Between the Lines Part 15

He said he would rather receive the punishment than to allow the friend who gave him the pa.s.s to be punished.

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

The Ishmael Day incident was quite as romantic, or dramatic, as the "Barbara Freitchie" episode, but it was never dwelt upon, however, by the poets, nor can it be demolished as a myth. Ishmael Day, single handed and alone, defended his little miniature flag against the Confederate hosts. The incident rang over the country through the press.

My uncle, Zoeth Smith, a patriot indeed, wrote me to get Ishmael's picture, which I did. Recently, in looking over my papers, I found Uncle Zoe's letter and sent it to his sons, Truman and Addison, to show them the manner of man their father was when loyalty was needed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ISHMAEL DAY]

The following appeared in the newspapers:

"We had the pleasure this morning of an interview with Mr.

Ishmael Day who yesterday morning shot down one of Harry Gilmor's men whilst in the act of taking down the flag over his gate in Harford County. He gives the following correct statement: 'On Sunday night he had heard that a party of Rebels were encamped in the vicinity, but did not give credence to the report. Early on Monday morning one of his negroes reported to him that they were coming down the road.

He immediately hoisted his flag over the gate, and shortly after, two armed men came riding along the road and one seeing the flag burst out with a loud laugh, one of them advancing and seizing the halliards.

The old gentleman, who is nearly seventy-three years of age, ran back into the house, threatening to shoot them if they did not desist. They paid no attention to him, but the halliards being twisted they had some difficulty in getting it down. By this time he had reached his second story, where his guns were, and raising the window fired a load from his duck gun just as the miscreant had succeeded in getting hold of the flag, and he fell back on the road seriously, and he thinks, mortally wounded, the whole load having entered his breast.

Seizing another gun and a loaded Colt's revolver, he came down stairs and endeavored to get a shot at the other, but he had run up the road. He then, in his anger, leveled at the wounded man, but he begged for mercy, and said he surrendered, and Mr. Day, thinking that he would never be able to haul down another flag, left him lying on the road.

Hearing the approach of a large squad Mr. Day escaped with his weapons to the woods and eluded their pursuit. Mrs. Day was still in the house when the Rebels came up, and they immediately commenced to set fire to it after plundering it of such articles as they took a fancy to, and then set fire to it as well as his barn, which were entirely destroyed. They did not allow Mrs. Day to save even her clothing, and he fears that some two thousand, three hundred dollars of Government Bonds were destroyed with his deeds and papers. He has not yet seen Mrs. Day, who found refuge for herself and family in one of the neighbor's houses.

The only regret of the gallant old patriot is that he did not get a shot at the other Rebel.'

We learn this morning that the man who was shot by Mr. Day was named Fields, formerly of Baltimore; that he was left by the Rebels at Dampman's Hotel, fifteen miles from the city on the Belair Road."

After the Confederates retreated I made a thorough examination into the disloyal conduct of various persons residing east and north of Baltimore, for the purpose, more particularly, to guide us in the future. The following is my report:

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Aug. 7, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the connection of the following named persons with the Rebel raiders.

Herewith I hand you a transcript of the evidence in each case.

No arrests have been made in these cases.

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

List of Names.

Andrew Gill, Stephen Gill, Charles Alden, Jackson Dorney, J. Berryman, ---- Harriman, ---- Jones, Francis Shipley, Chas. Shipley, John T. Johns, Henry Balton, Mal Guyton, Wm. Price, Henry Wesley, John Y. Day, S. Berryman, Benj. Worthington, Samuel Stone, Jas. Reynolds, ---- Walker, Henry Walker, Murray Gill, Wm. Gore, Ed. Storm, Robert Elder, ---- Smith, Jos. Scarborough, Wm. Knight, Mat. Shorman, Marion Guyton, David Gittings, Henry Emmick, Wm. Lowrey, John Grovner, Jas. Mannon, Miss Lizzie Grason.

FILE XIX.

Trip to New York regarding one Thomas H. Gordon.

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Aug. 13, 1864.

Special Order No. 111.

1st Lieut. H. B. Smith, Commanding Detective Corps, 8th Army Corps, will proceed to New York on business connected with this office. After completing his search and investigation he will return to these headquarters without delay.

Quartermasters will furnish transportation.

By command of Major General Wallace.

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

The following is the report of the case I went to New York about:

Headquarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Aug. 24, 1864.

Lt. Col. Woolley, Provost Marshal.

Colonel.--I have the honor to report the following in the case of Thomas H. Gordon, paymaster.

I have on your order procured the check book ordered by him.

Mess. Hoen & Co. say they have written to Nashville and Washington but have had no reply.

I also hand you two letters, one from Gordon and one from Galloway, both in the same handwriting, as you will see on close examination.

Gordon represents himself as Captain.

The checks are entirely different from the usual paymaster's checks that are furnished by the United States depository.

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

FILE XX.