the cars at the junction. They were followed directly by their noble
comrades of the march, the Massachusetts Eighth, and immediately moved
into quarters.
While the troops under Butler and Lefferts were lying at Annapolis,
great anxiety was felt regarding them at Washington. The lamented Lander
was then at the capital, pleading for the privilege of raising a
regiment for the defence of the government, but, for some inexplicable
cause, General Scott had not yet accepted his services. With Baltimore
in open revolt, and Annapolis doubtful in its loyalty, this anxiety
about the troops become so urgent, that Lander was sent forward to
Annapolis, with general directions to aid the troops with all his
ability, and to direct Colonel Butler not to land his men until the
kindly feeling of the citizens of Annapolis was ascertained.
Lander started on the mission, as he undertook everything, with heart
and soul. He rode from Washington to Annapolis on horseback, without
stopping for darkness, or any other cause save the necessary care of his
horse, and reached Annapolis an hour after the troops had landed.
Bringing his experience, as a frontiersman, who had seen hard service
against hostile Indians on the plains, to bear on the position, Lander
gave Colonel Butler such aid and advice as assisted greatly in bringing
the soldiers forward with less danger and suffering than might otherwise
have arisen during their march to the junction.
MARYLAND.
The attack by an armed mob upon the Massachusetts regiment had called
the attention of the entire country to the State of Maryland, and her
future course was the subject of deep feeling. Indirectly, Washington
was, of course, menaced by her movements, and it became a matter of
vital importance that she should be retained in the Union and restored
to her fidelity. Not here alone were keen eyes watching her future.
England and France, in their eager thirst for dominion and their
jealousy of America and her liberal institutions, scrutinized every
action, with reference to their own future course. Second only to
Washington, therefore, for the time, became the “Monumental City.”
[Illustration: UNION HEROES BURNSIDE. HEINTZELMAN. BUTLER. WOOL.
McCALL.]
From the 19th of April, the day when the banner of the Massachusetts
Sixth was baptized in blood, until the 14th of June, all was suspense,
and those who still retained their fealty were reluctant to express
their loyalty from fear of personal violence. Then an election was held
for members of Congress, and every district, save one, returned decisive
majorities for unconditional Union men. The majority of the Legislature
were unreserved in their expressions of disunion, and were secretly, if
not openly, urging on the State to revolt. As early as December, 1860,
Governor Hicks had been solicited to call a Convention for that purpose,
and emissaries of the rebel government had labored with untiring zeal to
spread secession sentiments among the people. The Governor, knowing the
heart of the masses to be true, refused, and his decision came like a
thunder-clap upon the Southern partizans who hoped to find him a pliant
tool in their hands.
The proclamation of the President, of the 15th April, was tortured into
a means of exciting popular clamor, and every effort was made to fan the
fires of secession, until they should burst forth in fierce flame.
Meetings were held for that purpose, and every possible means resorted
to for its accomplishment. While very many of the wealthy and commercial
classes of Maryland, and particularly of Baltimore, were in favor of
disunion, eminent and influential citizens, some of whom were among the
most distinguished public men of the State, and whose names are
inseparably connected with its civil and political history, were
committed irrevocably to the support of the government. In this cause
the industrial classes—the working-men and the farmers—were true to the
principles they had always professed. Whatever political parties they
had sympathized with, it had been ever on the broad basis of the Union
and the Constitution.
An illustration of this was given on the 18th of April, the day previous
to the attack on the Massachusetts regiment. A party of secessionists
had raised a rebel flag in the suburbs of Baltimore, and had a cannon
with which they saluted it, but a vast crowd of working-men from the
neighboring foundries assembled, tore down the flag, and threw the
cannon into the river. His Excellency, Thomas H. Hicks, Governor; John
P. Kennedy, Secretary of State under President Fillmore; Reverdy
Johnson, John R. Kenley, ex-Governor Francis Thomas, Hon. Henry Winter
Davis, Edwin H. Webster, Alexander Evans, and many others boldly stepped
forward, and planted themselves in the foreground, to resist the tide of
dishonesty, passion, and frenzy, into which the State was plunged by the
conspirators. Five thousand citizens of Baltimore addressed a letter to
Governor Hicks, on January 2d, approving his course in refusing to call
the Legislature together to authorize a Convention, and public meetings
were held throughout the State for the same purpose. Notwithstanding
this great demonstration of popular opinion, the secessionists were
resolved upon making the attempt; and, though foiled in their measures,
seized the opportunity afforded by the passage of Northern troops
through Baltimore, to enkindle the flames of civil war, hoping, in the
confusion, to urge their schemes to a fulfilment.
The pressure upon the Governor after this event became almost
insupportable. All the combined influences of political, social and
commercial classes were brought to bear upon him, and the wild
denunciations and contemptuous and bitter invective and threats hurled
incessantly upon Baltimore and Maryland by a large portion of the
northern press were persistently used to press the Executive to the
commission of the fatal act. Thus urged on all sides, he was compelled,
in deference to the sudden and violent appeals of the people, to request
the government to send no more troops through Maryland. The proclamation
of the President of the 15th of April, and the call for troops, was
represented by the secessionists of Maryland, as in other States, as an
attempt to “coerce,” “invade” and “subjugate” the Southern States. They
used this appeal with great effect on the popular mind, and the passions
of the people were so inflammable, that many whose convictions were
utterly opposed to the disunion measures were determined to resent this
attempt to “subdue” them. On the 17th of April an excited disunion
meeting had been held in Baltimore, and great efforts were made to
commit the citizens to the secession movement. On the following day
Governor Hicks and his Honor George Wm. Brown, Mayor of Baltimore,
issued proclamations calling upon all citizens to keep the peace. The
Governor assured the people that no troops should be sent from Maryland,
except to defend the national capital. The arrival of Massachusetts
troops and the fatal occurrences of the 19th, caused an almost entire
cessation of business, and all commerce was suddenly prostrated.
The secessionists were determined to render it impracticable for any
more troops to reach Washington, and for this purpose destroyed the
bridges and a considerable portion of the tracks of several railroads
both north and south of Baltimore.
The Pennsylvania Northern, Philadelphia, Annapolis Junction, and
Baltimore and Ohio roads suffered extensively; and in consequence of
these lawless proceedings, the greatest difficulty was apprehended in
getting troops to Washington in time to protect the capital from the
threatened attack.
On the 21st the government announced that it took possession of the
Philadelphia and Baltimore railway as a military road. During the
temporary delay and obstruction to the travel, it was almost impossible
for travellers to pass either way. Many were molested in Baltimore; some
were placed in confinement under false charges by the secessionists, and
all were compelled to pay exorbitant prices and resort to the rudest
means of conveyance to pursue their journeys, when permitted so to do.
On the 22d the Mayor and Police Board of Baltimore laid an embargo on
provisions and necessary supplies, as the interruption to transportation
threatened a deficiency of food.
The Governor, under these extraordinary circumstances, called a special
session of the Legislature, which assembled at Frederick, on the 26th of
the month, the capital, Annapolis, being then in possession of General
Butler, who threatened to arrest the whole body if an ordinance of
secession were passed. The secession members of the Legislature then
attempted to procure the organization of a Board of Safety, which should
have discretionary power during the crisis, but public meetings were
immediately called, which were loud in their denunciations of this
covert transfer of the State to its enemies, and it was abandoned.
Resolutions protesting against the war, and recommending the President
to desist, and resort to arbitration, were adopted, and a committee
appointed to visit the President and induce him to promise that no more
troops should be passed through Maryland. The President replied that the
public necessity must govern him, and that he would consult the wishes
of the people to the utmost extent that the national welfare would
permit.
The Legislature, after the report of the Committee had been submitted,
on May 6, discussed the questions at issue, and on the 10th adopted a
preamble and resolution, declaring Maryland sympathized “with the South
in the struggle for their rights, solemnly protests against this action,
and will take no part in it, denouncing the military occupancy of the
State, and transportation of troops, and imploring the President, in the
name of God, to cease this unholy war.”
The reorganization of the military departments for the war was
progressing with all possible dispatch. The Department of Washington was
assigned to Colonel Joseph K. F. Mansfield, the Department of Annapolis
to Major-General Butler, and that of Pennsylvania to Major General
Robert Patterson.
On the 5th of May, General Butler took possession of the junction of the
Baltimore and Washington and Baltimore and Ohio railroads, at the Relay
House, nine miles south of Baltimore. Four days afterwards a body of
United States troops landed at Locust Point in that city, and were
conveyed by the cars through it without interruption. The Marshal of the
city, John K. Kane, was known to be deeply implicated in the work of
rebellion, and he was arrested and search was made at the police
headquarters for concealed arms and supplies.
The people of Maryland held views which her disloyal legislators had
misrepresented. On the 14th of May, a meeting was held at East
Baltimore, at which strong Union resolutions were adopted, pledging
“lives, fortunes, and sacred honor,” to its defence, declaring the right
of the government to convey troops through the State, and their own
right and duty to aid them in the work.
General Butler the same day occupied Federal Hill, at Baltimore, and
issued a proclamation which was scattered in immense numbers among the
people, and contributed in a high degree to the restoration of
confidence and harmony among all classes. An important step was also
taken by Governor Hicks, who, on the same day issued a proclamation
calling for the State quota of four regiments of volunteers for three
months, to sustain the government and to protect the capital. General
Butler had seized various military stores intended for the rebels, and
also took possession of arms and powder belonging to loyal parties, to
prevent their being removed by enemies to the government.
Brigadier-General Butler, having been appointed Major-General, and
placed in command of the military Department of Virginia, North Carolina
and Tennessee, a most important position, was transferred to Fortress
Monroe, and was succeeded by General Cadwallader on the 20th. Fort
McHenry was reinforced, and put into the most effective condition for
immediate service, and the conspirators of Baltimore were restrained
from further disorders by the apprehension that any attempt at
insurrection would be the signal for a bombardment of the city. After
Cadwallader came into command, several arrests of prominent persons had
been made. Among these was Mr. John Merryman, who applied to
Chief-Justice Taney for a writ of _habeas corpus_. This was granted; and
General Cadwallader, in answer, said that the prisoner had been arrested
on charge of various acts of treason—of holding a command in a company
having in possession arms belonging to the United States, and of avowing
his purpose of armed hostility to the Government of the United States.
In such cases General Cadwallader said he was authorized by the
President to suspend the _habeas corpus_ act; he therefore requested
Judge Taney to suspend further action until instructions could be had
from the President.
Judge Taney thereupon issued a writ of attachment against General
Cadwallader for contempt of court. The Marshal proceeded to Fort McHenry
to execute the writ, but was refused admission. Judge Taney urged that
the President had no authority to suspend the act of _habeas corpus_, or
to authorize others to do so. An elaborate opinion to that effect was
prepared by the Judge and has since been published.
A sufficient number of troops were also at this time stationed in
Baltimore, and the loyal citizens were assured that they would be
protected in all their rights and privileges, at every hazard. Thus
fortified, protected and encouraged, the loyalty of the people was fully
displayed, while the disloyal were held in check. Maryland, glorious in
her past history, and her devotion to the Constitution, was saved from
destruction, and her loyal citizens will in generations to come receive
the plaudits of millions whose gratitude will be deep enough to
overwhelm her few days of revolt.
DESTRUCTION OF THE GOSPORT NAVY YARD.
APRIL 21, 1861.
The splendid naval and military establishment at Gosport, Virginia,
belonging to the Federal Government, was, at the time Virginia seceded,
in the possession of the United States. It was supplied with immense
quantities of military and naval stores; and several old vessels which
had been withdrawn from service, and others of great value, were either
waiting orders to sail or undergoing repairs. The entire establishment,
whether on land or water, was indispensable to the conspirators, for the
possession of the Navy Yard would give them immediate control of
ordnance stores and property worth $30,000,000.
The seizure of this vast establishment having been determined upon, five
or six vessels had been sunk by the rebels in the channel of the
Elizabeth river, below the Navy Yard, thus effectually preventing the
passage of larger vessels.
General Taliaferro was placed in command of the insurgent forces then
rapidly concentrating at Norfolk. Commodore McCauley, who commanded at
the Navy Yard, had been reluctant to adopt any measures which would
bring him into hostility with the State troops, and thus inaugurate the
war. The rebels took advantage of this leniency, but for once they were
disappointed in their expectations of success. The Commodore determined
to destroy the _immediate agencies of the war_, leaving the armories,
ship wood, docks and dwellings unharmed, hoping that, although they
might for a time be occupied by the insurgents, the stars and stripes
would eventually float over them in triumph.
At 8½ o’clock on Saturday evening, the 20th April, the Pawnee,
containing 600 Massachusetts troops from Fortress Monroe, arrived at
Gosport harbor, the Commodore’s flag at its mast-head the white sails,
relieved by the dark blue sky, appearing more like the floating wings of
the dove of peace than heralds of destruction. The scene that followed
is thus graphically described by an eye-witness.
Her coming was not unexpected, and as she glided to her place at the
dock, the men on the Pennsylvania and the Cumberland, several hundred in
number, greeted her with a volley of cheers that echoed and re-echoed
till all Norfolk and Portsmouth must have heard the hail. The men of the
Pennsylvania fairly outdid themselves in their enthusiasm on this
occasion. They clambered into the shrouds, and not only answered to the
“three cheers,” but volunteered “three times three,” and gave them with
a hurricane of heartiness. This intense feeling on their part is easily
explained. They had been a long time almost imprisoned on shipboard, on
a ship imbedded in the river, motionless and helpless, and subject to
_promises_ from the secessionists of speedy demolition. In the advent of
the Pawnee they saw deliverance from such durance, and they exulted with
tremendous emphasis.
All Portsmouth and Norfolk were thoroughly aroused by the arrival of the
Pawnee. They did not expect her, and were not prepared for her. They
were seized with trepidation, thinking, perhaps, she had come, and along
with the Cumberland and Pennsylvania, meant to bombard the towns for
having obstructed the channel, and for having, the night before, rifled
the United States magazine, just below Norfolk, of about 4,000 kegs of
powder. Being utterly defenceless and quite terrified, the secessionists
made no protest against the Pawnee’s presence, nor did they venture too
near the Navy Yard.
The Pawnee made fast to the dock, and Colonel Wardrop marched out his
regiment and stationed them at the several gates of the Navy Yard to
oppose the entrance of any forces from without, in case an attempt to
enter should be made. Having adopted this precaution, the Commodore set
the marines on the Pennsylvania, the Cumberland, the Pawnee, and in the
yard, to work. All the books and papers, the archives of the
establishment, were transferred to the Pawnee.
Everything of interest to the Government on the Pennsylvania was
promptly transferred to the Cumberland. On this latter vessel, it was
also said, a large amount of gold from the Custom House at Norfolk had
been in good time placed. Having made safe everything that was to be
brought away, the marines were next set to work to destroy everything on
the Pennsylvania, and the other ships, and in the yard, that might be of
immediate use in waging war upon the government. Many thousand stands of
arms were destroyed. Carbines had their stocks broken from the barrels
by a blow, and were thrown overboard. A large lot of revolvers shared
the like fate. Shot and shell by thousands went with hurried plunge to
the bottom. Most of the cannon had been spiked the day and night before.
There were at least 1,500 pieces in the yard—some elegant Dahlgren guns,
and Columbiads of all sizes.
It is impossible to describe the scene of destruction that was
exhibited. Unweariedly it was continued from 9 o’clock until about 12,
during which time the moon gave light to direct the operations. But when
the moon sank behind the western horizon, the barracks near the centre
of the yard were set on fire, that by its illumination the work might be
continued. The crackling flames and the glare of light inspired with new
energies the destroying marines, and havoc was carried everywhere within
the limits of orders. But time was not left to complete the work. Four
o’clock of Sunday morning came, and the Pawnee was passing down from
Gosport harbor with the Cumberland, the coveted prize of the
secessionists, in tow—every soul from the other ships and the yard being
aboard of them, save two. Just as they left their moorings, a rocket was
sent up from the deck of the Pawnee. It sped high in air, paused a
second, and burst in shivers of many-colored light. As it did so, the
well-set trains at the ship-houses, and on the decks of the fated
vessels left behind, went off as if lit simultaneously by the rocket.
One of the ship-houses contained the old New York, a ship thirty years
on the stocks, and yet unfinished. The other was vacant; but both houses
and the old New York burnt like tinder. The older and unserviceable
vessels, the Pennsylvania, the Raritan, the Columbia, the Dolphin, were
fired without compunction; while the Merrimac, Plymouth and Germantown
were sunk, and the immense lifting shears used for raising vessels was
broken down and rendered useless. The old Delaware and Columbus, worn
out and dismantled seventy-fours, were scuttled and sunk at the upper
docks on Friday.
The grand conflagration now burst in judgment on the startled citizens
of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and all the surrounding country. The flames
leaped from pitchy deck to smoking shrouds, and writhed to their very
tops around the masts that stood like martyrs doomed. It was not thirty
minutes from the time the trains were fired till the conflagration
roared like a hurricane, and the flames from land and water swayed, and
met, and mingled together, and darted high, and fell, and leaped up
again, and by their very motion showed their sympathy with the
crackling, crashing roar of destruction beneath. But in all this
magnificent scene, the old ship Pennsylvania was the centre-piece. She
was a very giant in death, as she had been in life. She was a sea of
flame, and when her bowels were consuming, then did she spout from every
porthole of every deck torrents and cataracts of fire that, to the mind
of Milton, would have represented her a frigate of hell pouring out
unremitting broadsides of infernal fire. Several of her guns were left
loaded, but not shotted, and as the fire reached them, they sent out on
the startled morning air minute guns of fearful peal, that added greatly
to the alarm that the light of the conflagration had spread through the
surrounding country. The Pennsylvania burnt like a volcano for five
hours and a half before her mainmast fell. At precisely 9½ o’clock the
tall tree that stood in her centre tottered and fell, and crushed deep
into her burning sides, whilst a storm of sparks filled the sky.
As soon as the Pawnee and Cumberland had fairly left the waters, and
were known to be gone, the gathering crowds of Portsmouth and Norfolk
burst open the gates of the Navy Yard and rushed in. They could do
nothing, however, but gaze upon the ruin wrought. The Commodore’s,
residence, left locked but unharmed, was burst open, and a pillage
commenced, which was summarily stopped. As early as six o’clock a
volunteer company had taken possession in the name of Virginia, and run
up her flag from the flagstaff. In another hour several companies were
on hand, and men were at work unspiking cannon, and by nine o’clock they
were moving them to the dock, whence they were begun to be transferred,
on keels, to points below, where sand batteries were to be built.
Notwithstanding the splendor of the scene, and the great destruction of
property, the result was incomplete, and a large amount of artillery and
munitions of war fell into the hands of the Virginians.
THE STATE OF THE NATION BEFORE ITS TROOPS ENTERED VIRGINIA.
President Lincoln, on the 15th of April, issued a proclamation stating
that the laws of the United States had been and are opposed in several
States, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings; he therefore called for 75,000 troops
from the several States. The first service assigned to this force would
probably be to repossess the forts and other places and property which
had been seized from the Union. An extra session of Congress was also to
meet on the 4th of July.