Statement Of James Briers Bollman Mcguarty And Welsh U S Marine Corps

Office Provost Marshal,

8th Army Corps.

Baltimore, Jany. 26, 1865.



Statement of James Briers, late of Richmond, Virginia, who

says: "I am a native of England, came to this country about

1853, remained in Baltimore, Md., about six months then went

to Richmond, and went into the employ of the Virginia Central

Railroad Co., and remained with them up to this tim .



"About December, 1863, I was sent into Lancaster County, by

the Railroad Company, to buy pork for them. I remained about

three weeks, bought a great many hogs.



"November 20th, 1864, was again appointed agent to buy hogs

for the Railroad Company, and was sent to Lancaster,

Westmorland and other Counties, where I bought about one

hundred and fifty head in Lancaster and Richmond Counties, and

then returned to Richmond on night of 25th of December.



"I was sent back about January 9th, 1865, into the same

Counties, to buy pork. Then having a chance to escape I made

my way to Westmorland Court House, and there crossed the river

into Maryland.



"I stopped with Harvey, who keeps the tavern at the Court

House, and who has a boat, with which he runs the blockade.

John J. Spaulding, a blockade runner, keeps a store at the

Court House; he runs over a great many goods; comes over twice

a week for goods.



"I came over with Spaulding. He thought I was coming over on

business for the Railroad Company, and he was to have his boat

over for me, and some goods, in two days' time. I was to be in

the neighborhood of Caywood's place; he, Caywood, was

recommended to me as all right. Spaulding charged me fifty

dollars in gold and was to bring me back. Gilson, a blockade

runner, came over with me. He is a noted blockade runner, and

he is in this city now. He ships his goods from here by

vessel, marked to New York. The vessel on the way puts out the

goods; I have seen the goods. A Confederate Captain also came

over with me; he intended to get a boat and cross the Bay to

the Eastern shore of Maryland, on a visit.



"Watkins and Pumphrey, two blockade runners at the Court

House, also run the blockade on a large scale; also a man by

the name of Hayden.



"Dr. Spaulding, a brother of John J. Spaulding, came over a

few days since and took his wife over the river with him; she

lived near Leonardtown.



"Judge Irving, Captain Thomas, and Fred. Smith, an old

blockade firm on the lower river, are still in that business,

with the exception of Smith, who was captured by Colonel

Woolley with a large lot of tobacco, and now said to be in

Fort McHenry. Their goods are marked for New York, and landed

down the Bay, so Gibson says, and then run to Smith's Point

Light-house, to a man called James Sutton, who lives on the

Virginia shore of the creek running between Smith's Point and

the Virginia shore.



"Bows, Wells, Hayden and Pumphrey, a party of blockade

runners, have a plan laid to bring over to the father of a

late Confederate soldier, living in St. Mary's County, a noted

horse upon which the son was killed in battle; they are to

come over the first dark night when the ice gives away in Poor

Jack Creek.



"The names of the blockade runners I know are J. J. Spaulding,

Dr. Eck Spaulding, Frank Simms, Warren, Hayden, Bowers, Wells,

Watkins, Pumphrey, Harvey.



"The blockade runners generally sink their boats in the creek,

when not in use."



(Sworn and subscribed.)









460 15th Street,

Washington, D. C.

Feb. 3, 1865.



Lt. Smith,

Chief of Detectives.



Sir.--I desire to call your attention to the cases of Bollman,

McGuarty, Welsh and another, privates in the U. S. Marine

Corps, wherein I submitted affidavits to you some weeks since.



Their commanding officer has once or twice enquired of me what

disposition had been made of their matter. I told him that I

had in accordance with the instructions of Colonel Woolley,

submitted the papers to you and that you had told me they

would be attended to in due course of business. He is,

however, very anxious to have the matter disposed of as soon

as possible, as the men are at any moment liable to be

detailed on distant duty.



If you will, kindly inform me, as soon as practicable, what

determination you have come to in these cases.



Very respy.,

SELDEN HETZEL,

Attorney at Law.





I cannot recall the cases.