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| Federal Hill in May, 1861.1 |
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on the 19th of April, that his regiment should again march through that city, and now it was invited to that duty.
Toward the evening of the 13th, the entire Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, and a part of the New York Eighth, with the Boston Light Artillerymen and two field-pieces — about one thousand men in all — and horses belonging to the General and his staff, were on a train of cars headed toward Harper's Ferry.
Before this train was a short one, bearing fifty men, who were ordered up to Frederick to arrest Winans.
When these trains moved up along the margin of the Patapsco Valley, a spy of the Baltimore conspirators started for that city with two fast trotting horses, to carry the important: information.
The trains moved slowly for about two miles, and then backed as slowly to the Relay House, and past it, and at twilight had backed to the Camden Street Station in Baltimore.
Intensely black clouds in the van of an approaching thunder-storm were brooding over the city, threatening a
fierce tempest, and few persons were abroad, or aware of this portentous arrival.
The Mayor was informed of it in the course of the evening, and at once wrote a note to General Butler, saying that the sudden arrival of a large body of troops would create much surprise, and he would like to know whether the General intended to remain at the station, that the police might be notified, and take proper precautions for preserving the peace.
Butler and his troops had disappeared in the gloom when the messenger with this note arrived at the Station; but the inquiry was fully answered, to the astonishment of the whole city, loyal and disloyal, early the next morning, by a proclamation from the General in the columns of the faithful Clipper, dated “Federal Hill, Baltimore, May 14, 1861,” in which it was announced that a detachment under his command occupied the city, “for the purpose, among other things, of enforcing respect and obedience to the laws, as well of the ”
1 this is a view of Federal Hill before General Butler occupied it. It was so named, because, upon its summit, there was a grand celebration in honor of the final ratification of the “Federal” or National Constitution, in 1788. it overlooks the harbor; and upon it was a telegraphic station, the old-fashioned semaphorie apparatus being used. It is seen toward the left of the picture.
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