Thursday, May 05, 2011

150 Years Ago -- Butler Goes on the Offensive

Sunday, May 5, 1861, was the deadline Abraham Lincoln set in his April 15 proclamation of war for those in rebellion "to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes."

Having secured the railroad from Annapolis to Washington, Brigadier General Benjamin Butler went on the offensive to secure the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through Baltimore.  On this date, his troops -- the 6th Massachusetts and 8th New York Regiments -- occupied Relay, Maryland, an important junction on the B&O just south of Baltimore.

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