Harper’s Weekly, May 4, 1861
Note: This article is posted on the 160th anniversary of the event being reported rather than the anniversary of the article. (Usually, articles are posted here 160 years after original publication.)
On page 283 we publish an illustration of the First Blood—viz., the conflict between the Baltimore mob and the Massachusetts regiment on 19th April. The Baltimore Sun of April 20 says :
“Yesterday morning the excitement which had been gradually rising in this city for some days, with reference to the passage of Northern volunteer troops southward, reached its climax upon the arrival of the Massachusetts and other volunteers, some from Philadelphia, at President Street depot, at half past ten o’clock. A large crowd had assembled, evidently to give them an unwelcome reception.
” Six of the cars had succeeded in passing on their way before the crowd were able to accomplish their purpose of barricading the track, which they now began to effect by placing large, heavy anchors, lying in the vicinity, directly across the rails. Some seven or eight were borne by the crowd and laid on the track, and thus the passage of the cars was effectually interrupted.
“Having accomplished this object, the crowd set to lustily cheering for the South, for Jefferson Davis, South Carolina, and secession, and groans for sundry obnoxious parties. In the mean while, the troops thus delayed at the depot remained quietly in the cars until tired of their inaction, and apprehending a more formidable demonstration, they came to the conclusion to face the music and march through the city.
“They accordingly evacuated the cars, and rapidly gathering on the street north of the depot, formed in line and prepared to make the attempt. The word was given to ‘march,’ and the head of the line had advanced some fifteen paces, when it was driven back upon the main body by the immense crowd, still further increased by a body of men who marched down to the depot bearing at their head a Confederate flag.
” Eight of the cars started from the President Street depot, and six passed safely to the Camden station. The other two soon returned, the track in the mean time having been obstructed at the corner of Pratt and Gay streets by anchors, paving stones, sand, etc., being put on it by the crowd. Attempts had previously been made to tear up the track, but the police by strenuous efforts prevented it. A cart-load of sand, which was being driven along, was seized and thrown upon the track.
” After considerable delay it was determined to make the attempt to march the remaining troops through the city, only about sixty of whom were supplied with arms. The remainder were recruits, and occupied second-class and baggage cars.
“At the head of this column on foot, Mayor Brown placed himself, and walked in front, exerting all his influence to preserve peace.
“Just before the movement was made from the cars a large crowd of persons went down President Street with a Southern flag and met the troops as they emerged from the cars. The Southern flag was then carried in front of the column, and hooting and yelling began, and as soon as the troops turned out of Canton Avenue they were greeted with a volley of stones.
“At the corner of Fawn Street two of the soldiers were struck with stones and knocked down; one of them was taken by the police to the drug store of T. J. Pitt, at the corner of Pratt and High streets, and the other to the eastern police station.
“The yelling continued, and the stones flew thick and fast. At Pratt Street bridge a gun was fired, said by policeman No. 71 to have been fired from the ranks of the soldiers. Then the crowd pressed stronger, until the body reached the corner of Gay Street, where the troops presented arms and fired. Several persons fell on the first round, and the crowd became furious. A number of revolvers were used, and their shots took effect in the ranks. People then ran in every direction in search of arms, but the armories of the military companies of the city were closely guarded and none could be obtained. The firing continued from Frederick Street to South Street in quick succession, but how many fell can not now be ascertained.
“From Gay to South Street, on Pratt, the fight with the soldiers who marched, or rather ran, through the town, was terrific. Large paving stones were hurled into the ranks from every direction, the negroes who were about the wharf in many instances joining in the assault. At Gay Street the soldiers fired a number of shots, though without hitting any one, so far as could be ascertained. After firing this volley the soldiers again broke into a run, but another shower of stones being hurled into the rank at Commerce Street with such force as to knock several of them down, the order was given to another portion of them to halt and fire, which had to be repeated before they could be brought to a halt. They then wheeled and fired some twenty shots, but from their stooping and dodging to avoid the stones, but four or five shots took effect, the marks of a greater portion of their balls being visible on the walls of the adjacent warehouses, even up to the second stories. Here four citizens fell, two of whom died in a few moments and the other two were carried off, supposed to be mortally wounded.
“As one of the soldiers fired he was struck with a stone and knocked down, and as he attempted to rise another stone struck him in the face, when he crawled into a store, and prostrating himself on the floor, clasped his hands and begged piteously for his life, saying that he was threatened with instant death by his officers if he refused to accompany them. He said one half of them had been forced to come in the same manner, and he hoped all who forced others to come might be killed before they got through the city. He plead so hard that no further vengeance was bestowed upon him, and he was taken to the police station to have his wounds dressed. As soon as they had fired at this point they again wheeled and started off in a full run, when some three or four parties issued from the warehouses there and fired into them, which brought down three more soldiers, one of whom was carried into the same store with the one above alluded to, and died in a few moments. The others succeeded in regaining their feet, and proceeded on with their comrades, the whole running as fast as they could, and a running fire was kept up by the soldiers from this point to the depot, the crowd continuing to hurl stones into the ranks throughout the whole line of march.”