Evening journal., 1904-04-19
ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACK
ON SIXTH MASSACHUSETTS,

President Buchanan vacillated in
everything looking toward an overt
act that would offend the South. NUM-
uons of war were hurried by Secretary
of War Floyd to the navy yards at
Norfolk and Pensacola. Meanwhile the
newly elected President Lincoln, was
on his way from Springfield, H., to be
inaugurated.
The greatness Of the immortal Lin
coin was not at this time captivating
the country by the speeches being
made en- route to the Capital. Such
terms as Nobody is yet hurt" and a
Bar of iron still has it's value" were
taken up by the papers and ridiculed
as the utterances of mediocrity.
General Scott, the commander Of the
army, counseled to let the "erring sis
ters depart in peace" and the North
seemingly did not care a straw II they
did. Grant, Sherman. sheridan and
Hancock were not yet above the hori-
zon, and the pompous Beauregard was
in supreme control of the Southern
forces while General Lee had not yet
drawn his sword In defense of Virginia.
and Stonewall Jackson was still pro-
fessor in the University Of Virginia.
At length the gravity OF the situation
became apparent and the President is
sued a call for $1,000 men to serve for
six months and the Sixth Massachu-
setts Regiment was among the first to
respond. Their arrival in Baltimore in
tensihed the already over-wrought pop
ulace to such degree that all classes
.of citizens seized whatever they could
lay hands upon and hurled them into
ffla nh . f,a
ed and lodged the missiles.
The first car was allowed to pass
through, but the second was riddled be-
fore it had passed Jones Falls. Pratt
street had been torn up and the heavy
cobble stones supplied the mob with
ammunition just suited for the purpose
No attempt was made by the troops to
repel the furious assaults being made
from every direction until a number
were killed. Then the last company,
upon reaching Liberty street, halted
and the officer in command gave the
order to take aim, and arrant towards
as the mob was, broke incontinently
and fed.
Had the colonel Of the regiment done
this upon reaching President street
station, and formed his men in column
and marched through as a regiment,
the attack would never have been
made. 1t was the single companies
passing with long intervals that gave
the mob an advantage 1t was not slow
TO seize upon.
That night the city was in the hands
of the mob. Bridges were burned, the
city lights were out and the Governor
Of the State and the city officials alb
jectly entreated the leaders of the mob
to at least respect private property.
Suddenly it occurred to take Fort Nc
Henry and with a roar the mobIset Off
in that direction. But Major French.
In command, promptly placed battery
in the road and sent them notice that
he would fire with grape and canister
shot did they approach nearer the fort.
The mob, taking him at his word, dis
persed and made no other attempts
Meanwhile the troops were on their
way from the North and the route by
way of Havre de Grace and Annapolis
was taken TO reach Washington and in
a few days enough troops were concen-
trated at the Capital to protect the
city and Baltimore, being outhanked.
subsided into the quietest OF cities with
an enormous loss to her industrial in
terests, as the government withdrew all
its patronage, which throughout the
war was considerable.