Walczyk, Gail M., THE MEMOIRS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MARSH (Coram, NY: Peter's Row, 1992, p.
11)
.......While living at Drum Point I was drafted three times. The last time I was drafted was just before the Fall of Richmond. I was in great trouble about it and I was persuaded to go and volunteer and get the bounty by Dr. Stickey. He was the minister that married
us. He told me that I could volunteer and get the Bounty which was $70.00 because the war was almost over. But I was afraid to go so I was ordered to Easton to be examined. I went from home in a great trouble. I thought I could be exempt when I got there and reported. I was taken in a room with the colonel and the doctor and ordered to undress. I did so and the doctor examined me and told me that I was not exempt. Then I showed them my papers where I had put in two substitutes before. I told the
colonel that I had a large family of children and I cried to them. He told me that he was sorry for me but he had been sworn in and he could do nothing, so the doctor had pronounced me able bodied. They bought me the Blue suit and
told me to put it on. I had come from Baltimore and had bought Mr. Colton with me. He was at the hotel and and he was an agent and recommended, he promised to put in a substitute in Baltimore. I left the money in Baltimore with the men I dealt wit, Vickery and Muir at City Block. When Mr. Colton came with my release they were to pay him the money which was $900.00. Mr. Colton thought that he would wait awhile and see what would turn up. On the 3rd day it came out in the papers that they did not want drafted men and I was free.
When I went to Baltimore the next trip, I went to see Mr. Colton and gave him $50,00 for saving me all of that money. I say he was a Gentleman to me. The War was mostly over. Lee had surrendered and I had I taken Dr. Stickey's advice and Volunteered I would have had all of that money, but I told him I was afraid to trust to that. I might have had to go in the war and he said if I went by Him and was killed how would he meet me at the judgment day, but he was sure that the war would be over in three months. It was so he was a good man and he told me what to do, but I was afraid to trust it. I had heard so much about the war being over I could not believe it. So the war ended and so the roar of canons ceased and the soldiers left and went to their homes. And there was peace but many mothers lost their boys. The hospitails were filled with the sick and wounded. Some with no arms and some with no legs and hundreds a dying. Things were high then. Flour was $15.00 a barrel, wages from $25.00 to $40.00 a month, oysters from .75 to .80 a bushel and plenty of them.....