The
Hagerstown (Md.) Mail gives the following account of this affair, which has already been briefly noticed:
‘
Captain Jenifer a few days since arrived at Carlisle Barracks, in command of his company from
Texas.
A few days after he obtained leave of absence from his commanding officer,
Major Thomas, for the purpose of visiting his friends and relatives in this State and
Virginia.
On reaching
Baltimore on the day of the fight, and perceiving that as an officer of the United States Army he would soon be called upon to take part against his native State, like
Col. Magruder,
Col. May and others, he tendered his resignation, to take effect on the 30th of April inst.
The only reason why his resignation was not to have immediate effect was that he might have time to settle his accounts with Government.
Having concluded to make this change in his plans, he started back the same evening to Carlisle Barracks, for the purpose of informing his commanding officer of what he had done, forwarding his baggage and taking his horse to Baltimore.
On reaching
Carlisle, he learned that the bridge on the Northern Central Railroad had been destroyed, and was consequently compelled to take his horse by turnpike.
On Sunday night last he bid the officers of his regiment good bye — they having to start for
Washington at 11 o'clock that night — telling them that within four or five days he would meet them in
Washington, and remain with them until his resignation was accepted, or he had ceased to be an officer of the Army.
At seven o'clock the next (Monday) morning,
Captain Jenifer mounted his horse and left the
Barracks, by the turnpike leading to
Baltimore.
He was between nine and ten hours reaching
Hanover, a distance of thirty miles, having ridden the whole way in a walk.
On arriving at
Hanover about five o'clock, he found about two hundred armed men assembled in front of the hotel.
As soon as he dismounted, they crowded.
around him for the purpose, as he supposed, of ascertaining if he had any news.
He gave what news he had, when the
Mayor of
Hanover asked him to step into the parlor, where he was arrested by the
Mayor by order of the
Governor.
The
Mayor then informed him that the arrest was made in consequence of information received by telegraph that he was the bearer of dispatches or important information designed for the
South.
At this time the crowd be came very much excited, when
Capt. Jenifer proposed to address the populace, which, with the approval of the
Mayor, he did from the window of the hotel, telling them the true object of his presence.
This seemed to satisfy the crowd; but soon after a report was received that a mob from
Baltimore was approaching
Hanover, and was but a short distance off, intent upon the destruction of the town.
The report was, of course, wholly groundless, but served to infuriate the populace again; the latter believing that
Captain Jenifer's appearance there at the time was part of the scheme against the place.
To satisfy the
Mayor,
Capt. Jenifer proposed that he should be searched, which was done.
No dispatches or papers, or any other information, were found, than a private letter from a friend in
Virginia, urging him to resign his commission in the army.
The letter was retained, and a copy forwarded to the
Governor.
The
Mayor then proposed that as it might be impossible to restrain the mob from personal violence,
Capt. Jenifer had better proceed to
York.
While the conveyance was being prepared, his legs were bound with chains, and handcuffs were sent for; but before they could be procured, a gentleman of
Hanover--
Capt. A. W. Eichelberger--on hearing his name, said it was an indignity to an officer of the Army, and a gentleman, which could not be permitted; where upon the
Mayor, after a short conversation with
Capt. E., and a pledge from
Jenifer that he would not attempt to escape, had the chains removed.
This was done, however, against the remonstrances of many of the crowd.
After the chains were taken off the crowd became still more excited, and one who had a musket in his hands remarked that he would like to put three hundred balls through the prisoner.
Capt. Jenifer, who had no arms upon his person, was then taken to
York in a close carriage, guarded by the
Mayor and two others armed, arriving there at eleven o'clock the same night.
The prisoner was first taken to a hotel, but, again fearful of a mob, he was placed in the common jail by his custodians, and locked up for the night as a prisoner of war. Between ten and eleven o'clock the next (Tuesday) morning, he was removed to another cell, which was considered more secure, and heavily ironed.
In this condition be remained for several hours, when
Judge Fisher, at the request of several citizens, among whom was
Lieut. Wells, of the Navy, had the irons removed.
At a later hour the irons were again put on by the
Sheriff, by order of the
Judge, as is thought, in consequence of a dispatch received from the
Governor.
About sundown
Judge Fisher entered the cell to state to
Capt. Jenifer that he was released.
During his confinement large numbers of persons, through curiosity, visited the prisoner in his cell.
When informed of his release,
Capt. Jenifer obtained permission to remain in jail during the night; but his brother officers, who had arrived that evening in
York, and who, it is believed, were mainly instrumental in procuring his release, insisted upon his lodging at their quarters.
After remaining an hour or two, he went in company with
Lieut. Wells, to pay a friendly visit to
Judge Fisher, and thanked him for his kindness, when the latter informed him (
Capt. J.) that he had just received another dispatch ordering his re arrest; but before this was carried into effect, the
Judge had an interview with
Col. Andrew Porter and
Major Thomas, and upon
Capt. Jenifer's giving his parole of honor to
Col. Porter that he would not attempt an escape, was allowed to accompany him to
Harrisburg for the purpose of having an interview with the
Governor.
Captain Jenifer reached
Harrisburg at 3 o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, and waited upon the
Governor at 9 o'clock, in company with
Col. Porter and
Lieut. Jones, recently in command at
Harper's Ferry, who acted as
Jenifer's friends upon the occasion.--After hearing the statement of the accused,
Gov. Curtin's only reply was-- ‘"These are exciting times, and we have to be on our guard,"’or something to that effect.
Capt. Jenifer then took leave, the
Governor expressing his regrets at what had occurred.
He then took the cars and arrived here, as already stated, on the evening train.
’
Capt. Jenifer is a native of
Charles county, Maryland, and son of the late
Hon. Daniel Jenifer, who represented our State for many years in Congress, and was Minister to
Austria under
President Harrison.
