Auction: Maryland's Uncivil War

General Pender  - "Dixieland"   First Confederate Soldier Killed In The WBTS

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Civil wars aren't very civil. In fact, they're downright uncivil. During the American Civil War, brother sometimes fought against brother, yes, but in Maryland, state legislator fought against state legislator.

This actually happened in all border states, but the outcome in Maryland was perhaps more important than the others because of its proximity to Washington, D.C. — the District of Columbia is bordered on three sides by the Old Line State. What played out among Maryland's legislative body during the early months of 1861 was high drama.


A quick summary of what happened: At the beginning of 1861, secessionist-leaning Democrats controlled the state legislature. Their plans were foiled until April 19, 1861, when trouble came a' marchin' in. Literally. On that date, the 6th Massachusetts Regiment passed through the state on their way south to protect Washington from rebels. The regiment had little trouble until they tried to march through Baltimore, where a mob met them, resulting in the first combat deaths of the Civil War. This empowered the secessionist legislators to successfully open an extra session of the state legislature in the town of Frederick, where they were able to pass pro-Southern legislation, angering much of the union-leaning citizenry.

After the first major battle of the war, a Confederate victory just 75 miles south of Baltimore at Bull Run in July 1861, emboldened Maryland secessionist legislators renounced President Lincoln, who responded by ordering them arrested, an order carried out by Colonel Thomas Ruger on September 17, 1861. This put Maryland unionists in control of the state for good.

The drama of this uncivil episode between Maryland state legislators can be explored in five lots in our upcoming April Historical Manuscript Signature auction.


Lot 34069. A petition dated May 4, 1861, signed by twenty-nine citizens from union-leaning Frederick County, Maryland, against an act "for the Peace and Safety" of Maryland.

Lot 34068. Another petition dated May 6, 1861, with 38 signatures of citizens from St. Mary's County, Maryland, demanding that the state remain neutral during the Civil War.

Lot 34070. Four more petitions dated May 6, 1861, containing over 200 signatures of union-leaning Washington County, Maryland, citizens protesting directly against the secret sessions of the Maryland General Assembly being held in Frederick.

Lot 34071. These two petitions dated May 4, 1861, contain over 210 signatures of union-leaning Maryland citizens protesting the state legislature's creation of a Board of Public Safety.They believed such a bill "if passed would prove a Military Despotism."

Lot 34077. The order to arrest Maryland's secessionist legislators originated with President Lincoln. Union officers such as Nathaniel Banks then ordered Col. Ruger—the man on the spot—to take his men to Frederick, where the legislature was scheduled to meet in mid-September 1861. This is an archive of military letters written to Col. Thomas Ruger during those momentous days as the fate of Maryland stood in the balance.


All of these lots will be offered on April 3, 2014, at our April Manuscripts Auction #6113 to be held on the 15^th floor of 445 Park Avenue, New York City. A full preview will be available from April 1-3. If you can't make it to New York, you can still watch the auction live and bid using Heritage Live!