The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26
Departure Of Massachusetts, Troops
SECESSION OF VIRGINIA!
DESTRUCTION OF HARpER'S FERRY
Attack upon Massachusetts Regiment
and Blood Shed!
BLOCKADE OF SOUTHERN PORTS,

the most stirring character Space we have
not for any detailed mention of them, ant
can only give the most important of them.
The secession of Virginia. was announced
on the 18th inst.
President Davis has issued q proclamation
authorizing the equipment of privateers to
seize Northern vessels on the high seas. We
have no room for the proclamation. 1t is in
the usual Southern style.
On Friday, a portion Of tho Massachusetts,
troops on their way to Washington were at
tackled in Baltimore by the mob. fred upon
and several killed and quite number wound
ed. They returned the fire, killing quite q
number of the mob.
The following is the fullest account Of the
attack which has been received:
At the President street depot OF the Phil.
adelphia Railroad large crowd assembled
in anticipation of the arrival Of large num-
Der of troops from New York and Massachu'
sets. Shortly after ii the train from Phil
adelphia, comprising 90 cars, arrived at the
depot. Without disembarking the soldiers
from the train, the general cans had horses
attached and about nine were drawn along
Pratt street to the Camden station, the first
six without creating any marked objection,
For some reason the horses attached to the
seventh car became FESTIVE and they were Ia
ken from the car at the Pratt street bridge
and the car moved without their aid to with.
in short distance of Gay and Frederick SITS,
A number Of laborers were engaged in re-
pairing the bed Of the street, and just at the
moment the car reached Gay street they were
engaged in removing cobble stones. Some
80 or 40 men assembled at this point, having
followed the car from the depot, and with
cheers for Davis and the Confederacy hurled
bitter taunts at the Northern Black Repub.
leans, as they termed them.
This continued tor several minutes, when
as the horses were again attached, and the
car moved of, 1t was proposed to stone it,
Before the car had gone twenty yards almost
every window therein was broken, and q por-
ton of the crowd followed, hurting paving
stones.
The eighth car was treated IN the same
manner but the ninth car, apparently be-
ing empty, or at least no person being visi.
bic, escaped with only one stone. The crowd
exulted in their work, cxclaiming that Black
Republicans should not pass through Mary
land.
A lapse Of five minutes succeeded, num-
Der of respectable persons meanwhile urging
the ciodw to tear up the track. After the
first train passed, one was observed on the
Pratt street bridge, when anchors were
dragged ON the track ut the corner OF Gay
street, and part of the track was taken up.
Observing this, the cars turned back to Pres.
ident street depot, and the troops disembarkcd
and prepared to march through the streets.
Mayor Brown with number Of police APP
peared ut their head and led the way, They
came away at brisk pace, and when they
reached Center Market space an immense
concourse of people closed in behind them,
and commenced stoning them. When they
reached Gay street, where the track had
been taken up, q large crowd Of men, armed
with paving stones, showered them on their
heads with such force that several of them
were knocked down IN the ranks.
After laying few minutes they crowded
into stores on Pratt street. At the corner
of South and Pratt streets n man fired pis-
toll into the ranks of the militia, when those
in the rear ranks Immediately wheeled and
fired upon their assailants, and several were
wounded. The guns Of the soldiers that had
fallen wounded were seized and fired upon
the ranks with fatal effect. In two or three
instances after they reached Culyert street
the troops succeeded in checking their pur-
suers by rapid fire, which brought down two
or three, and were not much molested until
they reached Howard street, where another
large crowd was assembled. Some stones
were thrown at them, but their guns were
not loaded and they passed on through a
dense crowd down Howard street toware the
depot.
The scene on Pratt street was of q most
startling character, the wounded soldiers,
three in number, were taken up carefully
and carried to places OF safety by citizens.
Along the street at the Camden station,
where trains leave for Washington, there
were assembled large detachment of police
under direction of Marshal Kane.
1t soon appeared that orders were given to
clear the tracks near the main depot build.
ing. This was done, and soon after a large
passenger car of the Philadelphia Railroad
came up at rapid rate filled with soldiers.
This car was soon followed by about l6 more,
all occupied by troops. Upon inquiry It
was ascertaincd they consisted Of the Sixth
Regiment Of Massachusetts, Infantry, in all
IL companies, with an aggregate of $50 men.
As soon as the train arrived, some of the
troops were compelled to change cars, when
thew were hooted at by the crowd, which
made no over act. Several young men APP
peared at one of the cars and displayed re-
yolyers, whereupon the captain of one of the
companies drew his sword and declared he
would protect his men. Many expected the
train would start Immediately, but il did not
move till hall.past twelve, delay being
accustomed by the fact that President Garrett
had received information that large crowd
of excited men and determined to tear up
the track and blow up the bridges, and
thereby prevent the passage Of the train.
In few minutes after the train left, q
discharge Of firearms attracted the attention
of the crowd to the corner of Pratt and
Howard streets, where body of Infantry
from one of the Northern states, abort 100
strong, were seen rapidly approaching the
depot, and no doubt anxious to reach the
cars.
The excitement was beyond description,
and man displaying a flag Of the Confed-
crate States, seemed to be the rallying point,
for the people. Some assailed the infantry
with stones, when number Of the latter
discharged their muskcts. At least twenty
shots were fired, but as far as learned no
person was injured There seemed to be but
little dicipline among the troops, especially
as they rushed along pcll-mell.
Whilst they were entering tho cars q
crowd of young men gave them several vol
leys of bricks and stones, some Of which de-
molished car window, whereupom three or
four muskets were pointed through the car
windows and fred, but no one was injured.
Whilst this body was raising near tho COR