Headquarters,
Department of Annapolis, April 29th, 1861
Col. E. D. TownsEND,
Asst. Adj. Gen’l., Headquarters of the Army, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The 3rd Battalion of rifles is an independent Batt. under
the command of a major, & forms no part of any Mass. regiment. I specially
desire they may remain here for the defense of this Post, they having been
instructed for that purpose. I learn by the master of Transportation that the
road is badly guarded from the junction to Bladensburg. I have ordered Col.
Bryan of 25th N. York to use his command of 500 men for that duty. I shall
direct him to make his Headquarters at Laurel Factory. I will send no more
troops until further orders.
By order of Brig.
Gen. 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. 54
