Between the Lines Part 21

The following tenders of promotion were declined:

Headquarters 8th N. Y. Arty.

before Petersburg, Va., Nov. 22, 1864.

Friend Smith.

How are you old boy and how have you enjoyed yourself since I last saw you? I am well, and full of fight as ever. We have done some fighting since we came into the field, and would like to have you with us.

There is a Captain's commission waiting for you if you will accept it. If you will send answer to me immediately, I will get it for you.

The officers of the Regiment would like to have you come. The Regiment is commanded by Major Baker, our Colonel (Willett) Commands the 1st Brigade, 2nd Div. 2nd Corps.

We have some good times and some d----d hard times, but I think it will pay.

I hope you will join us as Captain.

Good Bye, J. W. HOLMES, Major 8th N. Y. H. Arty.

2nd Brig. 2nd Div. 2nd Corps.

Harper's Ferry, Va.

Dec. 15, 1864.

Dear Captain:

I suppose I have the right to address you by the above t.i.tle now. Your Commission as Captain came yesterday and you will receive it by same mail as you do this.

Your Friend, J. H. GRAHAM.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Nov. 20, 1864.

Special Order No. 171.

Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. Arty. Comdg. Detective Corps 8th Army Corps, and one man as guard will at once proceed to Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., in charge of prisoner J. J. Chancellor, on arrival at that point he will report with Chancellor, without delay, to Hon. C. A. Dana, a.s.st. Secretary of War. Having completed his duties at that place he will at once return with the guard to these headquarters.

Quartermasters will furnish necessary transportation.

By command of Major General Wallace.

WM. H. WIEGEL, Capt. & a.s.st. Provost Marshal.

FILE XXV.

Capture of Confederate bonds and scrip--Arrest of Pittman, Brewer and Fowler; Lieut. Smith, alias I. K. Shaffer, alias George Comings, led them, victims, into a maze, to their undoing.

I will now tell you of the Confederate bond matter. Special Order No.

172 enabled me to make my arrangements at Willard's Hotel:

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Nov. 20, 1864.

Special Order No. 172.

Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y., and one man will proceed to Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., on secret service. On completion of his duties he will report with his guard at these headquarters.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

Office Provost Marshal, Baltimore, Nov. 24, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest of J. S.

Pittman, Dr. D. R. Brewer and T. S. Fowler.

I herewith hand you a carpet sack, containing Confederate Bonds and Scrip amounting to $82,575, which was collected in different ways from these parties. Also $22 from Dr. Brewer and $280 from Pittman, in currency, and a trunk said to contain 23 dozen cards (cotton and woolen cards) from Brewer's house.

Herewith I hand you several statements in reference to the case.

I would respectfully call your attention to Mr. Fowler's statement, viz.: that "that they sell this stuff to Jews, &c., that run the blockade," and that "it is all done for the benefit of the U. S. Service," and then to Pittman's statement that he did not know the New York man who was to buy of him in Was.h.i.+ngton, and then to my statement, i. e., that I told him that I was from New York, and gave him my name and address in writing, and also told him how I intended to use the funds with blockade runners. Putting all these statements together I should conclude that if he is doing all this "for the benefit of the service," that he would have informed the authorities of my intentions.

Pittman's and Brewer's statements were made under oath. Brewer stated to me that the cards were bought to send to Dixie. In his sworn statement, after arrest, he declined giving the history of them, as it might injure his friends.

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

This story is quite complicated. During the progress of this case, I was known to the parties as "Comings," "Shaffer" and Lieutenant Smith, and to show how complex it was, although Pittman and Brewer were together in prison, until trial came they had not been able to understand that the three names were for one person.

When I was about to go on the stand in their trial, their counsel asked me if Comings and Shaffer would be present? I answered yes; but when on the stand I began and told the story, their counsel claimed the Government had taken an advantage of them in concealing the facts.

Captain Ha.s.sing was my medium for getting into the case. It was a Baltimore gang, but either from suspicion of Ha.s.sing, or for other reasons, they would not meet the New York party (me) in Baltimore, so I arranged for a meeting in Was.h.i.+ngton, at Willard's Hotel. I went over and engaged a room there and registered; the following wire came: