A,-Worcester

B, — Worcester

C,- Worcester

D,-Boston.

COMPANIES AND COMMANDERS.

Capt. Augustus B. R. Sprague, Worcester, 83

Total, officers and men

COOK'S BATTERY.

75

The Third and Fourth Regiments arrived at Fortress Monroe the twentieth day of April; the latter, soon after, took passage on the "Pawnee" for Norfolk, to assist in the destruction of the Navy Yard; because melancholy waste must be made, or the valuable munitions of war-the accumulated improvements and stores of many years would fall into traitorous hands.

CHAPTER III.

THE MARCH OF THE EIGHTH.

THE MARTYRS.

Gen. Butler prepares, in the Night of the 19th, a Written Plan of his March. - Exciting Rumors in the Morning. - The Eighth leaves Philadelphia for Baltimore. Change of Plan. - Embarks at Havre de Grâce for Annapolis. — Arrives there. - Stir. ring Incidents.-Letter from Capt. Devereux. The March to Washington. The Movement on Baltimore. Capt. Dodd's Company. - Reception of the Baltimore Martyrs in Boston.

-

FTER the consultation of Gen. Butler with his officers in the Girard House, at dead of night, with the rapidity of a strong mind stimulated to its quickest thought by the rush of events, he made out in writing his plan of operations. This was to be forwarded after his departure for the Maryland border to Gov. Andrew, that the Executive and the people of the State might know what it was, should he not survive the attempt to reach Washington. We give entire

THE INTERESTING MEMORIAL OF PLAN AND REASONS FOR PROCEEDING TO ANNAPOLIS.

I have detailed Capt. Devereux and Capt. Briggs with their commands, supplied with one day's rations and twenty rounds of ammunition, to take possession of the ferry-boat at Havre de Grâce for the benefit of this expedition. This I have done with the concurrence of the present master of transportation of the road. The Eighth Regiment will remain at quarters, that they may get a little solid rest after their fatiguing march. I have sent to know if the Seventh Regiment will go with me. I propose to march myself at the hour of seven o'clock in the morning, to take the regular eight and a quarter o'clock train to Havre de Grâce. The citizens of Baltimore, at a large meeting this evening, denounced the passage of Northern troops. They have exacted a promise from the President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad not to send troops over that road through Baltimore: so that any attempt to throw troops into Baltimore entails a march of forty miles, and an attack upon a city of two hundred thousand inhabitants at the beginning of the march. The only way, therefore, of getting communication with Washington, for troops from the North, is over the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, or marching from the west. Commodore Dupont, at the Navy Yard, has given me

instructions of the fact in accordance with these general statements, upon which I rely. I have, therefore, thought I could rely upon these statements as to the time it will take to proceed in marching from Havre de Grâce to Washington. My proposition is to join with Col. Lefferts, of the Seventh Regiment of New York. I propose to take the fifteen hundred troops to Annapolis, arriving there to-morrow about four o'clock, and occupy the capital of Maryland, and thus call the State to account for the death of Massachusetts men, my friends and neighbors. If Col. Lefferts thinks it more in accordance with the tenor of his instructions to wait rather than go through Baltimore, I still propose to march with this regiment. I propose to occupy the town, and hold it open as a means of communication. I have, then, but to advance by a forced march of thirty miles to reach the capital, in accordance with the orders I at first received, but which subsequent events, in my judgment, vary in their execution, believing from the telegraphs that there will be others in great numbers to aid Being accompanied by officers of more experience, who will be able to direct the affair, I think it will be accomplished. We have no light batteries: I have therefore telegraphed to Gov. Andrew to have the Boston Light Battery put on shipboard at once, to-night, to help me in marching on Washington. In pursuance of this plan, I have detailed Capts. Devereux and Briggs, with their commands, to hold the boat at Havre de Grâce.

me.

go

alone

Eleven, A.M. Col. Lefferts has refused to march with me. I at three o'clock, P.M., to execute this imperfectly written plan. If I succeed, success will justify me. If I fail, purity of intention will excuse want of judgment or rashness.

His Excellency Gov. ANDREW.

B. F. BUTLER.

The morning of the 20th brought a rumor that modified the original design. At Havre de Grâce, forty miles from Philadelphia, is a railroad-ferry, which conveys in one passage the entire train over the Susquehanna. The report was abroad that a large rebel force had taken possession of the boat. Instead of sending forward the two companies, it was decided to march the whole regiment, seize the steamer, and appropriate it for the transportation of the troops.

When Gen. Butler said to Mr. Felton, president of the road, "I may have to sink or burn your boat," the latter nobly replied, "Do so," and wrote the order approving the measure if necessary.

At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the Eighth was borne away from the depot on Broad Street towards Havre de Grâce. It was a serious ride. Arms were firmly grasped, and the possible mortal agony, before the sun went down, flung its shadow over the bravest hearts. One panic-smitten soldier leaped into the water, and, reaching the shore, ran for his life, but was caught, and

punished for desertion. Instead of bristling bayonets to dispute the passage, the Eighth found the ferry-boat " Maryland" waiting for the next train, with nothing unusual in the aspect of Havre de Grâce.

Gen. Butler took possession of the boat, and prepared to pack it with his troops, and steer for Annapolis. If any of the officials of the "Maryland" were treacherous, he had men who knew the route, and were competent to manage the vessel.

At six o'clock in the evening, the crowded boat left the wharf for Annapolis, and, at midnight, was near the city. The citizens were immediately alarmed, even the loyal ones, who were expecting a visit from the "roughs " of Baltimore; but, after some explanations, their fears were quieted, and the inexpressible sense of relief followed.

To no man was the assurance of the presence of a Union force more grateful than to Capt. Blake, of the naval school-ship "Constitution," which was aground at the Academy Wharf, and without a full crew. He asked Gen. Butler if his orders would allow him to help off the "Constitution." His characteristic reply was, "I have no orders. I am making war on my own. hook; but we can't be wrong in saving the Constitution.' That is certainly what we came to do."

6

April 22, Gen. Butler issued on board the steamer an order, from which we quote a congratulatory passage:

The purpose which could only be hinted at in the order of yesterday has been accomplished. The frigate "Constitution" has lain for a long time at this port, substantially at the mercy of the armed mob which sometimes paralyzes the otherwise loyal State of Maryland.

Deeds of daring, successful contests, and glorious victories, had rendered "Old Ironsides" so conspicuous in the naval history of the country, that she was fitly chosen as the school-ship in which to train the future officers of the navy to like heroic acts. It was given to Massachusetts, and Essex County, first to man her: it was reserved to Massachusetts to have the honor to retain her for the service of the Union and the laws. This is a sufficient triumph of right, and a sufficient triumph for us. By this, the blood of our friends shed by the Baltimore mob is in so far avenged. The Eighth Regiment may hereafter cheer lustily on all proper occasions, but never without orders, that the old "Constitution" by their efforts, aided untiringly by the United-States officers having her in charge, is now safely "possessed, occupied, and enjoyed by the Government of the United States, and is safe from all her foes."

We make an interesting extract, though somewhat at the expeuse of the New-York Seventh, from a letter written by Arthur

F. Devereux, Captain of Company A, Eighth Regiment, preserved in the State archives. It is dated

men.

ON BOARD FRIGATE "CONSTITUTION," ANNAPOLIS ROADS, April 23, 1861. Just as we had finished the distribution of supplies, and I had begun to get the barracks quiet, making the men go to bed, &c., Gen. Butler sent for me; and I found him at his headquarters in conversation with six gentleHe announced to me that he had a dangerous, even a desperate, service to perform, and had sent for me to know if I would do it. I answered by asking for orders. They were, to take my men and the other flank company under my command, and, leaving Philadelphia, go to Havre de Grâce, seize a steamer there, go out into the stream, and protect her at all hazards against all comers until our regiment arrived, in conjunction with the NewYork Seventh; and we were to start in an hour.

We were ready at once, and started secretly, without music, on the quickstep for the depot: found there the Seventh Regiment, just arrived from New York. I reported to Col. Lefferts as the detail for the above service. He wanted to consult with the president of the road, who, I found, was one of the gentlemen in Gen. Butler's headquarters when I was summoned there. The president would give me no cars until the matters under consideration were settled. Afterwards Col. Lefferts must consult his officers, keeping me waiting until daylight, and then finally declined. The bully Seventh backed down. 'Twas too much risk, especially as the end in view was to reach Annapolis in the steamer, avoiding Baltimore, and thus keep up a connection with the North from Washington, so as to get orders, supplies, and re-enforcements. Only think of the immense advantage to the Government to establish such means as this, when otherwise cut off; not to speak of the fact that our further purpose was to cut out the frigate "Constitution" from Annapolis, which the enemy had sworn to possess! The General Government had given Butler his authority: but the New-York Seventh refused to go on the hazardous service; and Butler was sworn to go alone, and do it all. And we have done it. After taking the steamer, and cutting out the glorious old Constitution" in the face and eyes of a regiment of the enemy, I am now on board, in command, and am to bring " Old Ironsides" into New York safe. shall do it, or blow her up! She never goes into the hands of an enemy.

We

Capt. Devereux arrived in New York, with the "Constitution," April 28, 1861.

The school-ship was saved,—an early omen of the rescue of the "immortal instrument," whose name it bore, from the grasp of traitorous hands which in a delirium of passion were stretched forth to tear it into fragments, and over these march the manacled millions, whose chattelship was to be the corner-stone of the new Confederacy.