tions on both sides followed, and Captain Blake said he would visit General Butler at daybreak. Colonel Butler returned on board the Maryland.

The general was soon ready with replies to the notes of Governor Hicks and Captain Miller.

To the governor : "I had the honor to receive your note by the hands of Lieutenant Matthews of the United States Naval School at Annapolis. I am sorry that your excellency should advise against my landing here. I am not provisioned for a long voyage. Finding the ordinary means of communication cut off by the burning of railroad bridges by a mob, I have been obliged to make this detour, and hope that your excellency will see, from the very necessity of the case, that there is no cause of excitement in the mind of any good citizen because of our being driven here by an extraordinary casualty. I should, at once, obey, however, an order from the secretary of war."

To Captain Miller: "I am grieved to hear that it is impracticable for you to procure cars for the carriage of myself and command to Washington, D. C. Cars are not indispensable to our progress. I am not instructed that you were to arrange for the transporting of my command; if so, you would surely have been instructed as to our destination. We are accustomed to much longer journeys on foot in pursuance of our ordinary avocations. I can see no objection, however, to our remaining where we are until such time as orders may be received from General Scott. But without further explanation from yourself, or greater inconveniences than you suggest, I see no reason why I should make such delay. Hoping for the opportunity of an immediate personal interview, I remain, etc." Captain Blake came off to the steamer at dawn of day, and soon found himself at home among his countrymen.

"Can you help me off with the Constitution? Will your orders permit you?"

"I have got no orders,” replied the general. "I am making war on my own hook. But we can't be wrong in saving the Constitution. That is, certainly, what we came to do."

How the regiment now went to work with a will to save the Constitution; how the Maryland moved up along side, and put on board the Salem Zouaves for a guard, and a hundred Marbleheaders for sailors; how they tugged, and tramped, and lightened, and

heaved, and tugged, and tugged again; how groups of sulk, secesh stood scowling around, muttering execrations; how the old frigate was started from her bed of mud at length, amid such cheers as Annapolis had never heard before, and has not heard since Captain Blake bursting into tears of joy after the long strain upon his nerves; these things have been told, and have not been forgotten. But the ship was not yet safe, though she was moving slowly toward safety. General Butler had now been positively assured that the captain of his ferry-boat was a traitor at heart, and would like nothing better than to run both steamer and frigate on a mud bank. He doubted the statement, which indeed was false. The man was half paralyzed with terror, and was thinking of nothing but how to get safely out of the hands of these terrible men. Nevertheless, the general deemed it best to make a remark or two by way of fortifying his virtuous resolutions, and neutralizing any hints he may have received from people on the shore. The engineroom he knew was conducted in the interest of the United States. for he had given it in charge to four of his own soldiers. He had no man in his command who happened to be personally acquainted with the shallows of the river Severn.

"Captain," said he, "have you faith in my word?"

"Yes," said the captain.

"I am told that you mean to run us aground. I think not. If you do, as God lives, and you live, I'll blow your brains out."

The poor captain, upon hearing these words, evinced symptoms of terror so remarkable, as to convince General Butler that if any mishap befell the vessels, it would not be owing to any disaffection on the part of the gentleman in the pilot-house.

All seemed to be going well. The general dozed in his chair. He woke to find the Maryland fast in the mud. Believing the captain's protestations, and the navigation being really difficult, he did not molest his brains, which were already sufficiently discomposed, but ordered him into confinement. The frigate was still afloat, and was, soon after, towed to a safe distance by a tug. The Eighth Massachusetts could boast that it had rendered an important service. But there the regiment was upon a bank of mud; provisions nearly consumed; water casks dry; and the sun doing its duty. There was nothing to be done but wait for the rising of the tide, and, in the mean time, to replenish the water casks from the shore,

The men were tired and hungry, black with coal dust, and tormented with thirst, but still cheerful, and even merry; and in the twilight of the Sunday evening, the strains of religious hymns rose from groups who, on the Sunday before, sang them in the choirs of village churches at home. The officers, as they champed their biscuit, and cut their pork with pocket knives, laughingly alluded to' the superb breakfast given them on the morning of their departure from Philadelphia by Paran Stephens at the Continental. Mr. Stephens, a son of Massachusetts, had employed all the resources of his house in giving his countrymen a parting meal. The sudden plunge from luxury brought to the perfection of one of the fine arts, to army rations, scant in quantity, ill-cooked, and a short allowance of warm water, was the constant theme of jocular comparison on board the Maryland. It was a well-worn joke, to call for delicate and ludicrously impossible dishes, which were remembered as figuring in the Continental's bill of fare; the demand being gravely answered by the allowance of a biscuit, an inch of salt pork, and a tin cup half full of water.

General Butler improved the opportunity of going on shore. He net Governor Hicks and the mayor of Annapolis, who again urged him not to think of landing. All Maryland, they said, was on the point of rushing to arms; the railroad was impassable, and guarded by armed men; terrible things could not fail to happen, if the troops attempted to reach Washington.

"I must land," said the general; "my men are hungry. I could not even leave without getting a supply of provisions."

They declared that no one in Annapolis would sell him anything. To which the general replied, that he hoped better things of the people of Annapolis; but, in any case, a regiment of hungry soldiers were not limited to the single method of procuring supplies usually practiced in time of peace. There were modes of getting food other than the simple plan of purchase. Go to Washington he must and should, with or without the assistance of the people of Annapolis. The governor still refused his consent, and, the next day, put his refusal into writing; "protesting against the movement, which, in the excited condition of the people of this state, I can not but consider an unwise step on the part of the government. But," he added, "I must earnestly urge upon you, that there shall be no halt made by the troops in this city." No halt? Seven hundred

and twenty-four famishing men, with a march of thirty miles before them, were expected to pass by a city abounding in provisions, and not halt! Great is Buncombe !

Another night was passed on board the Maryland. The dawn of Monday morning brought with it a strange apparition-a steamer approaching from the sea, crammed with troops, their arms soon glittering in the rays of the rising sun. Who could they be? They cheered the stars and stripes waving from the mast of the rescued Constitution; so they were not enemies, at least.

The steamer proved to be the Boston, with the New York Seventh on board, thirty-six hours from Philadelphia. They had steamed toward the mouth of the Potomac, but, on speaking the light-ships, were repeatedly told that the secessionists had stationed batteries of artillery on the banks of the river, for the purpose of preventing the ascent of troops. There was no truth in the story, but it seemed probable enough at that mad time; and, therefore, Colonel Lefferts, after the usual consultation, deemed it most prudent to change his course, and try General Butler's road to the capital; the regiment by no means relishing the change. The two regiments exchanged vigorous volleys of cheers, and preparations were soon made for getting the Maryland afloat.

General Butler, counting now upon Colonel Lefferts's hearty cooperation, issued to his own troops a cheering order of the day:

"At five o'clock A. M. the troops will be called by companies to be drilled in the manual of arms, especially in loading at will and firing by file in the use of the bayonet, and these specialties will be observed in all subsequent drills in the manual; such drills will continue until 7 o'clock; then all the arms may be stacked upon the upper deck, great care being taken to instruct the men as to the mode of stacking their arms, so that a firm stack, not easily overturned, shall be made. Being obliged to drill at times with the weapons loaded, great damage may be done by the overturning of the stack and the discharge of a piece. This is important. Indeed, an accident has already occurred in the regiment from this cause, and although slight in its consequences, yet it warns us to increased diligence in this regard.

The purpose which could only be hinted at in the orders of yesterday has been accomplished. The frigate Constitution has lain for a long time at this port substantially at the mercy of the armed mob which sometimes paralyzes the otherwise loyal state of Maryland. Deeds of daring, successful contests, and glorious victories had rendered Old Ironsides so conspicuous in the naval history of the country, that she was fitly chosen as the school

in which to train the future officers of the navy to like heroic acts. It was given to Massachusetts and Essex County first to man her; it was reserved to Massachusetts to have the honor to retain her for the service of the Union and the laws. This is a sufficient triumph of right-a sufficient triumph for us. By this the blood of our friends shed by the Baltimore mob is in so far avenged. The Eighth regiment may hereafter cheer lustily upon all proper occasions, but never without orders. The old 'Constitution,' by their efforts, aided untiringly by the United States officers having her in charge, is now safely 'possessed, occupied, and enjoyed' by the government of the United States, and is safe from all her enemies.

"We have been joined by the Seventh regiment of New York, and together we propose peaceably, quietly, and civilly, unless opposed by some mob or other disorderly persons, to march to Washington in obedience to the requisition of the President of the United States; and if opposed, we shall march steadily forward. My next order, I hardly know how to express. I cannot assume that any of the citizen soldiery of Massachusetts or New York could, under any circumstances whatever, commit any outrages upon private property in a loyal and friendly state; but fearing that some improper person may have, by stealth, introduced himself among us, I deem it proper to state that any unauthorized interference with private property will be most signally punished, and full reparation therefor be made to the injured party, to the full extent of my power and ability. In so doing I but carry out the orders of the War Department. I should have done so without those orders.

"Colonel Monroe will cause these orders to be read at the head of each company before we march. Colonel Lefferts's command not having been originally included in this order, he will be furnished with a copy for his instruction." The Maryland could not be floated. The men threw overboard coal and crates, and all heavy articles that could be spared. The Boston tugged her strongest. The Eighth ran in masses from side to side, and from end to end. After many hours of strenuous exertion, the men suffering extremely from thirst and hunger, the general himself not tasting a drop of liquid for twelve hours, the attempt was given up, and it was resolved that the Boston should land the Seventh at the grounds of the Naval Academy, and then convey to the same place the Massachusetts Eighth.

Desirous not to seem wanting in courtesy to a sovereign state, General Butler now sent to Governor Hicks, a formal written request for permission to land. The answer being delayed and his men almost fainting for water, he then dispatched a respectful note announcing his intention to land forthwith. It was to these notes