Evening journal., 1904-03-11
WAR HISTORY OF
THE WARE CANAL
Letter Dealing With War Times From Pen of
Philip ReyboId Submitted
Continued from First Page

The following interesting letter was
written by Captain Philip Reyhold to
A. o. Crozier, chairman of the comfhit-
tee and was read to the congressional
committee by John S. Rosseil:
Alfred o. Crozier, ESQ., Chairman,
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Committee, Of the Board Of Trade,
Wilmington Delaware.
My Dear Sir:-Knowing that you
are about to proceed to Washington to
urge before the Congressional Commit
tee the making of the present Chesa-
peake and Delaware Canal deep sea
canal by the Federal Government, / take
the liberty of presenting TO you some
facts in relation to the use of the pres-
ent canal during the late Civil War,
showing that at that time its use and
existence was practically invaluable to
the Federal Government in maintain
ing a defense of Washington during the
year 1861.
Allow me to lay before you the fol-
lowing facts:
The value Of the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal as a means of coast
defense was proved during the Civil
War by the following circumstances:
on April 18th, 1861. Captain An
thony Reybold of Delaware City from
the deck of the steamer Express in
Baltimore harbor witnessed the riot
which occurred in the city of Balti-
more when the 9Th Massachusetts regi-
ment was passing through that city on
its way to the defense of Washington.
After the fighting was over Captain
Reybold returned to Delaware City on
one Of the Ericsson Line steamers. the
Henry L. Cav. and on the trip through
the canal, fell into conversation with
e JOY Norris q member Of Congress
from Philadelphia, who had been sent
by President Lincoln to devise means
TO get troops through to Washington by
the quickest possible route. During
the conversation Mr.. Morris informed
Captain Reybold Of his mission, and
Captain Reybold then outlined to him
a scheme of sending the troops by rail
to Perryville, Maryland, on the East
ern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and
thence to convey them by transports
down the bay to Annapolis, thence by
rail to Annapolis Junction, and so to
Washington. This scheme being en-
tirely new to Mr.. Morris, he insisted
upon Captain Reybold's coming with
him to Philadelphia, and the next
morning, Saturday April goth, Captain
Reybold went TO Philadelphia. and
there met Mr.. Morris and John Tucker,
Assistant Secretary Of War the presi-
dents of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and the Reading Railroad
Company. Captain Reybold then out
lined his scheme as follows:
The Government should seize all the
boats lying in or about Philadelphia
and New York. that could pass through
the canals. That these boats be sent
down the Delaware River and through
the canal to the Chesapeake Bay to
meet the troops at Perryville, Mary
land, and thence convey them TO Ann
apolis.
Orders were given for the seizure of
boats, and the following boats were
accordingly taken as they lay at the
wltarves at Philadelphia:
w. Whnldin. Henry L. Cav, Richard
Willing. John $. Shriver, William
woodward. Thomas Sparks. sophia,
John r. Thompson. Artisan, Franklin.
Fanny Cadwalader Elizabeth, Octo-
rara. Josephine.
1t was the desire Of Mr.. Tucker to
ship the troops then stationed in Phil
adelphia under General Butler at once
by water through the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal to Annapolis. but on
the advice of Captain Reybold. that
this was a dangerous plan, by rea-
son of the feeling Of the people along
the route Of the canal, who stood ready
and would probably cut its banks in
case troops were shipped by that route.
it was deemed best not 10 do so. so five
of these boats. the w. Whilldfn, Henry
J.. Cav, Richard Willing, John s.
Shriver and Josephine were sent down
empty and passed through. the canal
that same night, and proceeded up to
Perryville, where they arrived on Sun
day morning. April 21st, the other boats
followed the next night
Means to Transport Troops.
1t viii be remembered that within