Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-10
A WAR REMrNIscENcE.
How II Happened That Troops Came 3
Washington by Way of AnnapoIis

L
How 1t Happened That Troops Came to
Washington by Way of Annapolis.
At a meeting OF the Maryland Historical So
ciety in Baltimore last night Hon. ]. Morrison
Harris read "a "Reminiscences of the troublous
times of 1861. based upon interviews with the
authorities at Washington. touching the move
ment of troops through Baltimore
Mr.. Harris said:
'On coming into the city from my residence
in Baltimore county on Saturday, the goth of
April. 1861. found a terrible condition of ex-
element existing and was assured by many
gentlemen who represented both phnses Of the
| popular feeling that large body of troops.
supposed to be the seventh regiment of New
York, had crossed the Susquehanna and were
believed to be near the Gunpowder in full
march toward the city en- route to Washington
We Were also informed that the certain armed
opposition they would encounter in their at
tempted passage through Baltimore would in
sure repetition upon a far larger and more
serious scale of the disastrous incidents Of the
preceding day. IL occurred to me that. as
had just terminated service of six years in
the House OF Representatives from a district
composed in large part of the city Of Baiti-
more If Hon. Anthony Kennedy, who was at
in representing to the President the exact con-
dition OF affairs, some modification of exist
ing arrangements might be obtained.
THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Kennedy instantly assented to the
proposition, and Mr.. Garrett, president of the
Baltimore and Ohio, promptly put at our
service an engine and car. We left the city at
l2:40 o'clock. having telegraphed the President
asking an interview on our arrival. On reach
ing Washington we found the President en-
gagged with the Secretary of State. Mr.. Seward.
We stated to him what we understood to be the
gravity OF the situation and the great excite
nlent and evaporation of feeling in the city.
We urged that while the state had always been
loyal to the government, and that while in our
Judgment such WAS still the attitude Of ma
jority OF her people, yet Maryland was south
crn state. allied to its section by sympathies Of
blood, sentiment, geographical position ard
her large slaveholding, manufacturing and
business interests. and IL could not be denied
that considerable number Of her people, es-
pecially concentrated in the city. were fully in
sympathy with it, and were there organized to
resist the passage of troops.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY
1.-THE President replied that he appreciated
the difficulty of our position. He said it was
| intended that the troops should pass peaceably
and that he had been led to believe that their
transit through the state would be unopposed.
lie expressed much surprise at the occurrences
OF the day before and proceeded with some
feeling to comment on them. He said he had
directed Gen. Scott, in the presence of promi-
nent Aarylanders, to march the troops around
the city. Ir. Seward said that the troubles Of
the government at Washington were also en-
titled to be considered by U.s. Ireplied that our
visit was influenced solely by sense of duty and
that the emergency, IN our Judgment, was
very serious one. For myself l suggested 10
question of the right of the federal govern
ment. under existing circumstances, to pass
It's troops through one of the states of
the Union. but said that did urge with great
sohcltude the question Of the wisest and least
dangerous mode Of exercising the right. Ny
| associate. senator Kennedy, concurred in the
views thus presented and during his CONVERSE
ton with the President Mr.. Seward took me to
one of the windows overlooking the Potomac,
and, pointing 10 the heights of Arlington said:
Mr.. Harris, what would you think OF our posi-
tion if were 10 tell you that behind those
heights men are now excavating for redoubts
and that lower down the Potomac batteries are
already erected! l replied that it would be
very painful news to me and that was far
from Understanding the perilous position of
the government. MIR. Kennedy having con-
cluded his conversation, the President re-
quested us to 90 to Gen. SCOTS quartz which
we did.
MILITARY NECESSITY.
Gen. Scott said he would obtain the rein
forcements peaceably if possible, but that they
did not propose at Washington to be shut up
like rats in a trap. If they could not get their
achievements in any other way the troops
might cut their way through. He was willing
however, TO order the troops to pass by an
other route At Gen. SCOTS Instance we called
on Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, who, after
long discussion, agreed TO our suggestion that
difficulty might be avoided by concentrating
the troops at Annapolis and moving them by
rail from that point to Washington. This plan
met the approval of Gen. Scott. Mr.. Garrett
telegraphed the Secretary assuring him that
the transportation Of men from Annapolis to
Washington would be made without opposition
on the part of the railroad company Senator
Kennedy and myself, armed with letter from
the police board, given after an interview re-
quested by them, went on the morning of the
2lst to Cockeysville and notified the commander
of the troopsa that point of the desired change
OF route. We were accompanied by general
officer detailed from the War Department who
concurred in our statements. The commander
agreed to countermarch his forces to the Sus-
quehanna and there await further direction"