took
steamboat to Baltimore, arrived there at 11 at night and slept
at a hotel; next morning I reported to the Provost Marshal's
office. I had no uniform except a jacket that I threw away in
Virginia, near the river. I bought a coat from some young men
I saw there.

D. Hammell came with me all the time. I expected when I
reported to be allowed to take the oath of allegiance and to
be allowed to remain at home. I prefer soldiering to anything
else in the world, and if I was as strong a Southern man as I
was when I first went away, I would stay in the Rebel army, no
matter how much hardship I would have to endure. I think I
could be a truly loyal citizen.

When I landed at Britton's Bay I did not go home because I
wished to come to Baltimore and report. I knew there was a
Provost Marshal to report to in Baltimore. Have seen no new
recruits from Maryland in our regiment lately. We got a few
recruits while in Maryland this last time. I did not know any
of them, or where they were from; there were very few. I don't
think our Company got any of them. Captain Brown was formerly
our Captain; he was killed."

Statement of William J. Bradley (a refugee), a Californian:

(Dec. 31, 1864.) "I left Richmond, Virginia, on Dec. 11th. I
was given the following directions and a pass by order of the
Rebel Secretary of War, to come North; the directions were
given by the Chief Signal Officer, viz: get off the cars at
Milford, see Boles at Bowling Green, Gibbs at Port Royal,
Rollins at Port Conway. I went to Oak Grove one and a half
miles from the Signal Camp. The Signal Camp is on Bridge
Creek, five miles from its mouth. At a point on the creek
where there was an old bridge which was burned, is where you
strike the road that leads to camp, which camp is about three
hundred yards from the creek, and on the site of the birth
place of Washington. They have a boat there in which they
cross the Potomac; it is about twenty-six feet long, and
capable of carrying about sixteen persons; they keep it about
three-quarters of a mile above, on the creek.

At the Signal Camp I saw about twelve men, commanded by
Sergeant Harry Brogden; they were armed with revolvers. They
collect passes that are granted in Richmond, run the mail and
Rebel agents N