see whether there are any letters for me at the Provost Marshal's office?" As likely as not the Superintendent would reply: "There are several letters for you at the office of the Provost Marshal, but they are not examined: some of the Miss Nancy clerks up there have become so important, in their own estimation, since they have got into the position of examining letters, that they 'take on airs,' and do as they please. I cannot help it if your letters are not forwarded, or if letters do not reach you." "We know that, Mr. Wood," several voices would exclaim in concert. "But," one would continue, "it is hard to be deprived of the privilege of hearing from home; and it is equally an outrage to our families to be allowed no opportunity to hear from us while we are confined in a place like this." "I know it is hard,' would be the admission of the Superintendent; "but you felows had no business to be Locofocos." This, of course, would be said in a jest, so far as the Superintendent was concerned, but it was no joke for the prisoners. Their crime was truly that they were what Mr. Wood had called them-"Locofocos" -and for that they were kidnapped and imprisoned, and deprived of the privilege of hearing from their families, except at the caprice of "Miss Nancy" clerks in the office of the Provost Marshal, at Washington. "Wood, here is a letter-a very short one-containing nothing but to say that I am well: cannot this be sent to my wife, without its being subject to the risk of being destroyed, in the office of the Provost Marshal?" Such would often be the appeal of a prisoner. Mr. Wood's reply would be as follows: "I cannot send any letters for you, except through the Provost Marshal, or Judge Advocate Turner; but I will do my best to have your letter examined and passed."

"Here is a business letter, Wood," another prisoner would urge. "It is of the most vital importance to me and my family, that it should reach its address as soon as possible: why cannot it be sent immediately?" "That I cannot an swer," would be the reply of the Superintendent. "I am here to carry ont the orders of the Government, and not to do my

own will. The Government, or rather the officers of the Government, have their own way of doing things, and I must either obey their orders, or give up my place." "We would all be sorry that you did that," would be the sincere declaration of the prisoners. "If you were not here Wood, we should not receive one in ten of our letters, nor. would our friends know whether we were dead or alive."

The very first letter sent out by one of the prisoners, called forth the following decree:

"HEADQUARTERS PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE,
"Washington, D. C., 1862.

Nothing but family and business letters are allowed to pass.
W. V. C. MURPHY."

This signature had something affixed to it, of which no one could make any sense, but it was probably designed to show that this Murphy was a person of authority. Whether he was or was not, it is very certain that he assumed a great deal in opening letters and papers, and throwing them aside or destroying them, if they contained anything which he deemed objectionable to his masters. Shortly after this, the same prisoner was served with a notice to the effect that, if his wife did not write her name in full, her letters would be suppressed.

Scenes, similar to those described between the Superinten. dent and the prisoners, were of daily occurrence.

Immediately after the battles fought in the vicinity of Washington, in August, 1862, the city was placed under martial law. The sale of liquor was prohibited by the Military Governor, under penalty of confiscation. Here was a favorable opportunity for the detectives of the War Department to ply their vocation, and make a harvest. The plan of operation mapped out was for some one of the number, who was best acquainted with a liquor-dealer or saloon-keeper, marked as a victim, to go and procure from him, if possible, something to drink. If successful in the application, no matter whether on the score of old acquaintance, familiarity,

friendship, information was to be filed fortowith before ne Provost Marshal, and then the liquors would be seized. This programme was carried into effect, and most, if nct all the liquors seized, were placed under the contrc! of the Provost Marshal, better known as Detective Baker. Some time after the promulgation of this military order, a Mr. Spahr was arrested in Washington City. He suggested to the officer, a detective who had him in custody, that it would not be amiss for them to go and get something to drink, before he was taken to the Old Capitol, as it was not likely that while there he would be allowed to indulge in that way. The officer thought the suggestion a good one, and consented to the proposal. Spahr, not wishing to be the means of acquainting the detective with any of the places known to him, where the military order respecting the sale of liquors was violated, suggested that the officer indicate a place where they could be accommodated, with which suggestion the officer complied very cheerfully. The two went to find a place of refreshment, and, to the surprise and amusement of Mr. Spahr, he was taken into a room back of Provost Marshal Baker's office, where there was a bar in full blast, well supplied with liquors, which, by the way, as Spahr ascertained, had been confiscated from the saloon-keepers in Washington, who had violated the order of Military Governor Wadsworth. Mr. Spahr paid the reckoning at the Provost Mar shal's bar, and went to the Old Capitol, full of meditations on the system of government introduced by Mr. Lincoln.

An investigation into the detective business of the War Department would reveal such flagitious violations of law decency, and personal rights, and such corrupt and out rageous practices, having for their sole object the gratifica tion of the lust of avarice, if not the lust of the flesh. as would place the Government, as administered ander Abraham Lincoln, in disparaging comparison with the most un principled of any nation, extant or extinct.

1

J. W. PACKARD.

J. Mchusetts, in 1839. He resided in Philadelpie mom

W. PACKARD was born in North Bridgewater, Mas

1858 until 1860, when he went to Richmond, Virginia, and was engaged as a manufacturer of sewing-machine needles.

On the 17th of September, 1862, he received permission to return North. Before he left, however, he was arrested by the city authorities as a "suspicious character," but after an examination, was discharged. The Confederate Government, at the time he left, issued passes to aliens only, unless it was shown that the person wishing to leave would do nothing detrimental to the "cause" of the South.

Through the influence of some Confederate officials he succeeded in obtaining a permit to pass through the lines, and immediately availed himself of the opportunity to leave the Confederacy.

On the way to his home, he stopped in Philadelphia, and while there, was arrested by Detective Benjamin Franklin. He was deprived of his money, valuables, and clothing, and incarcerated in Moyamensing Prison. He was not informed why he had been arrested, nor permitted to see any of his friends.

The jailer (Money) brought a member of the Philadelphia bar to see him. He represented that he could, with a writ of habeas corpus, obtain his release, as he was a Republican; and thought that if the case came into court, he, the prisoner, would be discharged, as there was nothing against him sufficient to justify his confinement.

Mr. Packard told him that if he would get him out, he would willingly give him fifty dollars for his services; but if he calculated to imp se upon him, he would stay there

until his friends worked up his case, and obtained his release. This was on the second day of his confinement; and the attorney, at the close of the conversation detailed above, agreed to find out the charges against him, and meet him the next morning. Shortly after this interview, Detective Franklin, with an assistant, appeared at the prison, and informed him that he was to go to Fort Lafayette, and ordered him to get ready at once. This was easily done, as the detective was in possession of his travelling bags containing his clothing.

Arriving in New York, he was again incarcerated over night, in one of the city prisons, and the following day removed to Fort Lafayette, where he was kindly greeted by the occupants, who did all that gentlemen could to alleviate the burden of his imprisonment.

The second day of his confinement he was taken sick, and sent for the surgeon in charge of the Fort, but he had no time or inclination to attend him. One of his room-mates suggested to him to request the services of a medical gentleman who was in the same casemate. This gentleman attended him faithfully, and relieved him of his sickness.

After being immured for ten days, an order came for his release. On applying for his money in Philadelphia, he was told a bill must be paid before it could be restored to him. Mr. Packard, knowing of no services rendered him, demanded to see the bill, and was shown one of three hundred dollars. After some disputation, two hundred and fifty dollars in gold was retained. Another bill for two days' board at Moyamensing Prison was presented him, which he paid, at the rate of four dollars per diem. There was no cause assigned for his arrest, and he certainly never did anything to justify it. Mr. Packard now resides at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and is still a manufacturer of sewing-machine needles.