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he assured them that peaceable citizens should not be molested, and that the laws of the
State should be respected.
And more.
He was ready to co-operate with the local authorities in suppressing a slave insurrection, or any other resistance to law. The Governor contented himself with simply protesting against the landing of troops as unwise, and begged the
General not to halt them in
Annapolis.
All the night of the 21st, the
Maryland lay aground, and immovable by wind or tide.
At dawn on the 22d, another steamer appeared approaching.
It was the
Boston, bearing the New York Seventh Regiment.
Colonel Lefferts had become convinced that he could not pass through
Baltimore, so he chartered this steamer at
Philadelphia with the intention of going to
Washington by way of the
Potomac.
They embarked at four o'clock in the afternoon.
Only a few officers were intrusted with the secret; the men had no knowledge of their route.
Quietly they passed down the
Delaware to the ocean, on a beautiful April evening, and entered the waters of
Virginia between its great Capes, Charles and Henry.
Informed of batteries near
Alexandria, and finding no armed vessel to convoy the
Boston,
Colonel Lefferts deemed it prudent to follow
General Butler to
Annapolis; so they went up the
Chesapeake, and came in sight of the grounded
Maryland at dawn.
The Seventh cheered the old flag seen at her fore, and the two regiments soon exchanged greetings.
The
Boston now attempted to get the
Maryland from the ground.
For many hours both regiments worked faithfully, but in vain.
The
Massachusetts  |
|
Landing at the Naval Academy1 grounds. |
troops were without a drop of liquid of any kind to drink for twelve hours, and were suffering intensely.
Finally it was agreed that the
Boston should land the Seventh at the Naval Academy's wharf, and then take the Eighth from the
Maryland and put them ashore at the same place.
This was done,
