The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
Az UNDERGROUND" MAIL ROUTE
A wartime Service Between tho Federal
and Confederate Capitals.
Ersm a. ROehs,t.r p,meerat AVID CHRONICLE.

From ts Rochester 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 that such did
exist that II was duly organized and was con.
Quoted with as much regularity as circumstances
would permit II IL true that IL 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 1t was given tho presen, scribe years ago
by Lieut. Jenkins who was second In command
Of the expedition.
Jenkins-his given name now alps my mem
ory-was a member OF the arstocrauc family
OF jenkins that was and Is now, a part Of Balti
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
much upon the position occupied by the Union
forces. Sometimes the Hanover Court House
road was used, then again the Old Church road
then again the Characteristic road-.any way so
Bowling Green could lie reached. II was gen
orally easy enough Ia sc, that far out on the Jour
ncya dwitl3ut mol-s,aiion TWAS iocoyer these
Cen John G. Robinson Commanding vh.n 4;
lay near Aqua Greek. had part OF the picket
line but his command was so spread out as To
make II impossible at all times 20 maintain q
strict guard over the territory. just below Aqua
Creek, and reaching back from the Potomac all
stretch Of land, heavily wooded and cut up 10y
numerous small creeks that empued into the
| rivcr Bowling Green was near this, and near
To- II was the Taylor mansion. superb residence,
situated on a hluH. From liz chamber windows
an extended view Of the adjacent country could
, he had IL was at this house the Confederacy
n hcAduuATterS
was Al all timcs on duty. The place was in charge
Of boa,swain, who had oil the while under his
sus,cnance by Confederate sympa,hizers who
At this point a light built liiebnat was sta.
toned constructed especially for this service.
Gs guards here ocHtsJ h I'D seGGISr Gods Of SIX
their friends on the eastern shore elsewhere a.
occasion Yn mig might reanro or spgGess Passwords
20 make the undertaking secret and success.
When any were leaving Richmond for points
s sew g s IN ehsrrs
when these were rsachsd, other Instructions
river here was abou, six miles wide tho
shore was the wicomico Creek.
When al! was ready the liieboa, would shoe,
nr ' runss car" % & % s'I c pa
stantlv moving up and down and across the river
Tn" or sSiIg really safer at night, az tho nn ,h
lights carried hv the patrulling boats conveyed
tho intelligence u the occupants Of tho small boat
Just where was located what they had to avoid
When the other side was reached four mile walk
through swampy, flat country had 10 be taken.
had 10 be exercised In order Ia avoid tho cav.
airy picket who patrullcd that section Of tho
country from Washington 10 Point Lookout
This picket duty was dun' by several New York
cavalry regiments that had their Headquarters
at the laSt-nhmed place After completing the
pedestrian tour the traveller rhmr g. a hosiery
o'n as Lioyd's Tavern, a place that is 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 81 the land"
and gather inGtructiUns how To further proceed
II was at this point decision was made. In
all this manpuvring on the Maryland side the
objective point was I.eonard's Inn When this
was reached a safe housing was had at the hotel
there located.
Tho balance 81 the way easy enough Ono
could go either by stage or wagon 70 either BAL
,imore or Washington. and without surveillance
or fear OF mOlestatOn, I he return trip was made
in the same manner and with equal caution The
mail station near Badensburg Here tho
scattered mail was collected from the country
about The bulk of the stuff was got together
at Baltimore or Washington. was taken 10 this
sub station at Bladensb re- and there picked
up by the mail carriers. Bladensbyrg was where
tho 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