The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-05-28
miscellaneous.
AN INCIDENT OF THE CIVIL WAR

During Buffers occupancy of New
Orleans, near the close of the Civil
War, there occurred a certain event
which, had not good fortune prevent
ed, might have been the means of al
tering the fate of one of the Northern
officers. Major y. was then paymas-
ter of the army. He had Il secretary,
one of whose duties was to help count
up the amount necessary for payment.
To Major y. was sent the pay roll OF
the troops, these added together snow
ed the amount of money required.
The only persons knowing the amount
to be drawn were the major and his
secretary.
Upon this occasion the ma or had
dra WIN one hundred thousand dollars
and started to meet Colonel Smith,
who had agreed to be at the POI office
at ten. Major y. called cab, stand
ing by, ordered it to proceed to the
place of meeting where he was ready
to meet Colonel Smith with military
promptneSs; but when he arrived Col
onel Smith was not in sight. The
major opened the door, stepped out
side the cab, but near it, looking over
the wide sidewalk to the postoffice for
his companion. AS he was not in
sight the ma .jor took Il few steps to-
ward the postof1ice. Then, not seeing
him, he turned towards his cab, and
to his CONSERVATION found itgoIes Diid
with it his hundred tilousaffd I'D afs,
- HeMoewasfshef to- fad his eahIf ToAfl
NeSyeD slehnSesvbs atttiats tigneswbpe
lnueh alike. with fourttbfleeis and 6ile
horse. He " could he iiIs ting dfsfI hfs1
And he Aiad hnot dooiuetIaat Sthsi driver
- u - II
and to his bondsmen Not to find the
money meant financial ruin for them
and for him, and possibly disgrace; for
it was his act in stepping from the cab
which had given the thief his oppor-
tunity; yet how, how was he to find
one man among a thousand, when he
had taken no notice of him. Perplex
ed and miserable with the questions
and doubts arising in his mind, he
! turned toward the Office of the Provost
Marshal. Provost Marshal, | have
come to report the loss of the money
| for payment of the troops. 1t was
taken by the driver of the cab had
hired.n
who knew of you having the
money -
Moor My secretary, who usually
helps me in getting the accounts ready
was sent away a few days since to The
hospital. No man but myself knew
that l had the money. 1t must have
been that the driver knew for what
purpose the bag was used
Can you identify cab or man -
mo; | never looked at the man, and
all cabs are much the same"
at is dubious outlook; but | will
send word to the men to keep an eye
on all the possible thieves, and we
will do the best we can to-day. Sup
pose you go over to the scene again.
Something may occur to you"
1t was very wretched man that left
the office of the Provost Marshal, ours
ing his carelessness and the trouble it
had wrought, with greater to follow.
None of his boudsmen were wealthy :;
and to make good the loss would in
volve them seriously, while as for him
disgrace was certain. His enemies
would claim he had sent away his sec
rotary to make it easier for him to
secrete this sum, which was small
fortune in itself The only proof he
| could give which would silence the
| doubts OF all was the return of the
money, and how was he to bring this
about? Too restless and unhappy to
eau Ills uIHLcI Vi W sud III Oll0 pldCC
he wandered here and there. return
ing at times to the Provost Marshars
| office. The time for payment to be
made was passing, and officers came
in to inquire why the money was be-
hind; and to each of these the story
had to be told, with the addition that
the bag had been found still sealed,
but with cut in the side through
| which the money had been removed.
1t was then before specie payments
| and all the money was of paper, even
fractional currency making a large
bundle.
Tired of comments which brought
| no consolation nor chance hope of
finding the lost, Major y. left his COM
rades and walked on, too absorbed in
| thought and misery to pay attention
| to the path he followed until he found
| himself near the river. Levees, or
| high banks of earth and masonry,
preserve the city from the wash
| ing out of the river, and at that time
| there was a driveway along them.
Boats occasionally carried passengers
from one side of the river to the other,
and it was not unusual for a cabman to
wait for fare while the river was
crossed, hence the sight of cab a
short distance off, in whose door the
driver sat reading, aroused no suspi-
cion in the majors mind, but some
thing, Providence perhaps, made him
walk over to the man. The city was
under martial law, and any man wear
ing shoulder straps received prompt
attention, so that man made Ito objec-
ton when asked: What are you do
ing here ~
Waiting for my fare to come back
across the river"
when did he CROSSE
about an hour ago"
when do you expect him back"
"At any minute
what is your name?'
Henry Brown
Are you married?"
"Yes.n
"Where do you live 90
Number 113 Oliver ST.
"Were you at hcme to dinner ~
"No."
AT what time did you start out this
morning.
about nine"
And you have not been home
since -
No"
Drive me to your house"
The major got into the cab, and the
man on the box. There the major