University of Virginia Library

Martial Law in Charleston.

The reverses of the Confederate arms in the spring of 1862,
commencing at Fort Donnelson and culminating at New Orleans,
had anxiously excited the minds of the people of South Carolina,
and daily bulletins portraying the sad fate of the Crescent City
under the iron rule of Butler, "The Beast," gave warning to the
people of Charleston of what might be expected should their city
be, as Mr. Lincoln mildly phrased it, "occupied and possessed."

The abandonment of the Coles Island line of defense was also
misunderstood, and a painful doubt had arisen in the public
mind, and was shared to some extent by the State authorities, of
the intention of the Confederate commander of obstinately
defending the city in the event of the siege which it was felt must
sooner or later come. Accordingly, the papers clamored for
earnest and active preparation. Editors and correspondents alike
claimed that Charleston would be disgraced unless Saragossa
should be surpassed. A "Citizen," in one of our daily prints,[8]

hardly exceeded the tone of other writers and talkers when he
exclaimed, in contemplation of the fall of the outer forts, "What,
then, shall the city be given up? We suppose not. That would
be indeed a very qualified defense. . . . Let the drill of the
troops be at once extended to fighting in the streets and from the
houses. . . ." The governor and council warned non-combatants
to depart and declared martial law in and around Charleston,
empowering the Confederate Commander to enforce it. A few
days later a formal resolve was promulgated from the Executive
Council Chamber," "That the Governor and Council concurred in
opinion with the people of South Carolina assembled in Convention,
that the City of Charleston should be defended at any cost
of life and property; and that in their deliberate judgment they
would prefer a repulse of the enemy with the entire city in ruins
to an evacuation or surrender on any terms whatever."

General Pemberton never at any moment contemplated anything
but making the best defense of which he was capable, with
the means at his disposal, and would no doubt, if required, have
fought it while brick and mortar held together. But he was a
soldier per se, and would have taken his inspiration from "orders"
from Richmond and not from the people and civil authorities
by whom he was surrounded. These he had not the tact to conciliate
and use, and, for their military opinions, entertained and
sometimes exhibited a most professional contempt. He, however,
eagerly embraced the power placed in his hands and on the 5th
of May issued his General Order No. 11, which, after reciting
the Governor's proclamation of martial law over Charleston and
the country within ten miles of its corporate limits, proceeded as
follows:

"Now I, John C. Pemberton, . . . do sustain the said proclamation
and announce the suspension of all civil jurisdiction
(with the exception of that enabling the Courts to take cognizance
of the probate of wills, the administration of the estates of
deceased persons, the qualifications of guardians, to enter decrees
and orders for the partition and sale of property, to make orders
concerning roads and bridges, to assess and collect county taxes)
and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in and over" the
limits embraced in the proclamation. Another paragraph
announced Colonel Johnson Hagood, First S. C. V., as provost

marshal and charged him with the execution of the foregoing
order and of the proclamation, under the direction of Brigadier
General Ripley, commanding the military district. The provost
marshal was further directed forthwith to establish a military
police and to put a stop to all sales of spirituous liquors.

An express train had been sent up to the camp of the First
South Carolina Volunteers at Bamberg on the 4th, with an order
for Colonel Hagood to return in person upon it and report that
day in Charleston; the regiment was directed to follow next day.
When Colonel Hagood was made acquainted with the provision
of the order about to be published making him provost marshal,
he earnestly asked to be excused from the duty, the condition of
his regiment requiring, in his opinion, all of his attention at that
time. The General, with something of his usual curtness, peremptorily
declined, but promised to relieve him as soon as he had
organized the system and got it to working, or earlier in the event
of active operations. To Colonel Hagood's further request for
detailed instructions as to the duties required of him, the General
answered that he had no further instructions than those
embodied in the order. This, by the way, was copied from a
recent promulgation of martial law in and around Richmond,
but of how it was there construed in practice we had no information
in Charleston. General Pemberton added that he expected
such a system of police that a dog could not enter the town without
the knowledge of the provost marshal and his ability to lay
hands upon said dog at any moment he was required. With this
chart of his duty and directions to make requisition for the
means to discharge it, the new provost departed to ponder upon
the work before him.

Martial Law, what was it? Very accurate ideas in relation to
it have since been acquired by the Southern people—but then?
General Pemberton had evidently no very definite perception of
what its promulgation effected in detail,—the provost had as
little. A conference with the State Attorney General, I. W.
Hayne, Esq., and reference to books brought little further light;
but, with such as was vouchsafed and with the order before him,
Colonel Hagood proceeded to digest an organization of martial
law upon the idea that it was the assumption of the execution of
such existing law as it was deemed necessary to retain, with the

making of such additional law as the military exigency required.
Rumor soon reached him that the mayor had, in conversation,
announced himself and his government as deposed; and, desiring
to retain the already organized police force of the city, Colonel
Hagood hastened to headquarters and obtained the publication
of the following:

"His Honor Charles McBeth, Mayor of Charleston, is respectfully invited
and expected to continue in the exercise of his municipal functions, as far
as they shall not infringe upon any requirements of martial law. . . . It
is the earnest desire of the major general commanding that the provost
marshal and the mayor will act in entire unison and render such mutual
aid as may be necessary to the efficient discharge of their respective duties.

"By order, etc., . . .

The next day, the Justice of the State Court of Common Pleas
and General Sessions, then sitting, adjourned his court upon
the ground that the proclamation of martial law had suspended
his jurisdiction. He was certainly right, under the wording of the
order, but it could hardly have advanced the defense of Charleston
for the provost marshal to have been hearing civil causes or
even trying criminal cases already on the docket, so Order No. 13,
6th May, was obtained and published:

"It is not intended that General Order No. 11, of the 5th May, from these
headquarters, shall interfere with the progress of business in the Court of
General Sessions and Common Pleas now sitting in this city.

In the meanwhile, however, a proclamation was received from
the President of the Confederate States declaring martial law
over the whole region under Pemberton's command, and using the
words of Pemberton's Order No. 11, "suspending civil jurisdiction,
etc." General Pemberton, therefore, rescinded his orders
continuing the mayoralty and sessions of the State court, and
putting his exercise of these prerogatives of martial law under
the President's and not the Governor's authority. The court
closed its doors; but the provost marshal never assumed cognizance

of the cases on its calendar, or to decide any purely civil
cases. These remained in abeyance. The organization of the
Common Council was also suspended, but the police force was
kept on duty under the supervision of the provost marshal. The
utility of this arrangement was to some extent marred by
jealousy existing between the assistant provost marshal in charge
of the police department and the mayor, having inception in their
past relations.

The presence of a large military force in the city was necessary
to carry out General Pemberton's "dog" specification; and
these troops themselves, newly raised and badly disciplined,
required the enforcement of the most stringent regulations to
keep them in order. A number were already in and near the
city; their officers infested the hotels and barrooms, and an editorial
in The Mercury of the 13th (the day on which it had been
announced that martial law would at noon go into effect) called
attention to outrages of a flagrant character already committed
with impunity by those of lower grade. The hegira of citizens
also greatly complicated the passport matter. A very stringent
supervision of passports was required by the provost's instructions,
and was necessary unless the whole matter was to be a
farce. The city was known to be infested with spies and the
enemy in daily receipt of information from it. Unfortunately
the citizens had already become accustomed to a very loose passport
system which had been inaugurated and put under the
mayor's charge. Under this system blank passports signed by
the mayor were filled up at any hour of the day or night by a
policeman at the guard house of the police force, and these were
sometimes examined and sometimes not by other policemen at
some of the more public places of arrival and departure from
the city. With a full sense of the difficulties surrounding it,
Colonel Hagood entered on his labor. The following regulations,
prepared and submitted for approval, on the morning of the 12th,
were published in all the daily papers with the appointments and
orders copied below. Headquarters were established in the court
house, office hours, etc., announced, and the experiment launched.

"REGULATIONS OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL.

"Under Martial Law.

"1. During the suspension of all civil jurisdiction announced in the l'roclamation
of the Major-General commanding, with the exceptions therein
contained, or which may hereafter be announced, a Provost Marshal's
Court is established, which will take cognizance of the offenses heretofore
within the jurisdiction of the Court of General Sessions, as well as of all
offenses against good order or other violations of martial law.

"2. The Provost Marshal's Court will be presided over by an assistant
provost marshal, his decisions to be supervised and approved by the provost
marshal. The provost marshal will also, in his discretion, refer any offense
to a court-martial, if circumstances make that instrumentality desirable or
necessary.

"3. No person will be allowed to leave the city without a written permit
from the office of the provost marshal. Every person coming into the city
shall report forthwith to the provost marshal under such regulations as he
may prescribe. An assistant provost marshal will be assigned to the duties
of this department.

"4. The necessary guards for the execution of the above regulations and
for the maintenance of good order in the city will be established. An
assistant provost marshal will also be assigned to the charge of this department.

"5. Such other regulations will be made and enforced from time to time
as may become necessary or expedient for the preservation of good order,
and the enforcement of martial law.

"6. These regulations will be enforced after 12 m. on Tuesday, the 13th
inst.

"1. C. Richardson Miles, Esq., Alex. H. Brown, Esq., and Captain G. B.
Lartigue are announced as assistant provost marshals.

"2. Mr. Miles is assigned to the duties of the Provost Marshal's Court.

"3. Mr. Brown is assigned to the duties of the passport office.

"4. Captain Lartigue is assigned to the supervision of the necessary
guards.

"Under the Proclamation of Martial Law it is Ordered:

"1. That all distillation of spirituous liquors is positively prohibited and
the distilleries will be closed.

"2. The sale of spirituous liquors of any kind is positively prohibited and
establishments for the sale thereof closed subject until further orders to the
following regulations and modifications:

"Hotels may obtain from this department licenses to allow the use of
liquors to boarders at meals at the public ordinary upon terms to be specified
in the license.

"Grocers who have obtained licenses from the city authorities may, until
otherwise ordered, sell liquors in quantities of not less than three gallons
to any person other than those in military service or employment: Provided,
That the same be not consumed on the premises.

"3. All barrooms and liquor saloons and places where liquors are retailed
shall be immediately closed.

"4. No liquor shall be sold in any quantity whatever to any soldier or
person in military employment without a special license from this office.

Captain Molony, A. A. G., also on the same day (12th) published
by order of Colonel Hagood in the daily prints for the
information of parties concerned, as well as the public generally,
extracts from the "Instructions to the Out Guards" and patrols
"of the garrison" and of "orders" issued to the troops composing
it. The following were the most important points:

A wharf was designated for the arrival and departure of small
boats. One or more other wharves for the transport steamers of
the department; wood, rice and provision boats were required to
anchor at certain points and report by small boat to the adjacent
officer of the guard where a wharf would be designated by them
to land at. Persons were only permitted to enter or leave the
city by land at designated points. Sentinels were ordered to fire
upon boats or persons attempting to enter or leave despite their
challenge.

Officers from camps without the city were required upon entering
it to exhibit to the lieutenant of the guard their commissions
or written leaves of absence, and immediately thereafter to report
at provost marshal's office and register their names and leave of

absence.[9] Non-commissioned officers and soldiers from the same
camp were prohibited from entering the city on any pretext
whatever, except upon duty, upon furlough, to pass through it,
or upon furlough to visit their families, when these resided there.

As to the troops within the city it was directed that they be
kept strictly within the limits of their respective camp guards.
Non-commissioned officers and soldiers will not be permitted to
leave the lines of their respective camps upon any pretext whatever,
except upon duty or on furlough to leave the city.

Commissioned officers when not upon duty will not be permitted
to leave the lines of their camps except upon special
permission of the superior officer in command of the camp, who
is required to exercise a sound discretion in limiting the numbers
at any one time of such permits. There were other orders and
instructions published, but these already given were sufficient to
show how far at that time it was deemed necessary by those in
command to push the stringency of martial law. To the garrison
the adjutant-general said in general orders: "They were brought
within the city to maintain good order. The colonel commanding
trusts they will set the example. Martial law has been proclaimed.
Offenses against it, however trival, become aggravated
when committed by those whose duty it is to enforce it. It is
earnestly hoped that the necessity for the stern punishments
which must follow such offenses will not arise." The Mercury
greeted the foregoing publications as follows: "At a juncture
like the present, doubtless there are good reasons for placing the
government of our ancient city in military hands. If the officers
who have been invested with the control of affairs in our midst
exercise their functions with wisdom, firmness and impartiality,
this establishment of martial law will prove to be a welcome—as
well as beneficial measure."

The Courier contented itself with the following: "Assistant
Provost Marshals. By reference to an advertisement in our
columns this morning, it will be seen that Colonel Johnson
Hagood, Confederate Provost Marshal, has appointed C. Richardson
Miles, Esq., Alex. H. Brown, Esq., and Captain Lartigue,

assistant provost marshals . . . The appointments are all good
and acceptable as conferred upon able, worthy and patriotic men;
but that of Colonel Brown especially challenges our approval.
Everyone remembers what an energetic and efficient captain of
the city guard or chief of police he made in bygone days, and
he is now again in his proper element."

The writer, at a later day, sometimes thought with amusement
of the editor's (Mr. Gradon's) commendation of Brown. He did
indeed prove an invaluable assistant and Colonel Hagood was
greatly indebted to him in the discharge of his duty. Brown was,
however, naturally an arbitrary and overbearing man, a long
resident of the city, with very decided affinities and repulsions,
and when he succeeded Colonel Hagood some were disposed to
think (Gradon among the number) that his little finger was
heavier than other folk's hands. Mr. Miles was a lawyer of
eminence and an estimable gentleman. Captain Lartigue was
the ex-quartermaster of the First South Carolina Volunteers and
afterwards, until the close of the war, quartermaster of Hagood's
Brigade. He was a graduate of the State Military School and
an old and intimate friend of Colonel Hagood's.

The enforcement of martial law came none too soon. To show
how loosely and negligently matters had been managed, the following
incident, added to the account given of the mayor's passport
office, will suffice. The steamer "Planter" had been chartered
with her officers and crew, and used as a transport and
harbor guard boat. She was armed with a 32 dr. and a 24 dr.
howitzer; her captain, mate and engineer were white; her pilot
and four or five hands, who were negroes, completed the crew.
She had taken aboard the evening previous four valuable, heavy
guns for Morris Island, and laid that night at her usual wharf
in front of General Ripley's headquarters on the bay. Three
sentinels were stationed in sight of her, and the bivouac of Ripley's
headquarter guard was near by. Between half-past three
and four a. m. the "Planter" steamed up and cast loose, the
sentinels supposing she was going about her business. She passed
Fort Sumter blowing her whistle and plainly seen. She was
reported by the corporal of the guard to the officer of the day as
the guard boat. The fort was only required to recognize authorized
boats passing, taking for granted that their officers are on

board. This was done as usual. The run to Morris Island goes
a long way past Sumter and turns. The "Planter" kept on to
the blockading fleet. Her white officers were not on board. They
had slept, as was their custom, on shore, notwithstanding a standing
order that the officers and crews of all light draft steamers in
Government employ remain on board night and day. Upon the
subsequent trial of these officers it was proven that no step had
been taken to enforce this order by inspection or otherwise,
though it was of long standing; and they were acquitted.

The Mercury gave a lively picture of affairs in the town next
day. "Martial law," said the editor, "went into force in Charleston
yesterday. Squads of the provost marshal's guard were to be
seen here and there, and many a luckless wight in military or
semi-military costume, who had no leave of absence to show, was
trotted off to the guard house, where he either did have or at
some future time will have an opportunity of giving an account
of himself. In more than one instance, eminently peaceful individuals,
affecting the jaunty and war-like Beauregard cap, were
hauled up with that true military sternness which is deaf alike
to entreaties and remonstrances. The quiet precincts of the city
hall were suddenly converted into a veritable camp, to the manifest
delight of the urchins who thronged the railings of the
enclosure gazing admiringly upon the taut canvass walls. There
was a great rush to the passport office. Owing to the very limited
time alloted to the issuing of passports, only a small proportion
of those desiring to leave the city were accommodated with the
necessary documents. Some arrangement should be made to
remedy this great inconvenience to the public. . . ."

But The Courier blazed out indignantly at the first pinch in
the working of the system, characterizing the limited time for
granting passports daily "as a grievous and intolerable oppression—an
unreasonable and tyrannical measure." It went on
to suggest that the power to issue passports be extended to the
mayor of the city again, as well as to be exercised by the military
authorities.

There was much justice in the complaint, though intemperately
urged by The Courier. In preparing the regulations, Colonel
Hagood had thought the time too short; but Colonel Brown, his
assistant, declared he could not spare more time from his other

duties in the police department to give to this. The personal
attention and attendance of the assistant provost marshal was
deemed necessary in the office while passports were being issued.
If the matter was to be entrusted to clerks and deputies, unsupervised,
it would be a failure. These considerations had prevailed;
and two hours daily, from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m., had been
fixed. But the exodus of the non-combatant population which
was desired, and which had been slowly going on, was not duly
considered, and the panic with which the people seemed taken
about getting off as soon as an impediment even of form was in
the way, was never imagined. Men who crowded and pressed to
get passports the first day, when they had got them, avowed that
they had no intention of leaving in several days. The next day
the force of men in the passport office was increased by appointing
Messrs. Gourdin, Pressly, Crafts, Dingle, Gantt, and Whiting
to the duty. These were all prominent gentlemen well acquainted
with the inhabitants, and were permitted to grant passports only
to persons personally known to them, or properly vouched for by
such. Captain W. J. Gayer, A. A. G., was put in extensive charge
of soldiers' passports. The civilians were continued on duty until
the pressure on the office by departing citizens was relieved.

The Courier in its next issue made the amende honorable:
"The Passport Matter. It affords us pleasure to state that Colonel
Johnson Hagood, our provost marshal, on learning the inconvenience
and distress which the original regulation in relation to
passports had caused in the community, very promptly so modified
it by increasing the agents and enlarging the time for issue
as to completely satisfy the wants of the community. . . ."

The passport office was now at leisure and finally organized by
establishing two offices in different apartments, one for citizens
with separate desks of application for males and females (whites),
and for negroes bond and free; another for the military with a
separate desk for invalid soldiers from which all other applicants
were excluded. Office hours were made from 8 to 1 and
from 4 to 7 o'clock. W. E. Dingle, Esq., was placed in charge
of the citizens' office, and Captain Gayer, A. A. G., continued in
charge of the military office. From each of these an appeal with
proper restrictions could be had to Colonel Brown, the assistant
provost marshal. This gave him the time which he really needed

as chief of the general police department. In this character he
held also a daily court in which he investigated and summarily
disposed of innumerable minor matters of petty police brought
before him, but investigated and reported to the provost marshal
on matters of any consequence. These the provost either disposed
of or sent for trial to Mr. Miles's court. Colonel Brown had at
his command a corps of detectives and, through the mayor, the
regular civil police force of the city. Mr. Miles had also a daily
court where he tried such cases as the regulations of the 12th May
prescribed, as well as those referred to him specially by the
provost. Captain Lartigue's duties were exclusively military.
At night the three assistants met the provost for consultation.
Colonel Hagood's duties were chiefly supervisory. The system of
guards adopted was a chain of infantry sentinels completely
around the city along the margin of the waters making the peninsular
and across the neck at the lines in rear. These sentinels
connected in their walk when the nature of the ground permitted,
and at other points were within hail and musket shot. Each regiment
furnished a certain number of posts, and the reliefs and
guard tent were at some central point. The First South Carolina
Regiment furnished the interior infantry guard, with guard tent,
in City Hall Park and posts in various parts of the city. Major
Frank Hampton's Battalion of Cavalry (afterwards part of the
Second South Carolina Cavalry Regiment) furnished a mounted
interior patrol on duty day and night. And from sunset until
sunrise a boat guard patrolled the rivers (at a distance of 300
yards from shore) from a point in Ashley above the lines, around
White Point Garden to a point in Cooper, again above the lines.
Each boat had an infantry detachment on board and rowed backward
and forward along its allotted beat. The troops in the city
filled every available camping ground in the parks and malls—
none occupied houses, and men and officers were rigidly kept
within their camp lines under the regulations heretofore given.
A large number of troops were necessary to the discharge of
provost duty, as indicated. But Charleston was a very good
place for the reserve troops of General Pemberton's command.
Large drafts were being made upon him, too, at this time for
Johnston's Army before Richmond; and when drawn from
points of his department further South, they all stopped in
Charleston for a few days, reporting to Colonel Hagood as town
commandant, during their stay and doing provost duty. Sometimes
there were as many as six or seven thousand troops thus
reporting. A brigade organization was adopted with Captain
Moloney, Adjutant First South Carolina, acting as A. A. G.,
and Major Motte Pringle of the general staff as quartermaster.
Commissary supplies were drawn by regimental commissaries
direct from the post commissary. Captain R. G. Hay (afterwards
Major Hay, commissary of Hagood's Brigade,) and some
other unattached officers were assigned to temporary duty with
Colonel Hagood. This officer had the satisfaction of receiving
the approval of General Pemberton (for whom as an earnest
and educated soldier he had a high respect) and believed he gave
as much satisfaction to the people as could be given in the exercise
of such arbitrary power for the first time in a community which
had no small idea of its importance.

During this time General Ripley, in consequence of disagreement
with Pemberton, and at his own request, was relieved from
duty and assigned elsewhere. He was succeeded at Charleston
by Brigadier-General Mercer, late commanding at Savannah.

The enemy landed on James Island 2nd June, and all the troops
which could be spared from the town were hurried thither. The
large drafts for Virginia had already straitened Pemberton for
men; and he called on the Governor of the State for additional
and temporary levies, to relieve the regular troops retained on
provost duty. On the 6th June, General DeSaussure, State Adjutant
General, came down from Columbia with a document from
Governor Pickens, empowering him (DeSaussure) to back the
Confederate commander in the defense of the city to the last
extremity. General DeSaussure published a vigorous proclamation
in accordance with these instructions, ordering a levy en
masse of all citizens up to 50 years of age, who were not already
in service, and directing them to report to the provost marshal.
One man reported! Colonel Hagood called on the General for a
roll of those liable to duty, under the order, that he might arrest
and put them on service. He was told that it could not be furnished
under fifteen days. Such is the value of unorganized
patriotism (for certainly prior and subsequent records of Charleston
in this war show no deficiency in that virtue); and the

danger of putting off organized preparation until the conflict is
at hand. The regiment of Charleston Reserves were now called
out and placed on provost duty, the city being left in their hands,
and the regular troops, with perhaps the exception of an unattached
company or two, taking the field.

This regiment had been organized some time before the proclamation
of martial law and owed its purely voluntary existence[10]

"Colonel:

". . . Before the passage of our resolutions establishing corps of reserves throughout
the State, the regiment you command had been formed upon voluntary principles.

"It was accepted as formed and made subject to orders. . . .

to that emulation of Saragossa alluded to as prevailing at an
earlier period.

The field officers were Colonel A. H. Brown (the assistant
provost marshal), Lieutenant Colonel R. N. Gourdin and Major
W. A. Wardlaw—the two latter prominent merchants of the city;
and in the ranks were such men as ex-Governor Aiken, Hon.
W. D. Porter (president State Senate), Chancellor Lesesne, Mr.
Bryan, afterwards judge of the United States Circuit Court, and
many others of equal position. In fact it embodied all the exempt
respectability of the city and numbered on a review before the
enemy landed 1,250 men. When called on for duty, 150 responded
—the balance had left the city with their families, or if present
succeeded in evading the call. Those who responded did their
duty with zeal and fidelity. It was at once a pitiable sight and
one to elicit admiration to see these old grey-haired gentlemen,
most of them wealthy, and all of them requiring and accustomed
to ease and comfort, exposed to the inclemency of the weather
and standing in their citizen's dress with double-barreled shotguns
as wardens over the half-burned and deserted city, while the

occasional boom of a gun from James Island furnished the
explanation of the spectacle.

Among these devoted men was William H. Heyward, lately
colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, assigned afterwards to
Hagood's Brigade. The writer of these Memoirs had not the
honor of a personal acquaintance with him. Educated at West
Point, and of large wealth, his life had been spent as a bachelor
in the indulgence of manly and refined pleasures. He had made
no effort at other than social achievement, but had certainly succeeded
to an unusual extent in not only attaching to himself a
circle of ardent friends, but in impressing upon them his ability
for high performance had circumstances called upon him for
exertion. Upon the organization of the Eleventh Regiment, he
had been without opposition made its colonel—had discharged
his office with ability—and had, with many other good officers,
perished in the elections consequent upon the recent re-enlistment.
Now, over 60 years of age, and unwell, he served as corporal in
the Reserve Regiment and died a few weeks afterwards from the
exposure.

When the enemy landed on James Island, Colonel Hagood
claimed General Pemberton's promise to relieve him, his regiment,
under Major Duncan, having been dispatched thither; but
obtained leave to be absent only for the engagement then imminent.
He was accompanied by his assistants, at their earnest
request, as volunteers. The engagement was but partial and the
experiences of the provost party were confined to sustaining a
heavy gunboat shelling and a night of picket duty accompanied
by heavy rain, and the dropping of an occasional shell on the
line.

Now, however, the occasion for keeping him on this detached
duty having passed, he on the 9th June obtained an order relieving
him, with directions to resume command of his regiment.

Colonel A. H. Brown, commanding Reserves, was appointed
provost marshal in his stead.