Between the Lines Part 37

1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, a.s.sistant Provost Marshal, will immediately proceed to Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., for the purpose of conferring with the Hon H. McCullogh, Secretary of the Treasury.

On accomplis.h.i.+ng the object of his visit, he will immediately report to these headquarters.

By command of Major General Wallace.

JOHN WOOLLEY, Lt. Col & Pro. Marshal.

Lieut. H. B. Smith, a.s.st. Provost Marshal.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Office Provost Marshal, Baltimore, May 25, 1865.

12 P. M.

Lt. H. B. Smith, a.s.st. Provost Marshal.

You will proceed to the Norfolk Boat, "Lary Line," foot of Frederick Street, to-morrow morning, with a guard of one officer and twenty men, and carry out the instructions given you in compliance with orders of the Hon. Secretary of War.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

The above was an interesting case. The party to be apprehended was a young officer, described as very youthful in appearance, who had shot and killed a private soldier under very aggravating circ.u.mstances. He ordered the soldier to do a menial service, and killed him for refusing.

The steamboat had three hundred or four hundred pa.s.sengers. We did not want to delay innocent persons, so I allowed all to pa.s.s off who were of age sufficient to warrant the conclusion that they were not wanted. Then I searched the boat and found a mere boy who appeared to be not over fourteen years old; he was the one wanted. He had been tried and convicted, and was on his way to jail (I think the Albany penitentiary) when he escaped. We started him on again under a guard. When in the Thirtieth Street station of the Hudson River Railroad, in New York City, he was permitted to go into a water closet alone. He never came out the door. He must have crawled out through the window, though it seemed not large enough to permit even a boy's egress. The guards became frightened and deserted. No one ever heard of either prisoner or guards so far as I know. This boy officer was certainly living a charmed life.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Office Provost Marshal, Baltimore, May 25, 1865.

Mrs. Beverly Tucker will be arrested. Seize and search her baggage for papers, and also cause strict examination to be made to discover any papers concealed on her person. Much depends on your diligence and skill in executing this order.

Watch carefully what companions she has, if any, male or female, and cause similar search to be made of such persons.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

To Lt. H. B. Smith, a.s.st. Provost Marshal.

FILE XLIII.

Camp Carroll rioting--Troops being mustered out.

The muster out of troops and return to civil life of the men who had been hardened soldiers was attended with difficulties. The men often began to feel liberty while yet with arms in their hands, and rioting, the effect of too much "fire water" was frequent. Camp Carroll was a muster out rendezvous in the western end of Baltimore.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, June 6, 1865.

Lieut. Smith:

I have sent four companies of infantry and a detachment of cavalry to report at Camp Carroll at once. They will be provided with ammunition. Find Colonel Johannes, 11th Md.

Infantry, if you can, and direct him to take command of all reinforcements and enforce order in the Camp and neighborhood; if Colonel Johannes is not there, see the senior colonel at the Camp and impart the order to him.

Brigadier General Lockwood has been ordered to proceed to Camp Carroll at once and take command.

Please report state of affairs from time to time.

By command of Major General Wallace.

SAM'L B. LAWRENCE, A. Adjutant General.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

June 6, 1865.

Lt. Smith:

Send all the Cavalry you have to spare at once to report to the Commanding Officer, 11th Md. Infantry at Camp Carroll.

Read the order I have written to him. Keep the three orders I wrote to General Lockwood and C. O. Federal Hill, and if you do not need them to-night, return them to me in the morning.

Send the order at once to Commanding Officer, 11th Md.

If anything serious occurs to-night send an orderly to me.

Yours, &c., SAM'L B. LAWRENCE, A. Adjutant General.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Provost Marshal's Office.

Baltimore, June 6, 1865.

Colonel:

I have the honor to report in the case of the disturbance at and near Camp Carroll this evening.