Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-08
(By Arthur Linn, of Canton, S. d.

In May, 1862, by union troops under
Gen. John e. Wool, i was detailed to
take charge of the provost marshal's
Office as an assistant to Capt. ], H.
Libeneau, of Gen. Viele's staff, who
was adjutant general and provost
marshal.
l was but l6 years Of age and not
commissioned officer, but the provost
marsha thought | was competent to
handle the work, and as orders were
orders, began the difficult task: My
first duty was to give the oath of alle-
glance to all who wanted to become
loyal citizens, and as prouf Of such
loyalty issued a printed 'safeg guard"
as evidence that the bearer had taken
the oath and was to be considered
loyal citizen. The jurisdiction Of the
office was extended from Norfolk to
Suffolk and clear down into North
Carolina, taking in the Dismal swamp
country, section said to be full of
runaway negroes and wild animals.
Thousands came and subrcribed to
the oath and by so doing had the
right to pass through the military
lines when furnished with written
pass. If they wanted to carry home
family supplies such articles had to
be pumerated on The pass or the
pickets would confscate all articles
not mentioned. This strict military
rule was necessary to prevent the 50
called loyal citizens from carrying
quinine or letters outside our lines
for the benefit of the southern army.
A majority of the citizens OF Nor
folk and Portsm uth were active and
jealous friends of the confederacy and
were ever at work trying to send con-
traband of war through our picket
lines by the so called loyal citizens
who lived On the outside. These coun-
try people, after taking the oath and
receiving a safeguard, were entitled
TO come inside the lines, and If, as
stated, they desired to carry home
supplies, such as tea, coffee, sugar or
other household necessities, their
pass, signed by myself, must show
permission to carry such articles,
Letters "giving aid or comfort to the
enemy or quinine were strictly pro-
hibited, but it was not always possi-
BILE for the soldiers to detect such
contraband when women wore petti-
coats with pockets and bustles.
A HARVEST OF CoNTRABAND.
During the six month that / dis
charged the duties Of acting provost
marshal l captured enough contra
band of war to fill the basement of
the custom house, and the variety of
the stuff was sight. There were
pianos. all kinds of guns and sabers,
some of them very ancient, whisky IN
cans, kegs and barrels, rebel uniforms,
barrels Of flour containing ten gallons
of liquor, much of it applejack, and
1O-gallon cans OF kerosene with long
necks and two corks. Under the first
cork was kerosene, while under the
second cork it was all whisky or
applejack. Then l had tho usands OF
letters and a large quantity of quinine
In small packages.
The most difficult part Of the con-
traband traffic to handle was that
carried by negroes in "dugouts," OF
''cooners, as the darkies called them
These boats were made out of log
and it required experience to handle
them. Down at a wharf near the Gus
tom house / had over 100 OF these
dugouts tied up, taken from darkies
who loved money better than loyalty
and these darkles were expert block
ade runners. Many got Safeguards,
but as all had been slaves they hat
only one name, a plantation name
such as Dick. Tom, Sam or something
else, and as they all looked lik'
"brothers'' it was difficult for the sol
diers to tell whether Sam had his owl
pass or pass belonging to SOMEONE
else. They were expert boatmen-anf
could slip past a war vessel like
snake in the water. Taking thei
''cooners'' away from them when de
tected in contraband work and arrest
ing those found guilty soon broke u
the river traffic When caught red
handed and brought to the proves
marshal's Office the prisoners pre-
tests and actions would make presen
negro minstrels look like a funera
party in comparison. Sambo coul
roll his eyes in a way that woul
make secessionist laugh.
WHIsKEY IN BARRELS OF FLOUR.
Despite a vigorous and successft
contest with land and water contr;
banders, whisky and applejack contir
ued to get into the soldiers camps
spite of every precaution coul
think of. I had q special provo!
guard OF thirty men from the Fir!
Delaware Zouaves, commanded by
vigilant and faithful sergeant name
Allen, whose duty it was to hunt fl
contraband whisky at all hours, d;
and night. After studying over tt
matter for time decided to pay a
tention to the big passeng er steame
that arrived daily from Baltimor
Passengers from Baltimore to poin