Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

When you have any business to be done here I shall esteem it a
favor to assist you.

Your obdt. servant,
F. M. ELLIS,
Chief Detective, U. S. Sanitary Com.

Mr. Ellis's offer of service was without price; in fact there was an entire absence of what is called "commercialism" in those days. Loyalty and zeal were the currency. After three and a half years in such service it was hard for me to get down to a dollars-and-cents business again.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 8, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report that Officer Horner
arrested William W. Shore, who is, or has been the
correspondent of the New York World and News. He says he left
Fort Monroe on Feb. 14, and used to forward Rebel papers to
New York, until he was ordered away by General Butler.

Enclosed herewith is the telegram on which he was arrested.

I am Colonel,

Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 14, 1864.

Special Order No. 40.

Guard in charge of John Gillock, political prisoner, will
proceed to Fort McHenry. On arrival you will report to
Commanding Officer, deliver charge with accompanying papers,
receive receipt and return to these headquarters without
delay.

By command, Major General Wallace.

JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.

I remember this young man very well. He was from Richmond. Subsequently, after testing his reliability, I made use of him for detective purposes. He was well acquainted with General Winder's men, hence his value to us.

FILE XIII.

Ordered to seize all copies of the New York "World," bringing in one of the great war episodes, the Bogus Presidential Proclamation--Governor Seymour's queer vigor appears.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 18, 1864.

Provost Guards,
or U. S. Detectives.

Seize all copies of the New York World of this date, that may
arrive from New York, or that you can find in the city.

By command, Major General Wallace.

JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.

This order is innocent enough in its appearance, but it is really the executive action upon a subject almost as vital in its effects as any of the great battles of the war.

Under date of May 17th a proclamation, calling for four hundred thousand more troops, purporting to be from President Lincoln, was issued, and was published in certain papers; among them the New York "World". The following is a copy:

Executive Mansion, May 17, 1864.

Fellow Citizens of the United States:

In all seasons of exigency it becomes a nation carefully to
scrutinize its line of conduct, humbly to approach the throne
of Grace, and meekly to implore forgiveness, wisdom, and
guidance.

For reasons known only to Him, it has been decreed that this
country should be the scene of unparalleled outrage, and this
nation the monumental sufferer of the nineteenth century. With
a heavy heart, but an undiminished confidence in our cause, I
approach the performance of a duty rendered imperative by my
sense of weakness before Almighty God and of justice to the
people.

It is not necessary that I should tell you that the first
Virginia campaign, under Lieut. General Grant, in whom I have
every confidence, and whose courage and fidelity the people do
well to honor, is virtually closed. He has conducted his great
enterprise with discreet ability. He has crippled their
strength and defeated their plans.

In view, however, of the situation in Virginia, the disaster
at Red river, the delay at Charleston, and the general state
of the country, I, Abraham Lincoln, do hereby recommend that
Thursday, the 26th day of May, A.D., 1864, be solemnly set
apart throughout these United States as a day of fasting,
humiliation and prayer.

Deeming, furthermore, that the present condition of public
affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, and in view of the
pending expiration of the service of (100,000) one hundred
thousand of our troops, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and
hereby do call forth the citizens of the United States between
the ages of (18) eighteen and (45) forty-five years, to the
aggregate number of (400,000) four hundred thousand, in order
to suppress the existing rebellious combinations, and to cause
the due execution of the laws.

And, furthermore, in case any State or number of States shall
fail to furnish by the fifteenth day of June next their
assigned quotas, it is hereby ordered that the same be raised
by immediate and peremptory draft. The details for this object
will be communicated to the State authorities through the War
Department.

I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid
this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the
existence of the National Union, and the perpetuity of popular
government.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city
of Washington, this 17th day of May, one thousand, eight
hundred and sixty-four, and of the independence of the United
States the eighty-eighth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

This was immediately contradicted by the Government, as follows:

To the Public.

Department of State, Washington, D. C.
May 18, 1864.

A paper purporting to be a proclamation of the President,
countersigned by the Secretary of State, and bearing date of
the 17th inst. is reported to this Department as having
appeared in the New York "World" of this date. This paper is
an absolute forgery. No proclamation of this kind has been
made, or proposed to be made, by the President, or issued, or
proposed to be issued, by the State Department, or any other
Department of the Government.

WM. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.

Under the head "Freedom of Press" Appleton's Encyclopedia for 1864 gives twelve columns of space to this matter. The excitement resulted in the greatest distress. Gold advanced four or five per cent., a panic prevailed, and great calamity, of course, followed.

Soon thereafter we seized every telegraph instrument and office record in the Department, and arrested the officers and clerks. I became so tired with the extraordinary labor and loss of sleep, that I actually fell asleep while standing at a desk in one of the offices. I had heard of such experiences, but had believed it impossible.

The object of seizing the newspapers, telegraphic instruments and records, was to prevent the disaster that must follow the further spreading of the impression created by the bogus message, that our Government was in dire distress.

Copperhead conspirators and Confederate agents here and in Canada, had been and were at work to undermine us by every means. Distress to us, however brought about, was their purpose. They sought to create in the minds of the masses the idea that the war was a failure.

These conspirators had tried to use the conscription, in 1863, to disrupt us, and they were again trying to scare the people with a prospective draft, in 1864, to unsettle the public mind before the Presidential election, then soon to occur (in November).

Governor Seymour relentlessly pursued General Dix, seeking to have him indicted for arresting (he claimed) illegally, persons party to the fraud. But the grand jury refused to indict him. Seymour claimed that he (Seymour) was trying to preserve _personal liberty_, from the general government's encroachments, which was also his attitude in Vallandigham's case in 1863.

The New York "World" and "The Journal of Commerce" were the newspapers involved in the affair, but the odium should not attach to the present papers.

The bogus proclamation spread faster and further than the denial of it possibly could.

FILE XIV.

Arrest of F. W. Farlin and A. H. Covert--The Pulpit not loyal, reports on Rev. Mr. Harrison and Rev. Mr. Poisal--Comical reports on a religious conference and a camp meeting--Seizure of Kelly & Piet's store with its contraband kindergarten contents--Sloop "R. B. Tennis" one of my fleet, and an account of a capture of tobacco, etc.--Arrest of Frederick Smith, Powell Harrison and Robert Alexander--Harry Brogden.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 21, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest of A. H.
Covert and F. W. Farlin, as per order annexed.

I have it from a reliable source that Mr. Alexander Civin went
to Philadelphia this morning, I therefore telegraphed to the
Provost Marshal there, for his arrest, and to send him under
guard to this place.

I am, Colonel,

Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.

To discover persons engaged in creating sentiments of disloyalty, or in pandering to such sentiments, was a part of our duty; the pulpit was not always loyal.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 22, 1864.

Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report in regard to the sermons
of the Reverends Harrison and Poisal: Neither preached a
political sermon nor dealt in any way with the affairs of the
country, except in one or two instances Mr. Harrison spoke of
the present deplorable condition of affairs in this country
and seemed to be very much downcast in both preaching and
praying. He (Mr. H.) did not utter one word of prayer for our
President, Army or Government.

I know of Mr. Poisal's being a correspondent of some of the
Rebel prisoners in Fort McHenry.

At both sermons they had very slim audiences.

I am, Colonel,

Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. and Chief.

On one occasion it was my duty to attend a State conference in one of the churches; it was rather slimly attended. We were invited to come nearer the altar, and I, with the rest, complied.

We were then asked to in turn arise and announce what district in the State we represented, and report on its condition. I was embarrassed, but kept my eye on the ceiling or on the floor. I presume my dumbness excused me. The closing hymn was No. 701, on page 417, and the first verse was:

"Jesus, great Shepherd of the sheep,
To thee for help we fly,
Thy little flock in safety keep,
For O! the wolf is nigh."

They were correct in the guess, about the wolf, but I did not say so out loud.

A very laughable report was made to me by one of my officers who was sent into the country to a meeting in the woods. This officer knew more about guns than about religious meetings. He reported nothing disloyal was said, but urged the necessity of going there next Sunday, as they said: "they would have some big guns there then." The officer was used to guns, and so he assumed that they meant cannons, whereas they were referring to popular speakers who were to be present there the following Sunday.

General Wallace was just the man to administer the affairs of a department so complex in sentiment. No better illustration can be furnished than the following circular letter issued to the churches at a time when the public mind was so wrought up by the assassination of the President. It is too fine a document to be lost. To the General's memory I insert it here:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Md., April 19, 1865.

Circular.

The conduct of certain clergymen in this city has in some
instances, been so positively offensive to loyal people, and,
in others, of such doubtful propriety, to say nothing about
taste, as to have become a cause of bad feeling with many
well-disposed citizens.

As you must be aware, the recent tragedy, so awful in
circumstance, and nationally so calamitous, has, as it well
might, inflamed the sensibilities of men and women who esteem
their loyalty only a little less sacred than their religion.

In this state of affairs you will undoubtedly perceive the
wisdom of avoiding, on your own part, everything in the least
calculated to offend the sensibilities mentioned. You will
also perceive the propriety of requiring members of your
congregation, male and female, who may be so unfortunate as
to have been sympathizers with the rebellion, not to bring
their politics into the church.

So profound is my reverence for your truly sacred profession,
that, in the sincere hope of avoiding any necessity for
interfering with the exercise of your office, I choose this
method of respectfully warning you of the existing state of
public feeling, and calling upon you, in the name of our
common Savior, to lend me your influence and energetic
assistance, to be exerted in every lawful way, to soothe
irritations and calm excitements. You know that what I thus
request I have the power to enforce. You ought also to know
that, to save the community from the dishonor and consequences
of a public outbreak, it would be my duty to exercise all the
power I possess, without regard to persons or congregations.

If you feel that you cannot yourself comply with this
fraternal solicitation, or that you are unable to control
evil-disposed members of your flock, I suggest that it is
better, far better, in every respect, that you should close
the doors of your church for a season at least.

I have no fear that the kindliness of my purpose in thus
communicating with you will be mistaken; and that you may not
understand yourself as accused, or specially selected from the
mass of your professional brethren, you are informed that a
copy of this note has been or will be addressed to every
clergyman in the city.

Very respectfully,
Your friend,
LEW WALLACE,
Major General Commanding.

The firm referred to in the following two documents was one of the largest stationers in the city. Their reputation for disloyalty was well understood by us. An important part of their business was the dissemination of articles which tended to have the kindergarten effect of schools of disloyalty.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, Md., May 23, 1864.

Lieut. H. B. Smith.

Sir.--We have the honor to report that this afternoon we went
into the book store of Kelly & Piet, No. 174 W. Baltimore
street, and told them that we were book agents on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and had just arrived from
Frederick City. We asked Mr. Piet if he had any books of
Abraham Lincoln Trials; he hesitated for a short time, then
told us that he had. We then asked him if he had any of the
Life of Jackson; he said he had a few, and said he would send
and get us some more in half an hour. He then showed us some
different books and also some playing cards with the
different Rebel Generals on the face of them, which he offered
to sell at $4.50 per dozen: also some writing paper and
envelopes with the Rebel Flag on, which we bought and you will
find the bill enclosed.

We are, Lieut., your obdt. servants,
I. W. STERN and
GEO. R. REDMAN, U. S. D.

The bill attached was $34.24.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 23, 1864.

Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report that I this day seized
and searched the store of Kelly & Piet, No. 174 West Baltimore
street, and enclosed hand you a list of contraband articles
seized. I also enclose the report of the detectives.

Mr. Piet states that he has been arrested before on a similar
charge.

I brought to our office Messrs. Kelly & Piet, but did not lock
them up. I have the key of their store in my possession.

I am Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.

List:

90 Assortments of photos. 212 total.
19 Vols. Morgan and His Men.
2 Vols. Life Stonewall Jackson.
1 Vol. 1st Year of the War.
4 Vols. 2nd Year of the War.
97 Pamphlets Trial Abraham Lincoln.
2 Vols. Rebel Rhymes.
4 Vols. Three months in Southern States.
5 Vols. Confed. Reports of Battles.
3 Vols. Southern History of the War.
1 Package note paper, Rebel flag.
1 Package envelopes, Rebel flag.
8 Steel Engravings, Rebel Generals.
57 Packages Playing Cards, Confed.

All of this was inflammable matter.

The Captain Bailey, spoken of in the succeeding report, was the same Bailey that I captured in March previous. I had found him to be an excellent sailing master, and a man whom I could trust. The sloop "R. B. Tennis" was one of my fleet.

Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, May 28, 1864.

Major H. Z. Hayner,
Provost Marshal.

Major.--I have the honor to submit the following brief report
of the seizure made by sloop "R. B. Tennis," Capt. Bailey,
with three detective officers on board.

Enclosed I hand you report of Detective Lewis, who was placed
in charge, which report is not quite so full as it should be,
covering all remarks and acknowledgments made by the
prisoners.

I will state that they said several times that they were
blockade runners by occupation.

Enclosed is the statement made to me by Fred. E. Smith, who, I
think, is rather faint hearted in his profession.

Harrison acknowledged to have run the blockade several times,
but don't seem willing to talk much, as he thinks "he might
implicate some near and dear friends," he has talked a deal to
some of the officers, whose statements I shall get when they
return to the city.

Alexander refuses to talk, but I shall be able to get it all
out of them soon.

I received from Detective Lewis the following which he states
was all that was taken from the parties:

Gold and silver, $188.75.
U. S. Currency, $159.00.
Southern States money, $190.00.
Northern States money, $1.00.
1 gold watch.
1 silver watch.
23 large and 2 small boxes tobacco.
1 large yawl boat.

I have stored the tobacco in the store of W. W. Janney, a
receipt for which is annexed. The boat is in charge of guard
on board the schooner "Travers."

I will get fuller statements from all the detectives as soon
as possible, and give to you. The prisoners are Fred. E.
Smith, Powell Harrison and Robert Alexander.

I am, Major,
Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. and Chief.

Attached to this report is a memorandum of statements made to me:

Fredk. Smith:

"I am from Northumberland County, Va. I left Northumberland
County on Wednesday last. I was with Mr. Harrison and Mr.
Alexander, no one else with us. I am a citizen. I have been
about eight months in Va., all of that time in Northumberland
County. I was formerly from Caroline Co., Md. I started to
come North for clothes and things. I had some orders for goods
for families in Northumberland County, which I threw overboard
after we were hailed, also had twenty odd boxes tobacco.

Mr. Harrison has lived in Northumberland County since I have
been there, but has been north of the Potomac three or four
times.

I don't know much, of Mr. Alexander, except that he came from
Maryland with Mr. Harrison on one of his (Harrison's) trips.

I came over as a passenger with Harrison and Alexander. Some
of the tobacco belongs to me. I had about $250 in gold, and
about $100 or more in greenbacks, and $50 or $60 in Virginia
money. Had no particular point of destination. I was to pay
Harrison and Alexander $200 for my fare. I think they intended
to land on the Eastern shore, Md., or perhaps on Western
shore. I think Harrison and Alexander are blockade runners by
profession. They intended to return to Virginia. I think we
were about going into Choptank river. I think at about James
Point.

I started for Little River, Virginia. I think another party of
two or three started at about the same time; they had some
tobacco. I did not know their names; they were in a little
sloop, dark color. I saw them again about Point Lookout. I
think perhaps they had about two or three thousand pounds. The
sloop and sail looked rather old. It was Wednesday night that
I last saw the sloop. I think Mr. Harrison was over about
three or four weeks since."

Powell Harrison:

"Northumberland County, Virginia. I am a farmer, I have lived
there about three or four years. I have been north of the
Potomac three times since the War."

Robert Alexander:
(Made no statement.)

You will notice the brevity of Harrison's statement, and that Alexander made no statement. Alexander and one other man, named Bollman (if I remember right) were the only ones who defeated me in my efforts to learn something about them from their own lips.

The tobacco was best Virginia plug, worth about one dollar per pound (about three thousand dollars' worth). This little yawl (with a dirty sail), worth about twenty or thirty dollars, was earning two hundred dollars in one night in carrying Smith and his tobacco over.

As I said before, the Potomac was patrolled by gunboats, and the north shore was garrisoned at many points with troops, yet these little fellows would creep right in between them. My plan was to go equipped as they were, and meet them on their level.

We did not consider the neck between the Potomac and the Rappahannock as the enemy's country, yet the Confederates had a signal station on the Potomac all through the war; it was in charge of Harry Brogden, whom I knew. When I get along in my stories to June 30th, I will show you how well it was understood in the Confederacy.

FILE XV.

General pass for the schooner "W. H. Travers"--Trip down the bay after blockade runners and mail carriers--Gillock and Lewis, two of my officers, captured by Union pickets--Commodore Foxhall A. Parker--Potomac flotilla-- Arrest of J. B. McWilliams--My watch gone to the mermaids--The ignorance of "poor white trash."

To save delay in getting out of the harbor the following request was made:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, June 9, 1864.

Capt. Cornell,
Commanding Revenue Cutter,
Baltimore Harbor.

Captain.--I have the honor to request that you permit the
schooner "W. H. Travers" under command of Lieut. Smith, to
pass your vessel without Custom Clearance. She is employed in
the Secret Service Bureau, 8th A.C.

Respy, your most obdt. servt.,
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 9, 1864.

Special Order No. 76.

Lieut. H. B. Smith with detachment of Secret Service Corps,
will proceed on schooner "W. H. Travers" to such points on
Eastern and Western shore of Maryland, Eastern and Western
shore of Virginia, and Southern and Northern shore of the
Potomac river, as he deems proper and necessary to further the
instructions of the Government.

By command of Major General Wallace,
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.

The chain of war vessels extending along the Potomac under the command of Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, he having jurisdiction of the waters, was known as the Potomac flotilla.

When I attempted to approach the Commodore on his flag ship I was, in my raiment, a sight. The marines viewed me with curiosity. Upon introducing myself to the Commodore, he laughed. His wife being present, also enjoyed a laugh at my appearance. No "Johnny" ever looked more dilapidated. I presented my orders for the Commodore's endorsement.

Headquarters, Cavalry Detachment,
District of St. Mary's.
Leonardtown, Md., June 16, 1864.

Lieut. H. B. Smith,
Chief Detective on board
schooner "W. H. Travers."

Some of my scouts last night arrested two men in a boat at the
head of Britton's Bay, who claim to be Government detectives,
and under your charge. If such is the case I desire that you
will in some manner identify them, as they have nothing with
them which would lead me to suppose them to be such.

These men give their names as John Gillock, and J. W. Lewis.

I shall hold these men in confinement until I am fully
satisfied of the truth of their statements.

I am, Sir, very respy, yours, &c.,
F. W. DICKERSON,
Lt. Comdg.

These were our boys and they were set at liberty of course. The Lieutenant was doing perfectly right, as our appearance and conduct was suspicious. Our plans always were to appear to be blockade-runners, so we never carried on our persons any evidence of our true character. We carried forged Confederate documents when we were going where it was desirable. We could imitate General Winder's signature to passes, defying detection, and we had the same kind of paper, a light brown. The Confederate Government had poor stationery.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 23, 1864.

Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the following on the trip
on the schooner "W. H. Travers" down the Bay, and on the
Potomac river. I seized about three boxes tobacco (three
hundred dollars) on the farm of Mr. Evans, Smith's Creek, St.
Mary's County, Md, which he said was placed in his hay stack
by some blockade runners.

I got from the Provost Marshal at Leonardtown, St. Mary's
County, the canoe which was seized by Detective White sometime
since.

In the Wicomico river, near its mouth, we seized a small yawl
containing five men and one woman, who were on their way to
Virginia. Wm. H. Hayden owned the boat and was to receive
fifty dollars each for conveying the passengers over; he is
engaged in this business constantly. About one week since he
carried over two persons, one a Doctor; they were in the woods
a day or so before they started.

Hayden has been carrying a mail to and fro. A small package
of letters with a stone attached was found in the boat and I
presume they were in Mr. Hayden's charge, as in the letters
Mr. Hayden is mentioned as "carrying letters."

Wm. R. Horton, a passenger, was formerly in the Confederate
army; said he was going to return; says he applied in this
office for a position a short time since.

Wm. Gellatly and wife, passengers, were making their way to
Columbia, S. C., Mr. Gellatly says he came within our lines
early in April last, but did not report to any Provost
Marshal, as he did not wish to bind himself not to return. He
claims to be a British subject. They had a small trunk and
some other baggage. Both Gellatly and Horton say that they
made arrangements with Hayden in Chaptico, St. Mary's County.

I found in the trunk a small revolver. This arrest was made by
Detectives Horner and Stern, who were posted as a picket near
the mouth of the Wicomico.

There were two more men in the boat who succeeded in making
their escape in the dark, and whom all the other passengers
state were Confederate officers who had escaped from Point
Lookout, named Bruce and Howell. I am informed that one of
these parties left his horse with a Mr. Dent in Chaptico.

The yawl boat in which they were was very poor, worth about
five or six dollars, and I did not bring it to Baltimore as it
was not worth towing.

I took from Mr. Hayden a small gold watch. I also arrested Mr.
J. B. McWilliams on the charge of aiding Rebels, contraband
traders, &c., and of defrauding the Government. All of which I
will state in a separate report.

On the trip we have labored under many disadvantages. The
vessel is in no way fit for the business, being too large and
a miserable sailer. We could not get about as we ought, we had
but one day's fair wind during the whole trip. We started from
Wicomico river on Sunday at 3 P. M., and arrived in Baltimore
this P. M.

Mrs. Gellatly states that she tried to persuade her husband to
remain North but he would not and she was compelled to
accompany him. She came to this country about six months
since.

I could not get permission from Commodore Parker to enter
Virginia on account of the raid then being carried on, but he
said under any other circumstances he would give permission
and let a gunboat accompany me.

Hoping that my action in these matters will meet with your
approval,

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

Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, June 24, 1864.

Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to make the following report in the
case of J. B. McWilliams of Charles County, Md., whom I
arrested and brought to this prison.

While anchored in the Wicomico river on the trip down on the
schooner "W. H. Travers," W. H. Seward and myself took a small
yawl which we had captured from Wm. H. Hayden in attempting to
go South, and rowed up the Potomac river as far as Cobb creek.
We were hailed by McWilliams as we neared the shore at this
point, he saying, "I used to own that boat," asked us where we
were from. I refused to answer, but he said, "I am all right,
you need not fear me." We landed and went up into the bushes.
He advised us to remove the mufflers from the oars as they
could be seen from the gunboats and they would know
immediately that we were from Virginia. He informed us where
the soldiers were posted and how to avoid them, and advised us
to leave our boat on his shore as it was known and would not
be suspected, informed us of Grant's move on Fort Darling,
&c.; called our attention to an article in the Baltimore
Gazette which he said "done him good," and would do any
Southerner good.

He said he wanted to send some copies to Virginia as he knew
they would be so highly appreciated; wanted to write by us to
his son who was in the Confederate army; said he traded yawl
boat with Hayden about one week previous, when Hayden was on
his way to Virginia with two men, one of them a Doctor; said
he talked with these two men nearly all one day, and sent a
letter to his son by Hayden. He had sent his son a large
revolver and wanted to sell me a double barrelled gun to take
back with me to Virginia; said he had a full set of cavalry
accoutrements that he had been keeping, awaiting a chance to
saddle up and fight the Yankees.

He said he saddled his horse and started for Frederick to
assist when Jackson made his first raid but he could not get
through the lines. He said many times that the people of
Maryland only wanted a chance to turn on the Yankees. He said
Dr. Coon of Washington had a yacht in which he carried over as
many as three hundred to join the Confederates, from near his
place; he said he was much afraid of his negroes as they would
go and tell the Yanks all that was going on; he advised me to
watch the negroes especially on Sunday and advised us to
scatter about the woods.

He brought us three meals in the woods. He whipped one of his
negroes because he threatened to inform the Provost Marshal
that we were there; he suggested to me the idea to lash one of
his negroes down and carry him to Virginia; he said there were
but four or five loyal men in the County.

Said he was caught once by the Yankee gunboats and they found
seventeen thousand dollars worth of contraband goods in his
cellar, but that he had a frolic at his house, invited all the
ladies about there and the Officers of the gunboats and thus
this was all hushed up; said he could bribe any Yankee.

He said at one time he stored $25,000 worth of contraband
goods in his buildings and aided in getting them away but was
not caught.

He said that about three weeks since, two Confederate
soldiers, came across the river and secreted themselves in the
woods; he went to see them; one of his slaves reported the
case to the Provost Marshal, who sent a guard to make the
arrest. He saw the guard approach. The Confederates were
scared; he told them to keep cool and when the guards came
near to say they wanted to know where the Provost Marshal was,
to say they were refugees and wanted to take the oath; said he
came near being caught but the Yanks were not smart enough;
said he thought these men had returned to Dixie by this time.

He said the Government had attempted to confiscate his son
Frank's one-third interest in some property there which was
worth about ten thousand dollars, so he got Mr. Higgs, Post
Master at Newport, Charles County, to make out an account
against Frank amounting to about ten thousand dollars and sue
the estate; he went security to pay the amount in five years
and thus got the property in his hands.

I seized from his house the double barrelled gun and the horse
equipments.

I arrested Mr. McWilliams and brought him to this city as I
thought him too dangerous a man to occupy the position he does
on the Maryland shore. His remarks were made voluntarily
without my making much effort, apparently, to ascertain his
actions.

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

I remember the following incident which occurred on this trip: I tried to qualify as a deck hand. Leaning over the vessel's waist, I tried the difficult trick of scooping up a pail of water while the boat was in motion, and while so engaged my watch slipped out of my pocket, and into the water. We were then just below Fort Carroll, mid-stream. The watch is there yet, unless some mermaid has carried it off. I would not have lost it had I not divested it of the chain, to help appearances. On these trips one could not discover that we were not ordinary helpers "before the mast."

Many of the crews on such vessels were of the class called by the negroes "poor white trash," and they were ignorant beyond belief; to test which I once pointed out land to the east as being Ireland, to which they assented. The captains and mates, of course, were not so ignorant.

A strange picture presented itself to me one moonlight night. We were laying in St. Mary's river when a cunna (canoe) came along side, and three or four black men crawled upon our deck and hid themselves down behind the boat's waist. They wanted to go away with us, telling a pitiful tale of oppression, but slavery was yet in vogue there, and so we forced them to go away home.

FILE XVI.

Captain Bailey makes a capture--Sinclair introduces me (as Shaffer) to Mr. Plyle.

The following report was of another capture, by Captain Bailey:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, June 29, 1864.

Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report that Capt. Wm. Bailey
returned to this city this morning bringing three prisoners,
and their skiff. They were first seen near James Point, and
afterwards were taken on board the schooner "Thos. H.
Northern," Capt. Wells; from which schooner Bailey took them
along with Capt. Wells, and brought them to this office. I had
a conversation with each one separately and then confined
them.

George Hull stated that he was in the 9th Virginia Cavalry,
from which he deserted some three months since; that he has
been in the Confederacy since 1862; that he ran the blockade
into Virginia on the schooner "Sarah Elizabeth" from
Philadelphia, loaded with an assorted cargo, and landed in the
Rappahannock river; that he did not know he was going to run
the blockade when he started. A man named Edwards, commanded
the schooner.

Nicholas McKee states that he was a member of the Home Guards
in King and Queen County, Virginia. He went into the
Confederacy by the same vessel and at the same time with Hull,
but did not know she was to run the blockade when she started.
Neither Hull or McKee know who loaded the schooner; both deny
all knowledge of their destination when they left
Philadelphia.

Samuel Lewis was a member of the 9th Cavalry, Virginia. He
states that he ran the blockade about June or July, 1863. He
sailed from New York on a sloop with fifteen or twenty barrels
of whiskey on board. They anchored under Ragged Point,
Virginia, on the Potomac river, where they unloaded the
whiskey. For some reason the men on the sloop got frightened
and left him on the beach. He does not know the name of the
sloop nor the name of the Captain, nor any person on board,
and he, like the other two, did not know that the vessel
intended to run the blockade.

It seems strange that none of them knew their destination
when they shipped, and it also seems strange that after
sailing from New York to the Potomac river, Wells had not
learned the name of the vessel which he was on, or the names
of any of his companions. He states also that he was the man
sent ashore in Virginia, to do the business, but says he had
to do it as it was orders from his Captain.

I have sent two detectives to see the schooner on which they
were found, and to examine the cargo as it is discharged.

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

The following letter to Mr. Plyle, introducing me as Mr. Shaffer, was the commencement of negotiations for the purchase of a lot of Confederate bonds, which purchase was consummated in the following November. For an account of which please refer to my report of the arrest of Brewer and Pittman, November 24th.

Baltimore, June 30, 1864.

Mr. Plyle.

Sir.--I expect to go to Norfolk or Richmond to-day. I send my
partner, Mr. Shaffer, who will hand you this, to talk with you
about purchasing your bonds. He will answer as well as I in
the matter.

I will be back about July 10th.

Yours respy.,
SINCLAIR.

To Col. Plyle,
Franklin House.

FILE XVII.

A Confederate letter.

The following discloses how perfectly the Confederate government understood the travelled route through the lines. It was by way of their signal station on the Potomac, that was their official channel. I was determined to break it up.

Westmorland and Northumberland counties, Virginia, are the south shore of the Potomac river. Mosby, or at least part of his command, covered this country.

Confederate States of America,
War Department, Ordnance Bureau,
Richmond, June 30, 1864.

Captain:

The bearer, Mr. White, is confided in as trustworthy. He
desires information as to the best mode of proceeding to
Maryland.

I will thank you to give him any assistance you can
consistently.

Mr. W. is engaged in procuring stores for the Government,
through the blockade.

Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
J. GORGAS, Col.
Chief of Ordnance.

To Capt. Barker,
In charge Signal Corps.
Approved,
By order,
J. A. Campbell,
A. Sec. War.
July 1, 1864.

This has endorsed on it:

Signal Bureau,
Richmond, July 1, 1864.

The officers in charge of Signal Station on Potomac, will
furnish Mr. White any assistance in their power, in crossing
into Maryland.

WM. M. BARKER,
Capt. in ch. Signal Corps.

FILE XVIII.

Confederate army invades Maryland in 1864--General Wallace's masterly defence of Washington--Trip outside our pickets--Confederate General Bradley Johnson and Colonel Harry Gilmor--The Ishmael Day episode--Uncle Zoe--Arrest of Judge Richard Grason--Report on certain "disloyals."

About this time our efforts were pointed in another direction, for a portion of Lee's Army had been detached and had begun the invasion of Maryland (June 28, 1864).

General Wallace gathered up his scattered troops and prepared to meet the enemy at Monocacy. He was not well matched to meet them, but strongly resisted them long enough to enable Grant to reinforce Washington, and, strategically speaking, Wallace's fight saved Washington.

Appleton's Encyclopedia, page 130, under army operations 1864, says:

"Meantime the enemy after tearing up some railroad from
Frederick to Baltimore, sent their main body south of it and
detached a cavalry force towards the Northern Central Railroad
from Harrisburg, Pa., to Baltimore. This Cavalry expedition
overran Maryland, 25 miles of the Northern Central Railroad
was destroyed, and on Monday the 11th (July), a force appeared
on the Baltimore, Wilmington & Phila. Road and captured and
set on fire the trains at Magnolia station, seventeen miles
south of Havre de Grace.

In one train Major General Franklin was captured but
afterwards made his escape. Some damage was done to the track
and Gunpowder Bridge was partially burned. The Cavalry heavily
loaded with plunder came within six miles of Baltimore, then
turning southward they joined the force near Washington which
had been sent in that direction to guard against surprise;
part of it halted before Fort Stevens on 17th street."

I remained in Baltimore until July 14th, when I started out to scout the country east and north of the city.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, July 14, 1864.

Pass H. B. Smith and George W. Thompson on Department business
out and in Picket Lines at all hours.

By command Major General Wallace.

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

General Wallace had been compelled (by Lee's invasion) to take away to Monocacy nearly all of his troops, and so we had to appeal to the citizens for the defence of the city. All loyal citizens were appealed to and they responded nobly; they made, however, a motley army, but patriotic to the core, they vigorously performed their duty.

I had a serious experience with them when I tried to get inside our picket lines. We scoured the country quite thoroughly.

I find among my papers no copy of a written report except the one I find endorsed on and in connection with the report on Judge Grason's arrest on July 24th, which is the following:

"When Bradley Johnson's Brigade, and Harry Gilmor's Cavalry
was in Maryland, and after they destroyed the Gunpowder Bridge
on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, one of
my detectives named Thompson and myself went out past the
Pickets on the Philadelphia Pike as far as the Rechabite
Church and then changed onto the Belair road, where I hailed a
man named ---- ----, who was afterwards caught with a wagon
loaded with contraband goods intended for the Rebs. He talked
to me for some time. I told him that I wanted to get to see
Harry Gilmor, that I was from New York, and that if Gilmor
remained long enough in Maryland, I could get some recruits
from New York.

This man offered me money to aid me in this glorious
enterprise. He told me that if I would go over to Towsontown
and see Richard Grason, that he (Grason) could tell me just
where Gilmor could be seen. This man also told me about the
man that Ishmael Day shot.

We left him and went over to Towsontown, where we had dinner
and then went into Baltimore, after being arrested by (our)
pickets almost every mile.

That evening we again started out for Towsontown; at
Govanstown we were surrounded by about ten or twelve of the
13th Md., who lowered their pieces at us and demanded us to
dismount; Thompson did so immediately, but I used more time.
They said they had been waiting for us for some time. This of
course was an error; finally we were released and proceeded on
our way. We could not find Grason.

On our way back we were again arrested by some of the Citizen
Cavalry, but got back into Baltimore at about 2 A. M."

(From the Baltimore "American," July 12, 1864.)

"Major Harry Gilmor, who, from a misguided leniency, if not
something worse, was released from capture by General Wool,
during his administration of affairs in this Department, was
the commander of the Rebels who have worked so much
destruction of property in this immediate vicinity.

After his successful plundering operations in Carroll and
Frederick Counties he concluded to visit his own county and
receive the congratulations of his friends and admirers. On
Sunday he spent the day and evening at Glen Ellen, above
Towsontown, at the residence of his father, Mr. Robert Gilmor,
and no doubt a very pleasant time was had.

A force of about three hundred of his companions are said to
have been encamped in that vicinity. On Sunday a delegation of
five visited Towsontown and the joy of the Rebel males and
females of that neighborhood is said to be beyond description.
Mr. Richard Grason who frequently performs the office of
special Judge of the County, was unable to restrain his
emotion and kindly feelings to his friends, and took them to
his dwelling where they feasted and whiskeyed to their hearts
content."

Judge Grason in trying to escape arrest for his disloyal acts in connection with Harry Gilmor, tried to use a stolen pass issued to an assumed name, "Jenkins." I remember well my lecture to him on the heinousness of his offence. It was picturesque, a boy chiding a judge. But it was due him.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, July 24, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest yesterday of
Judge Grason of Towsontown.

I questioned him; he stated that a good friend of his whose
name he refused to give, procured a blank pass and he filled
in the name, residence and destination and attempted to pass
on it.

I asked him the reason for assuming the name "Jenkins." He
said he understood he was to be arrested and did not want to
be detained. He said he received a letter from his home (near
Queenstown), stating that his father was very poorly, and
wanted to see him.

I asked him where the letter was. He said he threw it in the
stove and burned it up. I asked if it was in his kitchen stove
at home. He said no, that it was in his office stove. I asked
him if he had a fire in his office stove (July). He said no,
but that he set fire to the letter from his pipe that he was
smoking.

He said he first heard he was to be arrested about the 11th,
or 12th inst., and acknowledged to having kept out of the way
as he did not want to be arrested then, as it would be some
time, probably, before he could get a hearing, on account of
the pressure of business on the Military Authorities.

He is everywhere known as being a bitter Rebel. He
acknowledged to have spoken to Harry Gilmor while in
Towsontown, but said it was only to get him to save some
property.

He said he would rather receive the punishment than to allow
the friend who gave him the pass to be punished.

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

The Ishmael Day incident was quite as romantic, or dramatic, as the "Barbara Freitchie" episode, but it was never dwelt upon, however, by the poets, nor can it be demolished as a myth. Ishmael Day, single handed and alone, defended his little miniature flag against the Confederate hosts. The incident rang over the country through the press.

My uncle, Zoeth Smith, a patriot indeed, wrote me to get Ishmael's picture, which I did. Recently, in looking over my papers, I found Uncle Zoe's letter and sent it to his sons, Truman and Addison, to show them the manner of man their father was when loyalty was needed.

The following appeared in the newspapers:

"We had the pleasure this morning of an interview with Mr.
Ishmael Day who yesterday morning shot down one of Harry
Gilmor's men whilst in the act of taking down the flag over
his gate in Harford County. He gives the following correct
statement: 'On Sunday night he had heard that a party of
Rebels were encamped in the vicinity, but did not give
credence to the report. Early on Monday morning one of his
negroes reported to him that they were coming down the road.
He immediately hoisted his flag over the gate, and shortly
after, two armed men came riding along the road and one seeing
the flag burst out with a loud laugh, one of them advancing
and seizing the halliards.

The old gentleman, who is nearly seventy-three years of age,
ran back into the house, threatening to shoot them if they did
not desist. They paid no attention to him, but the halliards
being twisted they had some difficulty in getting it down. By
this time he had reached his second story, where his guns
were, and raising the window fired a load from his duck gun
just as the miscreant had succeeded in getting hold of the
flag, and he fell back on the road seriously, and he thinks,
mortally wounded, the whole load having entered his breast.

Seizing another gun and a loaded Colt's revolver, he came
down stairs and endeavored to get a shot at the other, but he
had run up the road. He then, in his anger, leveled at the
wounded man, but he begged for mercy, and said he surrendered,
and Mr. Day, thinking that he would never be able to haul down
another flag, left him lying on the road.

Hearing the approach of a large squad Mr. Day escaped with his
weapons to the woods and eluded their pursuit. Mrs. Day was
still in the house when the Rebels came up, and they
immediately commenced to set fire to it after plundering it of
such articles as they took a fancy to, and then set fire to it
as well as his barn, which were entirely destroyed. They did
not allow Mrs. Day to save even her clothing, and he fears
that some two thousand, three hundred dollars of Government
Bonds were destroyed with his deeds and papers. He has not yet
seen Mrs. Day, who found refuge for herself and family in one
of the neighbor's houses.

The only regret of the gallant old patriot is that he did not
get a shot at the other Rebel.'

We learn this morning that the man who was shot by Mr. Day was
named Fields, formerly of Baltimore; that he was left by the
Rebels at Dampman's Hotel, fifteen miles from the city on the
Belair Road."

After the Confederates retreated I made a thorough examination into the disloyal conduct of various persons residing east and north of Baltimore, for the purpose, more particularly, to guide us in the future. The following is my report:

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

Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the connection of the
following named persons with the Rebel raiders.

Herewith I hand you a transcript of the evidence in each case.

No arrests have been made in these cases.

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

List of Names.

Andrew Gill,
Stephen Gill,
Charles Alden,
Jackson Dorney,
J. Berryman,
---- Harriman,
---- Jones,
Francis Shipley,
Chas. Shipley,
John T. Johns,
Henry Balton,
Mal Guyton,
Wm. Price,
Henry Wesley,
John Y. Day,
S. Berryman,
Benj. Worthington,
Samuel Stone,
Jas. Reynolds,
---- Walker,
Henry Walker,
Murray Gill,
Wm. Gore,
Ed. Storm,
Robert Elder,
---- Smith,
Jos. Scarborough,
Wm. Knight,
Mat. Shorman,
Marion Guyton,
David Gittings,
Henry Emmick,
Wm. Lowrey,
John Grovner,
Jas. Mannon,
Miss Lizzie Grason.

FILE XIX.

Trip to New York regarding one Thomas H. Gordon.

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

Special Order No. 111.

1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps, 8th Army
Corps, will proceed to New York on business connected with
this office. After completing his search and investigation he
will return to these headquarters without delay.

Quartermasters will furnish transportation.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

The following is the report of the case I went to New York about:

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Aug. 24, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the following in the
case of Thomas H. Gordon, paymaster.

I have on your order procured the check book ordered by him.
Mess. Hoen & Co. say they have written to Nashville and
Washington but have had no reply.

I also hand you two letters, one from Gordon and one from
Galloway, both in the same handwriting, as you will see on
close examination.

Gordon represents himself as Captain.

The checks are entirely different from the usual paymaster's
checks that are furnished by the United States depository.

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

FILE XX.

Thomas Bennett, a U. S. mail carrier, disloyal--Samuel Miles, a prominent Baltimore merchant, a blockade runner--A laughable letter about an overdraft of whiskey--Dr. E. Powell, of Richmond.