In East Baltimore, on Sunday, great excitement was occasioned in consequence of the hoisting on the mizzen-top mast of the bark Fannie Crenshaw, lying at Chase’s wharf, lower end of Thames and Caroline streets, of the Confederate States flag at an early hour of the morning. The American says :
The fact of the flag being raised was not particularly observed for several hours after, and, on its being perceived, the Star Spangled Banner of the Union was immediately thrown to the breeze by the Captains of the barks Agnes, Mondamin, Washington, Chase, and Seaman, lying in the vicinity, from the gaff of their respective vessels.
A large number of persons assembled on the wharf, who openly disapproved of the raising of the flag, which, it was stated, was done by Capt. Munson, by the imperative orders of the owners, Messrs. Currie, of Richmond, Va., who sent from that city the same flag which they had previously displayed from the bark Abigail, at that port. Shortly after 11 o’clock a party of men from the Eastern section of the city went on board, and, in the absence of Captain Munson, as also of Policeman Wrightson, who has charge of that police beat, ordered one of the crew (a boy) to lower the flag, which was accordingly done. The flag was, however, run up again at noon, by a young man named Battenfield, under the protection of the policeman.
The crowd increased in number until about 2 o’clock. It was deemed necessary to have a large posse of policemen detailed from the Eastern District Police Station, under charge of Lieut. Spafford, who prevented any breach of the peace. The news of such a flag being displayed from a vessel in the port of Baltimore attracted a great many visitors from other sections of the city. In addition to those vessels immediately in the vicinity of the Fannie Crenshaw, displaying the Union flag, there were others at the other wharves. A good deal of excitement prevailed, and there was a general desire to see the flag taken down.
The Daily Dispatch, Richmond, VA
