John Henry Brown was a painter of portrait miniatures, living and working in Philadelphia. He had met Lincoln in August of 1860 when he was commissioned to paint Lincoln’s portrait for a supporter, but although Brown liked Lincoln personally, he did not agree with Republican policies.
Transcript:
Sunday. At Church.
The bridges between this city & Baltimore & Harrisburg & the latter place have been burned down. Maryland refuses to have troops pass over her territory. Hundreds of Baltimoreans favourable to the Union, have left their homes
Citation: John Henry Brown (1818-1891), autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1
As a result of the riots in Baltimore, Washington DC remains isolated. President Lincoln anxiously waits for the arrival of Union troops, but none are to be seen. As a stopgap measure Federal civil service employees are armed and prepare to defend the Capital.
As the Northern and Southern States raise militias and volunteer troops the fact remains that these are little more than untrained mobs. Given the nature of 19th Century warfare it will take months of training and drill to enable these troops master the school of the soldier and the discipline necessary to withstand combat. The South has an advantage in this area. Approximately 1/3 of the US Regular Army offices resign their commissions and go south. As a practical matter the South does not yet have the capability of seizing Washington DC, but that does not allay President Lincoln’s concerns which will grow over the next several days.