Constitution and Laws of the Baltimore City Union Guards (Baltimore, Maryland, c. 1860s) -

Constitution and Laws of the Baltimore City Union Guards (Baltimore, Maryland, c. 1860s) - Inventory Number: DOC 388

This original hand-scripted broadside outlines the founding principles and governance of the Baltimore City Union Guards—a militia unit organized in Baltimore, Maryland, during the tumultuous years leading up to and during the American Civil War. Bearing patriotic illustrations and elegant calligraphy, the document begins with a stirring preamble that highlights the group’s mission to protect life, liberty, and property from foreign invasion and insurrection. The Baltimore City Union Guards served as part of the Fifth Regiment, First Division of the Maryland State Militia. While military in name, their organizational style resembled that of a civic fraternity, with elected officers, custom uniforms, and bylaws reflective of local autonomy and social unity during a time of national crisis.

Framed and preserved despite notable edge wear and burn damage, this artifact captures the grassroots spirit of Unionist citizen-soldiers in a divided border state.

Preamble:

We the undersigned, citizens of Baltimore, knowing and feeling the great necessity which now exists for a substantial military organization of our citizens, in order to sustain the civil authorities, protect the lives, liberty and property of the citizens from foreign invasion and insurrections, to guard and protect those sacred rights and privileges which were transmitted to us by our forefathers, to instill and become efficient in the duties of soldiers, so that when called upon we shall be found prepared to sustain the principles as above set forth. In accordance with the above resolution, we do therefore constitute ourselves as a Military Company and adopt for our government the following Constitution and By-Laws.

Measures 18” x 24”

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Inventory Number: DOC 388