USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 36
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"""THE ANCIENT CITY."
May 30, the Gazette says : "By order of Gov. Hicks the National Flag will be displayed every day from the dome of the State House. The cheering sight, will, we hope, add fervor to the Union cause, and will shame away the remnant of treason which is yet skulking in the "Ancient City,' waiting its opportunity to again suppress free speech and free action, and to inaugurate a new 'reign of terror,' in our midst. There need be little fear of this, however, for the traitors are known, every man of them, and, we trust, condign punishment will be meted out, to every one who shall again dare to raise his hand against our liberties.'
The extreme carefulness of the Federal troops to show that they had not come to take away the Southerner's slaves or to give liberty to those in bondage is shown by the following from the Gazette of the same date:
"CAPTURED .- A runaway slave, belonging to Dennis Orme, Esq., .of this county, was captured on Thursday last by a picket guard of National Soldiery on the line of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Rail- road, and promptly taken to our county jail. Such an act is a rebuke to those who denounce the Northern soldiers as our enemies." A little later than this one of the citizens of Annapolis received very different treatment from that accorded to Mr. Orme. Mr. Danl. T. Hyde went into the Naval Academy to secure one of his slaves who had taken refuge there. The commander was willing to render him up, but when the soldiery discovered Mr. Hyde's mission, they closed around him with a ferocity that threatened the mobbing of the slave-owner. He safely escaped the danger, but, without Sam Foulks, who was hidden in a hogshead by the soldiers.
On May 23, the Gazette reproduced an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer, which said it had received it from "an intelligent correspon- dent who is one of the oldest and most estimable citizens of Annapolis, who suggests a plan by which the City of Baltimore can be made to feel the proper retribution for her unwillingness or inability to control the lawless element of her population. It is simply to make Anna- polis the commercial emporium of the State of Maryland, for which purposes it far surpasses Baltimore in natural advantages. It is located in a spacious and sheltered harbor, easily accessable from the sea to ships of the greatest draught ; it is the natural outlet, by .descending grades, for the vast coal fields of Virginia whose develop- ment gives employment to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which has now a branch to Annapolis. It is already the seat of a wealthy and refined population, which only needs an infusion of business men to inaugurate an era of commercial activity and consequent prosperity. We learn that a number of merchants who were driven from Baltimore for their devotion to the Union, will permanently locate themselves at Annapolis, supported by the unswerving loyalty of the people of that city, and that Northern business men who, within the past few weeks, have been compelled to pass through Annapolis, have declared that, before years, it would rival Baltimore in the struggle for com- mercial supremacy."
The faithful historian must relate that neither record nor recol- lection bear witness of the settlement in the 'Ancient City" of any "merchants, who were driven from Baltimore, for their devotion to the Union," and, after twenty-seven years' opportunity to realize -the prophesies of this "intelligent correspondent," Baltimore still re- mains the emporium of Maryland.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
June 10, four companies of the 13th Regt. N. Y. S. M., left Annapolis and proceeded to Easton, Md., where they seized 1700 stand of arms, six pieces of artillery, and a quantity of ammunition. A soldier was accidentally killed on the expedition.
In the Congressional election in June, Chas. B. Calvert, Union man, received at Annapolis 296 votes ; Benj. G. Harris, Democrat, 127. In Anne Arundel, Calvert received 915 votes and Harris 674.
June 15th, the Union men of Annapolis had a pole raising and flung the stars and stripes to the breeze. The 13th New York took part and speeches were made by W. L. W. Seabrook, Major Gen. Morse, of Mass., and Oliver Dayton, of New York. The artillery gave a salute of 34 guns.
Considerable excitement was created in Annapolis by the seizure, June 25, by the Federal government of Philadelphia oyster vessels in the hands of the State authorities for violations of the dredging laws. It seems the owners represented to the authorities at Washington, that their "vessels had been unlawfully captured by the secessionists from Annapolis, who had torn down the national flag from their masts, trampled it under foot, and cheered lustily for the traitor Jeff Davis."
W. H. Russell, the celebrated correspondent of the London Times, reached Annapolis, on Monday, July 14, from Fortress Monroe and remained until Tuesday.
July 25 appears to have been the day on which the vanguard of that great army of sick and wounded that was located in Annapolis during the civil war, arrived. Fifty such soldiers were brought from Georgetown.
The Gazette, of August 1st, complains of encroachments on the rights of the people by the Federal government, saying that "most of these incidents are totally unnecessary, totally uncalled for by any exigency and are perpetrated by fanatical and incompetent officers of the General Government, who take unconscionable advantage of circumstances to carry out some fanatical theory or revengeful feeling."
Col. R. Riddle Roberts, now in command of the Naval Academy, caused three negroes who had come by boat, and landed at the Naval Academy, and had asked shelter, to be delivered "to the Sheriff of Anne Arundel county to be dealt with according to law."
A Union Home Guard was organized in Annapolis. Its officers were Captain Roger Bellis; Lieutenant, William Hubbard, Jr .; Orderly Sergeant, Norman Leslie; 2d Sergeant, Michael Kernin, Cor- porals, Wm. H. Bellis, John Ireland, and Julian Brewer.
The military spirit cropped out strongly in Annapolis. The Union members of the Governor's Guard seceded and formed a new company under Capt. W. G. Tuck, A Zouave corps of 80 was formed under the command of Capt. William Hubbard. That part of the Governor's Guard, alleged to be affected with Southern sentiments, still paraded without arms, and the Gazette suggested it was "a great outrage to permit them to keep up their organization," as they would join the Confederates if opportunity presented itself.
September 1, eleven Confederate prisoners were brought to Anna- polis. The ladies of Southern proclivitles paid them marked attention. Col. Augustus Morse of the 21st Mass., had now com- mand of the troops at the Naval Academy. He afterward settled at Annapolis, and purchased the City Hotel.
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY.""
[1862.] Burnside's expedition to Roanoke Island made its ren -- dezvous at Annapolis, and a camp for paroled prisoners was established on the College Campus in the rear of the buildings. This camp was eventually removed to Camp Parole, two miles from Annapolis, where thousands of paroled prisoners were constantly quartered during the war. From this camp was named the Station of that name on the Annapolis, Washington, and Baltimore railroad.
The Assembly Rooms were made the head quarters of Provost Guard, and during their occupancy, was set on fire. The Federal government paid for the damage and with this money the building was repaired.
The Annapolis Gazette, which had been established in 1852 by Thos. J. Wilson and Richard Sellman, ceased publication, it appears, in August 1861. September 10, 1863, it was recuscitated with Rich. P. Bayly, well-known in the fraternity as "Deacon Baily", as editor and proprietor. The Gazette still maintained its strong union sentiments, the new editor declaring, "with me it is the Union-the whole Union-first, last, and all the time."
[1863.] Sept. 5, the Steam Ferryboat "Ready" arrived for use on Severn River Ferry.
Paroled prisoners from the camps near the city who were found in town "without a pass," subsequent to the 1st inst., were ordered to be arrested by the Provost Guard and returned to the camp to which they belonged. Annapolis was now thoroughly policed by a military guard, the provost marshal being superintendent of police ..
The Gazette expressed its gratification that the enrollment of Anne Arundel, preliminary to a draft, was nearly completed. The work was done under Thomas N. Pindle, Esq. The Gazette added : "It is a source of pleasure to know that the work has been effected without any violence. There were rumors that Secesh would not per- mit the enrollment to be quietly and peaceably made. In fact, so- strong was this opinion, that nearly all the persons first appointed to make the enrollment refused to act."
It revives with breezy freshness the old war time scenes in a border State to con over the Gazette.
From its local column is taken this daguerreotype of the times:
"ARRESTED .- Basil NeNew, residing near this city, wasarrested on Thursday evening, (Sept. 10,) for uttering disloyal sentiments in our streets. He was taken to the Guard House, where he was detained until Saturday morning, when he was taken to Fort McHenry .. Whilst in the Guard House, he vociferously hurrahed for the Southern Confederacy and Jeff Davis, and it was with difficulty the - firm and efficient, yet kind Provost Marshal, Capt. F.J. Keffer, could prevent the paroled prisoners in the same room from doing him per- sonal injury."
Mr. McNew survived his temporary imprisonment in Fort McHenry,. and is now the efficient keeper of the Anne Arundel Court House.
The authorities at the same time sent Samuel Topper, alias Wm. McIntosh to Fort McHenry on the charge of being a spy. He had. been arrested by the Colonel of the 109th N. Y. Volunteers at the Annapolis Junction on the third of July, and had been in the Anna- polis jail since that date. There seemed to be some difficulty in. determining whether, or not, Topper was a spy or a lunatic. The authorities put themselves on the safe side by locking him up in prison.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
The Gazette, at this time, published several communications whose -evident object was to intimidate the democrats from taking any part in the politics of the day. The democrats were spoken of as traitors, and the publications made against them tended to make the Federal Government lay its hands on them. The animosities of that day can be easily conceived when in its issue of Sept. 24, the Gazette says : "THE BALL IN MOTION .- At a meeting of the Secesh Democracy, held in this city on the 15th instant, the gentlemen named below were appointed as delegates to represent this Election District (Anna- polis, ) in a Convention to be held in Bladensburg on this day, (Sept. 24,) to nominate a candidate for this Congressional District-Messrs. Pass- more Mccullough, Wm. Bryan, John Duvall, and Wm. Watts. These gentlemen are all well-known to have been ardent supporters of the measures of the Legislature that met at Frederick in 1861, the majority of which (sic) labored to the utmost of their power to unite Maryland with South Carolina, and the other Cotton States in their rebellion against the Government of the United States. That they still occupy the same position we have every reason to believe, and so far as their action relates to the said Congressional Convention we may expect the nomination of a violent secessionist, an enemy to the prevailing Government, and decidedly opposed to forcing the Rebels to lay down their arms. * 米 # The question then arises, will the Government permit a party to organize in loyal Mary- land, (and that too in the only Congressional District secessionism dare rear its standard,) whose chief object will be to obstruct and embarrass every effort that may be made to put down the accursed re- bellion, and restore the Union and the blessings of peace ? We shall see."
The county delegates to the Congressional Convention, Benj. Tongue, Dr. J. W. Waugh, Sprigg Harwood, and James Sandford, the Gazette, snappishly declared were "in favor of the dissolution of the Union and the recognition of the Southern Confederacy." These embarrassing charges had apparently one object in view-the arrest of democratic leaders and the utter overthrow of the party by the military power of the Federal Government.
The enrollment of Annapolis showed there were in the first class, 545 whites and 147 colored, subject to military duty, and in the second class, 163 whites and 22 colored.
The democratic Congressional Convention of the 5th district, nomi- nated no candidate, but recommended Benj. G. Harris, of St. Mary's county.
The provost guard was no idle form, but prohibited liquor to the soldiers in a manner to do the most advanced temperance advocate's heart a boundless amount of good. October 5, it seized the stock of liquor of the proprietor of the American House and placed a guard there on the ground that liquor had been sold at the hotel to the soldiers. The hotel stood on the vacant lot above Andrews' alley leading from Main street to State House Circle.
The democrats of Anne Arundel made their contest this year under many difficulties and with the fear of military interference constantly before their eyes. In Annapolis the Union vote on State's Attorney was, H. M. Murray, 302 ; James Revell, dem., 147. In the county the
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
vote was, Murray, 635 ; James Revell, 1,119. The closest vote was on Register of Wills-Benj. E. Gantt, independent, 853 ; Richard I. Duvall, dem., 898.
Sick prisoners, out of Confederate hands were now frequently arriv- ing in Annapolis. They were in a suffering and emaciated condition.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, CHURCHES, AND ANCIENT LANDMARKS.
FOUR GUBERNATORIAL RESIDENCES.
Annapolis contains four houses that have served, or were intended to serve, as the residences of the governors of Maryland.
The earliest built is that now owned by Mr. Francis T. Marchand, formerly the residence of Judge A. B. Hagner, No. 83 Prince George street. The house is a well preserved evidence of the taste and solidity of the architecture of that interesting period. To this house a few years since an addition was made on the right wing. The outlines and proportions of the ancient building are easily discerned.
This building belonged to Major Edward Dorsey, and was occupied by Governor Francis Nicholson, who was the Executive of the pro- vince from 1694 to 1709. The exact date of the erection of the build- ing is not known. This house is most probably the one that was oc- cupied for the sitting of the Legislature after the burning of the State House in 1704.
The next in age is McDowell Hall, St. John's College. In 1744, the College Green, containing four acres of land, wasconveyed by Stephen Boardley to Thomas Bladen, governor of Maryland, who projected the main and central building, as a palatial residence for the gover- nors of Maryland. Its site, the commodious grounds, the spacious building conspired to make the mansion a desirable home and a prince- ly public residence. Mr. Duff, the architect, came from Scotland to superintend the construction of the building, materials of every kind were provided in a most liberal spirit, and the edifice was nearly finished in a style of magnificence, suitable to the prosperity and en- terprise of the province, when a disagreement took place between the governor and the legislature, that reached such a fervor, that, at a period, when a nominal sum would have made it a fitting mansion for the executives of Maryland, all work was stopped, and it remained until 1784, "a melancholy and mouldering monument" of the results of political dissensions. It appropriately received the cognomen of "the Governor's folly."
By chap. 37, 1784, this property was voted by the State to St. John's College, provided the college was established at Annapolis.
The third gubernatorial mansion is the one now occupied by the Naval Academy as a library. The main building of this house was
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
erected by Edmund Jennings, from whom it was purchased by Gov- ernor Robert Eden who was executive of Maryland from 1769 to 1776, Governor Eden built the wings and the long-room. There are many living in Annapolis who will readily recognize Mr. David Ridgely's description of it as it appeared in 1840:
"This edifice has a handsome court and garden, extending, with the exception of an intervening lot, to water's edge. From the portico looking to the garden, a fine prospect regales the vision. The building consists of two stories, and presents an extensive front ; there are on the lower floor a large room on each side of the hall as you enter; and several smaller ones; the saloon, on the same floor, is nearly the length of the house. On each side of the edifice are com- modious kitchens, carriage-house, and stables, with spacious lots. Towards the water, the building rises in the middle in a turreted shape. It stands detached from other structures, and is altogether & delightful and suitable mansion for the chief magistrate of our State."
By act 1866, chap. 46, this house and grounds were sold to the United States Government for an addition to the Naval Academy.
This act provided for the purchase of a site for, and the erection of,- another Gubernatorial Mansion. The Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer, Thomas Swann being governor, were authorized to have this work executed. One hundred thousand dollars were appropriated. The site selected was a quintangular lot, fronting on State House Circle, College Avenue, (Tabernacle street, ) Church Circle, Lawyer, and North streets.
To make room for the present Governor's mansion, two fine old,. colonial residences had to be torn down. One was the house of the late George E. Franklin, and the other of Mrs. Green. The last house was formerly the residence of Absalom Ridgely, and of his son Dr. John Ridgely, who was surgeon on the U. S. Ship Philadelphia when it was captured in the harbor of Tripoli in 1804. This house was built by Gen. Geo. H. Stewart's grandfather.
The lot and building of the new executive mansion cost $69,296.28 over the appropriation which the Legislature was called upon to meet. The Legislature investigated the matter and made a detailed report of the expense, but a wise and friendly State printer neglected to bind the report among public documents of the session, and this interesting statement is therefore lost to history and posterity.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first trustees of the Methodist Congregation of Annapolis, of whom there is any record were Absalom Ridgely, Joseph Evans, George Wells, and John Miller. When the church was incorporated in 1833, all of the original trustees were dead save Joseph Evans who then was no longer a member of the church.
The first church of Methodism stood near the site of the present Record office on the State House Hill. The circle did not extend as far then as it does now. The church was a frame building and was known as "the old blue church," so designated from its color. It had a stairway on the outside, up which the colored part of the con- gregation went to the gallery set apart for them. After it ceased to be used as a church, it became a school-house.
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"THE ANCIENT CITY. ''
When the Methodists became a corporate body in 1833, the follow- ing were the trustees : Nicholas J. Watkins, Basil Shephard, Louis Gassaway, Geo. McNeir, Thos. G. Waters, Grafton Munroe, Andrew Slicer, and Philip Clayton.
The Second Church, in which the Methodists worshiped was built about 1820. It was a neat brick building, with pressed brick front, and remained until 1859, when the present church was built on the same site. It was in this second church that Gen. La Fayette at- tended divine service Annapolis in 1824.
The building committee of the present church was J. Wesley White, James Andrews, and James Munroe. The committee on funds : J. Wesley White, Joshua Brown, Philip Clayton, Edward Hopkins, Solomon Philips, Isaac Brewer, James Andrews, R. R. Goodman, and James Munroe.
The congregation as early as 1834 bought a parsonage on Cornhill street, on the north side near the corner. It was burnt down about 1851. The present parsonage was built in 1852.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first Presbyterian Church of Annapolis was organized May 2d, 1846, by the Rev. Dr. Laurie and the Rev. Mr. Dunlop, members of the congregation appointed by the Presbytery of Baltimore for that duty. The elders elected at that time were Prof. A. N. Girault and Dr. John Ridout.
On the 25th of July, 1846, the corner-stone of the church edifice was laid by Rev. Thomas Peck, D. D., at which time an address was delivered by him at the Assembly Rooms.
On the 11th of July, 1847, the Church was dedicated, Geo. W. Musgrave, D. D., preaching the seamon. On the same day, the first pastor, Rev. Chas. H. Ewing, was installed.
The following succeeded Mr. Ewing as pastors : Rev. J. J. Graff, 1849 to 1861. Rev. J. M. Patterson from 1861 to 1866. Rev. J. J. Henderson from 1867 to 1875. Rev. H. O. Gibbons from 1876 to 1881. Rev. Robt. H. Williams, the pastor now in charge, was in- stalled in October, 1882.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The present Catholic Church was erected in 1858, when the Rev. Father Michael Miller was pastor.
The first Catholic Church was erected on the site of St. Mary's Parochial School. It was built mainly through the instrumentality of the venerable Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, during the later period of his life, probably somewhere about 1830. It was torn down a few years since on account of its unsafe condition. Near the parochial school is a house that was formerly used as the residence of the Catholic clergymen. It is one of a row of buildings that previously stood there, then known as "Mac Namara's row," and this house is said to be one of the oldest in the city. MacNamara was one of the earliest to have his lot surveyed when the town was re-surveyed in 1718.
The property, now owned by the Redemptorist Order, formerly be-
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
longed to Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, and was donated to this re- ligious body by the descendants of this illustrious patriot.
WESLEY CHAPEL
Was erected in 1870. The building committee were Joseph S. M. Basil, J. Wesley Robinson, and Josiah Russell. The pastor in charge was J. H. Swope.
ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH.
St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded April 6, 1874. On June 7, 1875, the corner-stone of the church was laid. The building committee of the church was: M. R. Casler, Henry Kaiser, John Dressel, Jerry W. Kalmey, and John Steip. The trus- tees at present are : Christian Boessell, Martin M. Smith, William Haller, Henry Matzen, Frederick Vollmer, and Charles Ziehlke.
ASBURY M. E. CHURCH, (COLORED CONGREGATION.)
This church was built in 103. The trustees were John Wheeler, George Martin, Saml. Hackney, Matthias Robertson, Francis Tray, John Forty. The church was rebuilt in 1838, and at that time was connected with the Baltimore Conference. The trustees at present are Thomas Jones, Louis Lomack, David Johnson, Benj. Little, Wiley Bates, Joseph Pinkney, Arson Tyler, and Henry Hebron. The pastor is Rev. Alexander Dennis.
MOUNT MORIAH CHURCH. (COLORED CONGREGATION.)
Was built in 1876 under the pastorage of Rev. Jonathan Hamilton.
THE BALL ROOM
Is the same building that Eddis described in 1770. One room is now used for the meeting of the City Council, other apartments for balls and social gatherings, and one portion as the department headquarters. The supper room was formerly the revenue office of the province. During the erection of present State House, the Legislat- ture met in the Ball Room.
THE OLD CITY HALL
Is the house now occupied by Worthington & Co. It was used formerly as the place of meeting of the corporation, and as a fire engine house. It was sold about fifteen years since to William T. Iglehart.
THE CITY HOTEL
Was originally the residence of Mr. Lloyd Dulany. That part was two stories high and in it is the room occupied by Gen. Washington, the night before he resigned his military commission. A new build- ing of three stories was added afterward, and, about 1830, the build- ings, from the large one on Conduit street to the corner of Conduit street and Duke of Gloucester, were erected. The first proprietor of
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"THE ANCIENT CITY.
it as a hotel was Col. Mann. This was during the Revolutionary period, and it was known as Mann's Hotel. Then William Caton became pro- prietor, and it was Caton's Hotel and City Tavern. Messrs. Iglehart and Swann were afterward proprietors. Then Col. John Walton. Next Col. Morse. The property lately passed into the hands of William H. Gorman and Luther F. Colton.
SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS.
A corps of the Salvation Army, consisting of Captain Samuel Gully and wife, made its appearance in Annapolis in 1885. They made slow progress at first, but, in the course of the year, the corps, which had received the help of other officers gathered together about fifty recruits. Their unique accompaniments of triangle, tamborine, and . cornet to draw the attention of sinners, excited the amusement and oftentimes the disfavor of the public, but their earnest words and sober lives won the respect and brought success to the Army. They were able in the fall and winter of 1885-6 to erect a plain but comfortable "'Barracks" on King George street, at the foot of East.
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