Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

Immediately after breakfast I detailed a company, the Salem Zouaves, Captain Devereux, the best drilled company I had, as guard on board the Constitution. I also detailed a company of Marbleheaders, who were fishermen, to help work the ship under the command of Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral) Rogers. He worked with a will, and I shall never forget my delight at his efficiency. He transferred all the upper deck guns and their carriages on board the Maryland, thus lightening the ship. We got up her anchors, which were several feet deep in the mud, and after very strenuous efforts on the part of all of us, the Constitution, attached to the Maryland, was worked around and down the bay into deep water. The Maryland on returning got hard and fast aground, and that closed the day of Sunday.

On Monday morning I went ashore at the academy, and received Governor Hicks at headquarters. He was accompanied by the mayor of Annapolis, and both of them exhorted me not to think of landing.

They said all Maryland was ready to rush to arms; that the enthusiasm of the people in Annapolis could not long be restrained, and that the railroad towards Washington had been torn up and was fully guarded. I replied that I certainly should land and go on through to Washington, but that I could not march then as I had no provisions. I said that I desired to purchase the provisions I needed, as Maryland was to be treated as a State which had not seceded. They then said that I could not buy an ounce of provisions in Annapolis. The mayor assured me that no patriot would sell to Yankee troops provisions with which to march to Washington. I replied that I had hoped better things than that from Annapolis, the city in which the only sign of life that I could see was the United States Naval School. The refusal to sell provisions and the objections to my landing were urged again and again.

At last being a little aroused, I said: “I suppose there are sufficient provisions in this capital of Maryland to feed a thousand men, and if the people will not sell those provisions, a thousand hungry, armed men have other means of getting what they want to eat. besides buying it.” They were obdurate, however, and we parted for the time.

Meanwhile Commodore Blake furnished me with such provisions as he could spare from the academy. But cooking their own rations.