Washington, April 20. 1861
Governor Hicks and Mayor Brown:
Gentlemen: Your letter by Messrs. Bond, Dobbin & Brume,1, 2 is received. I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts to keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed. For the future, troops must be brought here, but I make no point of bringing them through Baltimore.
Without any military knowledge myself, of course I must leave details to Gen. Scott. He hastily said,this morning, in presence of these gentlemen, “March them around Baltimore, and not through it.”
I sincerely hope the General, on fuller reflection, will consider this practical and proper, and that you will not object to it. By this, a collision of the people of Baltimore with the troops will be avoided, unless they go out of their way to seek it. I hope you will exert your influence to prevent this. Now, and ever, I shall do all in my power for peace, consistently with the maintenance of government.
Your obedient Servant
Gentlemen: Your letter by Messrs. Bond, Dobbin & Brume,1, 2 is received. I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts to keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed. For the future, troops must be brought here, but I make no point of bringing them through Baltimore.
Without any military knowledge myself, of course I must leave details to Gen. Scott. He hastily said,this morning, in presence of these gentlemen, “March them around Baltimore, and not through it.”
I sincerely hope the General, on fuller reflection, will consider this practical and proper, and that you will not object to it. By this, a collision of the people of Baltimore with the troops will be avoided, unless they go out of their way to seek it. I hope you will exert your influence to prevent this. Now, and ever, I shall do all in my power for peace, consistently with the maintenance of government.
Your obedient Servant
A. Lincoln
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- Carnegie Institute Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mayor Brown of Baltimore sent Hugh L. Bond, George W. Dobbin, and John C. Brune with a letter dated April 18, 1861, “. . . to explain fully the fearful condition of affairs in this city. The people are exasperated . . . by the passage of troops, and . . . are decided in the opinion that no more should be ordered to come.
. . . It is my solemn duty to inform you that it is not possible for more soldiers to pass through Baltimore unless they fight their way at every step. . . .”
On April 19, a telegram signed by Governor Hicks and Mayor Brown notified Lincoln of a collision between citizens of Baltimore and troops. On April 20, Brown acknowledged receipt of Lincoln’s letter carried by Bond, Dobbin, and Brune, and promised to preserve the peace if “. . . no more troops will be brought through the city. . . .” - A secessionist mob of Baltimore had fired into Massachusetts troops forced to march through the city because of obstructions placed on the track by the mob. Approximately four soldiers and nine citizens were killed and rioting continued for several days.
- Carnegie Institute Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mayor Brown of Baltimore sent Hugh L. Bond, George W. Dobbin, and John C. Brune with a letter dated April 18, 1861, “. . . to explain fully the fearful condition of affairs in this city. The people are exasperated . . . by the passage of troops, and . . . are decided in the opinion that no more should be ordered to come.