Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-10-04
CIVIL WAR ENDANGERS SITE
ALMOST CAUSES ANNAPOLIS
TO LOSE NAVAL ACADEMY
Depressing Scenes-Frieads Tors AsBn-
der-Tbe OId Constitution BTiBgs
the Midshipmea Back Home

Continuing his article on sPrepar-
| ing for the Navy" IN the Woman 4
National Magazine. Afr. Arthur Wal
| lace Dunn says
The civil war came very near cans-
| Ing Annapolis 10 lose the naval acad-
emy. TIE Chesapeake nas fn danger
Of being occupied almost any time BY
vessels Of the fOnfedsracy, and the
naval academy vas absolutely unDro-
tected. - IL was decided 70 take the
midsblpmeB ~ place u safety,
Newport. X. T., Was chosen, and for
four years the academy remained At
that place. AZ the close u the civil
war strong e00Et was made 70 con-
riDne Newport as the site II the acad :
emy. But the sentiment for the old
location proved 100 strong.
Officers ~ the navy who had DesD
educated Al annapolis Or who bad
been teachers a. the academy during
its early days. used All the influence
they cOuid bring - bear on the an
TUNED - lts present site. where -
will remain foFeyeFDOTc. imagine
that during the very bot days ~ sum
mer the new midsblDmeB wish that
Newport lad continued as the bOns
0f the academy, but most naval OFF,
GERS have . strong attaebmeDt for ia
place, and doubt very much whether
any man who has reeeiyed his eduez-
tfOn ~ Annapolis would urge differ
ept location. 50 much for youthful
surroundings.
The departure ~ tiIess..SuidsbfpmeD
from Annapolis vas one Of the saddest
events that eye4 occurred At the naval
academy. Before the step-Tas taken
there had been very depressing scenes,
as the mldshiprDen 81 the Southern
states from time u time followed
their states into the movement against
tIse Union. When the time came for
the entire academy 70 remove, those
who had been weighing deeply the
question Of duty 10 nation Or state, had
to make a decision. and they separated
ia q body. THE young men who re-
mained loyal 70 the nation parted with
their classmates in tears and deep
sorrow, for fast friends were thus torn
asunder. The youngsters were left
70 make their own choice after the OFF,
GERS had urged them 70 remain With
the nation, and when they left they
we're deprived Of their uniforms and
the anchor ornament which designates
tine saiIoFman.
Tie midshipmen who remained
were taken away on the old frigate
Constitution, the most famous ship of
the American navy. And when the
academy returned 10 Annapolis, the
old Constitution brought the midsbfp-
men back home. Sentiment clusters
abont the. ship To this day, and there
are officers who were midgbipmen
slien who will ever protest against
the destruction of the old Constitution
,as long as she will hold together.
The naval academy became a mil
itary post during the civil war. BY
reason Of the riots in Baltimore, 1t
was found inexpedieDt TO bring North
erB soldiers through that city 10
Washington. One morning In 1861
there was CONSERVATION at Annapolis
because large ship was seen coming
into the barbOT, the mouth Of the
Severn river. The mjdshipmen had
not left Annapolis at that time, and
the superintendent was much concern
ed for fear the ship was hostile. The
inhabitants Of Annapolis, many Of
whom sympatbized with the South,
were equally concerned lest the ship
might mean some disaster 10 them.
The ship was the ferry Maryland,
which Gen. BENJAMIN +. Butler had
seized 10 transport the Massachusetts
troops under his command around
Baltimore on their way to Washing
ton. The United States authorities
were highly pleased, but the COVER
nor OF Maryland was greatly disturbed,
as ne had protested against troops
entering the state. There was an in
terestfng and tart correspondence be-
tween Butler and the governor. But
Ter landed his troops on the naval
academy grounds, and this being Uni
ted States property, no objection could
be made by the state authorities. A
little later Butler announced TO the
Governor bis purpose Of marching his
command through Annapolis and on
10 Washington, and practically said TO
that Official Keep your people out
Of the way and do not interfere, and
they will not get hurt. /" quite large
number Of troops were taken through
Annapolis at that time.
lContfnucd).