Between the Lines Part 8

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

H. B. Smith, Lt. Comdg. Detective Corps.

Lieutenant.--You will please order the guard in charge of the schooner "W. H. Travers" to remove and put her in such position at Boston Wharf as will not interfere with the vessels in the government service at the wharf, and not to interfere in any way with or be in the way of the vessels in public service.

I have addressed a note to the Quartermaster asking to be allowed the privilege of unloading the vessel at the wharf.

Very respy, Your obdt. servt, JOHN WOOLLEY, Lt. Col. and Provost Marshal.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, Baltimore, May 11, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report that I have completed the discharge of the goods on board the schooner "W. H. Travers"

to the s.h.i.+ppers, excepting those named on the enclosed list.

I enclose herewith all the papers in connection with the case, two lists, one of goods not on the manifest, and one of goods not permitted, but on the manifest. I also enclose a note from Mr. McJilton, clerk of the Custom House, showing that some transactions there in this case are not all right.

Mr. McJilton, the Surveyor of the Port, stated that he would not grant a permit for percussion caps, unless by permission of the military authorities. The impression at the Custom House is that the whole transaction of s.h.i.+pping these goods is a fraud, and they do not know what to think of their books and papers.

I have a package of gold leaf in my possession, also two Confederate uniforms. Some of the cotton cards I found stored away in the cabin, and some away under the stairs. The second box on the manifest, s.h.i.+pped by Bolton to R. P. Blackstone, contained one box soap, and one box of gla.s.s. I have a certificate from Bolton to that effect. Mr. Pa.s.sano, who s.h.i.+pped the box containing the gla.s.s, denies any knowledge of the contents of the box, as it was a cash bill and he had no record of it.

I am, Colonel, Very respy your obdt. servt., H. B. SMITH, Lieut Com'd'g, D. C.

We subsequently returned to the innocent s.h.i.+ppers their goods, but confiscated the balance, and also the vessel. I afterwards used the "Travers" to capture other blockade runners, and quite successfully. A sailor will recognize a vessel as far as the eye can reach, as surely as a man can recognize any familiar object. She was known as a blockade-runner to the fraternity; we used her to crawl upon others.

Any citizen or soldier from the Confederacy found within our lines was considered a spy; some were executed. To escape such treatment it was necessary to report to the nearest officer and take the oath of allegiance. Even then we were not protected, but had to carefully examine the purported refugee, or deserter, to ascertain their possible honesty. We captured a great many spies.

An official spy, sent out by the Confederates to perform a specific duty, had no conscience to answer to, that would prevent his taking our oath.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, Baltimore May 3, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report that this evening we arrested James A. Winn, a member of Co. E. 1st Md. Rebel Cavalry, in a house, No. 42 Saratoga street. He was dressed as a citizen; under his coat, with the flaps rolled back, was his uniform jacket. His coat was b.u.t.toned, thus hiding his uniform. He wore a black slouch hat.

I placed the inmates of the house, Mrs. Hall and Miss McAlden in arrest, and searched the premises.

Both of these ladies admitted they were aware of Winn's character, and that their sympathies were with the South. I found nothing contraband in the house. They live neatly, but are evidently poor. Miss McAlden remarked that they were too poor to aid the South even if they were so disposed.

I have a guard in charge of the house awaiting your disposition of the case.

Messrs. Allen and Sampson, clerks at Department Headquarters, are, I am informed, boarding at this house.

I am Colonel, Very respy, your obdt. servant, H. B. SMITH, Lt. Com'd'g D. C.

The papers and pocketbook that I handed you were found on his person.

Any incautious information dropped by Allen or Sampson was likely to be immediately reported to the Confederate authorities. The Department was honeycombed with just such points of insecurity, leaks which it was my duty to stop.

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

Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Send a good detective to Frederick, Md. He may possibly get track there of some of the 1st (Rebel) Maryland Spies. Send him on the first train.

LEW WALLACE, Major General Commanding.

The above order is in General Wallace's handwriting. Winn, whom we had arrested, was of that regiment and we were searching for others.

FILE XII.

F. M. Ellis, chief detective, U. S. Sanitary Commission--Arrest of W. W.

Sh.o.r.e, of the New York "World"--John Gillock from Richmond.

United States Sanitary Commission, 244 F Street, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

May 7, 1864.

Lieut. Smith.

Dear Sir.--Your favor was received in due time and after diligent search I am satisfied that no such man is now in Was.h.i.+ngton; however, I shall keep a close lookout, and any information worth while, I shall give you at once.

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

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

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

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

Lieut. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.