National Republican., 1885-08-27

In all the "reminiscences OF the war there
is nothing more interesting to the general
reader or more valuable for future historical
reference than the experiences ofindlvlduals
who are evidently honest In their statements,
albeit they may be, as human nature always
is, biased In the cause which they repre-.
sent. confess to this weakness myself,
although / can honestly state that have
never attempted knowingly to distort the
truth or to claim for the confederatcs more
than they were entitled to. Indeed | think
/ may claim in the numerous articles havo
written relative to the war "that even my
failings lean to virtues side"
| happened few days ago to be intro
duced TO Maj. Elias Griswold, who was for
three years and a half provost marshal at
Richmond during the war. had heard Of
Maj. Griswold, and knew that he must have
something interesting to tell of his per-
sonal experience during the rebellion. SO,
seeking an opportunity, managed to corral
the major, and asked him to tell me how
II happened that he, n Marylander, went
down to cast his fortunes with the south.
/ won't attempt to give his picturesque Ian
guage and description, because IL would
more than doubly I'LL up the space allotted
me, but Twill give II in substance and II goes
to show phase of the war of which the
histories take but little account.
lie was practicing law on the eastern
shore OF Maryland In 1861, aud in 1860, as
one Of the presidential electors, had can
yassed the state for Breckinridge and
Lane. Not long after the Inauguration of
President Lincoln Gen. Butler took pos
session Of Baltimore and Annapolis. IL
was soon after this that Butler ordered
the arrest OF every prominent citizen In
Maryland who could In any way be identl-
fed with the confederate cause. Among
these on the eastern shore were Judge
Carmichael, Elias Griswold, and others.
Carmichael was judge Of Queen Anne
county, but at the date of the promulgl-
tion OF Gen. Buffers order ho was holding
the circuit court at Easton, Talbot county,
Md. Gen. Buffers soldiers went to Easton
to arrest Judge Carmichael. They found
him sitting on the bench and trying cases.
JUDGE TAKEN FROM THE BENCH.
The soldiers marched In while the pro.
ceedings OF trial were going on, and the
officer, In loud voice, ordered the Judge to
vacate his seat, and stated that the military
had charge OF the justice to be administered
In that district. Judge Carmichael replied:
~ am not amenable to Gen. Buffers au-
thority under the laws Of this state, and IL
you want me you must take me bv yio-
leuce." Thereupon file OF soldiers walked
up to the bench, and, soizing the Judge by
the collar, marched him out Of the court
NcIIenry. Griswold's friends warned him
of the arrest Of Carmichael, and he escaped
by night to Delaware, and thence made his
way by dubious lines Of com ,nunication, by
land and water, to Richmond. Maj. Girls
wold at that time abandoned u lucrative
practice, and he had many important en-.
gagements as a lawyer, but when he knew
of Buffers order, and that Gov. Swami had
virtually decided the state Of Maryland
against secession, he at once abandoned all
his resources and escaped into Delaware
and thence into Virginia, where Butler was
powerless to find him. But from all l can
understand they gave him a mighty close
call.
GRIswoLD's DIsLoYALTY.
The federal authorities were right in at.
tempting to arrest Griswold, because he was
at that time engaged In gathering up the
papers of the fight at the Charleston conven-
tion, where Stephen A. Douglas failed of
nomination (Which was afterward trans
ferred to Baltimorc) and because he, rs an
advocate Of Breckenridge and Lane, had
canvassed the state Of Maryland from the
eastern to the western shorc-he was a
marked man.
To resume: Griswold after his escape
| from Maryland, on his arrival In Richmond
| (by the way he made his way across the Po-
tomac in skiff) found eXGov. Lowe and
large number Of prominent citizens of
Maryland, who had fled from Buffers
regime. There was then in the confederacy
but one full Maryland regiment equipped
for the field.
THE 2D MARYLAND REGIMENT.
Gov. Lowe and Griswold at once went to
work to organize the % 2dMaryland regiment,
| for Marylanders were then focking into the
| capital of the confederacy. just about this
| time when Griswold and the ex-gov-
| ernor were attempting to get the I'd
| regiment into some sort Of shape, an
order came from Gen. Randolph, secre-
tary Of war, directing that Grlswold
as captain, should ol., be placed in
who were to be interned at Tuscaloosa,
| Ala. They were In charge Of officers fully
competent, but they had been Informed OF
no suitable building for their quarters, 81
want you,n he said, "to go and command
the post and get proper buildings"
| Griswold demurred, bedcuse he was aid
ing In getting up tile 2d Maryland regiment
and desired to go into the field. The secre-
tary Of war said: "You will only have q
short time to stay, and when the prisoners
are housed properly you will be ordered
back"
| With this understanding, Griswold, who
was afterward the Jupiter Tonans of Rich
mond when it was besieged by the army Of
Gen. Grant, was given acommission as cap
| TAIN, anu uc went Ill W Or
ders, although then engaged In raising a
regiment for the field. At Tuscaloosa there
were no vacant barracks for troops, and he
housed them. He had nothing to do with
the treatment Of prisoners.
Some time after an advance OF the fede-
raj troops to release the prisoners, which
was successfully eyaded by Capt. Griswold
with an artillery company of three guns
and 5000 militia, re-enforced by about 200
regulars, the cadet boys of the neighborng
military school supplyingsthe place of the
guards, the confederate war department Or
dered him to give up his command and to
come to Richmond
MARTIAL LAW IN RICHMOND.
Now IL may be said that Griswold was
intimately acquainted with the secretary
of war, Randolph and when he met him he
(tho secretary promoted him to be a major.
In the interview they had Randolph stated
that against his and two other votes In the
cabinet Jefferson Davis had determined TO
declare martial law In Richmond and its
vicinity. Randolph then told Griswod In
effect as follows: "The city is full Of
| thieves, garroters, and robbers, and you are
hereby appointed provost marshal with full
power ane you have but the dictates of
your own conscience to follow. This city
Is endangered, and we have had an under
standing with Gen. Winder, who commands
this city and district In n military sense,
that you will not be interfered with, and
that you shall report to me directly daily"
THE AUToCRAT OF THE CITY.
Accordingly Griswold was promoted TO
be major, and he had the police regulation
Of the city for three years and half, eXer-
cising all the powers of the courts at his
own will, sentencing OF offenders, &C., at
his own behest (for there were no courts in
session, not even police court), and yet
after Griswold took charge of the helm, as
II were, there was not quieter city than
Richmond in the country IN spite Of wars
and rumors Of war. / asked Grlswold
whether or not the Union prisoners at the
Libbey and Belle Isle were inhumanely treat
Cd And he told me that he knew nothing
about II, and had nothing to say about II
except this, that the ladies of Richmond