Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

the immediate presence of a rebel army within this Department and in the State of Maryland requires, as a military necessity, a resort to all the proper and usual means of defence and security. This security is to be provided against known hostilities, and opposition to the lawful and National Government, from every quarter and in every form. Traitors and disaffected persons within must be restrained, and made to contribute to the common safety; while the enemy in front is to be met and punished for this bold invasion.

Martial law is therefore declared and hereby established in the city and county of Baltimore, and in all the counties of the western shore of Maryland.

The Commanding General gives assurance that this suspension of the civil government within the limits defined shall not extend beyond the necessities of the occasion. All the civil courts, tribunals, and political functionaries of State, county, or city authority, are to continue in the discharge of their duties, as in time of peace, only in no way interfering with the exercise of the predominant power assumed and asserted by the military authority.

All peaceful citizens are requested to remain quietly at their homes and in the pursuit of their ordinary avocations, except as they may be possibly subject to calls for personal services, or other necessary requisitions for military purposes or uses hereafter.

All seditious language or mischievous practices tending to the encouragement of rebellion are especially prohibited, and will promptly be made the subject of observation and treatment. Traitorous and dangerous persons must expect to be dealt with as the public safety may seem to require.

To save the country is paramount to all other considerations. When the occasion for this proclamation passes by, no one will be more rejoiced than the Commanding General that he can revoke his order and return to the normal condition of a country at peace, and a Government sustained by a united and loyal people.

Orders.--Until further orders, no arms or ammunition shall be sold by any dealer or other person within the city and county of Baltimore without a permit from the General commanding the Military Deparment, or from such officer as shall be duly authorized to grant the same. Any violation of this order shall subject the party offending to arrest and punishment.

Until further orders, no person will be permitted to leave the city of Baltimore without a pass properly signed by the Provost-Marshal, and any one attempting to violate this order shall be promptly arrested and brought before the Provost-Marshal for examination.

Until further orders, no one will be permitted to pass the barricades or into or out of the city, between the hours of ten P. M. and four o'clock A. M., without giving the proper countersign to the guard in charge.

Until further orders no club-house or other place of like resort shall remain open, without a permission given by the General Commanding. Any attempt to violate this order will subject the club-house and property to seizure and occupation by the military, and the frequenters who engage in or encourage such violation, to arrest.

Until further orders, all bars, coffee-houses, drinking-saloons, and others places of like resort shall be closed between the hours of eight P. M. and eight A. M. Any liquor-dealer or keeper [329] of a drinking-saloon or other person selling intoxicating drinks who violates this order shall be put under arrest, his premises seized and his liquors confiscated for the benefit of the hospitals.

Until further orders, the General Commanding directs that the stores, shop, manufactories and other places of business other than apothecary shops and printing-offices of daily journals be closed at five o'clock P. M., for the purpose of giving patriotic citizens an opportunity to drill and make themselves expert in the use of arms.