Headquarters,Middle Military Department.Baltimore, July 19th, 1865.Special Order No. 1.I. Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Artillery, is hereby relieved from duty as Assistant Provost Marshal, 8th Army Corps, and will rejoin his regiment without delay.By command of Major General Hancock.Adam E. King,Asst. Adjutant General.Official.(Signed)Geo. H. Hooker,Assistant Adjutant General.Lt. H. B. Smith,5th N. Y. H. Artillery, D. Co.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department.Baltimore, July 19th, 1865.
Special Order No. 1.
I. Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Artillery, is hereby relieved from duty as Assistant Provost Marshal, 8th Army Corps, and will rejoin his regiment without delay.
By command of Major General Hancock.
Adam E. King,Asst. Adjutant General.
Official.
(Signed)Geo. H. Hooker,Assistant Adjutant General.
Lt. H. B. Smith,5th N. Y. H. Artillery, D. Co.
Headquarters, Middle Department,8th Army Corps.Baltimore, Md., July 20, 1865.Lieutenant H. B. Smith, 5th New York Artillery, was ondetached service as Assistant to the Provost Marshal, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, at Baltimore, Maryland, during sixteen (16) months, 1864 and 1865, and always performed his duties zealously, efficiently, and promptly.He won the confidence and esteem of the General Commanding, and all the officers of the Staff. As Lieut. Smith is to be mustered out of service, I take pleasure in thus furnishing him with evidence of the meritorious service he has rendered, and my belief that he will be equal to any trust that may be reposed on him, and entirely worthy the confidence of all with whom he may be associated in civil life.Samuel B. Lawrence,Lieut. Col. & A. A. G.
Headquarters, Middle Department,8th Army Corps.Baltimore, Md., July 20, 1865.
Lieutenant H. B. Smith, 5th New York Artillery, was ondetached service as Assistant to the Provost Marshal, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps, at Baltimore, Maryland, during sixteen (16) months, 1864 and 1865, and always performed his duties zealously, efficiently, and promptly.
He won the confidence and esteem of the General Commanding, and all the officers of the Staff. As Lieut. Smith is to be mustered out of service, I take pleasure in thus furnishing him with evidence of the meritorious service he has rendered, and my belief that he will be equal to any trust that may be reposed on him, and entirely worthy the confidence of all with whom he may be associated in civil life.
Samuel B. Lawrence,Lieut. Col. & A. A. G.
On August 1st, 1865, I was appointed as a civilian to perform the same duties:
MilitaryHeadquarters, Middle Department,Office Provost Marshal.Baltimore, August 31, 1865.Special Order No. 106.1st. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps. Middle MilitaryDivision, will proceed to Philadelphia, Pa., for the purpose of obtaining information regarding a certain commissioned officer of the U. S. Vet. Res. Corps.On completion of his duty he will report at these headquarters without delay.Quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.By command of Major General Humphreys.John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. General.
MilitaryHeadquarters, Middle Department,Office Provost Marshal.Baltimore, August 31, 1865.
Special Order No. 106.
1st. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps. Middle MilitaryDivision, will proceed to Philadelphia, Pa., for the purpose of obtaining information regarding a certain commissioned officer of the U. S. Vet. Res. Corps.
On completion of his duty he will report at these headquarters without delay.
Quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Humphreys.
John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. General.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Sept. 20, 1865.Special Order No. 116.IInd. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington, D. C., in charge of the following-named horse thieves:Michael Shea and H. J. Hoffman. On arrival he will deliver the prisoners with accompanying paper to Colonel T. Ingraham, Provost Marshal General, Defences of Potomac, receive receiptand report at these headquarters without delay.Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.By command of Major General Hancock.John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. Gen'l.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Sept. 20, 1865.
Special Order No. 116.
IInd. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington, D. C., in charge of the following-named horse thieves:
Michael Shea and H. J. Hoffman. On arrival he will deliver the prisoners with accompanying paper to Colonel T. Ingraham, Provost Marshal General, Defences of Potomac, receive receiptand report at these headquarters without delay.
Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Hancock.
John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Pro. Mar. Gen'l.
Horse stealing was much in fashion at this time.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Sept. 22, 1865.Special Order No. 117.II. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington, D. C., in charge of the following named horse thieves:Wm. H. Smith and R. B. Franklin, alias Robert Nelson. On arrival he will deliver the prisoners with accompanying papers to Capt. Geo. B. Russell, Acting Provost Marshal General, Defences North of Potomac, receive receipt for same and report at these headquarters without delay.Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.By command of Major General Hancock.John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Provost Marshal General.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Sept. 22, 1865.
Special Order No. 117.
II. H. B. Smith, Chief of Detective Corps, Middle Military Department, and one man as guard, will proceed to Washington, D. C., in charge of the following named horse thieves:
Wm. H. Smith and R. B. Franklin, alias Robert Nelson. On arrival he will deliver the prisoners with accompanying papers to Capt. Geo. B. Russell, Acting Provost Marshal General, Defences North of Potomac, receive receipt for same and report at these headquarters without delay.
Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Hancock.
John Woolley,Lt. Col. & Provost Marshal General.
Captain Beckwith convicted—Gambling—Order to take Beckwith to Albany penitentiary.
Along about August and September, 1865, the Government ordered surveillance of all gambling houses, to discover if disbursing officers were gambling. This was my first experience in the art. It was a free school, for the tuition was on Uncle Sam. The lessons have served me all my life, and I have never wanted to go to that school since.
We appropriated from five to ten dollars an evening, to be spent in each house visited, depending on its standing. That gave us entry and made us welcome so that we could spend the evening. I gambled and observed, along with Captain Beckwith. I saw him win, and also saw him lose; lose far more than he could afford to. That was his undoing. Powerful interests were extended in his behalf and he was pardoned. Now read the two documents following:
War Department,Adjutant General's Office.Washington, October 19, 1865.General Court Martial.Orders No. 584.The action of Major General Hancock, Commanding the Middle Department, designating the Penitentiary at Albany, New York, as the place of confinement in the case of Captain D. L. Beckwith, 22d Regiment Vet. Reserve Corps, Assistant Commissary of Musters, sentenced by a General Court Martial "to forfeit all pay that is now or may become due him to the date of promulgation of this sentence; to be cashiered and to be forever disqualified from holding any office of trust or emolument in the service of the United States, and to be confined for two years without pay, at hard labor at such penitentiary or Military Post as the Commanding General of this Department may direct."This sentence to be published as presented by the 85th Article of War, as promulgated in General Orders No. 23, dated Headquarters Middle Military Department, Baltimore, Maryland, Oct. 10, 1865. Is approved. By order of the Secretary of War.E. D. Townsend,Assistant Adjutant General.Official.E. D. Townsend,Assistant Adjutant General.
War Department,Adjutant General's Office.Washington, October 19, 1865.
General Court Martial.Orders No. 584.
The action of Major General Hancock, Commanding the Middle Department, designating the Penitentiary at Albany, New York, as the place of confinement in the case of Captain D. L. Beckwith, 22d Regiment Vet. Reserve Corps, Assistant Commissary of Musters, sentenced by a General Court Martial "to forfeit all pay that is now or may become due him to the date of promulgation of this sentence; to be cashiered and to be forever disqualified from holding any office of trust or emolument in the service of the United States, and to be confined for two years without pay, at hard labor at such penitentiary or Military Post as the Commanding General of this Department may direct."
This sentence to be published as presented by the 85th Article of War, as promulgated in General Orders No. 23, dated Headquarters Middle Military Department, Baltimore, Maryland, Oct. 10, 1865. Is approved. By order of the Secretary of War.
E. D. Townsend,Assistant Adjutant General.
Official.E. D. Townsend,Assistant Adjutant General.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Oct. 29, 1865.Special Order No. 127.I. Special Officer, H. B. Smith, with one guard will proceedto Albany, New York, in charge of prisoner D. L. Beckwith. On arriving at Albany he will deliver the prisoner with accompanying papers to Amos Pillsbury, Superintendent of the Albany Penitentiary; receiving receipt he will report with the guard at these headquarters without delay.Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.By command of Major General Humphreys.John Woolley,Bvt. Brigadier General & Provost Marshal.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Oct. 29, 1865.
Special Order No. 127.
I. Special Officer, H. B. Smith, with one guard will proceedto Albany, New York, in charge of prisoner D. L. Beckwith. On arriving at Albany he will deliver the prisoner with accompanying papers to Amos Pillsbury, Superintendent of the Albany Penitentiary; receiving receipt he will report with the guard at these headquarters without delay.
Quartermaster's Department will furnish transportation.
By command of Major General Humphreys.
John Woolley,Bvt. Brigadier General & Provost Marshal.
The "one guard" detailed to accompany me was General Woolley. He wanted a little rest and availed himself of this opportunity. Upon our arrival in Albany I hunted up my cousin, Edgar Jerome, who spent the evening with us at the Delevan House. We had a delightful evening listening to the General's stories. He was a charming story teller. Ed will remember especially his rendering of "The Arkansas Traveller."
Now, Nettie, don't find fault with your history because your Uncle isnot mentioned in its lines. In the histories of great events, such as our Civil War, it is an honor to be, even though hidden, "between the lines." Thousands who are mentioned in written history to-day will not be there when it becomes more ancient. Later on, when other great events crowd, only three names may remain. Lincoln, Grant, Lee. Perhaps still further on, only Lincoln, the martyr for liberty's sake, may be found.
Much of my work was between the lines of the two contestants, a more dangerous place than in the lines, for I was exposed to the bullets and sabres of both Southern and Northern Armies.
Trip to Carlisle, Illinois, to unravel a fraudulent claim—John H. Ing.
We closed our headquarters in December, 1865, packing all records in finely arranged cabinets, which were then transferred to the War Department in Washington.
When my relation with the government was terminated, through the instrumentality of General Woolley (Woolley had recently been brevetted), I was engaged by Mr. Archibald Sterling, an attorney (a prominent Union man), to go to southern Illinois to ravel out a contested will case. The contestants were a group of neighbors, headed by a shrewd woman.
If I remember right, under the Maryland laws, if a child died before maturity, there was no inheritance. Mr. Sterling claimed that the young man was not of age when he died, and that he died in 1835; but he had no evidence to prove it. He had only a death notice clipped from some paper with no date on it. But he had an anonymous letter signed: "Veritas," postmarked at Carlisle, Illinois, in which the writer, for aconsideration, offered to put Sterling in possession of evidence that would defeat the claim; this letter was a few months old. Mr. Sterling could not comply. He could pay for no evidence without compromising his clients. With these facts only and equipped with the following letter of introduction, I started West:
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Dec. 27, 1865.Capt. Silas F. Miller,Burnet House,Cincinnati, Ohio.My Dear Sir.—I shall be greatly obliged if you will make Lieut. Smith, the bearer, acquainted with one or more of the conductors of the O. & M. R. R. Co.Lieut. Smith is one of my officers, and comes west on business which takes him on the line of that road.This is not for the purpose of securing a pass, but in order to get information. I have the honor to be,Very Respectfully,Your obedient servant,John Woolley,Bvt. Brigadier General U. S. Vols.Provost Marshal General M. M. D.
Headquarters,Middle Military Department,Office Provost Marshal General,Baltimore, Dec. 27, 1865.
Capt. Silas F. Miller,Burnet House,Cincinnati, Ohio.
My Dear Sir.—I shall be greatly obliged if you will make Lieut. Smith, the bearer, acquainted with one or more of the conductors of the O. & M. R. R. Co.
Lieut. Smith is one of my officers, and comes west on business which takes him on the line of that road.
This is not for the purpose of securing a pass, but in order to get information. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully,Your obedient servant,John Woolley,Bvt. Brigadier General U. S. Vols.Provost Marshal General M. M. D.
The field was entirely new to me. All the way to Cincinnati and the restof the way to Carlisle, Illinois, I put in much of my time in speculating as to the best course to adopt on landing in a small town, among a lot of villagers, who were banded together in this scheme. My name was to be Comings, and I came from New York; that was all settled in my mind; but what was my business there? I expected to be there a few days, and there was the rub; finally, after failing to fix up a story I concluded to "keep mum," entirely. Later you will see the fix which that conclusion came near leading me into.
I arrived there at night. I asked the landlord not to put me high up in the hotel, and he didn't; I learned the next morning that the hotel was only two stories high. I lounged about the tavern and the village two or three days, making myself aware of the surroundings. I tramped out to the fork of the Kaskaskia river, where the affidavits alleged the boy was buried in 1836. The river was a muddy little brook. No grave was to be found, but some little distance away was a burying ground. I went there searching for the grave. I found it not, but lying up against a fence was a headstone having the boy's name on it, and the date of his death.
In walking about the village I had many times passed the residence of the woman who had framed up the claim; she had noticed me. I wrote one of my old officers in Baltimore to wire me, in language about likethis:
"See Mrs. ——, confer fully and write me."
"See Mrs. ——, confer fully and write me."
I instructed him to sign John H. Ing's name to it. Mr. Ing was this woman's attorney.
Equipped with this telegram I would be prepared to introduce myself to the woman as apparently having come there in the interest of Mr. Ing, her attorney, to look over the ground to see if matters alleged in the affidavits were susceptible of demonstration.
While waiting for the telegram I obtained the confidence of the postmaster. I impressed him that I was an agent of the Post Office Department, seeking to learn if he remembered a letter coming to his office addressed to "Veritas" (Sterling had replied to Veritas); he, having the too frequent curiosity of a village postmaster, said he remembered it well, and told me who the recipient was, and where he lived. He promised to keep secret my mission, and he did.
Mr. Truesdale, the proprietor of the tavern, kept horses, and I hired him to carry me to this man's house, quite a drive of three or four miles. On our way I found it desirable to seek his confidence too, and impress him I was an agent of the Post Office Department, etc. Mr. Truesdale seemed much relieved. He then told me he was so glad to know my true character. Being the only "unaccounted for" man in the village,I had been the object of suspicion, which, unrelieved, might have proven uncomfortable.
Carlisle was on the edge of the prairie. Live stock (marked) ran wild, until taken in; much had been stolen. A vigilance committee had been organized to punish the thieves. These people were about to conclude that the only "unaccounted for" man about was the "look out" for the thieves. Truesdale was wonderfully pleased to stand sponsor for me to them, without divulging my mission. Keeping perfectly mum came close to being poor judgment under these circumstances.
I saw Mr. "Veritas" and had a private talk with him. He promised to meet me in Carlisle the next day, which he did. Before communicating the information which he said he had, which comprised the name of the storekeeper who sold the material used for preparing the coffin in 1836, and who had books to sustain the statement, he demanded a promise in writing to pay him a large sum of money. Having a smattering of "legal lore" I drew up a bond to pay the required amount, in event of success. I kept a copy of the bond to show Mr. Sterling. It was signed by "George Comings." It was satisfactory to Mr. "Veritas," and he in an impressive manner wrote on a piece of paper, in large bold letters, the storekeeper's name:PARMENUS BOND. We agreed to drive over to Mr. Parmenus Bond's placethe next day, and we did.
I found Parmenus to be very old, over eighty. He confirmed the statement after he learned Mr. "Veritas's" greed had been satisfied. (I guess he was to divide with the old gentleman, in fact.)
Having disposed of this part I was ready to use the telegram I had received, meantime, upon the woman schemer. I called upon her, presenting my telegram from Ing. She was charmed to meet me, saying she had observed my presence about the village. I told her I had surveyed the ground pretty well. I asked her about the tombstone, where did she get it? She said she got it from Harrisburg, Pa. (about one thousand miles away), and would have it set up in the spring, I advised her that I concluded the evidence was presentable, provided her witnesses all stayed in line. She assured me that they would, as they all had a money interest in it, in the event of success. We then parted, and it did not take me long to get out of town. I went to St. Louis, thence to Baltimore.
When I arrived in Baltimore, I at once called on Mr. Sterling, but had to introduce myself, I was so unkempt, and my apparel so dirty. He was anxious to know my report; I told him I had the evidence but had to agree to pay for it. His face was a sight. He concluded I had ruined his case. I handed him the copy of my bond, "George Comings's" bond, assuring him that "Veritas" would have a difficult time finding thebondsman; that he would not want to find him until after success, that he would not speak of it in Carlisle, for his life. Mr. Sterling then laughed heartily. I made a full report, advised Mr. Sterling to call in Mr. Ing confidentially, and show him his fix. The claim was withdrawn, and "George Comings" was never called upon to settle.
The use by me of Colonel John H. Ing's name was not unwarranted. I had previously had a "run in" with him, which led me to believe that he was a criminal party in this scheme. At one time he was deprived of the right to practice before military tribunals in our Department, because of unprofessional actions. He appealed to General Wallace, who referred the matter to me to make an examination. Pending the examination a lunch was given at which Ing and I were present. I presume the lunch was to give Ing a chance to reach me.
He tried to, but the lunch did not answer its purpose. Upon my report he was practically disbarred from practice in military courts, based upon the evidence obtained. Therefore when I met his name in connection with this case I felt warranted in assuming he was the "promoter" of it. The use of his name was not forgery. He was deprived by it of nothing except, perhaps, an "unearned increment."
Brevetted major—Governor Fenton's Letter.
State of New York,Executive Department,Albany, 8th May, 1867.Bvt. Major H. B. Smith.Dear Sir.—I have the honor to transmit herewith a Brevet Commission, conferred by the President in recognition of your faithful and disinterested services in the late war.In behalf of the State allow me to thank you for the gallantry and devotion which induced this conspicuous mention by the general government. I feel a lively solicitude in all that relates to the honor and prosperity of the Soldiers of the Union Army, and especially those from our own State, who advanced its renown while defending the cause of our common country.Very Respectfully,R. E. Fenton.
State of New York,Executive Department,Albany, 8th May, 1867.
Bvt. Major H. B. Smith.
Dear Sir.—I have the honor to transmit herewith a Brevet Commission, conferred by the President in recognition of your faithful and disinterested services in the late war.
In behalf of the State allow me to thank you for the gallantry and devotion which induced this conspicuous mention by the general government. I feel a lively solicitude in all that relates to the honor and prosperity of the Soldiers of the Union Army, and especially those from our own State, who advanced its renown while defending the cause of our common country.
Very Respectfully,R. E. Fenton.
I believe there should be no continued ill feeling towards those who conscientiously bore arms against us. Nor towards their official spies.Nor towards persons who by reason of blood relationship or former close affiliations aided them. But towards those, who for personal profit aided them, and who sought to hamper us in our efforts to preserve the Union, we cannot cease to have contempt.
It is held that "everything is fair in war." If so, then the deceptions used in the secret service were fair. But the moral effect on the one who pursues such service is not pleasant. Such persons become so used to being impressed with possible dishonesty as to doubt mankind generally. I had to fight to overcome that tendency. It is a much happier condition of mind to be freer of suspicion. "No thing is stronger than it is in its weakest point" is an axiom. Almost every person has a weak point, which a detective seeks to find.
General Wallace's references to me were made after a period of forty years, during which time he had met me but twice. It was gratifying, greatly so, and I am perfectly willing to confess that I had "zeal," but prefer to let his opinion of my "ability" be passed upon by others.
I hope I have not injured the stories in their telling, but I am very afraid I have wearied you all.
New York, April, 1911.
Semi-Centennial of the Civil War.
Transcriber's Note:Typographical errors corrected in text:Page12—Blumenberg changed to BlumenburgPage86—Leonardstown changed to LeonardtownPage88—Reistertown changed to ReisterstownPage89—Sims changed to SimmsPage94—Blackistone changed to BlackstonePage114—Kelley changed to KellyPage120—Brogdan changed to BrogdenPage123—Leonardstown changed to LeonardtownPage124—Leonardstown changed to LeonardtownPage136—Westmoreland changed to WestmorlandPage152—Wycomico changed to WicomicoPage212—Brittan's changed to Britton'sPage213—Brittan's changed to Britton'sPage238—Leonardstown changed to LeonardtownPage239—Cawood's changed to Caywood'sPage243—Blumenberg changed to BlumenburgPage244—Blumenberg changed to BlumenburgPage248—Eke changed to EckPage257—Bronson changed to BransonPage265—visted changed to visitedPage284—Westmoreland changed to WestmorlandPage286—Brittan's changed to Britton'sPage288—Brittan's changed to Britton'sPage289—Larges changed to LargePage289—Westmoreland changed to WestmorlandPage303—Barnet changed to BarnettPage306—Heims changed to Heim
Typographical errors corrected in text: