The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-05-03
Third Maine Iniantry's March Through
Baltimore

the Sixth Massachusetts, Infantry,
while marching through Baltimore.
Maryland, enroute for Washington.
three of the soldiers killed. Ia de-
Tense the soldiers fired on the mob,
killing eleven land wounding many
others. Te prevent further trouble
and bloodshed without accomplishing
any favorable results for the Union
cause, troops were transported to
| Washington by other routes until
June Of that year when 1t was decided
to try again the Baltimore route. 1t
was the lot of the Third Maine Regi-
ment to be the first to march through
the city after the bloody experience
that befell the Sixth Massachusetts,.
The citizens Of Baltimore were quite
evenly divided in their attitude to
the Union cause. Some extremely
hostile while others were as firmly
in favor. Like as they were in the
border states OF Missouri and Ken
lucky, enlistments in Maryland were
taking place in both the Union and
Confederate Armies. Near neighbors
and even families were divided in SEN
tfment and extreme bitterness pre-
vailed that was not so fully realized
in the north and extreme south.
In passing through the city trains
did not run directly through that con-
veyed the soldiers. They were obliged
to march more than a mile through
some of the principal streets, disem-
barking on the east side and going
aboard another train on the west side
of the city.
The Third Maine was mustered into
the United States service June 4, at
Augusta and the next morning left for
Washington, going by train to Fall
River, Mass, thence by boat to New
York City; thence by train to the Ma
tional Capitol. Col O. o. Howard
was in command Of the regiment. Col.
Howard gradually won promotion to
| the command of brigade then diyi-
sion, then the Eleventh Corps and
lastly. the right wing of Shdrman's
army in it's famous march to the sea
When about ten miles from Balti-
more the train came to a stop, the
men were ordered from the cars and
| formed in line, ten rounds Of cart
| ridges given to each with an order
| to load This was our first prepara-
tion for the real warfare that was
| to follow. Then came the instruc-
tions from Col. Howard. He said
that he had sent a message to the
mayor of Baltimore that the regiment
one thousand strong. was coming to
march through the city over the same
bn 81 h uot q
marched. If a hostile shot was fired,
brick bat thrown or man of the
regiment injured. ne should order the
men to open fire and the citizens OF
Baltimore would be responsible for
the result He further instructed
the officers that the march would be
by platoOns and be sure and keep In
platoon distance so they could wheel
into line either to right or left and
open fire. II occasion required it, No
matter, how much rebel display might
be made in shouting for the southern
Confederacy, or. waving the rebel
flags, no notice would be taken, but
the first man injured the fight would
begin, and il 1t came to that we may
as we'll begin in Baltimore as any
where else. AS the train rolled into
the outer section of the city 1t came
to stop and on leaving the cars the
command fell in, forming In regiment
al column. and Immediately Wheel
ing into column by platoons the
march began.
Twenty platoons with fifty in a
platoon made formidable appearance
while marching with loaded guns and
bayonets fixed, through the city. 1t
must have dampened the frey south
ern element when 1t was we'll known
that IL a mob began the fight as 1t
did when the sixth Massachusetts
went through the streets, the result
would be greater bloodshed and loss
OF life. There was waving of rebel
flags from the windows and many a
hurrah for JEFF Davis and the South
ern Confederacy, but not shot was
fired nor a man injured. 1t was very
evident that the caution Col. Howard
sent to the mayor prevented serious
trouble. Other regiments soon fol-
lowed the Third Maine on their way
to the front without meeting any re-
sistance at Baltimore.
S. F. EMERSON.