Grover S. Wormer to William Hoffman, May 15, 1862

Fort Mackinac, May 15, 1862.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, U. S. Army,
Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit.

DEAR SIR: I have been placed in command of this post with my company, Stanton Guards, for the purpose of guarding this post and state prisoners of war. I received per orders of Col. J. E. Smith, U. S. Army, Messrs. Barrow, Guild and Harding as prisoners of war. I would like some instructions in regard to the liberty, &c., that I am to extend to them. Col. C. A. Waite, U. S. Army, informs me that I am to receive my instructions from you.

Your obedient servant,

G. S. WORMER,
Captain, Commanding Stanton Guards.

SOURCE: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies During the War of the Rebellion, Series II, Volume 3, p. 537

Grover S. Wormer to William Hoffman, June 3, 1862

Fort Mackinac, [Mich.,] June 3,1862.

Col. W. HOFFMAN, U. S. Army,
Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich,

COLONEL: Yours of the 24th and 26th came duly to hand and contents noted. Your instructions shall be strictly adhered to and carried out. The prisoners which I have in my charge are Washington Barrow, William G. Harding and Joseph C. Guild, state prisoners of war sent from Tennessee. On my arrival here from Detroit I allowed them to go to the hotel to board and lodge, under guard of one sergeant and three men (and on parole), who guarded the house both day and night, and when they took a walk about the island they always went with them. About ten days ago their quarters were completed and since that time I have had them sleep and remain in the fort except to go to their meals, which I gave them one and a half hours to walk and take, which is equal to four and a half hours per day. They are always guarded by three armed men. I have received a cooking stove for the prisoners' quarters without furniture, not even a spider. I have this day bought what furniture will answer them, also some cheap table furniture, and will have the prisoners live in their quarters this week. They are very anxious to know whether they will be permitted to have their families here, which you will see by the inclosed note* addressed to me. I will write. I will do as you desired.

I remain, your obedient servant,

G. S. WORMER, Captain, Commanding Post.

* Not found.

SOURCE: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies During the War of the Rebellion, Series II, Volume 3, p. 636

Carlos A. Waite to Grover S. Wormer, May 25, 1862

FORT MACKINAC, May 25, 1862.

Capt. G. S. WORMER, Commanding Post of Fort Mackinac.

SIR: In addition to the ordinary duties of commanding officer of Fort Mackinac you are charged with the duty of guarding and safe-keeping Washington Barrow, William G. Harding and Joseph C Guild, citizens of Tennessee, state prisoners of war, now under your control, and it is enjoined upon you to adopt all such measures as may be necessary to retain these persons in your custody. For this purpose the company of volunteers under your command were mustered into the service of the United States. It is presumed that Colonel Hoffman, U.S. Army, commissary-general of prisoners, will give you all necessary instructions in relation to the manner the prisoners are to be treated, the restrictions to be placed on their intercourse with citizens, either personal or through the mail, and the liberty that may be allowed them to take exercise, &c.

I am, captain, with much respect, your obedient servant,

C. A. WAITE,
Colonel of First Infantry, Commanding District.

SOURCE: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies During the War of the Rebellion, Series II, Volume 3, p. 635

Governor Johnson Ships The Taitors North

Captain C. H. Wood, of the Fifty-first Ohio, with a squad of four men, arrived in the city this morning from Nashville, having in charge Gen. Washington Barrow and Gen. Wm. G. Harding, of Nashville, of Nashville, and Col. Joseph C. Guild, of Gallatin, three members of the Tennessee Military board, who were arrested by the command of Gov. Johnson, and ordered to be sent North for safe keeping. Gen. Barrow was Minister to Portugal during Fillmore’s administration, we believe. He is at present a member of the State Legislature of Tennessee, is a very prominent and influential citizen, and was particularly zealous as one of the vigilance committee at Nashville in arresting and sending North at the breaking out of the rebellion, all persons obnoxious to the Confederate Government! Under his auspices, Mr. Pearl, of this city, was summarily ejected from his home. The latter gentleman called upon the party at the Michigan Exchange, on learning of their arrival, expressed his pleasure at meeting them here, and assured them that a residence of six months with us had convinced him that Northerners were a very pleasant, hospitable race, and not nearly so bad as they had been represented to be.

Gen. Harding belongs to one of the most wealthy and aristocratic families of Tennessee. Possessing an ample fortune in his own right, it has received large accessions by marriage, and the General lives in a style that equals the blooded aristocracy of old England. With ample leisure to devote to the interests of the Southern Government, he has made himself one of the foremost of its leaders, and occupies one of the very first positions in point of influence in his State. Col. Guild is scarcely less distinguished and occupies a prominent place among the leaders in his state.

Gen. [sic] Johnson could not have arrested three men in the State of Tennessee, whose absence would cause such a vacancy in the ranks of the secessionists. They will be confined in Fort Wayne until further orders. During the forenoon large numbers of our citizens visited the Michigan Exchange, anxious to get a view of a live secession leader. The gentlemen, however were not on exhibition, and very few were favored with an audience. They will probably be immediately sent by Col. Smith, to whom their guard was ordered to report, to Fort Wayne. – {Detroit Free Press.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 1