and bounty brokers of New York.

Here follows a rather interesting case. One Deegan, an expert penman,
who had formerly been a clerk in one of the regular cavalry regiments,
had been forging discharges and final statements of fictitious soldiers,
employing an accomplice to present them at the various paymasters'
offices and draw the money. Being familiar with the officers'
signatures, he was very successful in forging their names. To make the
final statement cover a large amount of money--many hundreds and
sometimes thousands of dollars--the statements represented the parties
to have been prisoners of war, one or two years, which, with all the
allowances, would carry the amounts up into large figures.

United States Army, Pay District
of Pennsylvania.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 9, 1864

Colonel:

I have had a full explanatory conversation with your Chief of
Detectives in reference to forgeries lately perpetrated upon
the Government and have given him every clue in my possession,
to the perpetrators.

The name and recent address of the party who escaped from your
office has also been obtained by me. I have therefore to
request that you give him every facility he may desire in
visiting both Philadelphia and New York, and that you will
instruct the calling to his assistance experienced detectives.

I have ordered my orderly to report to him as he is acquainted
with this Deegan. The case is one of importance and no delay
should occur in ferreting it out.

Very respy. Colonel, your obdt. servant.,
FRANK M. ETTING,
Chief Paymaster.

To
Lt. Col. Woolley,
Provost Marshal,
8th Army Corps.

Headquarters, Middle Department,
8th Army Corps.
Baltimore, Nov. 9, 1864.

Special Order No. 164.

Lt. H. B. Smith, 5th N. Y. H. Arty. and two men will proceed
without delay to the cities of Philadelphia and New York, for
the purpose of arresting certain persons engaged in
manufacturing forged Discharge papers. Having accomplished
this duty, Lieut. Smith and his guard will return and report
at this office.

The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary
transportation.

By command of Major General Lew Wallace.

WM. H. WIEGEL,
Capt. & Asst. Provost Marshal.

We had in custody one of Deegan's pals, John Battell.