I will now introduce the material from which was builded an actor. Lewis Paine, who brutally hacked at Secretary Seward while Booth was assassinating the President. He was one of the characters produced for the closing scene in that greatest tragedy.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Mch. 12, 1865.
Major Wm. H. Wiegel,
Actg. Provost Marshal.
Major.—I have the honor to report the arrest of Lewis Paine, a refugee from Fauquier County, Va.
He was arrested at the house of Miss Maggie Branson, No. 16 North Eutaw Street. She is a noted Rebel.
I was promised evidence to prove that he had been in Baltimore before, but the witnesses are not forthcoming, and I believe him innocent of that charge, but I think it would be well to remove him from that family. I would respectfully recommend his release.
Very respy. your obdt. servt.,
H. B. Smith.
Lt. & Chief.
When I entered my office on Friday morning March 10, 1865, Captain Webb, my clerk, was trying to obtain from Paine some part of his pedigree, but was baffled by the prisoner's dumbness. Then I tried with the result as follows:
Baltimore, Md.,
March 10, 1865
Lewis Paine, refugee from Fauquier County, Virginia, my parents reside near Orleans, in that County. I am eighteen and a half years old. I have not been out of Virginia since the war commenced, until this time.