Baltimore Riot Trail

On April 19, 1861, Confederate sympathizers and a stone-throwing secessionist mob attacked Capt. Albert S. Follansbee's four companies of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as they marched along Pratt Street to Camden Station to change trains for Washington, which secessionists hoped to isolate. East of here, the harassed troops finally opened fire, and the violence reached a crescendo. Massachusetts Corp. Sumner H. Needham was struck in the head, fell to the pavement, and died after earlier telling a comrade that he expected trouble and would not get out alive. Pvt. Luther C. Ladd was shot and killed, proclaiming "All Hail to the Stars & Stripes" as he collapsed. The mob shot Addison Whitney dead and beat Charles Taylor to death. The rest of the soldiers marched at the double-quick down Pratt Street, dragging their muskets between their legs and reloading as they ran. Baltimore Mayor George W. Brown learned of the riot, first went to Camden Station where all was calm, then heard shots from Pratt Street, met Follansbee near the head of the marching column, and told him, "You must defend yourselves." Brown picked up a dropped musket and brandished it, threatening the mob, and Police Marshall George P. Kane and a company of policemen soon arrived to hold the crowd back as Kane shouted, "Keep back, men, or I shoot!"

Baltimore, Maryland · United States