The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-10-24
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN FORD.
WAsHlNGToN, d. Gu
Oct, IL, 1868,

Oct. Ii, 1868.
DEAR Ew1NG.-ln the absence of
local news that would be Of much inter.
est to you, will write you of matter
that has been exciting considerable in
terest here, and relates to citizen Of
your county: | mean the case of Capt.
Ford, 9th Md. Vols.
You remember about seven months
ago you noticed in your paper the arrest
Of Capt. Ford, he being charged with
allowing, and profting by, a contraband
trade across the lines at the point where
he was stationed-Bcrlin, Md. Being
committed to the old Capitol Prison he
was closely confined, and allowed no
hearing by any of the authorities. Six
months and six days after his impison-
ment the officer in charge of him re-
ceived note from the President, order
ing Capt. Ford to be brought before him
for an interview.
The conversation between the Presi-
dent and Capt Ford caused his Arial to
be brought up immediately before a
court held here for the hearing of such
cases and before that court Colonel
Baker-the Government Detective
Col. Schley, Col. Fish, Col. Holland,
Capt. Means, Of Va. cavalry, Capt. Tall
and other officers who knew Capt. Ford
as an officer, and who knew the position
Capt. Ford held as provost marshall at
Berlin, testified, that his character as IL
man was upright, and that he was in
corruptible to bribery Col. Fish, Pro-
vost Marshal Of the Middle Department,
lin which Department Capt. H. was sell
ving) testified that, prior to Capt. Ford
being placed i'll command of that post,
mtliions Of dollars worth of goods had
passed the lines, and that it seemed
almost impossible to stop the illegal
trade. And that on account of the
character of Capt. Ford for honesty and
attention to his duties, he was placed in
that position.
Col. Fish also testified that he be-
Iieved, as nearly as possible, with the
force Capt. Ford had at his command,
that trade was stopped. THESE ARE
FACTS. II IS IN evidence that if Capt.
Ford would pay certain parties money,
that he would be released and when
such an offer was made to Capt. Ford he
cndeavored to spit in the face of the
person who made the offer, saying he
" would rather die and rot in prison than
allow such a thing to be done" 1t is
in eU,deace that. during his confinement
he always expressed the deepest and
truest loyalty to the government, while
many of the officers in the prison with
him cursed and abused the government
and military authorities. II is IN eri-
dcnce that he was offered irst $1,000
and then Sl700if he would allow per-
son he had arrested for smuggling, to
escape; and that he only confined ;ho
prisoner the closer. Ii is IN eUtdence
that some of the witnesses believed Capt.
Ford was the victim of a conspiracy.
IL is IN ec!dence that while doing pro
vost duy at Berlin, Md, Cap. Ford
was sober, energetic and useful officer
The character given him by some of his
acquaintance from Cecil was that of an
honest, upright man, and worthy of any
trust that might be placed in his keep
ing. | think The garbled and detached
statements that have been published
concerning him, do him the greatest in-
justice. l will urge him to publish the
testimony in his case and hope Cecil
county will suspend an expression Of
opinion concerning the case until then.
CECIL.
Since the above letter was written,
Capt. Ford has been honorably acquitted
and restored to his regiment, which Is
now stationed at Wilmington, Del. The
Baltimore Clipper says:
The court martial which has been inves-
tigating his case not only pronounced
him entlrc y gulltless Of the charge, but
commended him for the correct manner
in which he had performed his duties
recommended that he receive his pay for
The six months during which he was
confined in the Old Capital Prison; that
he be Immediately returned to his regi-
ment, and that liberal furiough be al
lowed him in view Of the great wrong
that had been done him. The decisions
and recommendations of the court were
Immediately approved by the Sec
Rotary of War, and Captain Ford will
soon resume the command of his company
All the evidence of Col. Baker, Pro-
vost Marshal OF the War Department, of
Col. Fish, of Baltimore, of Col. Schley,
of the 9th Maryland Regiment, Captain
Tall, Lieutenant Sllesky, and all others,
both for the prosecution and the defense,
went to excu.pato Captain Ford from all
blame. He will have the evidence and
findings published and forwarded to his
friends for their perusal.
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81 AVERY MELTING Away Our Secession