James Matthew Carey
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Wednesday, 25 March 1863, page 1
Captain Mat Carey, who has been in the service of the rebels for
a year or more, has been doing quite a brisk business in Campbell County lately,
providing recruits for the Confederate Army. He piloted about forty to Humphrey
Marshall's camp in Eastern Kentucky, three or four weeks ago and returned to
renew his business of enlisting.
After getting a dozen or fifteen recruits, he started off with them though Bracken County. Captain Rice of the Bracken Home Guards, hearing of their movements, started on Monday last, with eight of his men in pursuit. Overtaking the rebels near the town of Washington, he demanded their surrender. Carey was considerably nonplussed by the sudden turn of events and seeing no mode of escape, delivered up his sword to Captain Rice and surrendered his party, among whom were George Richardson, of Newport and James Spillman of Alexandria.
The prisoners were taken across the country to Falmouth, on the Kentucky Central Railroad and thence to Lexington.
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The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 22 April 1865, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
RETURNED CONFEDERATES-General Palmer issued an order a short time
ago, requiring all persons who had served in the Confederate army, and
subsequently returned to their homes in Kentucky, to register their names with
the Deputy Provost Marshal of their respective counties, such registry to be
regarded by the military authorities as a distinct renunciation of all further
connection with the Confederate Government, and as entitling the registered
person, who demeans himself as a peaceable citizen to military protection.
In accordance with this order, quite a number of persons in Campbell County who had been in the Confederate army, reported to Deputy Provost Marshal Bennett, and that officer took their names, ages, height, etc. It seems, however, that the presence of these returned Confederate soldiers is quite distasteful to some of the citizens of Newport, and one of them, Mat Carey, formerly a Captain in the Confederate army, was peremptorily ordered to leave the city day before yesterday, which he did. This intelligence being communicated to Provost Marshal Bennett, that officer issued the following order;
CAMPBELL COUNTY, PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE, April 20, 1865
To whom it may concern. WHEREAS, It has come to my knowledge that certain persons who have returned to their allegiance to the Government of the United States, and having reported to me, and duly registered under the order of General Palmer, commanding the Department of Kentucky and those persons relying upon the protection and good faith of those in authority; I call upon all good citizens to aid me in preserving the public peace, and protesting those from injury and violence who have the pledge of Major General Palmer for their protection and security as long as they are true to their obligations to the Government, and they shall be protected by all means at my disposal.
W H BENNETT