1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 620 Marching into Baltimore

"To ensure the security of Washington, we must send troops to control Baltimore." Lincoln walked to the map of the United States hanging in the President's Office and stared at Baltimore on the map.

"Sending troops in what name? How many troops? Baltimore is a big city. If you want to control Baltimore, you need a lot of troops." Scott was born in Virginia, a land of outstanding people, but he is a staunch abolitionist. Therefore, Scott did not avoid the issue of sending troops to the slave states.

Baltimore is currently in a chaotic state, with Maryland's intrastate slaveholders and abolitionists vying for control of the city.

After the news of the six deep-blue southern states declaring their secession from the Union reached Baltimore, Maryland's slaveholding and abolitionist armed forces had already had sporadic exchanges of fire in the city, with both sides trying to seize this vital building by force. City.

However, in general, in the fight for control of Baltimore City, the armed forces of slavery still had the upper hand.

"Entering Maryland in the name of maintaining security in Baltimore." Lincoln pointed at Fort McHenry on the outskirts of Baltimore on the map and said, "We don't need too many troops to enter Maryland. As long as we control Fort McHenry, we will be able to Indirect control of Baltimore."

Fort McHenry is a large fortress built on the outskirts of Baltimore during the Revolutionary War. The original intention of building this military fortress was to defend against foreign enemies landing from the sea and to protect Baltimore, an important eastern coastal city.

Fort McHenry could be used to defend against foreign enemies, or it could be used to control Baltimore.

"It's feasible." After Scott thought for a moment, he affirmed Lincoln's idea and asked, "Where do you plan to dispatch the troops to garrison Fort McHenry?"

Controlling a state in Maryland requires a large number of troops, which is difficult to achieve, but controlling Fort McHenry does not require many troops, and it is much easier to maneuver.

"General John Adams Dix, the commander of the New York State militia, has a well-trained New York State militia under his command. I think General John Adams Dix and the New York State militia will be enough to deter the rebels in Baltimore." Lincoln said found the right person in his mind.

"John Adams Dix is ​​your Republican. His troops stationed at Fort McHenry will intensify hostility to the federal government in Baltimore and even the entire state of Maryland." Buchanan frowned, "If something goes wrong, who will Responsible?"

John Adams Dix was a Republican and a radical among the Republicans, advocating the use of force to eliminate slaveholding armed groups and forces.

By sending a general with a tough attitude toward slaveholding factions into Baltimore, Buchanan was worried that the situation in Maryland would quickly deteriorate. At the same time, he was even more worried about bearing the consequences of the deterioration of the situation in Maryland.

"I will bear all the consequences." Lincoln directly took over the responsibility and urged Scott, "Secretary Scott, please make arrangements as soon as possible!"

Soon, Scott issued a transfer order to Brigadier General John Adams Dix with the order of war.

After gathering his troops in New York, General John Adams Dix took a train and headed south.

Republicans led the New York State militia to march directly into Maryland during this special and tense period. The slaveholding forces in Maryland were shocked.

Representatives of the slaveholding faction in Maryland strongly protested against the federal government and General John Adams Dix's infringement of Maryland's sovereignty, and ordered General John Adams Dix to immediately take his troops and get out of Maryland. Go back to New York State.

General John Adams Dix ignored the protests and continued toward Baltimore.

Seeing that mere protest and pressure could no longer prevent the northern army from moving south, the slaveholding representatives in Maryland mobilized pro-slavery militia organizations in an attempt to prevent General John Adams Dix and his army from entering by force. Baltimore.

Without hesitation, General John Adams Dix ordered cannon fired to disperse the Maryland rabble blocking the road.

As General John Adams Dix expected, this hastily organized and mobilized pro-slavery armed group was indeed a ragtag group. As soon as the cannon was fired, these Maryland slaveholding militiamen quickly dispersed.

At the same time, local abolitionist forces in Maryland were not idle after learning that John Adams Dix was leading an army into Maryland by train.

These abolitionist armed groups organized themselves spontaneously to protect the railway lines along the way from damage.

For railway lines that have been damaged, local railway workers are organized to seize the time to repair them in a comprehensive and comprehensive manner.

Under attack from both sides by General John Adams Dix's New York militia and local abolitionist armed groups in Maryland, the pro-slavery armed groups in Maryland were retreating steadily and had to retreat into Baltimore City to avoid the Northern Army. Edge, preserve strength.

John Adams Dix was able to lead his army directly into Fort McHenry on the outskirts of Baltimore.

At the same time John Adams Dix received a letter from Lincoln.

In the letter, Lincoln authorized John Adams Dicks to impose martial law on Baltimore, and at the same time allowed John Adams Dick to directly arrest Baltimore's pro-slavery politicians, seal pro-slavery newspapers, and suppress any form of pro-slavery demonstrations. and fundraising events.

John Adams Dix carried out Lincoln's order without hesitation, and with the help of local abolition groups, he arrested Baltimore's pro-slavery politicians with lightning speed, even some neutral politicians. Can be spared.

At the same time, local pro-slavery newspapers in Baltimore were also shut down at the speed of light, and their mouthpieces, like pro-slavery politicians, were sent to the military prison at Fort McHenry for incarceration.

Frank Howard, founder of the Baltimore Daily Exchange, was also arrested for criticizing Republicans and Lincoln in his newspaper.

Howard was not a slave owner or a supporter of slavery, but a neutral. He believed that the South should not be independent and the North should not use force.

However, as John Adams Dix led the Union army to Fort McHenry, Baltimore no longer allowed any voice other than support for abolition to exist, even neutral voices.

It is worth mentioning that Frankie Howard’s grandfather was the creator of the American national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Coincidentally, Frankie Howard’s grandfather composed this song at Fort McHenry, where he is now imprisoned. National anthem.

Frank Howard, who was behind bars, looked at the Stars and Stripes fluttering in the wind outside the iron window. This flag that made his grandfather feel extremely proud, this country that made his grandfather feel proud, now felt disgusting to him.

The number of people incarcerated at Fort McHenry's prison increased every day, and supporters of slavery and neutrals were escorted into this military prison almost every hour.

As Fort McHenry's prison population grew, John Adams Dix's control of Baltimore became more secure, and he fulfilled the tasks assigned to him by Lincoln well.

Thanks to book friend Baby Duxiao for the 17,000 reward, book friend 20220512182841636 for the 500 reward, and other book friends for their rewards! Thank you to all book friends who subscribe and support!