HIS is not a war history. It does not propose to take the reader to every well-fought field during a four-year's conflict, from Manassas to Appomattox and tell him how battles were lost and won. Of histories of that character we have had many. Some of them have been made into text-books and used in the public schools of the country, serving no purpose save that of filling the minds of the young with prejudices and distorted facts; while others, written by the actors in the great events which they record, have their value alike to the North and the South, and will always be bright and luminous. Nor does this book aim to show the character of the events that led up to a great contest in which a peaceful people suddenly found themselves involved; or to point out the vast social, political and constitutional changes brought about by the war-that is the task of the philosopher, the statesman, and the thinker.

This is a round, unvarnished tale of a few hundred heroes from a border State, who stepped bravely to the front when their rights of manhood, of freedom and of citizenship, under what should be one protecting flag, enfolding all in its embrace, were threatened. Their identity was lost in the great gathering; no herald ever blew his trumpet in the market-place or on the housetops and told the story of their deeds to an assembled people, their statues do not stand in any national Walhalla, crowned with the laurel - they were born, they lived, they fought, they died that was all. And so this book seeks to rescue them from the oblivion into which in coming years they might fall, to tell of their selfsacrifice and their heroism; in short, to be a simple story of four years in the lives of true and brave-hearted men.

And yet, to make the story rounded and complete, and to give a reason for the position which they took and the sacrifices which they made, it is necessary to go back a little way and speak briefly of the causes which led up to the great struggle, and how, when the blast of war sounded in their ears, these men never hesitated, but stood on the side of justice and liberty.

On the 6th of November, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, and it was felt that a great crisis had come at last, that slavery agitation had reached its climax, that the South, politically, was overwhelmed, and that it stood practically alone. And yet with all this, the people of the Cotton States were far from being agreed as to the wisdom and expediency of secession,

and the ordinances of secession were not, as a general rule, submitted to the people for ratification.

In the Border Slave States there was also a marked difference of opinion and feeling on the question. As late as April 11, 1861, three resolutions which were presented in the Virginia Convention containing declarations in favor of the withdrawal of that State from the Union under certain conditions were rejected. by decisive and significant majorities.

Prior to April 15, 1861, the people of Kentucky and Missouri were, if possible, more decided in their opposition to secession than were the people of Virginia, and in Maryland, before the date mentioned, practically the whole population was opposed to the action of the Cotton States, and desired a peaceful solution of the public difficulties, and the maintenance of the Union.

To carry out any plan of pacification, and to endeavor to adjust the practical questions connected with the institution of slavery in its relations to the Federal Government, the Border Slave States were ready to give that Government their support, and from the election of Mr. Lincoln, the people of these States never ceased to urge upon the Federal authorities the policy of peace.

While affairs were in this critical state, there came the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and before the smoke had rolled away from Charleston harbor there came, on April 15, 1861, the proclamation of President Lincoln, declaring that the laws were being opposed, and that their execution was obstructed in the Cotton States, and calling forth the militia of the several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 75,000 men to cause the laws to be duly executed.

What was the effect of this proclamation upon the people of the Border States? They had been offering their support to the Federal Government on all constitutional measures for the preservation of peace, and now they were commanded to submit to the exercise, by the President of the United States, of powers unwarranted by the Constitution and the laws, and their resolution was quickly taken. Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia each passed an ordinance of secession, and, although the free expression of change in the feeling of the people of Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland, which was very decided, was prevented by force, the action of the Federal Government was strongly resented.

The position of Maryland was a most critical one; and while, after the President's proclamation, a large number of her people sympathized with the South, there was a feeling underneath that, on account of her geographical position, her fortunes were linked with those of the North. In the call of the President for troops, four Maryland regiments were included, and after that call a marked division manifested itself among the people of Baltimore. Business. was almost suspended, a spirit of unrest and strife seemed to be in the air, and it was difficult for the police to preserve the peace.

On the 18th of April notice was received from Harrisburg that two companies of United States artillery and four companies of militia would arrive in the city. that afternoon. A large crowd assembled at the station, and followed the soldiers on their march through the streets to take the train for Washington, with abuse and threats. Outbreaks occurred in various parts of the city and a meeting was held, attended by men well known and respected in the community, at which strong ground was taken against the passage of any more troops through Baltimore, and armed resistance to it was threatened.

On the forenoon of the 19th of April the Sixth Massachusetts regiment arrived in Baltimore on its way to Washington. The cars were, according to daily custom, to be detached from the engine at the Philadelphia station and drawn by horses for the distance of a mile to the Washington station. Nine cars made the passage, although missiles were thrown and some of the windows were broken. But obstructions having been placed on the track, the other cars turned back, and four companies formed on the street, and began their march to the station. The crowd on the way was not large, and there was no concert in its action, but the attack on the troops was violent. Rioters rushed at the soldiers, and attempted to seize their muskets. Men fell dead or wounded on both sides. The police bravely protected the soldiers, and, although there was confusion when the station was reached, the soldiers were safely placed in the cars, the train moved out, and passed on to Washington.

After the news of the fight spread through the city, the excitement became more intense. The Governor of the State, the Mayor and prominent citizens were all agreed that if more troops should pass through the city there would be a bloody conflict; and the Mayor sent a letter to Washington requesting that no more troops should be ordered by the Government to do so. Next morning, the 20th, the excitement and alarm had deepened. The City Council assembled and appropriated $500,000 to be used in putting the city in a complete state of defense against any danger that might arise, and the banks promptly advanced that sum.

Next came a letter from the President to the effect that troops would march around Baltimore, but not through it. Preparations for the defense of the city were nevertheless continued. Armed men marched through the streets, military companies moved about in every direction, and the various railroad bridges leading into the city were burned by order of the authorities. On the 21st it was rumored that 3,000 troops were near the city on their way from Pennsylvania, but they halted at Cockeysville, and were finally ordered to return to their own State. For days the city was in a feverish condition, but the authorities were determined to resist all open acts of hostility to the Federal Government, and they accomplished their purpose.

On April 22 Governor Hicks convened the General Assembly of the State