Transcript (excerpt): Page 1, Upper Half
Arrest Of A Suspected Spy
Washington, May 17, 1861
A man by the name of Wood, from Newark, was arrested as a spy yesterday by order of General Scott. Wood commenced his operations by tampering with the members of the Newark regiment, through which means he obtained an introduction to General Runyon, and thence to General Scott, who became fascinated with his plausible story, and employed him as a secret agent of the government to go South. Wood received some money from the secret service fund to pay his expenses. Before leaving the city he expended a portion of his funds in liquor, and while under the gay and festive influence of the same he pitched into several members of one of the Newark companies for taking up arms against the South. This threw suspicion upon him, and he was immediately reported to General Runyon, who was astounded, but immediately ordered him under arrest, and that his person and property in his room be searched. This was done last night, but nothing was found upon him but money. The Colonel of the Newark regiment ordered that a guard be kept over him all night, supposing that the report this morning would release him; but before General Scott read it he ordered Wood to be delivered over to the Marshal of the district and lodged in jail to await further orders. The supposition is that General Scott is in possession of other evidence than that alluded to, upon which the prisoner is held.
Wood is a man about forty years of age, and is said to be a secessionist. He is one of many such not only in this city, but in other places, who are receiving salaries under the government.
Citation: New York Herald. 18 May 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .N56792
Arkansas is admitted to the Confederacy.
Union ships engage a Confederate land battery at Sewell’s Point, Va. and blockade the mouth if of the Rappahannock River. This latter action makes the blockade of Virginia more effective.