aws, sometimes paying for a
two-dollar Oride watch as much as one hundred dollars.

One of the largest substitute brokerage concerns tried to reach me with
an offer of five hundred dollars a week, for a period as long as I would
let them alone. The offer was not "dangerously near my price." I cleaned
up the whole business very soon.

Blumenburg appointed a lot of cut throats with authority to arrest
deserters, paying them ten dollars for each deserter brought in. Their
operations were conducted this way: One of these fellows would hail a
soldier who was out on pass take it away from him, pronouncing it
fraudulent, but would allow him to proceed on his way; shortly he would
be hailed again, by a "pal," and having, of course, no pass to exhibit,
he would be arrested charged with desertion.

I was over in Anne Arundel County one night with three or four of my
men, intending to look after some blockade-runners, when four or five of
Blumenburg's thugs picked us up, supposing we were deserters or else
persons come to invade their territory. They were going to do all sorts
of things to us and pulled out their revolvers. I made no parade of
mine though my hand was on it all the time. I quietly informed them of
their error, and promised them, each and every one of them, to give them
a chance to "play checkers with their noses," and I kept my word, for
within a short time I caught them in their nefarious treatment of honest
soldiers.

The party was composed of "Boney" Lee, Bob Miller, ---- Fletcher, and
two others, each one was known to have "done time," yet Blumenburg
licensed them. I broke it all up, and they became as meek as lambs.

FILE XXXIII.

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 time.

"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 La