USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 35
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Your obedient servant, GEORGE W. JEFFERSON, Private Secretary.
ANNAPOLIS, April 20th, 1861.
To the Secretary of War :
I have understood that it is contemplated to send Northern Troops to garrison Fort Madison.
I would earnestly advise that none be sent.
Respectfully,
THOS. H. HICKS.
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH. WASHINGTON, April 20th, 1861.
GOV. HICKS,
I desire to consult with you and the Mayor of Baltimore, relative to preserving the peace of Maryland. Please come immediately by special train, which you can takeat Baltimore, or if necessary one can be sent from hence. Answer forthwith.
LINCOLN.
STATE OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Annapolis, April 22d, 1861.
To HIS EXCELLENCY,
A. LINCOLN, President of the United States.
SIR :- I feel it my duty most especially to advise you that no more troops be ordered or allowed to pass through Maryland, and that the troops now off Annapolis be sent elsewhere, and I most respectfully
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
-urge that a truce be offered by you, so that the effusion of blood may be prevented. I respectfully suggest, that Lord Lyons be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties of our country.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOS. H. HICKS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, April 22d, 1861,
HIS EXCELLENCY,
. THOS. H. HICKS,
Governor of Maryland.
SIR :- I have had the honor to receive your communication of this morning, in which you inform me that you have felt it to be your -duty to advise the President of the United States to order elsewhere the troops then off Annapolis, and also that no more may be sent through Maryland, and that you have farther suggested that Lord Lyons be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties in our country, to prevent the effusion of blood.
The President directs me to acknowledge the receipt of that com- munication, and to assure you that he has weighed the counsels which it contains with the respect which he habitually cherishes for the Chief Magistrates of the several States, and especially for yourself. He regrets, as deeply as any magistrate or citizen of the country can, that demonstration, against the safety of the United States, with very extensive preparations for the effusion of blood, have made it his duty to call out the forces to which you allude. The force now sought to be brought through Maryland is intended for nothing but the defense of this Capital. The President has necessarily confided the choice of the national highway, which that force shall take in coming to this city, to the Lieutenant-General commanding the army of the United States, who, like his only predecessor, is not less distinguished for his humanity than for his loyalty, patriotism, and distinguished public service.
The President instructs me to add, that the national highway thus selected by the Lieutenant-General has been chosen by him upon con- sultation with prominent magistrates and citizens of Maryland as the one which, while a route is absolutely necessary, is farthest removed from the populous cities of the State, and with the expectation that it would therefore be the least objectionable one.
The President cannot but remember that there has been a time in the history of our country, when a General of the American Union, with forces designed for the defense of its Capital, was not unwelcome anywhere in the State of Maryland, and certainly not at Annapolis, then, as now, the Capital of that patriotic State, and then also one of the Capitals of the Union.
If eighty years could have obliterated all the other noble sentiments of that age in Maryland, the President would be hopeful nevertheless that there is one that would forever remain there and everywhere. That sentiment is, that no domestic contention whatever, that may
19
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arise among the parties of this Republic ought, in any case, to be referred to any foreign arbitrament, least of all to the arbitrament of an European monarchy.
I have the honor to be, With distinguished consideration, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
[ Telegram from Mayor Brown.] BALTIMORE, April 20, 1861.
To Governor Hicks :
Letter from President and Gen. Scott. No troops to pass through Baltimore, if, as a military force, they can march around. I will an- swer that every effort will be made to prevent parties leaving the city to molest them ; but cannot guarantee against acts of individuals not organized. Do you approve ?
GEO. WM. BROWN.
[ Telegram in Reply.] ANNAPOLIS, April 20, 1861.
To the Mayor of Baltimore :
Your dispatch received. I hoped they would send no more troops- through Maryland ; but, as we have no right to demand this, I am glad no more are to be sent through Baltimore. I know you will do- all in your power to preserve the peace.
THOS. H. HICKS.
[ Telegram to the Mayor of Baltimore.] ANNAPOLIS, April 20, 1861.
I have received the following dispatch :
"I desire to consult with you and the Mayor of Baltimore relative to preserving the peace of Maryland. Please come immediately by special train, which you can take at Baltimore, or, if necessary one can be sent from here. LINCOLN."
Have you received a similar dispatch ? If so, do you intend going, and at what hour ? My going depends upon you. Answer at once. THOS. H. HICKS.
[ Telegram in reply, without signature. ]
To the Governor of Maryland :
The Mayor is in Washington. We have no knowledge of any such movement.
[ Telegram to Mayor Brown .. ]
ANNAPOLIS, April 21, 1861.
To the Mayor of Baltimore;
It is rumored here that men have been sent for from Baltimore to come here to prevent the landing of troops. Do not let them come. The troops will not land here.
THOS. H. HICKS.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
STATE OF MARYLAND,
Executive Chamber, ANNAPOLIS, April 20, 1861. To the Commander of the Volunteer Troops on Board the Steamer : SIR :- I would most earnestly advise that you do not land your men at Annapolis. The excitement here is very great, and I think that you should take your men elsewhere. I have telegraphed to the Secretary of War, advising against your landing your men here. Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant, THOS. H. HICKS, Governor of Maryland.
SEAL OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
OFF ANNAPOLIS, April 22d, 1861.
His Excellency Thos. H. Hicks, Governor of Maryland :
In reply to the communication from you on the 21st, I had the honor to inform you of the necessities of my command, which drew me into the harbor of Annapolis. My circumstances have not changed. To that communication I have received no reply. I can- not return, if I desire so to do, without being furnished with some necessary supplies, for all which the money will be paid. I desire of your Excellency an immediate reply, whether I have the permission of the State authorities of Maryland to land the men under my com- mand, and of passing quickly through the State, on my way to Washington, respecting private property, and paying for what I re- ceive, and outraging the rights of none-a duty which I am bound to do in obedience to the requisitions of the President of the United States ?
I have received some copies of an informal correspondence between the Mayor of Baltimore and the President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and a copy of a note from your Excellency, enclosing the same to Capt. Blake, Commandant of the Naval School. These purport to show that instructions have been issued by the War De- partment as to the disposition of the United States militia, differing from what I had supposed to be my duty. If these instructions have been in fact issued, it would give me great pleasure to obey them .- Have I your Excellency's permission, in consideration of these exigencies of the case, to land my men-to supply their wants, and to relieve them from the extreme and unhealthy confinement of a transport vessel not fitted to receive them ? To convince your Ex- cellency of the good faith towards the authorities of the State of Maryland, with which I am acting, and I am armed only against the disturbers of her peace and of the United States, I enclose a copy of an order issued to my command before I had the honor of receiving the copy of your communication through Capt. Blake. I trust your Ex- cellency will appreciate the necessities of my position, and give me an immediate reply, which I await with anxiety.
I would do myself the honor to have a personal interview with your Excellency, if you so desire. I beg leave to call your Excellency's attention to what I hope may be pardoned for deeming an ill-advised
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"THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
designation of the men under my command. They are not Northern troops-they are a part of the whole militia of the United States, obeying the call of the President.
I have the honor of being your Excellency's obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Brig. General in the Militia of the United States.
P. S .- It occurs to me that our landing on the grounds at the Naval Academy would be entirely proper, and in accordance with your Excellency's wishes. B. F. B.
SEAL OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Special Brigade, Order No. 37.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION MASS. VOL. MILITIA, On board steamer Maryland, off Annapolis, April 22d, 1861. }
Col. Munroe is charged with the execution of the following order : At five o'clock A. M. the troops will be paraded by company and be drilled in the manual of arms. Especially in loading at will, firing by file, and in the use of the bayonet, and these specialties will be ob- served in all subsequent drills in the manual. Such drill to continue until 7 o'clock, when all the arms will be stacked upon the upper deck-great care being taken to instruct the men as to the mode of stacking their arms, so that a firm stack, not easily overturned, shall be made. Being obliged to drill at times with the weapons loaded, great damage may be done by the overturning of the stack and the discharging the piece. This is important. Indeed, an accident has already occurred in the regiment from this cause, and although slight in its consequence, yet it warns us to increased diligence in this re- gard. The purpose which could only be hinted at in the orders of yesterday has been accomplished. The frigate Constellation has lain for a long time at this port substantially at the mercy of the armed mob, which sometimes paralyzes the otherwise loyal State of Mary- land. Deeds of daring, successful contests, and glorious victories had rendered "Old Ironsides" so conspicuous in the naval history of the country, that she was fitly chosen as the school ship in which to train the future officers of the navy to like heroic acts.
It was given to Masschusetts and Essex county first to man her ; it was reserved for Massachusetts to have the honor to retain her for the service of the Union and the laws.
This is a sufficient triumph of right, and a sufficient triumph for us. By this the blood of our friends shed by the Baltimore mob is in so far avenged. The Eighth Regiment may hereafter cheer lustily on all proper occasions, but never without orders. The old Constitution, by their efforts, aided untiringly by the United States officers having her in charge, is now safely "possessed, occupied, and enjoyed" by the government of the United States, and is safe from all her foes.
We have been joined by the Seventh Regiment of New York, and together we propose peaceably, quickly, and civilly, unless opposed by some mob, or other disorderly persons, to march to Washington, in obedience to the requisitions of the President of United States. If opposed, we shall march steadily forward.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
My next order I hardly know how to express. I cannot assume that any of the citizen soldiery of Massachusetts or New York could, under any circumstances whatever, commit any outrages upon private property in a loyal and friendly State. But fearing that some im- proper person may have by stealth introduced himself among us, I deem it proper to state, that any unauthorized interference with pri- vate property will be most signally punished, and full reparation there- fore made to the injured party, to the full extent of my power and ability. In so doing, I but carry out the orders of the War Depart- ment. I should have done so without those orders.
Col. Munroe will cause these orders to be read at the head of each company before we march.
Col. Leffert's command not having been originally included in this. order, he will be furnished with a copy for his instruction.
By order of
B. F. BUTLER, Brig. General.
{Signed
WILLIAM H. CLEMENS Brig. Major.
STATE OF MARYLAND, Executive Chamber, Annapolis, April 22, 1861. }
To Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler :
Sir-I am in receipt of your two communications of this date, in- forming me of your intention to land the men under your command at Annapolis, for the purpose of marching thence to the city of Wash- ington. I content myself with protesting against this movement, which, in view of the excited condition of the people of this State, I cannot but consider an unwise step on the part of the Government. But I most earnestly urge upon you that there shall be no halt made by the troops in this city.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, TH. H. HICKS.
STATE OF MARYLAND, Executive Chamber, Annapolis, April 23, 1861.
To Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler :
Sir: Having, in pursuance of the powers vested in me by the Con- stitution of Maryland, summoned the Legislature of the State to as- semble on Friday, the 26th instant ; and Annapolis being the place in which, according to law, it must assemble ; and having been credi- bly informed that you have taken military possession of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad, I deem it my duty to protest against this step ; because, without at present assigning any other reason, I am informed that such occupany of said road will prevent the members of the Legislature from reaching this city.
Very respectfully, yours,
THOS. H. HICKS.
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY."
SEAL OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, UNITED STATES MILITIA, Annapolis, Md., April 23, 1861.
To His Excellency Thos. H. Hicks,
Governor of Maryland:
You are credibly informed that I have. taken possession of the Annapolis and Elkridge Railroad. It might have escaped your notice, but at the official meeting between your Excellency and the Mayor of Annapolis, and the authorities of the government and myself, it was expressly stated as the reason why I should not land, that my troops could not pass the railroad, because the company had taken up the rails, and they were private property. It is difficult to see how it could be, that if my troops could not pass over the rail- road one way, the members of the Legislature could pass the other way. I have taken possession for the purpose of preventing the car- rying out of the threats of the mob, as officially represented to me by the Master of Transportation of this city "that if my troops passed over the railroad, the railroad should be destroyed."
If the government of the State had taken possession of the railroad in any emergency, I should have long waited before I entered upon it. But, as I had the honor to inform your Excellency in regard to insurrection against the laws of Maryland, I am here armed to main- tain those laws, if your Excellency desires, and the peace of the United States, against all disorderly persons whatever. I am en- deavoring to save and not to destroy ; to obtain means of transpor- tation, so I can vacate the capital prior to the sitting of the Legisla- ture, and not be under the painful necessity of occupying your beauti- ful city while the Legislature is in session.
I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
BR. GEN. B. F. BUTLER.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE MASS. VOL. MILITIA, Annapolis, Md., April 23, 1861. To His Excellency Thos. H. Hicks,
Governor of the State of Maryland :
I did myself the honor, in my communication of yesterday, wherein I asked permission to land the portion of the militia of the United States under my command, to state that they were armed only against the disturbers of the peace of the State of Maryland and of the United States.
I have understood within the last hour that some apprehensions were entertained of an insurrection of the negro population of this neighborhood. I am anxious to convince all classes of persons that the forces under my command are not here in any way to interfere with or countenance any interference with the laws of the State. I am, therefore, ready to co-operate with your Excellency in suppress-
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
ing most promptly and effectively any insurrection against the laws of Maryland.
I beg, therefore, that you announce publicly that any portion of the forces under my command is at your Excellency's disposal, to act immediately for the preservation and quietness of the peace of this community.
And I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's obedient servant, B. F. BUTLER, General of Third Brigade.
STATE OF MARYLAND,
Executive Chamber, Annapolis, April 23, 1861. To Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler :
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this morning, tendering the force under your command to aid in sup- pressing a rumored insurrection of the slaves of this county.
I thank you most sincerely for the tender of your men ; but I had, before the receipt of your letter, directed the Sheriff of the County to act in the matter ; and am confident that the citizens of the county are fully able to suppress any insurrection of our slave population.
I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, TH. H. HICKS.
COPY OF DISPATCHES FROM BRIG. GEN. BUTLER TO GOVERNOR CURTIN.
To His Excellency, Andrew Curtin, Commander in Chief of the Forces of Pennsylvania :
Sir : Should this dispatch be forwarded to you, countersigned by His Excellency Thomas H. Hicks, Governor of Maryland, you will please to understand that the insurgents have surrendered Pikeville Arsensal, and that it, therefore, will not be necessary to advance your ¡troops, as you were yesterday requested by me.
B. F. BUTLER, Brigadier General.
Annapolis, April 24th, 1861. STATE OF MARYLAND,
Executive Chamber, Annapolis, April 24th, 1861. To Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler :
Sir :- A despatch signed by you, addressed to Gov. A. Curtin, has been received by me, with a verbal request that I countersign it, and have it forwarded to its address.
In reference to the Arsenal at Pikeville, I have no official infor- mation. I do not know who is now in possesion of it. I am cut off from all communication with other parts of the State; and have no smeans to forward your dispatch, if I were willing to countersign it. I am compelled, therefore, to decline to accede to your request. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
TH. H. HICKS.
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''THE ANCIENT CITY."
These rapid and warlike events, Gov. Hicks, in his message to the Legislature, April 27, thus depicted to that body then in session at Frederick :
"On Sunday morning last, I discovered that a detachment of troops, under command of Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler, had reached Annapolis in a steamer, and had taken possession of the practice ship Consti- tution, which, during that day, they succeeded in getting outside the harbor of Annapolis, where she now lies. After getting the ship off, the steamer laid outside our harbor, and was soon joined by another steamer, having on board the Seventh Regiment from New York City.
"Brig. Gen. Butler addressed me, asking for permission to land his forces. It will be seen, from the correspondence herewith submitted, that I refused my consent. The Mayor of Annapolis also protested. But both steamers soon afterwards landed at the Naval Academy and put off the troops. Subsequently, other large bodies of troops reached here in transports and were landed. I was notified that the troops were to be marched to Washington. They desired to go with- out obstruction from our people ; but they had orders to go to Wash- ington, and were determined to obey those orders. In furtherance of their designs, they took military possession of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad ; in regard to which act I forwarded' to Brig. Gen. Butler the protest, and received the reply herewith submitted. On Wednesday morning the two detachments first landed took up the line of march for Washington. The people of Annapolis, though greatly exasperated, acting under counsel of the most prudent citi- zens, refrained from molesting or obstructing the passage of the troops through the city.
"Seriously impressed with the condition of affairs, and anxious to avoid a repetition of events similar to those which had transpired in Baltimore, I deemed it my duty to make another appeal to the authorities at Washington. Accordingly, I sent a special messenger to Washington, with a despatch to the administration advising that no more troops be sent through Maryland ; that the troops at Anna- polis be sent elsewhere ; and urging that a truce be offered with & view of a peaceful settlement of existing difficulties by mediation. I suggested that Lord Lyons, the British Minister, be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties. The result of the mission will be seen from the correspondence herewith submitted.
"These events have satisfied me that the War Department has con- cluded to make Annapolis the point for landing troops, and has re- solved to open and maintain communication between this place and Washington."
Annapolis thus became an important military station, and so re- mained to the close of the war.
[1861.] Although the editor of the Gazette had abandoned the lone star policy for Maryland, Gov. Hicks, up to April 25, 1861, had not given up the hope that Maryland would not be a battle ground. Writing from Annapolis on that date to the Legislature at Frederick, the Governor said : "I can give no other counsel than that we shall array ourselves for Union and peace, and thus preserve our soil from being polluted with the blood of brethren." Gov. Hicks' remedy was- of one kind and the editor of the Gazette's another. Both were-
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
equally inefficacious as the battles of Monocacy, Sharpsburg, and Antietam well attest.
May 9, 1861, the Gazette had to defend its assertions made April 25. Amongst these were that "the people of Annapolis are highly indig- nant at the occupation of our city. But were powerless to oppose them. Yielding to the advice of the more prudent, our people have refrained from any open demonstration against the troops." Also, that "the feeling hereabouts is almost unanimous on the subject"- that is, on secession. He asserted that "at the time we penned them they were undoubtedly true, so far as we were able to ascertain." He added that "no doubt now (May 9,) secession is at a discount in Annapolis, because such a thing makes a disagreeable impression in the minds of the troops," and because it is "the thing" now to be & Union man.
A town meeting was held May 4, of which John R. Magruder was President, Dr. Dennis Claude and Col. John Walton, Vice-Presidents, and Oliver Miller, Secretary, "to take into consideration the proposed action of the Legislature to appoint a committee of Public Safety. The committee on resolutions were : A. Randall, Dr. John Ridout, Frank H. Stockett, and Wm. L. Seabrook. The meeting resolved that "the proposed bill was an act of lawless despotism, and that the passage thereof would be calculated to bring the people of this State in con- flict with General Government."
By May 13, the Government had a track laid from the Naval Academy, via the College Avenue, to the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Depot, and munitions of war were landed at the Naval Academy, and carried to Washington without change of cars.
Col. Smith of the 13th New York was, at this period, given com- mand of the Naval Academy, the cadets having taken their flight to Newport, Rhode Island. Col. Smith, May 14, treated the citizens to a parade of the regiment through the town, a stratagem adroitly laid to allay any latent feeling of secession in the city. The little assumptions of authority of the colonel commanding the post brought out one of the local poets to declare in print :
"That Colonel Smith is a mighty warrior, He commands our Naval School, And he acts both judge and lawyer, Though sometimes he acts the fool."
There were several other verses, and they found their way into the hands of the colonel, who, instead of resenting this rhythmic criticism, enjoyed the effusion, and complimented the unknown author on his wit and verse.
The older heads that held secession views found it wise to be quiet, but a young company of secession youths boldly dressed in red, with wooden guns, paraded the town without fear or molestation, and on the night of July 21, 1861, when the news of the battle of Bull Run reached Annapolis, a crowd of young Southern sympathizers marched down town singing and rejoicing over the defeat of the Federal troops. But that was the last of it, the Federal authorities found they had earnest work on hand and open sympathy was met with the same vigor that was displayed in the field against the Southern Confederacy. The Marylanders even found it was a dangerous combination to put the colors red and white in juxtaposition in their articles of dress.
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