The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-06-09

The stirring events that rapidly
followed the election of Presi-
dent Lincoln in 1861, the Seces-
sion Of South Carolina and the
Gulf States, the rapid rise of the
political flames of wrath on both
sides, and the Intellectual efforts
to bring about a peaceful settle
ment of the questions which were
then threatening the very founda-
tion Of the Federal Union, were
watched in Baltimore City with
intense excitement.
The majority of her citizens
were of strong Southern sympa-
thy, but yet the number was small,
indeed, that advocated the seces-
sion of the State. Adherence
and devotion to the Union under
the Constitution appeared to be
the prevailing sentiment. But as
events came and passed, parties
became more and more decided,
and men began to side with either
one faction or the other without
hesitating any longer. The at
tack on Fort Sumter in Charles
ton harbor, South Carolina, on
April II, 1861, and the subse.
quent call of President Lincoln
for the services of $4,000 volun.
teers to uphold the dignity of the
Federal Government, and the
quick response to arms in many
of the Northern States, raised the
excitement to fever heat, and
everywhere crowds of angry and
excited disputants could be seen
discussing the exciting event,
and so dangerous did the aspect
of the public temper appear, that
the late Mayor, George w. Brown,
on April II, 1861, issued pre-
cautionary proclamation.
The Sixth Massachusetts regi,
ment had the honor to be the
first to respond to the call of
President Lincoln. 1t was com.
pletely equipped and organized,
having full regimental staff and
band. Mustered in at Lowell on
the morning of the 10th of April.
the day after the proclamation
was issued, four companies pre-
sented themselves, and to these
were added two from Lawrence.
one from GrotOn. one from Acton.
and one from Worcester, and
when the regiment reached Bos.
ton at one O'Clock, an additional
company was added from that
city and one from Stoneham,
making eleven in all, numbering
about 700 men. 1t was address
ed by the Governor of the State
i'll front of the State House, and
in their journey along the rail
road everywhere ovations were
rendered them. In their march
down Broadway, New York, on
the 10th, the widest enthusiasm
prevailed along their line. SINH
lar scenes occurred in New Jersey
and through the city of Phila.
delphia.
AT midnight on the 18th re,
ports reached Philadelphia that
the passage of the regiment
through Baltimore would be dis.
puted. An unarmed and ununi.
formed Pennsylvania regiment,
under the command of Colonel
Small, was added to the regiment,
and was added to the train at
Philadelphia, or at the Susque.
hannah, (it has been stated both
ways, and the two combined reg
iments amounted to LOO men.
The proper course to have been
pursued, provided they were cog
infant of the threatened attack,
would have been for the Phila.
delphia, Wilmington and Balti-
more Railroad Company, to give
notice to the Mayor or the Board
of Police of the number of
troops, and the time they were ex.
pected to arrive in the city, so
that preparations could be made
to receive them, but no such no.
tice was given. On the contrary
it was purpoSely withheld, and no
information could be obtained
from the Office of the company,
although the marshal of police
OF Baltimore repeatedly tele-
graphed TO Philadelphia to learn
when the troops were expected.
The cause of this is supposed to
have been that the officials had
no real apprehension of trouble,
or If they CHANGED to be a distur-
bance, it would not amount to one
of any magnitude.
Mr.. FELTON,, the President of the
railroad at that time, says that
! before the troops left Phila.