Biography
Richard S. Freeman of Macon, Georgia was arrested by New York police on August 29, 1861 and held at Fort Lafayette before transfer to Fort Warren. The federal case summary alleged espionage and aid to Confederate interests through machinery purchases. It describes his commission to obtain a shoe-peg machine needed in Macon and efforts to have it carried south through Union lines. He was still held at Fort Warren on February 15, 1862; a February 21 release order was followed by actual release on February 22. These allegations are attributed to the federal summary; it records no criminal conviction or exact Fort Warren admission date. Source: Official Records, series II, volume II, section 1, printed page 296 (PDF page 312), https://archive.org/details/cu31924079570242/page/n311/mode/2up.
