Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-05-30


ed suspicion of my loyalty to the
SOUTH
In letter to Jefferson Davis he
says, Under other circumstances
services like mine would have attract
ed a regard more in accord with my
zeal.'
What happened between August and
November, 1868, is not apparent, but
Maddox in December was about to
leave Richmond. He wrote to Secre-
tary of War Seldom and announced
his intention of removing his family
to Virginia and to remain in the Con-
federacy He thinks this is proof
Of my loyalty He asked permission
also to capture Leonardtown. Md, and
use the cavalry equipments for the cav
airy battalion he intended to raise.
On March, IA, 1864, Maddox wrote a
letter evidently TO McPhail, giving in
formation about the Confederacy and
its condition and expressing regret that
a certain expedition had failed. 1t is
a very chatty letter and encourag ing to
the Union cause.
From Fortress Monroe on April Is
General Benjamin f. Butler wired Sec
rotary Stanton: Il have captured J. H.
Maddox on the Virginia shore with
$50 boxes of tobacco He claims to be
confidential agent of the war depart
ment. What shall do with him?"
Maddox was sent to the military
prison at Camp Hamilton, where he
again INDUCED his habit of letter writ
ing. He wrote to Butler, explaining
what he had done for the Federal gov
eminent and saying, among other
things, "All the agents of the govern
ment in the rebel lines cannot render
the service that 1 can" Colonel Nc
Phail wrote an Endorsement of Maddox
to Assistant Secretary Dana He was
also indorsed by Colonel Sharpe. Both
of these officers asserted that his serv-
ices were Invaluable.
Maddox did not long remain in pris-
on. The secretary of war directed that
he be released on his own parole. But
he continued in the tobacco business,
evidently, for it was in 1865 that, I'M
der the orders of General Grant, the
large quantity of tobacco was captur-
ed and destroyed. Beginning early in
1865, Grant telegraphed Stanton that
supplies were being sent to the Com.
federacy by the Fredericksburg road.
He also announced that he should
clear out that country as soon as he
he A
little later he says that bacon was being
exchanged along the Potomac. He
suggests that General Singleton and
Judge Hughes should be recalled from
Richmond and that all permits issued
to Singleton and Hughes should be
Cancelled. He speaks Of a deep laid
plan for making millions
Stanton in a reply says that he is
unable to control the influences that
procure PERMITS but understand that
the presidents passes and permits are
subject to your authority Lincoln
telegraphed Grant saying he believed
he did give Hughes and Singleton a
card. However this may be" he con-
tinues, II now authorize you to get
Singleton and Hughes away from
Richmond if you choose and can.
authorize you by an order or in what
form you choose to suspend all opera
lions on the treasury trade permits in
all places southeastward of the Allie
ghenies'
The Hughes mentioned had once
been on the bond of Maddox when he
was in military prison and procur-
ed his release. Both Singleton and
Hughes were heavy operators. 1t was
evident that Grant thought the tobac-
co captured and destroyed on the Rap
pahannock belonged to them instead Of
Maddox
When this tobacco was captured and
all the men in the employ of Maddox
were arrested Maddox gave himself
up and began an active campaign TO
recover the value of the tobacco de-
stroyed, quest that has been pursued
for more than forty years.
That Maddox furnished information
to either side to the detriment of the
other is apparent. but that was neces-
sary for the business he was carrying
on. He could not have passed from one
side to the other and have carried on
his lucrative business dealings with
out furnishing some equivalent to the
governments. This was information
Maddox never was on the payroll of
either government. 4 ColonelS McPhail
and Sharpe, through whom he worked,
said that he should receive high re-
ward
The late Senator Hoar in reporting
against the right of Maddox to recover
from the government characterized the
claimant as "a citizen of most active
and unquestioned loyalty"
For four years while war ragged
around him the claimant was a dar-
ing adventurer. going and coming
through the lines Of two great armies.
He appeared in each capital and was