From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/15/1864, p.1, c. 6

The Way Butler Treats Confederate Deserters. – Some weeks since two men, named William Crump and Harry Beardsley, both well known among the “fancy,” made their way from this city into Butler’s lines, on the south side of James river, where they pretended to have fled from the persecution of the Confederate authorities. They were taken before the “Beast” who inquired of them what occupation they followed when in Richmond, and upon being answered that they were gamblers, he immediately ordered that they be taken to Norfolk and put to work cleaning the streets. Both parties were attached to the Confederate service, and at one time Crump held a commission as lieutenant in a heavy artillery company.

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