The southern aegis. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1857-1862, 1861-12-21
Humors of the Maryland Regiment in
Virginia,


On the 9th of November the Maryland
ers serving in the Confederate army at
Ccntreville, Va, determined, according to
the Richmond Enquirer, to have little
fun, and therefore resolved to hold an cleo
ton. The Enquirer gives the following
account of it:
The permission of the officers of the regiment
having been first obtained and the preliminares
formally arranged, the polls were opened precise
ly at IL o'clock, NJ, and the balloting COM
menced. 1t was apparent, however, at an early
stage of the proceedings, that the election would
not be an entirely quiet one, and that the scenes
which marked similar proceedings under tha
plug Ugly regime of Baltimore would be re-
enacted, with the substitution of rampant spirit
of fun for the vindictive partsanship which then
prevailed. There were those present not wanting
in the experience of Baltimore election, and
they were soon in full sway of the scene. Fa-
miiar election cries resounded in the vicinity of
the polls. The old-time partisan shout of 80. U.
Plugs" was responded to with the rival exclama-
ton of "Wade in, Limerick!' and the represen-
tatives ofthe opposing factions were soon practi-
cling, with a familiarity which only long expert
ence could have bred, the practical appeals with
which voters were wont to be encouraged or in
Inundated. Pins and needles, the camp substi-
tutes for avis, were used with vigor and effect
which was again and again heralded by the as
sertion of "aw right" Tmd voters were
squeezed and elbowed into practical disgust for
the elective franchise and the more resolute ones
were driven rapidly away with clubs. axes and
guns. Sick voters, with bandaged heads and
eyes, multiplied with a rapIdity which might
have startled the accomplished surgeon of the
regiment. The polls were finally closed at the
appointed hour. The following are the official
returns:
Headquarters Isl Maryland Regiment
Camp near Centreuiiie, Nov. 6, 1861.
This being the regular election day in the Con-
federate States for President and vice-President,
and also of the State officers of Maryland, the
following named persons were proposed as cleo
tors to represent Maryland in tie electoral college
of the Confederate States:
For the State at Large.-Col. George H. Steu-
art, of Baltimore city, for the Western Shore;
James B. Grason, of Queen Anne county, for the
Eastern shore.
District Eectors.-lst. Lieutenant Joseph H.
Stewart, of Dorchester county I'd. Capt. Ed
mund O'Brien of Carroll county. Sd. Lieut..
Alexander Cross, of Baltimore city. 4th. Major
r. r. Dorsey, of Baltimore city. 9Th. Lieut..
Col. Bradley T. Johnston, of Frederick county
9Th. Lieut.. George Thomas, of St. Mary's coun-
ty.
= State Tickt-For Governor-Gen. Benjamin
G. Howard, of Baltimore county. Comptroller
Captain A. Lingan Jarrett of Hartford county
The polls were opened at 70 o'clock, agreeable
to orders, and Capt. James R. Herbert, of COM
pany d, Capt J. Louis Smith, of company F,
and Sergeant Dorsey, of company, A, were Sc
lected as jud! es, and Lieut.. J. G. W. Marriott
and Sergeant Robert II. Cushing, of company E,
were appointed Secretaries
The whole number of votes cast were $50, all
of which were deposited in favor of the above
candidates, and the electors unanimously instruct
ed to declare Jefferson Davis and Alexander H.
Stephens as the choice of the "Maryland exiles,"
for President and Vice President.
1t is scarcely necessary to add that the affair
was regarded as huge joke, and was managed
with unbroken good humor, the effect of which
was heightened by its apparent earnestness.