Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

“Oh, well,” said I, “I have plenty of sailor men from the town of Marblehead, where their fathers built the Constitution.”

“Well,” said he, “can you stop and help me?”

“I must stop,” I replied. “I can go no further at present, and I propose to stop here and hold this town.”

“Oh, well,” said he, “you can do that as long as we can keep off any force by sea. This peninsula is connected with the mainland by a little neck not half a mile wide, and a small body of troops there posted, can hold off a large force. Now, General,” he added, “won't you come over with me and take breakfast, and then we can talk of this matter wider.”

I accepted his invitation, and after consultation with him, I assured myself that with my force I could hold the place for some time to come, at least long enough for reinforcements to get to me from the North, and thus against all the efforts possible to shut off troops from the capital. I then came to the conclusion to hold the town, and did so, and from that time forth Annapolis was in the hands of the Union side.

Early on the morning of Sunday the 21st, I breakfasted at headquarters with CommodoreBlake and Mrs. Blake, and their son, who was then an officer in the United States navy. After a breakfast eaten with a rapidity which astonished the accomplished wife of the commodore, I got the first glimpse of what a civil war meant. I was beginning to say something to Commodore Blake about getting the Constitution out of her dock. As I was speaking, I caught the eye of Mrs. Blake, and saw that I was saying something that I ought not to say. I changed the topic of conversation at once into a descant upon the peculiar toothsomeness of deviled hard-shelled crabs, which formed a considerable portion of my breakfast. Meanwhile Lieutenant Blake, the son, rose and went out, as did his father, leaving the lady and myself at the table. Then she remarked: “General, I observed that you took the hint I tried to give you to keep the conversation upon general topics, and I think it my duty now, however painful it is, to give you the reason. My son, I regret to say, sides with secession; and while I feel certain that nothing you could say would be communicated to the enemies of the country by him, yet we find lately that one cannot be too careful.”