President Lincoln's answer was tenderly considerate of the nervous agitation of the Maryland officials, and indicated as well by its complacent concessions how at that early period the Government was embarrassed by the manoeuvres of its enemies. "WASHINGTON, April 20, 1861. "GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BROWN: readiness of concession. On the contrary, each day the disaffected people of Maryland became more threatening and their Governor more alarmed. He now begged that no more troops should be sent not only through Baltimore, but through Maryland, while he proposed, with a strange disregard of the dignity of the Government to which he claimed to be loyal, that the English ambassador at Washington should be invited to mediate between the United States and its rebellious citizens! "GENTLEMEN: Your letter, by Messrs. Bond, Dobbin, and Brune, is received. I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts to keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed. For the future, troops must be brought here, but I make no point of bringing "To HIS EXCELLENCY A. LINCOLN, PRESIDENT them through Baltimore. "Without any military knowledge myself, of course I must leave details to General Scott. He hastily said this morning, in the presence of these gentlemen, 'March them around Baltimore, and not through it.' "I sincerely hope the General, on fuller reflection, will consider this practical and proper, and that you will not object to it. "By this a collision of the people of Baltimore with the troops will be avoided, unless they go out of their way to seek it. I hope you will exert your influence to prevent this. "Now and ever I shall do all in my power for peace, consistently with the maintenance of the Government. "Your obedient servant, "ABRAHAM LINCOLN." The Governor's agitation was not calmed, however, by the good-natured sympathy of President Lincoln and his “EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ANNAPOLIS, April 22, 1861. OF THE UNITED STATES: SIR: I feel it my duty, most respectfully, to advise you that no more troops be ordered or allowed to pass through Maryland, and that the troops now off Annapolis be sent elsewhere, and I most respectfully urge that a truce be offered by you, so that the effusion of blood may be prevented. I respectfully suggest that Lord Lyons be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties of our country. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "THOS. H. HICKS." The President, on receiving this remarkable missive, no longer trusted to his own amiable and informal mode of dealing with his adversaries, but submitted the Governor's dispatch to the secretary of state, to be dealt with according to that distinguished statesman's more official and dignified manner : A DIGNIFIED REBUKE FROM SECRETARY SEWARD. "DEPARTMENT OF STATE, April 22, 1861. "HIS EXCELLENCY THOS. H. HICKS, GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND: "SIR: I have had the honor to receive your communication of this morning, in which you inform me that you have felt it to be your duty to advise the President of the United States to order elsewhere the troops then off Annapolis, and also that no more may be sent through Maryland; and that you have further suggested that Lord Lyons be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties in our country, to prevent the effusion of blood. "The President directs me to acknowledge the receipt of that communication, and to assure you that he has weighed the counsels which it contains with the respect which he habitually cherishes for the Chief Magistrates of the several States, and especially for yourself. He regrets, as deeply as any magistrate or citizen of the country can, that demonstrations against the safety of the United States, with very extensive preparations for the effusion of blood, have made it his dnty to call out the force to which you allude. "The force now sought to be brought through Maryland is intended for nothing but the defence of this capital. The President has necessarily confided the choice of the national highway, which that force shall take in coming to this city, to the Lieutenant-General commanding the army of the United States, who, like his only predecessor, is not less distinguished for his humanity than 193 for his loyalty, patriotism, and distinguished public service. The President instructs me to add, that the national highway thus selected by the Lieutenant-General has been chosen by him, upon consultation with prominent magistrates and citizens of Maryland, as the one which, while a route is absolutely necessary, is furthest removed from the populous cities of the State, and with the expectation that it would, therefore, be the least objectionable one. "The President cannot but remember that there has been a time in the history of our country when a General of the American Union, with forces designed for the defence of its capital, was not unwelcome anywhere in the State of Maryland, and certainly not at Annapolis, then, as now, the capital of that patriotic State, and then, also, one of the capitals of the Union. "If eighty years could have obliterated all the other noble sentiments of that age in Maryland, the President would be hopeful, nevertheless, that there is one that would forever remain there and everywhere. That sentiment is, that no domestic contention whatever that may arise among the parties of this Republic ought in any case to be referred to any foreign arbitrament, least of all to the arbitrament of a European monarchy. "I have the honor to be, with distinguished consideration, your Excellency's most obedient servant, "WILLIAM H. SEWARD." CHAPTER XVII. Indignation against Maryland in the North.-To Washington through Baltimore.-An energetic Citizen of New York addresses the President.-An Editorial Re-echo. -Increased Martial Ardor.-The Seventh Regiment.-Its composition.—Anticipatory Heroes.-Their Departure from New York.-Enthusiasm of the People.-March of the Seventh.-Its Glorification.---An Account by an Historiographer from the Ranks.-The Eighth Massachusetts.— Obstructions to their March to the Capital.-General Butler in command.-His Promptitude and Energy.-Seizure of the Ferry-boat Maryland.-Arrival at Annapolis.--Rescue of "Old Ironsides."-The difficulty of the Achievement. Honor to Butler.-His Biography.-Birth and Descent.--Education.-Professional Career.-Prominence as a Lawyer. His Legal Characteristics.-First Appearance in Public Life. -A Delegate to the Democratic Convention at Charleston.-A Breckenridge Elector.-A Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts.-Suspiciously regarded.— A proof of Loyalty.-Welcomed as a Defender of the Union. --Appointed to Command by his Political Opponent.His Energy and Success.-National Gratitude.- Personal Description and Character of Butler.-His Coolness in Danger illustrated.-Other proofs in the course of this History. 1861. THE attack of the mob of Baltimore upon the Massachusetts troops, and the apparent determination of the secessionists of Maryland, by obstructing the railroads, tearing up the tracks, and burning the bridges, to cut off all communication through their State between Washington and the North, greatly angered the Northern people. The universal cry was now, "To Washington through Baltimore!" and the determination was expressed that the way must be cleared at all hazards. An energetic citizen of New York addressed the President in an emphatic letter, in which he said: "It is demanded of Government that they at once take measures to open and establish those lines of communication, and that they protect and preserve them from any further interruption. Unless this is done, the people will be compelled to take it into their own hands, let the consequences be what it Mr. George Law. * may and let them fall where they will.” The press echoed these resolute sentiments of a private citizen with emphatic sympathy, and declared: "If any man of position as a military leader or as a strong, resolute commander, would offer to lead a force through Baltimore, with or without orders, he could have fifty thousand followers as soon as they could rush to his standard." To this, an editor added, alluding to the energetic private citizen already referred to, that he "could raise in three days volunteers enough to clear the track, even if it should leave Baltimore an ash-heap." The doom of that city was foreshadowed as a second Sodom which must be destroyed, "if it is necessary first to destroy the Government at Washington that now defends it." In the mean time, the martial ardor of the country was daily intensifying. The choice military corps of the large cities hurried forward to the endangered capital. The Seventh Militia Reg THE NEW YORK SEVENTH. iment of the city was the first to move of the large force rapidly mustering everywhere in New York. This corps, composed of young men belonging more or less to the wealthier classes, and long admired for the precision of their drill and the elegance of their tenue, was the pet regiment of the city. When, therefore, it was announced that these youthful soldiers, who had been hitherto the mere ornaments of a gala parade, had determined to come forward to assume the serious work of fighting for their country, the population of the city applauded their spirited resolution, and, confident of their good conduct, anticipated its rewards by bestowing upon them the honors of an accomplished April heroism. On the day of their de 19. parture for Washington the city was unusually excited. "Never before," said a daily paper, "were the people moved to such a pitch of enthusiastic patriotism. There have been gala days, and funeral pageants, and military shows, and complimentary receptions, and triumphal processions that filled the streets with crowds of curious, wondering, sympathetic people, but never has there been developed such a universal, heartfelt, deep-rooted, genuine enthusiasm. The American colors were prominent everywhere-on housetops, on flagstaffs, on horses attached to all kinds of vehicles, on ropes stretched across the streets, on the masts of shipping in the harbor, on breastpins, on the lappets of coats, on the fronts of men's hats; on all sides the glorious old red, white, and blue waved in the joyous 195 breeze and every eye was dazzled with bright colors. The awful solemnity of civil war came pressing home to our people who had sons, and brothers, and fathers just departing, perhaps never to return. The news of the difficulties in Baltimore, the struggle of the troops with the rabble, the reported death of many, the rumors of an attack on the capital, the tearing up of railroad tracks, and all the attendant horrors of internecine warfare, struck terror into many a stout heart, while the tears of kind-hearted women flowed copiously as a rain-storm.” "It was many Fourths-of-July rolled into one," was the comprehensive climax arrived at by a writer who had in vain attempted an adequate description of the scene. The story of the journey of the Seventh to Philadelphia; its prudent dodging of the rioters at Baltimore, by passing down the Delaware and up the Chesapeake; its arrival and encampment at Annapolis, and its famous march to Washington were told again and again in daily newspapers, in pictorial weeklies, and in grave monthlies. The regiment did not want for historiographers, as in its gallant ranks there were those who were not unknown to fame for their skill in the literary art. Onet who recorded the eventful progress of the Seventh to Washington, gave an animating account, from which the following extracts are made: "Swift through New Jersey. New York Times, April 20. * † Captain Fitz-James O'Brien, in the New York Times. All along the track shouting crowds, hoarse and valorous, sent to us, as we passed, their hopes and wishes. When we stopped at the different stations, rough hands came in through the windows, apparently unconnected with any one in particular until you shook them, and then the subtle magnetic thrill told that there were bold hearts beating at the end. This continued until night closed, and, indeed, until after midnight. "Within the cars the sight was strange. A thousand young men, the flower of the North, in whose welfare a million of friends and relatives were interested, were rushing along to conjectured hostilities with the same smiling faces that they would wear going to a 'German' party in Fifth Avenue. It was more like a festivity than a march. Those fine old songs, the chorusses of which were familiar to all, were sung with sweet voice. * * bers of the Seventh as chose to partake of it, and we commanded beefsteak on our fingers, and ordered tea by signmanual. Great numbers of our regiment, being luxurious dogs, went down to the Continental and Girard hotels, where they campaigned on marble floors, and bivouacked on velvet couches; they are such delicate fellows, the Seventh Regiment! 66 * We, of course, were entirely ignorant of our route, or how we were going. The general feeling of the regiment was in favor of pushing our way coute qui coute straight through Baltimore. Rumors came along that the city was in arms. The Massachusetts troops had to fight their way through, killing eighteen, and losing two men. This seemed only to stimulate our boys, and the universal word was Baltimore ! But, as it turned out afterward, we were under a wise direction, and the policy of our Colonel, to whom we perhaps are altogether indebted for bringing us safe here, was, I presume, to avoid all unnecessary collision, and bring his regiment intact into Washington. The rails were reported to have been torn up for forty miles about Baltimore, and as we were summoned for the defence of the capital, it follows, according to reason, that if we could get there without loss. we would better fulfil our duty. As it happened afterward, we had to run through more peril than Baltimore could have offered. "Our arrival at Philadelphia took place at four o'clock. We slept in the cars, awaiting orders from our Colonel, but, at daylight, hunger-and it may be thirst-becoming imperious, we sallied out and roamed about that cheerless neighborhood that surrounds the dépot. * * * Finding that we were likely to remain for some time in the city-although under the impression that we were to go straight through to Baltimore-we wandered away from the desert of the dépot and descended on civilized quarters. The superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum was a man for the emergency. He provided He provided a handsome breakfast for all such mem- that the people were out in large num "There seemed but little enthusiasm in Philadelphia. * I understand |