Page:History of Maryland, 1879, v3.djvu/159

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THE POLITICAL COMPLEXION OF THE STATE.
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lutionary struggle, as on a late important and trying occasion, when at the head of his gallant and disciplined brigade, he met the enemy in the neighborhood of this city. Baltimore will long recollect what is due to her gallant defender, and in him the nation will recognize a public benefactor.

" Brigadier Oieneral Strieker will please accept the thanks of the commanding-general for his strict observance of general orders, and for the unwearied attention to duty and discipline, which has so highly characterized the brigadier and the brigade, since they came under the orders of the major-general commanding."

Lieutenant Colonel James Sterett, of the 5th regiment, was appointed brigadier general of the third or " City Brigade," in the place of General Strieker, notwithstanding Colonel William Donald, of the 6th regiment, was the senior oflScer of the brigade. On the 18th of Noyember, the first cavalry regiment and the 5th, 6th, 27th, 39th, and 51st regiments of infantry and Major Pinkney's rifle battalion were " honorably discharged with the thanks of the major-general conmianding, for their good conduct, orderly behavior and attention to discipline during their service." The fall elections of 1814, resulted in considerable federal gains. In the House of Delegates the respective parties stood as follows : Democratic — Annapolis City, 2 ; Baltimore City, 2 ; County, 4 ; Harford, 4 ; Queen Anne's 4 ; Washington, 4 ; and in Anne Arundel, 1. — Total 21. Federal — St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert, Prince George's, Montgomery, Frederick, Alleghany, Cecil, Kent, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester, 4 each, and in Anne Arundel, 3. — Total 59. In the election for Congressmen, the federalists gained two members. Those who were elected were as follows : 1st districi^ Philip Steuart ; 2d, John C. Herbert; 3d, Alexander C. Hanson ; 4th, George Baer and Charles Goldsborough, of the 8th district federalists, and Nicholas B. Moore and William Pinkney, of the 5th district, and Stevenson Archer, of the 6th and Robert Wright, of the 7th, democrats. On the 12th of December, the Legis- lature balloted for governor, when Governor Levin Winder wjis re-elected. He received forty-eight votes and Robert Bowie, twenty-three. Notwithstanding the political complexion of the State was decidedly federal, yet the federalists of Maryland never refused their aid for the successful maintenance of the war when the exigencies of the times semed to require it. Bather than see their country rifled of its honor, or dragooned into submission by any foe, either foreign or domestic, they would pour out their blood, and yield up their lives in its defence. At the opening of the war, the Federal government, instead of providing for the common defence, exhausted the public treasury in support of its fertile scheme of an invasion of Canada. The fruit of this ill-advised policy was, that when the enemy was at the door, it had not the means to protect the Federal capital from pillage and conflagration. At this gloomy time, when the cabinet at Washington seemed paralysed by dismay, and could give no help, the State of Maryland appropriated more than $450,000 from 9-y. ill.