The National tribune., 1884-01-31
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Oar Veterans Hare to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
The IS ElollIgan's March through baltimore.

Tie Isl EIclIlSaB's March Through Baltimore.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Ihaye a great regard for General Howard, and
deep interest in bis personal " reductions
of file war as detailed IN THE TRIBUNE; yet
a patriotic feeling for our Loyal State compel5
me to take exceptions to his statement that
the I'd Maine regiment, on the 9Th Of june
1851 were the first troops 10 pass the Baltimore
gauntlet after the 9th Massachusetts,.
AS a matter Of history permit me to say that
the list Michigan infantry three monthsl, COM
posed exclusively Of thoroughly drilled lnae,
pendent companies from different cities and
villages IN Michigan, uniformed in dark blue,
and armed with the Springfield rifle. lett the
city Of Detroit on the evening OF May II, 1901,
en- route FOR Washington.
The regiment was commanded by Colonel
Orlando j. Wilcox, afterwards wounded at
Bali Ran, and yet in the service.
We reached Harrisburg, Pa, by rail on the
18th. aud thence via the Northern Central
Railroad arrived in Baltimore on the after
noon OF May 10th, discriminating from the cars
nearly a mite from tie depot on account of the
track being torn up beyond
The mayor Of Baltimore and about one bum
bred policemen were On band, and after vainly
endeayoriug to induce our colonel 10 go
around put themselves at the head OF our
column. and we struck ont through the heart
of the city for the Washington depot on the
other side.
A bowling mob of al least :, 1000 of representa-
tive Baltimore "secesh I" had congregated by
this time, and accompanied us through the
city, SURFING alongside our moving column,
yelling, ho9ting, and hErTahing for JeH Davis
and the Southern C0niedcracy.
The writer carried Springfield rife IN that
regiment, and can yet remember the sensation
caused by such a welcome. The experience OF
the 9th Massachusetts was fresh IN cur minds.
HI, Of - .sff
sylvSnia militia guarding the temporarily con-
structed bridges and euiverts along the North
ern Central had gratuit0usly advised Us that
we would catch it IA Baltimore.
The effect of discipline on intelligent soldiers
was, however. here web illustrated. On leav-
ing the cars some little difficulty was expert
enced in getting the regiment into shape, but
the line when finally formed, Strengthened out
with a snap; and the selfassurance which be-
gan TO well up from the heart Of the soldier
was intensified and strengthened by the stimuli
taDeous crash that followed the order 10 fix
bayonets." The c3lor-bearer unrOiied and
shook ont the - old flag The band struck up
The Red. White and Blue" and as by com
panies right wheel, reaching and clearing
everything from curb to curb, the regiment
moved OF we could hardly Tepress a yell OF
detianc2. and show us Pratt street; we want
TO 90 up Pratt street. she scene Of the mas
saeTe IF april 18th was shouted from hun
0IEA t1i1D4t>- Dittcclo
The mob increased st every rod, and We fire.
quently had TO shorten step and resist pressure
from the front: b8t our officers were good ones,
as their subsequent record many bloody
field showed. Graves, of Adrian. was my COM
paay commander lwounced at Bull Run and
afterwards colonel Of the 18th Michigan and
he steadily kept his company distance.
On arriving at the Washington depot the
regiment boarded train IN waiting and was
promptly whiried away towards the Capital
arriving ID Washington on the evening OF May
10th. the FIRST equipped and uniformed regi-
Iaent from the great Northwest
On the night Of May 23d we were the second
regiment IA line that crossed the Long Bridge
ID the advance OF the grand army into Nir-
GINA, taking 1 be Alexandria road. and, IN con-
necti0n with Elisw0rth's z0Eaves, who went
down the river, took possession Of Alexandria,
capturing abont fifty rebel eavalryTnen. At
the time General Howard speaks OF passing
through Baltimore We were well out from
Alexansrl4- picketing the Fairfax reads.
i. H RIPLEY,
HOLLY. MICH. Isl Mich Inf.