HEADQUARTERS,
Annapolis, April 24, 1861.
Major-General PATTERSON:
DEAR SIR: After leaving you with Mr. Felton at Philadelphia,
I proceeded with the remnant of my command, one regiment having been sent
through Baltimore, of whose sad mishaps you have heard, and two others being at
Fortress Monroe, leaving with me but an imperfectly armed regiment of 800 men
to execute the suggestions so happily made by you to Governor Curtin – to
occupy and hold Annapolis and open a communication from thence to Washington
via the Junction.
Upon my arrival I found Captain Blake, the superintendent of
the Naval School, considerably alarmed for the safety of the frigate Constitution,
moored off the Academy as a practice ship, and having a crew of but thirty men.
Appreciating at once the necessity of having the ship to cover our connections,
as well as a strong desire to keep Old Ironsides out of the hands of those who
would be but too happy to raise their Confederate flag upon the Constitution as
the first ship of their hoped-for navy, I at once came alongside, and giving
the assistance of my whole command as well to guard the ship as to hoist out
her guns, I was happy to see her afloat outside the bar ready to do good
service. I put on board of her to guard her from an attempt at surprise, 125 of
my best men, and 25 more men to work her guns, upon which service they are
still absent. Sunday afternoon, in towing out the frigate, one of her men fell
overboard, and while drifting to pick him up the steamer Maryland, a steam
ferry-boat upon which was my command, ran aground, where she lay till Monday
night at 12 o'clock, in spite of the most persevering efforts to move her. Monday
morning about 8 o'clock the Seventh Regiment (New York) came up and I joined
them, and landed at the Navy School, against the protest of Governor Hicks,
copy of which I inclose.1 I had an interview with the Governor of
Maryland and the city authorities of Annapolis, in which I learned that the
company of the Annapolis and Elk Cliff [Ridge] Railroad had taken up the rails
upon their roads for the purpose of preventing passage of the troops to
Washington; and further, that no possible means of transport could be had here.
I immediately determined to seize upon the rolling-stock of the railroad and to
march on Washington, repairing the track as we marched. I found in my regiment
a number of persons competent as well to build a railroad as to run it, and
with the engines and cars, means of subsistence could be brought along without
any danger of fatiguing the men who were marching. I communicated this plan to Colonel Lefferts,
of the Seventh Regiment (New York), and directed him to detail two companies to
take and hold the depot and property in it, so that the engines might not be
disabled by detaching parts of them indispensable for use, during the night. I
detailed a sufficient force of engine men to put the train in order to start at
an early hour on Tuesday morning, believing the whole matter arranged, and left
with a steam-tug to get off my troops in the middle of the night at high tide
and bring them up to the wharf This was successfully done, and on landing in
the morning about 6 o'clock I found that my order to Colonel Lefferts had not
been executed, and received from him a communication marked A, and forwarded
herewith.2
Of the reasons for and propriety of this action on the part
of the council of officers of the Seventh Regiment I have no opinions to
express. The result of it was that we lost a day in opening communication with
Washington. Upon landing I immediately detailed two companies of Eighth
Massachusetts Regiment and took possession of the depot, giving a certified
inventory of the property taken. These companies, assisted by the road-men that
I had detailed, proceeded up the track and repaired [it] for about four miles,
when they encamped for the night. In the morning, after a consultation, Colonel
Lefferts marched with his regiment, together with the remainder of Colonel
Munroe's regiment, along the railroad toward Washington, making the track as
they went, and I have the honor to report that full communication is open
between Annapolis and the Junction, and I believe through to Washington, but of
that fact I hope to assure you before closing this report. I should have gone
forward myself with this to see it through, but the troops after [I] returned
arrived, and it seemed more necessary that I should remain to move the troops forward,
as I have done. Please find list of troops that have arrived and left Annapolis
up to the present time. They are all unprovided with camp equipage and small
stores, which will be necessary for their health. I was somewhat surprised to
hear from Captain Stedman that you had appointed General Kline [Keim] to take
my place here without any intimation to me of such appointment. It would be
personally agreeable to me to be sent forward after I have so arranged the
matters of detail that the post which Massachusetts men have won shall be
retained. My attention was early called to the state of the defenses of this
post, and I found them so defective against an interior enemy that a point
which entirely commands Fort Madison and
the town can be held upon the opposite side of the river; and indeed the mobs
were actually to bring a battery there to annoy the Constitution on the day on
which we took her out. Professor
Lockwood has therefore made a survey of the place, and in accordance with his
suggestions I have caused the hill to be occupied by 600 men from the Sixth New
York Regiment, with two howitzers. I have also retained the battalion of
rifles, Captain Devens, to aid holding the Academy, all the young gentlemen
being withdrawn from this place. These, I believe, will be sufficient for the
defense of the place until some guns for sea-coast defense shall be brought
here. I have not thought best to hurry the troops forward on the instant, as
they might not be able to stand the march, as the weather is very warm. They
will, however, be sent forward without delay. We are without intelligence from
Washington for three days, but I have an arrangement with the telegraph company
which I hope will [restore] communication. Colonel Keyes, Captain Blake, and
[Professor] Lockwood all agree in the propriety of this movement, considering
the great importance of this post. I have the honor further to report the
Harriet Lane lying below the bar, and the steamer Maryland, with two guns, also
plying in the bay; I think a sufficient force to preserve our water passage. I
have also the honor to inclose a memoranda* of some points betwixt Annapolis
and Washington, being a duplicate of one which I propose to furnish to General
Scott.
Trusting that my conduct may meet your approbation, I am,
very respectfully, your servant,
B. F. B[UTLER].
______________
1 See Vol. II, p. 586.
2 See p. 1272.
3 Not found.
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. 32-5; The War of the
Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies, Series I, Volume 51, Part 1 (Serial No.107 ), p. 1273-5
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