Within the first few days after the start of hostilities in the U.S. Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was desperate to protect the capital of Washington. He knew that its location made it vulnerable since it was right next to the Confederate state of Virginia. In addition, he was also aware that Maryland was a border state and contained many southern sympathizers. Lincoln pleaded with northern states to send troops as soon as possible. Massachusetts was one of the first to answer the call and dispatched the Sixth Massachusetts regiment to Washington by train. It was in Baltimore that the first casualties of this long war would be experienced.