Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-05


Baltimore man who was employed during
the civil war as an agent of the Confcd-
frate States government in obtaining sup
plies for the Confederate States ordnance
department and conveying them to Rich
mond, Va:
Early in 1861, through n relative who
lived in Winchester, General Stonewall
Jackson heard of my movements and
sent one Of his aids TO my house in Balt-
more with an earnest message for my
assistance. | was not at home at the
time, but the aid left the MESSAGE for
Inc and a pass inside Jackson's lines.
jackson was then in command at Glar-
pers Ferry. The message was that he
Jackson) was almost destitute of mus
ket caps-did not have three caps to
mainland of course could do nothing on
the aggressive OF defensive.
"a hardware dealer told me he could
procure the caps from a northern manu-
facturcr provided | would pay an adj
vanced price, TO which | agreed. At that
time, however, number of persons were
arrested in Baltimore on the charge ~
being southern sympathizcrs,' ana this
so alarmed my friend that he declined to
obtain the caps.
However, / succeeded in picking up
about 100000 caps, which were packed
in two trunks, with large lot Of Nir-
Hinia military buttons. The trunks werc
marked Miss Mary Birkett,' and with
them | started one bright morning in
1851 for IIHrpers Ferry by the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. | also had
basket and n carpcthag filled with Nir-
sinia buttons. took seat in the bag
gage cur and placed the carpctbag under
the car seat in front Of me. On the seat
in front of me were MIR. William Henry
Baldwin and another gentleman whom
! did not know. At that time | was not
acquainted With Mr.. Baldwin.
"When we arrived at the Relay, | was
much astonished 10 find Colonel Jones
- the Sixth Massachusetts regiment on
the platform with Il company Of his sol
diors. The train was stopped, and
guards We're placed at each door with
orders to allow no one to pass ont.
Colonel Jones had received informant IN
that Mr.. Anderson had engraved some
plates for Confederate States bonds and
was on the train with them bound f.r
Richmond. The train was searched but
Mr.. Anderson could not be found, tie
passengers being held as prisoners and
closely scrutini2ed.
Il had good reason FOR feeling NM
easy for myself and determined to ut
ont Of that trap. Fortunately | had IN
my pocket a trainman's time table,
which was only for the use Of traumcn.
With this went to the front door, closely
examining tho time table, passed the bag
gage car and asked the baggage master:
L
me see yorr time table
"Thc soldier on guard supposed | was
one of the trainhauds, aud very obligins-
~ let me pass. | got off the car and
walked over to the hotel to ask Mr.
Lowe, the proprietor, the object of
Colonel Jones presence, but Mr.. Lowe
was not at home. Glancng ont the win
dow ! saw Colonel Jones with a file OF
soldiers coming at quick march toward
the hotel some one having told him Of
my going there | at once started back
vipng my mouth a. if had just taken
II drink stepped aside as | passed them,
returned to the smoking car and took
another seat some distance from my
former seRt and those Virginia buttons.
"When the colonel came back, he
ordered all trunks to bee opened and OK
amned. The owner of trunks marked
Miss Mary Pirkett' was called for, but
no one appearing 10 claim them they
were put on the platform right in front
Of where | was standing. Colonel Jones
then came into my car with some of his
men and ordered them TO open aud
search all valNes and parcels III the car
| was passed by, As had nothing in that
seat, bur when my former seat was
reaCrcd that innocent looking basket was