Metadata
Title
David E. Hale to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1830/1839-08-25
August 25, [1830s]
Subject
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-165
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Washington August 25
My dear Mother
Here I am with my company
engaged in the mob war. We started from Fort
Severn about two weeks since at an hour's notice, being
ordered by Gen. Macomb to go to Fort McHenry in
consequence of the riots in Baltimore. We staid
there three or four days liable to called out at
any moment by the Mayor of B. There were two companies
at Fort McHenry besides ours and four companies were
expected from Old Point, but when the mayor announced
that the city was quiet, the President countermanded the
order to [DE: ?] embark. I arrived at Fort McHenry the night
after so many houses had been destroyed - the mob was
nearly quelled but a guard of two or three thousand men
composed of militia and [firemen?] patrolled the city at
night. The night we arrived an officer from Washington
[came?] with an order from Head Quarters for one of the
companies at the Fort to go to Washington to quell a
mob there raised by the abolitionists - Off they started
at 11 o'clock at night and three days after when all
was quiet in Baltimore our company [?] them to
Washington. We marched about fourteen miles and went
in the Rail-road cars the remainder. We marched into
Wn. City on Sunday the 16th afternoon. the Company was sent to
the city Hall, and after dark 15 soldiers were put
under my command to defend the U.S. Jail in which [?]
Crandal [Crandall] and several others were confined. The mob had
threatened his life and would have torn down the jail
but for the presence of the troops. I had plenty of
ball cartridges and orders from Gen. Macomb to fire if attacked
by the mob. The next day we were quartered in
the house formerly occupied by the French Minister
Serrurier [Sérurier], built in the french style by Count [Dembuch?]
where we have been ever since. The company have
the large ball-room and I have a fine parlor with
chambers ad libitum. The lord knows when we shall
get back to Annapolis for the President swears we shall
stay as long as one of the rioters remains free.
He gave this answer to a deputation from the
mecanicks of W. City requesting our removal as they
sagely 'resolved' that they could defend themselves,
and property a proof of their ability is shown in
the [view?] of a [house?] not two roads from where we
are quartered which was torn down before our
troops reached the City. I saw the ruins of
the splendid houses in Baltimore where the mob
ruled the city completely [for?] two days. [DE: ?] The marble
portico of [?] Johnson's house was lying in [ED: page torn]
in the street, the house stripped of its furniture [ED: page torn]
destroyed. Mr. Johnson came to Fort McHenry while [ED: page torn]
were there for probation. [DE: ?] I have been busy and
cannot tell you half the things I have seen, or [DE: ?]
what has happened during the last fortnight. I had
the honour of dining with [Chief?]: Gen. Macomb the other day
was introduced to his pretty daughter Lavina and
seen a great many of my friends, and those of my class
here. The better order of citizens were glad to see
us and have offered us every hospitality.
Excuse haste
Your affectionate Son D.E Hale
My dear Mother
Here I am with my company
engaged in the mob war. We started from Fort
Severn about two weeks since at an hour's notice, being
ordered by Gen. Macomb to go to Fort McHenry in
consequence of the riots in Baltimore. We staid
there three or four days liable to called out at
any moment by the Mayor of B. There were two companies
at Fort McHenry besides ours and four companies were
expected from Old Point, but when the mayor announced
that the city was quiet, the President countermanded the
order to [DE: ?] embark. I arrived at Fort McHenry the night
after so many houses had been destroyed - the mob was
nearly quelled but a guard of two or three thousand men
composed of militia and [firemen?] patrolled the city at
night. The night we arrived an officer from Washington
[came?] with an order from Head Quarters for one of the
companies at the Fort to go to Washington to quell a
mob there raised by the abolitionists - Off they started
at 11 o'clock at night and three days after when all
was quiet in Baltimore our company [?] them to
Washington. We marched about fourteen miles and went
in the Rail-road cars the remainder. We marched into
Wn. City on Sunday the 16th afternoon. the Company was sent to
the city Hall, and after dark 15 soldiers were put
under my command to defend the U.S. Jail in which [?]
Crandal [Crandall] and several others were confined. The mob had
threatened his life and would have torn down the jail
but for the presence of the troops. I had plenty of
ball cartridges and orders from Gen. Macomb to fire if attacked
by the mob. The next day we were quartered in
the house formerly occupied by the French Minister
Serrurier [Sérurier], built in the french style by Count [Dembuch?]
where we have been ever since. The company have
the large ball-room and I have a fine parlor with
chambers ad libitum. The lord knows when we shall
get back to Annapolis for the President swears we shall
stay as long as one of the rioters remains free.
He gave this answer to a deputation from the
mecanicks of W. City requesting our removal as they
sagely 'resolved' that they could defend themselves,
and property a proof of their ability is shown in
the [view?] of a [house?] not two roads from where we
are quartered which was torn down before our
troops reached the City. I saw the ruins of
the splendid houses in Baltimore where the mob
ruled the city completely [for?] two days. [DE: ?] The marble
portico of [?] Johnson's house was lying in [ED: page torn]
in the street, the house stripped of its furniture [ED: page torn]
destroyed. Mr. Johnson came to Fort McHenry while [ED: page torn]
were there for probation. [DE: ?] I have been busy and
cannot tell you half the things I have seen, or [DE: ?]
what has happened during the last fortnight. I had
the honour of dining with [Chief?]: Gen. Macomb the other day
was introduced to his pretty daughter Lavina and
seen a great many of my friends, and those of my class
here. The better order of citizens were glad to see
us and have offered us every hospitality.
Excuse haste
Your affectionate Son D.E Hale