After the Battle of Derwood, Maryland, 1864
Painting by Adolphus Norbeck, 1894
A group of military portraits, several of them by the well-known Maryland painter, Adolphus Norbeck. No member of the Janus Family is known to have ever served in uniform; therefore the identity of many of the subjects must remain in doubt until the Museum can undertake a massive - and expensive - research project.
On the declaration of war with Spain in 1898, there was general fear that a Spanish fleet could steam up Chesapeake Bay, enter the Potomac and attack Washington, much as the British had done in 1814. Nathaniel Wallingford quickly raised a force of Washington Grove militiamen and carnival workers, and formed the Potomac Flotilla for the defense of Washington. Poorly equipped with old steamers and converted fishing boats, the Flotilla's one action occured on the foggy morning of May 1, when, catching sight of a fleet attemping to engage the Flotilla, Commodore Wallingford gave the order to fire. Luckily, the Flotilla's gunnery skills did not match its enthusiasm, and the enemy vessels, a Virginian menhaden fleet, retreated without damage. Overshadowed by the Battle of Manila Bay which occured on the same day, the action at Nomini Bay is today largely forgotten, as are the words of Nathaniel Wallingford as he led his command into battle: "Montgomery County, Maryland expects every man..." The Commodore's ringing words were cut short by a bout of seasickness.
New! Museum visitor Hope Robbins Hare has contributed the following information:
This obscure battle must be the source for the wonderful old blues song (collected by Alan Lomax as "Wally he's a Mighty Mean Man" circa 1938) which I have on an ancient 78, as sung by Muddy Waters. The recording is of course scratchy and hard to understand, but it goes something like:
Oh mama, Wally, he's a mighty mean man!The second verse is a little hard to understand, but it goes something like...
Oh mama, Wally, he's a mighty mean man!
Oh mama, Wally, he's a mighty mean man!
Oh mama, Wally, he's a mighty mean man!
Took my crab boat, smash it up on the land!
He stood on the deck, --something-- (could be turtle?) in his hand
He stood on the deck, --something-- (could be turtle?) in his hand
He stood on the deck, --something-- (could be turtle?) in his hand
He stood on the deck, --something-- (could be turtle?) in his hand
Gonna take that (turtle?), throw it into the can.
