The age-herald., 1898-01-02
LEN. AUGER SHOWED HIS PASS Captain Threatened to Put Him
 Off the Train. AN EPISODE OF. THE WAR Captain Was Detailed to Find Out the Object of Everyone Travelling Over the Road and
 the General Showed His Pass.
AN EPISODE OF. THE WAL
From the Philadelphia Times.

can be no question:. The amount OI green backs stolen from the trains on the Balti- more and Ohio railroad during the war amounted to over two millions of dollars. Trains were frequently stopped and rifed; paymasters of the army were often held up and the contents of their safes carried to Dixie to replenish the coffers of the confederacy This had continued some time, and 1t was believed that interested parties had taken passage on the passenger trains and signaled to tper friends in re- belion when train came along that was worth the risk of derailing and capturing. This Secretary Stanton resolved to put stop to as far as he could. It would not answer to put troops all along the road; they could not be spared so he made de- tail of officer and some men to act as guards for each train travelling between Harper's Ferry and the Relay Junction, whose business it was to know by what authority each and every passenger was passing over the railroads. Some odd complications and delicate situations grew out of this, some of which appealed to the soft side of soldier and some Of which had their comical or tragic sides. And this is the way the officer tells of one of his experiences:
 The army had gone into winter quarters and I was beginning to feel that l was about to have a rest, when detail came for to take as many men as l needed with me and proceed to act as officer of the trains on the railroad between Harpers Ferry and Relay Junction. l was careful in my selection, and finally detailed nine men and sergeant as my party. My hrst duty was to make myself at home with the railroad people, and did this by show ing my orders to MT. Garrett, thep resident of the road. I soon found that he had notified the conductors of my duties and hat I road a I was on the train. My duties were not irksome hard All l had to do was to examine each individual on the train, satisfy myself that they were all right; and, if not, to put them off at the first sta- ton where there was a guard able to take care of them and have them sent to head quarters on the next train. Of course, met with many adventures, some of which tried my patience not a little The first one of note was that of a general officer and his wife. I was passing through the train about o'clock one night examining the authority of each passenger. and ev- erything was progressing finely, when I came to a wrapped up in military cloak and his wife. and seemingly both asleep. I knew at once he was an officer from the way he was dressed, so caution. ing my men to be careful stepped up and politely asked him for his authority for passing over the road
 "Who are you sir?" he asked authorl- tatively, waking up.
 "I am the officer of the train,' said l. touching my cap
 What do you want?'
 q suppose you have authority for travel Ing over this railroad; it Is my business to see it.''
 At this he started up and such tirade of abuse I suffered then and there knows few comparisons.
 1T am General -" and he threw back his coat, exposing his uniform "Now, sir, I wish to. know who you are and by what authority you act?" he said, sav- agely. l was prepared for him. dis played my orders from the secretary of war and stood firmly in the position of a sol dier
 1T have no orders with me-" he continued after reading the instructions from Wash ington.
 his wife, now speaking up, "and 1t is a shame that officer should be disturbed in this way" I bowed to the lady, and said that I was very sorry, but that my orders were imperative and that had no option in the matter.
 My orders are in the baggage car," ex- claimed the general, land if you want them you'll have to get them." He spoke in a very insulting way, but I maintained my pofiteness.
 Sergeant" said I, speaking in a low and polite tone of voice, ''you will remain here. and if this gentleman does not show his orders or some authority, put him off at the first station where there is a guard" VhEa aSCrEGante eSaluted, ana 1mmedlately aS- sus2ed my place by the gentemans side, aud I passed on. The whole affair had been transacted so quietly that most of the other passengers knew little of 1t, but or two showed some curiosity to know what was going on. I was now fully de- termined to make the officer show bis pass or other credentials and I walked forward into the other car. Here met the con- ductor, who, it appeared, had been watch ing the scene. ''What are you going to do with him?" he asked, pointing to the other car
 .T am going to execute my orders the same with him as with anybody else," re- piled. "Do you know him?"
 "No, he has annual" answered the conductor, and he passed on.
 The more I thought of the uncalled- d-for abuse, had suffered from the officer the more my anger arose. Now was deter mined to put him off at the first stop, let the consequences be what they may. I made my tour through the train and was repassing the officer, when the sergeant called me to him. "He is getting his bag gage" said he in a whisper.
 An. well, do your duty,'' I replied, and passed on. On my entrance to the next car met the baggage master carrying a small valise I knew what it was but passed on. The engineer whistled "down brakes'' and knew we were about to stop I was very anxious to see how the sergeant would manage. so, as the train halted I stepped down on to the ground and cast my eyes toward tho officers car. Not soul alight- ed and the conductor gave the signal for starting. A moment and we were stcaming rapidly along. I knew that the officer had done something satisfactory to the sergeant. but waited until we had reached Relay Junction for the particulars When I met the sergeant I asked him how he'd fixed 1t with the unknown officer.
 The conductor fixed it," said he.
 '.How?" asked.
 He whispered awhile to the officer. the officer gave him his checks and pretty soon the baggage master brought him his valise, which he opened and showed me an or der for him to relieve Gen. Hancick. That was satisfactory and let him go."
 What would you have done if he hadn't any orders or anything else of an official charactcr?" asked
 Me? Why I'd have executed your or ders to the letter and put him off at Sum- init Station." II was glad that it had occurred the way it had.