Evening star., 1902-03-11
FREDERICK CLAIM
Wants Reimbursement q for
Money Paid to Gen. Early.
SAVED PUBLIC 4 ! STORES
HEARING BEFORE HOUSE COM
MITTEE ON WAR CLAIMS.
, e
Delegation Of Citizens From MARYLAND
City Make Argument for
Payment
SAVED PUBLIC STORES


The proposition to reimburse Frederick
City, Md, for the 100000 inmoney and prop
erty paid by 1t as ransom for its safety,
because Of levy made by General Early,
commanding the confederate forces that
were in possession of the city July 8, 1854
the day of the battle Of Monocacy, was
urged before the House committee on war
claims by a delegation from that city to-
| day.
Those appearing before the committee
were Mayor Geo. Ed. Smith. the board of
aldermen John Ed. Schell, G. w. kindley,
Edw. c. Lease, John L. Michael. John
Baumgardner; City Clerk C. Ed. Kemp,
City Attorney Chas. P. Levy, John c.
Hardt, James e. Walker. D. C. Winebrsn-
er. Joseph D. Baker. Thomas H. Haler,
Milton G. Harner, e. Y. Goldsborough,
VIM. P. Maulsby. VIM. NJ. Crimmns J.
Clarke keiffer.
The committee was told by Mr.. Mauls-
by, who acted as spokesman, that the
circumstances under which this money
was paid, If not sufficient to establish a
legal claim, was certainly sufficient to bind
the government under q moral obligation
to reimburse the city of Frederick. 1t was
declared that the money was demanded
because Of the assistance rendered by the
loyal citizens In the removal and protec-
tion from capture by the confederate army
Of immense quantities of government stores
and supplies that had been brought there
for the use Of the Union army. That the
great raid into Maryland that caused tine
battle of Monocacy July .. 1864 was made
because the supplies for the use of the
confederate army of northern Virginia In
the campaign of 1864 were SO depleted that
fn r,Ia f,F
| master. commissary, ordnance and medical
stores 1t became necessary to resort to des-
perate means.
Account Of the Raid.
After stating that 1t was the loyalty to
the Union cause. which was really the
cause Of the confederate levy on the city
Of Frederick. Mr.. Maulsby detailed briefly
the account of the raid.
The command under General Early was
composed Of cavalry, artillery and infantry,
| numbering 10000 men. After practically
unresisted march down the valley of Vir-
ginia, crossing the Potomac river into Mary
| land. General Early levied a ransom Of
| $4,000 upon Hagerstown. which was paid.
Continuing his march, the advance Of his
army reached the mountains west Of Fred
erick city on July Z, and on that afternoon
| and also the next day, July 8, met and had
engagements with the Union troops under
i
engagements developed the strength of the
enemy and showedtthat the Union troops
were not strong enough to defend the city.
Orders Were issued for the removal Of the
government property as speedily as possi-
BILE. These stores were valued at fair
estimate. at from $,000B00 to $1,5OOOO0.
The difficulty Of removing these stores
! was greatly increased by reason Of the
small number OF soldiers within General
Wallace's command. It tSbecame necessary
that every enlisted man who was fit for
duty. should be put into the ranks for
duty in the field, thus reducing the men
employed about the nuartermaster, COM
missary and medical departments to
much less number than was needed as
laborers by these departments. especially
when so much property had to be moved SO
hurriedly. Realizing that help was need
ed a number of Union citizens assisted
the government employees. and by the even
ing Of July as much Of the government
property as 1t was possible to take away
had been removed, leaving as was subse-
quently ascertained very large amount
stored away in various places in the city.
! Early's Order for Supplies.
That night. believing that all the prop
erty belonging to the government had been
removed as he intended 1t should be. Cen
eral Wallace evacuated Frederick City.
Early on the morning Of July 8, the city
was taken possession of by General Early.
and an order issued making levy for
large amount of supplies. AS 1t was i'm
| possible to comply with this order by rea-
son Of the removal of the Union stores. an
other demand was made by General Early.
which read:
I'VE require Of the mayor and town au-
thorities two hundred thousand dollars
(S2O0. .OOO} in current money for the use of
this army. This contribution may be sup
piled by furnishing the medical department
with fifty Thousand dollars ($5O,OOO in
stores at current prices. the commissary
department with the stores to the same
amount. the ordnance department with the
same. and the quartermaster department
with like amount"
Threat to Destroy the City.
These orders were accompanied by
threat to destroy the city If they were not
complied with.
The mayor called together the aldermen
who were then in the city and it was decid-
ed to ransom the city by paying the sum
that was demanded. The money was paid
in greenbacks, which were carried in bas-
kets. and when 1t had been paid the fol-
lowing receipt was given:
Received of the mayor. aldermen and
common council of Frederick. the sum OF
two hundred thousand dollars in full pay
ment of said sum. which this day was lev
led and demanded to be paid to the confed
crate states army. by said corporation Of
Frederick