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ready to march at two o'clock the next morning.
These troops were in
Washington City.
At dawn on the 5th, they left the
Capital in thirty cars; and about two hours later they alighted at the
Relay House, within nine miles of
Baltimore, seized the railway station there, spread over the hills in scouting parties, and prepared to plant cannon so as to command the
Washington Junction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway at the great viaduct
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The Relay House in 1864. |
over the
Patapsco Valley, and the roads leading to
Baltimore and
Harper's Ferry.
General Butler accompanied the troops, and established a camp on the hills, a quarter of a mile from the
Relay House, near the residences of
P. O'Hern and
J. H. Luckett.
The writer visited this interesting spot late in 1864.
Brigadier-General John R. Kenly, whose meritorious services in
Baltimore will be noticed presently, was then in command there.
On the bights back of the
Relay House, near which
General Butler encamped, was a regular earthwork, called
Fort Dix, and a substantial block-house built of timber, which is seen in our little picture.
It was a commanding position, overlooking the narrow valley of the Patapsco above the viaduct toward
Ellicott's mills, up which passes the railway to
Harper's Ferry, and the expanding valley and beautifully rolling country below the viaduct, wherein may be seen, nestling at the foot of hills, the ancient village of Elkridge Landing, to which, in former days, the
Patapsco was navigable.
Near here, on a range of lofty hills running northward
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Great viaduct at the Washington Junction. |
from
Elkridge, are the residences of several gentlemen of wealth, among them
J. H. B. Latrobe, a distinguished citizen of
Maryland, whose house may be observed on the wooded hills seen beyond the viaduct in the little accompanying picture.
General Butler remained a little more than a week at the Relay House, preparing to carry out his plan for seizing Baltimore.
Meanwhile General Patterson, anxious to vindicate the dignity and honor of his Government,
