Between the Lines: Secret Service Stories Told Fifty Years After

by Henry Bascom Smith

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Office Provost Marshal,
Baltimore, Dec. 23, 1863.

Lieut. H. B. Smith, Assistant Provost Marshal, Fort McHenry, is hereby authorized to visit and search any house in the City of Baltimore that he has good reason to believe contains Rebel mail, or any treasonable matter.

By order,
W. S. Fish,
Col. and Provost Marshal General,
8th Army Corps.

My work at Fort McHenry absolutely required freedom to act outside.

Office Provost Marshal,
Fort McHenry, Jan. 8, 1864.

Confidential.
Colonel Fish,
Provost Marshal, 8th Army Corps.

Dear Sir.—I am at last able to report that we have gotten underway an underground correspondence between Trought and Emmerich. At first the correspondence was unimportant (which was, of course, policy for them), but now they have become confidential. I, with some others, intend to enlist in the Rebel service, but my plan is too long to explain here.

Now, Colonel, if you will drop a line to Colonel Porter, asking him to allow me to organize a squad of reliable men, say twelve or fifteen, and instruct them, whom we can call upon at any time, we will guarantee to show some rich developments inside of three weeks.

Emmerich is not alone but is connected with some of the largest houses in Baltimore.