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Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866 to Benjamin Franklin Butler

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05996 Author/Creator: Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Letter signed Date: 26 April 1861 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 24.3 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

United States General-In-Chief Scott relates orders received from President Abraham Lincoln to General Butler, Brigadier General of Militia, regarding the Legislature of Maryland scheduled to assemble at Annapolis. Hoping to prevent further uprising following the 19 April 1861 Baltimore Riot, Lincoln orders that if the Legislature arms their people against the United States, Butler must "adopt the most prompt and efficient means to counteract, even if necessary to the bombardment of their cities- and in the extremest necessity suspension of the writ of habeas corpus."

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893
Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

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