Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/336

322 He said with great feeling, 'Mr. Brown, I am not a learned man! I am not a learned man!' that his proclamation had not been correctly understood; that he had no intention of bringing on war, but that his purpose was to defend the capital, which was in danger of being bombarded from the heights across the Potomac."

On returning to the railroad station to leave for Baltimore, the Mayor received a dispatch from Mr. John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, as follows: "Three thousand northern troops are reported to be at Cockeysville. Intense excitement prevails. Churches have been dismissed and the people are arming in mass. To prevent terrific bloodshed the result of your interview and arrangement is awaited." The Mayor in reply sent a dispatch to Mr. Garrett, saying: "Be calm and do nothing until you hear from me again." Having dispatched this, Messrs. Brown, Brune, Wallis and Dobbin returned in haste to the President and exhibited to him Mr. Garrett's dispatch, which gave the President great surprise. The President summoned the Secretary of War and General Scott and urged the recall of the troops, saying he had no idea they would be there. Lest there should be the slightest suspicion of bad faith on his part in summoning the Mayor to Washington and allowing the troops to march on the city during his absence, he desired that the troops should, if it were practicable, be sent back at once to York or Harrisonburg. General Scott adopted the President's view, and an order was prepared by the Lieutenant-General to that effect and forwarded to Major Belger, who accompanied the Mayor and his colleagues back to Baltimore. The troops were ordered back to Harrisburg, thence to Philadelphia. From that city they were to go to Perryville, and thence as Major-General Patterson should direct.

The troops at Cockeysville, numbering 2,400, about half of them unarmed, did not receive their orders to return to Pennsylvania for several days. During the interval they were in sad plight, without food and proper, camp equipment. There was some sickness, due to want of food, and Marshal Kane sent