Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/270

 254 Southern Historical Society Papers.

suffer my right arm to be torn from my body before I will raise it to strike a sister State." He had already assured the people that no troops should be sent from Maryland unless it might be for the de- fense of the national capital. These expressions will give some idea of public sentiment in those days, when a sovereign State counted for much more and the Federal Government for much less than they do to-day.

Everything, therefore, was ripe for the events of the igth of April. The mayor and the police commissioners knew the danger of sending troops through the city. It was believed they would come that day, and the city authorities made every eifort to learn the hour of their arrival, so that they might be protected. But all information was denied them by the military authorities and by the railroad officials.

THE SIXTH MASSACHUSETTS.

The Sixth Massachusetts regiment was the first regiment fully equipped and organized to respond to the President's call for troops. It had a full band and a regimental staff. It was mustered at Lowell on the morning of the i6th of April. Four companies were from that city, four were added from other cities, and when the regiment reached Boston, about midday, a company from that city was added, bringing up the strength of the regiment to about 700 men. They were drawn up before the Governor of Massachusetts, who addressed them, and then they left for the South, their whole journey until they had left Philadelphia behind being an ovation. On the i8th the regiment marched down Broadway, New York, from the railroad station to the upper part of the city to the Jersey City ferry. The march was like a holiday parade, and the troops were cheered by thousands of citizens who filled the sidewalks. In passing through New Jersey towns and through Philadelphia there was the same en- thusiasm. At or near Philadelphia an unarmed and ununiformed Pennsylvania regiment was added to the force, bringing the total number of the troops up to about 1,700 men. After leaving Phila- delphia the cheering ceased and the atmosphere changed. It was no longer a holiday trip, for there was every evidence that the troops were approaching the enemy's country. Soon after leaving Philadelphia the commander of the regiment received an intimation that the passage of his men through Baltimore might be resisted.