Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-02

always be Interesting, and an organization of
such magnitude as the police of the Army of the
Cumberland, could not well help discovering
many offenders But what we complain of in the
ANNALS is, that favoritisDl and partiality are
shown in the selections from the police records
1t becomes our duty. as it happens to be ia our
power, 20 describe other doings of this great or
ganization. Soon after Chief Truesdail first
moved into Zollicoffer's house, negro appeared
at the Office of Governor johnson. representing
that he had run away from his master, and that
he had brought with him horse valued at
81 900 The Governor ordered him to hand the
horse over TO the Quartermaster, who would re-
turn il TO the owner If he was a loyal man. 1t
turned out that "Msjor" Russell had got posses
sion of the horse, and, when the negro presented
himself with the Governors order for the horse
to be transferred to the Quartermaster, Russell
put him in prison. Remonstrance from Gov.
johnson only brought a reply from TrGesdail
that he obeyed no order except from General
Rosecraus.
Again. an Irishman who had lost a limb in the
federal service, and whvse loyalty was well at
tested, obtained a permit to take hundred bush
els of potatoes to Nashville for sale Truesdail
seized the potatoes on the plea that the owner was
disloyal, and the joint representations OF the
Governor, the Secretary of State. the Postmaster
and the Comptroller, failed TO recover the poor
man property. w IT'D TcSdIu W ucttCblfcc, WIZ
in disguise entered secession families. they were
of course generally successful in convicting per-
sons of disloval sentiments and practices, and
coniscation of their property speedily followed.
But not seldom innocent parties suffered by the
dongs of the police. One case particularly de-
serves attention One of Truesdaips detectives
called one day upon a lady who was LOYAL, but
who had son in the rebel army. He presented
himself as belonging to the same regiment as her
4 - Eo.,
and that ii she-wouId prepare letter and some
under clothing, he would convey them to him
She informed him that although she would Not
regard such an act as wrong in view of the deS
titution of the boy, yet, a loyal woman, she
could not send such articles without first obtain
ing permission from the authorities. The de
tective's answer that she would be refused,
and her boy would continue to suffer. The
temptation was strong, and she packed up an
under shirt and pair of drawers, inclosing a
letter The next day, the "army police took
everything valuable from her house, including
nearly $500. which was all she had She laid
the case before Governor Johnson. but he de
clined to have anything more to do with the or
ganiziton This is but one of many cases of
the same nature.
Mr. Truesdail superintendent the pressing of
negroes and horses, and in the latter work he was
once caught handsomely, He was sending oil
two splendid animals he had pressed for the cav
airy service-but instead of sending them to
Muir reesboro. he ticketed them to ST. Louis
As his word was law. they went safely until they
arrived IN the department of Gen. Boyle. who
seized them and turned them over to the proper
authorities.
The Annals" contain some stories which are
true. but great many which are mutilated. and
the handsome part given the public, as in the case
/ of Mrs Molly HYDE The hooks in TruseiaiI's
Office will show that had certain officers declined
giving passes to the handsome widow she would
have committed no harm. But our space is ex-
hausted. That any army police can do much
good. that Mr. Truesdail's spies and detectives
procured much valuable information is certain
bat such an organization should be held to strict
accountability, or il may do incalculabc mischief