The History of Caroline County, Maryland, From Its Beginning

The Civil War

        Late in the year 1860, the people of Caroline County were naturally much disturbed at the threatened Civil War and disunion by the secession of some of the Southern States.  Public sentiment divided the people into two classes, the larger, perhaps, being in favor of maintaining the Federal Union; the other class in favor of secession.
        Many people who had heretofore been friends were bitterly opposed to each other—some for the north—others for the South.  This was the condition in Caroline County when four companies of Union soldiers were enrolled in the four centers of the county.
        For some time our people felt the restrictions and great inconvenience of army regulations, though not much of the time under a military guard.  Persons could not go to Baltimore, could not return home by boat without a pass from the Provost-marshall.  As the war continued, many men were deprived from voting at the general elections, unless they took the oath of “allegiance,” which some refused to do.
        During this period also, a new Constitution was adopted by our state for the purpose of disfranchising those who in any way were in sympathy with, aided or abetted the southern cause.  How could such a measure be passed when a majority of sentiment was against it is explained by Scharf’s quotation from the Denton Journal of that time: “In counting out the ballots in this district (Denton), but forty-seven votes appeared against the Constitution; whereas eighty-nine voters whose names appear upon the poll-books, have certified and propose to swear, that they voted against the Constitution.  Five others likewise signified.”  Fortunately this obnoxious document was set aside at the close of the War and a new one made.  It is likely, too, that some of our citizens were imprisoned for a semblance of not being strictly loyal to the Federal Union.  Doubtless there was much needless inconvenience and annoyance arising from arbitrary acts of soldiers who exceed their authority when suspicions were aroused, but such seem to be the outcome of civil strife and nearly always the accompanying agents.
        The person, perhaps, most directly responsible for the unnecessary and unlawful acts of soldiers and guards during the Civil War was not Lincoln, as many have supposed, but rather his Secretary of State-Wm. H. Seward, whose bigotry and un-democracy may be readily observed from his boastful remark to Lord Lyons: “My Lord, I can touch a bell on my right hand, and order the arrest of a citizen of Ohio; I can touch it again, and order the arrest of a citizen of New York; and no power on earth except that of the President can release them.  Can the Queen of England do as much?”
        Perhaps, several young men from our county with courage and strong feelings for “Southern Rights” went South and entered the Southern Army at the risk or sacrifice of their lives in defense of the principles they conscientiously entertained.  Unfortunately we have been unable to secure the names of but two such young men—Messrs. Alexander and Frank Gadd—brothers of our former Countian and well known citizen, Col. Luther H. Gadd.  It was with much difficulty that these and other men from Maryland entered the Southern Army.  The Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay were well guarded to prevent just such happenings.
        The story is told of some men from Queen Anne county who had planned to drive down to the bay shore in Dorchester county and then take a boat to the Virginia Shore.  To prevent suspicion while on their way through Caroline and Dorchester counties, they carried along some hunting dogs and whenever they found themselves watched, did not hesitate to climb out of the wagon with their dogs and spend some time in rounding up the birds and rabbits in that section before proceeding on their way.
        On the 4th of August 1862 President Lincoln ordered a draft of three hundred thousand militia for nine months, unless sooner discharged, and directed that if any state did not furnish its quota of these men, the deficiency of volunteers in that state would be made up by special or individual draft.  Of this number, Maryland was to furnish 19,000 men and Caroline County 304.  As 231 county men had already volunteered into service, only 56 were required to be drafted after allowance was made for excess apportionment.  The long-expected draft took place throughout the state on the 15th of October 1862, after the enrollment had been completed.  Those drawn for service were notified to present themselves at the place of rendezvous within five days.  Substitutes were accepted in place of those unwilling to serve in person; and a lively business was done in that traffic, prices ranging from $200 to $600.  Some of these substitutes, escaping from the camp of instruction, sold their services over again.
        In 1864 another draft of 2000 men from the state was made and Caroline County likely furnished about thirty.
        Unfortunately we have been unable to obtain a list of the drafted men from our county, though a complete list of volunteers is given below.