Letter

Harvey Brown to Lorenzo Thomas, April 20, 1861

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA,

April 20, 1861. Col. L. THomAs, Adjutant-General :

COLONEL: I inclose you a report of Lieutenant Slemmer in relatitn to an attempt of the seceders to bribe and seduce the garrison from their duty. That the attempt was made is fully proved by the fact that the money paid to Private McGarr is now actually in the possession of Lieutenant Slemmer. This noble fidelity should be rewarded, but the kind of reward I am not prepared to yet recommend. The design was to spike the flank casemate howitzer, and then to take the work by escalade. I have no doubt but that other soldiers of Lieutenant Slemmer’s garrison were tampered with, and I fear in one or two cases suecessfully, but have not yet had time to investigate the affair.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HARVEY BROWN,
Brevet Colonel, Commanding.
{Inclosare.]
Fort PicKENS, FLA., April 18, 1861.
To the ASsISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
Headquarters of the Army:
Srmr: Having had my suspicions aroused by letters passing to and
from Fort Pickens and the village of Warrington, I issued orders that
Editor's Notes
From: Operations on the Pacific Coast, Pt. 1. Summary: Harvey Brown reports to L. Thomas an attempted Confederate bribery and sabotage plot against Fort Pickens' garrison, highlighting Lieutenant Slemmer's loyalty and the need for further investigation.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 50, Part 1 View original source ↗