John Deegan, a forger, captured--A report that led to a historic raid by
Colonel Baker on the bounty jumpers and bounty brokers of New York.
Here follows a rather interesting case. One Deegan, an expert penman,
who had formerly been a clerk in one of the regular cavalry regiments,
had been forging discharges and final statements of fictitious soldiers,
employing an accomplice to present them at the various paymasters'
offices and draw the money. Being familiar with the officers'
signatures, he was very successful in forging their names. To make the
final statement cover a large amount of money--many hundreds and
sometimes thousands of dollars--the statements represented the parties
to have been prisoners of war, one or two years, which, with all the
allowances, would carry the amounts up into large figures.
United States Army, Pay District
of Pennsylvania.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 9, 1864
Colonel:
I have had a full explanatory conversation with your Chief of
Detectives in reference to forgeries lately perpetrated upon
the Government and have given him every clue in my possession,
to the perpetrators.
The name and recent address of the party who escaped from your
office has also been obtained by me. I have therefore to
request that you give him every facility he may desire in
visiting both Philadelphia and New York, and that you will
instruct the calling to his assistance experienced detectives.
I have ordered my orderly to report to him as he is acquainted
with this Deegan. The case is one of importance and no delay
should occur in ferreting it out.
Very respy. Colonel, your obdt. servant.,
FRANK M. ETTING,
Chief Paymaster.
To
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Nov. 9, 1864.
Special Order No. 164.
Lt. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Arty. and two men will proceed
without delay to the cities of Philadelphia and New York, for
the purpose of arresting certain persons engaged in
manufacturing forged Discharge papers. Having accomplished
this duty, Lieut. Smith and his guard will return and report
at this office.
The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary
transportation.
By command of Major General Lew Wallace.
WM. H. WIEGEL,
Capt. & Asst. Provost Marshal.
We had in custody one of Deegan's pals, John Battell. To save his scalp,
I forced him to write a letter (copy below), that I might use with
Deegan.
Deegan's Philadelphia address was a saloon, kept by Dick Callery, at 126
Callowhill Street. The letter reads:
Havre de Grace, Nov. 8th.
Wm. Deegan.
I am under arrest on my way to Baltimore under arrest I have
just time through the goodness of a guard to send you this as
we delayed here one ½ hour waiting for another train to pass
it will go hard with me I suppose.
Yours,
JOHN BATTELL.
The above is a literal copy of Battell's letter, it is in his hand
writing and is addressed to:
Wm. Deegan,
11th Ward Hotel,
Callowhill St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Private.
We were attired suitably for the occasion, velveteen caps, paper
collars, colored shirts, etc., a good "jumper's" toggery.
Jumpers, or bounty jumpers, were a very distinct class of patriots (?)
in war days. They were so patriotic they would enlist many, many times,
and draw a large bounty each time. When they enlisted they doffed their
clothes and put on the uniform. As soon as they could evade or "jump"
the guards conducting them, they would shed the uniform and buy a cheap
suit, such a one as I have described, and reappear at their old haunts,
ready to "jump" another bounty, under the skillful management of a
bounty broker. An observing person could pick out a "jumper" on sight.
We put in twenty-four lively hours with the "jumpers" and thieves at
Callery's. One may wonder how a decent man could associate with such
characters and not betray himself. It is a wonder, but somehow I managed
to fit the niche under any circumstances.
Learning that Deegan had gone to New York and would probably be at his
brother John's saloon in East 38th Street, I proceeded there.
I used the names "George Comings" or "I. K. Shaffer" usually, and they
became familiar to me. In this case I was "George Comings."
To have something to recommend me to John Deegan, I wired to myself from
Philadelphia to New York, using "R. Callery's" name (without
permission), I have the telegram, which was done by the House Printing
Telegraph (in type on long strips, or tape, much like the present ticker
tape). It reads: