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police, who took them to the Eastern station-house for safety.
A short time after the freight train was backed out of the depot and, finally, the soldiers returned to Philadelphia, rather than attempt to force a passage through the streets of Baltimore.
The mob was thus victorious, and all that night, and for several days after, the riotous element was practically in control of the city.
It is difficult to overestimate the strength and depth of the popular indignation excited by the riot at the North For days after the outbreak the newspapers teemed with bitter denunciation of the Baltimoreans, whose opposition to the passage of the troops was generally set down to “pure cussedness,” and all-prevailing sympathy with secession.
After the years which have rolled by this is seen to be a narrow and partisan view of the occurrence.
The people of the North had good reason, however, to think that henceforth Baltimore must be regarded as one of the enemy, for the attack upon the Northern troops was one of the bloodiest and most vindictive outbursts of popular feeling on record.
It confirmed all that had been said of the Baltimoreans, and lent a decided color of reason to the President's secret passage through the city.
After the departure of the Northern troops, the police department was informed that a freight car was at the depot containing a large quantity of arms and ammunition, which had been left there by the Massachusetts troops.
General James M. Anderson at once repaired to the depot, and with a large force of policemen took possession of the car. Subsequently the arms and accoutrements were removed and appropriated by the city authorities, who used them in arming the citizens and militia for the protection of the city.
On the afternoon of the riot a meeting of citizens was held in Monument Square, at which the Governor, the Mayor, and a number of prominent citizens made addresses, counseling moderation.
The indignation of the populace, however, was so great that the efforts at pacification met with little encouragement.
Seeing that the temper of the people was even angrier and more excited than before, the authorities decided to request the President to prevent, if he could, the further passage of troops through the town.
Accordingly, the following letter was dispatched to the President:
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Philadelphia. 1878.
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