Baltimore Riots

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I. The Army Comes to Annapolis

The day after the Baltimore riots, Saturday, April 20th, the Massachusetts Eighth Infantry, led by General Butler arrived at Perryville, Maryland, on the north shore of the Susquehanna River. There was no bridge across the Susquehanna River so the railroad had a large ferry steamer, Maryland, stationed in Perryville to ferry the trains and their passengers across the river. The ferry had railroad tracks on its deck so the cars could be rolled onto the ferry for its trip across the river. The passengers didn’t even have to get out of their cars.

The President of the railroad, Samuel Felton, told General Butler that he would telegraph the Captain of the ferryboat and let him know the Eighth Massachusetts was …show more content…

“The excitement here is very great, and I think that you should take your men elsewhere. I have telegraphed to the Secretary of War, advising against your landing your men here.” Butler received this message just before going ashore for breakfast.

After breakfast, Butler detailed the Salem Zouaves, led by Captain Devereux, his best drilled company, to guard on board the Constitution. With his detailed crewmen on the Constitution now under the command of Lieutenant Rogers, the guns and their carriages were transferred to the steamer Maryland and much of the ballast was removed making the Constitution much lighter. They pulled her anchors, which were sunk in several feet of mud, and attached the Constitution to the Maryland and towed her to deeper waters near the mouth of the bay. Enroute the Constitution grounded again and with the help of a passing steamer pulled her free again and headed for deeper waters. Once in deep water at the mouth of the Severn the Maryland returned the deck guns to the Constitution and the old frigate was ready for …show more content…

The Colonel went ashore but left orders for the Boston to tie up to the Maryland and see if they could pull her free. They contacted the Maryland and waited for high tide while the troops on the Maryland tossed baggage and other object overboard to lighten the steamer. The Boston tied up to the Maryland and tried to pull her free, but all was in vain. The Maryland wouldn’t budge from the bar. They could see that the Massachusetts troops were grimy as the whole deck along with the soldiers was covered in