Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-04-19
ANNIVERSARY OF FIGHT.

Just 80 years ago today the first
blood in the civil war was spilled in
the streets of Baltimore.
Then the city was in a turmoil, fam
lilies were divided on the issue OF sec
cession, and the passage through tue
city of the Sixth Massachusetts, Regl-
ment was the signal for an outbreak
OF rioting in which several of the sol
diers were killed aud in which the
soldiers shot down number Of Bal
timoreans, and for time other and
far more bloody riots seemed imml-
nent.
Not many men are now living in
Baltimore who remember the stirring
happenings on that memorable day 90
years ago Such of these as arc now
there were hardly more than boys at
the time.
The troops had arrived at the Presi-
dent street station of the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
about noon and started for Camden
station, where they were to take a
train for Washington, it being intended
to make the trip through the city III
detached railway coaches drawn by
horses.
The news Of the arrival OF tue sol
diers had spread through the city and
crowds gathered all along the route.
Baltimore was strongly southern in its
feeling and the crowds were decidedly
hostile. On Pratt street, near Gay, a
barricade was built across the tracks
and car was turned back, the driver
htching his horses to the back end of
the vehicle and driving back TO the
station as fast az he could go. The
troops there turned ont, formed and
began the march to Camden station.
The first fight occurred near Presi-
dent street depot. Some one produced
Confederate fag and marched ahead
Of the Massachusetts, soldiers for about
two blocks. Some northern sympa
thizers attacked the fag-bearers aud
nearly destroyed the flag. This resulted
in hot fight between the northern
and southern sympathizers, in which
the southernels won, and the ad-
herents Of the north sought refuge
behind the troops, who were then
stoned. At the Pratt street bridge the
soldiers began firing, the first man
shot being Francis y, Ward, who
afterward became a captain in the Con-
federate army.
Mayor George William Brown, who
had been at Camden station with Police
Marshal Kane and a detachment of
policemen protecting the troops,
learned of the trouble on Pratt street
and hurried there alone. leaving word
with the marshal to follow with his
men. His presence had quoting ef
feet on the mob, but not for long. The
crowd had been thoroughly aroused
and was pursuing the soldiers and ston-
ing them. The soldiers replied to these
attacks by firing at the crowd, some
times over their shoulders. Nearly
one e-tenth Of the 22O soldiers were serl.
ously hurt and some we're killed. The
soldiers continued to fire at will, and at
Pratt and South streets several citizens
were seen to fall, either killed or seri-
ously wounded.
The train bearing the troops started
off for Washington about O'Clock in
the afternoon. As it pulled out it
passed Mr. Robert W. Davis, a we'll
known merchant. who was standing be.
side the tracks talking to friend. He
was ignorant of what had happened in
the city and shook his fist at the sol
diers. One of the Massachusetts men
poked his musket out Of window and
shot Mr.. Davis, killing MIN instantly.
1t was this fight in the streets Of hi
native city that gave James Ryder Ran
dali the inspiration for his world famous
poem, Maryland, Ny Maryland. :"
Mr.. Randall was only % years old at
the time Baltimore Sun.