Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

The arrival of the Massachusetts troops was just in time to save the Constitution. Communication was speedily opened between General Butler and Captain Blake, and a hundred of the troops, who were seamen at home, with the Salem Zouaves as a guard, were detailed to assist in getting the Constitution from the wharf, and putting her out beyond the bar in a place of safety. With the help of the Maryland, acting as a tug, this was accomplished. That venerable vessel, in which Hull, and Bainbridge, and Stewart had won immortal honors in the Second War for Independence, was built in Boston, and was first manned by Massachusetts men; now she was preserved to the uses of the Government, for whose sovereignty she had gallantly fought, by the hands of Massachusetts men. “This,” said General Butler, in an order thanking the troops for the service, “is a sufficient triumph of right; a sufficient triumph for us. By this the blood of our friends, shed by the Baltimore mob, is so far avenged.” We will add, that the Constitution was soon afterward taken to New York; and when the naval school was removed to Newport, Rhode Island, she became a school-ship there.

In assisting to get out the Constitution, the Maryland grounded on a sand-bank. The suspected captain was confined, and the vessel was put under the management of seamen and engineers from among the Massachusetts troops.¹ There she lay helpless all that day and the next night, to the great discomfort of her passengers. Her water-casks were nearly emptied, and their provisions were almost exhausted. In the mean time Governor Hicks, who was in Annapolis, and still under the malign control of the secessionists, was urging Butler not to land “Northern troops.” “The excitement here is very great,” he said; “and I think that you had better take your men elsewhere.” Butler, in reply, spoke of his necessities and his orders, and took the occasion to correct the Governor's sectional phraseology by saying of his force: “They are not ‘Northern troops;’ they are a part of the whole militia of the United States, obeying the call of the President.” This was the root of the matter. Therein was the grand idea of nationality as opposed to State Supremacy, in which the General acted throughout with the clearest advantage.

Butler now went ashore, and had a personal conference with the Governor and the Mayor of Annapolis. “All Maryland,” they said, “is at the point of rushing to arms. The railway is broken up, and its line guarded by armed men. It will be a fearful thing for you to land and attempt to march on Washington.” --“I must land,” said the General, “for my troops are hungry.” --“No one in Annapolis will sell them any thing,” replied these authorities of the State and city. Butler intimated that armed men were not always limited to the necessity of purchasing food when famishing; and he gave both magistrates to understand that the orders and demands of his Government were imperative, and that he should land and march on the Capital as speedily as possible, in spite of all opposition. At the same time