Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29
An UNDERGROUND" MAIL ROUTE.
Wartime Service Between the
FEDERAL md Confederate Capitals.

FEDERAL and Confederate Capitals.
From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Almost every -one-Iivhng at the time of the
civil war frequently saw a mention of an
underground mail route between Richmond.
Washington and Baltimore. 1t was an ac-
tual fact that such did exist, that 1t was
duly organized and was conducted with as
much regularity as circumstances would
permit. 1t is true that it was not conducted
with the same regularity and frequency Of
transit as now; still it was in being. One
day it made the trip from Richmond, the
next day the return trip was made. The
information regarding it was given the
present scribe years ago by Lieut.. Jenkins,
who was second I'm command of the expedi-
ton. .t'-.
Jenkins-his given name now slips my
memory-was a member of the arstocratic
family of Jenkins that was, and is now, a
part of Baltimore's, high-tOned society. He
was the only one of that numerous family
that espoused the confederate cause Capt
Charles White was in command Not alone
was it devoted to the transmission Of the
merchandise was carried In getting out
of Richmond the road ira veIad depended
very much upon the position occupied by
the thioh fore@s. Sometimes the Hanover
Court House road was used then again the
Old Church road, then again the Chancel-
lorElile road-any way so Bowling Green
tpult ne reached. II was generally
enough to get that far out on the Journey
and without nolestation. 1t was to cover
these roads that he I'd Division 1st Corps
Gen. John c. Robinson commanding when
II lay near Aqua Creek, had a mart Of the
picket line but his command was so spread
out as to make it Impossible at all times to
maintain strict guard over the territory
Just below Aqua Creek. and reaching back
from the Potomac all the way from two to
three miles, was a fiat, level stretch of
lahd, heavily wooded and cut up by nlIner-
Gus small creeks that emptled into the
river. Bowling Green was near +bfs and
near to it was the Taylor mansion. a sfnerh
residence, situated on a bluff From its
chamber windows an extended view of the
adjacent country could be had. 1t was at
TINS house the confederacv had a sort of
headquarters. Here a signal corps was at
all times on duty The place was In charge
OF a boatswain, who had all the while nm
der his charge from a: dozen to twenty-five
men THESE We're fed and supplied with
the neceSsaries for sustenance by confeder-
ate sympathizers who lived in the neighbor-
hood.
At this point a light-built lifeboat was
stationed, constructed especially for this
service. The guards here located had q reg
uIar code of signals, by means of which
they communicated with their friends on
the eastern shore or elsewhere as occasion
might require or suggest. Passwords were
in their possession, and all things perfected
to make the undertaking secret and a sue
cess. When any were leaving Richmond
s.
word, and, with instructions how to reach
the parties in charge of the mode of tran
sit across the river when these were
reached. other instructions in consonance
with the existing state of affairs were given
to the travellers. The river here was about
six miles wide the objective point to be
reached on the Maryland shore was the
WicomicO creek.
shoot out the creek care being taken to
avoid the patrolling gunboats of the Union
forces that We're constantly moving up and
down and across the river The crossing
was really safer at night. as the flash lights
carried by the patrolling boats conveyed
the intelligence to the occupants of the
small boat just where was located what
they had to avoid. When the other side
was reached four-mile walk through A
sWampy, fiat country had to be taken care
had to be exercised in order to avoid the
cavalry pickets, who patrOlied that section |
of the country from Washington to Point
Lookout. This picket duty was done by |
several New York cavalry regiments. that |
had their headquarters, at the Iast-named
place. After completing the pedestrian |
tour the traveller came to a hosiery known |
as Lloyd's Tavern, a place that is even TO |
this day a popular resort for the fishermen
hunters and sporting men who make Bal
timore their home. 1t was at this place that
he, she or they would ascertain the .sIay of |
the land and gather instructions how to
further proceed. II was at this point de- |
ciSion was made. In all this maneuyerinr |
on the Maryland side the objective noinf
was Leonard's Inn. When this was reached
a safe housing was had at the hotel there
located.
The balance of the way was easy enough
One could go either by stage or wagon to |
either Baltimore or Washington, and with |
out surveillance or fear of molesta ton The |
return trip made in the same manner |
and with equal caution. The mail station !
WAS near Bladensburg. Here the scattered |
mail was collected from the country about !
The bulk of the stuff was got together at |
Baltimore or Washington, was taken 10
this substatior at Bladensburg and there
picked up by the mail carriers Bladens-
burg was where the expedition started |
from and arrived 1t was in this wise an |
almost daily mail and express route was
maintained during the war between the ma
ttonal and confederate capitals