20
“IN READINESS TO DO EVERY DUTY ASSIGNED”

9


The Batallion was

then marched to the street fronting the position of

the Insurgents and formed with the right resting

against the enclosure of the Armory and im-

mediately adjacent to the point of attack and

within range of the fire of the Insurgents. Capt.

Sinn’s Company formed the right, Capt Ritchie’s

the centre, and Capt. Hobbs company the left of the

Batallion. After it was thus formed the Volunteer

Military from Baltimore

which had arrived on the Maryland side of the

Bridge in the same train with Col Lee and the Marines,

and had remained on the Maryland shore during

the night, was marched across and formed on

the left of the Batallion of Frederick Vol-

unteers. [ 30 ] An officer of the Marines then waited

on the Insurgents, demanded their surrender and

explained to them the hopelessness of resistance.

Capt. Brown peremptorily refused to surrender

when the assault was instantly made. A party

of Marines approached the doors of the building at

a run, large sledge hammers were wielded

against the doors, but

they failed to effect an entrance. [ 31 ] At this moment

a heavy ladder was discovered within the enclosure

and used by the Marines as a battering ram. At

the second blow, the doors were splintered and

yielded and an entrance was effected. As the

doors flew open the Insurgents killed by their fire

one Marine and wounded another. [ 32 ] Whilst the

assault was progressing, the Insurgents had dis-

charged several volleys through the doors which

failed to take effect. Major Russell of the Marine Corps


© Maryland State Archives, 2000, an Archives of Maryland publication