Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-22
WHEN THEY WERE HERE BEroRE.
The Wish Of the sixth Ma.ssrhusesss Here D,
1851.

1851.
TIE PERIL on THE oAfrrAI-ecrNrs srTrvprsa
THE ARRIVAL or THE sIxrH-How rHrr ma
TERSIzEp THEY WITH the OLD rIaHr L.
rsNTRy-THE SEIZURE or BOATS BOUND sourr
There were many on the street yesterday who
recalled the arrival Of the old sixth MAs.schu-
sets on the evening Of the 18th Of April thirty
years ago after the memorable passage through
Baltimore the same day when several lives were
lost and number were wounded
In April 1861, the District was in fever a
excitement for commencing with April 10
troops Of the District we're being mustered 1,
service; Sumter had been fred upon; Presideu,
Lincoln had issued call for IS 900 men and Their.
were Wild rumors continuously afioat. an alarm
ing one being that the oonfederAtes were mAss-
ing behind Arlington preparatory 10 an stsaos
on the city. II Was suspected that there wer.
organizations existing in Washington hostile -
the government There therefore not the
best feeling prevailing and street rows veu.
not OF infrequent occurrence.
TROOPS THIN N TIE crrr.
There were then in the city some regular
| troops, which included three batteries Of srtil.
lery, commanded by Capts. Magruder, Frv
and Griffin, battalion OF engineers (sappers
ana minersl, a company Of ordnance and the
marines OF the regular service and about
S,oS District troops. The regulars had been
IN the city Tor some time, the marines being
the regular force at the barracks near the
| navy yard, ana the ordnance men having been
Tor some years ut the arsenal now the wash
ington barracks. OF the regulars the batteries
were located, one in the first ward one neaf
the court house and one on Capitol Hill and
the sappers and miners we're at the Armory
building.
At THE INAUGURATION.
The District troops had been virtually on
duty since before the Inauguration Of Prosidens
Lincoln, on which occasion they were prepared
Tor any emergency. Some were stationed with
loaded muskets on the housetops on the avenue
and Others placed at points of vantage. while
Col 1Aits command formed three sides of a
square at the stand in the east front Of the
0apltol during the inaugural proceedings each
with loaded musket and forty rounds Of ball
cartridge ready TO quell any disturbance
Mhiie there were some low mutterings in the
crowd there was no hostile demonstration
One man, however, got in tree and attempted
10 narangue the crowd. but he was forcibly
pulled down and his friends got him Of
The muster-in of the District troops had been
going on since April 10 and there were over
S,VOO IN service, who were employed in guarding
the public buildings, the bridges. roads, depots
&c This number was increased to about
$500 men, and for a time the men were al
lowed TO attend TO their usual employments
hht NhHs but we're subject To CALL As
rule, however. most Of the companies always
had a sufficient number of men for any emer-
gency at their armories. and no well were they
disciplined and organized that in u short time
the absentees could be called together.
RESPONDING TO THE CALL
On April IL President Lincoln issued his call
for 5000 men, and the first TO arrive were the
following Pennsylvania companies: Ringgold
Flying Artillery Of Reading. the Logan Guards
az. Il. ~. -
and the Washington Artillery OF Pottsville
These arrived about O'Clock on the evening
OF April Is, with company L, fourth United
States artillery, from the west
company of the National Guard was then
guarding the Baltimore and Ohio depot and
Col TAFT showed them to the Senate wing Of
the Capitol. The regular artillery was located
In q house on 4 near 9th street
THE MEMORABLE 18th OF APRIL
The following day, April ls, was one Of ex-
citement and suspense owing TO the rumors
that measures were being taken TO prevent
troops passing through Maryland; that on the
Virginia side the confederates were advancing
| and making preparations TO shell the city from
Arlington and that persons in Washington
known to be IN sympathy with the south were
planning TO do something big before leaving
for the south the following day. 1t happened
| that one Of the southern line steamers was then
being renovated and a painter employed on the
means this man learned that il was
| IN contemplation TO start the four
boats-Powhatan, Mt Vernon, Baltimore and
Philadelphia-down the river that night
that they might fall in the hands Of
| the south. he at once hastened TO the armory
of the infantry, then located in the Chesapeake,
on Pennsylvania avenue near 10th street. and re-
ported what he had heard TO Captain (after
Colonel Towers. Capt. Towers Immediately re-
ported TO Gen. Scott and was ordered by him
Il nrOceed IN the NH 70 Mil
and take charge of the boats
This order Capt Towers promptly executed
| and an embargo was placed on southern travel
| much TO the disgust of quite a large company
who we're Fastening TO the wharf of the boat,
which was TO leave at o'clock. A number of
| the infantry members were at this time en-
gagged in their daily business and while the de-
tachment was holding the boats messengers were
| being sent TO stores, shops and offices for the
absentees TO report at once at the wharf and
In this they we're prompt
THE ARRIVAL OF THE SIXTH.
The same afternoon word came Of the attack
on the Massachusetts, sixth regiment in Balti-
more and the rumors were of the widest ma
ture some stating that the Massachusetts
troops had been annihilated and others that
they had cut their way through. An immense
crowd OF anxious citizens gathered about the
depot and the loyal were anxious 20 learn the
particulars and TO witness the arrival IL
bringing the regiment and with them the
wounded. The latter we're at once tax n to the
Washington lnfirmary, in the rear of the court
house. and Col TAFT. being present with Capt
Lloyds company, escorted the sixth 10 the
Capitol where they made themselves comfort
able in the Senate wing.
ORDERED OUT AT MIDNIGHT.
While rumors of all kinds filled the city and
many ARRAYS took place on the streets word
was received at Gen. SCOTS headquarters that
the southern organization here contemplated
an attack on the boats to recapture them.
Late at night an order was sent by him 10 Col
Jones Of the sixth Massachusetts 10 send fifty
men to the wharf TO reinforce the infantry
This order was promptly obeyed and was the
first duty done in the District by state troops
Capt Dave Q. Sisson Of the sixth Massachusetts
(who started to Washington with the Worcester
Light Infantry, but was compelled TO return
home.) was the sergeant of this detachment
As the men Of the sixth, after midnight,
marched over what was then known ~ the
Island (now South washington) there Was
much conjecture as 10 where they were bound
and whether they would not be led into an am
buscade. Upon reaching the wharf they were
at q loss to know whether they were 10 60 on
an expedition by water OF not.
fRATERNIZING WITH THE INFANTRY
However, as soon daylight appeared the
men began to fraternize and the Massachusetts