Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1951-09-27

just beyond the Montgomery
Mr.. Eisenhauer said, and we
quote, "On Monday, October l, the
City of Frederick will pay the
final installment of the 100000
ransom debt incurred when Con-
federate General Jubal A. Early
threatened to sack and burn the
town on July 9, 1864"
Pay and Pay
We still quote, During the in
tervening 81 years, local taxpay-
ers have annually dug into their
pockets to pay off this Civil War
Debt in the form of bonds-and
with interest. The last of the
bonds in the amount of $4,000
were provided for in this years
levy.
mo formal ceremony has been
planned for this historic liquida-
ton, official quarters said. In all
likelihood, the Citizens National
Bank, as paying agent, will re-
ceive from Mayor Donald B. Rice
and City Register Nicodemus the
city's check on Saturday morning,
September 20. This will be done
in order that Frederick city's OBJ
legation will have been met at the
opening of business on the morn
ing of October l."
The Post said the ransom incl
dent occurred during one of the
most trying periods of the Civil
War" when "in the summer of
1864, General Early, with an es-
timated 10000 troops, was order
cd to invade Maryland, procure all
supplies possible and capture the
City of Washington, at the time
virtually undefended.
Large Stores
The United States government
had at that time in Frederick, the
Post continued, five warehouses
containing large quantities Of
quartermaster, commissary, ord
nance and medical stores, in addi-
ton to a barracks and hospital
buildings. When it became evil
dent that Earlv's advance could not
he halted, orders were given to
remove the stores and though
quantities were taken away, a
large portion remained for lack OF
time and facilities for removal.
The Confederates marched into
Frederick on the morning of July
Q and General Early, learning that
the Union Army had left some
thing like $250,OOO worth of sup
plies, demanded large quantities
Of flour, sugar, coffee and bacon.
Ransom Demand
Before demands could be met,
some tattle tale told the Confed-
crate general how the people OF
Frederick had given the Union
troops an assist along the escape
route and Early Immediately de.
manded, in addition, 100000 ir
funds. The General then said he
would sack the town if the de-
mands were not met.
The Mayor called together the
Aldermen and members of the
Common Council and they passed $
resolution agreeing to pay the sun
and requested the financial insti.
buttons of the City to pay it over
They said the corporate authorities
would repay as quickly as possible
by levying upon the citizens of the
corporation.
The cash was carried in baskets
to the City Hall when the Con
federate brass waited. Once pal,
off, they started on to Washing
ton but were defeated at Mono
cacy.
At the cessation of hostilities
still quoting the Post, "Fredericl
town authorities issued bonds t.
pay the banks and they have since
been carried in the annual levy
Efforts have been made time anC
again to have the ransom debt as
sumed by the Federal government
as a legitimate war debt but neve,
were successful"
For These Reasons
The Post also points out tina
'in noting the end of Frederick