Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/278

 2(j2 Southern Historical Society Papers.

some field pieces from a military school at Catonsville and brought them to town, but the principal of the school, a clergyman and a strong Union man, had spiked them.

The militia were called out, and 15,000 citizens were enrolled and put under the command of Colonel Isaac R. Trimble. All daylong companies of the State militia were arriving from the counties. The first to come was a company of riflemen from Frederick, under com- mand of Captain Bradley T. Johnson. Between 300 and 400 colored men offered their services to the Mayor. Early in the morning the City Council met in special session and appropriated $500,000, to be used under the direction of the Mayor in putting the city in a state of defense. The banks held a meeting, and a committee, consisting of John Hopkins, John Clark and Columbus O'Donnell, all of them Union men, waited on the Mayor and placed the whole sum in ad- vance at his disposal. Considerable money was contributed by indi- viduals, both Southern and Union men, for the same purpose. Later in the day a dispatch was received from the committee which had been sent to Washington giving assurance that troops would be sent around and not through the city. This dispatch gave much comfort; nevertheless the preparations for the defense of the city continued. Another committee, consisting of Senator Anthony Kennedy and J. Morrison Harris, was sent to Washington. They telegraphed back that they had seen the President, members of the Cabinet and Gen- eral Scott, and that orders would be sent to stop the passage of men through the city. Fort McHenry was at this time under command of Captain John C. Robinson, of the United States army. It was in a defenseless condition, and it was rumored that an attack would be made upon it by a mob on Saturday night. It was feared that if this was done the guns of the fort might be turned on the city, and naturally such an idea caused much disquiet. Police Commissioner John W. Davis visited the commandant and offered a guard of 200 men to be stationed on Whetstone Point to arrest any disorderly persons who might approach. Captain Robinson distrusted such a guard, and said they must not approach nearer the fort than the Catholic chapel or he would fire on them.

Mr. Davis talked with most of the officers and all of them were cordial and courteous except a young subaltern, who threatened, in case of attack, to direct the fire of a cannon at Washington's Monu- ment. To this threat Mr. Davis replied: " If you do that, and if a woman or child is killed, there will be nothing left of you but your