Some Observations of Maryland

from Billy Yank by Bell I. Wiley

John P. Sheahan of the First Maine Cavalry reported that residents of Maryland "dont know anything atall, they dont know a mile from two miles, ask them how far it is to such a place they will at once say, 'well right smart distance I reckon,' and that is all you can't get more out of anyone than what they know."

Of Marylanders, also, another Yank remarked: "I dont believe the inhabitants even know the day of the week."

A New Hampshire man writing from Bladensburg, Maryland, remarked that "they dont have eny stoves here and half of them have no wagons but go horse back it is at least 150 years behind new england."