The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-04
REPORT OF MARSHAL KANE TO THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS,

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REPORT OF MARSHAL KANE TO THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS,
An Official Narrative Of flae Facts In Relation
TO the Occurrences which took Place IL,
this City Friday, April 10, 1861.
Poles DEPARTMENT. ..
OFFICE or THE MARSHAL,
Baltimore, May 3. 1861 J
Chas Lowa7d Esq, President IF he Board Of Police:
SIR-The columns of the Baltimore american of this
date contain assault upon my official conduct com
handing officer Of the police force OF this city, in
ton with the occurrences Of the 18Th of April last which
require notice in order that the facts Of
the case may be duly registered the journals of your
Office
With that view have the honor invite your atten-
the that the of Thursday the 18th
Of April, directed by the Police Board to furnish
bodies OF federal troops which expected
on day by the Northern Central road o'clock
and by the Wilmington and Philadelphia road clock
respectively, and to that they passed safely
through city. Subsequently on day infor-
nation communicated to that the Philadelphia
company fearing that the passage of these troops would
create excitement, were maturing arrangements PASS
them across our harbor from Canton to Locust Point thus
avoiding the streets of our city It will he however,
that this arrangement was not cousumma'cd.
At one O'Clock, \. NJ III" ground az the outer
depot rthern Central Road and took command
of the force which had been detailed that point was
accompanied the depot by his Honor Mayor Grown
who seemed deeply anxious that laws should be re-
spucted and enforced. The Mayor, however called
AWAY bv message rr, the Governor TO meet in cosiI,
the when the train arrived. II enough
say however that the troops safely escorted to
Mount Clare depot and departed for WASHINGTON ha Vim,
experienced annoy ancs than might have been
expected doubtless the Oaers of regular trn2s
WHO accompanied the detachment will readily testify
My kept under until hate hour wait
ing the arrival Of the detachment expected from Pha-
deipha, but it finally ascerained the railroad
int t1ta had
know when they would start from Philadelphia when
the police force dismissed, with orders to remain
ready for instant cali heard nothing more of these
troops until twenty minutes past eight O'Clock the
next (FTday) morning, at which time was met on the
ssreea ~ o'.t o. my mn VIII geSiStc from he south
informing that the troops from PhadalpLa would
arrive at the Camden street lWashingtonl depot within
thirty minutes mat the cars containing them would net
stop at the Philadelphia depot, but 20 directly the
Tdi}roqd authorities 20 Sead a police force.
at once tecgaphed to the several stations and within
the thirty minutes was on the Grouod at the Camden
station with an ample force, but was then told that he
troops were just crossing the Susquehanna river and
would net arrive for sometime.
With the view to keep down the excitement sent the
police force from the depot to neghboring police station
to await the trains coming and also for his Honor
the Mayor who soon appeared accompanied by the Board
of Police.
The cars arrived, and very immense hrong Of
people were congregat"d but by the ffrmness of the
police the troops all shifted from the Philadelphia
to the Washington without any collision with
people having occurred, and the excitement partially
train start, aid not being made that any
Philadelphia expected inquired Of Of
the railroad agents present the OF the delay. and
Informed that distractions had been ,.Iaced
Washington track in advance of the train. | at
sent de achment OF police under determined aud
liable officers 20 guard the track outside OF toe city and
to that the trains protected TO the Relay House
"a distance of nine mlles) ii necessary.
After waiting long additional time, and having made
repeated inquiries the of the continued delay
starting the train for the first time informed
that other troops were expected at thai station; and at
learned q iilC in
Pratt street.
promptly devolved the command at tn Camden sta
ton upon Deputy Marshal Clifford. and started for the
scene OF Not with detachment of my men, and met the
Massachusetts, sodtery Pratt street Light
This Honor Mayor Brown being with them) Fastening
towards the Washington depot pursued by an enraced
multitude. l opened my ranks, through which they
passed and closed in their rear formed my men across
the street, directed them to draw their reviewers
shoot down any who dared to break through their
ine II Is enough Tor me 10 say that these orders
faithfully executed did their duty and the Mas
saciiUsc.ts troops rescue
that time the missiles intended for the troops were
encountered by your police force The tumut being
thus suhducd attack being subsequently, made upon
the military, marched back the Camden sta
ton, saw the train safely depart for Washington; learned
from the railroad officers that the troops had all departed
and that the services Of my command no longer re-
quired. dismissed the detachment to their several sta.
tons except those Of the Second district which ordered
to be posted for the protection Of parties on Baltimore
street against whom there seemed to be an intense ex
element; the editors the Aaerica and ClpDer being
regarded as particularly obnoxious and loudly threat
ened.
On the way to ny Office learned from Mr. Richard Nor
rs Jr that there were other troops the Philadelphia
depot and accompanied by that gentleman hurried ia
carriage to that place and there found several loads
OF troops mostly, if not ALL without uniforms Some of
these troops commenced jumping from the train lust as
GOT there anu we're immediately set upon by an iniuli
aed populace fought hard for their projections at first
almost alone, but soon had the assistance of part my
force who hurried from the neghboring beats and had
the alnCatlon OF seeing all, but those who took shelter
in neighboring houses, put another train under
escort of police accompanied by myself sent safely out
of the city on their re urn to Philadelphia. The earnest
expressions Of gratitude which received from the per-
sons thus rescued left on my mind the conviction that
had done my duty.
On this occasion ably assisted by Deputy Marshal
Clifford and by noble hearted and fearless citizens
bound say that did not recognize as fins en-,
gagged single individual of those actively en-
poyed in OBTAINING the city and its authorities.
may be proper to state, that up to this time did
not know anything of the origin OF the rencontre nor
the extent Of the Killed and wounded but only know
that whole city seemed flied with horror at the
shot on public streets.
From this time till late hour of the night my Office
heset by those anxious to ascertain the of
that renewal of the difficulties iev to occur
Near midnisht l received from Wm. Prescott Smith.
and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad information that he
had received dispatch from President Thompson of the
Pennsylvania road, that it impossible to prevent
these troops from going through Baitimore the Union
men must be aroused to resist the mob"
iet it my duty to communicate this information to
MS Honor Mayor brown, and went to his house for that
pnpose and made the statements him. He deemed it
ali.important to confer with his Exceency Governor
Hicks, and visited him in his chamber.
The Governor then for me. and in company with
the Mayor went to his chamber and the condition of
the city, the dangers of a sanguinary conflict in the
event OF troops coming itwhiist the public mind was
so highly nhaned being fully discussed the Governor
deemed 1t proper and agreed with Mayor Brown and nv
self that the bridges the roads by which troops won
likely come should IL destroyed as the only means of
impending them and avoiding the threatened conflict
and the Mayor and Board Of Police then issued he der
TO that effect
TWAS the midst of this excitement whilst our entire
community was laboring under the most in tense appre
hcnsion the volunteers militia and large numbers OF our
citizens being under arms, under the apprehension
collision, and with the knowledge that the great mass m
citizens looked to myself as the immediate command
ing officer under the Eoard of Armed Police for the best
protection, which under such crcnm stances could oe
afforded, in reply to despatch Bradley johnson
Esq lately the States Attorner for Frederick
county-oGering the services of body of patriotic c
of that gallant county, who true to the instinct Of
every of Maryland ready come, as did their
reS Ill 1914 TO defend the homes OF their friends in Bal
umOre, used the language Of the despatch which is
made the preeXt Tor the disgracel and Hbeous assault
referred
What the condition of Baltimore city would he at this
time had l failed to execute the order to destroy
the bridges referred to- by which the troops
at CockeysVe on the morning of Sunday the 2ist of
April instead Of coming to the city. is too horrible 10
contemplate and better be imagined than described
The structures in regard to the action of the police in re-
moving flags which were being raised it is well known
not from anypatrioc motives, but for the sole purpose
OF exciting riot and disorder too absurd to require
extended notice.
have the conviction that have faithfully discharged
the duties of the Office of Marshal Of Police during
the extraordinary excitement which has rervaded this
community probably beyond any thing of the kind in its
previous history and that the force my command
has been successful in protecting persons and prop
ery of people of the most intensely obnoxious character
to another portion Of our community from the slight
est violence or injury feel that well afford 70 en-
dure assaults, coming from such sources
Ii may be proper in this connection 10 refer IN The
insinuation so broadly conveyed of COMPLETELY on the
part of the police in ppropratng property the Federal
Government to improper The charge is untrue 1t
taken into the custody of police solely for the
purpose of preserving tof which the proper notice was
gwen 10 the authorities OF the United States government