The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-03-14
A "REMINISCENCES OF 1861.
Mr. Harris Tells of Visit of MIR. Kennedy
and Himself to Washington.

form of paper before the Maryland
"Reminiscences of the Trou blous Times of
1861, Based Upon Interviews with the
Authorities at washington Touching the
Movement of Troops Trough Baltimore"
In part Mr.. Harris said:
Ga coming INTO the city from my resi-
dence III Baltimore county on Saturday,
the goth of April. 1861, found terrible
condition of excitement existing and was
assured by many gentlemen who repre-
seDted both phases 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 ell route to
Washington. We are also informed that
the certain armed opposition they would
encounter in their attempted passage
through Baltimore would insure a re-
petition upon far larger and more SER
ious scale of the disastrous incidents of
the preceding day. 1t occurred to me
that, rs | had just terminated service
of six ;ears i'll the House OF Representa-
tive from a district composed i'll large
part OF the city of Baltimore, If Hon.
Anthony Kennedy, who was at the time
in the Senate, would unite with me III
representing to the President the exact
condition of affairs, some modification OF
existing arrangements might be OBJ
tanned.
Mr.. Kennedy instantly assentcd to the
proposition, and Mr.. Garrett, president
of the Baltimore and Ono, promptly put
at our service an engine and Car. We
left the city at 90 minutes to l O'Clock,
having telegraphed the President asking
an interview on our arrival. On reach
ing Washington We found the PRECEDENT
engaged with the Secretary of State
Mr.. Seward. We stated to him what
we understood to be the gravity of the
situation and the great excitement and
evaporation of telling in the city. We
urged that while the State had always
been loyal to the government, and that
in our judgment such was still the atti
tude of a majority OF her people, yet
Maryland Was Southern State, allied
to its section by sympathies of blood
sentiment geographical position and her
large slavebolding, manufacturing and
business interests, aud it could not be
denied that considerable number of
her people, especially concentrated in
the city, were fully in sympathy with
| it, and were there organized to re-
| sist the passage Of troops.
The President replied that he appre-
| ciated 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 uDop-
posed. He expressed much surprise
| at the occurrences of the day before
| and proceeded with some telling to
comment on them. He said he had direc-
1
prominent Marylanders, to march the
troops around the city. Mr.. Seward
said that the troubles OF the government
| at Washington were also entitled to be
considered by us. replied that our
visit was influenced solely by sense Of
duty, and that the emergency, in our
Judgment was a very serious one. For
myself | suggested no question of the
right of the federal government, under
existing circumstances, 10 pass its troops
through one of the States of the Union,
but said that we did urge with great So
licitude the question of the wisest and
least dangerous mode of exercising the
right. My associate, Senator Kennedy,
concurred in the view thus presen-
ted, aud during his conversation with
the President Mr.. Seward took me to
one of the windows overlooking the Pc.
tomac and pointing to the heights OF
Arlington, said Mr.. Harris, what would
you think of our position if were to tell
You chat behind those heights smen
are now excavating for redoubts, and that
, lower down Potomac batteries are al
ready erected. I replied that it would
be very painful news to me, and that
! Was fan from Understanding the peri
Ious position of the gDyesumen vi
! Kennedy having concluded his converse
Jloii, vuo psoSIGouC requested us to 60 TO
General SCOTS quarters, which we did.
General Scott:said he would ob tain the
reiniorcements peaceably if possible, but
that they did not propose at Washington
to be shut up like rats in 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 another
route. At General Scott's 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 General Scott.
Mr.. Garrett telegraphed the Secretary,
assuring him that the transportation of
men from Annapolis 10 Washington
would be made without opposition on
the part of the railroad company. Sena-
tor Kennedy and myself, armed with a
letter from the police board, given after
an interview requested By them, went
on the morning of the 2lst to Jockeys
vile and notified the commander o! the
troops at that point of the desired change
of route. We were accompanied by a
general officer detailed from the War De-
partment, who concurred in our state
ments. The commander agreed to coun-
, termarch his forces to the Susquehanua
and there await luther direction.
Mr. Harris dweIt at considerable length
upon the details of his interviews in
Washington, and his paper was listened
to with close attention.