Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/271

 .1 /;/// 19th, 1861. 255

AMMUNITION SERVED OUT.

Thereupon he caused ammunition to be distributed and the arms loaded. He went through the cars composing the long train and issued an order as follows: " The regiment will march through Bal- timore in columns of sections, arms at will. You will undoubtedly be insulted, abused and perhaps assaulted, to which you must pay no attention whatever, but march with your faces square to the front and pay no attention to the mob, even if they throw stones, bricks or other missiles; but if you are fired upon any of you are hit your officers will order you to fire. Do not fire into any promiscuous crowds, but select any man whom you see aiming at you and be sure you drop him." If this order had been carried out and the troops had marched through in a body the trouble might not have occurred. At that time the only railroad from Baltimore to Washington was the Baltimore and Ohio. Trains coming from the East for Wash- ington were hauled by horses, one carat a time, from President Street Station up to Pratt, along Pratt to Howard street, and thence to Camden Station. Along this route was the scene of the riot. In- stead of disembarking at President street and marching in a body to Camden, the regular course was attempted, and this gave the mob the opportunity to attack the troops in detail. The train bringing the soldiers consisted of thirty-five cars. It arrived at President Street Station about n o'clock on the morning of Friday, igth of April. Six cars, drawn rapidly by horses, reached Camden Station, the first carload being received with jeers and hisses, but the last car was thrown from the track and delayed, the windows broken with paving stones, which had also struck some of the men. Colonel Jones was in one of the cars which got through. After the stones had been thrown at the sixth car the riot began in earnest, and among those who opposed the troops were some of the substantial men of the city. As carload after carload passed by the excitement grew more and more intense and the crowd on the street .increased rapidly and the passage of nine cars was obstructed by a cartload of sand which was dumped on the track by a party of merchants and clerks on Pratt street. At the head of Gay street dock some anchors were lying, and these were also dragged upon the track. One of the wealthy merchants of the town was afterward indicted by the Federal grand jury for participation in this act. But he was not tried. At the corner of Pratt and Gay streets pavers had been at