Bad Temper Of The Crowd

This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the attitude of the crowd during the Baltimore riots.

BAD TEMPER OF THE CROWD.

The hour of 8 P. M. arrived, but no member of the company was in a spirit to move. Everyone felt that the temper of the crowd was such that the appearance of military on the street would create a riot and end in bloodshed. Captain Lannan, of the Central Police Station, was sent for. He came, and, after viewing the crowd, declared that no number of available policemen on the ground added still greater confidence to the crowd, which became defiant and uttered threats against the regiment if it should appear on the streets. At 8:15 o'clock, the hour named for the march, the crowd became stronger and more aggressive, but the companies detailed for duty determined to face the crowd and march to the station at all hazards. The men were ordered to load their muskets and present a bold front to the enemy in case of attack. The companies thus ordered to march were Company I, Captain Wm. Tapper; Company F, Captain J. C. Fallon, and Company B, Captain J. B. Duffy. They marched down stairs in files of twos, the passage being quite narrow.