 1st, when I
went on to New York to make arrangements with Mr. Sydney H.
Gay, to obtain Richmond papers for him. Mr. Gay is connected
with the Tribune; I went to work for him, used to go down the
valley to Winchester and obtain papers from parties down the
valley, further south than Winchester. I was successful in
obtaining papers but could have done better if I had had an
assistant. I don't think I gave my employer justice, but I
remained there to do the best I could. I continued in this
business until April 1st, 1864. I was stopped part of the time
on account of want of means; my pay was not sufficient to
enable me to make proper arrangements.

I remained in Winchester about two weeks trying to make
arrangements. I would not tell who I obtained the papers from
in the valley. I used to bring the papers as far as
Kearneysville. I always reported to the Provost Marshal at
Kearneysville when I arrived there, of any information I had
obtained of the (Rebel) enemy.

I went down the valley to a friend, near Strausburg, to see
about getting the papers more regularly. I got inside the
Rebel lines and could not get out. I remained inside their
lines at New Market, with some friends, about six weeks. I
staid there until the fight with Sigel. That very day
Breckenridge had me arrested for holding communication with
the Federal troops. I was kept in confinement two months, and
afterwards in arrest under three thousand dollars bail for
five months.

About Sept. 1st, I came up to Winchester to my home, and was
ordered back again. I went back and staid until about October,
the last of the month. I then crossed the Ridge and made my
way to Harper's Ferry. I got on the cars at Van Kleeve's
Station, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and came on to
Baltimore. I arrived here about the last of October. I stopped
at Mr. Perigoy's, No. 34 George street; his wife is a distant
relative of mine. I was not doing anything in particular,
intended to go to New York to see Mr. Gay. I was also trying
to find out who caused me to be arrested by Breckenridge, as I
was confident some Rebels in Baltimore were the cause of it.

I also heard that Breckenridge said a citizen of Kearneysville
had reported me as having given information to the A. Adjutant
General at Harper's Ferry.

I was arrested Sunday night on the street on my way home, by
Government detectives. I gave them a false name. I never was
in the Rebel army. Have never taken the oath of allegiance;
have never been asked to take it; think my arrest was not
justified."

(Signed) CHAS. E. LANGLEY.

I followed this man a year. After I arrested him very powerful interests tried to frighten me; tried to make me believe the prisoner was such an important person that his name must be whispered only. That, in fact, he was Mr. Lincoln's personal man, and reporting only to Mr. Lincoln. They threatened to have my commission taken from me. Finally the prisoner himself offered to give up the "hotel burners" of New York, if I would let up. I answered that I thought "a bird in hand worth two in the bush," and I held him.

Upon his person I found his authority from the New York "Tribune" to collect news at the front. This authority had been his open sesame through our lines. I came to New York and saw Mr. Sidney B. Gay, of the "Tribune"; he informed me that he remembered such a person, that he came to him highly recommended; that he gave him the authority but had never heard from him. I learned later that the powerful interests that were working on me to compel his release were the same that had highly recommended him to the "Tribune." He was a very successful and dangerous spy until I interfered.

I will not tell you who the powerful interests were; suffice it to say they were Confederates, doing good work for the Confederacy all the while. Yet they had the entree of the departments at Washington, having very powerful influence there. There were no other parties in the United States so strongly allied. Through their medium many strange things were manipulated. I will not mention their names, for they are all dead now. I consider Langley's arrest one of the most important.

Of all the newspapers the "Tribune" was the very best to conjure with. Any person who could show credentials from that paper would undoubtedly be welcome anywhere on our lines.

Langley knew that I would visit the "Tribune," hence his efforts in his statement to account for why he had not served them.

FILE XXIX.

Patrick Scally, an honest deserter from the Confederate service--A sketch of the defences of Richmond.

The following statement is interesting as showing how a poor, ignorant, drunken man was hurried off with Gilmor and Bradley T. Johnson, in July, '64, when they retreated from north of Baltimore.

I feel sure the whiskey was paid for by Judge Grason, or Mr. Cockey, or some of the other disloyals spoken of in Mr. Kremer's and my own former reports. They undoubtedly gave him the horse, also:

Baltimore, Md.,
Dec. 23, 1864.

Statement of Patrick Scally:

"I was born in Ireland. I lived in Texas, Baltimore County,
for five years before I went South; my father and mother live
there. I am a laborer.

I went South on the tenth of last July, that is, I joined
Gilmor's command at Texas. I joined Company C, Second Maryland
Battalion. They gave me a horse, carbine and sabre. The
second day after I joined them I was in the fight in front of
Washington, but did not like the fighting much.

I was drunk when I joined them and didn't know what I was
doing.

I deserted from them on the 1st day of August between Hancock
and Cumberland, and went to work for a farmer named McLean, a
good Union man; he didn't know that I was a deserter. I worked
for him about two weeks. I then went to Cumberland, and then
went to Pittsburg and there worked for Wood, Matthews & Co.,
nearly four months. I was afraid, while at work for Mr.
McLean, that the Rebels would catch me and shoot me.

I didn't report at Pittsburg because I didn't know there was
any necessity for so doing; the people in Pittsburg did not
know that I had been with the Rebels. I was only with the
Rebels three weeks, they never gave me a uniform; they once
paid me ten dollars in Confederate money.

I was sworn into the Rebel service the same day that I
enlisted, while I was drunk. I wore the same citizens clothes
that I wore from home, while with the Rebels. I would have
deserted the next morning after I joined them if I could, but
could not get any chance.

I left Pittsburg last Sunday night, got home to Texas
yesterday evening. My father told me I would have to come
here and take the oath and if I did not I would be arrested as
a spy. I knew I had to give myself up before. I came in town
this morning and gave myself up.

I cannot read or write. I have heard the newspapers read, but
not often. I never heard of the President's Proclamation,
don't know what it is."

his
(Signed) PATRICK X SCALLY.
mark

Below is a sketch of the fortifications bounding Richmond on the east and north. The information came to me from Dr. A's brother, who had just arrived from Richmond. The source of information being so reliable, a copy was made and forwarded to General Grant. The date of its transmission I have not.

* * * * *

When General Grant made the assault on Richmond, on the east and north, on Sept. 26, 1864, the colored troops under General Birney encountered this ditch.

I quote from reports:

"On Sep. 28th a movement was made by General Grant on the
North of the James. It was predicated on the belief that only
a small force of the enemy occupied the works on the North
side of the river."

"General Birney was ordered by a rapid movement at daylight,
to capture the enemy's work in front of Deep Bottom, and gain
possession of the New Market road leading to Richmond."

"Two Regiments only, of the Colored Division, reached one of
the Rebel forts, where they found a ditch ten feet wide and
eight feet deep between them and the parapet.

More than a hundred of these brave fellows jumped into the
ditch and assisted some of their comrades to mount the parapet
by allowing them to climb up on their shoulders, about a dozen
succeeded in mounting the parapet by this means. But this
force which had bravely pushed on, was far too small to
capture the fort, and was, therefore, compelled to retire,
leaving their comrades in the ditch of the fort.

But these were unable to make good their escape, as it would
have been certain death to leave the ditch and return to the
troops, and were afterwards compelled to surrender.

About 800 men were lost in this assault in killed, wounded,
and prisoners."

I regret not having the date upon which my information was forwarded to General Grant, but it evidently was not in his hand by September 28th.

FILE XXX.

Confederate Colonel Harry Gilmor, the raider, telling how he did not "come back" as a conquering hero; of the sword he never received; of his capture, etc.--The arrest and conviction of the fair donor.

Colonel Harry Gilmor, who commanded a regiment of cavalry in the Confederate service, was a Baltimorean. He was the beau ideal of its "blue blood" ladies, or many of them; he was their hero who was to ultimately capture the Monumental City, who was to march down Charles Street Avenue as conquerors only return. He had earnestly tried to produce the closing scene of his drama in July, but failed; when, to cheer him to renew his efforts, they proposed to present him with a magnificent sabre. They purchased the best to be found from Messrs. Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, arms dealers, then in Maiden Lane, New York (now on Broadway), paying for it one hundred and twenty-five dollars in gold.

I was told the dainty creatures were so anxious for the safe custody of their token of war, that they placed it under the British flag, pending the opportunity to get it to the Colonel; that is, they left it with Mrs. Frederick Bernal, wife of the British Consul at Baltimore. The sympathies of many of the Britishers were decidedly with the South.

Gilmor was a born raider. He used to raid the hearts of these Blue Belles "befo de wah," on Charles Street Avenue. His command was made up largely of Marylanders, and Maryland was frequently the victim of his 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.