The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-09-14
information. the decoy bid the post


reaching in the course of the evening
the house ofsthe gentleman who had
SO grossly insulted the sergeant, where
he met with a cordial reception, and
the information that he could not go
farther on until the following night,
when there would be a full compile
ment of passengers. The decoy had
come into the road from Annapolis,
Md, from the camp of the GONZALES
cents, he stated, in order to account
for his not coming from the lower
station of conveyance. On the way
from the railroad to the station in
question the decoy was intercepted by
the sergeant, to whom he conveyed
the information he had thus far re-
ceived. The sergeant returned to
camp and reported to the writer
Fully satisfied now that he was on
the track of the principal party in the
business, it was at once determined 10
raid the place. The party suspected
was reputed to be a very large and
muscular Individual and bore a no
very enviable reputation in the com
munity where he resided-in fact,
was said to be a holy terror" The
place was close to a cross road and
somewhat isolated in its character.
1t was a country store and tavern com
bined, one of the fashioned kind.
once SO prevalent in early years along
our country roads.
Ordering detail of men from his
company, the writer left camp the
same night about 8 o'clock and march
ed out to the place. Arriving there,
he at once proceeded to surround
the place, stationing his men upon
each side of the house so as to prevent
escape. This done. he, in company
with his lieutenant and sergeant. sum
mOned the inmates at the door After
brief wait the door was opened by
an elderly man with a light in one
hand. To his inquiry as to what was
wanted, the writer replied: "To search
the house for deserters." The old
gentleman replied: "Well, l will
have to call Mr.. H, the proprie
tor, he knows who the guests are bet
ter than l do" The writer followed
this by saying "this was not necessary.
but he should lead the way to the pro,
prietor's room and he would get his
information there" Arriving at the
head of the first flight of steps, the
old gentleman started along the hall
way, passing door to the right. Oh
serving this, he was halted and or
dered to open this door. As he open
ed the door he called aloud the name
of the proprietor. The writer, his
lieutenant and sergeant quickly step
ped into the room. The man was
lying upon the floor on an improvised
bed, the night being warm and sultry.
No sooner was he aroused, however,
than he sprang to his feet and made
dash for the writer, but stopped as
suddenly whenh he found himself facing
Smith x Wesson six shooter. TAX
ing in the situation at a glance, he
deemed it advisable to submit, and
became quite submissive. Sending
him down stairs, he was placed under
guard. Then we proceeded to search
the rest of premises, and in the attic,
a very large one and full .of beds. we
found three Of Uncle Sans guardians
fast asleep, and one of these, our decoy.
From these we learned that on pre-
vlous night very large number had
been sent away, and that if we had
made the raid one night sooner could
have made very large haul. But we
had our man and with him the evi-
dences to convict him of his crime. for
u ~ nnl l,4
one, in the estimation of the govern
ment at the time
We reached camp about 3 o'clock
next morning with our prisoners, and
by the earl Y train the following day
took them to the headquarters of Gen
eral Schenck. The general ordered
H to be sent to Fort McHenry,
and the two deserters to be turned
over to the provost marshal The
lower station of this under ground
railway was also shortly after raid
ed and its principal head placed un.
der arrest. The upper station, which
had also been located, was broken up,
too, but the parties in charge succeed
ed in avoiding arrest.
~ lioS ctlIl DC ltll1clllDelctt. uON
many individuals We're summarily ar
rested during this and subsequent
stages of the war by orders of the war
department and confined in Fort Nc
Henry, when it was alleged no just
causes existed for such arrests. The
truth of the matter is, that nine tenths
of these parties were guilty of harbor-
ing and aiding deserters to escape
northward. The parties themselves
well knew this, and SO did the govern
ment. Their imprisonment placed
them beyond the power of continuing
the'business, and, while it did not en-
tirely stop it, it was effective enough
to end the previous wholesale deple-
ton of our ranks.