Chapter M: E. Martin, (1)

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.

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.