The Secessionists of Baltimore having torn up the railroad track leading from the Northern Depots to the Southern Depots, the military were obliged to march through the City. On the arrival of two Regiments, one from Massachusetts and the other from Philadelphia, on the 19th instant, an attack was made upon them by a mob, with stones, brick-bats & other missiles. This drew a fire from the soldiers, discharging their pieces into the crowd, killing live or six, and wounding many others – among them several innocent spectators. Three of the Massachusetts men were killed and eight wounded. The Philadelphia Regiment was unarmed, and but few of them had left the cars when the riot commenced – some of them, however, seem to have been roughly handled. The train was ordered back, and the Regiment returning to Philadelphia early on Sunday morning.
The Secessionists then proceeded to demolish the bridges on the railroad from the North, rendering them unavailable. The Gov. of Maryland and Mayor of Baltimore then united in a demand upon the President that he would not attempt to pass any more soldiers through Baltimore, the President replied that he would not do so in case no resistance was made to the transportation of soldiers through other parts of Maryland.
A town meeting of the citizens was then held, from the proceedings of which the reader will see that Maryland is in a state of revolution, and will follow Virginia.
The town meeting in Monument Square this afternoon drew an immense crowd. A State flag was hoisted.
Mayor Brown said that he was opposed to the call of the President in spirit and object, but as Maryland was still in the Union he had exerted himself to the utmost of his ability to protect the troops in their passage through the city. He, however, felt that this should not be, and he had telegraphed to the President urging that no more troops be sent through.
Governor Hick said that he was opposed to secession, but the right of revolution could not be disputed. It was a folly to attempt to subjugate the people of the South, and he hoped the North and the Administration would see the impracticability of doing so. He was still devoted to the Union, and he hoped to see a reconstruction of it. (Shouts of “No Never”) The Governor replied, that he should bow to the decision of the people of Maryland.
Several speeches were made by S. T. Wallis, W. S. Prestman, and others, justifying the determination of the people of Baltimore that no more Northern troops should invade the soil, to subjugate and coerce their brethern of the South. The speakers counselled peace, and urged that the laws should be respected and obeyed.
Baltimore and Washington Cities are both under Martial Law.
Clearfield Republican, Clearfield, PA
Baltimore
In 1861, a significant portion of Baltimore’s population was pro-Confederate. On April 19th, a mob of anti-war democrats and other southern sympathizers blocked trains carrying the 6th Massachusetts Militia, en-route to Washington, DC. When the troops detrained and continued their route on foot to the rail line to carry them to Washington, the crowd followed, blocked the marching column, and attacked them with paving stones and other materials, as well as with pistol shot. Several of the soldiers then fired into the crowd. Police were caught in the middle of the riot but eventually separated the rioters and soldiers. By the end of the riot, five soldiers and at least 12 of the mob were killed.