Very respy. your obdt. servant,
H. B. SMITH,
Lieut. Comdg. D. C.
To discover persons engaged in creating sentiments of disloyalty, or in
pandering to such sentiments, was a part of our duty; the pulpit was not
always loyal.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, May 22, 1864.
Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report in regard to the sermons
of the Reverends Harrison and Poisal: Neither preached a
political sermon nor dealt in any way with the affairs of the
country, except in one or two instances Mr. Harrison spoke of
the present deplorable condition of affairs in this country
and seemed to be very much downcast in both preaching and
praying. He (Mr. H.) did not utter one word of prayer for our
President, Army or Government.
I know of Mr. Poisal's being a correspondent of some of the
Rebel prisoners in Fort McHenry.
At both sermons they had very slim audiences.