Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-07-12
Correspondence between VIM. Veirs
BOuic. ESQ.,. and Col, Stone,


BOuic, Esq, and Col. Stone.
We mentioned il our issue of the 2sth ult.,
the fact that the houses of John E. Wilson,
Esq, and others, between this and the Falls,
had been searched by Northern troops for
arms, We publish below the correspondence
between Mr.. BoUIc, the States Attorney for
this county, aud Col. SToSI, on the subject.
Mr. Bouic informs US that nothing further has
been communicated to him from Col. Stone on
the subject. This Major Gerhardt is well
known to many of our citizens as the keeper
of lager beer saloon in Washington city,
near Humphreys livery stable. His men are
German Republicans, from that city.
ROCKVILLE, June &c, 1861.
Col. C. P. STONE, U. S. A. &c.
Dear Sir: On Monday night last, the oath
instant about halfpast twelve o'clock, the
house of Mr.. John Z. Wilson, about two miles
from this place, near the road to the Big Falls
of the Potomac, was violently entered by
about twenty-five United States soldiers, and
searched, as they alleged for arms. The wife
of Charles Slemmer, Esq, who is the brother
of Major Adam J. Slemmer, late in command
of Fort Pickens, and the mother of Mr. Will
son, were in the house, and were exceedingly
alarmed and mortified at finding themselves
aroused from their beds, and their chambers
ransacked by the soldiers, whilst the husband
and son were detained on the lower floor by
the guard below. The soldiers first said il
was done by your order, and on leaving, said
the order came from Major Joseph Gerhardt,
commanding 9Th battalion of District of Co
lumbia Volunteers. From this they went to
Mr. e.
and made similar search. The effect was to
| brighten Mrs. Gilpin, an estimable lady, and
mother of Mrs. Wilson, into spasms. They
! also visited other houses in the same vicinity,
the same night, greatly disturbing the fami-
lies. No arms were found, and none were or
had been in the possession of the parties who
are highly respectable and law abiding citi-
zens, and farmers. A quantity of eggs and
some poultry, were carried off by the soldiers
without permission.
On yesterday, complaint was laid before
me, as the States Attorney for this county,
with view Of obtaining legal redress by the
injured parties. Believing as do, that such
| illegal and outrageous conduct upon the rights
of the good citizens of this State was from
unauthorized parties, | required the Sheriff
Of the county, and the injured parties, and
two respectable neighbors Henry Hurley and
Samuel Jones, to go with me forthwith to
| lodge the complaint before the commanding
officer, whom Che men last said, sent them an6
! whose quarters are at the Big Falls NV be-
lief was that the acts would be disavowed,
and in that event my purpose was to ask that
the offenders might be delivered up to the
Sheriff, whose deputy, Lewis Shots, ESQ.,,
was with me, to be dealt with as violators OF
the laws of this State. But Major Gerhardi
promptly avowed that the men had acted un-
der his orders. lie sad he had been informed
| that quantity of arms were there, and his
object was to seize them. He said he was di
M0rized to seize all State and Federal arms
wherever he could find them That we were
at war; and by Selling such arms, he would
increase the security of the government, and
had right to make such seizures at such
| times as suited his own convenience. lie de-
| clined to give me the name of the Informant
who had given him the information which
lead to the preparation of the outrages com
planned of. After he avowed the acts as re-
suting from his orders, | made no demand
for the surrender of the men, but determined
to lay the matter before You.
deny ;he right Of the Federal Government
either by civil, or military authority to dis
arm the peaceabe citizens of this State, by
depriving them of arms purchased with thei
own money or placed in their hands in viz
tue of the militia laws of the State. | den,
the right of the civil or military officers 0
the Federal Government to search the house
of the citizens of this State by night, or b,
day, under any pretence whatever, unless frs
authorized by warrant issued by compe
tent judicial officer Of the State, upon infor
nation of a credible and legal witness, unde
oath
Believing, therefore, that the Federal Gov
eminent will not set the disloyal and danger
GUS example of requiring its officers to violat
the constitution and the laws, nor that intel
ligent officers will do SO, if required fee
it duty incumbent upon me, as an officer o
the law, to communicate these facts to YOU
the superior officer in this division of the Fed
eral forces, with the hope that you will con
slider the matter worthy of your immediat
attention, and if you concur in my view, dis
claim the acts, as originating in some msap
prehension, and direct the offenders to b
delivered over TO the civil authorities of til
county, TO be dealt with according to tn
laws Of the State, in order that the publ
mind may for the future have some assuranc
that similar Outrages will not again occur. =
Permit me to ask an answer at your earlies
convenience. Yours respectfully,
W. VElRS B0UIC,
The States Attorney for Montgomery CO