Department of Annapolis Established. Headquartered in the state capitol, and including the country for twenty miles to either side of the railroad from Annapolis to he city of Washington, as far as Bladensburg, it was later enlarged to include the city of Baltimore. Martial law during military occupation of one of the member states of the United States of America is established. In the following weeks, months and throughout the war, the Writ of Habeus Corpus is eventually abolished, despite over-rule by the US Supreme court, and eventually, state legislators, police commissioners, city officials, circuit judges, dissenting newspaper publishers and others end up imprisoned by the US Army, with no trial and no formal charges. Maryland is forced to stay in the union, by military occupation, imprisonment, and election tampering.
Potomac Flotilla Established. Service on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Commander James H Ward first commander.
Smith Point Lightship recaptured. Having been removed by southern sympathizers and hidden on the Wicomico river, 100 men of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers and two guns of the Eighth New York Artillery left Annapolis aboard the William Woodward and found the lightship hidden on Mill Creek. Fire was exchanged with a shore party, no injuries incurred. Returned successfully, May 18th to Annapolis.
Schooner Indiana seized, bound for Alexandria, Va with a cargo of nails by the U.S.S. Pawnee, as it lay at anchor in the Potomac off Alexandria, Va.
U.S.S Thomas Freeborn, flagship of Commander James H Ward, and U.S..S. Monticello, Captain Henry Eagle, engaged the Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point.
Aquia Creek Batteries (Confederate) Shelled by the Thomas Freeborn, Anacostia, and the Resolute. All but one gun of the battery silenced, Freeborn hit several times. Pawnee hulled four times. no deaths or serious injuries aboard ship.
Unsure as to whether there was a battery or not, due to the heavy underbrush and trees, Mathias Point, Potomac River was shelled prior to a planned landing of sailors to clea the area and erect a union battery. Sailors worked at defoliation, and sandbag defenses under occasional fire from the Fortieth Virginia Infantry. During this engagement, Ward was killed by a musket ball to the stomach, while attempting to direct the fire of his forward guns aboard the Freeborn.
Richard Thomas (Zarvona) boarded the side wheel steamer St Nicholas in baltimore, dressed as "a french lady"and members of his unit, Zarvona's Zouaves, disguised as passengers, boarded at Point Lookout, and then seized the ship on route to Georgetown. After disembarking passengers and cargo in Virginia, George N Hollins took command as captain and sailed as far north as Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock river, capturing the brig Monticello with a load of coffee, and the Schooner Mary Pierce with 260 tons of ice from Boston, and the Margaret, with 270 tons of coal while on route.
The U.S..S. Dana, commanded by acting Masters Mate Robert B Ely captures the sloop Teaser in Nanjemoy creek.
U.S. Navy encounters the first Confederate torpedoes [mines] on the Potomac river.
Department of Annapolis abolished. Department of Maryland established under command of General John A. Dix.
"...all members of the Maryland Legislature assembled in Frederick City on the 17th instant known tor suspected to be disloyal in their relations to the Government (U.S.) have been arrested." - General Nathanial P Banks to Secretary or War Stanton. In all, 30 legislators were seized, as well as Baltimore Mayor Brown, The editor of the Baltimore Exchange newspaper, Frank Key Howard, and Thomas Hall, editor of The South. Most if not all were never given any criminal charge, and all were denied trial.
Lieutenant E. P. McCrea, commander, U.S.S Jacob accompanied by the U.S.S Seminole shelled batteries under construction on the Potomac River, off Freestone Point, Va. a third vessel, the Valley City, was disabled and towed to safety by the Seminole.
Augustus W. Bradford, of the union ticket ( Republican) opposed by General Benjamin C Howard of the Peace Party (Democratic), was elected governor of Maryland. Union soldiers patrolling polling places, Union troops of Maryland units were given leave to go home and vote. Pro-Southern voters were intimidated and arrested. Massachusetts soldiers voted in the Maryland election in the city of Annapolis.
First carrier task force of the United States Navy begins operations on the Potomac river. The coal barge George Washington Park Custis is purchased for $150.00 and converted to a "balloon boat" for increased maneuverability of the observation tool, rather than transporting it over the poor roads of the time. The barge was a ward of the Navy, controlled by the army. On november 11th, Professor Lowe and General Daniel E Sickles took off from the barge in the Intrepid to make an aerial reconnaissance of the enemy positions along the lower Potomac opposite Mattawoman Creek.
A schooner with a cargo of wood found itself becalmed opposite Mattawoman Creek, and three confederate guns opened fire, forcing the schooner's crew to drop anchor and abandon ship. A small confederate force rowed to the vessel, set it afire, and departed. A massachusetts infantry unit rowed to the schooner, extinguished the flames, and brought it into Mattawoman Creek, while under fire from the confederate guns. Two 10-pound parrot rifles from the Fifth U.S. Artillery returned fire.
The steamers Jacob Bell and Anacostia fire upon a confederate wagon train near Freestone Point, Va. Commander of the Potomac Flotilla, Lieutenant R.H. Wyman provided counter battery fire in support aboard his flagship Harriet Lane.
Commodore R.H. Wyman instructs the officers of the Potomac Flotilla to harass the enemy by whatever means in their power.
The Satellite, Island Bell, and Freeborn shell confederate encampments at Boyde's Hole from 12:40am until 1:30am.
Confederate batteries destroyed after abandonment, by march 14th.
The Middle Department is Established, controlling New Jersey Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia. Maryland counties included in this department included; Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel. Major General John A Dox commanding.
Judge Richard B Carmichael, Circuit Court, Easton, Maryland arrested while in court by provost marshall James L Macphail. John L Bishop then proceeded to beat the judge with a pistol butt, until he was unconscious, for his southern sympathies, as he was held by two others. Carmichael was jailed for six months before his release, no charges ever made or trial ever having taken place.
The U.S.S. Freeborn, under command of Commander Samuel Magaw, captures and burns the Schooner Arctic on the Great Wicomico River.
The U.S.S. Jacob Bell captures a boat operated by C.F. Waid as he attempts to run the blockade. Cargo value, $2000. Potomac River off Jack Creek.
The U.S.S. Freeborn, Magraw, captures three boats running the blockade at Maryland Point.
The U.S.S. Chaser, Acting Ensign Phillip Seridan commanding, captures the sloop Grapeshot in the Chesapeake Bay.
The U.S.S. Resolute, Acting Master James C. Tole, captures the sloop Capitola at Glymont. Freight and Passengers aboard.
The U.S.S. T.A. Ward, Acting Master William L. Babcock, captures the sloop G.W. Green and a smaller boat in St Jerome'sCreek.
All Maryland political prisoners at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, are released. the state legislators released were; Severn T. Wallis, Henry M Warfield, William G Harris, and T. Parkin Scott. The mayor of Baltimore, George Brown, and Frank Key Howard, editor of the Baltimore Exchange, and Thomas Hall, editor of the South were also released. Finally, Charles Howard, William Gatchell and George P Kane of the Baltimore City Police Department were also released.
Congress gives the president the special wartime power to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus. This is almost two years after Lincoln did such in Maryland.
Point Lookout Prison established at mouth of Potomac and Chesapeake Bay. by april 1865, 20110 confederate prisoners crowd the prison. Estimated 4,000 men died there.
U.S.S. Satellite, Acting Master John F.D. Robinson, seizes the schooner Three Brothers on the Great Wicomico River.
President Lincoln suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Previous illegal arrests in Maryland now made legal.
The U.S.S. Coeur DeLion, Acting Master W.G. Morris, captures the schooner Robert Knowles on the Potomac River.
Beall's Expedition to the Chesapeake Bay. Acting Master John F Beall, Confederate States Navy, in company with Acting Master Edward McGuire entered the Chesapeake Bay and capture the schooner Alliance with a cargo of Sutlers's stores. On the 21st, they capture the schooner J.J. Houseman. September 22, they capture the schooners Samuel Pearsall and Alexandria.
Election day, and Major General Schneck, commander of the Middle Department, issues General Order 53, directing all provost marshals and unit commanders to arrest any persons suspected of know to be disloyal to the union.
The U.S.S. Jacob Bell, Acting Master Gerhard C. SChulze, is used as part of an amphibious landing of infantry in small boats on St. George's Island. 30 confederate soldiers and the blockade runners using the island as a base of operations are seized.
The steam tugs Balloon and Cecil are used to raid the Oyster Fleet laying at the mouth of the Patuxent River and Tangier Sound. Lieutenants Thompson, Mack, Cheny, and Califf if the Seventh United States Colored Troops returned ten days later with 130 "recruits."
The U.S. Revenue Steamer Hercules, Commander Foxhall A. Parker, seized the schooner Ann Hamilton off Point Lookout. Salt, Lye, and over $15,000 in confederate currency aboard.
Expedition from Point Lookout to Rappahannock River, Va for the removal of torpedoes [mines] in the water.
John M Goldsmith and a party of 12 men landed a small boat at Piney Point, destroyed the lighthouse lense and light, and stole 15 gallons of oil.
The U.S.S. Crusader, Lieutenant Peter Hays, captures the schooner Isaac L Adkins, at the mouth of the Severn River. Cargo of corn and oats.
Andrew Leopole of Washington county, spy and guerilla in the Upper Potomac region, hung at Ft McHenry.
U.S.S. Ceour DeLion, Acting Master William G Morris, seizes the schooner Malinda on the Potomac River.
To protect the Union Army's camps and hospitals near Annapolis, the U.S.S. Vicksburg's. commander, Commander Braine, ordered Acting Ensign Francis C. Osborn to take a boat expedition and destroy all means of crossing the South River.
Detailed to investigate a report of a blockade running operation at Cove Point, a sergeant and six men were fired upon while stopped to eat breakfast on march. The unseen gunmen hit the sergeant and two other men, while the remaining four ran away, leaving their horses and equipment to be captured.
U.S. Steamer Picket Boat No. 2, Acting Ensign Andrew Stockholm, developed engine trouble en route from Hampton Roads, Va to Baltimore, MD. Putting in at Reason's Creek for repairs and dropping anchor, they were immediately fired upon from the shore line. Running aground, the vessel was set afire and the crew surrendered.
The new state constitution, written by a legislator elected in voting manipulated by U.S. provost marshals and an election where anyone suspected of being disloyal to the US government was arrested, passed into effect. Amongst voting civilians the constitution failed to be approved. However, it was voted into effect by a margin of 375 voters, because union troops were allowed to vote from the field. This new constitution abolished slavery in Maryland (before it was abolished in the United States) proclaimed the superiority of the Federal Government over the state, and forbade anyone who had shown Southern sympathies from voting or holding office.
Schooner Champamero takes on cargo at St Marys and set sail for the Chesapeake Bay. The U.S.S. Wyandank, Acting Lieutenant Sylvanas Nicherson, stopped the Champamero off Inigoes Creek, and it was discovered over half the ships cargo was not recorded on her manifest. Since this included a large quantity of black powder, the ship was seized.
The 115 ton schooner St.Mary's found a small yawl with 20 men in the Chesapeake Bay just off the Pautuxant River. This yawl was signalling that she was sinking and required aid. Upon rushing to help them, the St.Mary's was seized by her crew, actually Master John C. Braine, C.S.N. and his men. Putting out to sea in the St Mary's, he seized the schooner J.B. Spafford, and the crew of the St Mary's was transfered to the Spafford. Braine and his men sailed to Nausau with a cargo valued at $20,000.
Steamer Harriet DeFord seized 20 miles south of Annapolis by Captain Thaddeus Fitzhugh and 27 men. A naval detachment sent to recover the steamer found her burned to the water line and all her cargo gone in Dimer's Creek, Virginia.
General Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, Virginia.
Mobile Alabama, last major city in the Confederacy, surrenders.
Secretary of the Navy, Giddeon Wells, orders the Potomac Flotilla reduces t half strength due to cessation of hostilities.