A military genius : $b Life of Anna Ella Carroll of Maryland — John Shaqi
A military genius : $b Life of Anna Ella Carroll of MarylandBlackwell, Sarah Ellen
History
A military genius : $b Life of Anna Ella Carroll of Maryland
Blackwell, Sarah Ellen
Carroll, Anna Ella, 1815-1894; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
At an early age the young heir was sent to college, to the
Pennsylvania University at Philadelphia, then the most famous seat of
learning for those parts. Here he graduated with distinguished honors,
at the age of seventeen. Among his classmates and intimate friends
were Mr. William M. Meredith, of Philadelphia; Benjamin Gratz, of St.
Louis, and the father of Mr. Mitchell, the author of Ike Marvel.
Returning to Maryland, Thomas King Carroll began the study of law with
Ephraim King Wilson, who had been named after Sir Thomas King. He was
the father of the late United States Senator for Maryland. His studies
being completed, arrangements were made to associate him as partner
with Robert Goodloe Harper, the son-in-law of Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton, in his lucrative law practice, and a house was engaged for
his future residence in Baltimore.
During the studies of Thomas King Carroll, his aged grandfather, Sir
Thomas King, having died, Colonel Henry James Carroll and his family
were residing at Kingston Hall and managing the estate for the young
heir.
An old friend of the family was Dr. Henry James Stevenson, one of the
prominent physicians of Baltimore. Dr. Stevenson had come over
formerly as a surgeon in the British army. He had married in England
Miss Anne Henry, of Hampton. Settling in Baltimore, he acquired a
large estate, then on the outskirts, now in the center of Baltimore.
On Parnassus Hill he built a very spacious and handsome residence.
During the Revolutionary War Dr. Stevenson remained loyal to his
British training and was an outspoken Tory. The populace of Baltimore
were so incensed against him that they mobbed his residence,
threatening to destroy it. The Doctor showed his military courage by
standing, fully armed, in his doorway and threatening to shoot the
first man who attempted to enter. The mob were so impressed by his
determined attitude that they finally retired, leaving the owner and
his property uninjured. Dr. Stevenson afterwards became much beloved
through his devotion and care, bestowed alike on the wounded of both
armies. He became noted in the profession from his controversy with
Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, the one advocating and the other
opposing inoculation for small-pox. Dr. Stevenson was so enthusiastic
that he gave up, temporarily, his beautiful residence as a hospital
for the support of his theory.
An ivory miniature in a gold locket, now in possession of Miss
Carroll, represents Dr. Stevenson in his red coat and white waistcoat,
and at the back of the locket there is a picture of Parnassus Hill,
crowned by the Doctor's residence, with a perpendicular avenue
straight up hill, and a negro attendant opening the gate at the foot
for Dr. Stevenson, mounted on his horse and returning home. It is a
very quaint and valuable specimen of ante-revolutionary art.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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