PHILADELPHIA, April
20th, 1861
Memorial of plan
and reasons for proceeding to Annapolis
His Excellency, GOVERNOR ANDREW
I have detailed Capt. Devereaux and Capt. Briggs with their
commands supplied with one day’s rations and 20 rounds of ammunition to take
possession of the Ferry Boat at Havre de Grace for the benefit of this
expedition. This I have done with the concurrence of the President and Master
of Transportation of the Road. Thus the 8th Regiment will remain at quarters
that they may get a little solid rest after their fatiguing march. I have sent
to know if the 7th Regiment (New York) will go with me. I propose to march
myself at the hour of 7 in the morning to take the regular 8 o’clock train to
Havre de Grace.
The citizens of Baltimore at a large meeting this evening
denounced the passage of Northern Troops; they have exacted a promise from the
President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad not to send troops over that road
through Baltimore, so that any attempt to throw troops into Baltimore entails a
march of forty miles and an attack upon a city of two hundred thousand
(200,000) inhabitants at the beginning of the march. The only way, therefore,
of getting communication with Washington for troops from the North is over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, or marching from the west. Commodore Du Pont at
the Navy Yard has given me instructions of facts in accordance with these
general statements upon which I rely. I have therefore thought that I could
rely upon these statements as to time it will take to proceed by marching from
Havre de Grace to Washington. My proposition is to join with Col. Lefferts of
the 7th Regiment of New York. I propose to take the Fifteen Hundred Troops to
Annapolis, arriving there to-morrow about 4 o’clock, and occupy the Capital of
Maryland, and thus call the state to account for the death of Massachusetts
men, my friends and neighbors.
If Col. Lefferts thinks it more in accordance with the tenor
of his instructions to wait rather than go through Baltimore, I still propose
to march with this regiment, I propose to occupy the town, and hold it open as
a means of communication. I have then but to advance by a forced march of
thirty miles to reach the Capital in accordance with the orders I at first
received, but which subsequent events, in my judgment, vary in their execution.
Believing from the Telegraphs that there will be others in great numbers to aid
me, being accompanied by officers of more experience who will be able to direct
the affair, I think it will be accomplished.
We have no light Batteries. I have therefore telegraphed you
to have the Boston Light Battery put on shipboard at once to-night to help me
in marching on Washington. In pursuance of this plan I have detailed Capts.
Devereaux and Briggs with their commands to hold the boat at Havre de Grace.
11 A.M. Col. Lefferts has refused to march with me. I go
alone at 3 o'clock P.M. to execute this imperfectly written plan. If I succeed,
success will justify me; if I fail, purity of intention will excuse want of
judgment or rashness.
B. F. BUTLER
SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and
Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the
Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 18-20
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