It was September 1861. The Maryland Legislature had already voted against secession the previous April and now a minority of members want to take the state to join the armed rebellion currently being waged against the government. What the heck did you expect to happen?
I just don’t think a writer today can accurately read tea leaves from 1861, as complex as it was. I suppose in today’s world where everyone has their own truth, this sort of writing can make people feel better about themselves if they live in Maryland. Who am I to judge their truths, anyway. I may want my own tomorrow.