Ellicott's Mills "provost" in 1863

During the Civil War there was competition among the war correspondents to get the story and get it to their publisher. One reporter played a trick on another and got his report sent out first.

Harper’s Magazine  October 1863 -

The sharp competition constantly being waged between the different correspondents in the field is frequently the cause of many amusing scenes, and many occasions of professional sharp practice occur, sometimes legitimate and sometimes otherwise.

Again, when our army occupied Frederick in September a year ago, one or two of the most enterprising [correspondents] were early on hand, and railroad communication with Baltimore being suspended they were obliged to send their dispatches through to Baltimore on horseback. At that time a strong picket was thrown out from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills, and Burnside's corps lay on the pike near Lisbon.

Late one evening a reporter entered what he supposed to be the Provost Marshal's office in Lisbon, and addressing a gentleman in semi-military costume sitting at a table, introduced himself, stated his business, and asked for a pass which would enable him to get through the pickets at Ellicott's Mills after the countersign was out. The reply was that he could not obtain a pass which would take him through the pickets, but he could have a note to the Provost Marshal at Ellicott's Mills which would probably procure for him the pass required. He was "very much obliged," and received the following note:

Head-quarters, Lisbon, Maryland, Sep. 13. Provost Marshal, Ellicott’s Mills:

The bearer represents himself as a reporter and messenger for the New York . From certain suspicious

circumstances I am strongly of the opinion that he is nothing but a Baltimore secessionist and spy. He wants a pass, and I have referred him to you; but I think it would be well enough to detain him until he can satisfactorily identify himself. Yours, etc.,

Timothy Jones,

Captain and Provost Marshal.

The correspondent went on his way rejoicing. Upon being challenged by the pickets at Ellicott's Mills, he presented his letter, whereupon he was taken into custody, and detained some twenty hours before he could satisfy the officers that a cruel "sell" had been practiced upon him. Of course "Timothy Jones" was nobody less than a lazy correspondent who had got behind in his duties; and he at once improved his chance, went up to Frederick, and got in his account as soon as his poor competitor whom he had practiced this serious joke upon.

Harper’s Magazine  October 1863
Image: 'The newspaper correspondent' by Edwin Forbes. c1876

©2019 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD