Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. General Schenck replied at 6:45 P.M.:
``The delegation from St. Mary's County have grossly misrepresented matters. Col. [William] Birney went under my orders to look for the site of a camp of instruction and rendezvous for colored troops. See his report, this day forwarded to the Adjutant General. He took with him a recruiting squad, who were stationed, each with an officer at Mill Stone, Spencers, Saint Leonards, Dukes, Forest Grove & Benedict landings on the Patuxent. They are under special instructions, good discipline and have harmed no one.
``The only disorder or violence has been that two secessionists, named Southeron [John H. Sothoron and son] have killed second Lieut. White [Eben White, Seventh U.S. Colored Troops] at Benedict, but we hope to arrest the murderers. The officer was a white man. The only danger of confusion must be from the citizens, not the soldiers---but Col. Birney himself visited all the landings, talked with the citizens, and the only apprehension they expressed was that their slaves might leave them. It is a neighborhood of rabid secessionists. I beg that the President will not intervene and thus embolden them.'' (DLC-RTL).
[2] ``Oct'' inserted, perhaps by telegraph operator.