William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[104] sink her, rather than strike his colors. Both the ‘Maryland’ and the ‘Constitution’ were aground; great efforts were made to float them, and tow the frigate over the bar. This was accomplished with the assistance of the steamer Boston, which arrived in the harbor in the morning with the Seventh New-York Regiment. Company K, of Pittsfield, was sent by steamer to Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, and did not join the regiment again for three weeks. The ‘Constitution’ was taken safely from Annapolis to New York, having Captain Devereux's company, and a detail of Lynn, Gloucester, and Marblehead men on board under command of Lieutenant Berry, of Company D, Lynn, to assist in working her. They afterwards joined the regiment at Washington. The rest of the Eighth was kept on board the ‘Maryland’ forty-eight hours, short of rations, and without water. Captain Newhall says the men were ‘supplied with pilot-bread from the “Constitution,” stamped “1848,” the year it was made, and salt pork bearing the same brand, which the men were obliged to eat raw. Salt water only could be procured: this was eagerly drank by some, making them more thirsty than ever.’ The regiment was not landed until Tuesday morning. The Seventh New York, which arrived in the harbor a day after the Eighth, landed first. Several communications had passed between General Butler and the Governor of Maryland, the latter protesting against landing the troops, and also between the general and the commandant of the Naval Academy, who rendered him all the assistance in his power. On the day on which the troops landed, a report was brought to General Butler, that the slaves in the city and surrounding country were to rise against their masters, and assert their right to be free. General Butler immediately offered the services of himself and command to put down the insurrection. The offer was declined; there being no truth in the report, and the masters being able to maintain peace, and suppress a revolt of their slaves.

The railroad from Annapolis to the Junction, where it connects with the Baltimore and Washington Railroad, had, in part, been destroyed, and the engines and cars partially broken. After considerable delay, the track was relaid, and the engines