The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
Az "tNDrHsRouND" MAIL ROUTE
A wartime Service Bstwse. tho Federal
and Confederate Capitals.

From g, Rochsst,r D,moerdt and Chronicle.
Almost every one living at the time Of the Civil
War frequently saw mention Of an underground
mail route between Richmond. Washington and
Baltimore. II was an actual fact tina, such did
exist, that 1t was duly organized and was con.
Quoted with much regularity circumstances
would permit II IL true that IL was not con.
Quoted with the same regularity and frequency
Of transit as now still II was in being. One day
IL made tho trip from Richmond. the next day
the return trip was made. The information re.
garding it was given tho present scribe years ago
by Lieut. jenkins. who was second in command
Of the expedition.
Jcnkins-his given name now slips my mem.
ory--was member OF the nrstocrauc family
OF jenkins that was. and Is now a part Of Bal,i-
mores heightened society. lie was the only
one Of that numerous family that cspoused the
Confederate cause. Capt Charles White was In
command. Not alone was II devoted to the trans
nilsson of the mails, but boots. shoes. dry goods
and other merchandise was carried. In getting
out OF Richmond the road travelled depended very
forces. Sometimes the Hanover Court House
TOAD was used then again the Old Church road,
then again the Characteristic road-any way so
Bowling Green could lc reached II was gen
orally easy enough Ia get that far out on the Jour
ncya dHiuout mol-sta,ion; ltwasiocover these
5 %T John 6 Robinson Commanding, VIM S%'i /;
lay near Aqua Creek had part OF the picket
line. but his command was 50 spread out as To
make II impossible at all times 90 maintain
strict guard over the territory. just below Aquia
Creek, and reaching back from the Potomac all
stretch OF land, heavily wooded and cut up 10y
numerous small creeks that empued into the
river Bowling Green was near this and near
To- II was the Taylor mansion, superb residence.
situated on hlun. From i's chamber windows
an extended view Of the adjacent country could
be had. 1t was at this house tho Conftderacy
Headquarters a
was AZ all tmrs on duty. The place was in charge
Of boa,swain, who had all III. while under his
sus,cnance by Confederate sympa,hizers who
At this point light built liiebnat was sta
toned constructed especially for this service
The guards here located had resul code Of SIX.
their friends on the eastern shore or elsewhere as
occasion might reaulrc or spgGest Passwords
% make the undertaking secret and q success
When any were leaving Richmond for points
north they were given The password and, with
Of the mode OF transit across the river
when these were reached, other instructions
affairs were given TO tho travellers. Tho
river here was abou. sly miles wide; The
shore was the wcomico Creek
When oil was ready the lifeboat would shoot
out the G;e"s care 5SrinT taken T TO avoid the patrol
s,antlv moving up and down and across the river
The or sSrg really "a fer at night az the nh Ah
lights carried hv the patrullng boats conveyed
the intelligence " the occupants Of tho small boat
Just where was located what they had 10 avoid
When the other side was reached four mile walk
through swampy, fiat country had 10 be taken
had 10 be exercised In order "a avoid tho cav.
airy picket who patrnllcd that section Of tho
country from Washington 10 Point Lookout
This picket duty was dom by several New York
cavalry regiments that had their headquarters
at the st-named place. After completing the
pedestrian tour the traveller came g. a hosiery
o.n as Lioyds Tavern, place that IL even 10
this day a popular resort for the fishermen.
hunters and sporting men, who make Baltimore
their home. II Was at this place that he, she
or they, would ascertain the "lay ri the land"
and gather inEtructiUns how 10 further proceed
IL was at this point decision made In
all this mannuvrng on the Maryland side tho
objective point was I.eonards Inn When this
WAS reached a safe housing was had at the hotel
there located
Tho balance ~ the way was easy enough Ono
could go either by stage or wagon 10 either Bal.
timore or Washington. and without surveillance
or fear Of mOlestatiOn. The return trip was made
in the same manner and with equal caution. Tho
mail station near Bladensburg. Here tho
scattered mail was collected from the country
about The bulk II the stuff was got together
at Baltimore or Washington. WAS taken 10 this
sub station at Blaiiensb tx, and there picked
up by the mail carriers BladensbI rg was where
the expeditions started from and arrived.
il was In this wise an almost daily mail and ex,
press route was maintained during the war
between the National and Confederate capitals.