Army officials levy a tax on rebel sympathizers to raise money to rebuild Black churches burned down by arsonists

Army officials levy a tax on rebel sympathizers to raise money to rebuild Black churches burned down by arsonists

Lt. J.E. Mobray to Brig. Gen. Lockwood recommending taxation of rebel property in order to raise money to rebuild Black churches that were burned in Somerset County. Subsequent order implements recommendation, taxing disloyal and "disaffected" citizens to rebuild burned Black churches.

12/2/1864

Worcester & Somerset Counties, MD

Maryland Soldier to the Headquarters of the Third Separate Brigade; Headquarters of the Third Separate Brigade to the Soldier; Headquarters of the Middle Department and Eighth Army Corps to the Commander of the Third Separate Brigade; and Commander of the Third Separate Brigade to the Headquarters of the Middle Department and Eighth Army Corps


Salisbury Md
Dec 2nd 1864
General, I have the honor to report the investigation of the burning of the Colored people's Church in Quantico district Somerset Co. Md by disloyal persons, The case is a follows:
A few months since the Church was burned, the colored people, however, went to work & by means of contributions from loyal whites & themselves succeeded in raising a sufficient amount to erect a plank tent, and in a few days that too was fired & burned down. Finding this to be the case & being unable to detect the guilty parties, I ascertained the probable value (about one thousand dollars) of the two buildings, for the purpose of taxing a sufficient amount of rebel property to repair the damage. The accompanying list shows the names, probable value of property, & proportionate tax, required of each influential disloyal citizen of the district.
Stringent action in this & similar cases would most likely secure the co-operation of the disloyal with the loyal citizens in opposing rather than encouraging like outrages. The civil
authorities being (like the perpetrators) disloyal[l] would were the case referred to them, in all probability ignore it, in view of which, I would most respectfully recommend that Levin D. Collier Deputy Provost Marshal of Somerset County be authorized to enforce collection & repair damages, This (in my judgment) being the most feasible course I most respectfully refer it to your consideration and have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant
J Emory Mobray
Lieut, 1st E.S. Md. Vol,
Brig, Gen, Lockwood
Comdg 3rd Sept, Brig, 8, A,C,
Baltimore Md,



Head Quarters
3rd Sep. Brig 8th A.C.
Baltimore Dec 2nd 1864
Lieut. J. E. Mobray
Salisbury M[d],
You will remain at Salisbury until further orders. Suspend action in the church burning cases until Genl. Lockwoods arrival.
James C. Mullikin
Lt. & AAA,G,



Head Quarters, Middle Department, 8th Army Corps,
Baltimore, December 2nd 1864.
Brig. Genl. Lockwood is hereby directed to proceed to the Eastern Shore, Md and take measures to ascertain the value of the churches burnt at Newtown, Worcester Co, and Quantico Somerset Co, and assess the same upon the disaffected and disloyal citizens in the vicinity of said churches: the money when collected to be handed over to the Trustees or other authorized persons of the respective churches— The method of the assessment will be the same as in the case of Ishmael Day–
General Lockwood is hereby directed to make such details from the regular Troops as he may require to execute this order— By command of Major General Wallace
Saml B Lawrence
A.A.G.
To Brig. Gen. Lockwood
Com'dg 3rd Separate Brigade



Head Quarters
3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore, Dec. 15th 1864
Lt. Col Lawrence
A. A. G. 8th A.C.
In compliance of orders from Depmt. Hd. Qrs. dated Dec. 2nd 1864 I forthwith sent Co. "C" 11th U.S. Infty. Lt. Smith Comdg. & Co. "C" 8th U.S. Infty. Lt. Aiken Comdg. to Salisbury Md, by rail, and, on the following Monday, joined them in person. I immediately took counsel with the leading union citizens of Somerset Co., as to the proper persons to assess for the church at Quantico and the amount of damages. A list of some thirty-five (35) persons was made out from whom a collection of $1000 should be made. I dispatched Lt. Aiken with Co. "C" 8th Infty. to Quantico, to execute the order of the Maj. Genl. Comdg. with instructions a copy of which is herewith enclosed. Lt. Aiken reported in person to me at Salisbury, & informed me that he had executed the order and had arrested and sent to Baltimore one J. Radish against whom suspicions rested of having received hire for burning said church. [I] directed Lt. A. to forward his Company by steamer "Star" to Cambridge and proceed in person to the same place after winding up his business at Quantico, and to make me a final and complete report in writing accompanied with a receipt from the
Rev. A. Wallace, for the money.
At the same time I ordered Lt. Smith with his company ("C" 11th Infty.) to Newtown, and went there in person. After due consideration and evidence, both as to the value of the burnt church and the rebels upon whom the tax should fall, I furnished Lt. Smith with a full list with the amounts affixed to each name and left him engaged in collecting, with orders to pay the same over to Rev. A. Wallace, Presiding Elder, and to forward his receipts to me with a full report. He is now engaged on that duty.
I directed Lt. Smith after executing his orders at Newtown to proceed to "Liberia Church" in Annamessex Dist. and levy a tax on the disloyalists in that vicinity, for the church there burnt, to collect the same and dispose of the money as in the other cases, & to report to me with receipts enclosed. I remain Very Respectfully Your Obd't. Servt,
Henry H. Lockwood
Brig. Genl.





Lieut J Emory Mobray to Brig, Gen, Lockwood, 2 Dec. 1864, Letters Received, ser. 4921, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-8877]; Lt. James C. Mullikin to Lieut. J. E. Mobray, 2 Dec. 1864, vol 69 8AC, p. 76, Press Copies of Telegrams Sent, ser. 2334, RG 393 Pt. 1 [C-8877]; Saml B Lawrence to Brig. Gen. Lockwood, 2 Dec. 1864, Letters Received, ser. 4921, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-8877]; Brig. Genl. Henry H. Lockwood to Lt. Col Lawrence, 15 Dec. 1864, Letters Received, ser. 2343, Middle Dept. & 8th Army Corps, RG 393 Pt. 1 [C-4199].