Case of Charles Kopperl.

Charles Kopperl, of Carroll County, Miss., was arrested in New York August 17, 1861, and by direction of the Secretary of State was conveyed to Fort Lafayette. Kopperl was charged with having been in the military service of the so-called Confederate States. The affidavit of J. M. Wardwell, of New York, who was in Mississippi in April, 1861, states that in conversation with Kopperl he learned that he was then engaged in raising a cavalry company, and that lie was captain thereof. The company was for the Confederate service. He made no secret of the business he was engaged upon. November 1, 1861, Kopperl with others was transferred to Fort Warren, Boston, Mass. January 30, 1862, an order was issued from the Department of State directing Colonel Dimick to release Kopperl on his parole of honor to return into custody at Fort Warren within thirty days unless within twenty days Hugh Watson, who was captured at Pamlico Sound, should be released by the insurrectionary government and sent within the lines of the U. S. forces. Kopperl was accordingly released February 4, 1862.-From Record Book, State Department, “Arrests for Disloyalty.”

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 17, 1861.

JOHN A. KENNEDY, Superintendent of Police, New York:

Arrest Charles Kopperl, of Carroll County, Miss., now in your city, and send him to Fort Lafayette.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 17, 1861.

Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, Washington.

GENERAL: I have to request that Charles Kopperl, now in custody in New York charged with having been engaged among the insurgents at the fight near Bull Run, may be kept under guard at Fort Lafayette.

I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

{p.486}

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HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

Washington, August 17, 1861.

Lieut. Col. MARTIN BURKE,

Commanding Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor.

COLONEL: On intimation from a higher authority the General-in-Chief desires that ... you keep under guard at Fort Lafayette Charles Kopperl, charged with having been engaged among the insurgents at the fight near Bull Run. ...

I am, sir, very respectfully,

B. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,

New York, August 18, 1861.

Lieut. Col. M. BURKE, Commanding at Fort Hamilton.

SIR: I am directed by the Secretary of State to deliver into your custody Maj. Charles Kopperl, of Carroll County, Miss., for detention at Fort Lafayette. I have him in charge and am ready to deliver him accordingly.

Very respectfully, yours,

JOHN A. KENNEDY,

Superintendent.

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OFFICE OF THE SUPT. OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE,

New York, October 18, 1861.

Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

SIR: Having been informed that efforts are being renewed to obtain the release of Charles Kopperl, of Carroll County, Miss., who is now detained at Fort Lafayette I take occasion to inclose to you the affidavit of Mr. Jeremiah M. Wardwell, who put up at the house of Major Kopperl in April last and was an eye-witness to what was then going on under his supervision.

Very truly, yours,

JOHN A. KENNEDY,

Superintendent.

[Inclosure.]

METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT, City of New York, ss:

I, Jeremiah M. Wardwell, being duly sworn, do depose and say as follows: I was at Vaiden, Carroll County, Miss., in April last, where 1 saw Charles Kopperl, who is now as I am informed detained in Fort Lafayette. In conversation with him I learned that he was then engaged in raising a cavalry company and that he was captain thereof. The company was for the Confederate service. He made no secret of the business he was engaged upon.

JEREMIAH M. WARDWELL.

Sworn before me this 18th day of October, 1861.

S.C. HAWLEY,

Chief Clerk.

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FORT LAFAYETTE, October 24, 1861.

Hon. W. H. SEWARD.

SIR: I respectfully and earnestly apply to you for my release. I am an Austrian by birth, a naturalized citizen of the United States and {p.487} as such have taken the oath of allegiance and have never taken any other. I have been for many years a resident and merchant of Carroll County, Miss., and have been in the habit of spending my summers at the North with my family. My daughter has been for some time in New York under the medical charge of Doctor Agnew. After direct communication was cut off between the United States and the Confederate States, being very anxious to hear from my daughter I went to Louisville for the purpose of communicating with her. I did so by telegraph and upon the receipt of the telegraph* herewith annexed I proceeded at once to New York where I arrived on the 13th of August and was soon after arrested. I assure you I am a Union man, always opposed to secession. I had no other object in coming North than to see my daughter. I have never carried on any political correspondence detrimental to the Government of the United States. I have never taken up arms against the Government and hold no commission and no position in the Army of the Confederate States. I have a large property at the South which would certainly be confiscated and converted to the use of the Confederate States did I again take the oath of allegiance. Upon this ground and this alone I must decline to take such oath, but will gladly give my parole on the same terms as given by Mr. Chapin, of Mississippi, who has been released. I have been confined nearly ten weeks.

Yours, respectfully,

CHAS. KOPPERL.

* Not found.

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413 BROOME STREET, NEW YORK, November 25, 1861.

F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary of State.

SIR: ... Mr. Charles Kopperl, of Mississippi, no doubt came North to look after his daughter-perhaps with no evil political designs.

But if I am not misinformed you have in your Department evidence that he was connected with a military corps at home, and is, whatever may be the pretenses urged in his behalf, a secessionist only moderated in tone by the latitude of his present location. ...

I am, very respectfully, yours,

S. C. HAWLEY.

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WEEDSPORT, CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y.,

November 25, 1861.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

DEAR SIR: Prompted by those feelings which naturally arise when our friends are in trouble I take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of my brother-in-law, Charles Kopperl, of Carroll County, Miss., who is now confined at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. In the early part of August last he was summoned from his home to the city of New York to visit and attend to the wants of a sick, blind and motherless daughter of fifteen. After having administered to her necessities his arrangements were made for his annual visit to the grave of his wife who was buried in this village some years since. But on the eve of his intended departure he was arrested and sent to Fort Lafayette, and as he assures me knew not the precise charges preferred against him except as he saw the newspaper reports which he declares to be false. The story of his being a major in the Confederate Army and engaged {p.488} in the battle at Bull Run I know to be untrue. Since his arrest I have been in New York and can learn of no act of his that should brand him with treason or treachery. My brother having no friends at court appeals to me for that assistance which he has a right to demand. While I am not in sympathy with treason and traitors I am also confident that his release would work no injury to our cause but only serve the ends of justice and humanity. I therefore earnestly solicit his freedom.

I am, sir, your friend and obedient servant,

JAMES HENDERSON.

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NEWAYGO, MICH., November 30, 1861.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

DEAR SIR: From my long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. James Henderson and Mr. Julius Henderson, of Weedsport, merchants, I take pleasure in saying that implicit confidence can be placed in any statement they or either of them may make of any matter within their personal knowledge, and that their loyalty and desire to see rebellion suppressed is beyond suspicion.

From my limited but agreeable acquaintance with their brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Kopperl, I deeply sympathize with them and him in his unfortunate position as a prisoner of state at Fort Warren, Boston, and earnestly desire that it may be found consistent to release him from confinement upon his taking the oath of fealty to the Government. I am knowing to his having an adopted daughter at or near New York, sadly afflicted, that should cause him to come there. In August last I saw papers sent by him from Richmond giving information to his brothers-in-law of affairs there when he was on his way North from Mississippi. Beyond this and the loss of his wife about a year since while on a visit to her relatives (father and sisters) in Weedsport I have no personal knowledge of anything bearing on his case, unless it be that when excited by drinking as sometimes occurs he is voluble and boastful.

Commending an application for his release to favorable consideration,

I have the honor to remain, faithfully, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM J. CORNWELL.

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FORT WARREN, MASS., January 18, 1862.

Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

SIR: I beg leave to state that I have been a prisoner ever since the 17th of August, 1861 (now over five months), without having violated any law of the United States or of the State of New York, where I was arrested. My brother-in-law, Mr. James Henderson, of Weedsport, N. Y., also Mr. Cornwell, wrote you in my behalf some two months ago without apparent result. So many prisoners residents of Southern a States have been released on their parole that I knowing my innocence daily anticipated my own release. I would therefore respectfully beg to call your attention to my case believing that it would result in my enlargement.

If you cannot grant this unconditionally I would give my parole for forty-five days for the purpose of visiting the Confederate States and endeavor to effect an exchange for some one Federal prisoner held there, and if unsuccessful to return. I have never held either military or {p.489} civil position in the Confederate States nor been in any way or manner engaged or participated in the present unfortunate strife, any report to the contrary notwithstanding. Surely my longer confinement cannot benefit the Government nor serve the ends of justice, although it is greatly detrimental to my private interests. I therefore trust you will do me the justice to grant my case your favorable consideration, and much oblige, with high consideration, Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. KOPPERL,

Of Mississippi.

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OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS,

Washington City, January 30, 1862.

Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

MY DEAR SIR: I think it proper that I should inclose to you a letter addressed to me by Charles Kopperl, esq., of Mississippi, now a prisoner at Fort Warren, in the harbor of Boston. Also a letter from the same gentleman to A. T. C. Pearson, esq., of Minnesota, which Mr. Kopperl asks me to read if Mr. Pearson is not in the city, and us he is not I have read it.

I am greatly at a loss as to my duty. Mr. Kopperl I know to be a secessionist because I had it from his own lips in December last, I think. He is my personal friend, and I would do him any favor that I could consistent with my duty as a loyal citizen, and one ready at any moment to lay down my life for my country. Mr. Kopperl avers that he has committed no act which will justify his arrest and imprisonment. I do not know that he has, but doubtless you had good reasons for his arrest and you have good reasons also for holding him.

By reading his letters inclosed you will know what his wishes are, and if anything can consistently be done for him I shall be happy to have it done. I have but little patience with secessionists and would hold them to a strict account, but if I believed an honest man had been misled by the arch fiends who plotted and are leading this rebellion I would not oppress him further than to tie his hands against open action. If proper I should be glad to know whether anything can be done.

With high respect, your obedient servant,

B. B. FRENCH.

[Inclosure.]

FORT WARREN, MASS., January 28, 1862.

Hon. B. B. FRENCH, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: Not knowing whether Mr. Pearson is now in your city I take the liberty of inclosing the within letter to you which you will oblige me by delivering to him should he be in Washington. If not please open and read it, and if you have the disposition and the power to assist me as therein requested I shall gratefully appreciate it.

Very respectfully, yours, truly,

CHAS. KOPPERL.

[Sub-inclosure.]

FORT WARREN, MASS., January 27, 1862.

A. T. C. PEARSON, Esq., Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR SIR: I last had the pleasure of seeing you at Washington in December, 1860. I little thought then that the next December I would be a prisoner at this place. I write this at a venture that you {p.490} are as above addressed, and therefore concluded to drop you a few lines. I took the liberty of addressing a letter to Mr. Rice some days ago, and should this reach you I hope you will do me the favor to do all you can and with all whom you can for the purpose of obtaining for me an investigation, a trial or a release with a permit to return home. It would be a rather singular trial though without the first particle of a violation of law to base a charge upon.

But to the point. In December, 1860, my daughter who was at a school in Pennsylvania near Norristown lost her eye-sight. Hearing of it I immediately proceeded there and placed her under proper medical treatment. On my return home then I met you in W. Owing to the interruption of the mails last spring or summer I at one time received no intelligence from my daughter for about three months, when becoming uneasy I went to Louisville, telegraphed to two parties in New York and received a reply from one that Emma had left the place I [had] left her owing to some misunderstanding and for me to come on at once. I was also informed by several acquaintances that there was not the least difficulty or danger of arrest for me in visiting the North, &c. So I did at once proceed, leaving Louisville Sunday, 11th of August, arriving in New York on the 13th. I found my daughter much improved and with a kind family. I made my arrangements to place her at a school near New York (where she now is) and should have left Friday but was persuaded to remain over Sunday by friends. On Saturday morning I was arrested by the police and Sunday morning I was by telegraph order of Mr. Seward conveyed to Fort Lafayette-and here I am now.

I know not the charges against me except the nonsensical newspaper reports that I was or had said I was an officer in the Confederate Army, &c., all of which I need not tell you has not the least foundation in truth. I held no office of any hind in the Confederate States nor took any part in the present unfortunate difficulties and strife. My arrest was I feel confident the result of malice of an individual whom you perhaps know, and having no friends at court to exercise the influence which effected the release of others from the South I was overlooked and my case forgotten or at least uncared for. ’Tis true my brother-in-law of Cayuga County, N. Y., and another gentleman there well acquainted with and a political friend of Mr. Seward, addressed him in my behalf some two months ago, and besides the Hon. Mr. Ludlow, of New York, who visited Fort Lafayette several times, promised to obtain my release (upon parole not to return South without a permit, &c.) as soon as he visited Washington as he confessed there was no case against me (all for a consideration). But Mr. Seward soon after disowning Mr. L. I am minus my release as well as consideration.

I need not say what my ideas are that all those who actually bore arms against the United States, &c., are released and civilians from the Confederate States, bearers of dispatches, &c., are also released through the exertions of friends or counsel, yet I who committed no wrong, violated no law, have been imprisoned now nearly six months and still there seems to be no remedy.

I will not dilate or extend my remarks or ideas of such a policy. Presuming upon an introduction by you to Mr. Rice I took the liberty of requesting his services in my behalf. As yet I have received no reply. I requested him to obtain my release, and if it cannot be granted unconditionally to obtain it on my parole for forty-five or fifty days for the purpose of visiting the Confederate States and endeavor to obtain an exchange for some one held there as a prisoner and if unsuccessful to return, &c. I have not heard from home since I left {p.491} there which renders me quite uneasy. The day of my arrest I telegraphed to B. B. French, esq., asking his assistance. I received a reply as follows: “Your dispatch received. I can do nothing for you.”

Still you may if you think best speak to him about this. Please write me on receipt of this, and if you can render me any aid I need not tell you that it will be duly appreciated. I am more than willing to have a trial on any charges that can be brought against me. I hope you will pardon the trouble I thus give you which I claim on the score of my situation, &c.

Hoping soon to hear from you, I am, with best wishes and regard, your friend,

CHAS. KOPPERL.

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WASHINGTON, January 29, 1862.

Hon. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE.

SIR: I wish to procure an exchange for my brother, Hugh Watson. He was captured on the Fanny in Pamlico Sound, N. C., near four months ago. He was acting as sutler to the Twentieth Indiana Regiment Foot Volunteers. I simply want the release of a state (Confederate) prisoner on a parole to exchange himself for my brother, a prisoner of like position, if one can be found, or a non-combatant that you will release.

Very respectfully, yours,

W. S. WATSON.

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 30, 1862.

Col. JUSTIN DIMICK, Fort Warren, Boston.

COLONEL: If you believe that Mr. Charles Kopperl, a prisoner confined at Fort Warren, would observe his obligations you may release him from custody on his giving his parole of honor that he will return and surrender himself to you within twenty days from the date of his release unless within the period of twenty days Mr. Hugh Watson, who was captured on the Fanny in Pamlico Sound about October 1, 1861, shall be unconditionally released from the confinement in which he is now held by the insurgents and sent within the lines of the U. S. forces, and that meanwhile he (Kopperl) will not do any act hostile to the Government of the United States or give any information calculated to aid the insurgents. You will please fill up the inclosed passport giving as accurate a description of Mr. Kopperl as possible and after he shall have signed it deliver it to him and send a copy of the description to this Department.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 30, 1862.

W. S. WATSON, Esq.,

Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers.

SIR: Your letter of the 29th instant has been received. In reply I have to inform you that an order of this date has been issued to Col. Justin Dimick at Fort Warren, Boston, directing him to release Mr. Charles Kopperl upon his parole of honor to return and surrender {p.492} himself within twenty days from the date of his release [unless] your brother, Mr. Hugh Watson, shall be unconditionally released by the insurgents.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. W. SEWARD,

Assistant Secretary.

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SENATE CHAMBER, Washington, February 3, 1862.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

SIR: I respectfully refer the infolded letters. I have no recollection of ever having met the writer.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

HENRY M. RICE.

[Inclosure.]

FORT WARREN, MASS., January 18, 1862.

Hon. H. M. RICE, Washington.

DEAR SIR: Presuming upon an introduction to you in December, 1860, by my friend Mr. Pearson, of Minnesota, and appreciating your character as a gentleman and a statesman I take the liberty of addressing you for the purpose of requesting your kind offices in my behalf, which cannot be I feel sure inconsistent with your duties as a Senator and a citizen but the contrary.

I will briefly state that I visited New York on the 13th of August last to see my daughter who had been under medical treatment there for over eight months and from whom I had not beard in three months. On the 17th of August I was arrested, and on the 18th conveyed to Fort Lafayette by order of Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, since which time (now over five months) I have been a prisoner. I know not the charges against me except the newspaper reports of that day that I was an officer in the rebel army and had been at the battle of Bull Run, &c. I will simply state that I have in no way or shape borne arms or held office civil or military in said Confederate States; never saw a battle, nor have I in any way taken part in this unfortunate civil strife. Had I been as alleged I would probably have been ere now discharged on parole or exchanged as so many other prisoners (officers) have been.

It does seem strange that those who were taken in arms are more favored than one like myself who committed no act in violation of any law of the United States. Other prisoners from the Southern States were released long since on parole. Among those were Mr. Mure, of South Carolina, Mr. Chapin, of Mississippi, and others, none certainly more innocent than myself but probably their friends had more influence than mine or their counsel effected their enlargement. None were ever tried upon any charges but were released by order of Mr. Seward. Will you do me the favor to obtain for me that justice which is due and aid me in obtaining an investigation and my enlargement, and if it cannot be granted unconditionally (as it ought to be) I am willing to give my parole for forty-five or fifty days to visit the Confederate States to endeavor to obtain the release of some one Federal prisoner held there, and if unsuccessful I will return. That I have not the position Mr. Faulkner has or the status the released officers had who have been thus released should not work to my injury and deprive me of the same privileges. It certainly cannot be that I am retained a prisoner for so {p.493} long a period (greatly to the detriment of my private interests and personal comfort) simply because I am a resident of the State of Mississippi. This I take would be inconsistent with the bearing and position assumed by the Government. My continued imprisonment cannot benefit the Government nor serve the ends of justice nor can my release inflict an injury.

I pray you to excuse the liberty I take in thus troubling you and hope you will grant my request on the score of justice and humanity if on no other. I also take the liberty of inclosing a letter* which you will oblige me by delivering to Mr. Secretary Seward as I doubt his seeing all sent him. This is the first I have addressed to any one in authority. My brother-in-law and others, neighbors and old political friends of Mr. Seward, have written him in my behalf, and without as far as I know any result. I hope you will favor me also with a reply.

I am, with high consideration, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. KOPPERL.

* Not found, but see Kopperl to Seward, January 18, 1862, p. 488.

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Released* February 4, 1862, to be exchanged for Hugh Watson.

* This is an entry in Colonel Dimick’s record book at Fort Warren, and is the only record found of Kopperl’s final release.-COMPILER.

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FORT WARREN, Boston Harbor, February 4, 1862.

I, Charles Kopperl, a prisoner at Fort Warren, do pledge my word of honor that I will proceed without any unreasonable delay to Fort Monroe, Va., and thence by flag of truce to Norfolk, and that I will do no act hostile to the United States or convey any correspondence or information beneficial to the insurgents, and that I will return and surrender myself to the commanding officer at Fort Warren at the expiration of thirty days unless within twenty days Mr. Hugh Watson, who was captured in the Fanny in Pamlico Sound, shall be unconditionally released and sent within the lines of the U. S. forces, in which event I may consider myself discharged from my parole.

CHARLES KOPPERL.