Geo Comings. Wm Deegan is at John Deegans Thirty Eighth Street
Second and Third Avenues. Please take that note to him
(Battell's note.)
Hund wenty six Callowhill St.
We associated with the "jumpers" who hung out at John Deegan's to
accomplish our purposes. Wm. Deegan had gone to Boston.
Bounty jumpers in New York were on every corner. The city was infested
with them. Our appearance and conduct secured us recognition by them, so
much so that my men became anxious on account of our popularity.
I made arrangements with Major Leslie, the Chief Paymaster in New York,
for the capture of Deegan, which was accomplished shortly afterwards.
When I called on Major Leslie at his residence in 9th Street, I was
somewhat shocked at first at his incivility. I had overlooked the fact
that my personal appearance (my clothes, etc.) did not merit confidence.
However, as soon as I made him know me everything went on all right. I
must certainly have looked tough.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Nov. 15, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to submit the following report of
my trip to Philadelphia and New York, in search of William
Deegan and others charged with forgeries.
Among other steps that Major Elting took, previous to giving
the matter into my hands, was to telegraph the Provost Marshal
at Philadelphia to visit certain places and arrest, if found,
William Deegan.
I arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday morning and immediately
called on the Provost Marshal to ascertain what steps he had
taken, and I requested him to withdraw his men from the job.
I ascertained to a certainty that Deegan had gone to New York,
and also that the officers from the Provost Marshal's office
went there (to the haunt of Deegan), dressed in uniform,
stating they were connected with the Quartermasters' Office,
and wanted to see Deegan. This was sufficient to scare any
guilty man out of the country; accordingly I left for New
York, where I visited Deegan's haunts. On Friday evening
there, I ascertained that Deegan and his pigeons were gone,
either to New Jersey or Boston.
On Saturday I visited Major Leslie, Chief Paymaster at New
York, and posted him as to the actions of Deegan and his
associates, and recommended that if discharges purporting to
come from the 6th United States Cavalry were presented it
would be well to detain the parties presenting such discharges
and final statements until he could ascertain if they were
genuine; and would then probably be able to catch some of the
pigeons, and perhaps Deegan. I also requested him to telegraph
to Chief Paymaster at Boston, which he promised to do.
Deegan's forgeries seem to be confined to the 6th U. S.
Cavalry; he was formerly a member of that Regiment. He
operates with "jumpers."
I think this job was spoiled by the actions of the Officers in
Philadelphia. I am quite positive we were not suspected, as we
were at all times current with these "jumpers," that infested
Deegan's haunts.
I visited these places until yesterday, when I became
satisfied that Deegan is too badly scared to remain about.
In addition to my report I wish to give you a brief outline of
the state of affairs in the Provost Department in New York and
Philadelphia. Wherever I went in search of my man I met
"Bounty Jumpers," who openly avowed themselves such, and
seemed to defy the authorities. Dick Callery, who keeps a
groggery at No. 126 Callowhill street, Philadelphia, stated he
was aware of Deegan's transactions. Most of Callery's
customers were "jumpers."
In New York we could go but a short distance without meeting
these characters. From what I could see I should think one
thousand a low estimate of their numbers; they are very bold.
They pay this Department quite a compliment, i. e., they say
if they can only get clear from Baltimore they are all right.
If about fifteen or twenty pigeons could be thrown into New
York and Philadelphia to co-operate with a strong force of
Detectives and Military, hundreds of these "jumpers" would be
brought to justice.
These jumpers without an exception are the firm support and
backbone of the Copperhead Clique, and the same parties that
caused the riots in New York last year. The arrest and
punishment of these parties would cause rejoicing among
respectable people. From my observation I can see that this
class of men before the war were pickpockets, burglars, &c.,
but now resort to this last and easier means of stealing, i. e.,
"bounty jumping," at the same time they please the "Copperheads"
by filling successively, the quotas of different districts, and
not furnishing the Army one soldier; thus defeating the object
of the Draft.