Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Letters related to the 19 April 1861 Baltimore Riot [Decimalized .01-.08]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00451 Author/Creator: Place Written: Maryland Type: Header Record Date: 1861-1864 Pagination: 8 items Order a Copy

The 19 April 1861 Baltimore Riot occurred when secessionists attacked Union soldiers passing through the city on the way to Washington, D.C. Following the Riot, Baltimore officials authorized destruction of rail bridges leading into town in order to prevent the further passage of Union troops. These events outraged Northerners, leading to the occupation of Baltimore by Federal soldiers. Maryland Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks, among other city officials, was targeted for participation in these events.

Brown, George William, 1812-1890
Egerton, Charles Calvert, 1816-1893
Hicks, Thomas Holliday, 1798-1865
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources