July 8, 1861. |
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joined the Army of the Potomac.
When the necessity for their presence no longer existed, Banks withdrew his troops from the city, where they had been posted at the various public buildings and other places; and, late in July, he superseded General Patterson in command on the Upper Potomac, and his place in Baltimore was filled by General John A. Dix.
A few days later, Federal Hill was occupied, as we have observed, by the Fifth New York regiment (Zouaves), under Colonel Duryee (who was appointed a brigadier on the 31st of August), and by their hands the strong works known as Fort Federal Hill were constructed.
The turn of affairs in Maryland was disheartening to the conspirators.
They had counted largely upon the active co-operation of its citizens in the important military movements about to be made, when Johnston should force his way across the Potomac, and with their aid strike a deadly blow for the possession of the National Capital in its rear.
These expectations had been strongly supported by refugees from their State who had made their way to Richmond, and these, forming themselves into a corps called The Maryland Guard, had shown their faith by offering their services to the Confederacy.
These enthusiastic young men, blinded by their own zeal, assured the conspirators that the sympathies of a greater portion of the people of their State were with them.
This was confirmed by the arrival of a costly “Confederate” banner for the corps, wrought by women of Baltimore, and sent clandestinely to them by a sister secessionist.
This was publicly presented to the Guard
on Capitol Square, in front of the monument there erected in honor of Washington and the founders of Virginia.1 Ex-Senator Mason made a speech on the occasion, in which the hopes of the conspirators concerning Maryland were set forth.
“Your own honored State,” he said, “is with us heart and soul in this great controversy. . . . We all know that the same spirit which brought you here actuates thousands who remain at home.”
He complimented Chief Justice Taney for his sympathies with the conspirators, as one (referring to his action in the case of Merryman2) who had “stood bravely in the breach, and interposed the unspotted arm of Justice between the rights of the South and the malignant usurpation of power by the North.”
In conclusion, after hinting at a contemplated Confederate invasion of Maryland, in which the troops before him were expected to join,3 he told them they were to take the flag back to Baltimore.
“It came here,” he said, “in the hands of the fair lady who stands by my side, who brought it through the camps of the enemy with a ”
1 The Richmond Despatch of June 10 thus announced the event:--“Mrs. Augustus McLaughlin, the wife of one of the officers of the late United States Navy, who brought the flag from Baltimore, concealed as only a lady knows how, was present, and received the compliments of a large number of ladies and gentlemen who surrounded her upon the steps of the monument.” --Moore's Rebellion Record, vol. i., Diary, page 96.
On the banner were the following words:--“The Ladies of Baltimore present this flag of the Confederate States of America to the soldiers comprising the Maryland Regiment now serving in Virginia, as a slight testimonial of the esteem in which their valor, their love of right, and determination to uphold true constitutional liberty are approved, applauded, and appreciated by the wives and daughters of the Monumental City.”2 See page 451.
3 A correspondent of the Charleston Mercury, writing at Richmond, on the 4th of July, said:--“Every thing depends upon the success and movements of General Johnston. If he has orders from President Davis to march into Maryland, and towards Baltimore, the game commences at once. Lincoln will find himself encompassed by forces in front and rear. Cut off from the North and West, Washington will be destroyed, and the footsteps of the retreating army, though tracked in blood across the soil of Maryland--as they assuredly will be, in such an event — may possibly pave the way to an honorable peace.” --Duyckinck's War for the Union, i. 249.
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