National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-19
AN HISTORIC DAY.
THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL, 1861.
Recollections Of Twenty Years Ass--The Attack ON
the Sixth Massachusetts, Regiment In Balti-
more The Expedition 70 Destroy
the Norfolk Savy-Tard.

There is no month in the year that is
so fruitful in historic anniversaries as the
present month of April. 1t was in this month thai
the first gun in the rebellion was fired; it was in
April that the war closed. To-day is the ami
versary of the firing upon the Sixth Massachusetts,
Regiment during its passage through Baltimore on
its way to the defense of the National Capital The
excitement that created in this city was moth
ing to the thrill that went through the heart OF the
| loyal North when it was known that blood had
actually been spilled in Baltimore. When Mr.. Lin
coin issued his call for seventy-fv thousand
men, every Northern State promptly responded,
but it was reserved for the old Bay State TO dis
| patch the first regiment TO aid in the Nations
| defense. This was the Sixth, and when the news
that her brave boys had been attacked and two
had been killed reached Boston the writer well
remembers the intense excitement that prevailed,
and more men Immediately volunteered than
could possibly at that time be accepted. In this
District preparations had been previously taken
by General Scott against any outbreak here,
for the major portion of the people
were in full sympathy with the South.
As early as April 10 Company A, then under the
command of Captain Lemuek Towers, was mus
tered into the United States service, and immedi-
ately afterward other companies were mustered
in and these troops did guard duty over Govern
ment property. When the Sixth reached this city
| they were quartered in the Capitol, although one
company was detailed to report to Colonel Towers
as additional support at the navy yard, where he
was then stationed
Next morning the Goth of April, Colonel Towers
was sent with guard out on the line of the rail
road, and found the track torn up between the
junction and Baltimore, and further progress was
impossible so he returned and reported that fact.
That night he was ordered TO take charge of four
steamers belonging to the Southern line, to pre-
vent their being taken South. as was contemplated,
by party of about two hundred. This
was accomplished, and by that time troops
from other States had arrived in the
city by way of Annapolis, and all
apprehension for the safety of the Capitol was at
an end. The message that the mayor of Baltimore
sent to the President the 18th of April 1861 that
no troops from other States could pass through
that city, will well be remembered. The change
that has taken place in Baltimore since that day
is very great the increase in population, in
business prosperity, in the wealth and
intelligence of its citizens being in greater
proportion than almost any other city in the coun-
try, and it is believed that if occasion should re-
quire the passage of Northern troops through that
city to defend the life of the Government there
would now be no hindrance, but every assistance
would be rendered.
States Marines, numbering one hundred men,
under command of Major a. S. Nicholson, of the
corps left the barracks at the navy yard and en-
barked ON board the United States sloop- of war
Pawnee for Hampton Roads. The Pawnee
rived at Fortress Monroe Saturday night
following, and took on board the Fifth
Massachusetts, Regiment, which had just arrived
there from Boston by steamer. The Pawnee then
steamed slowly up to the Norfolk navy yard, and
just after dark hailed the Cumberland, sloOp of
war, lying at one of the wharyes. Cheer upon
cheer went up from both crews, the bands of both
ships playing Hail Columbia" and Yankee
Doodle" The destruction of the shipping and the
yard was then determined upon. All night long
the of both vessels and the soldiers laid trains
ofpowder from building to building, placed ten
barrels of explosives in the great dry dock, and
scuttled vessels Atnearly daybreak Sunday morn
ing the Pawnee and the Cumberland moved down
Elizabeth River the latter in tow of the tug Yankee
A rocket was shot into the air from the Pawnee
as signal to apply the TORCH and in the twinkling
of an eye millions of dollars worth of Government
property was in flames, including the old ship of
line Pennsylvania. The Merrimac had been
scuttled to the waters edge before the arrival of
the Pawnee She was afterward raised and con-
verted into an ironclad, and sunk the Cumberland
in Hampton Roads. The Fsygnee and Cumber-
land arrived at Fortress Monroe about eight o'clock
Sunday morning, and in q few days thereafter the
former arrived back at the Washington navy-yard
with all on board safe and sound.