UNION
PROVOST MARSHAL FILES
The office of Provost Marshal was created during the Civil War to
enforce laws and maintain order; to suppress civilian property damage;
to make searches and seizures of personal property and citizens
believed to be engaged in secessionist activities; suppression of
gambling houses; and supervision of hotels and saloons. A Provost
Marshal maintained files on civilians that included secessionist
activity, such as rebel and guerilla activity, destroying railroad
lines used by the Union for transportation; stolen and damaged
property, murder, assault and battery, illegal sale of firearms,
harboring fugitives, making disloyal remarks about the Union flag,
selling liquor to soldiers, and public drunkenness. Oath of Allegiance
papers were maintained on citizens, ex-Confederate Soldiers, and
owners of businesses. The Provost Marshal authorized the issuance of
passports to citizens desiring to travel into and out of cities and
states. The Provost Marshal could arrest citizens without warrant,
imprisonment without any charges, and release the citizens after
months and years of incarceration without a trial.
