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INVASION OF MARYLAND. 495
aloof as if thinking, " I should much like to assist you if I dare, but how
long will they remain ? I am between two fires; I must sacrifice principle
and secure my home."1
The advance of the Confederate forces reached a point but three or four
miles from Frederick on the night of the 5th. Their approach was already
announced, and created great commotion. The military force in Frederick
consisted of but one company under command of Captain Faithful, the provost-marshal, and of course no attempt could be made to defend the city from
attack. Having satisfied himself of the near approach of the Confederates,
Captain Faithful at once made preparations to evacuate the place. At midnight, on the 5th of September, having loaded the wagons at his command
with the most valuable of his stores, and left sufficient for the supply of the
hospitals, in which there were about six hundred patients, he applied the
torch to the remainder, and retreated from the city. The conflagration
increased the excitement, and every vehicle that could be obtained was
brought into requisition to convey many of the inhabitants who fled, carrying with them such property as they were able to take away. Many persons
left during the night on foot, and the roads leading to Baltimore and Pennsylvania were represented as sw7arming with fugitives.
From Frederick the excitement rapidly spread through the surrounding
country, and to other towns and cities in Maryland, and on the boarders of
Pennsylvania. In Baltimore it was intense, on the 3d and 6th, hundreds of
excited men besieging the principal newspaper offices anxious to gather information as to the truth or falsity of the rumors afloat. Several breaches of
the peace occurred, and a number of Southern sympathizers were violently
assaulted.
The Confederate army entered Frederick City on the morning of the 6th,
and were placed under the strictest orders to respect personal rights and
private property. A brigade took possession of the hospital buildings for the
sick and wounded Confederates, while a large portion of the army marched
through the city and camped on the other side of the town at Worman's Mill.
The main body encamped about Monocacy Junction.
In the city martial law was proclaimed, and Colonel Bradley T. Johnson,
a native of the place, was appointed provost-martial, with a strong guard of
soldiers, to patrol the streets and preserve order. Immediately on assuming
command he issued the following proclamation:
" To the people of Maryland :
"After sixteen months of oppression more galling than the Austrian tyranny, the
victorious army of the South brings freedom to your doors. Its standard now waves from
the Potomac to Mason and Dixon's Line. The men of Maryland, who during the last
long months have been crushed under the heel of this terrible despotism, now have the
opportunity for working out their own redemption, for which they have so long waited,
and suffered and hoped.
1 An English combatant, Battle-Fields in the Smith, p. 467.
| 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 | 00000526 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | INVASION OF MARYLAND. 495 aloof as if thinking, " I should much like to assist you if I dare, but how long will they remain ? I am between two fires; I must sacrifice principle and secure my home."1 The advance of the Confederate forces reached a point but three or four miles from Frederick on the night of the 5th. Their approach was already announced, and created great commotion. The military force in Frederick consisted of but one company under command of Captain Faithful, the provost-marshal, and of course no attempt could be made to defend the city from attack. Having satisfied himself of the near approach of the Confederates, Captain Faithful at once made preparations to evacuate the place. At midnight, on the 5th of September, having loaded the wagons at his command with the most valuable of his stores, and left sufficient for the supply of the hospitals, in which there were about six hundred patients, he applied the torch to the remainder, and retreated from the city. The conflagration increased the excitement, and every vehicle that could be obtained was brought into requisition to convey many of the inhabitants who fled, carrying with them such property as they were able to take away. Many persons left during the night on foot, and the roads leading to Baltimore and Pennsylvania were represented as sw7arming with fugitives. From Frederick the excitement rapidly spread through the surrounding country, and to other towns and cities in Maryland, and on the boarders of Pennsylvania. In Baltimore it was intense, on the 3d and 6th, hundreds of excited men besieging the principal newspaper offices anxious to gather information as to the truth or falsity of the rumors afloat. Several breaches of the peace occurred, and a number of Southern sympathizers were violently assaulted. The Confederate army entered Frederick City on the morning of the 6th, and were placed under the strictest orders to respect personal rights and private property. A brigade took possession of the hospital buildings for the sick and wounded Confederates, while a large portion of the army marched through the city and camped on the other side of the town at Worman's Mill. The main body encamped about Monocacy Junction. In the city martial law was proclaimed, and Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, a native of the place, was appointed provost-martial, with a strong guard of soldiers, to patrol the streets and preserve order. Immediately on assuming command he issued the following proclamation: " To the people of Maryland : "After sixteen months of oppression more galling than the Austrian tyranny, the victorious army of the South brings freedom to your doors. Its standard now waves from the Potomac to Mason and Dixon's Line. The men of Maryland, who during the last long months have been crushed under the heel of this terrible despotism, now have the opportunity for working out their own redemption, for which they have so long waited, and suffered and hoped. 1 An English combatant, Battle-Fields in the Smith, p. 467. |
