Five Minute Histories: Federal Hill in the Civil War
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- Welcome back and happy Thursday! In today’s Five Minute Histories, we are focusing on Federal Hill in the Civil War.
This is our series called "Five Minute Histories." Each day, we’ll record a short video about a different historic place in Baltimore and post it on our Facebook page and website. We are honoring Governor Hogan’s request and are doing this from home.
Yup, those cannons are pointed towards the city! Had to keep the Rebel sympathizers in line, to control the port and maintain security so close to DC.
First time watching, this was very interesting. I grew up off Caton Ave, on Kingsley St. in Baltimore City, until I was almost 14. Moved to HoCo, and now I own a home in Ann Arundel.
I take it you grew up in MD, as well, based on the way you say Baltimore? Family of mine from out of state brought to my attention how we pronounce BalDimore, without a T. Thanks for sharing, I look forward to watching more content, and learning from you. If you haven’t already, can you do one on the phoenix shot tower? That’s something I’ve driven by a ton, but never stopped to checkout. BOL
The original assassination attempt on Lincoln was set to take place in Baltimore City. This was to take place as Lincoln rode via carriage from Penn Station to Camden Station. Pinkerton found out and warned Lincoln who made an 11th hour decision to arrive at Pen Station in the middle of the night and travel by unmarked carriage to Camden Station on to DC for his inauguration. Lincoln never forgot. We know that the CSA fired on Fort Sumtner and the American Civil War was under way. Massachusettes troops were dispatched for the defense of Washington. They traveled by rail and disembarked at the Pratt Street Station. Rail cars had to be pulled by horse along Pratt Street per city ordinance. The tracks on Pratt Street were blocked and the end result was known as the Pratt Street Riot. This resulted in the first true death in the American Civil War. Massachusettes soldiers were killed as were citizens of Baltimore. This enraged Lincoln and Butler enters the picture. He was ordered to turn the cannon on to the city and level if there was an uprising. The governor of Maryland at the time was given the task to appoint a Commissioner of Police since the marshall of Police, Mayor, Council members had been jailed. The same Marshall of Police that was to take an active role in that initial assassination attempt.
Two interesting results came out of this move. First the City Police force was restructured....the uniforms resembled Union soldiers and officers signed on for terms of service and would basically re- enlist which continued up to the turn of the century. The second was that the officers of the Baltimore City Police Department would be classified as state employees with state powers and the power to appoint Police Commissioner stayed with the governor until the Referendum Vote of 1976 when the Mayor and City Council were given the power to appoint. Interesting enough....Baltimore City Police officers paid by the city working in the city still were technically state employees which was a benefit at times and a curse at times for city government. And everyone thought that the MD State Police were the first state force. There are records and reports of Baltimore City detectives taking the train to Cumberland to work a murder case before the MSP was formed. Got a little off subject.
Next time we can talk about the Maryland Sanitary Fair of 1864 and Lincoln's only other visit to Baltimore. A visit to a saloon and a late dinner at a representatives house. And a saloon that stayed a bar and speakeasy through the Depression and then remained a bar with an original wooden bar top that Lincoln set his tankard down on and where that bar top ended up......well not all of it.
As mentioned another Video Comment, My 2d Great Grandfather Wm Clarke (1812-1886) owned Clarke & Co. aka Clarke & King in the shadow of those guns at the Foot Of Henry St. (Ref: Baltimore City Directory 1865 pg 83). The Family lived just to the west on 36 Barre St off Light Street. I don't know what his politics where, but the gun in the photo could very well have fired on their home.