00000475 |
Previous | 475 of 866 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
444 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
(excepting a few of the clerks, who took the oath of allegiance and were
released), were sent to Fort McHenry, and finally sent to Fort Lafayette, with
those arrested in Baltimore.
Owing to the unsettled condition of affairs in the State, Governor Hicks
did not comply with the first call of troops by President Lincoln, until the
14th of May, when he issued a proclamation calling for four regiments of
volunteers for three months, to serve " within the limits of Maryland, or for
the defence of the capital of the United States, and not to serve beyond the
limits aforesaid." In consequence of the delay, and the short term for which
they were to serve, the government did not accept any of the three months
men offered by the State, but on the 2d of May, the President called for forty-
two thousand and thirty-four volunteers, to serve for three years, and a large
number who had enlisted under the first call, immediately joined companies
that were enlisting for the second.
Under this call, James Cooper, of Frederick City, was appointed by the
war department a brigadier-general, and assigned to the duty of raising and
organizing the volunteers of the State. In a short time, the First Maryland
Regiment was organized, and Colonel John R. Kenly, a gallant soldier of the
Mexican war, was appointed its commander, who took immediate steps fo put
it into condition for active service. On the 7th of July, 1861, it took its departure from Baltimore, and proceeded to the military department of the
Shenandoah, and was stationed for some time along the Potomac from Williamsport to the mouth of the Antietam, guarding the fords of that river,
where it did good service. In the meanwhile, other regiments and "home
guards " were organized in various sections of the State, and were soon sent
into active service. '
While the federal pressure was thus surely surrounding Maryland, the
Southern men in the State were making every effort to commit her fortunes
to an alliance with Virginia. In March, leading Southern men were delegated to go to Richmond and urge upon the convention there in session, such
prompt action as would unite the border States, prevent an undivided front to
the North, and thus arrest the war which every one could now see, could only
be averted by the boldest and promptest action. They returned with an answer
from the Virginia leaders, that she was not ready to move.
When the precipitation of troops on Washington was answered by the act
of secession of Virginia in secret session on April 17th, 1861, the response in
Maryland, among a majority of her citizens, was the wildest enthusiasm and
•excitement.
The City of Baltimore, as we have seen, drove the Union troops through
her streets in an outburst of indignation which the utmost efforts of the
authorities were unable to control.
As soon as the General Assembly met in Frederick, the Hon. James M.
Mason, formerly United States Senator from Virginia, waited on it, as commissioner from that State, authorized to negotiate a treaty of alliance offensive
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000475 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 444 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. (excepting a few of the clerks, who took the oath of allegiance and were released), were sent to Fort McHenry, and finally sent to Fort Lafayette, with those arrested in Baltimore. Owing to the unsettled condition of affairs in the State, Governor Hicks did not comply with the first call of troops by President Lincoln, until the 14th of May, when he issued a proclamation calling for four regiments of volunteers for three months, to serve " within the limits of Maryland, or for the defence of the capital of the United States, and not to serve beyond the limits aforesaid." In consequence of the delay, and the short term for which they were to serve, the government did not accept any of the three months men offered by the State, but on the 2d of May, the President called for forty- two thousand and thirty-four volunteers, to serve for three years, and a large number who had enlisted under the first call, immediately joined companies that were enlisting for the second. Under this call, James Cooper, of Frederick City, was appointed by the war department a brigadier-general, and assigned to the duty of raising and organizing the volunteers of the State. In a short time, the First Maryland Regiment was organized, and Colonel John R. Kenly, a gallant soldier of the Mexican war, was appointed its commander, who took immediate steps fo put it into condition for active service. On the 7th of July, 1861, it took its departure from Baltimore, and proceeded to the military department of the Shenandoah, and was stationed for some time along the Potomac from Williamsport to the mouth of the Antietam, guarding the fords of that river, where it did good service. In the meanwhile, other regiments and "home guards " were organized in various sections of the State, and were soon sent into active service. ' While the federal pressure was thus surely surrounding Maryland, the Southern men in the State were making every effort to commit her fortunes to an alliance with Virginia. In March, leading Southern men were delegated to go to Richmond and urge upon the convention there in session, such prompt action as would unite the border States, prevent an undivided front to the North, and thus arrest the war which every one could now see, could only be averted by the boldest and promptest action. They returned with an answer from the Virginia leaders, that she was not ready to move. When the precipitation of troops on Washington was answered by the act of secession of Virginia in secret session on April 17th, 1861, the response in Maryland, among a majority of her citizens, was the wildest enthusiasm and •excitement. The City of Baltimore, as we have seen, drove the Union troops through her streets in an outburst of indignation which the utmost efforts of the authorities were unable to control. As soon as the General Assembly met in Frederick, the Hon. James M. Mason, formerly United States Senator from Virginia, waited on it, as commissioner from that State, authorized to negotiate a treaty of alliance offensive |
