Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott to Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler, April 26, 1861

Headquarters of the Army, WASHINGTON, April 26th, 1861

General BUTLER

The undersigned, General-in-Chief of the Army, has received from the President of the U. States the following instructions respecting the legislature of Maryland now about to assemble at Annapolis, viz.:

It is “left to the Commanding General to watch and await their action, which, if it shall be to arm their people against the United States, he is to adopt the most prompt and efficient means to counteract, even if necessary to the bombardment of their cities, and, in the extremest necessity, suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.”

In the absence of the undersigned, the foregoing instructions are turned over to Brig. General B. F. Butler, of the Mass. Volunteers, or other Officer commanding at Annapolis, who will carry them out in a right spirit, — that is, with moderation and firmness. In the case of arrested individuals, notorious for their hostility to the United States, the prisoners will be safely kept and duly cared for; but not surrendered except on the order of the Commander aforesaid.

WINFIELD SCOTT.

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. 43

Simon Cameron to Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, September 11, 1861

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, September 11, 1861.

 Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS, Commanding near Darnestown, Md.:

GENERAL: The passage of any act of secession by the legislature of Maryland must be prevented. If necessary, all or any part of the members must be arrested. Exercise your own judgment as to the time and manner, but do the work effectively.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SIMON CAMERON,

Secretary of War,

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 5 (Serial No. 5), p. 193

Diary of John Hay: April 25, 1861

At the request of the Tycoon, who imagined he had seen something significant steaming up the river, I went down to the Navy Yard. Saw Dahlgren, who at once impressed me as a man of great coolness and power. The boat was the Mt. Vernon, who reported everything right in the river.

About noon the Seventh Regiment came. I went to the Depot and saw Lefferts, who communicated the intelligence of their peaceful passage, with which I straightway gladdened the heart; of the Ancient. Cale Smith was with him as I returned. He was just reading a letter from Hamlin advising the immediate manufacture of rifled cannon from the Chicopee Works. Lincoln seemed to be in a pleasant, hopeful mood, and, in the course of the conversation, partially foreshadowed his present plan. He said: “I intend, at present, always leaving an opportunity for change of mind, to fill Fortress Monroe with men and stores; blockade the ports effectually; provide for the entire safety of the Capital; keep them quietly employed in this way, and then go down to Charleston and pay her the little debt we are owing her.”

. . . . General Butler has sent an imploring request to the President to be allowed to bag the whole nest of traitorous Maryland legislators and bring them in triumph here. This the Tycoon, wishing to observe every comity even with a recusant State, forbade.

To-day we got a few letters and papers and felt not quite so forlorn. . . .

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 24-5

Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler to Governor Thomas H. Hicks, April 23, 1861

Headquarters Third Brigade, U. States Militia, ANNAPOLIS, MD., April 23rd, 1861

To His Excellency THOMAS H. HICKS, Governor of Maryland

SIR: You were credibly informed that I have taken possession of the Annapolis and Elk-Ridge Railroad. It might have escaped your notice, but at the official meeting which was had between your Excellency and the Mayor of Annapolis and the Committee of the Government and myself, as to my landing my troops, it was expressly stated as the reason why I should not land, that my troops could not pass the Railroad because the Company had taken up the rails, and they were private property. It is difficult to see how it could be that if my troops could not pass over the Railroad one way the members of the Legislature could pass the other way. I have taken possession for the purpose of preventing the carrying out of the threats of the mob as officially represented to me by the Master of transportation of the Railroad of this City, “That if my troops passed over the Railroad the Railroad should be destroyed.”

If the Government of the State had taken possession of the Railroad in any emergency I should have long waited before I entered upon it. But, as I had the honor to inform your Excellency in regard to another insinuation against the laws of Maryland, I am here arrived to maintain those laws if your Excellency desires, and the peace of the United States against all disorderly persons whatever.

I am endeavoring to save and not to destroy, to obtain means of transportation so I can vacate the Capitol prior to the sitting of the Legislature, and not be under the painful necessity of encumbering your beautiful City while the Legislature is in session. I have the honor to be,

Your Obdt. Servt.,

BENJ. F. BUTLER, Brig. Genl. Comdg.

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. 28-9

Governor Thomas H. Hicks to Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler, April 23, 1861

State of Maryland, Executive Chamber, ANNAPOLIS, April 23, 1861

To Brigadier General B. F. BUTLER

SIR: Having, in pursuance of the power invested in me by the constitution of Maryland, summoned the Legislature of the State to assemble on Friday, the 26th instant, and Annapolis being the place in which, according to law, it must assemble; and having been credibly informed that you have taken military possession of the Annapolis and Elk-Ridge Railroad, I deem it my duty to protest against this step, — because, without at present assigning any other reason, I am informed that such occupation of said road will prevent the Members of the Legislature from reaching this city.

Very Respectfully Yours,

THos. H. HICKs

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. 28

Major Wilder Dwight: September 19, 1861

pleasant Hill, September 19, 1861.

There is no reason why I should write you a letter, except that Captain Abbott is going to Washington and can carry it. With such a motive, let me say, then, that all goes well with us. That the weather is certainly the most trying in the world, — hot, bright, damp-aired, blazing days. Cold, heavy, foggy, shivering nights. If we don't have chills and fever it will be because we take good care of ourselves, which we try to do. The regiment is all right, and improves. My court-martial drags along a lazy and feeble existence. It does severe military justice upon offenders, and one duty is as well as another, though now that I am on my legs again, I should like to resume regular regimental life once more.

Our officers, and indeed the regiment itself, are very impatient of the quietness of this life; but there is no other way. You would like to see the ovens that the men have built of mud and straw and stones, with the fires blazing from their wide mouths. You would like to see the rich brown coffee come out of my roaster. In short, you would like to see plenty reign as it now does, since the men have got nothing to think of but how to feed themselves. But if you thought again, how little we are doing to teach men to take care of themselves on the march and in active duty, you would see that we are still lame, and probably shall be for many months, until experience has rubbed its lessons into the memory and habits of both officers and men.

I do not know why I write this, except that such problems and results are constantly occupying my mind.

You see the exploit at Frederick did not amount to much. The government alarmed the Legislature by making arrests in Baltimore, and by sending up policemen, so that what promised to be quite a Cromwellian stroke was only the seizure of a few straggling legislators, who were frightened before they were hurt. Secessionism, however, is dead in Maryland.

–––– has returned, disappointed that he did not bag more game. I, who was going with him, as I mentioned in my last letter, on this secret expedition to Frederick, am consoled since the result was no larger.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 105-6

Fitz Henry Warren to James S. Pike, February 6, 1860

BURLINGTON, IOWA, February 6, 1860.

James: I send you a published letter of an aged gentleman, the sands of whose political life are nearly run out. The style, as you cannot fail to notice, is copied from Washington’s Farewell Address: some may think it superior to that outlawed production. Mr. Dana is not to be permitted to read it unless his family physician is present, with burnt brandy and smelling salts. Since Horace “saw visions and dreamed dreams” out here in the land of divine inspiration, the contents, perhaps, may be broken to him gently.

Do tell me, confidentially, if Fremont will probably be the nominee. Mule-steaks can now be got cheap, and I wish to lay in a stock for the campaign.

I see the Tribune “squawks” a little over the committees. It was a very glorious victory, that election of Speaker. By the way, why don't you bring out Winter Davis for President? After the action of the Maryland legislature I think there is no doubt of his getting that electoral vote. Dana and Ripley appear to be quite well thought of down in Mississippi. Will one of them consent to take the nomination of Vice? That would take Mississippi, certain. With a pledge to make Helper Secretary of State we could bag North Carolina. In that case I shall insist on having Mr. Randall, of Philadelphia, Secretary of War; being in the “conservative zone” that would be all right. But I weary you.

Adieu.

Fitz-henry Warren.

Is Henry C. Carey temporal or eternal — “a spirit of health or a goblin damned?”

SOURCE: James Shepherd Pike, First Blows of the Civil War: The Ten Years of Preliminary Conflict in the United States from 1850 to 1860, p. 485

XXXVIIth Congress -- First Session

WASHINGTON, May 7.

SENATE. – Mr. McDougal from the naval committee, reported a bill for the relief of Capt. D. G. Farragut.  The bill authorizes the payment of advances made by him while in California.  It passed.

A committee from the House appeared and impeached Judge Humphreys of Tenn.

The president said the Senate would take proper order in the premises.

HOUSE. –Mr. Elliott from the committee on commerce, reported a bill establishing a port of entry and delivery in the collection district of Beaufort S. C., at or near Hilton Head, to be called the Port of Port Royal, providing for the appointment of a collector at a salary of $1,500 per annum, and for weighers, guagers; &c.

Mr. Elliott remarked that a letter from the Secretary had been sent to the committee, stating the importance of this measure.  The bill was passed.

Mr. Crisfield caused to be read the resolution of the Maryland Legislature, appropriating $10,000 for the relief of the families of those Massachusetts 6th, who suffered by the 19th of April riot in Baltimore, and the response of the Massachusetts Legislature in acknowledgment of the generous sympathies and kind fraternal feelings they exhibited, which should always prevail among the States of the Union.

Mr. Crisfield said these proceedings afforded some sign of a restoration of peaceful relations, while we were receiving accounts of the glorious success of our arms.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 8, 1862, p. 1

Requested to Resign

BALTIMORE, Jan. 26. – Resolutions were introduced into the Maryland Legislature Saturday requesting Senators Pearce and Kennedy to resign.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

Baltimore, March 5 [1862]

Hon. Reverdy Johnson was to-day elected U. S. Senator by the Maryland Legislature for six years from March next.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 1

Nomination for Senator

BALITOMORE, March 4.

The Maryland Legislature met in caucus last night, and nominated Reverdy Johns for U. S. Senator, on the 10^th ballot.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 5, 1862, p. 1