On the 6th of March, 1864, General Roberts, with one thousand five hundred men, and with naval help, left Fortress Monroe for Fredericksburg. He captured and destroyed three hundred and eighty thousand dollars worth of tobacco.
Martin was the representative of the Confederate Treasury Department. I recovered his correspondence with Secretary Trenholm. It was understood that the proceeds of the sale of this tobacco was to go to Paris to help pay Confederate debts incurred there.
FILE XXXVIII.
Secretary of War consulted about the extension of our territory to include the district between the Rappahannock and the Potomac rivers—Robert Loudan, alias Charles Veal, a boat burner and spy—A kidnapped colored boy.
Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Mch. 18, 1865.
Lieut. Smith:
I want to see you at the office this evening at 7.30.
The Secretary of War wants to see you in Washington, and you will have to go to-morrow morning.
Yours, &c.,
S. B. Lawrence,
A. Adjutant General.
I do not remember what the Secretary wanted, but as the following order issued the next day, I assume it was to learn more of my purpose in the extended territory asked for: