/r'.lv NATIONAL!" HP. UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE IN THE LATE WAR. COMPRISING THE AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION TO THE LEADING MEN AT WASHINGTON, WITH THE ORIGIN AND ORGANIZATION United States Secret Service Bureau, AND A GRAPHIC HISTORY OF RICH AND EXCITING EXPERIENCES, NORTH AND SOUTH. PERILOUS ALuKNTURBS, HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES, AND VALUABLE SERVICES OF THE DETECTIVE POLICE. fl\ GENERAL LA FAYETTE C. BAKER, ORGANIZER AND FIRST CHIEF OF THR National Secret Service Bureau of the United States, Etc F.MBEI.MSHF.D WITH A PROFUSE GALAXY OF MAGNIFICENT FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXQUISITE BEAUTY, RW. RAVED ON STEEL, WOOD AND STONE BY OUR SPECIAL CORPS OK ARTISTS INCLUDING F, B. 8CHELL, E. B. BENSELL, J. M. BUTLER AND OTHERS. ST. LOUIS, MO.: J. H. CHAMBERS & CO. 1889. COPYRIGHT Hv JOHN E. POTTER & CO., 1889. All Rights Reserved. CHUTION. Every Engraving, as well as every Colored Plate con- tained in this book being protected by copyright, we desire to caution all persons against their reproduction in any form. Any one so offending will be prosecuted. DEDICATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. To the People of this Great Nation, And more especially TO THE BRAVE BOYS IN BLUE AND THEIR HEROIC LEADERS, Who so Gallantly and Valorously bore our Country Through the Pestilential Ordeal of Secession and the Great Civil War, And who lifted the dark pall of Slavery from our National Escutcheon, restoring, with new lustre, A BRIGHTNESS THAT CAN NEVER AGAIN BE SHADOWED, This Volume of True and Stirring Narrative is Earnestly, Affectionately and Patriotically Dedicated by their Humble and Devoted Servant, LA KAYETTE C. BAKER, LATE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL SECRET SERVICE BUREAU. I PREFACE. IN giving to the public this volume, it has been the design to present the operations of the Bureau of the Nation- al Detective Police during the war, so far as it is proper to make them known to the people. It is not a book of roman- tic adventures, but a narrative of facts in the secret history of the conflict, and mainly an exposure of the manifold and gigantic frauds and crimes of both the openly disloyal and the professed friends of the Republic. Many reports are introduced, some of which are lengthy, and portions of them are dry, because they are the official records of the work done, and the verification of the statements made, and the highest vindication of the character and importance of the secret service. Passages occur in them, the propriety of which many readers may question, biit their omission would have weakened the strength of the reprts, and softened down the enormity of the offenses charged upon certain individuals. The whole volume might have been made up of chapters very similar to those of the first hundred pages or more, but we preferred to sacrifice the peculiar interest, to some extent, of a merely sensational work sketches of exciting scenes and hair-breadth escapes for the greater object of an authentic official record of the vast amount of indispensable service rendered to the Government, during nearly four years of bloody strife, with the months of trial 6 PREFACE. and agitation which followed. The plan of the book was, therefore, chosen by the responsible head of the bureau, while the introductory chapters were written by another, whose editoral aid was secured in the general preparation of the annals for the press. No desire or eifort has been cherished to wantonly expose or wound in feeling any man, and therefore initials, for the most part, alone ap- pear ; but a faithful history of transactions under the authority delegated to the Bureau, will unavoidably reach the sensibilities of persons of distinction, no less than those in humble life. The volume of war records, the most of which have never before met the public eye, is offered to the people as a part of the veritable history of the most extraordi- nary and perilous times the Republic has known, or is likely to pass through again, CONTENTS, INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. GENERAL BAKER AND THE BUREAU OF SECRET SERVICE. Hie Ancestry and Birth-place of General Baker His Early Life Residence la California 1& a Member of the Vigilance Committee Returns to New York in 1861 Visits Washington Interview with General Scott Enters the Secret Service The Great Facts established and illustrated by these Annals... . 17 CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF THE BUREAU OF DETECTIVE SERVICE. The irst visit to Washington Interview with General Hiram Walbridge, and Hon. W. D. Kelley Introduction to General Winfield Scott Return to New York Appointed by General Scott to renew the Attempt to visit Rich- mond The first Failure Crossing the Lines The Arrest Examinations Sent to General Beauregard On to Richmond 45 CHAPTER II. RESIDENCE IN RICHMOND. Summoned to an interview with Jeff. Davis Snbseqnent Examinations by him Critical Emergencies Mr. Brock "Samnel Mnnson "Confidence secured Mr. "Mnnson " is appointed Confederate Agent Original Letters from Davis, Toombs, and Walker Starts for the North Unpleasant Delays A Narrow Escape Reaches the Po:omac Deceives the Dutch Fishermen and runs the Kebel Gauntlet safely 58 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. NORTHERN EXPERIENCES AS CONFEDERATE AGENT. Hospitalities by the way The Report to General Scott Operations in Balti- moreThe Janus-faced Unionist A rich Development in Philadelphia The Arrests Amusing Prison Scene 75 CHAPTER IV. TREASON AND TRAITORS AT THE NORTH. Baltimore The Detective Service and the Arrest of the Maryland Legislature The Refugee and the Spy The Pursuit and the Capture Traitors at Niagara Falls Acquaintance with them The Arrest In Fort Lafayette 89 CHAPTER V. A KNIGHT OF THE GOLDEN SQUARE. P. H. F., dlica Carlisle Murray, a Knight of the Golden Square The Arrest Release Papers of F. examined Secretary Seward's Order for a Second Arrest On the Track The Rural Retreat Mr. Carlisle Murray a Reformer and Lover The Official Writ The Astonished Landlord and Landlady A> Scene Report 99 CHAPTER VL DISLOYALTY AMONG THE POSTMASTERS. A Mystery The Result of Cabinet Meetings in "Washington known in Rich- mondThe Detectives learn the Reason A Visit to Lower Maryland- Amusing Scenes The Mysterious Box The Reports A Rebel Letter JOS CHAPTER VH. FRAUDS DISLOYALTY IN MARYLAND. The Freighted Traveler Treason and Frauds overlooked in the Rising Storm of Rebellion The Bankers The Pretty Smuggler Reliable Character of the Detective Bureau Disloyalty, and its Punishments in Lower Mary- Und The Friends of Hon. Montgomery Blair and the Quinine Traffio "Chunook" Telegrams .. 118 CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER VIII. OFFICIAL SERVICES AND EMBARRASSMEJSTS NEW ORDE3 OF THINGS. The Bureau transferred to the War Department Dr. H., and the Perilous Adventure of which he was the occasion Report of the Case Arreat of the Leaders of a great secret Southern Organization Documents and Letters 133 CHAPTER IX. THE BUREAU IN CANADA IN THE ARMY. Tricks of False Correspondence Mr. Delisle and the "Secret Secession Le- gation " 148 CHAPTER X. WEALTHY TRAITORS FRUITLESS SCHEMES. John H. Waring His Operations An Efficient Tool Walter Bowie A Wild Career Rebel Mail Contrabands Extracts from the Private Journals of Rebel Spies 153 CHAPTER XL SLAVERY PLAYING REBEL GENERAL FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. The Hostages Mr. Lincoln Deceiving the Rebels A successful Game Or- ganization of the First District Cavalry Its Services 1(>7 CHAPTER XII. FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. Leaving Camp again " Wilson's Raid " Battles The Escape of Kautx The End of Regimental Service 190 CHAPTER XIII. THE ANIMUS OF SECESSION. A Disloyal Pastor and his Friends compelled to "do justly" The "Peculiar Institution" Dies Hard Man-Stealers Foiled in their Schemes of Robbery 204 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. ENGLISH SYMPATHY WITH THE SOUTH NEGRO-HATE IN WASH- INGTON. An English Emissary of the South He Deceives the Secretary of State My Acquaintance with Him The Fruitless Effort to Betray Me The Jour- ney to the Old Capitol Prison Negro-hate in the National Capital 209 CHAPTER XV. GIGANTIC VICES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Gambling and the Gamblers The Purpose to Break up the Dens Discouraged The Midnight Raid Results Drinking and Liquor Saloons The De- scent upon them Broken up Licentiousness and its Patrons The Raid on their haunts at Dead of Night The Arrests 217 CHAPTER XVI. A PERILOUS ADVENTURE. Pope's Defeat Banks' Advance The Importance of communicating wit" him The Successful Attempt Rebel Pursuers The Ecape 225 CHAPTER XVII. SPECULATION AND FRAUD. Devices of Contractors Detection of Forage Contractor Appeal to the Pres- identFurther Frauds as "Silent Partner".... 233 CHAPTER XVIII. A FEMALE ADVENTURER. Woman in the Rebellion Her Aid indispensable in the worst as well as the beet Causes A Spicy Letter Miss A. J. Vidocq's Experience 238 CHAPTER XIX. THE BOUNTY JUMPERS. Frandnlent Practices of Bounty Brokers and Jumpers Contrast between English and American Deserters Plans to check Desertion, and bring Criminals to Justice 249 CONTEXTS. 11 CHAPTER XX. ... * .-. , THE BOUNTY JUMPERS AND BROKERS. Quota." filled with Falsified Enlistment-Papers Arrest of Brokers Amusing and Exciting Scene The Hoboken Raid Slanderous Charges Large Number of Arrests Incarceration in Fort Lafayette Other Arrests Trial before a Military Commission 258 CHAPTER XXI. BOUNTY JUMPING INCIDENTS. Personal Experience in Bounty Jumping A Perfect Trump Detectives En- listed Passes obtained for Bounty Jumpers Arrest and Surprise Court- Martial and Conviction.... ... 2ox stuffers," for exposing whose crimes James Casey had murdered James King of William, editor of the San Fran- cisco Bulletin, Mr. Baker was an active and efficient member, giving unmistakable evidences of that peculiar adaptation to the detective service, which has made him pre-eminent in it, on this continent, since the long struggle for victory over a foe that gloried in treason under a smiling face, and robbery in the name of inalienable rights called for and received the best men and treasure of the country. With the disbandment of the extraordinary and formidable organiza- tion, Mr. Baker returned to his peaceful occupation, in which he con- tinued till 1861, when he came to New York City, intending to remain only a brief period. The appreciation of his services while a member of the Vigilance Committee and engaged in a mercantile agency, was very emphatically and tastefully expressed on New Year's day, the date of his departure, by the merchants of San Fra*.- cisco. They met at the Bank Exchange, and sent for Mr. Baker When he entered the room, to his entire surprise, a gentleman pre- sented him with a cane of mansinita wood, found only in California. The head is polished gold quartz from the Ish Mine, Oregon, and around it are nine oval stones of similar material from as many dif- ferent mines. The whole is richly mounted with solid gold, und cost two hundred and fifty dollars. At the very moment he was ready to return to the Pacific coast, the tocsin of civil war startled the land. In common with the loyal millions of the North, hjs patriotic indignation at the treasonable 20 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. revolt, and the desire to aid in its suppression, made all othei pur- poses and plans of small importance. He immediately decided to abandon his business schemes and serve the imperiled country. How well he succeeded, and his public career from this point in his history, will appear in his story of the National Secret Service. In General Baker's personal appearance there is nothing, to a casual observer, remarkable. And yet, physically, he is an extraor- dinary man. Before the exhausting labors of his official position during the war reduced his weight, it averaged one hundred and eighty pounds. His frame is of the firmest texture, and its powers of endurance very great. For days together lie has prosecuted his duties without food or sleep, and exposed to winter storms. He is of medium height, lithe, and sinewy, and his movements are quick, and yet having the air of deliberateness natural to a profession in which circumspection and habitual self-control are among the first conditions of success. Around his forehead of intelligent outline lies a profusion of brown hair, and his face is partially covered with ~ heavy brown beard. His gray eye, in repose, wears a cold expres- sion ; in his naturally cheerful mood, and in the unguarded enjoy- ment of social life, it is changeful and playful ; and, engaged in his special duty of detecting crime, it becomes sharply piercing, often making the victim of his vigilance to quail before its steady gaze. Indeed, he was evidently the man for the place he filled during the national struggle. The personal peril to which he exposed himself, and the untiring service performed, at the head of a division, or even a regiment, would have sounded his name over the land as a daring, untiring and heroic leader. He is probably the beat " shot " in the country, and also a fine horseman. Some additional and interesting facts in his history will be noticed in the eloquent defense of General Baker by Mr. Riddle, in the " Cobb case." For nearly twenty years he has not tasted intoxicating drinks, but has been enrolled among the Sons of Temperance ; and what seems still more remarkable, when we think of the associations inseparable from his adventurous career, he has never been addicted to the shameless profanity so common in the army and among men af adventurous character. His fidelity and kindness of heart in hit GENERAL BAKER AXD THE SECRET SERVICE. 21 domestic relations, and toward kindred less fortunate than himself are well known. Such are the general characteristics of the first national chief of a Detective Bureau in the war record of this country. Blackstone's definition of the police is : " The due regulation and domestic order of the kingdom, whereby the individuals of a State kike members of a family, are compelled to conform their general behavior to the rules of propriety and good neighborhood, and good manners, and to be decent, inoffensive individuals in their several stations." The definition is comprehensive, and certainly gives to this public service both great utility and honorable, dignified character. Another able writer divides the services of policemen into several distinct duties; among which is "giving recent intelligence," the very work of the detective police, when a specialty in time of public perils, and one which awakens the prejudice and hostility of all classes. The history of the police of the world, would be a most exciting and instructive library of itself. We can only glance at this service in the two leading nations of Europe ; one Protestant and the other Catholic. "The office of constable," says a "magistrate," in his annals of the London police, "is as old as the monarchy of England. ' He writes again, with reference to the unpopular character of the ia dispensable office : " The best laws are worthless, if the public impres- sion be cherished that it is a matter of infamy to carry them into execution." Doubtless, the principal reason for the general disfavor toward the police department, arises from the espionage inseparable from it. People do not like to be watched, and are still less willing to have their offenses against law and order reported to the tri- bunals of justice. Nevertheless, the records of the police, with all hat is unworthy of it, are irresistible evidence of its importance in securing public and personal security from the depravity which scorns al 1 restraints but the iron grasp of law. In Britain, the police de- partment has never become a national institution ; but, until compar- atively a recent date, has been " a hand to mouth affair." About the middle of the eighteenth century, Henry Fielding devoted his ener- gies and influence to the organization of the London police into an efficient and able force under the acting magistrate of the city. And, 22 INTRODUCTORf CHAPTER. like the modern defenders of the " constitution," there were not a few who wrote and talked about the dangerous infringement of the rights of citizenship, and predicted the rapid decay of liberty, until the " British lion would slumber ingloriously in the net of captivity." But the reform went forward, and the charter of English freedom remained unshaken by the dreaded power of an omnipresent police. The crimes it exposed and the criminals convicted, for a single year, were tens of thousands. We turn to France for the most complete and successful system of police service the world has yet seen. Until the latter part of the fifteenth century, the kingdom had no effective police. Even in the streets of Paris, " wolves roamed unmolested," and citizens forsook their habitations. Charles VII. took charge of the criminal business of the realm, to the sudden alarm of the lawless people, who li'ved on the property and peace of the communities. Francis I., in 1520, appointed a provost-marshal, with thirty constables. The next grand advance in this department of justice, was the creation, by Louis XIV., of a lieutenant-general, which office continued from March, 1667, to the memoisble July 14, 1787. The most distinguished officer during this period was De La Renye. The storm of the French revolution, which swept away the entire order of things, reduced the police organization to sixty petty com- mittees. After the restoration, the prefect was appointed. Through all these changes, the national police of France stood alone in the recognition of its worth, and the mighty power it wielded in secu- ring the public good. The very vices of the great metropolis are so far regulated and controlled by it, that their ruinous results in Paris are probably not one-half they are in proportion to the population in Protestant Lon- don or New York. We shall quote a few passages from Vidocq's memoirs, a man of doubtful character, but the great modern Parisian detective, to illustrate the practical workings of the system there. M. Henry, to whom Vidocq refers, was "the pr/efet" of police. He thus describes his entrance upon his official duties : "As the secret agent of government, I had duties marked out, and the kind and respectable M. Henry took upon himself to instruct me in their fulfillment; for in his hands were intrusted nearly the entire GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 23 safety of the capital : to prevent crimes, discover malefactois, and to give them up to justice, were the principal functions confided to me. By thieves, M. Henry was styled the Evil Spirit; and well did he merit the surname, for, with him, cunning and suavity of manners were so conjoined as seldom to fail in their purpose. Among the coadjutors of M. Henry was M. Bertaux, a cross-examiner of great merit. The proofs of his) talent may be found in the archives of the court. Next to him, I have great pleasure in naming M. Parisot, governor of the prisons. In a word,M. Henry, Bertaux, and Parisot formed a veritable triumvirate, which was incessantly conspiring against the perpetrators of all manner of crimes ; to extirpate rogues from Paris, and to procure for the inhabitants of that immense city a perfect security. " So soon as I was installed in my new office of secret agent, I com- menced my rounds, in order to take my measures well for setting effectually to work. These journeys, which occupied me nearly twenty days, furnished me with many useful and important obser- vations, but as yet I was only preparing to act, and studying my ground. " One morning I was hastily summoned to attend the chief oi the division. The matter in hand was to discover a man named Watrin, accused of having fabricated and put in circulation false money and bank notes. The inspectors of the police had already arrested Wat- rin, but, according to custom, had allowed him to escape. M. Henry gave me every direction which he deemed likely to assist me in the search after him ; but, unfortunately, he had only gleaned a few simple particulars of his usual habits and customary haunts : every place he was known to frequent was freely pointed out to me ; but it was not very likely he would be found in those resorts which pro dence would call upon him carefully to avoid ; there remained, there fore, only a chance of reaching him by some by-path. When I learn that he had left his effects in a furnished house, where he once lodged, on the boulevard of Mont Parnasse, I took it for granted that, sooner or later, he would go there in search of his property, or at least that he would send some person to fetch it from thence ; consequently, I directed all my vigilance to this spot, and after having reconnoitred the bouse, I lay in ambush in its vicinity night and day, in ortler to 24 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. keep a watchful eye upon all comers and goers. This went on for nearly a week, when, weary of not observing any thing, I determined upon engaging the master of the house in my interest, and to hire an apartment of him, where I accordingly established myself with An- nette, certain that my presence could give rise to no suspicion. I had occupied this post for about fifteen days, when one evening, at eleven o'clock, I was informed that Watrin had just come, accom- panied by another person. Owing to a slight indisposition, I had retired to bed earlier than usual ; however, at this news I rose hast- ily, and descended the staircase by four stairs at a time ; but what- ever diligence I might use, I was only just in time to catch Watrin's companion ; him I had no right to detain, but I made myself sure that I might, by intimidation, obtain further particulars from him. I therefore seized him, threatened him, and soon drew from him a con- fession that he was a shoemaker, and that Watrin lived with him, No. 4, Rue des Mauvais Gargons. This was all I wanted to know : I had only had time to slip an old greatcoat over my shirt, and without stopping to put on more garments, I hurried on to the place thus pointed out to me. I reached the house at the very instant that some person was quitting it : persuaded that it was Watrin, I at- tempted to seize him ; he escaped from me, and I darted after him up a staircase ; but, at the moment of grasping him, a violent blow \nich struck my chest, drove me down twenty stairs. I sprang for- * ard again, and that so quickly, that to escape from my pursuit he \i as compelled to return into the house through a sash window. I tLen knocked loudly at the door, summoning him to open it without fUay. This he refused to do. I then desired Annette (who had fol- lowed me) to go in search of the guard, and while she was preparing to obey me, I counterfeited the noise of a man descending the stairs. Watrin, deceived by this feint, was anxious to satisfy himself whethei I had actually gone, and softly put his head out of window to observe if all was safe. This was exactly what I wanted. I made a vigorous dart forward, and seized him by the hair of his head : he grasped me in the same manner, and a desperate struggle took place ; jammed against the partition wall which separated us, he opposed me with a determined resistance. ^Nevertheless, I felt that he was growing weaker I collected all my strength for a last effort; I strained every GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 25 nerve, and drew him nearly out of the window through which we were struggling : one more trial and the victory was mine ; but in the earnestness of my grasp we both rolled on the passage floor, on to which I had pulled him ; to rise, snatch from his hands the shoe- maker's cutting-knife with which he had armed himself, to bind him, and lead him out of the house, was the work of an instant. Accom- panied only by Annette, I conducted him to the prefecture, where I received the congratulations, first of M. Henry, and afterward those of the prefect of police, who bestowed on me a pecuniary recompense. Watrin was a man of unusual address ; he followed a coarse, clumsy business, and yet he had given himself up to making counterfeit money, which required extreme delicacy of hand. Condemned to death, he obtained a reprieve the very hour that was destined for his execution ; the scaffold was prepared, he was taken down from it, and the lovers of such scenes experienced a disappointment. All Paris remembers it. A report was in circulation that he was about to make some very important discoveries ; but as he had nothing to reveal, a few days afterward he underwent his sentence. " Watrin was my first capture, and an important one too ; this suc- cessful beginning awoke the jealousy of the peace-officers, as well as of those under my orders ; all were exasperated against me, but in vain; they could not forgive me for being more successful than themselves. The superiors, on the contrary, were highly pleased with my conduct ; and I redoubled my zeal, to render myself still more worthy their confidence. " About this period a vast number of counterfeit five-franc pieces had got into general circulation ; several of them were shown me ; frhile examining them, I fancied I could discover the workmanship jfBouhin (who had informed against me) and of his friend, Dr. Ter- rier. I resolved to satisfy my mind as to the truth of this; and in consequence of this determination, I set about watching the steps of these two individuals ; but as I durst not follow too closely, lest they might recognize me, and mistrust my observation, it was difficult for me to obtain the intelligence I wanted. Nevertheless, by dint of an wearied perseverance, I arrived at the certainty of my not having mistaken the matter, and the two coiners were arrested in the very 26 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. act of fabricating their base coin ; they were shortly after condemned and executed for it." " In so populous a capital as that of Paris, there are usually a vast many places of bad resort, at which assembled persons of broken fortune and ruined fame ; in order to judge of them under my own eye, I frequented every house and street of ill-fame, sometimes under one disguise and sometimes under another ; assuming, indeed, all those rapid changes of dress and manner which indicated a person desirous of concealing himself from the observation of the police, till the rogues and thieves whom I daily met there firmly believed me to be one of themselves ; persuaded of my being a runaway, they would have been cut to pieces before I should have been taken ; for not only had I acquired their fullest confidence, but their strongest regard ; and so much did they respect my situation, as a fugitive galley-slave, that they would not even propose to me to join in any of their daring Bchemes, lest it might compromise my safety. All, however, did not exercise this delicacy, as will be seen hereafter. Some months had passed since I commenced my secret investigations, when chance threw in my way St. Germain, whose visits had so often filled me with consternation. He had with him a person named Boudin, whom I had formerly seen as a restaurateur in Paris, in the Rue des Prou- vaires, and of whom I knew no more than that trifling acquaintance which arose from my occasionally exchanging my money for his din- ners. He, however, seemed easily to recollect me, and, addressing me with bold familiarity, which my determined coolness seemed unable to subdue, ' Pray,' said he, ' have I been guilty of any offense toward you, that you seem so resolved upon cutting me ?' ' By no means, sir,' replied I ; ' but I have been informed that you have been in the service of the police.' * Oh, oh, is that all,' cried he ; ' never mind that, my boy ; suppose I have, what then ? I had my reasons ; and when I tell you what they were, I am quite sure you will not bear me any ill-will for it.' ' Come, come,' said St. Germain, ' I must have you good friends ; Boudin is an excellent fellow, and 1 will answer for his honor, as I would do for my own. Many a thing happens in life we should never have dreamed of, and if Boudin did accept the situation you mention, it was but to save his brother : besides, you must feel satisfied, that were his principles such as a gentleman cugUi pot tc GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SER7IOE. 27 possess, why, you would not find him in my company.' I was much amused with this excellent reasoning, as well as with the pledge given for Boudin's good faith ; however, I no longer sought to avoid the conversation of Boudin. It was natural enough that St. Germain should relate to me all that had happened to him since his last disap- v ?arance, which had given me such pleasure. "After complimenting me on my flight, he informed me that after my arrest he had recovered his employment, which he, however, was not fortunate enough to keep ; he lost it a second time, and had since been compelled to trust to his wits to procure a subsistence. I re- quested he would tell me what had become of Blondy and Deluc? ' What,' said he ; ' the two who slit the wagoner's throat ? Oh, why, the guillotine settled their business at Beauvais.' When I learnt that these two villains had at length reaped the just reward of their crimes, I experienced but one regret, and that was, that the heads of their worthless accomplices had not fallen on the same scaffold. " After we had sat together long enough to empty several bottles of wine, we separated. At parting, St. Germain having observed that I was but meanly clad, inquired what I was doing, and as I carelessly answered that at present I had no occupation, he promised to do his best for me, and to push my interest the first opportunity that offered. I suggested that, as I very rarely ventured out, for fear of being ar- rested, we might not possibly meet again for some time. * You can see me whenever you choose,' said he ; ' I shall expect that you will call on me frequently.' Upon my promise to do so, he gave me his address, without once thinking of asking for mine. " St. Germain was no longer an object of such excessive terror as formerly in my eyes; I even thought it my interest to keep him in sight, for if I applied myself to scrutinizing the actions of suspicious persons, who better than he called for the most vigilant attention ? In a word, I resolved upon purging society of such a monster. Mean- while, I waged a determined war with all the crowd of rogues who infested the capital. About this time, robberies of every species were multiplying to a frightful extent: nothing was talked of bat stolen palisades, out-houses broken open, roofs stripped of their lead ; more than twenty reflecting lamps were successively stolen from the Rue Fontaine au Roi, without the plunderers being detected. For a ^8 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. whole month the inspectors had been lying in wait in order to sur prise them, and the first night of their discontinuing their vigilance the same depredations took place. In this state, which appeared like setting the police at defiance, I accepted the task which none seemed able to accomplish, and in a very short time I was enabled to bring the whole band of these shameless plunderers to public justice, which immediately consigned them to the galleys. "Each day increased the number of my discoveries. Of the many who were committed to prison, there were none who did not owe their arrest to me, and yet not one of them for a moment suspected my share in the business. I managed so well, that neither within nor tfithout its walls had the slightest suspicion transpired. The thieves of my acquaintance looked upon me as their best friend and true com- rade; the others esteemed > themselves happy to have an opportunity of initiating me in their secrets, whether from the pleasure of con- versing with me, or in the hope of benefiting by my counsels. It was principally beyond the barriers that I met with these unfortunate beings. One day that I was crossing the outer Boulevards, I was accosted by St. Germain, who was still accompanied by Boudin. They invited me to dinner ; I accepted the proposition, and over a bottle of wine they did me the honor to propose that I should make a third in an intended murder. "The matter in hand was to dispatch two old men who lived together in the house which Boudin had formerly occupied in the Rue dec* 1'ror.vaires. Shuddering at the confidence placed in me by these villains, 1 yet blessed the invisible hand which had led them to seek my aid. At first I affected some scruples at entering into the plot, but at last feigned to yield to their lively and pressing solicitations, and it was agreed that we should wait the favorable moment for put- ting into execution this most execrable project. This resolution taken, I bade farewell to St. Germain and his companion, and (decided upon preventing the meditated crime) hastened to carry a report of the affair to M. Henry, who sent me, without loss of time, to obtain more ample details of the discovery I had just made to him. His intention was to satisfy himself whether I had been really solicited to take part in it, or whetLer, from a mistaken devotion to the cause of justice, I had endeavored to instigate those unhappy men to an act wh'tch would GENERAL BAKER AN T D THE SECRET SERVICE. 29 render them amenable to it. I protested that I had adopted no such expedient, and as be discovered marks of truth in my manner and declaration, he expressed himself satisfied. He did not, however, omit to impress on me the following discourse upon instigating agents, which penetrated my very heart. Ah, why was it not also heard by those wretches, who, since the revolution, have made so many victims The renewed era of legitimacy would not then, in some circumstances, have recalled the bloody days of another epoch. ' Remember well,' said M. Henry to me, in conclusion, ' remember that the greatest scourge to society is he who urges another on to the commission of evil. Where there are no instigators to bad practices, they are com- mitted only by the really hardened ; because they alone are capable of conceiving and executing them. Weak beings may be drawn away and excited : to precipitate them into the abyss, it frequently requires no more than to call to your aid their passions or self-love ; but he who avails himself of their weakness to procure their destruc- tion, is more than a monster he is the guilty one, and it is on his head that the sword of justice should fall. As to those engaged in the police, they had better remain forever idle, than create matter for employment.' " Although this lesson was not required in my case, yet I thanked M. Henry for it, who enjoined me not to lose sight of the two assas- sins, and to use every means in my power to prevent their arriving at the completion of their diabolical plan. ' The police,' said he, "is instituted as much to correct and punish malefactors, as to pre- ^ent their committing crimes; but on every occasion I would wish it co be understood, that we hold ourselves under greater obligations to that person who prevents one crime, than to him who procures the punishment of many.' ****** " At the words * secret agent,' a feeling almost approaching to suffocation stole over me, but I quickly rallied upon perceiving that however true the report might be, it had obtained but little faith with St. Germain, who was evidently waiting for my explanation or denial of it, without once suspecting its reality. My ever-ready genius quickly flew to my aid, and without hesitation I replied, that I was not much surprised at the charge, and for the simple reason that I myself had been the first to set the rumor afloat. St. Germain stared 30 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. with wonder. ' My good fellow,' said I, ' you are well aware that I managed to escape from the police while they were transferring me from La Force to BicStre. Well ! I went to Paris and stayed there till I could go elsewhere. One must live, you know, how and where one can. Unfortunately, I am still compelled to play at hide and eeek, and it is only by assuming a variety of disguises that I dare venture abroad, to look about and just see what my old friends are doing ; but, in spite of all my precautions, I live in constant dread of many individuals, whose keen eyes quickly penetrate my assumption of other names and habits than my own ; and who, having formerly been upon terms of familiarity with me, pestered me with questions I had no other means of shaking off, than by insinuating that I was in the pay of the police ; and thus I obtained the double advantage of evading, in my character of "spy," both their suspicions and ill- will, should they feel disposed to exercise it in procuring my arrest.' " ' Enough enough,' interrupted St. Germain ; ' I believe you ; and to convince you of the unbroken confidence I place in you, I will let you into the secret of our plans for to-night.' " We add a single adventure which is illustrative of the shrewdness and success of the ever-active, fearless, self-reliant, and successful Vidocq : " I was employed to detect the authors of a nocturnal robbery, committed by climbing and forcible entry into the apartments of the Prince de Conde, in the Palais Bourbon. Glasses of a vast size had disappeared, and their abstraction was effected with so much precau- tion, that the sleep of two cerberi, who supplied the place of a watch- man, had not been for a moment disturbed. The frames in which these glasses had been were not at all injured : and I was at first tempted to believe that they had been taken out by looking-glass makers or cabinet-makers ; but in Paris these workmen are so numer- ous, that I could not pitch on any one of them whom I knew, with any certainty of suspicion. Yet I was resolved to detect tho guilty, and to effect this I commenced my inquiries. " The keeper of a sculpture-gallery, near the Quineaux of the inva- lids, gave me first the information by which I was guided. About three o'clock in the morning, he had seen near his door several glasses hi the care of a young man, who pretended to have been obliged to station GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET oERVICE. SI them there while waiting for the return of hi3 porters, who had broken their hand-barrow. Two hours afterward, the young man, baring found two messengers, had made them carry off the glasses, and had directed them to the side of the Fountain of the Invalids. According to the keeper, the person he saw was about twenty-three years of age, and about five feet and an inch (French measure). He was clothed in an iron-gray greatcoat, and had a very good countenance. This information was not immediately useful to me ; but it led me to find the messenger, who, the day after the robbery, had carried some glasses of large size to the Rue Saint-Dominique, and left them at the little Hotel de Caraman. These were, in all probability, the glasses stolen, and if they were, who could say that they had not changed domicile and owner ? I had the person who had received them pointed out to me, and determined on introducing myself to her ; and that my presence might not inspire her with fear, it was in the guise of a cook that I introduced myself to her notice. The light jacket and cotton nightcap are the ensigns of the profession ; I clothed myself in such attire, and, fully entering into the spirit of my character, went to the little Hotel de Caraman, where I ascended to the first floor. The door was closed ; I knocked, and it was opened to me by a very good-looking young fellow, who asked me what I wanted. I gave him an address, and told him that having learnt that he was in want of a cook, I had taken the liberty of offering my services to him. " ' My dear fellow, you are under a mistake,' he replied, ' the ad- dress you have given me is not mine, but as there are two Rues Saint-Dominique, it is most probably to the other that you should go.' "All Ganymedes had not been carried off to Olympus, and the handsome youth who spoke to me had manners, gestures, and language, which, united to his appearance, convinced me in an instant witl whom my business lay. I instantly assumed the tone of an initiate in the mysteries of the ultra philanthropists, and after some signs which he perfectly understood, I told him how very sorry I was that he did not want me " ' Ah, sir,' I said to him, 'I would rather remain with you, even if yon only gave me half what I should get elsewhere ; if you only knew how miserable I am ; I have been six months out of place, and 32 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. I do not get a dinner every day. Would you believe that thirty-sii hours have elapsed and I huve not taken any thing ?' "'You pain me, my good fellow; what, are you still fasting? Come, come, you shall dine here.' " I had really an appetite capable of giving the lie I had just ut- tered all the semblance of truth ; a two-pound loaf, half a fowl, cheese, and a bottle of wine which he had procured, did not make long sojourn on the table. Once filled, I began again to talk of my unfor- tunate condition. " 'See, sir,' said I, 'if it be possible to be in a more pitiable situa- tion. I know four trades, and out of the whole four can not get em- ploy in one tailor, hatter, cook ; I know a little of all, and yet can not get on. My first start was as a looking-glass setter.' " ' A looking-glass setter ! ' said he, abruptly ; and without giv- ing him time to teflect on the imprudence of such an exclamation, I went on. " ' Yes, a looking-glass setter, and I know that trade the best of the four ; but business is so dead that there is really nothing now stirring in it.' " ' Here, my friend,' said the young man, presenting to me a small glass; 'this is brandy, it will do you good ; you know not how much you interest me. I can give you work for several days.' " ' Ah ! sir, you are too good, you restore me to lite ; how, if you please, do you intend to employ me?' " 'As a looking-glass framer.' " 'If you have glasses to fit, pier, Psyche, light-of-day, joy-of-Nar cissus, or any others, you have only to intrust me with them, and I will give you a cast of my craft.' " 'I have glasses of great beauty ; they were at my country-house, whence I sent for them, lest the gentlemen Cossacks should take a fancy to break them.' " ' You were quite right ; but may I see them ?' " ' Yes, my friend.' " He took me into a room, and at the first glance I recognized the glasses of the Palais Bourbon. I was ecstatic in their praise, their ze, &c. ; and after having examined them with the minute attention GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 33 of a mail wn? understands what he is about, 1 praised the skill of the workman who unframed them, without injury to the silvering. "'The workman, ray friend,' said he ; 'the workman was myself; I would not allow any other person to touch them, not even to load them in the carriage.' " ' Ah ! sir, I am very sorry to give you the lie, but what you tel] me is impossible ; a man must have been a workman to undertake such work, and even the best of the craft might not have succeeded,' " In spite of my observation, he persisted in asserting that he had no help, and as it would not have answered my purpose to have con- tradicted him, I dropped the subject. " A lie was an accusation at which he might have been angry, but tie did not speak with less amenity, and after having given me his instructions, desired me to come early next day, and begin my work as early as possible. " ' Do not forget to bring your diamond, as I wish you to remove those arches, which are no longer fashionable.' " He had no more to say to me, and I had no more to learn. I left him, and went to join my two agents, to whom I gave the description of the person, and desired them to follow him if he should go out. A warrant was necessary to effect his apprehension, which I procured ; and soon afterward, having changed my dress, I returned, with the commissary of police and my agents, to the house of the amateur of glasses, who did not expect me so soon. He did not know me at first, and it was only at the termination of our search, that, examining me more closely, he said to me : " ' I think I recognize you ; are you not a cook T " ' Yes, sir,' I replied ; ' I am cook, tailor, hatter, looking-glass setter, and, moreover, a spy, at your service.' " My coolness so much disconcerted him, that he could not utter another word. "This gentleman was named Alexander Paruitte. Besides the two glasses, and two chimeras in gilt bronze, which he had stolen from the Palais Bourbon, many other articles were found in his apartments, the produce of various robberies. The inspectors who had accompa- nied me in this expedition undertook to conduct Paruitte to the depot but, on the way, were careless enough to allow him to escape, rvf? M INTRODUCTORY C El AFTER. was it until ten days afterward that I contrived to get sight of him, at tie gate of the embassador of his highness, the Sultan Mahraoud and I apprehended him at the moment he got into the carriage of a Turk, who apparently had sold his odalisques. " I am still at a loss to explain how, in spite of obstacles which the most expert robbers judged insurmountable, Paruitte effected the robbery which twice compelled me to see him. He was steadfast in his assertion of having no companions; for on his trial, when sentenced to irons and imprisonment, no indication, not even the slightest, could be elicited, encouraging the idea that he had any participators." The annals of this Bureau, Ve think, will establish the three fol- lowing propositions : I. The Detective Bureau, although contrary to the spirit of our republican institutions in time of peace, is indispensable in time of war. II. Some of the most important army movements and battles have been made and fought entirely upon information obtained through this Bureau. III. There is nothing in the Secret Service that demands a viola- tion of honor, or a sacrifice of principle, beyond the ordinary rules of warfare. Reference will be made to these statements in connection with the striking and illustrative facts which will be recorded in the progress of the narrative. , There is an important distinction to be made between the service of a scout and that of a detective. The principal qualifications in the scout are courage and daring. He is to ride boldly into the enemy's lines, generally during action, or while the army is in motion, to ascertain the locality and movements of the hostile forces. The detective must possess ability, shrewdness, great self-reliance and self-control, discretion, courage, and integrity. He will have complicated and important measures to carry forward, requiring no ordinary amount of mental power, and plans and plots to unravel which demand keen discernment and a profound knowledge of men ; critical moments, when vacillation, or even hesitation, would be fatal; socrets, which without a complete mastery over feeling and all its forms of expression, will be revealed ; delicate questx>ns of procedure GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 3f> and duty, to decide which the nicest prudence \vill he necessary ; dangers to meet, requiring a fearless spirit nothing can alarm or in- timidate ; and, to crown all, as the servant of the Government in matters of the gravest responsibility, he must have reliability of 4 character to win and hold the unclouded confidence of its officers in his revelations, on which the most momentous operations may depend, A moment's reflection will convince any mind of the correctness of this estimate of qualifications, among which the last-mentioned has not been generally understood and appreciated. But the fidelity to his trust of the Chief of the Detective Police must be such as to command no ordinary faith in information, which may decide the victory or defeat of an army. Not only so, but he must be inap- proachable by bribery. Striking illustrations of this will be given in the record of official services. Another interesting fact will appear; General Baker's impartial justice to the colored race, in contrast with the animus of slavery, whose most cruel wrongs he was com- pelled to meet, and endeavored to remedy. The detective police has ever been an indispensable institution lu the old monarchies of other lands. The throne is apart from the people, and under its shadow watchful eyes must guard the sover- eign's life and law, by observing and reporting the first symptom of discontent, or intimations of a treasonable plot. In a republic the people govern, and in the nature of things an official espionage in the time of peace over their conduct, by some of their own number, is contrary to the genius of the institutions they create and control. But when war, especially its most fearful form, a civil conflict, exists, the unnatural condition of things calls for the detective service, to watch and bring to justice the enemies of the State, who are plotting its ruin. There are reasons why such needful and valuable service has fallen into dishonor, many regarding it as small and doubtful business in its nature, thoroughly illustrated by the common adage, "It takes a rogue to catch a rogue." In despotic countries, shrewd and unprin- cipled men have been largely employed to betray their companions in guilt, and, guided by their experiences in vice, to put the police and other officers of justice on the track of criminals. 36 INTRODUCTORY CITAPTEI:. In this country, the Detective Bureau was entirely new; and there was, for a time, mismanagement of its work in certain quarters Department commanders, district and post provost-marshals, and post quartermasters, permitted by military law and army regulations to do so, have, in the contingencies of the case, employed detectives. Most of these persons had only a limited knowledge of the detective service. As an inevitable result, the most ignorant, unscrupulous, and worthless characters were sometimes employed by them. The fact is, the detective business for the war was commenced with no head, system, or regulations, excepting such as were made by those having no knowledge of the peculiar and difficult business. Had Congress passed a law at the outset of the Rebellion, author- izing the organization of a detective police, with a bead responsible only to the War or some other Department, no complaints would ever have been heard against a detective police system. From the nature of the detective's professional work, he mut pre-eminently awaken prejudice at every step, and make bitter ene- mies, not only among those hostile to the cause with which his special service is connected, but also among its friends. He must interfere with plans of speculation, and cut off extra rations, which unlawful appropriations might secure. Then, again, his business forbids him to give his authority for certain acts, or assign any reason for his procedure. Hence the clamor was often raised, of rash and lawless abuse of power, when all the time he was acting under the direct orders of Government. These statements will have abundant confirmation in the pages of this history. And we doubt whether any other officer, not excepting the Lieutenant-General, has more patiently borne misrepresentation aud abuse in silence, for the sake of the common cause of the country, than General Baker. With sublime moral courage, for nearly five years he toiled on, with the crushing weight of public opinion, and prejudice, and peril of death constantly before him, sustained by exalted patriotism, and a laudable desire to excel in his peculiar service or line of duty. While the public press was filled with eulogies upon daring and valor of officers in the field, the Chief of the Detective Bureau, whose deeds are no less heroic, and the importance of whose achievement* GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 37 cannot oe over-estimated, if noticed at all by the press, is referred to in a doubtful or contemptuous manner. And even when the chief and his subordinates frequented the presidential mansion, after the execution of the assassins of Mr. Lincoln, because telegrams were receired from leading army officers, giving information of a design by friends of the murderers to avenge their death, the object and motives of the protection were unappreciated and, by a member of the cabinet, denounced. The facts will appear in the progress of 'these annals. He was not permitted to disclose his authority for the summary uork he \\ as required to do. The propriety for such a course by the War Department we do not question, for we know not the reasons back of it they are not given. The fact, however, presents clearly the offensive position in which he was placed by the difficult and perilous office he held, even while he desired to be transferred to a more pleasant service. He was thus the target of unjust suspicion and bitterest. hate, when the true object of the popular and personal displeasure was in reality the Government he was faithfully obeying. We give here a single forcible illustration of the truth of theso statements, and of General Baker's uncomplaining endurance of un- deserved persecution. During 1862, an order was issued to arrest a certain prominent Pennsylvanian, on the charge of selling a large quantity of bandages and lint donated by ladies benevolent societies in Philadelphia for the benefit of the Union soldiers. General Baker knew nothing about the case, having no acquaint- ance even with the individual, nor the charges brought against him. It was his official work only to arrest and confine him in the Old Capitol prison. This duty he performed. Within an hour, a whole delegation of friends called at General Baker's headquarters, and, in an excited and boisterous manner, demanded the prisoner's release. He was offered a large amount for bail. To all this outcry and ap- peal, he calmly replied, that he knew nothing of the charges ; was simply executing orders. The same evening, an indignation meeting was held, presided over by Judge B , a prominent Union man of Pennsylvania. Resolutions were passed, openly denouncing General 38 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Baker as an arbitrary, vindictive man, and appointing a commttteH to wait on the President and Secretary of War, asking for his dis- missal from service. In this instance, which is one among many of a similar character, he was not permitted to show the order of arrest to any citizei . A reporter was never allowed to enter his head- quarters, nor any communication allowed to be had by his bureau with the public press. Yet there are not wanting cheering tokens of confidence and esteem. The citizens of Philadelphia presented him with a badge of solid gold, nearly three inches square, sur- mounted by an eagle carved from the coin, and bearing on a scroll the -words "Death to Traitors;" and on the back, "Presented to L. C. Baker, by his friends." Its value was not less than two hundred dollars. The officers of the First District Cavalry, raised by General Baker, presented to him an elegant saber, with sash of China silk, valued at about the same amount. He was also the recipient, from officers, of the most elaborately finished saddle and trappings probably in the country. Its value was six hundred and fifty dollars. These and other mementoes of regard confirm the statement, made by prominent officers, that his subordinates in the Bureau, numbering in all about four hundred, were ready to fight for him. We have received, among other volunteer testimony to his official sagacity and achievements, the following the" first from a chaplain in " Baker's Cavalry," the other from another army chaplain : "General Baker, I think, acquitted himself with marvelous tact, energy, and success. He was the terror of all rogues, whether with clean faces or dirty, in broadcloth or rags, with a general's star or a corporal's stripe. I think that, during the most critical period of the war, he was (next to Secretary Stanton) the most important officer of the Government." WASHINGTON, D. C., Jnrtt, 19. 1866. " In regard to Gen.L. C. Baker, Chief Detective of the War Depart- ment, during the late rebellion, I feel it a duty to say : Firt. It is scarcely possible to estimate the good he has accomplished in strength- ening the armies afield. Second. In weeding out the mischievous and the worthless. Third. In making copperheads, scoundrels, and traitors GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 39 feel the secret war power at home. I believe him to have done more during the late war to save the country than any other single power. His name carried with it a dread that made evil-doers tremble. He was always at his post when wanted (a rare trait), and most efficient when active. Booth knew that Baker was in New York, or he would have delayed the tragedy of the 14th of April, 1865 ! And when ho knew that Baker was on his trail, his heart fainted in him, and lost all hope ! " And now about certain facts Baker may state with respect to men high in official relation with the Government or otherwise : The half he will not tell. I know of many things he will not state which I would. I have no mercy on men who will corrupt and contaminate all with whom they come in official contact ; and men who, in time of peace, after treason has been put down, again secretly plot the over- throw of a Government at once the best and noblest that the sun of the Eternal ever shone upon. " I hope to see truth come, let it cut where it may, as I believe the country to be still in danger ; and unless some master hand will seize the knife and lay open the festering wound, the disease of the Repub- lic will never heal ! " I am, very respectfully." It may interest the curious reader to give some illustrative inci- dents in regard to trivial circumstances which lead to detection, and which would escape the notice of men unaccustomed to the close observation indispensable to success in the secret service. The clue to a deserter's character was found in his bronzed face, while his dress and positive declarations indicated the life of a quiet citizen. In another case, the falsehood was exposed by the spur-mark in the boot. A soldier in disguise, and asserting his innocence of battle-service, was detected through an examination of his hand, on the palm of which was a callous spot where the gun-lock had. pressed in the march. The red line on Government stockings and the peculiar style of the shirts have revealed the fact denied by the lips and all the rest of the apparel. A deserter from the Twelfth New York Battery so well concealed his " soldiering" that nothing about his person confirmed my suspicions 40 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. At last General Baker resorted to strategy. He watched for an opportunity when he was lazily dozing in his office, and suddenly and loudly shouted : " Fall in, men !" He started up, looked around, and began to prepare for the march. It was plainly useless to deny any longer that he had been in the ranks. At another t : me, General Baker was searching for a female spy, and had his attention drawn to rather a delicate-looking young man, whom he followed, with some companions, into a saloon. When they stood before the bar, drinking and talking, he noticed that this youth threw up the fingers often to brush aside the hair. The form was shaped like a woman's, and in a sitting posture the hands were crossed just as women are in the habit of placing them. He called the astonished stranger aside, and desired a private inter- view, in which he said the game of deception was finished that he knew both the sex and business in hand. She burst into tears, and confessed all. Not unfrequently the simplest disguises were entirely successful. The slouched hat drawn down over the forehead ; the garb of "butternut," or of an honest farmer; the dress and manner of an itinerant Jew ; the face and gait of an inebriate, each served the purpose of an introduction to the desired company and scenes. We might multiply illustrations, and make an inventory of dis- guises in apparel and modes of dressing the hair and face to which the detective is compelled to resort. But, excepting the narratives which will make further revelations of the kind, these will be sufficient to indicate the varied language of moral and professional character and pursuits to a practiced eye. Mention has already been made of the fact that the detective police of the Government were brought into disrepute, and some reasons assigned for it. His bureau was known as the only regularly organized national police, although, as stated before, there were employed, at the headquarters of every department commander, provost-marshal, and quartermaster, a large number of persons repre- senting themselves as Government detectives. These men had been selected, in many instances, from the most worthless and disreputable characters, and whenever they were found to be receiving bribes, or committing other offenses, they were always denominated " Baker's GENERAL BAKER AND THE SECRET SERVICE. 4J detectives." The reporters of the press invariably did this. Hence he was held responsible to the public for the acts of these scoundrels, when in fact he knew nothing of their operations, except as he might have occasion, from time to time, to arrest them himself. The provost- marshal of the District of Columbia, appointed under the Enrollment Act, for the recruiting service, had employed at one time a large num- ber of these detectives. Scarcely a day passed but, complaints were made at his headquarters respecting these men. There was in the vicin- ity of Washington a large military force; and a bounty had been offer- ed for the apprehension of deserters. The enrolling provost-marshal at Washington had detailed a number of his detective's and placed them on duty at the Baltimore depot in Washington, for the purpose of apprehending them. A deserter, in citizen's clothes, would repair to the depot, and attempt to enter the cars ; these officers would arrest him, and for a small bribe allow him to go at large. This was practiced for many months. Colonel Baker called the attention of the Secretary of War to the fact, but there seemed to be no remedy. Finally, he determined to ascertain who these detectives were. Assu- ming the garb and dress of a loafer and deserter, he one evening repaired to the depot. He was so completely disguised that his own men did not recognize him. On attempting to pass the gate and enter the cars, he was stopped by an individual who said, "Let me see your ticket." He showed him his railroad ticket, when he charged him Avith being a deserter. He replied that he was not ; that he was a citizen, and did not want to be detained. One or two other detectives approached, and all insisted that he should be arrested. Accordingly, he was taken into a small room, with one or two others, who had also been arrested and searched. They took from him his passage ticket, a valuable gold watch, and some seventy-five dollars in treasury notes, which he had marked for the occasion. He was then placed in charge of a detective, to be taken to the provost-marshal's headquarters. Instead of taking Colonel Baker directly there, the detective took him to a low drinking-saloon on Seventh Street, near the avenue, called the "McClellan House," which was the general rendezvous of these detectives and deserters. He was here asked to take a drink, but he declined, pretending to feel very badly about his arrest. He was then taken into a back room, and in the presence of detectives No. 1 42 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. and 2, his watch and money were divided between the two detectives. He was here told that he could go at large, provided he would leave his watch and money. He complained bitterly of this treatment, and threatened to report the facts to Colonel Baker, when they laughed, and remarked that they were not Colonel Baker's detectives, but the detectives of the provost-marshal. He consented to give them the money, but declined to give up his watch, as it was a very valuable one. This refusal induced detective No. 2 to take him to the provost- marshal's headquarters. On the way there, he had a conversation with the detective, who told him it was very foolish for him to go to headquarters ; if he went there, he would be locked up for several days, and finally sent back to his regiment, tried, and perhaps shot aa a deserter. He persisted, however, in declining to deliver up the watch. On arriving at headquarters, Baker was ushered into a room, where, seated at a table, he saw the provost-marshal, with whom he was well acquainted, and his clerks, none of whom recognized him. Th detective remarked to the provost-marshal, " Here is a deserter, captain, that we have taken at the depot. He won't tell what regiment he belongs to, but if we lock him up a few days, and put him under the shower-bath, he will probably tell all about it." The provost-marshal said to him, " What regiment do you belong to ?" He said, " Sir, I am not a deserter, but a citizen." He remarked, " Oh, that's played out. We know you ; we have been looking for you for some time." Some other conversation occurred, and the pro- vost-marshal directed that Baker should be locked up. He took off his old slouched hat, and, standing at the end of the table, said to the provost-marshal, "I am Colonel Baker. I have assumed this disguise for the purpose of detecting your detectives, and 'ascertaining the modus operandi by which deserters are allowed to escape." Tha aspect of a proud superiority gave place to that of consternation. The detective attempted to ittt*vO versed in whispers for a few moments, wh^n th guard escorted me to my quarters. I fancied that I had m-ade some progress at this interview. The next morning brought Mr. Brock to my loft, e\ idontly sent to satisfy himself fully that I was Sam Munson. A deli- cate and difficult task was before me, and the result to my own mind very doubtful. Brock, however, was talkative, willing to carry on the conversation, and evidently quite sure that he was not mistaken in his man. I knew something of the Munsons, and localities in Knoxville, and, by the aid of imagination, could lill any pauses in Brock's conversation; eight years of absence excusing failures in memory. Brock asked leading questions, saying, for illustration, "You know so-and-so." " Oh, yes," I responded, though I had not the remotest knowledge of the person. Then Brock would refer to something very ludicrous, and I would burst into laughter, as though at the recollection, while Brock, greatly enjoying it, would unconsciously tell the whole story, so that I could put in a fitting remark here and thert,, which seemed to come naturally from recollection. Brock went away entirely sat- isfied, and reported to Jeff. Davis. Two days later, a com- missioned officer entered the room with a parole, pledging myself not to leave the cit}' of Richmond without orders from the provost-marshal. I signed it, and was released from con- finement. With the freedom of the city, I continued my observations. AValking through a street one Sunday morning, by 4 high board fence covered with posters concerning regiments being organized and other military announcements, from which I gleaned additional information, a man came up and slapped me on the shoulder with, " Tlallo, Baker ! What are you doing here?" The name sounding strangely, under the circumstances, 1 was startled, but, looking around, calmly said : " I guess you are mistaken, sir. My name is Munson." " Ain't your name Baker '<" "No, sir." "Didn't you go to California in 1850?" " No, sir. I have lived in California, but I did not go there till '52." 06 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. " Why, didn't you go across the isthmus with me in April, 1850, when we had the tight with the natives ?" " No, sir. I guess you have mistaken the man." " Well, I would have sworn that you were Baker. Didn't you have a brother there !" " I had a brother there, but he came home in '53." "Well," said he, turning away, "it's all right, I sup pose ; but I never saw two men look so much alike in my life!" In the mean time I had obtained information of military movements and plans, learned where the enemy had stationed troops, or were building fortifications, and what they were doing at the Tredegar works. I had obtained the knowledge for which I came, and was anxious to return North. Through the influence of Hayes, I got from the provost-mar- shal, a pass to visit Fredericksburg, making an appointment to meet the former, which, of course, I did not keep. Arri- ving in Fredericksburg, I made three or four ineffectual at- tempts to get into the country, and finally, by the aid of a negro, crossed the Rappahannock one morning four miles be low the city. To reach the Potomac would tax all my pow- ers to the utmost, but the case was desperate and I must go forward. As, when entering upon my Southern tour, it was indispensable to success that I should even among friends be incog., so now I must return with the precious epistles in my pocket, through the Confederate lines, on my own account, having only the chances of escape which any wanderer at large might have. My face was toward Washington, and the only question remaining was, whether the success in the attempt to reach it would equal that of my journey to Richmond. The Potomac was the goal of my solitary travel through forest and over open fields ; for on its northern banks lay the Union Army, and, once across its waters, I was safe. My appearance was that of a common citizen, and I hoped to pass unnoticed any persons with whom a meeting was un- avoidable. Scarcely two miles were traveled, when, by the side of woods which bordered the road, an officer and soldier on horseback appeared, and too near to give me time to seek concealment in ) x.se they are all the time getting up suthing new.' With a cup of water from the unsuspecting Jacksoman democrat, who was enjoying Cowper's lodge in the wilder- ness, undisturbed by the alarms of war, I rode away, to try the next turn in the wheel of fortune. At length a house was visible in the distance, and toward it I directed my course. Dismounting near it, I hitched my horse, and commenced observations. Two negroes only were in sight, in an out- house. I went to them with a plausible story, and for ten cents obtained some bread and milk, which broke the day's fast, with refreshment for the night's adventure before me. Darkness was setting upon the forest, and, unable to discern .he mire and stones ahead, I became entangled among the branches, and found I must abandon my horse, and plunge .nto the thicket alone. After wandering about bewildered "or an hour, I unconsciously returned to the very house 1 lad left. I decided to risk a rest here till morning, and working my body feet foremost under a haystack, until com- )letely hidden, fell into a sound sleep. Just before the lawn of the next' day. I was startled from slumber, and, lis- ening, soon learned that rebel cavalry were in search of me, *nd had surrounded the house. A dozen horsemen could be A BRIGHT IRISHMAN. (J9 e/een through the lattice-work of hay, moving about in the darkness. From the dwelling they went to the outhouses, and finally came to the haystack. I prepared for the worst. With my head thinly covered, I could watch my foes, unseen by them ; while my revolver lay before me. If discovered, I resolved to shoot the successful man, and run for dear life toward the woods. Several times the cavalry rode around the stack ; then one of the number, dismounting, began a sword examination of my lodgings. I could hear the thrust of the blade into the hay, until it grazed my coat, and I grasped my six-shooter to spring ; but he passed on, saying : " He ain't in there, boys." Remounting, with his comrades, he rode off. Watching them till out of sight, I crept cautiously into the deepening light, and started for the woods. The sun rose gloriously over the near horizon ; but whether to light me toward safety or capture, was entirely uncertain. Without breakfast or dinner, I hastened on, having not even a glimpse of a human being, and avoiding every indica- tion of his habitation. At two o'clock in the afternoon, when emerging from a clump of hushes, I came in full view of a man hauling timber. I could not retreat, and, changing the coat hanging on one arm to the other, I put my hand on my pocket, and stood in thinking posture. I saw that I had an Irishman to deal with, and not a remarkably bright speci- man of his race. With the air of one interested, I asked : " What is this timber for?" "It's fur the batthery down here, in course." This answer settled the question of the proximity of the Potomac, and also apprised me that fortifications and plenty of rebels ivere not far off. I walked along a stick of timber, measuring it by paces, and then said : "Tell these men they are getting this timber four feet too short, will you?" " Yes, sur, I will sur. It's only haulin, I am, meself." " Well," I replied, leaving him, "tell them to cut it four feet longer, will you \ Tell them I say so." " I will, sur." Into the woods again, and, making as good time as DOS- 70 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. sible, I walked on two hours longer. Hunger began to gnaw, and create that desperation which disregards the cooler prudence of a fall stomach. Striking a small creek or bayou, running into the Potomac, I resolved to follow it till it de- cided my fortunes for the night. No sign of anything in reach to appease hunger appeared, nor of a boat in which to get across the river. The very first sight of human existence was in a form to excite fear a white tent, snugly pitched on the sloping point of a hill, by the water-side, and surrounded with bushes- I paused to watch for further in- timations of what was there. At length a soldier came up the bank with fish, and en- tered the tent. Soon after, with another man, he reappeared outside, and they sat down, lighted their pipes, and chatted, after the fashion of good-natured Dutchmen. The imperious demands of hunger urged me to join them, and, advancing, I accosted them. It turned out that they belonged to a bat tery on the hill above, and had moved to the bank to catch fish for the officers. I told them I lived up the creek, and had come down to see how things were getting on ; then in- quired : " Have you got anything to eat in the tent ?" "We got not much here to eat." "Boys, I am very hungry. I hain't had anything to eat since I came from home, and I'll pay you for something." " Veil, dat ish tifferent matter. If you pays, dat ish tif- ferent matter." " Can't you cook some fish 1" " Oh, ersh, I spose we get you some fish." In a few minutes they set before me a supper simply of fish, cooked in their primitive style, and yet no luxury wa8 ever so grateful to the taste. After it was finished, I asked for a pipe, and began to puff away, entirely at home ; but all the while revolving in my mind the chances and expedi ents for a final parting with my Dutch friends. Finally, my eye fell upon a small boat lying in the bushes below ; and the conviction followed the discovery, that it was my only hope of crossing the Potomac. Learning that the fishermen wned it, I said to them : " I want to buy that boat. What will you take for it ?" A NIGHT OF DIFFICULTIES. 71 "I no sells dat poat," replied one. "I'll give you twenty dollars for it, in gold." "It's \vorth more as that to us. The Yankees ish break- ing up all poats on the Potomac." There was an end to the prospect of a purchase ; and a new plan must be devised. The sun sank behind the trees, and in the pleasant shade we smoked and talked away the hours. I found, in the course of conversation, that the battery was not over two hundred yards from us, and the Potomac a few rods below. The evening advanced, and I begged the privilege of sleeping in the tent, as I was too tired to think of returning .home before morning. Permission was reluctantly granted ; and, spreading their blanket, they " turned in," while I con- tinued without, smoking, till the moon rose. I had practical business on hand, which excluded contemplation of the romantic scene the silver light tipping and then flooding the hills, and creeping down to the quiet spot of anxious wake- fulness. For the illumination was 10 aid me in my design to escape. I could now watch the movements of my compan- ions in the tent sufficiently to see when they were apparently asleep, depending on the ear for the further evidence of the desirable fact. When all was still, indicating profound slumber, suddenly a change of position, a grunt, and a look outside, would dispel the illusion. Toward midnight, I heard a shout : " Hello, there ! you come to ped to-night ?" "Yes, I am coming in." Soon after entering the tent, I found that room for me had been left between the men, and the effort to get on an outei edge of the blanket was fruitless. A suspicion evidently crossed the mind of the one who had just spoken to me, respecting the stranger, and there wag a design to guard against any unpleasant results from the visit. The day's fatigue made my own inclination to sleep al- most irresistible ; but I watched anxiously for the favoring moment to leave the bed unobserved. Repeated trials found the distrustful soldier sufficiently wakeful to look after hia guest. Overcome by the slumberous influences of fatigue. 72 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. my comfortable quarters, and the "stilly night," I sank into a restless repose. Scarcely an hour had passed, when I sud- denly awoke, starting with alarm lest the opportunity to escape was lost. On the contrary, I found my companions were thoroughly asleep, their loud breathing the only sign of life. I carefully crawled from between them, till half my body was out of the tent. The suspicious man, with a sound of unrest, turned over. I remained perfectly still till he made another turn and stretched out his arm to see if all was right in the middle. I drew back to my old place, and he laid his hand upon me several times, before he seemed satis- tied that I was there. Several attempts to leave the tent ended in a similar failure. Daylight began to steal into the tent, and the night of suspense must end in some decisive effort to secure the boat and cross the Potomac. The soldier- fishermen were sleeping quite as soundly as at any time before, and in another moment I stood before the door watci: - ing the effect of my movement. There was a little stir, and I stood mechanically poking the embers of our evening fire, as if looking out to see the breaking day ; but with my pistol in one hand ready for service. Returning it to my pocket muzzle down, I hastened to the bank. To my great disap- pointment, there were no oars in the boat. Upon making search among the willows, I found a short one, partially de- cayed. Noiselessly as possible I launched the frail bark, fearing each sound on the sand or in the water would bring my Dutch friends down the bank. In a few moments, which suspense made oppressively long, I floated away into the stream, at this point, not over thirty feet in width. Taking the middle of the current, I pulled off my coat, and began to row for life. The tide favored me, and I was congratulat- ing myself upon the prospect of an unmolested voyage when a shout drew my attention to the vigilant Dutchman, whose gesticulations could not be misunderstood. He called loudly to his bedfellow : " Meyer ! Meyer ! the poat ish gone ! the poat ish gone !" He seized his musket and made for the bank, not more than a dozen feet from me, shouting : " Come pack here ! Come pack mit that poat !" My only answer was a more vigorous use of the oar CRY OF DISTRESS, HE STAGGERED AND FELL. CROSSING THE POTOMAC. 73 I Placing my right hand upon the pistol, and watching the soldier, I propelled the boat with my left. "Come pack!" he continued, following me along the bank. He then paused, leveled his musket, and was about to fire. I did not want to kill " mine host," but the law of self defense again demanded a sacrifice. With quick and sudden aim, I fired with a cry of distress, he staggered and fell lifeless beside his musket. His comrade was running down the hill, when, seeing what had happened, he turned back to the tent. He soon returned with a double-barreled shot gun, and stole along cautiously, through the bushes, till within forty yards of the boat, and then fired. The shot fell around me, in the water. Catching a glimpse of my enemy in the thicket, I discharged my revolver. He ran away, evi- dently unhurt. The reports had given the alarm, and several soldiers soon came in sight. An instant later, a bullet whistled over my shoulder. I had reached the decisive mo- ments of my last effort to get out of " Dixie." Again getting sight of the Dutchman in the bushes, I once more took de liberate aim and fired. He threw up one arm, gave a yell, and fell to the ground. In a moment he rose again, and, groaning, staggered away. Then two or three shots saluted me unceremoniously, striking and splintering the side of the boat. I was now at the mouth of the creek, and rapidly left the shore behind me. A squad of soldiers, by this time, stood on the brow and at the base of the hill, firing their muskets. The chug of the bullets in the water reminded me that my transit to loyal soil was not yet certain. Both hands were laid to the oar, and, striking the broad current of the Potomac, which was here four miles wide, I rapidly receded from musket range. A high wind swept the waters, and, while rounding a bluff, a sudden gust carried away my hat, and lifted my coat lying in the bow of the boat, dropping it into the river. But it was no time to look backward to those ar- tirles of apparel, floating between me and my foes, whose bullets still came unpleasantly near. Their shots continued until they fell far in the wake of my boat. The sun had risen above the horizon, warm and bright, while, for two hours and a half, I worked with a single oar, and, aided by (he drifting tide, approached the Maryland shore, With an 74 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. inexpressible sense of relief, I heard the boat's bow touch the sand. I was near Chapel Point, ten miles below the creek on which I embarked, and so exhausted, that with dif- ficulty I reached the bank. On its green carpet, and under the cooling shade of its trees, I laid down to rest, leaving the boat to which I owed my deliverance to the winds and waves of the Potomac. * CHAPTER III. NORTHERN EXPERIENCES AS CONFEDERATE AGENT. Hospitalities by the way The Report to General Scott Operations in Baltimore" The Janus-faced Unionist A rich Development in Philadelphia The Arrests Amusing Prison Scene. REFRESH ED by an hour of rest sufficiently to renew my journey toward Washington, I soon came to a small and poor habitation, in whose door stood a coarse and dirty female;. I asked her for something to eat. "I have nothing to spare : can't give you a mouthful." Whether meanness, destitution, or my dilapidated ap- pearance were the exciting cause of her rudeness, I can not tell. But to my plea for a crust, or inquiries where I might find even a partial supply of the lost apparel, she closed the door in my face. I wandered on, a solitary country mock- ing my hunger. Toward noon a noble mansion, surrounded by a large plantation, arrested my eye, and on its porch an elderly woman sitting alone amid the rural quiet. Entering the gate, I approached her with a morning salutation. She returned it, with a suspicious glance at my unusual appear- ance. I inquired : " Can I get a drink of water here, madam ?" "Certainly," calling a colored girl to bring it. The roar of the cannon at Matthias Point, where the rebels were practicing with the battery, could be distinctly heard. I said : " We are getting ready for the Yankees there pretty fast." "Yes." "They won't be able to sail up and down the river much more." "No, that they won't" The peculiar animation with which she made this reply 76 UNITED STATES SKCRET SERVICE. showed me that I had not mistaken her character. While I was drinking, she inquired from what place I had come. I told her from Richmond, to see what the Yankees were doing, and report to Jeff. Davis and Beauregard. She then inquired how I lost my hat and coat. I told her they were blown off while crossing the river, and that I had just left the shore, with nothing to eat since the night before. >; 0ur dinner will be ready soon," she said, "and 1 shall be very glad to have you stay and dine with us." The invitation was accepted, and extra preparation made for me. An excellent meal, many inquiries from my hostess concerning the progress of the "holy cause," and predic- tions of its speedy triumph followed. When I was ready to leave, she supplied me with a second-hand hat and coat, and, with a cordial good-bye, expressed the hope that I should be prospered in my good work, and do much for the independ mce of the South. With no incidents of remarkable interest, I passed through the counties of Maryland, reaching Washington after an absence of three eventful weeks. I at once reported to General Scott, giving him all the in- formation desired respecting Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Richmond, the resources and plans of the rebel chiefs, and the blockade running of the Potomac. He read, with a smile, the letters from the Confederate Government, when I expressed my design to use them in tracking northern traitors in their treasonable alliance with the South. Expressing his gratification, he recommended my name to Mr. Cameron for permanent service as a secret agent of the War Department. I commenced, without delay, ferreting out these sympa- thizers with secession. Two brothers named A., one of them within the rebel lines, were engaged in supplying munitions of war to the Confederacy. The apparently loyal man who lived in Baltimore had a contract to furnish the regiment of Col. , then on the Poto- mac, with forage. He owned a small vessel on the river whose captain shared with him the profits of their secret treachery. Filling the hold with small-arms, ammunition, and other light materiel of war, they were covered with hay THE VISIT TO BALTIMORE. 77 and oats for the Union troops. Upon reaching Matthias Point, the captain signaled A., who was watching for him, and the contraband goods were landed, when the vessel pro- ceeded to Washington with its light freight of forage. This shrewd operation had been carried on a considerable time, with no suspicion attaching to the Baltimore brother from his loyal neighbors, of the illegitimate traffic. I proceeded to Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore, and dis- patched a note to A., informing him that Mr. Munson, from Richmond, would like to see him, and designating a time for our interview. A. promptly called. He entered the room, when the following conversation passed between us. "This is Mr. A., I presume." "Yes, sir." "I am glad to see you, sir. Take a seat." A. sat down. "Mr. A., I am a man of very few words. I came here on business, and I want to get through with it as soon as I can conveniently. I am an agent of the Confederate Government, I understand that you are willing to help us, and have been doing so. I want to purchase goods, and I have the gold to pay for them." A., who was a short, impulsive man, with a German ao- cent, was throovn entirely off his guard. "I'm your man. I'm just the person you ought to have come to. I help the South, and I make a little money out of the North. I'll show you how easy it is." From his coat pocket he drew an envelope, containing two contracts one of them to send goods to Richmond, and the other to furnish a Union regiment with certain supplies. His eye twinkled with delight, while he watched my perusal of the documents. The delivery of the goods was a subject of considerable discussion, and A. was very particular in his inquiries about the pay. I replied : "Mr. A., I do not come here to make money out of my government. I came here pareiy from patriotic motives. While I am willing to pay you a fair percentage on any ^ >. id> you may buy, and a liberal allowance for your services, I ot course can not submit to any extortion, or to any exoi- 78 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. bitant charges. I am working for the interests of ray people. I myself, do not want to make a cent out of this business." "That is all right it is honorable and patriotic. But it is not safe to buy the goods here, because men in this trade have been detected, and the police watch us all the time. We can do better in Philadelphia, where I have friends to help us." We agreed to start in the 4:20 train the same afternoon for Philadelphia. While standing in the depot waiting for the train, talking with A., I saw Senator McDougal, whom I had known in California, and George Wilkes, coming toward me. I tried in vain to avoid their recognition, but McDougal, taking my arm, exclaimed : "Why, how d'ye do, Baker?" With a look of strange surprise, I said : "You've got the advantage of me, sir. I don't know you." " Well, that's a good joke," replied McDougal, laughing. "It may be, but I don't know you, sir. My name is Munson." Suddenly McDougal seemed to fathom the mystery suffi- ciently to relieve me of farther embarrassment, by remark- ing, as he turned away : " Well, upon my soul, I believe I am mistaken. Excuse me, sir ; you look very much like a friend of* mine." The incident made but slight if any impression upon the mind of A., for he made no allusion to it during the ride to Philadel- phia. I stopped at the American Hotel, when A. left me to find B., who was connected with a large hardware house in the city, and bring him to the hotel. Meanwhile, by a cir- cuitous route, I reached the headquarters of the police and had an interview with Ben. Franklin, the chief of the depart- ment. Acquainting him thoroughly with the business in hand, his assistance was secured to make the arrests at the proper time. He suggested that it might be well to have the conference with my disloyal friends. To this I assent- ed, and, accompanying me to the hotel, he was concealed under the bed. Soon after A. and B. entered the lalter a tall, gaunt, shrewd, and taciturn man. A. opened the con- FRANKLIN UNDER THE BED. 7; vernation, and talked on, while B. stroked his whiskers and said nothing. I repeated the assurance that my object was to serve the South and not speculation. I urged the risk of delay in completing my arrangements, as a reason for prompt action. In conclusion, I remarked to B. : "I learn from Mr. A. that you are friendly to our people and willing to assist us." " Yes, sir, my sympathies are with the South, and possi- bly I may be able to aid you." B. desired to know the kind of goods that were needed, and repeated the assurance that Philadelphia was a safer place than Baltimore or New York for the purchase of them. I then produced my letters, which B. read carefully and with evident satisfaction ; but preferred to defer any further negotiations for the present. As he rose to leave, he requested me to call at his place of business that afternoon. A. re- mained and suggested another gentleman, who would be glad to take hold of the business a Mr. C., of Commerce Street. I gratefully accepted the proposal, and we left the room, releasing Franklin from his close confinement under the bed. We found C. in his office, but disinclined to talk. He inquired where I stopped, and I returned to the hotel. Shortly after, C. made his appearance and commenced con- versation in a very confidential way. He went for the South, but did not like A., who, he affirmed, was simply a money- making Jew. I told him I knew nothing of A., but sup- posed him to be a reliable friend of our cause. The result of the interview was a plan to keep A. interested in the transaction, but ignorant of its most important particulars. In the afternoon I called upon Mr. B., whose confidence was now unreserved, and stated to him my conversation with C. He then said : "Now, Mr. Munson, you and I are actuated by the same motives in this thing. These men, A. and C., are engaged in it simply for the percentage they can make. I think you had better get rid of them." I replied, that this could not well be done, but that 1 might withhold any further information than was absolutely necessary. The conversation closed with an invitation to dine with 8 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. him that afternoon. I expressed a fear that it would give offense to A., if I should go alone. "Well," said B., "You had better bring him along." I went with A., at the appointed hour, and sat down to a sumptuous dinner. Wine was abundant, and the health of Davis, Beauregard, and other leading rebels was not forgot- ten. B. became exhilarated, and his secession songs were sung so loudly that Ave were obliged to hint that possibly ha might be heard in the streets. The party broke up at a late hour in line spirits. I made arrangements with one of the banks by which I would appear to have plenty of money at my command. I went to a tinner's and had several canvas bags full of pieces of zinc cut the size of gold coin, and these were deposited in the vaults. I began to make my purchases. I bought two hundred thousand cannon-primers, two hun- dred Colt's revolvers, a million friction caps, and other simi- lar goods. I also ascertained that these parties were carry- ing on systematically contraband trade with the South. Franklin, Chief of Police, was informed of my operations, and we concluded it was time to begin making arrests. On a subsequent day, having an invitation to dine with A. at the house of B., I told Franklin to watch us when we came away, and if, when we were opposite the City Hall, I raised my hand, he was to arrest them otherwise to make no de- monstration. As we stepped from the house into a street car, Franklin got on to the platform. AVhen the designated point was reached, A. got off lirst, and I immediately gave the signal. Franklin, laying his hand upon A.'s shoulder, said: " I want you, sir." I was making off across the street, when Franklin shouted : "Here, sir, I want you, too." I, of course, returned, looking somewhat alarmed Said Franklin : " Yon will have to come with me, gentlemen, I have a little private business with you." A. and myself were soon in the station-house together. Franklin, turning to me, remarked : " I've been looking after you, sir, for some time. Youi TWO ARRESTS. g] name is Mnnson, isn't it? You came here from the South to buy goods, didn't you ? You were very bold about it ; a little too bold, as you have just discovered. I've been looking after you, too, A. You're a Baltimorean, ain't you ? You came here to get rebel supplies, too, didn't you? I shall have to searcli you both." We were searched, and, of course, the two contracts to supply both the rebel and Union troops were found in A.'s possession. "Take this man to the Sixth Precinct station-house, and lock him up by himself," said Franklin to an officer, "and then come back after this man," pointing to me. " Now, Ben," I said, when A. had gone, " we must gob- ble up those other two men the best way we can, as soon aa possible." "All right," said Franklin. I had an appointment to meet C. the next morning, to ex- amine some caps which he had received from New York. When we met according to this arrangement, C. inquired for A. I replied : "He got a dispatch that his brother was in Baltimore, and he has gone on to see him. He will be back to-mor- row." The caps were satisfactory, but C. stated that he must go to New York, to get some telegraphic material, which he was to furnish some small wires to wind the battery, and asked me if I could not advance money. "I haven't any with me now, but, if you will meet me at the corner of Third and Market Streets, at half-past one, I can let you have some, and you will be in time then to get the two o'clock train for New York." I left and went to Franklin's office, requesting him to ar- rest us when we met on the corner. C. and myself arrived a little before the time, and I made some preliminary conver- sation on that account. At the moment he was anticipating the transfer of the funds, Franklin came up, and suspended operations by saying : " I am the chief of police here, and I want you two gen tJemeu." 8? UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. . laughed, and said : " I guess you don't know who I am." "Oh, yes, I do, and I know this other man, too. He's a blockade runner, from Richmond, arid you're not much better." We went to a station-house, and Franklin apparently searched me, while another officer attended to C. Ue was then taken to the Sixth Precinct station-house, and locked in a c ill by himself. B. only remained to be arrested. But he was the most important one of the number, and Marshal Milwood, of that district, was to assist in his arrest. I called on Mr. B., who said: " I think we have both got about tired of A. and C., and I think you had better meet me to-morrow, and bring them with you, so that we can settle up with them, pay them their commission, and tell them that you have bought all you re- quire. Then we can go into New York, to-morrow, in the two o'clock train, and make arrangements for all the goods you want, without the heavy commission you are obliged to pay them." I promised to come to his office, at twelve o'clock, the next day. Franklin and Marshal Milwood were duly in- formed of this appointment. Mr. B.'s store was in a long, narrow building, and in the rear were two or three small offices, with desks for writing. I was with Mr. B. in one of these. After the usual salutations, B. asked : 14 Where are A. and C.?" "They are running about town, somewhere. I didn't want to bring them here. I will sit down and write them a letter, stating that my business is nearly done in Philadel- phia, and that I am about to leave." Mr. B. furnished me with paper, and I took a seat at. one of the desks, to write. The time passed on, and I became restless, for Franklin and Milwood should already have ar- rived. If they should fail me, I thought I should be in a very disagreeable dilemma, having promised to go with B to New York THE LAST ARREST OF THE TRIO. 83 I was thus meditating, when I heard two men coming down the store from the front. In a moment more Marshal Milwood a large, strong man, with a gold-headed cane and a gold badsce entered the next office, and said : "Is this Mr. B.>" "That is my name, sir," responded B, " I am the United States marshal of this district, and I ar rest you, sir." B. turned pale. Meanwhile, Franklin, who had also entered, turned and said : "Here's another man that we want. This is that man Munson." * I tore off the paper I had written, and commenced rolling it up, as though secretly. Taking my black silk hat in my hand, I quietly put the paper under the leather lining inside, and placed the hat on my head. B. was watching me, and conjectured that I had written something in the letter which could criminate them. If he had any doubt before that I was what I represented myself to be, this action would have re- moved his suspicions. " I gu^ss you are mistaken, gentlemen," said I. "Oh, no, not at all," said Franklin ; "you can't fool us. You are the man that came here from the South, to buy goods. Let me see the letter you were writing." "I haven t written any letter," said I. "Oh, noiirt of that!" said Franklin, knocking my hat from my head as roughly as though lie had been in earnest. "You thought [didn't see that little sleight-of-hand perform- ance, didn't you ?" he continued, taking the paper from the hat. He read ir, and handed it to Milwood B was walking up and down, stroking his beard, having regained his comoosure. " We want both of yon," said Milwood. " Mr. Marshal," said B., " I think you are entirely too fast in this matter. I am an old citizen here, well known, and a partner in this house. This gentleman is from the South, it is true. He in- quired me out and visited me, but I cannot believe he is here for any improper purpose. So far as I am concerned I shall be able to show who and what I am very easily." 84 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. B. was searched, and quite important papers for evidence were found on him. He was then sent to the Sixth Precinct station-house. That evening Marshal Milwood, Ben. Franklin, and I, went down to see the prisoners, I keeping carefully out of their sight. "Let us see what the}' Avill say to each other," said one of the party. An officer took A. into C.'s room. " My G d ! what are you doing here ?" exclaimed A. "Doing here?" answered C., angrily. " I'm arrested.'' " Why, when were you arrested ?" "I was standing on the corner of Market and Third Streets with Munson, and Ben. Franklin took us both." " My G d, I was arrested with Munson," said A. " You can't play that on me. You're a Jew, and it's you who have brought all this trouble on me." A. was enraged at this, and conversation followed of the roughest sort. "When the excitement subsided. B. was put into the same room with them, Milwood, Franklin, and myself, still out of Bight, listening. "My G d, B., you arrested too?" said A. B. stroked his whiskers and looked sternly. "I understand it all," said he. "Y T ou are two scoun- drels, and one or the other of you either betrayed this matter or let it out by your cursed carelessness. I believe A., that that you came from Baltimore with Munson to beat him out of his money and get him arrested." They abused each other for nearly an hour, and A. wanted to fight the rest. Each declared that he was arrested with Munson, and not one would believe a word the other said. "Come, you're making too much noise," said the officer, finally. " We'll have to separate you again." Earl} '. the morning they were taken to a prison out of town, and in the afternoon Milwood and Franklin went with me to visit them again. I was put into a cell, and A. brought and locked in with me. " Mein Got, Munson, what a troubles this is !" said A., his German accent more noticeable in his dejection. "Meio THE PRISON SCENE. 3.5 Got, when we got out of that cars and that man Franklin came up, I thought I should have died. And B. and C. are arrested too." " Well, we're all in the same boat," said I : "I suppose they'll hang me." In a short time A. was told to come out and get his din- ner, and B. was locked in with me ; I putting on the aspect of chief mourner over our fate. 44 Well, I'm sorry for you, Munson," said B. "I suppose my friends will have me out this afternoon or to-morrow, and it' I can do any thing for you I shall be glad to. I never liked that Jew, and I am convinced that this is all hia doing." After a while B. was removed, and C. pot in the cell. He came in with a knowing leer on his face. He had suspected the truth. "I'm glad to see you, Munson," said he; "that was a splendid thing we played on them fellows, wasn't it? Oh, that's the way to catch them !" "What do you mean ?" said I. " Why, I knew who you were all the time. You couldn't fool me ; I wanted to help you catch the scoundrels." " Who do you think I am ' "You are a detective from Washington. I knew you well enough. I was just going up to Marshal Milwood, to tell him what we had done." " C., it is too late to tell that story now. It won't do." A statement of the cases was forwarded to Washington, and A., B., and C. were sent to Fort Warren. A., probably from the excitement and mortification attending his arrest and imprisonment, became insane, and was sent to Black- well's Island, and afterward to the asylum near Baltimore, where he still remains. Before A. left, in a fit of passion, he struck C. in the face, breaking his nose. B. and C. were released on bail for trial. A leading New York daily paper contained the very correct account of the case as quoted below : "The most important arrests that have been made during the rebellion came to light in this city to-day. Most of 8 6 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. tho.se previously incarcerated in Fort Lafayette had been devoting their influences to treason ; but the parties here arrestad were contributing arms and munitions of war daily, bribing officers of the United States Array to further their designs, and had organized a system of treason so skill- ful and so complete, that only after the utmost vigilance, and when the detectives had tested all means to entrap and decoy them, the full proofs came to light. "The names of these men are J. M. H., F. W., and W. G. H. is a Baltimore Israelite, whose business is the making of military trimmings, epaulettes, sword-handles, &c. He had obtained a hay contract from the United States Govern- ment, to more effectually conceal his plans, and was armed with numerous letters from Federal functionaries, that he intended to produce in emergencies. This man conducted contraband trade from Baltimore until General Dix and the provost-marshal showed him up. He was first observed in this wise : A package, containing several thousand fric- tion tubes and cannon-primers, had been left at Adams's Express office in this city, addressed to a well-known firm in Baltimore. Being threatened with arrest, the latter firm confessed that they were the agents of J. M. H., and it was further educed that the same was shipped under a fictitious name by W. G. "Detective Benjamin Franklin, a sagacious and fertile Philadelphia officer, now determined to seduce H. to this city ; for which purpose he resorted to certain ingenious means, not now ripe for publication. Convinced that heavy orders awaited him here, and that Philadelphia was less under espionage than Baltimore, H. came on. A cele- brated Lincoln detective now took part in the matter, and the means by which they inveigled all the parties consti- tute the richest item in the history of criminal surveillance. The Israelite was so played upon that he is not yet aware of the enemies who ruined him, and when the matter was ripe the whole party were taken up, their goods and papers seized, and they are now in Fort Lafayette, having gone forward on Sunday night. * VV. G. is a razor and cutlery importer, whose estab- lishment is situated at Fifth and Commerce Streets. He THE HAY CONTRACT. ft has never taken the oath of allegiance, being an Englishman. His game was to pretend himself a Federal agent until the worst came, when he was to claim the privileges of a British subject. In his establishment were found surgical instru- ments, caps, pistols, bowie-knives, &c., packed and di- rected to go southward. The property amounts to $10,000 in value. "P. W. is a Virginian, formerly in partnership with C. B. C., 205 North Water Street. He has always been a rabid traitor, and his wife has been six times to Rich- mond and back within as many weeks, taking each time trunks heavily filled with weapons and goods contraband. She passed our lines by bribing an officer of the army, who obtained passes for the purpose. Said officer has been ar rested, and will probably be shot. At W.'s house an extensive correspondence with parties in the South was found, and his complicity with the rebels was proved by his papers, even in the absence of any other evidence. Among other articles seized, there was a pair of ' epau- lettes, marked with the name of Captain R., an officer in the rebel army. There were also a photographic group of worthies, of which W. was the center. A gentleman, who is familiar with the likenesses, says that they repre sent Captain R., Captain J. A. C., Lieutenant C. D. F., of Georgia, and B., mayor of Savannah, all decided rebels. "The hay contract in which H. Avas engaged was to have been worked to good advantage. Two vessels, one leaded with bales of hay, and the other with bales containing war munitions, were to have been dispatched up the Potomac, and at Aquia Creek, at a given signal, the bogus hay \\ ould have been run under the Rebel batteries. All this was proved by seized letters, and also the fact that the late cap tures of Federal sloops and small craft by the Rebels, off the Potomac and Rappahanuock Rivers, were the work of lesign and not of accident, the same containing contraband natters. New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore mer- chants are thus implicated, and the proofs are too plain and startling to be set aside. These three men were leagued together, and among their several correspondence were la* 8 g UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. letters from Rebel contractors, acknowledging the receipt of pistols and side-arms. "After being arrested, they were shifted from station houses to prison, being one night .taken ont of town to stave oft' judicial decisions, writs of habeas corpus, &o. Finally, on Sunday, Marshals Jenkins and Steele drove them to the New York boat W. defiant, G. cowed and sullen, and the Israelite trembling like a leaf. "A part of the correspondence implicating them was obtained from the wife of a lieutenant in the Federal army, who had been rather delicately implicated with N. H. W., now in Fort Lafayette. She has been arrested in Newark, New Jersey, where she resides. "The Government decoy who assisted detective Frank- lin in these labors is said to be a daring Californian, full of nerve and fertile in expedients, who has been twice in Charleston and thrice in Richmond since the battle of Bull Run. His manner of making the frrest cannot now be dis- closed, although it rivals in interest and danger the exploits of Uie best Bow Street officers." CHAPTER IV. TREASON AND TRAITORS AT THE NORTH. 'Baltimore The Detective Service and the Arrest of the Maryland Legi.4re The Refugee and the Spy The Pursuit and the Capture Traitors at Niagara Falls Acquaintance with them The Arrest In Fort Lafayette. OF all places north of Mason and Dixon' s line, Baltimore had the pre-eminence in the early development of treason, and its defiant audacity. It is doubtful whether any other city furnished as largely and promptly for the rebel army the sons of aristocratic families. Here originated, practically, armed resistance to the Government. The blood of the Massachusetts Sixth was the first martyr- blood of the war, and it stained the pavements of Baltimore. From that city was sent the first expedition to destroy a rail- road that to Gunpowder River. Whatever Baltimore may have done since to redeem her name from treason's darkest hue, at the beginning of the civil yontiict it was a hot- bed of crime, and its manifold products served well the garner of all its harvest Richmond. To make the most of the information obtained in Rich- mond, and of my letters from the authorities, I sought the acquaintance of leading secessionists, and was soon on excel- lent terms with them ; indeed, I was admitted into their secret councils. This was more readily done at this time, when any representative of the South was cordially welcomed to the traitorous circles of that city. And my commission from the Confederate government gave me distinction among the friends of the revolt. So determined and persistent were the people in their opposition to the Government, that a well-devised and deeply-laid plan was nearly consummated to carry the State out of the Union and to link its destinies with the South. 90 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. This was. to be accomplished through the secret assembling of the Legislature of Maryland. So dark, disloyal, and un- known to the public had been the meetings of this Legisla- ture, that none (or very few) of the most prominent rebels were apprised of its movements. As a confidential and trusted friend of the authorities at Richmond, there could be no objection to revealing to me the plot. At many of the private meetings which I was invited to attend, I was shocked and amazed at the cool and deliberate manner in which they declared their intentions to meet at Frederick, pass the ordinance of secession, and by it make and proclaim Maryland a Confederate State. These facts, as fast as they were obtained, were forwarded to Washington. The rebel legislators arrived in Frederick, in accordance with a previous understanding, at different times, and from, various directions, to avoid suspicion in loyal minds as to their real object. This was about the middle of September, 1861. Those that did reach Frederick were quietly arrested, and others en route, or just ready to leave Baltimore to meet their fellow-conspirators, were taken with so little demonstra- tion, scarcely any one of the number knew of the arrest of his fellow-traitor. The prompt action taken by the Government and its im- portance, I believe, have never been appreciated by the people of the loyal State? It is startling to contemplate for a moment the result which must have followed the vote of this body of treason- able men. It would have been taken at once as the signal for the immediate organization of a large rebel force in the State ; and, instead of Washington having been the capital of the Union in the civil war, it would have been the capital of the Confederacy. Instead of the Potomac river being the picket line be- tween the hostile armies, that line would probably have been somewhere on the borders of Pennsylvania. Whatever may be the estimate put upon the military or civil status of Benjamin F. Butler, to his energy, courage, and executive power in an emergency, the country is indebted for the position which Maryland occupied during the war THE REFUGEE AND THE FEMALE SPY. 91 Had he faltered on his arrival in the State, or even hesitated a moment, Maryland would have been a Confederate State. Had he done nothing more, the country would have owed General Butler a lasting debt of gratitude. September 28, 1861, while stopping at French's Hotel, in New York, I made the acquaintance of Mr. C., the book- keeper. Having had occasion to make inquiries of the char- acter of his guests, I was compelled to disclose my office. While conversing with him on one occasion about the hardships of the loyal people of the South, he called my at- tention to a man stopping there, who said he was a refugee from Mobile, and wished me to hear his story of wrongs. I consented, and was introduced to an apparently respect- able and honest mechanic, who stated that he was a North- ern man, and had been South for some time, as locomotive engineer. When the rebellion began, he inadvertently declared his sentiments, and the vigilance committee ordered Mm to go North. He owned a small house, worth a few thousand dollars, and wished to stay long enough to sell it and take his family with him. But he was required to start at once, leaving his family behind. An intimation to him by Mr. C. that I might influence the authorities at Washington and get a pass, induced him to apply to me for assistance. I took a deep interest in the case, gave him my address in Washington, and asked him to call upon me there. Subse- quently, when the incident had passed from my mind, one day my refugee friend came rushing into my apartment at Washington, and excitedly said : 'I have just met B. on the avenue, a young man from Montgomery, Alabama, where I was once employed, ele- gantly dressed in female attire, and accompanied by a maD whom I do not know. I believe he is a spy." " Why did you not follow him ? " " 1 was so much excited, I did not think of it." My informant then gave me some account of B., when I requested him to go with one of my assistants tnrough the principal streets in search of the mysterious strangers. 02 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. The search was continued for six days. One morning he came with the haste of great excitement Into my quarters again, saying : "Well, I met B. and his friend just now, and followed them to the National Hotel." I went there with my informant, procured two tickets for dinner, and we were soon seated at the table, where I found the couple. They were registered in the book as "Dr. McC. and wife, Harper's Ferry, Va." I did not lose sight of them again. On Saturday they left Washington. I followed them to Philadelphia. They stopped at the Continental Hotel, regis- tering their names "Dr. McC. and wife, Washington, D. C." Under their names I put my own as "John Brown.'.' After some further disclosures, which we shall not here detail, on Sunday night they started for the West. I was dressed in the garb of a farmer, and managed with- out suspicion to sit near them and hear much of their con- versation ; all of which proved clearly their treasonable character. Monday night we reached the Burnett House, Cincinnati, Ohio. I saw them safely domiciled in the fourth story, and waited until after one o'clock at night, when I knocked at the door. It was cautiously opened, when I said : " Doctor, I want to see you privately a moment." His wife was sitting with her feet on the mantel-piece, smoking a cigar, and her dress unhooked. I said, "Doctor, I have followed you from Washington; I know the character of this young man in female dress." At this moment I noticed a revolver on the inantel-piece T and remarked : " This might be dangerous in the hands of an ill-minded person ; I guess I will take possession of it." The doctor was boisterous and threatening. I told him 1 did not wish to make him notorious there, and alarm the house ; that I knew all about them, and resistance would not help the matter. McC. commenced pulling on his boots, when I noticed the glitter of the handle of a bowie-knife which was thrust into a pocket in the side of his boot. I added, reaching out my hand : ARREST OF REBEL AGENTS. 93 "Doctor, I think I will take this also ; you might hurt yourself." With a slight resistance on his part, I secured it The searcli of his baggage revealed, drawn on tissue paper, elab- orately prepared plans of the fortifications and number of troops in and around Washington, with a large number of letters of great importance to the Government. All of these were put into the trunks, again locked up, and with the keys in my possession, at four o'clock A.M., I was on my way to Washington with the travelers and their precious freight. They were safely quartered in the Old Capitol prison, and the maps, &c., delivered to Mr. Seward. As an evidence that the great rebellion had long been premeditated by the prominent politicians of the South, it is only necessary to observe how completely they seemed to have the machinery of their treason in operation. For, before the roar of the cannon around Sumter had ceased to echo in the bay of Charleston, the secret emissaries of the cause had received their instructions, and each knew dis- tinctly the part he was to play in the great drama. From Floyd to the lowest traitor, the certainty of success, and the matured plans, had so emboldened them, that but little discretion or concealment was deemed important. And while Breckinridge was daring the North in Congress to oppose the right of the South to secede, its traitorous agent's were boasting in the streets of Washington what they iii- teiided to do. With a view to the arrest of these rebel agents, Octobf r 18, 1861, 1 went to Canada, as the subjoined letter will show : WASHINGTON, October 25, 1861. lion. SECRETARY OF STATE: DEAR SIR I returned from Canada this morning. I found at the Clifton House, Niagara Falls, a large number of prominent secessionists, who hav just returned from Europe. , 1 would like an order for the arrest and conveyance to Fort Lafayette of S. TV. A. and O. B. C., the first-named being a member of the so-called Con- federate Congress at this time. These traitors are waiting an opportunity to go South. They have very important correspondence in tJ eir possession, some tf which I have seen. I am confident I shall succeed in inducing, them to ?isit our side of the river, which of course will be the only opportunity fur arresting them. Yours, very respectfully, L. C. BAKKR. (,4 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Having obtained the desired order from the Secretary of State, I immediately started for Niagara Falls. At Roches- ter I employed a colored servant, for I had determined to play the part of some prominent rebel from the South, and wrote three letters, all addressed to the name at the Clifton House which I had assumed. One of these letters was mailed in New York, one in St. Louis, and the third in Washington. On my arrival at the Clifton House, where my secession friends alluded to were stopping, I registered my assumed name, and put on the airs of a Southern gentleman. I secured two of the most spacious rooms in the house. The obliging landlord brought to me my letters, and in view of the honor conferred upon him he was more than ordinarily civil. He remarked that he had often heard my name mentioned by his Southern friends. Upon my adding that I desired to live in perfect quiet, he said that it would be impossible for one so distinguished to do this ; especially would my ac- quaintance be sought by fellow-exiles from the "sunny South." I was allowed to pass that evening in seclusion ; but. early the next morning a servant handed me the card of S. W. Ashley, with his compliments, and expressing a desire to pee me. I graciously granted Mr. A.'s request, and told the spf vant to show him up. I may here remark that the chances or risks so often taken of being detected in the assumed name by some acquaintance of the real person, sometimes do prove fatal to the plan ; but even a defeat by the discovery of the real object by those I am seeking to entrap is only the failure of that particu- lar plot, leaving a hundred others open for farther experi- ment. Fortune favored me, however, in this case, as Mr. A. had no personal acquaintance with the traitor whose name I had assumed. Our aims and purposes apparently being alike, we were Boon on the most familiar terms. We talked over the pros- nect of glorious successes by our gallant troops, and laughed PERILS OF "SUSPENSION BRIDGE." 97 at the absurdity of the attempt of the Yankees to resist the valor of the chivalric South. Mr. A., having preceded me several days in the visit to the Falls, had become acquainted with the interest! ii". localities, and politely invited me to accompany him on a tour of observation. I gladly accepted, and spent a day among the wonders of the great cataract. The following morning he called again, to repeat the kind attention. At my suggestion, we decided to visit that marvelous monument of engineering skill, the Suspension Bridge. I was enthusiastic in praise of the designer, and tried to ex- plain how the first wires were thrown over the chasm ; and> to have a farther inspection, proposed that we should buy tickets to cross, intimating to my friend that we had better not go over, but simply advance a sufficient distance to make an examination of the structure. I entertained my friend with remarks upon the scenery, the cables, &c. ; and, to go into the scientific observation of the different parts of the bridge, I went over the national line a hundred feet perhaps, toward the American shore. While deeply interested in conversation, we were suddenly accosted by a mild, gentlemanly man, who said to my friend, Mr. A. : " Your name is A., sir? I have an order from the Sec retary of State for your arrest. In your admiration of this structure, I think you hive ventured a little too far. Yon will please accompany me with your friend." I replied : " Sir, certainly you can not have an order for my arrest ; if so, will you produce it ?" He then took from his pocket the order for the arrest of Philip Herbert, my assumed name. I suggested to Mr. A. tha.t we should accompany the officer, quite sure that, upon the proper explanation, we should be at once released. Our protestations were of no avail. He said: "I have been watching this bridge for you three weeks ; quite sure you could not resist the temptation to examine it. You must go with me." "We started immediately for New York. Mr. A. had been quite thoughtful and sombre on the way to Rochester, and there remarked to me that his mind T 98 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. was not perfectly clear in regard to the part I was playing ; he had his suspicions that he had mistaken his man. Philip Herbert, it will be recollected, while in Congress, killed a waiter in Willard's Hotel, and after the date of this affair was himself killed in the war while colonel of a regiment. We were taken from New York to Fort Lafayette, where I remained an hour and my less fortunate friend eight months CHAPTER V. A KNIGHT OF THK GOLDKN SQUARE. P 11 F., alias Carlisle Murray, a Knight of the Golden Square The Arreet- RelekJC Paper? of F. examined Secretary Seward's Order for a Second Arrest On the Truck The Rural Retreat Mr. Carlisle Murray a Reformer and Lover The Official Writ The Astonished Landlord and Landlady A Scene- Report. IT was during the month of November, 1861, that the ex- istence of certain treasonable organizations, having for their object the overthrow of the Government, began to attract attention. October 17, 1861, a communication was received by the Hon. Secretary of State, purporting to give the his- tory of a secret society in Texas, known as Knights of the Golden Circle. The particular objects of this organization were not, however, fully explained. A few days later, an- other letter was received at the State Department, giving similar information. On the 24th of October, Benjamin Franklin, Chief of the Philadelphia Police, arrested, on a telegraphic dispatch, a one-armed man, named Carlisle Mur- .ay, and confined him in the station-house of that city. On searching his person, mysterious papers were found, appar- ently containing the constitution and by-laws of the Knights of the Golden Square. Franklin sent a dispatch to me, in- forming me of the arrest. I came to Philadelphia, compared the documents with the original records of the Knights of the Golden Circle in the State Department, and found them to agree the two societies were clearly essential!}' one in character. In a further con- versation with Murray, he claimed to be an intimate friend of a well-known merchant-prince of Boston, for whom he acted as agent. At this stage of the war so little was known of the Knights of the Golden Circle, no great importance was attached to Murray's papers, and he was released. 100 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Before this, however, I recognized him as a somewhat distinguished individual. His name was P. H. F., who figured as Filibuster Walker' s minister from Nicaragua in 1848. A subsequent examination of the papers in Murray's possession, taken in connection with those before referred to, satisfied me that he was really a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle. Clothed with the authority conferred by the following order, I entered upon the search after F. : DEPARTMENT OP STATB, ( WASHINGTON, Nocen*1>er 2, 1S61. \ To L. C. BAKER, Esq., Washington, D. C. : Yon will please arrest P. H. F., alias Carlisle Murray, and convey him to Fort Warren, Boston, Massachusetts. Examine his person and baggage, and eend all papers found in his possession to this Department. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. He had been released some weeks before his real charac- ter was discovered. To find him then seemed a hopeless task. By intercepted letters postmarked Branford, Conn., I was soon on his track. Assuming another name, he had selected this quiet town as his temporary residence. His assumed name there I did not know ; consequently must devise some plan which would lead to the knowledge of his locality. Accompanied by Franklin, I proceeded ta Branford. To avoid suspicion on the part of the citizens, it was necessary that Mr. Franklin and myself should appear under an assumed character. We represented ourselves to be gun manufacturers in behalf of the Government, seeking for an eligible spot and building in which to carry forward our business. An old machine shop, not then used, answered my purpose. When it was known that two intelligent men were about establishing business for the loyal cause, the good people of course were very anxious to serve us. The only hotel in Branford was a quiet inn, kept by a venerable couple. Here we found ourselves, strangers to all and in pursuit of a stranger, with no tangible clew to his person or place of abode. To get on good terms with "mine host" and hostess THE ASTONISHED LANDLADY. 101 h vvas only necessary to state prospective plans, and that their house would be my headquarters. The old man talked freely of the facilities for my contemplated business, and of the moral and social condition of the people ; inviting Franklin and myself to dine with them. Up to this time we had made no inquiry for the object of our visit, trusting to circumstances for farther developments. We soon sat down to an excellent dinner. While at the table, the old lady in- quired of her husband, "Is Mr. Jackson coming down to dinner? You had better ask him." This question satisfied me that we had a distinguished guest. Who was that Mr. Jackson ? I immediately rose, giving Franklin the cue, and, to the astonishment of the honest pair presiding at the table, rushed up stairs to search the house. Hurrying from room to room, at length I found the strange boarder occupying the only bedroom and parlor in the house. I said, extending IDJ hand: Ho ware you, F?" Re arose, and, politely taking my hand, said : " ^ ou have the advantage of me." I replied : " I believe I have ; for I have a warrant for your arrest ; and I don't think you have one for me." " Oh, yes," he replied ; "I recollect you now. You are from California?" And in the coolest and most off-hand manner said : " Why. I am glad to see anybody from California. Here is some good brandy. Well, how are my friends, McDougal andTillford?" He then added : " Why, Baker, this is a good joke. HOAV did you find out where I was ? I thought I had got beyond the reach of detectives. Now, the people here think me a very good man. I have lectured on temperance and religion ; have a class in the Sabbath-school ; and am court- ing one of the prettiest girls in Connecticut. This is too bad." By this time the landlord and his wife had entered the room, having learned from Franklin French's real character, when she said : ' ' Why, Mr. Jackson, how could you be so wicked ? These gentlemen say you are a rebel spy. To think that a J02 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. secessionist has even slept under our roof. I'll have to ail the bed and purify the whole house." Then, looking at her hands and crying bitterly, she added : " And I have washed your clothes ! May the Lord for- give you, for I can't." The scene was a mixture of the pathetic and comic rarely witnessed. The unsuspecting landlord, who had nearly reached his threescore and ten years, stood trembling with the palsy, and with a most woebegone expression, while his more demonstrative companion seemed beyond the reach of a comforting word. Then followed a hasty packing up of French's effects, and sending them down stairs, when he paid his weekly bill, and said to the landlady : " I will return and explain this whole thing to you." In less time than it has taken to tell the story, the news had spread through the village. The pastor whose r ilpit French had occupied, the postmaster, and blacksmith were at the hotel. But one person could be found who f ojected to the proceedings, and he was a newly arrived M. D. from Texas, who at once declared his purpose to resist the order of arrest, and called upon the people to assist in rescuing the prsoner. The display of a six-shooter immediately quieted his rebellious spirit. F. was taken to New Haven, thence to Fort Warren. After a brief 'incarceration, he was paroled by Secretary Seward ; and so the matter ended. The dis- loyal order of the Knights of the Golden Circle was so vaguely understood that it was thought, after all, harm- less to the Government. The subjoined report to the Secretary of State will shed more light upon the character and career of F., and illus- trate further the necessity of a detective police when traitors in arms and in the disguise of loyal citizens are plotting with unscrupulous hate against the Government : WABHIHOTON, November 17, 1861. To the Hon. W. H. SEWARD: DKAR SIR- On the 2d of November, I received an ordei from the State Department to arrest and convey to Fort Warren one P. II. F., alias Carlisle Murray. From an intercepted letter found in the Philadelphia post-office, 1 had reason to believe that F. was at or near Branford, Connecticut. On A KNIGHT OF THE GOLDEN SQUARE. 103 f. the 5th instant, I took officer Ben. Franklin, and proceeded to the above- named place. After some delay, I succeeded in finding F. at a small hotel, where he had been stopping for some months. I immediately placed him tinder arrest, searched his person and effects, and found a number of letters, most of which seem to be a correspondence between him (F.) and a dis tinguished merchant, relating to the sale of certain steamboats to the United States Government belonging to this merchant. F. had represented him- self to the confiding gentleman as one Carlisle Murray, who had been driven out of the South because of his Union sentiments. He also exhibited what purported to be genuine letters from the Hon. Mr. Etheridge, Andrew Johnson, Parson Brownlow, and others, authorizing him to collect moneys from loyal people of the North, for the support of Parson Brownlow's paper (the Rnoxville Whig). I have ascertained that he did collect, from the mer- chant already mentioned, and others, about four thousand dollars. A careful perusal of the correspondence between these parties shows that the latter did make an engagement with Mr. F. to sell two steamers to our Govern- ment, and that he was to receive a certain commission for the same. During the time he was trying to sell or negotiate for the steamboats, he visited the merchant at his country residence, was invited to spend the Sabbath, and dine with him (which invitation F. accepted), receiving letters of introduction to prominent and wealthy citizens of Boston, New York, Brooklyn, and other places. There can be no doubt but that F. is one of the most accom- plished villains in America, nor that the merchant did bona fide enter into a contract or agreement with F. to sell certain steamboats to the United States'; nor that his patron was informed of the true character of F. long before he took any steps for his arrest. The correspondence and all the facts in the case go to show : First, that F.. by forged letters and misrepre sentations, deceived his patron ; second, that the merchant, finding F. a very shrewd, intelligent man, did employ him to sell the steamers: and third, that, when he learned the real character of F., the authorities were not immediately notified by him; and when said merchant ascertained that F. could not, or would not, make a sale of the boats, he telegraphed to the authorities in Philadelphia to arrest Carlisle Murray for swindling. These are, in my opinion, about the facts relating to the matter, as far as the merchant is concerned. Among the papers found in F.'s possession, was a manuscript purporting to be the constitution and by-laws of a secret order or association, known as the Knights of the Golden Square. This document is copied almcst ver- batim from the constitution and by-laws of the Knights of the Golden Circle, an order that originated in Texas, some two years since, the object of which was, the overthrow of the United States Government. By an ingenious word- ing of these papers that is, whenever the name and objects of the order occur the terms have been used, evidently intending to convey the impres- sion that it was a Union order, designed to be secret in its nature, but the object of which was to be the maintenance of the cause of the North. I am satisfied that F. is a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle; that he has copied their constitution and by-laws ; that the papers found in his possession have been altered or worded differently from the original, 104 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. that, if lie should at any time be suspected or arrested, these papers could not he nsed as evidence against him. All the letters and papers found in Y.'s possession are forwarded to your Department. Yours, very truly, L. U. BAKEK. If i the early stages of the war, before any police organ ization of the Government had been perfected or set in operation, and before blockade restrictions had been es- tablished, the whole North was flooded by a class of south- ern spies, correspondents, and incendiaries. That the spy- ing and detective business was not confined to those who had made it a profession would seem to be indicated by the following letter. The writer of this precious document was an Episcopalian minister from the South, who had been employed by the rebel government to visit the North, with a view to ascertain the movements then on foot toward the organization of the army. It was written to Bishop Gen- eral P. The "Joe" spoken of, was a sergeant in one of the Federal regiments, with whom an arrangement had been made by the writer to convey through the lines to the rebels any documents that might be forwarded to him for that purpose. "Joe" was ferreted out and arrested, and made a confession of the whole scheme which is re- ferred to in the communication ; to wit, the organization of a force in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware, to seize the Arsenal, Navy Yard, and public property at Philadel- phia. The "friend Bob" spoken of was Bob B. (ex-senator B.), cf Delaware. When the ringleaders of this conspiracy discovered that I was on their track, they immediately abandoned the scheme, or transferred their field of opera- tions to the West, where an organization was perfected, but broken up by the arrest of Dr. D. at Indianapolis, in 1864. PHILADELPHIA, December 26, 1S61. WORTHY SIR Various good and sufficient reasons have detained me north ef this point several days beyond the time specified in your instructions. First of these, I, in a room in Boston, was expatiating, as usual, upon the horrors and sin of slavery, as a matter of course, and misrepresenting, in a blundering way, its real condition. One of the chaps took up the cudgel in good earnest. He had sailed South, been in Southern ports, knew Southern people well, they wero kind to the nigger, &c., &c. I invited talk, solicited conversation and A SPICY CLERICAL EPISTLE. ion information gained his confidence, finding how freely he let himself out. 1 had several interviews, and finally threw off the mask, and told my real object was to gain information, in which he aided me to the extent of his utmost ability. Ho is a man about sixty years of age, but strong and active ; and although a native-born New Englander, he hates, with a perfect ferociousness, the name of New England. Several reasons conspire to produce this. First, he has been swindled by a pious deacon, his brother-in-law, who induced his wife to forsake him ; then he has mingled, to a great extent, with our people South, and cherishes a fond recollection of many of our citizens. Oh, how he swears at the Yankees. I soon ascertained that I might place implicit reliance upon his word. My respect and confidence were confirmed by the opinions entertained and freely expressed here by all classes. They represent him as a bold, outspoken secessionist. Being a man of tried and sterlin'g bravery, the people know well that it would never do to trifle with him ; and, added to this, he is worth some twenty or twenty -five thousand dollars; being quite judiciously invested, enables him to realize an income of at least three or four thousand a year, at least three-fourths of which he gives away not in the form of common charities altogether, but gifts in the shape of loans to deserving beginners. In this way his popularity among a great many is solid, not only with those whom he has benefited, but others, whose respect for such unostentatious nobleness is challenged and secured. Well, he is the man we need. He will go into the scheme with heart and soul. His plan is, receive orders for a stanch, swift sea-steamer from a South American power, have her quietly and expeditiously built, manned with the right kind of a crew, give out that he is going with her, let her take in a cargo of just such articles as we need at present boots, shoes, &c. sail, and enter the first Southern port that looks clear. I would here remark, that his plan is to have three just such steamers under way at the same time. Either this, or he will buy each, however, from different points. Marine signal No. 8 (eight) of the Confederate States of America will be used upon entrance of our port. This, you remember, is the plan agreed upon to deceive the blockade fleet. The day after my arrival in this place I was accosted by a venerable old beggar, who stood at a corner soliciting alms. His touching tone of voice, coupled with his meek yet respectful appearance, although iu rags, attracted and interested me. I gave him a dime, and asked him carelessly where he lived, with no intention, however, of paying him a visit, but hardly knowing what to say, and feeling I ought to say something. He replied, " You aint got any Jeames River tobacky, I reckon, to give a fellow a chaw." Imagine my surprise when my beggar friend proved to be our old Nebo. Cute as ever, he plies his artful game. He tells me that he was in Washing- ton last week; says old is drunk one-half his time. and are laying up big piles of United States money both for themselves and friends, though is the sharpest in the way of money. That old stupid fool, , w completely under the thumb of , ditto. Nabo says that, unsuspectingly, he has been permitted to enter hoth th j^ c UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. civil and military department in Washington and Alexandria. As his means of communicating with head-quarters is so very expeditious and complete, I deem it both impolitic and unnecessary to detail, in this communication, the \ ast amount of useful information which he is enabled to pick up. One thing I must mention. He says that in less than three months \ve will have Phila- delphia and Baltimore. He says that as soon as the advance is made upon the ines at W., a party here, now numbering over five thousand, in this citf, together with 'thrice that number in the adjoining counties, will seize to* Navy Yard, Arsenal, &c. His experience tallies with mine, that is, that New Jersey is sound to the back-bone for us: yes, far more so than Delaware, although a Southern State. I am afraid, to advise you to take that trip, for, notwithstanding the cleilcai cut of my coat, I am watched very closely, as are all strangers, by the Govern- ment spies. The people are heartily sick and tired of this war, but are afraid to otter such sentiments, it being treason, or so ruled by that drunken thief, . Nebo says that whenever needs money he sends ahead some startling telegraph communications, manufactured, as a matter of course. Soon the streets of Philadelphia and New York ring with the cry of extras : " Glorious news (in big letters). Fifty thousand secessionists routed by a Union force of only one hundred and fifty. We took thirty thousand prisoners, two hun- dred and seventy-five thousand stand of arms, one thousand four hundred cannon, and an immense stock of ammunition. The rebel general shot in the mouth by a Buck-tail, which would have proved fatal, but just as the ball hit him he spit out a quid of tobacco, which turned the ball aside. It, however, glanced from the quid and killed a colonel and eleven privates. Our loss (Union) two killed, three wounded, one missing." Such, my dear general, is the windy stuff which uses to draw money out of the Wall Street kings. Verily, this is a humbuggy age. To my mind it is past my comprehension how the two sections can ever meet together, even in ordinary intercourse. You can form no conception of the bitter feel- ing of hostility entertained by all classes here. An instance or two will suffice. An interesting pious family, whose savory discourse did my soul much good in its growth in grace, &c., &c., whose hospitality I often enjoyed, one day last week, in making a call, I found them much excited. Upon inquiring the cause, Miss Annie informed me that they had just learned that the bonnet- maker was a vile secessionist. I straightened my eye-brows, turned up my whites, and made an appropriate pious ejaculation, and inquired how she had made the discovery. By accident, sir. Well, to sift the testimony from then- verbiage, Mrs. , a poor widow, who makes a living for herself and children in the bonnet business, had been so imprudent as to say to my friend, " WelL I hope if they do liberate the negroes, they will make some provision for their support, for they will no longer have their owners to look to." Now, for this vile secession (!!!), my pious friends are determined not to pay their bonnet-bills until the war is over. Don't you admire their spunk? The other instance is this : A pious elder in one of the Presbyterian churches here has a daughter married to a Southern elder, who is in the Southern army; and so bitter is his feeling, that neither daughter, child, noi husband ia ever alluded SECESSION PICTURES OF THE NORTH. 107 to, even [in] his prayers. Indeed, my dear sir, the spirit of the wolf, the hyena, ay, rattlesnake, and all vicious animals, are let loose in the hearts of this people. There is no language sufficiently strong to describe the malignity of their feelings. Ages hence will this feeling burn. I thought some of our Hotspurs went far in their expressions of hatred and contempt, but it don't begin to touch bottom with Pliiladelphians. But with all this, I understand that we have a goodly heritage in this city and its vicinity. Old Nebo tells me that there is now in process of completion a scheme to be inaugurated soon upon a grand scale. It contemplates the seizure of Philadelphia. He says there is over three millions of dollars invested. lie could not make me ^acquainted with the particulars. They are called the "Regulators." He says that several prominent military men have it [in] charge. It embraces New Jersey and Delaware. I find, however, I am repeating what I have already written in this letter. Dr. 's church, during the week, is turned into a tailor shop. The Doctor is a strong coercionist in the pulpit; in the parlor he is a secessionist, or, I should say, an apologist for that vile heresy, Dr. , ditto, Dr. , ditto, and many others, who were converted during the days of terror last April, when our friend Bob escaped the halter in Philadelphia. Thousands here entertain earnest and anxious desires for peace, but dare not utter their thoughts even to their nearest kin. In my clerical capacity I say, that this people is given over not only to believe a lie, but lies. The truth is too tame and commonplace. They are confident that ten of their men can beat and put to rout one hundred of the South. I then ask them why their Army of the Potomac, which outnumbers the South, don't move, and crush Beauregard. They say, " Oh, that is the fault of politicians." As an Englishman, some avoid and wheedle me. Ypur obedient servant, THOMAS, the D. D. I will be in Cleveland ten days from time first noted. The following is a copy from a letter which accompanied the former, in similar handwriting : PHn.ADBi.pmA, December 27, 1861. DEAR PHIL Joe tells me that you are about Sin sin naughty, as he drawls it out. I detained this to say a word about the M. and G. difficulty ; but you see the papers all bosh. Send word by this, if you choose, that it will end in wnok3--a flash in the pan. You can read and remember as much of tha inclosed as you can. Be sure to note the figures, as they mark the name of the Sea Dog. Burn the letter unless you can safely carry, and then get in your hole and skeet for Dixie. It ought to have gone before, but I was far away when F. was here, and did not see him. Oh, how these Northern .papers lie about us. Joe is a sergeant in a company of one of the regiments here will start for Washington soon. If he gets on picket duty he will com- municate. Direct your letters to Rev. , D. D. (be sure to put the D. D.), of Bath, England. Good-by, and G. B. Y. TOM. CHAPTER VI. DISLOYALTY AMONG THE POSTMASTEBS. A Mystery The Result of Cabinet Meetings in Washington known in Richmoid The Detectives learn the Reason A Visit to Lower Maryland Amusing Scne The Mysterious Boi The Reports A Rebel Letter. IT was a surprising fact during the first six or eight months after the war began, that the result of every Cabinet meeting at Washington was reported in Richmond within twenty-four hours after it was held. The secret was, that every postmaster in Lower Maryland, comprising the coun- ties of St. Charles, St. George, and St. Mary's, with three exceptions, were disloyal. It had been taken for granted that the State was true to the Government, while rebel emis- saries were constantly conveying information from Washing- ton to the post-offices along the Potomac, from which it was -transmitted to Fredericksburg by blockade-runners and spies, and thence telegraphed to Richmond. By this arrange- ment, uninterrupted and unrestrained communication was kept open between the rebels North and South until Novem- ber 20, 1861, when I decided, if possible, to break up the treasonable correspondence. Accordingly, the Secretary of War directed that three companies, of one hundred men each, from the Third Indiana Cavalry, then in General Hooker's division at Budd's Ferry, be detached, and report to me for the purpose of visiting and, if necessary, permanently occu pying Lower Maryland. The first post-office upon which I called was at Chaptico, a small village at the head of a bay of the Potomac, bearing the same name, and about sixty miles from Washington. I reached the village late one afternoon, when an amusing incident occurred, illustrating the ignorance in the country generally, more profound, perhaps, in some portions of it THE MYSTERIOUS BOX. 109 respecting military affairs, resulting from the peaceful pur- suits of the people during a long period of declining martial spirit and demonstrations. The first military seen in Chaptico was nfy advent with three hundred of " Uncle Sam's boys," which naturally cre- ated intense excitement among this rural people. My force was composed principally of Germans, who be- came brave soldiers subsequently in the western battle- fields. They were addicted, of course, to the use of intoxi- cating drinks ; hence it was necessary to encamp apart from places where liquors were sold. I entered the town with my orderly, to notify all vendors of strong drink to close their bars, and under no circumstances to sell to the soldiers under my command. In the evening, to my surprise, when passing one of the drinking-houses, I found it full of troops who, with the land- lord, were having a jolly time over their potations. I immediately stepped in and inquired of the host : "Did I not give you an order not to sell liquor to my men?" "Why, Colonel," he said, " these ain't no soldiers ; they are officers. They have got swords on." Officers generally wearing swords, the cavalrymen thus armed deceived the benighted dealer in poor whisky and beer. He was sure that he was honored with men quite above common soldiering. I proceeded to the post-office, and found the postmaster sick and all the family in about the same plight, excepting a bright little girl, twelve years of age. 1 rapped at the door, when she raised the window and said: "Father told me I must not let any of the Yankee sol- diers in." I replied : "I am not a Yankee soldier, but an agent of the Post-office Department." I was then admitted; and asked where the office was kept. She pointed to a box of pigeon holes. While exam- ining it, I accidentally observed a rough pine box with iron hasp and hinges and a United States mail lock. It was par- titioned through the center, with a hole for letters in each HO UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. division. Over one part was " Southern Letters ;" over the other, "Northern Letters." I said : "What is this box for ?" She innocently answered, pointing to the inscriptions : Why, the letters put in that hole (the Southern) go to Richmond ; and those in the other go to Washington." The postmaster, who was in bed, overhearing her, spoke somewhat excitedly : "No, that ain't so ; why do you tell the gentleman such a story?" I answered : " I guess the girl tells the truth." Taking the box, which, upon examination, was found to contain letters from rebels on the way to the Confederacy, and those whose hearts, if not their faces, were toward rebel- dom, I placed it in the Post-office Department at Washing- ton as a curiosity, where it still remains. At L., the largest village in all that part of Lower Mary- land, another amusing incident occurred. It had long been the residence of aristocratic families. A weekly newspaper was published there a paper which was pre-eminent in fan- ning the fires of rebellion throughout that region. Arriving within two miles of the town at evening, I en camped in a grove of pines. With a captain, sergeant, and two orderlies I rode into the village, and found the people had heard of our arrival. The principal men of the place waited upon me and protested in the most violent manner against Yankee troops disturbing their peace ; for they were "State-rights people, who only wished to be let alone." They made threats of personal violence if my soldiers were brought into Leonardtown. I replied : "I am here under orders of the Secretary of War, on a peaceful investigation, and not as charged, to steal your slaves, to burn your houses and barns, or to molest the inhabitants. I have money to pay for forage and ration* if you will sell them ; if not, shall take them." By this time the editor of the paper had become bois terous in his condemnation of the Government and ite officers. I quietly directed a guard to be placed arouni hia printing-office. Selecting from my command Jud?;t, L . of A SUDDEN CONVERSION. HI Cleveland, Ohio, an officer who had some experience as an editor, I directed him to write an article for the paper, in which the rebel editor was made to recant his secession heresy and declare for the Union, advising all his sub- scribers to do the same. The compositors were compelled to set it up, and then the pressmen reluctantly struck off the paper. The subscription book was consulted, and to each name a copy of the paper was mailed. The excitement and indignation which followed the distribution of the suddenly loyal sheet, and the discovery of the serious joke, made one of the most ludicrous incidents in my official experience. The further results of this expedition are presented in the subjoined note and reports : WABHISOTOIC, November 25, 186L Brigadier-General HOOKER, Commanding at Budd's Ferry : DEAR SIR The expedition under my command to the lower coast of Maryland lias proved successful. We captured four mounted traitors and one rebel spy. Mr. Seward is much gratified at the promptness with which you responded to the orders given to me. Also obtained many valuable letters and documents, from which important results will follow. To Captain Keister and Lieutenant Lemon, I am under many obligations; I found them very prompt and ready to act at all times. The men under their command conducted themselves with the greatest propriety. A detachment of sixteen men, as a guard, accompanied me by steamer via Baltimore to this city. 1 return them to their quarters to-day. Allow me to return you my thanks for your extreme kindness to me during my short stay at your headquarters. Yours, truly, L. C. BAKER. WASHINGTON, November 27, 1881. To the Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State : DEAR SIR In compliance with orders issued from your Department^ under date of November 18th, I repaired to the headquarters of Brigadier- General Hooker, at or near Budd's Ferry, and was promptly furnished with one hundred men from the Third Indiana Cavalry, under command of Captain Keister. The ooject of the expedition was to arrest parties suspected of rendering aid to Virginia rebels, to discover the channel through which con- traband correspondence was being carried on, and, if necessary, to take into custody any persons found in arms against the United States Government. On my arrival at Port Tobacco, the headquarters of Colonel Graham's regi- ment, I found the inhabitants complaining bitterly at their alleged ill-treat- ment, and depredations committed by the soldiers under his command. In justice to Colonel G., however, I found, on inquiring, that the inhabitants U2 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. had been the first aggressors. There are residing at this place bat tear or five Union men the balance either being sympathizers with secessionists, or open and avowed aiders and abettors of treason. The postmaster at this place is secretlv doing all in his power to further the interests of the Con- federacy. Eight miles from the above-named locality is a small town, known as Allen's Fresh. There are but two Union men at this place. I found in the post-office here five letters, addressed to fictitious names: on opening them. I discovered that they contained sealed letters, addressed to well-known secessionists in Virginia. The postmaster was one of those who assisted and contributed to organize and equip Confederate soldiers now in Virginia. At the Newport post-office, some two miles from Allen's Fresh. I found a package of thirty-four letters, post-marked "Newport P. O., Maryland," all ready to be forwarded to different localities at the North. On examining these letters, I found that they were all written in Virginia, and had all been dropped into the office by one person. At Chaptico, a place of about two or three hundred inhabitants, located at the head of a small inlet opening into the Potomac, I found but four Union men, the traitors at this point having threatened to hang and burn the property of any man who dares to avow Union sentiments. At this point, there bus been carried on for months a regular communication with Virginia. The postmaster here openly declares himself a traitor; I should have placed him under arrest, but found him confined in his bed with chills and fever, besides having a large family depending on him for their daily support. I next stopped at Leonardtown. This is the largest and by far the most prosperous village in Lower Maryland. I do not consider it safe to say that there is one Union man in the town or vicinity, although many declare themselves State flights Men, which is but a milder term for secession- ists. At this place has been enlisted, equipped, and conveyed to Virginia, a very large number of men for the Confederate army. But very fe\v hesitate to declare openly their secession sentiments; I think this is {Jttribtitable almost wholly to the publication of a bitter and uncompromising secession paper, published in this place. I found in the post-office a large number of letters going to and coming from Virginia. The postmaster, a Mr. Yates, declared himself to me a good Union man ; I, howeven^ afterward obtained the most undeniaVle proof of his disloyalty to the Government and sympa- thy with the rebels. I think that Leonardtown should be at once placed under martial law, and a provost-marshal appointed, in order that the few Union men residing there may have some kind of protection against these traitois. From Leonardtown I went to Great Mills, a distance of twelve miles. There are but few inhabitants residing directly on the road, the population being mostly on the Potomac and Pawtuxent rivers. Daily steamboat com- munication from Baltimore to Mijlstone Landing (a point on the Pawtuxent river, near its mouth) has, in my opinion, made this the most important point in Lower Maryland. That you may more readily understand with what facilities correspondence and goods of all descriptions have and are being transported into Virginia by this route, I annex a map of the country. The distance from Millstone Landing, on the Pawtuxent, to Redmond's Landing, at the head of St. Mary's river (four nrtes from the Potomac), is but fight REBELS IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 113 the road being ei iellent at all seasons of the year. There are but four or five Union men in this vicinity ; most of those who have declared thorn- selves as such have either been driven from the county, or dare not avow themselves in favor of the Government. A number are now residing in the neighborhood who hold commissions in the rebel array. It is, however, exceedingly difficult to arrest them; the approach of any considerable number of troops is a signal for these cheats to leave their houses, or secrete them- selves, and it can only be accomplished by the most shrewd and well-laid plans. I made the following arrests, viz. : E. H. J., W. M. A., E. M. S., and R. L. II. These men were a part of an organization known as the Lower Maryland Vigilance Committee. Mr. E. H. J. resides at what is known as the Old Factory, St. Mary's County, is engaged in merchandising, farming, &c. When the present diffi culties broke out, J. went to Baltimore, and was there during the riot of April 19th. On his return hence, he brought not less than four hundred stands of arms from Baltimore, which afterward were sent to Virginia. He has had wagons for hauling contraband goods from the Potomac to the Pa- tnxent, during the greater part of the summer and fall. He made his house the headquarters of secession spies, passing to and from Virginia; has enlisted, equipped, and forwarded a large number of men for the Confederacy; has notified Union men to leave the county ; and has, on all occasions, cursed and abused the Government. D. W. M. A. resides about one mile from J., openly defies the Govern- ment, was a co-operator with J. in all his treasonable operations ; is said to be the secretary of the Vigilance Committee, and stated to me, after his arrest, that he would yet kill a Yankee for every day that he was imprisoned by the Government. E. M. S. is a Confederate spy. He was indicted by the Baltimore grand jury for engaging in the riot of the 19th of April, but made his escape into Virginia, and, up to the time of his arrest, had kept out of the way. Some memorandums of importance were found in his possession. The arrest of B. L. H. will prove of the greatest importance to the Government. II. resided at the landing on the Patmxent River, and made his hotel the rendezvous for all the secessionists in the county. At his house were held all their meetings and deliberations. He had two teams constantly running from the landing to the Potomac River. I have the most positive proof that, the night before his arrest, he took three hundred Colt revolvers to Virginia; I found two large boxes buried in tlie sand, about two hundred yards from his house, from which he took these revolvers. Mrs. H. informed me that she had frequently cautioned her husband that he would yet be caught and imprisoned by the Government, but he disregarded her advice, and told her that he was determined to make money in some way. Some letters were found in his possession of the strongest secession character, also Confederate envelopes, stamps, circulars, &c. H. was the master spirit, and the worst man in the county. Much difficulty was experienced in making these arrests. The county is wild and unsettled ; a complete set of signals had been established among 114 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. the inhabitants, and notice of our arrival had been given to the entire country, making it necessary to move only at night-time. I endeavored, stating ttat, as soon as the troops left, their building would be burned, and they them- selves assassinated or hung by the Committee. I am much indebted for my success to Brigadier-General Hooker, for his promptness in furnishing men ; to Captain Keister, for the energy, patience, and promptness- with which he aided me at all times; to A. G. Lawrence, Esq., who accompanied me from this city, for the very efficient aid and advice he gave at all times. Some small-arms, two kegs of rifle powder, secession flags, and other articles were seized. Since my return, I have had some conversation with the Postmaster- General in relation to mail matters. When I go down again, he has autho- rized me to displace all disloyal postmasters, and if safe and reliable Union men can be found, to recommend them for appointment ; if such can not be found, discontinue the offices altogether. This course, I have no doubt, will induce them to better regard and appreciate the favors they have and are still receiving from the Government. In order that the channels of commu- nication with the South may be effectually broken up, and protection afforded to Union men in Charles and St. Mary's counties, I would most respectfully recommend that a military force be sent there at once. Two or three hundred men could subsist themselves and horses, without being com- pelled to transport forage. Should you deem it proper or advisable to send such a force, I would gladly go with them, and render all the assistance in my power. Asking pardon for this my lengthy communication. I remain, dear Sir, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, L. C. BAKEK. WASHINGTON, January 14, 1862 To the Honorable POSTMASTER-GENERAL: DEAR SIR At your request, I herewith send report of the condition in which I found the several post-offices located in Charles and St. Mary's counties, Maryland. At Port Tobacco, numerous and repeated complaints Lave been forwarded to me by detective agents of the Government, concerning the loyalty of the postmaster at this place. Charges of the most grave and aggravated character have been made by the few Union men residing in thin vicinity. On investigation, I found that he has, on three different occasions, received packages of letters, post-marked at Baltimore, and forwarded same to Virginia. On or about the 15th October, a Confederate spy mailed at this office one hundred and forty letters, which he (the spy) brought direct from Virginia. This was done with the full knowledge and consent of the post- master. In addition to this, he has aided and advised a number of young men in the neighborhood to cross the river and join the Confederate army. Allen's Fresh. The postmaster at this place seldom if ever attends per- sonally to the duties of the office, but leaves the business in the hands of a young boy, some twelve or fourteen years old. I found in this office nite MARYLAND POSTMASTERS. 115 nncalled-for letters, having been addressed to fictitious names ; on opening them, I found they were addressed to individuals in the so-called Confederate States. The postmaster in this place is disloyal and can not be trusted. Newport. In this office, I found a package of fifty-two letters, written by parties now residing in the rebel States, addressed to persons in Baltimore. The postmaster is a first-class rebel. In rny opinion, this office could be discontinued, it being located but two miles from Allen's Fresh. Charlotte's Hall. But one contraband letter was found in this office. The postmaster assures me that he is a good Union man, and is doing all he can to assist and forward the interests of the Government. I think him a highly intelligent gentleman, but hardly sound. Oakville. This office is located in a thrifty, settled community, and is but of little importance; being some distance from the Potomac, has less facilities than other offices for conducting contraband mail matter. I consider the postmaster a loyal, good, and reliable man. Chaptico. From the peculiar location of this office (being situated at the head of Chaptico Bay), the postmaster has very superior facilities for con- ducting a large contraband business, which he has not failed to improve tc a greater extent than any other officer in Lower Maryland. Indeed, he openly boasts that he holds two appointments as postmaster one from Washington, and one from Richmond. A large number of contraband letters were found in his office. In addition to this, he is an habitual drunkard, neglecting the duties of his office; he has repeatedly neglected to lock the mail-bag; has often left the key in the bag, and often refused to open the mail at all. From the importance of this office, it could hardly be dis- continued without a positive injury to a large number of good and loyal citizens. Leonardtown. This is the largest village or town in Lower Maryland. Charges of disloyalty have repeatedly been made against the postmaster of this place, many of which I have thoroughly investigated. lie (Yates) styles himself a State Rights man, which is but a mild term for secession. A number of contraband letters were found in his office, but he positively denies knowing the writers, or the parties to whom they are addressed. The citizens generally speak in the highest terms of him, and, so far as I can judge, the office was well managed. Everything seems to be conducted with a great deal of system and regularity. As no better man could b induced to take the office, I should think a change not advisable at present. Great Mills. This is an office of some importance, being located midway between the Pawtuxent river and the head of St. Mary's, by opening directly into the Potomac. In September last, acting under an order from your department, I seized the entire contents of the office. About one-fourth of the mail was directed (under cover) to the Confederate States. I think, however, the postmaster is a loyal citizen, but has been very negligent in his duties. Not desiring to incur the hatred of the secession community in which he resided, he has allowed letters to be received at his office from the rebel States, addressed to well-known traitors, without reporting the same to the propei 1 authorities. I think a change should be made at this office at once. 116 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Saint Inagoes. This office is of but little importance ; but few letters received or mailed. I have heard no complaints against the postmaster here, hence I conclude he is loyal. From the very meager amount realized, I have found it exceedingly diffi- cult to find good, reliable, loyal men, who would accept the appointment of postmaster. Many who are competent will not devote the necessary tini* required to perform the duties of the office. I have, however, obtained the names and consent of loyal citizens who wiH accept an appointment ut a number of the offices mentioned in this report, and, as soon as I can complete the list, I shall forward the same to your department. I consider it a matter of the greatest importance to the Government, at this time, that our post- masters should be loyal and true to the Union, particularly when their offices can by any possibility be used in any manner as a medium to convey informa- tion to the Confederate States. To discontinue altogether our mail facilities in Lower Maryland, at present time, would result in a great inconvenience and injury to the few loyal people residing in that section, as well as our military forces, which, at my suggestion, have been stationed along the Potomac, to break up the contraband trade so successfully carried on during the past summer. I am, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed) L. C. BAKER. Special Agent P. 0. Depart., and Government Detective. A letter which was intercepted about this time will reveal the demoniac spirit of the rebellion, which, 1 regret to know, exists still to an alarming extent in the conquered South : NANJXMOT, December 19, 1862. Dr. HATLING: I expect to go from home soon, under another permit, to Nanjemoy, and want to make a good thing of it better than before. What I say about the permit, is confidential ; don't forget. I suppose you have heard but little of the truth of the little skirmish before Fredericksburg. Abolition, with Burnside at its head, was somewhat scorched. At least thirty thousand were made to bite the dust. The strangled newspapers on this side dare not tell half the truth. I have my information from officers and men who were on the field, and in the battle. They say the slaughter can never be described or forgotten by those who saw it. They lay by thousands upon a single acre. The Southern blood was fully up; they spared nothing, but slew the cringing, cowardly, wiglish Abolitionist* witli an unsparing hand. The Southern loss was comparatively small, it is thought not over fifteen hundred, though nothing can be definitely known, yet awhili, on the subject. It was doubtless the greatest slaughter ever made on this continent. But A REBEL LETTER. H7 irili it teach the fools at Washington wisdom? I hope so. Report reached here yesterday, that Burnside, Stanton, and Halleck have resigned. Lincoln, Seward, &c., ought to follow suit. And then commence and hang every Abolitionist and Black Republican, and the balance may have some peace The sooner this is done the better. v our friend, (Signet 9. W. 0. CHAPTER Vli. FRAUDS DISLOYALTY IN MARYLAND. Th Freighted Traveler Treason and Frauds overlooked in the Rising Storm of Rebellion The Bankers The Pretty Smuggler Reliable Character of tht Detective Bureau Disloyalty, and its Punishments in Lower Maryland Thr Friends of Hon. Montgomery Blair and the Quinine Traffic Chunook' Telegrams. THERE was about this time a rather marked illustration of a common means of transporting contraband goods across the lines. The extent to which such methods of deception were resorted to by both men and women sho^s the stringency of the blockade at which the rebels sneered for a while, and the mania for speculation amid the horrors of war. I went to the wharf at Baltimore to watch the movements of a suspicious passenger who had gone just before me to embark. He succeeded in passing the scrutiny of Provost-Ma.rshal McPhail, and went on board the steamer bound South. I followed him, and became satisfied that I had tracked an old offender. I accordingly addressed him, when he denied any disloyal designs. His hat had a peculiar appearance seemed heavier than it ought to be. Removing it, I saw that the interior was conical in form, the base fitting his head. I struck the top of the crown upon the rail of the boat, when a cloud of quinine dust rose in the air. The rogue stood disclosed ; and my first business was to secure his weapons of defense, if he had any. A pistol was found and se teed. This weapon and the knife are the universal means of pro- tection, and used in ways unknown to any but villains and their captors. On one occasion a man had his Dering* r in his pantaloons pocket, and with his hand was turning it to fire at me through his pocket, when I sprang upon Mm and took it AN ENTERPRISING TRAVELER. 119 The brief report, which will give further particulars in Wilson's case, alludes to the search for him in Maryland, where, to escape the detectives, he sprang from a window in the second story of a dwelling and got away : WASHINGTON, December 30, 1841. To the Honorable SECRETARY OF STATE: DEAR SIR On the morning of the 19th instant, I arrested, on board the stoamer Mary Washington, in Baltimore, one William Wilson. Upon search- ing his person, I found concealed in his overcoat pocket a large druggist's jar, containing three ounces of quinine, a package of letters addressed to parties in Europe, and a number of photographs. I also found in Wilson's hat, very ingeniously concealed, twenty ounces of quinine. From reliable information received since the arrest, I am satisfied that Wilson is the notorious "Bill Wilson," of St. Mary's county, Maryland, and the individual for whose arrest the Government lately offered a large reward. Wilson had on his person British papers, showing that he had traveled in Europe as an Englishman. He is now confined in Fort McHenry, awaiting the orders of the State Department. J consider him a very dangerous man to be at large. Yours, very respectfully, L. 0. BAKER. The storm of civil war came so suddenly upon us, that how to meet it was the great, absorbing question. The Cabinet, Congress, and the loyal masses at the North were intensely aroused to the need of men and money to beat back the wanton assault of treason upon our nationality. Consequently, scarcely a thought was given to the possibility of disloyalty and frauds at home. The eye was fixed upon the dark horizon of Southern revolt; while within our own brighter one were plots and robberies of the public treasury, whose disclosure was as startling as it was sickening to every patriotic heart. An example of rebel perfidy aud disregard of oaths in the highest class of capitalists was discovered toward the close of 1861. The house of J., Bros. & Co., bankers, in Baltimore, whose business previous to the rebellion was principally with Southern banks, applied to the Hon. Simon Cameron for a permit to visit friends at the South. Mr. Cameron had known the members of this firm to be of the first respectability, and gave the desired pass. 120 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. After this was used, another was obtained, until a large number had been obtained and had served well the purpose of the enterprising bankers. I received information that one of the firm was engaged in conveying large amounts back and forth in connection with the banking house of P. M., Richmond ; and that this means was resorted to for the transaction of business which months before had been pronounced contraband. I determined to detect the offenders in the act, and ex- pose their disloyalty. Mr. J. was arrested at the Relay House, with his servant, and upon examination of his baggage a large amount of exchange and rebel correspondence was found. When the pass taken from Mr. J. and all the facts were presented to Mr. Seward, he directed the seizure of the bank. It was decided to make a thorough examination of the vaults. The firm refusing to give up the keys of them, they were broken open, and revealed the shameful truth that the house had been for months acting contrary to a well- known order of the President prohibiting trade with the South. The next day I was directed by Mr. Seward to visit the War Department by eleven o'clock A. M. I repaired ac- cordingly to his office, and was ushered into the presence of President Lincoln, Secretaries Seward and Cameron, and Thomas A. Scott, and requested to identify the passes issued to J. I cannot pretend to say how far Mr. Cameron was imposed upon by his banking friends, or to what extent the disclosure subsequently influenced his course. Mr. J. was sent to Fort McHenry, and the bank remained for a long time closed. Not far removed in date of occurrence, another form of fraudulent speculation, of which an instance among the male traitors has been recorded in the experience of " Billy Wilson," presented itself under a new and very amusing aspect. I was standing on the steamboat wharf at the foot of Sev- enth Street, Washington, with some of my assistants, when a pretty and tastefully dressed woman stepped from a carriage THE FAIR SMUGGLER. 121 and cast a restless, inquiring glance upon the miscellaneous crowd around her. This little peculiarity attracted ray at- tention. For, not unfrequently, the clew to a crime and ita perpetrator is given by such signals, of both which only a detective of some experience would observe. An anxious look, a passing expression of the face, a confused manner or answer to a question, becomes the key to unlock a great and dark mystery of wrong. I closely watched the fair traveler as she walked upon the narrow, springy plank to the boat, and saw that the foot- bridge yielded to her step quite too much for her natural weight. I was satisfied, upon a nearer observation, that under her light outer dress there was a heavier garment than anything in the usual contents of the female wardrobe. I politely accosted her in the saloon, and said : " Madam, what have you concealed under your dress ?" "Nothing, sir," she sharply replied, "that I have not a right to carry." "See here, my lady ; just step into that state-room, and relieve yourself of the contraband goods without further ceremony or trouble." She disappeared, and a moment later, from the partially opened door spitefully threw a skirt, in which was quilted forty pounds of sewing silk, saying : " I suppose you think that you are very smart." I quietly replied: "Smart enough for you, madam;" rolled up the valuable garment, and left her to her own reflections. In the introduction to this volume, I said that it was the aim, and to some extent a successful one, I think, to give to the Detective Bureau a character second to no other part of the national service in reliability. No man, however successful in his particular work, was allowed to remain in my employ- ment if found to be wanting in integrity. I quote one ca?e from several on this point. Mr. M., in accordance with the subjoined order, waa arrested and confined in the Old Capitol Prison : WASHINGTON, JfarcJi U, 1861 To the Honorable P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War: DEA.K SIB In compliance with your order of the 8th, I herewith forward t oo UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. report in Uie case of S. M. M., a detective agent of the United States Govern, nient, charged by John Evans, John Bradshaw, and others, captains of schooi.era engaged on the Potomac, with having at sundry times blackmailed or extorted money illegally from them. 1st. Mr. S. M. M. is not, nor has been at any time, in my employ. On or about the 12th of January, 1862, Mr. M. was appointed by the State Department as a detective agent, and was ordered to report to me. I intme diately sent him to Alexandria, Virginia, for the purpose oi watching all suspected persons; giving him no authority to arrest or seize property of any description without first obtaining, through me, the proper order from the State Department. On the 10th instant, I applied to Mr. Allen, before and by whom the affidavits forwarded to your department were acknowledged, and ascertained that the charges were true, except as to date, and some other minor discrep- ancies, which do not in any manner alter the charges or affect the matter. So far as Mr. M. is concerned, I consider the charges made in the affidavits proved, and deeply regret that any officer with whom I have had any connec- tion should be guilty of such conduct. If any class of men in the employ of the Government at this time should be honest and trustworthy, it is its confidential agents. I respectfully suggest that you order me officially to discharge Mr. S. M. M. immediatel". * I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) L. C. RAKER, Government Detective, War Department. Several weeks before the occurrences which will soon be narrated, information had been conveyed to the War De- partment, from Lower Maryland, of treasonable designs and operations of the people residing there. The loyal few en tered tiieir complaint in words which I shall quote : GBKAT MILLS P. O., 1 ST. MAKY'S COUNTY, November 13, 1S61. | Hon. SIMON CAMEKOX, Secretary* of War : DEAR SIR Being a loyal citizen of Maryland, I regard it an imperative duty to inform the Government of some facts which I hope the Government may recognize. There is a set cf men here who have done, and are still doing, all in their power to aid the rebel army. They have used the most treasonable language toward the Government; they have harbored, fed, and equipped, in every sense of the word, a great many men, and then have conveyed them to Vir- ginia. I also firmly believe they have arms buried in a churchyard, ready tr use upon the Union people here, should the opportunity offer. These mer uave done much against the Union cause here. At the recent election, thej tried to have men vote who acknowledged they had been to Virginia to beai THE MARYLAND UNIONISTS COMPLAIN. 123 arms against the Government, and did finally succeed in regard to some who had been to the rebels, in the face of all I could do. We polled many more votes than they anticipated, and they now threaten our lives and property, and say they will drive us from our homes. They organized a vigilance committee, and waited upon many Union men, and even forced one citizen to leave the county ; this, sir, would be confirmed by all the Union men in the district. I shall take here the liberty to append the names of these men. As I have said before, if the chance offers itself, our lives and property are in danger. Since the election, their hatred has become bitter, since they see the majority in the State for the Government. I now beg to say a few words in regard to the gentlemen who have been /elected by the disunionists to serve in the Legislature. They have publicly said they owe no allegiance to the Government, and they further say they are not citizens of the United States, and also say they had rather see the Govern- ment sink to hell, than to see the Southern Confederacy lose the slightest victory. These, sir, are the men elected as our guardians in the two branches of the Legislature. We, the Union men of St. Mary's county, do solemnly protest against these men, and contend, as the true and loyal citizens of Maryland, they do in no wise represent our views, and believe that these men will not defend our rights, and redress our grievances in the both Houses. We, sir, believe that a Camanche has as much right, and would as soon recognize one? as the men forced upon us by the rebels. We beg protection in our county, and in the Legislature, by the removal of these men from our midst. They are still carrying a great many goods, and I believe some ammunition and arms to the rebels. Captain Gray, of one the cutters in the Potomac, I much fear will have trouble by his gentlemanly conduct and courtesy toward the rebels here. I heard from them that they intended a party of them, sufficient in number, to go aboard to dine or exchange courtesies, and seize the vessel and crew, and run them into Virginia. This is from these men whom I shall give the names of. We beg that these men may be taken out of our midst, and sent away from us. They threaten us in the most unmeasured terms. I beg to know if we are recognized, that I may appease the fears of our people here. Many of them are much frightened, as the rebels are largely in the ascendency, and they threaten desolation. Take the men whose names I here append, and all will be well with us as loyal people. Your obedient servant. JOHN R. BISOOE, Great Mills P. 0., St. Mary's County. Maryland fo Hor., SIMON CA.MKEON, Secretary of War. Those elected to the Legislature : for Senate, L. B. ; House delegates, 55. OK Harris, Esq., J. F. D. ; Aiders and abettors : II. J. C. and son, J. D. F. and son, . K., B. H., Dr. F. S., Dr. A. L., I. A., wxd J. A,, E. H. J., S. H., M. H., 12 4 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. F C T. S. J. G., Dr. A., "W. C. A., B. H., and in fact every rebel here, bare done something to contribute to the rebel forces. Yours, J. B. The paper had this indorsement : Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWABD: Inclosed is a list of candidates that I think are fair subjects for Fort THOMAS A. SOOTT, Asst. Sec. of War. Before leaving Washington, I was directed by Mr. Sew- ard to exercise my own judgment and discretion as to the arrest of these persons, furnished with the following order : DEPARTMENT of STATE, I WASHINGTON, November 19, 1S61. ( To Brigadier-General DANIEL E. SICKLES, &c., &c., &c., or General HOOKEK : GENERAL The bearer of this is Mr. L. C. Baker, a detective in the employ of this department, whom I have requested to look after some disloyal per- sons in St. Mary's county, Maryland. I will thank you to render him anv assistance in the discharge of his duty that he may require. I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary. Further facts, in addition to those already in my posses- sion, determined my action in this matter. I selected the names of eight persons to "be arrested : among them, one H., residing on .Patuxent river, near its mouth, at a place called Millstone Landing. H., aside from his secession heresy, was a man of notoriously bad character, and the terror of his neighbor- hood. An old resident, he had become familiar Avith all the streams, bays, inlets, &c., of that region, including the Po- tomac and Patuxent rivers, and Chesapeake bay. The character of the man, and this knowledge of the country, made him a fit tool, and valuable member of the band of blockade runners and spies, who resorted to his house as their place of rendezvous. For ten days before I was on his track, he had slept in the woods, from fear of being taken. As an evidence of rebel zeal, they had arranged a system THE ARKEST OF REBEL EMISSARIES. 125 of signals, to give the alarm whenever a detective or Gov ernment agent appeared in the vicinity. During the day, strips of white cotton cloth were careless- ly suspended from the windows of their residences, or from a tree or shrub, to give notice of the arrival. In the night, the signal was the blowing of tin horns. In view of these facts, and to accomplish the purpose of arresting the traitors, the greatest caution was necessary. I therefore divided my force of a hundred men into eight or ten parties, giving each officer a minute description of the residence of the man to be arrested. Aware that the arrest of any one of the band before the others would immediately alarm them, these squads all left camp at the same time, with the understanding that, whether the arrests were made or not, the whole company should rendezvous at a certain point the next morning at eight o'clock. A more inclement and a wilder night I have rarely known. The streams were swollen by rains, and the darkness great, which tended to make the expedition very uncertain and uncomfortable. With the thirteen men who accompanied me, at two o'clock A. M., I surrounded the house of H. On knock- ing at the door, I gained no response. Forcing my entrance into the house, I was confronted by H. with a loaded pisto 1 who desired to know my errand. I replied : "H., your house is surrounded, and I have come to take you prisoner. Give me that pistol." He did so reluct- antly. Upon searching the house, I found six notorious blockade- runners in the upper story. Two were on their way to '* Dixie" with mail, and four returning, and conveying letters jf more or less importance North. Naturally enough, the company were greatly disconcerted. I put these under arrest, and, while searching outhouses, found the ' ' intelligent contraband. ' ' Upon questioning him, I learned where a large number of pistols and sabers, which he had carted to their place of interment, on their way South, were buried. From him I also ascertained that a large square box, containing Sharp's rifles, was buried in a Catho- lic church- vard three miles from the river. 12(5 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Upon application to the Rev. Mr. , pastor of the flock worshiping there, he treated my statements with ridicule, and refused to let me desecrate the "hallowed ground," pro- UGimcing the act wanton sacrilege. He denounced the Gov- ernment for permitting it. I proceeded to the burial-place with the contraband, who pointed out the grave. When my men commenced throwing oui die dirt, the priest approached, and with uplifted handw exclaimed : " Is it possible that, in this enlightened age, men can be found who will willfully desecrate the resting-place of the dead!" I continued the work of exhuming the treasure until a new and large pine box was found and raised to the surface. It contained fifty-six Sharp's rifles, with fifty rounds of am- munition each. My clerical friend exclaimed, with apparent surprise, "I Bonder how those arms could have got there !" It may be well to state here, that -one of the fondest dreams of the people of Lower Maryland was, that at some future day the rebel army would cross the Potomac, and have on the nearer shore to Washington a base of operations against the capital. Therefore these people had long been secreting arms and ammunition, to be ready for this grand movement. My plan, which has been before referred to, but par- tially succeeded, owing to Ihe fact that the arrival of the military was known. Dr. S., a prominent rebel, had left his home on the first intimation of our approach. His house was visited the next day, but he was not at home. My squad were hungry, and asked for dinner. The women at once began to prepare it. Among the inviting dishes was a roasted opossum. We all ate heartily, and, besides paying liberally for the meal, we kindly thanked our fair hostess for the satisfactory repast. Upon reaching camp we were taken ill, and in a few hours three out of the five were in a dangerous condition. A physician was called, who said: "These men have been poisoned. What have they been eating ?" No explanation could be then given ; but it was after /s [tpossMtMat men can be found to desecrate the resting place of He **<* THE COFFIN CONTAINED FlFTY-SlX SHARP'S RIFLES. SMUGGLING QUININE SOUTH. 127 ward ascertained that the opossum had extra dressing for our special benefit. H., with seven of his companions, was confined in Fort Lafayette a year. The name will again appear in the record of a later period, in a light no more flattering. I learned about this time that persons connected with dis- tinguished politicians were engaged in suspicious business in Washington. The names were Mrs. T., Miss L. B. B., and M. B. B., a Baptist minister. I also learned that Mrs. T. was the mother of Miss B., the sister-in-law of Hon. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster- General, and that Mrs. .T. and her friends resided in Fau- quier County, Virginia. The passes had been procured on the recommendation of Postmaster Blair, to give these persons the opportunity to get a few of the " necessaries of life." An espionage of the visitors disclosed a traffic in quinine of considerable extent. They had visited three drug stores, and purchased six hundred ounces. This was taken to the house of Mr. Gal- lagher, brother of Miss B. To ascertain in what way the quinine was to be conveyed, resort was had again to the contraband. A negro servant at Mr. Gallagher's house soon reported that Miss B. was engaged in making a skirt formed of sec- tions, or long pockets, lined with oiled silk. The smugglers were so closely watched that every move- ment in the purchase was known within half an hour after it occurred. I had decided not to arrest them until they were over our lines. After they left Washington, I called on the Hon. Mr. Blair, and told him the particulars in regard to his friends ; when and where the medicine was obtained ; the manufacture of the skirt for its transportation, &c. I further apprised hin? that they had that morning started for home. Mr. Blair lis- tened to my story, and then pleasantly remarked: "Why, Baker, those persons are as loyal as you arc, and. I loaned them the money." Then taking his bank book from his drawer, h*. a4ded : 128 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. " See ; I have just had my note for five hundred dollars discounted to help these poor people." I replied : " Mr. Blair, I cannot be mistaken about this." Exhibiting much impatience at my positiveness, he said : "Well, arrest them ; and if you find the quinine, put them in the Old Capitol." Three miles over the lines, I stopped the travelers, and informed Miss B. that I wanted to examine the skirt. She immediately went into a farm-house, took off the garment, and threw it down indignantly, saying : "So this is the way you treat Southern ladies." The whole party were then escorted to Washington. Miss B. and Mr. B. were lodged in the Old Capitol prison. Upon reporting the facts to the Secretary of War, he directed me turn the quinine over to the medical director, the horse and wago:* to the quartermaster, and the groceries to the hospitals. The next morning the Hon. Montgomery Blair and Miss B. called, and demanded the restoration of the prop- erty. I informed them of its disposal. On the afternoon of that day, Mr. Blair came back with written order from Mr. Lincoln to deliver up the goods. I told him that this was impossible, for it had already been handed over to the Government by authority of the Secretary of War. He then demanded my removal from office. Mr. Lincoln did not see that I had disobeyed any order, and failed to appreciate his Postmaster's regard for law and his Southern friends. The parties were kept in prison several weeks, and then paroled. We add Mr. B.'s statement, made under oath : M. B. B. makes the following statement : I was born in London County, Virginia. Aged twenty-three years. Re- Bide in Fanquier County, Virginia. On or about the 27th of October, 1862, Mrs. T., her daughter (Miss L. B. B.), and myself, came to Washington city, In a buggy or carriage, which was owned by Mrs. T. the horse belonged to lue. Mrs. T. also had in her employ a wagon and team, which, I believe, MR. BAYLY'S COMPANION. 129 were the property of the driver, and which were engaged by her to convey groceries to her home, for family use. My visit to Washington, at the time referred to, was at the written request of Mrs. T., desiring rue to accompany her to Washington. After making her purchases, she (Mrs. T.) obtained the necessary passes for our return ; we started for home, and arrived in Alexandria, Virginia. The weather being rainy, Miss B. and myself commenced the preliminaries for taking medicines through the lines, on a speculation. After the agreement to do so, I ordered some of the medicines in Alexandria, when our party (Mrs. T., Miss B., and myself) concluded to return to Washington, D. 0. ; but Mrs. T., to my knowledge, knew nothing of the contraband arrangement between Miss B. and myself. The purchases were all made by me, both in Alexandria and in Washing- ton. Miss B. and myself jointly expended about five hundred dollars in the enterprise. Miss B.'s arrangements for the conveyance were completed at Mr. Gal- lagher's residence on Fifteenth Street ; mine were completed in Alexandria. After taking every precaution for success, we started for home in the same conveyance that brought us, and the same parties, viz. : Mrs. T., Miss B., and myself. We proceeded homeward until stopped by the pickets, near Chantilly, and were then taken to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, where we were searched, and the contraband medicines found and taken from us. I had but two letters, which were taken from me when arrested one was given me by Miss B. H. (who, I believe, boards on Four-and-a-Half Street), remarking at the time, that it was from her mother to her sister ; Mr. McV., of Alexandria, handed me the other, requesting me to send it to his father, remarking that there was nothing treasonable in it. I did not know of any letters on the person of Miss B., previous to our arrest. When arrested, Miss B. and myself regretted the cause thereof, as we imagined Postmaster-General Montgomery Blair might be censured for aiding and assisting us in obtaining passes, our actions, as detected, having the appearance of disloyalty. It is but justice to that gen- tleman to say, that he knew nothing of the matter bstween Miss B. and myself. Besides the contraband medicines taken from me, I had two carpet-bags, which contained my clothing. I also hold a receipt from detective officer Lee, for " forty dollars in treasury notes, thirty dollars in Virginia State notes, wenty-four dollars in Confederate notes, and two dollars on broken, bank," :gether with my horse, which was in the buggy when arrested. I believe all these are in the possession of Mr. L. C. Baker, Provost-Marshal of the War Department, and, being my individual property, I respectfully ask their return on the disposal of my case. Having thus truthfully stated my case, and my lady companion (Miss B.) having been discharged, I presume that justice and punishment should be administered without partiality. I, therefore, respectfully ask my discharge from confinement on the same conditions and privileges as were conceded to 9 130 DOITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Miss L. B. B., my companion in the unfortunate matter which caused my arrest and confinement. M. B. B. Personally appeared before me, this eleventh day of December, A. D. 1862 the above-named Marcus B. B., and, being sworn according to law, de- clares the above statement to be true. L. C. TUBNEB, Judge- Advocate. Witness my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. The telegraph lines were especially guarded after the war commenced. Great failures in army movements were caused by the improper use of the telegraph. When battles were impending, guards and censors to watch it were sent by the Government to the offices, for two reasons : first, to prevent intelligence from reaching the ene - my ; secondlv, to keep it out of the hands of unscrupulous persons, who would use it for speculation. Two millions of dollars were made in Wall Street in an hour by a single telegram. The business of that money market was governed by the army movements. Various tricks and expedients were, resorted to for the concealment of the traffic in blood and gold. Very few exceptions, however, were made to this general rule. The commanding general, chief quartermaster, and a few others, were permitted to send dispatches not subject to the usual censorship. A prominent officer attached to headquarters, who had spent his early life in Oregon, with the army, had become familiar with an 'Indian jargon called Chunook, introduced by cast-away sailors, seventy-live years ago. No trade but that of whale-ships was then carried on along that coast. The sailors taught the Indians certain expressions, pretending them to be English, which remain in use among them. A prominent Oregon politician, then in Washington a friend of the army officer befor referred to had also learned this "Chunook." Presuming that the knowledge of this jargon was confined to themselves at the East, they had arranged a system of telegrams, to speculate in gold. December 12, 1862, after a temporary repulse of the Uniou Army, I was sent for by the Secretary of War, who said : CIIUNOOK TELEGRAMS. 13] " Colonel, can you tell me what this means?" handing me a telegram, which I recognized at once as Chunook. The dis- patch was signed " ," and sent to I replied : kt Oregon Indian jargon." He added : " What is jargon ? " I explained. He asked me to write out a translation of it. The Secretary did riot seem fully to appreciate my knowledge of the language. He inquired if there were others who understood it. I replied: "Yes, several." Retaining the telegram, he sent for Mr. D., clerk in the Department of the Interior, who had also been in Oregon. He translated it substantially as I had done. The Sec- retary, still incredulous, sent for General , who is a fine linguist. He said: "Mr. Secretary, why, this is Hungarian:" a reply which was for some time a standing joke at the gener- al' s expense. The dispatches continued to arrive that and the next day. They were altered, transposed, &c., then forwarded, to the great wonder and bewilderment of the recipients. We copy the original telegrams with the' two translations, intimating that the Chunook system of telegraphing was re- jected by the Government. The expressions, apparently so disconnected, had each a significance well understood by the army speculators : NESIKA iscuu FREDERICKSRURO. Hin nesika pool) cononay okok sun copa Inn bias guns. Wake bin tilicmn maraeloos. Tomolloh tenas sun nesika puck puck copa musket pe conouay pire ictas. Nahnitka clunas silcurn r.esika inameloos kata wake chaco ole Where is S. Where II. S. Come here to-day. My soldiers come as yon told rne. Now tell me, old N., suppose you want to see one big firing. A1J well, you make haste here now. News why mad, yes, to-morrow. Where is S. Tell H. S. to come here to-day. The soldiers come as you told me. Now tell old N., suppose he wants to see one big firing, all right, make haste here. Tbev will b mad to-morrow 13 2 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. UsmsD STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, I WASHINGTON, D. 0., December 12, 1362. J Wake siyah cultus mitlike nesika conoway okok sun nika tumtum claska rebels puck puck nesika tomallah kagna pilitin divils klash nanitch conowav eun tomallah klark aiyum mika. We have come to Fredericksburg. A great many we shoot all this day. with a great many big guns. A great many of your people are killed. To- morrow morning we shoot with muskets and all fire-arms. Yes, probably half of us will be dead. Why don't you come. We have come to Fredericksburg. We have killed a great many to-day, with big guns. A great many of their people are killed. To-morrow morn- ing we shoot with muskets, and all kinds of fire-arms. Probably half of us will be dead. Why don't old K come. It appears to patriotic "outsiders" incredible that such a morbid spirit of speculation could exist amid the tragedies of civil war ; but those who escaped the contamination in the arena of tempting opportunities were the select and incor riiDtible few at whose head was Abraham Lincoln. CHAPTER VIII. OFFICIAL SERVICES AND EMBARRASSMENTS NEW ORDER OF THING & The Bureau transferred to the War Department Dr. H., and the Perilous Adventure of which he was the occasion Report of the Case Arrest of the Leader of great secret Southern Organization Documents and Letters. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, > WASHINGTON, February 15, 1862. J SIR Permit me to introduce Mr. L. C. Baker, who has been employed b> the State Department in the detective service, and who, so far as known, has discharged his duties in a manner entirely acceptable. Ir consequence of Executive Order No. 1, dated February 14, this department has no further use of his services. He is commended to your consideration as a capable and efficient officer. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. H. SEWA.RD. Hon. Enwiy M. STANTOX, Secretary of War. Some interesting adventures soon after followed. Dr. G. H. was from Leesburg, Va. ; graduated in the Medical College of Philadelphia, and became engaged, while attending lectures, to the daughter of a prominent citizen, and subsequently married her. Immediately after the rebellion broke out, ne took sidea with the South, and became so obnoxious to the people of Germantown, by the declaration of his secession sentiments, that a committee waited upon him requesting him to leave, which he refused to do. This so exasperated thf, citizens, that they warned him to take a peaceful farewei/ of the com- munity. He decided, at length, to go South. Removing to Baltimore, with others of similar character, among them Cap- tain Wardell, of the ShenandoaJi, he entered into the exciting but lucrative business of blockade-running. In the selection of his associates, as will appear, he took one of )ny detec- tives, and gave the details of the plan, dates of intended operations, and the kind of goods to be sold. The schooner chartered by them was the James Buchanan- a fitting name. 134 UMTED M'.U'hrf SOCKET SERVICE. Having learned all the facts, I provided a tug, and lying off Annapolis two days and nights, expecting every moment the appearance of the schooner; whose departure was delayed by a terrible snow-storm. And here I was obliged to resort to one of the subter- fuges which were employed afterward so successfully by my assistants. Putting on the old oily clothes of an engineer, and with an oil can in my hand, I went to the store where the excur- sionists were getting supplies. While there, I found the entire company engaged in the purchase. I was in no hurry to leave the place, but managed to get close to one of the company who belonged to my force, and was admitted to the circle in disguise, trying, by nudging him and pulling his coat, to let him know who I was. It was all in vain : so complete was my transformation into a common and greasy engineer. Captain Wardell asked me on what boat I was engineer I said of a tug-boat. Wardell. then turning to one of his companions, re- marked : "Why, here's a man who can tow us out." Then again addressing me, he inquired : "What will you ask to tow a small schooner out into the bay ?' ' I replied : " On moderate terms. If you are all ready, for ten dollars. Where is your schooner?" "At the wharf." "Well, if you are ready in an hour I'll do the job. My tug is at the end of the pier." I went on board and told my twelve assistants to go into a small cabin aft, and not to show themselves till signaled by me. Soou after the blockade-runners came down, stepped aboard the schooner, threw me a line, bade adieu to their friends on shore, and we started down the bay. Their vessel being small, with little room under the deck, they remained above. Six miles from Annapolis, where they could sail their vessel, they hailed me, and told me to cast off the line. THE CAPTURE. 137 I invited them on the tug to take a glass of good cheer before leaving. They came on board, and, while gathered around the bottle, I gave the signal ; my men rushed up the hatchway. I told my guests who I was, and that they were my prisoners. Among them was one of my detectives, who, to be distinguished readily, wore a red shirt and black belt. He had been three weeks with these blockade- runners. A little warlike demonstration was soon quieted by the display of a carbine. I took them to Fort McHenry, in a snow-storm of great severity ; and, having let my subordinates return with the boat while I adjusted business details, found the walk of nearly three miles, in the night, no pleasure walk after the excitement and fatigue of the day. My report recounts the official course of events partially larrated : WASHINQTOS, Ftbruary 24, 1862. To the Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War : DEAP. SIR Herewith please find iny report in the case of Dr. H. H., arrested at Annapolis, on the 18th instant. The doctor is a resident of Germantown, Pennsylvania. During the excitement last summer, the doctor made himself particularly obnoxious to the Union people in his vicinitj by his open denunciations of the Government, and his avowed sympathy with the so-called Confederate States; so distasteful had he become, at one time, that the police authorities in Philadelphia were compelled to interfere to protect his person and property. Dr. II. was, until the last two years, a resident of Winchester, Virginia; he married the daughter oi F. B., Esq., of Philadelphia (a good Union man and a worthy citizen). On or t.Dont the first of the present month, the Doctor began making arrange- ments for going South, for the purpose of joining the Confederate army as a surgeon. He came on to Baltimore, Maryland, mingled freely with the secession element in that city. On the 10th instant, an organization or party of rebels, in Baltimore (of which the Doctor was one), chartered the sloop James Buchanan to carry them to Virginia. Being advised of their intended movements, I chartered (by order of Major-General Dix) a steam tug, with a view to intercept them, it being understood that the party, consisting of thirteen persons, were to embark at Annapolis. The day fixed upon for their departure being very stormy, the sloop did not leave Baltimore. I. however went to Annapolis on Tuesday last, and found the expedition ready to sail Having no boat at my disposal, I immediately arrested Dr. H. I searched his baggage, and found letters which settle the question as to his guilt and intentions to join the Confederates. A quantity of gold coin and Confederate bank-bills were found in his possession, also pistols, rubber blankets, ready-made clothing, &c., &c. The prisoner, with the letters, 133 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. paper* money, and all other effects belonging to him, were turned over to General Dix, at Baltimore. The prisoner is now confined in Fort McIIenry, subject to the disposal of your Department. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) L. C. BAKEU. Alexandria, notwithstanding its proximity to Washing- ton, became headquarters of secession councils. This state of things culminated, early in the struggle, in the death of Ellsworth. At Baltimore, while I was apparently in sympathy with the rebels, I learned of a secret organization 'at Alexandria. It was formed ostensibly for the benefit of the families of both Union and Confederate soldiers. This will account for the connection of Mr. Louis McKenzie with its proceedings. He became a member, unaware of its real character ; and when its disloyal spirit was apparent, he absented himself from the meetings of the society. The seizure of the records put me in possession of its entire history. There was "a wheel within a wheel" in this organized benevolence, de- signed to bring out all the sympathy available for the cause of treason. The Peel correspondence will be found es- pecially rich in expressions of feeling ; while the rebel poetry, which graced one of the meetings of the association, presents very forcibly its ruling animus. In this report, as in other narratives I shall quote, sometimes uninteresting details occur, because inseparable from the record : WASHIKGTOIC, March 4. 1862. To the Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: SIR I have the honor herewith to transmit my report in the following cases, arrested at Alexandria by myself and assistants, February 26th and 27th, 1862. Accompanying this report are two books one containing the proceedings of a secret organization, or society, for the benefit of the families of soldiers now in the Confederate army, also the manufacture of uniforms, clothing, &c., which have from time to time been forwarded to the so-called Confederate States. This association was organized in June last, and, as appears from the minutes of their proceedings, the Ladies' Relief Association, composed of the wives and daughters of its members, were admitted, in order, as it is alleged, to extend the usefulness of their operations. Repeated complaints have been made to me, during the past fall and winter, concerning the meetings and treasonable transactions of this society. CITIZENS OF ALEXANDRIA ARRESTED. i T.9 Owing to the high social standing and position of tliose traitors, and the ex- treme secrecy with which all their operations were carried on, I found it very difficult to ascertain, with any degree of certainty, their places of meet- ing, their number, or the names of the parties comprising the organization. During the past four mouths, large numbers of cards were picked up in the streets and bar-rooms at Alexandria, on which w ere printed words and sentences, disconnected, which (since the arrests were made) I have ascer- tained were intended as a notice to the members of the society to meet at a certain time and place. So dark and secret were all their proceedings, that it was with the utmost difficulty, and after months of patient and constant surveillance, that this board of secret plotters against the Government were brought to light. The book containing the minutes of these meetings was found in the pos- session of llenry Peel, who, at the time of the arrests, was secretary of the association. This book, fortunately, contained the names of all the officers, which subsequently led to their arrest. The book marked "Dangerfield" was found in his (Danger field's) possession. It contains a statement of the object of the association, the names of its contributors, names of subscribers, amount subscribed, and how disbursed. There can be no question as to the real object of this association. Let- ters, papers, and memorandums, found in possession of nearly all the parties arrested, show most conclusively that these individuals were engaged in a treasonable conspiracy to levy war against the United States Government, and all have refused to take the oath of allegiance. Much of the proof on which I rely to convict, under the act of 1861, is verbal conversations with and between these rebels, which have been overheard by many of the most reliable citizens of Alexandria, and, I am satisfied, will convince any jury in the land of their guilt. On or about the 4th of March, 1861, Mr. Louis McKenzie (now Mayor of Alexandria) was called upon for consultation with J. B. Dangerfield, W. F. Booth, W. H. Taylor, W. H. Marburg,. General Johnston (now in the Con- federate army), James Green, and J. W. Burke, for the purpose of devising some plan for the seizure of Washington, the seizure of steamers running on the Potomac, and destroying the buoys marking the channel up the Potomac. They also gave information and personally assisted in the seizure of the steamer Paige, now in possession of the Confederates. All the facts causing this meeting can be proved by a number of reliable witnesses now residing in Alexandria. All the above-named parties (except the rebel General John- ston) are now confined at the Old Capitol prison. Owing to the recent arrests, and seizure of contraband correspondence, but few letters directly implicating the parties were found. HENRY PEEL. The following letter was written to Henry Peel by his brother now in Rich raond : 140 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. KICHMOND, November 30, 18CI. MT DEAR BROTHER You can not imagine the source of pleasure your letter gave us. It was the first line I had received from Alexandria since I left. The letter you wrote me in answer to mine I have never received, but hope it may come along in time. Since I came to Richmond I have been busily engaged selling off the goods I shipped to the country, and have been operating in other articles out of my usual line, and have succeeded very well so far. The truth is, almost anything you could buy can be sold at a profit and for cash. Money is more abundant than I ever knew in all my business life. Richmond is the center of trade; it is the point from which the army draw most of their supplies. The supplies are abundant and coming in from every quarter. The noble sons of the South have just laid down their all upon the altar of patriot- ism, determining to maintain their rights against such a nation of Yankee myrmidons, as are in fact the Northern States. When the South determined to separate from so vile a community, they have to confess that they did not know that they were so much like land pirates as they have shown themselves to be in their effort to crush the Southern people. Of all civilized nations known, a more brutal, despicable crusade against the South is not recorded. They (the South) now fully know with whom they are dealing, and will act accordingly an eye for an eye and all prepare to meet them any and every- where. Whenever a contest has taken place, the Southern soldiers have proven successful. This is true; their papers to the contrary. The whole purpose i to deceive the people, and their papers are under such surveillance that they can not dare to give any other report. The actual loss in the Leesburg light, say prisoners, killed, wounded, drowned, and missing, was thirty-three hun- dred. Your papers state no such result. Every few days a large batch of prisoners are brought here. Yesterday, twenty-three cavalry were brought down; their horses and all captured. Sent off two hundred and fifty to Alabama on Wednesday; about fifteen hundred still remain here. If they attempt to hang those taken as privateers, their rank will be hung here. Already lots have been drawn, and each unhappy man is confined in the cell fbr criminals prepared for the condemned. In no way can the North get ahead of the South. Plenty of stout hearts, abundance of provisions, full supply of ammunition, army well equipped. The finest long-range rifle cannon and columbiad, that strikes terror whenever fired. The whole South, with a united voice and solemn resolve, have willed to be free from the North or perish in the effort. All feel hopeful and sanguine of success, willing to en- dure any and all privations, even to life itself. If the North could only know how vain their efforts to conquer the South, or subdue the rebels, they would give it up. If they do know the fact, their acts are only to damage the South, to gratify an intense hatred for losing so good a customer as the South has been; but in carrying on the war, every blow they give strikes back with redoubled force, in loss of life and building up a debt which they will never see paid. As for the Union must be preserved, it is all a farce ; the old Union is broken, never again to be united. This is a fixed fact. Every day the blockade lasts only tends to make the South more independent of tho North, REHEL CORRESPONDENCE. 141 as every variety of manufacture i? spririarine up. -Tiist think of it: a fw inoiiths since there was no Government whatever here; now it is fully organ- ized, and every department is in successful operation. A large ar'mv has been organized and well sustained, and can whip three times their weight in Yankee flesh or foreigners either. The crops have been abundant, money is plentiful, and confidence between man and man, all standing shoulder to ihoulder, determined to undergo extermination before subjugation. The women and children uniting in the one common effort, besides the slaves all at home laboring to sustain our army with provisions to repel the common foe against us. To conquer snob a people, relying upon the God of battles to sustain them, is simply ridiculous. In all our struggles, the hand of the I Almighty is plainly visible ; for our many sins we may be scourged and have to suffer much, but putting our trust in Him, though many be slain, yet He in- tends all for our good. It is a source of no little gratification to feel that God is with us in this struggle, and to expect some reverses is natural enough, but the result is only a question of time : the longer we are persecuted, the greater loss of life and money the North will sustain, and accomplish nothing at last. In one thing the Yankees have been mistaken : that was, to incite the negroes to insurrection ; but- be it said to their advantage when the struggle is over, that where one black face with a true heart has turned against us, ten white faces with black and false hearts have done so ; and I regret so many in Alexandria are of that class, but most of foreign-born or Yankees, who never had any sympathy with the institutions of the South. Amidst all the horrors of the war, Richmond is increasing in population and.realizing great and uu paralleled prosperity. Nearly every branch of business is a success. Manu- factories are doing well. We have a very large number of Alexandrians here, and most of them have profitable employment. John McC. J. is here in office at one thousand dollars salary ; Wells A. Lockwood is in a bank at one thou- sand dollars salary. I could extend the list of friends here. Mr. E. K.Witmer and child arrived safely; all of them will keep house together. Tell H. P. I received a letter from his partner, S., and he sent me a letter for H., which I will forward with this, hoping it may reach him, as I trust all our letters, safely. As you all have both piano and melodeon, we would like for Lu. to send round and get F.'s piano and melodeon and take care of it for me, using both as much as they please? If not inconvenient, we would like them to send and get them. I have never heard one word from Mr. B. since I left. I hope he will be able to get along without trouble and meet with no reverses. It is a sad state of things that friends should thus be separated, and for no fault of ours, the fault being at the door of demagogues and politicians. Awful will be the account to settle at the Day of Judgment for so much cruelty wan- tonly inflicted upon innocent men, women, and children. Surely their cup is fast filling up, and vengeance will overtake them. We have been disappointed in sending this as I expected, but now have a chance in a day or two. Our General Assembly met in Augusta, Georgia, last Wednesday, to organize unew for the South. They expect to get along without large boards to man- age their affairs only a small comtrit f tu-nt KEBEL BRUTALITY TO SLAVES. 145 "servants" of the region. To be informed that we were "Yankees," was enough, without the slightest hint of our plans or destination, to stir the most stupid toiler like a trumpet-call. The hoe was dropped, the plow and cart abandoned. Even the women, moved by the same wild impulse, deserted their cabins, and all together rushed to the rear of the army, and stepped to the music of the march for days, and sometimes for weeks. They dreaded more than death the return to their owners, or recapture by them. When it became necessary to leave several hundred at Reams' s Station, in our hurried movement backward, they lingered about instead of going forward, and their frantic agony was heart-rending. A very cruel instance of the welcome given to a recap tured slave, occurs to me in this connection. One Carpenter, a notorious secessionist, was a ruffian and a terror to all Union men. 1 o frighten the slaves, and prevent them from running away, he tied a captured man to a tree, in a nude condition, whipped him with a board til exhausted, then set his slaves at work. When this master and fiend was rested, he returned to the beating* until death closed the scene. There was a formal arrest, bat the majority of his "fellow-citizens" were in sympathy with him, and, he was soon at liberty. Subsequently, however, he was arrested for treason, and confined in the Old Capitol prison. It is a matter of history, that at this period of the National struggle for existence, the cause of the war was ignored by the North. Not so with the South; there, the "corner- stone" was brought forth to the world's admiring view, and the flag of treason waved proudly over it. There was then some excuse for England's sneer at our unbroken loyalty to the South in her defense of the aristocratic claim of superi- ority over all other American races. I have never had the honor of being called a reformer, or an "abolitionist" but I do not deny that my sense of justice, and my sympathies, have been with the injured and oppressed, irrespective of color, or position in society. I have, therefore, during the entire period my bureau has served the loyal cause, unhesitatingly given the whole power of the department to the protection of the defense- J46 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. less negro, whenever he was the victim of prejudice or passion. In common with thousands who were brought to face the practical effect of the slave system during the war, I have seen the soul of tyranny in it, whose lust of power spared not the blood-bought Union, but longed to crack the whip over the hated " Yankee." Necessarily "behind the scenes," I saw the demon dis- guised by the bland expression of the "chivalry," and learned that the "kind, Christian masters" were so in spite, of the system which they sustained they were naturally magnanimous men, or governed by genuine religious prin- ciple, modified by a wrong education to the approval of gigantic wrong. I could fill pages with the narratives of fiendish scorn of the "nigger," while he was docile and unresisting as the lamb led to the slaughter. Nor has the spirit of the peculiar institution died with the formal existence of slavery and the defeat of its sworn friends a fact the country may realize when the retributive storm evoked by the countless mounds of starved prisoners of the loyal North, and the nameless graves of the murdered bondmen, shall again, though .in a new aspect, bewilder with darkest fears our wisest statesmen. Fairfax Court-House was for two years within our lines, and occupied as an outpost by our army. Here lived a citizen by the name of F., with whom boarded several of the staff officers. His daughter, Miss F., was a young and decidedly good-lodking woman, with pleasing, insinua- ting manners. She discoursed fluently, and with enthu- siasm, of the Union cause, impressing her admiring guests with her loyalty and intelligence. Meanwhile, she carried her commission as a rebel spy. This document, in its original form, was found through the confidence reposed by Miss F. in a female subordinate in my bureau, who played the part of a Southern lady going to her friends. Miss F. opened ner heart to the young adventurer, and also her bed, in which, between the mattress and its nether companion, was con- cealed the prized and useful paper. It was found there when the fair spy was arrested by my order. MISS A. J. F. 147 The public have not forgotten the capture of General Stoughton and staff, at Fairfax Court-House, by Moseby, which drew from Mr. Lincoln the remark, when he was told that a hundred horses were captured with the officer : "Well, I am sorry for that for I can make brigadier-gen- erals, but can't make horses." It turned out that Miss F. was accustomed to go out at night and meet Moseby, the famous guerrilla, and im- part whatever information knight be of service to the enemy. Indeed, one day she was invited by a staff officer to take a horseback ride into the country, and met Moseby, whom she introduced to her escort under an assumed name, and passed along, with loyal words upon her traitorous lips. CHAPTER IX. THE BUREAU IN CANADA IN THE ARMY. Tricks of False Correspondence Mr. Delisle and the "Secret Secession Legation ' THE operations of the bureau were embarrassed unavoida- bly by the transmission of false intelligence through unrelia- ble persons for mercenary ends, of the gravest importance to this or some other department of the Government. Bogus correspondence was sometimes thrown into my hands to mis- lead me, and secure to the writers some personal advantages. For illustration : Early in 1863, a man, who signed him- self "C.'M. Delisle," wrote to the State Department, ex- pressing an earnest desire to forward important information, dating from Prescott, Canada East, but post-marked at Og densburg, New York. Delisle claimed to be the agent of the "Secret Secession Legation, Canada," through whose hands passed all the correspondence between the province and Richmond. The letter below is from this gentleman : OODENSBCKO. May 4, 1S8. To the Honorable W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington : SIR Certain facts having of late come to my knowledge, of the existence of a secret Southern society, the object of which is most detrimental to the Federal Government of the United States ; and although a British subject, and residing in the States but for a few months, I deem it my duty to inform you of the fact. Having myself been engaged, in 1837 and '38, in quelling the Canadian rebellion, when I had the honor of holding a commission in a British troop of cavalry, besides having since held several commissions and appointments under the Canadian Government, I can understand the very great injury caused by it to a well-constituted Government as yours. However, I am one of those who are strongly in favor of the Union, and would consider it a very great misfortune if such a promising republic should ever be broken up. Being unwilling that it should be knowji that I have addressed you on this subject, I trust that the confidence repos'ed by me in you will b<> rrict!y SECRET SECESSION LEGATION. 149 private and confidential; and should your Government think proper to fur- nish me the means of going to Washington, I shall then be most happy to substantiate my assertions by undeniable evidence. Had I had the means at my disposal, I should certainly have lost no time in seeing you personally. As to my character, it is beyond censure, and with regard tc my family Con- nections, they are of the highest standing in Canada, where I was born and brought up. As it might occur to you that this is a ruse to obtain money, I can assure you that it is not so; and I am confident that when I shall have made you acquainted with the whole of the facts connected with my infor- mation, it will put you in a position to discover and reap invaluable informa- tion for the good of your Government. I may also state that I shall have DO objections in offering my services in bringing the whole thing to light, as soui one would have to be employed by you on the frontiers and in Canada, every inch of which is most familiar to me. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient, &c., 0. M. DELISLB. Four or five letters more, of a similar character, were for- warded to me by Mr. Seward, with the. indorsement that he believed much valuable information could be procured from Delisle respecting persons in connection with whom he professed to be acquainted. Accordingly I met him, when he unfolded to me one of the grandest and most skillfully arranged plans ever devised, the great importance of which had rendered it necessary that an organization should be formed, with the sounding title already quoted, whose secretary was "Wm. Sibbald." So completely had these villains made out their programme, the single object of which was to obtain large sums of money, that it was with much difficulty that their plot was finally discovered. The letters which follow were well cal- culated to deceive the most vigilant servants of the Govern- ment : MONTBBAL, April 27, 1868. SIE The president of the "Secret Secession Legation in Canada," being desirous to appoint a-n agent on the border of the United States and Canada for the purpose of facilitating the conveyance of the secret mails, &c., from Richmond, Va., to Europe via Canada, and your name having been transmit- ted to him by a friend of yours in the United States, as a person in whom all confidence can be placed, for your intelligence, integrity, and forbearance, I therefore, sir, beg, at his request, to make you the following offer, for your acceptance or refusal, viz. : First. That you will consent to become "Secret Agenl" in the United States for the above Legation. 150 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Second. That you will endeavor, by secret meant, to forward in packages, BO made up and of such size as to avoid detection at the hands of the United States Government, all the letters, &c., delivered to you monthly by persons from Richmond, Va., and who will have been previously instructed in New York of the nature of their mission toward you. You will also give them any information they may require to make a tilent and secret entrance in Canada, by indicating to them the roads by which the crossing of the boundary lines can be more easily effected and with less danger. It will also be your duty to deliver to them, on their making themselves known to you by means of countersigns, which in all cases will be given to you in time by the Legation in Canada, any letters, papers, money, &c., that will have been secretly given to you for them, either from here or from other tecret agents serving in Canada or the United States. Also, that you will find means to carefully conceal any documents, &c., from the vigilance of the United States Government police, till such docu- ments, &c., are safely delivered into the hands of the "emissary" it may please our worthy President, Mr. Jefferson Davis, to send to us. ' ,. Third. That you will be willing and ready to move from one place to the other, at six hours' notice from the Legation here, at any time the said Lega- tion may order such a move, and everywhere act as secret agent to them, seeking and gathering any information they may require, and then faithfully transmitting the same to the President here. Should this offer meet your approbation, your remuneration will be aa follows, viz. : two dollars and fifty cents for every letter, paper, &c., not bearing an official stamp; ten dollars for any document, letter, paper, &c., bearing our official Government stamp, and which in both cases you will succeed in forwarding safely to the Legation in Canada. On the other hand, should you be ordered to move from one city to another, twenty-five cents per mile will be allowed you on journeys per- formed by rail or by boat ; and fifty cents per mile for distances crossed in vehicles drawn by horses all payments to be made to you in gold. In con- clusion, I hope, sir, that the confidence the President of the Legation here has placed in you, based upon the recommendation of your recommender, will never be betrayed, and the strictest secrecy will be kept by you, should you accept or reject this proposition. Awaiting your early reply, which, sir, please address to Wm. Sibbald, sim- ply, General Post, Montreal, 1 remain, sir, your most obedient servant, WM. SIBBALD, Secretary to the Secret Secession Legation, Canada. To 0. M. DKLISLB, Esq., Ogdensburg, New York. , , . SIR I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your answer to my comraunica tion of the 27th ultimo, and I avail myself of this opportunity to tender ou the thanks of our President "LEGATION" SCHEMES. 15J I am aware that the Agency, should you accept it, might become r littl* anuoying in case of detection ; but no sucli accident can happen, if secrecy be your course of conduct, and much will depend upon yourself whether the police agents of die United States seize the dispatches. The character your benefactor in the United States, who has desired us to suppress his name, has given you, has induced us to broach such a subject to you. Suffice to say, that his motive is one prompted by the personal esteem he entertains for you, and also to have the felicity of withdrawing you from your present embarrassifig position. The post cannot of course be one except of great lucrativeness, as the arrangements made here are very complete, and on a large scale, although ttrictly ignored ly any stranger to the u Legation" To state positively what you might derive monthly from the agency, is a mere impossibility, as no one here is aware of the number of packages the "emissary" maybe able to convey; but yon can rest assured that a very large income must unavoidably be drawn from it. The letters and official dispatches will be in all cases written upon the thinnest paper manufactured, to make concealment easier, and in many cases will be mere press copies. Your remuneration will be paid you by the " emissary " himself, on d~ livery of the documents, by draft on New York, to an amount equal to gold, or, if more convenient and suited to you, in specie. When ordered to move, sufficient money will be sent you from here, with the orders to take you, all expenses paid, to any place chosen and back to Ogdensburg, as the latter place will be your headquarters, except you think another spot would facilitate the entrance of mails in Canada: this point, however, is entirely left to your suggestion. The President, in thanking you, wishes me to say that he is well pleased with the character he has of you, and that no person is better suited than you for the fulfillment of his object; and that, from your honesty, genteel and gentlemanlike bearing, you will manage to initiate yourself into the Ameri- can agents' favors, and acquire from them valuable information regarding the "lookout parties" on the frontier and outlets around Richmond. I remain, sir, your obedient servant, WM. SIBBALD, Secretary to the Secret Secession Legation in Can-do. To C. M. DELISLE, Esq., Ogdensburg, New York. I will be glad to hear your answer on receipt of this, whether the proposi- tion is accepted or rejected. No pains were spared by these conspirators to impresa the officers of the Government with the reality of their lying scheme to rob its Treasury. In harmony with this cool pur- pose and policy, communications were forwarded to individu- als anticipating that they would ultimately reach my hands. On this point I shall quote certain correspondence with 152 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Captain H. B. Todd, provost-marshal of the District of Columbia : HEADQUARTERS PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OPTIC*, | WASHINGTON, D. C., May 20, 1863. f Colonel L. 0. BAKER : I am credibly informed that one Charles Michael Delisle, now living in Ogdensburg, New York, has made arrangements with the Secret Secession Legation, in Montreal, Canada, or with their secretary, William Sibbald, to convoy the rebel mails and dispatches into Canada, as soon as the emissariss from Richmond deliver them to him. Delisle is paid by this Secret Legation, and now stops at Johnson's Hotel, Ogdensburg; of late he has entered his name as F. A. Delisle, instead of 0. M. My informant has seen his correspondence with said Legation, and read his (Delisle's) proposition. He has already sent dispatches to Montreal, undetected, which have been forwarded to Messrs. Mason and Slidell, through the mails of the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company, and others are very soon expected to go through. I am, sir, your obedient servant, HENRY B. TODD, Captain and Provost-Marshal It is only necessary to add that, on the arrest of Delisle, he confessed that there was no "Secret Secession Legation" in Canada, so far as he knew, but that the design of the parties engaged in the transaction was simply to defraud the United States Government ; and, had it not been defeated by the vigilance of this bureau, it would have proved, of coarse, a very handsome speculation for them. CHAPTER X. WEALTHY TRAITORS FRUITLESS SCHEMES. John H. Waring His Operations An Efficient Tool Walter Bowie A Wild Oarett Rebel Mail Contrabands Extracts from the Private Journals of Rebel Spies. THE insane treason of the Marylanders revealed itself very strikingly in an incident which now occurred. Mr. John H. Waring, a wealthy and respectable planter, ^residing on the "banks of the Patuxent River, had long been suspected of assisting the enemy, and devoting his dwelling to the secret service of the blockade-runners, spies, and mail-carriers of the Confederacy. His family had ever been known as the most scornful haters of the Federal Govern- ment, outspoken, and fearless. The female members of it, by their connection with disloyal friends of high standing in Baltimore, had special facilities for communicating with the South. He, individually, did not enter into the bitter denunciations of the Government, owing partly to his ad vanced age, and partly to his occupation of time on the plantation. Walter Bowie, whose family resided in Maryland, and whose uncle gave the name to the favorite weapon of the chivalry, had early in the struggle cast in his lot with the traitors. A reckless, unprincipled, and daring young man, with considerable culture, he was selected by the Secretary of War to act as a spy. Born and brought up in Lower Maryland, he was thoroughly acquainted with the country. To him are many families there indebted for the loss of fathers and sons. He raised, at different times, squads for the rebel service, ran across the Potomac and sold on specu- lation ; now with Moseby's guerrillas, then with the authori- ties at Richmond, and soon, perhaps, in Washington. I decided, if it were possible, to capture him. Aware that he ,; )4 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. was assisted and concealed by the Waring ladies, I directed my attention to that quarter. Sending four detectives to the house, I ordered them to surround it on a certain night. They secreted themselves accordingly, waiting for the dawn, the usual way of detour movements. The proximity of the men somehow became known to the inmates of the house, but every precaution had been taken to prevent escape. As the light of day appeared, an aged negro servant left the dwelling with a washtub upon her head, and walked toward a spring near by for water. Upon her approach, an officer stopped her, and inquired about the family. She could give no information, and was allowed to pass. When sufficient time had elapsed for her return, the detective sus- pected that he had been deceived, and taking the path to the spring, discovered the tub, and just beyond a horse saddled and bridled, tied to a tree. The whole ruse at once flashed upon his mind. The venerable negress was no other than Walter Bowie. He saw that the horse was watched, and went on afoot. Chagrined at the defeat of his plan, the officer returned to the house, and found, on searching it, the spy's uniform, sash, and sabre. It was ascertained later that a daughter of Mr. W., Mrs. Ducket, had blackened and dressed Bowie for the occasion. A more careful examination of the prem- ises led to the discovery of several suits of rebel uniform. From this time till autumn he was successfully engaged in raids upon defenseless sutlers and unarmed citizens, until at last, crossing the Potomac with a company of his asso- ciates, went to Sandy Hill, broke open a store, and pillaged it. I dispatched a squad in pursuit, and surrounded his camp next morning at Booneville. A skirmish ensued, and Bowie was shot with a double charge, and instantly killed. The following episode in the darkly romantic history flings a lurid light into the "habitations of cruelty" which have been protected by the " starry flag" of freedom, reveal ing their domestic scenes : PROVOST-MARSHAI. WAR DKPABTMKITT, WASHINGTON, July 9, 1863. j Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War : SIR I respectfully submit the following statement, and request further directions in the matter. CRUELTY TO NEUKOES. 157 On Monday last, having received information that "Walter Bowie, a noto- rious rebel and spy, had been on a recent visit to the house of Mrs. Lizzie Bowie, in Prince George County, Maryland, and also, that subsequent to said visit, on Sunday night last, a loaded wagon containing clothing had been sent from Mrs. Bowie's house to the house of a Mr. Worthington, near the Poto- mac, for transmission to Virginia, I detailed a force from this office to inves- tigate the matter, and arrest the said Walter Bowie and any other parties en- gaged in disloyal practices. Walter Bowie succeeded in evading the search made for him, but it WM ascertained that on Sunday night a two-horse wagon was sent from 'Mrs. Bowie's house, driven by a colored man named Daniel Grant, and in charge of Mr. Contee Warren ; that two large trunks were in said wagon, and that the same were taken some miles from Mrs. Bowie's, and then taken from the wagon and deposited by the side of the road, and there left, the driver, Daniel Grant, stating to the said officers that he understood that said trunks contained clothing, &c., and were intended for Walter Bowie. My officers then vjsited the house of Mr. Worthington, charged with forwarding clothing, goods, &c., from Mrs. Bowie's into Virginia. A full examination of his house and premises was made, but nothing found of a contraband nature. In the process of such examination, rny officers, on reaching the garret of Mr. Wor- thington 's house, found the entrance closed and fastened with a padlock. Upon being refused admission, the door was forced open, and, to their surprise and horror, found there two almost naked negro girls, chained together by the wrists, and exhibiting upon their persons evidences of a most brutal and bloody punishment. Their backs were covered with blood, and gashed, as with a sharp knife, from the shoulders to the loins, presenting a spectacle of horrid cruelty and suffering which words cannot describe. One of these girls was owned by Mrs. Lizzie Bowie, and the other by Mrs. Worthington ; and it is understood that they had been beaten with a trace chain by three men, namely, Mr. Worthington, Contee Warren, and Mr. Rail, overseer of Mrs. Bowie, and that Mrs. Btnvie had ordered the punishment on the girl, who was her slave. I do not understand that any law, human or di- vine, confers the right to inflict upon helpless women, black or white, the frightful torture borne by these poor and defenseless negro girls. Moved by pity, and the hope that speedy justice from tho strong arm of the Government would be visited upon the cowardly miscreants who have dared to commit so infamous a crime, my officers arrested Mr. Worthington and Contee War- ren, and brought them to this city, and they are now in the custody of thb office until further orders of the War Department are received. I regret to eay that the officers, not feeling authorized to act as liberators, left the negro girls chained and bleeding in the garret of Worthington's house. Respectfully yours, L. C. BAKEB, Provost-Marshal of the War Department The captives were released, and, with an expression of the deepest gratitude upon their sad laces, they crawled out J5S UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. of the garret, in which they had not room to stand erect, only to suffer again. I was informed that one of them was soon afterward found in the woods, dead, with marks of the terrible scourge upon her body. The only crime of the poor girls was. obeying the instinctive love of freedom, fired into an irresistible impulse at the sight of the "boys in blue." A large rebel mail was found between the beds of Mrs. Ducket's room, and specimen packages of blockade goods in transitu from Europe were secreted in different parts of the house. Opening the mail, we ascertained that Mr. Waring' s mansion had long been the rendezvous of all who served the Southern cause, and a post-office for their cor- respondence. Waring was conveyed to Washington, and tried by military commission, and sentenced to two years in Fort Delaware. On his trial it was shown, that for months he had used his horses and wagons to carry rebel recruits to the Potomac ; and, even the very night of his arrest, he had brought Bowie, in his Confederate dress, to his house for concealment. After his conviction, the Secretary of War directed that all of his animals and other property should be confiscated and sent to Washington. Accordingly, I repaired to the plantation, and found one hundred and ten slaves, impatient to be free. Unwilling to act without in- structions, no proclamation of emancipation having then appeared in behalf of the millions in bondage, and in sym- pathy with our cause, upon appealing to Mr. Lincoln, with a detailed account of the case, and saying to him, "I did not like to assume the responsibility of their liberation," he char- acteristically replied : " Baker, let them alone, and they will free themselves ! " I took the hint, and returned to the plantation, whither I had sent forty Government wagons to transport to the capital the confiscated property. The more intelligent slaves appointed a committee to wait on me, to inquire what action I intended to take in their cltse. I reported my interview with "Massa Linkum,'' as they always called him, and his significant remark. It was quite sufficient for them. The next morning, with my train, I started, but refused to recognize their escape by affording Government convey- WAKING'S ARREST. 159 ance ; when, in a surprisingly brief time, each family was seen with the humble stock of domestic furniture packed, and ready to follow the wagons of " Massa Linkum." Such patient endurance of fatigue, and uncomplaining toil, to secure the coveted boon of liberty, I never before saw; patience in the pursuit of freedom did "its perfect work." It was soon known to the neighbors of Waring that his "servants" were en route to Washington, who gathered in large numbers, and, fully armed, demanded from me the return of the caravan of laden fugitives. I, of course, re- fused to do it. The conviction of Waring, and the taking of his property, in my opinion, released the slaves morally, if not legally. They then threatened violence, and even attempted to stop the train. The arrest of the ringleaders quieted the mob, and the refugees arrived safely in Washington. Waring' s arrest, and the consequences to him, have been much criticised, and regarded by the South as an arbitrary act ; but when we consider that he, with his entire family, were engaged directly in the rebel service, the evidence of which was overwhelming, it must appear to all loyal minds that the proceeding was justifiable, and even necessary. I copy extracts from the pages of a private journal of the rebel spies captured on the Potomac, which afford a glimpse of life in such adventurous service, that will interest, I am sure, many of my readers : JAMES R. MILBURN. July 23d, 1863. Crossed the Potomac River, from Md. to Va. 24th. Virginia House, Heatharville, Northumberland County, Va. ; arrived at Union Wharf, Rap River, 8 P. M. 25th. Miller's Hotel, south side of Rapidan ; started for Richmond in com- pany with Captain Cox, of North Va. ; walked to Princes, thirty-five mile* from Raj>. 261 h. Breakfasted at Old Church. Arrived in Richmond 4P.M., Pow- hatan Sotel ; wrote home. 27lh. Called on Mr. Barton. 28th. In Richmond. " Disconsolate." 29th. Richmond. 80th. Left Richmond for Buffalo Springs, Mecklenburg County, Va. ; passed through Petersburg, Va., and Weldon, N. 0. 160 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. 81st. Buffalo Springs, 2 P. M. Room 49, Rowdy Row. August 1st. First impressions of Springs not very pleasing. 2d. Formed the acquaintance of several pleasant gentlemen. 8d. Found more agreeable company. 4th. Took a long walk in company with Mr. Frank Hobbs, of Md. ; talked of dear old Maryland. 5th. Large arrivals ; unlimited scope for the study of human feature; to me a look, word, or mere motion of body, hand, or head, will often analyze & person's character; lirst impressions are often lasting, and generally correct. 6th. Each trying to outwit the other. Grouping of nature. 7th. Wrote to Captain Carlisle, Moseby's Cavalry, and to my friend E. N. Spiller, Atlanta, Ga. 8th. Introduced to Mrs. Paxon, wife of the proprietor of Springs. I have closely observed her; think she is well suited to make married life yes painfully disagreeable. Some talk of the freedom and bliss of persons before marriage. If this be true, what is the state of one coupled to a disagreeable person ; concentrated hell surely. 9th. Tried to meditate on a portion of the Bible ; mind unsettled ; thoughts like chaff before the wind. Left cottage for a walk to compose myself. 10th. Drinking the oozings of human nature. llth. Nothing to do ; yet not like Miss Flora McFlirasey, nothing to wear. 12th. Enjoyed myself by dancing ; find very little intellectual conversation ; thus far during my visit have not heard a solid subject discussed. 18th. Like a butterfly on the wing, pursuing pleasure. 14th. How various are the classifications of the mind; some appear to ba guided by reason, others by a species of brutal instinct. 15th. As a general thing the visitors seem to be friendly. 16th. Ladies very agreeable ; endeavor to repay their kindness. 19th. Modesty is a polite accomplishment, and often an attendant upon merit ; it wins the hearts of all. None are more disgusting in company than the impudent and presuming. 20th. What a fine place to show a person's breeding. Train up a child, Ac., &c. 21st. This day to me is a memorial one, no one can tell my feelings, perhaps the thoughts of another one the same; whether it is a day of folly or happi- ness, the future will show. My intention was honest, howsoever this affair may terminate ; perhaps sympathy was the cause of my action and words. I must say, I do not understand myself in this case. Wrote a long letter to ray friend Spiller. 22d. Miss Lucy A. Merritt, of Brunswick County, Va., returned to Buffalo ; long walk and confidential talk with her. Having noticed my letter to Mr. Spiller, asked to see it. Miss Merritt had no evil intentions when she mad this request, this I firmly believe ; I complied with her wish, as it seemed to be a test of friendship. 23d. Placid as a lake, nothing unusual transpired. 24th. In some young people the milk of human kindness seems long since to have curdled; I would advise a little soda to correct the acidity of their J. R. MILBURN'S JOURNAL. 161 nature. A lady should at all times command her tongue, especially in a pablio assembly, where a word, is au index to intellect and character. 25th. Nothing extraordinary to-day. 26th Preparing to leave Buffalo Springs. 27th. Good-bye, all friends. Confusion to my enemies, if any. 28th. Left Buffalo for Richmond, Va. ; at Linwood House. 29th to 31st. Richmond, Va. September 1st. Enlisted in the Confederate States Navy. 2d. Left Richmond, with Captain John W. Hebb, of Louisiana, for a cruise 011 the Chesapeake and its tributaries. Left the cars at Milford Station ; dined at Lloyd's, Caroline County, Virginia; camped at Central Point, Caroline County. 3d. Camped on the Rapidan River, at Mr. Warren's; one meal at 11 p, M. 4th. Lighton's Ferry, Essex County ; breakfast, dinner, supper, 9 p. M. 5th. Crossed the Rap. 3J- P. M. ; one meal, 9 p. M. ; camped in the woods, Camp Rust, Westmoreland County, five miles from Rap. River. 6th. Camp Rust ; two meals. 7th. Received a new supply of arms from Richmond; visited Miss Rust; two meals. 8th. Detailed to go on special duty; arrested William Hammond, a half- breed Indian, for boating Confederate deserters across the Potomac. In camp, 11 p. M., tired and hungry. 9th. Camp Rust. 10th. Broke camp, 10 A. M., for Nomoni River, twenty-five miles ; dined .n the road ; camped in Richmond County. llth. Marched all day ; camped, 9 A. M. ; one meal. 12th. Dined at 8 p. M. ; rained all night, half drowned next morning. 13th. Roasted corn early this morning; went out gunning for something to eat, hog, calf, or any thing; nothing procured. loth. .Went to Nomoni Ferry, 5 P. M. ; duck, crab, corn bread, butter, and milk. 16th. Dined with Miss Arnest. 17th. Fight between Manning and Fitzgerald ; drew my pistol to shoot Fitzgerald, who threatened to strike me, while in charge of camp, with a sword. I wisely desisted from the intended blow. Nothing to eat. 18th. No provisions; sent out a party to forage, no sucress. 19th. Killed a hog early this morning. 20th. All quiet ; truly a placid state. Strolled about e woods as if I had t>c home. Home is the dearest place on earth, especially /hen it is impossible ti be there. 21st. Killed another hog. 22d. On picket, fork of road. 23d. About to break camp. 24th. Yanks attacked our forces, at Mathias Point, with infantry and gun- boats : shelled us out. 25th. Moved camp. 26th. Sick all day. 11 162 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. 27th. On Noraoni again ; off on an expedition. 28th. Unwell. 29th. Feel better. 30th. Sick. October 1st. Still sick. 2d. Headache. 3d. In hospital at Bethel M. E. Church. 4th and 5th. Chill. 6th to llth. Sick at Mr. Ames's. 12th. Colonel Blackwell's, on Potomac. 13th. Crossed to St. Mary's County, last night 14th. Patuxent River. 15th to 17th. Calvert County, Maryland. 18th. Sharp's Island. 19th to 28th. Tilligtnan's Island. 31st. Chills. November 1st. Tilligman's Island. 3d. Tilligman's Island. Captain Hebb captured last night. 4th. Yankee cavalry crossed the bay to Fair Haven, A. A. Oountj, 80th. Cove Point. Cast away. December 1st. Cove Point. Boat repaired. 2d. On the way to the Confederate States. 22d. Calvert County. Slept in an unoccupied house. 23d. do. do. do. Nothing to eat. 29th. St. Mary's County. Went to Rob. Thompson's, cold and hungry , w& aid not let me warm myself, or give me any thing to eat. Slept near Poia* t No point. 80th. Took to the woods ; afraid of the Yanks. 31st. In a hogpen ; wet and cold. January 1st, 1864. Live in hope that I may safely reach my destination, confident of ultimate success, though every thing seems to oppose. 12th. Pasquith's. Yankee raid from Point Lookout. 14th. do. Yankees gone. 17th. Corinth Church. 18th and 19th. Heathsville. (18th. Boat stolen.) 25th. Heathsville. Went to Machota Creek, in woods. February 1st and 2d. Heathsville. Yankees about. 12th. Attempted to cross the Potomac last night in company with two ladies and Charley ; wind fair from S. W., but too heavy ; compelled to turn back. Slept at Mr. Bailey G. Haynie's. 13th. WindS.S.E.; at B. G. Haynie's ; crossed the Potomac ; rowed from Precher's Creek, Va., to Point Lookout ; sailed to Patuxent River ; lauded ladies, 7 A. M. Sunday, 14th. 15th. Plum Point, Calvert County, Md. Slept in an unoccupied house on hore. MILBUKN^ JOURNAL. 163 CHARLES W. MILBURN. July 23d, 1863. Ran the blockade across the Potomao ; a little cloudy ; landed at Cone Rive"; slept on the beach the remainder of the night; mos- quitoes very thick, ani large enough to bite through my coat. 24th. Arrival at Hoathsville ; dined at Virginia House ; started at 3 p. M. for Union Wharf, on the Rap. River ; arrived too late to get across the river ; remained all night. 25th. Crossed the river ; started for Bowler's ; procured conveyance from the ferryman to Millar's ; dined at Brown's Hotel ; impossible to obtain con- veyance to Richmond ; after finding a berth in a market- wagon for my bag- gage, I came to the conclusion to walk ; started at 4 P. M. ; walked to Mr. Princess's, seventeen miles ; remained all night. 26th. Started at daybreak for Old Church, 10 miles; arrived at 8.30 A. M. breakfasted ; arrived at Richmond, 4 p. M. ; Powhatan Hotel ; wrote home. 27th. Obtained a pass from General Winder, to pass unmolested in the city for thirty days ; called to see Mr. Barton. 30th. Left Richmond for Buffalo Springs, Mecklenburg County, Va. ; passed through Petersburg, Va., and Weldon, N. 0., and arrived at my desti- uation, 31st, at 2 p. M. 31st. Occupying room No. 49; prospect very pleasing. August 7th. Still at Buffalo, enjoying myself wonderfully; wrote to Cap- tain Carlisle, C. S. A., and Mr. Spiller. 22d. Wrote to Mr. Spiller, Atlanta, Ga. ; Miss Lucy A. Merritt returned to Buffalo, stayed till Sunday ; had a very pleasant time during her visit. 31st. A beautiful day. Received orders from Captain H. to prepare to leave Richmond to-morrow morning, under command of Captain Walter Bowie, 0. S. N. September 1st. After arriving at the depot, received another order, to wait until Wednesday. Went to new R. Theatre; a splendid plot, thougk not well acted. 2d. Left Richmond on the Fred, train, with Captain Walter Bowie, twenty -two men in all ; dined at Lloyd's u Caroline County, Va. ; encamped at Center Point, Caroline County, Va 3d. Got something to eat at Sparta, about 11 p. M. ; camped on the Rap- pahannock River, at Mr. Warren's. 4th. Camped at Leighton's Ferry, Essex Co., Rappahannock River ; got some cabbage and bacon about 9 A. M. 5th. Acting cook under difficulties; crossed the Rap. River, 3.30 p. M. ; upped in Westmoreland County, 9 p. M. ; camped in the woods, on Mr. Rust's plantation, five miles from Rap. River. 6th. Breakfasted about 9 ; corn bread and crackers, commonly called "shortcakes;" amused myself by gathering f&^-grapes near the camp; con- structed a chebang in the new camp. Captain Hebb arrived with arras and a guard of eight men ; went to sleep at 9 o'clock. 7th. Breakfast sent to me by Miss Lizzie Rust; accepted an invitation to dine at Mr. Rust's; had quite a pleasant time with ladies. j 6 4 CJNITED STATED SECRET SERVICE. OIL. Tim, ^ith tMrteei. otLor 7 detailed, at 3 A. M., to go from camp on special duty; they arrived in camp about 11 P. M M with one prisoner, named William Hammond, who seemed to be very uneasy; on guard from 12 p. M. to 2 o'clock. Beautiful night. 9th. Left camp with Captain Bowie, to make a reconnoissance ; break- fasted in camp; returned to camp, about 11 P. M., tired and hungry; "scene on the road." 10th. H. FL, a prisoner, started for Richmond in charge of Private Rusloe; broke up camp at 10 A. M. ; started with Captain Bowie for banks of Poto- mac, Mathias Point; another party, under Captain II., started for Noinoni River; inarched all day, without any thing to eat; slept at Mr. McClanna- han's, Machota Creek. llth. Marched till about 4 p. M. ; slept at Dr. Hooes' ; Captain Band and myself had quite a pleasant time with the ladies. 12th. Captain B. sent me to Waterloo, and orders to Lieutenant K., C. S. S. C. ; started from W. about dusk, for Mathias Point. 12th. Raining very hf rubbish at the western end of the cross, while massive walls rose aloft in gloomy grandeur. A wilderness of young aspens and willows, with hertf and there a dense growth of hardy roses, disputed the possession of some once cherished graves, with a savage intrusion of undergrowth. Fragments of tombs, some with armorial blazonry, were scattered about, and the whole place bore sad evidence of the terrible scourge of war. Nor could we resist the conviction that the people who have thus felt it will be slow to invoke it again. Failing of^the main object of our expedition, partly, per- haps, from our want of acquaintance with the occult science of ''red tape," we returned to Washington, and were there mustered into service, under a special order of the War De- partment. On the 12th of May these six companies, still unmounted, and having drilled only on foot, were ordered to Fortress Monroe. Leaving Washington the next afternoon on board of transports, after touching at Fort Monroe, we proceeded to Norfolk, and, reporting to General Shepley, were ordered to Portsmouth, where we disembarked and went into camp in the rear of the town. On the morning of the 22d we re-embarked on board a transport for James River. Dropping anchor about sunset, opposite Fort Powhattan, we passed the night quietly under the protection of the guns of the Atlanta. This craft will be remembered as the strange sea-monster designed by the reb- els to destroy the blockading fleet off Charleston harbor, but, by a higher power, to do good service for the Government. One of the boys thought it "looked like the devil." An- other could see no such resemblance, but said itr" looked like a big sea turtle on a raft, with his ' back up." A short run of about a dozen miles, the next morning, took us to Bermuda Hundred, where we disembarked, and went into camp about a mile from the landing, beside the other six companies The regiment was now together for 1 lie first time. At one o'clock A. M. of the 24th, one battalion was ordered to City Point, to take the place of a detachment which had been sent to Fort Powhattan. That fort, manned by colored troops, had beeu attacked bv a considerable forcn under Fita 184 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. Hugh Lee. They were, however, gallamly repulsed, and, before the arrival of the reinforcements, had retreated, and the battalion returned. General Butler, commanding the army of the James, con- sisting of the tenth and eighteenth army corps, had taken possession of City Point and Bermuda Hundred on the 5th instant, greatly to the surprise of the enemy. His fortifications extended from the Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox, northwardly to near Dutch Gap, on the James River, a distance of about five miles. General Grant was fighting his way to the south side of the James. The bloody battles of the Wilderness and of Spottsylvania Court-House had been fought, and an order was received by General Butler, for the eighteenth corps to proceed to the White House, to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac. On the 25th this corps left, and the cavalry, acting as infantry, was ordered to the front to take their places in the intrenchments. The position of this regiment was about mid- way of the line, between the two rivers, in an open field and on level ground. The tents were pitched a few rods in the rear of the breastworks, and with no protection from the shot and shell of the enemy. The enemy held a formidable line of works in our front, varying in distance from half a mile to two miles. Directly in front of our camp, at the distance of about forty rods from our main line of works, a thick wood prevented us from see- ing the enemy's position. A little to our right, the country was open, and there, on an eminence some eighty rods in advance of our breastworks, we had a small redoubt, known as Fort Pride, defended by a section of a battery, and com- manded by Captain Pride, an artillery off;?r, from whom it took its name. Company M, Captain Sargent commanding, was stationed in this fort as an artillery support. JL portion of the regi- ment was constantly on picket, in front of our main line of works. We were to hold this line. It was here that the six companies referred to as having recently reached the front, loaded their pieces for action for the first time : and it was FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 185 Here that the pluck of the men and the efficiency of their guns were first put to the test. The enemy shelled us nearly every day from behind his breastworks, and though we received no damage, still a vivid recollection is retained of the shelling. The guns of the enemy, on a part of his line, were trained on the redou bt, and when the shells failed, as they often did, to explode at the point intended, they came directly into our camp, the Whitworth whistling with a sound like that produced by the wing of a pigeon swiftly cutting the air others scream- ing over our heads or tearing up the ground. In one in- stance, the fusee of a shell was "blown out and struck a colored boy in the face, but inflicted no serious injury. Some of the boys proposed to wash bis face, to see if the fright had not bleached him. The humor of these people is "irrepressible." When the fusee whisked across this fel- low's face, he opened his eyes wide, and seeing a friend, exclaimed, "By golly, Bill, did you see dat ar snipe?" "Yah, yah, yah," exclaimed the other, "you nigger. I reckon you wouldn't like to have dat ar snipe pick you." At three o'clock A. M. of the 28th, the rebels opened on us with artillery, all along the line, and the whole force was ordered to "fall in." It was supposed they were about to assault our works. Drawn up for the first time in close line of battle, a few paces from the breastworks, in anticipation of a bloody conflict, the whole bearing of the men was such as to make their gallant commander proud of them. When all was ready, as the intrepid Colonel Conger mounted on old "Barney," as his war-horse was called, the ^inevitable pipe in mouth, puffing as quietly as if sitting at his tent-door, the chaplain passed along in front of the line with words of cheer to the men. As he told them what was expected of them, and that he trusted they would give a good account of themselves in the coming conflict, they answered with the utmost enthusiasm, "We will, Chaplain, we will; that is what we came here for. We will do it." The expected as- sault, however, was not made, and three hours later they returned to their quarters. On the picket line the time did not entirely pass \vithout enlivening incidents. An officer, one night, discerned a sus- 186 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. picious Jooking object moving stealthily toward our fortifi cations Making a detour, he got into its rear unperceived, and soon discovered that it was a man, reconnoitering our works. By cautious movements, now stepping behind this tree, and now crouching behind that stump, still when the game was still, and moving quickly when it moved, he suc- ceeded in getting sufficiently near, when, taking deliberate aim, he roared out, "Lay down." Disarmed and brought in, the captive proved to be a lieutenant in the rebel service. On the 30th, the thunder of artillery all day gave us a welcome intimation that General Grant was coming. Beyond incidents like these, nothing occurred worthy of note till the 4th of June. The part of the picket line which extended along in front of our camp, from left to right, about one mile, was held by our regiment. On our right, the line extending on in front of Fort Pride, and some distance beyond, was manned by another regiment. Before daybreak on the morning of the 4th, the enemy commenced a furious shelling, which was continued till sunrise. Meantime he had thrown out a strong line of skirmishers to attack our pickets on the left, for the purpose, doubtless, of diverting attention from the point at which he intended to strike. The attack was sudden and vigorous, but the reserve rallying promptly, ^with their supe- rior arms, the enemy was repulsed. The skirmishing con- tinued, however, till about nine o'clock, when a regiment of South Carolina troops left their intrenchments, further to our right, and advanced on Fort Pride with a yell peculiarly their own. The pickets of the regiment referred to left their posts and came in. Captain Sargent at once sent out twenty-one men, under command of Lieutenant Blethen. This small party, taking advantage of the ground, got a position from which, as the enemy advanced on the fort, they could give him an enfilad- ing fire. The first volley told with terrible effect ; another equally destructive instantly followed. Another, another, and another, tore through their thinned and thinning ranks. It seemed as if a whole brigade was on their flank. In the mean time our artillery opened on them with grape and can ister. A moment more and the survivors were seeking th* FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 187 shelter of their works, leaving their dead and wounded on the Held. Among the dead was the colonel of the regiment A detachment of our men was sent out to man the picket line. Lieutenant Blethen returned, bringing in thirteen pris- oners, among whom was one commissioned officer. It is a singular fact, that we had not a man harmed. Two hours after the fight, the body of the rebel colonel wlio fell was sent, under a flag of truce, across the enemy's lines, together with his gold watch, a diamond ring, and various other articles of value found upon his person. It is a noteworthy fact, that the Sabbath was sometimes *" remembered" in the army, even in the midst of a vigorous campaign. When the troops were on a march, it was differ- ent, But, during the ten months the two great armies con- fronted each other before Richmond, no instance is remem- bered in which the religious services of the Sabbath were interrupted by the enemy. As by common consent, aggres- sive movements on both sides, with rare exceptions, were suspended on that day. Usually on the Sabbath, "all was quiet along the lines." Especially so were the first Sabbaths we passed at Bermuda Hundred front. At the suggestion of Colonel Mix, of the Third New York Cavalry, that regiment and the First Dis- trict of Columbia^ Cavalry attended a united service, while stationed at that point, the chaplains of the two regiments officiating alternately. At one o'clock on the morning of the 10th, the six mount- ed companies of the First District of Columbia Cavalry moved with the division under General Kautz, as it after- ward appeared, to capture Petersburg. The cavalry was to attack the city on the south, while the tenth corps of infantry, under General Gilmore, was to attack on the north side. The cavalry moved promptly. All the troops did their duty well. No further account of the matter, however, can here be given than is necessary to show the part borue by this regiment. As the column, marching by the Jerusa- lem turnpike, approached the enemy' s defenses, Lieutenant- Colonel Conger, commanding, ordered Major Curtis to dis- mount his battalion and charge the enemy's works. Every fourth man was left in charge of the horses The balance of 188 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. the battalion moved steadily forward, firing rapidly as they advanced, nor did they pause at all till they were inside the rebel works, securing prisoners and destroying such camp equipage as they could not remove. It was then discovered that they had done this against three times their own number, fighting behind breastworks. With the common arm, this would hardly have been possi- ble. Some of the prisoners said: "Your rapid firing con- fused our men ; they thought the devil helped you, and it was of no use to fight." During the action, Captain Griffin, of Company C, with a small detachment from his own and another company, charged and took a twelve'pound brass howitzer, against large odds of good fighting men. They could not stand the ready-loaded and instant- firing arms which our men used against them. After the defenses had been carried, it was ascertained that the infantry had returned to Bermuda Hundred without striking a blow, and as the enemy was rapidly bringing up reinforcements from Richmond and elsewhere, General Kautz was compelled to retire, which he did without molestation. In the early part of the action, Lieutenant Maguire received a painful wound in the leg. This was our only casualty. While this affair was in progress, a detachment from that portion of the regiment which remained behind reconnoitered the enemy's works in our front, found them deserted, and demolished them. On the 13th we were relieved from duty in the in- trenchments, by a regiment of one hundred days men from Ohio. The next day the balance of the regiment was mounted, and moved at once with the cavalry division, in concert with the eighteenth corps of infantry, for a second demonstration on Petersburg. The disadvantage under which they labored will be appreciated, when it is stated that a portion of the District of Columbia men took the saddle that day for the first time in their lives. And yet the regiment was highly compli- mented for its gallantry in the engagement, which resulted in forcing the enemy back to his inner line of intrench ments. FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 189 Lieutenant Parkman, of Company D, a brave and accom- plished officer, and an excellent man, was killed. While at Bermuda Hundred, as well as elsewhere, the kindly ministrations of the Sanitary and Christian Commis- sions called forth grateful acknowledgments from many a suffering soldier. CHAPTER XII. FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. Leaving Camp again " Wilson's Raid" Battles The Escape of Kauti The Mo4 of Regimental Service. HITHERTO one-half the regiment had served as infantry. Now, mounted and released from duty in the intrenchments, they were so far prepared to take the field as cavalry. Pro- bably, however, no other regiment in the service took the field in a condition so unfavorable to success. Now if (as we shall hereafter see), notwithstanding all the adverse influences, they were distinguished for their bravery and efficiency on every field in which they fought, the fact will prove the sterling qualities of the men. On the 19th, we broke camp near the breastworks at Bermuda Hundred front, and moved north about five miles, to a point near the James, about two miles below Jones's Landing. At four o'clock p. M. of the 20th, an order was received to be ready to march at an hour's notice. At nine o'clock our horse equipments arrived from Washington. The differ- ent parts of the saddle were in different boxes, and so unac- quainted were the men with horse gear, that many of them were unable to adjust the various parts without assistance. Nor was this strange. Before their enlistment they had no occasion to learn, and subsequently, no opportunity, and yet, three hours later, they started on the celebrated " Wil- son's Raid." At one o'clock, on the morning of the 21st of June, the regiment moved with the third division of cavalry, under General Kautz, and joined another division from the Army rf the Potomac. The whole force numbered about eight *'1RST DISTRICT CAVALRY. , SM thousand men, with sixteen pieces of artillery, and was com- manded by General Wilson. The object of the movement, like that of similar ones which had preceded it, was not to fight, but to weaken the enemy by catting his communications, and by destroying army stores and other public property. The Army of the Potomac was now intrenched on the south side of Richmond. All supplies for the rebel capital must be drawn from the South and West. The question of its reduction was only a question of time, while every inter ruption of its communications, and every diminution of its supplies, would hasten the time. On the night of the 21st, the command bivouacked at Blanford, on the Suffolk Railroad, four miles south of Petersburg. Of the use of this road the enemy itad already been deprived. Passing on the 22d to Prince George's Court-house, thence marching in a southerly direction, they struck the Wei don Railroad at Reams 1 s Station, twelve miles from Petersburg. The place was guarded by a small body of militia. A portion of them were captured and the remainder dispersed. Here the sad but necessary work of destruction began. All the buildings at the station, together with a locomotive, and a train of five or six cars, were consigned to the flames. After tearing up the road for a considerable distance, the command marched to Ford's Station, on the South Side Railroad, eighteen miles southwest from Petersburg. Here the work of destruction was resumed. The public build- ings, together with three locomotives and fifteen cars, shared the fate of those at Reams' s Station. On the 23d, they advanced to Black's and White's, lif teen miles southwest, on the same road, destroying the three intervening stations, and tearing up the road along their line of march. On the morning of the 24th, a march of eight miles led them to Notaway Court-house, where they destroyed a rail- road station, together with a large storehouse, filled with cotton. Resuming the line of march, they advanced to Keysville, on the Richmond and Danville Railroad, leaving behind 192 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. them a track of smouldering ruins, as far as the public property of the enemy furnished combustible matter. Nor is it to be denied that, within certain limits, a good deal of foraging was done. In a healthy subject, free exercise in the open air, espe- cially on horseback, tends to give an appetite, whose cravings nothing can appease but food. This was the experience of our boys. And if their haversacks were sometimes empty, and they were fain to gnaw the raw corn, "which the horses did eat," their appetites were all the more clamorous when they came within reach of food. At such times, bread, and meat, and butter, and milk, and eggs, and cream, in a word, whatever the smoke-house, or the spring-house, or the field, or garden, or stall, or pasture of % rebel contained, which was capable of being readily con- certed into good food, was remorselessly appropriated, without waiting for either commissary or quartermaster process. These acts of the boys were never denied ; and yet, for the life of us, we could never discover any signs of penitence on account of them. It should be stated, how- ever, that the law of magnanimity was not entirely ignored. The boys were one day in want of meat, and, as they had no other means of getting it, they "confiscated" the con- tents of a smoke-house on the plantation of a wealthy rebel. While the distribution was going on, the victim demanded, in no very pleasant tones, whether he was to have noue for himself. "Certainly," a quiet Yankee replied. "Now is your time. Pitch in, pitch in, and take your share, svhile it is going!" After passing Drake's Depot, eight miles further south, and paying it the same compliments they had paid to others, they approached Roanoke Bridge, which crosses the Staun- ton River, at the mouth of the Little Roanoke. As this was a point of great importance to the enemy, it was fortified and strongly guarded. On this side of the river, at the distance of about three-fourths of a mile, running parallel with it, was a range of hills. Between the hills and the river, the ground was open and level. At the left of the railroad was & broad field of wheat, while on the right a luxuriant growth FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 193 of grass and weeds, rising nearly to the height of a man's shoulders, covered the ground. The bluff on the opposite cj'de of the river was lined with earthworks, and bristled with cannon, both above and below the bridge, while a strong line of the enemy's skirmishers had been thrown across the bridge, and deployed along the shore. Wilson's object was to burn the bridge, and Lieutenant- Colonel Conger, of the First District of Columbia Cavalry, was detailed to do it. The regiment was composed of new 'recruits, with little experience, and had received less in- struction than any other regiment in the command. The undertaking was a perilous one. Its wisdom the reader will b^ likely to question. And yet, when the final order was given to charge across the level ground, in the face of the rebel batteries, the gallant First District of Columbia moved forward in splendid stylj, dismounted (except the intrepid Conger, who, being lame from previous wounds, was com- pelled to ride). The advance squadron, commanded by Captain Benson, had not advanced far, when, from the line of the enemy' s works in front, a murderous storm of grape and canister was hurled into their ranks with terrible effect. Officers and men went down in large numbers. Still, with- out the least protection, in the face of that withering fire, and at too great a distance from the enemy to effect much by their own, those brave men pressed on till near the bridge. Efforts were made to burn it, but they were unsuccessful. The regiment did but little actual fighting here, for the simple reason that they could not get at the enemy, but the cannonading was rapid and heavy. The hills presented a line of fire and smoke, and the earth trembled with the terrific concussions. Shells screamed across the horizon, bursting into deadly iron hail the grim forms of smoke- masked men, the gleam of burnished guns in the wheat field, where the men were not engaged, and the flashing of sabers where they were, with horsemen in the distance, sweeping to and fro, formed a scene of exciting grandeur such as few of our men had ever witnessed before. When at length it was discovered that the object could not be accomplished but at too great a sacrifice of life, the advance was ordered back, and, as nothing else was to be j94 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. done in this direction, the return march was commenced. The enemy followed all day, but made no attack. After a march of 'thirty-two miles directly east, through Greens- borough, the column halted for the night near Oak Grove. A inarch of thirty-eight miles brought them to the Iron Bridge across Stony Creek, at about ten o'clock on the morning of the 28th. Here a heavy force of cavalry and artillery was found in position to dispute the crossing. The cavalry consisted of Hampton's command, together with that of Fitz Hugh Lee. A severe engagement took place, in which this regiment lost about eighty men* in killed, wounded, and missing. The result was indecisive. The enemy was pressed batik, while our column turned to the left and crossed the creek at a point above. General Kautz's division had the advance, this regiment moving at the head of the column, and the Eleventh Penn- sylvania next. On approaching Reams' s Station, which had been sup- posed to be in our possession, General Kautz found himself confronted by the enemy, both infantry and artillery. Mahone's whole division, and one brigade from another division, had been sent out to intercept "Wilson's command, which was now outnumbered two to one.* The enemy was drawn up in strong line of battle, extending from the Nota- way River, on our right, to a point far out on our left. This regiment and the Eleventh Pennsylvania charged directly through. General Wilson, however, instead of following on, fell back, abandoned his artillery, wagons, and ambu- lances, and, by making a wide detour, avoided the enemy, and abandoned these two regiments to their fate. Kautz had marched but a short distance, when he found himself in a triangle, two sides of which, including his rear and left front, were held by the enemj^ in overwhelming numbers. Extending along his right front was the railroad, running through a cut from ten to twelve feet in depth. * Stung to madness by the previous daring and destructive raids of Kautz, Lee IB said to have declared that he would crush these raiders, if it cost him his whole *rmy. FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 195 Beyond it, and running nearly parallel with it, was a muddy stream of considerable depth, and beyond that, an extensive swamp, supposed to be impassable. The enemy now thought himself sure of his prey. Under the circumstances, almost any other man would have sur rendered. Not so the indomitable Kautz. It was a wild and exciting scene to see those mounted men slide down that steep embankment to the railroad track, and scramble up the opposite bank, and dash down the next declivity into the stream, and Avallow through mire and water, the horses in some instances rolling over, and the men going under, amid the thunder of artillery, and with solid shot plunging, and shells exploding, and grape and canister raining, and musket balls whistling around them, till they reached the opposite shore, and disappeared in the swamp. Following their indefatigable commander, they pressed their way through, and reached their old camp at Jones's Landing, the next day.* Lieutenant-Colonel Conger, Major Curtis, and Captain Sanford were severely Avounded. Captains Benson and Chase, who had been wounded at Roanoke Bridge, fell into the enemy's hands as prisoners, when the ambulances were abandoned at Stony Creek. The damage to the enemy by this raid was immense. Besides the destruction of buildings, of cotton, of commis- sary stores, and rolling stock, Richmond and Petersburg were cut oft' from all railroad communication for several weeks. The whole Army of the Potomac was now in, front of Petersburg, and was intrenching in the direction of the South Side Railroad. One of our companies was on duty in Port Pride. With this exception, the history of the regiment, for the next fe\r weeks, is little else than a history of alternate rest and drill. Once or twice it was ordered out on reconnoissance/ and once on foot to repel an expected assault, which, however, was not made. * This swamp had been made passable by a drouth o r almost unprecedented severity. jtjfc UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. On the 27th, orders were received to be ready to move at six o'clock, P. M., with three days' rations. The whole cavalry force, together with the second corps of infantry, had been ordered to the north side of the James. The object was to draw the enemy from Petersburg, where an assault was to be made in connection with the i.rine explosion. The head of Sheridan's column arrived from the west side or the Appomattox at nine; P. M. At three o'clock, A. M., the First District of Columbia joined. the rear, and, after march- ing to Jones's Landing, halted for the command to cross the pontoon bridge. Late in the day the crossing was effected, and the regiment bivouacked for the night. Some skirmishing occurred on the next day, in which Lieutenant McBride, of Company C, was wounded. On the 30th, the regiment returned to camp, and on the same afternoon marched to the west side of the Appomattox. On the 2d of August, it was ordered on picket near the enemy's lines, on the extreme left of the army. Our main line of works in front of Petersburg conformed very nearly to that of the enemy on the left, bending south- ward, so as to face the Weldon Railroad. A picket line extended from the left of our line of fortifications, in an easterly direction, through Prince George's Court-House, Lee's Mills, Sycamore Church, and Cox's Mills. On the 3d of August, the headquarters of the regiment were estab- lished at S3'camore Church, Major Baker commanding. This place was about ten miles southeast from City Point. From the 8th to the 21st of August, the regiment was on picket duty on the Weldon Railroad, four miles from Peters burg. On the 18th, while a demonstration was made on the i.orth side of the James, in front of Richmond, by Generals Gregg and Hancock, with their respective commands of cavalry and infantry, and while a portion of the rebel troops were withdrawn from oar front to meet the emergency, the fifth corps of infantry advanced and took possession of the Weldon Railroad. Desperate but fruitless efforts were made by the enemy to recover it. Severe fighting occurred on the 21st, in which this regiment participated. Dismounted, and deployed as skirmishers on the left of the fifth corps, they FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 197 participated in the capture of a brigade of rebel troops and three stands of colors. After picketing again, on the 22d, the regiment became engaged with a body of rebel troops the next morning, and drove them four miles, destroying a quantity of army stores. In the afternoon, Hampton's Legion was encountered. It was "Greek meeting Greek." It was impossible, however, for him to stand against the sixteen- shooters, and he was driven back, leaving his dead and wounded on the field We also took some prisoners. During this last engagement, Captain Sargent, of Company M, was killed while charging the enemy. We lost two men besides. On the 24th, the fighting was resumed at various points, and at some was severe, but with no decisive results. On the 25th, this regiment met the enemy in three distinct en- gagements, repulsing him in each. At four o'clock there were indications that he intended a Hank movement, and this regiment was ordered to the extreme left of the line, and dismounted, to fortify against the expected attack at that point. After the hard and almost incessant fighting of the day, the men could hardly have been in the best working condition, and yet, in momentary expectation of an attack, they wrought with a will. Without intrenching tools, their own " hands minis- tered" to the necessities of the hour. Logs, stumps, brush, roots, whatever movable material the forest afforded, was brought into requisition. The extemporized breastwork was hardly completed, when the enemy opened on us with artil- lery. Against this our works were no protection. But the men stood firm. Only one man was killed^ and one wounded. There was no enemy in sight, but all under- stood what this shelling boded. The men had received their orders, and all was silent along the line. Every man was at his post. Every eye was open, and every ear attent. No sound was heard but the roar of the enemy' s artillery, and the scream and crash of shells around us. This, however, had continued but a short time, when the enemy was seen in strong line of battle advancing through the woods. No sooner had they dis- covered our position than they raised a yell and rushed 198 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. on to the charge. But they paid dearly for their temerity Our men reserved their fire coolly waiting till the enemy was sufficiently near. Their first volley told with startling effect. Many a poor fellow drew short breath and never "breathed again. Another and another volley followed in instantaneous succession, and the enemy was swept from our front. Unfortunately, however, the infantry on our right, pressed by superior numbers, had fallen back, and the enemy was on our flank. The regiment held its posi- tion till dark, and was the last to leave the field. The next day it returned to Sycamore Church and resumed picket duty. While here, our officers formed an acquaintance with some of the " F. F. V.'s." For the most part, the acquaint- ance was pleasant, but not always. The following incident will illustrate the spirit sometimes encountered : One of our officers, while out on a scouting expedition with a small squad of men, halted near a fine old Virginia mansion, at a considerable distance outside of our lines, while he ad- vanced and politely accosted the lordly proprietor, as he sat puffing his cigar in the cool shade of his piazza. His lordship at once commenced a furious tirade against "Lin- coln and his dirty minions." The lieutenant listened patiently, meanwhile observing one of the colored women carrying a fine churning of butter into the house from a building near by, where it seemed to have been just made. At the firsfe pause in the furious tirade, he said, in substance, " Well, sir, the war is a costly thing. It has made it neces- sary to tax almost every thing, especially luxuries. JVow, as this sort of talk seems a luxury to you, it must be taxed. You will please send out to my men a few pounds of your new butter." Whether from generosity or some other motive, the but- ter was furnished, but the spirit of the man was not at all improved. He went on to abuse the Government, and all who supported it, in terms more violent than before. At the next pause, his tormentor quietly remarked : " For this fresh indulgence, you will please furnish us with half a dozen of your best hams, and a sack of flour ; and Ike sooner it is done the better!" FIRST DISTRICT CAVALRY. 199 The negro who executed the order clearly indicated, by and, one after another, the outsiders went in, till the house was nearly full. 1 said to them: "Now you can serve God according to Hie dictates of your own conscience." The loyal minister, who had vainly attempted to occupy the pulpit for several successive Sabbaths, entered it, and commenced the usual service. Meanwhile, an officer of my cavalry force reported that the horses were suffering for want of water. I directed them to be taken to a ford four miles distant for watering. 206 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. When the rebels found my cavalry were gone, they also went into the church, and commenced a disturbance of the meeting, first by scraping their feet upon the pews, then by audible expressions of their hatred. I rose, and, in no gentle mood, called an orderly, and told him to ride in hot haste after the cavalry, and tell the officer in command to send back ten men as quickly as possible. In a short time, the force came on the full gallop to the church, when I ordered a halt. The frightened disturbers of loyal worship attempted to get out of the way, when I directed the arrest of about a dozen of them, and told them they must march with us to Washington that night. They begged for mercy, but it was too late. They certainly didn't play by the way ; for we reached the city before daylight the next morning. After I had risen, in single file, and with drooping heads, and hats in hand, they formed a ring of chop-fallen chivalry around me a comical and pitiful sight. Upon giving their parole they were released, and no further quarrel interrupted the Union worshipers, who gratefully assembled upon the recurrence of th<4r appointed service in the rural temple. In every thing and everywhere, it was evident to the casual observer that slavery was the soul of the rebellion the educator in treason, perverting law, religion, and social order, and laying on its altar, like the idolatry of Hin- ioostan, unsparingly, human victims. The determination of the Government, and of the army officers generally, notwithstanding, to save the "peculiar institution" with the Union, in the beginning of the war, was equally apparent. Under the notorious fugitive slave law of 18o7, which offered a premium upon the re-enslave- ment of the refugee from unrequited toil and personal abuse, the commissioner appointed to enforce its provisions in Washington was a secessionist by the name of Cox, who took care to restore every chattel to the claimant, without nicely discriminating between the bond and free. As a consequence, not a few persons, who, by birth or purchase of freedom, were citizens, were seized and forced into bond- age I had some very interesting cases of the kind. A free-born mulatto girl was kidnapped by the .slave NEGRO-STEALERS FOILED. 207 catchers, and through perjury the proper order was ob- tained, and she was taken to her pretended owner. Intel- ligent, and resolved to he free, she had the facts' conveyed to my headquarters. By a military order I compelled the woman-stealer to restore to her friends the captive robbed of her rights in the name of law. The tinge of African hue alone made the outrage a trivial incident to all but the grate- ful and, I might add, graceful young lady. Upon my return from an expedition into Lower Mary- land, when within a mile from the State line, I met a farmer with a wagon load of slaves, consisting of a father and mother, with their two small children, and a wife's sister, all in charge of a constable and a force of armed citizens. The slaves, tied hand and foot, and thrown upon the straw in an old country wagon, were on their way back to bond- age. And this was done in the name of law, to pacify the men who were plotting to destroy the Union ! I was completely exhausted ; but, nerved to action by indignation too intense for expression, I demanded the autho- rity for the horrible proceeding. The claimant produced his parchment, bearing the seal of Commissioner Cox. He flourished the precious document before me, "and directed my attention to the great seal of the United States. Upon careful perusal of it, I found that it bore the names of only four slaves, while the load included five. When I pointed the chivalrous and confident owner to the apparently unimportant circumstance, he replied: "We don't count that baby," pointing to an infant three months old, in the arms of a mother, whose feet were tied, while she leaned against the side of the vehicle. I answered: "The mother was a slave, and the child was born in bondage. You claim the mother, and of course the child is kidnapped ; and as you profess to be a law- abiding citizen, and are violating the statute, I arrest the entire company." He warmly protested, and threatened resistance. He said, "Take the baby ; what in h 11 do we want of the baby ? We want grown people." The mother began to weep. One of my men was touched, and, turning to me with pleading tone, inquired if I would separate the mother and chilf 1 208 UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. The display of a dozen of Colt's revolvers, by myself and assistants, satisfied my excited friend that I was in earnest in expressing ray interpretation of the law. I sprang into the wagon, and with my saber's point cut the ropes. This, I think, was the first practical application of the principle of the famous Emancipation Proclamation of later date. I directed the horses' heads to be turned toward Wash- ington, when the owner and driver of the load remonstrated, and said, with an oath : "Let the niggers walk to Washington." I said, "No. You brought them here, and must carry them back." The poor captives sank on their knees ; the venerable old man exclaiming, with uplifted hands, "Bless God !" and the mother adding, " God bless Colonel Baker !" I took them to my headquarters and set them at liberty. This transaction, of course, brought upon my head the curses of the slaveholders of Lower Maryland. But I had violated no law, on account of the fortunate presence of the baby. A delegation called on Mr. Lincoln the next morning, pro- testing against the arbitrary act, producing, as before, the sacred parchment. I was summoned to the White House. The President said : "Baker, a serious charge is preferred against you;" directing my attention to the document, with the inquiry, " What do you know about the case f I briefly made my statement, giving prominence to the number of the slaves, and the juvenile supernumerary. The Chief- Magistrate, worthy of the nation he repre- sented, replied jocosely : " Well, Baker, I guess the baby saves you!" and dismissed the whole affair, leaving the "contrabands" at large, and myself to the prosecution of my thankless profession. Take the 6afy; what in h-U do we want of the baby? THE MADDEST MAN IN ALL MARYLAND. CHAPTER XIV. ENGLISH SYMPATHY WITH THE SOUTH NEGRO-HATE IN WASHINGTON. At. English Emissary of the South He Deceives the Secretary of State My A