00000559 |
Previous | 559 of 866 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
CHAPTER XLVI.
While the armies were thus honorably contending on fields of battle,
General Schenck and his congenial provost-marshal, William S. Fish, found
a safer sphere of distinction in tyrannizing over the unarmed inhabitants of
Baltimore. Fish, who had been lieutenant-colonel in the 1st Connecticut
cavalry, was a brutal ruffian and debauchee, and from his accession to office
en January 21, 1863, every imaginable insult and outrage were heaped upon
the people, until the time when his career found its proper close in the
Albany penitentiary. His earliest exploits were upon the churches. A congregation of the Methodist Episcopal denomination worshipped at the
Assembly Rooms, corner of Lombard and Hanover streets. On Sunday,
February 8th, on entering the rooms, the members found two large flags
prominently displayed, which give offence to a number of the congregation
and they left the services. The matter having been brought to the notice of
the military authorities, Fish served the following order on the pastor:
" I understand that considerable disgust is excited in view of a class of persons who
•assembled at your rooms in consequence of the American flag, being displayed there.
You will hereafter cause constantly to be displayed there in a conspicuous position at the
end of the hall, a large-sized American flag, until further orders."
This bit of petty tyranny was followed in a few days by another of a similar nature. The Rev. Dr. Dashiell, of Strawbridge Chapel, Biddle street,
on proceeding to his church on a Sunday morning, found that a large flag
had been suspended in front of the building. Upon removing it, he was
arrested and detained by the military authorities. At the Chatsworth Methodist Church, on the corner of Pine and Franklin streets, a crowd of men,
during service, fastened, a flag over the door, so as to compel the congregation on emerging from the church to walk under it. As the flag wTas raised
for the purpose of creating a disturbance, the congregation paid no attention
to it, but Fish sent a note to the trustees, saying:
" I understand that rather than worship God under the shadow of the American
flag, you have in consequence of the order for you to display in the building where you
hold your service our glorious flag, concluded not to hold such worship at the place you
have been accustomed to have it, and have chosen some other place for no other purpose
than evading this order; therefore you will, under these circumstances, cause to be conspicuously displayed in the public building or buildings where you meet to-morrow
(15th of February), the American flag, as in accordance with the first order to Mr. Gooch.
I understand that the congregation, of which you are the trustees, are to meet -in two
places; the regulations mentioned above will have reference to each place."
| 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 | 00000559 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | CHAPTER XLVI. While the armies were thus honorably contending on fields of battle, General Schenck and his congenial provost-marshal, William S. Fish, found a safer sphere of distinction in tyrannizing over the unarmed inhabitants of Baltimore. Fish, who had been lieutenant-colonel in the 1st Connecticut cavalry, was a brutal ruffian and debauchee, and from his accession to office en January 21, 1863, every imaginable insult and outrage were heaped upon the people, until the time when his career found its proper close in the Albany penitentiary. His earliest exploits were upon the churches. A congregation of the Methodist Episcopal denomination worshipped at the Assembly Rooms, corner of Lombard and Hanover streets. On Sunday, February 8th, on entering the rooms, the members found two large flags prominently displayed, which give offence to a number of the congregation and they left the services. The matter having been brought to the notice of the military authorities, Fish served the following order on the pastor: " I understand that considerable disgust is excited in view of a class of persons who •assembled at your rooms in consequence of the American flag, being displayed there. You will hereafter cause constantly to be displayed there in a conspicuous position at the end of the hall, a large-sized American flag, until further orders." This bit of petty tyranny was followed in a few days by another of a similar nature. The Rev. Dr. Dashiell, of Strawbridge Chapel, Biddle street, on proceeding to his church on a Sunday morning, found that a large flag had been suspended in front of the building. Upon removing it, he was arrested and detained by the military authorities. At the Chatsworth Methodist Church, on the corner of Pine and Franklin streets, a crowd of men, during service, fastened, a flag over the door, so as to compel the congregation on emerging from the church to walk under it. As the flag wTas raised for the purpose of creating a disturbance, the congregation paid no attention to it, but Fish sent a note to the trustees, saying: " I understand that rather than worship God under the shadow of the American flag, you have in consequence of the order for you to display in the building where you hold your service our glorious flag, concluded not to hold such worship at the place you have been accustomed to have it, and have chosen some other place for no other purpose than evading this order; therefore you will, under these circumstances, cause to be conspicuously displayed in the public building or buildings where you meet to-morrow (15th of February), the American flag, as in accordance with the first order to Mr. Gooch. I understand that the congregation, of which you are the trustees, are to meet -in two places; the regulations mentioned above will have reference to each place." |
