The troops who had got through the city took
the railroad at the Southern Depot and passed on. The militia of the
city was called out, and by evening quiet was restored. During the
night, on a report that more Northern troops were approaching the city
by the railroads, the bridges nearest to the city were destroyed, as it
was understood, by orders from the authorities of Baltimore.
On the 20th of April President Lincoln wrote in reply to Governor Hicks
and Mayor Brown, saying, "For the future, troops must be brought here,
but I make no point of bringing them through Baltimore." On the next
day, the 21st, Mayor Brown and other influential citizens, by request of
the President, visited him. The interview took place in presence of the
Cabinet and General Scott, and was reported to the public by the Mayor
after his return to Baltimore. From that report I make the following
extracts. Referring to the President, the Mayor uses the following
language:
"The protection of Washington, he asseverated with great
earnestness, was the sole object of concentrating troops there,
and he protested that none of the troops brought through
Maryland were intended for any purposes hostile to the State, or
aggressive as against the Southern States.... He called on
General Scott for his opinion, which the General gave at great
length, to the effect that troops might be brought through
Maryland without going through Baltimore, etc.
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