The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-05-17
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECiTALS OF CAMP AND eAT.
TIE INCIDENTS
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag.
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.

During the first year of the war;,
grizzled colonel remarked. while recall
ing incidents of the great rebellion
business connected with the recruiting
and equipping of volunteers In Penn
sylvania took me frequently to Wash
ington. and, as the hotels in that city
became crowded and uncomfortable,
made it custom to stop at Barnum's IL
Baltimore, remain over night there and
run over TO the capital in the morn
ing, arriving at the war department by
the time IL was open for business
Sometimes this arrangement was re
peated in n modified form, on the north
ern journey. and thus l passed many
nights during 1861 in the famous old
hotel of the Monumental city. Near il
was a large tobaccOnist's shop, where
discovered 4 superior grade of cigars
was sold. and of this shop l became a
regular customer. Ordinarily was
served by 4 young salesman, but l fire.,
Quently saw in the shop an old gentle
man Who'll presumed, was the prOprie-
tor One day l was rather surprised
by the old gentleman's stepping for
ward to wait on me himself. After I
was served he said:
''lf you are not in a hurry, sir, would
be pleased to have you walk into my
private office and have a smoke with
me-
Il readily assented, and he led the
way to n room at the rear Of the store.
separated from it by glass partition.
plainly but comfortably furnished, and
having the appearance of long and hab-
itual use. Pushing toward me large
split-bOttomed rocking chair, my host
remarked:
Here for many years 1 have been
accustomed to receive my friends. Of
whom | had many. but l am sorry to
say that now the number is sadly di-
minished.'
"'Why so" / asked.
Because of differences of opinion
he replied. L need not remind you of
the condition the whole country is in,
or tell how completely men vary in
their ideas of duty Nowhere is that
variance greater than here in Balti-
more, and nowhere is there greater dam
ger of its leading TO a calamity that
may aStOnish the world
You surprise met I explained. Il
knew there was considerable seces-
sion sentiment here. and that months
ago it exhibited itself openly, leading
to bloodshed on the streets, but l
thought all that had passed away
BY no MEANS he replied. The
Southern sentiment in Baltimore is as
intense and bitter to-day as it ever
was. The apparent quiet is only on
the surface. You are in the service
of the Union. and it may be as well for
you to be Informed exactly what the
situation here is, for l honestly assure
you it is critical After brief pause
he continued:
" am New England man by birth.
but more than 40 years l have lived
and done business here. This shop is
but for a small portion of that busi-
ness. AS tobacco merchant l am
pretty generally known in the trade.
When the Southern States seeded and
the sympathy of Baltimare was SO
openly ayOwed in their favor made up
my mind as Union man that my
career as merchant was over, and l
shipped TO the Northern cities about
100000 worth Of goods. The inter
ests | have left here are not very i'm
portant, but this is my home and
am determined to remain here. doing
with my Union friends-and there is
Il goodly lot of us-what we can to
keep Baltimore from becoming a part
Of the Southern Confederacy.
Three-fOurths Of the people of Bal
timOre are intensely Southern in their
feelings and prejudices. All the slave
holders are so, and are the leading
citizens. Following them is the class
which always tOadies to what is con-
sidered the aristOcracy; and after these
come large disorderly element. known
as the pluguglies, who are willing and
ready 10 do anything that looks like
resistance to constituted authority.
Now, l know beyond doubt that the
leading secessiOnists here are deter.
mined. the first favorable opportunity
that offers, to. declare openly for the
new Confederacy and carry Baltimore,
and Maryland, if possible,
)ut of the CniOn.'
How is all this to be done:' in
Iuired.
Their plan is this: They know
every man upon whom they can rely,
lnd their strength is well understood
They have clubs organized, which meet
'egularly. The leaders have control Of
,lenty of money, and supplies of arms
ire available. Regular communication
$ had with the Confederate leaders in
Virginia, and they are waiting only for
| defir'te. tangible opportunity to
strike. Such an opportunity would
,o"" if the Confederate army made an
ldvance toward WashingtOn-a thing |
hey expect-Or should the Union army |
meet with another serious reverse in |
he East. If Beauregard had pursued [
Mcdowell after the battle of Bull Run, |
hey would have risen then; and many |
we're the curses heaped upon him for |
lis failure, as they expressed 1t, ito
ollow up his victory" They are conf
lent their chance will come, and when |
does you can rest assured the attempt |
will be made to make Baltimore, to
lse their own language, "the barrier
between the North and the national |
apital."'
What asked, do you Union men
propose to do if the movement you az
icipate is made:'
Burn the city, he replied. lust
IS certain as the Russians burned Mos
Ow, will we burn Baltimore if the
here try to take it out
f the Union
How can you, so few, cOmpara-
lively, in numbers, do this:'
We'll, sir, we, 100, are organized,