Capture of Confederate bonds and scrip--Arrest of Pittman, Brewer and
Fowler; Lieut. Smith, alias I. K. Shaffer, alias George Comings, led them,
victims, into a maze, to their undoing.
I will now tell you of the Confederate bond matter. Special Order No.
172 enabled me to make my arrangements at Willard's Hotel:
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Nov. 20, 1864.
Special Order No. 172.
Lieut. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y., and one man will proceed to
Washington, D. C., on secret service. On completion of his
duties he will report with his guard at these headquarters.
By command of Major General Wallace.
JOHN WOOLLEY,
Lt. Col. & Pro. Marshal.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, Nov. 24, 1864.
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal.
Colonel.--I have the honor to report the arrest of J. S.
Pittman, Dr. D. R. Brewer and T. S. Fowler.
I herewith hand you a carpet sack, containing Confederate
Bonds and Scrip amounting to $82,575, which was collected in
different ways from these parties. Also $22 from Dr. Brewer
and $280 from Pittman, in currency, and a trunk said to
contain 23 dozen cards (cotton and woolen cards) from Brewer's
house.
Herewith I hand you several statements in reference to the
case.
I would respectfully call your attention to Mr. Fowler's
statement, viz.: that "that they sell this stuff to Jews, &c.,
that run the blockade," and that "it is all done for the
benefit of the U. S. Service," and then to Pittman's statement
that he did not know the New York man who was to buy of him in
Washington, and then to my statement, i. e., that I told him
that I was from New York, and gave him my name and address in
writing, and also told him how I intended to use the funds
with blockade runners. Putting all these statements together I
should conclude that if he is doing all this "for the benefit
of the service," that he would have informed the authorities
of my intentions.
Pittman's and Brewer's statements were made under oath. Brewer
stated to me that the cards were bought to send to Dixie. In
his sworn statement, after arrest, he declined giving the
history of them, as it might injure his friends.
I am, Colonel,
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. SMITH,
Lt. & Chief.
This story is quite complicated. During the progress of this case, I was
known to the parties as "Comings," "Shaffer" and Lieutenant Smith, and
to show how complex it was, although Pittman and Brewer were together in
prison, until trial came they had not been able to understand that the
three names were for one person.
When I was about to go on the stand in their trial, their counsel asked
me if Comings and Shaffer would be present? I answered yes; but when on
the stand I began and told the story, their counsel claimed the
Government had taken an advantage of them in concealing the facts.
Captain Hassing was my medium for getting into the case. It was a
Baltimore gang, but either from suspicion of Hassing, or for other
reasons, they would not meet the New York party (me) in Baltimore, so I
arranged for a meeting in Washington, at Willard's Hotel. I went over
and engaged a room there and registered; the following wire came:
Baltimore, Md.,
Nov. 20, 1864.
I. K. Shaffer,
Willards, Washington.
Have seen the parties arrangements are made for to-morrow be
here to-night.
Capt. HASSING.
In reply, I wired:
Washington, D. C.,
Nov. 20, 1864.
Capt. Hassing,
German St. Green House, Baltimore.
Telegram recd will meet you to-morrow evening at place
appointed cannot close up my business with my friend here
until morning.
I. K. SHAFFER,
Willards Hotel.
The above telegram and the one following were for Hassing to exhibit to
the gang, to show my earnestness:
Willards Hotel
Washington, Nov 21 1864
I. K. Shaffer
Telegraph Office
Barnum's Baltimore
Disposed of documents as you desired will see you in New York
on 26. Your telegram recd.