Really?
"The citizens [of Frederick] were in the greatest trepidation. Invasion by the Southern army was considered equivalent to destruction. Impressment into the ranks as common soldiers; or immurement in a Southern prison—these were not attractive prospects for quiet, Union-loving citizens!
Towards nightfall, it became pretty certain that a force had crossed somewhere about the mouth of the Monocacy. Telegrams were crowding rapidly on the army officers located here, directing that what stores could not be removed should be burned, and that the sick should as far as possible be sent on to Pennsylvania.
Here began a scene of terror seldom witnessed in this region. Lieut. Castle, A. Q. M„ burned a large quantity of his stores at the depot. Assist. Surg. Weir fired his store-house on the Hospital grounds and burned the most valuable of his surplus bedding contained in Kemp Hall, in Church street near Market. Many of our prominent citizens, fearing impressment, left their families and started for Pennsylvania in carriages, on horseback, and on foot. All the convalescents at the Hospital that could bear the fatigue, were started also for Pennsylvania, in charge of Hospital Steward Cox.
The citizens removed their trucks containing private papers and other valuables from the bank-vaults, under the firm belief that an attack would be made on these buildings for the sake of the specie contained in them.The rebels obliged must of our shoe-stores to be kept. open during the day so that their men could obtain shoes. The reign of terror continued, although no personal violence was done to any citizen. Pickets are posted miles out of town. The Main body of rebel troops is said to be encamped about Urbana. General Robert E. Lee is in command, and there are three divisions or, it may be, four, commanded by Jackson, Longstreet, D. H. Hill,and some one else. Forage is obtained by taking it and offering Confederate notes in payment. At the Evangelical Reformed Church, the pastor, Rev. Dr. Daniel Zach arias, offered up prayers for the President of the United States, notwithstanding the presence of a number of Confederate officers. In the evening General Jackson was seen asleep in the same church...
During the afternoon one of those incredible incidents occurred, which have been occasionally reported in our papers, but have always been disbelieved by those who have faith in the humanity of rebels. Several young ladies were standing in front of the house of one of our prominent citizens, when a rebel officer rode up and, halting his horse, said, "Ladies, allow me to make you a present. This is a ring made from the bone of a dead Yankee." A gentleman, near the curb, seized the article before the officer had finished speaking and handed it to the ladies, who quickly answered, "Keep your present for those who appreciate such pres- ents." The only reply of the chivalry was, "Ah! I supposed you were a Southern ladies!" This incident is instructive."
--- Dr. Lewis Steiner
Walt
Under the suspension of Habeas Corpus, the Maryland Legislature was held under house arrest at Fort McHenry and not allowed to vote on secession. The State was placed under martial law, enfored by Northern troops. Sounds occupied to me.
Citizens rioted in Baltimore at the invading Northerners, railroad bridges were burned, and not rebuilt until after the war. The State Song, Maryland, My Maryland, was written by an expatriate Marylander in Louisiana. The song begins "The despot's heel is on thy shore..." referring to the invading and occupying Northern forces.
"The citizens [of Frederick] were in the greatest trepidation. Invasion by the Southern army was considered equivalent to destruction.
Invasion by a friendly army is tantamount to destruction.
Telegrams were crowding rapidly on the army officers located here, directing that what stores could not be removed should be burned, and that the sick should as far as possible be sent on to Pennsylvania. Here began a scene of terror seldom witnessed in this region
Not many clashing armies in those parts, recently? Reign of panic is more like it. Union troops burned what they could not remove. Common practice. Not too hard for the citizens of Northwestern Maryland (Pennsylvania Border, Barbera Frietchie, Union Sympathizers, and all that)to panic along with them. If Atlanta can be described as "puny" by another poster, Frederick was a mere flyspeck on the map.
BTW, try and see what you can find on the sentiment of Marylanders below the fall line, especially Baltimore, Southern Maryland, Annapolis (less the D@mn turncoat governor), and the Eastern Shore.
It is hard to blame the citizens of Fredrick for catching the panic the Northern troops had, nor should one blame Southern troops for the Northern officers following orders.
The incident with the ring sounds a bit trumped up. No Southern gentleman would offer such a grisly trophy to a lady, especially a Southern Lady. But, if such occurred, chances are the Yankee was a Yankee horse or beef. It reeks of propaganda to me. Such sensationalism was common to the time.
No one in my family was conscripted, they fought willingly.
The Steiner ReportWednesday September 10. -- At four o'clock this morning the rebel army began to move from our town, Jackson's force taking the advance. The movement continued until eight o'clock P.M., occupying sixteen hours. The most liberal calculations could not give them more than 64,000 men. Over 3,000 negroes must be included in this number. There were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or captured United states uniforms, but in coats with Southern buttons, State buttons, etc. There were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabres, bowie-knives, dirks, etc. They were supplied, in many instances, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, etc., and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederacy Army.