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“Battle of Lexington and Concord”
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
April 19th, 1775
Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!
Yes! That’s it! Draw those Red Coats in close! There’s got to be at least 3000 of them! Think about your families at home boys! Do this for them! I want you to unload one last good clean volley in them and on my order we must make a hasty retreat!
Every step the British draw closer to our position, but this is where we say no more to tyranny! It’s time to show them how the Massachusetts Militia men fight! Alight reload, keep both eyes open. Ah! An Officer! He’s mine no to [[squeeze the trigger!]] And send him to our lord.
<iframe width="1" height="1" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/203546138&auto_play=true&loop=true;hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe>With a hardy slap on my back I am awoken.
“Wake up laddie! You are going to be late! Sgt. Donohue said with his distinctive Irish accent. “You have to get your mind out of these books! Now come we have to get ready because we are heading to the [[flag presentation ceremony]]. Governor Andrews is going to deliver the old Stars and Stripes to our commander Colonel Jones himself. It will indeed be quite the send off.”
“We must rally to the capital I shall put my books down join you”, I said in reply.
"Flag presentation ceremony"
Boston, Massachusetts
April 16th, 1861
This is truly indeed quite the honor to see my company commander Colonel Jones with our very own Governor Andrews. I heard Colonel Jones speech:
"Your Excellency, you have given to me this flag, which is the emblem of all that stands before you. It repre sents my whole command; and so help me God, I will never disgrace it."
They have even exchanged the revolutionary muskets for the modern rifle! This is quite the send off.
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Leaving our communiuties, jobs, we have mustered together stripes to add to our Sunday trousers. This call from the president seems so sudden. Now it is tome to [[Continue]] on the train to New York with my men the 6th Sixth Massachusetts Militia Regiment
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"Arriving at New York's Grand Central"
New York
Noon: April 18th, 1861
This is the furthest I have ever been from home in my life. I'm proud to say I could get used to the soldier’s life. The happy crowds of people have been so dense the commanders can only move us by flank.
I so proud to be putting down the Rebellion this is quite a side even some of the sternest men in the unit have a smile on their face. Children waving the stars and stripes and this station has the flag on every banister. I can only expect more of the same as we our journey to [[Philadelphia]].
<div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center;">[img[http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8717/17360583875_737437ebda_b.jpg]]</div>
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<iframe width="1" height="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/barWV7RWkq0?&rel=0&autoplay=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>"Marching on the streets of Philadelphia"
Philadelphia, PA
Evening: April 18th, 1861
Nothing less as we continued that day through the streets of Philadelphia everywhere happy families just wanting to catch a glimpse of us to show their support.
We rested their in the late afternoon and our officers told us to be on our toes for we were going to leave at 1 AM, but that is when I saw look of worry coming from Colonel Jones face. I then turned to [[talk]] to him.
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<iframe width="1" height="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e6-H9xKSPpw?&rel=0&autoplay=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>“What’s matter Colonel?”
He replied, “I fear the worst, private. Do not tell the others, but I’ve heard rumors of threats from Baltimore. There would be a stormy time of it when the Regiment should reach the Monumental City. My higher up have told me to go back, but my orders are to reach Washington at the earliest possible moment, and I shall go on… whatever may be the consequences, I must [[proceed]].”
"Welcome to Mob Town"
Presidents Street Station
Baltimore, MD
1000: April 19th, 1861
The conductor screamed, "PRESIDENTS STREET STATION! No trains through the city!"
When we arrived in Baltimore that morning we were greeted by some roughs who called themselves Railroad officials. The Officials informed our Colonel there would be no trouble unless the Regiment provoked it.
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[img[http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/16738075644_54d8cb1a64_b.jpg]]</div>
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(Continue as [[Infantry]] or with the [[Regimental Band]])The other men and I were in high spirits as we arrived at President Street Station. Some of the other men and were even singing a jaunty tune. Colonel Jones All of the men including myself did not know how this horse pulling that was now taking our train car. At first everything seemed quiet, too quiet. Ammunition was passed out be Jones as our horses left the [[Station.]]
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Colonel Jones told us not to play anything as to stir the crowd that came to meet us at the President Street. This of course meant that the air "Dixie" was off limits.
We accompanied the Regiment as far as Presidents Street Station. While their cars were all being drawn on horses we stayed in the baggage car with our music and Instruments. This was much too wild seeing what people were doing and [[next]] lost sight of our unit.
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In the chaos we were left behind at the depot in a baggage car which was attacked with stones, well as by roughs, the car was then broken into. Running every which way we made our [[escape]] Trying to protect our liberties.
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<iframe width="1" height="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lAxBTcit9go?&rel=0&autoplay=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>We were running for our lives leaving behind music, instruments, and [[clothing]]. The sign said Pratt Street. I was so ashamed I lost my Grandfather's prized trumpet. We had to hide our Uniforms if we wanted to make it out of this city alive.
<iframe width="1" height="1" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/203753161&auto_play=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe>I wandered into the local [[police]] station for aid without avail. I ran up to the front desk and implored the officer, "You have to help me!"
The officer then said to me,"Get out! Just get out! You are causing trouble.”
I had no choice, but to return to the mob.
<iframe width="1" height="1" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/203753161&auto_play=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe>After running some distances some of the band mates and I was taken in by kind-hearted women, the stripes were quickly removed from our Sunday trousers and other old clothes for she furnished for us a [[disguise]]. Later that evening after the mobs had died down my band mates and I reunited to the Police Station that had given us such a hardy welcome before.A message was sent to the city officers, and a body of police was sent who placed the us on board the train back home.
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(This is the end of the line for the band returning to Massachusetts, but [[proceed]] with the Infantry.)Pressing along the Crowd outside was still growing. Up ahead we could see the tracks were blocked up by the Jones falls bridge the last car taking men in our unit was forced back to Presidents Street Station by the mob while we had to abandon the cars we were now under the worst possible conditions. We cocked our rifles and put them at the ready. Here we were beginning to hear all sorts of [[verbal abuse.]]Marching at our head was a man carrying the South Carolina Palmetto flag while the crowd went about cheering him on. One of our commanders quick grabbed the flag from the staff and hid it under his tunic while the [[assault]] continued.
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The mob continued to grow the men of the mob grabbed sand and tools. A group of sympathetic sailors to our horror joined and hauled an anchor from the docks. This group continued their shouts and taunts.
[[Continue under Watson's command]]
[[Continue under Follansbee's command]]
On foot we were exposed to the mob, Stones, bottles and tools. Even a canoe was put up to block our path. All while the mob still cheered for Jefferson Davis, The South, and [[secession.]]
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Still in the horse carriage we were told to lie down as to get out of site of the mobs attacks. Our scared conductor refused to help until Captain Follansbee pulled a pistol on him. Our car then became derailed and we had to move by foot and [[Continue under Watson's command]]By the time we saw a street called Light we had lost three men from the violent crowd and I cannot recall how many the mob had lost, but we were now returning fire in a full blown [[battle.]]
We have gotten orders from our Colonel to march with your faces square front, and pay no attention to the mob, even if they throw stones, bricks, or other missiles and if we are fired upon our officers will order us to fire. We are told do not fire into any crowds, but select any man whom we may see aiming at us, and be sure to drop him!
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<iframe width="1" height="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdmHNoeyieA?&rel=0&autoplay=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>Two men on horseback met us at the Station. I could not tell if they were trying to calm the mob or incite them. I would later find out they were the Mayor Brown and the Police Marshall Kane. As we boarded the trains our commander ordered the blinds pulled to quell the mob, but it was no use. Their assault continued. With the blinds drawn we shot out the [[windows.]]
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The train ride to Washington the men and myself wanted nothing more, but to finish what the Baltimoreans roughs had started. We pulled into the station at Washington and I could not believe it, but standing before me was President Abraham Lincoln, in the flesh. He shook my hand and thanked each and every one of personally for coming. That evening I was put on guard duty in the [[Capital building.]]
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<div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center;">[img[http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/16891257193_56702b75b2_b.jpg]]</div>As I stood on guard over the coffins of my four friends and brothers my fellow 6th Massachusetts men I did not know it at the time, but this was only the beginning of four bloody years to come not just held to South Carolina and just like my for fathers at Lexington and Concord some 90 years before and I was in the midst.
(Thanks for participating in this interactive story here is a link to [[Further reading and my selected bibliography]] don’t forget to visit the Civil War Museum located at eh old site of the Presidents Street Station in downtown Baltimore and walk the same trail with the 6th today!)
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Art and Music Bibliography
*Massachusetts State House murals painted by artist Edward Brodney.
Currier & Ives. The Lexington of 1861. Colored lithograph, 1861. http://perspectives.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/riot-large1-800x572.jpg.
Frank Leslie. Pratt Street Riot. Engraving, 1861. http://welcometobaltimorehon.com/images/psr2.jpg.
F.O.C. Darley, and F.F. Walker. Massachusetts Militia Passing Through Baltimore. Engraving, 1865. http://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/civil_war/images/Artwork/3-70-93.jpg.
Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War. First Blood -- The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment Fighting Their Way Through Baltimore, April 19, 1861. Engraving, 1866. http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc5500/sc5572/000001/000000/000014/images/plate2.pdf.
Harper’s Weekly. “FIRST BLOOD.-THE SIXTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH BALTIMORE.” Harper’s Weekly, May 4, 1861.
2nd South Carolina String Band. “Dixie” SOUTHERN SOLDIER: Favorite Camp Songs of the Civil War. Audio CD. CD Baby, 1996.
Bill Dudley, and 97th Regimental String Band., “We Are Coming, Father Abra'am” Songs of the Civil War, Vol. 2. Audio CD. Smoothbore Music, 2012.
*note while the song was not made a year later the 6th still created a song for their involvement in the war yet no recording could be found.