Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

by Montgomery Countians during
the Civil War was the stiff neck
:. from watching the Union and
Confederate armies tramp back
and forth, back and forth across
the land, to do battle elsewhere.
Before the war broke out,
while the emotions that surround
ed the slavery and right-to-secede
questions were still smoldering,
the wise men of Maryland for
saw the perilous position of the
Old Line State in the event of
civil war Maryland was bord-
er state on whose land, as North
ern and Southern forces marched
toward each other, the war
would be fought.
But it was impossible for Mary
land to align itself solidly with
either side. AS one historian says,
"Of the citizens of Maryland a
large majority favored the Union
cause, many were Indifferent, and
a few warm secessionists." Meet
ings of different citizens groups
produced conflicting resolutions.
On January 1, 1861, mass meet
ing was called at Rockville at
tended by John Brewer, Thomas
Griffith, Sr., E. ]. Hall, z. Wa
ters, Robert Sellman, w. B. Ho-
ward, John H. GassaWay, sc.
Viers, S. T. Stonestreet, P. Palm
err, B. Brush Roberts, John T.
Varrison, G. w. Dawson, R. w.
Carter, John T. Benson and G..
r. Braddock.
Resolutions Committee Chair.
man Richard ]. Bowie reported
the group in sympathy with the
South but declared Every sacri-
flee should be made before Mary
land consents to separate herself
from the Union" Other meetings
held throughout the state return
ed resolutions ranging from one
extreme to the other.
Then the pot boiled over. With
the firing at Fort Sumter on APP
ril II, 1861, the Civil War began.
And still Maryland couldn't make
up its mind. Countians R. B. Car
michael, William T. Goldsbor-
ough, and A. B. Davis attended
conference convention" in
Baltimore but no decision as to
Maryland's course was made.
Another convention, with E. B.
Hutton, Warner Welsh, Samuel
\ c. Viers, Lemuel Clements, Col.
Robert T. Dade, and Francis Vale
har representing Montgomery
County, recommended discussion
with sister border state, Virginia.
Since the State of Maryland ap-
parently couldn't make up its
own mind, in September its mind
was made up by Union forces
under the command of Major
General N. P. Banks. Fearing
that the converting legislature
was on the verge of voting to Sc
cede, the War Department order
ed Gen. Banks to march from his
camp near Jamestown to Fred
erick and there arrest all legis-
lators suspected of having South
ern feelings.
Throughout the war, but par.
ticularly in the first year, the op-
posing armies battled continuous
ly along the banks of the Poto'
mac River in the Harpers Ferry
Y Charles ToWn-Shephardstown ar.
ca. Alternately one side swept
forward, then the other. During
two or three extreme movements,
!. troops were seen in the PooleS-
vile vicinity. Once a sharp
skermish broke out at Whites
Ferry when harrasing action
moved down river to this point.
Then, suddenly in the Summer
of. 1862, the Southern armies un-
der Robert E. Lee invaded Mary
lard. According to one historian
this was the signal for wild cele'
bration. "Old and young along
the route of march thronged the
roadsides with banners and hand
kerchiefS waving. The bands
played, colors waved, men shout
ed, women wept, and all was a
scene of dust, confusion and
noise. the bands constantly
played Maryland, My Maryland
until the sound was oppressive
In a letter to the people OF
Maryland, Gen. Lee stated clear
ly and courteously his reasons for
invasion. THE people of the Con-
federate States have long watch
ed with the deepest sympathy the
wrongs and outrages that have
been inflicted upon the citizens of
the Commonwealth, allied to the
A State of the South by the strong
= est social, political, and economic
ties. our army has come among
you, and is prepared to assist you
with the power of its arms in
regaining the rights of which you
have been despoiled. it is for
YOU to decide your destiny, free