© Kathy Duncan, 2025
The American Civil War began on 12 April 1861 when the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
Col. James S. Piper was in Alabama at the time.
When Maryland Governor Hicks answered Lincoln's call for troops, Marylanders in Alabama were aghast. Among them was Col. James S. Piper. Again, he was talking to newspapermen, and he expressed the desire to join the Confederate army. The question of whether he joined the army would play an important role two years later.
This particular newspaper clipping makes an important connection in the chain of evidence that links the events of Capt. James S. Piper's life. It clearly, references James S. Piper as being both the Captain of Company B in the Mexican War and the Colonel who served under General Walker in Nicaragua. Additionally, it identifies him as a Confederate sympathizer willing to serve in the military. In 1861, James S. Piper would have been 43 years old. While not a young man, he was not too old to serve.
Within two days, Col. James S. Piper was back in Baltimore, Maryland, where he promptly spoke to yet another newspaperman.
The affray referred to is now known as the Baltimore Riot of 1861. It is also referred to as the Pratt Street Riots or the Pratt Street Massacre. In 1861, Baltimore was largely a city of southern sympathizers. On Friday, 19 April 1861, a riot broke out when members of the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania state militias, who had been called up for service, were en route to Washington DC. Their route took them through Baltimore, where they were attacked by Confederate sympathizers. A riot ensued that resulted in the first deaths of Union volunteers in the Civil War.
Why Col. James S. Piper traveled to Baltimore instead of Washington DC is yet another question. There is reason to believe that his wife and son were still residence at 506 E south in Washington DC. Of course, at this time, Col. James S. Piper's sisters were probably still living in Baltimore, so he may have wanted to see them. Alternately, he may have preferred a city with southern sympathies as his destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I will always try to respond to your comments. If you are anonymous and cannot be reached by email and if you do not choose to follow responses to your comments, then please check back here for a response.