DR

CHARLES MACGILL, M.D.

R. CHARLES MACGILL is a native of the city of Baltimore, and came of distinguished ancestry. His grandfather on the maternal side was Thomas Jennings, who filled the position of King's Attorney under the Colonial Govrnment of Maryland. His great-grandfather on the paternal side was the Rev. James Macgill, from Perth, Scotland, who settled in Maryland in 1728, and was the first Rector of Queen Caroline Parish, Elkridge, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Charles Macgill, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the old Baltimore College, Samuel Knox and Gerandine, Professors: the wife and daughter of the latter lost their lives by the burning of the Marshall Theatre, Richmond, Virginia, in 1811, an event still remembered by many.

Completing his collegiate studies in 1823, he entered the office of Dr. Charles G. Worthington, of Elkridge, Maryland, where he remained two years, and acquired much knowledge in medicine and surgery by association with that noted savant. Subsequently he became a student of the Baltimore Hospital, in charge of Dr. Collin Mackenzie, Sen., and the private student of Dr. John B. Davidge, founder of the University of Maryland, and its first Proctor. Young Macgill graduated with high honors in the University of Maryland, in 1828. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Hagerstown, Maryland, in connection with his brother, Dr. William D. Macgill. This association continued up to the fall of 1828, when he removed to Martinsburg, Virginia. In 1829, he was united in marriage to the daughter of Richard Ragan, Esq., of Hagerstown, Maryland. His brother William dying in 1833, he settled permanently in Hagerstown, where his many accomplishments of head and

neart won for him high position as a leading citizen. He led or assisted in many public undertakings. He assisted in establishing the "Hagerstown Mail," in 1828, and subse quently that of the "Martinsburg Republican." He was appointed by President Van Buren a Visitor to West Point, in 1839, and was, in 1840, a State Elector on the ticket of Martin Van Buren, in the Presidential contest of that year He was appointed by Governor Philip Francis Thomas, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 24th Regiment, Maryland Militia, and upon the death of Colonel Robertson, then commanding, Governor Thomas G. Pratt commissioned him Colonel. His rank was afterward raised by Governor Ligon to that of MajorGeneral of the Maryland Militia, Fourth Division. For several years, Dr. Macgill resided quietly at Hagerstown, devoting his time and talents to his increasing practice, and the care and education of a large family.

In 1861, when the war broke out, Major Swan, a gallant son-in-law of Dr. Macgill, left for Virginia. His movement caused the family to be suspected. Each male member of it was constantly under the surveillance of Federal spies, and numerous indignities were offered their persons and property. Up to this time, Dr. Macgill had returned good for evil. In 1861, when General Patterson's army was encamped at Hagerstown, and some of his soldiers were injured by an accident, the Doctor attended them in a surgical capacity, and exerted his skill for their relief. At the same time, his residence was entered and searched, his private papers and correspondence violated, the bureaus and trunks of his wife and daughters broken open, and the sanctity of his home generally invaded, without warrant or authority. Notwithstanding these outrages upon an honorable gentleman and his family, a short time afterward, when General Patterson advanced into Virginia, leaving many of his sick in hospital at the Female Academy in Hagerstown, he requested Dr. Macgill to attend them, a request with which the Doctor readily complied, daily ministering to their necessities.

About this time, Colonel Ely, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,

was captured in Virginia. A few days after the departure of Patterson's army, the Doctor was coming out of a house where he had been visiting a patient, when he was surrounded by a squad of soldiers, the Captain of which said he had orders to arrest him as a hostage for Colonel Ely, to be held until that officer should be given up by the "Rebels." The Doctor, with a good deal of hauteur and composure, remarked: "Why, gentlemen, I am a Major-General; you cannot take and hold me for a Colonel." He was soon released. General Patterson returned from Virginia to Maryland, and on the evening of the 30th of September, 1861, Macgill was at home with his family, when the rattling of sabres and the tramp of soldiers were heard.

In a moment, a squad of soldiers entered his house, filed into the parlor, and stood in the presence of the man the military authorities professed to fear "more than any other in the State of Maryland." Said the leader of the squad: "Dr. Macgill, you are my prisoner." "By whose order?" inquired the Doctor. The reply was: "By order of Colonel Kenly, who has instructions from the Secretary of State." The following is a copy of the order:

(Indorsed.)

"Governor Seward, confidential letter. Rec'd Sept. 28th. Ans. Sept. 29th. Orders given to Colonel Kenly, Williamsport, Sept. 29th."

(Copy.)

"DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, September 21, 1861.

Major-General N. P. BANKS, Darnestown, Md.:

"General: If you can arrest Dr. Charles McGill, of Hagerstowr, Maryland, or cause him to be arrested and sent to Fort McHenry, to be thence conveyed to Fort Lafayette, let it be done.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

(Signed)

(Indorsed.)

WILLIAM H. SEWARD."

"Colonel Kenly, on the arrest of Dr. Macgill, answered Oct. 3d, same day of its receipt."

(Copy.)

"HEADQUARTERS, WILLIAMSPORT,

September 30, 1861.

Major-General N. P. BANKS, Commanding Division: "General: Dr. Macgill is now a prisoner in my camp. If one man can be dangerous, he is the man. I shall send him direct to Fort McHenry by Captain Waltemeyer, of my regiment. He will be there to-morrow night.

"With the highest regard,

"JOHN R. KENLY, Col. 1st Md. Reg't."

The within-named Waltemeyer, who carried out this order, had been tried and convicted in the Baltimore County Criminal Court for whipping a woman, afterward pardoned and commissioned by Governor Hicks.

Mr. Seward's "little bell" had been touched again, and Dr. Charles Macgill was the victim this time. A detailed squad of eighty-five Pennsylvania Home Guards, under the command of one Captain Saul, surrounded his house.

The Doctor accepted the situation, recognized himself a prisoner of state, and prepared to accompany his captors. His wife being ill up stairs, he asked permission to visit and bid her farewell. Not supposing that such a humane request would be denied him, he had started on his way when the command was given to "stop him." A number of privates now advanced to seize the prisoner, when he turned upon them and dashed two of them down the stairway. This provoked a desperate struggle. Dr. Charles Macgill, Jr., now came to the assistance of his father. Miss Macgill, a daughter, who had just returned from riding, and was equipped in a riding habit, and carried in her hand an ivory-headed riding-whip, came to the rescue and bravely defended her brother, who had received a sabre-cut in the neck. At this juncture the soldiers drew their sabres and revolvers on Miss Macgill, and but for the timely interference of Captain Saul, the consequences might have been not only serious but tragical. The Captain ordered the arrest of both father and son, and they were carried

away to Camp Banks, near Williamsport. Saul reported with his prisoners to Colonel Kenly, commanding, who, swelling with importance, ordered the release of the son, as his arrest was not contemplated in the order. Dr. Macgill was then quartered in a tent which was guarded, the guards keeping a light burning all night.

The next morning he was placed in an army wagon and taken back to Hagerstown. The military must have feared an attempt at rescue, for the road for six miles was lined with blue uniforms, and extra precautions taken against a dash from the "Rebels" of Hagerstown and Washington County. At Hagerstown, the distinguished state prisoner was received by another body of soldiery, and being placed on the cars, was taken to Chambersburg, and thence to Baltimore. At Baltimore, a company of soldiers was in waiting at the depot, the phantom of a Rebel rescue having likewise disturbed the imagination of the military commanders at that place. A coach was in waiting also, and Dr. Macgill, being hastily hustled into a seat with the guards, was driven off to Fort McHenry.

Here he was confined in a cell next to that occupied by "Garrona" Thomas, and Messrs. Glenn and Johnson, of Baltimore.

Colonel Morris, the commandant of the Fort, refused to permit his new prisoner to dine with these gentlemen, but left him in solitary confinement. He permitted his friends to visit him, however, and he was treated kindly. The comniandant was by nature and education austere, and a stickler for rules and discipline. After five days' imprisonment in Fort McHenry, the steamer from Annapolis, with the Hatteras prisoners, touched at the Fort, and he was booked for Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, and thence was transferred to Fort Lafayette, where he found congenial companionship in the company of many other state prisoners from Maryland, other States of the United States, and the then Confederate States. Lieutenant Wood, the officer in command at Fort Lafayette, was one of those who held his ap