Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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-<html><center><b><u><font size="+2">Howard County, MD, 1861-1865</font></u></b></center></html>+====== Howard County, MD, 1861–1865 ======
  
-Welcome to Howard County, MD in the Civil War. This site is an attempt to document the activity every Civil War unit that spent more that a few days in Howard County during the War. Roughly 60 units spent between three days and eighteen months guarding the railroad in Howard County. Please contact <greg@rhobard.com> if you would like to volunteer to help transcribe War-time letters and articles to help make this site more searchable. \\  
  
 +Welcome to Howard County, MD in the Civil War. This site documents the activity of every Civil War unit that spent more that a few days in Howard County during the War. Roughly 60 units spent between three days and eighteen months guarding the railroad in Howard County. Please contact <greg@hococivilwar.org> if you have any information about Civil War activities in Howard County. \\ 
  
-<html><center><b><u><font size="+2">Civil War Activity in Howard County, MD, 1861-1865</font></u></b></center></html>+ 
 +====== Civil War Activity in Howard County, MD, 1861-1865 ======
  
  
 Howard County in 1861 was a peaceful, sleepy place. With a population of around 13,000 people, including 2,800 slaves and 1,300 free blacks, its largest town was Ellicott's Mills, with 1,444 people. Smaller towns, Annapolis Junction, Woodstock, Marriottsville, and Elk Ridge Landing, were situated along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad heading west along the Patapsco River, or the Washington Railroad, heading south towards the nation's capital. These rail links were a vital lifeline transporting men and matériel from the industrial and populous North to the fighting units on the border with the newly formed Confederacy. Howard County in 1861 was a peaceful, sleepy place. With a population of around 13,000 people, including 2,800 slaves and 1,300 free blacks, its largest town was Ellicott's Mills, with 1,444 people. Smaller towns, Annapolis Junction, Woodstock, Marriottsville, and Elk Ridge Landing, were situated along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad heading west along the Patapsco River, or the Washington Railroad, heading south towards the nation's capital. These rail links were a vital lifeline transporting men and matériel from the industrial and populous North to the fighting units on the border with the newly formed Confederacy.
  
-{{ :map.jpg?600 |Philadelphia Inquirer September 13, 1862}}+{{ :map.jpg?600 }} 
 + 
 +//Philadelphia Inquirer September 13, 1862//
  
 The Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 began the Civil War. President Lincoln called for 90 day militia units to suppress the rebellion. On April 17, the 6th Massachusetts Militia, responding to Lincoln's call, arrived in Baltimore on their way to Washington D. C.. Two days later, while marching through the city, a mob attacked four companies of the Militia, killing four soldiers. In returning fire, twelve civilians were killed.  General Benjamin F. Butler, of the 8th Massachusetts Infantry, was ordered to secure the railroad links between Baltimore and Washington D. C. He marched his unit, along with the 7th New York Militia to Annapolis Junction, in Howard County, where the Washington Railroad met a branch railroad to Annapolis. These soldiers became the first non-native soldiers to camp in Howard County. The Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 began the Civil War. President Lincoln called for 90 day militia units to suppress the rebellion. On April 17, the 6th Massachusetts Militia, responding to Lincoln's call, arrived in Baltimore on their way to Washington D. C.. Two days later, while marching through the city, a mob attacked four companies of the Militia, killing four soldiers. In returning fire, twelve civilians were killed.  General Benjamin F. Butler, of the 8th Massachusetts Infantry, was ordered to secure the railroad links between Baltimore and Washington D. C. He marched his unit, along with the 7th New York Militia to Annapolis Junction, in Howard County, where the Washington Railroad met a branch railroad to Annapolis. These soldiers became the first non-native soldiers to camp in Howard County.
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 Immediately after the Baltimore Riots, the Howard Dragoons - a cavalry company of roughly 60 men commanded by George R. Gaither, left Howard County and reported to Baltimore to patrol the city and restore order. However, upon being asked to take the oath to the United States, Gaither and most of his men rode to Virginia and enlisted in the 1st Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A. Gaither was a slave owner and Southern sympathizer. Three of his slaves eventually enlisted in the United States Colored Troops; one died in combat.  Immediately after the Baltimore Riots, the Howard Dragoons - a cavalry company of roughly 60 men commanded by George R. Gaither, left Howard County and reported to Baltimore to patrol the city and restore order. However, upon being asked to take the oath to the United States, Gaither and most of his men rode to Virginia and enlisted in the 1st Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A. Gaither was a slave owner and Southern sympathizer. Three of his slaves eventually enlisted in the United States Colored Troops; one died in combat. 
  
-Throughout the War, detachments of over 50 units served at the various strategic locations in Howard County, guarding bridges, roads, and culverts along the rail lines. Relay House, in Elkridge, and Annapolis Junction, eight miles further south, served as mustering and training locations for locally recruited units later in the War.+Throughout the War, detachments of over 65 units served at the various strategic locations in Howard County, guarding bridges, roads, and culverts along the rail lines. Relay House, in Elkridge, and Annapolis Junction, eight miles further south, served as mustering and training locations for locally recruited units later in the War.
  
 The following orders from Colonel William B. Hayward of the 60th New York State Volunteers summed up the duties of the newly enlisted men: The following orders from Colonel William B. Hayward of the 60th New York State Volunteers summed up the duties of the newly enlisted men:
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 The majority of the men stationed in and around Howard County were on picket duty along the railroad, or serving as members of the Provost Guard, tasked with checking travelers' papers, arresting deserters, and keeping the peace in the camps. Upon arriving at their camp locations, generally situated on the high ground around the railway line, the men set about felling trees and leveling the ground. The majority of the men stationed in and around Howard County were on picket duty along the railroad, or serving as members of the Provost Guard, tasked with checking travelers' papers, arresting deserters, and keeping the peace in the camps. Upon arriving at their camp locations, generally situated on the high ground around the railway line, the men set about felling trees and leveling the ground.
  
-Relations with the local citizens appear to have run hot and cold. John G. Mead, serving in the 10th Maine states that the citizens in the vicinity of Elkridge Landing were “generally indisposed to welcome us into their houses”, but Charles Walcott of the 21st Massachusetts reports that the men of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve were reluctant to leave Annapolis Junction as “the whiskey was plenty, and the pretty girls and inhabitants generally had been very friendly to them.”+Relations with the local citizens appear to have run hot and cold. John M. Gould, serving in the 10th Maine states that the citizens in the vicinity of Elkridge Landing were “generally indisposed to welcome us into their houses”, but Charles Walcott of the 21st Massachusetts reports that the men of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve were reluctant to leave Annapolis Junction as “the whiskey was plenty, and the pretty girls and inhabitants generally had been very friendly to them.”
  
 1861 was a busy time for Howard County. Thirty trains a day passed down the rails from Baltimore, units were relocated and relocated again. New units arrived, 90 day militia units disbanded, while other units were divided, some to serve locally, others to invade the Confederacy. The three main junctions in Howard County, Ellicott's Mills, Relay House at Elk Ridge Landing, and Annapolis Junction, saw the majority of activity during the War. In each of these places full regiments of men, upwards of 1,300 soldiers, were stationed. Here they lived, trained, and served. 1861 was a busy time for Howard County. Thirty trains a day passed down the rails from Baltimore, units were relocated and relocated again. New units arrived, 90 day militia units disbanded, while other units were divided, some to serve locally, others to invade the Confederacy. The three main junctions in Howard County, Ellicott's Mills, Relay House at Elk Ridge Landing, and Annapolis Junction, saw the majority of activity during the War. In each of these places full regiments of men, upwards of 1,300 soldiers, were stationed. Here they lived, trained, and served.
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 John M. Gould, a major in the 10th Maine Infantry, which arrived at Relay House in November, kept a diary of his military service. Of Relay House he said, "Here are the river Patapsco, a deep ravine, a ponderous stone bridge or viaduct, a waterfall, mills camp and scenery over which Hudson the artist grew frantic. I would enlist to serve forever in such a place as this." John M. Gould, a major in the 10th Maine Infantry, which arrived at Relay House in November, kept a diary of his military service. Of Relay House he said, "Here are the river Patapsco, a deep ravine, a ponderous stone bridge or viaduct, a waterfall, mills camp and scenery over which Hudson the artist grew frantic. I would enlist to serve forever in such a place as this."
  
-After spending the summer in tents upon the Elk Ridge heights, in December the 10th Maine began building permanent barracks. Tools were sparse, and the construction lasted two weeks. Mead, of the 10th Maine, states, "Each company had one building in which the officers and sergeants had each a room in one end. The cook had a kitchen pretty well fitted up on the other end, and the bunks were in the second story. The sheds up on the line were nearly all different, but not one of the ten could be kept warm in a windy winter day." After the War the government sold off a dozen barracks and buildings which had been built at the Relay House. The main barracks was 100 feet long and 18 feet wide. The officers' building was 50 feet by 20 feet.+After spending the summer in tents upon the Elk Ridge heights, in December the 10th Maine began building permanent barracks. Tools were sparse, and the construction lasted two weeks. Gould, of the 10th Maine, states, "Each company had one building in which the officers and sergeants had each a room in one end. The cook had a kitchen pretty well fitted up on the other end, and the bunks were in the second story. The sheds up on the line were nearly all different, but not one of the ten could be kept warm in a windy winter day." After the War the government sold off a dozen barracks and buildings which had been built at the Relay House. The main barracks was 100 feet long and 18 feet wide. The officers' building was 50 feet by 20 feet.
  
 Officers sent for their wives, who were lodged with local residents. Richard Eddy, the regimental chaplain for the 60th New York State Militia, also served as its Postmaster. In December 1861, the five companies stationed at headquarters mailed 4,917 letters! Soldiers also received many letters in return; Abial H. Edwards, serving in the 10th Maine at Relay House, reported having “…fifty letters that I have had from Maine since I came out here…” in the two months he had been serving. However, he cautioned his sister on sharing the letters: “I hope you do not share my poor letters to any one…be sure and not to any more.” Officers sent for their wives, who were lodged with local residents. Richard Eddy, the regimental chaplain for the 60th New York State Militia, also served as its Postmaster. In December 1861, the five companies stationed at headquarters mailed 4,917 letters! Soldiers also received many letters in return; Abial H. Edwards, serving in the 10th Maine at Relay House, reported having “…fifty letters that I have had from Maine since I came out here…” in the two months he had been serving. However, he cautioned his sister on sharing the letters: “I hope you do not share my poor letters to any one…be sure and not to any more.”
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 The next day, Stuart's men had another skirmish at Westminster, where two companies of the 1st Delaware Cavalry (partially headquartered at Relay House), charged headlong down main street into the leading elements of Stuart's three brigades. More than half of the 100 men in the charge were captured, including the Captain and the company commander of the second company. Despite the defeat, it is thought that this brief skirmish caused Stuart to remain at Westminster for the night, delaying his arrival for the Gettysburg battle, and perhaps altering the course of the War. The next day, Stuart's men had another skirmish at Westminster, where two companies of the 1st Delaware Cavalry (partially headquartered at Relay House), charged headlong down main street into the leading elements of Stuart's three brigades. More than half of the 100 men in the charge were captured, including the Captain and the company commander of the second company. Despite the defeat, it is thought that this brief skirmish caused Stuart to remain at Westminster for the night, delaying his arrival for the Gettysburg battle, and perhaps altering the course of the War.
  
-Activity in Howard County continued as described for the remainder of 1863 and 1864. During Confederate General Jubal Early's Maryland Campaign in July 1864, a large number of Confederate cavalry was reported 5 miles from Elysville, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Ellicott's Mills. At Elysville were the 1st Eastern Shore Volunteers, who sent of a squad to investigate the report.  The resulting skirmish led to the Union Volunteers taking two prisoners and killing a Confederate lieutenant. These were the last shots to be fired in Howard County by organized units of the North and South.+Activity in Howard County continued as described for the remainder of 1863 and 1864. During Confederate General Jubal Early's Maryland Campaign in July 1864, a large number of Confederate cavalry was reported 5 miles from Elysville, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Ellicott's Mills. At Elysville were the 1st Eastern Shore Volunteers, who sent off a squad to investigate the report.  The resulting skirmish led to the Union Volunteers taking two prisoners and killing a Confederate lieutenant. These were the last shots to be fired in Howard County by organized units of the North and South.
  
-The end of the War in May of 1865 led to the disbanding and shipping home of Northern troops stationed in Maryland. Barracks and unit buildings built in Annapolis Junction and the Relay House were sold off, and the county soon returned to normal life.  Many citizens of the area, previously secessionist in leaning, learned not to discuss the War in public.  Rebeccua Pue Penniman, who was a young child on Lawyers' Hill in Elkridge during the War recalled "...we all determined not to let the question of the North and South be discussed among us - a most wise decision..."+The end of the War in May of 1865 led to the disbanding and shipping home of Northern troops stationed in Maryland. Barracks and unit buildings built in Annapolis Junction and the Relay House were sold off, and the county soon returned to normal life.  Many citizens of the area, previously secessionist in leaning, learned not to discuss the War in public.  Rebecca Pue Penniman, who was a young child on Lawyers' Hill in Elkridge during the War recalled "...we all determined not to let the question of the North and South be discussed among us - a most wise decision..."
  
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