Fifth Regiment, Infantry,
Maryland National Guard U.S. Volunteer, 1867-1899,

Baltimore, Maryland, Press A. Hoen & Co., 1899.
MSA SC 5390-1-1

MSA SC 5390-1-1, Image No: 192   Enlarge and print image (53K)

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Fifth Regiment, Infantry,
Maryland National Guard U.S. Volunteer, 1867-1899,

Baltimore, Maryland, Press A. Hoen & Co., 1899.
MSA SC 5390-1-1

MSA SC 5390-1-1, Image No: 192   Enlarge and print image (53K)

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191 The First Regiment arrived at Frostburg on the morning of Saturday, June 23. That afternoon the Fifth left, after a day of busy preparation in camp and little sleep the night before. Company A, of the Fifth, which was just returning from all night duty, met the First at the Frostburg Station and escorted them to camp. The homeward journey was exceedingly tiresome, and the day excessively hot. Arriving at Camden Station, a little after 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the regiment was formed and marched to Baltimore street, to Charles, past the Governor and General Brown, out Charles to Eager, to Cathedral, to the armory. This march—encumbered as the men were by heavy overcoats, knapsacks and blankets, with the thermometer above 90°—entailed a suffering on the men that words can hardly describe. Nothing but their splendid physical condition enabled them to pass the ordeal; as it was, many dropped in the last square and others fell upon reaching the building. It was a most unnecessary hardship—much commented on at the time—and came very near undoing all the good that the men had received from their stay in the mountains. At the armory Colonel Boykin read an order by General Douglas, complimenting the men for their conduct in the highest terms. This was the end of the second experience of the regiment in active service in the field. Commenting on the service at Frostburg, the New York National Guardsman said: "The Maryland National Guard has covered itself with glory by the prompt and unanimous manner in which it responded to the call of the governor for duty in suppressing the strike at Frostburg. * * * The order for movement was issued by the governor at noon on the 5th of June. At 4 o'clock the following morning—only 16 hours later—the two Baltimore regiments were facing the rioters at Frostburg, 220 miles from Baltimore. "Arriving at the scene of the disturbance—after an all night's ride—at . 4 o'clock in the morning, in the midst of a cold, drizzling rain, they were marched three miles over a rough mountain road with mud at times over shoe tops, put immediately on guard for three hours without shelter, and then marched another mile for breakfast. These were the conditions that met near a thousand of the youths of Baltimore—many of whom are accustomed to the highest refinements of comfort, and all tumbled unceremoniously from comfortable homes with an abundance of food and the tender •care of loved ones ever near. All of them were thoroughly drenched, yet they went at their duty without a murmur, and stuck to it manfully and •well. Of such material as this is the national guard composed in nearly all