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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6856-h.zip b/6856-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..21b6bed --- /dev/null +++ b/6856-h.zip diff --git a/6856-h/6856-h.htm b/6856-h/6856-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1606eff --- /dev/null +++ b/6856-h/6856-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9304 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873, by Hon. J.t. Headley + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + .side { float: right; font-size: 75%; width: 25%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; margin-left: 0.8em; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873, by J.T. Headley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873 + +Author: J.T. Headley + + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6856] +This file was first posted on February 2, 2003 +Last Updated: June 20, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK *** + + + + +Text file produced by Richard Prairie, David Moynihan, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK<br /> 1712 to 1873 + </h1> + <h3> + INCLUDING A FULL AND COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE FOUR DAYS' DRAFT RIOT OF 1863 + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Hon. J.T. Headley + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + TO + </h4> + <h4> + THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, + </h4> + <h4> + WHOSE + </h4> + <h4> + UNWAVERING FIDELITY AND COURAGE IN THE PAST, + </h4> + <h4> + ARE A SURE GUARANTEE OF WHAT THEY WILL DO + </h4> + <h4> + FOR + </h4> + <h4> + NEW YORK CITY IN THE FUTURE, + </h4> + <h4> + THIS WORK + </h4> + <h4> + IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED + </h4> + <h4> + BY + </h4> + <h4> + THE AUTHOR. <br /><br /> + </h4> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + The materials for the descriptions of the Negro and Doctors' Riots were + gathered from the Archives of the Historical Society; those of the + immediately succeeding ones, from the press of the times. + </p> + <p> + For the scenes and incidents that occurred on the stage and behind the + curtain in the Astor-place Opera Riot, I am indebted to a pamphlet + entitled "<i>Behind the Scenes</i>." + </p> + <p> + The materials for the history of the Draft Riots were obtained in part + from the Daily Press, and in part from the City and Military Authorities, + especially Commissioner Acton, Seth Hawley, General Brown, and Colonel + Frothingham, who succeeded in putting them down. + </p> + <p> + Mr. David Barnes, who published, some ten years ago, a pamphlet entitled + "The Metropolitan Police," kindly furnished me facts relating to the + Police Department of great value, and which saved me much labor and time. + </p> + <p> + Much difficulty has been encountered in gathering together, from various + quarters, the facts spread over a century and a half, but it is believed + that everything necessary to a complete understanding of the subjects + treated of has been given, consistent with the continuity and interest of + the narrative. + </p> + <p> + Of course some minor riots—a collection of mobs that were easily + dispersed by the police, and were characterized by no prolonged struggle + or striking incidents—are not mentioned. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_TOC"> DETAILED CONTENTS. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <b>THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK CITY.</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. — THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. — THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. — DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. — SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. — ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND + 1835. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. — FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. — ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. — POLICE RIOT—DEAD-RABBITS' + RIOT—BREAD RIOT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. — DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. — SECOND DAY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. — DRAFT RIOT—THIRD DAY. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. — FOURTH DAY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. — CLOSING SCENES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. — ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND + 1871. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_TOC" id="link2H_TOC"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONTENTS. + </h2> + <div class="middle"> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER I. <br /> Character of a City illustrated by Riots.—New + Material for History of <br /> Draft Riots.—History of the Rebellion + incomplete without History of <br /> them.—The Fate of the Nation + resting on the Issues of the Struggle in <br /> New York City.—The + best Plan to adopt for Protection against Mobs. <br /> CHAPTER II. <br /> + THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. <br /> Almost impossible for the present + Generation to comprehend its true <br /> Character and Effect on the + People.—Description of New York at that <br /> Time.—The Negro + Slaves.—The Negro Riot of 1712.—Description <br /> of it.—The + Winter of 1741.—Governor's House burned down.—Other <br /> + Fires.—Suspicion of the People.—Arrest and Imprisonment of the + <br /> Blacks.—Reward offered for the supposed Conspirators.—Alarm + and Flight <br /> of the Inhabitants.—Examination and Confession of + Mary <br /> Burton.—Peggy, the Newfoundland Beauty, and the Hughson + Family.—The <br /> Conspiracy.—Executions.—Fast.—Hughson's + Hearing.—Hung in <br /> Chains.—The Body, and that of a Negro, + left to swing and rot in the <br /> Air.—Strange Change in the + Appearances of the Bodies.—The People <br /> throng to look at them.—Negroes + burned at the Stake.—Terrific <br /> Spectacle.—Bloody Summer.—Execution + of a Catholic Priest.—Strange <br /> Scenes.—Upper Classes + accused.—Executions stopped.—Reason of the <br /> Panic. <br /> + CHAPTER III. <br /> THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. <br /> Thorough + Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.—The <br /> + Stamp Act.—How viewed by the Colonists.—Colden strengthens + Fort George <br /> in Alarm.—Arrival of the Stamps.—How the + News was received by the Sons <br /> of Liberty.—A Bold Placard.—Stamp + Distributor frightened.—Patriotic <br /> Action of the Merchants.—Public + Demonstration against the Stamp <br /> Act.—Colden takes Refuge in + the Fort.—Dare not fire on the <br /> People.—The People at the + Gate demand the Stamps.—Colden and Lord Bute <br /> hung in Effigy.—Colden's + Coach-house broken open.—The Images placed in <br /> the Coach, and + dragged with Shouts through the Streets.—Hung again in <br /> Sight + of the Fort.—A Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling <br /> Green, + and the Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently <br /> on.—Prejudice + against Coaches.—Major James' House sacked.—Great Joy <br /> + and Demonstration at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.—Celebration of the + <br /> King's Birthday.—Loyalty of the People.—Mutiny Act.—A + Riot becomes a <br /> Great Rebellion. <br /> CHAPTER IV. <br /> DOCTORS' + RIOT, 1788. <br /> Body-snatching.—Bodies dug up by Medical Students.—Excitement + of the <br /> People.—Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from + the Hospital.—Mob <br /> ransack the Building.—Destruction of + Anatomical Specimens.—Arrival <br /> of Mayor, and Imprisonment of + Students.—Second Day.—Examination <br /> of Columbia College + and Physicians' Houses.—Appeal of the Mayor and <br /> distinguished + Citizens to the Mob.—Mob attempt to break into Jail and <br /> seize + the Students.—The Fight.—The Military called out.—Beaten + by the <br /> Mob.—Larger Military Force called out.—Attacked + by the Mob.—Deadly <br /> Firing.—Great Excitement.—Flight + of Doctors and Students. <br /> CHAPTER V. <br /> SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF + 1834. <br /> Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.—Our Experiment + of <br /> Self-government not a fair one.—Fruit of giving Foreigners + the Right <br /> to Vote.—Bitter Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.—First + Day of <br /> Election.—Ships "Constitution" and "Veto."—Whigs + driven from the <br /> Polls.—Excitement.—Whigs determined to + defend themselves.—Meeting <br /> called.—Resolutions.—Second + Day's Election.—Attack on the Frigate <br /> "Constitution."—A + Bloody Fight.—Mayor and Officers wounded.—Mob <br /> + triumphant.—Excitement of the Whigs.—The Streets blocked by + fifteen <br /> thousand enraged Whigs.—Military called out.—Occupy + Arsenal and <br /> City Hall all Night.—Result of the Election.—Excitement + of the <br /> Whigs.—Mass-meeting in Castle Garden. <br /> CHAPTER VI. + <br /> ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. <br /> The Slavery Question + agitated.—The End, Civil War.—The <br /> Results.—William + Lloyd Garrison.—Feeling of the People on the <br /> Subject.—First + Attempt to call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New <br /> York.—Meeting + in Chatham Street Chapel.—A Fight.—Mob take Possession <br /> + of Bowery Theatre.—Sacking of Lewis Tappan's House.—Fight + between Mob <br /> and Police.—Mobbing of Dr. Cox's Church, in Laight + Street.—His <br /> House broken into.—Street Barricaded.—Attack + on Arthur Tappan's <br /> Store.—Second Attack on Church in Laight + Street.—Church sacked in <br /> Spring Street.—Arrival of the + Military.—Barricades carried.—Mr. <br /> Ludlow's House + entered.—Mob at Five Points.—Destruction of <br /> Houses.—The + City Military called out.—Mob overawed, and Peace <br /> restored.—Five + Points Riot.—Stone-cutters' Riot. <br /> CHAPTER VII. <br /> FLOUR + RIOT OF 1837. <br /> Starvation will always create a Riot.—Foreign + Population easily aroused <br /> against the Rich.—Severe Winter of + 1836.—Scarcity of Flour.—Meeting <br /> of Citizens called + without Result.—Meeting called in the <br /> Park.—Speeches.—Sacking + of Hart & Co.'s Flour Store, in Washington <br /> Street.—Strange + Spectacle.—National Guards called out.—Disperse the <br /> Mob.—Attack + on Herrick's Flour Store.—Folly of the Riot. <br /> CHAPTER VIII. + <br /> ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. <br /> Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.—Macready's + Arrival in this <br /> Country.—The Announcement of his Appearance at + the Astor-place Opera <br /> House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the + same Night posted Side <br /> by Side.—Bowery Boys crowd the Opera + House.—Anxiety of <br /> the Managers.—Consultations and + Dramatic Scenes behind the <br /> Curtain.—Stamping of the People.—Scene + on raising the Curtain.—Stormy <br /> Reception of Macready.—Howled + down.—Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by <br /> the Outrageous + Language of the Mob.—Macready not allowed to go <br /> on.—His + foolish Anger.—Flees for his Life.—His Appearance the <br /> + Second Night.—Preparations to put down the Mob.—Exciting Scene + in the <br /> Theatre.—Terrific Scenes without.—Military + arrive.—Attacked by the <br /> Mob.—Patience of the Troops.—Effort + to avoid Firing.—The Order <br /> to Fire.—Terrific Scene.—Strange + Conduct of Forrest.—Unpublished <br /> Anecdote of General Scott. + <br /> CHAPTER IX. <br /> POLICE RIOT—DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT—BREAD + RIOT, 1857. <br /> Creation of the Metropolitan District.—Collision + between Mayor <br /> Wood's Police and the Metropolitan Police.—Seventh + Regiment called <br /> out.—Dead-Rabbits' Riot.—Severe Fight + between the Roach Guards and <br /> Dead Rabbits.—Police driven back.—Barricades + erected.—Military called <br /> out.—Killed and Wounded.—Bread + Riot.—Financial Distress. <br /> CHAPTER X. <br /> DRAFT RIOTS OF + 1863. <br /> Cause of the Riots.—The London <i>Times</i>.—Draft + called a despotic <br /> Measure.—The despotic Power given to + Washington by Congress.—Despotic <br /> Action sometimes Necessary, + in order to save the Life of the <br /> Nation.—The Rights of + Government.—Drafting he Legitimate Way to raise <br /> an Army—It + is not Unequal or Oppressive. <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XI. <br /> Rights of Municipalities.—Interference of the + Legislature with the City <br /> Government.—Conflict between the + Governor and Police Commissioners.—A <br /> Wrong becomes a Practical + Blessing.—Provost Marshals.—Riot not <br /> anticipated.—Bad + time to commence the Draft.—Preparations of <br /> Superintendent + Kennedy.—The Police System.—Attack on Provost Marshal <br /> + Captain Erhardt.—Telegrams of the Police.—Kennedy starts on a + Tour of <br /> Observation. <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XII. <br /> Commencement of the Mob.—Its Line of March.—Its + immense Size.—Attacks <br /> a Provost-marshal's Office, in Third + Avenue.—Set on Fire.—Terrible <br /> Struggle of Kennedy for + his Life with the Mob.—Carried to Head-quarters <br /> unconscious.—Acton's + Preparations.—The Telegraph System.—Mob cutting <br /> down + Telegraph Poles.—Number of Despatches sent over the Wires during + <br /> the Riot.—Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held + Prisoner <br /> by the Mob. <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XIII. <br /> Soldiers beaten by the Mob.—Gallant Fight of + Sergeant McCredie.—Mob <br /> Triumphant.—Beat Police Officers + unmercifully.—Fearful Scenes.—Fifty <br /> thousand People + block Third Avenue.—A whole Block of Houses <br /> burning.—Attack + on a Gun Factory.—Defeat of the Broadway <br /> Squad.—Houses + sacked in Lexington Avenue.—Telegraph <br /> Dispatches.—Bull's + Head Tavern burned.—Block on Broadway <br /> burned.—Burning of + the Negroes' Orphan Asylum.—Attack on Mayor <br /> Opdyke's House.—A + Crisis nobly met.—Gallant Fight and Victory of <br /> Sergeant + Carpenter.—A thrilling Spectacle. <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XIV. <br /> No Military in the City.—The Mayor calls on + General Wool, commanding <br /> Eastern Department, for Help.—Also on + General Sandford.—General Wool <br /> sends to General Brown, + commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. <br /> Troops.—Marines + of the States appealed to for Troops.—General Brown <br /> assumes + Command.—Attack of Mob on the <i>Tribune</i> Building.—Its + severe <br /> Punishment.—Government Buildings garrisoned.—Difficulty + between <br /> Generals Brown and Wool.—Head-quarters.—Police + Commissioners' Office <br /> Military Head-quarters. <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XV. <br /> Telegraph Bureau.—Its Work.—Skill and Daring + and Success of its <br /> Force.—Interesting Incidents.—Hairbreadth + Escapes.—Detective <br /> Force.—Its arduous Labors.—Its + Disguises.—Shrewdness, Tact, and <br /> Courage.—Narrow + Escapes.—Hawley, the Chief Clerk.—His exhausting <br /> Labors. + <br /> CHAPTER XVI. <br /> DRAFT RIOT—SECOND DAY. <br /> Appearance of + the City.—Assembling of the Mob.—Fight between Rioters <br /> + and the Police and Soldiers.—Storming of Houses.—Rioters + hurled <br /> from the Roofs.—Soldiers fire on the People.—Awful + Death of <br /> Colonel O'Brien.—Fight in Pitt Street.—Deadly + Conflict for a Wire <br /> Factory.—Horrible Impaling of a Man on an + Iron Picket.—Mystery <br /> attached to him.—Second Attack on + Mayor Opdyke's House.—Second <br /> Fight for the Wire Factory.—Telegraphic + Dispatches.—Citizens <br /> Volunteering.—Raid on the Negroes.—They + are hunted to Death.—Savage <br /> Spectacle.—Negroes seek + Head-quarters of Police.—Appearance and State <br /> of the City.—Colonel + Nugent's House sacked.—Fight with the Mob in <br /> Third Avenue.—Battle + at Gibbon's House.—Policeman Shot.—Night <br /> Attack on + Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store.—Value of the Telegraph <br /> + System.—Captain Petty.—Seymour's Speech to the Mob.—Cars + and Stages <br /> seized.—Barricades.—Other Fights.—Acton + and his Labors. <br /> CHAPTER XVII. <br /> DRAFT RIOT—THIRD DAY. + <br /> Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.—Fight in Eighth <br /> + Avenue.—Cannon sweep the Streets.—Narrow Escape of Captain + Howell <br /> and Colonel Mott.—Battle for Jackson's Foundry.—Howitzers + clear <br /> the Street.—State of Things shown by Telegraph + Dispatches.—General <br /> Sandford sends out a Force against a Mob, + at Corner of Twenty-ninth <br /> Street and Seventh Avenue.—Colonel + Gardin's Fight with the Mob.—Is <br /> Wounded.—Mob Victorious.—Dead + and Wounded Soldiers left in the <br /> Street.—Captain Putnam sent + to bring them away.—Disperses the <br /> Mob.—Terrific Night. + <br /> CHAPTER XVIII. <br /> DRAFT RIOT—FOURTH DAY. <br /> + Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.—City districted.—Appearance + <br /> of the East Side of the City.—A small Squad of Soldiers chased + into <br /> a Foundry by the Mob.—Fierce Fight between the Mob and + Military in <br /> Twenty-ninth Street.—Soldiers driven from the + Ground, leaving a dead <br /> Sergeant behind.—Captain Putnam sent to + bring the Body away.—Mows <br /> down the Rioters with Canister.—Storms + the Houses.—Utter Rout of <br /> the Mob.—Colored Orphans and + Negroes taken by Police to <br /> Blackwell's Island.—Touching Scene.—Coming + on of Night and a <br /> Thunder-storm.—Returning Regiments.—Increased + Force in the City to put <br /> down Violence.—Archbishop Hughes + offers to address the <br /> Irish.—Curious Account of an Interview + of a Lady with him and Governor <br /> Seymour.—Strange Conduct of + the Prelate. <br /> CHAPTER XIX. <br /> CLOSING SCENES. <br /> Tranquil + Morning.—Proclamation of the Mayor.—Mob cowed.—Plunderers + <br /> afraid of Detection.—Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, + <br /> Furniture, and Works of Art.—Archbishop Hughes' Address.—Useless + <br /> Efforts.—Acton's Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.—Change + in <br /> Military Commanders in the City.—General Brown relinquishes + his <br /> Command.—True Words.—Noble Character and Behavior of + the Troops and <br /> Police.—General Brown's invaluable Services. + <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> + </p> + CHAPTER XX. <br /> Continued Tranquillity.—Strange Assortment of + Plunder gathered in the <br /> Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.—Search + for it exasperates <br /> the Irish.—Noble Conduct of the Sanitary + Police.—Sergeant <br /> Copeland.—Prisoners tried.—Damages + claimed from the City.—Number <br /> of Police killed.—Twelve + hundred Rioters killed.—The Riot Relief <br /> Fund.—List of + Colored People killed.—Generals Wool and Sandford's <br /> Reports.—Their + Truthfulness denied.—General Brown vindicated. <br /> CHAPTER XXI. + <br /> ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. <br /> Religious Toleration.—Irish + Feuds.—Battle of Boyne <br /> Water.—Orangemen.—Origin + and Object of the Society.—A Picnic at Elm <br /> Park.—Attacked + by the Ribbonmen.—The Fight. After Scenes.—Riot <br /> of 1871.—Conspiracy + of the Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of <br /> Orangemen.—Forbidden + by the City Authorities.—Indignation of <br /> the People.—Meeting + in the Produce Exchange.—Governor Hoffman's <br /> Proclamation.—Morning + of the 12th.—The Orangemen at Lamartine <br /> Hall.—Attack on + the Armories.—The Harpers threatened.—Exciting <br /> Scenes + around Lamartine Hall and at Police Head-quarters.—Hibernia <br /> + Hall cleared.—Attack on an Armory.—Formation of the + Procession.—Its <br /> March.—Attacked.—Firing of the + Military without Orders.—Terrific <br /> Scene.—The Hospitals + and Morgue.—Night Scenes.—Number of killed and <br /> wounded.—The + Lesson. <br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK CITY. + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + Character of a City illustrated by Riots.—New Material for History + of Draft Riots.—History of the Rebellion incomplete without History + of them.—The Fate of the Nation resting on the Issues of the + Struggle in New York City.—The best Plan to adopt for Protection + against Mobs. + </p> + <p> + The history of the riots that have taken place in a great city from its + foundation, is a curious and unique one, and illustrates the peculiar + changes in tone and temper that have come over it in the course of its + development and growth. They exhibit also one phase of its moral character—furnish + a sort of moral history of that vast, ignorant, turbulent class which is + one of the distinguishing features of a great city, and at the same time + the chief cause of its solicitude and anxiety, and often of dread. + </p> + <p> + The immediate cause, however, of my taking up the subject, was a request + from some of the chief actors in putting down the Draft Riots of 1863, to + write a history of them. It was argued that it had never been written, + except in a detached and fragmentary way in the daily press, which, from + the hurried manner in which it was done, was necessarily incomplete, and + more or less erroneous. + </p> + <p> + It was also said, and truly, that those who, by their courage and energy, + saved the city, and who now would aid me not only officially, but by their + personal recollections and private memoranda, would soon pass away, and + thus valuable material be lost. + </p> + <p> + Besides these valid reasons, it was asserted that the history of the + rebellion was not complete without it, and yet no historian of that most + important event in our national life had given the riots the prominence + they deserved, but simply referred to them as a side issue, instead of + having a vital bearing on the fate of the war and the nation. On no single + battle or campaign did the destiny of the country hinge as upon that + short, sharp campaign carried on by General Brown and the Police + Commissioners against the rioters in the streets of New York, in the + second week of July, 1863. Losses and defeats in the field could be and + were repaired, but defeat in New York would in all probability have ended + the war. It is not necessary to refer to the immediate direct effects of + such a disaster on the army in the field, although it is scarcely possible + to over-estimate the calamitous results that would have followed the + instantaneous stoppage, even for a short time, of the vast accumulations + of provisions, ammunition, and supplies of all kinds, that were on their + way to the army through New York. Nor is it necessary to speculate on the + effect of the diversion of troops from the front that such an event would + have compelled, in order to recover so vital a point. Washington had + better be uncovered than New York be lost. One thing only is needed to + show how complete and irreparable the disaster would have been; namely, + the effect it would have had on the finances of the country. With the + great banking-houses and moneyed institutions of New York sacked and + destroyed, the financial credit of the country would have broken down + utterly. The crash of falling houses all over the country that would have + followed financial disaster here, would have been like that of falling + trees in a forest swept by a hurricane. Had the rioters got complete + possession of the city but for a single day, their first dash would have + been for the treasures piled up in its moneyed institutions. Once in + possession of these, they, like the mobs of Paris, would have fired the + city before yielding them up. In the crisis that was then upon us, it + would not have required a long stoppage in this financial centre of the + country to have effected a second revolution. With no credit abroad and no + money at home, the Government would have been completely paralyzed. Not + long possession of the city was needed, but only swift destruction. + </p> + <p> + Doubtless the disastrous effects would have been increased tenfold, if + possible, by uprisings in other cities, which events showed were to + follow. Even partial success developed hostile elements slumbering in + various parts of the country, and running from Boston almost to the + extreme West. + </p> + <p> + In this view of the case, these riots assume a magnitude and importance + that one cannot contemplate without a feeling of terror, and the truth of + history requires that their proper place should be assigned them, and + those who put them down have an honorable position beside our successful + commanders and brave soldiers. It is also important, as a lesson for the + future, and naturally brings up the question, what are the best measures, + and what is the best policy for the city of New York to adopt, in order to + protect itself from that which to-day constitutes its greatest danger—<i>mob + violence?</i> If it ever falls in ruins, the work of destruction will + commence and end within its own limits. We have a police and city military + which have been thought to be sufficient, but experience has shown that + though this provision may be ample to restore law and order in the end, it + works slowly, often unwisely, and always with an unnecessary expenditure + of life. In conversing with those of largest experience and intelligence + in the police department on this subject of such great and growing + importance, we are convinced, from their statements and views, a vast + improvement in this matter can be made, while the cost to the city, + instead of being increased, will be lessened; that is, a cheaper, wiser, + and more effectual plan than the present one can be adopted. Of course + this does not refer to mere local disturbances, which the police force in + the ordinary discharge of its duties can quell, but to those great + outbreaks which make it necessary to call out the military. Not that there + might not be exigencies in which it would be necessary to resort, not only + to the military of the city, but to invoke the aid of neighboring States; + for a riot may assume the proportions of a revolution, but for such no + local permanent remedy can be furnished. + </p> + <p> + The objections to relying on the military, as we invariably do in case of + a large mob, are many. In the first place, it takes the best part of a day + to get the troops together, so that a mob, so far as they are concerned, + has time not only to waste and destroy for many hours, but increase in + strength and audacity. The members of the various regiments are scattered + all over the city, engaged in different occupations and employments, and + without previous notice being given, it is a long and tedious process to + get them to their respective headquarters and in uniform. This wastes much + and most valuable time. Besides, they are compelled to reach the mustering + place singly or in small groups, and hence liable to be cut off or driven + back by the mob, which in most cases would know the place of rendezvous. + </p> + <p> + In the second place, the members are taken out from the mass of the + people, between whom there might be a strong sympathy in some particular + outbreak, which would impair their efficiency, and make them hesitate to + shoot down their friends and acquaintances. + </p> + <p> + In the third place, in ordinary peace times, these uniformed regiments are + not the steadiest or most reliable troops, as was witnessed in the riots + of 1863, as well as in those of the Astor Place in 1849. + </p> + <p> + They hesitate, or are apt to become hasty or disorganized in a close, + confused fight, and driven back. In the commencement of a riot, a defeat + of the military gives increased confidence, and indeed, power to a mob, + and snakes the sacrifice of life, in the end, far greater. + </p> + <p> + In the fourth place, clearing the streets does not always dissipate a mob. + A whole block of houses may become a fortress, which it is necessary to + storm before a permanent victory is gained. Half-disciplined men, + unaccustomed, and unskilled to such work, make poor headway with their + muskets through narrow halls, up stairways, and through scuttle-holes. + </p> + <p> + In the fifth place, the military of the city cannot be called away from + their work for two or three days, to parade the city, without a heavy + expense, and hence the process is a costly one. + </p> + <p> + In the last place, the firing of these troops at the best is not very + judicious, and cannot be discriminating, so that those are shot down often + least culpable, and of least influence in the mob—in fact, more + lives usually are taken than is necessary. + </p> + <p> + The simplest, most efficient, and most economical plan would be to select + five hundred or more of the most courageous, experienced, and efficient + men from the police department, and form them into a separate battalion, + and have them drilled in such evolutions, manoeuvres, and modes of attack + or defence, as would belong to the work they were set apart to do. A + battery might be given them in case of certain emergencies, and a portion + carefully trained in its use. At a certain signal of the bell, they should + be required to hasten, without a moment's delay, to their head-quarters. A + mob could hardly be gathered and commence work before this solid body of + disciplined, reliable men would be upon them. These five hundred men would + scatter five thousand rioters like chaff before them. It would be more + efficient than two entire regiments, even if assembled, and would be worth + more than the whole military of the city for the first half day. + </p> + <p> + Besides, clubs are better than guns. They take no time to load—they + are never discharged like muskets, leaving their owners for the time at + the mercy of the mob. Their volleys are incessant and perpetual, given as + long and fast as strong arms can strike. They are also more discriminating + than bullets, hitting the guilty ones first. Moreover, they disable rather + than kill—which is just as effectual, and far more desirable. In + addition to all this, being trained to one purpose, instructed to one + duty, a mob would be their natural enemies, and hence sympathy with them + in any cause almost impossible. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. — THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + </h2> + <p> + Almost impossible for the present Generation to comprehend its true + Character and Effect on the People.—Description of New York at that + Time.—The Negro Slaves.—The Negro Riot of 1712.—Description + of it.—The Winter of 1741.—Governor's House burned down.—Other + Fires.—Suspicion of the People.—Arrest and Imprisonment of the + Blacks.—Reward offered for the supposed Conspirators.—Alarm + and Flight of the Inhabitants.—Examination and Confession of Mary + Burton.—Peggy, the Newfoundland Beauty, and the Hughson Family.—The + Conspiracy.—Executions.—Fast.—Hughson's Hearing.—Hung + in Chains.—The Body, and that of a Negro, left to swing and rot in + the Air.—Strange Change in the Appearances of the Bodies.—The + People throng to look at them.—Negroes burned at the Stake.—Terrific + Spectacle.—Bloody Summer.—Execution of a Catholic Priest.—Strange + Scenes.—Upper Classes accused.—Executions stopped.—Reason + of the Panic. + </p> + <p> + Probably no event of comparatively modern times—certainly none in + our history—has occurred so extraordinary in some of its phases, as + the negro riot of 1741. We cannot fully appreciate it, not merely because + of the incompleteness of some of its details, nor from the lapse of time, + but because of our inability to place ourselves in the position or state + of mind of the inhabitants of New York City at that period. We can no more + throw ourselves into the social condition, and feel the influences of that + time, than we can conceive the outward physical appearance of the embryo + metropolis. It is impossible to stand amid the whirl and uproar of New + York to-day, and imagine men ploughing, and sowing grain, and carting hay + into barns, where the City Hall now stands. The conception of nearly all + the city lying below the Park, above it farms to Canal Street, beyond that + clearings where men are burning brush and logs to clear away the fallow, + and still farther on, towards Central Park, an unbroken wilderness, is so + dim and shadowy, that we can hardly fix its outlines. Yet it was so in + 1741. Where now stands the Tombs, and cluster the crowded tenements of + Five Points, was a pond or lakelet, nearly two miles in circumference and + fifty feet deep, and encircled by a dense forest. Its deep, sluggish + outlet into the Hudson is now Canal Street. In wet weather there was + another water communication with the East River, near Peck Slip, cutting + off the lower part of the island, leaving another island, containing some + eight hundred acres. Through Broad Street, along which now rolls each day + the stream of business, and swells the tumult of the Brokers' Board, then + swept a deep stream, up which boatmen rowed their boats to sell oysters. + The water that supplied these streams and ponds is now carried off through + immense sewers, deep under ground, over which the unconscious population + tread. Where Front and Water Streets on the east side, and West Greenwich + and Washington on the west side, now stretch, were then the East and + Hudson Rivers, having smooth and pebbly beaches. There was not a single + sidewalk in all the city, and only some half dozen paved streets. On the + Battery stood the fort, in which were the Governor's and secretary's + houses, and over which floated the British flag. + </p> + <p> + But all this outward appearance is no more unlike the New York of to-day + than its internal condition. + </p> + <p> + The population numbered only about ten thousand, one-fifth of which was + negroes, who were slaves. Their education being wholly neglected, they + were ignorant and debased, and addicted to almost every vice. They were, + besides, restive under their bondage amid the severe punishments often + inflicted on them, which caused their masters a great deal of anxiety. Not + isolated as an inland plantation, but packed in a narrow space, they had + easy communication with each other, and worse than all, with the reckless + and depraved crews of the vessels that came into port. It is true, the + most stringent measures were adopted to prevent them from assembling + together; yet, in spite of every precaution, there would now and then come + to light some plan or project that would fill the whites with alarm. They + felt half the time as though walking on the crust of a volcano, and hence + were in a state of mind to exaggerate every danger, and give credit to + every sinister rumor. + </p> + <p> + The experience of the past, as well as the present state of feeling among + the slaves, justified this anxiety and dread; for only thirty years before + occurred just such an outbreak as they now feared. On the 7th of April, in + 1712, between one and two o'clock in the morning, the house of Peter Van + Tilburgh was set on fire by negroes, which was evidently meant as a signal + for a general revolt. + </p> + <p> + The cry of fire roused the neighboring inhabitants, and they rushed out + through the unpaved muddy streets, toward the blazing building. As they + approached it, they saw, to their amazement, in the red light of the + flames, a band of negroes standing in front, armed with guns and long + knives. Before the whites could hardly comprehend what the strange + apparition meant, the negroes fired, and then rushed on them with their + knives, killing several on the spot. The rest, leaving the building to the + mercy of the flames, ran to the fort on the Battery, and roused the + Governor. Springing from his bed, he rushed out and ordered a cannon to be + fired from the ramparts to alarm the town. As the heavy report boomed over + the bay and shook the buildings of the town, the inhabitants leaped from + their beds, and looking out of the windows, saw the sky lurid with flames. + Their dread and uncertainty were increased, when they heard the heavy + splash of soldiers through the mud, and the next moment saw their bayonets + gleam out of the gloom, as they hurried forward towards the fire. In the + meantime, other negroes had rushed to the spot, so that soon there were + assembled, in proportion to the white population, what in the present + population of the city would be fully 10,000 negroes. + </p> + <p> + The rioters stood firm till they saw the bayonets flashing in the + fire-light, and then, giving one volley, fled into the darkness northward, + towards what is now Wall Street. The scattered inhabitants they met, who, + roused by the cannon, were hastening to the fire, they attacked with their + knives, killing and wounding several. The soldiers, firing at random into + the darkness, followed after them, accompanied by a crowd of people. The + negroes made for the woods and swamps near where the Park now stands, and + disappearing in the heavy shadows of the forest, were lost to view. + Knowing it would be vain to follow them into the thickets, the soldiers + and inhabitants surrounded them and kept watch till morning. Many, of + course, got off and buried themselves in the deeper, more extensive woods + near Canal Street, but many others were taken prisoners. Some, finding + themselves closely pressed and all avenues of escape cut off, deliberately + shot themselves, preferring such a death to the one they knew awaited + them. How many were killed and captured during the morning, the historian + does not tell us. We can only infer that the number must have been great, + from the statement he incidentally makes, that "during the day <i>nineteen + more were</i> taken, tried, and executed—some that turned State's + evidence were transported." "Eight or ten whites had been murdered," and + many more wounded. + </p> + <p> + It was a terrible event, and remembered by the present inhabitants with + horror and dismay. To the little handful occupying the point of the + island, it was a tragedy as great as a riot in New York to-day would be, + in which was a loss of 5,000 or more on each side. + </p> + <p> + Many middle-aged men, in 1741, were young men at that time, and remembered + the fearful excitement that prevailed, and it was a common topic of + conversation. + </p> + <p> + The state of things, therefore, which we have described, was natural. This + was rendered worse by the arrival, in the winter of 1741, of a Spanish + vessel, which had been captured as a prize, the crew of which was composed + in part of negroes, who were sold at auction as slaves. These became very + intractable, and in spite of the floggings they received, uttered threats + that they knew would reach their masters' ears. Still, no evidence of any + general plot against the inhabitants was suspected, and things were moving + on in their usual way, when, on the 18th of March, a wild and blustering + day, the Governor's house in the fort was discovered to be on fire. Fanned + by a fierce south-east wind, the flames spread to the King's chapel, the + secretary's house, barracks, and stables; and in spite of all efforts to + save them, were totally consumed. The origin of the fire was supposed to + be accidental, but a few days after, Captain Warren's house, near the + fort, was found to be on fire. Two or three days later, the storehouse of + Mr. Van Zandt was discovered on fire. Still, no general suspicions were + aroused. Three more days passed, when a cow-stall was reported on fire, + and a few hours later, the house of Mr. Thompson; the fire in the latter + case originating in the room where a negro slave slept. The very next day, + live coals were discovered under the stable of John Murray, on Broadway. + This, evidently, was no accident, but the result of design, and the people + began to be alarmed. The day following, the house of a sergeant near the + fort was seen to be on fire, and soon after, flames arose from the roof of + a dwelling near the Fly Market. The rumor now spread like wildfire through + the town that it was the work of incendiaries. It seems to us a small + foundation to base such a belief on, but it must be remembered that the + public mind was in a state to believe almost anything. + </p> + <p> + The alarm was increased by the statement of Mrs. Earle, who said that on + Sunday, as she was looking out of her window, she saw three negroes + swaggering up Broadway, engaged in earnest conversation. Suddenly she + heard one of them exclaim, "Fire! fire! Scorch! scorch! a little d—n + by and by!" and then throwing up his hands, laughed heartily. Coupled with + the numerous fires that had occurred, and the rumors afloat, it at once + excited her suspicions that this conversation had something to do with a + plot to burn the city. She therefore immediately reported it to an + alderman, and he, next day, to the justices. + </p> + <p> + Although the number of buildings thus mysteriously set on fire was, in + reality, small, yet it was as great in proportion to the town then, as + three hundred would be in New York to-day. Less than that number, we + imagine, would create a panic in the city, especially if the public mind + was in a feverish state, as, for instance, during the recent civil war. + </p> + <p> + Some thought the Spanish negroes had set the buildings on fire from + revenge, especially as those of the Government were the first to suffer. + Others declared that it was a plot of the entire negro population to burn + down the city. This belief was strengthened by the fact that, in one of + the last fires, a slave of one of the most prominent citizens was seen to + leap from the window, and make off over garden fences. A shout was + immediately raised by the spectators, and a pursuit commenced. The + terrified fugitive made desperate efforts to escape, but being overtaken, + he was seized, and, pale as death, lifted on men's shoulders and carried + to jail. + </p> + <p> + Added to all this, men now remembered it lacked but a few days of being + the anniversary of the bloody riot of thirty years ago. They began to + watch and question the negroes, and one of the Spanish sailors, on being + interrogated, gave such unsatisfactory, suspicious answers, that the whole + crew were arrested, and thrown into prison. But that same afternoon, while + the magistrates, whom the alarming state of things had called together, + were in consultation about it, the cry of "Fire!" again startled the + entire community. The ringing of the alarm-bell had now become almost as + terrifying as the sound of the last trumpet, and the panic became general. + The first step was to ascertain if there were any strangers in town who + might be concealed enemies, and a thorough search was made—the + militia being ordered out, and sentries posted at the ends of all the + streets, with orders to stop all persons carrying bags and bundles. This + was done on the 13th of April. None being found, the conclusion became + inevitable that some dark, mysterious plot lay at the bottom of it all, + and the inhabitants thought the city was doomed, like Sodom. First, the + more timorous packed up their valuable articles and fled into the country, + up toward Canal Street. This increased the panic, which swelled until + almost the entire population were seen hurrying through the streets, + fleeing for their lives. The announcement of an approaching army would not + have created a greater stampede. Every cart and vehicle that could be + found was engaged at any price, into which whole families were piled, and + hurried away to the farms beyond Chambers Street, in the neighborhood of + Canal Street. It was a strange spectacle, and the farmers could hardly + believe their senses, at this sudden inundation into their quiet houses of + the people of the city. The town authorities were also swept away in the + general excitement, and negroes of all ages and sexes were arrested by the + wholesale, and hurried to prison. The Supreme Court was to sit in the + latter part of April, and the interval of a few days was spent in efforts + to get at the guilty parties. But nothing definite could be ascertained, + as the conspirators, whoever they were, kept their own secret. At length, + despairing of getting at the truth in any other way, the authorities + offered a reward of a hundred pounds, and a full pardon to any one who + would turn State's evidence, and reveal the names of the ringleaders. This + was pretty sure to bring out the facts, if there were any to disclose, and + almost equally sure to obtain a fabricated story, if there was nothing to + tell. A poor, ignorant slave, shaking with terror in his cell, would + hardly be proof against such an inducement as a free pardon, and to him or + her an almost fabulous sum of money, if he had anything to reveal, while + the temptation to invent a tale that would secure both liberty and money + was equally strong. + </p> + <p> + On the 21st of April the court met, Judges Philips and Horsmander + presiding. A jury was impanelled, but although there was no lack of + prisoners, there was almost a total want of evidence sufficient to put a + single man on trial. The reward offered had not borne its legitimate + fruits, and no one offered to make any revelations. + </p> + <p> + Among the first brought up for examination was Mary Burton, a colored + servant girl, belonging to John Hughson, the keeper of a low, dirty negro + tavern over on the west side of the city, near the Hudson River. This was + a place of rendezvous for the worst negroes of the town; and from some + hints that Mary had dropped, it was suspected it had been the + head-quarters of the conspirators. But when, brought before the Grand + Jury, she refused to be sworn. They entreated her to take the oath and + tell the whole truth, but she only shook her head. They then threatened + her, but with no better success; they promised she should be protected + from danger and shielded from prosecution, but she still maintained an + obstinate silence. They then showed her the reward, and attempted to bribe + her with the wealth in store for her, but she almost spat on it in her + scorn. This poor negro slave showed an independence and stubbornness in + the presence of the jury that astonished them. Finding all their efforts + vain, they ordered her to be sent to jail. This terrified her, and she + consented to be sworn. But after taking the oath, she refused to say + anything about the fire. A theft had been traced to Hughson, and she told + all she knew about that, but about the fires would neither deny nor affirm + anything. They then appealed to her conscience painted before her the + terrors of the final judgment, and the torments of hell, till at last she + broke down, and proposed to make a clean breast of it. She commenced by + saying that Hughson had threatened to take her life if she told, and then + again hesitated. But at length, by persistent efforts, the following facts + were wrenched from her by piecemeal. She said that three negroes—giving + their names—had been in the habit of meeting at the tavern, and + talking about burning of the fort and city and murdering the people, and + that Hughson and his wife had promised to help them; after which Hughson + was to be governor and Cuff Phillipse king. That the first part of the + story was true, there is little doubt. How much, with the imagination and + love of the marvellous peculiar to her race, she added to it, it is not + easy to say. She said, moreover, that but one white person beside her + master and mistress was in the conspiracy, and that was an Irish girl + known as Peggy, "the Newfoundland Beauty." She had several <i>aliases</i>, + and was an abandoned character, being a prostitute to the negroes, and at + this time kept as a mistress by a bold, desperate negro named Caesar. This + revelation of Mary's fell on the Grand Jury like a bombshell. The + long-sought secret they now felt was out. They immediately informed the + magistrates. Of course the greatest excitement followed. Peggy was next + examined, but she denied Mary Burton's story <i>in toto</i>—swore + that she knew nothing of any conspiracy or of the burning of the stores; + that if she should accuse any one it would be a lie, and blacken her own + soul. + </p> + <p> + It is rather a severe reflection on the courts of justice of that period, + or we might rather say, perhaps, a striking illustration of the madness + that had seized on all, that although the law strictly forbade any slave + to testify in a court of justice against a white person, yet this girl + Mary Burton was not only allowed to appear as evidence against Peggy, but + her oath was permitted to outweigh hers, and cause her to be sentenced to + death. The latter, though an abandoned, desperate character, was seized + with terror at the near approach of death, and begged to be allowed + another examination, which was granted, and she professed to make a full + confession. It is a little singular that while she corroborated Mary + Burton's statement as to the existence of a conspiracy, she located the + seat of it not in Hughson's tavern, but in a miserable shanty near the + Battery, kept by John Romme, who, she said, had promised to carry them all + to a new country, and give them their liberty, if they would murder the + whites and bring him the plunder. Like Mary Burton's confession, if + truthful at all, it evidently had a large mixture of falsehood in it. + </p> + <p> + On Saturday, May 9th, Peggy was again brought in, and underwent a + searching examination. Some of her statements seemed improbable, and they + therefore tested them in every possible way. It lasted for several hours, + and resulted in a long <i>detailed</i> confession, in which she asserted, + among other things, that it was the same plot that failed in 1712, when + the negroes designed to kill all the whites, in fact, exterminate them + from the island. She implicated a great many negroes in the conspiracy; + and every one that she accused, as they were brought before her, she + identified as being present at the meetings of the conspirators in Romme's + house. The court seemed anxious to avoid any collusion between the + prisoners, and therefore kept them apart, so that each story should rest + on its own basis. By this course they thought they would be able to + distinguish what was true and what was false. + </p> + <p> + Either from conscious guilt, or from having got some inkling of the charge + to be brought against him, Romme fled before he could be arrested. His + wife, however, and the negroes whose names Peggy gave, were sent to jail. + </p> + <p> + On the 11th of May, or twenty days after the court convened, the + executions commenced. On this day, Caesar and Prince, two of the three + negroes Mary Burton testified against, were hung, though not for the + conspiracy, but for theft. They were abandoned men, and died recklessly. + Peggy and Hughson and his wife were next condemned. The former, finding + that her confession did not, as had been promised, secure her pardon, + retracted all she had said, and exculpated entirely the parties whose + arrest she had caused. + </p> + <p> + An atmosphere of gloom now rested over the city; every face showed signs + of dread. In this state of feeling the Lieutenant-governor issued a + proclamation, appointing a day of fasting and humiliation, not only in + view of this calamity, but on account also of the want and loss caused by + the past severe winter, and the declaration of war by England against + Spain. When the day arrived, every shop was closed and business of all + kinds suspended, and the silence and repose of the Sabbath rested on the + entire community. Without regard to sect, all repaired to the places of + worship, where the services were performed amid the deepest solemnity. + </p> + <p> + The day of execution appointed for Hughson, his wife, and Peggy was a + solemn one, and almost the entire population turned out to witness it. The + former had declared that some extraordinary appearance would take place at + his execution, and every one gazed on him as he passed in a cart from the + prison to the gallows. He was a tall, powerful man, being six feet high. + He stood erect in the cart all the way, his piercing eye fixed steadily on + the distance, and his right hand raised high as his fetters would permit, + and beckoning as though he saw help coming from afar. His face was usually + pale and colorless, but to-day it was noticed that two bright red spots + burned on either cheek, which added to the mystery with which the + superstitious spectators invested him. When the sad procession arrived at + the place of execution, the prisoners were helped to the ground, and stood + exposed to the gaze of the crowd. Hughson was firm and self-possessed; but + Peggy, pale, and weeping, and terror-struck, begging for life; while the + wife, with the rope round her neck, leaned against a tree, silent and + composed, but colorless as marble. One after another they were launched + into eternity, and the crowd, solemn and thoughtful, turned their steps + homeward. + </p> + <p> + Hughson was hung in chains; and in a few days a negro was placed beside + him, and here they swung, "blind and blackening," in the April air, in + full view of the tranquil bay, a ghastly spectacle to the fishermen as + they plied their vocation near by. For three weeks they dangled here in + sunshine and storm, a terror to the passers-by. At length a rumor passed + through the town that Hughson had turned into a negro, and the negro into + a white man. This was a new mystery, and day after day crowds would come + and gaze on the strange transformation, some thinking it supernatural, and + others trying to give an explanation. Hughson had threatened to take + poison, and it was thought by many that he had, and it was the effect of + this that had wrought the change in his appearance. For ten days the + Battery was thronged with spectators, gazing on these bloated, decomposing + bodies, many in their superstitious fears expecting some new + transformation. Under the increasing heat of the sun, they soon began to + drip, till at last the body of Hughson burst asunder, filling the air with + such an intolerable stench that the fishermen shunned the locality. + </p> + <p> + As simple hanging was soon thought not sufficient punishment, and they + were left to swing, and slowly rot in chains, so this last was at length + thought to be too lenient, and the convicts were condemned to be burned at + the stake. Two negroes, named Quack and Cuffee, were the first doomed to + this horrible death. The announcement of this sentence created the + greatest excitement. It was a new thing to the colonists, this mode of + torture being appropriated by the savages for prisoners taken in war. + Curious crowds gathered to see the stake erected, or stare at the loads of + wood as they passed along the street, and were unloaded at its base. It + was a strange spectacle to behold—the workmen carefully piling up + the fagots under the spring sun; the spectators looking on, some + horrified, and others fierce as savages; and over all the blue sky + bending, while the gentle wind stole up from the bay and whispered in the + tree-tops overhead. On the day of execution an immense crowd assembled. + The two negroes were brought forward, pale and terrified, and bound to the + stake. As the men approached with the fire to kindle the pile, they + shrieked out in terror, confessed the conspiracy, and promised, if + released, to tell all about it. They were at once taken down. This was the + signal for an outbreak, and shouts of "burn 'em, burn 'em" burst from the + multitude. Mr. Moore then asked the sheriff to delay execution till he + could see the Governor and get a reprieve. He hurried off, and soon + returned with a conditional one. But, as he met the sheriff on the common, + the latter told him that it would be impossible to take the criminals + through the crowd without a strong guard, and before that could arrive, + they would be murdered by the exasperated populace. They were then tied up + again, and the torch applied. The flames arose around the unhappy victims. + The curling smoke soon hid their dusky forms from view, while their + shrieks and cries for mercy grew fainter and fainter, as the fierce fire + shrivelled up their forms, till at last nothing but the crackling of the + flames was heard, and the shouting, savage crowd grew still. As the fire + subsided, the two wretched creatures, crisped to a cinder, remained to + tell, for the hundredth time, to what barbarous deeds terror and passion + may lead men. + </p> + <p> + Some of the negroes went laughing to the place of execution, indulging in + all sorts of buffoonery to the last, and mocking the crowd which + surrounded them. + </p> + <p> + All protested their innocence to the last, and if they had confessed + previously, retracted before death their statements and accusations. But + this contradiction of themselves, to-morrow denying what to-day they had + solemnly sworn on the Bible to be true, instead of causing the authorities + to hesitate, and consider how much terror and the hope of pardon had to do + with it, convinced them still more of the strength and dangerous nature of + the conspiracy, and they went to work with a determination and + recklessness which made that summer the bloodiest and most terrific in the + annals of New York. No lawyer was found bold enough to step forward and + defend these poor wretches, but all volunteered their services to aid the + Government in bringing them to punishment. The weeks now, as they rolled + on, were freighted with terror and death, and stamped with scenes that + made the blood run cold. This little town, on the southern part of + Manhattan Island was wholly given to panic, and a nameless dread of some + mysterious, awful fate, extended even to the scattered farm-houses near + Canal Street. Between this and the last of August, a hundred and + fifty-four negroes, exclusive of whites, were thrown into prison, till + every cell was crowded and packed to suffocation with them. For three + months, sentence of condemnation was on an average of one a day. The last + execution was that of a Catholic priest, or rather of a schoolmaster of + the city, who was charged with being one. Mary Burton, after an interval + of three months, pretended to remember that he was present with the other + conspirators she had first named as being in Hughson's tavern. + </p> + <p> + His trial was long, and apparently without excitement. He conducted his + own case with great ability, and brought many witnesses to prove his good + character and orderly conduct; but he, of course, could not disprove the + assertion of Mary, that she had some time or other seen him with the + conspirators at Hughson's tavern—for the latter, with his wife and + Peggy, and the negroes she had before named, had all been executed. Mary + Burton alone was left, and her evidence being credited, no amount of + testimony could avail him. + </p> + <p> + Although the proceedings were all dignified and solemn, as became an + English court, yet the course the trial took showed how utterly unbalanced + and one-sided it had become. To add weight to Mary's evidence, many + witnesses were examined to prove that Ury, though a schoolmaster, had + performed the duties of a Catholic priest, as though this were an + important point to establish. The attorney-general, in opening the case, + drew a horrible picture of former persecutions by the Papists, and their + cruelties to the Protestants, until it was apparent that all that the jury + needed to indorse a verdict of guilty was evidence that he was a Catholic + priest. Still it would be unfair to attribute this feeling wholly to + religious intolerance or the spirit of persecution. England was at this + time at war with Spain, and a report was circulated that the Spanish + priests in Florida had formed a conspiracy to murder the English + colonists. A letter from Ogilthorpe, in Georgia, confirmed this. Ury, who + was an educated Englishman, but had led an adventurous life in different + countries, could not disprove this, and he was convicted and sentenced to + be hung. He met his fate with great composure and dignity, asserting his + innocence to the last. He made the eighteenth victim hung, while thirteen + had been burned at the stake, and seventy-one transported to various + countries. + </p> + <p> + At the average rate of two every week, one hanged and one burned alive, + they were hurried into eternity amid prayers, and imprecations, and + shrieks of agony. The hauling of wood to the stake, and the preparation of + the gallows, kept the inhabitants in a state bordering on insanity. + Business was suspended, and every face wore a terrified look. The voice of + pity as well as justice was hushed, and one desire, that of swift + vengeance, filled every heart. Had the press of to-day, with its system of + interviewing, and minuteness of detail and description, existed then, + there would have been handed down to us a chapter in human history that + could be paralleled only in the dark ages. + </p> + <p> + A swift massacre, a terrible slaughter, comes and goes like an earthquake + or a tornado, and stuns rather than debases; but this long, steady + succession of horrible executions and frightful scenes changed the very + nature of the inhabitants, and they became a prey to a spirit demoniacal + rather than human. The prayers and tears of those led forth to the stake, + their heartrending cries as they were bound to it, and their shrieks of + agony that were wafted out over the still waters of the bay, fell on hard + and pitiless hearts. The ashes of the wood that consumed one victim would + hardly grow cold before a new fire was kindled upon them, and the charred + and blackened posts stood month after month, hideous monuments of what man + may become when judgment and reason are surrendered to fear and passion. + The spectacle was made still more revolting by the gallows standing near + the stake, on which many were hung in chains, and their bodies left to + swing, blacken, and rot in the summer air, a ghastly, horrible sight. + </p> + <p> + Where this madness, that had swept away court, bar, and people together, + would have ended, it is impossible to say, had not a new terror seized the + inhabitants. Mary Burton, on whose accusation the first victims had been + arrested and executed, finding herself a heroine, sought new fields in + which to win notoriety. She ceased to implicate the blacks, and turned her + attention to the whites, and twenty-four were arrested and thrown into + prison. Elated with her success, she began to ascend in the social scale, + and criminated some persons of the highest social standing in the city, + whose characters were above suspicion. This was turning the tables on them + in a manner the upper class did not expect, and they began to reflect what + the end might be. The testimony that was sufficient to condemn the slaves + was equally conclusive against them. The stake and the gallows which the + court had erected for the black man, it could not pull down because a + white gentleman stood under their shadow. + </p> + <p> + Robespierre and his friends cut off the upper-crust of society without + hesitation or remorse; but unfortunately the crust next below this became + in turn the upper-crust, which also had to be removed, until at last they + themselves were reached, when they paused. They had advanced up to their + necks in the bloody tide of revolution, and finding that to proceed + farther would take them overhead, they attempted to wade back to shore. So + here, so long as the accusations were confined to the lowest class, it was + all well enough, but when <i>they</i> were being reached, it was high time + to stop. The proceedings were summarily brought to a close, further + examinations were deemed unnecessary, and confessions became flat and + unprofitable; and this strange episode in American history ended. + </p> + <p> + That there had been cause for alarm, there can be no doubt. That threats + should be uttered by the slaves, is natural; for this would be in keeping + with their whole history in this country. Nor is it at all improbable that + a conspiracy was formed; for this, too, would only be in harmony with the + conduct of slaves from time immemorial. The utter folly and hopelessness + of such a one as the blacks testified to, has been urged against its + existence altogether. If the argument is good for anything, it proves that + the conspiracy thirty years before never existed, and that the Southampton + massacre was a delusion, and John Brown never hatched his utterly insane + conspiracy in Harper's Ferry. There have been a good many servile + insurrections plotted in this country, not one of which was a whit more + sensible or easier of execution than this, which was said to look to the + complete overthrow of the little city. That the fires which first started + the panic were the work of negro incendiaries, there is but little doubt; + but how far they were a part of a wide-laid plan, it is impossible to + determine. + </p> + <p> + Unquestionably, success at the outset would have made the movement + general, so that nothing but military force could have arrested it. + </p> + <p> + There is one thing, however, about which there is no doubt—that a + panic seized the people and the courts, and made them as unreliable as in + the days of the Salem witchcraft. But these striking exhibitions of the + weakness of human nature under certain circumstances have been witnessed + since the world was made, and probably will continue to the end of time, + or until the race enters on a new phase of existence. Panics, even among + the most veteran soldiers, sometimes occur, and hence we cannot wonder + they take place amid a mixed population. Popular excitements are never + characterized by reason and common-sense, and never will be. In this case, + there was more reason for a panic than at first sight seems to be. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, the proportion of slaves to the whites was large. In + the second place, they were a turbulent set, and had shown such a + dangerous spirit, that the authorities became afraid to let them assemble + together in meetings. This restriction they felt sorely, and it made them + more restive. All were aware of this hostile state of feeling, and were + constantly anticipating some outbreak or act of violence. Besides, it was + but a few years since the thing they now feared did actually take place. + And then, too, the point first aimed at was significant, and showed a + boldness founded on conscious strength. Right inside the fort itself, and + to the Governor's house, the torch was applied. It certainly looked + ominous. Besides, the very wholesale manner in which the authorities + thought it best to go to work increased the panic. In a very short time + over a hundred persons were thrown into prison. The same proportion to the + population to-day would be over ten thousand. Such a wholesale arrest + would, of itself, throw New York into the wildest excitement, and conjure + up all sorts of horrible shapes. Add to this, an average of two hundred + burned at the stake, and two hundred hung every week, or more than fifty a + day, and nearly three times that number sentenced to transportation, and + one can faintly imagine what a frightful state of things would exist in + the city. The very atmosphere grew stifling from the smoke of burning men + and women, while the gallows groaned under its weight of humanity. Had + this been the wild work of a mob it would have been terrible enough, but + when it was the result of a deliberate judicial tribunal, which was + supposed to do nothing except on the most conclusive evidence, the sense + of danger was increased tenfold. The conclusion was inevitable, that the + conspiracy embraced every black man in the city, and was thoroughly + organized. In short, the whole place was, beyond doubt, resting over a + concealed volcano, and the instinct of self-preservation demanded the most + summary work. Let the inhabitants of any city become thoroughly possessed + of such an idea, and they will act with no more prudence or reason than + the people of New York at that time did. An undoubted belief in such a + state of things will confuse the perceptions and unbalance the judgment of + a community anywhere and everywhere on the globe. + </p> + <p> + Still, consistent as it is with human history, one can hardly believe it + possible, as he stands in New York to-day, that men have there been burned + at the stake under the sanction of English law, or left to swing and rot + in the winds of heaven, by order of the Supreme Court of the city. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. — THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + </h2> + <p> + Thorough Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.—The + Stamp Act.—How viewed by the Colonists.—Colden strengthens + Fort George in Alarm.—Arrival of the Stamps.—How the News was + received by the Sons of Liberty.—A Bold Placard.—Stamp + Distributor frightened.—Patriotic Action of the Merchants.—Public + Demonstration against the Stamp Act.—Colden takes Refuge in the + Fort.—Dare not fire on the People.—The People at the Gate + demand the Stamps.—Colden and Lord Bute hung in Effigy.—Colden's + Coach-house broken open.—The Images placed in the Coach, and dragged + with Shouts through the Streets.—Hung again in Sight of the Fort.—A + Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling Green, and the Governor's + Carriages, while the Garrison look silently on.—Prejudice against + Coaches.—Major James' House sacked.—Great Joy and + Demonstration at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.—Celebration of the + King's Birthday.—Loyalty of the People.—Mutiny Act.—A + Riot becomes a Great Rebellion. + </p> + <p> + At the present day, when personal ambition takes the place of patriotism, + and love of principle gives way to love of party; when the success of the + latter is placed above constitutional obligations and popular rights, one + seems, as he turns back to our early history, to be transported to another + age of the world, and another race of beings. + </p> + <p> + Nothing shows how thoroughly understood by the common people were the + principles of liberty, and with what keen penetration they saw through all + shams and specious reasoning, than the decided, nay, fierce, stand they + took against the stamp act. This was nothing more than our present law + requiring a governmental stamp on all public and business paper to make it + valid. The only difference is, the former was levying a tax without + representation—in other words, without the consent of the governed. + The colonies assembled in Congress condemned it; hence the open, violent + opposition to it by the people rises above the level of a common riot, and + partakes more of the nature of a righteous revolution. Still, it was a + riot, and exhibited the lawless features of one. + </p> + <p> + The news of the determination of the English Government to pass a stamp + act, raised a storm of indignation throughout the colonies, from + Massachusetts to South Carolina, and it was denounced as an oppressive, + unrighteous, tyrannical measure. From the wayside tavern and the pulpit + alike, it was attacked with unsparing severity. The Government, however, + thought it a mere ebullition of feeling, that would not dare exhibit + itself in open opposition. Nor does this confidence seem strong, when we + remember the weakness of the colonies on the one side, and the strength of + an organized government, with the law and force both, on the other. + </p> + <p> + Cadwallader Colden, a Scotchman by birth, and a clergyman by profession, + was at that time acting Governor of New York; and to guard against any + resort to force on the part of the people when the stamps should arrive, + had Fort George, on the Battery, reinforced by a regiment from Crown + Point, its magazines replenished, the ramparts strengthened, and its guns + trained on the town. The people saw all this, and understood its import; + but it had the opposite effect from that which was intended, for, instead + of overawing the people, it exasperated them. + </p> + <p> + At length, in October, 1765, a ship with the British colors flying came + sailing up the bay, and anchored off Fort George. In a short time the + startling tidings was circulated, that she brought a quantity of stamps. + It was like sounding an alarm-bell, and the streets became thronged with + excited men, while all the provincial vessels in the harbor lowered their + colors to half-mast, in token of mourning. In anticipation of this event, + an organization of men had been formed, called "Sons of Liberty." They at + once assembled, and resolved at all hazards to get hold of those stamps. + They had caused the act itself to be hawked about the streets as "the + folly of England and the ruin of America," and now they determined to + measure their strength with the Governor of the colony. That night, when + the town was wrapped in slumber, they quietly affixed on the doors of + every public office and on corners of the streets, the following placard: + </p> + <h3> + PRO PATRIA. + </h3> + <p> + <i>The first man that either distributes or makes use of stamped paper, + let him take care of his house, person, and effects.</i> + </p> + <h3> + VOX POPULI. + </h3> + <h3> + "WE DARE." + </h3> + <p> + To the stamp distributors they said, "Assure yourselves, the spirit of + Brutus and Cassius is yet alive. We will not submit to the stamp act upon + any account or in any instance." + </p> + <p> + McEvers, the head stamp distributor, frightened by the bold, determined + attitude of the people, refused to receive the stamps, and Golden had them + sent for greater safety to Fort George. He had written, to the British + Secretary, "<i>I am resolved to have the stamps distributed</i>." But the + people were equally resolved they should not be. Still, on the 30th day of + October, he and all the royal governors took the oath to carry the stamp + act into effect; but they soon discovered that they could find no one bold + enough to act as distributor. All along the sea-coast, in every part of + the colonies, the people were aroused, and either assembling quietly, or + called together by the ringing of bells and firing of cannon, presented + such a united, determined front, that not one person remained duly + commissioned to distribute stamps. On the last day of October, the + merchants of New York came together, and bound themselves to "send no new + orders for goods or merchandise, to countermand all former orders, and not + even receive goods on commission, unless the stamp act be repealed"—that + is, give up commerce at once, with all its wealth and benefits, rather + than submit to a tax of a few shillings on paper. + </p> + <p> + Friday, the 1st of November, was the day fixed upon for a public + demonstration of the people throughout the colonies against it, and never + dawned a morning more pregnant with the fate not only of a nation, but of + the world. + </p> + <p> + From New Hampshire to South Carolina it was ushered in by the tolling of + muffled bells, the firing of minute-guns, and flags hung at half-mast. + Eulogies were pronounced on liberty, and everywhere people left their + shops and fields, and gathered in excited throngs to discuss the great + question of taxation. + </p> + <p> + "Even the children at their games, though hardly able to speak, caught up + the general chorus, and went along the streets, merrily carolling: + 'Liberty, Property, and no Stamps.'" {Footnote: Bancroft.} + </p> + <p> + In New York the uprising was terrific, for the population rushed together + as one man—as Gage, the commander of Fort George said, "by + thousands." + </p> + <p> + The sailors flocked in from the vessels, the farmers from the country, and + the shouts, and ringing of bells, and firing of cannon made the city + fairly tremble. Colden was terrified at the storm that was raised, and + took refuge in the fort. An old man, bent and bowed with the weight of + eighty years, he tottered nervously to the shelter of its guns, and + ordered up a detachment of marines from a ship of war in port, for his + protection. In his indignation, he wanted to fire on the people, and the + black muzzles of the cannon pointing on the town had an ominous look. + Whether he had threatened to do so by a message, we do not know; at any + rate, the people either suspected his determination or got wind of it, for + during the day an unknown person handed in at the fort-gate a note, + telling him if he did, the people would hang him, like Porteus of + Edinburgh, on a sign-post. He wisely forebore to give the order, for if he + had not, his gray hairs would have streamed from a gibbet. + </p> + <p> + At length the day of turmoil wore away, and night came on, but with it + came no diminution of the excitement. Soon as it was dark, the "Sons of + Liberty," numbering thousands, surged tumultuously up around the fort, and + demanded that the stamps should be given up that they might be destroyed. + Golden bluntly refused, when with loud, defiant shouts they left, and went + up Broadway to "the field" (the present Park), where they erected a + gibbet, and hanged on it Colden in effigy, and beside him a figure holding + a boot; some said to represent the devil, others Lord Bute, of whom the <i>boot</i>, + by a pun on his name, showed for whom the effigy was designed. + </p> + <p> + The demonstration had now become a riot, and the Sons of Liberty + degenerated into a mob. The feeling that had been confined to words all + day must now have some outlet. A torchlight procession was formed, and the + scaffold and images taken down, and borne on men's shoulders along + Broadway towards the Battery. The glare of flaring lights on the buildings + and faces of the excited crowd, the shouts and hurrahs that made night + hideous, called out the entire population, which gazed in amazement on the + strange, wild spectacle. + </p> + <p> + They boldly carried the scaffold and effigies to within a few feet of the + gate of the fort, and knocked audaciously for admission. Isaac Sears was + the leader of these "Sons of Liberty." + </p> + <p> + Finding themselves unable to gain admittance, they went to the Governor's + carriage-house, and took out his elegant coach, and placing the two + effigies in it, dragged it by hand around the streets by the light of + torches, amid the jeers and shouts of the multitude. Becoming at last + tired of this amusement, they returned towards the fort, and erected a + second gallows, on which they hung the effigies the second time. + </p> + <p> + All this time the cannon, shotted and primed, lay silent on their + carriages, while the soldiers from the ramparts looked wonderingly, idly + on. General Gage did not dare to fire on the people, fearing they would + sweep like an inundation over the ramparts, when he knew a general + massacre would follow. + </p> + <p> + The mob now tore down, the wooden fence that surrounded Bowling Green, and + piling pickets and boards together, set them on fire. As the flames + crackled and roared in the darkness, they pitched on the Governor's coach, + with the scaffold and effigies; then hastening to his carriage-house + again, and dragging out a one-horse chaise, two sleighs, and other + vehicles, hauled them to the fire, and threw them on, making a + conflagration that illumined the waters of the bay and the ships riding at + anchor. This was a galling spectacle to the old Governor and the British + officers, but they dared not interfere. + </p> + <p> + What was the particular animosity against those carriages does not appear, + though it was the only property of the Governor they destroyed, unless + they were a sign of that aristocratic pride which sought to enslave them. + There were, at this time, not a half-dozen coaches in the city, and they + naturally became the symbols of bloated pride. It is said the feeling was + so strong against them, that a wealthy Quaker named Murray, who lived out + of town, near where the distributing reservoir now is, kept one to ride + down town in, yet dared not call it a coach, but a "<i>leathern + convenience</i>." + </p> + <p> + Although Sears and other leaders of the Sons of Liberty tried to restrain + the mob, their blood was now up, and they were bent on destruction. Having + witnessed the conflagration of the Governor's carriages, they again + marched up Broadway, and some one shouting "James' house," the crowd took + up the shout, and passing out of the city streamed through the open + country, to where West Broadway now is, and near the corner of Anthony + Street. This James was Major in the Royal Artillery, and had made himself + obnoxious to the people by taking a conspicuous part in putting the fort + into a state of defence. He had a beautiful residence here, which the mob + completely gutted, broke up his elegant furniture, destroyed his library + and works of art, and laid waste his ornamented grounds. They then + dispersed, and the city became quiet. + </p> + <p> + The excitement was, however, not quelled—the people had not yet got + hold of the stamps, which they were determined to have. Colden, having + seen enough of the spirit of the "Sons of Liberty," was afraid to risk + another night, even in the fort, unless it was in some way appeased; and + so the day after the riot, he had a large placard posted up, stating that + he should have nothing more to do with the stamps, but would leave them + with Sir Henry Moore, the newly appointed Governor, then on his way from + England. + </p> + <p> + This, however, did not satisfy the Sons of Liberty: they wanted the stamps + themselves, and through Sears, their leader, insisted on their being given + up—telling him very plainly if he did not they would storm the fort, + and they were determined to do it. + </p> + <p> + The Common Council of the city now became alarmed at the ungovernable, + desperate spirit of the mob, which seemed bent on blood, and begged the + Governor to let them be deposited in the City Hall. To this he finally + though reluctantly consented, but the feeling in the city kept at fever + heat, and would remain so until the act itself was repealed. + </p> + <p> + Moore, the new Governor, soon arrived, and assumed the reigns of + government. The corporation offered him the freedom of the city in a gold + box, but he refused to receive it, unless upon stamped paper. It was + evident he was determined to enforce the stamp act. But on consulting with + Colden and others, and ascertaining the true state of things, he wisely + abandoned his purpose, and soon made it publicly known. To appease the + people still more, he dismantled the fort, which was peculiarly obnoxious + to them from the threatening attitude it had been made to assume. Still, + the infamous act was unrepealed, and the people refused to buy English + manufactures, and commerce languished. + </p> + <p> + At length, Parliament, finding that further insistance in carrying out the + obnoxious act only worked mischief, had repealed it. When the news reached + New York, the most unbounded joy was manifested. Bells were rung, cannon + fired, and placards posted, calling on a meeting of the citizens the next + day to take measures for celebrating properly the great event. At the + appointed time, the people came together at Howard's Hotel, and forming a + procession, marched gayly to "the field," and right where the City Hall + now stands, then an open lot, a salute of twenty-one guns was fired. A + grand dinner followed, at which the Sons of Liberty feasted and drank + loyal toasts to his Majesty, and all went "merry as a marriage-bell." The + city was illuminated, and bonfires turned the night into day. In a few + weeks, the King's birthday was celebrated with great display. A huge pile + of wood was erected in the Park, and an ox roasted whole for the people. + Cart after cart dumped its load of beer on the ground, till twenty-five + barrels, flanked by a huge hogshead of rum, lay in a row, presided over by + men appointed to deal out the contents to the populace. A boisterous + demonstration followed that almost drowned the roar of the twenty-one + cannon that thundered forth a royal salute. As a fitting wind-up to the + bacchanalian scene, at night twenty-five tar-barrels, fastened on poles, + blazed over the "common," while brilliant fireworks were exhibited at + Bowling Green. The feasting continued late in the night, and so delighted + were the "Sons of Liberty," that they erected a mast, inscribed "to his + most gracious Majesty, George the Third, Mr. Pitt, and Liberty." A + petition was also signed to erect a statue to Pitt, and the people seemed + determined by this excess of loyalty to atone for their previous + rebellious spirit. The joy, however, was of short duration—the news + of the riots caused Parliament to pass a "mutiny act," by which troops + were to be quartered in America in sufficient numbers to put down any + similar demonstration in future, a part of the expense of their support to + be paid by the colonists themselves. This exasperated "the Sons of + Liberty", and they met and resolved to resist this new act of oppression + to the last. The troops arrived in due time, and of course collisions took + place between them and the people. Matters now continued to grow worse and + worse, until the "riot of the Sons of Liberty" became a revolution, which + dismembered the British Empire, and established this great republic, the + influence of which on the destiny of the world no one can predict. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. — DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. + </h2> + <p> + Body-snatching.—Bodies dug up by Medical Students.—Excitement + of the People.—Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from the + Hospital.—Mob ransack the Building.—Destruction of Anatomical + Specimens.—Arrival of Mayor, and Imprisonment of Students.—Second + Day.—Examination of Columbia College and Physicians' Houses.—Appeal + of the Mayor and distinguished Citizens to the Mob.—Mob attempt to + break into Jail and seize the Students.—The Fight.—The + Military called out.—Beaten by the Mob.—Larger Military Force + called out.—Attacked by the Mob.—Deadly Firing.—Great + Excitement.—Flight of Doctors and Students. + </p> + <p> + In former times "body-snatching," or digging up bodies for dissections, + was much, more heard of than at present. The fear of it was so great, that + often, in the neighborhood where medical students were pursuing their + studies, persons who lost friends would have a watch kept over their + graves for several nights, to prevent them from being dug up. Neither the + high social position of parties nor sex was any barrier to this + desecration of graves, and the public mind was often shocked by accounts + of the young and beautiful being disinterred, to be cut up by medical + students. In the city there was, a few years ago—and perhaps there + is now—a regular commercial price for bodies. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.—Scene of the Doctors' Riot. + Located formerly on Broadway at the head of Pearl Street.} + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM 143d St. The former building + destroyed during the Draft Riot of 1863.} + </p> + <p> + Although it was conceded that for thorough instruction in medical science, + subjects for dissection were necessary, yet no one outside of the medical + profession could be found to sanction "bodysnatching." There is a + sacredness attached to the grave that the most hardened feel. Whenever the + earth is thrown over the body of a man, no matter how abject or sinful he + may have been, the involuntary exclamation of every one is "<i>requiescat + in pace</i>." When, it comes to be one of our own personal friends, a + parent, sister, or child, to this feeling of sacredness is added that of + affection, and no wrong is like that of invading the tomb of those we + love. Shakespeare left his curse for him who should disturb his bones; and + all feel like cursing those who disturb the bones of friends who are + linked to them by blood and affection. + </p> + <p> + In the winter of 1787 and 1788, medical students of New York City dug up + bodies more frequently than usual, or were more reckless in their mode of + action, for the inhabitants became greatly excited over the stories that + were told of their conduct. Some of these, if true, revealed a brutality + and indecency, shocking as it was unnecessary. Usually, the students had + contented themselves with ripping open the graves of strangers and + negroes, about whom there was little feeling; but this winter they dug up + respectable people, even young women, of whom they made an indecent + exposure. + </p> + <p> + The stories did not lose anything by repetition, and soon the conduct of + physicians and medical students became a town talk. There seemed to be no + remedy for this state of things; the graveyards, which were then in the + heart of the city, were easily accessible; while plenty of men could be + found, who, for a small sum, would dig up any body that was desired. A + mere accident caused this state of feeling to culminate and suddenly break + out into action. In the spring, some boys were playing in the rear of the + hospital, when a young surgeon, from a mere whim, showed an amputated arm + to them. One of them, impelled by curiosity, immediately mounted a ladder + that stood against the wall, used in making some repairs, when the surgeon + told him to look at his mother's arm. The little fellow's mother had + recently died, and filled with terror, he immediately hastened to his + father, who was a mason, and working at the time in Broadway. The father + at once went to his wife's grave, and had it opened. He found the body + gone, and returned to his fellow-workmen with the news. They were filled + with rage, and, armed with tools, and gathering a crowd as they marched, + they surged up around the hospital. + </p> + <p> + At first many seemed to be impelled only by curiosity, but as the throng + increased, the masons became eager for decisive action. Threats and + denunciations began to arise on every side, and then appeals for + vengeance, till at length they rushed for the door, and pouring into the + building, began the work of destruction. For a while there was a terrible + rattling of bones, as they tore down, and smashed every anatomical + specimen they could lay their hands on. Valuable imported ones shared the + common fate. They swarmed through the building, and finally came upon + fresh subjects, apparently but just dug up. This kindled their rage + tenfold, and the students, who thus far had been unmolested, were in + danger of being roughly handled. + </p> + <p> + The news of the gathering of the crowd and its threatening aspect, had + reached the Mayor, who immediately summoned the sheriff, and taking him + with several prominent citizens, hastened to the spot. Finding the + students in the hands of the infuriated mob, he released them, and to the + satisfaction, apparently, of the rioters, sent them to jail for + safe-keeping. + </p> + <p> + There was now nothing left for them to do, and they dispersed, and the + matter was thought to be ended. + </p> + <p> + But, during the evening, knots of men were everywhere discussing the + events of the day, and retailing the exciting reports that were now flying + thickly around; and next morning, whether from any concert of action, or + impelled by mere curiosity, is not known, crowds began to fill the street + and yard in front of the city hospital. The discovery of the bodies the + day before had deepened the excitement, and now a more thorough + examination of the building was proposed, and also an examination of the + physicians' houses. Matters were beginning to wear a serious aspect, and + the Governor, Mayor, Chancellor, and some of the prominent citizens of the + town, came together to consult on a course of action. It was finally + resolved to resort in a body to the spot where the mob was assembled, and + make a personal appeal to it. They did so, and presented an imposing + appearance as they advanced up Broadway. Although representing the State + and city, they did not presume on their authority, but attempted + persuasion. Mounting the steps, they in turn addressed the throng, which + now kept momentarily increasing, and exhorted them as law-abiding citizens + to use no violence. Some made most pathetic appeals to their feelings, + their pride and self-respect; indeed, begged them, by every consideration + of home and justice, to desist, and retire peacefully to their homes. They + solemnly promised that a most thorough investigation should be made, and + they should have all the satisfaction the laws could afford. More they + ought not to ask. These appeals and promises produced a favorable effect + on many of the mob, and they left. But the greater part refused to be + pacified. Their blood was up, and they insisted on making the examination + themselves. They did not propose to commit any violence, but having begun + their investigations they were determined to go through with them. + </p> + <p> + The Mayor and the Governor seemed to have an unaccountable repugnance to + the use of force, and let the mob depart for Columbia College without any + resistance. The professors and students were amazed at this sudden + inundation of the crowd, who swarmed without opposition through every part + of the building. Finding nothing to confirm their suspicions, they left + without doing any material injury. Still unsatisfied, however, they + repaired to the houses of the neighboring physicians, and the leaders, + acting as a delegation of the crowd, went through them with the same + result. It was a singularly well-behaved mob, and they received the report + of the self-constituted committees with apparently perfect satisfaction, + and when they had made the round of the houses, gradually broke up into + knots and dispersed. + </p> + <p> + But the lawless spirit of a mob seldom arrests and controls itself. Having + once felt its strength and power, it is never satisfied till it measures + them against those of the legal authorities, and yields only when it must. + Hence, as a rule, the quicker "it feels the strong hand of power" the + better for all parties. Promising legal satisfaction, to law-breakers is a + very unsatisfactory proceeding. Obedience first and discussion afterwards + is the proper order to be observed. + </p> + <p> + The Mayor had hardly time to congratulate himself on having overcome so + easily a serious difficulty, before he found that he had not as yet + touched it. In the afternoon, the crowd again began to assemble, and this + time around the jail, with the avowed purpose of taking vengeance on the + students and physicians locked up there for safe-keeping. Having asserted + and exercised, against all law, the right of domiciliary visits, it was + but a short and easy step to assert the right to punish also contrary to + law. As they gathered in front of the jail, it was seen that a different + spirit from that which they had hitherto exhibited ruled them. The tiger + was unchained, and loud shouts and yells were heard. "Bring out your + doctors! bring out your doctors!" arose on every side. They threatened to + tear down the building unless they were given up. The inmates became + thoroughly alarmed, and barricaded the doors and windows, and armed + themselves the best way they could for self-defence. Attempts were made to + parley with the crowd, but they would listen to nothing, and answered + every appeal with loud shouts for the doctors. What they <i>intended</i> + to do with them by way of punishment was not so clear, though what their + fate would have been, if once at their mercy, there was little doubt. The + city authorities now became alarmed, murder was imminent, and having no + police force sufficient to cope with such a formidable mob, they decided + that the city was in a state of insurrection, and called out the military. + About three o'clock, the force marched up the street, and passed quietly + through the crowd, which opened as they advanced. As they moved past, a + shower of dirt and stones followed them, accompanied with taunts, and + jeers, and mocking laughter. The whole military movement was evidently + intended only for intimidation—to show the rioters what could be + done if they resorted to violence; for the soldiers, instead of taking up + their quarters, as they should have done, in the building, having + exhibited themselves, marched away. But the mob, still retaining its + position and threatening attitude, another force, a little later, + consisting of only twelve men, was sent up. This was worse than nothing, + and as the little handful marched solemnly up, the crowd broke out into + derisive laughter, and all sorts of contemptuous epithets were heaped upon + them. Instead of waiting for them to come near, they rushed down, the + street to meet them, and swarming like bees around them, snatched away + their muskets, and broke them to pieces on the pavement. {Footnote: John + Jay and Baron Steuben were both wounded in trying to allay the mob.} The + soldiers, disarmed, scattered, and hustled about, were glad to escape with + whole bodies. + </p> + <p> + This first act of open resistance excited the rioters still more—they + had passed the Rubicon, and were now ready for anything, and "to the jail! + to the jail!" arose in wild yells, and the turbulent mass poured like a + tumultuous sea around the building. They rushed against the doors, and + with united shoulders and bodies endeavored to heave them from their + hinges. But being secured with heavy bolts and bars, they resisted all + their efforts. They then smashed in the windows with stones, and attempted + to force an entrance through them; but the handful of men inside took + possession of these, and, with such weapons as they could find, beat them + back. Numbers were of no avail here, as only a few at a time could + approach a window, while those within, being on the defensive, knocked + them back as often as they attempted to climb in. The rioters, baffled in + their attempts, would then fall back, and hurl paving-stones and bricks at + the windows, when those who defended them would step one side. But the + moment the former advanced again, the latter would crowd the windows with + clubs and sticks. The enraged assailants tore off pickets, and advancing + with these, made desperate efforts to clear the windows. But those within + knew it was a matter of life and death with them, and stubbornly held + their ground. The fight was thus kept up till dark, amid yells and shouts + and a pandemonium of noises, and no efforts apparently were made to put an + end to it, and release the inmates of the jail. But steps had been taken + to organize and arm a large body of militia under an experienced officer, + and now in the dim starlight their bayonets were seen gleaming, as they + marched steadily forward on the dark, heaving mass that filled the street + far as the eye could see. The rioters, however, instead of being + intimidated at the sight, sent up a yell of defiance, and arming + themselves with stones and brick-bats, hurled them in a blinding volley on + the troops. So fierce was the assault, that before the latter had time to + form, many were knocked down, and some badly wounded. The commanding + officer, finding the fight thus forced on him, gave the order in a ringing + voice, "Ready, aim, fire!" A flash broad as the street followed, lighting + up the gloom, and revealing the scowling faces of the mob, the battered + front of the jail, and the pale faces of those guarding the windows. They + had not expected this close, point-blank volley, for the timid action of + the authorities had not prepared them for it, and they stopped in + amazement and hesitation. The commanding officer understood his business, + and instead of waiting to see if they would disperse, poured in another + volley. The rioters were confounded as they saw their comrades fall by + their side, but still stood at bay; until at last, seeing the dead and + wounded on every side, they could stand it no longer, but broke and fled + in every direction. In a few minutes the street was clear of all but the + dead and wounded, the groans of the latter loading the night air. The poor + wretches were carried away, and the troops remained on the spot all night. + The next day the city was in a fever of excitement. The number of killed + was greatly exaggerated, and the denunciations of the butchery, as it was + called, were fierce and loud. On almost every corner groups of excited men + were seen in angry discussion—multitudes gathered in front of the + jail, and gazed with horror on the blood-stained pavement. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers who had committed the slaughter were cursed and threatened by + turns, but they quietly rested on their arms, ready, it was evident, to + repeat the experiment at the first open act of violence. For awhile there + was danger of a general outbreak throughout the city; but the authorities + had become thoroughly aroused to the danger of the situation, and seeing + that the quicker they brought the conflict to a close, the better, made + such a display of force, that the riotous spirit was overawed. Still, it + was not entirely subdued, and it was evident that it was kept under by + fear alone. The physicians of the city came in for almost as large a share + of the hatred as the military. They were the original cause of the + disturbance, and threats against them became so open and general, that + they were in constant dread of personal violence, and many fled from the + city. They scattered in every direction, and there threatened to be a + general Hegira of physicians. All the medical students were secretly + stowed into carriages, and hurried off into the country, where they + remained till the excitement died away. It did not, however, subside + readily; indeed, the danger of open revolt was so great for several days, + that the military continued to keep guard at the jail. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. — SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + </h2> + <p> + Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.—Our Experiment of Self + government not a fair one.—Fruit of giving Foreigners the Right to + Vote.—Bitter Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.—First Day of + Election.—Ships "Constitution" and "Veto."—Whigs driven from + the Polls.—Excitement.—Whigs determined to defend themselves.—Meeting + called.—Resolutions.—Second Day's Election.—Attack on + the Frigate "Constitution."—A Bloody Fight.—Mayor and Officers + wounded.—Mob triumphant.—Excitement of the Whigs.—The + Streets blocked by fifteen thousand enraged Whigs.—Military called + out.—Occupy Arsenal and City Hall all Night.—Result of the + Election.—Excitement of the Whigs.—Mass-meeting in Castle + Garden. + </p> + <p> + This country never committed a more fatal mistake than in making its + naturalization laws so that the immense immigration from foreign countries + could, after a brief sojourn, exercise the right of suffrage. Our form of + government was an experiment, in the success of which not only we as a + nation were interested, but the civilized world. To have it a fair one, we + should have been allowed to build and perfect the structure with our own + material, not pile into it such ill-formed, incongruous stuff as the + despotisms of Europe chose to send us. Growing up by a natural process, + educating the people to the proper exercise of their high trust, + correcting mistakes, and adjusting difficulties as we progressed, the + noble building would have settled into greater compactness as it arose in + height, and all its various proportions been in harmony. We should have + built slowly but surely. But when there was thrown upon us a mass of + material wholly unfit for any political structure, and we were compelled + to pile it in hap-hazard, it was not long before the goodly edifice began + to show ugly seams, and the despotisms of Europe pointed to them with + scorn, and asked tauntingly how the doctrine of self-government worked. + They emptied their prisons and poor-houses on our shores, to be rid of a + dangerous element at home, and we, with a readiness that bordered on + insanity, not only took them into our bosoms, but invited them to aid us + in making our laws and electing our rulers. To ask men, the greater part + of whom could neither read nor write, who were ignorant of the first + principles of true civil liberty, who could be bought and sold like sheep + in the shambles, to assist us in founding a model republic, was a folly + without a parallel in the history of the world, and one of which we have + not yet begun to pay the full penalty. It was a cruel wrong, not only to + ourselves, but to the oppressed masses of Europe, who turned their longing + eyes on us for encouragement and the moral aid which our success would + give them in their struggles against despotism. + </p> + <p> + If the reason given for endowing this floating population—and + dangerous element under any circumstances—with the full rights of + citizens had been the true one, namely: to be just to them, and consistent + with the great doctrine of equality on which our Government rested, there + might be some little comfort in reflecting on the mistake we made. But + this was false. The right of suffrage was given them by a party in order + to secure their votes, and secure them, too, by appealing to those very + passions that made them dangerous to the republic, and which the interest + of all alike required should be removed instead of strengthened. + </p> + <p> + All the good the Democratic party has ever done this country will hardly + compensate for the evil of this one act. + </p> + <p> + If our experiment shall finally prove a failure, we verily believe it will + be owing to the extension of the political franchise to whites and blacks + who were unfit to use it, and cared for it not because of its honor, or + the good use to which it might be put, but as a piece of merchandise to be + sold to the highest bidder or used as a weapon of assault against good + order and righteous laws. + </p> + <p> + Of course, the first pernicious effect of this transfer of power to + ignorant, reckless men would be felt at the polls in New York City, where + this class was in the greatest number. The elections here soon became a + farce, and the boasted glory of a free ballot-box a taunt and a by-word. + That gross corruption and villany practised here should eventually result + in the open violation of law, as it did in the charter election of 1834, + was natural. + </p> + <p> + Political animosity was probably more bitter between the Democrats, under + Jackson's administration, and the Whigs, than between any two political + parties since the time of Federalists and Democrats, in the days of the + elder Adams. + </p> + <p> + In the spring of 1834 especially, party spirit ran very high in the city. + As usual, for a month or more before the election, which took place on the + second Tuesday in April, all kinds of accusations and rumors were afloat. + There was no registry law, and comparatively few places for the polls, so + that there could be little check on voting, no end to repeating, while the + gathering of an immense crowd around each place of voting became + inevitable. At this election, there was a split in the Democratic party, + Mr. Verplanck being the candidate of the Independent Democrats, and Mr. + Lawrence of the "Tammany." + </p> + <p> + The most extensive preparations were made on both sides for the conflict, + and it was generally expected there would be a personal collision in some + of the wards. + </p> + <p> + Tuesday, the 8th of April, dawned dark and stormy, and the rain began to + fall heavily, at times coming down in torrents. But to such a fever heat + had the public feeling been carried, that no one seemed to heed the storm. + The stores were closed, business of all kinds suspended; while the streets + were black with men hurrying to the polls. At twelve o'clock the American + flag was hoisted on the Exchange, when the building became deserted, and + all gathered at the places where the voting was going on. Men stood in + long lines, extending clear out into the street, patiently enduring the + pelting rain, waiting till their turn came to vote. + </p> + <p> + The famous expression of Jackson, "Perish credit, perish commerce," had + been taken out of the connection in which it was used, and paraded + everywhere. The sailors had been enlisted in the struggle, and rigged up a + beautiful little frigate in complete order, and named it the + "Constitution." Mounting it on wheels, several hundred of them paraded it + through the streets and past the polls. As they passed through Wall + Street, thundering cheers greeted them, and the excited populace, heedless + of the rain, fell into the procession, till it swelled to thousands, who, + with songs and shouts, followed after. Fearful of the effect of this + demonstration on the voters, the Jackson men hastily rigged out a boat, + surmounted by a flag on which was painted in large characters, "Veto;" and + "Constitution" and "Veto" sailed after each other through the city. This + should have been prevented by the authorities, for it was impossible for + these two processions to meet without a fight occurring, while it was + equally certain that the Whig one would be attacked, if it attempted to + pass the polls in those wards in which the roughs had the control. But the + "Hickory poles" had inaugurated a new mode of carrying on political + campaigns. Appeals were made to the senses, and votes obtained by outward + symbols, rather than by the discussion of important political questions. + This mode of electioneering culminated with the log-cabin excitement. + </p> + <p> + In the Eleventh Ward, the Jackson party had two private doors through + which to admit their voters to the polls, while bullies kept back from the + main entrance the Independent Republicans. In most of the strong Jackson + wards, where it was all on one side, the voting went on peaceably enough, + but in the Sixth, it was soon evident that a storm was inevitable. Oaths + and threats and yells of defiance made the polls here seem more like an + object on which a mob was seeking to wreak its vengeance, than a place + where freemen were depositing their votes under sanction of law. The babel + of sound continued to grow worse in spite of the rain, and swelled louder + and louder, till at last the Jackson roughs, headed by an ex-alderman, + made a rush for the committee room where their opponents were assembled. + Some of them were armed with clubs, and others with knives, which they + brandished fiercely as they burst into the room. Before the members could + offer any resistance, they were assailed with such fury, that in a short + time nearly twenty were stretched bleeding and maimed on the floor; one so + badly wounded that he was carried out lifeless, and apparently dead. It + was a savage onslaught, and those who escaped injury reached the street + hatless, and with coats half-torn from their backs. The mob, now being + complete masters of the room, tore down all the banners, destroyed the + ballots, and made a complete wreck of everything. The Whig leaders, + enraged at such dastardly, insulting treatment, despatched a messenger in + all haste to the Mayor for help, but he replied that he could not furnish + it, as all the available force was away in other sections of the city on + duty. The excitement among the Whigs now became fearful, and they + determined to take the matter in their own hands. The election was to last + three days, and they concluded to let the polls, when the mob entered, + take care of themselves the balance of the day, and organize a plan for + self-protection on the morrow. + </p> + <p> + A call was at once issued for a meeting at Masonic Hall, and that night + four thousand Whigs packed the building, from limit to limit. General + Bogardus was called to the chair, who, after stating the object of the + meeting, and describing the conduct of the mob in the Sixth Ward, offered + the following resolutions: + </p> + <p> + "<i>Whereas</i>, The authority of the POLICE of the city has been set at + defiance by a band of <i>hirelings, mercenaries</i>, and <i>bullies</i> in + the Sixth Ward, and the LIVES of our citizens put in jeopardy. And <i>whereas</i> + it is evident that we are in a state of anarchy, which requires the prompt + and efficient interposition of every friend of good order who is disposed + to sustain the constitution and laws, therefore, be it + </p> + <p> + "<i>Resolved</i>, That in order to preserve the <i>peace</i> of the city, + and especially of the Sixth Ward, the friends of the constitution and the + liberties of the citizen will meet at this place (Masonic Hall), to-morrow + (Wednesday), at half-past seven o'clock A.M., and repair to the Sixth Ward + poll, for the <i>purpose of keeping it open to</i> ALL VOTERS until such + time as the official authorities may 'procure a sufficient number of + special constables to keep the peace.' + </p> + <p> + "<i>Resolved</i>, That while at the Sixth Ward poll, those who are not + residents thereof will not take part in the election, but simply act as <i>conservators + of the peace</i>, until such times as the MAJESTY OF THE LAWS shall be + acknowledged and respected." + </p> + <p> + These resolutions were carried with acclamations and shouts and stamping + of feet. + </p> + <p> + There was no bluster in these resolutions, but their meaning was apparent + enough, and the city authorities understood it. From that hall, next + morning, would march at least five or six thousand determined men, and if + the mob rallied in force, to repeat the action of the day before, there + would be one of the bloodiest fights that ever disgraced the city. It was + believed that the great mass of the rioters were Irishmen, and the thought + that native-born Americans should be driven from their own ballot-box by a + herd of foreigners, aroused the intensest indignation. It was an insult + that could not and should not be tolerated. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, at half-past seven, Masonic Hall was filled to + repletion. The excitement can be imagined, when such a crowd could be + gathered at this early hour. + </p> + <p> + In the Ninth Ward a meeting was also called, and a resolution passed, + tendering a committee of one hundred to the general committee; that, with + a committee of the same number from each of the fourteen wards of the + city, would make a battalion eighteen hundred strong, to be ready at a + moment's notice, to march to any poll "to protect the sacred right of + suffrage." + </p> + <p> + These measures had their desired effect. The presence of large bodies of + men at the different polls, for the purpose of protecting them, overawed + the unorganized mob, although in some of the wards attempts were made to + get up a riot. Stones and clubs were thrown, and one man stabbed; it was + thought at the time fatally. The Sixth Ward, "the Bloody Sixth," as it was + called, was the point of greatest danger, and thither the Mayor repaired + in person, accompanied by the sheriff and a large posse, and remained the + greater part of the day. Threats and opprobrious epithets were freely + used, and occasionally a paving-stone would be hurled from some one on the + outskirts of the crowd; but the passage to the polls was kept open, and by + one o'clock the citizens could deposit their votes without fear of + personal violence. + </p> + <p> + The evil of having the election continue three days now became more + apparent than ever. The disorderly class, "the roughs," by their + protracted drinking, became more and more maddened, and hence riper for + more desperate action. This second night was spent by them in carousing, + and the next morning they turned out to the polls, not only ready, but + eager for a fight. Early in the forenoon, the frigate "Constitution" was + again on its voyage through the streets, followed by a crowd. As it passed + Masonic Hall, the head-quarters of the Whig Committee, it was saluted with + cheers. This was followed by a rush upon it, on the part of the mob, who + attempted to destroy it. The Whigs inside of the building, seeing the + attack, poured forth with a loud cheer, and fell on the assailants with + such fury, that they turned and fled. The news of what was passing, had, + in the meantime, reached the Sixth Ward folks, and a shout was raised for + followers. Instantly a huge crowd, composed of dirty, ragged, + savage-looking men, broke away with discordant yells, and streamed up + Duane Street towards the building, picking up paving-stones and + brick-bats, and pulling down pickets as they ran. Coming in sight of the + little frigate, they raised a shout and dashed on it. The procession had + now passed the hall, but the Whigs, informed of what was going on, again + sallied forth to the help of the sailors, who were fighting manfully + against overwhelming odds. But they were soon overpowered, and again took + refuge in the hall. This was now assailed, and stones came crashing + through the windows. The Mayor was sent for, and soon appeared with the + sheriff, backed by forty watchmen. Mounting the steps, he held up his + staff of office, and commanded the peace. But the half-drunken mob had now + got beyond the fear of the mere symbol of authority, and answered him with + a shower of stones, and then charged on the force that surrounded him. A + fierce and bloody fight followed. Citizens rushed out to the help of the + Mayor, while the watchmen fell on the mob with their clubs. They soon + stretched on the pavement more than their own number, but the odds against + them was too great. The Mayor received a wound—ten or fifteen + watchmen besides citizens were wounded—Captains Stewart, Munson, and + Flaggs, badly injured, the latter with his skull horribly fractured, ribs + broken, and face cut up. A few of the rioters were arrested, but the great + mass broke through all opposition, and streaming into the hall, forced the + committee to creep through back passages and windows. + </p> + <p> + The news of this high-handed outrage was carried like the wind to the + lower anti-Democratic wards, and the excited Whigs came streaming up, + until Duane, Elm, Pearl, Cross, Augustus, and Chatham Streets, up to + Broadway, were black with determined, enraged citizens. Ten or fifteen + thousand were in a short time assembled, and a fearful battle seemed + inevitable. In this appalling state of things, the Mayor called a + consultation, and it was decided to declare the city in a state of + insurrection, and call on the military for help. A messenger was + immediately despatched to the Navy Yard for a company of marines. Colonel + Gamble, commanding, replied that he would be glad to comply with the + request, and put himself at their head, but that he had just sent them on + board the "Brandywine" and "Vincennes." Application was then made to + Commodore Hidgely, commander of the station; but he refused, on the ground + that he had no authority to interfere. A messenger was then hurried across + to Governor's Island for help, but he met with no better success. As a + last resort, General Sanford was now directed to call out the city + military. + </p> + <p> + All this time the crowd kept increasing, while from out its bosom came an + angry murmur like the moaning of the sea before a storm. The polls were + deserted, and it seemed impossible that the opposing forces could be long + kept apart. At length word passed through the Whigs that the mob were + about to take possession of the arsenal. Instantly several hundred + citizens made a dash for it, and occupied it. This was a brilliant piece + of strategy, and no sooner did the rioters hear of it, than they swarmed + around the building with yells and imprecations. The Whigs, however, held + it, and some of them passed out arms to their friends. + </p> + <p> + Three terrible hours had now passed since the first outbreak, and from the + Park to Duane Street, Broadway, and the cross streets on the east side of + it, were packed with excited men, their shouts, calls, and curses rising + over the dwellings in tones that sent terror to the heart. But for the + narrow streets, in which but few could come in contact, there would + doubtless have been a collision long before. + </p> + <p> + But at this critical moment a detachment of infantry and two squadrons of + cavalry came marching down Broadway, and in close column. The crowd + divided as they advanced, and they drew up before the arsenal. The + gleaming of the bayonets and the rattle of sabres had a quieting effect on + the rioters, and they began to disperse again to the polls, to watch the + progress of the voting. In the meantime, the infantry took up their + quarters at the arsenal, and the cavalry at the City Hall, for the night. + </p> + <p> + When the polls closed at evening, the ballot-box of the Sixth Ward was + taken under a strong guard to the City Hall, and locked up for the night. + It was followed by four or five thousand excited men, but no violence was + attempted. + </p> + <p> + The election was over. For three days the city had been heaving to the + tide of human passion, and trembling on the verge of a great disaster, and + all because a few ruffians, not a fourth part of whom could probably read + or write, chose to deny the right of suffrage to American citizens, and + constitute themselves the proper representatives of the city. + </p> + <p> + But the excitement did not end with the election. It was very close, and + as the returns came in slowly, the people assembled in great numbers, to + hear them reported. The next day, till three o'clock at night, ten or + fifteen thousand people blocked Wall Street, refusing to disperse, till + they knew the result. It was finally announced that Mr. Lawrence, the + Democratic candidate, was elected by a small majority. + </p> + <p> + The next thing was to ascertain the character of the Common Council. The + same mighty throng assembled next day, forgetting everything else in the + intense interest they felt in the result. It would seem impossible to get + up such a state of feeling over the election of a few local officers, but + the city shook from limit to limit as the slow returns came in. At last, + it was announced that the Whigs had carried the Common Council by a small + majority. As the news passed through the immense concourse, a shout vent + up that shook Wall Street from Broadway to the East River. It rolled back + and forth like redoubled thunder, till every throat was hoarse. + </p> + <p> + When the crowd at last dispersed, it was only to assemble again in + separate bodies in different parts of the city, and talk over the victory. + </p> + <p> + Even then the excitement was not allowed to die away. The event was too + great to be permitted to pass without some especial honor, and a + mass-meeting was called in Castle Garden to celebrate it. Webster was sent + for to make a speech, the most distinguished speakers of New York were + called upon, and a day of general rejoicing followed, great as that which + succeeded Lee's surrender. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. — ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. + </h2> + <p> + The Slavery Question agitated.—The End, Civil War.—The + Results.—William Lloyd Garrison.—Feeling of the People on the + Subject.—First Attempt to call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New + York.—Meeting in Chatham Street Chapel.—A Fight.—Mob + take Possession of Bowery Theatre.—Sacking of Lewis Tappan's House.—Fight + between Mob and Police.—Mobbing of Dr. Cox's Church, in Laight + Street.—His House broken into.—Street Barricaded.—Attack + on Arthur Tappan's Store.—Second Attack on Church in Laight Street.—Church + sacked in Spring Street.—Arrival of the Military.—Barricades + carried.—Mr. Ludlow's House entered.—Mob at Five Points.—Destruction + of Houses.—The City Military called out.—Mob overawed, and + Peace restored.—Five Points Riot.—Stone-cutters' Riot. + </p> + <p> + Most of the riots of New York have grown out of causes more or less local, + and wholly transient in their nature. Hence, the object sought to be + obtained was at once secured, or abandoned altogether. But those arising + from the formation of Abolition societies, and the discussion of the + doctrine of immediate emancipation, were of a different character, and + confined to no locality or time. The spirit that produced them developed + itself in every section of the country, and the question continued to + assume vaster proportions, till the Union itself was involved, and what + was first only a conflict between the police of the city and a few hundred + or thousands of ignorant, reckless men, grew at last into the most + gigantic and terrible civil war that ever cursed the earth. The Union was + rent asunder, and State arrayed against State, while the world looked on + aghast at the strange and bloody spectacle. The final result has been the + emancipation of the slaves, and their endowment with all the rights and + privileges of American citizens. But with this has come a frightful + national debt, the destruction of that feeling of common interest and + patriotism, which is the strongest security of a country; a contempt for + the Constitution, the concentration of power in the hands of Congress, + small regard for State rights, while the controlling power in the South + has passed into the hands of an ignorant, incapable, irresponsible class; + and, worse than all, the people have become accustomed to the strange + spectacle, so fraught with danger in a republic, of seeing the + legislatures and executives of sovereign States overawed and overborne by + the national troops. That frightful conflict for the slave has sown + dangerous seed; what the final harvest will be, the future historian alone + will be able to show. + </p> + <p> + The inconsistency of having a system of slavery incorporated into a + republican government was always felt by good men North and South, as well + as its damaging effect on the social and political well-being of the whole + community; and steps had been taken both in Virginia and Kentucky to do + away with it by legislative action. Whether these incipient steps would + ever have ended in relieving us of the evil, can only be conjectured. We + only know that a peaceable solution of the question was rendered + impossible, by the action of the Abolitionists, as they were called, who, + governed by the short logic, that slavery being wrong, it could not exist + a moment without sin, and therefore must be abandoned at once without + regard to consequences. The system of slavery was no longer a social or + political problem, calling for great wisdom, prudence, statesmanship, and + patience, but a personal crime, not to be tolerated for a moment. The + whole South was divided by them into two classes, the oppressor and + oppressed, the kidnapper and kidnapped, the tyrant and the slave—a + relationship which liberty, religion, justice, humanity, alike demanded + should be severed without a moment's delay. + </p> + <p> + These views, in the judgment of the press at the time, and of sound + statesmen, would eventually end in civil war, if adopted by the entire + North, and hence they denounced them. The Abolitionists were considered by + all as enemies to the Union, whom the lower classes felt should be put + down, if necessary, by violence. This feeling was increased by the action + of William Lloyd Garrison, the founder of the society, who went to + England, and joined with the antislavery men there in abusing this country + for its inconsistency and crime. These causes produced a state of public + feeling that would be very apt to exhibit itself on the first opportunity. + When, therefore, in the autumn of 1833, after Garrison's return from + England, a notice appeared for an antislavery meeting in Clinton Hall, + some of the most respectable men in New York determined to attend, and + crush out, by the weight of their influence, the dangerous movement. + Another class was resolved to effect the same project in another way, and + on the 2d of October the following placard was posted in naming letters + all over the city: + </p> + <h3> + NOTICE + </h3> + <p> + <i>To all persons from the South</i>. + </p> + <p> + All persons interested in the subject of the meeting called by J. Leavitt, + W. Goodell, W. Green, J. Rankin, Lewis Tappan, + </p> + <p> + At Clinton Hall, this evening, at 7 o'clock, are requested to attend at + the same hour and place. + </p> + <h3> + MANY SOUTHERNERS. + </h3> + <p> + New York, <i>October</i> 2d, 1833. + </p> + <p> + N.B. All citizens who may feel disposed to manifest the <i>true</i> + feeling of the State on this subject, are requested to attend. + </p> + <p> + Putting the appeal in the name of the Southerners, was an artful device to + call out the people. + </p> + <p> + At an early hour crowds began to assemble in front of Clinton Hall; but to + their surprise they found a notice nailed on the door, that no meeting + would be held. Many, seeing it, returned home; but still the crowd + continued to swell to thousands, who rent the air with shouts and threats + against Garrison. Determined not to be disappointed in a meeting of some + kind, they forced their way upstairs, till the room in which it was to be + held was crammed to suffocation. The meeting was then organized, and + waited till quarter past seven, when it was moved to adjourn to Tammany + Hall. There it was again organized, and a gentleman was about to address + the crowd, when a man stepped forward to the president, and stated that + the meeting announced to be held in Clinton Hall was at that moment under + full headway in Chatham Street Chapel. Instantly several voices shouted, + "Let us go there and rout them!" But the chairman said they had met to + pass certain resolutions, and they should attend to this business first, + and then every one could do as he liked. The resolutions were read, and + after some remarks had been made upon them, adopted, and the meeting + adjourned. A portion of those present, however, were not satisfied, but + resolved to go to the chapel and break up the meeting there. The little + handful assembled within, apprised of their approach, fled, so that when + the mob arrived, the building, though the doors were open and the lights + burning, was empty. It immediately took possession of the room, and giving + a negro who was foremost in the sport the name of one of the + Abolitionists, made him chairman. The most absurd resolutions were then + offered, and carried, when the chairman returned thanks for the honor done + him amid the most uproarious laughter, and what had threatened to be a + serious riot ended in a wild, lawless frolic. + </p> + <p> + This was the beginning of the Abolition riots in New York City, which + afterwards, to a greater or less extent, prevailed for years in different + parts of the Union. + </p> + <p> + Next summer the excitement, which during the winter had nothing to call it + forth, broke out afresh, ending in destruction of property and bloodshed, + and the calling out of the military. On the evening of the 7th of July, an + assembly of colored persons of both sexes occupied Chatham Street Chapel, + for the purpose of listening to a sermon from a negro preacher. The New + York Sacred Music Society had leased the building for certain evenings in + the week, of which it was asserted this was one. Justice Lowndes, of the + Police Court, was president, and Dr. Rockwell vice-president of the + society, and they repaired to the building during the evening, and finding + it occupied, at once claimed their right to it, and demanded that the + blacks should leave. But the latter, having hired and paid for it, refused + to do so, when a fight ensued, in which lamps and chairs were broken, + loaded canes used freely, and some persons seriously injured. The news of + the fight spread rapidly, and a dense crowd gathered around the door. But + the police soon arrived, and forcing their way in, drove white and black + out together, and locked up the church. + </p> + <p> + The riot, however, continued for some time in the street; but the blacks, + finding themselves outnumbered, fled, and peace was restored. + </p> + <p> + A portion of the crowd, having recognized Lewis Tappan, one of the leading + Abolitionists, followed him home with hoots and yells, and even hurled + stones at his house after he had entered it. + </p> + <p> + The next evening, at dusk, the crowd began again to assemble in front of + the chapel. But the lessee of it had closed and locked the gates. The + multitude determined, however, not to be disappointed of a meeting, and + forcing open the gates, obtained entrance. The meeting was then organized, + and Mr. William W. Wilder called to the chair. After making a speech, in + which he showed the evil effects of a sudden abolition of slavery, by + relating his experience in San Domingo, he moved an adjournment until the + next meeting of the Antislavery Society. The motion was carried, and the + assembly broke up. This was, however, altogether too quiet a termination + for a part of the crowd, and a shout was made for the Bowery Theatre. The + attacks on us by the English, for upholding slavery, and their sympathy + and aid for Garrison, and co-operation with him in agitating the question + of abolition in this country, had rekindled the old slumbering feeling of + hostility to that country; and Mr. Farren, the stage manager of the + Bowery, being an Englishman, it was transferred to him, especially as + reports had been circulated that he had spoken disrespectfully of the + Americans. + </p> + <p> + This night having been selected to give him a benefit, his enemies had + posted placards over the city, stating the fact of his hostility to this + country—whether with the intention of causing a thin house, or + breaking it up altogether, is not known. At all events, the mob resolved + on the latter course, and streaming up the Bowery in one wild, excited + mass, gathered with loud shouts in front of the theatre. The doors were + closed in their faces, but pressing against them with their immense + weight, they gave way, and like a dark, stormy wave, they surged up the + aisles toward the foot-lights. In the garish light, faces grew pale, and + turned eagerly toward the doors for a way of escape. But these were jammed + with the excited, yelling mob. The play was "Metamora," and was under full + headway, when this sudden inundation of the rioters took place. The actors + stopped, aghast at the introduction of this new, appalling scene. Messrs. + Hamlin and Forrest advanced to the front of the stage, and attempted to + address them; but apologies and entreaties were alike in vain. The + thundering shouts and yells that interrupted them were not those of + admiration, and spectators and actors were compelled to remain silent, + while this strange audience took complete possession of the house, and + inaugurated a play of their own. + </p> + <p> + But the police, having received information of what was going on, now + arrived, and forcing their way in, drove the rioters into the street, and + restored order. But the demon of lawless violence, that was now fully + raised, was not to be thus laid. Some one got hold of a bell, and began to + ring it violently. This increased the excitement, and suddenly the shout + arose, "to Arthur Tappan's." {Footnote: A silk merchant, and one of the + leading Abolitionists.} The cry was at once taken up by a thousand voices, + and the crowd started down the street. But instead of going to his house, + they went to that of his brother, Lewis, in Hose Street, a still more + obnoxious Abolitionist. Reaching it, they staved open the doors, and + smashed in the windows, and began to pitch the furniture into the street. + Chairs, sofas, tables, pictures, mirrors, and bedding, went out one after + another. But all at once a lull occurred in the work of destruction. In + pitching the pictures out, one came across a portrait of Washington. + Suddenly the cry arose, "It is Washington! For God's sake, <i>don't burn + Washington</i>!" In an instant the spirit of disorder was laid, and the + portrait was handed carefully from man to man, till at length the + populace, bearing it aloft, carried it with shouts to a neighboring house + for safety. It was one of those strange freaks or sudden changes that will + sometimes come over the wildest and most brutal men, like a gleam of + gentle light across a dark and stormy sea—the good in man for a + moment making its voice heard above the din and strife of evil passions. + </p> + <p> + This singular episode being terminated, they returned to their work of + destruction. But suddenly the cry of "Watchmen!" was heard, and the next + moment the police came charging down the street. The mob recoiled before + it, then broke and fled, and the former took possession of the street. But + the latter, coming across some piles of brick, filled their arms and hands + full, and rallying, returned. Charging the watchmen in turn with a + blinding shower of these, they drove them from the ground. They then + kindled a fire on the pavement, and as the flames flashed up in the + darkness and gained headway, they piled on bedding and furniture, till the + whole street was illuminated with the costly bonfire. This caused the + fire-bells to be rung, and soon the engines came thundering down the + street, before which the crowd gave way. The burning furniture was then + extinguished, and the house taken possession of. It was now two o'clock in + the morning, and the mob dispersed. + </p> + <p> + The next day nothing was talked about in the saloons, groggeries, and on + the corners of the by-streets, but the events of the night before; and as + evening came on, a crowd began to assemble in front of the battered, + dilapidated house of Lewis Tappan. Another attack was imminent, when the + police came up and dispersed them. They had not, however, abandoned the + purpose for which they had assembled. + </p> + <p> + The little band of Abolitionists, that the year before had been composed + mostly of comparatively obscure men, had now increased both in numbers and + men of influence. Persecution had produced its usual effects—advanced + the cause it designed to destroy. Among other well-known citizens who had + joined their ranks were the two brothers, Dr. Abraham Cox, M.D., and Dr. + Samuel Cox, the latter, pastor of Laight Street Church, and one of the + most popular preachers of the city. Though opposed by a large majority of + his congregation, he had become known as a bold, outspoken man against + slavery; and now the mob, bent on mischief, streamed across the city + toward his church. It was dark, and as they gathered in a black, dense + mass in front of it, suddenly, as if by a common impulse, a loud yell + broke forth, and the next moment a shower of stones and brick-bats fell on + the windows. Babel was now let loose, and, amid the crashing of + window-glass, arose every variety of sound and all kinds of calls, + interspersed with oaths and curses on "Abolitionists and niggers." + </p> + <p> + Shrieks of laughter and obscene epithets helped to swell the uproar. It + was evident they would not be satisfied until they left the church a ruin; + but at this critical moment, the Mayor, Justice Lowndes, the District + Attorney, and a posse of police officers and watchmen arrived on the + ground. Expecting trouble, they had arranged to be ready at a moment's + warning to hasten to any threatened point. Their unexpected presence + frightened the crowd, and fearing arrest, they slunk away in squads, and + the danger seemed over. But, evidently by previous arrangement, the broken + fragments, arriving by different streets, came together in front of Dr. + Cox's house, in Charlton Street. + </p> + <p> + The doctor, however, was not at home. He had received warnings and threats + from various quarters, and knowing, from the fate of Lewis Tappan's house, + what that of his own would be, he had, during the day, quietly removed his + furniture, and in the afternoon put his family on board of a steamboat, + and left the city. + </p> + <p> + The mob found the door barricaded, but they broke it open, and began to + smash the windows and blinds of the lower story. Before, however, they had + begun to sack the house, police-officers and watchmen, with two + detachments of horse, arrived and dislodged them. They did not, however, + disperse. A more dangerous and determined spirit was getting possession of + them than they had before evinced. Crowding back on each other, they + packed the street east, within four blocks of Broadway. Seizing some + carts, they made a hasty barricade of them across the streets, while a + neighboring fence supplied them with clubs. A large number were armed with + paving-stones, which they would smite loudly together, saying in deep + undertones, "<i>all together</i>." As they thus stood savagely at bay, a + collision seemed inevitable, and had they been attacked, would doubtless + have made a desperate fight. But being let alone they slowly dispersed. A + portion, however, though it was now late at night, could not retire + without venting a little more spite, and returning to the church, broke in + some more windows. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Cox came back to his house next morning, to see if it was safe. As he + left the mutilated building, a crowd of boys, who were looking at the + ruins, immediately gave chase to him with yells and derisive laughter, and + pressed him so closely, at the same time hurling dirty missiles at him, + that he was compelled to take shelter in the house of a parishioner. + </p> + <p> + The crowd around the house continued to increase all the morning, but a + hundred policemen arriving at one o'clock, no disturbance of the peace was + attempted. In the afternoon, Mayor Lawrence issued a proclamation, + denouncing the rioters, and calling on all good citizens to aid in + maintaining the peace, and assuring them that he had taken ample measures + to repress all attempts at violence. At the Arsenal, City Hall, and + Bazaar, large bodies of troops were assembled, ready to march at a + moment's notice; and it was evident that the coming night was to witness a + trial of strength between the rioters and the city authorities. + </p> + <p> + As soon as it was fairly dark, large crowds gathered in front of Arthur + Tappan's store, and began to stone the building. Some fifteen or twenty + watchmen were stationed here, and endeavored to arrest the ringleaders, + when the mob turned on them, and handled them so roughly that they were + compelled to take refuge in flight. Alderman Lalagh was severely wounded; + but he refused to leave, and standing fiercely at bay, denounced and + threatened the maddened wretches, who in turn swore they would take his + life. He told them to force open the doors if they dare; that the inside + was full of armed men, who were ready to blow their brains out the moment + the door gave way. This frightened them, and they had to content + themselves with stoning the windows, and cursing the Abolitionist who + owned the building. In the meantime, Justice Lowndes came up with a strong + police force, when they fled. + </p> + <p> + While this was going on here, similar scenes were passing in other parts + of the city. At dark, some three or four hundred gathered around Dr. Cox's + church, in Laight Street, discussing the conduct of the Abolitionists, but + making no outward demonstrations calling for the interference of the + police, until nine o'clock, when a reinforcement came yelling down Varick + Street, armed with stones and brick-bats. These charged, without halting, + so furiously on the police-officers, and the few watchmen stationed there, + that, bruised and bleeding, they were compelled to flee for their lives. + The next moment stones rattled like hail against the church, and, in a few + minutes, the remaining windows were smashed in. The police rallied when + they reached Beach Street, and hurried off a messenger to the City Hall + for the military. In the meantime, loud shouts were heard in the direction + of Spring Street, and with answering shouts the mob left the church, and + rushed yelling like Indians to the spot. A vast crowd was in front of a + church there, under the care of Rev. Mr. Ludlow, another Abolitionist, and + had already commenced the work of destruction. They had torn down the + fence surrounding it, and were demolishing the windows. Through them they + made an entrance, and tore down the pulpit, ripped up the seats, and made + a wreck of everything destructible without the aid of fire. The + session-room shared the same fate, and the splintered wreck of both was + carried in their arms, and on their shoulders, out of doors, and piled + into barricades in the street on both sides of the building, to stop the + anticipated charge of cavalry. Carts, hauled furiously along by the mob, + were drawn up behind this, and chained together, making a formidable + obstruction. They then rung the bell furiously, in order to bring out the + firemen. The watch-house bell in Prince Street gave a few answering + strokes, but information being received of what was going on, it ceased, + and the firemen did not come out. It was now near eleven o'clock, when, + all at once, an unearthly yell arose from the immense throng. Word had + passed through it that the military was approaching. Pandemonium seemed + suddenly to have broken loose, and shouts, and yells, and oaths arose from + five thousand throats, as the men sprung behind their barricades. It was a + moonless night, but the stars were shining brightly, and, in their light, + the sheen of nearly a thousand bayonets made the street look like a lane + of steel. The Twenty-seventh Regiment of National Guards, led by Colonel + Stevens, had been sent from the City Hall, and their regular heavy tramp + sounded ominously, as they came steadily on. The church-bell was set + ringing furiously by the mob and there was every appearance of a + determined resistance. As Colonel Stevens approached the first barricade, + he halted his regiment, and ordered his pioneer guard to advance. They + promptly obeyed, armed with their axes. A shower of stones met them, while + clubs were waved frantically in the air, accompanied with oaths and + threats. They, however, moved firmly up to the barricade, and the shining + steel of their axes, as they swung them in the air, was as terrific as the + gleam of the bayonets, and the crowd retired precipitately behind the + second barricade. The first was now speedily torn down, and the head of + the column advanced. The second was a more formidable affair, in fact, a + regular bastion, behind which were packed in one dense mass an immense + body of desperate men, reaching down the street, till lost in the + darkness. It seemed now that nothing but deadly volleys would answer. One + of the city officers advised Colonel Stevens to retreat, but, instead of + obeying, he ordered the pioneer guard to advance, and sustained it by a + detachment of troops. Amid the raining missiles they moved forward, when + the crowd fell back, some fleeing up the side streets. The guard then + mounted the barricade, and in a short time it was scattered in every + direction; and when the order "Forward" was given, the column marched + straight on the mob. At this moment, Justice Lowndes, at the head of a + band of watchmen, arrived on the ground, when the two forces moved forward + together, clearing the street of the rioters. While the fight was going + on, some of the gang remained inside the church, and kept the bell ringing + violently, until Colonel Stevens ordered one of his officers to cut the + rope. + </p> + <p> + A portion of the mob now hurried to Thompson Street, where Mr. Ludlow + resided. The family had retired for the night, but their repose was + suddenly broken by loud yells and the sound of stones dashing in their + windows. Jumping up in wild alarm, they saw the doors broken in, through + which streamed the shouting, yelling crowd. + </p> + <p> + Either from fear of the military, which they knew would soon be upon them, + or some other cause, they decamped almost as suddenly as they came, and + relieved the terror-stricken household of their presence. + </p> + <p> + About this time, another immense mob had collected at Five Points. The + rioters here seemed to be well organized, and to act in concert. Runners + were kept passing between the different bodies, keeping each informed of + the actions of the other, and giving notice of the approach of the police. + </p> + <p> + The destruction at Five Points was on a more extensive scale, and the + gatherings in this, then dangerous section of the city—the home of + desperadoes and depraved beings of every kind—were of such a + character, that for a time the city authorities seemed to be over-awed. + The rioters had it all their own way for several hours, and the midnight + heavens became lurid with burning dwellings. It somehow got round that + they had resolved to attack every house not illuminated with candles, and + these dirty streets soon became brilliant with the lighted windows. Five + houses of ill-fame were gutted, and almost entirely demolished. St. + Philip's Church, in Centre Street, occupied by a colored congregation, was + broken into, and for two hours the mob continued the work of destruction + unmolested. They left it a complete ruin. A house adjoining, and three + houses opposite, shared the same fate. The mob was everywhere; and + although the police made some arrests and had some fights, they were too + weak to effect much. About one o'clock a shout arose, "away to Anthony + Street!" and thither the yelling wretches repaired. + </p> + <p> + The Mayor was at the City Hall all night, doing what he could; but the mob + had arranged their plans to act in concert, appearing in separate bodies + in different sections of the city at the same time, so that he hardly + knew, with the force at his disposal, where to strike. The next morning he + issued another proclamation, calling on the citizens to report to him and + be organized into companies to aid the police. He called also on all the + volunteer military companies of the city to rally to the support of the + laws. They did so, and that (Saturday) night they, with most of the fire + companies, who had offered their services, were stationed in strong bodies + all over the city; and the rioters saw that their rule was ended. Beside, + many of the most notorious ringleaders had been arrested and put in + prison. A short fight occurred in Catharine Street between the police and + mob, in which both had some of their men badly hurt; and an attempt was + made to get up a riot in Reade Street, but it was promptly put down. The + city was rife with rumors of bloody things which the mob had threatened to + do; but, with the exception of the military in the streets, the city on + Sunday presented its usual appearance. The lawless spirit was crushed out, + and a hundred and fifty of the desperadoes who had been instrumental in + rousing it were locked up to await their trial. + </p> + <p> + In June of the summer of 1835 occurred the Five Points riot, which grew + out of the feeling between Americans and foreigners. It threatened for a + time to be a very serious matter, but was finally quelled by the police + without the aid of the military. Dr. W. M. Caffrey was accidentally killed + by one of the mob, and Justice Lowndes was dangerously wounded. + </p> + <p> + In connection with the series of riots of 1834 and 1835, might be + mentioned the Stonecutters' riot, though it was promptly suppressed. + </p> + <h3> + STONECUTTERS' RIOT. + </h3> + <p> + The contractors for the building of the New York University found that + they could purchase dressed stone at Sing Sing, the work of the prisoners + there, much cheaper than in New York, and so concluded to use it. This, + the stonecutters of the city said, was taking the bread out of their + mouths, and if allowed to go on would destroy their business. They held + excited meetings on the subject, and finally got up a procession and + paraded the streets with placards asserting their rights and denouncing + the contractors. They even attacked the houses of some of the citizens, + and assumed such a threatening attitude, that the Twenty-seventh Regiment, + Colonel Stevens, was called out. Their steady, determined march on the + rioters dispersed them and restored quiet. Apprehensions were felt, + however, that they would reassemble in the night and vent their rage on + the University building, and so a part of the regiment encamped in + Washington Square in full view of it. They remained here four days and + nights, until the excitement subsided, and the work could go on + unmolested. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. — FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. + </h2> + <p> + Starvation will always create a Riot.—Foreign Population easily + aroused against the Rich.—Severe Winter of 1836.—Scarcity of + Flour.—Meeting of Citizens called without Result.—Meeting + called in the Park.—Speeches.—Sacking of Hart & Co.'s + Flour Store, in Washington Street.—Strange Spectacle.—National + Guards called out.—Disperse the Mob.—Attack on Herrick's Flour + Store.—Folly of the Riot. + </p> + <p> + Hunger will drive any people mad, and once let there be real suffering for + want of food among the lower classes, while grain is piled up in the + storehouses of the rich, and riots will surely follow. In the French + Revolution of 1789, there was a great scarcity of provisions, which caused + frightful outbreaks. It will never do to treat with scorn the cry of + millions for bread. When, amid the general suffering in Paris, one said to + Foulon, the minister of state, the people are starving for bread, he + replied, "Let them eat hay." The next day he was hung to a lamp-post. The + tumultuous multitude marching on Versailles, shouting wildly for "bread," + was a fearful spectacle. One can hardly blame starving men from seizing + food by violence, if it can be got in no other way; and if ever a mob + could be justifiable, it would be when they see their families suffering + and perishing around them, in the very sight of well-stored granaries. + </p> + <p> + In the old despotisms of Europe, the poor and oppressed attribute all + their want and suffering to the rich and powerful, so that they are not + held back from redressing their wrongs by ignorance of their source, but + fear of the strong hand of their rulers. + </p> + <p> + These men, embittered not only by their own sufferings, but by the + traditions of the past, when they come to this country are easily roused + to commit acts of violence by anything that reminds them of their old + oppressions. They have tasted the wormwood and the gall, and refuse to + have it pressed to their lips in a country where liberty is the birthright + of all. This is what has made, and still makes, the foreign population + among us so dangerous. The vast proportion of them are from this very + class. Ignorant of everything but their wrongs, they rise in angry + rebellion at any attempt, or fancied attempt, to renew them here. + Unfortunately there are Americans among us, who, knowing this, work upon + this sensitive, suspicious feeling, to accomplish their own ends. The + politician does it to secure votes; but the worst class is composed of + those who edit papers that circulate only among the scum of society, and + embittered by the sight of luxuries beyond their reach, are always ready + to denounce the rich and excite the lower classes against what they call + the oppression of the aristocracy. + </p> + <p> + It is doubtful whether the frightful riot of 1863 would ever have taken + place, but for this tone assumed by many of the city papers. So of this + flour riot, it probably would never have happened, but for demagogues, who + lashed the ignorant foreign population into fury against their rich + oppressors. Starvation, which as we said may be a justification of + violence, did not exist—it was only the high price of provisions, + growing out of scarcity, that caused it, but which scarcity, they were + told, was created solely by the cupidity of the rich. + </p> + <p> + The year in which the great fire occurred, was a disastrous one to the + crops of the country. The mighty West, that great granary of the nation, + was not then open as now, and the main supply of grain came from east of + the Alleghanies. Hence the cause which would create a short crop in one + section, would be apt to prevail more or less over all the grain region. + We imported wheat at this time very largely; not only from England, but + from the Black Sea. + </p> + <p> + In September, flour was about seven dollars a barrel, but this, as the + winter came on, went up to twelve dollars—a great rise at that time. + </p> + <p> + From Virginia, a great wheat State, came disastrous tidings; not only was + the crop short and the price of flour high, but it was said that the + latter would probably go up to fifteen or twenty dollars a barrel. In + Troy, a great depot for State flour, it was stated that there were only + four thousand barrels against thirty thousand at the same time the + previous year. As February came on, a report circulated in the city that + there were only three or four weeks' supply on hand. This was repeated in + the penny papers, with the information added, that in certain stores were + hoarded vast amounts of grain and flour, kept out of the market to compel + a still greater advance in the price. This was very probably true, as it + is a rule with merchants, when they have a large stock of anything on + hand, of which there threatens to be a scarcity, to hold on in order to + make the scarcity greater—thus forcing higher prices. This will + always prove a dangerous experiment in this country in the article of + flour. It is the prime necessary of life, and the right to make it scarce + for the sake of gain, and at the expense of human suffering, will always + be questioned by the poorer classes. + </p> + <p> + Although the stock of grain on hand at this time was small, there was no + danger of starvation, nor was it to the instinct of self-preservation that + demagogues appealed. They talked of the rich oppressing the poor by their + extortions—of monopolists, caring only to increase their gains + without regard to the distress they occasioned. + </p> + <p> + There was, doubtless, much suffering among the poorer classes, not only on + account of the high price of flour, but also of all the necessary articles + of living. Meat advanced materially, while from some strange fatality, + coal went up to ten dollars a ton. There seemed no reason for this, as the + amount sent to market was said to be largely in excess of the previous + year. In Canada, coal was so scarce, that the line of steamers between + Montreal and Quebec was suspended before winter set in. + </p> + <p> + This state of things excited the attention of the people generally, and in + the fore-part of this month, a public meeting was called at the Tabernacle + to consider what could be done. It amounted to nothing. Some speeches were + made, resolutions offered, but nothing practical was proposed. The + temperance people attempted to make a little capital out of it, by + asserting that the high price of grain was owing to the amount used by the + distilleries—rye being sold as high as one dollar and seventy cents + per bushel. + </p> + <p> + But a different class of people were now discussing the subject, and in a + different spirit. Their attention was directed to <i>men</i>, not <i>theories</i>—the + individual oppressors, not the general causes. + </p> + <p> + Chief among those against whom the popular feeling was now directed, was + Hart & Co., large commission merchants in Washington Street, between + Dey and Cortlandt Streets. Their store was packed with flour and wheat, + and every day men passed it with sinister looks. Sometimes a little knot + of men would stop opposite it, and talk of the loads of grain stored up + there, while their own families were pinched for bread. They would gaze + savagely on its heavy iron doors, that seemed to defy the weak and + helpless, and then walk on, muttering threats and curses. These signs of a + gathering storm were, however, unheeded by the proprietors. Others, better + informed, were not so tranquil; and by anonymous letters tried to arouse + Mr. Hart to take precautionary measures. An anonymous letter addressed to + Mr. W. Lenox was picked up in the Park, in which the writer stated that a + conspiracy was formed for breaking open and plundering Mr. Hart's store, + and gave the following plan of action. On some dark night, two alarms of + fire were to be given, one near the Battery, and the other up town, in + order to draw off the watchmen and police, when a large crowd already + assembled in the neighborhood would make a sudden rush for the building, + and sack it before help could arrive. This letter was handed to the High + Constable Hays, who showed it to Hart & Co., but they seemed to regard + it as an attempt to frighten them. This was followed by anonymous letters + from other parties, that reached the Mayor, insisting on it that danger + was hanging over this house. He sent them to Hart & Co., but they, + thinking it was only a trick to put down the price of flour, paid no + attention to them. They locked their three massive iron doors at night as + usual, and went to their homes without fear, and the underground swell + kept on increasing in volume. + </p> + <p> + The first plan of operation, if it ever existed, was either abandoned by + the mob or deferred till after other measures were tried. + </p> + <p> + At length, on the afternoon of the 10th of February, the following placard + was posted up all over the city: + </p> + <h3> + BREAD, MEAT, RENT, FUEL! + </h3> + <p> + <i>The voice of the people shall be heard and will prevail.</i> + </p> + <p> + The people will meet in the PARK, <i>rain or shine</i>, at four o'clock on + </p> + <h3> + MONDAY AFTERNOON, + </h3> + <p> + to inquire into the cause of the present unexampled distress, and to + devise a suitable remedy. All friends of humanity, determined to resist + monopolists and extortioners, are invited to attend. + </p> + <p> + Moses Jacques. Daniel Graham. Paulus Hedle. John Windt. Daniel A. + Robertson. Alexander Ming, Jr. Warden Hayward. Elijah F. Crane. + </p> + <p> + NEW YORK, <i>Feb</i>. 10<i>th</i>, 1837. + </p> + <p> + The idle crowd had all day Sunday to talk over this call. Everywhere knots + of men were seen gathered before these placards—some spelling out + slowly, and with great difficulty, the words for themselves—others + reading the call to those unable to read it. The groggeries were filled + with excited men, talking over the meeting, and interspersing their oaths + with copious draughts of liquor, and threatening openly to teach these + rich oppressors a lesson they would not soon forget. + </p> + <p> + There was something ominous in the hour selected for the meeting; four + o'clock in February meant night, before it would get under full headway. + It was evident that the leaders did not mean the meeting to be one of mere + speech-making. They knew that under cover of darkness, men could be + incited to do what in broad daylight they would be afraid to undertake. + </p> + <p> + Before the time appointed, a crowd began to assemble, the character of + which boded no good. Dirty, ragged, and rough-looking, as they flowed from + different quarters together into the inclosure, those who composed it were + evidently a mob already made to hand. + </p> + <p> + At length, four or five thousand shivering wretches were gathered in front + of the City Hall. Moses Jacques, a man who would make a good French + Communist to-day, was chosen chairman. But this motley multitude had no + idea or respect for order, or regular proceedings, and they broke up into + different groups, each pushing forward its favorite orator. + </p> + <p> + One of the strangest freaks of this meeting, was an address to a + collection of Democrats by Alexander Ming, Jr. He forgot all about the + object of the meeting, and being a strong Bentonian, launched out into the + currency question, attributing all the evils of the Republic, past, + present, and to come, to the issue of bank-notes; and advising his hearers + to refuse to take the trash altogether, and receive nothing but specie. + This was the more comical, as not one out of ten of the poor wretches he + addressed had the chance to refuse either. Half starving, they would have + been glad to receive anything in the shape of money that would help them + through the hard winter. Yet when Mr. Ming offered a resolution, proposing + a memorial to the Legislature, requiring a law to be passed, forbidding + any bank to issue a note under the denomination of a hundred dollars, the + deluded people, who had been listening with gaping mouths, rent the air + with acclamations. It was a curious exhibition of the wisdom of the + sovereign people—this verdict of a ragged mob on the currency + question. They were so delighted with this lucid exposition of the cause + of the scarcity of flour, that they seized the orator bodily, and + elevating him on their shoulders, bore him across the street to Tammany + Hall, where something beside specie was received from behind the bar to + reward their devotion. + </p> + <p> + There was, however, some excuse for him. He had been several times + candidate for city register, and hence was more anxious to secure votes + than flour—be a popular demagogue rather than a public benefactor. + </p> + <p> + But there were other speakers who kept more directly to the point. They + launched at once into a bitter tirade against landlords for their high + rents, and against monopolists for holding on to flour at the expense of + the poor and suffering. Knowing the character of the audience before them, + and their bitter hatred of the rich that had grown with their growth, and + strengthened with their strength in the old country, it was not difficult + to lash them into a tempest of passion. They depicted the aristocrats + around them rolling in wealth, wrung from their necessities—laughing + at their sufferings while rioting in luxury—nay, hoarding up the + very bread without which they must starve, in order to realize a few + dollars more on a barrel of flour. Loud oaths and deep muttered curses + followed these appeals, and the excited multitude became agitated with + passion. One of the speakers closed his bitter harangue with + "Fellow-citizens, Mr. Eli Hart has now 53,000 barrels of flour in his + store; let us go and offer him eight dollars a barrel for it, and if he + will not take it—" It was not difficult to know how he meant to + close the sentence; but just then, a friend shrewder than he, seeing the + legal consequences to themselves of an open proposition to resort to + violence, touched him on the shoulder, when in a lower tone of voice he + concluded: "<i>we shall depart in peace</i>." In the excitement of the + moment, he had evidently forgotten the guarded language he intended to + use, and was about to utter that which would have consigned him to a + prisoner's cell, but checked himself in time. He was willing others should + suffer the consequence of violating the law, to which his appeals urged + them; but his love for the poor did not prompt him to share their fate. + </p> + <p> + It was bitterly cold, and it was a wonder that the crowd had listened + patiently so long. The proposition to go to Hart's store with a demand for + flour, was instantly seized, and those around the speaker started off with + a shout, and streaming down Broadway, poured in one dark living stream + along Cortlandt Street into Washington Street. The clerks in the store + heard the turmoil, and suspecting the object of the rioters, rushed to the + doors and windows, and began to close and bolt them. There were three + large iron doors opening on the sidewalk, and they had succeeded in + bolting and barring all but one, when the mob arrived. Forcing their way + through this middle door, the latter seized the barrels, and began to roll + them out into the street. Mr. Hart, who, either from curiosity to hear + what the meeting would propose to do, or from his suspicions being aroused + from what he had previously heard, was on the spot, and as soon as he saw + the crowd stream out of the Park, down Broadway, he hurried to the police, + and obtaining a posse of officers, made all haste for his store. But as + they were going down Dey Street, the mob, which blocked the farther end, + rushed on them with such fury, that before they had time to defend + themselves, their clubs, or staves as they were then called, were wrenched + from their hands and broken into fragments. The crowd was not yet very + great, and the disarmed officers forced their way into Washington Street + and into the store. Their presence frightened the few inside, and they + hastily decamped. The Mayor, who was in his room at the City Hall, had + been speedily notified of the riot, and hurried to the spot. The crowd + remaining in the Park had also been informed of what was going on, and + dashing madly down Broadway, and through Cortlandt Street, joined with + loud shouts their companions in front of the store. The Mayor mounted a + flight of steps, and began to harangue the mob, urging them to desist, and + warning them of the consequences of their unlawful action. He had not + proceeded far, however, before brick-bats, and sticks, and pieces of ice + came raining around him in such a dangerous shower, that he had to give it + up, and make his way to a place of safety. The street was now black with + the momentarily increasing throng, and emboldened by their numbers, they + made a rush at the entrance of the store. Driving the police-officers + before them, they wrenched by main force one of the heavy iron doors from + its hinges. A half a score of men at once seized it, and using it as a + battering-ram, hurled it with such force against the others, that after a + few thundering blows, they one after another gave way, and the crowd + poured in. The clerks fled, and the rioters went to work without + hindrance. Mounting to the upper lofts, they first broke in all the doors + and windows, and then began to roll and heave out the flour. The barrels + on the ground-floor were rolled, swift as one could follow another, into + the street, when they were at once seized by those waiting without, and + their heads knocked in, and their contents strewn over the pavement. On + the upper lofts, they were rolled to the broken windows, and lifted on to + the sill, and tumbled below. Warned by their descent, the crowd backed to + the farther side of the street. Part would be staved in by their fall; + those that were not, were seized as they rolled off the sidewalk, and the + heads knocked out. One fellow, as he stood by the window-sill and pitched + the barrels below, shouted as each one went with a crash to the flagging: + "<i>Here goes flour at eight dollars a barrel!</i>" + </p> + <p> + The scene which now presented itself was a most strange, extraordinary + one. The night was clear and cold, and the wintry moon was sailing + tranquilly through the blue and starlit heavens, flooding here and there + the sea of upturned faces with its mellow light, or casting the deep + shadow of intervening houses over the black mass, while the street looked + as if a sudden snow-storm had carpeted it with white. The men in the + windows and those below were white with flour that had sifted over their + garments; while, to give a still wilder aspect to the scene, women, some + bareheaded, some in rags, were roaming around like camp-followers after + plunder. Here a group had seized empty boxes; there others pressed forward + with baskets on their arms; and others still, empty-handed, pushed along, + with their aprons gathered up like a sack. These all knelt amid the flour, + and scooped it up with an eagerness that contrasted strangely with the + equal eagerness of those who were scattering it like sand over the street. + The heavy thud of the barrels as they struck almost momentarily on the + sidewalk, could be distinctly heard above the shouts of the men. Some of + the mob found their way into Mr. Hart's counting-room, and tore up his + papers and scattered them over the floor. It was evident they were bent on + utter destruction; but when about five hundred barrels of flour had been + destroyed, together with a thousand bushels of wheat in sacks, a heavy + force of police came marching along the street. These were soon after + followed by detachments of the National Guards from Colonel Smith's and + Hele's regiments. The flashing of the moonbeams on the burnished barrels + and bayonets of their muskets, struck terror into the hearts of the + rioters. The cry of "The soldiers are coming!" flew from lip to lip, + causing a sudden cessation of the work of destruction, and each one + thought only of self-preservation. Many, however, were arrested, and sent + off to Bridewell under the charge of Officer Bowyer, with a squad of + police. The latter were assailed, however, on the way, by a portion of the + mob that pursued them, and a fierce fight followed. In the struggle, + Bowyer and his assistants had their clothes torn from their backs, and + some of the prisoners were rescued. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the military paraded the street, clearing it of the mob, + and preventing their return. In front of the store, and far beyond it, the + flour lay half-knee deep—a sad spectacle, in view of the daily + increasing scarcity of grain. + </p> + <p> + Just before the military and police reached the ground, some one in the + crowd shouted "Meeches." This was another flour store at Coenties Slip, on + the other side of the city, nearly opposite. A portion of the mob on the + outside, that could not get to the store, and aid in the work of + destruction, at once hurried away to this new field of operations. On the + way over, they passed Herrick & Co.'s flour store, and stopped to + demolish it. They were loaded down with brick-bats, which they hurled at + the windows, smashing them in. The doors followed, and the crowd, rushing + through, began to roll out the barrels of flour. But when some twenty or + thirty were tumbled into the street, and about half of them staved in, + they, for some cause or other, stopped. Some said that they ceased because + the owner promised, if they did, he would give it all away to the poor the + next day. At all events, they would soon have been compelled to abandon + the work of destruction, for the police hastened to the spot, accompanied + by a large body of citizens, who had volunteered their help. Some were + arrested, but most of the ringleaders escaped. + </p> + <p> + How many of those who attended the meeting in the Park anticipated a mob + and its action, it is impossible to say; but that a great number of them + did, there can be no doubt. + </p> + <p> + By nine o'clock the riot was over, and those who had engaged in it were + either arrested or dispersed. + </p> + <p> + The next day, Mr. Hart issued a card, denying that the exorbitant price of + flour was owing to his having purchased a large quantity for the sake of + monopolizing it, but to its scarcity alone. + </p> + <p> + It was certainly a very original way to bring down the price, by + attempting to destroy all there was in the city. Complaining of suffering + from the want of provisions, they attempted to relieve themselves by + putting its possession out of their power altogether. With little to eat, + they attempted to make it impossible to eat at all. A better illustration + of the insensate character of a mob could not be given. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. — ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + </h2> + <p> + Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.—Macready's Arrival in this + Country.—The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera + House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side by + Side.—Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.—Anxiety of the + Managers.—Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the Curtain.—Stamping + of the People.—Scene on raising the Curtain.—Stormy Reception + of Macready.—Howled down.—Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by + the Outrageous Language of the Mob.—Macready not allowed to go on.—His + foolish Anger.—Flees for his Life.—His Appearance the Second + Night.—Preparations to put down the Mob.—Exciting Scene in the + Theatre.—Terrific Scenes without.—Military arrive.—Attacked + by the Mob.—Patience of the Troops.—Effort to avoid Firing.—The + Order to Fire.—Terrific Scene.—Strange Conduct of Forrest.—Unpublished + Anecdote of General Scott. + </p> + <p> + Probably there never was a great and bloody riot, moving a mighty city to + its profoundest depths, that originated in so absurd, insignificant a + cause as the Astor-place riot. A personal quarrel between two men growing + out of professional jealousy, neither of whom had any hold on the + affections of the people, were able to create a tumult, that ended only by + strewing the street with the dead and wounded. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Forrest, it is true, had a certain professional popularity, but + nothing to awaken a personal enthusiasm for him. Viewing the matter in + this light, some have thought, there was a mysterious underground + influence at work, that has never yet been discovered. But one needs not + to go far to find the causes that produced it. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, ever since our revolt from England, especially since + the second war with her, in which the contest for the supremacy of the + seas was decided, the spirit of rivalry between the two countries has been + intense and often bitter. No matter what the contest was, whether between + two boats, or two bullies in the ring, it at once assumed the magnitude of + a national one, and no matter how conducted, the winner was always charged + with unfairness. It so happened that Forrest and Macready were the two + popular tragic actors on either side of the Atlantic. If they had stayed + at home, nothing would have been thought of it, but each invaded the + domain of the other, and laid claim to his laurels. Of course criticism + followed, national prejudices were aroused, and national peculiarities + ridiculed. The press took sides, and fanned the excitement. Among other + things, it was currently reported that when Forrest was in London, + Macready went to see him act, and publicly hissed him. This was generally + believed, and of course it alone would insure the latter an unwelcome + reception from Forrest's admirers here, should he ever appear on our + stage. + </p> + <p> + Apparently unconscious of this hostility toward him, Macready came over in + the spring of 1849, and at once made an engagement at the Astor-place + Opera House, corner of Eighth Street and Lafayette Place. He was to appear + as Macbeth; and the play was announced sometime beforehand. Forrest at the + same time had an engagement at the Broadway Theatre. On the 7th of May, + the following two significant placards appeared side by side in all the + streets. + </p> + <h3> + ASTOR PLACE OPERA HOUSE. + </h3> + <p> + <i>This evening will be performed</i> + </p> + <h3> + MACBETH. + </h3> + <p> + MACBETH ... Macready. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Pope. + </p> + <h3> + BROADWAY THEATRE. + </h3> + <p> + <i>This evening will be performed</i> + </p> + <h3> + MACBETH. + </h3> + <p> + MACBETH ... Mr. Forrest. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Wallack. + </p> + <p> + This public exhibition of rivalry stimulated the hostility of those + opposed to Macready, and there were some fears of disturbance; but nothing + serious was anticipated—in fact, it was rather a good advertisement, + and promised full houses. Niblo, one of the managers of the Opera House, + unwisely gave out tickets for more people than the building would hold, + and when, before evening, he found they were taken, he was alarmed. It + looked as if they had been so eagerly bought up for other purposes than + merely to hear Macready. He therefore went to the Chief of Police, and + requested the presence of a force in case any disturbance should be + attempted. It was promised, but as it turned out, most of it came too late + to be of any service. + </p> + <p> + A tremendous crowd assembled in front of the building long before dark, + and the moment the doors were open, a rush was made, and the human tide + poured in, and flowing swiftly over the house, soon filled every part of + it, except the boxes. These filled up more slowly; but long before the + curtain rose, the house was packed to repletion, while the amphitheatre + and parquette were crowded with hard-looking men—a dense mass of + bone and muscle. The fashionable portion of the audience in the boxes + began to feel anxious, for not only were all the seats occupied, but all + the aisles and every foot of standing room. Some were in their + shirt-sleeves, others were ragged and dirty, while all had their hats on. + Such an audience had never before been seen in the Opera House, and it + boded no good. Still, this heterogeneous mass was orderly, but it was + noticed that at short intervals telegraphic signals were made by those + nearest the stage to those in the wings of the amphitheatre, and answered, + indicating a thoroughly arranged plan. The time before the play was to + commence passed slowly, but the hard-looking crowd seemed very patient. + Occasionally, to vary the monotony, some joke would be passed around, and + once a man who was above called out to those below, imitating the English + pronunciation: "I say, Jim, come 'hup 'ere! 'ere's some of Macready's + hangels—'haint they sweet 'uns?" If a lorgnette was levelled from + one of the boxes, those noticing it below would put their thumbs to their + noses and gyrate with their fingers in return. On the whole, however, the + strange-looking crowd were orderly, although the quiet had an ominous + look. + </p> + <p> + But at half-past seven, the hour for the play to commence, that regular + stamping, common to most theatres, began. But in this case, it did not + continue for a little while and then die away, but beginning in a low + rumble, every moment gathered strength and grew louder, till it rolled + like thunder through the building, shaking the very walls, and making the + glasses in the great central chandelier jingle, as though knocked together + by invisible hands. As the mighty sound echoed through the recesses and + dressing-rooms behind the scenes, Niblo became agitated, and stepping + forward on the stage, peered behind the edge of the curtain, and surveyed + the strange scene. Turning to Mr. Bowyer, of the chief's bureau, who was + by his side, he said: "This looks rather dubious, Mr. Bowyer." "Yes," he + replied, "the 'Boy's' are here certainly. What made you sell so many + tickets? People are making a tremendous rush at the doors yet, and the + house is full; over full already." Niblo then turned to his partner, and + said: "What do you think, Mr. Hackett. Is there going to be a + disturbance?" "I don't know," he replied; "you must ask Mr. Bowyer." + </p> + <p> + The latter, putting his eye to the crack, took a careful survey of the + audience, and remarked: "There is mischief in the parquette and + amphitheatre, but probably no actual violence will be attempted; the + 'boys' will make a noise, and endeavor to prevent the play from + proceeding, but possibly they will do nothing further; they seem to be + patient and good-natured, but Mr. Macready may expect a rough reception." + </p> + <p> + Macready, who had been dressing, now approached and also took a peep from + behind the curtain. His gaze was long and searching. The scrutiny did not + satisfy him, and he turned away and began to pace backward and forward in + one of the wings, moody and thoughtful. The stamping had ceased while the + orchestra was playing, but it now commenced again, apparently louder than + ever. Lady Macbeth in full dress now came on the stage, pale and agitated. + She also took a peep from behind the curtain. The spectacle frightened + her, and turning to Mr. Hackett, she whispered, rather than exclaimed, "My + God! Mr. Hackett, what is the matter? Are we to be murdered to-night?" "My + dear Madam," he replied, "keep calm, there is no cause for alarm; + everything will go on smoothly;" but his pale face and anxious look belied + his words. It seemed now as if the house would come down under the + continuous, furious stamping. Hackett turned to Bowyer, and asked if the + chief had come. The latter replied he did not know; and another silence + followed in the group behind the curtain, while they stood and listened to + the thundering tramp, tramp, that rose like muffled thunder. At length + Hackett asked: "How many policemen are there in the house?" "I don't + know," replied Bowyer. "But the chief should have known," retorted the + former. "What do you want the police to do, Mr. Niblo?" quietly asked + Bowyer. The latter hesitated a moment, when the attaches of the theatre + came crowding forward in alarm, and asking by their scared looks what it + all meant. + </p> + <p> + Macready and Mrs. Pope, in full costume, were at this time standing apart, + talking together, evidently discussing the best course to be pursued. The + uproar seemed to grow louder, and prudence dictated a suspension of the + play; but Macready, after a moment's hesitation, determined to risk it, + and suddenly gave the signal to raise the curtain. The bell tinkled, and + the curtain slowly rose, revealing the gorgeous scene and the actors + standing in a blaze of light. Instantly the tumult ceased, and a deep + sudden hush succeeded. Those roughs were evidently taken aback by the + dazzling splendor that burst upon them. It was a new revelation to them, + and for the moment they seemed to forget the object of their coming, and + to be wholly absorbed in the vision before them. + </p> + <p> + The first scene passed off quietly, and the fears of a disturbance were + allayed. In the second, taking Duncan for Macbeth, the crowd began to + hiss, but soon finding their mistake ceased. It was evident that some one + better posted than the mass had control of this wild element, so eager to + be let loose. At length Macbeth came on, and was received with deafening + cheers by those in the boxes. As these died away, a hiss ran through the + amphitheatre and parquette, followed by cat-calls, cock-crowing, and + sounds of every imaginable description. Macready had hardly uttered a + single sentence, before his voice was totally drowned in the uproar. + Forced to stop; he quietly folded his arms and faced the storm, expecting + it would soon blow over. Finding himself mistaken—that if anything + it grew louder and fiercer, his disdain turned into foolish anger, and + advancing to the footlights, and throwing all the contempt and scorn into + his face that he was master of, he deliberately walked the entire breadth + of the stage, gazing haughtily as he did so, into the faces of the roughs + nearest him, who were bawling their throats hoarse. This did not mend + matters any, as he easily could have foreseen, had he known this type of + American character better. He then attempted to go on and outbellow, if + possible, the audience. But it was like shouting amid the roar of + breakers. Nobody heard a word he said, still he stuck to it till he got + through that portion of the act. It was now Lady Macbeth's turn, and the + appearance of a woman, it was thought, would command that respect which in + America is almost always accorded to one. But her reception was worse than + that of Macready, for not content with shouts and yells they heaped + disgusting epithets on her, and were so vulgar in their ribaldry that she + flew in affright from the stage, "blushing," it was said, "even through + the rouge on her face." Macready, however, showing, if nothing else, good + English pluck, determined to go on. But he had scarcely finished the first + sentence, when some potatoes struck the stage at his feet; then rotten + eggs, breaking and spattering their sickening contents over his royal + robes; while howls that seemed to come from the lower regions arose on + every side. It was Pandemonium broke loose, and those in the boxes, + thoroughly alarmed, jumped to their feet and stood as if paralyzed, gazing + on the strange spectacle below. Macready's passions were now thoroughly + aroused, and he stubbornly stood his ground. Suddenly a chair hurled from + above, and evidently aimed at his head, struck the stage at his feet and + broke into fragments, followed by the shout, "Go off the stage, you + English fool! Hoo! Three cheers for Ned Forrest!" which were given with a + will. Then came another chair, narrowly missing Macready's head, who, now + alarmed for his personal safety, fled from the stage, and the curtain + fell. But the bedlam that had been let loose did not stop. Hoots, curses, + threats of vengeance, and the confused sounds of a mob given wholly over + to passion, struck terror into all hearts; and Macready, fearing a rush + would be made for him behind the scenes, left the theatre by a private + door, and jumping into a carriage was rapidly driven to his hotel. The + manager, alarmed for the safety of the building, attempted to announce his + departure to the audience, but in vain. They would not listen to him, and + as a last resort he chalked in large letters on a board, "<i>Macready has + left the theatre</i>" and hoisted it before the footlights. This had the + desired effect, and the headlong crowd, with shouts and laughter, began to + tumble out. Once in the street, they sent up a loud hurrah, and dispersed + in groups to their various drinking places, to talk over their victory and + damn all Englishmen. + </p> + <p> + The fact that the mob refrained from damaging the theatre, shows that they + did not desire destruction; they had only done in their rough way what + other men deemed respectable, and even legislators, have often done, and + almost as boisterously, to prevent an obnoxious person from being heard. + They certainly had many respectable precedents for their course, and Mr. + Macready should have done what others have been compelled to do—given + up the attempt and waited for a more propitious time. That a man has a + right to play or speak, is true; but men of all grades have always + asserted the right to show their displeasure of the acting of the one or + the sentiments of the other. Not that there is any excuse for such conduct + as we have described, but it can be hardly called a serious riot, although + by whomsoever committed is unquestionably riotous in its character. + </p> + <p> + Of this contemptible, disgraceful interference of his friends in his + quarrel, Forrest had nothing to say—he kept a studied silence. How a + man with any self-respect could have refrained from denouncing it, and + repudiating all sympathy and connection with it by a public card, it will + be difficult for men of ordinary sensibility to imagine. + </p> + <p> + Macready now determined to throw up his engagement altogether, but after + much consultation and deliberation changed his mind. A letter was + addressed to him by many of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of the + city, in which they expressed their regret at the treatment he had + received, and urged him not to yield to such a lawless spirit. They + promised that he should be protected in his rights, and hoped he would + give the city an opportunity to wipe out the stain that had been put upon + its character. This he unwisely consented to do, and the next Thursday was + fixed for his appearance in the same play. When the placards announcing it + were pasted up, there appeared immediately alongside of them another, + announcing the appearance on the same evening of Forrest, in the Broadway + Theatre, in the character of the "Gladiator." + </p> + <p> + In the meantime other posters appeared, and among them the following in + startling capitals: + </p> + <h3> + "WORKINGMEN! + </h3> + <h3> + SHALL AMERICANS OR ENGLISH RULE IN THIS CITY? + </h3> + <p> + The crew of the British steamer have threatened all Americans who shall + dare to offer their opinions this night at the + </p> + <h3> + ENGLISH ARISTOCRATIC OPERA HOUSE. + </h3> + <h3> + WORKINGMEN! FREEMEN! STAND UP TO YOUR LAWFUL RIGHTS." + </h3> + <p> + It will be observed, that this artful appeal was like a two-edged sword, + cutting both ways. It aimed at the same time to stir up the hatred of the + lower classes against the upper, by the word aristocratic; and the + national hatred of the English, by calling it the <i>English aristocratic</i> + Opera House to be guarded by English sailors. Both parties now began + active preparations for the eventful night—the rioters by increasing + and organizing their forces, and setting on foot plans to get possession + of the house; the friends of Macready, to prevent this from being done, + and at the same time secure sufficient aid from the authorities to + suppress all open violence. To keep the rowdies from occupying the house, + tickets were sold or given away only to those known to be friendly to + Macready; while to suppress violence, three hundred police were promised, + to be supported if necessary by two regiments of soldiers, who were + ordered to be under arms at their quarters, ready to march at a moment's + notice. + </p> + <p> + As the day advertised for the play approached, the excitement deepened, + and serious trouble seemed unavoidable. On the appointed evening, a strong + body of police was quietly placed inside of the house, with definite + instructions how to act. In the meantime, an immense crowd had assembled + in front of the building, and, when at last the doors opened, a rush was + made for them. But the police kept the crowd back, and only those who had + tickets were admitted. When the house was fairly filled, the doors were + closed and fastened. In the meantime the windows had been barricaded, with + the exception of one, which was overlooked. This the now disappointed + rabble assailed with stones, sending them through it, in among the + startled audience. They tried also to break down one of the doors, but the + policemen's clubs stopped them. Then commenced a series of yells and + shouts, mingled with horrid oaths and threats as the baffled wretches + surged around the building. Finding nothing else to vent their rage on, + they attacked the lamps in the neighborhood, breaking them to pieces, and + putting out the lights. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the play inside, with this wild accompaniment without, + commenced. Notwithstanding all the care that had been taken, a large + number of roughs had succeeded in procuring tickets, showing that some + professedly respectable men had been in collusion with them. Although the + rioters inside were in a minority, they were not daunted, and being + determined that the play should not go on, commenced stamping and yelling + so, that Macready's voice from the outset was completely drowned. + </p> + <p> + The police in disguise had mingled all day with the rioters, and + ascertained what the mode of action inside the house was to be. At a + certain point in the play, a signal was to be given, on seeing which the + entire body was to make a rush for the stage and seize Macready. The Chief + of Police arranged his plans accordingly, and imparted them to the force + under him. He therefore made no effort to stop the noise, but waited for + the expected signal. At length it was given, and the entire body of + rioters rose with a yell and sprang forward. But at that moment, the chief + gave <i>his</i> signal, which was lifting his hat from his head. Every eye + of those determined policemen had been intently watching it, and as it now + rose, they sprang with a single bound upon the astonished rowdies, and + before they could recover from their surprise, most of them were outside + of the building, while the ringleaders were kept back and caged inside. + </p> + <p> + The play now went on, but it was a spiritless affair. Every ear was turned + to hear the muffled roar of the voices outside, which every moment + increased in power as the mighty multitude kept swelling in numbers. + </p> + <p> + The afterpiece was omitted, and Macready escaping through a private door, + hastened to his hotel. It seemed for a time that the building would be + torn down; but at length, a regiment of the National Guard, preceded by a + body of cavalry, was seen marching steadily up Broadway. The crowd parted + as it advanced, and as it turned into Eighth Street, the sharp word of + command, "right wheel," rang out distinct and clear over the uproar. The + rioters, instead of being intimidated, rushed to a pile of paving-stones + that unfortunately happened to be near, and arming themselves with these, + began to pelt the horses, which soon became unmanageable, so that the + cavalry force had to retire. + </p> + <p> + The infantry then advanced, but were received with such a deluge of stones + that they, too, fell back to Broadway. Here they rallied, and at the order + forward, moved steadily on the mob, and forced their way to the front of + the Opera House. While forming line here on the sidewalk, they were + assailed so fiercely with paving-stones, that the soldiers fell rapidly. + The rioters were in close quarters, and the heavy stones, hurled at such a + short distance, were almost as deadly as musket-balls. Captain Pond soon + fell wounded, when the second in command told the sheriff that if he did + not give the order to fire, the troops would be withdrawn, for they + couldn't stand it. Recorder Talmadge, unwilling to resort to such a + desperate measure, attempted to harangue the mob. He begged them, in God's + name, to disperse and go home—if they did not, the soldiers would + certainly fire on them, etc. The only reply was hoots and yells of + defiance, and paving-stones. The Recorder then forced his way up to + General Hall, standing at the right of the battalion, and said: "You must + order your men to fire; it is a terrible alternative, but there is no + other." The General asked for the Mayor, for he was doubtful of his + authority to do so, without his order. "He won't be here," replied + Talmadge. General Sandford then said: "Well, the National Guards will not + stand and be pounded to death with stones; nearly one-third of the force + is already disabled." After a little more hurried conversation, the + sheriff said, "If that be so, you have permission to fire." The uproar all + this time was deafening, and the order, "Ready!" of General Sandford, + could hardly be heard; but the sharp, quick rattle of steel rose + distinctly over the discord. Still terribly repugnant to shoot down + citizens, General Hall and Colonel Duryea made another attempt to address + the crowd, and begged them to cease these attacks. "Fire and be d—ned!" + shouted a burly fellow. "Fire, if you dare—take the life of a + freeborn American for a bloody British actor! D—n it, you dassent + fire!" and he boldly bared his breast to the levelled muskets. "Fire, will + you?" yelled another, as he hurled a paving-stone at General Sandford, + wounding his sword arm. "Hit 'em again!" shouted a third, who saw the + well-directed aim. Still averse to shedding blood, General Hall told the + soldiers to elevate their pieces over the heads of the people, and fire at + the blank wall of Mr. Langton's house opposite, hoping thus to frighten + the mob. But this only awakened derision, and the leaders shouted, "Come + on, boys! they have blank cartridges and leather flints!" In the meantime, + the police, who had mingled with the mob, and were making arrests, began + to force their way out, in order to escape the fire that now seemed + inevitable. The troops moved across the street, and faced toward the + Bowery, obeying the word of command promptly, and marching with great + steadiness, although the pelting they received was murderous. To retreat + would be pusillanimous, to stand there and be pelted to death worse still; + and General Hall finally gave the order to fire point blank, but to aim + low, so that men would be wounded, rather than killed. The command fell + clear and distinct, "Fire!" + </p> + <p> + A single musket shot on the extreme left was the only response. They were + too near—their muzzles almost touching the hearts of the men, and it + seemed terribly murderous to fire. "Fire!" shouted General Sandford. + </p> + <p> + Three more musket-shots, only, followed. "Fire!" Duryea then cried out, in + ringing tones. A swift volley ran along the line, shedding a momentary + glare on the wild faces of the mob, the streets, and adjoining houses, and + then came the report. This time the dead in their midst told the rioters + that it was child's play no longer, and they fell back. But getting a new + supply of paving-stones, they rallied, and once more advanced on the + troops. A second volley, more murderous than the first, sent them crowding + back on each other in terror. The troops now wheeled, and formed line + again in front of the Opera House. It had got to be eleven o'clock, and + more troops were ordered up, with two cannon. The mob, though dismayed, + still refused to retire, and hung sullen and threatening as a + thunder-cloud on the skirts of the military, and a third volley was poured + into them. The rioters now separated, and fell back into the darkness, + when the troops were ordered to fire the fourth time, in different + directions—one wing down Eighth Street, and the other into Lafayette + Place. This last volley, judging from the testimony of reliable witnesses, + was altogether needless. The conflict was over. + </p> + <p> + A lawyer of Wall Street, noted for his philanthropy and kindness, resided + in Fourth Avenue, and being informed by a friend, late in the evening, + that men were lying dead and wounded in Astor Place, he hastened down to + see if he could be of any assistance to the poor creatures. Reaching + Lafayette Place, he saw in the dim light a line of soldiers drawn up, + though he saw no mob, only a few scattered men, who seemed to be + spectators. Suddenly he heard the order to fire, and the next moment came + a flash and report. He could not imagine what they were firing at; but + suddenly he felt his arm numb, and the next moment he grew faint and + dropped on the sidewalk, his arm broken to shivers. The brother of a + well-known banker was shot in Broadway by a random bullet; and a man, + while stepping out of a car in Third Avenue, was shot dead. Other innocent + persons fell victims, as they always must, if they will hang on the skirts + of a mob from curiosity. Men anxious to witness a fight must take the + chances of getting hurt. + </p> + <p> + Great excitement followed; an indignation meeting was called in the Park, + coroners' juries stultified themselves, and a senseless outcry was made + generally. Twenty-two were killed and thirty wounded. It was a terrible + sacrifice to make for a paltry quarrel between two actors about whom + nobody cared; and in this light alone many viewed it, forgetting that when + the public peace is broken, it matters not how great or insignificant the + cause, it must be preserved; and if the police or military are called out + to do it, and are attacked, they must defend themselves, and uphold the + laws, or be false to their trust. The authorities have to do with riots, + not their causes; put them down, not deprecate their existence, or argue + their justice. + </p> + <p> + If public indignation had been turned against Forrest, it would have been + more sensible. He knew perfectly well that if his friends persisted in + their determination to attack Macready, the second night, blood would be + spilt. It was <i>his</i> quarrel, and yet he deliberately kept his lips + closed. He neither begged them for their own sake, nor for his, or as good + citizens, to forbear, and let his rival alone; nor after it was known that + many had been killed, did he express a single word of regret; apparently + having no feeling but gratification, that even at such a fearful sacrifice + his hated rival had been driven from the field. But responsibility is not + so easily shaken off, and in real life as well as in tragedy, conscience + will force a man to cry: + </p> + <p> + "Out! damned blood spot! Out, I say!" + </p> + <p> + Macready left the country, and the excitement died away; but the painful + memories of this absurd yet deadly riot will remain till the present + generation has passed from the stage. + </p> + <p> + We cannot close this account more fitly than by relating an anecdote of + General Scott connected with it, that has never been made public. He was + living at the time in Second Avenue, nearly opposite Astor Place. He was + occupying the upper part of the house that evening, and his wife the + lower. When the first volley over the heads of the people was fired, he + hastened down, and sent off a servant to ascertain what it meant. Before + the latter returned, he heard a second volley. Hurrying below, he + despatched a second servant to find out what was going on, and went back + to his room. A third volley smote on his ear, and deeply agitated he + hurried below, and began to pace the room in an excited manner. His wife, + observing how much he was moved, remarked pleasantly: "Why, General, you + are frightened!" This was rather a staggerer to the old hero, and he + turned and exclaimed: "Am I a man to be frightened, madam? It is <i>volley</i> + firing, madam—<i>volley</i> firing. They are shooting down American + citizens!" The old chieftain had heard that firing too often on the field + of battle, to be ignorant of its meaning. He had seen ranks of living men + reel and fall before it; nay, stood amid the curling smoke when his staff + was swept down by his side, calm and unmoved, but here he was unmanned. + Over the ploughed and blood-stained field, he had moved with nerves as + steady as steel, and pulse beating evenly; but now he paced his safe and + quiet room with his strong nature painfully agitated, and all because + American citizens were being shot down by American citizens. The fact + speaks volumes for the nobleness of his nature, and that unsullied + patriotism which sheds tenfold lustre on his well-earned laurels. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.} + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN POLICE, 300 Mulberry Street.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. — POLICE RIOT—DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT—BREAD RIOT. + </h2> + <p> + Creation of the Metropolitan District.—Collision between Mayor + Wood's Police and the Metropolitan Police.—Seventh Regiment called + out.—Dead-Rabbits' Riot.—Severe Fight between the Roach Guards + and Dead Rabbits.—Police driven back.—Barricades erected.—Military + called out.—Killed and Wounded.—Bread Riot.—Financial + Distress. + </p> + <p> + The year 1857 was a remarkable one in the history of New York City, and + indeed of the whole country. The year previous had been characterized by + intense political excitement, for the presidential campaign had been + carried on as a sectional fight or a war between the upholders and enemies + of the institution of slavery as it existed at the South. Pennsylvania + alone by her vote defeated the antislavery party, and the South, seeing + the danger that threatened it, had already begun to prepare for that + tremendous struggle, that afterwards tested to the utmost the resources + and strength of the North; while a financial storm overwhelmed the entire + country in disaster. To these were added local causes, which affected New + York City particularly, and made it a year of uncommon disturbance. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party being largely in the ascendant in the State, + determined to revolutionize the municipal government, and place the + Democratic city partially under Republican rule. Many bills were passed + during the session of Legislature, peculiarly obnoxious to the city + authorities, but that which excited the most bitter opposition was called + the Metropolitan Police Act, by which the counties of New York, Kings, + Westchester, and Richmond were made one police district, to be controlled + by a board of commissioners, consisting of five members appointed by the + Governor and Senate, and to hold office for five years. This board having + organized, proceeded to create a police department. Mayor Wood denied the + constitutionality of the act and retained the old police—so that + there were two police departments existing at the same time in the city. + The Mayor resorted to all kinds of legal measures to defeat the action of + the board, and the question was finally referred to the Court of Appeals + for decision. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time the death of a street commissioner left a vacancy to be + filled. Governor King, acting under the recent law, appointed Daniel D. + Conover to fill it, while the Mayor appointed Charles Devlin. A third + claimant for the place appeared in the deputy, who asserted his right to + act until the decision of the Court of Appeals was rendered. Conover had + no idea of waiting for this, and proceeded to assume the duties of his + office. The Mayor of course resisted, and so Conover got out a warrant + from the Recorder to arrest the former on the charge of inciting a riot, + and another on the charge of personal violence. Armed with these papers, + and backed by fifty of the new policemen, he proceeded to the City Hall. + The Mayor, aware of the movement, had packed the building with his own + police, who refused him admittance. The new police attempted to force an + entrance, when a fight followed, in which twelve policemen were severely + injured. While things were in this critical condition, the Seventh + Regiment passed down Broadway on its way to the boat for Boston, whither + it was going to receive an ovation. A request for its interference was + promptly granted, and marching into the Park they quickly quelled the + riot, and the writs were served on the Mayor. + </p> + <p> + Intense excitement followed, and so great was the fear of a terrible + outbreak, that nine regiments were put under arms, ready to march at a + moment's notice. + </p> + <p> + But on the 1st of July the Court of Appeals decided the act to be + constitutional, and the disturbance ended. But of course, while this + strife was going on between the police, but little was done to arrest + disorder in the city. The lawless became emboldened, and in the evening + before the 4th of July a disturbance began, which for a time threatened + the most serious consequences. + </p> + <h3> + DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT. + </h3> + <p> + The origin of the term "Dead Rabbits," which became so well known this + year from being identified with a serious riot, is not certainly known. It + is said that an organization known as the "Roach Guards," called after a + liquor dealer by that name, became split into two factions, and in one of + their stormy meetings some one threw a dead rabbit into the room, and one + party suddenly proposed to assume the name. + </p> + <p> + These two factions became bitterly hostile to each other; and on the day + before the 4th of July came in collision, but finally separated without + doing much damage. They were mostly young men, some of them being mere + boys. + </p> + <p> + The next day, the fight was renewed at Nos. 40 and 42 Bowery Street, and + clubs, stones, and even pistols were freely used. The "Dead Rabbits" were + beaten and retired, yelling and firing revolvers in the air, and attacking + everybody that came in their way. Their uniform was a blue stripe on their + pantaloons, while that of the Roach Guards was a red stripe. People in the + neighborhood were frightened, and fastened their doors and windows. No + serious damage was done, however. + </p> + <p> + About ten o'clock, a policeman in Worth Street, while endeavoring to clear + the sidewalk, was knocked down and severely beaten. At length, breaking + away from his assailants, he hastened to the central office in White + Street, and reported the state of things. A squad of police was + immediately dispatched to arrest the ringleaders. On reaching Centre + Street they found a desperate fight going on, and immediately rushed in, + to put a stop to it. The belligerents at once made common cause against + them. A bloody hand-to-hand conflict followed, but the police at length + forced the mob to retreat. The latter, however, did not give up the + contest, but mounting to the upper stories and roofs of the + tenement-houses, rained down clubs and stones so fiercely, that the police + were driven off with only two prisoners. + </p> + <p> + Comparative quiet was now restored, though the excitement spread in every + direction. It lasted, however, only an hour or two, when suddenly a loud + yell was heard near the Tombs, accompanied with the report of fire-arms, + and crowds of people came pouring down Baxter and Leonard Streets, to get + out of the way of bullets. Some wounded men were carried by, and the + utmost terror and confusion prevailed. The air was filled with flying + missiles and oaths, and shouts of defiance. Now the Dead Rabbits would + drive their foes before them, and again be driven back. The bloody fight + thus swayed backwards and forwards through the narrow streets for a long + time. At length twenty-five Metropolitan Police appeared on the scene, + while fifty more were held in reserve. Though assailed at every step with + clubs and stones, they marched steadily on, clearing the crowd as they + advanced, and forcing the Dead Rabbits into the houses, whither they + followed them, mounting even to the roof, and clubbing them at every step. + After clearing the houses, they resumed their march, when they were again + attacked by the increasing crowd, many of them armed with muskets and + pistols. Barricades were now erected, behind which the mob rallied, and + the contest assumed the aspect of a regular battle. The notorious Captain + Rynders came on the ground, between six and seven o'clock, and attempted + to restore quiet. Not succeeding, however, he repaired to the office of + the Police Commissioners, and told Commissioner Draper, if he had not + police force enough to disperse the mob, he should call out the military. + The latter replied that he had made a requisition on Major-General + Sandford, for three regiments, and that they would soon be on the ground. + But it was nine o'clock before they made their appearance. The police then + formed in two bodies of seventy-five men each, and supported, one by the + Seventy-first Regiment and the other by the Eighth, marched down White and + Worth Streets. This formidable display of force overawed the rioters, and + they fled in every direction. This ended the riot, although the military + were kept on duty during the night. + </p> + <p> + At times, the fight was close and deadly, and it was reported that eight + were killed and some thirty wounded. + </p> + <h3> + BREAD RIOT. + </h3> + <p> + In the autumn, there came a financial crisis, that was so wide-spread and + disastrous that the lower classes suffered for want of food. Banks + suspended specie payment, manufactories were forced to stop work, and + paralysis fell on the whole industry of the nation. It was estimated that + ten thousand persons were thrown out of employment. These soon used up + their earnings, and destitution and suffering of course followed. Their + condition grew worse as cold weather came on, and many actually died of + starvation. At length they became goaded to desperation, and determined to + help themselves to food. Gaunt men and women, clad in tatters, gathered in + the Park, and that most fearful of all cries, when raised by a mob, + "Bread," arose on every side. Propositions were made to break open the + stores, and get what they needed. Flour was hoarded up in them because so + little could be got on from the West. The granaries there were groaning + with provisions; but there was no money to pay for the transportation. + There was money East, but kept locked up in fear. As this became known to + the mob, their exasperation increased. To know that there were both food + enough and money enough, while they were starving to death, was enough to + drive them mad, and there were ominous mutterings. Fortunately, the + authorities saw in time the threatened danger, and warded it off. A great + many were set to work on the Central Park and other public works, while + soup-houses were opened throughout the city, and private associations + formed to relieve the suffering; and the winter passed without any + outbreak, though more than five thousand business-houses in the country + failed, with liabilities reaching three hundred millions of dollars. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. — DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. + </h2> + <p> + Cause of the Riots—The London <i>Times</i>.—Draft called a + despotic Measure.—The despotic Power given to Washington by + Congress.—Despotic Action sometimes Necessary, in order to save the + Life of the Nation.—The Rights of Government.—Drafting the + Legitimate Way to raise an Army—It is not Unequal or Oppressive. + </p> + <p> + The ostensible cause of the riots of 1863 was hostility to the draft, + because it was a tyrannical, despotic, unjust measure—an act which + has distinguished tyrants the world over, and should never be tolerated by + a free people. Open hostility to oppression was more than once hinted in a + portion of the press—as not only a right, but a duty. + </p> + <p> + Even the London <i>Times</i> said, "It would have been strange, indeed, if + the American people had submitted to a measure which is a distinctive mark + of the most despotic governments of the Continent." As if the fact that a + measure, because resorted to by a despotic government, was therefore + necessarily wrong. It might as well be said, that because settling + national difficulties by an appeal to arms has always been a distinctive + feature of despotic governments, therefore the American people should + refuse to sustain the government by declaring or prosecuting any war; or + that because it has always been a distinctive feature of despotic + governments to have naval and military schools, to train men to the art of + war, therefore the American people should not submit to either. It is not + of the slightest consequence to us what despotic governments do or not do; + the simple question is, whether the measure is necessary for the + protection of our own government, and the welfare of the people. To leave + this untouched, and talk only about despotism, the right of the people, + and all that, is mere demagogism, and shows him who utters it to be unfit + to control public opinion. Besides, there is a great difference between + measures that are despotic, which are put forth to save the nation's life, + or honor, and those put forth to destroy freedom, and for selfish ends. + Not that, intrinsically, despotic measures are always not to be deprecated + and avoided, if possible; for if tolerated in one case, they may be + exacted in another. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: FORT LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK HARBOR.} + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: FORT HAMILTON, from whence U.S. Troops were sent to aid in + suppressing the Draft Riot of 1863.} + </p> + <p> + Liberty can never be guarded too carefully, or the barriers erected around + the rights of every individual respected too scrupulously. But everything + in this world is a choice between two evils. The greatest wisdom cannot + avoid <i>all</i> evils; it can only choose the least. Sound statesmanship + regards any stretch of power better than the overthrow of the nation. + Probably there never was a more able and wise body of men assembled, or + more jealous of any exercise of arbitrary power, than the First Congress + of the United States; and yet, almost in the commencement of our struggle + for independence, when events wore such a gloomy aspect that failure + seemed inevitable, rising above its fears of despotic measures, in its + greater fear of total defeat, it conferred on Washington powers that made + him to a large extent military dictator. He was authorized to raise + sixteen battalions of infantry, three thousand light-horse, three + regiments of artillery, together with a corps of engineers, and <i>appoint + the officers himself</i>. He had, also, full power, when he deemed it + necessary, to call on the several States for the militia; to appoint + throughout <i>the entire army all the officers under brigadiers</i>; fill + up all vacancies; to take whatever he wanted for the use of his troops, + wherever he could find it, with no other restriction than that he must pay + for it, which last was nullified, because he was empowered to <i>seize and + lock up every man who refused to receive in pay Continental money</i>. It + would seem impossible that a body of men who were so extremely sensitive + in bestowing power on a military commander, and so watchful of the rights + of individuals, could have committed such an act; and yet, who does not + see that, under the circumstances, it was wise. Now, granting that + conscription is a despotic measure, no truthful, candid man will deny + that, in case of a war, where men must be had, and can be got in no other + way, that it would be the duty of government to enforce it. It is idle to + reply that the supposition is absurd—that in this country such a + thing can never happen; for what has been in the world can be again. + Besides, this does meet the question of the <i>right</i> of the + Government, that must be settled before the emergency comes. Now, we do + not believe there is sounder principle, or one that every unbiassed mind + does not concede with the readiness that it does an axiom, that, if + necessary to protect and save itself, a government may not only order a + draft, but call out <i>every</i> able-bodied man in the nation. If this + right does not inhere in our government, it is built on a foundation of + sand, and the sooner it is abandoned the better. + </p> + <p> + But we go farther, and deny that a draft is a despotic measure at all, but + is a just and equitable mode of raising an army. True, if troops enough + can be raised on a reasonable bounty, it is more expedient to do so; but + the moment that bounty becomes so exorbitant as to tempt the cupidity of + those in whom neither patriotism nor sense of duty have any power, + volunteering becomes an evil. We found it so in our recent war. The bounty + was a little fortune to a certain class, the benefit of which they had no + idea of losing by being shot, and hence they deserted, or shammed + sickness, so that scarce half the men ever got to the front, while those + who did being influenced by no motive higher than cupidity, became + worthless soldiers. A draft takes in enough men of a higher stamp to + leaven the mass. The first Napoleon, when asked what made his first "army + of Italy" so resistless, replied that almost every man in it was + intelligent enough to act as a clerk. The objection that a rich man, if + drafted, can buy a substitute, while the poor man, with a large family + depending upon him, must go, if of any weight at all, lies against the + whole structure of society, which gives the rich man at every step + immunities over the poor man. When pestilence sweeps through a city, the + rich man can flee to a healthy locality, while the poor man must stay and + die; and when the pestilence of war sweeps over the land, must one attempt + to reverse all this relation between wealth and poverty? + </p> + <p> + When society gets in that happy state, that the rich man has no advantages + over the poor, there will be no need either of drafting or volunteering. + Yet, after all, it is not so unequal as it at first sight appears. War + must have money as well as men, and the former the rich have to furnish; + and if they do this, it is but fair that they should be allowed to furnish + with it also the men to do their fighting. Besides, there must be some + rule that would exempt the men that carry on the business of the country. + </p> + <p> + We have said this much, because the riots in New York, which might have + ended in national destruction, were brought about by preaching views + directly the opposite of these. + </p> + <p> + The military spirit is so prevalent in the nation, that in any ordinary + war the Government can get all the troops it wants by giving a moderate + bounty, and wages but a little greater than can be secured at any ordinary + business or occupation. Still, the right to raise them differently should + never be denied it. + </p> + <p> + When the old militia system was given up in the State, and a certain + number of regiments were raised and equipped and drilled for active duty, + and for which the people paid taxes, it was thought they would furnish all + the quota that would ever be called for from the State—and in any + ordinary war will. The crisis, however, in which we found ourselves had + never been anticipated, and hence not provided against, and when Congress + attempted to do it in what seemed to it the best way, an outcry was raised + of injustice and oppression. It was hard, doubtless, but there are a great + many hard things in the world that have been and have to be borne. The + feeling of hostility unquestionably would have been less intense, had not + so many of those to be drafted been bitterly opposed to the war. Believing + it to have been brought about by the reckless demagogism and fanaticism of + their political opponents, and levied as it was against those who had been + their warm political friends, indeed, chief dependence for political + success, it was asking a good deal, to require them to step to the front, + and fight in such a war. Whether this feeling was right or wrong, had + nothing to do with the influence it actually exerted. + </p> + <p> + On this feeling was based, in fact, the real hostility to the draft, in + which a portion of the press shared. But, as we said before, we having + nothing to do with the justice or injustice of this belief or feeling; we + only state the fact, with our denial that it furnished any excuse for the + denunciations uttered against the draft as a wrong use of power, or the + refusal to submit to it on that account. The Government, whether wrong or + right, must be supported, or abandoned and given over to revolution. In + ordinary times, denunciation of its measures, and the most strenuous + opposition to them, is the right and often the duty of every conscientious + man. This right, exercised by the press, is one of the most effectual + checks against abuses, and the most powerful lever to work reform and + changes. But in a great crisis, to set one's self against a measure on + which the fate of the nation hangs, is a flagrant abuse of that right; for + the effort, if successful, will not work change and an improved condition + of things, but immediate, irretrievable ruin, and put the nation beyond + the reach of reform. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + Rights of Municipalities.—Interference of the Legislature with the + City Government.—Conflict between the Governor and Police + Commissioners.—A Wrong becomes a Practical Blessing.—Provost + Marshals.—Riot not anticipated.—Bad time to commence the + Draft.—Preparations of Superintendent Kennedy.—The Police + System.—Attack on Provost Marshal Captain Erhardt.—Telegrams + of the Police.—Kennedy starts on a Tour of Observation. + </p> + <p> + The rights of municipalities have been conceded from the first dawn of + constitutional liberty indeed municipal freedom may be said to be the + first step in the onward progress of the race toward the full recognition + of its rights. To interfere with a great commercial city like New York, + except by general laws, is as a rule unwise, impolitic, and, indeed, + unjust. Like a separate State, it had better suffer many and great evils, + than to admit the right of outward power to regulate its internal affairs. + To do so, in any way, is fraught with mischief; but to do so as a + political party, is infinitely more pernicious. It leaves a great + metropolis, on which the welfare of the commercial business of the nation + mainly depends, a foot-ball for ambitious or selfish politicians to play + with. But as there are exceptions to all rules, so there may be to this—still + they should always be exceptions, and not claimed as a settled policy. + </p> + <p> + We mention this, because the interference of the Legislature, or rather + the dominant part of it, in the internal policy of New York, about the + time the war commenced, was in itself a mischievous and tyrannical act, + while, under the circumstances that soon after occurred, it proved of + incalculable benefit. + </p> + <p> + With the city stripped of its military, and the forts in the harbor of + their garrisons, the police, under the old regime, during the draft riots, + would have been trustless and powerless, even if the city government had + attempted to uphold the national authority, which is doubtful. The + Republicans established a Board of Police Commissioners, the majority of + which were of their own political faith, who had the entire control of the + department. Under their hands, an entire different set of men from those + formerly selected, composed the force, and a regular system of drills, in + fact, a thorough organization, adopted. + </p> + <p> + But in 1862 the Democrats elected their governor, though they failed to + secure the Legislature. Mr. Seymour, immediately on his inauguration, + summoned the Commissioners to appear before him, the object of which was + to change the character of the board. The latter understood it, and + refused to appear. Legal proceedings were then commenced against them, but + they were staved off, and in the meantime the Legislature had got to work, + and took the matter in hand; and Messrs. Bowen, Acton, and Bergen, were + made to constitute the board—John A. Kennedy being superintendent of + police. Mr. Bowen, the president of the board, having been appointed + brigadier-general, resigned, and Mr. Acton, under the law, became + president. This political character of the board, so diametrically opposed + to the feelings and wishes of the vast majority of the citizens, tested by + the ordinary rules and principles of a Republican Government, was unjust; + a palpable, deliberate encroachment on the right of self-government. But + as we remarked, just now, it was fortunate for the country that such a + state of things existed. In the extraordinary, not anticipated, and + perilous condition in which we found ourselves, everything was changed. + Neither constitutions nor laws had been framed to meet such an emergency, + and both, in many cases, had to be suspended. What was right before, often + became wrong now, and vice versa. The article inserted in the Constitution + of the State, that the moment a bank refused specie payment, it became + bankrupt, was a wise and just provision, but to enforce it now, would be + financial ruin, and it was not done. + </p> + <p> + This usurpation of the government of New York by the Republican party, + which seemed so unjust, was, doubtless, under the circumstances, the + salvation of the city. It was, moreover, highly important to the whole + country, in the anomalous war which threatened our very existence, that + the controlling power of the city should be in sympathy with the General + Government, but it was especially, vitally so, when the latter put its + provost marshals in it to enforce the draft. That this <i>mode</i> of + enforcing the draft by provost marshals, was an encroachment on the rights + and powers of the separate States, there can be no doubt. It is equally + clear that the proper way was to call on the separate governors for their + quota, and let <i>them</i> enforce the draft. If they refused to do it, + then it was time for the General Government to take the matter in its own + hand. This, however, was no encroachment on <i>individual</i> rights. The + oppressive nature of the act and the result were the same to the person, + whether enforced by the State or General Government. Still it was a total + departure from the practice of the General Government since its first + organization, and it moreover established a dangerous precedent, which the + sooner it is abandoned the better. But this had nothing to do with the + opposition to the draft. That was a personal objection. + </p> + <p> + With the Police Department in sympathy with the rioters, it is not + difficult to see what the end would have been. We do not mean by that, + that the heads of the department would not have endeavored to do their + duty, but it would have been impossible to control the kind of element + they would inevitably have to deal with. This even the long-tried, trusted + leaders of the Democratic party acknowledged. In fact, the police force + would not have been in a condition, with ever so good a will, to have + acted with the skill and promptness it did. + </p> + <p> + The draft riots, as they are called, were supposed by some to be the + result of a deep-laid conspiracy on the part of those opposed to the war, + and that the successful issue of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania was to be + the signal for open action. Whether this be so or not, it is evident that + the outbreak in New York City on the 13th of July, not only from the + manner of its commencement, the absence of proper organization, and almost + total absence of leadership, was not the result of a general + well-understood plot. It would seem from the facts that those who started + the movement had no idea at the outset of proceeding to the length they + did. They simply desired to break up the draft in some of the upper + districts of the city, and destroy the registers in which certain names + were enrolled. + </p> + <p> + A general provost marshal had been appointed over the whole city, which + was subdivided into various districts, in each of which was an assistant + provost marshall. Although there had been no provision for a general + assistant provost marshal or aid, yet Colonel Nugent acted in this + capacity. The drafting was to take place in the separate districts, under + the direction of the assistant provost marshals. + </p> + <p> + Although there had been some rumors of resistance to it, they received + very little credence, and no special provision was made for such an + emergency. The city was almost denuded of the military; the regiments + having been called to Pennsylvania to repel Lee's invasion; yet so little + fear was entertained, that even the police department was not requested to + make any special preparation. The Invalid Corps, as it was called, + composed of the maimed and crippled soldiers who could no longer keep the + field, were thought to be quite sufficient to preserve the peace. + </p> + <p> + The draft commenced on Saturday in the Eleventh and Ninth Districts, and + passed off quietly; and it was thought the same order would be maintained + throughout, and if any force were necessary to repress violence, it would + be when the conscripts were required to take their place in the ranks. + </p> + <p> + Still Superintendent Kennedy of the Police Department feared there might + be some difficulty experienced by the officers in charge of the draft, + even if no serious resistance should be offered. Some of the enrolling + officers, a short time previous, while taking the names of those subject + to draft, had been assailed with very abusive language, or their questions + received in sullen silence or answered falsely; fictitious names often + being given instead of the true ones. In the Ninth District, embracing the + lower part of the city, the provost marshal, Captain Joel T. Erhardt, came + near losing his life in the performance of this duty. At the corner of + Liberty Street and Broadway a building was being torn down, preparatory to + the erection of another, and the workmen engaged in it threatened the + enrolling officer who came to take down their names, with violence, and + drove him off. + </p> + <p> + Captain Erhardt, on the report being made to him, repaired to + head-quarters, and requested of Colonel Nugent a force of soldiers to + protect the officer in the discharge of his duty. But this the latter + declined to do, fearing it would exasperate the men and bring on a + collision, and requested the Captain to go himself, saying, if he did, + there would be no difficulty. Captain Erhardt declined, on the ground that + he was not an enrolling officer. But Colonel Nugent persisting, the + Captain finally told him, if he ordered him, as his superior officer, to + go, he would. Nugent replied that he might so consider it. Erhardt then + said he would go, but only on one condition, that if he got in trouble and + asked for help, he would send him troops. To this he agreed, and Captain + Erhardt proceeded to the building on the corner of Broadway and Liberty + Street, and stepping on a plank that led from the sidewalk to the floor, + asked a man on a ladder for his name. The fellow refused to answer, when + an altercation ensuing, he stepped down, and seizing an iron bar advanced + on the provost marshal. The latter had nothing but a light Malacca cane in + his hand, but as he saw the man meant murder he drew a pistol from his + pocket, and levelled it full at his breast. This brought him to a halt; + and after looking at Erhardt for awhile he dropped his bar. Erhardt then + put up his pistol, and went on with his enrolling. The man was dogged and + angry, and watching his opportunity, suddenly made a rush at the provost + marshal. The latter had only time to deal him, as he sprang forward, one + heavy blow with his cane, when they closed. In a moment both reeled from + the plank and fell to the cellar beneath, the provost marshal on top. + Covered with dirt, he arose and drew his pistol, and mounted to the + sidewalk. + </p> + <p> + The foreman sympathized with the workmen, and Erhardt could do nothing. + Determined to arrest them for resisting the draft, he despatched a + messenger to Colonel Nugent for the promised force. None, however, was + sent. He, in the meantime, stood with drawn pistol facing the men, who + dared not advance on him. Aid not arriving, he sent again, and still later + a third time. He stood thus facing the workmen with his pistol for three + hours, and finally had to leave without making any arrests. This failure + of Colonel Nugent to fulfil his promise and perform his duty came near + costing Erhardt his life, and then and there starting the riot. The next + day he had the foreman arrested, and completed his work of enrolling. + </p> + <p> + The time selected for commencing the draft was unfortunate. Saturday, of + all days in the week, was the worst. It was a new thing, and one under any + circumstances calculated to attract universal attention among the lower + classes, and provoke great and angry discussion. Hence, to have the draft + commence on Saturday, and allow the names to be published in the papers on + Sunday morning, so that all could read them, and spend the day in talking + the matter over, and lay plans for future action, was a most unwise, + thoughtless procedure. If there had been any choice as to the day, one, if + possible, should have been chosen that preceded the busiest day of the + week. To have the list of twelve hundred names that had been drawn read + over and commented on all day by men who enlivened their discussion with + copious draughts of bad whiskey, especially when most of those drawn were + laboring-men or poor mechanics, who were unable to hire a substitute, was + like applying fire to gunpowder. If a well-known name, that of a man of + wealth, was among the number, it only increased the exasperation, for the + law exempted every one drawn who would pay three hundred dollars towards a + substitute. This was taking practically the whole number of soldiers + called for out of the laboring classes. A great proportion of these being + Irish, it naturally became an Irish question, and eventually an Irish + riot. It was in their eyes the game of hated England over again—oppression + of Irishmen. This state of feeling could not be wholly concealed. Kennedy, + aware of it, felt it necessary, on Monday morning, to take some + precautionary measures. Still, in the main, only small squads of policemen + were sent to the various points where the drafting was to take place, and + merely to keep back the crowd and maintain order, in case a few disorderly + persons should attempt to create disturbance. It was true, a rumor had + been put in circulation that a body of men had planned to seize the + arsenal, and Kennedy, as a matter of precaution, sent fifty policemen to + occupy it. But during the morning, word was brought him that the + street-contractor's men in the Nineteenth Ward were not at work. This + looked ominous, and he began to fear trouble. Thinking that Provost + Marshal Maniere's office, 1190 Broadway, and that of Marshal Jenkins, + corner of Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue, would be more likely to be + the points attacked, he hurried off the following telegrams: + </p> + <p> + July 13, 8.35 A.M. From Central Office to Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and + Twenty-first Precincts: Send ten men and a sergeant forthwith to No. 677 + Third Avenue, and report to Captain Porter of Nineteenth Precinct for + duty. J. A. KENNEDY. + </p> + <p> + July 13, 8.50 A.M. To Twenty-ninth Precinct: Place a squad of ten of your + men, with a competent sergeant, at No. 1190 Broadway, during the draft—if + you want more, inform me. J. A. K. + </p> + <p> + 8.55 A.M. To Sixteenth and Twentieth Precincts: Send your reserve to + Seventh Avenue Arsenal forthwith. + </p> + <h3> + J. A. K. + </h3> + <p> + Telegrams were now pouring in from different quarters, showing that + mischief was afoot, and at nine o'clock he sent the following despatch: + </p> + <p> + "To all platoons, New York and Brooklyn: Call in your reserve platoons, + and hold them at the stations subject to further orders." + </p> + <p> + It should be noted, that ordinarily one-half of the police of the + Metropolitan District, which took in Brooklyn, is relieved from both + patrol and reserve duty, from six o'clock in the morning till six in the + evening. The other half is divided into two sections, which alternately + perform patrol and reserve duty during the day. A relief from patrol duty + of one of these sections takes place at eight o'clock A.M., when it goes + to breakfast. Hence, the orders issued by the Superintendent to call in + these could not reach them without a considerable delay. + </p> + <p> + It now being about ten o'clock, Mr. Kennedy, having despatched an + additional body of men to the Twenty-ninth Precinct, got into his light + wagon, to take a drive through the districts reported to be most + dangerous. He went up far as the arsenal, and giving such directions as he + thought necessary, started across the town to visit Marshal Jenkins' + quarters in the Twenty-ninth Precinct. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + Commencement of the Mob.—Its Line of March.—Its immense Size.—Attacks + a Provost-marshal's Office, in Third Avenue.—Set on Fire.—Terrible + Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob.—Carried to + Head-quarters unconscious.—Acton's Preparations.—The Telegraph + System.—Mob cutting down Telegraph Poles.—Number of Despatches + sent over the Wires during the Riot.—Superintendent of Telegraph + Bureau seized and held Prisoner by the Mob. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, events were assuming an alarming aspect in the western part of + the city. Early in the morning men began to assemble here in separate + groups, as if in accordance with a previous arrangement, and at last moved + quietly north along the various avenues. Women, also, like camp followers, + took the same direction in crowds. They were thus divided into separate + gangs, apparently to take each avenue in their progress, and make a clean + sweep. The factories and workshops were visited, and the men compelled to + knock off work and join them, while the proprietors were threatened with + the destruction of their property, if they made any opposition. The + separate crowds were thus swelled at almost every step, and armed with + sticks, and clubs, and every conceivable weapon they could lay hands on, + they moved north towards some point which had evidently been selected as a + place of rendezvous. This proved to be a vacant lot near Central Park, and + soon the living streams began to flow into it, and a more wild, savage, + and heterogeneous-looking mass could not be imagined. After a short + consultation they again took up the line of march, and in two separate + bodies, moved down Fifth and Sixth Avenues, until they reached Forty-sixth + and Forty-seventh Streets, when they turned directly east. + </p> + <p> + The number composing this first mob has been so differently estimated, + that it would be impossible from reports merely, to approximate the truth. + A pretty accurate idea, however, can be gained of its immense size, from a + statement made by Mr. King, son of President King, of Columbia College. + Struck by its magnitude, he had the curiosity to get some estimate of it + by timing its progress, and he found that although it filled the broad + street from curbstone to curbstone, and was moving rapidly, it took + between twenty and twenty-five minutes for it to pass a single point. + </p> + <p> + A ragged, coatless, heterogeneously weaponed army, it heaved tumultuously + along toward Third Avenue. Tearing down the telegraph poles as it crossed + the Harlem & New Haven Railroad track, it surged angrily up around the + building where the drafting was going on. The small squad of police + stationed there to repress disorder looked on bewildered, feeling they + were powerless in the presence of such a host. Soon a stone went crashing + through a window, which was the signal for a general assault on the doors. + These giving way before the immense pressure, the foremost rushed in, + followed by shouts and yells from those behind, and began to break up the + furniture. The drafting officers, in an adjoining room, alarmed, fled + precipitately through the rear of the building. The mob seized the wheel + in which were the names, and what books, papers, and lists were left, and + tore them up, and scattered them in every direction. A safe stood on one + side, which was supposed to contain important papers, and on this they + fell with clubs and stones, but in vain. Enraged at being thwarted, they + set fire to the building, and hurried out of it. As the smoke began to + ascend, the onlooking multitude without sent up a loud cheer. Though the + upper part of the building was occupied by families, the rioters, thinking + that the officers were concealed there, rained stones and brick-bats + against the windows, sending terror into the hearts of the inmates. Deputy + Provost Marshal Vanderpool, who had mingled in the crowd, fearing for the + lives of the women and children, boldly stepped to the front, and tried to + appease the mob, telling them the papers were all destroyed, and begged + them to fall back, and let others help the inmates of the building, or + take hold themselves. The reply was a heavy blow in the face. Vanderpool + shoved the man who gave it aside, when he was assailed with a shower of + blows and curses. Fearing for his life, he broke through the crowd, and + hastened to the spot where the police were standing, wholly powerless in + the midst of this vast, excited throng. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the flames, unarrested, made rapid way, and communicating + to the adjoining building, set it on fire. The volumes of smoke, rolling + heavenward, and the crackling and roaring of the flames, seemed for a + moment to awe the mob, and it looked silently on the ravaging of a power + more terrible and destructive than its own. + </p> + <p> + At this time Superintendent Kennedy was quietly making his way across the + town toward the office of with a heavy club, endeavored to break in his + skull, but Kennedy dodged his blows. Careful only for his head, he let + them beat his body, while he made desperate efforts to break through the + mass, whose demoniacal yells and oaths showed that they intended to take + his life. In the struggle the whole crowd, swaying to and fro, slowly + advanced toward Lexington Avenue, coming, as they did so, upon a wide + mud-hole. "Drown him! drown, him!" arose at once on every side, and the + next moment a heavy blow, planted under his ear, sent him headforemost + into the water. + </p> + <p> + Falling with his face amid the stones, he was kicked and trampled on, and + pounded, till he was a mass of gore. Still struggling desperately for + life, he managed to get to his feet again, and made a dash for the middle + of the pond. The water was deep, and his murderers, disliking to get wet, + did not follow him, but ran around to the other side, to meet him as he + came out. But Kennedy was ahead of them, and springing up the bank into + Lexington Avenue, saw a man whom he knew, and called out: "John Eagan, + come here and save my life!" Mr. Eagan, who was a well-known and + influential resident of that vicinity, immediately rushed forward to his + assistance, and arrested his pursuers. But the Superintendent was so + terribly bruised and mangled, that Eagan did not recognize him. He, + however, succeeded in keeping the mob back, who, seeing the horrible + condition their victim was in, doubtless thought they had finished him. + Other citizens now coming forward, a passing feed wagon was secured, into + which Kennedy was lifted, and driven to police head-quarters. Acton, who + was in the street as the wagon approached, saw the mangled body within, + did not dream who it was. The driver inquired where he should take him. + "Around to the station," carelessly replied Acton. The driver hesitated, + and inquired again, "Where to?" Acton, supposing it was some drunkard, + bruised in a brawl, replied rather petulantly, "Around to the station." + The man then told him it was Kennedy. Acton, scanning the features more + closely, saw that it indeed was the Superintendent himself in this + horrible condition. As the officers gathered around the bleeding, almost + unconscious form, a murmur of wrath was heard, a sure premonition what + work would be done when the hour of vengeance should come. + </p> + <p> + Kennedy was carried into head-quarters, and a surgeon immediately sent + for. After an examination had shown that no bones were broken, he was + taken to the house of a friend, and, before the week closed, was on his + feet again. + </p> + <p> + Acton, now the legal head of the police force, soon showed he was the + right man in the right place. Of a nervous temperament, he was quick and + prompt, yet cool and decided, and relentless as death in the discharge of + his duty. Holding the views of the first Napoleon respecting mobs, he did + not believe in speech-making to them. His addresses were to be locust + clubs and grape-shot. Taking in at once the gravity of the situation, he, + after despatching such force as was immediately available to the scene of + the riot, telegraphed to the different precincts to have the entire + reserve force concentrated at head-quarters, which were in Mulberry + Street, near Bleecker. + </p> + <p> + He saw at once, to have his force effective it must be well in hand, so + that he could send it out in any direction in sufficient strength to bear + down all opposition. Subsequent events proved the wisdom of his policy, + for we shall see, after it had been accomplished, the police never lost a + battle. + </p> + <p> + There being thirty-two precincts in the limits of the Metropolitan Police, + a vast territory was covered. These were reached by a system of telegraph + wires, called the Telegraph Bureau, of which James Crowley was + superintendent and Eldred Polhamus deputy. There were three operators—Chapin, + Duvall, and Lucas. A telegraph station was in each precinct—thus + making thirty-two, all coming to a focus at head-quarters. These are also + divided into five sections—north, south, east, west, and central. + The Commissioners, therefore, sitting in the central office, can send + messages almost instantaneously to every precinct of the city, and receive + immediate answers. Hence, Mr. Acton was a huge Briareus, reaching out his + arms to Fort Washington in the north, and Brooklyn in the south, and at + the same time touching the banks of both rivers. No other system could be + devised giving such tremendous power to the police—the power of + instant information and rapid concentration at any desired point. That it + proved itself the strong right arm of the Commissioners, it needs only to + state, that during the four days of the riot, between five and six + thousand messages passed over the wires, showing that they were worked to + their utmost capacity, day and night. The more intelligent of the mob + understood this, and hence at the outset attempted to break up this + communication, by cutting down the poles on Third Avenue. This stopped all + messages to and from the precincts at Fort Washington, Manhattanville, + Harlem, Yorkville, and Bloomingdale, as well as with the Nineteenth + Precinct. + </p> + <p> + But fortunately, the orders to these had passed over the wires before the + work was completed. Subsequently, the rioters cut down the poles in First + Avenue, in Twenty-second Street, and Ninth Avenue, destroying + communication between several other precincts. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Crowley, the Superintendent of the Telegraph Bureau, was made + acquainted early, Monday, by mere accident with this plan of the rioters. + Coming to town in the Third Avenue cars from Yorkville, where he resided, + he suddenly found the car arrested by a mob, and getting out with the + other passengers, discovered men chopping furiously away at the telegraph + poles; and without stopping to think, rushed up to them and ordered them + to desist. One of the ruffians, looking up, cried out, "he is one of the d—d + operators." Instantly yells arose, "Smash him," "Kill him," when those + nearest seized him. By great adroitness he disarmed their suspicions + sufficiently to prevent further violence, though they held him prisoner + for an hour. At last, seeing an opportunity when more important objects + attracted their attention, he quietly worked his way out and escaped. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + Soldiers beaten by the Mob.—Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie.—Mob + Triumphant.—Beat Police Officers unmercifully.—Fearful Scenes.—Fifty + thousand People block Third Avenue.—A whole Block of Houses burning.—Attack + on a Gun Factory.—Defeat of the Broadway Squad.—Houses sacked + in Lexington Avenue.—Telegraph Dispatches.—Bull's Head Tavern + burned.—Block on Broadway burned.—Burning of the Negroes' + Orphan Asylum.—Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House.—A Crisis nobly + met.—Gallant Fight and Victory of Sergeant Carpenter.—A + thrilling Spectacle. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the mob that stood watching the spreading conflagration + in Third Avenue increased rapidly, fed by tributaries from the + tenement-houses, slums, and workshops in that vicinity. But they were soon + startled from their state of comparative quietness, by the cry of "the + soldiers are coming." The Invalid Corps, a small body sent from the Park, + was approaching. As it came up, the soldiers fired, either blank + cartridges, or over the heads of the crowd, doubtless thinking a single + discharge would disperse it. The folly of such a course was instantly + shown, for the mob, roused into sudden fury, dashed on the small body of + soldiers before they could reload, and snatching away their muskets, + pounded them over the head, and chased them like sheep for ten blocks. One + soldier was left for dead on the pavement, beaten to a jelly. Another, + breaking from the crowd, attempted to climb some rocks near Forty-second + Street, when his pursuers grabbed him and dragged him to the top, where + they tore off his uniform, and beat him till he was senseless, and then + threw him down to the bottom and left him. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, Sergeant McCredie, "fighting Mac," as he was called, from + the Fifteenth Precinct, Captain C. W. Caffrey, arrived on the scene with a + few men. Marching down Forty-third street to Third Avenue, they looked up + two blocks, and to their amazement beheld the broad avenue, as far as they + could see, blocked with the mob, while before it, bearing swiftly down on + them, and running for life, came the terror-stricken Invalid Corps. At + this juncture, other squads sent from various precincts arrived, swelling + this force to forty-four. It was a mere handful among these enraged + thousands; but McCredie, who at once took command, determined to stand his + ground, and meet as best he could the overwhelming numbers that came + driving down like a storm, filling the air with yells and oaths, and + brandishing their clubs over their heads. He thought that another police + force was beyond the mob, on the north, and if he could press through and + form a junction with it, the two combined would be strong enough to hold + their own. He therefore quickly formed his men in line across the street, + and awaited the shock. As the disorderly mass following up the fugitives + drew near, McCredie ordered a charge, and this mere handful of men moved + swiftly and steadily upon it. The rioters, stunned by the suddenness and + strength of the blow, recoiled, and the police, following up their + advantage, drove them back, step by step, as far as Forty-sixth street. + Here the sergeant, instead of meeting another body of police, as he + expected, met a heavier body of rioters that were blocking up Forty-sixth + Street on both sides of the avenue. Backed by these, the main body rallied + and charged on the exhausted police force in turn, and almost surrounded + them. To render their already desperate situation hopeless, another mob + suddenly closed in behind them from Forty-fifth street. + </p> + <p> + Thus attacked in front and rear with clubs, iron bars, guns and pistols, + and rained upon with stones and brick-bats from the roofs of the houses, + they were unable longer to keep together, and broke and fled—part up + the side streets, and some down the avenue—bruised, torn, and + bleeding. + </p> + <p> + The desperate nature of this first conflict can be imagined, when, out of + the fourteen men composing Sergeant McCredie's original force, only five + were left unwounded. At the very outset of the charge, the sergeant + himself was struck with an iron bar on the wrist, which rendered the arm + almost useless. In the retreat, four men assailed him at once. Knocking + down two, he took refuge in the house of a German, when a young woman told + him to jump between two mattresses. He did so, and she covered him up just + as his pursuers forced their way in. Streaming through the house from + cellar to garret, they came back, and demanded of the young woman where + the man was hid. She quietly said he had escaped by the rear of the house. + Believing she told the truth, they took their departure. Officer Bennett + was knocked down three times before he ceased fighting. The last time he + was supposed to be dead, when the wretches began to rob him even of his + clothing, stripping him of every article except his drawers. He was soon + after taken up and carried to St. Luke's Hospital, and placed in the + dead-house, where he lay for several hours. When the sad news was brought + to his wife, she hastened to the hospital, and fell weeping on the + lifeless form of her husband. She could not believe he was dead, and + laying her hand on his heart, found to her joy that it pulsated. She + immediately flew to the officials of the hospital, and had him brought in, + and restoratives applied. He revived, but remained unconscious for three + days, while the riot raged around him. Officer Travis, in the flight down + the avenue, saw, as he looked back, that his foremost pursuer had a + pistol. Wheeling, he knocked him down, and seized the pistol, but before + he could use it, a dozen clubs were raining blows upon him, which brought + him to the ground. The infuriated men then jumped upon him, knocking out + his teeth, breaking his jaw-bone and right hand, and terribly mutilating + his whole body. Supposing him to be dead, they then stripped him stark + naked and left him on the pavement, a ghastly spectacle to the passers-by. + Officer Phillips ran the gauntlet almost unharmed, but was pursued block + after block by a portion of the mob, till he reached Thirty-ninth street. + Here he attempted to enter a house, but it was closed against him. As he + turned down the steps, one of the pursuers, in soldier's clothes, levelled + his musket at him and fired. Missing his aim, he clubbed his weapon, and + dealt him a deadly blow. Phillips caught the musket as it descended, and + wrenching it from his grasp, knocked the fellow down with it, and started + and ran across some vacant lots to Fortieth Street. But here he was headed + off by another portion of the mob, in which was a woman, who made a lunge + at him with, a shoemaker's knife. The knife missed his throat, but passed + through his ear. Drawing it back, she made another stab, piercing his arm. + He was now bleeding profusely, and his death seemed inevitable, when a + stranger, seeing his condition, sprang forward, and covering his body, + declared he would kill the first man that advanced. Awed by his determined + manner, the fiends sullenly withdrew. Officers Sutherland and Mingay were + also badly beaten. Officer Kiernan, receiving a blow on his head with a + stone, another on the back of his neck with a hay-bale rung, and two more + on the knees, fell insensible, and would doubtless have been killed + outright, but for the wife of Eagan, who saved Kennedy. Throwing herself + over his body, she exclaimed, "for God's sake do not kill him." Seeing + that they had got to attack this lady to get at Kiernan, they passed on. + </p> + <p> + The scene in Third Avenue at this time was fearful and appalling. It was + now noon, but the hot July sun was obscured by heavy clouds, that hung in + ominous shadows over the city, while from near Cooper Institute to + Forty-sixth Street, or about thirty blocks, the avenue was black with + human beings,—sidewalks, house-tops, windows, and stoops all filled + with rioters or spectators. Dividing it like a stream, horse-cars arrested + in their course lay strung along as far as the eye could reach. As the + glance ran along this mighty mass of men and women north, it rested at + length on huge columns of smoke rolling heavenward from burning buildings, + giving a still more fearful aspect to the scene. Many estimated the number + at this time in the street at fifty thousand. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the fire-bell had brought the firemen on the ground, but + the mob would not let them approach the burning houses. The flames had + communicated with the adjoining block and were now making fearful headway. + At length Engineer Decker addressed the mob, which by this time had grown + thinner by the main mass moving farther down town, who told them that + everything relating to the provost marshal's office was destroyed, and now + the fire was destroying private property, some of which doubtless belonged + to persons friendly to them, and finally persuaded them to let the engines + work. Water was soon deluging the buildings, and the fire at length + arrested, but not until four were consumed with all their contents. + </p> + <p> + The drawing commenced in the Eighth District, 1190 Broadway, Captain + Maniere provost marshal, on the same morning, and continued quietly until + about 12 o'clock, when it was adjourned, and policemen who had been + stationed there to guard it were sent over to the Ninth District, where + the mob was carrying everything before it. But coming in small bodies, + they were easily overcome and scattered. Sergeant Ellison, especially, got + badly beaten; and Sergeant Wade, who came up soon after, and charged + gallantly on the mob, shared the same fate, and had to be taken to St. + Luke's Hospital. The work of destruction having commenced, it went on + after this with the wild irregularity characteristic of mobs. The news of + the uprising and destruction of property, as it spread through those + portions of the city where the low Irish dwelt, stirred up all the + inmates, and they came thronging forth, till there were incipient mobs on + almost every corner. From this time no consecutive narrative can be given + of the after doings. This immense mass seemed to split up into three or + four sections, as different objects attracted their attention; and they + came together and separated apparently without any concert of action. A + shout and a cry in one direction would call off a throng, while a similar + shout in another would attract a portion thither. Some feeling the need of + arms, and remembering that a gun factory was at the corner of Second + Avenue and Twentieth Street, called out to the crowd, and soon a large + body was rushing in that direction. The Police Commissioners had also + thought of this, and hastily sent off the Broadway squad to occupy it, and + they succeeded, by going singly and in pairs, in reaching it—thirty-five + all told. These men, selected for their size, being all six feet or + upward, were ordered to hold the place at all hazards. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the mob endeavored to gain admittance, but warned off by + Sergeant Burdick, left. But scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed, + when they returned heavily reinforced, armed with all kinds of weapons, + and yelling and hooting like fiends. Stones and bricks came crashing + through the windows, but still the squad, though every man was armed with + a carbine, did not fire. + </p> + <p> + The mob then tried to set the factory on fire, but failed. Enraged at + being baffled, a powerful man advanced on the door with a sledge-hammer, + and began to pound against it. At length one of the panels gave way, and + as a shout arose from those looking on, he boldly attempted to crawl + through. The report of a solitary carbine was heard, and the brains of the + man lay scattered on the floor. This staggered the mob for a moment, but + soon fear gave way to rage, and shots and stones were rained against the + building, smashing in the windows, and rapidly making a clean breach + through the door. Burdick sent to Captain Cameron for aid, but he replied + that he could not reach him. + </p> + <p> + At 3:45 the following telegram was sent from the Eighteenth Precinct: + </p> + <p> + "The mob have attacked the armory, Second Avenue and Twenty-first Street. + There is danger of firing the building." + </p> + <p> + Fifteen minutes later came: "It is impossible for us to protect the armory + at Second Avenue and Twenty-first Street." + </p> + <p> + <i>Answer</i>—"Draw your men off. D. C." + </p> + <p> + The squad, in evacuating the building, found themselves cut off both in + front and at the sides. + </p> + <p> + The only mode of escape was through a hole in the rear wall, some eighteen + feet from the ground, and scarcely a foot and a half in diameter. Piling + up boxes to reach this aperture, these large men squeezed themselves + through one by one, feet foremost, and swinging to a gutter-trough, + dropped into the yard below. Climbing from thence over a wall into a + stone-yard, they sped across it to the Eighteenth Precinct Station in + Twenty-second Street. Here taking off their uniforms, they made their way + singly, or in groups of two or three, back to the central office. + </p> + <p> + No sooner did they leave the building than the mob entered it, and the + work of pillage commenced. Every man armed himself with a musket. The + stacks of weapons left, after they had taken all they wanted, were broken + up or rendered useless. One thrown out of the window fell on a man's head + in the street and killed him. + </p> + <p> + While the armory was being attacked, another mob was sacking and burning + houses on Lexington Avenue, near Forty-seventh Street. Within five minutes + from the announcement of this fact, came from the Sixth Precinct the + following dispatch: "A mob of about seven hundred attacked some colored + people in Baxter Street, and then went to the saloon of Samuel Crook, in + Chatham Street, and beat some colored waiters there." + </p> + <p> + A few minutes later from Sixteenth came: "A crowd of about three hundred + men have gone to the foot of Twenty-fourth Street, to stop men in the + foundry from working." + </p> + <p> + At the same time the following was received from the Twenty-first + Precinct: "The mob avow their determination of burning this station. Our + connection by telegram may be interrupted at any moment." + </p> + <p> + Another from the Twentieth said: "A very large crowd is now going down + Fifth Avenue, to attack the <i>Tribune</i> building." + </p> + <p> + As fast as the wires could work, followed "from the Twenty-fourth + Precinct:" + </p> + <p> + "The mob have fired the buildings corner of Broadway and Twenty-fourth + Street." + </p> + <p> + All this time, while new notes of alarm were sounded, and the police + department was struggling to get its force in hand, the work of + destruction was going on in the upper part of the city. Bull's Head + Tavern, in Forty-sixth Street, attracted the attention of the mob. The + sales of the immense herds of cattle in the adjoining yard had been + suspended, and the hotel closed. The crowd, however, forgetting the draft, + and intent only on pillage, streamed up around it, and shouted, "Fire it! + fire it!" While some were calling for axes and crowbars, ten powerful men + jumped on the stoop, and with a few heavy blows sent the hall door flying + from its hinges. The yelling crowd then rushed in, and after helping + themselves to what they wanted, applied the torch, and soon the entire + building was a mass of flame. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE RIOT IN LEXINGTON AVENUE.} + </p> + <p> + At this time another mob was sacking houses in Lexington Avenue. Elegant + furniture and silver plate were borne away by the crowd, while the ladies, + with their children and servants, fled in terror from the scene. The + provost marshal's head-quarters were also set on fire, and the whole block + on Broadway, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets, was burned + down, while jewelry stores and shops of all kinds were plundered and their + contents carried off. A vast horde followed the rioters for the sole + purpose of plunder, and loaded down with their spoils, could be seen + hastening home in every direction. + </p> + <p> + While these fires were under full headway, a new idea seemed to strike the + mob, or at least a portion of it. Having stopped the draft in two + districts, sacked and set on fire nearly a score of houses, and half + killed as many men, it now, impelled by a strange logic, sought to destroy + the Colored Orphan Asylum on Fifth Avenue, extending from Forty-third to + Forty-fourth Street. There would have been no draft but for the war—there + would have been no war but for slavery. But the slaves were black, ergo, + all blacks are responsible for the war. This seemed to be the logic of the + mob, and having reached the sage conclusion to which it conducted, they + did not stop to consider how poor helpless orphans could be held + responsible, but proceeded at once to wreak their vengeance on them. The + building was four stories high, and besides the matrons and officers, + contained over two hundred children, from mere infants up to twelve years + of age. Around this building the rioters gathered with loud cries and + oaths, sending terror into the hearts of the inmates. Superintendent + William E. Davis hurriedly fastened the doors; but knowing they would + furnish but a momentary resistance to the armed multitude, he, with + others, collected hastily the terrified children, and carrying some in + their arms, and leading others, hurried them in a confused crowd out at + the rear of the building, just as the ruffians effected an entrance in + front. Then the work of pillage commenced, and everything carried off that + could be, even to the dresses and trinkets of the children, while heavy + furniture was smashed and chopped up in the blind desire of destruction. + Not satisfied with this, they piled the fragments in the different rooms, + and set fire to them. At this juncture Chief Engineer Decker arrived, and + determined, if possible, to save the building, addressed the crowd, as he + had in the morning, hoping to induce them to forbear further violence, and + let him extinguish the flames. But they had now got beyond argument of any + kind, and knocking him down twice, pitched him into the street. But ten + brave firemen at this juncture rushed to his side, and together fought + their way through the crowd into the building, where they were joined by + two assistant engineers, Lamb and Lewis. They at once began to scatter and + extinguish the burning fragments, keeping back for a while, by their bold + bearing, the rioters. The latter, however, soon rallied in force, and some + mounting to the loft, set it on fire in every part. Decker and his few + gallant allies, finding it impossible to save the building, retreated into + the street, and soon the massive structure was a sheet of flame. + </p> + <p> + The crowd now proceeded to Mayor Opdyke's house, and gathering in front of + it, sent up shouts and calls for the Mayor. They were, however, deterred + at that time from accomplishing their purpose by an appeal from Judge + Barnard, who addressed them from the steps of an adjoining house. + </p> + <p> + Soon after, an immense mob was reported coming down Broadway, for the + purpose, some thought, of attacking the negro waiters in the Lafarge + House, between Amity and Bleecker Streets, but in fact to attack police + head-quarters in Mulberry Street, and break up the very centre of + operations. It was a bold stroke, but the ringleaders had been drinking + all day, and now, maddened by liquor, were ready for the most desperate + attempts. When the news of this movement reached head-quarters, the + commissioners saw that a crisis had come. The mob numbered at least five + thousand, while they could not muster at that moment two hundred men. The + clerk, Mr. Hawley, went to the commissioners' room, and said: "Gentlemen, + the crisis has come. A battle has got to be <i>fought now</i>, <i>and won + too</i>, or all is lost." They agreed with him. "But who," they asked, + "will lead the comparatively small force in this fight?" He replied that + he thought that Sergeant Carpenter should be selected, as one of the + oldest and most experienced officers on the force. "Well," they said, + "will you go down to his room and see what he says about it?" He went, and + laid before him the perilous condition of things, and that an immediate + and successful battle <i>must</i> be fought. + </p> + <p> + Carpenter heard him through, and taking in fully the perilous condition of + things, paused a moment, and then rising to his full height and lifting + his hand, said, with a terrible oath, "I'll go, and I'll win that fight, + or <i>Daniel Carpenter will never come back a live man</i>." He walked out + and summoned the little force, and as "Fall in, men; fall in," was + repeated, they fell into line along the street. When all was ready, Acton + turned to Carpenter, every lineament of whose face showed the stern + purpose that mastered him, and quietly said, "<i>Sergeant make no arrests</i>." + </p> + <p> + It was to be a battle in which no prisoners were to be taken. "All <i>right</i>" + replied Carpenter, as he buttoned up his coat and shouted "Forward." + Solid, and silent save their heavy, measured tread on the pavement, they + moved down Bleecker Street towards Broadway. As they turned into the + latter street, only a block and a half away, they saw the mob, which + filled the entire street far as the eye could reach, moving tumultuously + forward. Armed with clubs, pitchforks, iron bars, and some with guns and + pistols, and most of them in their shirt-sleeves and shouting as they + came, they presented a wild and savage appearance. Pedestrians fled down + the side streets, stores were hastily closed, stages vanished, and they + had the street to themselves. A huge board, on which was inscribed "No + Draft," was borne aloft as a banner, and beside it waved the Stars and + Stripes. + </p> + <p> + The less than two hundred policemen, compact and firm, now halted, while + Carpenter detached two companies of fifty each up the parallel streets to + the right and left, as far as Fourth Street. Coming down this street from + both directions, they were to strike the mob on both flanks at the same + time he charged them in front. He waited till they had reached their + positions, and then shouted, "<i>By the right flank Company front, + double-quick</i>, CHARGE." Instantaneously every club was swung in air, + and solid as a wall and swift as a wave they swept full on the astonished + multitude; while at the same time, to cut the monster in two, the two + companies charged in flank. Carpenter, striding several steps in advance, + his face fairly blazing with excitement, dealt the first blow, stretching + on the pavement a powerful ruffian, who was rushing on him with a huge + club. For a few minutes nothing was heard but the heavy thud of clubs + falling on human skulls, thick and fast as hailstones on windows. The mob, + just before so confident and bold, quailed in terror and would have broke + and fled at once, but for the mass behind which kept bearing down on them. + This, however, soon gave way before the side attacks and the panic that + followed. Then the confusion and uproar became terrible, and the mass + surged hither and thither, now rolling up Broadway, and again borne back + or shoved up against the stores, seeking madly for a way of escape. At + length, breaking into fragments, they rushed down the side streets, hotly + pursued by the police, whose remorseless clubs never ceased to fall as + long as a fugitive was within, reach. Broadway looked like a field of + battle, for the pavement was strewn thick with bleeding, prostrate forms. + It was a great victory and decisive of all future contests. + </p> + <p> + Having effectually dispersed them, Carpenter, with the captured flag, + marched up to Mayor Opdyke's house, when, finding everything quiet, he + returned to head-quarters. This successful attack of the police was + received with cheers by those spectators who had witnessed it. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + No Military in the City.—The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding + Eastern Department, for Help.—Also on General Sandford.—General + Wool sends to General Brown, commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. + Troops.—Marines of the Navy Yard ordered up.—Eventually, West + Point and several States appealed to for Troops.—General Brown + assumes Command.—Attack of Mob on the <i>Tribune</i> Building.—Its + severe Punishment.—Government Buildings garrisoned.—Difficulty + between Generals Brown and Wool.—Head-quarters.—Police + Commissioners' Office Military Head-quarters. + </p> + <p> + The terrible punishment the rioters received at the hands of Carpenter + had, however, only checked their movements for a time; and, as the sun + began to hang low in the summer heavens, men looked forward to the coming + night with apprehension. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, however, the authorities, conscious of the perilous + condition of the city, had resorted to every means of defence in their + power. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, nearly the whole of its + military force, on which it depended in any great emergency, was absent. + Lee's brilliant flank movement around Hooker and Washington, terminating + in the invasion of Pennsylvania, had filled the country with + consternation. His mighty columns were moving straight on Philadelphia, + and the Government at Washington, roused to the imminent danger, had + called for all the troops within reach, and New York had sent forward + nearly every one of her regiments. Ordinary prudence would have dictated + that the draft should be postponed for a few days, till these regiments, + now on their way back, or preparing to return, should arrive. It was + running a needless risk to urge it in such a crisis—indeed, one of + the follies of which the Administration at this time was so needlessly + guilty. + </p> + <p> + General Wool, at this juncture, commanded the Eastern Department, with his + head-quarters at the corner of Bleecker and Greene Streets. Mayor Opdyke + immediately called on him for help, and also on Major-general Sandford, + commanding the few troops that were left in the city. The latter + immediately issued an order requesting the Seventh Regiment to meet that + evening, at their drill-rooms, at eight o'clock, to consult on the + measures necessary to be taken in the present unexpected crisis, and + another to the late two-years' volunteers then in the city, to report at + the same hour in Grand Street, to Colonel William H. Allen, for temporary + duty. + </p> + <p> + General Wool, also, during the afternoon, while the rioters were having it + all their own way, sent an officer to the adjutant-general of General + Brown, commanding the troops in garrison in New York harbor, ordering up a + force of about eighty men immediately. + </p> + <p> + General Brown, on his way from his office to Fort Hamilton, was informed + by Colonel Stinson, chief clerk, that a serious riot was raging in the + city, and that General Wool had sent to Fort Hamilton for a detachment of + some eighty men, and that a tug had gone for them. Surprised at the + smallness of the number sent (he was, by special orders of the War + Department, commandant of the city, and commander of all the forts and + troops in the harbor except Fort Columbus), he immediately ordered the + company at Fort Wood to the city, and sent a tug for it. He then made a + requisition on the quartermaster for transportation of all the other + companies, and proceeded without delay to Fort Hamilton. General Brown's + office was close to General Wool's; but he did not think proper to consult + him on the movement. + </p> + <p> + General Brown, immediately on his arrival at Fort Hamilton, directed that + all the troops there, as well as at Forts Lafayette and Richmond, be got + in readiness to move at a moment's notice, and also that a section of + artillery be organized, in case it should be wanted. Having taken these + wise precautions he hastened up to the city, and reported to General Wool. + The result proved the wisdom of his forecast. A new order was at once + dispatched for the remaining troops, and just at twilight, Lieut. McElrath + saw two steamers making directly for the fort. They were hardly fastened + to the dock, when an officer stepped ashore and handed him an order from + General Brown to send up at once all the efficient troops in the forts, + and have their places supplied as best he could with some volunteer + artillery companies. + </p> + <p> + The reports coming in to police head-quarters had shown that it was no + common uprising of a few disaffected men to be put down by a few squads of + police or a handful of soldiers. The Mayor, after consulting with the + Police Commissioners, felt that it was the beginning of a general outbreak + in every part of the city, and by his representations persuaded General + Wool to apply to Rear-admiral Paulding, commanding the Navy Yard, for a + force of marines, and eventually to Colonel Bowman, Superintendent of West + Point, and also to the authorities of Newark, and Governors of New York, + New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island for troops. + </p> + <p> + General Brown, after reporting to General Wool, repaired to police + head-quarters, which he adopted as his own, and issued the following + order: + </p> + <p> + "HEAD-QUARTERS, NEW YORK, July 13, 1863. + </p> + <p> + "In obedience to the orders of the Major-general commanding the Eastern + Department, the undersigned assumes command of the United States troops in + this city. + </p> + <p> + "Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham and Captain Revolle are of the staff of + the undersigned, and will be obeyed accordingly. + </p> + <h3> + "HARVEY BROWN, + </h3> + <p> + "<i>Brevet Brigadier-general</i>." + </p> + <p> + He also sent a dispatch to General Sandford, at the arsenal, notifying him + of his action, and requesting him to come down and consult with him on the + course to be pursued. General Sandford, after awhile, did come down, and, + to General Brown's amazement, insisted that all the troops should be sent + up to the arsenal. General Brown, seeing the utter madness of such a + disposition of his force, refused decidedly to permit it to be done. This + was of course denying Sandford's claim to be his superior officer. It was + well for the city that he took this ground. + </p> + <p> + Mayor Opdyke also issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to + disperse. + </p> + <p> + But while these measures were being set on foot, the rioters were not + idle. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE BUILDING.} + </p> + <p> + All day long a crowd had been gathering in the Park around the City Hall, + growing more restless as night came on. The railroad-cars passing it were + searched, to see if any negroes were on board, while eyes glowered + savagely on the <i>Tribune</i> building. They had sought in an + eating-house for the editor, to wreak their vengeance on him. Not finding + him, they determined that the building, from which was issued the + nefarious paper, should come down, but were evidently waiting for help to + arrive before commencing the work of destruction. The mob, which Carpenter + had so terribly punished in Broadway, were marching for it, designing to + burn it after they had demolished police head-quarters. Their dispersion + delayed the attack, and doubtless broke its force, by the reduction of + numbers it caused. There seemed enough, however, if properly led, to + effect their purpose, for the Park and Printing-house Square were black + with men, who, as the darkness increased, grew more restless; and "Down + with it! burn it!" mingled with oaths and curses, were heard on every + side. + </p> + <p> + At last came the crash of a window, as a stone went through it. Another + and another followed, when suddenly a reinforcing crowd came rushing down + Chatham Street. This was the signal for a general assault, and, with + shouts, the rabble poured into the lower part of the building, and began + to destroy everything within reach. Captain Warlow, of the First Precinct, + No. 29 Broad Street, who, with his command, was in the gallant fight in + Broadway, after some subsequent fighting and marching, had at length + reached his head-quarters in Broad Street, where a despatch met him, to + proceed at once to the <i>Tribune</i> building. He immediately started off + on the double-quick. On reaching the upper end of Nassau Street, he came + to a halt, and gave the club signal on the pavement, to form column. + Captain Thorne, of the City Hall, in the meantime, had joined his force to + him, with the gallant Sergeant Devoursney. Everything being ready, the + order to "Charge" was given, and the entire force, perhaps a hundred and + fifty strong, fell in one solid mass on the mob, knocking men over right + and left, and laying heads open at every blow. The panic-stricken crowd + fled up Chatham Street, across the Park, and down Spruce and Frankfort + Streets, punished terribly at every step. The space around the building + being cleared, a portion of the police rushed inside, where the work of + destruction was going on. The sight of the blue-coats in their midst, with + their uplifted clubs, took the rioters by surprise, and they rushed + frantically for the doors and windows, and escaped the best way they + could. In the meantime, those who had taken refuge in the Park found + themselves in the lion's jaws. Carpenter had hardly rested from his march + up Fifth Avenue to Mayor Opdyke's house, when he, too, received orders to + hasten to the protection of the <i>Tribune</i> building. Taking one + hundred of his own men, and one hundred under Inspector Folk, of Brooklyn, + who had been early ordered over, and been doing good service in the city, + he marched down Broadway, and was just entering the Park, when the + frightened crowd came rushing pell-mell across it. Immediately forming + "company front," he swept the Park like a storm, clearing everything + before him. Order being restored, Folk returned with his force to + Brooklyn, where things began to wear a threatening aspect, and Carpenter + took up his station at City Hall for the night. + </p> + <p> + This ended the heavy fighting of the day, though minor disturbances + occurred at various points during the evening. Negroes had been hunted + down all day, as though they were so many wild beasts, and one, after + dark, was caught, and after being severely beaten and hanged to a tree, + left suspended there till Acton sent a force to take the body down. Many + had sought refuge in police-stations and elsewhere, and all were filled + with terror. + </p> + <p> + The demonstrations in the lower part of the city excited the greatest + anxiety about the Government buildings in that section—the Custom + House and Sub-treasury were tempting prizes to the rioters. General + Sandford, commanding the city military, had sent such force as he could + collect early in the day to the arsenal, to defend it; for, should the mob + once get possession of the arms and ammunition stored there, no one could + tell what the end would be. United States troops also were placed in + Government buildings to protect them. Almost the last act of the mob this + evening was the burning of Postmaster Wakeman's house, in Eighty-sixth + Street. Mrs. Wakeman was noted for her kindness to the poor and wretched, + who now repaid her by sacking and burning her house. The precinct station + near by was also destroyed. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, an event happened which threatened to disarrange all the + plans that had been laid. Military etiquette often overrides the public + good, and here, at this critical moment, General Wool chose to consider + that, as General Sandford was Major-general, though not in the United + States service, he, therefore, ranked Brigadier-general Brown of the + regular army, and required him to act under the other's orders. This, + Brown promptly refused to do, and asked to be relieved, telling General + Wool that such a proceeding was an unheard-of thing. That he was right the + order below will show {Footnote: {GENERAL ORDER No. 36.} WAR DEPARTMENT, + </p> + <p> + <i>Adjutant-general's Office, Washington</i>, April 7th, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 6. The military commander's duties in reference to all troops and enlisted + men who happen to serve within the limits of his command will be <i>precisely + those of a commanding officer of a military post</i>. + </p> + <p> + The duties of military commanders above defined, will devolve in the <i>City + of New York, and the military posts in that vicinity</i>, on Brevet + Brigadier-general H. Brown, Colonel Fifth U. S. Artillery. + </p> + <p> + By order of the Secretary of War, (Signed) L. THOMAS, <i>Adjutant-general</i>.} + that his troops must be under his own command, as he was responsible for + their action to the Government, and Sandford was not. Wool, however, + continued obstinate, and a total disruption seemed inevitable. Mayor + Opdyke, President Acton, Governor Seymour, with several prominent American + citizens, were present, and witnessed this disagreement with painful + feelings. They knew that it would work mischief, if not paralyze the + combined action they hoped to put forth in the morning. General Brown, + finding Wool inflexible, turned away, determined to retire altogether. The + Mayor and others followed him, and begged him not to abandon them in the + desperate strait they were in—to think of nothing but saving the + city. General Brown had been too hasty, sticking on a point of mere + etiquette, with, perhaps, too much tenacity. True, an officer must insist + on his rank as a rule, but there are emergencies when everything of a + personal nature must be forgotten—crises where it may be an + officer's duty to serve in any capacity, however subordinate, and trust to + being righted afterwards. Luckily, General Brown, on a sober second + thought, took the proper view, and returned to General Wool, and asked to + be reinstated in his command, but giving him to understand that, though he + would co-operate in every possible way with General Sandford, he still + must retain distinct and separate command of his own troops. This was + right, and whether General Wool perfectly understood the arrangement, or + seeing how deeply the gentlemen present felt on the subject, chose not to + press a mere point of etiquette, does not appear. We only know that if + General Brown had given up the command of his troops, the results to the + city would have been disastrous. + </p> + <p> + While these events were passing in the St. Nicholas Hotel, the streets + were comparatively quiet. It had been a hard day for the rioters, as well + as for the police, and they were glad of a little rest. Besides, they had + become more or less scattered by a terrific thunderstorm that broke over + the city, deluging the streets with water. In the midst of it, there came + a telegraphic dispatch to the commissioners, calling for assistance. The + tired police were stretched around on the floor or boxes, seeking a little + rest, when they were aroused, and summoned to fall in; and the next moment + they plunged into the darkness and rain. They were drenched to the skin + before they had gone a block, but they did not heed it—and then, as + to the end, and under all circumstances, answered promptly and nobly to + every call. + </p> + <p> + Acton had now gathered a large force at head-quarters, and felt ready to + strike at any moment. + </p> + <p> + While the men flung themselves on the hard floor, like soldiers on the + field of battle, ready to start on duty at the first call, Acting + Superintendent Acton and his assistants never closed their eyes, but spent + the night in telegraphing, organizing, and preparing for the fiercer + fights of next day. Much was to be done to cover and protect a district + that reached from Brooklyn to Westchester, and it was an anxious night. + They had one consolation, however: though taken unawares, they had at the + close of the day come out victors, which gave them confidence in the + future, especially as now Brown and his trained soldiers were with them. + </p> + <p> + Some fifteen or twenty policemen had been more or less severely injured, + while the number of the killed and wounded of the mob was wholly unknown. + Both the dead and maimed were left by the police where they fell, and were + almost immediately hurried away by their friends. + </p> + <p> + The destruction of property on this first day, consisted of four buildings + on Third Avenue burned, also a block on Broadway between Twenty-eighth and + Twenty-ninth Streets; two brown-stone dwellings in Lexington Avenue; + Allerton's Hotel near Bull's Head; a cottage, corner of Forty-fifth Street + and Fifth Avenue; the Colored Orphan Asylum, and the armory corner of + Twenty-first Street and Second Avenue. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + Telegraph Bureau.—Its Work.—Skill and Daring and Success of + its Force.—Interesting Incidents.—Hairbreadth Escapes.—Detective + Force.—Its arduous Labors.—Its Disguises.—Shrewdness, + Tact, and Courage.—Narrow Escapes.—Hawley, the Chief Clerk.—His + exhausting Labors. + </p> + <p> + One thing Commissioners Acton and Bergen in their consultation settled + must be done at all hazards—telegraphic communication must be kept + open with the different precincts. Otherwise it would be impossible to + concentrate men at any given point, quick enough to arrest the mob before + they spread devastation and conflagration far and wide. Every hour gained + by a mob in accumulating or organizing its forces, increases the + difficulty of dispersing it. The rioters understood this partially, and + had acted accordingly; but the rich spoils they had come across during the + day, had driven, for the time being, all other thoughts but plunder out of + their heads. Some communications had already been destroyed, and the + rioters would evidently by morning have their eyes open to the importance + of doing this everywhere, and their efforts must be foiled, no matter what + the risk or sacrifice might be. They had already cut down over sixty + poles, and rendered upwards of twelve miles of wire useless; and how much + more would share the same fate the next day, no one could tell. + </p> + <p> + The superintendent and deputy of the Telegraph Bureau, Messrs. Crowley and + Polhamus, with the operators mentioned before, were, therefore, set at + work this very evening in the storm, to restore the broken lines. + </p> + <p> + This was a perilous undertaking, for if once discovered, their lives would + be instantly sacrificed. + </p> + <p> + The details of their operations, their disguises, ingenious contrivances, + deceptions, and boldness in carrying out their object, would make an + attractive chapter in itself. Often compelled to mingle with the mob, + always obliged to conceal what they were about, not daring to raise a pole + or handle a wire unless cautiously or secretly, they yet restored the + lines in the north section by morning, and those in the south by Wednesday + evening. Sometimes they were compelled to carry a wire over the top of a + house, sometimes round it, through a back-yard; in short, every device and + expedient was resorted to by these daring, sharp-witted men. Once Polhamus + had his boots burned off in tramping through the burning ruins of a + building after the wires. Once he and Mr. Crowley came near being clubbed + to death by the police, who mistook them for rioters, so ingeniously and + like them were they at work among the ruins. Captain Brower rescued them, + or their services might have ended on the spot. + </p> + <p> + This work was kept steadily up during the continuation of the riots. On + one occasion, Mr. Crowley, hearing that the wires were down in the Ninth + and Tenth Avenues, hastened thither alone, when he encountered a large + mob. Fearing to pass through it he hesitated a moment, when he noticed a + carriage driving in the direction he wished to go, in which was a Catholic + priest. He immediately hailed it and was taken in. As the carriage entered + the mob, the latter surrounded it, and supposing the inmates were + reporters, began to yell "Down with the d—d reporters;" but the + moment they recognized the priest, they allowed it to pass. Often the two + would take a hack; and passing themselves off as drivers, go through + infected districts, and search points to which they otherwise could not + have gone. One time they were returning from an expedition through Third + Avenue, and had reached Houston Street, when they were hailed by a gang of + rioters, who demanded to be taken downtown. They had to comply, for the + men were armed with pistols, and so took them in and kept along Houston + Street, under the pretence of going down through Broadway, knowing that + when they reached Mulberry Street they would be in hailing distance of the + head-quarters of the police. It was just after daybreak, and Crowley and + Polhamus urged on the horses, expecting in a few minutes to have their + load safely locked up. The fellows evidently not liking the vicinity to + which the drivers were taking them, ordered them to wheel about, which + they were compelled to do, and drive under their direction to an old house + in the Tenth Ward. There they got out, and offering the drivers a drink + and fifty cents, let them go. On one occasion, Crowley, while examining + the wires in Second Avenue, was suspected by the mob, who fell upon him, + and it was only by the greatest coolness and adroitness he convinced them + he was a rioter himself, and so escaped. At another time they were going + along in a common wagon, when they were hemmed in by a crowd, and escaped + by passing themselves off as farmers from Westchester. Had they been + discovered, they would have been killed on the spot. + </p> + <h3> + DETECTIVE FORCE. + </h3> + <p> + The duties of this force are well known, but during the riots they had + something more important to do than to work up individual cases. The + force, with John Young as chief, and M. B. Morse as clerk, consisted in + all of seventeen persons. These men are selected for their superior + intelligence, shrewdness, sagacity, and undoubted courage. Full of + resources, they must also be cool, collected, and fearless. During the + riots they were kept at work day and night, obtaining knowledge of facts + that no others could get, and thus supplying the different precincts and + head-quarters with invaluable information. Their duty was a most perilous + one, for it called them to go into the very heart of the turbulent + districts; nay, into the very midst of the mob, where detection would have + been followed by death, and that of the most horrible kind. Chief Young, + with his clerk, was engaged at head-quarters, so that fifteen men had to + perform the required work for the whole city. Sometimes alone, sometimes + two or three together, they seemed omnipresent. In all sorts of disguises, + feigning all sorts of employments and characters, sometimes on horseback + and again driving an old cart or a hack, they pressed with the most + imperturbable effrontery into the very vortex of danger. Ever on the + watch, and accustomed to notice every expression of the countenance, they + would discover at a single glance when they were suspected, and remove the + suspicion at once by some clever device. Sometimes one of them, seeing + himself watched, would quietly ascend the steps of a residence, and + ringing the bell, make some inquiry as though he were on business, and + then deliberately walk off; or if he thought it would not do to have his + face too closely scanned, he would step inside and wait till the crowd + moved on. Sometimes, with a stone or club in their hands, they would shout + with the loudest, and engaging in conversation with the ringleaders + themselves, ascertain their next move; then quietly slip away to the + nearest station, and telegraph to head-quarters the information. When the + telegraph had been cut off, they had to take the place of the wires, and + carry through the very heart of the crowd their news to the department. + </p> + <p> + On their ears again and again would ring the fearful cry, "There goes + Kennedy's spies;" and it required the most consummate acting and + self-possession to allay the suspicion. Often on a single word or act + hinged their very lives. Some of these men were in the mob that made the + first attack on Mayor Opdyke's house, and while apparently acting with it, + learned of the intended movement down to police head-quarters, and at once + telegraphed the fact, which enabled Carpenter to prepare for them, and + give them the terrible beating we have described. At the burning and + sacking of different buildings they were present, and often would follow + unnoticed the ringleaders for hours, tracking them with the tireless + tenacity of a sleuth hound, until they got them separate from the crowd, + and then pounce suddenly upon them, and run them into the nearest station. + The lawlessness that prevailed not only let loose all the thieves and + burglars of the city, but attracted those from other places, who practised + their vocation with impunity. To lessen this evil, the detectives one + night quietly made visits to some half a dozen "lushing cribs," as they + are called, in Eighth and Fourteenth Streets, and seized about thirty + noted thieves, burglars, and garroters, and locked them up for + safe-keeping. They also warned the negroes of threatened danger, and + directed them, to places of safety; and in case of emergency acted as + guides to the military in their operations. In short, they were + ubiquitous, indefatigable, and of immense service. They played the part of + unerring pointers to the commissioners, telling them when and where to + strike; yet strange to say, such was their skill, their ingenuity, and + exhaustless resources, that they all escaped being assaulted, save one + named Slowly. He was passing through the very heart of the riotous + district, in Second Avenue, when some one who had evidently been once in + his clutches, recognized him, and pointing him out, shouted "Detective!" + Instantly a rush was made for him, and he was knocked down, and kicked and + stamped upon. Regaining, with a desperate effort, his feet, he sprang up + the steps of a house, and fought his assailants fiercely, till the lady of + the house, seeing his perilous situation, courageously opened the door and + let him in, and then bolted and barred it in the face of the mob. Through + some strange apprehension, the baffled wretches, though they howled, and + swore, and threatened, did not force an entrance, and he escaped. + </p> + <p> + In this connection, while speaking of those whose duties were uniform and + running through the whole period of the riots, might be mentioned Seth C. + Hawley, the chief clerk. Like Acton, he has a nervous, wiry temperament. + This often makes a man rash and headlong, and hence not reliable; but when + combined, as in him, with perfect self-possession and self-control, + imparts enormous power. It matters not how nervous and excitable a man is, + if danger and responsibility instead of confusing and unsettling him, only + winds him up to a higher tension, till he becomes like a tightly-drawn + steel spring. Excitement then not only steadies him, but it quickens his + perceptions, clears his judgment, gives rapidity to his decisions, and + terrible force to his blow. Mr. Hawley's duties were of a various and + exhausting kind, so that during all the riots, he allowed himself only one + hours' rest out of every twenty-four. Besides his ordinary supervisory + duties over the clerks, etc., he had to see to the execution of the almost + incessant orders of the commissioners, provide and issue arms, see to the + refugees and prisoners, and act as commissary to over four thousand men on + duty in and around head-quarters. Two men more perfectly fitted to work + together in such a crisis as this, than he and Acton, could not well be + found. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. — SECOND DAY. + </h2> + <p> + Appearance of the City.—Assembling of the Mob.—Fight between + Rioters and the Police and Soldiers.—Storming of Houses.—Rioters + hurled from the Roofs.—Soldiers fire on the People.—Awful + Death of Colonel O'Brien.—Fight in Pitt Street.—Deadly + Conflict for a Wire Factory.—Horrible Impaling of a Mart on an Iron + Picket.—Mystery attached to Him.—Second Attack on Mayor + Opdyke's House.—Second Fight for the Wire Factory.—Telegraphic + Dispatches.—Citizens Volunteering.—Raid on the Negroes.—They + are hunted to Death.—Savage Spectacle.—Negroes seek + Head-quarters of Police.—Appearance and State of the City.—Colonel + Nugent's House sacked.—Fight with the Mob in Third Avenue.—Battle + at Gibbon's House.—Policeman Shot.—Night Attack on Brooks and + Brothers' Clothing Store.—Value of the Telegraph System.—Captain + Petty.—Seymour's Speech to the Mob.—Cars and Stages seized.—Barricades.—Other + Fights.—Acton and his Labors. + </p> + <p> + The early July morning broke tranquilly over the great city, and the + rattling of vehicles was heard in some of the streets, where men were + going to their places of business. In a large portion of it everything + wore its usual air of tranquillity, yet a close observer would notice an + uneasiness resting on the countenances of men. Furtive glances were cast + down side streets, and people seemed on the watch, as though in + expectation of something to come, and the very atmosphere appeared laden + with evil omens. Around police head-quarters, and inside the building, + were large bodies of policemen and the U. S. troops under General Brown. + But uptown, in the vicinity of Thirteenth Street and Second and Third + Avenues, crowds of men began early to assemble, though perfectly quiet in + their demeanor, while smaller knots in the adjoining wards could be seen + discussing the events of the day before. In the meantime, exciting reports + came from Harlem and Yorkville—as early as five o'clock, the + following telegram was sent to the Twentieth Precinct: "Notify General + Sandford to go immediately to Eighty-sixth Street and Harlem—mob + burning." Indeed the air was charged with electricity, but the + commissioners now felt ready to meet the storm whenever and wherever it + should burst. A large force of special policemen had been sworn in, while + General Brown had over seven hundred troops, ready to co-operate with the + police. The public buildings were all well guarded—Sandford had a + strong force in the arsenal, and the military and civil authorities stood + waiting the next movement of the mob. Telegrams arriving, showed that the + northern part of the city was alive with gathering crowds, while from + Sixth Avenue on the west nearly to Second Avenue in the east, and down + almost to Broome Street, the streets were black with excited men. Stores + were closed, factories emptied of their hands, who voluntarily joined the + rioters, or were forced into their ranks, and there was evidently a + gathering of the elements in those directions for a fearful storm. Soon + immense crowds began to patrol the streets in different wards, showing + that simultaneous action would be required at various points. The troops + were called out and marshalled in Mulberry Street, and those companies + selected for immediate action drawn up in line. Colonel Frothingham, after + an earnest conversation with the officers, addressed the soldiers. He told + them that the fate of the city was in their hands, and everything depended + on their good conduct. Knowing the temptations to disorderly conduct in + the midst of the great city, he urged on them especially to obey + implicitly their officers under all circumstances. His manner and words + were earnest, and listened to with profound attention. Soon a company + headed by Sergeant Carpenter, with a police force two hundred and fifty + strong, started for Second and Third Avenues, where the greatest + gatherings were reported to be. + </p> + <p> + At this time the rioters seemed hesitating about their course of action. + There was apparently no recognized leader, no common understanding and + purpose, though all were engaged in animated discussions of some topic. + Dirty, ferocious-looking women were scattered through the crowd; some of + the men were armed, while all looked defiant and determined. + </p> + <p> + There were doubtless many who had come from mere curiosity, and a few + attempted to allay the excitement, among them a Catholic priest, who + harangued them, urging them to maintain peace. His address seemed to have + considerable influence on those immediately around him; but as soon as he + left, his words were forgotten, and the mighty throng, estimated by some + at ten thousand, began to be agitated by passion. What would have been the + first act of violence, it is impossible to say, had they been left + undisturbed. But at the cry of "the police and soldiers are coming," + everything else was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Inspector Carpenter, coming down Twenty-first Street, struck Second + Avenue, and wheeling, moved in solid column through the crowd up to + Thirty-second Street. The force was assailed with hoots and yells, and all + kinds of opprobrious epithets, but no violence was shown, until it had + crossed Thirty-second Street. The mob not only filled the street, but + numbers, with piles of stones and brick-bats, had climbed to the roofs of + the houses. These deeming themselves secure, suddenly, with one accord, + rained their missiles on the rear of the column. + </p> + <p> + The men fell rapidly, and two were dangerously hurt. Carpenter immediately + halted his command, and ordered fifty men to enter the houses, and + mounting to the roof, clear them of the assailants. Barricaded doors were + at once broken in, and every one that opposed their progress clubbed + without mercy, as they made their way to the upper floors. Captain Mount + of the Eleventh Precinct, led this storming party. Officers Watson and + Cole distinguished themselves by being the first on the roof, fighting + their way through a narrow scuttle. As the police, one by one, stepped on + to the roof, they rushed on the desperadoes with their clubs, and felled + them rapidly. Those who attempted to escape through the scuttles were met + by the police in the rooms below; or if one chanced to reach the street, + he was knocked down by those keeping guard there. Some dropped from second + and third story windows, and met with a worse fate than those who staid + behind. One huge fellow received such a tremendous blow, that he was + knocked off his feet and over the edge of the roof, and fell headlong down + a height of four stories to the pavement beneath. Crushed to death by the + force of the fall, he lay a mangled heap at the feet of his companions. + </p> + <p> + The fight was sharp and fierce, and kept up for nearly an hour, and bodies + scattered around showed with what deadly force the club had been wielded. + But with the clearing of the houses there came a lull in the conflict, and + the immense crowd looked on in sullen silence, as the police reformed in + the street, and recommenced their march. The military force that had + accompanied the police, had formed on the avenue, about a block and a half + above where the latter were stationed, while the detachment was clearing + the houses. Two howitzers were placed in position commanding the avenue. + Colonel O'Brien, of the Eleventh New York Volunteers, who was raising a + regiment for the war, had gathered together, apparently on his own + responsibility, about fifty men, and appearing on the field, from his + superior rank, assumed command. For a short time the rioters remained + quiet, but as the police marched away, they suddenly awoke out of their + apparent indifference. Maddened at the sight of the mangled bodies of + their friends stretched on the pavement, and enraged at their defeat by + the police, they now turned on the soldiers, and began to pelt them with + stones and brick-bats. O'Brien rode up and down the centre of the street a + few times, evidently thinking his fearless bearing would awe the mob. But + they only jeered him, and finding the attack growing hotter and more + determined, he finally gave the order to fire. The howitzers belched forth + on the crowd, the soldiers levelled their pieces, and the whistling of + minie-balls was heard on every side. Men and women, reeled and fell on the + sidewalk and in the street. One woman, with her child in her arms, fell, + pierced with a bullet. The utmost consternation followed. The crowd knew + from sad experience that the police would use their clubs, but they seemed + to think it hardly possible that the troops would fire point-blank into + their midst. But the deadly effect of the fire convinced them of their + error, and they began to jostle and crowd each other in the effort to get + out of its range. In a few minutes the avenue was cleared of the living, + when the wounded and dead were cared for by their friends. Order had been + restored, and O'Brien, with some twenty or thirty men, marched down to + police head-quarters, and offered his services to Genera Brown. Colonel + Frothingham thanked him, but soon saw that the Colonel was not in a fit + state to have command of troops, and so reported to General Brown. O'Brien + appeared to comprehend the state of things, and asked to be excused on the + plea of sickness. He was excused, and rode away. Whether he disbanded his + handful of men, or they disbanded themselves, was not stated, but <i>he</i> + was soon back again at the scene of the riot. His residence was close by, + but had been deserted that morning by the family, which had fled in alarm + to Brooklyn. Scowling visages lowered on the colonel, as he rode slowly + back among the crowd, and low muttered threats were heard. Although an + Irishman, and well-known in that neighborhood, his sympathy with the + Government had awakened more or less hostile feeling against him, which + his conduct to-day kindled into deadly hate. Apparently unconscious or + reckless of this, he dismounted, and entered a neighboring drug-store or + saloon. After remaining a few moments he came out, and paused as he beheld + the crowd that had assembled around the door. There was little said, but + dark and angry countenances were bent on him from every side, and he saw + that mischief was intended. Drawing his sword, and taking a revolver in + the other hand, he deliberately walked out into the street. He had taken + but a few steps, when a powerful blow on the back of his head made him + stagger forward. In an instant a rush was made for him, and blows were + rained so fast and fierce upon him, that he was unable to defend himself. + Knocked down and terribly mangled, he was dragged with savage brutality + over the rough pavement, and swung from side to side like a billet of + wood, till the large, powerful body was a mass of gore, and the face + beaten to a pumice. The helpless but still animate form would then be left + awhile in the street, while the crowd, as it swayed to and fro, gazed on + it with cool indifference or curses. At length a Catholic priest, who had + either been sent for, or came along to offer his services wherever they + might be needed, approached the dying man and read the service of the + Catholic Church over him, the crowd in the meantime remaining silent. + After he had finished, he told them to leave the poor man alone, as he was + fast sinking. But as soon as he had disappeared, determined to make sure + work with their victim, they again began to pound and trample on the body. + In the intervals of the attack, the still living man would feebly lift his + head, or roll it from side to side on the stones, or heave a faint groan. + </p> + <p> + The whole afternoon was spent in this fiendish work, and no attempt was + made to rescue him. Towards sundown the body was dragged into his own + back-yard, his regimentals all torn from him, except his pantaloons, + leaving the naked body, from the waist up, a mass of mangled flesh clotted + with blood. + </p> + <p> + But the dying man could not be left alone in his own yard. A crowd + followed him thither, among which were women, who committed the most + atrocious violence on the body, until at last, with one convulsive + movement of the head, and a deep groan, the strong man yielded up his + life. + </p> + <p> + While this tragedy was being enacted here, similar scenes were occurring + all over the city. Mobs were everywhere, the spirit of pandemonium was + abroad, and havoc and revenge let loose. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Wood, whom General Brown had sent off, with a company of + regulars, came in conflict with a mob, two thousand strong, in Pitt and + Delancey Streets. Marching along Houston to the Bowery, he turned down the + latter, and kept on to Grand. On reaching Pitt Street, he beheld the + hooting, yelling crowd coming straight towards him. He immediately formed + his little force of one hundred and fifty men in line across the street, + and brought them to "shoulder arms." One of the ringleaders stepped + forward to speak to him, when Lieutenant Wood waved him off. This was the + signal for the attack, and immediately a shower of stones fell among the + soldiers. The officer ordered the men to fire—it was said over the + heads of the rioters—in order to disperse them. The result was + scattering shots in return from the latter. Wood then ordered a + point-blank volley, when men tumbled over right and left. The crowd did + not wait for a second, but fled in every direction. Wood then marched back + to headquarters, but on the way slipped and sprained his ankle, which + caused a report that he had been wounded. + </p> + <p> + A bloody conflict also took place between the police and mob in the same + avenue where Colonel O'Brien fell, below Thirtieth Street. There was a + wire factory here, in which several thousand carbines were stored. Of + this, some of the rioters were aware, and communicated the fact to others, + and a plan was formed to capture them. Having discovered from the + morning's experience that the military had been called in to aid the + police, arms became imperatively necessary, if they hoped to make a + successful resistance. All public depositories of arms they knew were + guarded, but this factory was not, and hence they resolved to capture it + without delay. Swarming around it, they forced the entrance, and began to + throw out the carbines to their friends. The attack, however, had been + telegraphed to head-quarters, and Inspector Dilks was despatched with two + hundred men to save the building, and recover any arms that might be + captured. He marched rapidly up to Twenty-first Street, and down it to the + avenue. Here he came suddenly upon the mob, that blocked the entire + street. As the head of the force appeared, the rioters, instead of being + frightened, greeted it with jeers and curses. It was two hundred against a + thousand; but the inspector did not hesitate a moment on account of the + inequality of numbers, but instantly formed his men and ordered a charge. + The mob, instead of recoiling, closed desperately on the police, and a + fierce hand-to-hand encounter took place. The clubs, however, mowed a + clean swath along the street, and the compact little force pushed like a + wedge into the throng, and cleared a bloody space for itself. The orders + were to recapture all the arms; for this was of more vital importance than + the capture of men. Wherever, therefore, a musket was seen, a man would + dash for it, and, seizing it, fight his way back into line. On the + pavement, the sidewalk, and in the gutters, men lay bleeding and dying, + until at last, the more resolute having been knocked on the head, the vast + crowd, like a herd of buffalo, broke and tore madly down the street. One + of the leaders was a man of desperate courage, and led on the mob with + reckless fury, though bleeding freely from the terrible punishment he + received. As his comrades turned to flee, leaving him alone, a fearful + blow sent him reeling and staggering towards the sidewalk. As he reached + it, he fell heavily over against the iron railing, and his chin striking + one of the iron pickets, the sharp point entered it and penetrated through + to the roof of his mouth. No one noticed him, or if they did, paid no + attention to him in the headlong flight on the one hand, and swift pursuit + on the other. Thus horridly impaled, his body hanging down along the + sidewalk, the wretched man was left to die. At length Captain Hedden + noticed him, and lifting up the corpse, laid it down on the sidewalk. It + was found, to the surprise of all, to be that of a young man of delicate + features and white, fair skin. "Although dressed as a laborer, in dirty + overalls and filthy shirt, underneath these were fine cassimere pants, + handsome, rich vest, and fine linen shirt." {Footnote: D.M. Barnes.} He + was evidently a man in position far above the rough villains he led on, + but had disguised himself so, as not to be known. He never was known. The + corpse, during the fight that followed, disappeared with the bodies of + many others. + </p> + <p> + The street being cleared, Dilks turned his attention to the factory, which + was filled with armed rioters, who were determined to defend it to the + last. Detaching a portion of his force, he ordered it to take the building + by storm. Dashing over all obstacles, the men won the stairway step by + step, and entering the main room on the second story, felled a man at + almost every blow. Those who succeeded in escaping down-stairs were + knocked on the head by the force in the street, and soon no rioters were + left but the dead and dying. How many fell in this fight it is impossible + to tell; but one physician alone dressed the wounds of twenty-one + desperately wounded men. Taking what guns they could find and had captured + in the street, the force marched triumphantly back, cheered on their way + by the spectators. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, Mayor Opdyke's house in Fifth Avenue had again been + attacked and partially sacked. Captain Maniere, one of the provost + marshals, however, assembled a small force, and drove out the rioters, who + were mostly young men and boys, before the work of destruction was + complete. The news of this attack had been telegraphed to head-quarters of + the police, and Captain Helme, of the Twenty-seventh Precinct, despatched + to its defence. At his approach the rioters dispersed. Soon after, he was + ordered with his command over to the Second Avenue, accompanied by a + detachment of troops under Captain Franklin. This was in the afternoon—the + mob had reassembled, and reinforced by those who had been dispersed at + Thirty-fourth Street, where Colonel O'Brien fell, had overcome the small + body of police at the wire factory, and again taken possession of it. They + had found some boxes of guns that had been overlooked by Dilks, and having + armed themselves, determined to hold it. Even women joined in the defence. + As the force approached, it was greeted with shouts of defiance and + missiles of every kind. An immense crowd was gathered outside, while the + windows of the five-story building were filled with angry, excited faces, + and arms wildly gesticulating. Charging on this dense mass, and clubbing + their way to the building, the police entered it, and streaming up the + stairways, cleared it floor by floor, some being knocked senseless, others + leaping from windows, to be killed by the fall, and others escaping + down-stairs, to be met by the force in the street. A thorough search was + now made for arms, and the building emptied of them. Taking possession of + these, the police and military took up their line of march for + head-quarters. They had not proceeded far, however, before the mob that + had scattered in every direction began to pour back again into the avenue, + and close on the military that were bringing up the rear. Following them + with hoots and yells that were unheeded, they became emboldened, and + pressing nearer, began to hurl stones and bricks, and everything they + could lay their hands on, against the soldiers. The latter bore it for + awhile patiently; but this only made the wretches more fierce and daring. + Seeing there was but one way to end this, Captain Franklin ordered his men + to "About face;" and "ready, aim, fire," fell in quick succession. The + yelling, shouting crowd were in point-blank range, and the volley told + with deadly effect. The street was strewed with dead and dying, while the + living fled down the avenue. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, mobs had sprung up in every part of the city; some larger + and some smaller; some after negroes, others firing buildings or sacking + them. + </p> + <p> + Some idea of the pressure on the Police Commissioners during this + forenoon, and the condition the city was in, may be gathered from the + following despatches, which are only a small portion of those received and + answered in two hours: + </p> + <p> + 10.20. From Thirteenth. Send military here immediately. + </p> + <p> + 10.22. To Seventh. Find military and send them to Thirteenth Street + forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 10.45. From Sixteenth. A mob has just attacked Jones' soap factory; stores + all closed. + </p> + <p> + 10.50. To Twenty-sixth. Tell Inspector Leonard to send one hundred men + here forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 10.55. To Twentieth. From General Brown. Send to arsenal and say a heavy + battle is going on. Captain Wilkins and company of regulars will report to + me here at once. + </p> + <p> + 11.18. From Sixteenth. Mob is coming down to station-house; we have no + men. + </p> + <p> + 11.20. From Eighteenth. The mob is very wild, corner Twenty-second Street + and Second Avenue. They have attacked the Union steam factory. + </p> + <p> + 11.35. To Twenty-sixth. Send another one hundred men here forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 11.35. From Twentieth. Send one hundred men to disperse mob assailing + Mayor Opdyke's house. + </p> + <p> + 11.38. To Twenty-first. Can you send a few men here? + </p> + <p> + 11.40. From Twenty-second. The mob has gone to Mr. Higgins' factory, foot + of Forty-third Street, to burn it. + </p> + <p> + 11.45. From Eighteenth. What shall we do? The mob is about 4,500 strong. + </p> + <p> + <i>Answer</i>. Clear them down, if you can. + </p> + <p> + 11.50. From Eighteenth. We must leave; the mob is here with guns. + </p> + <p> + 11.50. From Twentieth. Mob tearing up track on Eleventh Avenue. + </p> + <p> + 11.58. The mob have just sacked a large gun-store in Grand Street, and are + armed, and are on the way to attack us. + </p> + <p> + 12.10. To Fifteenth. Send your men here forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 12.35. From Twentieth. Send two hundred men forthwith to Thirty-fifth + Street arsenal. + </p> + <p> + 12.36. From Twenty-first. The mob have just broken open a gun-store on + Third Avenue, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets, and are + arming. + </p> + <p> + 12.40. From Twenty-first. Send help—the crowd is desperate. + </p> + <p> + And so on. + </p> + <p> + Between these rapid telegrams asking for help, were others making and + answering inquiries. And so it was kept up from daylight till midnight for + three days in succession. These urgent calls for help coming from every + quarter at the same time, would have thrown into inextricable confusion a + less clear head than Acton's. It was a terrible strain on him, and had it + continued a little longer, would have cost him his life. In the midst of + it all he received anonymous letters, telling him he had but one more day + to live. + </p> + <p> + But while the police head-quarters were thus crowded with business, and + the commissioners were straining every nerve to meet the frightful state + of things in the city, other means were being taken to add to their + efficiency. + </p> + <p> + Governor Seymour had reached the city, and after being closeted with Mayor + Opdyke, had issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to disperse, and + saying that they would be put down at all hazards. + </p> + <p> + At a meeting of the merchants and bankers in Wall Street, it was resolved + to close up business, and form volunteer companies of a hundred men each, + to serve under the military. General Wetmore was one of the first to offer + his services. The high-spirited citizen, William E. Dodge, was among the + most prominent advocates of the measure, and soon found himself a captain + under orders. The steamboat of the harbor police was busy in bringing + troops and cannon from Riker's and Governor's Island, and rapidly steaming + from point to point on the river, to prevent destruction around the docks. + Around the arsenal cannon were placed. At the city armory, corner of White + and Elm Streets, were a company of the Eighty-fourth New York Militia, and + some of the Zouaves and other troops. The Sub-treasury and Custom House + were defended by the Tenth National Zouaves and a hundred and fifty armed + citizens. In front of the Government stores in Worth and White streets, + the Invalid Corps and a company of marines patrolled, while howitzers + loaded with grape and canister, stood on the corner of the street. Nearly + four hundred citizens had been sworn in at police head-quarters as special + policemen, and had been furnished with clubs and badges. All this time the + fight was going on in every direction, while the fire-bells continually + ringing increased the terror that every hour became more wide-spread. + Especially was this true of the negro population. From the outset, they + had felt they were to be objects of vengeance, and all day Monday and + to-day those who could leave, fled into the country. They crowded the + ferry-boats in every direction, fleeing for life. But old men and women, + and poor families, were compelled to stay behind, and meet the fury of the + mob, and to-day it became a regular hunt for them. A sight of one in the + streets would call forth a halloo, as when, a fox breaks cover, and away + would dash a half a dozen men in pursuit. Sometimes a whole crowd streamed + after with shouts and curses, that struck deadly terror to the heart of + the fugitive. If overtaken, he was pounded to death at once; if he escaped + into a negro house for safety, it was set on fire, and the inmates made to + share a common fate. Deeds were done and sights witnessed that one would + not have dreamed of, except among savage tribes. + </p> + <p> + At one time there lay at the corner of Twenty seventh-Street and Seventh + Avenue the dead body of a negro, stripped nearly naked, and around it a + collection of Irishmen, absolutely dancing or shouting like wild Indians. + Sullivan and Roosevelt Streets are great negro quarters, and here a negro + was afraid to be seen in the street. If in want of something from a + grocery, he would carefully open the door, and look up and down to see if + any one was watching, and then steal cautiously forth, and hurry home on + his errand. Two boarding-houses here were surrounded by a mob, but the + lodgers, seeing the coming storm, fled. The desperadoes, finding only the + owner left behind, wreaked their vengeance on him, and after beating him + unmercifully, broke up the furniture, and then fired the buildings. A + German store near by, because it was patronized extensively by negroes, + shared the same fate, after its contents had been distributed among + themselves. A negro barber's shop was next attacked, and the torch applied + to it. A negro lodging-house in the same street next received the visit of + these furies, and was soon a mass of ruins. Old men, seventy years of age, + and young children, too young to comprehend what it all meant, were + cruelly beaten and killed. The spirit of hell seemed to have entered the + hearts of these men, and helpless womanhood was no protection against + their rage. Sometimes a stalwart negro would break away from his + murderers, and run for his life. With no place of safety to which he could + flee, he would be headed off in every direction, and forced towards the + river. Driven at last to the end of a pier, he would leap off, preferring + to take his chances in the water rather than among these bloody men. If + bruised and beaten in his desperate struggle for life, he would soon sink + exhausted with his efforts. Sometimes he would strike out for a ship, but + more often dive under the piers, and hold on to a timber for safety, until + his yelling pursuers had disappeared, when he would crawl stealthily out, + and with terrified face peer in every direction to see if they had gone. + Two were thus run off together into the East River. It was a strange + spectacle to see a hundred Irishmen pour along the streets after a poor + negro. If he could reach a police station he felt safe; but, alas! if the + force happened to be away on duty, he could not stay even there. Whenever + the police could strike the track of the mad hunt, they stopped it + summarily, and the pursuers became the pursued, and received the + punishment they had designed for the negro. All this was in the nineteenth + century, and in the metropolis of the freest and most enlightened nation + on earth. + </p> + <p> + {Image: Hanging and burning a negro in Clarkson Street.} + </p> + <p> + The hunt for these poor creatures became so fearful, and the utter + impossibility to protect them in their scattered localities so apparent, + that they were received into the police stations. But these soon proved + inadequate, and they were taken to head-quarters and the arsenal, where + they could be protected against the mob. Here the poor creatures were + gathered by hundreds, and slept on the floor, and were regularly fed by + the authorities. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to give a detailed account of what transpired in every + part of the city. If there had been a single band of rioters, no matter + how large, a force of military and police, properly armed, could have been + concentrated to have dispersed it. But bodies of men, larger or smaller, + bent on violence and devastation, were everywhere; even out at Harlem + eight buildings were burned, and the lower end of Westchester was in a + state of agitation and alarm. A mob of thousands would be scattered, only + to come together at other points. A body of police and military plunging + through the heaving multitude, acted often only as a stone flung into the + water, making but a momentary vacuum. Or, if they did not come together + again, they swung off only to fall in, and be absorbed by a crowd + collected in another part of the city. The alarm of Monday had only been + partial, but to-day it culminated. Families, husbands, and sons left their + business, and with arms patrolled the streets. Stores were shut up, stages + and cars stopped running, and all business was suspended. + </p> + <p> + The blood flowing through the thousand arteries of this great mart seemed + suddenly frozen in its channels, and its mighty pulsations to stop at the + mandate of lawless men. The city held its breath in dread, but there were + firm hearts at police head-quarters. Acton never flinched, and in General + Brown he found a soldier that knew his duty, and would do it at all + hazards. Still, the uprising kept swelling into vaster proportions, + embracing a still larger territory. + </p> + <p> + Broadway was deserted. A few hacks could be seen, but with very different + occupants than those which they ordinarily contained. The iron shutters + were closed on the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and a stack of arms stood in the + hall-way. Crowds of respectable citizens, not on duty, were making all + haste toward railroad depots and steamboat landings. Every boat, as it + swung from the dock, was loaded to its utmost capacity with people leaving + a city that seemed doomed to destruction; going, many knew not where, only + out of New York. Cars were packed, and long trains were made up to carry + the crowds in haste to get away. But travel on the Hudson River Road was + soon stopped by the mob, that tore up the track to prevent communication + with other parts of the State, and the arrival of troops. + </p> + <p> + The Harlem and Third Avenue tracks were also torn up, as the rioters were + determined to isolate the great city, which they had doomed to + destruction. Passing from one object to another, now acting as if from + plan, and now intent only on destruction and plunder, the crowd streamed + from point to point with shouts and yells, that sent terror through the + adjoining streets. Suddenly, some one remembered that they were in the + vicinity of Colonel Nugent's house, in Yorkville, the assistant provost + marshal general, and shouting out the news, a rush was made for it, and it + was sacked from top to bottom. + </p> + <p> + As the police were gathered together either at the precinct stations or + head-quarters, ordinary patrol duty was out of the question; hence, many + isolated, acts of violence could be committed with impunity. This freedom + from close surveillance, coupled with the contagion of the lawless spirit + which was abroad, made every section of the city where the lower classes + lived more or less restless. It was impossible for the police to divide + itself up so to furnish protection in individual cases, and yet be in + sufficient force to cope with the mobs, that numbered by thousands. + Although the whole city was heaving like a troubled sea, yet the main + gathering this day had been in the upper part and on both sides of it. The + terrific contests we described farther back were in the Second Avenue, on + the east side, but, nearly opposite, in the Sixth Avenue, crowds had been + gathering since early in the forenoon. + </p> + <p> + For a long time they swayed backward and forward, apparently without any + definite purpose, and moved only by the spirit of disorder that had taken + possession of the city. But about two o'clock, these various bodies began + by mutual attraction to flow together, and soon became one immense mass, + and impelled by some information or other, gathered threateningly around a + large mansion on the corner of Forty-sixth Street and Fifth Avenue. They + had supplied themselves with all sorts of weapons, revolvers, old muskets, + stones, clubs, barrel-staves—in short, everything that could be + found, that might be of service in a fight—and soon commenced + plundering the residence. But their movements had been telegraphed to + head-quarters, and Captain Walling, of the Twentieth Precinct, was + dispatched thither, with a company of regulars under Captain Putnam, a + descendant of "Old Put." The report soon spread through the crowd, that + bayonets could be seen coming up the avenue. Marching up to Forty-sixth + Street, the force turned into it, towards the Fifth Avenue; and breaking + into the charge step, with the order "no prisoners" ringing in their ears, + struck the mob almost in the centre, cutting it in two, like a mighty + cleaver. There was no need of bayonets—the police, at the head of + the military, went right through it, and scattered the men in every + direction. The force then divided into squads, and each one taking a + section of the mob, followed it up on a swift run, and smote them right + and left for several blocks. The larger portion went down Sixth Avenue, + and seeing only a portion of the police pursuing, turned and showed fight, + when the leader received a bullet in the head and fell. Seeing their + leader fall, the mob wheeled and took to their heels. + </p> + <p> + Captain Walling in one instance saw a crowd with fire-arms standing in an + alley-way. Just then a fire-engine and company came down the street, and + he with his small force got behind it, and kept concealed until opposite + the unsuspecting crowd, when, with a shout, they dashed on it. A volley + received them,—with answering volley, the police charged into the + narrow opening. The rioters fled into a tenement-house, from which came + yells and screams of terrified women and children. Walling had some + sharpshooters with him, to pick off those beyond the reach of the clubs. + One fellow, armed, was seen astraddle of the ridge pole of a house. The + next moment a sharpshooter covered him, and he tumbled headlong to the + ground. The same afternoon he saw some twenty or thirty men attempting to + stave in a hardware store, evidently after pistols. Walling charged on + them alone, and with one terrible blow, his club sent the leader to the + pavement with his brains oozing out. + </p> + <p> + Although the draft was almost forgotten by the rioters, in the thirst for + plunder and blood, still men in the streets and some of the papers talked + of its being unconstitutional, and to be contested in the courts—others + that it had been and would be suspended, as though any disposal of it now + could affect the conduct of the rioters. Force was the only argument they + would listen to. The riot had almost ceased to wear any political aspect + since the attack on the <i>Tribune</i> office, the day before, had been + defeated. An occasional shout or the sight of a negro might now and then + remind one of its origin, but devastation and plunder were the great + objects that urged on the excited masses. The sacking of Opdyke's house + was done chiefly by a few youngsters, who were simply following the + example set them the day before; while the burning of negro buildings, the + chasing and killing of negroes, seemed to have only a remote connection + with the draft, and was simply the indulgence of a hatred they were + hitherto afraid to gratify. So the setting fire to the Weehawken ferry + afterwards, could be made to grow out of politics only so far as a man who + kept a liquor saloon there was a known Republican. This seemed a weak + inducement to draw a crowd so far, when more distinguished victims were + all around them. It is more probable that some personal enemy of parties + in the vicinity, finding the mob ready to follow any cry, led them + thither; for one man seemed to be the leader, who, mounted on a fine + cavalry horse, and brandishing a sword, galloped backwards and forwards + through the crowd, giving his orders like a field officer. Mobs springing + up everywhere, and flowing together often apparently by accident, each + pursuing a different object: one chasing negroes and firing their + dwellings; others only sacking; a house, and others still, wreaking their + vengeance on station-houses, while scores, the moment they got loaded down + with plunder, hastened away to conceal it—all showed that the + original cause of the uprising had been forgotten. A strong uncertainty + seemed at times to keep them swaying backwards and forwards, as though + seeking a definite object, or waiting for an appointed signal to move, and + then at some shout would rush for a building, a negro, or station-house. + </p> + <p> + The mob was a huge monster—frightful both in proportions and + appearance, yet not knowing where or how to use its strength. The attack + on Mr. Gibbon's house at Twenty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, during + this afternoon, was attributed to the fact that he was Mr. Greeley's + cousin, and that the former sometimes slept there—rather a + far-fetched inference, as though a mob would be aware of a fact that + probably not a dozen immediate neighbors knew. + </p> + <p> + Some one person might have raised a cry of "Greeley's house," which would + have been sufficient to insure its destruction. The police being notified + of this attack, sent a squad of men with a military force to disperse the + mob. Captain Ryer formed his troops in front of the house, and Sergeant + Devoursney did the same with a part of his men, while the other portion + was sent into the building, that was filled with men, women, and children, + loading themselves down with the spoils. The appearance of the caps and + clubs in the rooms created a consternation that would have been ludicrous, + but for the serious work that followed. No defence was made, except by a + few persons singly. One fellow advanced to the door with a pistol in his + hand, and fired, sending a ball through Officer Hill's thigh. The next + instant the latter felled him to the floor with his club, and before he + could even attempt to rise he was riddled with balls. Some of the women + fell on their knees, and shrieked for mercy; while one strong Irish woman + refused to yield her plunder, and fought like a tigress. She seized an + officer by the throat, and trying to strangle and bite him, would not let + go till a blow sobered her into submission. + </p> + <p> + Some were loaded with shawls and dresses, and one burly, ferocious-looking + Irishman carried under his arm a huge bundle of select music. As the + police chased the plunderers down-stairs, and out into the street, in some + unaccountable way the troops got so confused that they fired a volley that + swept the police as well as the rioters. Officer Dipple was so severely + wounded that he died the following Sunday, while Officers Hodson and + Robinson both received flesh wounds. + </p> + <p> + In the upper part of the city, few buildings, except those too near police + and army head-quarters, or too well defended, offered much spoil except + private houses, and these had been the chief objects of attack. But Brooks + and Brothers' clothing store in Catharine Street, situated in a part of + the city thickly populated with the very class mobs are made of, became + toward evening an object of great attraction to groups of hard-looking men + and women. As night settled down, the heavens being overcast, it became + very dark; for in all the neighboring houses the lights were extinguished + by the inmates, who were terribly alarmed at the rapidly increasing crowd + in the street. To deepen and complete the gloom the rioters turned off the + gas. Officer Bryan, of the Fourth Ward, telegraphed to head-quarters the + threatening appearance of things, and a force of fifty or sixty men were + at once despatched to the spot. In the mean time Sergeant Finney, with + Platt and Kennedy, stood at the entrance to defend the building till the + police could arrive. + </p> + <p> + For awhile the three determined police officers, standing silent in the + darkness, overawed the leaders. But soon from the crowd arose shouts, amid + which were heard the shrill voices of women, crying, "Break open the + store." This was full of choice goods, and contained clothing enough to + keep the mob supplied for years. As the shouts increased, those behind + began to push forward those in front, till the vast multitude swung + heavily towards the three police officers. Seeing this movement, the + latter advanced with their clubs to keep them back. At this, the shouts + and yells redoubled, and the crowd rushed forward, crushing down the + officers by mere weight. They fought gallantly for a few minutes; but, + overborne by numbers, they soon became nearly helpless, and were terribly + beaten and wounded, and with the utmost exertions were barely able to + escape, and make their way back to the station. The mob now had it all its + own way, and rushing against the doors, burst bolts and bars asunder, and + streamed in. But it was dark as midnight inside, and they could not + distinguish one thing from another; not even the passage-ways to the upper + rooms of the building, which was five stories high. They therefore lighted + the gas, and broke out the windows. In a few minutes the vast edifice was + a blaze of light, looking more brilliant from the midnight blackness that + surrounded it. The upturned faces of the excited, squalid throng below + presented a wild and savage spectacle in the flickering light. Men and + women kept pouring in and out, the latter loaded with booty, making their + way home into the adjacent streets, and the former rushing after their + portion of the spoils. Coats and pantaloons, and clothing of every + description, were rapidly borne away; and it was evident, give them time + enough, the crowd would all disappear, and there would be scarcely enough + left to finish the work of destruction. Thinking only of the rich prize + they had gained, they seemed to forget that retribution was possible, when + suddenly the cry of "Police! police!" sent a thrill of terror through + them. Sergeant Delaney, at the head of his command, marched swiftly down + the street, until close upon the mob, when the order, "Double-quick," was + given, and they burst with a run upon them. For a moment, the solid mass, + by mere weight, bore up against the shock; but the clubs soon made a lane + through it broad as the street. Just then a pistol-shot rung from a house, + almost over their heads. Many of the rioters were armed with muskets, and + the comparatively small police force, seeing that firearms were to be + used, now drew their revolvers, and poured a deadly volley right into + their midst. Several fell at the first discharge; and immediately terror + seized that portion of the multitude nearest the police, especially the + women, and many fell on their knees, crying for mercy. Others forced their + way recklessly over their companions, to get out of reach. As the police + made their way to the front of the store, they formed line, while Sergeant + Matthew, of the First Precinct, with his men, entered the building. The + scene here became more frightful than the one without. The rioters on the + first floor made but little resistance, and, thinking only of escape, + leaped from the windows, and rushed out of doors like mad creatures. But + as they attempted to flee, those without knocked them over with their + clubs. Having cleared this story, the police mounted to the second, where + the rioters, being more closely penned, showed fight. Pistol-shots rang + out, and some of the police officers had narrow escapes. One powerful + bully fought like a tiger, till two policemen fell upon him with their + clubs, and soon left him stark and stiff. At last they drove the whole + crowd into a rear building, and kept them there till they had time to + secure them. + </p> + <p> + Just as the store was cleared, Sergeant Carpenter, who had been sent as a + reinforcement in case of need, came up with a hundred and fifty men, and + charging on the crowd, sent them flying down the narrow streets. After + quiet had been restored, a military force arrived and took possession of + the building. + </p> + <p> + Just previous to this, another attempt was made to burn the <i>Tribune</i> + building, but was easily repelled. The <i>Times</i> office, near by, + warned by the fate of its neighbor the night before, had established a + regular garrison inside, while it brilliantly illuminated the open space + all around it, in the circle of which the rioters did not care to come. + </p> + <p> + The invaluable service of the telegraph was tested to-day, not merely in + enabling General Brown and the commissioners to despatch men quickly to a + threatened point, but to keep a force moving from one ward to another, as + messages came in, announcing the incipient gathering in different + districts. Word sent to the station in the neighborhood where they were + acting, would instantly change their route; and knots of men, which if + left alone would soon have swelled into formidable mobs, were broken up, + for they found military and police force marching down on them before they + could form a plan of action. Nor was this all. A force sent to a certain + point, after dispersing the mob, would be directed to make a tour through + the disaffected districts—all the time keeping up its communication + with head-quarters, so that if any serious demonstration was made in that + section of the city, it could be ordered there at once, thus saving half + the time it would take to march from head-quarters. Thus, for instance, + Captain Petty was ordered this morning to head-quarters from the City + Hall, where he had passed the night, and directed to take two hundred men + (including his own precinct force), and go to the protection of a soap + factory in Sixteenth Street, Eighth and Ninth Avenues. He moved off his + command, marching rapidly up Broadway and down Sixteenth Street. The mob + saw it coming two blocks off, and immediately scattered in every + direction, which awakened the supreme contempt of the captain. He now + marched backward and forward, and through the cross streets, up as far as + Nineteenth Street, scattering every fragment of the mob that attempted to + hold together, and finally returned to head-quarters. This was a long + march, but the men had scarcely rested, when the captain was hurried off + to aid in the protection at the wire factory in Second Avenue. In the + fierce fight that followed, he, with ten men at his back, charged up the + broad stairway, fighting his way step by step to the fifth story. Caught + up here at the top of the building, the rioters were clubbed without + mercy. Some, to escape the terrible punishment, plunged down the hatchway; + others attempted to dash past the men, and escape down the stairs. At one + time eight bodies lay in the door-way, blocking it up. He then marched + back to head-quarters. He had been marching and fighting all day. Similar + exhausting duties were performed by other commands, both police and + military. Inspector Dilks, with his force gathered from various precincts, + passed the entire day in marching and fighting. The men, weary and hungry, + would reach head-quarters or certain points, hoping to get a little rest + and refreshment, when the hurried order would come to repair to a point a + mile off, where the mob was firing and sacking houses, and off they would + start on the double-quick. Uncomplaining and fearless of danger, and never + counting numbers, both police and soldiers were everywhere all this day, + and proved themselves as reliable, gallant, and noble a set of men as ever + formed or acted as the police force of any city in the world. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, Governor Seymour and the Mayor of the city were not idle. + The latter at the City Hall, fearing an attack, asked Acton for a guard of + protection, and fifty men were sent him. Report of the mob assembled + there, reached Governor Seymour, at the St. Nicholas, and he immediately + hastened thither, and addressed the crowd from the steps, which allayed + excitement for the time. This speech was variously commented upon. Some of + the criticisms were frivolous, and revealed the partisan, rather than the + honest man. If the Governor had not previously issued a proclamation to + the whole city, in which he declared without reservation that the mobs + should be put down at all hazards—if this speech had been his only + utterance, then the bitter denunciations against him would have been + deserved. It would have been pusillanimous, cowardly, and unworthy the + Governor of the State. But he spoke in his official capacity, not only + firmly, emphatically, and in no ambiguous terms, but he had hurried up the + military, and used every means in his power to accumulate and concentrate + the forces under his control to put down the riot. No faint-heartedness or + sentimental qualmishness marked any of his official acts. Prompt, + energetic, and determined, he placed no conditions on his subordinates in + the manner of putting down the mob, and restoring the supremacy of the + law. But here in this address he was speaking to men who, as a body at + least, had as yet committed no overt act; and many doubtless were + assembled expecting some public declaration from the City Hall. He was not + addressing the plunderers and rioters that were firing houses and killing + negroes, but a mixed assembly, the excitement of which he thought best to + allay, if possible. Some said he began his address with "My friends;" + others, "Fellow-citizens." Whether he did one, or the other, or neither, + is of no consequence and meant nothing. To have commenced, "Ye villains + and cut-throats, disperse at once, or I'll mow you down with grape-shot!" + might have sounded very brave, but if that was all he was going to say, he + had better kept his room. + </p> + <p> + A <i>proclamation</i> like this address would have been infamous. Here is + where the mistake was made in the criticisms heaped upon it. His official + acts were all such as became the Chief Magistrate of New York. The speech, + therefore, must be judged rather by the rules of taste and propriety, + than, by those which apply to him officially. If a man's official acts are + all right, it is unjust to let them go for nothing, and bring into + prominence a short address made without premeditation in the front of an + excited, promiscuous assembly, moved by different motives. That it was + open to criticism in some respects, is true. It should have been imbued + more with the spirit of determination to maintain order and suppress + violence, and less been said of the measures that had or would be taken to + test the constitutionality of the draft, and of his purpose, if it were + decided in the courts to be wrong, to oppose it. Such talk had better be + deferred till after order is restored. When men begin to burn and plunder + dwellings, attack station-houses, hang negroes, and shoot down policemen, + it is too late to attempt to restore peace by talking about the + constitutionality of laws. The upholding of laws about the + constitutionality of which there is no doubt, is the only thing deserving + of consideration. The Common Council of the city exhibited in this respect + a most pusillanimous spirit, by offering resolutions to have the + constitutionality of the law tested, when, the entire constitution and + laws of the State were being subverted! Unquestionably, some charity + should be extended to men who are pleading for those whose votes elevated + them to office. Brutuses are rare nowadays; and politicians do not like to + shoot down their own voters—they would much rather make more voters + out of men no more fit to exercise the right of suffrage than horses and + mules. + </p> + <p> + Governed by a similar spirit, Archbishop Hughes, although he had yielded + to the pressure made on him and issued an address to the Irish, calling on + them to abstain from violence, yet accompanied it with a letter to Horace + Grreeley, directly calculated to awaken or intensify, rather than allay + their passions. He more than intimated that they had been abused and + oppressed, and thought it high time the war was ended. The proclamation + was short, but the letter was a long one, full of a vindictive spirit, and + showing unmistakably with whom his sympathies were. + </p> + <p> + Towards evening a mob assembled over in Ninth Avenue, and went to work + with some system and forethought. Instead of wandering round, firing and + plundering as the whim seized them, they began to throw up barricades, + behind which they could rally when the military and police came to attack + them. Indeed, the same thing had been done on the east side of the city; + while railroads had been torn up, and stages stopped, to keep them from + carrying policemen, rapidly from one quarter to another. During the day, + Colonel Frothingham had stood in Third Avenue, and stopped and emptied + every car as it approached, and filled it with soldiers, to be carried to + the upper part of the city. Acton, too, had sent round to collect all the + stages still running in Broadway and the Bowery, and in a short time they + came rumbling into Mulberry Street, forming a long line in front of + head-quarters. A telegram from Second Avenue demanded immediate help, and + the police were bundled into them and hurried off. One driver refused to + stir, saying, roughly, he was not hired to carry policemen. Acton had no + time to argue the case, and quickly turning to a policeman, he said: "Put + that man in cell Number 92." In a twinkling he was jerked from his seat + and hurried away. Turning to another policeman, he said: "Mount that box + and drive." The next moment the stage, with a long string of others, + loaded inside and out with the bluecoats, was whirling through the + streets. He had done the same with the Sixth Avenue cars. The son-in-law + of George Law remonstrated, saying that it would provoke the mob to tear + down the railroad buildings. There was no time to stand on ceremony; the + cars were seized, and the company, to save their property, paid a large + sum to the ringleaders of the rioters. In fact, a great many factories and + buildings were bought off in the same way; so that the leaders drove quite + a thriving business. + </p> + <p> + But, as before remarked, the commencement of barricades to obstruct the + movements of the police and military, after the Parisian fashion, was a + serious thing, and must be nipped in the bud; and Captain Walling, of the + Twentieth Precinct, who had been busy in this part of the city all the + afternoon in dispersing the mob, sent to head-quarters for a military + force to help remove them. He also sent to General Sandford, at the + arsenal, for a company of soldiers, which was promised, but never sent. At + six o'clock a force of regulars arrived from General Brown, and repaired + to the Precinct station-house. Captain Slott, of the Twentieth Precinct, + took command of the police force detailed to cooperate with the troops, + but delayed action till the arrival of the company promised from the + arsenal. Meanwhile, the rioters kept strengthening the barricades between + Thirty-seventh and Forty-third Streets, in Eighth Avenue, by lashing + carts, wagons, and telegraph poles together with wire stripped from the + latter. The cross streets were also barricaded. Time passed on, and yet + the bayonets of he expected reinforcement from the arsenal did not appear. + The two commanding officers now began to grow anxious; it would not do to + defer the attack till after dark, for such work as was before them + required daylight. At length, as the sun stooped to the western horizon, + it was resolved to wait no longer, and the order to move forward was + given. As they approached the first barricade, by Thirty-seventh Street, a + volley as poured into them from behind it, followed by stones and + brick-bats. + </p> + <p> + The police now fell back to the left, and the regulars advancing, returned + the fire. The rioters, however, stood their ground, and for a time nothing + was heard but the rapid roll of musketry. But the steady, well-directed + fire of the troops, at length began to tell on the mob, and they at last + broke, and fled to the next barricade. The police then advanced, and tore + down the barricade, when the whole force moved on to the next. Here the + fight was renewed, but the close and rapid volley of the troops soon + scattered the wretches, when this also was removed. They kept on in this + way, till the last barricade was abandoned, when the uncovered crowd broke + and fled in wild disorder. The soldiers pressed after, breaking up into + squads, and chasing and firing into the disjointed fragments as they + drifted down the various streets. + </p> + <p> + There was more or less disturbance in this section, however, till + midnight. At nine o'clock, an attack was made on a gun and hardware store, + in Thirty-seventh Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, but Sergeant + Petty was sent thither with a small force, and scattered them at the first + charge. At midnight, an attempt was made to destroy the colored church in + Thirtieth Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues; but before the + rioters had accomplished their work, Captain Walling, with his entire + force and the regulars, came up, and though met with a volley, fell on + them in such a headlong charge, that they scattered down the street. + </p> + <p> + All this time the arsenal presented the appearance of a regular camp; + videttes were kept out, sentries established, howitzers commanded the + streets, and everything wore the look of a besieged fortress. + </p> + <p> + Sandford, whom Wool wished to take command of all the troops, evidently + thought that he had as much as he could do to hold that building, without + doing anything to quell the riot in the city. + </p> + <p> + One of the first companies that came up from the forts the day before, and + hence belonged to General Brown's force, got, no one could hardly tell + how, into the arsenal, and were there cooped up as useless as though in + garrison—for if seven hundred men with cannon sweeping every + approach could not hold it, seven thousand could not. General Brown and + Acton needed this company badly, but how to get it was the question. + Governor Seymour held no direct communication with the Police + Commissioners; for they were not on friendly terms, as they were holding + their places in defiance of him, he having removed them some time before. + Mr. Hawley, the chief clerk, who knew the Governor personally, acted, + therefore, as the channel of communication between them. He now went to + him, and asked him how things were at the arsenal. He replied, he did not + know—no report had been sent him. Hawley then asked him to send an + officer and ascertain, and get back the company belonging to General + Brown's command. He replied he had no one to send. Hawley then offered to + go himself, if he would give an order to this company of United States + troops to report at once to General Brown at police head-quarters. He did + so, and Hawley, reaching the arsenal in safety, gave the order to the + adjutant-general, before calling on Sandford, so as to be sure it was + obeyed. + </p> + <p> + On the northern limits of the city, serious disturbances had occurred + during the day, especially in Yorkville, to which Acton was compelled to + send a strong force. The mob also attempted to burn Harlem bridge, but the + heavy rain of the night before had made it so wet that it would not + ignite. Down town, likewise, mobs had assembled before the Western Hotel + and other places, but were dispersed before they had inflicted any damage. + Almost the last act in the evening was an attack on the house of Mr. + Sinclair, one of the owners of the <i>Tribune</i>. + </p> + <p> + But rioters must eat and sleep like other people, and though knots of them + could be seen in various parts of the city, the main portion seemed to + have retired soon after midnight. + </p> + <p> + In the police head-quarters, men were lying around on the floor in the + warm July night, snatching, as best they could, a little repose. General + Brown and staff, in their chairs or stretched on a settee, nodded in this + lull of the storm, though ready at a moment's notice to do their duty. But + there was no rest for Acton. He had not closed his eyes for nearly forty + hours, and he was not to close them for more than forty to come. + </p> + <p> + With his nerves strung to their utmost tension, and resolved to put down + that mob though the streets ran blood, he gave his whole soul to the work + before him. He infused his determined, fearless spirit into every one who + approached him. Anonymous letters, telling him he had not another day to + live, he flung aside with a scornful smile, to attend to the telegraph + dispatches from the different precincts. + </p> + <p> + Troops and men were stationed at various points, and gunboats were + patrolling the rivers, and he must be on the alert every moment. The fate + of a great city lay on his heart, and he could not sleep. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE DEAD SERGEANT IN 22d STREET} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. — DRAFT RIOT—THIRD DAY. + </h2> + <p> + Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.—Fight in Eighth Avenue.—Cannon + sweep the Streets.—Narrow Escape of Captain Howell and Colonel Mott.—Battle + for Jackson's Foundry.—Howitzers clear the Street.—State of + Things shown by Telegraph Despatches.—General Sandford sends out a + Force against a Mob, at Corner of Twenty-ninth Street and Seventh Avenue.—Colonel + Gardin's Fight with the Mob.—Is Wounded.—Mob Victorious.—Dead + and Wounded Soldiers left in the Street.—Captain Putnam sent to + bring them away.—Disperses the Mob.—Terrific Night. + </p> + <p> + Tuesday had been a day of constant success to the police and military, and + many thought that the rioters were thoroughly disheartened, and but little + more hard fighting would be done. There had been two days of exhausting + work, and both parties were well tired out. The commissioners, certainly, + could not stand this terrible strain much longer. Forty-eight hours + without sleep or rest, and all the time under the intensest mental strain, + was telling on even the wiry Acton, though he would confess to no fatigue. + </p> + <p> + To one who could take in all that was passing in New York on this morning, + the city would have presented a strange appearance. + </p> + <p> + The magnitude and demonstrations of the mob had aroused great fear for the + Navy Yard and the naval property of the Government, and the marine company + that had been on duty with the police was recalled by Admiral Paulding for + their protection; and this morning six war-vessels, carrying in all over + ninety guns, shotted and trained, could be seen drawn up, so as to command + every avenue to the yard, while the iron-clad battery <i>Passaic</i> and a + gun-boat lay off the Battery to protect Fort Columbus during the absence + of its garrison. Marines armed to the teeth, and howitzers, guarded all + the entrances to the Navy Yard. Broadway was almost deserted—no + stages were running, street-cars had disappeared—only here and there + shutters were taken down from the stores, and it looked like Sabbath day + in the city. But at police head-quarters all was activity. The African + church nearly opposite was filled with soldiers stretched on the seats and + floor of the building. Another house, a few doors from the police + building, was also crowded with soldiers. The owner of this empty house, + having sent a flat refusal to Acton's request for the use of it, the + latter quietly told the policemen to stave in the door. It took but a few + minutes to send it from its hinges; and now the troops were quartered in + it also; for all those in the service of the United States, under General + Brown, had their head-quarters here. + </p> + <p> + In the basement of the police building was the telegraph, with the wires + running like nerves to every part of the city, over which inquiries and + answers were continually passing. Rooms all around were filled with + rations obtained from a neighboring grocery and meatmarket, taken with or + without leave. On the main floor, on one side, in their office sat the + weary commissioners; on the other, were Inspectors Carpenter, Dilks, and + Leonard, fit, each one to be a general, while scattered around were police + captains, detectives, and patrolmen. On the second story were the clerks, + copyists, etc.; while the top floor was crowded with colored refugees, who + had fled thither for protection. Some were standing and conversing, others + sitting in groups on boxes, or walking from room to room; many of these + sad and serious, as they thought of missing relatives and friends, while + the colored man placed over them, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, was, + with his assistants, dealing out provisions. + </p> + <p> + But soon it was announced that a vast crowd, numbering some five thousand, + was assembled near Eighth Avenue and Thirty-second Street, sacking houses + and hanging negroes. General Dodge and Colonel Mott, with Captain Howell, + commanding Eighth Regiment Artillery, were at once despatched thither. As + they marched up the avenue, they saw three negroes hanging dead, while the + crowd around filled the air with fiendish shouts. As the firm, compact + head of the column moved forward, the mob fell back, but did not scatter. + Colonel Mott dashed forward on horseback and cut down one of the negroes + with his sword. This seemed to be the signal for the mob to commence the + attack, and the next moment they rushed forward on the soldiers with + stones, brick-bats, and slung-shots. Colonel Mott then told Captain Howell + to bring two pieces into battery on the corner of Thirty-second Street and + Seventh Avenue, so as to sweep the streets; but he could not get through + the dense crowd to do so. The infantry and cavalry were then ordered up + and told to clear the way. The former, with level bayonets, and the latter + with drawn sabres, charged on the mass, which parted and fell back some + distance, and then halted. Captain Howell then advanced alone, and ordered + the rioters to disperse, or he should fire on them. To this they replied + in sullen silence. The apparent unwillingness of the captain to fire + emboldened them to believe that he would not fire at all. Although they + refused to disperse, the officers, as long as they made no assault, + declined to give the word to fire. This delay encouraged the rioters still + more; and either believing the guns, whose muzzles pointed so + threateningly on them, were loaded with blank cartridges, or grown + desperate and reckless with rage, they suddenly, as though moved by a + common impulse, rushed forward and rained stones and missiles of every + kind on the soldiers. Seeing that their object was to seize the guns and + turn them on the troops, the word to fire was given. The next moment a + puff of smoke rolled out, followed with a report that shook the buildings. + As the murderous shot tore through the crowded mass, they stopped, and + swayed heavily back for a moment, when the pieces were quickly reloaded, + and again sent their deadly contents into their midst, strewing the + pavements with the dead and dying. Those, however, in the rear, being + protected by the mass in front, refused to give way, and it was not till + five or six rounds had been fired that they finally broke and fled down + the side streets. The military then broke into columns and marched up and + down the streets, scattering everything before them, and arresting many of + the rioters. + </p> + <p> + Having finished their work, they returned to head-quarters. As they left + the district, the mob, or a portion of it, gathered together again, and + strung up afresh the lifeless bodies of the negroes. + </p> + <p> + A few hours later, Captain Brower, with a police force, was sent thither, + to take down and remove the bodies of any negroes that might be still + hanging. He did so without molestation. + </p> + <p> + Captain Howell's murderous fire on the mob came very near causing his + death two days after. Having the curiosity to witness the scene of his + struggle with the mob, he took his carriage, and drove over to it. A gang + of seven or eight ruffians, seeing his uniform, cried out, "There's the + man who fired on us here—let us hang him." Their shouts called + others to the spot, and almost before the captain was aware of his danger, + some fifty men were assembled, and at once made a dash at the driver, and + ordered him to stop. Captain Howell, quickly drawing his revolver, pointed + it at the driver, and ordered him to turn down Thirty-first Street, and + give his horses the whip, or he would shoot him on the spot. The man + obeying, lashed his horses into a run. At this moment the crowd was all + around the carriage, and one man was climbing up behind, when he fell and + was run over. A shower of stones and brick-bats followed, breaking in the + panels of the carriage, and narrowly missing the captain's head. + </p> + <p> + One stone struck an old wound in his side, and for a moment paralyzed his + arm. The crowd with yells and shouts followed after, when he turned and + emptied his revolver at them through the back window, which brought them + to a halt. Colonel Mott had a similar escape the day before. Passing down + one of the avenues in a carriage, he was recognized by some of the + rioters, who immediately assailed him with stones, and fired at him. One + of the bullets passed through the cushion on which he was sitting. + </p> + <p> + Soon after this affair in Seventh Avenue, word was telegraphed that + Jackson's foundry, corner of Twenty-eighth Street, First and Second + Avenues, was threatened. A military force was despatched forthwith to it, + piloted by four policemen. At Twenty-first Street and First Avenue, they + were fired on by the mob. The attack was continued through the street to + Second Avenue, and up this to Twenty-fifth Street, without any notice + being taken of it by the troops. Made reckless by this forbearance, the + rioters began to close up in more dangerous proximity, when the howitzer + was unlimbered and pointed down the avenue. The mob not liking the looks + of this, scattered, when the column resumed its march. The mob then + rallied, and followed after, with shouts and distant shots, till the + foundry on Twenty-eighth Street was reached. Here another mob came up from + First Avenue, and the two made a simultaneous attack. The command was then + given to fire, and a volley was poured into the crowd. Rapidly loading and + firing, the troops soon stretched so many on the pavement, that the rest + broke and fled. The military then entered the building and held it. The + mob gathered around it, threatening to storm it, but could not pluck up + courage to make the attempt. They seemed especially exasperated against + the policemen, and had the effrontery to send a committee to the officer + in command, demanding their surrender. If their request was refused, they + declared they would storm the building at all hazards; but if complied + with, they would disperse. The committee had to shout out their demands + from the street. In reply, the officer told them if they did not take + themselves off instantly, he would fire upon them; upon which they + incontinently took to their heels. + </p> + <p> + As the day wore on, things began to wear a still more threatening aspect. + Despatches came in from every quarter, announcing the activity of the mob. + To a question sent to the Thirteenth Precinct, a little past twelve, + inquiring how things were going on in Grand Street, was returned the + following reply: "Lively; store-keepers have fired into the mob; no force + there yet." + </p> + <p> + 12.20. From Twenty-first. Building corner Thirty-third Street, Second + Avenue, is set on fire by the mob. + </p> + <p> + 12.50. From Fifteenth. Send assistance to Twenty-first Precinct; they are + about attacking it. + </p> + <p> + 12.55. From Twenty-sixth. It is reported that Government stores in + Greenwich, near Liberty, are on fire; fired by mob. + </p> + <p> + 1.10. From Twenty-seventh. Send more men here forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 1.25. From Fourth. Fire corner of Catharine Street and East Broadway. + </p> + <p> + 1.45. A man just in from Eleventh Precinct, reports a number of bands of + robbers, numbering from fifty to one hundred each, breaking into stores in + Houston, near Attorney Street. + </p> + <p> + 1.47 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. The mob have cleared Twenty-first Precinct + station-house. + </p> + <p> + 2 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. A large mob surrounded Captain Green's house, + Twenty-eighth Street, Third Avenue. He escaped out of the back window; + they threatened to hang him. + </p> + <p> + 3.10 P.M. To Eleventh. Send to foot of Fourteenth Street, East River, and + if military is there, send word here forthwith. + </p> + <p> + 3.15. From Twenty-fourth. Mob are firing the building on Second Avenue, + near Twenty-eighth Street. Immediate assistance is required. Houses + occupied by negroes, who are fleeing for their lives. + </p> + <p> + 3.25. From Twentieth. The mob are sacking houses at Twenty-seventh Street + and Seventh Avenue. We have no force to send. + </p> + <p> + 3.30. From Twenty-first. There is an attack on the colored people in + Second Avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets. + </p> + <p> + 3.40. From Eleventh. Send to 242 Stanton Street, and take possession of + cavalry swords forthwith. + </p> + <p> + There were five thousand cavalry swords there, and the mob were assembling + to capture them; and the telegram announcing the fact, and the one + ordering a force to seize them, were received and answered the same + minute. + </p> + <p> + 3.55. To Twenty-first. How do things look? + </p> + <p> + <i>Ans</i>. Very bad; large crowd in Thirty-fifth Street, near Third + Avenue, and no assistance from adjoining precinct. + </p> + <p> + 4 o'clock. To Twenty-first. What is going on? + </p> + <p> + <i>Ans</i>. The mob have captured some five or six negroes, and are + preparing to hang them; be quick with reinforcements. + </p> + <p> + 4.43. From Twentieth. News have just come in that the mob are about to + attack the Twenty-second Precinct station-house. + </p> + <p> + 5.15. From Sixteenth. Send us one hundred special shields and clubs; the + citizens are arming up well. + </p> + <p> + 5.15. From Twenty-ninth. Who feeds the special men? + </p> + <p> + <i>Ans</i>. You must, far as able. + </p> + <p> + <i>Reply</i>. No money. + </p> + <p> + <i>Ans</i>. It makes no difference; they must be fed; we are responsible. + </p> + <p> + 5.20. From Twenty-ninth. The rioters are now on Seventh Avenue and + Twenty-eighth Street. They have just killed a negro; say they are going to + cut off the Croton; they have pickaxes and crowbars; and also say they + will cut off the gas; so reported by one of our men, who has been in the + crowd; they were about to fire corner of Twenty-eighth Street and Seventh + Avenue, when he came away. + </p> + <p> + To have cut off the water and extinguished the gas, would have been + master-strokes; but the military arrived in time to prevent it. + </p> + <p> + 5.25. From First. Riot at Pier 4, North River; they have killed negroes + there. + </p> + <p> + Thus, at the same moment, from the two extreme ends of the city, came the + news of riots and calls for help. From points five miles apart, the wires + would bring simultaneously tidings that showed the mob omnipresent. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of all these incessant exhausting labors, the following + telegram came from the Twentieth Precinct: + </p> + <p> + "General Sandford says he has so many negroes at the arsenal, that he must + get rid of them." + </p> + <p> + Acton's answer was characteristic. He had no time for formalities or + courteous exchange of views. In an instant there flashed back over the + wires the curt reply: + </p> + <p> + "Tell General Sandford he must do the best he can with them there." + </p> + <p> + General Sandford had at this time about the same number of men under his + command at the arsenal that General Brown had at police head-quarters; yet + the former, up to this morning, had not sent out a single company to + assist the police to arrest the devastations of the mob. He apparently did + not know what was going on, had hardly kept up any communication with the + Police Commissioners or Governor Seymour, but now begs the former to + relieve him of some colored refugees, as if the overworked commissioners + had not enough on their hands already. This request is especially + noteworthy, when taken in connection with his after report, in which he + states that on this morning the riot was substantially over; so much so, + at least, that the police could do all that was necessary without the aid + of the military. It would seem that if he really thought that the rest of + the work should be left to them, he might have sent off some of his + troops, and made room for the negroes in the arsenal. + </p> + <p> + At about two o'clock in the afternoon word was received that a large + number of muskets were secreted in a store on Broadway, near Thirty-third + Street; and Colonel Meyer was ordered to proceed thither, with + thirty-three soldiers belonging to Hawkins' Zouaves, and take possession + of them. Reaching the place, he found a large mob gathered, which was + momentarily increasing. He, however, succeeded in entering the building, + and brought out the arms. An Irishman happening to pass by in his cart, + the colonel seized it, and pitching in the guns, closed around it, and + moved off. + </p> + <p> + Citizens offering their services were coming in all day, and a company was + formed and placed under the command of Charles A. Lamont, and did good + service. Others also were enrolled and placed on duty. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Sherwood's battery of rifled cannon arrived in the afternoon, and + was put in position in front of the arsenal, where the firing of pickets + all day would indicate that an attack was momentarily expected. This did + not look as if General Sandford thought the riot substantially over. + </p> + <p> + At about five o'clock, it was ordered by Sandford, with an infantry force + of one hundred and fifty, to corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh + Avenue, to quell a mob assembled in large numbers at that point, and which + were gutting, and plundering, and firing houses. As they approached, they + saw flames bursting from windows, while, to complete the terror of the + scene, the body of a negro hung suspended from a lamp-post, his last + struggle just ended. At the same time that the military arrived, firemen, + who had come to put out the fire, reached the spot in another direction. + One portion of the mob immediately took shelter behind the latter, so that + the troops dared not fire and clear the streets, while another ran up to + the house-tops, armed with guns and pistols, for the purpose of firing + into the ranks below. The colonel told his men to keep a sharp lookout, + and at the first shot fire. Scores of guns were immediately pointed + towards the roofs of the houses. In the meantime, from some cause not + fully explained, the imposing force, after this demonstration, marched + away, leaving the mob in full possession of the field. It had hardly + reached the protection of the arsenal again, when the plundering and + violence recommenced; and in a short time two more negroes were amusing + the spectators with their death throes, as they hung by the neck from + lamp-posts. This was the second expedition sent out by Sandford, the + commander-in-chief of the military, during the riot. + </p> + <p> + Towards evening word was brought to the Seventh Regiment armory that the + mob had gathered in great force in First Avenue, between Eighteenth and + Nineteenth Streets. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Winston, in command, immediately ordered out a force, composed in + part of the military, and in part of enrolled citizens, and with a battery + of two howitzers, under command of Colonel Jardine, of Hawkins' Zouaves, + marched rapidly to the scene of disturbance. Passing down Nineteenth + Street to the avenue, it halted, and unlimbering the pieces, trained them + so as to command the avenue, while the infantry formed in line to support + them. As soon as the rioters saw the guns bearing on them, they dodged + into basements, and mounted to the windows and roofs of the tenement + buildings that abounded in that vicinity. A number of them armed with + muskets and pistols, and the rest with stones and brick-bats, began a + fierce and determined attack on the troops. The howitzers, loaded with + grape and canister, at once swept the street. After the first discharge, + but few ventured to show themselves in the avenue, until after they heard + the report, when they would dodge from behind corners and fire back. But + from the tops of the houses an incessant fusillade was kept up. The + soldiers endeavored to pick them off, but the rioters presented a small + mark compared to that which the troops, massed in the open streets, + furnished; and it was soon apparent that the fight was unequal. If they + had only had a police force to enter the buildings, and hunt the men from + the roofs, the fight would soon have been over. But the commander, + thinking he could not spare a sufficient number to do this work, or that + the soldiers, cumbered with their muskets, which, after the first + discharge, would have to be clubbed, could make no headway in such a + hand-to-hand fight, made no effort to dislodge the wretches, who loaded + and fired with the most imperturbable coolness. One man was seen to step + round the corner, after the discharge of the battery, and resting his gun + on the shoulder of a fellow-rioter, take as deliberate aim at Colonel + Jardine as he would at a squirrel on the limb of a tree, and fire. The + ball struck the colonel in the thigh, and brought him to the pavement. + Other officers shared his fate, while at every discharge, men would drop + in the ranks. The howitzers rattled their shot on the deserted pavements + and walls of the houses, but did no damage to the only portion of the + enemy they had to fear, while the fight between the infantry and the + rioters was like that between soldiers in the open field and Indians in + ambush. Colonel Winston soon saw that it was madness to keep his men + there, to be picked off in detail, and ordered a retreat. At the first + sign of a retrograde movement, a cry rang along the avenue; and from the + side streets, and basements, and houses, the mob swarmed forth so + furiously, that it assumed huge proportions at once, and chased the + retiring soldiers with yells and taunts, and pressed them so hotly that + they could not bring off all their killed and wounded. Among those left + behind was Colonel Jardine. He took refuge in a basement, where the mob + found him, and would have killed him on the spot, had not one of them + recognized him as an old acquaintance, and for some reason or other + protected him from further violence; and he was eventually carried to the + house of a surgeon near by. + </p> + <p> + The mob were left masters of the field, and soon began their depredations. + The state of things was at length reported to police head-quarters, and + General Brown sent off Captain Putman, with Captain Shelby and a hundred + and fifty regulars and two field-pieces, to disperse the mob and bring + away the dead and wounded of Winston's force that might remain. They + reached the spot between ten and eleven o'clock at night. The dimly + lighted streets were black with men, while many, apprised of the approach + of the military, mounted again to the roofs as before. Putnam immediately + charged on the crowd in the street, scattering them like a whirlwind. He + then turned his guns on the buildings, and opened such a deadly fire on + them that they were soon cleared. Having restored order, he halted his + command, and remained on the ground till half-past twelve. + </p> + <p> + At the same time a mob was pulling down the negro houses in York Street, + which they soon left a heap of ruins. Houses plundered or set on fire in + various parts of the city, combined with the ringing of fire-bells, + thunder of cannon, and marching of troops, made this night like its + predecessor—one of horror. + </p> + <p> + There was also a disturbance in Brooklyn. Shaw's and Fancher's elevators, + and Wheeler's store on the docks, were set on fire, and a force ordered to + put them out. + </p> + <p> + The illumination of the windows from the <i>Times</i> building this + evening shed a brilliant glow over Printing-house Square, and flooded the + Park to the City Hall with light, while an armed force within was ready to + fire on any mob that should dare expose itself in the circle of its + influence. + </p> + <p> + At 12.15 the following telegram was sent: + </p> + <p> + "To all stations. How are things in your precinct?" + </p> + <p> + <i>Answer</i>. "All quiet." + </p> + <p> + Thus the third night of this terrible riot passed away still unsubdued, + and still Acton sat at his post, awake, while others slept, and kept + feeling through the telegraph wires the pulse of the huge, fevered city. + The regiments coming back from Pennsylvania might arrive at any time, and + he was anxious to know the moment they reached the New York docks. The + Seventh Regiment, especially, he knew was expected to reach the city that + night by special train. Policemen were therefore kept on the watch; but + the regiment did not arrive till after daylight. About half-past four in + the morning, the steady ranks were seen marching along Canal Street + towards Broadway, and soon drew up in front of St. Nicholas Hotel. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. — FOURTH DAY. + </h2> + <p> + Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.—City districted.—Appearance + of the East Side of the City.—A small Squad of Soldiers chased into + a Foundry by the Mob.—Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in + Twenty-ninth Street.—Soldiers driven from the Ground, leaving a dead + Sergeant behind.—Captain Putnam sent to bring the Body away.—Mows + down the Rioters with Canister.—Storms the Houses.—Utter Rout + of the Mob.—Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to + Blackwell's Island.—Touching Scene.—Coming on of Night and a + Thunderstorm.—Returning Regiments.—Increased Force in the City + to put down Violence.—Archbishop Hughes offers to address the Irish.—Curious + Account of an Interview of a Lady with him and Governor Seymour.—Strange + Conduct of the Prelate. + </p> + <p> + Only the principal disturbances of the third day were given, and of these + the accounts were very succinct. The movements of the mobs and the + conflicts with them were so similar in character, that a detailed + description of them would be a mere repetition of what had gone before. + After the police force, and the troops under General Brown had become + organized so as to move and act together, each fight with the rioters was + almost a repetition of its predecessor. Having adopted a plan of + procedure, they seldom deviated from it, and the story of one fight became + the story of all—a short struggle and a quick victory. + </p> + <p> + It was hoped this morning that the rioters would conclude that they could + not carry out their mad designs; for the enrolment of large bodies of + citizens, and the announcement of the speedy return of several regiments, + showed that all the force necessary to subdue them was, or soon would be, + on hand. The day before, the Governor had issued a proclamation, declaring + the city to be in a state of insurrection; but this morning appeared a + proclamation from Mayor Opdyke, announcing that the insurrection was + practically ended. It is true he called on the citizens to form voluntary + associations, with competent leaders, to patrol their separate districts, + to protect themselves from roaming gangs of plunderers, and so spare the + exhausted police and military. Yet he called on the citizens to resume + their usual avocations, and directed the railroad and stage lines to + resume their routes. This opinion of the Mayor was strengthened by the + positive announcement that the draft had been suspended, and the passage + of an ordinance by the City Council, appropriating $2,500,000 towards + paying $300 exemption money to the poor who might be drafted. It was + plain, if the draft was the cause of the continued riot, it would now + cease. But in spite of all this, bad news came from Harlem, and Yorkville, + and other sections. In fact, it was evident that the Police Commissioners + did not share fully in the pleasant anticipations of the Mayor. Having + ascertained that the leaders of the mob, learning from experience, had + organized more intelligently, and designed to act in several distinct and + separate bodies in different sections, they, with General Brown, divided + the city into four districts, in each one of which were to be stationed + strong bodies of the police and military, so that they could act with more + expedition and efficiency than if they were sent out from the common + head-quarters in Mulberry Street. It would, beside, save the fatigue of + long marches. Those separate stations were in Harlem, Eighteenth, + Twenty-ninth, and Twenty-sixth Precincts. A good deal was also expected by + an invitation given by Archbishop Hughes, that appeared in the morning + papers, to the Irish to meet him next day in front of his house, where, + though crippled from rheumatism, he would address them from the balcony. + The Eighth Avenue cars had been started, as well as those of the Third; + and many stores were opened. Still, on the east side of the city, in the + neighborhood of First Avenue, most of the shops were closed. + </p> + <p> + It should be here remarked to the credit of the German population, which + were very numerous in certain localities on this side of the city, that + they had no sympathy with the rioters; on the contrary, sent word to the + Police Commissioners not to be concerned about their locality; they had + organized, and would see that order was maintained there. No better title + to American citizenship than this could be shown. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE RIOTERS DRAGGING COL. O'BRIEN'S BODY THROUGH THE + STREET.} + </p> + <p> + Though early in the morning, it was comparatively quiet on the east side + of the city; yet near First Avenue knots of men could be seen here and + there, engaged in loud and angry conversation. They looked exhausted and + haggard, but talked defiant as ever, swearing terrible vengeance against + the military; for, though hidden from sight, in the miserable + tenement-houses near by, lay their dead, dying, and wounded friends by + scores. Near Nineteenth Street, the scene of the conflict the evening + previous, there were stones, brick-bats, shivered awning-posts, and other + wrecks of the fight. The grog-shops were open, in which men with bloody + noses, and bruised and battered faces, obtained the necessary stimulus to + continue the desperate struggle. Dirty, slovenly-dressed women stood in + the door-ways or on the steps, swearing and denouncing both police and + military in the coarsest language. Though the immense gatherings of the + preceding days were not witnessed, yet there was a ground-swell of passion + that showed the lawless spirit was not subdued, though overawed. But the + Police Commissioners were now prepared for whatever might occur. The + Seventh Regiment had been stationed on the west side of the city, with a + wide district to keep in order, thus enabling them to concentrate larger + forces in other directions. But, although everything wore this favorable + aspect to the authorities, it was evident towards noon, from the steadily + increasing size of the groups observed in the morning, that they had + resolved to try again their strength with the military. The state of + things was telegraphed to police head-quarters, but the report making the + mob not formidable, only a company of about twenty-five men were sent out. + Finding the rioters numbered about two hundred or more, and not daring to + fire their howitzer, lest, before it could be reloaded, the former would + rush forward and seize it, they concluded to retire. The mob at once set + furiously on them, and forced them to take refuge in Jackson's foundry. + The following telegram to head-quarters announced the fact: + </p> + <p> + "1.25. From Twenty-first. The mob has charged our military, about + twenty-five in number, and driven them into Jackson's foundry, First + Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street. The mob are armed, and every time a + regular shows himself they fire. A few good skirmishers would pick off + these riflemen and relieve the military." + </p> + <p> + This was soon succeeded by the following: + </p> + <p> + "1.54. From Twenty-first. Send military assistance immediately to First + Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street. The mob increases, and will murder the + military force." + </p> + <p> + <i>Ans</i>. "They are on their way up." + </p> + <p> + They soon arrived, and were at once furiously attacked by the mob. The + soldiers fired into them, but they boldly held their ground, and were + evidently bent on a desperate fight. + </p> + <p> + The former now took up their stations at the junction of the streets, and + were about to sweep them with canister, when from some cause a delay was + ordered. This increased the boldness of the mob, and they taunted and + derided the soldiers. But in a few minutes a reinforcement of regulars + arrived on the ground and charged bayonets. The rioters fell back, but + rallying, forced the soldiers to retire in turn. The latter, however, + returned to the charge, when the mob again gave way, but still stubbornly + refused to disperse. + </p> + <p> + News of the magnitude of the struggle reached the Seventh Regiment, and + they rapidly marched to the spot. Their steady tramp along the pavement, + and well-set ranks, discouraged the crowd, and they marched and + counter-marched through the streets without molestation. + </p> + <p> + The mob, however, dispersed only to reassemble again in Twenty-ninth + Street, and began to plunder the stores in the vicinity, and spread + devastation on every side. + </p> + <p> + This being reported to head-quarters, a military force was despatched to + disperse them. The rioters, however, instead of retreating, attacked them + with the greatest fury. Almost every house was filled with them, and they + lined the roofs with muskets and pistols, from which they poured down a + deadly fire. For nearly a half an hour the fire was kept up without + cessation, and many were killed. A sergeant was knocked down by a + brick-bat, and then seized and beaten to death. The troops finding + themselves unable to dislodge the assailants, retreated, leaving the body + of the sergeant in the street, where it lay for three hours. General Brown + not having a sufficient number of troops on hand, the mob all this time + had it their own way. It was nine o'clock before he could despatch Captain + Putnam with a strong force to put an end to the disgraceful scene. + Arriving on the spot, the latter addressed the crowd, saying that he had + come to carry away the dead body of the sergeant, and should do it at all + hazards. But he had hardly placed it in a wagon, when the crowd began to + assail his troops. He immediately unlimbered his pieces, when it scattered + in every direction. But the rioters came together again at the corner of + Thirty-first Street and Second Avenue, where they were met by + reinforcements, and made a stand. They filled the houses, and mounted to + the roofs, armed with muskets and revolvers, and as Putnam appeared, + commenced a rapid fire. Placing his pieces in position, this gallant + officer swept the street with canister, which soon cleared it. Eleven of + the ringleaders were shot down, and bodies lay thick on the pavement. But + this did not intimidate those in the windows, or on the roofs, and they + kept up a steady fire. Putnam, who showed by his cool courage that the + fighting stock from which he came had not degenerated, now ordered his men + to turn their fire on the buildings. At each discharge, the heavy volleys + brought down many of the wretches, some pitching headlong from the roof, + and dashing out their brains on the pavement and flagging below. But the + fight was very unequal, for the assailants would expose their bodies as + little as possible; Putnam saw that the houses must be stormed, and gave + the order to do it. The fight was now transferred to the inside, and + became close and murderous. In the narrow halls and on the stairways, + numbers were of no avail, and the rioters fought with a desperation they + had not before exhibited. There was no way of escape, and they seemed to + prefer death to being taken prisoners, and for a half an hour maintained + the conflict in the darkened rooms and passages with a ferocity that was + appalling. At last, however, with their numbers sadly thinned, they were + forced to yield, and took refuge in flight. Many, unable to get away, hid + under beds and in closets, but the soldiers ferreted them out, and carried + them to police head-quarters. + </p> + <p> + The arsenal had not been attacked, as Sandford seemed every day to think + it would be. Many colored people, as before stated, took refuge in it; and + about noon on this day, a body of police arrived before it, with the + children of the Colored Orphan Asylum that had been burned on Monday, in + charge. They had since that time been scattered round in station-houses, + but were now to be escorted to Blackwell's Island, for better security. It + was an impressive spectacle this army of children presented, as they drew + up in line in front of the arsenal to wait for those within to join them. + The block was filled with them. The frightened little fugitives, fleeing + from they scarce knew what, looked bewildered at their novel position. It + seemed impossible that they ever could have been the objects of any one's + vengeance. With a strong body of police in front and rear, and a + detachment of soldiers on either side, they toddled slowly down to the + foot of Thirty-fifth Street, from whence they were taken by boats to the + Island. + </p> + <p> + The Sixty-fifth New York Regiment arrived from Harrisburg in the + afternoon, and just before midnight the One Hundred and Fifty-second also + reached the city, and marched up Broadway to police head-quarters, where + they were stowed away to get some rest. + </p> + <p> + A heavy storm that set in during the evening, helped to scatter the crowd + that would otherwise have gathered on this warm July night, but it at the + same time gave a sombre aspect to the city. The crescent moon was veiled + in black, and thunderous clouds that swept heavily over the city, deepened + the gloom, and seemed portentous of greater evil. The closing of all the + stores and shop-windows at nightfall, through fear, left the streets + lighted only by the scattering lamps. This unusual stretch of blank dead + walls, emitting no ray of light, rendered the darkness made by the + overhanging storm still more impenetrable. Flashes of lightning would + reveal small groups of men bent on plunder, in sections where the military + and police were not stationed, but no open violence was attempted. In + other directions, the bayonets of the soldiers would gleam out of the + dense shadows, as they silently held the posts assigned them, ready to + march at a moment's notice. This was the fourth night, and the cannon + planted in the streets, and the increased military force, showed that + peace was not yet fully restored. The Seventh Regiment was quartered in + Thirty-fourth Street, part of the soldiers within a building, and crowding + every window to catch the first sign of disturbance, and part stationed + below, or marching back and forth in the street. Other troops and + policemen were massed at head-quarters, ready to move, at the word of + command, to any point threatened by the mob. + </p> + <p> + The fourth night was passing away, and still Acton clung to his post, and + refused to take even a moment's rest. His whole nature had been keyed up + to meet the grave responsibilities that lay upon him, and through the + wires he still watched every threatened point in the city, with sleepless + vigilance. In the meantime, over a thousand special policemen had been + sworn in, and five hundred or more citizens had voluntered their services, + while the steady arrival of returning regiments swelled the military force + into formidable proportions. + </p> + <p> + During the day, Senators Connolly and O'Brien had waited on General Brown, + and asked him to remove the military from their ward, as their presence + excited the people. The General very bluntly refused, saying he should not + permit his troops to retire from before an armed mob. He was asked also to + order the troops to leave Jackson's foundry for the same reason, and gave + an equally emphatic refusal. There was now to be no compromise with the + rioters, no agreement entered into. They had got beyond the character of + citizens with rights to be respected—they were assassins and + murderers, to whom was submitted the simple question of subjection to law + and authority, or death. + </p> + <p> + The fighting through the day had been severe, but the disturbance had not + been so wide-spread and general. Outside of the city, there had been + threatening rumors. It was reported that there was danger of an uprising + in Westchester, where some leading Democrats had taken open opposition to + the draft, and a gun-boat had gone up as far as Tarrytown; but nothing + serious occurred. + </p> + <p> + The rioters being almost exclusively Irish, it was thought that an address + from Archbishop Hughes would go far to quiet the ringleaders, and he had + therefore issued the following call, already referred to: + </p> + <p> + To the men of New York, who are now called in many of the papers rioters. + </p> + <h3> + MEN! + </h3> + <p> + I am not able, owing to rheumatism in my limbs, to visit you, but that is + not a reason why you should not pay me a visit in your whole strength. + Come, then, tomorrow (Friday) at two o'clock, to my residence, north-west + corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-sixth street. There is abundant space + for the meeting, around my house. I can address you from the corner of the + balcony. If I should not be able to stand during its delivery, you will + permit me to address you sitting; my voice is much stronger than my limbs. + I take upon myself the responsibility of assuring you, that in paying me + this visit or in retiring from it, you shall not be disturbed by any + exhibition of municipal or military presence. You who are Catholics, or as + many of you as are, have a right to visit your bishop without molestation. + </p> + <p> + JOHN HUGHES, Archbishop of New York. + </p> + <p> + NEW YORK, <i>July</i> 16, 1863. + </p> + <p> + A curious incident was related subsequently in one of the New York papers, + respecting the manner in which an interview was brought about between him + and Governor Seymour, and which resulted in the resolution of the + Archbishop to address the rioters. The substance of the account was, that + a young widow of high culture, formerly the wife of a well-known lawyer of + this city—a woman living in an atmosphere of art, and refinement, + and spending her time in study, became so excited over the violence and + bloodshed that the authorities seemed unable to suppress, and finding that + the Irish were at the bottom of the trouble, determined to appeal to + Archbishop Hughes personally, to use his high authority and influence to + bring these terrible scenes to a close. + </p> + <p> + Acting on this determination, she set out this morning for the + Archbishop's residence, but on arriving was told that he was at the + residence of Vicar-general Starrs, in Mulberry Street. Hastening thither, + she asked for an interview. Her request was denied, when she repeated it; + and though again refused, would not be repelled, and sent word that her + business was urgent, and that she would not detain him ten minutes. The + Archbishop finally consented to see her. As she entered the library, her + manner and bearing—both said to be remarkably impressive—arrested + the attention of the prelate. Without any explanation or apology, she told + him at once her errand—that it was one of mercy and charity. She had + been educated in a Roman Catholic convent herself, in which her father was + a professor, and she urged him, in the name of God, to get on horseback, + and go forth into the streets and quell the excitement of his flock. She + told him he must, like Mark Antony, address the people; and in rescuing + this great metropolis from vandalism, would become a second Constantine, + an immortal hero. It was his duty, she boldly declared; and though she did + not profess to be a Jeanne d'Arc or Madame Roland, but a plain woman of + the present day, she would ride fearlessly by his side, and if he were + threatened, would place her body between him and danger, and take the blow + aimed at him. The cautious and crafty prelate was almost carried away by + the impassioned and dramatic force of this woman, but he told her it would + be presumption in him to do so; in fact, impossible, as he was so crippled + with rheumatism and gout, that he could not walk. She then asked him to + call the crowd, and address them from the balcony of his house. He replied + that he was just then busy in writing an answer to an attack on him in the + <i>Tribune</i>. She assured him that such a controversy was worse than + useless—that another and higher duty rested on him. She pressed him + with such importunity and enthusiasm, that he finally consented; but as a + last effort to get rid of her, said he feared the military would interfere + and attack the mob. She assured him they would not, and hurried off to the + St. Nicholas to see Governor Seymour about it. She found the ante-room + filled with officials and other personages on important business, waiting + their turn to be admitted. But her determined, earnest manner so impressed + every one with the importance of her mission, that precedence was granted + her, and she found herself at once beside the astonished Governor. Without + any preliminaries, she told him she had just come from the head of the + church, and wanted his excellency to visit him immediately. No business + was of such vital importance as this. The self-possessed Governor coolly + replied that he should be glad to see the Archbishop, but business was too + pressing to allow him to be absent even a half an hour from his duties. + She hastened back to Archbishop Hughes, and prevailed on him to write a + note to Governor Seymour, asking him to call and see him, as he was unable + to get out. Fortified with this, she now took a priest with her, and + providing herself with a carriage, returned to head-quarters, and + absolutely forced, by her energy and determination and persuasive manner, + the Governor to leave his business, and go to the Archbishop's. The + invitation to the Irish to meet him was the result of this interview. + </p> + <p> + Why Archbishop Hughes took no more active part than he did in quelling + this insurrection, when there was scarcely a man in it except members of + his own flock, seems strange. It is true he had published an address to + them, urging them to keep the peace; but it was prefaced by a long, + undignified, and angry attack on Mr. Greeley, of the <i>Tribune</i>, and + showed that he was in sympathy with the rioters, at least in their + condemnation of the draft. The pretence that it would be unsafe for him to + pass through the streets, is absurd; for on three different occasions + common priests had mingled with the mob, not only with impunity, but with + good effect. He could not, therefore, have thought himself to be in any + great danger. One thing, at any rate, is evident: had an Irish mob + threatened to burn down a Roman Catholic church, or a Roman Catholic + orphan asylum, or threatened any of the institutions or property of the + Roman Church, he would have shown no such backwardness or fear. The mob + would have been confronted with the most terrible anathemas of the church, + and those lawless bands quailed before the maledictions of the + representative of "God's vicegerent on earth." It is unjust to suppose + that he wished this plunder and robbery to continue, or desired to see + Irishmen shot down in the streets; it must, therefore, be left to + conjecture, why he could not be moved to any interference except by + outside pressure, and then show so much lukewarmness in his manner—in + fact, condemning their opponents almost as much as themselves. + </p> + <p> + The excitement consequent on the draft, exhibited in outbreaks in various + parts of the country, and in the vicinity of New York, was increased by + the reports of violence and fighting in the latter city. In Troy there was + a riot, and the mob, imitating the insane conduct of the rioters in New + York, proceeded to attack an African church. But a priest, more bold or + more patriotic than Archbishop Hughes, interfered and saved it. That the + latter, armed with nothing but the crucifix, could have effected as much + as the police and military together, there can be but little doubt. This + open and decided sympathy with law and order, and bitter anathemas against + the vandals who sought the destruction of the city, were the more + demanded, as such a large proportion of the police force were Roman + Catholics, and in their noble devotion to duty, even to shooting down + their own countrymen and men of a similar faith, deserved this + encouragement from the head of the church. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: BURNING OF THE SECOND AVENUE ARMORY.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. — CLOSING SCENES. + </h2> + <p> + Tranquil Morning.—Proclamation of the Mayor.—Mob cowed.—Plunderers + afraid of Detection.—Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, + Furniture, and Works of Art.—Archbishop Hughes' Address.—Useless + Efforts.—Acton's Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.—Change + in Military Commanders in the City.—General Brown relinquishes his + Command.—True Words.—Noble Character and Behavior of the + Troops and Police.—General Brown's invaluable Services. + </p> + <p> + This week of horrors—a week unparalleled in the history of New York—was + drawing to a close. It had been one of terror and dismay to the + inhabitants, who thought only of the immediate effects on themselves of + the triumph of the mob. A great city laid in ashes, given, up to robbers + and cut-throats, is at any time a terrible spectacle; but New York in + ruins at this time was a republic gone—a nation, uncrowned and left + desolate; but the battle, both for the nation and city, had been nobly + fought and won; and Friday, the fifth day of this protracted struggle, + dawned bright and tranquil. The storm of the night before had passed away, + and the streets, thoroughly washed by the drenching rain, stretched clean + and quiet between the long rows of buildings, emblematic of the + tranquillity that had returned to the city. + </p> + <p> + The cars were seen once more speeding down to the business centres, loaded + with passengers. Broadway shook to the rumbling of the heavy omnibuses; + shutters were taken down, and the windows again shone with their rich + adornments. The anxious look had departed from the pedestrians, for the + heavy cloud, so full of present woe and future forebodings, had lifted and + passed away. + </p> + <p> + The following proclamation of Mayor Opdyke will show the true state of + things on this morning, and what the people had most to fear: + </p> + <p> + "The riotous assemblages have been dispersed. Business is running in its + usual channels. The various lines of omnibuses, railway, and telegraph + have resumed their ordinary operations. Few symptoms of disorder remain, + except in a small district in the eastern part of the city, comprising a + part of the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Wards. The police is everywhere + alert. A sufficient military force is now here to suppress any illegal + movement, however formidable. + </p> + <p> + "Let me exhort you, therefore, to pursue your ordinary business. Avoid + especially all crowds. Remain quietly at your homes, except when engaged + in business, or assisting the authorities in some organized force. When + the military appear in the street, do not gather about it, being sure that + it is doing its duty in obedience to orders from superior authority. Your + homes and your places of business you have a right to defend, and it is + your duty to defend them, at all hazards. Yield to no intimidation, and to + no demand for money as the price of your safety. If any person warns you + to desist from your accustomed business, give no heed to the warning, but + arrest him and bring him to the nearest station-house as a conspirator. + </p> + <p> + "Be assured that the public authorities have the ability and the will to + protect you from those who have conspired alike against your peace, + against the government of your choice, and against the laws which your + representatives have enacted. + </p> + <p> + "GEORGE OPDYKE, Mayor." + </p> + <p> + Down-town there was scarcely anything to show that New York had for nearly + a week been swept by one of the most frightful storms that ever desolated + a city. Even in the disaffected districts, no crowds were assembled. In + the corner groggeries, small groups of men might be seen, discussing the + past, and uttering curses and threats; and ruined houses and battered + walls and hanging blinds here and there arrested the eye, showing what + wild work had been wrought; but it was evident that the struggle was over. + The mob was thoroughly subdued, and the law-breakers now thought more of + escaping future punishment than of further acts of violence. Bruised heads + and battered forms were scattered through the low tenement-houses in every + direction, which friends were anxious to keep concealed from the notice of + the authorities. In dirty cellars and squalid apartments were piled away + the richest stuffs—brocaded silks, cashmere shawls, elegant chairs, + vases, bronzes, and articles of virtu, huddled promiscuously together, + damning evidences of guilt, which were sure not to escape, in the end, the + searching eye of the police, who had already begun to gather up the + plunder. Thus the objects mostly coveted but a few hours ago now awakened + the greatest solicitude and fear. + </p> + <p> + Even if the military under General Brown and the police had not shown the + mob that they were its masters, the arrival of so many regiments, + occupying all the infected districts, was overwhelming evidence that the + day of lawless triumph was over, and that of retribution had come. Some + acts of individual hostility were witnessed, but nothing more. + </p> + <p> + Archbishop Hughes had his meeting, and some five thousand assembled to + hear him. They were on the whole a peaceable-looking crowd, and it was + evidently composed chiefly, if not wholly, of those who had taken no part + in the riot. None of the bloody heads and gashed faces, of which there + were so many at that moment in the city, appeared. The address was well + enough, but it came too late to be of any service. It might have saved + many lives and much destruction, had it been delivered two days before, + but now it was like the bombardment of a fortress after it had surrendered—a + mere waste of ammunition. The fight was over, and to use his own not very + refined illustration, he "spak' too late." The reports that came in to + Acton from all the precincts convinced him of this, and he began to think + of rest. + </p> + <p> + The strain was off, and overtasked nature made her demand, and he was + compelled to yield to it. The tremendous work that had been laid upon him + had been right nobly accomplished. Had he been a weak and vacillating man, + the rioters would have acquired a headway that could not have been + stopped, without a more terrible sacrifice of life and property—perhaps + even of half the city. Comprehending intuitively the gravity of the + situation, and the danger of procrastination or temporizing, he sprang at + once for the enemy's throat, and never ceased his hold until he had + strangled him to death. If he had waited to consult authorities about the + legality of his action, or listened to the voice of pity, or yielded to + the clamors of leading politicians or threats of enemies, both he and the + city, in all human probability, would have been swept away in the + hurricane of popular fury. + </p> + <p> + On this day a most remarkable announcement was published: that a sudden + change had been made in the military command of the troops of the city and + harbor. General Dix superseded General Wool, and Canby, General Brown. + That Wool should have been removed at any time, might have been expected; + not from incapacity, but on account of his age, and because any one could + perform the mere nominal duties that devolved on him. But why General + Brown should have been removed at this critical moment, when he and the + Police Commissioners were performing their herculean task so faithfully + and well, is not so plain; unless it was the result of one of those freaks + of passion or despotic impulse, for which the Secretary of War was so + ignobly distinguished. But unlike many other blunders which the War + Department committed at this time, it did not result in any evil + consequences, for the fight was over. But of this fact the Secretary of + War was ignorant when he made out the order. + </p> + <p> + General Brown, in relinquishing his command, spoke warmly of the noble + behavior of the troops during the riots, saying: "Engaged night and day in + constant conflict with the mob, they have in some fifteen or twenty severe + contests—in most of them outnumbered more than ten to one, many of + the mob being armed—whipped and effectually dispersed them, and have + been uniformly successful. In not a single instance has assistance been + required by the police, when it has not been promptly rendered; and all + property, public and private, which has been under their protection, has + been perfectly and efficiently protected; and with pride he desires to + record, that in this city, surrounded by grog-shops, but one single + instance of drunkenness has fallen under his observation. + </p> + <p> + "To Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham, his able and efficient + adjutant-general, he tenders his thanks for his untiring assistance. + </p> + <p> + "Having during the present insurrection been in immediate and constant + co-operation with police department of this city, he desires the privilege + of expressing his unbounded admiration of it. Never in civil or military + life has he seen such untiring devotion and such efficient service. + </p> + <p> + "To President Acton and Commissioner Bergen he offers his thanks for their + courtesy to him and their kindness to his command. + </p> + <p> + "HARVEY BROWN, <i>Brigadier-general</i>." + </p> + <p> + The praise he bestows both on the police and soldiers was richly deserved; + and he may well say that "with pride he desires to record that in this + city, surrounded with grog-shops, but one single instance of drunkenness + has fallen under his observation." With all a soldier's tendency to + indulge in spirituous liquor, to be thrown right amid drinking-places, + which by harboring rioters had lost all claim to protection—part of + the time suffering from want of food, and often drenched to the skin, and + weary from hard fighting and want of sleep—not to step away + occasionally in the confusion and darkness of night, and solace himself + with stimulating drinks, was something marvellous. After hard fighting, + and long marching, and short rations, a soldier feels he has a right to + indulge in liquor, if he can get it; and their abstinence from it in such + lawless times, not only speaks well for their discipline, but their + character. A single instance shows under what perfect control the troops + were. One day Colonel Ladue, seeing that his men were exhausted and + hungry, desired to let them have a little beer to refresh them, and the + following telegram was sent from the precinct where they were on duty: + </p> + <p> + "5.45 P.M. From 9th. Colonel Ladue wishes his men allowed to have beer in + station-house." + </p> + <p> + <i>Answer</i>. "Mr. Acton says he is opposed to beer, but the colonel can + give his men as much as he pleases." + </p> + <p> + "Acton is opposed to beer," but the troops are not under his command, and + he has no heart to deny the poor fellows the station-house in which to + refresh themselves after their hard day's work. This incident also shows + the strict discipline maintained in the police department. + </p> + <p> + General Brown had done a noble work. Taking his place beside the Police + Commissioners, he bent all his energies to the single task of carrying out + their plans, and save the city from the hands of the rioters. He never + thought what deference might be due him on the score of etiquette, or on + account of his military rank; he thought only of putting down the mob at + all hazards. His refusal, at first, to serve under General Sandford was + not merely that it was an improper thing to place a general of the regular + army under the orders of a mere militia general, {Footnote: Because he was + especially assigned to the command of the city by the Secretary of War.} + having no rank whatever in the United States army, but he knew it would + paralyze his influence, and in all human probability result in the useless + sacrifice of his troops. The absurdity of not moving until he received + orders from his superior officer, cooped up in the arsenal, where he + remained practically in a state of siege, was so apparent that he refused + to countenance it. He was willing that President Acton should be his + superior officer, and give his orders, and he would carry them out; for + thus he could act efficiently and make his disciplined battalion tell in + the struggle; but for the sake of his own reputation and that of his + troops, he would not consent to hold a position that would only bring + disgrace on both. His views are clearly expressed in his reply to a highly + complimentary letter addressed to him by the mayor and a large number of + prominent citizens, for the signal services he had rendered. He says: "I + never for a moment forgot that to the police was confided the conservation + of the peace of the city; and that only in conjunction with the city + authorities, and on their requisition, could the United States forces be + lawfully and properly employed in suppressing the riot, and in restoring + that peace and good order which had been so lawlessly broken. Acting in + accordance with this principle, and as aids to the gallant city police, + the officers and soldiers of my command performed the most unpleasant and + arduous duty, with that prompt energy and fearless patriotism which may + ever be expected from the soldiers of the Republic." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. + </h2> + <p> + Continued Tranquillity.—Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in + the Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.—Search for it exasperates + the Irish.—Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police.—Sergeant + Copeland.—Prisoners tried.—Damages claimed from the City.—Number + of Police killed.—Twelve hundred Rioters killed.—The Riot + Relief Fund.—List of Colored People killed.—Generals Wool and + Sandford's Reports.—Their Truthfulness denied.—General Brown + vindicated. + </p> + <p> + On Saturday morning it was announced that the authorities at Washington + had resolved to enforce the draft. It had been repeatedly asserted during + the riot that it was abandoned, and the report received very general + credence. Still, the official denial of it produced no disturbance. The + spirit of insurrection was effectually laid. + </p> + <p> + It is a little singular, that, in all these tremendous gatherings and + movements, no prominent recognized leaders could be found. A man by the + name of Andrews had been arrested and imprisoned as one, but the charge + rested wholly on some exciting harangues he had made, not from any <i>active</i> + leadership he had assumed. + </p> + <p> + There were, perhaps, in the city this morning not far from ten thousand + troops—quite enough to preserve the peace, if the riot should break + out afresh; and orders therefore were given to arrest the march of + regiments hastening from various sections to the city, under the + requisition of the Governor. Still, the terror that had taken possession + of men could not be allayed in an hour, and although the police had + resumed their patrols, and dared to be seen alone in the streets, there + was constant dread of personal violence among the citizens. Especially was + this true of the negro population. Although many sought their ruined + homes, yet aware of the intense hatred entertained toward them by the mob, + they felt unsafe, and began to organize in self-defence. But the day wore + away without disturbance, and the Sabbath dawned peaceably, and order + reigned from the Battery to Harlem. The military did not show themselves + in the street, and thousands thronged without fear the avenues in which + the fighting had taken place, to look at the ruins it had left behind. On + Monday there was more or less rebellious feeling exhibited by the rioters, + on account of the general search of the police for stolen goods, and the + arrest of suspected persons. It exhibited itself, however, only in threats + and curses—not a policemen was assaulted. It was amusing, sometimes, + to see what strange articles the poor wretches had stowed away in their + dirty cellars. There was everything from barrels of sugar and starch to + tobacco and bird-seed. Said a morning paper: "Mahogany and rosewood chairs + with brocade upholstering, marble-top tables and stands, costly paintings, + and hundreds of delicate and valuable mantel ornaments, are daily found in + low hovels up-town. Every person in whose possession these articles are + discovered disclaims all knowledge of the same, except that they found + them in the street, and took them in to prevent them being burned. The + entire city will be searched, and it is expected that the greatest portion + of the property taken from the buildings sacked by the mob will be + recovered." The rivers and outlets to the city were closely watched, to + prevent its being carried off. In the meantime, arrests were constantly + made. + </p> + <p> + It would be invidious to single out any portion of the police for special + commendation, where all did their duty so nobly; but it is not improper to + speak of the sanitary police, whose specific duties do not lead them to + take part in quelling mobs. + </p> + <p> + They have to report all nuisances, examine tenement-houses and unsafe + buildings, look after the public schools, but more especially examine + steam-boilers, and license persons qualified to run steam-engines. Hence, + it is composed of men of considerable scientific knowledge. But all such + business being suspended during the riot, they at once, with their + Captain, B. G. Lord, assumed the duties of the common policemen, and from + Monday night till order was restored, were on constant duty, participating + in the fights, and enduring the fatigues with unflinching firmness, and + did not return to their regular duties till Monday morning. + </p> + <p> + The drill-officer also, Sergeant T. S. Copeland, became, instead of a + drill-officer, a gallant, active leader of his men in some of the most + desperate fights that occurred. His military knowledge enabled him to form + commands ordered hastily off, with great despatch. But not content with + this, he led them, when formed, to the charge, and gave such lessons in + drill, in the midst of the fight, as the police will never forget. + </p> + <p> + With the details of what followed we have nothing to do. The Grand Jury + indicted many of the prisoners, and in the term of the court that met the + 3d of August, twenty were tried and nineteen convicted, and sentenced to a + longer or shorter term of imprisonment. Of course a large number on + preliminary examinations got off, sometimes from want of sufficient + evidence, and sometimes from the venality of the judges before whom they + were brought. Claims for damages were brought in, the examination of which + was long and tedious. The details are published in two large volumes, and + the entire cost to the city was probably three millions of dollars. Some + of the claims went before the courts, where they lingered along + indefinitely. The number of rioters killed, or died from the effects of + their wounds, was put down by the Police Commissioners at about twelve + hundred. Of course this estimate is not made up from any detailed reports. + The dead and wounded were hurried away, even in the midst of the fight, + and hidden in obscure streets, or taken out of the city for fear of future + arrests or complications. Hence there was no direct way of getting at the + exact number of those who fell victims to the riot. The loss of life, + therefore, could only be approximated by taking the regular report of the + number of deaths in the city for a few weeks before the riots, and that + for the same length of time after. As there was no epidemic, or any report + of increased sickness from any disease, the inference naturally was, that + the excess for the period after the riots was owing to the victims of + them. Many of these were reported as sunstrokes, owing to men exposing + themselves to the sun with pounded and battered heads. The Police + Commissioners took great care to keep all the wounded policemen indoors + until perfectly cured. Only one ventured to neglect their orders, and he + died of a sunstroke. + </p> + <p> + The difference of mortality in the city for the month previous to the + riots, and the month during and subsequent, was about twelve hundred, + which excess Mr. Acton thought should be put down to the deaths caused + directly and indirectly by the riots. Although many policemen were + wounded, only three were killed or died from the injuries they received. + </p> + <p> + Immediately after the riot, Mr. Leonard W. Jerome and others interested + themselves in raising a fund for the relief of members of the Police, + Militia, and Fire Departments who had sustained injuries in the discharge + of their duty in suppressing the riots. Subscriptions to the amount of + $54,980 were paid in, and $22,721.53 distributed by the Trustees of the + Riot Relief Fund, in sums from $50 to $1,000, each, through Isaac Bell, + Treasurer, to 101 policemen, 16 militiamen, and 7 firemen. + </p> + <p> + The balance was securely invested, to meet future emergencies, a portion + of which was paid to sufferers by the Orange Riot of 1871. + </p> + <p> + The following is the list of colored people known to be killed by the mob, + together with the circumstances attending their murder, as given by David + Barnes, in his Metropolitan record, to which reference has heretofore been + made. + </p> + <h3> + COLORED VICTIMS OF THE RIOT. + </h3> + <p> + WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLS (colored). Nichols resided at No. 147 East + Twenty-eighth Street. Mrs. Staat, his mother, was visiting him. On + Wednesday, July 15th, at 3 o'clock, the house was attacked by a mob with + showers of bricks and stones. In one of the rooms was a woman with a child + but three days old. The rioters broke open the door with axes and rushed + in. Nichols and his mother fled to the basement; in a few moments the babe + referred to was dashed by the rioters from the upper window to the yard, + and instantly killed. The mob cut the waterpipes above, and the basement + was being deluged; ten persons, mostly women and children, were there, and + they fled to the yard; in attempting to climb the fence, Mrs. Staat fell + back from exhaustion; the rioters were instantly upon her; her son sprang + to her rescue, exclaiming, "Save my mother, if you kill me." Two ruffians + instantly seized him, each taking hold of an arm, while a third, armed + with a crowbar, calling upon them to hold his arms apart, deliberately + struck him a savage blow on the head, felling him like a bullock. He died + in the N. Y. Hospital two days after. + </p> + <p> + JAMES COSTELLO (colored).—James Costello, No. 97 West Thirty-third + Street, killed on Tuesday morning, July 14th. Costello was a shoemaker, an + active man in his business, industrious and sober. He went out early in + the morning upon an errand, was accosted, and finally was pursued by a + powerful man. He ran down the street; endeavored to make his escape; was + nearly overtaken by his pursuer; in self-defence he turned and shot the + rioter with a revolver. The shot proved to be mortal; he died two days + after. Costello was immediately set upon by the mob. They first mangled + his body, then hanged it. They then cut down his body and dragged it + through the gutters, smashing it with stones, and finally burnt it. The + mob then attempted to kill Mrs. Costello and her children, but she escaped + by climbing fences and taking refuge in a police station-house. + </p> + <p> + ABRAHAM FRANKLIN (colored).—This young man, who was murdered by the + mob on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh Avenue, was a + quiet, inoffensive man, of unexceptionable character. He was a cripple, + but supported himself and his mother, being employed as a coachman. A + short time previous to the assault, he called upon his mother to see if + anything could be done by him for her safety. The old lady said she + considered herself perfectly safe; but if her time to die had come, she + was ready to die. Her son then knelt down by her side, and implored the + protection of Heaven in behalf of his mother. The old lady said that it + seemed to her that good angels were present in the room. Scarcely had the + supplicant risen from his knees, when the mob broke down the door, seized + him, beat him over the head and face with fists and clubs, and then hanged + him in the presence of his parent. While they were thus engaged, the + military came and drove them away, cutting down the body of Franklin, who + raised his arm once slightly and gave a few signs of life. The military + then moved on to quell other riots, when the mob returned and again + suspended the now probably lifeless body of Franklin, cutting out pieces + of flesh, and otherwise shockingly mutilating it. + </p> + <p> + AUGUSTUS STUART (colored).—Died at Hospital, Blackwell's Island, + July 22, from the effects of a blow received at the hands of the mob, on + Wednesday evening of the Riot Week. He had been badly beaten previously by + a band of rioters, and was frightened and insane from the effects of the + blows which he had received. He was running toward the arsenal (State), + Seventh Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street, for safety, when he was + overtaken by the mob, from whom he received his death-blow. + </p> + <p> + PETER HEUSTON.—Peter Heuston, sixty-three years of age, a Mohawk + Indian, dark complexion, but straight hair, and for several years a + resident of New York, proved a victim to the riots. Heuston served with + the New York Volunteers in the Mexican war. He was brutally attacked and + shockingly beaten, on the 13th of July, by a gang of ruffians, who thought + him to be of the African race because of his dark complexion. He died + within four days, at Bellevue Hospital, from his injuries. + </p> + <p> + JEREMIAH ROBINSON (colored).—He was killed in Madison near Catharine + Street. His widow stated that her husband, in order to escape, dressed + himself in some of her clothes, and, in company with herself and one other + woman, left their residence and went toward one of the Brooklyn ferries. + Robinson wore a hood, which failed to hide his beard. Some boys, seeing + his beard, lifted up the skirts of his dress, which exposed his heavy + boots. Immediately the mob set upon him, and the atrocities they + perpetrated are so revolting that they are unfit for publication. They + finally killed him and threw his body into the river. His wife and her + companion ran up Madison Street, and escaped across the Grand Street Ferry + to Brooklyn. + </p> + <p> + WILLIAM JONES (colored).—A crowd of rioters in Clarkson Street, in + pursuit of a negro, who in self-defence had fired on some rowdies, met an + inoffensive colored man returning from a bakery with a loaf of bread under + his arm. They instantly set upon and beat him and, after nearly killing + him, hung him to a lamppost. His body was left suspended for several + hours. A fire was made underneath him, and he was literally roasted as he + hung, the mob revelling in their demoniac act. Recognition of the remains, + on their being recovered, was impossible; and two women, mourned for + upwards of two weeks, in the case of this man, for the loss of their + husbands. At the end of that time, the husband of one of the mourners, to + her great joy, returned like one recovered from the grave. The principal + evidence which the widow, Mary Jones, had to identify the murdered man as + her husband, was the fact of his having a loaf of bread under his arm, he + having left the house to get a loaf of bread a few minutes before the + attack. + </p> + <p> + JOSEPH REED (colored).—This was a lad of seven years of age, + residing at No. 147 East Twenty-eighth Street, with an aged grandmother + and widowed mother. On Wednesday morning of the fearful week, a crowd of + ruffians gathered in the neighborhood, determined on a week of plunder and + death. They attacked the house, stole everything they could carry with + them, and, after threatening the inmates, set fire to it. The colored + people who had the sole occupancy of the building, fled in confusion into + the midst of the gathering crowd. And then the child was separated from + his guardians. His youth and evident illness, even from the devils around + him, it would be thought, should have insured his safety. But no sooner + did they see his unprotected, defenceless condition, than a gang of + fiendish men seized him, beat him with sticks, and bruised him with heavy + cobblestones. But one, tenfold more the servant of Satan than the rest, + rushed at the child, and with the stock of a pistol struck him on the + temple and felled him to the ground. A noble young fireman, by the name of + John F. Govern, of No. 39 Hose Company, instantly came to the rescue, and, + single-handed, held the crowd at bay. Taking the wounded and unconscious + boy in his arms, he carried him to a place of safety. The terrible beating + and the great fright the poor lad had undergone was too much for his + feeble frame; he died on the following Tuesday. + </p> + <p> + JOSEPH JACKSON (colored), aged nineteen years, living in West Fifty-third + Street, near Sixth Avenue, was in the industrious pursuit of his humble + occupation of gathering provender for a herd of cattle, and when near the + foot of Thirty-fourth Street, East River, July 15, was set upon by the + mob, killed, and his body thrown into the river. + </p> + <p> + SAMUEL JOHNSON (colored).—On Tuesday night Johnson was attacked near + Fulton Ferry by a gang who mercilessly beat and left him for dead. A + proposition was made to throw him into the river, but for some reason the + murderers took fright and fled. He was taken by some citizens to his home, + and died the next day. + </p> + <p> + —— WILLIAMS (colored).—He was attacked on the corner of + Le Roy and Washington Streets, on Tuesday morning, July 14th, knocked + down, a number of men jumped upon, kicked, and stamped upon him until + insensible. One of the murderers knelt on the body and drove a knife into + it; the blade being too small, he threw it away and resorted to his fists. + Another seized a huge stone, weighing near twenty pounds, and deliberately + crushed it again and again on to the victim. A force of police, under + Captain Dickson, arrived and rescued the man, who was conveyed to the New + York Hospital. He was only able to articulate "Williams" in response to a + question as to his name, and remained insensible thereafter, dying in a + few days. + </p> + <p> + ANN DERRICKSON.—This was a white woman, the wife of a colored man, + and lived at No. 11 York Street. On Wednesday, July 15th, the rioters + seized a son of deceased, a lad of about twelve years, saturated his + clothes and hair with camphene, and then procuring a rope, fastened one + end to a lamp-post, the other around his neck, and were about to set him + on fire, and hang him; they were interfered with by some citizens and by + the police of the First Ward, and their diabolical attempt at murder + frustrated. While Mrs. Derrickson was attempting to save the life of her + son she was horribly bruised and beaten, with a cart-rung. The victim, + after lingering three or four weeks, died from the effects of her + injuries. + </p> + <p> + Reports from the captains of the several precincts, with all the details + of their operations, were made out—also from the subordinate + military officers to their immediate superiors. The final reports of + General Wool, commanding the Eastern Department, and Major-general + Sandford, commanding the city troops, caused much remark in the city + papers, and called forth a reply from General Brown, who considered + himself unjustly assailed in them. Explanation of the disagreement between + him and General Wool having been fully given, it is not necessary to + repeat it here. The same may be said of the statement of General Wool, + regarding his orders on Monday the 13th, respecting the troops in the + harbor. But in this report of General Wool to Governor Seymour, there are + other statements which General Brown felt it his duty to correct. General + Wool says, that finding there was a want of harmony between Generals + Sandford and Brown in the disposition of troops, he issued the following + order: + </p> + <h3> + MAJOR-GENERAL SANDFORD, BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN. + </h3> + <p> + GENTLEMEN:—It is indispensable to collect your troops not stationed, + and have them divided into suitable parties, with a due proportion of + police to each, and to patrol in such parts of the city as may be in the + greatest danger from the rioters. This ought to be done as soon as + practicable. + </p> + <p> + JOHN E. WOOL, <i>Major-general</i>. + </p> + <p> + After this had been issued, General Sandford reporting to me that his + orders were not obeyed by General Brown, I issued the following order: + </p> + <p> + "All the troops called out for the protection of the city are placed under + the command of General Sandford." + </p> + <p> + General Brown in his reply says, that he "<i>never saw or heard of this + first order</i>." The only explanation of this, consistent with the + character of both, is that General Wool sent this order to General + Sandford alone—either forgetting to transmit it to General Brown, or + expecting General Sandford to do it. + </p> + <p> + At all events, sent or not, it was a foolish order. One would infer from + it that the whole task of putting down the riots belonged to the military, + the commanders of which were to order out what co-operating force of + police they deemed necessary and march up and down the disaffected + districts, trampling out the lawlessness according to rule. This might be + all well enough, but the question was, how were these troops, strangers to + the city, to find out where "<i>such parts of the city</i>" were in which + was "<i>the greatest danger from the rioters</i>?" It showed a lamentable + ignorance of mobs; they don't stay in one spot and fight it out, nor keep + in one mass, nor give notice beforehand where they will strike next. Such + knowledge could only be obtained from police head-quarters, the focus of + the telegraph system, and <i>there</i> the troops should have been ordered + to concentrate at once, and put themselves under the direction of the + Police Commissioners. Again, General Wool says he issued the following + order to General Brown, on Tuesday: + </p> + <p> + "SIR:—It is reported that the rioters have already recommenced their + work of destruction. To-day there must be no child's play. Some of the + troops under your command should be sent immediately to attack and stop + those who have commenced their infernal rascality in Yorkville and + Harlem." + </p> + <p> + This order, too, General Brown says he never received. Thinking it + strange, he addressed a note to General Wool's assistant adjutant-general, + respecting both these orders, which had thus strangely wandered out of the + way. The latter, Major Christensen, replied as follows: + </p> + <p> + "The orders of General Wool published in his report to Governor Seymour, + viz.: 'That patrols of military and police should be sent through the + disaffected districts;' and the one July 14th, 'To-day there must be no + child's play,' etc., were not issued by me, and I cannot therefore say + whether copies were sent to you or not. They were certainly <i>not</i> + sent by me. + </p> + <h3> + "C.F. CHRISTENSEN, + </h3> + <p> + "Major, Assistant Adjutant-general." + </p> + <p> + We have explained how the error may have occurred with regard to the first + order. But there is no explanation of this, except on the ground that + General Wool perhaps sketched out this order, without sending it, and + afterwards seeing it amid his papers, thought it was a copy of one he had + sent. He was well advanced in years, and might easily fall into some such + error. + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary to go into detailed account of all the statements + contained in General Wool's letter which General Brown emphatically + denies; but the following is worthy of notice. He says that General Brown + issued orders that General Sandford countermanded, and that General Brown + acted through the riots under his (Wool's) orders; whereas the latter + says, he never received but three orders from Wool during the whole time, + and only <i>one</i> of those referred to any action towards the rioters, + and that was to bring off some killed and wounded men left by a military + force sent out either by Sandford or Wool, and which had been chased from + the field by the mob. + </p> + <p> + But the statements of General Wool are entirely thrown into the shade by + the following assertion of General Sandford, in his report. He says: "With + the remnant of the {his} division (left in the city), and the first + reinforcements from General Wool, detachments were sent to all parts of + the city, and the rioters everywhere beaten and dispersed on Monday + afternoon, Monday night, and Tuesday morning. In a few hours, but for the + interference of Brigadier-general Brown, who, in disobedience of orders," + etc. + </p> + <p> + The perfect gravity with which this assertion is made is something + marvellous. One would infer that the police was of no account, except to + maintain order after it was fully restored by the military on Tuesday + morning. General Sandford might well be ignorant of the state of things in + the city, for he was cooped up in the arsenal, intent only on holding his + fortress. So far as he was concerned, the whole city might have been + burned up before Tuesday noon, and he would scarcely have known it, except + as he saw the smoke and flames from the roof of the arsenal. He never sent + out a detachment until after the Tuesday afternoon, when, as he says, but + for General Brown's action, the riot would have been virtually over. The + simple truth is, these reports of Generals Wool and Sandford are both mere + after-thoughts, growing out of the annoyance they felt on knowing that + their <i>martinetism</i> was a total failure, and the whole work had been + done by General Brown and the Police Commissioners from their + head-quarters in Mulberry Street. Acton and Brown had no time to grumble + or dispute about etiquette. They had something more serious on hand, and + they bent their entire energies to their accomplishment. General Sandford + held the arsenal, an important point, indeed a vital one, and let him + claim and receive all the credit due that achievement; but to assume any + special merit in quelling the riots in the streets is simply ridiculous. + That was the work of the police and the military under the commissioners + and General Brown. + </p> + <p> + The statement of the Police Commissioners, Acton and Bergen, on this point + is conclusive. They say that General Sandford's error consisted in "not + choosing to be in close communication with this department, when alone + through the police telegraph, and other certain means, trustworthy + information of the movements of the mob could be promptly had." + </p> + <p> + That single statement is enough to overthrow all of General Sandford's + assertions about the riot. It was hardly necessary for them to declare + further in their letter to General Brown: + </p> + <p> + "So far from your action having had the effect supposed by General + Sandford, we are of the opinion, already expressed in our address to the + police force, that through your prompt, vigorous, and intelligent action, + the intrepidity and steady valor of the small military force under you, + acting with the police force, the riotous proceedings were arrested on + Thursday night, and that without such aid mob violence would have + continued much longer." + </p> + <h3> + WELL-EARNED PRAISE. + </h3> + <p> + On the week after the riot the Board of Police Commissioners issued the + following address to the force, in which a well-earned tribute is paid to + the military: + </p> + <p> + <i>To the Metropolitan Police Force.</i> + </p> + <p> + On the morning of Monday, the 13th inst., the peace and good order of the + city were broken by a mob collected in several quarters of the city, for + the avowed purpose of resisting the process of drafting names to recruit + the armies of the Union. + </p> + <p> + Vast crowds of men collected and fired the offices where drafting was in + progress, beating and driving the officers from duty. + </p> + <p> + From the beginning, these violent proceedings were accompanied by arson, + robbery, and murder. + </p> + <p> + Private property, unofficial persons of all ages, sexes, and conditions, + were indiscriminately assailed—none were spared, except those who + were supposed by the mob to sympathize with their proceedings. + </p> + <p> + Early in the day the Superintendent was assaulted, cruelly beaten, robbed, + and disabled by the mob which was engaged in burning the provost marshal's + office in Third Avenue, thus in a manner disarranging the organization at + the Central Department, throwing new, unwonted, and responsible duties + upon the Board. + </p> + <p> + At this juncture the telegraph wires of the department were cut, and the + movement of the railroads and stages violently interrupted, interfering + seriously with our accustomed means of transmitting orders and + concentrating forces. + </p> + <p> + The militia of the city were absent at the seat of war, fighting the + battles of the nation against treason and secession, and there was no + adequate force in the city for the first twelve hours to resist at all + points the vast and infuriated mob. The police force was not strong enough + in any precinct to make head, unaided, against the overwhelming force. No + course was left but to concentrate the whole force at the Central + Department, and thence send detachments able to encounter and conquer the + rioters. This course was promptly adopted on Monday morning. The military + were called upon to act in aid of the civil force to subdue the + treasonable mob, protect life and property, and restore public order. + </p> + <p> + Under such, adverse circumstances you were called upon to encounter a mob + of such strength as have never before been seen, in this country. The + force of militia under General Sandford, who were called into service by + the authority of this Board, were concentrated by him at and held the + arsenal in Seventh Avenue, throughout the contest. The military forces in + command of Brevet Brigadier-general Harvey Brown reported at the Central + Department, and there General Brown established his head-quarters, and + from there expeditions, combined of police and military force, were sent + out that in all cases conquered, defeated, or dispersed the mob force, and + subjected them to severe chastisement. In no instance did these + detachments from the Central Department, whether of police alone or police + and military combined, meet with defeat or serious check. + </p> + <p> + In all cases they achieved prompt and decisive victories. The contest + continued through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and till 11 + o'clock on Thursday night, like a continuous battle, when it ended by a + total and sanguinary rout of the insurgents. + </p> + <p> + During the whole of those anxious days and nights, Brigadier-general Brown + remained at the Central Department, ordering the movements of the military + in carefully considered combinations with the police force, and throughout + the struggle, and until its close, commanded the admiration and gratitude + of the Police Department and all who witnessed his firm intelligence and + soldierly conduct. + </p> + <p> + It is understood that he had at no time under his immediate command more + than three hundred troops, but they were of the highest order, and were + commanded by officers of courage and ability. They cordially acted with, + supported, and were supported by, the police, and victory in every contest + against fearful odds, was the result of brave fighting and intelligent + command. + </p> + <p> + In the judgment of this Board, the escape of the city from the power of an + infuriated mob is due to the aid furnished the police by Brigadier-general + Brown and the small military force under his command. No one can doubt, + who saw him, as we did, that during those anxious and eventful days and + nights Brigadier-general Harvey Brown was equal to the situation, and was + the right man in the right place. + </p> + <p> + We avail ourselves of this occasion to tender to him, in the most earnest + and public manner, the thanks of the department and our own. + </p> + <p> + To the soldiers under his command we are grateful as to brave men who + perilled all to save the city from a reign of terror. To Captains Putnam, + Franklin, and Shelley, Lieutenant Ryer, and Lieutenant-colonel Berens, + officers of corps under the command of Brigadier-general Brown, we are + especially indebted, and we only discharge a duty when we commend them to + their superiors in rank and to the War Department for their courageous and + effective service. + </p> + <p> + Of the Inspectors, Captains, and Sergeants of police who led parties in + the fearful contest, we are proud to say that none faltered or failed. + Each was equal to the hour and the emergency. Not one failed to overcome + the danger, however imminent, or to defeat the enemy, however numerous. + Especial commendation is due to Drill-sergeant Copeland for his most + valuable aid in commanding the movements of larger detachments of the + police. + </p> + <p> + The patrolmen who were on duty fought through the numerous and fierce + conflicts with the steady courage of veteran soldiers, and have won, as + they deserve, the highest commendations from the public and from this + Board. In their ranks there was neither faltering nor straggling. Devotion + to duty and courage in the performance of it were universal. + </p> + <p> + The public and the department owe a debt of gratitude to the citizens who + voluntarily became special patrolmen, some three thousand of whom, for + several days and nights, did regular patrolmen's duty with great effect. + </p> + <p> + In the name of the public, and of the department in which they were + volunteers, we thank them. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Crowley, the superintendent of the police telegraph, and the attaches + of his department, by untiring and sleepless vigilance in transmitting + information by telegraph unceasingly through more than ten days and + nights, have more than sustained the high reputation they have always + possessed. + </p> + <p> + Through all these bloody contests, through all the wearing fatigue and + wasting labor, you have demeaned yourselves like worthy members of the + Metropolitan Police. + </p> + <p> + The public judgment will commend and reward you. A kind Providence has + permitted you to escape with less casualties than could have been + expected. You have lost one comrade, whom you have buried with honor. Your + wounded will, it is hoped, all recover, to join you and share honor. It is + hoped that the severe but just chastisement which has been inflicted upon + those guilty of riot, pillage, arson, and murder, will deter further + attempts of that character. But if, arising out of political or other + causes, there should be another attempt to interrupt public order, we + shall call on you again to crush its authors, confident that you will + respond like brave men, as you ever have, to the calls of duty; and in + future, whenever the attempt may be made, you will have to aid you large + forces of military, ably commanded, and thus be enabled to crush in the + bud any attempted riot or revolution. + </p> + <p> + To General Canby, who, on the morning of Friday, the 17th inst., took + command of the military, relieving Brigadier-general Brown, and to Gen. + Dix, who succeeded General Wool, the public are indebted for prompt, + vigorous, and willing aid to the police force in all the expeditions which + have been called for since they assumed their commands. Charged + particularly with the protection of the immense amount of Federal property + and interests in the Metropolitan district, and the police force charged + with the maintenance of public order, the duties of the two forces are + always coincident. + </p> + <p> + Whatever menaces or disturbs one equally menaces and disturbs the other. + </p> + <p> + We are happy to know that at all times the several authorities have + co-operated with that concert and harmony which is necessary to secure + vigor and efficiency in action. + </p> + <p> + Sergeant Young, of the detective force, aided by Mr. Newcomb and other + special patrolmen, rendered most effective service in arranging the + commissary supplies for the large number of police, military, special + patrolmen, and destitute colored refugees, whose subsistence was thrown + unexpectedly on the department. The duty was arduous and responsible, and + was performed with vigor and fidelity. All the clerks of the department, + each in his sphere, performed a manly share of the heavy duties growing + out of these extraordinary circumstances. The Central Department became a + home of refuge for large numbers of poor, persecuted colored men, women, + and children, many of whom were wounded and sick, and all of whom were + helpless, exposed, and poor. Mr. John H. Keyser, with his accustomed + philanthropy, volunteered, and was appointed to superintend these wretched + victims of violence and prejudice, and has devoted unwearied days to the + duty. The pitiable condition of these poor people appeals in the strongest + terms to the Christian charity of the benevolent and humane. The members + of the force will do an acceptable service by calling the attention to + their condition of those who are able and willing to contribute in charity + to their relief. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. — ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. + </h2> + <p> + Religious Toleration.—Irish Feuds.—Battle of Boyne Water.—Orangemen.—Origin + and Object of the Society.—A Picnic at Elm Park.—Attacked by + the Ribbonmen.—The Fight.—After Scenes.—Riot of 1871.—Conspiracy + of the Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of Orangemen.—Forbidden + by the City Authorities.—Indignation of the People.—Meeting in + the Produce Exchange.—Governor Hoffman's Proclamation.—Morning + of the 12th.—The Orangemen at Lamartine Hall.—Attack on the + Armories.—The Harpers threatened.—Exciting Scenes around + Lamartine Hall and at Police Head-quarters.—Hibernia Hall cleared.—Attack + on an Armory.—Formation of the Procession.—Its March.—Attacked.—Firing + of the Military without Orders.—Terrific Scene.—The Hospitals + and Morgue.—Night Scenes.—Number of killed and wounded.—The + Lesson. + </p> + <p> + In a free country like ours, where toleration of all religions alike is + one of the fundamental principles of the Government, one would naturally + think that open persecution of any sect or body of religionists was + impossible. But the Irish, unfortunately, have brought with them to this + country not merely many of their old customs and national fetes, but their + old religions feuds. + </p> + <p> + Nearly two hundred years ago, William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, or + William the Third, a Protestant, met the Catholic King, James the Second, + of England, In deadly battle, in the vales of Meath, through which the + Boyne River flows, and utterly routed him, and compelled him to flee to + the Continent for safety. According to old style, this was on the first + day of July, as the old ballad says: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Twas bright July's first morning clear, + Of unforgotten glory, + That made this stream, through ages dear, + Renowned in song and story." +</pre> + <p> + According to new style, however, this has become the twelfth of the month. + The Ulster Protestant Society, known as Orangemen, was founded in 1795. It + was a secret political organization, founded, it is said, to counteract + the Ribbonmen, or Protectors, as they were called. Its object in this + country, it is asserted, is entirely different, and more in harmony with + other societies that have their annual celebration in New York City and + other places. + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary to go over the bitter feuds between these and the + Catholic Irish in the old country. The hates they engendered were brought + here, but kept from any great outward manifestation, because the Orangemen + indulged in no public displays. We believe that there had been only one + procession previous to this. In this year, however, an imposing display + was resolved upon, but no trouble was anticipated, and no precautions + taken by the police. It was not proposed to parade the streets, but to + form, and march in procession up Eighth Avenue, to Elm Park, corner of + Ninetieth Street and Eighth Avenue, and have a picnic, and wind up with a + dance. As the procession passed Fourth Street, in full Orange regalia, and + about twenty-five hundred strong (men, women, and children), playing + "Boyne Water," "Derry," and other tunes obnoxious to the Catholics, some + two hundred Irishmen followed it with curses and threats. + </p> + <p> + Violence was, however, not feared, and the procession continued on, and at + length reached the new Boulevard road, where a large body of Irishmen were + at work. Beyond, however, the interchange of some words, nothing + transpired, and it entered the park, and began the festivities of the day. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, however, the rabble that had followed them came upon the + Ribbonmen at work on the Boulevard road, and persuaded them to throw up + work and join them, and the whole crowd, numbering probably about five + hundred, started for the park. The foreman of the gang of three hundred + workmen saw at once the danger, and hurried to the Thirty-first Precinct + station, corner of One Hundredth Street and Ninth Avenue, and told Captain + Helme of the state of things. + </p> + <p> + The latter immediately thought of the picnic, and, anticipating trouble, + telegraphed to Jourdan for reinforcements. In the meanwhile, the mob, + loaded with stones, advanced tumultuously towards the park, within which + the unsuspecting Orangemen were giving themselves up to enjoyment. + Suddenly a shower of stones fell among them, knocking over women and + children, and sending consternation through the crowd. Shouts and curses + followed, and the Orangemen, rallying, rushed out and fell furiously on + their assailants. Shovels, clubs, and stones were freely used, and a scene + of terrific confusion followed. The fight was close and bloody, and + continued for nearly half an hour, when Sergeant John Kelly, with a force + of sixteen men, arrived, and rushing in between the combatants, separated + them, and drove the Orangemen back into the park. The mob then divided + into two portions, of between two and three hundred each. One party went + by way of Ninth Avenue, and, breaking down the fence on that side, entered + the park, and fell with brutal fury on men, women, and children alike. A + terrible fight followed, and amid the shouts and oaths of the men and + screams of the women and children, occasional pistol-shots were heard, + showing that murder was being done. The enraged, unarmed Orangemen, + wrenched hand rails from the fence, tore up small trees, and seized + anything and everything that would serve for a weapon, and maintained the + fight for a half an hour, before the police arrived. The second portion + went by Eighth Avenue, and intercepted a large body of Orangemen that had + retreated from the woods, and a desperate battle followed. There were only + two policemen here, and of course could do nothing but stand and look on + the murderous conflict. In the meantime, the force telegraphed for by + Captain. Helme arrived. It consisted of twenty men, to which Captain Helme + added the reserve force, with a sergeant from the Eighth, Ninth, + Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Nineteenth Precincts, making in all some fifty + men. These he divided into two portions, one of which he sent over to + Eighth Avenue to protect the cars, into which the fugitives were crowding, + while the other dashed furiously into the park, and fell on the combatants + with their clubs. They soon cleared a lane between them, when turning on + the Ribbonmen, they drove them out of the park. They then formed the + Orangemen into a procession, and escorted them down the city. A portion, + however, had fled for the Eighth Avenue cars; but a party of Ribbonmen + were lying in wait here, and another fight followed. Huge stones were + thrown through the windows of the cars, the sides broken in, over the + wreck of which the mob rushed, knocking down men, women, and children + alike, whose shouts, and oaths, and screams could be heard blocks off. The + scene was terrific, until the arrival of the police put an end to it, and + bore the dead and wounded away. + </p> + <p> + About seven o'clock, Superintendent Jourdan arrived in the precinct, + accompanied by Inspectors Dilks and Walling, and Detectives Farley and + Avery. In the basement of the Thirty-first Precinct station, on a low + trestle bed, three bloody corpses were stretched, while the neighboring + precincts were filled with the wounded. Two more died before morning. The + street near each station was crowded with Orangemen inquiring after + friends. + </p> + <p> + Although no more outbreaks occurred, the most intense excitement prevailed + among the Irish population of the city, and it was evident that it needed + only a suitable occasion to bring on another conflict. + </p> + <h3> + THE RIOT OF 1871. + </h3> + <p> + When the next anniversary of the Orangemen came round, it was discovered + that a conspiracy had been formed by a large body of the Catholic + population to prevent its public celebration. The air was full of rumors, + while the city authorities were in possession of the fullest evidence that + if the Orangemen paraded, they would be attacked, and probably many lives + be lost. They were in great dilemma as to what course to pursue. If they + allowed the procession to take place, they would be compelled to protect + it, and shoot down the men whose votes helped largely to place them in + power. If they forbade it, they feared the public indignation that would + be aroused against such a truckling, unjust course. As the day drew near, + however, and the extensive preparations of the Irish Catholics became more + apparent, they finally determined to risk the latter course, and it was + decided that Superintendent Kelso should issue an order forbidding the + Orangemen to parade. This ludicrous attempt on the part of the Mayor to + shift the responsibility from his own shoulders, awakened only scorn, and + the appearance of the order was followed by a storm of indignation that + was appalling. The leading papers, without regard to politics, opened on + him and his advisers, with such a torrent of denunciations that they + quailed before it. Processions of all kinds and nationalities were allowed + on the streets, and to forbid only one, and that because it was <i>Protestant</i>, + was an insult to every American citizen. Even Wall Street forgot its usual + excitement, and leading men were heard violently denouncing this cowardly + surrender of Mayor Hall to the threats of a mob. An impromptu meeting was + called in the Produce Exchange, and a petition drawn up, asking the + president to call a formal meeting, and excited men stood in line two + hours, waiting their turn to sign it. The building was thronged, and the + vice-president called the meeting to order, and informed it that the rules + required twenty-four hours' notice for such a meeting. The members, + however, would listen to no delay, and with an unanimous and thundering + vote, declared the rules suspended. The action of the city authorities was + denounced in withering terms, and a committee of leading men appointed to + wait on them, and remonstrate with the Mayor. One could scarcely have + dreamed that this order would stir New York so profoundly. But the people, + peculiarly sensitive to any attack on religious freedom, were the more + fiercely aroused, that in this case it was a Catholic mob using the city + authority to strike down Protestantism. The Mayor and his subordinates + were appalled at the tempest they had raised, and calling a council, + resolved to revoke the order. In the meantime, Governor Hoffman was + telegraphed to from Albany. Hastening to the city, he, after a + consultation with Mayor Hall, decided to issue the following proclamation: + </p> + <p> + "Having been only this day apprised, while at the capital, of the actual + condition of things here, with reference to proposed processions + to-morrow, and having, in the belief that my presence was needed, repaired + hither immediately, I do make this proclamation: + </p> + <p> + "The order heretofore issued by the police authorities, in reference to + said processions, being duly revoked, I hereby give notice that any and + all bodies of men desiring to assemble in peaceable procession to-morrow, + the 12th inst., will be permitted to do so. They will be protected to the + fullest extent possible by the military and police authorities. A police + and military escort will be furnished to any body of men desiring it, on + application to me at my head-quarters (which will be at police + head-quarters in this city) at any time during the day. I warn all persons + to abstain from interference with any such assembly or procession, except + by authority from me; and I give notice that all the powers of my command, + civil and military, will be used to preserve the public peace, and put + down at all hazards, every attempt at disturbances; and I call upon all + citizens, of every race and religion, to unite with me and the local + authorities in this determination, to preserve the peace and honor of the + city and State." + </p> + <p> + Dated at New York, this eleventh day of July, A. D. 1871. JOHN T. HOFFMAN. + </p> + <p> + It was thought by many that this would counteract the effects of the + cowardly order of the police superintendent. But whatever its effect might + have been, had it been issued earlier, it now came too late to do any + good. The preparations of the Roman Catholics were all made. A secret + circular had fallen into the hands of the police, showing that the + organization of the rioters was complete-the watchwords and signals all + arranged, and even the points designated where the attacks on the + procession were to be made. Arms had been collected and transported to + certain localities, and everything betokened a stormy morrow. + Consequently, General Shaler issued orders to the commanders of the + several regiments of militia, directing them to have their men in + readiness at their respective armories at 7 o'clock next morning, prepared + to march at a moment's warning. His head-quarters, like those of General + Brown in the draft riots, were at the police head-quarters, so as to have + the use of the police telegraph, in conveying orders to different sections + of the city. Meanwhile, detachments were placed on guard at the different + armories, to frustrate any attempt on the part of the mob to seize arms. + </p> + <p> + The night, however, wore quietly away, and in the morning the Governor's + proclamation appeared in the morning papers, showing the rioters the + nature of the work before them, if they undertook to carry out their + infamous plans. It seemed to have no effect, however. Early in the morning + sullen groups of Irishmen gathered on the corners of the streets, where + the Irish resided in greatest numbers, among which were women, + gesticulating and talking violently, apparently wholly unaware that the + authorities had any power, or, at least, thought they dared not use it. + Other groups traversed the streets, while at the several rendezvous of the + Hibernians, many carried muskets or rifles without any attempt at + concealment. In the upper part of the city, a body of rioters began to + move southward, compelling all the workmen on their way to leave work and + join them. One or two armories were attacked, but the rioters were easily + repulsed. The demonstrations at length became so threatening, that by ten + o'clock the police seized Hibernia Hall. + </p> + <p> + About the same time, the Orangemen—who on the issue of Kelso's order + had determined not to parade but on the appearance of the Governor's + proclamation changed their mind—began to assemble at Lamartine Hall, + on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street. Their room was in + the fourth story, and the delegates from the various lodges brought with + them their badges and banners, which they displayed from the windows. This + brought a crowd in front of the building, curious to know what was going + on in the lodge room. Soon five hundred policemen, ten or fifteen of them + on horseback, appeared under the command of Inspectors Walling and + Jamieson, and occupied both sides of Twenty-ninth Street, between Eighth + and Ninth Avenues. Several policemen also stood on Eighth Avenue, while + the door of the hall was guarded by others. Inside the hall there were + probably some seventy-five or a hundred Orangemen, discussing the parade. + Some stated that a great many, concluding there would be none, had gone to + their usual work, while others, alarmed at the threats of the Hibernians, + would not join it. But after some discussion, it was resolved, that + although the number would be small, they would parade at all hazards; and + at eleven o'clock the door was thrown open, and the Orangemen, wearing + orange colors, were admitted, amid the wildest cheering. An invitation was + sent to the lodges of Jersey City to join them, but they declined, + preferring to celebrate the day at home. + </p> + <p> + Two o'clock was the hour fixed upon for the parade to begin, and the + authorities at police head-quarters were so advised. In the meantime a + banner had been prepared on which was inscribed in large letters, + </p> + <h3> + "AMERICANS! FREEMEN!! FALL IN!!!" + </h3> + <p> + in order to get accessions from outsiders, but without success. + </p> + <p> + The line of march finally resolved upon was down Eighth Avenue to + Twenty-third Street, and up it to Fifth Avenue, down Fifth Avenue to + Fourteenth Street, along it to Union Square, saluting the Lincoln and + Washington statues as they passed, and then down Fourth Avenue to Cooper + Institute, where the procession would break up. + </p> + <p> + About one o'clock, a party of men came rushing down Eighth Avenue, + opposite Lamartine Hall, cheering and shouting, led by a man waving a + sword cane. As he swung it above his head it parted, disclosing a long + dirk. The police immediately advanced and swept the street. Eighth Avenue + was cleared from Thirtieth Street to Twenty-eighth Street, and the police + formed several deep, leaving only room enough for the cars to pass. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, around police head-quarters, in Mott Street, things wore + a serious aspect. From six o'clock in the morning, the various detachments + of police kept arriving until Bleecker, Houston, Mulberry, and Mott + Streets were dark with the massed battalions, ready to move at a moment's + notice. Rations were served out to them standing. Early in the day, + Governor Hoffman and staff arrived, and were quartered in the + Superintendent's room, while General Shaler and staff were quartered in + the fire marshal's office. Commissioners Manierre, Smith, and Barr were in + their own rooms, receiving reports from the various precincts over the + wires. A little after nine a dispatch came, stating that the quarrymen + near Central Park had quitted work, and were gathering in excited groups, + swearing that the Orangemen should not parade. Immediately Inspector + Jamieson, with two hundred and fifty policemen, was despatched in stages + to Forty-seventh Street and Eighth Avenue, to watch the course of events. + Another dispatch stated that an attack was threatened on Harper's + building, in Franklin Square, and Captain Allaire, of the Seventh + Precinct, was hurried off with fifty men to protect it. A little later + came the news that the Orangemen had determined to parade at two o'clock, + and a police force of five hundred, as we have already stated, were massed + in Eighth Avenue, opposite Lamartine Hall. About noon, a body of rioters + made an attack on the armory, No. 19 Avenue A, in which were a hundred and + thirty-eight stands of arms. Fortunately, the janitor of the building saw + them in time to fasten the doors before they reached it, and then ran to + the nearest police-station for help, from which a dispatch was sent to + head-quarters. Captain Mount, with a hundred policemen, was hurried off to + the threatened point. He arrived, before the doors were broken in, and + falling on the rioters with clubs, drove them in all directions. During + the forenoon, Drill-captain Copeland was given five Companies, and told to + seize Hibernia Hall, where arms were being distributed. As he approached, + he ordered the mob to disperse, but was answered with taunts and curses, + while the women hurled stones at his face. He then gave the order to + charge, when the men fell on the crowd with such fury, that they broke and + fled in wild confusion. Meanwhile, the detectives had been busy, and + secured eighteen of the ring-leaders, whom they marched to police + head-quarters. + </p> + <p> + As the hour for the procession to form drew near, the most intense + excitement prevailed at police head-quarters, and the telegraph was + watched with anxious solicitude. The terrible punishment inflicted on the + rioters in 1863 seemed to have been forgotten by the mob, and it had + evidently resolved to try once more its strength with the city + authorities. Around the Orange head-quarters a still deeper excitement + prevailed. The hum of the vast multitude seemed like the first murmurings + of the coming storm, and many a face turned pale as the Orangemen, with + their banners and badges, only ninety in all, passed out of the door into + the street. John Johnston, their marshal, mounted on a spirited horse, + placed himself at their head. In a few minutes, the bayonets of the + military force designed to act as an escort could be seen flashing in the + sun, as the troops with measured tread moved steadily forward. Crowds + followed them on the sidewalks, or hung from windows and house-tops, while + low curses could be heard on every side, especially when the Twenty-second + Regiment deliberately loaded their pieces with ball and cartridge. The + little band of Orangemen looked serious but firm, while the military + officers showed by their preparations and order that they expected bloody + work. The Orangemen formed line in Twenty-ninth Street, close to the + Eighth Avenue, and flung their banners to the breeze. A half an hour + later, they were ready to march, and at the order wheeled into Eighth + Avenue. At that instant a single shot rang out but a few rods distant. + Heads were turned anxiously to see who was hit. More was expected as the + procession moved on. A strong body of police marched in advance. Next came + the Ninth Regiment, followed at a short interval by the Sixth. Then came + more police, followed by the little band of Orangemen, flanked on either + side, so as fully to protect them, by the Twenty-second and Eighty-fourth + Regiments. To these succeeded more police. The imposing column was closed + up by the Seventh Regiment, arresting all eyes by its even tread and + martial bearing. The sidewalks, doorsteps, windows, and roofs were black + with people. The band struck up a martial air, and the procession moved on + towards Twenty-eighth Street. Just before they reached it, another shot + rang clear and sharp above the music. No one was seen to fall, and the + march continued. At the corner of Twenty-seventh Street, a group of + desperate-looking fellows were assembled on a wooden shed that projected + over the sidewalk. Warned to get down and go away, they hesitated, when a + company of soldiers levelled their pieces at them. Uttering defiant + threats, they hurried down and disappeared. As the next corner was + reached, another shot was fired, followed by a shower of stones. A scene + of confusion now ensued. The police fell on the bystanders occupying the + sidewalks, and clubbed them right and left without distinction, and the + order rolled down the line to the inmates of the houses to shut their + windows. Terror now took the place of curiosity; heads disappeared, and + the quick, fierce slamming of blinds was heard above the uproar blocks + away. The procession kept on till it reached Twenty-fourth Street, when a + halt was ordered. The next moment a shot was fired from the second-story + windows of a house on the north-east corner. It struck the Eighty-fourth + Regiment, and in an instant a line of muskets was pointed at the spot, as + though the order to fire was expected. One gun went off, when, without + orders, a sudden, unexpected volley rolled down the line of the Sixth, + Ninth, and Eighty-fourth Regiments. The officers were wholly taken by + surprise at this unprecedented conduct; but, recovering themselves, rushed + among the ranks and shouted out their orders to cease firing. But the work + was done; and as the smoke slowly lifted in the hot atmosphere, a scene of + indescribable confusion presented itself. Men, women, and children, + screaming in wild terror, were fleeing in every direction; the strong + trampling down the weak, while eleven corpses lay stretched on the + sidewalk, some piled across each other. A pause of a few minutes now + followed, while the troops reloaded their guns. A new attack was + momentarily expected, and no one moved from the ranks to succor the + wounded or lift up the dead. Here a dead woman lay across a dead man; + there a man streaming with blood was creeping painfully up a doorstep, + while crouching, bleeding forms appeared in every direction. Women from + the windows looked down on the ghastly spectacle, gesticulating wildly. + The police now cleared the avenue and side streets, when, the dead and + wounded were attended to, and the order to move on was given. General + Varian, indignant at the conduct of the Eighty-fourth in firing first + without orders, sent it to the rear, and replaced it on the flank of the + Orangemen with a portion of the Ninth. The procession, as it now resumed + its march and moved through Twenty-fourth Street, was a sad and mournful + one. The windows were filled with spectators, and crowds lined the + sidewalks, but all were silent and serious. Not till it reached Fifth + Avenue Hotel were there any greetings of welcome. Here some three thousand + people were assembled, who rent the air with cheers. No more attacks were + made, and it reached Cooper Institute and disbanded without any further + incident. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the scene at the Bellevue Hospital was a sad and painful + one. The ambulances kept discharging their bloody loads at the door, and + groans of distress and shrieks of pain filled the air. Long rows of cots, + filled with mangled forms, were stretched on every side, while the tables + were covered with bodies, held down, as the surgeons dressed their wounds. + The dead were carried to the Morgue, around which, as night came on, a + clamorous crowd was gathered, seeking admission, to look after their dead + friends. A similar crowd gathered at the door of the Mount Sinai Hospital, + filling the air with cries and lamentations. As darkness settled over the + city, wild, rough-looking men from the lowest ranks of society gathered in + the street where the slaughter took place, among whom were seen + bare-headed women roaming about, making night hideous with their curses. + </p> + <p> + A pile of dead men's hats stood on the corner of Eighth Avenue and + Twenty-fifth Street untouched, and pale faces stooped over pools of blood + on the pavement. The stores were all shut; and everything wore a gloomy + aspect. The police stood near, revealed in the lamplight, but made no + effort to clear the street. It seemed at one time that a serious outbreak + would take place, but the night passed off quietly, and the riot was + ended, and the mob once more taught the terrible lesson it is so apt to + forget. + </p> + <p> + Two of the police and military were killed, and twenty-four wounded; while + of the rioters thirty-one were killed, and sixty-seven wounded—making + in all one hundred and twenty-eight victims. + </p> + <p> + There was much indignation expressed at the troops for firing without + orders, and firing so wildly as to shoot some of their own men. It was, of + course, deserving the deepest condemnation, yet it may have saved greater + bloodshed. The fight evidently did not occur at the expected point, and + doubtless the result here, prevented one where the mob was better + organized, and would have made a more stubborn resistance. + </p> + <p> + That innocent persons were killed is true; but if they will mingle in with + a mob, they must expect to share its fate, and alone must bear the blame. + Troops are called out to fire on the people if they persist in violation + of the peace and rights of the community. Of this all are fully aware, and + hence take the risk of being shot. Soldiers cannot be expected to + discriminate in a mob. If the military are not to fire on a crowd of + rioters until no women and children, can be seen in it, they had better + stay at home. + </p> + <p> + To a casual observer, this calling out of seven hundred policemen and + several regiments of soldiers, in order to let ninety men take a foolish + promenade through a few streets, would seem a very absurd and useless + display of the power of the city; and the killing of sixty or seventy men + a heavy price to pay for such an amusement. But it was not ninety + Orangemen only that those policemen and soldiers enclosed and shielded. + They had in their keeping the laws and authority of the city, set at + defiance by a mob, and also the principle of religious toleration and of + equal rights, which were of more consequence than the lives of ten + thousand men. The day when New York City allows itself to be dictated to + by a mob, and Protestants not be permitted to march as such quietly + through the streets, her prosperity and greatness will come to an end. The + taking of life is a serious thing, but it is not to weigh a moment against + the preservation of authority and the supremacy of the law. + </p> + <p> + One thing should not be overlooked—the almost universal faithfulness + of the Roman Catholic Irish police to their duty. In this, as well as in + the draft riots, they have left a record of which, any city might be + proud. To defend Protestant Irishmen against Roman Catholic friends and + perhaps relatives, is a severe test of fidelity; but the Irish police have + stood it nobly, and won the regard of all good citizens. {Footnote: + Twenty-four pages are here added to correct the omission in paging the + engravings.} + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: RECEIVING AND REMOVING DEAD BODIES IN THE MORGUE.} + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great Riots of New York 1712 to +1873, by J.T. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873 + +Author: J.T. Headley + + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6856] +This file was first posted on February 2, 2003 +Last Updated: June 20, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Prairie, David Moynihan, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + THE + + GREAT RIOTS + + OF + + NEW YORK + + 1712 to 1873 + + INCLUDING A FULL AND COMPLETE ACCOUNT + + OF THE + + FOUR DAYS' DRAFT RIOT OF 1863 + + By HON. J.T. HEADLEY + + + TO + + THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, + + WHOSE + + UNWAVERING FIDELITY AND COURAGE IN THE PAST, + + ARE A SURE GUARANTEE OF WHAT THEY WILL DO + + FOR + + NEW YORK CITY IN THE FUTURE, + + THIS WORK + + IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED + + BY + + THE AUTHOR. + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + +1. BURNING OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE + +2. THE OLD NEW YORK HOSPITAL, SCENE OF THE DOCTORS' RIOT + +3. COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM (ERECTED SINCE THE RIOT) + +4. HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN POLICE + +5. HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT + +6. FORT LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK HARBOR + +7. FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK HARBOR + +8. SCENE IN LEXINGTON AVENUE + +9. ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE OFFICE + +10. FIGHT BETWEEN RIOTERS AND MILITIA + +11. HANGING AND BURNING A NEGRO IN CLARKSON STREET + +12. THE DEAD SERGEANT IN TWENTY-SECOND STREET + +13. DRAGGING COLONEL O'BRIEN'S BODY IN THE STREET + +14. BURNING SECOND AVENUE ARMORY + +15. RECEIVING DEAD BODIES AT THE MORGUE + +PREFACE. + +The materials for the descriptions of the Negro and Doctors' Riots +were gathered from the Archives of the Historical Society; those of the +immediately succeeding ones, from the press of the times. + +For the scenes and incidents that occurred on the stage and behind +the curtain in the Astor-place Opera Riot, I am indebted to a pamphlet +entitled "_Behind the Scenes_." + +The materials for the history of the Draft Riots were obtained in +part from the Daily Press, and in part from the City and Military +Authorities, especially Commissioner Acton, Seth Hawley, General Brown, +and Colonel Frothingham, who succeeded in putting them down. + +Mr. David Barnes, who published, some ten years ago, a pamphlet entitled +"The Metropolitan Police," kindly furnished me facts relating to the +Police Department of great value, and which saved me much labor and +time. + +Much difficulty has been encountered in gathering together, from various +quarters, the facts spread over a century and a half, but it is believed +that everything necessary to a complete understanding of the subjects +treated of has been given, consistent with the continuity and interest +of the narrative. + +Of course some minor riots--a collection of mobs that were easily +dispersed by the police, and were characterized by no prolonged struggle +or striking incidents--are not mentioned. + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. + +Character of a City illustrated by Riots.--New Material for History of +Draft Riots.--History of the Rebellion incomplete without History of +them.--The Fate of the Nation resting on the Issues of the Struggle in +New York City.--The best Plan to adopt for Protection against Mobs. + +CHAPTER II. + +THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + +Almost impossible for the present Generation to comprehend its true +Character and Effect on the People.--Description of New York at that +Time.--The Negro Slaves.--The Negro Riot of 1712.--Description +of it.--The Winter of 1741.--Governor's House burned down.--Other +Fires.--Suspicion of the People.--Arrest and Imprisonment of the +Blacks.--Reward offered for the supposed Conspirators.--Alarm and Flight +of the Inhabitants.--Examination and Confession of Mary +Burton.--Peggy, the Newfoundland Beauty, and the Hughson Family.--The +Conspiracy.--Executions.--Fast.--Hughson's Hearing.--Hung in +Chains.--The Body, and that of a Negro, left to swing and rot in the +Air.--Strange Change in the Appearances of the Bodies.--The People +throng to look at them.--Negroes burned at the Stake.--Terrific +Spectacle.--Bloody Summer.--Execution of a Catholic Priest.--Strange +Scenes.--Upper Classes accused.--Executions stopped.--Reason of the +Panic. + +CHAPTER III. + +THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + +Thorough Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.--The +Stamp Act.--How viewed by the Colonists.--Colden strengthens Fort George +in Alarm.--Arrival of the Stamps.--How the News was received by the Sons +of Liberty.--A Bold Placard.--Stamp Distributor frightened.--Patriotic +Action of the Merchants.--Public Demonstration against the Stamp +Act.--Colden takes Refuge in the Fort.--Dare not fire on the +People.--The People at the Gate demand the Stamps.--Colden and Lord Bute +hung in Effigy.--Colden's Coach-house broken open.--The Images placed in +the Coach, and dragged with Shouts through the Streets.--Hung again in +Sight of the Fort.--A Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling +Green, and the Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently +on.--Prejudice against Coaches.--Major James' House sacked.--Great Joy +and Demonstration at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Celebration of the +King's Birthday.--Loyalty of the People.--Mutiny Act.--A Riot becomes a +Great Rebellion. + +CHAPTER IV. + +DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. + +Body-snatching.--Bodies dug up by Medical Students.--Excitement of the +People.--Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from the Hospital.--Mob +ransack the Building.--Destruction of Anatomical Specimens.--Arrival +of Mayor, and Imprisonment of Students.--Second Day.--Examination +of Columbia College and Physicians' Houses.--Appeal of the Mayor and +distinguished Citizens to the Mob.--Mob attempt to break into Jail and +seize the Students.--The Fight.--The Military called out.--Beaten by the +Mob.--Larger Military Force called out.--Attacked by the Mob.--Deadly +Firing.--Great Excitement.--Flight of Doctors and Students. + +CHAPTER V. + +SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + +Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.--Our Experiment of +Self-government not a fair one.--Fruit of giving Foreigners the Right +to Vote.--Bitter Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.--First Day of +Election.--Ships "Constitution" and "Veto."--Whigs driven from the +Polls.--Excitement.--Whigs determined to defend themselves.--Meeting +called.--Resolutions.--Second Day's Election.--Attack on the Frigate +"Constitution."--A Bloody Fight.--Mayor and Officers wounded.--Mob +triumphant.--Excitement of the Whigs.--The Streets blocked by fifteen +thousand enraged Whigs.--Military called out.--Occupy Arsenal and +City Hall all Night.--Result of the Election.--Excitement of the +Whigs.--Mass-meeting in Castle Garden. + +CHAPTER VI. + +ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. + +The Slavery Question agitated.--The End, Civil War.--The +Results.--William Lloyd Garrison.--Feeling of the People on the +Subject.--First Attempt to call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New +York.--Meeting in Chatham Street Chapel.--A Fight.--Mob take Possession +of Bowery Theatre.--Sacking of Lewis Tappan's House.--Fight between Mob +and Police.--Mobbing of Dr. Cox's Church, in Laight Street.--His +House broken into.--Street Barricaded.--Attack on Arthur Tappan's +Store.--Second Attack on Church in Laight Street.--Church sacked in +Spring Street.--Arrival of the Military.--Barricades carried.--Mr. +Ludlow's House entered.--Mob at Five Points.--Destruction of +Houses.--The City Military called out.--Mob overawed, and Peace +restored.--Five Points Riot.--Stone-cutters' Riot. + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. + +Starvation will always create a Riot.--Foreign Population easily aroused +against the Rich.--Severe Winter of 1836.--Scarcity of Flour.--Meeting +of Citizens called without Result.--Meeting called in the +Park.--Speeches.--Sacking of Hart & Co.'s Flour Store, in Washington +Street.--Strange Spectacle.--National Guards called out.--Disperse the +Mob.--Attack on Herrick's Flour Store.--Folly of the Riot. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + +Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.--Macready's Arrival in this +Country.--The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera +House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side +by Side.--Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.--Anxiety of +the Managers.--Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the +Curtain.--Stamping of the People.--Scene on raising the Curtain.--Stormy +Reception of Macready.--Howled down.--Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by +the Outrageous Language of the Mob.--Macready not allowed to go +on.--His foolish Anger.--Flees for his Life.--His Appearance the +Second Night.--Preparations to put down the Mob.--Exciting Scene in the +Theatre.--Terrific Scenes without.--Military arrive.--Attacked by the +Mob.--Patience of the Troops.--Effort to avoid Firing.--The Order +to Fire.--Terrific Scene.--Strange Conduct of Forrest.--Unpublished +Anecdote of General Scott. + +CHAPTER IX. + +POLICE RIOT--DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT--BREAD RIOT, 1857. + +Creation of the Metropolitan District.--Collision between Mayor +Wood's Police and the Metropolitan Police.--Seventh Regiment called +out.--Dead-Rabbits' Riot.--Severe Fight between the Roach Guards and +Dead Rabbits.--Police driven back.--Barricades erected.--Military called +out.--Killed and Wounded.--Bread Riot.--Financial Distress. + +CHAPTER X. + +DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. + +Cause of the Riots.--The London _Times_.--Draft called a despotic +Measure.--The despotic Power given to Washington by Congress.--Despotic +Action sometimes Necessary, in order to save the Life of the +Nation.--The Rights of Government.--Drafting he Legitimate Way to raise +an Army--It is not Unequal or Oppressive. + +CHAPTER XI. + +Rights of Municipalities.--Interference of the Legislature with the City +Government.--Conflict between the Governor and Police Commissioners.--A +Wrong becomes a Practical Blessing.--Provost Marshals.--Riot not +anticipated.--Bad time to commence the Draft.--Preparations of +Superintendent Kennedy.--The Police System.--Attack on Provost Marshal +Captain Erhardt.--Telegrams of the Police.--Kennedy starts on a Tour of +Observation. + +CHAPTER XII. + +Commencement of the Mob.--Its Line of March.--Its immense Size.--Attacks +a Provost-marshal's Office, in Third Avenue.--Set on Fire.--Terrible +Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob.--Carried to Head-quarters +unconscious.--Acton's Preparations.--The Telegraph System.--Mob cutting +down Telegraph Poles.--Number of Despatches sent over the Wires during +the Riot.--Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held Prisoner +by the Mob. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Soldiers beaten by the Mob.--Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie.--Mob +Triumphant.--Beat Police Officers unmercifully.--Fearful Scenes.--Fifty +thousand People block Third Avenue.--A whole Block of Houses +burning.--Attack on a Gun Factory.--Defeat of the Broadway +Squad.--Houses sacked in Lexington Avenue.--Telegraph +Dispatches.--Bull's Head Tavern burned.--Block on Broadway +burned.--Burning of the Negroes' Orphan Asylum.--Attack on Mayor +Opdyke's House.--A Crisis nobly met.--Gallant Fight and Victory of +Sergeant Carpenter.--A thrilling Spectacle. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +No Military in the City.--The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding +Eastern Department, for Help.--Also on General Sandford.--General Wool +sends to General Brown, commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. +Troops.--Marines of the States appealed to for Troops.--General Brown +assumes Command.--Attack of Mob on the _Tribune_ Building.--Its severe +Punishment.--Government Buildings garrisoned.--Difficulty between +Generals Brown and Wool.--Head-quarters.--Police Commissioners' Office +Military Head-quarters. + +CHAPTER XV. + +Telegraph Bureau.--Its Work.--Skill and Daring and Success of its +Force.--Interesting Incidents.--Hairbreadth Escapes.--Detective +Force.--Its arduous Labors.--Its Disguises.--Shrewdness, Tact, and +Courage.--Narrow Escapes.--Hawley, the Chief Clerk.--His exhausting +Labors. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +DRAFT RIOT--SECOND DAY. + +Appearance of the City.--Assembling of the Mob.--Fight between Rioters +and the Police and Soldiers.--Storming of Houses.--Rioters hurled +from the Roofs.--Soldiers fire on the People.--Awful Death of +Colonel O'Brien.--Fight in Pitt Street.--Deadly Conflict for a Wire +Factory.--Horrible Impaling of a Man on an Iron Picket.--Mystery +attached to him.--Second Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House.--Second +Fight for the Wire Factory.--Telegraphic Dispatches.--Citizens +Volunteering.--Raid on the Negroes.--They are hunted to Death.--Savage +Spectacle.--Negroes seek Head-quarters of Police.--Appearance and State +of the City.--Colonel Nugent's House sacked.--Fight with the Mob in +Third Avenue.--Battle at Gibbon's House.--Policeman Shot.--Night +Attack on Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store.--Value of the Telegraph +System.--Captain Petty.--Seymour's Speech to the Mob.--Cars and Stages +seized.--Barricades.--Other Fights.--Acton and his Labors. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +DRAFT RIOT--THIRD DAY. + +Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.--Fight in Eighth +Avenue.--Cannon sweep the Streets.--Narrow Escape of Captain Howell +and Colonel Mott.--Battle for Jackson's Foundry.--Howitzers clear +the Street.--State of Things shown by Telegraph Dispatches.--General +Sandford sends out a Force against a Mob, at Corner of Twenty-ninth +Street and Seventh Avenue.--Colonel Gardin's Fight with the Mob.--Is +Wounded.--Mob Victorious.--Dead and Wounded Soldiers left in the +Street.--Captain Putnam sent to bring them away.--Disperses the +Mob.--Terrific Night. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +DRAFT RIOT--FOURTH DAY. + +Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.--City districted.--Appearance +of the East Side of the City.--A small Squad of Soldiers chased into +a Foundry by the Mob.--Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in +Twenty-ninth Street.--Soldiers driven from the Ground, leaving a dead +Sergeant behind.--Captain Putnam sent to bring the Body away.--Mows +down the Rioters with Canister.--Storms the Houses.--Utter Rout of +the Mob.--Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to +Blackwell's Island.--Touching Scene.--Coming on of Night and a +Thunder-storm.--Returning Regiments.--Increased Force in the City to put +down Violence.--Archbishop Hughes offers to address the +Irish.--Curious Account of an Interview of a Lady with him and Governor +Seymour.--Strange Conduct of the Prelate. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CLOSING SCENES. + +Tranquil Morning.--Proclamation of the Mayor.--Mob cowed.--Plunderers +afraid of Detection.--Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, +Furniture, and Works of Art.--Archbishop Hughes' Address.--Useless +Efforts.--Acton's Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.--Change in +Military Commanders in the City.--General Brown relinquishes his +Command.--True Words.--Noble Character and Behavior of the Troops and +Police.--General Brown's invaluable Services. + +CHAPTER XX. + +Continued Tranquillity.--Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in the +Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.--Search for it exasperates +the Irish.--Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police.--Sergeant +Copeland.--Prisoners tried.--Damages claimed from the City.--Number +of Police killed.--Twelve hundred Rioters killed.--The Riot Relief +Fund.--List of Colored People killed.--Generals Wool and Sandford's +Reports.--Their Truthfulness denied.--General Brown vindicated. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. + +Religious Toleration.--Irish Feuds.--Battle of Boyne +Water.--Orangemen.--Origin and Object of the Society.--A Picnic at Elm +Park.--Attacked by the Ribbonmen.--The Fight. After Scenes.--Riot +of 1871.--Conspiracy of the Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of +Orangemen.--Forbidden by the City Authorities.--Indignation of +the People.--Meeting in the Produce Exchange.--Governor Hoffman's +Proclamation.--Morning of the 12th.--The Orangemen at Lamartine +Hall.--Attack on the Armories.--The Harpers threatened.--Exciting +Scenes around Lamartine Hall and at Police Head-quarters.--Hibernia +Hall cleared.--Attack on an Armory.--Formation of the Procession.--Its +March.--Attacked.--Firing of the Military without Orders.--Terrific +Scene.--The Hospitals and Morgue.--Night Scenes.--Number of killed and +wounded.--The Lesson. + + +THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK CITY. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Character of a City illustrated by Riots.--New Material for History of +Draft Riots.--History of the Rebellion incomplete without History of +them.--The Fate of the Nation resting on the Issues of the Struggle in +New York City.--The best Plan to adopt for Protection against Mobs. + +The history of the riots that have taken place in a great city from its +foundation, is a curious and unique one, and illustrates the peculiar +changes in tone and temper that have come over it in the course of +its development and growth. They exhibit also one phase of its moral +character--furnish a sort of moral history of that vast, ignorant, +turbulent class which is one of the distinguishing features of a +great city, and at the same time the chief cause of its solicitude and +anxiety, and often of dread. + +The immediate cause, however, of my taking up the subject, was a request +from some of the chief actors in putting down the Draft Riots of +1863, to write a history of them. It was argued that it had never been +written, except in a detached and fragmentary way in the daily press, +which, from the hurried manner in which it was done, was necessarily +incomplete, and more or less erroneous. + +It was also said, and truly, that those who, by their courage and +energy, saved the city, and who now would aid me not only officially, +but by their personal recollections and private memoranda, would soon +pass away, and thus valuable material be lost. + +Besides these valid reasons, it was asserted that the history of the +rebellion was not complete without it, and yet no historian of that most +important event in our national life had given the riots the prominence +they deserved, but simply referred to them as a side issue, instead +of having a vital bearing on the fate of the war and the nation. On no +single battle or campaign did the destiny of the country hinge as upon +that short, sharp campaign carried on by General Brown and the Police +Commissioners against the rioters in the streets of New York, in the +second week of July, 1863. Losses and defeats in the field could be +and were repaired, but defeat in New York would in all probability have +ended the war. It is not necessary to refer to the immediate direct +effects of such a disaster on the army in the field, although it is +scarcely possible to over-estimate the calamitous results that would +have followed the instantaneous stoppage, even for a short time, of the +vast accumulations of provisions, ammunition, and supplies of all kinds, +that were on their way to the army through New York. Nor is it necessary +to speculate on the effect of the diversion of troops from the front +that such an event would have compelled, in order to recover so vital +a point. Washington had better be uncovered than New York be lost. One +thing only is needed to show how complete and irreparable the disaster +would have been; namely, the effect it would have had on the finances of +the country. With the great banking-houses and moneyed institutions of +New York sacked and destroyed, the financial credit of the country +would have broken down utterly. The crash of falling houses all over +the country that would have followed financial disaster here, would have +been like that of falling trees in a forest swept by a hurricane. Had +the rioters got complete possession of the city but for a single day, +their first dash would have been for the treasures piled up in its +moneyed institutions. Once in possession of these, they, like the mobs +of Paris, would have fired the city before yielding them up. In the +crisis that was then upon us, it would not have required a long stoppage +in this financial centre of the country to have effected a second +revolution. With no credit abroad and no money at home, the Government +would have been completely paralyzed. Not long possession of the city +was needed, but only swift destruction. + +Doubtless the disastrous effects would have been increased tenfold, +if possible, by uprisings in other cities, which events showed were to +follow. Even partial success developed hostile elements slumbering in +various parts of the country, and running from Boston almost to the +extreme West. + +In this view of the case, these riots assume a magnitude and importance +that one cannot contemplate without a feeling of terror, and the truth +of history requires that their proper place should be assigned them, and +those who put them down have an honorable position beside our successful +commanders and brave soldiers. It is also important, as a lesson for +the future, and naturally brings up the question, what are the best +measures, and what is the best policy for the city of New York to +adopt, in order to protect itself from that which to-day constitutes its +greatest danger--_mob violence?_ If it ever falls in ruins, the work +of destruction will commence and end within its own limits. We have a +police and city military which have been thought to be sufficient, but +experience has shown that though this provision may be ample to restore +law and order in the end, it works slowly, often unwisely, and always +with an unnecessary expenditure of life. In conversing with those of +largest experience and intelligence in the police department on this +subject of such great and growing importance, we are convinced, from +their statements and views, a vast improvement in this matter can be +made, while the cost to the city, instead of being increased, will be +lessened; that is, a cheaper, wiser, and more effectual plan than the +present one can be adopted. Of course this does not refer to mere local +disturbances, which the police force in the ordinary discharge of its +duties can quell, but to those great outbreaks which make it necessary +to call out the military. Not that there might not be exigencies in +which it would be necessary to resort, not only to the military of the +city, but to invoke the aid of neighboring States; for a riot may assume +the proportions of a revolution, but for such no local permanent remedy +can be furnished. + +The objections to relying on the military, as we invariably do in case +of a large mob, are many. In the first place, it takes the best part +of a day to get the troops together, so that a mob, so far as they are +concerned, has time not only to waste and destroy for many hours, but +increase in strength and audacity. The members of the various regiments +are scattered all over the city, engaged in different occupations and +employments, and without previous notice being given, it is a long and +tedious process to get them to their respective headquarters and in +uniform. This wastes much and most valuable time. Besides, they are +compelled to reach the mustering place singly or in small groups, and +hence liable to be cut off or driven back by the mob, which in most +cases would know the place of rendezvous. + +In the second place, the members are taken out from the mass of the +people, between whom there might be a strong sympathy in some particular +outbreak, which would impair their efficiency, and make them hesitate to +shoot down their friends and acquaintances. + +In the third place, in ordinary peace times, these uniformed regiments +are not the steadiest or most reliable troops, as was witnessed in the +riots of 1863, as well as in those of the Astor Place in 1849. + +They hesitate, or are apt to become hasty or disorganized in a close, +confused fight, and driven back. In the commencement of a riot, a defeat +of the military gives increased confidence, and indeed, power to a mob, +and snakes the sacrifice of life, in the end, far greater. + +In the fourth place, clearing the streets does not always dissipate +a mob. A whole block of houses may become a fortress, which it +is necessary to storm before a permanent victory is gained. +Half-disciplined men, unaccustomed, and unskilled to such work, make +poor headway with their muskets through narrow halls, up stairways, and +through scuttle-holes. + +In the fifth place, the military of the city cannot be called away from +their work for two or three days, to parade the city, without a heavy +expense, and hence the process is a costly one. + +In the last place, the firing of these troops at the best is not very +judicious, and cannot be discriminating, so that those are shot down +often least culpable, and of least influence in the mob--in fact, more +lives usually are taken than is necessary. + +The simplest, most efficient, and most economical plan would be to +select five hundred or more of the most courageous, experienced, and +efficient men from the police department, and form them into a separate +battalion, and have them drilled in such evolutions, manoeuvres, and +modes of attack or defence, as would belong to the work they were +set apart to do. A battery might be given them in case of certain +emergencies, and a portion carefully trained in its use. At a certain +signal of the bell, they should be required to hasten, without a +moment's delay, to their head-quarters. A mob could hardly be gathered +and commence work before this solid body of disciplined, reliable men +would be upon them. These five hundred men would scatter five thousand +rioters like chaff before them. It would be more efficient than two +entire regiments, even if assembled, and would be worth more than the +whole military of the city for the first half day. + +Besides, clubs are better than guns. They take no time to load--they are +never discharged like muskets, leaving their owners for the time at the +mercy of the mob. Their volleys are incessant and perpetual, given +as long and fast as strong arms can strike. They are also more +discriminating than bullets, hitting the guilty ones first. Moreover, +they disable rather than kill--which is just as effectual, and far +more desirable. In addition to all this, being trained to one purpose, +instructed to one duty, a mob would be their natural enemies, and hence +sympathy with them in any cause almost impossible. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + +Almost impossible for the present Generation to comprehend its true +Character and Effect on the People.--Description of New York at that +Time.--The Negro Slaves.--The Negro Riot of 1712.--Description +of it.--The Winter of 1741.--Governor's House burned down.--Other +Fires.--Suspicion of the People.--Arrest and Imprisonment of the +Blacks.--Reward offered for the supposed Conspirators.--Alarm and Flight +of the Inhabitants.--Examination and Confession of Mary +Burton.--Peggy, the Newfoundland Beauty, and the Hughson Family.--The +Conspiracy.--Executions.--Fast.--Hughson's Hearing.--Hung in +Chains.--The Body, and that of a Negro, left to swing and rot in the +Air.--Strange Change in the Appearances of the Bodies.--The People +throng to look at them.--Negroes burned at the Stake.--Terrific +Spectacle.--Bloody Summer.--Execution of a Catholic Priest.--Strange +Scenes.--Upper Classes accused.--Executions stopped.--Reason of the +Panic. + +Probably no event of comparatively modern times--certainly none in our +history--has occurred so extraordinary in some of its phases, as the +negro riot of 1741. We cannot fully appreciate it, not merely because of +the incompleteness of some of its details, nor from the lapse of time, +but because of our inability to place ourselves in the position or state +of mind of the inhabitants of New York City at that period. We can no +more throw ourselves into the social condition, and feel the influences +of that time, than we can conceive the outward physical appearance of +the embryo metropolis. It is impossible to stand amid the whirl and +uproar of New York to-day, and imagine men ploughing, and sowing +grain, and carting hay into barns, where the City Hall now stands. The +conception of nearly all the city lying below the Park, above it farms +to Canal Street, beyond that clearings where men are burning brush and +logs to clear away the fallow, and still farther on, towards Central +Park, an unbroken wilderness, is so dim and shadowy, that we can hardly +fix its outlines. Yet it was so in 1741. Where now stands the Tombs, +and cluster the crowded tenements of Five Points, was a pond or lakelet, +nearly two miles in circumference and fifty feet deep, and encircled by +a dense forest. Its deep, sluggish outlet into the Hudson is now Canal +Street. In wet weather there was another water communication with the +East River, near Peck Slip, cutting off the lower part of the island, +leaving another island, containing some eight hundred acres. Through +Broad Street, along which now rolls each day the stream of business, and +swells the tumult of the Brokers' Board, then swept a deep stream, up +which boatmen rowed their boats to sell oysters. The water that supplied +these streams and ponds is now carried off through immense sewers, deep +under ground, over which the unconscious population tread. Where Front +and Water Streets on the east side, and West Greenwich and Washington on +the west side, now stretch, were then the East and Hudson Rivers, having +smooth and pebbly beaches. There was not a single sidewalk in all the +city, and only some half dozen paved streets. On the Battery stood the +fort, in which were the Governor's and secretary's houses, and over +which floated the British flag. + +But all this outward appearance is no more unlike the New York of to-day +than its internal condition. + +The population numbered only about ten thousand, one-fifth of which was +negroes, who were slaves. Their education being wholly neglected, they +were ignorant and debased, and addicted to almost every vice. They were, +besides, restive under their bondage amid the severe punishments often +inflicted on them, which caused their masters a great deal of anxiety. +Not isolated as an inland plantation, but packed in a narrow space, they +had easy communication with each other, and worse than all, with the +reckless and depraved crews of the vessels that came into port. It is +true, the most stringent measures were adopted to prevent them from +assembling together; yet, in spite of every precaution, there would now +and then come to light some plan or project that would fill the whites +with alarm. They felt half the time as though walking on the crust of a +volcano, and hence were in a state of mind to exaggerate every danger, +and give credit to every sinister rumor. + +The experience of the past, as well as the present state of feeling +among the slaves, justified this anxiety and dread; for only thirty +years before occurred just such an outbreak as they now feared. On the +7th of April, in 1712, between one and two o'clock in the morning, +the house of Peter Van Tilburgh was set on fire by negroes, which was +evidently meant as a signal for a general revolt. + +The cry of fire roused the neighboring inhabitants, and they rushed out +through the unpaved muddy streets, toward the blazing building. As they +approached it, they saw, to their amazement, in the red light of the +flames, a band of negroes standing in front, armed with guns and long +knives. Before the whites could hardly comprehend what the strange +apparition meant, the negroes fired, and then rushed on them with their +knives, killing several on the spot. The rest, leaving the building to +the mercy of the flames, ran to the fort on the Battery, and roused the +Governor. Springing from his bed, he rushed out and ordered a cannon to +be fired from the ramparts to alarm the town. As the heavy report boomed +over the bay and shook the buildings of the town, the inhabitants leaped +from their beds, and looking out of the windows, saw the sky lurid with +flames. Their dread and uncertainty were increased, when they heard the +heavy splash of soldiers through the mud, and the next moment saw their +bayonets gleam out of the gloom, as they hurried forward towards the +fire. In the meantime, other negroes had rushed to the spot, so that +soon there were assembled, in proportion to the white population, what +in the present population of the city would be fully 10,000 negroes. + +The rioters stood firm till they saw the bayonets flashing in the +fire-light, and then, giving one volley, fled into the darkness +northward, towards what is now Wall Street. The scattered inhabitants +they met, who, roused by the cannon, were hastening to the fire, they +attacked with their knives, killing and wounding several. The soldiers, +firing at random into the darkness, followed after them, accompanied by +a crowd of people. The negroes made for the woods and swamps near +where the Park now stands, and disappearing in the heavy shadows of the +forest, were lost to view. Knowing it would be vain to follow them into +the thickets, the soldiers and inhabitants surrounded them and kept +watch till morning. Many, of course, got off and buried themselves in +the deeper, more extensive woods near Canal Street, but many others +were taken prisoners. Some, finding themselves closely pressed and all +avenues of escape cut off, deliberately shot themselves, preferring +such a death to the one they knew awaited them. How many were killed and +captured during the morning, the historian does not tell us. We can +only infer that the number must have been great, from the statement he +incidentally makes, that "during the day _nineteen more were_ +taken, tried, and executed--some that turned State's evidence were +transported." "Eight or ten whites had been murdered," and many more +wounded. + +It was a terrible event, and remembered by the present inhabitants with +horror and dismay. To the little handful occupying the point of the +island, it was a tragedy as great as a riot in New York to-day would be, +in which was a loss of 5,000 or more on each side. + +Many middle-aged men, in 1741, were young men at that time, and +remembered the fearful excitement that prevailed, and it was a common +topic of conversation. + +The state of things, therefore, which we have described, was natural. +This was rendered worse by the arrival, in the winter of 1741, of a +Spanish vessel, which had been captured as a prize, the crew of which +was composed in part of negroes, who were sold at auction as slaves. +These became very intractable, and in spite of the floggings they +received, uttered threats that they knew would reach their masters' +ears. Still, no evidence of any general plot against the inhabitants was +suspected, and things were moving on in their usual way, when, on the +18th of March, a wild and blustering day, the Governor's house in the +fort was discovered to be on fire. Fanned by a fierce south-east wind, +the flames spread to the King's chapel, the secretary's house, barracks, +and stables; and in spite of all efforts to save them, were totally +consumed. The origin of the fire was supposed to be accidental, but a +few days after, Captain Warren's house, near the fort, was found to be +on fire. Two or three days later, the storehouse of Mr. Van Zandt was +discovered on fire. Still, no general suspicions were aroused. Three +more days passed, when a cow-stall was reported on fire, and a few +hours later, the house of Mr. Thompson; the fire in the latter case +originating in the room where a negro slave slept. The very next day, +live coals were discovered under the stable of John Murray, on Broadway. +This, evidently, was no accident, but the result of design, and the +people began to be alarmed. The day following, the house of a sergeant +near the fort was seen to be on fire, and soon after, flames arose from +the roof of a dwelling near the Fly Market. The rumor now spread like +wildfire through the town that it was the work of incendiaries. It +seems to us a small foundation to base such a belief on, but it must +be remembered that the public mind was in a state to believe almost +anything. + +The alarm was increased by the statement of Mrs. Earle, who said that +on Sunday, as she was looking out of her window, she saw three negroes +swaggering up Broadway, engaged in earnest conversation. Suddenly she +heard one of them exclaim, "Fire! fire! Scorch! scorch! a little d--n by +and by!" and then throwing up his hands, laughed heartily. Coupled with +the numerous fires that had occurred, and the rumors afloat, it at once +excited her suspicions that this conversation had something to do with +a plot to burn the city. She therefore immediately reported it to an +alderman, and he, next day, to the justices. + +Although the number of buildings thus mysteriously set on fire was, in +reality, small, yet it was as great in proportion to the town then, as +three hundred would be in New York to-day. Less than that number, we +imagine, would create a panic in the city, especially if the public mind +was in a feverish state, as, for instance, during the recent civil war. + +Some thought the Spanish negroes had set the buildings on fire from +revenge, especially as those of the Government were the first to suffer. +Others declared that it was a plot of the entire negro population to +burn down the city. This belief was strengthened by the fact that, in +one of the last fires, a slave of one of the most prominent citizens was +seen to leap from the window, and make off over garden fences. A shout +was immediately raised by the spectators, and a pursuit commenced. +The terrified fugitive made desperate efforts to escape, but being +overtaken, he was seized, and, pale as death, lifted on men's shoulders +and carried to jail. + +Added to all this, men now remembered it lacked but a few days of being +the anniversary of the bloody riot of thirty years ago. They began to +watch and question the negroes, and one of the Spanish sailors, on being +interrogated, gave such unsatisfactory, suspicious answers, that +the whole crew were arrested, and thrown into prison. But that same +afternoon, while the magistrates, whom the alarming state of things had +called together, were in consultation about it, the cry of "Fire!" again +startled the entire community. The ringing of the alarm-bell had now +become almost as terrifying as the sound of the last trumpet, and the +panic became general. The first step was to ascertain if there were any +strangers in town who might be concealed enemies, and a thorough search +was made--the militia being ordered out, and sentries posted at the ends +of all the streets, with orders to stop all persons carrying bags and +bundles. This was done on the 13th of April. None being found, the +conclusion became inevitable that some dark, mysterious plot lay at the +bottom of it all, and the inhabitants thought the city was doomed, like +Sodom. First, the more timorous packed up their valuable articles and +fled into the country, up toward Canal Street. This increased the panic, +which swelled until almost the entire population were seen hurrying +through the streets, fleeing for their lives. The announcement of an +approaching army would not have created a greater stampede. Every cart +and vehicle that could be found was engaged at any price, into which +whole families were piled, and hurried away to the farms beyond Chambers +Street, in the neighborhood of Canal Street. It was a strange spectacle, +and the farmers could hardly believe their senses, at this sudden +inundation into their quiet houses of the people of the city. The town +authorities were also swept away in the general excitement, and negroes +of all ages and sexes were arrested by the wholesale, and hurried to +prison. The Supreme Court was to sit in the latter part of April, and +the interval of a few days was spent in efforts to get at the guilty +parties. But nothing definite could be ascertained, as the conspirators, +whoever they were, kept their own secret. At length, despairing of +getting at the truth in any other way, the authorities offered a reward +of a hundred pounds, and a full pardon to any one who would turn State's +evidence, and reveal the names of the ringleaders. This was pretty +sure to bring out the facts, if there were any to disclose, and almost +equally sure to obtain a fabricated story, if there was nothing to tell. +A poor, ignorant slave, shaking with terror in his cell, would hardly be +proof against such an inducement as a free pardon, and to him or her an +almost fabulous sum of money, if he had anything to reveal, while the +temptation to invent a tale that would secure both liberty and money was +equally strong. + +On the 21st of April the court met, Judges Philips and Horsmander +presiding. A jury was impanelled, but although there was no lack of +prisoners, there was almost a total want of evidence sufficient to put +a single man on trial. The reward offered had not borne its legitimate +fruits, and no one offered to make any revelations. + +Among the first brought up for examination was Mary Burton, a colored +servant girl, belonging to John Hughson, the keeper of a low, dirty +negro tavern over on the west side of the city, near the Hudson River. +This was a place of rendezvous for the worst negroes of the town; and +from some hints that Mary had dropped, it was suspected it had been the +head-quarters of the conspirators. But when, brought before the Grand +Jury, she refused to be sworn. They entreated her to take the oath and +tell the whole truth, but she only shook her head. They then threatened +her, but with no better success; they promised she should be protected +from danger and shielded from prosecution, but she still maintained an +obstinate silence. They then showed her the reward, and attempted to +bribe her with the wealth in store for her, but she almost spat on it in +her scorn. This poor negro slave showed an independence and stubbornness +in the presence of the jury that astonished them. Finding all their +efforts vain, they ordered her to be sent to jail. This terrified her, +and she consented to be sworn. But after taking the oath, she refused to +say anything about the fire. A theft had been traced to Hughson, and she +told all she knew about that, but about the fires would neither deny nor +affirm anything. They then appealed to her conscience painted before +her the terrors of the final judgment, and the torments of hell, till +at last she broke down, and proposed to make a clean breast of it. She +commenced by saying that Hughson had threatened to take her life if she +told, and then again hesitated. But at length, by persistent efforts, +the following facts were wrenched from her by piecemeal. She said that +three negroes--giving their names--had been in the habit of meeting at +the tavern, and talking about burning of the fort and city and murdering +the people, and that Hughson and his wife had promised to help them; +after which Hughson was to be governor and Cuff Phillipse king. That the +first part of the story was true, there is little doubt. How much, with +the imagination and love of the marvellous peculiar to her race, she +added to it, it is not easy to say. She said, moreover, that but one +white person beside her master and mistress was in the conspiracy, and +that was an Irish girl known as Peggy, "the Newfoundland Beauty." +She had several _aliases_, and was an abandoned character, being a +prostitute to the negroes, and at this time kept as a mistress by a +bold, desperate negro named Caesar. This revelation of Mary's fell on +the Grand Jury like a bombshell. The long-sought secret they now felt +was out. They immediately informed the magistrates. Of course the +greatest excitement followed. Peggy was next examined, but she denied +Mary Burton's story _in toto_--swore that she knew nothing of any +conspiracy or of the burning of the stores; that if she should accuse +any one it would be a lie, and blacken her own soul. + +It is rather a severe reflection on the courts of justice of that +period, or we might rather say, perhaps, a striking illustration of the +madness that had seized on all, that although the law strictly forbade +any slave to testify in a court of justice against a white person, yet +this girl Mary Burton was not only allowed to appear as evidence against +Peggy, but her oath was permitted to outweigh hers, and cause her to +be sentenced to death. The latter, though an abandoned, desperate +character, was seized with terror at the near approach of death, and +begged to be allowed another examination, which was granted, and she +professed to make a full confession. It is a little singular that +while she corroborated Mary Burton's statement as to the existence of a +conspiracy, she located the seat of it not in Hughson's tavern, but in +a miserable shanty near the Battery, kept by John Romme, who, she said, +had promised to carry them all to a new country, and give them their +liberty, if they would murder the whites and bring him the plunder. Like +Mary Burton's confession, if truthful at all, it evidently had a large +mixture of falsehood in it. + +On Saturday, May 9th, Peggy was again brought in, and underwent a +searching examination. Some of her statements seemed improbable, and +they therefore tested them in every possible way. It lasted for several +hours, and resulted in a long _detailed_ confession, in which she +asserted, among other things, that it was the same plot that failed +in 1712, when the negroes designed to kill all the whites, in fact, +exterminate them from the island. She implicated a great many negroes +in the conspiracy; and every one that she accused, as they were brought +before her, she identified as being present at the meetings of the +conspirators in Romme's house. The court seemed anxious to avoid any +collusion between the prisoners, and therefore kept them apart, so that +each story should rest on its own basis. By this course they thought +they would be able to distinguish what was true and what was false. + +Either from conscious guilt, or from having got some inkling of +the charge to be brought against him, Romme fled before he could be +arrested. His wife, however, and the negroes whose names Peggy gave, +were sent to jail. + +On the 11th of May, or twenty days after the court convened, the +executions commenced. On this day, Caesar and Prince, two of the three +negroes Mary Burton testified against, were hung, though not for the +conspiracy, but for theft. They were abandoned men, and died recklessly. +Peggy and Hughson and his wife were next condemned. The former, finding +that her confession did not, as had been promised, secure her pardon, +retracted all she had said, and exculpated entirely the parties whose +arrest she had caused. + +An atmosphere of gloom now rested over the city; every face showed signs +of dread. In this state of feeling the Lieutenant-governor issued a +proclamation, appointing a day of fasting and humiliation, not only in +view of this calamity, but on account also of the want and loss caused +by the past severe winter, and the declaration of war by England against +Spain. When the day arrived, every shop was closed and business of all +kinds suspended, and the silence and repose of the Sabbath rested on the +entire community. Without regard to sect, all repaired to the places of +worship, where the services were performed amid the deepest solemnity. + +The day of execution appointed for Hughson, his wife, and Peggy was a +solemn one, and almost the entire population turned out to witness it. +The former had declared that some extraordinary appearance would take +place at his execution, and every one gazed on him as he passed in a +cart from the prison to the gallows. He was a tall, powerful man, being +six feet high. He stood erect in the cart all the way, his piercing eye +fixed steadily on the distance, and his right hand raised high as his +fetters would permit, and beckoning as though he saw help coming from +afar. His face was usually pale and colorless, but to-day it was noticed +that two bright red spots burned on either cheek, which added to the +mystery with which the superstitious spectators invested him. When the +sad procession arrived at the place of execution, the prisoners were +helped to the ground, and stood exposed to the gaze of the crowd. +Hughson was firm and self-possessed; but Peggy, pale, and weeping, and +terror-struck, begging for life; while the wife, with the rope round +her neck, leaned against a tree, silent and composed, but colorless +as marble. One after another they were launched into eternity, and the +crowd, solemn and thoughtful, turned their steps homeward. + +Hughson was hung in chains; and in a few days a negro was placed beside +him, and here they swung, "blind and blackening," in the April air, in +full view of the tranquil bay, a ghastly spectacle to the fishermen as +they plied their vocation near by. For three weeks they dangled here in +sunshine and storm, a terror to the passers-by. At length a rumor passed +through the town that Hughson had turned into a negro, and the negro +into a white man. This was a new mystery, and day after day crowds +would come and gaze on the strange transformation, some thinking it +supernatural, and others trying to give an explanation. Hughson had +threatened to take poison, and it was thought by many that he had, and +it was the effect of this that had wrought the change in his appearance. +For ten days the Battery was thronged with spectators, gazing on these +bloated, decomposing bodies, many in their superstitious fears expecting +some new transformation. Under the increasing heat of the sun, they soon +began to drip, till at last the body of Hughson burst asunder, filling +the air with such an intolerable stench that the fishermen shunned the +locality. + +As simple hanging was soon thought not sufficient punishment, and they +were left to swing, and slowly rot in chains, so this last was at length +thought to be too lenient, and the convicts were condemned to be burned +at the stake. Two negroes, named Quack and Cuffee, were the first doomed +to this horrible death. The announcement of this sentence created the +greatest excitement. It was a new thing to the colonists, this mode of +torture being appropriated by the savages for prisoners taken in war. +Curious crowds gathered to see the stake erected, or stare at the loads +of wood as they passed along the street, and were unloaded at its base. +It was a strange spectacle to behold--the workmen carefully piling +up the fagots under the spring sun; the spectators looking on, some +horrified, and others fierce as savages; and over all the blue sky +bending, while the gentle wind stole up from the bay and whispered +in the tree-tops overhead. On the day of execution an immense crowd +assembled. The two negroes were brought forward, pale and terrified, and +bound to the stake. As the men approached with the fire to kindle +the pile, they shrieked out in terror, confessed the conspiracy, and +promised, if released, to tell all about it. They were at once taken +down. This was the signal for an outbreak, and shouts of "burn 'em, burn +'em" burst from the multitude. Mr. Moore then asked the sheriff to delay +execution till he could see the Governor and get a reprieve. He hurried +off, and soon returned with a conditional one. But, as he met the +sheriff on the common, the latter told him that it would be impossible +to take the criminals through the crowd without a strong guard, and +before that could arrive, they would be murdered by the exasperated +populace. They were then tied up again, and the torch applied. The +flames arose around the unhappy victims. The curling smoke soon hid +their dusky forms from view, while their shrieks and cries for mercy +grew fainter and fainter, as the fierce fire shrivelled up their forms, +till at last nothing but the crackling of the flames was heard, and +the shouting, savage crowd grew still. As the fire subsided, the two +wretched creatures, crisped to a cinder, remained to tell, for the +hundredth time, to what barbarous deeds terror and passion may lead men. + +Some of the negroes went laughing to the place of execution, indulging +in all sorts of buffoonery to the last, and mocking the crowd which +surrounded them. + +All protested their innocence to the last, and if they had confessed +previously, retracted before death their statements and accusations. But +this contradiction of themselves, to-morrow denying what to-day they +had solemnly sworn on the Bible to be true, instead of causing the +authorities to hesitate, and consider how much terror and the hope of +pardon had to do with it, convinced them still more of the strength +and dangerous nature of the conspiracy, and they went to work with a +determination and recklessness which made that summer the bloodiest and +most terrific in the annals of New York. No lawyer was found bold enough +to step forward and defend these poor wretches, but all volunteered +their services to aid the Government in bringing them to punishment. The +weeks now, as they rolled on, were freighted with terror and death, and +stamped with scenes that made the blood run cold. This little town, on +the southern part of Manhattan Island was wholly given to panic, and +a nameless dread of some mysterious, awful fate, extended even to the +scattered farm-houses near Canal Street. Between this and the last of +August, a hundred and fifty-four negroes, exclusive of whites, +were thrown into prison, till every cell was crowded and packed to +suffocation with them. For three months, sentence of condemnation was +on an average of one a day. The last execution was that of a Catholic +priest, or rather of a schoolmaster of the city, who was charged with +being one. Mary Burton, after an interval of three months, pretended to +remember that he was present with the other conspirators she had first +named as being in Hughson's tavern. + +His trial was long, and apparently without excitement. He conducted his +own case with great ability, and brought many witnesses to prove +his good character and orderly conduct; but he, of course, could not +disprove the assertion of Mary, that she had some time or other seen him +with the conspirators at Hughson's tavern--for the latter, with his wife +and Peggy, and the negroes she had before named, had all been executed. +Mary Burton alone was left, and her evidence being credited, no amount +of testimony could avail him. + +Although the proceedings were all dignified and solemn, as became +an English court, yet the course the trial took showed how utterly +unbalanced and one-sided it had become. To add weight to Mary's +evidence, many witnesses were examined to prove that Ury, though a +schoolmaster, had performed the duties of a Catholic priest, as though +this were an important point to establish. The attorney-general, in +opening the case, drew a horrible picture of former persecutions by the +Papists, and their cruelties to the Protestants, until it was apparent +that all that the jury needed to indorse a verdict of guilty was +evidence that he was a Catholic priest. Still it would be unfair to +attribute this feeling wholly to religious intolerance or the spirit of +persecution. England was at this time at war with Spain, and a report +was circulated that the Spanish priests in Florida had formed a +conspiracy to murder the English colonists. A letter from Ogilthorpe, +in Georgia, confirmed this. Ury, who was an educated Englishman, but had +led an adventurous life in different countries, could not disprove this, +and he was convicted and sentenced to be hung. He met his fate with +great composure and dignity, asserting his innocence to the last. He +made the eighteenth victim hung, while thirteen had been burned at the +stake, and seventy-one transported to various countries. + +At the average rate of two every week, one hanged and one burned alive, +they were hurried into eternity amid prayers, and imprecations, and +shrieks of agony. The hauling of wood to the stake, and the preparation +of the gallows, kept the inhabitants in a state bordering on insanity. +Business was suspended, and every face wore a terrified look. The voice +of pity as well as justice was hushed, and one desire, that of swift +vengeance, filled every heart. Had the press of to-day, with its system +of interviewing, and minuteness of detail and description, existed then, +there would have been handed down to us a chapter in human history that +could be paralleled only in the dark ages. + +A swift massacre, a terrible slaughter, comes and goes like an +earthquake or a tornado, and stuns rather than debases; but this long, +steady succession of horrible executions and frightful scenes changed +the very nature of the inhabitants, and they became a prey to a spirit +demoniacal rather than human. The prayers and tears of those led forth +to the stake, their heartrending cries as they were bound to it, and +their shrieks of agony that were wafted out over the still waters of +the bay, fell on hard and pitiless hearts. The ashes of the wood that +consumed one victim would hardly grow cold before a new fire was kindled +upon them, and the charred and blackened posts stood month after month, +hideous monuments of what man may become when judgment and reason are +surrendered to fear and passion. The spectacle was made still more +revolting by the gallows standing near the stake, on which many were +hung in chains, and their bodies left to swing, blacken, and rot in the +summer air, a ghastly, horrible sight. + +Where this madness, that had swept away court, bar, and people together, +would have ended, it is impossible to say, had not a new terror seized +the inhabitants. Mary Burton, on whose accusation the first victims had +been arrested and executed, finding herself a heroine, sought new fields +in which to win notoriety. She ceased to implicate the blacks, and +turned her attention to the whites, and twenty-four were arrested and +thrown into prison. Elated with her success, she began to ascend in the +social scale, and criminated some persons of the highest social standing +in the city, whose characters were above suspicion. This was turning +the tables on them in a manner the upper class did not expect, and +they began to reflect what the end might be. The testimony that was +sufficient to condemn the slaves was equally conclusive against them. +The stake and the gallows which the court had erected for the black +man, it could not pull down because a white gentleman stood under their +shadow. + +Robespierre and his friends cut off the upper-crust of society without +hesitation or remorse; but unfortunately the crust next below this +became in turn the upper-crust, which also had to be removed, until at +last they themselves were reached, when they paused. They had advanced +up to their necks in the bloody tide of revolution, and finding that to +proceed farther would take them overhead, they attempted to wade back to +shore. So here, so long as the accusations were confined to the lowest +class, it was all well enough, but when _they_ were being reached, +it was high time to stop. The proceedings were summarily brought to a +close, further examinations were deemed unnecessary, and confessions +became flat and unprofitable; and this strange episode in American +history ended. + +That there had been cause for alarm, there can be no doubt. That threats +should be uttered by the slaves, is natural; for this would be in +keeping with their whole history in this country. Nor is it at all +improbable that a conspiracy was formed; for this, too, would only be in +harmony with the conduct of slaves from time immemorial. The utter folly +and hopelessness of such a one as the blacks testified to, has been +urged against its existence altogether. If the argument is good for +anything, it proves that the conspiracy thirty years before never +existed, and that the Southampton massacre was a delusion, and John +Brown never hatched his utterly insane conspiracy in Harper's Ferry. +There have been a good many servile insurrections plotted in this +country, not one of which was a whit more sensible or easier of +execution than this, which was said to look to the complete overthrow of +the little city. That the fires which first started the panic were the +work of negro incendiaries, there is but little doubt; but how far they +were a part of a wide-laid plan, it is impossible to determine. + +Unquestionably, success at the outset would have made the movement +general, so that nothing but military force could have arrested it. + +There is one thing, however, about which there is no doubt--that a panic +seized the people and the courts, and made them as unreliable as in +the days of the Salem witchcraft. But these striking exhibitions of the +weakness of human nature under certain circumstances have been witnessed +since the world was made, and probably will continue to the end of time, +or until the race enters on a new phase of existence. Panics, even among +the most veteran soldiers, sometimes occur, and hence we cannot wonder +they take place amid a mixed population. Popular excitements are never +characterized by reason and common-sense, and never will be. In this +case, there was more reason for a panic than at first sight seems to be. + +In the first place, the proportion of slaves to the whites was large. +In the second place, they were a turbulent set, and had shown such +a dangerous spirit, that the authorities became afraid to let them +assemble together in meetings. This restriction they felt sorely, and it +made them more restive. All were aware of this hostile state of feeling, +and were constantly anticipating some outbreak or act of violence. +Besides, it was but a few years since the thing they now feared did +actually take place. And then, too, the point first aimed at was +significant, and showed a boldness founded on conscious strength. Right +inside the fort itself, and to the Governor's house, the torch was +applied. It certainly looked ominous. Besides, the very wholesale manner +in which the authorities thought it best to go to work increased the +panic. In a very short time over a hundred persons were thrown into +prison. The same proportion to the population to-day would be over ten +thousand. Such a wholesale arrest would, of itself, throw New York into +the wildest excitement, and conjure up all sorts of horrible shapes. Add +to this, an average of two hundred burned at the stake, and two hundred +hung every week, or more than fifty a day, and nearly three times that +number sentenced to transportation, and one can faintly imagine what a +frightful state of things would exist in the city. The very atmosphere +grew stifling from the smoke of burning men and women, while the gallows +groaned under its weight of humanity. Had this been the wild work of a +mob it would have been terrible enough, but when it was the result of a +deliberate judicial tribunal, which was supposed to do nothing except on +the most conclusive evidence, the sense of danger was increased tenfold. +The conclusion was inevitable, that the conspiracy embraced every black +man in the city, and was thoroughly organized. In short, the whole place +was, beyond doubt, resting over a concealed volcano, and the instinct of +self-preservation demanded the most summary work. Let the inhabitants of +any city become thoroughly possessed of such an idea, and they will act +with no more prudence or reason than the people of New York at that +time did. An undoubted belief in such a state of things will confuse +the perceptions and unbalance the judgment of a community anywhere and +everywhere on the globe. + +Still, consistent as it is with human history, one can hardly believe +it possible, as he stands in New York to-day, that men have there been +burned at the stake under the sanction of English law, or left to swing +and rot in the winds of heaven, by order of the Supreme Court of the +city. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + +Thorough Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.--The +Stamp Act.--How viewed by the Colonists.--Colden strengthens Fort George +in Alarm.--Arrival of the Stamps.--How the News was received by the Sons +of Liberty.--A Bold Placard.--Stamp Distributor frightened.--Patriotic +Action of the Merchants.--Public Demonstration against the Stamp +Act.--Colden takes Refuge in the Fort.--Dare not fire on the +People.--The People at the Gate demand the Stamps.--Colden and Lord Bute +hung in Effigy.--Colden's Coach-house broken open.--The Images placed in +the Coach, and dragged with Shouts through the Streets.--Hung again in +Sight of the Fort.--A Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling +Green, and the Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently +on.--Prejudice against Coaches.--Major James' House sacked.--Great Joy +and Demonstration at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Celebration of the +King's Birthday.--Loyalty of the People.--Mutiny Act.--A Riot becomes a +Great Rebellion. + +At the present day, when personal ambition takes the place of +patriotism, and love of principle gives way to love of party; when the +success of the latter is placed above constitutional obligations and +popular rights, one seems, as he turns back to our early history, to be +transported to another age of the world, and another race of beings. + +Nothing shows how thoroughly understood by the common people were the +principles of liberty, and with what keen penetration they saw through +all shams and specious reasoning, than the decided, nay, fierce, stand +they took against the stamp act. This was nothing more than our present +law requiring a governmental stamp on all public and business paper +to make it valid. The only difference is, the former was levying a +tax without representation--in other words, without the consent of the +governed. The colonies assembled in Congress condemned it; hence the +open, violent opposition to it by the people rises above the level of a +common riot, and partakes more of the nature of a righteous revolution. +Still, it was a riot, and exhibited the lawless features of one. + +The news of the determination of the English Government to pass a +stamp act, raised a storm of indignation throughout the colonies, from +Massachusetts to South Carolina, and it was denounced as an oppressive, +unrighteous, tyrannical measure. From the wayside tavern and the pulpit +alike, it was attacked with unsparing severity. The Government, however, +thought it a mere ebullition of feeling, that would not dare exhibit +itself in open opposition. Nor does this confidence seem strong, when we +remember the weakness of the colonies on the one side, and the strength +of an organized government, with the law and force both, on the other. + +Cadwallader Colden, a Scotchman by birth, and a clergyman by profession, +was at that time acting Governor of New York; and to guard against any +resort to force on the part of the people when the stamps should arrive, +had Fort George, on the Battery, reinforced by a regiment from Crown +Point, its magazines replenished, the ramparts strengthened, and its +guns trained on the town. The people saw all this, and understood its +import; but it had the opposite effect from that which was intended, +for, instead of overawing the people, it exasperated them. + +At length, in October, 1765, a ship with the British colors flying came +sailing up the bay, and anchored off Fort George. In a short time the +startling tidings was circulated, that she brought a quantity of stamps. +It was like sounding an alarm-bell, and the streets became thronged +with excited men, while all the provincial vessels in the harbor lowered +their colors to half-mast, in token of mourning. In anticipation of this +event, an organization of men had been formed, called "Sons of Liberty." +They at once assembled, and resolved at all hazards to get hold of those +stamps. They had caused the act itself to be hawked about the streets as +"the folly of England and the ruin of America," and now they determined +to measure their strength with the Governor of the colony. That night, +when the town was wrapped in slumber, they quietly affixed on the doors +of every public office and on corners of the streets, the following +placard: + +PRO PATRIA. + +_The first man that either distributes or makes use of stamped paper, +let him take care of his house, person, and effects._ + +VOX POPULI. + +"WE DARE." + +To the stamp distributors they said, "Assure yourselves, the spirit of +Brutus and Cassius is yet alive. We will not submit to the stamp act +upon any account or in any instance." + +McEvers, the head stamp distributor, frightened by the bold, determined +attitude of the people, refused to receive the stamps, and Golden had +them sent for greater safety to Fort George. He had written, to the +British Secretary, "_I am resolved to have the stamps distributed_." But +the people were equally resolved they should not be. Still, on the 30th +day of October, he and all the royal governors took the oath to carry +the stamp act into effect; but they soon discovered that they could find +no one bold enough to act as distributor. All along the sea-coast, +in every part of the colonies, the people were aroused, and either +assembling quietly, or called together by the ringing of bells and +firing of cannon, presented such a united, determined front, that not +one person remained duly commissioned to distribute stamps. On the +last day of October, the merchants of New York came together, and +bound themselves to "send no new orders for goods or merchandise, to +countermand all former orders, and not even receive goods on commission, +unless the stamp act be repealed"--that is, give up commerce at once, +with all its wealth and benefits, rather than submit to a tax of a few +shillings on paper. + +Friday, the 1st of November, was the day fixed upon for a public +demonstration of the people throughout the colonies against it, and +never dawned a morning more pregnant with the fate not only of a nation, +but of the world. + +From New Hampshire to South Carolina it was ushered in by the tolling of +muffled bells, the firing of minute-guns, and flags hung at half-mast. +Eulogies were pronounced on liberty, and everywhere people left their +shops and fields, and gathered in excited throngs to discuss the great +question of taxation. + +"Even the children at their games, though hardly able to speak, caught +up the general chorus, and went along the streets, merrily carolling: +'Liberty, Property, and no Stamps.'" [Footnote: Bancroft.] + +In New York the uprising was terrific, for the population rushed +together as one man--as Gage, the commander of Fort George said, "by +thousands." + +The sailors flocked in from the vessels, the farmers from the country, +and the shouts, and ringing of bells, and firing of cannon made the city +fairly tremble. Colden was terrified at the storm that was raised, and +took refuge in the fort. An old man, bent and bowed with the weight +of eighty years, he tottered nervously to the shelter of its guns, and +ordered up a detachment of marines from a ship of war in port, for his +protection. In his indignation, he wanted to fire on the people, and the +black muzzles of the cannon pointing on the town had an ominous look. +Whether he had threatened to do so by a message, we do not know; at any +rate, the people either suspected his determination or got wind of it, +for during the day an unknown person handed in at the fort-gate a +note, telling him if he did, the people would hang him, like Porteus of +Edinburgh, on a sign-post. He wisely forebore to give the order, for if +he had not, his gray hairs would have streamed from a gibbet. + +At length the day of turmoil wore away, and night came on, but with it +came no diminution of the excitement. Soon as it was dark, the "Sons of +Liberty," numbering thousands, surged tumultuously up around the fort, +and demanded that the stamps should be given up that they might be +destroyed. Golden bluntly refused, when with loud, defiant shouts they +left, and went up Broadway to "the field" (the present Park), where they +erected a gibbet, and hanged on it Colden in effigy, and beside him a +figure holding a boot; some said to represent the devil, others Lord +Bute, of whom the _boot_, by a pun on his name, showed for whom the +effigy was designed. + +The demonstration had now become a riot, and the Sons of Liberty +degenerated into a mob. The feeling that had been confined to words all +day must now have some outlet. A torchlight procession was formed, and +the scaffold and images taken down, and borne on men's shoulders +along Broadway towards the Battery. The glare of flaring lights on the +buildings and faces of the excited crowd, the shouts and hurrahs that +made night hideous, called out the entire population, which gazed in +amazement on the strange, wild spectacle. + +They boldly carried the scaffold and effigies to within a few feet of +the gate of the fort, and knocked audaciously for admission. Isaac Sears +was the leader of these "Sons of Liberty." + +Finding themselves unable to gain admittance, they went to the +Governor's carriage-house, and took out his elegant coach, and placing +the two effigies in it, dragged it by hand around the streets by the +light of torches, amid the jeers and shouts of the multitude. Becoming +at last tired of this amusement, they returned towards the fort, and +erected a second gallows, on which they hung the effigies the second +time. + +All this time the cannon, shotted and primed, lay silent on their +carriages, while the soldiers from the ramparts looked wonderingly, idly +on. General Gage did not dare to fire on the people, fearing they would +sweep like an inundation over the ramparts, when he knew a general +massacre would follow. + +The mob now tore down, the wooden fence that surrounded Bowling Green, +and piling pickets and boards together, set them on fire. As the flames +crackled and roared in the darkness, they pitched on the Governor's +coach, with the scaffold and effigies; then hastening to his +carriage-house again, and dragging out a one-horse chaise, two sleighs, +and other vehicles, hauled them to the fire, and threw them on, making a +conflagration that illumined the waters of the bay and the ships riding +at anchor. This was a galling spectacle to the old Governor and the +British officers, but they dared not interfere. + +What was the particular animosity against those carriages does not +appear, though it was the only property of the Governor they destroyed, +unless they were a sign of that aristocratic pride which sought to +enslave them. There were, at this time, not a half-dozen coaches in the +city, and they naturally became the symbols of bloated pride. It is +said the feeling was so strong against them, that a wealthy Quaker named +Murray, who lived out of town, near where the distributing reservoir now +is, kept one to ride down town in, yet dared not call it a coach, but a +"_leathern convenience_." + +Although Sears and other leaders of the Sons of Liberty tried to +restrain the mob, their blood was now up, and they were bent on +destruction. Having witnessed the conflagration of the Governor's +carriages, they again marched up Broadway, and some one shouting +"James' house," the crowd took up the shout, and passing out of the city +streamed through the open country, to where West Broadway now is, and +near the corner of Anthony Street. This James was Major in the Royal +Artillery, and had made himself obnoxious to the people by taking a +conspicuous part in putting the fort into a state of defence. He had a +beautiful residence here, which the mob completely gutted, broke up +his elegant furniture, destroyed his library and works of art, and laid +waste his ornamented grounds. They then dispersed, and the city became +quiet. + +The excitement was, however, not quelled--the people had not yet got +hold of the stamps, which they were determined to have. Colden, having +seen enough of the spirit of the "Sons of Liberty," was afraid to risk +another night, even in the fort, unless it was in some way appeased; +and so the day after the riot, he had a large placard posted up, stating +that he should have nothing more to do with the stamps, but would leave +them with Sir Henry Moore, the newly appointed Governor, then on his way +from England. + +This, however, did not satisfy the Sons of Liberty: they wanted the +stamps themselves, and through Sears, their leader, insisted on their +being given up--telling him very plainly if he did not they would storm +the fort, and they were determined to do it. + +The Common Council of the city now became alarmed at the ungovernable, +desperate spirit of the mob, which seemed bent on blood, and begged the +Governor to let them be deposited in the City Hall. To this he finally +though reluctantly consented, but the feeling in the city kept at fever +heat, and would remain so until the act itself was repealed. + +Moore, the new Governor, soon arrived, and assumed the reigns of +government. The corporation offered him the freedom of the city in a +gold box, but he refused to receive it, unless upon stamped paper. +It was evident he was determined to enforce the stamp act. But on +consulting with Colden and others, and ascertaining the true state +of things, he wisely abandoned his purpose, and soon made it publicly +known. To appease the people still more, he dismantled the fort, which +was peculiarly obnoxious to them from the threatening attitude it had +been made to assume. Still, the infamous act was unrepealed, and the +people refused to buy English manufactures, and commerce languished. + +At length, Parliament, finding that further insistance in carrying out +the obnoxious act only worked mischief, had repealed it. When the news +reached New York, the most unbounded joy was manifested. Bells were +rung, cannon fired, and placards posted, calling on a meeting of the +citizens the next day to take measures for celebrating properly the +great event. At the appointed time, the people came together at Howard's +Hotel, and forming a procession, marched gayly to "the field," and right +where the City Hall now stands, then an open lot, a salute of twenty-one +guns was fired. A grand dinner followed, at which the Sons of Liberty +feasted and drank loyal toasts to his Majesty, and all went "merry as a +marriage-bell." The city was illuminated, and bonfires turned the night +into day. In a few weeks, the King's birthday was celebrated with great +display. A huge pile of wood was erected in the Park, and an ox roasted +whole for the people. Cart after cart dumped its load of beer on the +ground, till twenty-five barrels, flanked by a huge hogshead of rum, lay +in a row, presided over by men appointed to deal out the contents to the +populace. A boisterous demonstration followed that almost drowned the +roar of the twenty-one cannon that thundered forth a royal salute. As +a fitting wind-up to the bacchanalian scene, at night twenty-five +tar-barrels, fastened on poles, blazed over the "common," while +brilliant fireworks were exhibited at Bowling Green. The feasting +continued late in the night, and so delighted were the "Sons of +Liberty," that they erected a mast, inscribed "to his most gracious +Majesty, George the Third, Mr. Pitt, and Liberty." A petition was also +signed to erect a statue to Pitt, and the people seemed determined by +this excess of loyalty to atone for their previous rebellious spirit. +The joy, however, was of short duration--the news of the riots caused +Parliament to pass a "mutiny act," by which troops were to be quartered +in America in sufficient numbers to put down any similar demonstration +in future, a part of the expense of their support to be paid by the +colonists themselves. This exasperated "the Sons of Liberty", and they +met and resolved to resist this new act of oppression to the last. The +troops arrived in due time, and of course collisions took place between +them and the people. Matters now continued to grow worse and worse, +until the "riot of the Sons of Liberty" became a revolution, which +dismembered the British Empire, and established this great republic, the +influence of which on the destiny of the world no one can predict. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. + +Body-snatching.--Bodies dug up by Medical Students.--Excitement of the +People.--Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from the Hospital.--Mob +ransack the Building.--Destruction of Anatomical Specimens.--Arrival +of Mayor, and Imprisonment of Students.--Second Day.--Examination +of Columbia College and Physicians' Houses.--Appeal of the Mayor and +distinguished Citizens to the Mob.--Mob attempt to break into Jail and +seize the Students.--The Fight.--The Military called out.--Beaten by the +Mob.--Larger Military Force called out.--Attacked by the Mob.--Deadly +Firing.--Great Excitement.--Flight of Doctors and Students. + +In former times "body-snatching," or digging up bodies for dissections, +was much, more heard of than at present. The fear of it was so great, +that often, in the neighborhood where medical students were pursuing +their studies, persons who lost friends would have a watch kept over +their graves for several nights, to prevent them from being dug up. +Neither the high social position of parties nor sex was any barrier to +this desecration of graves, and the public mind was often shocked by +accounts of the young and beautiful being disinterred, to be cut up by +medical students. In the city there was, a few years ago--and perhaps +there is now--a regular commercial price for bodies. + +[Illustration: THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.--Scene of the Doctors' Riot. +Located formerly on Broadway at the head of Pearl Street.] + +[Illustration: THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM 143d St. The former building +destroyed during the Draft Riot of 1863.] + +Although it was conceded that for thorough instruction in medical +science, subjects for dissection were necessary, yet no one outside of +the medical profession could be found to sanction "bodysnatching." +There is a sacredness attached to the grave that the most hardened +feel. Whenever the earth is thrown over the body of a man, no matter how +abject or sinful he may have been, the involuntary exclamation of every +one is "_requiescat in pace_." When, it comes to be one of our own +personal friends, a parent, sister, or child, to this feeling of +sacredness is added that of affection, and no wrong is like that of +invading the tomb of those we love. Shakespeare left his curse for +him who should disturb his bones; and all feel like cursing those +who disturb the bones of friends who are linked to them by blood and +affection. + +In the winter of 1787 and 1788, medical students of New York City dug up +bodies more frequently than usual, or were more reckless in their mode +of action, for the inhabitants became greatly excited over the stories +that were told of their conduct. Some of these, if true, revealed a +brutality and indecency, shocking as it was unnecessary. Usually, +the students had contented themselves with ripping open the graves of +strangers and negroes, about whom there was little feeling; but this +winter they dug up respectable people, even young women, of whom they +made an indecent exposure. + +The stories did not lose anything by repetition, and soon the conduct of +physicians and medical students became a town talk. There seemed to be +no remedy for this state of things; the graveyards, which were then in +the heart of the city, were easily accessible; while plenty of men could +be found, who, for a small sum, would dig up any body that was desired. +A mere accident caused this state of feeling to culminate and suddenly +break out into action. In the spring, some boys were playing in the +rear of the hospital, when a young surgeon, from a mere whim, showed an +amputated arm to them. One of them, impelled by curiosity, immediately +mounted a ladder that stood against the wall, used in making some +repairs, when the surgeon told him to look at his mother's arm. The +little fellow's mother had recently died, and filled with terror, he +immediately hastened to his father, who was a mason, and working at the +time in Broadway. The father at once went to his wife's grave, and had +it opened. He found the body gone, and returned to his fellow-workmen +with the news. They were filled with rage, and, armed with tools, and +gathering a crowd as they marched, they surged up around the hospital. + +At first many seemed to be impelled only by curiosity, but as the throng +increased, the masons became eager for decisive action. Threats and +denunciations began to arise on every side, and then appeals for +vengeance, till at length they rushed for the door, and pouring into +the building, began the work of destruction. For a while there was +a terrible rattling of bones, as they tore down, and smashed every +anatomical specimen they could lay their hands on. Valuable imported +ones shared the common fate. They swarmed through the building, and +finally came upon fresh subjects, apparently but just dug up. This +kindled their rage tenfold, and the students, who thus far had been +unmolested, were in danger of being roughly handled. + +The news of the gathering of the crowd and its threatening aspect, had +reached the Mayor, who immediately summoned the sheriff, and taking +him with several prominent citizens, hastened to the spot. Finding the +students in the hands of the infuriated mob, he released them, and to +the satisfaction, apparently, of the rioters, sent them to jail for +safe-keeping. + +There was now nothing left for them to do, and they dispersed, and the +matter was thought to be ended. + +But, during the evening, knots of men were everywhere discussing the +events of the day, and retailing the exciting reports that were now +flying thickly around; and next morning, whether from any concert of +action, or impelled by mere curiosity, is not known, crowds began to +fill the street and yard in front of the city hospital. The discovery +of the bodies the day before had deepened the excitement, and now a +more thorough examination of the building was proposed, and also an +examination of the physicians' houses. Matters were beginning to wear +a serious aspect, and the Governor, Mayor, Chancellor, and some of the +prominent citizens of the town, came together to consult on a course of +action. It was finally resolved to resort in a body to the spot where +the mob was assembled, and make a personal appeal to it. They did so, +and presented an imposing appearance as they advanced up Broadway. +Although representing the State and city, they did not presume on their +authority, but attempted persuasion. Mounting the steps, they in +turn addressed the throng, which now kept momentarily increasing, and +exhorted them as law-abiding citizens to use no violence. Some made +most pathetic appeals to their feelings, their pride and self-respect; +indeed, begged them, by every consideration of home and justice, to +desist, and retire peacefully to their homes. They solemnly promised +that a most thorough investigation should be made, and they should have +all the satisfaction the laws could afford. More they ought not to ask. +These appeals and promises produced a favorable effect on many of the +mob, and they left. But the greater part refused to be pacified. Their +blood was up, and they insisted on making the examination themselves. +They did not propose to commit any violence, but having begun their +investigations they were determined to go through with them. + +The Mayor and the Governor seemed to have an unaccountable repugnance +to the use of force, and let the mob depart for Columbia College without +any resistance. The professors and students were amazed at this sudden +inundation of the crowd, who swarmed without opposition through every +part of the building. Finding nothing to confirm their suspicions, they +left without doing any material injury. Still unsatisfied, however, they +repaired to the houses of the neighboring physicians, and the leaders, +acting as a delegation of the crowd, went through them with the same +result. It was a singularly well-behaved mob, and they received the +report of the self-constituted committees with apparently perfect +satisfaction, and when they had made the round of the houses, gradually +broke up into knots and dispersed. + +But the lawless spirit of a mob seldom arrests and controls itself. +Having once felt its strength and power, it is never satisfied till it +measures them against those of the legal authorities, and yields only +when it must. Hence, as a rule, the quicker "it feels the strong hand +of power" the better for all parties. Promising legal satisfaction, to +law-breakers is a very unsatisfactory proceeding. Obedience first and +discussion afterwards is the proper order to be observed. + +The Mayor had hardly time to congratulate himself on having overcome +so easily a serious difficulty, before he found that he had not as yet +touched it. In the afternoon, the crowd again began to assemble, and +this time around the jail, with the avowed purpose of taking vengeance +on the students and physicians locked up there for safe-keeping. Having +asserted and exercised, against all law, the right of domiciliary +visits, it was but a short and easy step to assert the right to punish +also contrary to law. As they gathered in front of the jail, it was +seen that a different spirit from that which they had hitherto exhibited +ruled them. The tiger was unchained, and loud shouts and yells were +heard. "Bring out your doctors! bring out your doctors!" arose on every +side. They threatened to tear down the building unless they were given +up. The inmates became thoroughly alarmed, and barricaded the doors and +windows, and armed themselves the best way they could for self-defence. +Attempts were made to parley with the crowd, but they would listen to +nothing, and answered every appeal with loud shouts for the doctors. +What they _intended_ to do with them by way of punishment was not so +clear, though what their fate would have been, if once at their mercy, +there was little doubt. The city authorities now became alarmed, murder +was imminent, and having no police force sufficient to cope with such +a formidable mob, they decided that the city was in a state of +insurrection, and called out the military. About three o'clock, the +force marched up the street, and passed quietly through the crowd, which +opened as they advanced. As they moved past, a shower of dirt and stones +followed them, accompanied with taunts, and jeers, and mocking +laughter. The whole military movement was evidently intended only for +intimidation--to show the rioters what could be done if they resorted to +violence; for the soldiers, instead of taking up their quarters, as they +should have done, in the building, having exhibited themselves, +marched away. But the mob, still retaining its position and threatening +attitude, another force, a little later, consisting of only twelve men, +was sent up. This was worse than nothing, and as the little handful +marched solemnly up, the crowd broke out into derisive laughter, and all +sorts of contemptuous epithets were heaped upon them. Instead of waiting +for them to come near, they rushed down, the street to meet them, and +swarming like bees around them, snatched away their muskets, and broke +them to pieces on the pavement. [Footnote: John Jay and Baron Steuben +were both wounded in trying to allay the mob.] The soldiers, disarmed, +scattered, and hustled about, were glad to escape with whole bodies. + +This first act of open resistance excited the rioters still more--they +had passed the Rubicon, and were now ready for anything, and "to the +jail! to the jail!" arose in wild yells, and the turbulent mass poured +like a tumultuous sea around the building. They rushed against the +doors, and with united shoulders and bodies endeavored to heave them +from their hinges. But being secured with heavy bolts and bars, they +resisted all their efforts. They then smashed in the windows with +stones, and attempted to force an entrance through them; but the handful +of men inside took possession of these, and, with such weapons as they +could find, beat them back. Numbers were of no avail here, as only a +few at a time could approach a window, while those within, being on the +defensive, knocked them back as often as they attempted to climb in. +The rioters, baffled in their attempts, would then fall back, and hurl +paving-stones and bricks at the windows, when those who defended them +would step one side. But the moment the former advanced again, the +latter would crowd the windows with clubs and sticks. The enraged +assailants tore off pickets, and advancing with these, made desperate +efforts to clear the windows. But those within knew it was a matter of +life and death with them, and stubbornly held their ground. The fight +was thus kept up till dark, amid yells and shouts and a pandemonium of +noises, and no efforts apparently were made to put an end to it, and +release the inmates of the jail. But steps had been taken to organize +and arm a large body of militia under an experienced officer, and now +in the dim starlight their bayonets were seen gleaming, as they marched +steadily forward on the dark, heaving mass that filled the street far as +the eye could see. The rioters, however, instead of being intimidated at +the sight, sent up a yell of defiance, and arming themselves with stones +and brick-bats, hurled them in a blinding volley on the troops. So +fierce was the assault, that before the latter had time to form, many +were knocked down, and some badly wounded. The commanding officer, +finding the fight thus forced on him, gave the order in a ringing voice, +"Ready, aim, fire!" A flash broad as the street followed, lighting up +the gloom, and revealing the scowling faces of the mob, the battered +front of the jail, and the pale faces of those guarding the windows. +They had not expected this close, point-blank volley, for the timid +action of the authorities had not prepared them for it, and they stopped +in amazement and hesitation. The commanding officer understood his +business, and instead of waiting to see if they would disperse, poured +in another volley. The rioters were confounded as they saw their +comrades fall by their side, but still stood at bay; until at last, +seeing the dead and wounded on every side, they could stand it no +longer, but broke and fled in every direction. In a few minutes the +street was clear of all but the dead and wounded, the groans of the +latter loading the night air. The poor wretches were carried away, and +the troops remained on the spot all night. The next day the city was in +a fever of excitement. The number of killed was greatly exaggerated, +and the denunciations of the butchery, as it was called, were fierce and +loud. On almost every corner groups of excited men were seen in angry +discussion--multitudes gathered in front of the jail, and gazed with +horror on the blood-stained pavement. + +The soldiers who had committed the slaughter were cursed and threatened +by turns, but they quietly rested on their arms, ready, it was evident, +to repeat the experiment at the first open act of violence. For awhile +there was danger of a general outbreak throughout the city; but +the authorities had become thoroughly aroused to the danger of the +situation, and seeing that the quicker they brought the conflict to a +close, the better, made such a display of force, that the riotous spirit +was overawed. Still, it was not entirely subdued, and it was evident +that it was kept under by fear alone. The physicians of the city came in +for almost as large a share of the hatred as the military. They were the +original cause of the disturbance, and threats against them became so +open and general, that they were in constant dread of personal violence, +and many fled from the city. They scattered in every direction, and +there threatened to be a general Hegira of physicians. All the medical +students were secretly stowed into carriages, and hurried off into the +country, where they remained till the excitement died away. It did not, +however, subside readily; indeed, the danger of open revolt was so great +for several days, that the military continued to keep guard at the jail. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + +Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.--Our Experiment of Self +government not a fair one.--Fruit of giving Foreigners the Right +to Vote.--Bitter Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.--First Day of +Election.--Ships "Constitution" and "Veto."--Whigs driven from the +Polls.--Excitement.--Whigs determined to defend themselves.--Meeting +called.--Resolutions.--Second Day's Election.--Attack on the Frigate +"Constitution."--A Bloody Fight.--Mayor and Officers wounded.--Mob +triumphant.--Excitement of the Whigs.--The Streets blocked by fifteen +thousand enraged Whigs.--Military called out.--Occupy Arsenal and +City Hall all Night.--Result of the Election.--Excitement of the +Whigs.--Mass-meeting in Castle Garden. + +This country never committed a more fatal mistake than in making +its naturalization laws so that the immense immigration from foreign +countries could, after a brief sojourn, exercise the right of suffrage. +Our form of government was an experiment, in the success of which not +only we as a nation were interested, but the civilized world. To have +it a fair one, we should have been allowed to build and perfect the +structure with our own material, not pile into it such ill-formed, +incongruous stuff as the despotisms of Europe chose to send us. Growing +up by a natural process, educating the people to the proper exercise of +their high trust, correcting mistakes, and adjusting difficulties as +we progressed, the noble building would have settled into greater +compactness as it arose in height, and all its various proportions been +in harmony. We should have built slowly but surely. But when there +was thrown upon us a mass of material wholly unfit for any political +structure, and we were compelled to pile it in hap-hazard, it was +not long before the goodly edifice began to show ugly seams, and the +despotisms of Europe pointed to them with scorn, and asked tauntingly +how the doctrine of self-government worked. They emptied their prisons +and poor-houses on our shores, to be rid of a dangerous element at home, +and we, with a readiness that bordered on insanity, not only took them +into our bosoms, but invited them to aid us in making our laws and +electing our rulers. To ask men, the greater part of whom could neither +read nor write, who were ignorant of the first principles of true civil +liberty, who could be bought and sold like sheep in the shambles, to +assist us in founding a model republic, was a folly without a parallel +in the history of the world, and one of which we have not yet begun to +pay the full penalty. It was a cruel wrong, not only to ourselves, but +to the oppressed masses of Europe, who turned their longing eyes on us +for encouragement and the moral aid which our success would give them in +their struggles against despotism. + +If the reason given for endowing this floating population--and dangerous +element under any circumstances--with the full rights of citizens had +been the true one, namely: to be just to them, and consistent with the +great doctrine of equality on which our Government rested, there might +be some little comfort in reflecting on the mistake we made. But this +was false. The right of suffrage was given them by a party in order to +secure their votes, and secure them, too, by appealing to those very +passions that made them dangerous to the republic, and which +the interest of all alike required should be removed instead of +strengthened. + +All the good the Democratic party has ever done this country will hardly +compensate for the evil of this one act. + +If our experiment shall finally prove a failure, we verily believe it +will be owing to the extension of the political franchise to whites and +blacks who were unfit to use it, and cared for it not because of its +honor, or the good use to which it might be put, but as a piece of +merchandise to be sold to the highest bidder or used as a weapon of +assault against good order and righteous laws. + +Of course, the first pernicious effect of this transfer of power to +ignorant, reckless men would be felt at the polls in New York City, +where this class was in the greatest number. The elections here soon +became a farce, and the boasted glory of a free ballot-box a taunt and +a by-word. That gross corruption and villany practised here should +eventually result in the open violation of law, as it did in the charter +election of 1834, was natural. + +Political animosity was probably more bitter between the Democrats, +under Jackson's administration, and the Whigs, than between any two +political parties since the time of Federalists and Democrats, in the +days of the elder Adams. + +In the spring of 1834 especially, party spirit ran very high in the +city. As usual, for a month or more before the election, which took +place on the second Tuesday in April, all kinds of accusations and +rumors were afloat. There was no registry law, and comparatively few +places for the polls, so that there could be little check on voting, no +end to repeating, while the gathering of an immense crowd around each +place of voting became inevitable. At this election, there was a split +in the Democratic party, Mr. Verplanck being the candidate of the +Independent Democrats, and Mr. Lawrence of the "Tammany." + +The most extensive preparations were made on both sides for the +conflict, and it was generally expected there would be a personal +collision in some of the wards. + +Tuesday, the 8th of April, dawned dark and stormy, and the rain began to +fall heavily, at times coming down in torrents. But to such a fever +heat had the public feeling been carried, that no one seemed to heed the +storm. The stores were closed, business of all kinds suspended; while +the streets were black with men hurrying to the polls. At twelve o'clock +the American flag was hoisted on the Exchange, when the building became +deserted, and all gathered at the places where the voting was going on. +Men stood in long lines, extending clear out into the street, patiently +enduring the pelting rain, waiting till their turn came to vote. + +The famous expression of Jackson, "Perish credit, perish commerce," +had been taken out of the connection in which it was used, and paraded +everywhere. The sailors had been enlisted in the struggle, and rigged +up a beautiful little frigate in complete order, and named it the +"Constitution." Mounting it on wheels, several hundred of them paraded +it through the streets and past the polls. As they passed through +Wall Street, thundering cheers greeted them, and the excited populace, +heedless of the rain, fell into the procession, till it swelled to +thousands, who, with songs and shouts, followed after. Fearful of the +effect of this demonstration on the voters, the Jackson men hastily +rigged out a boat, surmounted by a flag on which was painted in large +characters, "Veto;" and "Constitution" and "Veto" sailed after +each other through the city. This should have been prevented by the +authorities, for it was impossible for these two processions to meet +without a fight occurring, while it was equally certain that the Whig +one would be attacked, if it attempted to pass the polls in those +wards in which the roughs had the control. But the "Hickory poles" had +inaugurated a new mode of carrying on political campaigns. Appeals were +made to the senses, and votes obtained by outward symbols, rather +than by the discussion of important political questions. This mode of +electioneering culminated with the log-cabin excitement. + +In the Eleventh Ward, the Jackson party had two private doors through +which to admit their voters to the polls, while bullies kept back from +the main entrance the Independent Republicans. In most of the strong +Jackson wards, where it was all on one side, the voting went on +peaceably enough, but in the Sixth, it was soon evident that a storm was +inevitable. Oaths and threats and yells of defiance made the polls +here seem more like an object on which a mob was seeking to wreak its +vengeance, than a place where freemen were depositing their votes under +sanction of law. The babel of sound continued to grow worse in spite +of the rain, and swelled louder and louder, till at last the Jackson +roughs, headed by an ex-alderman, made a rush for the committee room +where their opponents were assembled. Some of them were armed with +clubs, and others with knives, which they brandished fiercely as they +burst into the room. Before the members could offer any resistance, they +were assailed with such fury, that in a short time nearly twenty were +stretched bleeding and maimed on the floor; one so badly wounded that +he was carried out lifeless, and apparently dead. It was a savage +onslaught, and those who escaped injury reached the street hatless, +and with coats half-torn from their backs. The mob, now being complete +masters of the room, tore down all the banners, destroyed the ballots, +and made a complete wreck of everything. The Whig leaders, enraged at +such dastardly, insulting treatment, despatched a messenger in all haste +to the Mayor for help, but he replied that he could not furnish it, as +all the available force was away in other sections of the city on duty. +The excitement among the Whigs now became fearful, and they determined +to take the matter in their own hands. The election was to last three +days, and they concluded to let the polls, when the mob entered, take +care of themselves the balance of the day, and organize a plan for +self-protection on the morrow. + +A call was at once issued for a meeting at Masonic Hall, and that night +four thousand Whigs packed the building, from limit to limit. General +Bogardus was called to the chair, who, after stating the object of +the meeting, and describing the conduct of the mob in the Sixth Ward, +offered the following resolutions: + +"_Whereas_, The authority of the POLICE of the city has been set at +defiance by a band of _hirelings, mercenaries_, and _bullies_ in the +Sixth Ward, and the LIVES of our citizens put in jeopardy. And _whereas_ +it is evident that we are in a state of anarchy, which requires the +prompt and efficient interposition of every friend of good order who is +disposed to sustain the constitution and laws, therefore, be it + +"_Resolved_, That in order to preserve the _peace_ of the city, and +especially of the Sixth Ward, the friends of the constitution and +the liberties of the citizen will meet at this place (Masonic Hall), +to-morrow (Wednesday), at half-past seven o'clock A.M., and repair to +the Sixth Ward poll, for the _purpose of keeping it open to_ ALL VOTERS +until such time as the official authorities may 'procure a sufficient +number of special constables to keep the peace.' + +"_Resolved_, That while at the Sixth Ward poll, those who are not +residents thereof will not take part in the election, but simply act as +_conservators of the peace_, until such times as the MAJESTY OF THE LAWS +shall be acknowledged and respected." + +These resolutions were carried with acclamations and shouts and stamping +of feet. + +There was no bluster in these resolutions, but their meaning was +apparent enough, and the city authorities understood it. From that hall, +next morning, would march at least five or six thousand determined men, +and if the mob rallied in force, to repeat the action of the day before, +there would be one of the bloodiest fights that ever disgraced the city. +It was believed that the great mass of the rioters were Irishmen, and +the thought that native-born Americans should be driven from their own +ballot-box by a herd of foreigners, aroused the intensest indignation. +It was an insult that could not and should not be tolerated. + +The next morning, at half-past seven, Masonic Hall was filled to +repletion. The excitement can be imagined, when such a crowd could be +gathered at this early hour. + +In the Ninth Ward a meeting was also called, and a resolution passed, +tendering a committee of one hundred to the general committee; that, +with a committee of the same number from each of the fourteen wards of +the city, would make a battalion eighteen hundred strong, to be ready at +a moment's notice, to march to any poll "to protect the sacred right of +suffrage." + +These measures had their desired effect. The presence of large bodies of +men at the different polls, for the purpose of protecting them, overawed +the unorganized mob, although in some of the wards attempts were made to +get up a riot. Stones and clubs were thrown, and one man stabbed; it was +thought at the time fatally. The Sixth Ward, "the Bloody Sixth," as +it was called, was the point of greatest danger, and thither the Mayor +repaired in person, accompanied by the sheriff and a large posse, and +remained the greater part of the day. Threats and opprobrious epithets +were freely used, and occasionally a paving-stone would be hurled from +some one on the outskirts of the crowd; but the passage to the polls +was kept open, and by one o'clock the citizens could deposit their votes +without fear of personal violence. + +The evil of having the election continue three days now became more +apparent than ever. The disorderly class, "the roughs," by their +protracted drinking, became more and more maddened, and hence riper for +more desperate action. This second night was spent by them in carousing, +and the next morning they turned out to the polls, not only ready, but +eager for a fight. Early in the forenoon, the frigate "Constitution" +was again on its voyage through the streets, followed by a crowd. As +it passed Masonic Hall, the head-quarters of the Whig Committee, it was +saluted with cheers. This was followed by a rush upon it, on the part of +the mob, who attempted to destroy it. The Whigs inside of the building, +seeing the attack, poured forth with a loud cheer, and fell on the +assailants with such fury, that they turned and fled. The news of what +was passing, had, in the meantime, reached the Sixth Ward folks, and +a shout was raised for followers. Instantly a huge crowd, composed of +dirty, ragged, savage-looking men, broke away with discordant yells, and +streamed up Duane Street towards the building, picking up paving-stones +and brick-bats, and pulling down pickets as they ran. Coming in sight of +the little frigate, they raised a shout and dashed on it. The procession +had now passed the hall, but the Whigs, informed of what was going +on, again sallied forth to the help of the sailors, who were fighting +manfully against overwhelming odds. But they were soon overpowered, and +again took refuge in the hall. This was now assailed, and stones came +crashing through the windows. The Mayor was sent for, and soon appeared +with the sheriff, backed by forty watchmen. Mounting the steps, he held +up his staff of office, and commanded the peace. But the half-drunken +mob had now got beyond the fear of the mere symbol of authority, and +answered him with a shower of stones, and then charged on the force that +surrounded him. A fierce and bloody fight followed. Citizens rushed out +to the help of the Mayor, while the watchmen fell on the mob with their +clubs. They soon stretched on the pavement more than their own number, +but the odds against them was too great. The Mayor received a wound--ten +or fifteen watchmen besides citizens were wounded--Captains Stewart, +Munson, and Flaggs, badly injured, the latter with his skull horribly +fractured, ribs broken, and face cut up. A few of the rioters were +arrested, but the great mass broke through all opposition, and streaming +into the hall, forced the committee to creep through back passages and +windows. + +The news of this high-handed outrage was carried like the wind to the +lower anti-Democratic wards, and the excited Whigs came streaming up, +until Duane, Elm, Pearl, Cross, Augustus, and Chatham Streets, up to +Broadway, were black with determined, enraged citizens. Ten or fifteen +thousand were in a short time assembled, and a fearful battle seemed +inevitable. In this appalling state of things, the Mayor called a +consultation, and it was decided to declare the city in a state of +insurrection, and call on the military for help. A messenger was +immediately despatched to the Navy Yard for a company of marines. +Colonel Gamble, commanding, replied that he would be glad to comply with +the request, and put himself at their head, but that he had just sent +them on board the "Brandywine" and "Vincennes." Application was then +made to Commodore Hidgely, commander of the station; but he refused, on +the ground that he had no authority to interfere. A messenger was then +hurried across to Governor's Island for help, but he met with no better +success. As a last resort, General Sanford was now directed to call out +the city military. + +All this time the crowd kept increasing, while from out its bosom came +an angry murmur like the moaning of the sea before a storm. The polls +were deserted, and it seemed impossible that the opposing forces could +be long kept apart. At length word passed through the Whigs that the mob +were about to take possession of the arsenal. Instantly several hundred +citizens made a dash for it, and occupied it. This was a brilliant piece +of strategy, and no sooner did the rioters hear of it, than they swarmed +around the building with yells and imprecations. The Whigs, however, +held it, and some of them passed out arms to their friends. + +Three terrible hours had now passed since the first outbreak, and from +the Park to Duane Street, Broadway, and the cross streets on the east +side of it, were packed with excited men, their shouts, calls, and +curses rising over the dwellings in tones that sent terror to the heart. +But for the narrow streets, in which but few could come in contact, +there would doubtless have been a collision long before. + +But at this critical moment a detachment of infantry and two squadrons +of cavalry came marching down Broadway, and in close column. The crowd +divided as they advanced, and they drew up before the arsenal. The +gleaming of the bayonets and the rattle of sabres had a quieting effect +on the rioters, and they began to disperse again to the polls, to watch +the progress of the voting. In the meantime, the infantry took up their +quarters at the arsenal, and the cavalry at the City Hall, for the +night. + +When the polls closed at evening, the ballot-box of the Sixth Ward +was taken under a strong guard to the City Hall, and locked up for the +night. It was followed by four or five thousand excited men, but no +violence was attempted. + +The election was over. For three days the city had been heaving to the +tide of human passion, and trembling on the verge of a great disaster, +and all because a few ruffians, not a fourth part of whom could probably +read or write, chose to deny the right of suffrage to American citizens, +and constitute themselves the proper representatives of the city. + +But the excitement did not end with the election. It was very close, and +as the returns came in slowly, the people assembled in great numbers, +to hear them reported. The next day, till three o'clock at night, ten or +fifteen thousand people blocked Wall Street, refusing to disperse, till +they knew the result. It was finally announced that Mr. Lawrence, the +Democratic candidate, was elected by a small majority. + +The next thing was to ascertain the character of the Common Council. The +same mighty throng assembled next day, forgetting everything else in the +intense interest they felt in the result. It would seem impossible +to get up such a state of feeling over the election of a few local +officers, but the city shook from limit to limit as the slow returns +came in. At last, it was announced that the Whigs had carried the Common +Council by a small majority. As the news passed through the immense +concourse, a shout vent up that shook Wall Street from Broadway to the +East River. It rolled back and forth like redoubled thunder, till every +throat was hoarse. + +When the crowd at last dispersed, it was only to assemble again in +separate bodies in different parts of the city, and talk over the +victory. + +Even then the excitement was not allowed to die away. The event was +too great to be permitted to pass without some especial honor, and a +mass-meeting was called in Castle Garden to celebrate it. Webster was +sent for to make a speech, the most distinguished speakers of New York +were called upon, and a day of general rejoicing followed, great as that +which succeeded Lee's surrender. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. + +The Slavery Question agitated.--The End, Civil War.--The +Results.--William Lloyd Garrison.--Feeling of the People on the +Subject.--First Attempt to call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New +York.--Meeting in Chatham Street Chapel.--A Fight.--Mob take Possession +of Bowery Theatre.--Sacking of Lewis Tappan's House.--Fight between Mob +and Police.--Mobbing of Dr. Cox's Church, in Laight Street.--His +House broken into.--Street Barricaded.--Attack on Arthur Tappan's +Store.--Second Attack on Church in Laight Street.--Church sacked in +Spring Street.--Arrival of the Military.--Barricades carried.--Mr. +Ludlow's House entered.--Mob at Five Points.--Destruction of +Houses.--The City Military called out.--Mob overawed, and Peace +restored.--Five Points Riot.--Stone-cutters' Riot. + +Most of the riots of New York have grown out of causes more or less +local, and wholly transient in their nature. Hence, the object sought +to be obtained was at once secured, or abandoned altogether. But those +arising from the formation of Abolition societies, and the discussion of +the doctrine of immediate emancipation, were of a different character, +and confined to no locality or time. The spirit that produced them +developed itself in every section of the country, and the question +continued to assume vaster proportions, till the Union itself was +involved, and what was first only a conflict between the police of the +city and a few hundred or thousands of ignorant, reckless men, grew at +last into the most gigantic and terrible civil war that ever cursed +the earth. The Union was rent asunder, and State arrayed against State, +while the world looked on aghast at the strange and bloody spectacle. +The final result has been the emancipation of the slaves, and their +endowment with all the rights and privileges of American citizens. But +with this has come a frightful national debt, the destruction of that +feeling of common interest and patriotism, which is the strongest +security of a country; a contempt for the Constitution, the +concentration of power in the hands of Congress, small regard for State +rights, while the controlling power in the South has passed into the +hands of an ignorant, incapable, irresponsible class; and, worse than +all, the people have become accustomed to the strange spectacle, so +fraught with danger in a republic, of seeing the legislatures and +executives of sovereign States overawed and overborne by the national +troops. That frightful conflict for the slave has sown dangerous seed; +what the final harvest will be, the future historian alone will be able +to show. + +The inconsistency of having a system of slavery incorporated into a +republican government was always felt by good men North and South, as +well as its damaging effect on the social and political well-being +of the whole community; and steps had been taken both in Virginia +and Kentucky to do away with it by legislative action. Whether these +incipient steps would ever have ended in relieving us of the evil, +can only be conjectured. We only know that a peaceable solution of the +question was rendered impossible, by the action of the Abolitionists, as +they were called, who, governed by the short logic, that slavery being +wrong, it could not exist a moment without sin, and therefore must be +abandoned at once without regard to consequences. The system of slavery +was no longer a social or political problem, calling for great wisdom, +prudence, statesmanship, and patience, but a personal crime, not to be +tolerated for a moment. The whole South was divided by them into two +classes, the oppressor and oppressed, the kidnapper and kidnapped, the +tyrant and the slave--a relationship which liberty, religion, justice, +humanity, alike demanded should be severed without a moment's delay. + +These views, in the judgment of the press at the time, and of sound +statesmen, would eventually end in civil war, if adopted by the entire +North, and hence they denounced them. The Abolitionists were considered +by all as enemies to the Union, whom the lower classes felt should be +put down, if necessary, by violence. This feeling was increased by the +action of William Lloyd Garrison, the founder of the society, who went +to England, and joined with the antislavery men there in abusing this +country for its inconsistency and crime. These causes produced a state +of public feeling that would be very apt to exhibit itself on the first +opportunity. When, therefore, in the autumn of 1833, after Garrison's +return from England, a notice appeared for an antislavery meeting in +Clinton Hall, some of the most respectable men in New York determined to +attend, and crush out, by the weight of their influence, the dangerous +movement. Another class was resolved to effect the same project in +another way, and on the 2d of October the following placard was posted +in naming letters all over the city: + +NOTICE + +_To all persons from the South_. + +All persons interested in the subject of the meeting called by J. +Leavitt, W. Goodell, W. Green, J. Rankin, Lewis Tappan, + +At Clinton Hall, this evening, at 7 o'clock, are requested to attend at +the same hour and place. + +MANY SOUTHERNERS. + +New York, _October_ 2d, 1833. + +N.B. All citizens who may feel disposed to manifest the _true_ feeling +of the State on this subject, are requested to attend. + +Putting the appeal in the name of the Southerners, was an artful device +to call out the people. + +At an early hour crowds began to assemble in front of Clinton Hall; +but to their surprise they found a notice nailed on the door, that no +meeting would be held. Many, seeing it, returned home; but still the +crowd continued to swell to thousands, who rent the air with shouts and +threats against Garrison. Determined not to be disappointed in a meeting +of some kind, they forced their way upstairs, till the room in which +it was to be held was crammed to suffocation. The meeting was then +organized, and waited till quarter past seven, when it was moved to +adjourn to Tammany Hall. There it was again organized, and a gentleman +was about to address the crowd, when a man stepped forward to the +president, and stated that the meeting announced to be held in Clinton +Hall was at that moment under full headway in Chatham Street Chapel. +Instantly several voices shouted, "Let us go there and rout them!" But +the chairman said they had met to pass certain resolutions, and they +should attend to this business first, and then every one could do as he +liked. The resolutions were read, and after some remarks had been +made upon them, adopted, and the meeting adjourned. A portion of those +present, however, were not satisfied, but resolved to go to the chapel +and break up the meeting there. The little handful assembled within, +apprised of their approach, fled, so that when the mob arrived, the +building, though the doors were open and the lights burning, was empty. +It immediately took possession of the room, and giving a negro who was +foremost in the sport the name of one of the Abolitionists, made him +chairman. The most absurd resolutions were then offered, and carried, +when the chairman returned thanks for the honor done him amid the most +uproarious laughter, and what had threatened to be a serious riot ended +in a wild, lawless frolic. + +This was the beginning of the Abolition riots in New York City, +which afterwards, to a greater or less extent, prevailed for years in +different parts of the Union. + +Next summer the excitement, which during the winter had nothing to +call it forth, broke out afresh, ending in destruction of property and +bloodshed, and the calling out of the military. On the evening of the +7th of July, an assembly of colored persons of both sexes occupied +Chatham Street Chapel, for the purpose of listening to a sermon from +a negro preacher. The New York Sacred Music Society had leased the +building for certain evenings in the week, of which it was asserted this +was one. Justice Lowndes, of the Police Court, was president, and +Dr. Rockwell vice-president of the society, and they repaired to the +building during the evening, and finding it occupied, at once claimed +their right to it, and demanded that the blacks should leave. But the +latter, having hired and paid for it, refused to do so, when a fight +ensued, in which lamps and chairs were broken, loaded canes used +freely, and some persons seriously injured. The news of the fight spread +rapidly, and a dense crowd gathered around the door. But the police soon +arrived, and forcing their way in, drove white and black out together, +and locked up the church. + +The riot, however, continued for some time in the street; but the +blacks, finding themselves outnumbered, fled, and peace was restored. + +A portion of the crowd, having recognized Lewis Tappan, one of the +leading Abolitionists, followed him home with hoots and yells, and even +hurled stones at his house after he had entered it. + +The next evening, at dusk, the crowd began again to assemble in front +of the chapel. But the lessee of it had closed and locked the gates. The +multitude determined, however, not to be disappointed of a meeting, +and forcing open the gates, obtained entrance. The meeting was then +organized, and Mr. William W. Wilder called to the chair. After making +a speech, in which he showed the evil effects of a sudden abolition +of slavery, by relating his experience in San Domingo, he moved an +adjournment until the next meeting of the Antislavery Society. The +motion was carried, and the assembly broke up. This was, however, +altogether too quiet a termination for a part of the crowd, and a shout +was made for the Bowery Theatre. The attacks on us by the English, +for upholding slavery, and their sympathy and aid for Garrison, and +co-operation with him in agitating the question of abolition in this +country, had rekindled the old slumbering feeling of hostility to that +country; and Mr. Farren, the stage manager of the Bowery, being an +Englishman, it was transferred to him, especially as reports had been +circulated that he had spoken disrespectfully of the Americans. + +This night having been selected to give him a benefit, his enemies had +posted placards over the city, stating the fact of his hostility to this +country--whether with the intention of causing a thin house, or breaking +it up altogether, is not known. At all events, the mob resolved on the +latter course, and streaming up the Bowery in one wild, excited mass, +gathered with loud shouts in front of the theatre. The doors were closed +in their faces, but pressing against them with their immense weight, +they gave way, and like a dark, stormy wave, they surged up the aisles +toward the foot-lights. In the garish light, faces grew pale, and turned +eagerly toward the doors for a way of escape. But these were jammed with +the excited, yelling mob. The play was "Metamora," and was under full +headway, when this sudden inundation of the rioters took place. The +actors stopped, aghast at the introduction of this new, appalling scene. +Messrs. Hamlin and Forrest advanced to the front of the stage, and +attempted to address them; but apologies and entreaties were alike in +vain. The thundering shouts and yells that interrupted them were not +those of admiration, and spectators and actors were compelled to remain +silent, while this strange audience took complete possession of the +house, and inaugurated a play of their own. + +But the police, having received information of what was going on, now +arrived, and forcing their way in, drove the rioters into the street, +and restored order. But the demon of lawless violence, that was now +fully raised, was not to be thus laid. Some one got hold of a bell, and +began to ring it violently. This increased the excitement, and suddenly +the shout arose, "to Arthur Tappan's." [Footnote: A silk merchant, and +one of the leading Abolitionists.] The cry was at once taken up by a +thousand voices, and the crowd started down the street. But instead of +going to his house, they went to that of his brother, Lewis, in Hose +Street, a still more obnoxious Abolitionist. Reaching it, they staved +open the doors, and smashed in the windows, and began to pitch the +furniture into the street. Chairs, sofas, tables, pictures, mirrors, and +bedding, went out one after another. But all at once a lull occurred in +the work of destruction. In pitching the pictures out, one came across +a portrait of Washington. Suddenly the cry arose, "It is Washington! +For God's sake, _don't burn Washington_!" In an instant the spirit of +disorder was laid, and the portrait was handed carefully from man to +man, till at length the populace, bearing it aloft, carried it with +shouts to a neighboring house for safety. It was one of those strange +freaks or sudden changes that will sometimes come over the wildest and +most brutal men, like a gleam of gentle light across a dark and stormy +sea--the good in man for a moment making its voice heard above the din +and strife of evil passions. + +This singular episode being terminated, they returned to their work of +destruction. But suddenly the cry of "Watchmen!" was heard, and the next +moment the police came charging down the street. The mob recoiled before +it, then broke and fled, and the former took possession of the street. +But the latter, coming across some piles of brick, filled their arms and +hands full, and rallying, returned. Charging the watchmen in turn with +a blinding shower of these, they drove them from the ground. They then +kindled a fire on the pavement, and as the flames flashed up in the +darkness and gained headway, they piled on bedding and furniture, till +the whole street was illuminated with the costly bonfire. This caused +the fire-bells to be rung, and soon the engines came thundering down the +street, before which the crowd gave way. The burning furniture was then +extinguished, and the house taken possession of. It was now two o'clock +in the morning, and the mob dispersed. + +The next day nothing was talked about in the saloons, groggeries, and on +the corners of the by-streets, but the events of the night before; and +as evening came on, a crowd began to assemble in front of the battered, +dilapidated house of Lewis Tappan. Another attack was imminent, when the +police came up and dispersed them. They had not, however, abandoned the +purpose for which they had assembled. + +The little band of Abolitionists, that the year before had been composed +mostly of comparatively obscure men, had now increased both in +numbers and men of influence. Persecution had produced its usual +effects--advanced the cause it designed to destroy. Among other +well-known citizens who had joined their ranks were the two brothers, +Dr. Abraham Cox, M.D., and Dr. Samuel Cox, the latter, pastor of Laight +Street Church, and one of the most popular preachers of the city. Though +opposed by a large majority of his congregation, he had become known +as a bold, outspoken man against slavery; and now the mob, bent on +mischief, streamed across the city toward his church. It was dark, and +as they gathered in a black, dense mass in front of it, suddenly, as +if by a common impulse, a loud yell broke forth, and the next moment a +shower of stones and brick-bats fell on the windows. Babel was now let +loose, and, amid the crashing of window-glass, arose every variety of +sound and all kinds of calls, interspersed with oaths and curses on +"Abolitionists and niggers." + +Shrieks of laughter and obscene epithets helped to swell the uproar. +It was evident they would not be satisfied until they left the church +a ruin; but at this critical moment, the Mayor, Justice Lowndes, the +District Attorney, and a posse of police officers and watchmen arrived +on the ground. Expecting trouble, they had arranged to be ready at a +moment's warning to hasten to any threatened point. Their unexpected +presence frightened the crowd, and fearing arrest, they slunk away +in squads, and the danger seemed over. But, evidently by previous +arrangement, the broken fragments, arriving by different streets, came +together in front of Dr. Cox's house, in Charlton Street. + +The doctor, however, was not at home. He had received warnings and +threats from various quarters, and knowing, from the fate of Lewis +Tappan's house, what that of his own would be, he had, during the day, +quietly removed his furniture, and in the afternoon put his family on +board of a steamboat, and left the city. + +The mob found the door barricaded, but they broke it open, and began to +smash the windows and blinds of the lower story. Before, however, they +had begun to sack the house, police-officers and watchmen, with two +detachments of horse, arrived and dislodged them. They did not, however, +disperse. A more dangerous and determined spirit was getting possession +of them than they had before evinced. Crowding back on each other, they +packed the street east, within four blocks of Broadway. Seizing some +carts, they made a hasty barricade of them across the streets, while a +neighboring fence supplied them with clubs. A large number were armed +with paving-stones, which they would smite loudly together, saying in +deep undertones, "_all together_." As they thus stood savagely at bay, a +collision seemed inevitable, and had they been attacked, would doubtless +have made a desperate fight. But being let alone they slowly dispersed. +A portion, however, though it was now late at night, could not retire +without venting a little more spite, and returning to the church, broke +in some more windows. + +Dr. Cox came back to his house next morning, to see if it was safe. As +he left the mutilated building, a crowd of boys, who were looking at the +ruins, immediately gave chase to him with yells and derisive laughter, +and pressed him so closely, at the same time hurling dirty missiles +at him, that he was compelled to take shelter in the house of a +parishioner. + +The crowd around the house continued to increase all the morning, but a +hundred policemen arriving at one o'clock, no disturbance of the peace +was attempted. In the afternoon, Mayor Lawrence issued a proclamation, +denouncing the rioters, and calling on all good citizens to aid in +maintaining the peace, and assuring them that he had taken ample +measures to repress all attempts at violence. At the Arsenal, City Hall, +and Bazaar, large bodies of troops were assembled, ready to march at a +moment's notice; and it was evident that the coming night was to witness +a trial of strength between the rioters and the city authorities. + +As soon as it was fairly dark, large crowds gathered in front of Arthur +Tappan's store, and began to stone the building. Some fifteen or twenty +watchmen were stationed here, and endeavored to arrest the ringleaders, +when the mob turned on them, and handled them so roughly that they +were compelled to take refuge in flight. Alderman Lalagh was severely +wounded; but he refused to leave, and standing fiercely at bay, +denounced and threatened the maddened wretches, who in turn swore they +would take his life. He told them to force open the doors if they dare; +that the inside was full of armed men, who were ready to blow their +brains out the moment the door gave way. This frightened them, and they +had to content themselves with stoning the windows, and cursing the +Abolitionist who owned the building. In the meantime, Justice Lowndes +came up with a strong police force, when they fled. + +While this was going on here, similar scenes were passing in other parts +of the city. At dark, some three or four hundred gathered around +Dr. Cox's church, in Laight Street, discussing the conduct of the +Abolitionists, but making no outward demonstrations calling for the +interference of the police, until nine o'clock, when a reinforcement +came yelling down Varick Street, armed with stones and brick-bats. These +charged, without halting, so furiously on the police-officers, and the +few watchmen stationed there, that, bruised and bleeding, they were +compelled to flee for their lives. The next moment stones rattled like +hail against the church, and, in a few minutes, the remaining windows +were smashed in. The police rallied when they reached Beach Street, +and hurried off a messenger to the City Hall for the military. In the +meantime, loud shouts were heard in the direction of Spring Street, and +with answering shouts the mob left the church, and rushed yelling like +Indians to the spot. A vast crowd was in front of a church there, under +the care of Rev. Mr. Ludlow, another Abolitionist, and had already +commenced the work of destruction. They had torn down the fence +surrounding it, and were demolishing the windows. Through them they made +an entrance, and tore down the pulpit, ripped up the seats, and made +a wreck of everything destructible without the aid of fire. The +session-room shared the same fate, and the splintered wreck of both was +carried in their arms, and on their shoulders, out of doors, and piled +into barricades in the street on both sides of the building, to stop the +anticipated charge of cavalry. Carts, hauled furiously along by the mob, +were drawn up behind this, and chained together, making a formidable +obstruction. They then rung the bell furiously, in order to bring out +the firemen. The watch-house bell in Prince Street gave a few answering +strokes, but information being received of what was going on, it ceased, +and the firemen did not come out. It was now near eleven o'clock, when, +all at once, an unearthly yell arose from the immense throng. Word had +passed through it that the military was approaching. Pandemonium seemed +suddenly to have broken loose, and shouts, and yells, and oaths arose +from five thousand throats, as the men sprung behind their barricades. +It was a moonless night, but the stars were shining brightly, and, in +their light, the sheen of nearly a thousand bayonets made the street +look like a lane of steel. The Twenty-seventh Regiment of National +Guards, led by Colonel Stevens, had been sent from the City Hall, and +their regular heavy tramp sounded ominously, as they came steadily on. +The church-bell was set ringing furiously by the mob and there was every +appearance of a determined resistance. As Colonel Stevens approached the +first barricade, he halted his regiment, and ordered his pioneer guard +to advance. They promptly obeyed, armed with their axes. A shower +of stones met them, while clubs were waved frantically in the air, +accompanied with oaths and threats. They, however, moved firmly up to +the barricade, and the shining steel of their axes, as they swung them +in the air, was as terrific as the gleam of the bayonets, and the crowd +retired precipitately behind the second barricade. The first was now +speedily torn down, and the head of the column advanced. The second was +a more formidable affair, in fact, a regular bastion, behind which were +packed in one dense mass an immense body of desperate men, reaching down +the street, till lost in the darkness. It seemed now that nothing but +deadly volleys would answer. One of the city officers advised Colonel +Stevens to retreat, but, instead of obeying, he ordered the pioneer +guard to advance, and sustained it by a detachment of troops. Amid the +raining missiles they moved forward, when the crowd fell back, some +fleeing up the side streets. The guard then mounted the barricade, and +in a short time it was scattered in every direction; and when the order +"Forward" was given, the column marched straight on the mob. At this +moment, Justice Lowndes, at the head of a band of watchmen, arrived on +the ground, when the two forces moved forward together, clearing the +street of the rioters. While the fight was going on, some of the gang +remained inside the church, and kept the bell ringing violently, until +Colonel Stevens ordered one of his officers to cut the rope. + +A portion of the mob now hurried to Thompson Street, where Mr. Ludlow +resided. The family had retired for the night, but their repose was +suddenly broken by loud yells and the sound of stones dashing in their +windows. Jumping up in wild alarm, they saw the doors broken in, through +which streamed the shouting, yelling crowd. + +Either from fear of the military, which they knew would soon be upon +them, or some other cause, they decamped almost as suddenly as they +came, and relieved the terror-stricken household of their presence. + +About this time, another immense mob had collected at Five Points. The +rioters here seemed to be well organized, and to act in concert. Runners +were kept passing between the different bodies, keeping each informed +of the actions of the other, and giving notice of the approach of the +police. + +The destruction at Five Points was on a more extensive scale, and the +gatherings in this, then dangerous section of the city--the home of +desperadoes and depraved beings of every kind--were of such a character, +that for a time the city authorities seemed to be over-awed. The rioters +had it all their own way for several hours, and the midnight heavens +became lurid with burning dwellings. It somehow got round that they had +resolved to attack every house not illuminated with candles, and these +dirty streets soon became brilliant with the lighted windows. Five +houses of ill-fame were gutted, and almost entirely demolished. St. +Philip's Church, in Centre Street, occupied by a colored congregation, +was broken into, and for two hours the mob continued the work of +destruction unmolested. They left it a complete ruin. A house adjoining, +and three houses opposite, shared the same fate. The mob was everywhere; +and although the police made some arrests and had some fights, they +were too weak to effect much. About one o'clock a shout arose, "away to +Anthony Street!" and thither the yelling wretches repaired. + +The Mayor was at the City Hall all night, doing what he could; but the +mob had arranged their plans to act in concert, appearing in separate +bodies in different sections of the city at the same time, so that he +hardly knew, with the force at his disposal, where to strike. The next +morning he issued another proclamation, calling on the citizens to +report to him and be organized into companies to aid the police. He +called also on all the volunteer military companies of the city to rally +to the support of the laws. They did so, and that (Saturday) night they, +with most of the fire companies, who had offered their services, were +stationed in strong bodies all over the city; and the rioters saw that +their rule was ended. Beside, many of the most notorious ringleaders +had been arrested and put in prison. A short fight occurred in Catharine +Street between the police and mob, in which both had some of their men +badly hurt; and an attempt was made to get up a riot in Reade Street, +but it was promptly put down. The city was rife with rumors of bloody +things which the mob had threatened to do; but, with the exception of +the military in the streets, the city on Sunday presented its usual +appearance. The lawless spirit was crushed out, and a hundred and fifty +of the desperadoes who had been instrumental in rousing it were locked +up to await their trial. + +In June of the summer of 1835 occurred the Five Points riot, which grew +out of the feeling between Americans and foreigners. It threatened for a +time to be a very serious matter, but was finally quelled by the police +without the aid of the military. Dr. W. M. Caffrey was accidentally +killed by one of the mob, and Justice Lowndes was dangerously wounded. + +In connection with the series of riots of 1834 and 1835, might be +mentioned the Stonecutters' riot, though it was promptly suppressed. + +STONECUTTERS' RIOT. + +The contractors for the building of the New York University found +that they could purchase dressed stone at Sing Sing, the work of the +prisoners there, much cheaper than in New York, and so concluded to use +it. This, the stonecutters of the city said, was taking the bread out of +their mouths, and if allowed to go on would destroy their business. They +held excited meetings on the subject, and finally got up a procession +and paraded the streets with placards asserting their rights and +denouncing the contractors. They even attacked the houses of some of +the citizens, and assumed such a threatening attitude, that the +Twenty-seventh Regiment, Colonel Stevens, was called out. Their steady, +determined march on the rioters dispersed them and restored quiet. +Apprehensions were felt, however, that they would reassemble in the +night and vent their rage on the University building, and so a part +of the regiment encamped in Washington Square in full view of it. They +remained here four days and nights, until the excitement subsided, and +the work could go on unmolested. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. + +Starvation will always create a Riot.--Foreign Population easily aroused +against the Rich.--Severe Winter of 1836.--Scarcity of Flour.--Meeting +of Citizens called without Result.--Meeting called in the +Park.--Speeches.--Sacking of Hart & Co.'s Flour Store, in Washington +Street.--Strange Spectacle.--National Guards called out.--Disperse the +Mob.--Attack on Herrick's Flour Store.--Folly of the Riot. + +Hunger will drive any people mad, and once let there be real suffering +for want of food among the lower classes, while grain is piled up in +the storehouses of the rich, and riots will surely follow. In the French +Revolution of 1789, there was a great scarcity of provisions, which +caused frightful outbreaks. It will never do to treat with scorn the cry +of millions for bread. When, amid the general suffering in Paris, one +said to Foulon, the minister of state, the people are starving for +bread, he replied, "Let them eat hay." The next day he was hung to a +lamp-post. The tumultuous multitude marching on Versailles, shouting +wildly for "bread," was a fearful spectacle. One can hardly blame +starving men from seizing food by violence, if it can be got in no other +way; and if ever a mob could be justifiable, it would be when they see +their families suffering and perishing around them, in the very sight of +well-stored granaries. + +In the old despotisms of Europe, the poor and oppressed attribute all +their want and suffering to the rich and powerful, so that they are not +held back from redressing their wrongs by ignorance of their source, but +fear of the strong hand of their rulers. + +These men, embittered not only by their own sufferings, but by the +traditions of the past, when they come to this country are easily roused +to commit acts of violence by anything that reminds them of their old +oppressions. They have tasted the wormwood and the gall, and refuse +to have it pressed to their lips in a country where liberty is the +birthright of all. This is what has made, and still makes, the foreign +population among us so dangerous. The vast proportion of them are from +this very class. Ignorant of everything but their wrongs, they rise in +angry rebellion at any attempt, or fancied attempt, to renew them here. +Unfortunately there are Americans among us, who, knowing this, work upon +this sensitive, suspicious feeling, to accomplish their own ends. The +politician does it to secure votes; but the worst class is composed of +those who edit papers that circulate only among the scum of society, and +embittered by the sight of luxuries beyond their reach, are always ready +to denounce the rich and excite the lower classes against what they call +the oppression of the aristocracy. + +It is doubtful whether the frightful riot of 1863 would ever have taken +place, but for this tone assumed by many of the city papers. So of this +flour riot, it probably would never have happened, but for demagogues, +who lashed the ignorant foreign population into fury against their +rich oppressors. Starvation, which as we said may be a justification +of violence, did not exist--it was only the high price of provisions, +growing out of scarcity, that caused it, but which scarcity, they were +told, was created solely by the cupidity of the rich. + +The year in which the great fire occurred, was a disastrous one to the +crops of the country. The mighty West, that great granary of the nation, +was not then open as now, and the main supply of grain came from east of +the Alleghanies. Hence the cause which would create a short crop in one +section, would be apt to prevail more or less over all the grain region. +We imported wheat at this time very largely; not only from England, but +from the Black Sea. + +In September, flour was about seven dollars a barrel, but this, as the +winter came on, went up to twelve dollars--a great rise at that time. + +From Virginia, a great wheat State, came disastrous tidings; not only +was the crop short and the price of flour high, but it was said that the +latter would probably go up to fifteen or twenty dollars a barrel. In +Troy, a great depot for State flour, it was stated that there were +only four thousand barrels against thirty thousand at the same time the +previous year. As February came on, a report circulated in the city that +there were only three or four weeks' supply on hand. This was repeated +in the penny papers, with the information added, that in certain stores +were hoarded vast amounts of grain and flour, kept out of the market +to compel a still greater advance in the price. This was very probably +true, as it is a rule with merchants, when they have a large stock of +anything on hand, of which there threatens to be a scarcity, to hold on +in order to make the scarcity greater--thus forcing higher prices. This +will always prove a dangerous experiment in this country in the article +of flour. It is the prime necessary of life, and the right to make it +scarce for the sake of gain, and at the expense of human suffering, will +always be questioned by the poorer classes. + +Although the stock of grain on hand at this time was small, there was +no danger of starvation, nor was it to the instinct of self-preservation +that demagogues appealed. They talked of the rich oppressing the poor +by their extortions--of monopolists, caring only to increase their gains +without regard to the distress they occasioned. + +There was, doubtless, much suffering among the poorer classes, not only +on account of the high price of flour, but also of all the necessary +articles of living. Meat advanced materially, while from some strange +fatality, coal went up to ten dollars a ton. There seemed no reason for +this, as the amount sent to market was said to be largely in excess +of the previous year. In Canada, coal was so scarce, that the line of +steamers between Montreal and Quebec was suspended before winter set in. + +This state of things excited the attention of the people generally, +and in the fore-part of this month, a public meeting was called at the +Tabernacle to consider what could be done. It amounted to nothing. +Some speeches were made, resolutions offered, but nothing practical was +proposed. The temperance people attempted to make a little capital out +of it, by asserting that the high price of grain was owing to the amount +used by the distilleries--rye being sold as high as one dollar and +seventy cents per bushel. + +But a different class of people were now discussing the subject, and +in a different spirit. Their attention was directed to _men_, not +_theories_--the individual oppressors, not the general causes. + +Chief among those against whom the popular feeling was now directed, was +Hart & Co., large commission merchants in Washington Street, between Dey +and Cortlandt Streets. Their store was packed with flour and wheat, and +every day men passed it with sinister looks. Sometimes a little knot +of men would stop opposite it, and talk of the loads of grain stored up +there, while their own families were pinched for bread. They would +gaze savagely on its heavy iron doors, that seemed to defy the weak and +helpless, and then walk on, muttering threats and curses. These signs +of a gathering storm were, however, unheeded by the proprietors. Others, +better informed, were not so tranquil; and by anonymous letters tried +to arouse Mr. Hart to take precautionary measures. An anonymous letter +addressed to Mr. W. Lenox was picked up in the Park, in which the writer +stated that a conspiracy was formed for breaking open and plundering Mr. +Hart's store, and gave the following plan of action. On some dark night, +two alarms of fire were to be given, one near the Battery, and the other +up town, in order to draw off the watchmen and police, when a large +crowd already assembled in the neighborhood would make a sudden rush +for the building, and sack it before help could arrive. This letter was +handed to the High Constable Hays, who showed it to Hart & Co., but they +seemed to regard it as an attempt to frighten them. This was followed by +anonymous letters from other parties, that reached the Mayor, insisting +on it that danger was hanging over this house. He sent them to Hart & +Co., but they, thinking it was only a trick to put down the price of +flour, paid no attention to them. They locked their three massive iron +doors at night as usual, and went to their homes without fear, and the +underground swell kept on increasing in volume. + +The first plan of operation, if it ever existed, was either abandoned by +the mob or deferred till after other measures were tried. + +At length, on the afternoon of the 10th of February, the following +placard was posted up all over the city: + +BREAD, MEAT, RENT, FUEL! + +_The voice of the people shall be heard and will prevail._ + +The people will meet in the PARK, _rain or shine_, at four o'clock on + +MONDAY AFTERNOON, + +to inquire into the cause of the present unexampled distress, and to +devise a suitable remedy. All friends of humanity, determined to resist +monopolists and extortioners, are invited to attend. + +Moses Jacques. Daniel Graham. Paulus Hedle. John Windt. Daniel A. +Robertson. Alexander Ming, Jr. Warden Hayward. Elijah F. Crane. + +NEW YORK, _Feb_. 10_th_, 1837. + +The idle crowd had all day Sunday to talk over this call. Everywhere +knots of men were seen gathered before these placards--some spelling +out slowly, and with great difficulty, the words for themselves--others +reading the call to those unable to read it. The groggeries were filled +with excited men, talking over the meeting, and interspersing their +oaths with copious draughts of liquor, and threatening openly to teach +these rich oppressors a lesson they would not soon forget. + +There was something ominous in the hour selected for the meeting; four +o'clock in February meant night, before it would get under full headway. +It was evident that the leaders did not mean the meeting to be one of +mere speech-making. They knew that under cover of darkness, men could be +incited to do what in broad daylight they would be afraid to undertake. + +Before the time appointed, a crowd began to assemble, the character of +which boded no good. Dirty, ragged, and rough-looking, as they flowed +from different quarters together into the inclosure, those who composed +it were evidently a mob already made to hand. + +At length, four or five thousand shivering wretches were gathered in +front of the City Hall. Moses Jacques, a man who would make a good +French Communist to-day, was chosen chairman. But this motley multitude +had no idea or respect for order, or regular proceedings, and they broke +up into different groups, each pushing forward its favorite orator. + +One of the strangest freaks of this meeting, was an address to a +collection of Democrats by Alexander Ming, Jr. He forgot all about the +object of the meeting, and being a strong Bentonian, launched out into +the currency question, attributing all the evils of the Republic, past, +present, and to come, to the issue of bank-notes; and advising his +hearers to refuse to take the trash altogether, and receive nothing but +specie. This was the more comical, as not one out of ten of the poor +wretches he addressed had the chance to refuse either. Half starving, +they would have been glad to receive anything in the shape of money that +would help them through the hard winter. Yet when Mr. Ming offered a +resolution, proposing a memorial to the Legislature, requiring a law to +be passed, forbidding any bank to issue a note under the denomination +of a hundred dollars, the deluded people, who had been listening +with gaping mouths, rent the air with acclamations. It was a curious +exhibition of the wisdom of the sovereign people--this verdict of a +ragged mob on the currency question. They were so delighted with this +lucid exposition of the cause of the scarcity of flour, that they seized +the orator bodily, and elevating him on their shoulders, bore him across +the street to Tammany Hall, where something beside specie was received +from behind the bar to reward their devotion. + +There was, however, some excuse for him. He had been several times +candidate for city register, and hence was more anxious to secure votes +than flour--be a popular demagogue rather than a public benefactor. + +But there were other speakers who kept more directly to the point. They +launched at once into a bitter tirade against landlords for their high +rents, and against monopolists for holding on to flour at the expense +of the poor and suffering. Knowing the character of the audience before +them, and their bitter hatred of the rich that had grown with their +growth, and strengthened with their strength in the old country, it was +not difficult to lash them into a tempest of passion. They depicted +the aristocrats around them rolling in wealth, wrung from their +necessities--laughing at their sufferings while rioting in luxury--nay, +hoarding up the very bread without which they must starve, in order to +realize a few dollars more on a barrel of flour. Loud oaths and deep +muttered curses followed these appeals, and the excited multitude became +agitated with passion. One of the speakers closed his bitter harangue +with "Fellow-citizens, Mr. Eli Hart has now 53,000 barrels of flour in +his store; let us go and offer him eight dollars a barrel for it, and +if he will not take it--" It was not difficult to know how he meant to +close the sentence; but just then, a friend shrewder than he, seeing +the legal consequences to themselves of an open proposition to resort to +violence, touched him on the shoulder, when in a lower tone of voice +he concluded: "_we shall depart in peace_." In the excitement of the +moment, he had evidently forgotten the guarded language he intended to +use, and was about to utter that which would have consigned him to a +prisoner's cell, but checked himself in time. He was willing others +should suffer the consequence of violating the law, to which his appeals +urged them; but his love for the poor did not prompt him to share their +fate. + +It was bitterly cold, and it was a wonder that the crowd had listened +patiently so long. The proposition to go to Hart's store with a demand +for flour, was instantly seized, and those around the speaker started +off with a shout, and streaming down Broadway, poured in one dark living +stream along Cortlandt Street into Washington Street. The clerks in +the store heard the turmoil, and suspecting the object of the rioters, +rushed to the doors and windows, and began to close and bolt them. +There were three large iron doors opening on the sidewalk, and they +had succeeded in bolting and barring all but one, when the mob arrived. +Forcing their way through this middle door, the latter seized the +barrels, and began to roll them out into the street. Mr. Hart, who, +either from curiosity to hear what the meeting would propose to do, or +from his suspicions being aroused from what he had previously heard, +was on the spot, and as soon as he saw the crowd stream out of the +Park, down Broadway, he hurried to the police, and obtaining a posse of +officers, made all haste for his store. But as they were going down Dey +Street, the mob, which blocked the farther end, rushed on them with such +fury, that before they had time to defend themselves, their clubs, or +staves as they were then called, were wrenched from their hands and +broken into fragments. The crowd was not yet very great, and the +disarmed officers forced their way into Washington Street and into +the store. Their presence frightened the few inside, and they hastily +decamped. The Mayor, who was in his room at the City Hall, had been +speedily notified of the riot, and hurried to the spot. The crowd +remaining in the Park had also been informed of what was going on, and +dashing madly down Broadway, and through Cortlandt Street, joined with +loud shouts their companions in front of the store. The Mayor mounted a +flight of steps, and began to harangue the mob, urging them to desist, +and warning them of the consequences of their unlawful action. He had +not proceeded far, however, before brick-bats, and sticks, and pieces of +ice came raining around him in such a dangerous shower, that he had to +give it up, and make his way to a place of safety. The street was now +black with the momentarily increasing throng, and emboldened by their +numbers, they made a rush at the entrance of the store. Driving the +police-officers before them, they wrenched by main force one of the +heavy iron doors from its hinges. A half a score of men at once seized +it, and using it as a battering-ram, hurled it with such force against +the others, that after a few thundering blows, they one after another +gave way, and the crowd poured in. The clerks fled, and the rioters went +to work without hindrance. Mounting to the upper lofts, they first broke +in all the doors and windows, and then began to roll and heave out the +flour. The barrels on the ground-floor were rolled, swift as one could +follow another, into the street, when they were at once seized by those +waiting without, and their heads knocked in, and their contents strewn +over the pavement. On the upper lofts, they were rolled to the broken +windows, and lifted on to the sill, and tumbled below. Warned by their +descent, the crowd backed to the farther side of the street. Part would +be staved in by their fall; those that were not, were seized as they +rolled off the sidewalk, and the heads knocked out. One fellow, as he +stood by the window-sill and pitched the barrels below, shouted as +each one went with a crash to the flagging: "_Here goes flour at eight +dollars a barrel!_" + +The scene which now presented itself was a most strange, extraordinary +one. The night was clear and cold, and the wintry moon was sailing +tranquilly through the blue and starlit heavens, flooding here and there +the sea of upturned faces with its mellow light, or casting the deep +shadow of intervening houses over the black mass, while the street +looked as if a sudden snow-storm had carpeted it with white. The men in +the windows and those below were white with flour that had sifted over +their garments; while, to give a still wilder aspect to the scene, +women, some bareheaded, some in rags, were roaming around like +camp-followers after plunder. Here a group had seized empty boxes; there +others pressed forward with baskets on their arms; and others still, +empty-handed, pushed along, with their aprons gathered up like a sack. +These all knelt amid the flour, and scooped it up with an eagerness +that contrasted strangely with the equal eagerness of those who were +scattering it like sand over the street. The heavy thud of the barrels +as they struck almost momentarily on the sidewalk, could be distinctly +heard above the shouts of the men. Some of the mob found their way into +Mr. Hart's counting-room, and tore up his papers and scattered them over +the floor. It was evident they were bent on utter destruction; but when +about five hundred barrels of flour had been destroyed, together with +a thousand bushels of wheat in sacks, a heavy force of police came +marching along the street. These were soon after followed by detachments +of the National Guards from Colonel Smith's and Hele's regiments. The +flashing of the moonbeams on the burnished barrels and bayonets of their +muskets, struck terror into the hearts of the rioters. The cry of "The +soldiers are coming!" flew from lip to lip, causing a sudden +cessation of the work of destruction, and each one thought only of +self-preservation. Many, however, were arrested, and sent off to +Bridewell under the charge of Officer Bowyer, with a squad of police. +The latter were assailed, however, on the way, by a portion of the mob +that pursued them, and a fierce fight followed. In the struggle, Bowyer +and his assistants had their clothes torn from their backs, and some of +the prisoners were rescued. + +In the meantime, the military paraded the street, clearing it of the +mob, and preventing their return. In front of the store, and far beyond +it, the flour lay half-knee deep--a sad spectacle, in view of the daily +increasing scarcity of grain. + +Just before the military and police reached the ground, some one in the +crowd shouted "Meeches." This was another flour store at Coenties Slip, +on the other side of the city, nearly opposite. A portion of the mob +on the outside, that could not get to the store, and aid in the work of +destruction, at once hurried away to this new field of operations. On +the way over, they passed Herrick & Co.'s flour store, and stopped to +demolish it. They were loaded down with brick-bats, which they hurled +at the windows, smashing them in. The doors followed, and the crowd, +rushing through, began to roll out the barrels of flour. But when some +twenty or thirty were tumbled into the street, and about half of them +staved in, they, for some cause or other, stopped. Some said that they +ceased because the owner promised, if they did, he would give it all +away to the poor the next day. At all events, they would soon have been +compelled to abandon the work of destruction, for the police hastened to +the spot, accompanied by a large body of citizens, who had volunteered +their help. Some were arrested, but most of the ringleaders escaped. + +How many of those who attended the meeting in the Park anticipated a mob +and its action, it is impossible to say; but that a great number of them +did, there can be no doubt. + +By nine o'clock the riot was over, and those who had engaged in it were +either arrested or dispersed. + +The next day, Mr. Hart issued a card, denying that the exorbitant price +of flour was owing to his having purchased a large quantity for the sake +of monopolizing it, but to its scarcity alone. + +It was certainly a very original way to bring down the price, by +attempting to destroy all there was in the city. Complaining of +suffering from the want of provisions, they attempted to relieve +themselves by putting its possession out of their power altogether. With +little to eat, they attempted to make it impossible to eat at all. A +better illustration of the insensate character of a mob could not be +given. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + +Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.--Macready's Arrival in this +Country.--The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera +House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side +by Side.--Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.--Anxiety of +the Managers.--Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the +Curtain.--Stamping of the People.--Scene on raising the Curtain.--Stormy +Reception of Macready.--Howled down.--Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by +the Outrageous Language of the Mob.--Macready not allowed to go +on.--His foolish Anger.--Flees for his Life.--His Appearance the +Second Night.--Preparations to put down the Mob.--Exciting Scene in the +Theatre.--Terrific Scenes without.--Military arrive.--Attacked by the +Mob.--Patience of the Troops.--Effort to avoid Firing.--The Order +to Fire.--Terrific Scene.--Strange Conduct of Forrest.--Unpublished +Anecdote of General Scott. + +Probably there never was a great and bloody riot, moving a mighty city +to its profoundest depths, that originated in so absurd, insignificant +a cause as the Astor-place riot. A personal quarrel between two men +growing out of professional jealousy, neither of whom had any hold on +the affections of the people, were able to create a tumult, that ended +only by strewing the street with the dead and wounded. + +Mr. Forrest, it is true, had a certain professional popularity, but +nothing to awaken a personal enthusiasm for him. Viewing the matter +in this light, some have thought, there was a mysterious underground +influence at work, that has never yet been discovered. But one needs not +to go far to find the causes that produced it. + +In the first place, ever since our revolt from England, especially since +the second war with her, in which the contest for the supremacy of the +seas was decided, the spirit of rivalry between the two countries has +been intense and often bitter. No matter what the contest was, whether +between two boats, or two bullies in the ring, it at once assumed the +magnitude of a national one, and no matter how conducted, the winner was +always charged with unfairness. It so happened that Forrest and Macready +were the two popular tragic actors on either side of the Atlantic. If +they had stayed at home, nothing would have been thought of it, but +each invaded the domain of the other, and laid claim to his laurels. +Of course criticism followed, national prejudices were aroused, and +national peculiarities ridiculed. The press took sides, and fanned the +excitement. Among other things, it was currently reported that when +Forrest was in London, Macready went to see him act, and publicly hissed +him. This was generally believed, and of course it alone would insure +the latter an unwelcome reception from Forrest's admirers here, should +he ever appear on our stage. + +Apparently unconscious of this hostility toward him, Macready came over +in the spring of 1849, and at once made an engagement at the Astor-place +Opera House, corner of Eighth Street and Lafayette Place. He was to +appear as Macbeth; and the play was announced sometime beforehand. +Forrest at the same time had an engagement at the Broadway Theatre. On +the 7th of May, the following two significant placards appeared side by +side in all the streets. + +ASTOR PLACE OPERA HOUSE. + +_This evening will be performed_ + +MACBETH. + +MACBETH ... Macready. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Pope. + +BROADWAY THEATRE. + +_This evening will be performed_ + +MACBETH. + +MACBETH ... Mr. Forrest. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Wallack. + +This public exhibition of rivalry stimulated the hostility of those +opposed to Macready, and there were some fears of disturbance; +but nothing serious was anticipated--in fact, it was rather a good +advertisement, and promised full houses. Niblo, one of the managers +of the Opera House, unwisely gave out tickets for more people than the +building would hold, and when, before evening, he found they were taken, +he was alarmed. It looked as if they had been so eagerly bought up for +other purposes than merely to hear Macready. He therefore went to the +Chief of Police, and requested the presence of a force in case any +disturbance should be attempted. It was promised, but as it turned out, +most of it came too late to be of any service. + +A tremendous crowd assembled in front of the building long before dark, +and the moment the doors were open, a rush was made, and the human tide +poured in, and flowing swiftly over the house, soon filled every part of +it, except the boxes. These filled up more slowly; but long before the +curtain rose, the house was packed to repletion, while the amphitheatre +and parquette were crowded with hard-looking men--a dense mass of bone +and muscle. The fashionable portion of the audience in the boxes began +to feel anxious, for not only were all the seats occupied, but all +the aisles and every foot of standing room. Some were in their +shirt-sleeves, others were ragged and dirty, while all had their hats +on. Such an audience had never before been seen in the Opera House, and +it boded no good. Still, this heterogeneous mass was orderly, but it was +noticed that at short intervals telegraphic signals were made by +those nearest the stage to those in the wings of the amphitheatre, and +answered, indicating a thoroughly arranged plan. The time before the +play was to commence passed slowly, but the hard-looking crowd seemed +very patient. Occasionally, to vary the monotony, some joke would be +passed around, and once a man who was above called out to those below, +imitating the English pronunciation: "I say, Jim, come 'hup 'ere! 'ere's +some of Macready's hangels--'haint they sweet 'uns?" If a lorgnette was +levelled from one of the boxes, those noticing it below would put their +thumbs to their noses and gyrate with their fingers in return. On the +whole, however, the strange-looking crowd were orderly, although the +quiet had an ominous look. + +But at half-past seven, the hour for the play to commence, that regular +stamping, common to most theatres, began. But in this case, it did not +continue for a little while and then die away, but beginning in a low +rumble, every moment gathered strength and grew louder, till it rolled +like thunder through the building, shaking the very walls, and making +the glasses in the great central chandelier jingle, as though knocked +together by invisible hands. As the mighty sound echoed through the +recesses and dressing-rooms behind the scenes, Niblo became agitated, +and stepping forward on the stage, peered behind the edge of the +curtain, and surveyed the strange scene. Turning to Mr. Bowyer, of +the chief's bureau, who was by his side, he said: "This looks rather +dubious, Mr. Bowyer." "Yes," he replied, "the 'Boy's' are here +certainly. What made you sell so many tickets? People are making a +tremendous rush at the doors yet, and the house is full; over full +already." Niblo then turned to his partner, and said: "What do you +think, Mr. Hackett. Is there going to be a disturbance?" "I don't know," +he replied; "you must ask Mr. Bowyer." + +The latter, putting his eye to the crack, took a careful survey of +the audience, and remarked: "There is mischief in the parquette and +amphitheatre, but probably no actual violence will be attempted; +the 'boys' will make a noise, and endeavor to prevent the play from +proceeding, but possibly they will do nothing further; they seem to +be patient and good-natured, but Mr. Macready may expect a rough +reception." + +Macready, who had been dressing, now approached and also took a peep +from behind the curtain. His gaze was long and searching. The scrutiny +did not satisfy him, and he turned away and began to pace backward and +forward in one of the wings, moody and thoughtful. The stamping had +ceased while the orchestra was playing, but it now commenced again, +apparently louder than ever. Lady Macbeth in full dress now came on the +stage, pale and agitated. She also took a peep from behind the curtain. +The spectacle frightened her, and turning to Mr. Hackett, she whispered, +rather than exclaimed, "My God! Mr. Hackett, what is the matter? Are we +to be murdered to-night?" "My dear Madam," he replied, "keep calm, there +is no cause for alarm; everything will go on smoothly;" but his pale +face and anxious look belied his words. It seemed now as if the house +would come down under the continuous, furious stamping. Hackett turned +to Bowyer, and asked if the chief had come. The latter replied he did +not know; and another silence followed in the group behind the curtain, +while they stood and listened to the thundering tramp, tramp, that rose +like muffled thunder. At length Hackett asked: "How many policemen are +there in the house?" "I don't know," replied Bowyer. "But the chief +should have known," retorted the former. "What do you want the police +to do, Mr. Niblo?" quietly asked Bowyer. The latter hesitated a moment, +when the attaches of the theatre came crowding forward in alarm, and +asking by their scared looks what it all meant. + +Macready and Mrs. Pope, in full costume, were at this time standing +apart, talking together, evidently discussing the best course to be +pursued. The uproar seemed to grow louder, and prudence dictated a +suspension of the play; but Macready, after a moment's hesitation, +determined to risk it, and suddenly gave the signal to raise the +curtain. The bell tinkled, and the curtain slowly rose, revealing the +gorgeous scene and the actors standing in a blaze of light. Instantly +the tumult ceased, and a deep sudden hush succeeded. Those roughs were +evidently taken aback by the dazzling splendor that burst upon them. It +was a new revelation to them, and for the moment they seemed to forget +the object of their coming, and to be wholly absorbed in the vision +before them. + +The first scene passed off quietly, and the fears of a disturbance were +allayed. In the second, taking Duncan for Macbeth, the crowd began to +hiss, but soon finding their mistake ceased. It was evident that some +one better posted than the mass had control of this wild element, so +eager to be let loose. At length Macbeth came on, and was received with +deafening cheers by those in the boxes. As these died away, a hiss +ran through the amphitheatre and parquette, followed by cat-calls, +cock-crowing, and sounds of every imaginable description. Macready had +hardly uttered a single sentence, before his voice was totally drowned +in the uproar. Forced to stop; he quietly folded his arms and faced the +storm, expecting it would soon blow over. Finding himself mistaken--that +if anything it grew louder and fiercer, his disdain turned into foolish +anger, and advancing to the footlights, and throwing all the contempt +and scorn into his face that he was master of, he deliberately walked +the entire breadth of the stage, gazing haughtily as he did so, into the +faces of the roughs nearest him, who were bawling their throats hoarse. +This did not mend matters any, as he easily could have foreseen, had he +known this type of American character better. He then attempted to go on +and outbellow, if possible, the audience. But it was like shouting amid +the roar of breakers. Nobody heard a word he said, still he stuck to it +till he got through that portion of the act. It was now Lady Macbeth's +turn, and the appearance of a woman, it was thought, would command +that respect which in America is almost always accorded to one. But her +reception was worse than that of Macready, for not content with shouts +and yells they heaped disgusting epithets on her, and were so vulgar in +their ribaldry that she flew in affright from the stage, "blushing," +it was said, "even through the rouge on her face." Macready, however, +showing, if nothing else, good English pluck, determined to go on. But +he had scarcely finished the first sentence, when some potatoes struck +the stage at his feet; then rotten eggs, breaking and spattering their +sickening contents over his royal robes; while howls that seemed to come +from the lower regions arose on every side. It was Pandemonium broke +loose, and those in the boxes, thoroughly alarmed, jumped to their +feet and stood as if paralyzed, gazing on the strange spectacle below. +Macready's passions were now thoroughly aroused, and he stubbornly stood +his ground. Suddenly a chair hurled from above, and evidently aimed +at his head, struck the stage at his feet and broke into fragments, +followed by the shout, "Go off the stage, you English fool! Hoo! Three +cheers for Ned Forrest!" which were given with a will. Then came another +chair, narrowly missing Macready's head, who, now alarmed for his +personal safety, fled from the stage, and the curtain fell. But the +bedlam that had been let loose did not stop. Hoots, curses, threats +of vengeance, and the confused sounds of a mob given wholly over to +passion, struck terror into all hearts; and Macready, fearing a rush +would be made for him behind the scenes, left the theatre by a private +door, and jumping into a carriage was rapidly driven to his hotel. The +manager, alarmed for the safety of the building, attempted to announce +his departure to the audience, but in vain. They would not listen +to him, and as a last resort he chalked in large letters on a board, +"_Macready has left the theatre_" and hoisted it before the footlights. +This had the desired effect, and the headlong crowd, with shouts and +laughter, began to tumble out. Once in the street, they sent up a loud +hurrah, and dispersed in groups to their various drinking places, to +talk over their victory and damn all Englishmen. + +The fact that the mob refrained from damaging the theatre, shows that +they did not desire destruction; they had only done in their rough way +what other men deemed respectable, and even legislators, have often +done, and almost as boisterously, to prevent an obnoxious person from +being heard. They certainly had many respectable precedents for +their course, and Mr. Macready should have done what others have been +compelled to do--given up the attempt and waited for a more propitious +time. That a man has a right to play or speak, is true; but men of all +grades have always asserted the right to show their displeasure of the +acting of the one or the sentiments of the other. Not that there is +any excuse for such conduct as we have described, but it can be +hardly called a serious riot, although by whomsoever committed is +unquestionably riotous in its character. + +Of this contemptible, disgraceful interference of his friends in his +quarrel, Forrest had nothing to say--he kept a studied silence. How a +man with any self-respect could have refrained from denouncing it, and +repudiating all sympathy and connection with it by a public card, it +will be difficult for men of ordinary sensibility to imagine. + +Macready now determined to throw up his engagement altogether, but +after much consultation and deliberation changed his mind. A letter was +addressed to him by many of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of +the city, in which they expressed their regret at the treatment he had +received, and urged him not to yield to such a lawless spirit. They +promised that he should be protected in his rights, and hoped he would +give the city an opportunity to wipe out the stain that had been put +upon its character. This he unwisely consented to do, and the next +Thursday was fixed for his appearance in the same play. When the +placards announcing it were pasted up, there appeared immediately +alongside of them another, announcing the appearance on the same +evening of Forrest, in the Broadway Theatre, in the character of the +"Gladiator." + +In the meantime other posters appeared, and among them the following in +startling capitals: + +"WORKINGMEN! + +SHALL AMERICANS OR ENGLISH RULE IN THIS CITY? + +The crew of the British steamer have threatened all Americans who shall +dare to offer their opinions this night at the + +ENGLISH ARISTOCRATIC OPERA HOUSE. + +WORKINGMEN! FREEMEN! STAND UP TO YOUR LAWFUL RIGHTS." + +It will be observed, that this artful appeal was like a two-edged sword, +cutting both ways. It aimed at the same time to stir up the hatred of +the lower classes against the upper, by the word aristocratic; and the +national hatred of the English, by calling it the _English aristocratic_ +Opera House to be guarded by English sailors. Both parties now began +active preparations for the eventful night--the rioters by increasing +and organizing their forces, and setting on foot plans to get possession +of the house; the friends of Macready, to prevent this from being done, +and at the same time secure sufficient aid from the authorities to +suppress all open violence. To keep the rowdies from occupying the +house, tickets were sold or given away only to those known to be +friendly to Macready; while to suppress violence, three hundred +police were promised, to be supported if necessary by two regiments of +soldiers, who were ordered to be under arms at their quarters, ready to +march at a moment's notice. + +As the day advertised for the play approached, the excitement deepened, +and serious trouble seemed unavoidable. On the appointed evening, a +strong body of police was quietly placed inside of the house, with +definite instructions how to act. In the meantime, an immense crowd had +assembled in front of the building, and, when at last the doors opened, +a rush was made for them. But the police kept the crowd back, and only +those who had tickets were admitted. When the house was fairly filled, +the doors were closed and fastened. In the meantime the windows had been +barricaded, with the exception of one, which was overlooked. This the +now disappointed rabble assailed with stones, sending them through it, +in among the startled audience. They tried also to break down one of the +doors, but the policemen's clubs stopped them. Then commenced a series +of yells and shouts, mingled with horrid oaths and threats as the +baffled wretches surged around the building. Finding nothing else +to vent their rage on, they attacked the lamps in the neighborhood, +breaking them to pieces, and putting out the lights. + +In the meantime, the play inside, with this wild accompaniment without, +commenced. Notwithstanding all the care that had been taken, a large +number of roughs had succeeded in procuring tickets, showing that some +professedly respectable men had been in collusion with them. Although +the rioters inside were in a minority, they were not daunted, and +being determined that the play should not go on, commenced stamping +and yelling so, that Macready's voice from the outset was completely +drowned. + +The police in disguise had mingled all day with the rioters, and +ascertained what the mode of action inside the house was to be. At a +certain point in the play, a signal was to be given, on seeing which +the entire body was to make a rush for the stage and seize Macready. The +Chief of Police arranged his plans accordingly, and imparted them to +the force under him. He therefore made no effort to stop the noise, but +waited for the expected signal. At length it was given, and the entire +body of rioters rose with a yell and sprang forward. But at that moment, +the chief gave _his_ signal, which was lifting his hat from his head. +Every eye of those determined policemen had been intently watching it, +and as it now rose, they sprang with a single bound upon the astonished +rowdies, and before they could recover from their surprise, most of them +were outside of the building, while the ringleaders were kept back and +caged inside. + +The play now went on, but it was a spiritless affair. Every ear was +turned to hear the muffled roar of the voices outside, which every +moment increased in power as the mighty multitude kept swelling in +numbers. + +The afterpiece was omitted, and Macready escaping through a private +door, hastened to his hotel. It seemed for a time that the building +would be torn down; but at length, a regiment of the National Guard, +preceded by a body of cavalry, was seen marching steadily up Broadway. +The crowd parted as it advanced, and as it turned into Eighth Street, +the sharp word of command, "right wheel," rang out distinct and clear +over the uproar. The rioters, instead of being intimidated, rushed to a +pile of paving-stones that unfortunately happened to be near, and arming +themselves with these, began to pelt the horses, which soon became +unmanageable, so that the cavalry force had to retire. + +The infantry then advanced, but were received with such a deluge of +stones that they, too, fell back to Broadway. Here they rallied, and at +the order forward, moved steadily on the mob, and forced their way to +the front of the Opera House. While forming line here on the sidewalk, +they were assailed so fiercely with paving-stones, that the soldiers +fell rapidly. The rioters were in close quarters, and the heavy stones, +hurled at such a short distance, were almost as deadly as musket-balls. +Captain Pond soon fell wounded, when the second in command told the +sheriff that if he did not give the order to fire, the troops would be +withdrawn, for they couldn't stand it. Recorder Talmadge, unwilling to +resort to such a desperate measure, attempted to harangue the mob. He +begged them, in God's name, to disperse and go home--if they did not, +the soldiers would certainly fire on them, etc. The only reply was hoots +and yells of defiance, and paving-stones. The Recorder then forced his +way up to General Hall, standing at the right of the battalion, and +said: "You must order your men to fire; it is a terrible alternative, +but there is no other." The General asked for the Mayor, for he was +doubtful of his authority to do so, without his order. "He won't be +here," replied Talmadge. General Sandford then said: "Well, the National +Guards will not stand and be pounded to death with stones; nearly +one-third of the force is already disabled." After a little more hurried +conversation, the sheriff said, "If that be so, you have permission to +fire." The uproar all this time was deafening, and the order, "Ready!" +of General Sandford, could hardly be heard; but the sharp, quick rattle +of steel rose distinctly over the discord. Still terribly repugnant +to shoot down citizens, General Hall and Colonel Duryea made another +attempt to address the crowd, and begged them to cease these attacks. +"Fire and be d--ned!" shouted a burly fellow. "Fire, if you dare--take +the life of a freeborn American for a bloody British actor! D--n it, you +dassent fire!" and he boldly bared his breast to the levelled muskets. +"Fire, will you?" yelled another, as he hurled a paving-stone at General +Sandford, wounding his sword arm. "Hit 'em again!" shouted a third, who +saw the well-directed aim. Still averse to shedding blood, General Hall +told the soldiers to elevate their pieces over the heads of the people, +and fire at the blank wall of Mr. Langton's house opposite, hoping thus +to frighten the mob. But this only awakened derision, and the leaders +shouted, "Come on, boys! they have blank cartridges and leather flints!" +In the meantime, the police, who had mingled with the mob, and were +making arrests, began to force their way out, in order to escape the +fire that now seemed inevitable. The troops moved across the street, +and faced toward the Bowery, obeying the word of command promptly, and +marching with great steadiness, although the pelting they received was +murderous. To retreat would be pusillanimous, to stand there and be +pelted to death worse still; and General Hall finally gave the order to +fire point blank, but to aim low, so that men would be wounded, rather +than killed. The command fell clear and distinct, "Fire!" + +A single musket shot on the extreme left was the only response. They +were too near--their muzzles almost touching the hearts of the men, and +it seemed terribly murderous to fire. "Fire!" shouted General Sandford. + +Three more musket-shots, only, followed. "Fire!" Duryea then cried +out, in ringing tones. A swift volley ran along the line, shedding a +momentary glare on the wild faces of the mob, the streets, and adjoining +houses, and then came the report. This time the dead in their midst told +the rioters that it was child's play no longer, and they fell back. +But getting a new supply of paving-stones, they rallied, and once more +advanced on the troops. A second volley, more murderous than the first, +sent them crowding back on each other in terror. The troops now wheeled, +and formed line again in front of the Opera House. It had got to be +eleven o'clock, and more troops were ordered up, with two cannon. The +mob, though dismayed, still refused to retire, and hung sullen and +threatening as a thunder-cloud on the skirts of the military, and a +third volley was poured into them. The rioters now separated, and fell +back into the darkness, when the troops were ordered to fire the fourth +time, in different directions--one wing down Eighth Street, and the +other into Lafayette Place. This last volley, judging from the testimony +of reliable witnesses, was altogether needless. The conflict was over. + +A lawyer of Wall Street, noted for his philanthropy and kindness, +resided in Fourth Avenue, and being informed by a friend, late in +the evening, that men were lying dead and wounded in Astor Place, +he hastened down to see if he could be of any assistance to the poor +creatures. Reaching Lafayette Place, he saw in the dim light a line of +soldiers drawn up, though he saw no mob, only a few scattered men, who +seemed to be spectators. Suddenly he heard the order to fire, and the +next moment came a flash and report. He could not imagine what they were +firing at; but suddenly he felt his arm numb, and the next moment he +grew faint and dropped on the sidewalk, his arm broken to shivers. The +brother of a well-known banker was shot in Broadway by a random bullet; +and a man, while stepping out of a car in Third Avenue, was shot dead. +Other innocent persons fell victims, as they always must, if they will +hang on the skirts of a mob from curiosity. Men anxious to witness a +fight must take the chances of getting hurt. + +Great excitement followed; an indignation meeting was called in the +Park, coroners' juries stultified themselves, and a senseless outcry +was made generally. Twenty-two were killed and thirty wounded. It was a +terrible sacrifice to make for a paltry quarrel between two actors about +whom nobody cared; and in this light alone many viewed it, forgetting +that when the public peace is broken, it matters not how great or +insignificant the cause, it must be preserved; and if the police or +military are called out to do it, and are attacked, they must defend +themselves, and uphold the laws, or be false to their trust. The +authorities have to do with riots, not their causes; put them down, not +deprecate their existence, or argue their justice. + +If public indignation had been turned against Forrest, it would have +been more sensible. He knew perfectly well that if his friends persisted +in their determination to attack Macready, the second night, blood would +be spilt. It was _his_ quarrel, and yet he deliberately kept his lips +closed. He neither begged them for their own sake, nor for his, or as +good citizens, to forbear, and let his rival alone; nor after it was +known that many had been killed, did he express a single word of regret; +apparently having no feeling but gratification, that even at such a +fearful sacrifice his hated rival had been driven from the field. But +responsibility is not so easily shaken off, and in real life as well as +in tragedy, conscience will force a man to cry: + +"Out! damned blood spot! Out, I say!" + +Macready left the country, and the excitement died away; but the painful +memories of this absurd yet deadly riot will remain till the present +generation has passed from the stage. + +We cannot close this account more fitly than by relating an anecdote of +General Scott connected with it, that has never been made public. He was +living at the time in Second Avenue, nearly opposite Astor Place. He +was occupying the upper part of the house that evening, and his wife the +lower. When the first volley over the heads of the people was fired, he +hastened down, and sent off a servant to ascertain what it meant. +Before the latter returned, he heard a second volley. Hurrying below, he +despatched a second servant to find out what was going on, and went back +to his room. A third volley smote on his ear, and deeply agitated he +hurried below, and began to pace the room in an excited manner. His +wife, observing how much he was moved, remarked pleasantly: "Why, +General, you are frightened!" This was rather a staggerer to the old +hero, and he turned and exclaimed: "Am I a man to be frightened, madam? +It is _volley_ firing, madam--_volley_ firing. They are shooting down +American citizens!" The old chieftain had heard that firing too often on +the field of battle, to be ignorant of its meaning. He had seen ranks +of living men reel and fall before it; nay, stood amid the curling smoke +when his staff was swept down by his side, calm and unmoved, but here +he was unmanned. Over the ploughed and blood-stained field, he had moved +with nerves as steady as steel, and pulse beating evenly; but now he +paced his safe and quiet room with his strong nature painfully agitated, +and all because American citizens were being shot down by American +citizens. The fact speaks volumes for the nobleness of his nature, and +that unsullied patriotism which sheds tenfold lustre on his well-earned +laurels. + +[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.] + +[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN POLICE, 300 Mulberry Street.] + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +POLICE RIOT--DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT--BREAD RIOT. + +Creation of the Metropolitan District.--Collision between Mayor +Wood's Police and the Metropolitan Police.--Seventh Regiment called +out.--Dead-Rabbits' Riot.--Severe Fight between the Roach Guards and +Dead Rabbits.--Police driven back.--Barricades erected.--Military called +out.--Killed and Wounded.--Bread Riot.--Financial Distress. + +The year 1857 was a remarkable one in the history of New York City, and +indeed of the whole country. The year previous had been characterized +by intense political excitement, for the presidential campaign had +been carried on as a sectional fight or a war between the upholders +and enemies of the institution of slavery as it existed at the South. +Pennsylvania alone by her vote defeated the antislavery party, and +the South, seeing the danger that threatened it, had already begun to +prepare for that tremendous struggle, that afterwards tested to the +utmost the resources and strength of the North; while a financial storm +overwhelmed the entire country in disaster. To these were added local +causes, which affected New York City particularly, and made it a year of +uncommon disturbance. + +The Republican party being largely in the ascendant in the State, +determined to revolutionize the municipal government, and place the +Democratic city partially under Republican rule. Many bills were passed +during the session of Legislature, peculiarly obnoxious to the city +authorities, but that which excited the most bitter opposition was +called the Metropolitan Police Act, by which the counties of New York, +Kings, Westchester, and Richmond were made one police district, to +be controlled by a board of commissioners, consisting of five members +appointed by the Governor and Senate, and to hold office for five years. +This board having organized, proceeded to create a police department. +Mayor Wood denied the constitutionality of the act and retained the old +police--so that there were two police departments existing at the same +time in the city. The Mayor resorted to all kinds of legal measures to +defeat the action of the board, and the question was finally referred to +the Court of Appeals for decision. + +In the mean time the death of a street commissioner left a vacancy to be +filled. Governor King, acting under the recent law, appointed Daniel D. +Conover to fill it, while the Mayor appointed Charles Devlin. A third +claimant for the place appeared in the deputy, who asserted his right to +act until the decision of the Court of Appeals was rendered. Conover had +no idea of waiting for this, and proceeded to assume the duties of his +office. The Mayor of course resisted, and so Conover got out a warrant +from the Recorder to arrest the former on the charge of inciting a riot, +and another on the charge of personal violence. Armed with these papers, +and backed by fifty of the new policemen, he proceeded to the City Hall. +The Mayor, aware of the movement, had packed the building with his own +police, who refused him admittance. The new police attempted to force an +entrance, when a fight followed, in which twelve policemen were severely +injured. While things were in this critical condition, the Seventh +Regiment passed down Broadway on its way to the boat for Boston, whither +it was going to receive an ovation. A request for its interference was +promptly granted, and marching into the Park they quickly quelled the +riot, and the writs were served on the Mayor. + +Intense excitement followed, and so great was the fear of a terrible +outbreak, that nine regiments were put under arms, ready to march at a +moment's notice. + +But on the 1st of July the Court of Appeals decided the act to be +constitutional, and the disturbance ended. But of course, while this +strife was going on between the police, but little was done to arrest +disorder in the city. The lawless became emboldened, and in the evening +before the 4th of July a disturbance began, which for a time threatened +the most serious consequences. + +DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT. + +The origin of the term "Dead Rabbits," which became so well known this +year from being identified with a serious riot, is not certainly known. +It is said that an organization known as the "Roach Guards," called +after a liquor dealer by that name, became split into two factions, and +in one of their stormy meetings some one threw a dead rabbit into the +room, and one party suddenly proposed to assume the name. + +These two factions became bitterly hostile to each other; and on the day +before the 4th of July came in collision, but finally separated without +doing much damage. They were mostly young men, some of them being mere +boys. + +The next day, the fight was renewed at Nos. 40 and 42 Bowery Street, +and clubs, stones, and even pistols were freely used. The "Dead Rabbits" +were beaten and retired, yelling and firing revolvers in the air, and +attacking everybody that came in their way. Their uniform was a blue +stripe on their pantaloons, while that of the Roach Guards was a red +stripe. People in the neighborhood were frightened, and fastened their +doors and windows. No serious damage was done, however. + +About ten o'clock, a policeman in Worth Street, while endeavoring to +clear the sidewalk, was knocked down and severely beaten. At length, +breaking away from his assailants, he hastened to the central office in +White Street, and reported the state of things. A squad of police was +immediately dispatched to arrest the ringleaders. On reaching Centre +Street they found a desperate fight going on, and immediately rushed in, +to put a stop to it. The belligerents at once made common cause against +them. A bloody hand-to-hand conflict followed, but the police at length +forced the mob to retreat. The latter, however, did not give up +the contest, but mounting to the upper stories and roofs of the +tenement-houses, rained down clubs and stones so fiercely, that the +police were driven off with only two prisoners. + +Comparative quiet was now restored, though the excitement spread in +every direction. It lasted, however, only an hour or two, when suddenly +a loud yell was heard near the Tombs, accompanied with the report of +fire-arms, and crowds of people came pouring down Baxter and Leonard +Streets, to get out of the way of bullets. Some wounded men were carried +by, and the utmost terror and confusion prevailed. The air was filled +with flying missiles and oaths, and shouts of defiance. Now the Dead +Rabbits would drive their foes before them, and again be driven back. +The bloody fight thus swayed backwards and forwards through the narrow +streets for a long time. At length twenty-five Metropolitan Police +appeared on the scene, while fifty more were held in reserve. Though +assailed at every step with clubs and stones, they marched steadily on, +clearing the crowd as they advanced, and forcing the Dead Rabbits into +the houses, whither they followed them, mounting even to the roof, and +clubbing them at every step. After clearing the houses, they resumed +their march, when they were again attacked by the increasing crowd, many +of them armed with muskets and pistols. Barricades were now erected, +behind which the mob rallied, and the contest assumed the aspect of +a regular battle. The notorious Captain Rynders came on the ground, +between six and seven o'clock, and attempted to restore quiet. +Not succeeding, however, he repaired to the office of the Police +Commissioners, and told Commissioner Draper, if he had not police force +enough to disperse the mob, he should call out the military. The latter +replied that he had made a requisition on Major-General Sandford, for +three regiments, and that they would soon be on the ground. But it was +nine o'clock before they made their appearance. The police then formed +in two bodies of seventy-five men each, and supported, one by the +Seventy-first Regiment and the other by the Eighth, marched down +White and Worth Streets. This formidable display of force overawed the +rioters, and they fled in every direction. This ended the riot, although +the military were kept on duty during the night. + +At times, the fight was close and deadly, and it was reported that eight +were killed and some thirty wounded. + +BREAD RIOT. + +In the autumn, there came a financial crisis, that was so wide-spread +and disastrous that the lower classes suffered for want of food. Banks +suspended specie payment, manufactories were forced to stop work, and +paralysis fell on the whole industry of the nation. It was estimated +that ten thousand persons were thrown out of employment. These soon used +up their earnings, and destitution and suffering of course followed. +Their condition grew worse as cold weather came on, and many actually +died of starvation. At length they became goaded to desperation, and +determined to help themselves to food. Gaunt men and women, clad in +tatters, gathered in the Park, and that most fearful of all cries, when +raised by a mob, "Bread," arose on every side. Propositions were made to +break open the stores, and get what they needed. Flour was hoarded up +in them because so little could be got on from the West. The granaries +there were groaning with provisions; but there was no money to pay for +the transportation. There was money East, but kept locked up in fear. As +this became known to the mob, their exasperation increased. To know that +there were both food enough and money enough, while they were starving +to death, was enough to drive them mad, and there were ominous +mutterings. Fortunately, the authorities saw in time the threatened +danger, and warded it off. A great many were set to work on the Central +Park and other public works, while soup-houses were opened throughout +the city, and private associations formed to relieve the suffering; and +the winter passed without any outbreak, though more than five thousand +business-houses in the country failed, with liabilities reaching three +hundred millions of dollars. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. + +Cause of the Riots--The London _Times_.--Draft called a despotic +Measure.--The despotic Power given to Washington by Congress.--Despotic +Action sometimes Necessary, in order to save the Life of the +Nation.--The Rights of Government.--Drafting the Legitimate Way to raise +an Army--It is not Unequal or Oppressive. + +The ostensible cause of the riots of 1863 was hostility to the draft, +because it was a tyrannical, despotic, unjust measure--an act which has +distinguished tyrants the world over, and should never be tolerated by a +free people. Open hostility to oppression was more than once hinted in a +portion of the press--as not only a right, but a duty. + +Even the London _Times_ said, "It would have been strange, indeed, if +the American people had submitted to a measure which is a distinctive +mark of the most despotic governments of the Continent." As if the +fact that a measure, because resorted to by a despotic government, was +therefore necessarily wrong. It might as well be said, that because +settling national difficulties by an appeal to arms has always been +a distinctive feature of despotic governments, therefore the American +people should refuse to sustain the government by declaring or +prosecuting any war; or that because it has always been a distinctive +feature of despotic governments to have naval and military schools, to +train men to the art of war, therefore the American people should not +submit to either. It is not of the slightest consequence to us what +despotic governments do or not do; the simple question is, whether the +measure is necessary for the protection of our own government, and the +welfare of the people. To leave this untouched, and talk only about +despotism, the right of the people, and all that, is mere demagogism, +and shows him who utters it to be unfit to control public opinion. +Besides, there is a great difference between measures that are despotic, +which are put forth to save the nation's life, or honor, and those put +forth to destroy freedom, and for selfish ends. Not that, intrinsically, +despotic measures are always not to be deprecated and avoided, if +possible; for if tolerated in one case, they may be exacted in another. + +[Illustration: FORT LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK HARBOR.] + +[Illustration: FORT HAMILTON, from whence U.S. Troops were sent to aid +in suppressing the Draft Riot of 1863.] + +Liberty can never be guarded too carefully, or the barriers erected +around the rights of every individual respected too scrupulously. But +everything in this world is a choice between two evils. The greatest +wisdom cannot avoid _all_ evils; it can only choose the least. Sound +statesmanship regards any stretch of power better than the overthrow of +the nation. Probably there never was a more able and wise body of men +assembled, or more jealous of any exercise of arbitrary power, than the +First Congress of the United States; and yet, almost in the commencement +of our struggle for independence, when events wore such a gloomy aspect +that failure seemed inevitable, rising above its fears of despotic +measures, in its greater fear of total defeat, it conferred on +Washington powers that made him to a large extent military dictator. He +was authorized to raise sixteen battalions of infantry, three thousand +light-horse, three regiments of artillery, together with a corps of +engineers, and _appoint the officers himself_. He had, also, full power, +when he deemed it necessary, to call on the several States for the +militia; to appoint throughout _the entire army all the officers under +brigadiers_; fill up all vacancies; to take whatever he wanted for the +use of his troops, wherever he could find it, with no other restriction +than that he must pay for it, which last was nullified, because he was +empowered to _seize and lock up every man who refused to receive in pay +Continental money_. It would seem impossible that a body of men who were +so extremely sensitive in bestowing power on a military commander, and +so watchful of the rights of individuals, could have committed such an +act; and yet, who does not see that, under the circumstances, it +was wise. Now, granting that conscription is a despotic measure, no +truthful, candid man will deny that, in case of a war, where men must +be had, and can be got in no other way, that it would be the duty of +government to enforce it. It is idle to reply that the supposition is +absurd--that in this country such a thing can never happen; for what has +been in the world can be again. Besides, this does meet the question of +the _right_ of the Government, that must be settled before the emergency +comes. Now, we do not believe there is sounder principle, or one that +every unbiassed mind does not concede with the readiness that it does an +axiom, that, if necessary to protect and save itself, a government may +not only order a draft, but call out _every_ able-bodied man in the +nation. If this right does not inhere in our government, it is built on +a foundation of sand, and the sooner it is abandoned the better. + +But we go farther, and deny that a draft is a despotic measure at all, +but is a just and equitable mode of raising an army. True, if troops +enough can be raised on a reasonable bounty, it is more expedient to +do so; but the moment that bounty becomes so exorbitant as to tempt the +cupidity of those in whom neither patriotism nor sense of duty have any +power, volunteering becomes an evil. We found it so in our recent war. +The bounty was a little fortune to a certain class, the benefit of which +they had no idea of losing by being shot, and hence they deserted, or +shammed sickness, so that scarce half the men ever got to the front, +while those who did being influenced by no motive higher than cupidity, +became worthless soldiers. A draft takes in enough men of a higher stamp +to leaven the mass. The first Napoleon, when asked what made his first +"army of Italy" so resistless, replied that almost every man in it was +intelligent enough to act as a clerk. The objection that a rich man, if +drafted, can buy a substitute, while the poor man, with a large family +depending upon him, must go, if of any weight at all, lies against +the whole structure of society, which gives the rich man at every step +immunities over the poor man. When pestilence sweeps through a city, the +rich man can flee to a healthy locality, while the poor man must stay +and die; and when the pestilence of war sweeps over the land, must one +attempt to reverse all this relation between wealth and poverty? + +When society gets in that happy state, that the rich man has no +advantages over the poor, there will be no need either of drafting or +volunteering. Yet, after all, it is not so unequal as it at first sight +appears. War must have money as well as men, and the former the rich +have to furnish; and if they do this, it is but fair that they should be +allowed to furnish with it also the men to do their fighting. Besides, +there must be some rule that would exempt the men that carry on the +business of the country. + +We have said this much, because the riots in New York, which might have +ended in national destruction, were brought about by preaching views +directly the opposite of these. + +The military spirit is so prevalent in the nation, that in any ordinary +war the Government can get all the troops it wants by giving a moderate +bounty, and wages but a little greater than can be secured at any +ordinary business or occupation. Still, the right to raise them +differently should never be denied it. + +When the old militia system was given up in the State, and a certain +number of regiments were raised and equipped and drilled for active +duty, and for which the people paid taxes, it was thought they would +furnish all the quota that would ever be called for from the State--and +in any ordinary war will. The crisis, however, in which we found +ourselves had never been anticipated, and hence not provided against, +and when Congress attempted to do it in what seemed to it the best +way, an outcry was raised of injustice and oppression. It was hard, +doubtless, but there are a great many hard things in the world that have +been and have to be borne. The feeling of hostility unquestionably would +have been less intense, had not so many of those to be drafted been +bitterly opposed to the war. Believing it to have been brought about by +the reckless demagogism and fanaticism of their political opponents, +and levied as it was against those who had been their warm political +friends, indeed, chief dependence for political success, it was asking +a good deal, to require them to step to the front, and fight in such a +war. Whether this feeling was right or wrong, had nothing to do with the +influence it actually exerted. + +On this feeling was based, in fact, the real hostility to the draft, in +which a portion of the press shared. But, as we said before, we having +nothing to do with the justice or injustice of this belief or feeling; +we only state the fact, with our denial that it furnished any excuse for +the denunciations uttered against the draft as a wrong use of power, +or the refusal to submit to it on that account. The Government, whether +wrong or right, must be supported, or abandoned and given over to +revolution. In ordinary times, denunciation of its measures, and the +most strenuous opposition to them, is the right and often the duty of +every conscientious man. This right, exercised by the press, is one of +the most effectual checks against abuses, and the most powerful lever +to work reform and changes. But in a great crisis, to set one's self +against a measure on which the fate of the nation hangs, is a flagrant +abuse of that right; for the effort, if successful, will not work change +and an improved condition of things, but immediate, irretrievable ruin, +and put the nation beyond the reach of reform. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Rights of Municipalities.--Interference of the Legislature with the City +Government.--Conflict between the Governor and Police Commissioners.--A +Wrong becomes a Practical Blessing.--Provost Marshals.--Riot not +anticipated.--Bad time to commence the Draft.--Preparations of +Superintendent Kennedy.--The Police System.--Attack on Provost Marshal +Captain Erhardt.--Telegrams of the Police.--Kennedy starts on a Tour of +Observation. + +The rights of municipalities have been conceded from the first dawn of +constitutional liberty indeed municipal freedom may be said to be +the first step in the onward progress of the race toward the full +recognition of its rights. To interfere with a great commercial city +like New York, except by general laws, is as a rule unwise, impolitic, +and, indeed, unjust. Like a separate State, it had better suffer many +and great evils, than to admit the right of outward power to regulate +its internal affairs. To do so, in any way, is fraught with mischief; +but to do so as a political party, is infinitely more pernicious. +It leaves a great metropolis, on which the welfare of the commercial +business of the nation mainly depends, a foot-ball for ambitious or +selfish politicians to play with. But as there are exceptions to all +rules, so there may be to this--still they should always be exceptions, +and not claimed as a settled policy. + +We mention this, because the interference of the Legislature, or rather +the dominant part of it, in the internal policy of New York, about the +time the war commenced, was in itself a mischievous and tyrannical act, +while, under the circumstances that soon after occurred, it proved of +incalculable benefit. + +With the city stripped of its military, and the forts in the harbor +of their garrisons, the police, under the old regime, during the +draft riots, would have been trustless and powerless, even if the city +government had attempted to uphold the national authority, which is +doubtful. The Republicans established a Board of Police Commissioners, +the majority of which were of their own political faith, who had the +entire control of the department. Under their hands, an entire different +set of men from those formerly selected, composed the force, and a +regular system of drills, in fact, a thorough organization, adopted. + +But in 1862 the Democrats elected their governor, though they failed to +secure the Legislature. Mr. Seymour, immediately on his inauguration, +summoned the Commissioners to appear before him, the object of which +was to change the character of the board. The latter understood it, and +refused to appear. Legal proceedings were then commenced against them, +but they were staved off, and in the meantime the Legislature had got to +work, and took the matter in hand; and Messrs. Bowen, Acton, and Bergen, +were made to constitute the board--John A. Kennedy being superintendent +of police. Mr. Bowen, the president of the board, having been appointed +brigadier-general, resigned, and Mr. Acton, under the law, became +president. This political character of the board, so diametrically +opposed to the feelings and wishes of the vast majority of the citizens, +tested by the ordinary rules and principles of a Republican Government, +was unjust; a palpable, deliberate encroachment on the right of +self-government. But as we remarked, just now, it was fortunate for the +country that such a state of things existed. In the extraordinary, +not anticipated, and perilous condition in which we found ourselves, +everything was changed. Neither constitutions nor laws had been framed +to meet such an emergency, and both, in many cases, had to be suspended. +What was right before, often became wrong now, and vice versa. The +article inserted in the Constitution of the State, that the moment a +bank refused specie payment, it became bankrupt, was a wise and just +provision, but to enforce it now, would be financial ruin, and it was +not done. + +This usurpation of the government of New York by the Republican party, +which seemed so unjust, was, doubtless, under the circumstances, the +salvation of the city. It was, moreover, highly important to the whole +country, in the anomalous war which threatened our very existence, that +the controlling power of the city should be in sympathy with the General +Government, but it was especially, vitally so, when the latter put +its provost marshals in it to enforce the draft. That this _mode_ of +enforcing the draft by provost marshals, was an encroachment on the +rights and powers of the separate States, there can be no doubt. It is +equally clear that the proper way was to call on the separate governors +for their quota, and let _them_ enforce the draft. If they refused to +do it, then it was time for the General Government to take the matter in +its own hand. This, however, was no encroachment on _individual_ rights. +The oppressive nature of the act and the result were the same to the +person, whether enforced by the State or General Government. Still it +was a total departure from the practice of the General Government +since its first organization, and it moreover established a dangerous +precedent, which the sooner it is abandoned the better. But this had +nothing to do with the opposition to the draft. That was a personal +objection. + +With the Police Department in sympathy with the rioters, it is not +difficult to see what the end would have been. We do not mean by that, +that the heads of the department would not have endeavored to do their +duty, but it would have been impossible to control the kind of element +they would inevitably have to deal with. This even the long-tried, +trusted leaders of the Democratic party acknowledged. In fact, the +police force would not have been in a condition, with ever so good a +will, to have acted with the skill and promptness it did. + +The draft riots, as they are called, were supposed by some to be the +result of a deep-laid conspiracy on the part of those opposed to the +war, and that the successful issue of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania +was to be the signal for open action. Whether this be so or not, it is +evident that the outbreak in New York City on the 13th of July, not only +from the manner of its commencement, the absence of proper organization, +and almost total absence of leadership, was not the result of a general +well-understood plot. It would seem from the facts that those who +started the movement had no idea at the outset of proceeding to the +length they did. They simply desired to break up the draft in some of +the upper districts of the city, and destroy the registers in which +certain names were enrolled. + +A general provost marshal had been appointed over the whole city, which +was subdivided into various districts, in each of which was an assistant +provost marshall. Although there had been no provision for a general +assistant provost marshal or aid, yet Colonel Nugent acted in this +capacity. The drafting was to take place in the separate districts, +under the direction of the assistant provost marshals. + +Although there had been some rumors of resistance to it, they received +very little credence, and no special provision was made for such an +emergency. The city was almost denuded of the military; the regiments +having been called to Pennsylvania to repel Lee's invasion; yet so +little fear was entertained, that even the police department was not +requested to make any special preparation. The Invalid Corps, as it was +called, composed of the maimed and crippled soldiers who could no longer +keep the field, were thought to be quite sufficient to preserve the +peace. + +The draft commenced on Saturday in the Eleventh and Ninth Districts, +and passed off quietly; and it was thought the same order would be +maintained throughout, and if any force were necessary to repress +violence, it would be when the conscripts were required to take their +place in the ranks. + +Still Superintendent Kennedy of the Police Department feared there might +be some difficulty experienced by the officers in charge of the draft, +even if no serious resistance should be offered. Some of the enrolling +officers, a short time previous, while taking the names of those +subject to draft, had been assailed with very abusive language, or their +questions received in sullen silence or answered falsely; fictitious +names often being given instead of the true ones. In the Ninth District, +embracing the lower part of the city, the provost marshal, Captain Joel +T. Erhardt, came near losing his life in the performance of this duty. +At the corner of Liberty Street and Broadway a building was being torn +down, preparatory to the erection of another, and the workmen engaged in +it threatened the enrolling officer who came to take down their names, +with violence, and drove him off. + +Captain Erhardt, on the report being made to him, repaired to +head-quarters, and requested of Colonel Nugent a force of soldiers to +protect the officer in the discharge of his duty. But this the latter +declined to do, fearing it would exasperate the men and bring on a +collision, and requested the Captain to go himself, saying, if he did, +there would be no difficulty. Captain Erhardt declined, on the ground +that he was not an enrolling officer. But Colonel Nugent persisting, the +Captain finally told him, if he ordered him, as his superior officer, to +go, he would. Nugent replied that he might so consider it. Erhardt then +said he would go, but only on one condition, that if he got in trouble +and asked for help, he would send him troops. To this he agreed, and +Captain Erhardt proceeded to the building on the corner of Broadway and +Liberty Street, and stepping on a plank that led from the sidewalk to +the floor, asked a man on a ladder for his name. The fellow refused to +answer, when an altercation ensuing, he stepped down, and seizing an +iron bar advanced on the provost marshal. The latter had nothing but a +light Malacca cane in his hand, but as he saw the man meant murder he +drew a pistol from his pocket, and levelled it full at his breast. +This brought him to a halt; and after looking at Erhardt for awhile he +dropped his bar. Erhardt then put up his pistol, and went on with his +enrolling. The man was dogged and angry, and watching his opportunity, +suddenly made a rush at the provost marshal. The latter had only time to +deal him, as he sprang forward, one heavy blow with his cane, when they +closed. In a moment both reeled from the plank and fell to the cellar +beneath, the provost marshal on top. Covered with dirt, he arose and +drew his pistol, and mounted to the sidewalk. + +The foreman sympathized with the workmen, and Erhardt could do nothing. +Determined to arrest them for resisting the draft, he despatched a +messenger to Colonel Nugent for the promised force. None, however, was +sent. He, in the meantime, stood with drawn pistol facing the men, who +dared not advance on him. Aid not arriving, he sent again, and still +later a third time. He stood thus facing the workmen with his pistol for +three hours, and finally had to leave without making any arrests. This +failure of Colonel Nugent to fulfil his promise and perform his duty +came near costing Erhardt his life, and then and there starting the +riot. The next day he had the foreman arrested, and completed his work +of enrolling. + +The time selected for commencing the draft was unfortunate. Saturday, of +all days in the week, was the worst. It was a new thing, and one under +any circumstances calculated to attract universal attention among the +lower classes, and provoke great and angry discussion. Hence, to have +the draft commence on Saturday, and allow the names to be published in +the papers on Sunday morning, so that all could read them, and spend the +day in talking the matter over, and lay plans for future action, was a +most unwise, thoughtless procedure. If there had been any choice as to +the day, one, if possible, should have been chosen that preceded the +busiest day of the week. To have the list of twelve hundred names that +had been drawn read over and commented on all day by men who enlivened +their discussion with copious draughts of bad whiskey, especially when +most of those drawn were laboring-men or poor mechanics, who were +unable to hire a substitute, was like applying fire to gunpowder. If a +well-known name, that of a man of wealth, was among the number, it only +increased the exasperation, for the law exempted every one drawn who +would pay three hundred dollars towards a substitute. This was taking +practically the whole number of soldiers called for out of the laboring +classes. A great proportion of these being Irish, it naturally became an +Irish question, and eventually an Irish riot. It was in their eyes the +game of hated England over again--oppression of Irishmen. This state +of feeling could not be wholly concealed. Kennedy, aware of it, felt +it necessary, on Monday morning, to take some precautionary measures. +Still, in the main, only small squads of policemen were sent to the +various points where the drafting was to take place, and merely to keep +back the crowd and maintain order, in case a few disorderly persons +should attempt to create disturbance. It was true, a rumor had been put +in circulation that a body of men had planned to seize the arsenal, and +Kennedy, as a matter of precaution, sent fifty policemen to occupy +it. But during the morning, word was brought him that the +street-contractor's men in the Nineteenth Ward were not at work. This +looked ominous, and he began to fear trouble. Thinking that Provost +Marshal Maniere's office, 1190 Broadway, and that of Marshal Jenkins, +corner of Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue, would be more likely to +be the points attacked, he hurried off the following telegrams: + +July 13, 8.35 A.M. From Central Office to Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and +Twenty-first Precincts: Send ten men and a sergeant forthwith to No. 677 +Third Avenue, and report to Captain Porter of Nineteenth Precinct for +duty. J. A. KENNEDY. + +July 13, 8.50 A.M. To Twenty-ninth Precinct: Place a squad of ten of +your men, with a competent sergeant, at No. 1190 Broadway, during the +draft--if you want more, inform me. J. A. K. + +8.55 A.M. To Sixteenth and Twentieth Precincts: Send your reserve to +Seventh Avenue Arsenal forthwith. + +J. A. K. + +Telegrams were now pouring in from different quarters, showing that +mischief was afoot, and at nine o'clock he sent the following despatch: + +"To all platoons, New York and Brooklyn: Call in your reserve platoons, +and hold them at the stations subject to further orders." + +It should be noted, that ordinarily one-half of the police of the +Metropolitan District, which took in Brooklyn, is relieved from both +patrol and reserve duty, from six o'clock in the morning till six in the +evening. The other half is divided into two sections, which alternately +perform patrol and reserve duty during the day. A relief from patrol +duty of one of these sections takes place at eight o'clock A.M., when +it goes to breakfast. Hence, the orders issued by the Superintendent to +call in these could not reach them without a considerable delay. + +It now being about ten o'clock, Mr. Kennedy, having despatched an +additional body of men to the Twenty-ninth Precinct, got into his +light wagon, to take a drive through the districts reported to be most +dangerous. He went up far as the arsenal, and giving such directions as +he thought necessary, started across the town to visit Marshal Jenkins' +quarters in the Twenty-ninth Precinct. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Commencement of the Mob.--Its Line of March.--Its immense Size.--Attacks +a Provost-marshal's Office, in Third Avenue.--Set on Fire.--Terrible +Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob.--Carried to Head-quarters +unconscious.--Acton's Preparations.--The Telegraph System.--Mob cutting +down Telegraph Poles.--Number of Despatches sent over the Wires during +the Riot.--Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held Prisoner +by the Mob. + +Meanwhile, events were assuming an alarming aspect in the western part +of the city. Early in the morning men began to assemble here in separate +groups, as if in accordance with a previous arrangement, and at last +moved quietly north along the various avenues. Women, also, like camp +followers, took the same direction in crowds. They were thus divided +into separate gangs, apparently to take each avenue in their progress, +and make a clean sweep. The factories and workshops were visited, and +the men compelled to knock off work and join them, while the proprietors +were threatened with the destruction of their property, if they made any +opposition. The separate crowds were thus swelled at almost every step, +and armed with sticks, and clubs, and every conceivable weapon they +could lay hands on, they moved north towards some point which had +evidently been selected as a place of rendezvous. This proved to be a +vacant lot near Central Park, and soon the living streams began to flow +into it, and a more wild, savage, and heterogeneous-looking mass could +not be imagined. After a short consultation they again took up the +line of march, and in two separate bodies, moved down Fifth and Sixth +Avenues, until they reached Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Streets, when +they turned directly east. + +The number composing this first mob has been so differently estimated, +that it would be impossible from reports merely, to approximate the +truth. A pretty accurate idea, however, can be gained of its immense +size, from a statement made by Mr. King, son of President King, of +Columbia College. Struck by its magnitude, he had the curiosity to get +some estimate of it by timing its progress, and he found that although +it filled the broad street from curbstone to curbstone, and was moving +rapidly, it took between twenty and twenty-five minutes for it to pass a +single point. + +A ragged, coatless, heterogeneously weaponed army, it heaved +tumultuously along toward Third Avenue. Tearing down the telegraph poles +as it crossed the Harlem & New Haven Railroad track, it surged angrily +up around the building where the drafting was going on. The small squad +of police stationed there to repress disorder looked on bewildered, +feeling they were powerless in the presence of such a host. Soon a +stone went crashing through a window, which was the signal for a general +assault on the doors. These giving way before the immense pressure, the +foremost rushed in, followed by shouts and yells from those behind, and +began to break up the furniture. The drafting officers, in an adjoining +room, alarmed, fled precipitately through the rear of the building. The +mob seized the wheel in which were the names, and what books, papers, +and lists were left, and tore them up, and scattered them in every +direction. A safe stood on one side, which was supposed to contain +important papers, and on this they fell with clubs and stones, but in +vain. Enraged at being thwarted, they set fire to the building, and +hurried out of it. As the smoke began to ascend, the onlooking multitude +without sent up a loud cheer. Though the upper part of the building +was occupied by families, the rioters, thinking that the officers were +concealed there, rained stones and brick-bats against the windows, +sending terror into the hearts of the inmates. Deputy Provost Marshal +Vanderpool, who had mingled in the crowd, fearing for the lives of the +women and children, boldly stepped to the front, and tried to appease +the mob, telling them the papers were all destroyed, and begged them to +fall back, and let others help the inmates of the building, or take hold +themselves. The reply was a heavy blow in the face. Vanderpool shoved +the man who gave it aside, when he was assailed with a shower of blows +and curses. Fearing for his life, he broke through the crowd, and +hastened to the spot where the police were standing, wholly powerless in +the midst of this vast, excited throng. + +In the meantime, the flames, unarrested, made rapid way, and +communicating to the adjoining building, set it on fire. The volumes of +smoke, rolling heavenward, and the crackling and roaring of the flames, +seemed for a moment to awe the mob, and it looked silently on the +ravaging of a power more terrible and destructive than its own. + +At this time Superintendent Kennedy was quietly making his way across +the town toward the office of with a heavy club, endeavored to break in +his skull, but Kennedy dodged his blows. Careful only for his head, he +let them beat his body, while he made desperate efforts to break through +the mass, whose demoniacal yells and oaths showed that they intended +to take his life. In the struggle the whole crowd, swaying to and fro, +slowly advanced toward Lexington Avenue, coming, as they did so, upon a +wide mud-hole. "Drown him! drown, him!" arose at once on every side, +and the next moment a heavy blow, planted under his ear, sent him +headforemost into the water. + +Falling with his face amid the stones, he was kicked and trampled on, +and pounded, till he was a mass of gore. Still struggling desperately +for life, he managed to get to his feet again, and made a dash for the +middle of the pond. The water was deep, and his murderers, disliking to +get wet, did not follow him, but ran around to the other side, to meet +him as he came out. But Kennedy was ahead of them, and springing up +the bank into Lexington Avenue, saw a man whom he knew, and called +out: "John Eagan, come here and save my life!" Mr. Eagan, who was a +well-known and influential resident of that vicinity, immediately +rushed forward to his assistance, and arrested his pursuers. But the +Superintendent was so terribly bruised and mangled, that Eagan did not +recognize him. He, however, succeeded in keeping the mob back, who, +seeing the horrible condition their victim was in, doubtless thought +they had finished him. Other citizens now coming forward, a passing feed +wagon was secured, into which Kennedy was lifted, and driven to police +head-quarters. Acton, who was in the street as the wagon approached, saw +the mangled body within, did not dream who it was. The driver inquired +where he should take him. "Around to the station," carelessly replied +Acton. The driver hesitated, and inquired again, "Where to?" Acton, +supposing it was some drunkard, bruised in a brawl, replied rather +petulantly, "Around to the station." The man then told him it was +Kennedy. Acton, scanning the features more closely, saw that it indeed +was the Superintendent himself in this horrible condition. As the +officers gathered around the bleeding, almost unconscious form, a murmur +of wrath was heard, a sure premonition what work would be done when the +hour of vengeance should come. + +Kennedy was carried into head-quarters, and a surgeon immediately sent +for. After an examination had shown that no bones were broken, he was +taken to the house of a friend, and, before the week closed, was on his +feet again. + +Acton, now the legal head of the police force, soon showed he was the +right man in the right place. Of a nervous temperament, he was quick and +prompt, yet cool and decided, and relentless as death in the discharge +of his duty. Holding the views of the first Napoleon respecting mobs, +he did not believe in speech-making to them. His addresses were to +be locust clubs and grape-shot. Taking in at once the gravity of the +situation, he, after despatching such force as was immediately available +to the scene of the riot, telegraphed to the different precincts to have +the entire reserve force concentrated at head-quarters, which were in +Mulberry Street, near Bleecker. + +He saw at once, to have his force effective it must be well in hand, +so that he could send it out in any direction in sufficient strength +to bear down all opposition. Subsequent events proved the wisdom of his +policy, for we shall see, after it had been accomplished, the police +never lost a battle. + +There being thirty-two precincts in the limits of the Metropolitan +Police, a vast territory was covered. These were reached by a system of +telegraph wires, called the Telegraph Bureau, of which James Crowley +was superintendent and Eldred Polhamus deputy. There were three +operators--Chapin, Duvall, and Lucas. A telegraph station was in +each precinct--thus making thirty-two, all coming to a focus at +head-quarters. These are also divided into five sections--north, south, +east, west, and central. The Commissioners, therefore, sitting in +the central office, can send messages almost instantaneously to every +precinct of the city, and receive immediate answers. Hence, Mr. Acton +was a huge Briareus, reaching out his arms to Fort Washington in the +north, and Brooklyn in the south, and at the same time touching the +banks of both rivers. No other system could be devised giving such +tremendous power to the police--the power of instant information and +rapid concentration at any desired point. That it proved itself the +strong right arm of the Commissioners, it needs only to state, that +during the four days of the riot, between five and six thousand messages +passed over the wires, showing that they were worked to their utmost +capacity, day and night. The more intelligent of the mob understood +this, and hence at the outset attempted to break up this communication, +by cutting down the poles on Third Avenue. This stopped all messages +to and from the precincts at Fort Washington, Manhattanville, Harlem, +Yorkville, and Bloomingdale, as well as with the Nineteenth Precinct. + +But fortunately, the orders to these had passed over the wires before +the work was completed. Subsequently, the rioters cut down the poles +in First Avenue, in Twenty-second Street, and Ninth Avenue, destroying +communication between several other precincts. + +Mr. Crowley, the Superintendent of the Telegraph Bureau, was made +acquainted early, Monday, by mere accident with this plan of the +rioters. Coming to town in the Third Avenue cars from Yorkville, where +he resided, he suddenly found the car arrested by a mob, and getting out +with the other passengers, discovered men chopping furiously away at the +telegraph poles; and without stopping to think, rushed up to them and +ordered them to desist. One of the ruffians, looking up, cried out, "he +is one of the d--d operators." Instantly yells arose, "Smash him," "Kill +him," when those nearest seized him. By great adroitness he disarmed +their suspicions sufficiently to prevent further violence, though they +held him prisoner for an hour. At last, seeing an opportunity when more +important objects attracted their attention, he quietly worked his way +out and escaped. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Soldiers beaten by the Mob.--Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie.--Mob +Triumphant.--Beat Police Officers unmercifully.--Fearful Scenes.--Fifty +thousand People block Third Avenue.--A whole Block of Houses +burning.--Attack on a Gun Factory.--Defeat of the Broadway +Squad.--Houses sacked in Lexington Avenue.--Telegraph +Dispatches.--Bull's Head Tavern burned.--Block on Broadway +burned.--Burning of the Negroes' Orphan Asylum.--Attack on Mayor +Opdyke's House.--A Crisis nobly met.--Gallant Fight and Victory of +Sergeant Carpenter.--A thrilling Spectacle. + +In the meantime, the mob that stood watching the spreading conflagration +in Third Avenue increased rapidly, fed by tributaries from the +tenement-houses, slums, and workshops in that vicinity. But they were +soon startled from their state of comparative quietness, by the cry of +"the soldiers are coming." The Invalid Corps, a small body sent from the +Park, was approaching. As it came up, the soldiers fired, either blank +cartridges, or over the heads of the crowd, doubtless thinking a single +discharge would disperse it. The folly of such a course was instantly +shown, for the mob, roused into sudden fury, dashed on the small body +of soldiers before they could reload, and snatching away their muskets, +pounded them over the head, and chased them like sheep for ten blocks. +One soldier was left for dead on the pavement, beaten to a jelly. +Another, breaking from the crowd, attempted to climb some rocks near +Forty-second Street, when his pursuers grabbed him and dragged him +to the top, where they tore off his uniform, and beat him till he was +senseless, and then threw him down to the bottom and left him. + +In the meantime, Sergeant McCredie, "fighting Mac," as he was called, +from the Fifteenth Precinct, Captain C. W. Caffrey, arrived on the scene +with a few men. Marching down Forty-third street to Third Avenue, they +looked up two blocks, and to their amazement beheld the broad avenue, +as far as they could see, blocked with the mob, while before it, bearing +swiftly down on them, and running for life, came the terror-stricken +Invalid Corps. At this juncture, other squads sent from various +precincts arrived, swelling this force to forty-four. It was a mere +handful among these enraged thousands; but McCredie, who at once took +command, determined to stand his ground, and meet as best he could the +overwhelming numbers that came driving down like a storm, filling the +air with yells and oaths, and brandishing their clubs over their heads. +He thought that another police force was beyond the mob, on the north, +and if he could press through and form a junction with it, the two +combined would be strong enough to hold their own. He therefore quickly +formed his men in line across the street, and awaited the shock. As the +disorderly mass following up the fugitives drew near, McCredie ordered a +charge, and this mere handful of men moved swiftly and steadily upon +it. The rioters, stunned by the suddenness and strength of the blow, +recoiled, and the police, following up their advantage, drove them back, +step by step, as far as Forty-sixth street. Here the sergeant, instead +of meeting another body of police, as he expected, met a heavier body +of rioters that were blocking up Forty-sixth Street on both sides of +the avenue. Backed by these, the main body rallied and charged on the +exhausted police force in turn, and almost surrounded them. To render +their already desperate situation hopeless, another mob suddenly closed +in behind them from Forty-fifth street. + +Thus attacked in front and rear with clubs, iron bars, guns and pistols, +and rained upon with stones and brick-bats from the roofs of the houses, +they were unable longer to keep together, and broke and fled--part up +the side streets, and some down the avenue--bruised, torn, and bleeding. + +The desperate nature of this first conflict can be imagined, when, out +of the fourteen men composing Sergeant McCredie's original force, only +five were left unwounded. At the very outset of the charge, the sergeant +himself was struck with an iron bar on the wrist, which rendered the arm +almost useless. In the retreat, four men assailed him at once. Knocking +down two, he took refuge in the house of a German, when a young woman +told him to jump between two mattresses. He did so, and she covered him +up just as his pursuers forced their way in. Streaming through the house +from cellar to garret, they came back, and demanded of the young woman +where the man was hid. She quietly said he had escaped by the rear of +the house. Believing she told the truth, they took their departure. +Officer Bennett was knocked down three times before he ceased fighting. +The last time he was supposed to be dead, when the wretches began to +rob him even of his clothing, stripping him of every article except his +drawers. He was soon after taken up and carried to St. Luke's Hospital, +and placed in the dead-house, where he lay for several hours. When the +sad news was brought to his wife, she hastened to the hospital, and fell +weeping on the lifeless form of her husband. She could not believe he +was dead, and laying her hand on his heart, found to her joy that it +pulsated. She immediately flew to the officials of the hospital, and +had him brought in, and restoratives applied. He revived, but remained +unconscious for three days, while the riot raged around him. Officer +Travis, in the flight down the avenue, saw, as he looked back, that his +foremost pursuer had a pistol. Wheeling, he knocked him down, and seized +the pistol, but before he could use it, a dozen clubs were raining +blows upon him, which brought him to the ground. The infuriated men then +jumped upon him, knocking out his teeth, breaking his jaw-bone and right +hand, and terribly mutilating his whole body. Supposing him to be dead, +they then stripped him stark naked and left him on the pavement, a +ghastly spectacle to the passers-by. Officer Phillips ran the gauntlet +almost unharmed, but was pursued block after block by a portion of the +mob, till he reached Thirty-ninth street. Here he attempted to enter a +house, but it was closed against him. As he turned down the steps, one +of the pursuers, in soldier's clothes, levelled his musket at him and +fired. Missing his aim, he clubbed his weapon, and dealt him a deadly +blow. Phillips caught the musket as it descended, and wrenching it from +his grasp, knocked the fellow down with it, and started and ran across +some vacant lots to Fortieth Street. But here he was headed off by +another portion of the mob, in which was a woman, who made a lunge at +him with, a shoemaker's knife. The knife missed his throat, but passed +through his ear. Drawing it back, she made another stab, piercing his +arm. He was now bleeding profusely, and his death seemed inevitable, +when a stranger, seeing his condition, sprang forward, and covering his +body, declared he would kill the first man that advanced. Awed by his +determined manner, the fiends sullenly withdrew. Officers Sutherland and +Mingay were also badly beaten. Officer Kiernan, receiving a blow on his +head with a stone, another on the back of his neck with a hay-bale rung, +and two more on the knees, fell insensible, and would doubtless have +been killed outright, but for the wife of Eagan, who saved Kennedy. +Throwing herself over his body, she exclaimed, "for God's sake do +not kill him." Seeing that they had got to attack this lady to get at +Kiernan, they passed on. + +The scene in Third Avenue at this time was fearful and appalling. It was +now noon, but the hot July sun was obscured by heavy clouds, that hung +in ominous shadows over the city, while from near Cooper Institute to +Forty-sixth Street, or about thirty blocks, the avenue was black with +human beings,--sidewalks, house-tops, windows, and stoops all filled +with rioters or spectators. Dividing it like a stream, horse-cars +arrested in their course lay strung along as far as the eye could reach. +As the glance ran along this mighty mass of men and women north, it +rested at length on huge columns of smoke rolling heavenward from +burning buildings, giving a still more fearful aspect to the scene. Many +estimated the number at this time in the street at fifty thousand. + +In the meantime the fire-bell had brought the firemen on the ground, but +the mob would not let them approach the burning houses. The flames +had communicated with the adjoining block and were now making fearful +headway. At length Engineer Decker addressed the mob, which by this time +had grown thinner by the main mass moving farther down town, who told +them that everything relating to the provost marshal's office was +destroyed, and now the fire was destroying private property, some +of which doubtless belonged to persons friendly to them, and finally +persuaded them to let the engines work. Water was soon deluging the +buildings, and the fire at length arrested, but not until four were +consumed with all their contents. + +The drawing commenced in the Eighth District, 1190 Broadway, Captain +Maniere provost marshal, on the same morning, and continued quietly +until about 12 o'clock, when it was adjourned, and policemen who had +been stationed there to guard it were sent over to the Ninth District, +where the mob was carrying everything before it. But coming in small +bodies, they were easily overcome and scattered. Sergeant Ellison, +especially, got badly beaten; and Sergeant Wade, who came up soon after, +and charged gallantly on the mob, shared the same fate, and had to be +taken to St. Luke's Hospital. The work of destruction having commenced, +it went on after this with the wild irregularity characteristic of +mobs. The news of the uprising and destruction of property, as it spread +through those portions of the city where the low Irish dwelt, stirred +up all the inmates, and they came thronging forth, till there were +incipient mobs on almost every corner. From this time no consecutive +narrative can be given of the after doings. This immense mass seemed +to split up into three or four sections, as different objects attracted +their attention; and they came together and separated apparently without +any concert of action. A shout and a cry in one direction would call +off a throng, while a similar shout in another would attract a portion +thither. Some feeling the need of arms, and remembering that a gun +factory was at the corner of Second Avenue and Twentieth Street, called +out to the crowd, and soon a large body was rushing in that direction. +The Police Commissioners had also thought of this, and hastily sent off +the Broadway squad to occupy it, and they succeeded, by going singly and +in pairs, in reaching it--thirty-five all told. These men, selected for +their size, being all six feet or upward, were ordered to hold the place +at all hazards. + +In the meantime the mob endeavored to gain admittance, but warned off by +Sergeant Burdick, left. But scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed, +when they returned heavily reinforced, armed with all kinds of weapons, +and yelling and hooting like fiends. Stones and bricks came crashing +through the windows, but still the squad, though every man was armed +with a carbine, did not fire. + +The mob then tried to set the factory on fire, but failed. Enraged at +being baffled, a powerful man advanced on the door with a sledge-hammer, +and began to pound against it. At length one of the panels gave way, +and as a shout arose from those looking on, he boldly attempted to crawl +through. The report of a solitary carbine was heard, and the brains of +the man lay scattered on the floor. This staggered the mob for a moment, +but soon fear gave way to rage, and shots and stones were rained against +the building, smashing in the windows, and rapidly making a clean +breach through the door. Burdick sent to Captain Cameron for aid, but he +replied that he could not reach him. + +At 3:45 the following telegram was sent from the Eighteenth Precinct: + +"The mob have attacked the armory, Second Avenue and Twenty-first +Street. There is danger of firing the building." + +Fifteen minutes later came: "It is impossible for us to protect the +armory at Second Avenue and Twenty-first Street." + +_Answer_--"Draw your men off. D. C." + +The squad, in evacuating the building, found themselves cut off both in +front and at the sides. + +The only mode of escape was through a hole in the rear wall, some +eighteen feet from the ground, and scarcely a foot and a half in +diameter. Piling up boxes to reach this aperture, these large men +squeezed themselves through one by one, feet foremost, and swinging to a +gutter-trough, dropped into the yard below. Climbing from thence over a +wall into a stone-yard, they sped across it to the Eighteenth Precinct +Station in Twenty-second Street. Here taking off their uniforms, they +made their way singly, or in groups of two or three, back to the central +office. + +No sooner did they leave the building than the mob entered it, and the +work of pillage commenced. Every man armed himself with a musket. The +stacks of weapons left, after they had taken all they wanted, were +broken up or rendered useless. One thrown out of the window fell on a +man's head in the street and killed him. + +While the armory was being attacked, another mob was sacking and burning +houses on Lexington Avenue, near Forty-seventh Street. Within five +minutes from the announcement of this fact, came from the Sixth Precinct +the following dispatch: "A mob of about seven hundred attacked some +colored people in Baxter Street, and then went to the saloon of Samuel +Crook, in Chatham Street, and beat some colored waiters there." + +A few minutes later from Sixteenth came: "A crowd of about three hundred +men have gone to the foot of Twenty-fourth Street, to stop men in the +foundry from working." + +At the same time the following was received from the Twenty-first +Precinct: "The mob avow their determination of burning this station. Our +connection by telegram may be interrupted at any moment." + +Another from the Twentieth said: "A very large crowd is now going down +Fifth Avenue, to attack the _Tribune_ building." + +As fast as the wires could work, followed "from the Twenty-fourth +Precinct:" + +"The mob have fired the buildings corner of Broadway and Twenty-fourth +Street." + +All this time, while new notes of alarm were sounded, and the police +department was struggling to get its force in hand, the work of +destruction was going on in the upper part of the city. Bull's Head +Tavern, in Forty-sixth Street, attracted the attention of the mob. The +sales of the immense herds of cattle in the adjoining yard had been +suspended, and the hotel closed. The crowd, however, forgetting the +draft, and intent only on pillage, streamed up around it, and shouted, +"Fire it! fire it!" While some were calling for axes and crowbars, ten +powerful men jumped on the stoop, and with a few heavy blows sent the +hall door flying from its hinges. The yelling crowd then rushed in, and +after helping themselves to what they wanted, applied the torch, and +soon the entire building was a mass of flame. + +[Illustration: THE RIOT IN LEXINGTON AVENUE.] + +At this time another mob was sacking houses in Lexington Avenue. Elegant +furniture and silver plate were borne away by the crowd, while the +ladies, with their children and servants, fled in terror from the scene. +The provost marshal's head-quarters were also set on fire, and the whole +block on Broadway, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets, was +burned down, while jewelry stores and shops of all kinds were plundered +and their contents carried off. A vast horde followed the rioters for +the sole purpose of plunder, and loaded down with their spoils, could be +seen hastening home in every direction. + +While these fires were under full headway, a new idea seemed to strike +the mob, or at least a portion of it. Having stopped the draft in two +districts, sacked and set on fire nearly a score of houses, and half +killed as many men, it now, impelled by a strange logic, sought to +destroy the Colored Orphan Asylum on Fifth Avenue, extending from +Forty-third to Forty-fourth Street. There would have been no draft +but for the war--there would have been no war but for slavery. But the +slaves were black, ergo, all blacks are responsible for the war. +This seemed to be the logic of the mob, and having reached the sage +conclusion to which it conducted, they did not stop to consider how poor +helpless orphans could be held responsible, but proceeded at once to +wreak their vengeance on them. The building was four stories high, and +besides the matrons and officers, contained over two hundred children, +from mere infants up to twelve years of age. Around this building the +rioters gathered with loud cries and oaths, sending terror into the +hearts of the inmates. Superintendent William E. Davis hurriedly +fastened the doors; but knowing they would furnish but a momentary +resistance to the armed multitude, he, with others, collected hastily +the terrified children, and carrying some in their arms, and leading +others, hurried them in a confused crowd out at the rear of the +building, just as the ruffians effected an entrance in front. Then the +work of pillage commenced, and everything carried off that could be, +even to the dresses and trinkets of the children, while heavy furniture +was smashed and chopped up in the blind desire of destruction. Not +satisfied with this, they piled the fragments in the different rooms, +and set fire to them. At this juncture Chief Engineer Decker arrived, +and determined, if possible, to save the building, addressed the crowd, +as he had in the morning, hoping to induce them to forbear further +violence, and let him extinguish the flames. But they had now got beyond +argument of any kind, and knocking him down twice, pitched him into the +street. But ten brave firemen at this juncture rushed to his side, and +together fought their way through the crowd into the building, where +they were joined by two assistant engineers, Lamb and Lewis. They at +once began to scatter and extinguish the burning fragments, keeping back +for a while, by their bold bearing, the rioters. The latter, however, +soon rallied in force, and some mounting to the loft, set it on fire in +every part. Decker and his few gallant allies, finding it impossible +to save the building, retreated into the street, and soon the massive +structure was a sheet of flame. + +The crowd now proceeded to Mayor Opdyke's house, and gathering in front +of it, sent up shouts and calls for the Mayor. They were, however, +deterred at that time from accomplishing their purpose by an appeal from +Judge Barnard, who addressed them from the steps of an adjoining house. + +Soon after, an immense mob was reported coming down Broadway, for the +purpose, some thought, of attacking the negro waiters in the Lafarge +House, between Amity and Bleecker Streets, but in fact to attack police +head-quarters in Mulberry Street, and break up the very centre of +operations. It was a bold stroke, but the ringleaders had been drinking +all day, and now, maddened by liquor, were ready for the most desperate +attempts. When the news of this movement reached head-quarters, the +commissioners saw that a crisis had come. The mob numbered at least five +thousand, while they could not muster at that moment two hundred men. +The clerk, Mr. Hawley, went to the commissioners' room, and said: +"Gentlemen, the crisis has come. A battle has got to be _fought now_, +_and won too_, or all is lost." They agreed with him. "But who," they +asked, "will lead the comparatively small force in this fight?" He +replied that he thought that Sergeant Carpenter should be selected, as +one of the oldest and most experienced officers on the force. "Well," +they said, "will you go down to his room and see what he says about it?" +He went, and laid before him the perilous condition of things, and that +an immediate and successful battle _must_ be fought. + +Carpenter heard him through, and taking in fully the perilous condition +of things, paused a moment, and then rising to his full height and +lifting his hand, said, with a terrible oath, "I'll go, and I'll win +that fight, or _Daniel Carpenter will never come back a live man_." He +walked out and summoned the little force, and as "Fall in, men; fall +in," was repeated, they fell into line along the street. When all was +ready, Acton turned to Carpenter, every lineament of whose face showed +the stern purpose that mastered him, and quietly said, "_Sergeant make +no arrests_." + +It was to be a battle in which no prisoners were to be taken. "All +_right_" replied Carpenter, as he buttoned up his coat and shouted +"Forward." Solid, and silent save their heavy, measured tread on the +pavement, they moved down Bleecker Street towards Broadway. As they +turned into the latter street, only a block and a half away, they saw +the mob, which filled the entire street far as the eye could reach, +moving tumultuously forward. Armed with clubs, pitchforks, iron bars, +and some with guns and pistols, and most of them in their shirt-sleeves +and shouting as they came, they presented a wild and savage appearance. +Pedestrians fled down the side streets, stores were hastily closed, +stages vanished, and they had the street to themselves. A huge board, on +which was inscribed "No Draft," was borne aloft as a banner, and beside +it waved the Stars and Stripes. + +The less than two hundred policemen, compact and firm, now halted, while +Carpenter detached two companies of fifty each up the parallel streets +to the right and left, as far as Fourth Street. Coming down this street +from both directions, they were to strike the mob on both flanks at +the same time he charged them in front. He waited till they had reached +their positions, and then shouted, "_By the right flank Company front, +double-quick_, CHARGE." Instantaneously every club was swung in air, and +solid as a wall and swift as a wave they swept full on the astonished +multitude; while at the same time, to cut the monster in two, the +two companies charged in flank. Carpenter, striding several steps in +advance, his face fairly blazing with excitement, dealt the first blow, +stretching on the pavement a powerful ruffian, who was rushing on him +with a huge club. For a few minutes nothing was heard but the heavy +thud of clubs falling on human skulls, thick and fast as hailstones on +windows. The mob, just before so confident and bold, quailed in terror +and would have broke and fled at once, but for the mass behind which +kept bearing down on them. This, however, soon gave way before the +side attacks and the panic that followed. Then the confusion and uproar +became terrible, and the mass surged hither and thither, now rolling up +Broadway, and again borne back or shoved up against the stores, seeking +madly for a way of escape. At length, breaking into fragments, they +rushed down the side streets, hotly pursued by the police, whose +remorseless clubs never ceased to fall as long as a fugitive was within, +reach. Broadway looked like a field of battle, for the pavement was +strewn thick with bleeding, prostrate forms. It was a great victory and +decisive of all future contests. + +Having effectually dispersed them, Carpenter, with the captured flag, +marched up to Mayor Opdyke's house, when, finding everything quiet, +he returned to head-quarters. This successful attack of the police was +received with cheers by those spectators who had witnessed it. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +No Military in the City.--The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding +Eastern Department, for Help.--Also on General Sandford.--General Wool +sends to General Brown, commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. +Troops.--Marines of the Navy Yard ordered up.--Eventually, West Point +and several States appealed to for Troops.--General Brown assumes +Command.--Attack of Mob on the _Tribune_ Building.--Its severe +Punishment.--Government Buildings garrisoned.--Difficulty between +Generals Brown and Wool.--Head-quarters.--Police Commissioners' Office +Military Head-quarters. + +The terrible punishment the rioters received at the hands of Carpenter +had, however, only checked their movements for a time; and, as the +sun began to hang low in the summer heavens, men looked forward to the +coming night with apprehension. + +In the meantime, however, the authorities, conscious of the perilous +condition of the city, had resorted to every means of defence in their +power. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, nearly the whole of its +military force, on which it depended in any great emergency, was absent. +Lee's brilliant flank movement around Hooker and Washington, +terminating in the invasion of Pennsylvania, had filled the country with +consternation. His mighty columns were moving straight on Philadelphia, +and the Government at Washington, roused to the imminent danger, had +called for all the troops within reach, and New York had sent forward +nearly every one of her regiments. Ordinary prudence would have dictated +that the draft should be postponed for a few days, till these regiments, +now on their way back, or preparing to return, should arrive. It was +running a needless risk to urge it in such a crisis--indeed, one of +the follies of which the Administration at this time was so needlessly +guilty. + +General Wool, at this juncture, commanded the Eastern Department, with +his head-quarters at the corner of Bleecker and Greene Streets. Mayor +Opdyke immediately called on him for help, and also on Major-general +Sandford, commanding the few troops that were left in the city. The +latter immediately issued an order requesting the Seventh Regiment to +meet that evening, at their drill-rooms, at eight o'clock, to consult on +the measures necessary to be taken in the present unexpected crisis, and +another to the late two-years' volunteers then in the city, to report +at the same hour in Grand Street, to Colonel William H. Allen, for +temporary duty. + +General Wool, also, during the afternoon, while the rioters were having +it all their own way, sent an officer to the adjutant-general of General +Brown, commanding the troops in garrison in New York harbor, ordering up +a force of about eighty men immediately. + +General Brown, on his way from his office to Fort Hamilton, was informed +by Colonel Stinson, chief clerk, that a serious riot was raging in the +city, and that General Wool had sent to Fort Hamilton for a detachment +of some eighty men, and that a tug had gone for them. Surprised at +the smallness of the number sent (he was, by special orders of the War +Department, commandant of the city, and commander of all the forts and +troops in the harbor except Fort Columbus), he immediately ordered the +company at Fort Wood to the city, and sent a tug for it. He then made +a requisition on the quartermaster for transportation of all the other +companies, and proceeded without delay to Fort Hamilton. General Brown's +office was close to General Wool's; but he did not think proper to +consult him on the movement. + +General Brown, immediately on his arrival at Fort Hamilton, directed +that all the troops there, as well as at Forts Lafayette and Richmond, +be got in readiness to move at a moment's notice, and also that a +section of artillery be organized, in case it should be wanted. Having +taken these wise precautions he hastened up to the city, and reported to +General Wool. The result proved the wisdom of his forecast. A new order +was at once dispatched for the remaining troops, and just at twilight, +Lieut. McElrath saw two steamers making directly for the fort. They were +hardly fastened to the dock, when an officer stepped ashore and handed +him an order from General Brown to send up at once all the efficient +troops in the forts, and have their places supplied as best he could +with some volunteer artillery companies. + +The reports coming in to police head-quarters had shown that it was no +common uprising of a few disaffected men to be put down by a few squads +of police or a handful of soldiers. The Mayor, after consulting with +the Police Commissioners, felt that it was the beginning of a general +outbreak in every part of the city, and by his representations persuaded +General Wool to apply to Rear-admiral Paulding, commanding the Navy +Yard, for a force of marines, and eventually to Colonel Bowman, +Superintendent of West Point, and also to the authorities of Newark, and +Governors of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode +Island for troops. + +General Brown, after reporting to General Wool, repaired to police +head-quarters, which he adopted as his own, and issued the following +order: + +"HEAD-QUARTERS, NEW YORK, July 13, 1863. + +"In obedience to the orders of the Major-general commanding the Eastern +Department, the undersigned assumes command of the United States troops +in this city. + +"Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham and Captain Revolle are of the staff of +the undersigned, and will be obeyed accordingly. + +"HARVEY BROWN, + +"_Brevet Brigadier-general_." + +He also sent a dispatch to General Sandford, at the arsenal, notifying +him of his action, and requesting him to come down and consult with him +on the course to be pursued. General Sandford, after awhile, did come +down, and, to General Brown's amazement, insisted that all the troops +should be sent up to the arsenal. General Brown, seeing the utter +madness of such a disposition of his force, refused decidedly to permit +it to be done. This was of course denying Sandford's claim to be his +superior officer. It was well for the city that he took this ground. + +Mayor Opdyke also issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to +disperse. + +But while these measures were being set on foot, the rioters were not +idle. + +[Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE BUILDING.] + +All day long a crowd had been gathering in the Park around the City +Hall, growing more restless as night came on. The railroad-cars passing +it were searched, to see if any negroes were on board, while eyes +glowered savagely on the _Tribune_ building. They had sought in an +eating-house for the editor, to wreak their vengeance on him. Not +finding him, they determined that the building, from which was issued +the nefarious paper, should come down, but were evidently waiting for +help to arrive before commencing the work of destruction. The mob, which +Carpenter had so terribly punished in Broadway, were marching for it, +designing to burn it after they had demolished police head-quarters. +Their dispersion delayed the attack, and doubtless broke its force, by +the reduction of numbers it caused. There seemed enough, however, if +properly led, to effect their purpose, for the Park and Printing-house +Square were black with men, who, as the darkness increased, grew more +restless; and "Down with it! burn it!" mingled with oaths and curses, +were heard on every side. + +At last came the crash of a window, as a stone went through it. Another +and another followed, when suddenly a reinforcing crowd came rushing +down Chatham Street. This was the signal for a general assault, and, +with shouts, the rabble poured into the lower part of the building, and +began to destroy everything within reach. Captain Warlow, of the First +Precinct, No. 29 Broad Street, who, with his command, was in the gallant +fight in Broadway, after some subsequent fighting and marching, had at +length reached his head-quarters in Broad Street, where a despatch +met him, to proceed at once to the _Tribune_ building. He immediately +started off on the double-quick. On reaching the upper end of Nassau +Street, he came to a halt, and gave the club signal on the pavement, +to form column. Captain Thorne, of the City Hall, in the meantime, +had joined his force to him, with the gallant Sergeant Devoursney. +Everything being ready, the order to "Charge" was given, and the entire +force, perhaps a hundred and fifty strong, fell in one solid mass on the +mob, knocking men over right and left, and laying heads open at every +blow. The panic-stricken crowd fled up Chatham Street, across the Park, +and down Spruce and Frankfort Streets, punished terribly at every step. +The space around the building being cleared, a portion of the police +rushed inside, where the work of destruction was going on. The sight +of the blue-coats in their midst, with their uplifted clubs, took the +rioters by surprise, and they rushed frantically for the doors and +windows, and escaped the best way they could. In the meantime, those +who had taken refuge in the Park found themselves in the lion's jaws. +Carpenter had hardly rested from his march up Fifth Avenue to Mayor +Opdyke's house, when he, too, received orders to hasten to the +protection of the _Tribune_ building. Taking one hundred of his own men, +and one hundred under Inspector Folk, of Brooklyn, who had been early +ordered over, and been doing good service in the city, he marched down +Broadway, and was just entering the Park, when the frightened crowd came +rushing pell-mell across it. Immediately forming "company front," he +swept the Park like a storm, clearing everything before him. Order being +restored, Folk returned with his force to Brooklyn, where things began +to wear a threatening aspect, and Carpenter took up his station at City +Hall for the night. + +This ended the heavy fighting of the day, though minor disturbances +occurred at various points during the evening. Negroes had been hunted +down all day, as though they were so many wild beasts, and one, after +dark, was caught, and after being severely beaten and hanged to a tree, +left suspended there till Acton sent a force to take the body down. Many +had sought refuge in police-stations and elsewhere, and all were filled +with terror. + +The demonstrations in the lower part of the city excited the greatest +anxiety about the Government buildings in that section--the Custom House +and Sub-treasury were tempting prizes to the rioters. General Sandford, +commanding the city military, had sent such force as he could collect +early in the day to the arsenal, to defend it; for, should the mob once +get possession of the arms and ammunition stored there, no one could +tell what the end would be. United States troops also were placed in +Government buildings to protect them. Almost the last act of the +mob this evening was the burning of Postmaster Wakeman's house, in +Eighty-sixth Street. Mrs. Wakeman was noted for her kindness to the poor +and wretched, who now repaid her by sacking and burning her house. The +precinct station near by was also destroyed. + +In the meanwhile, an event happened which threatened to disarrange all +the plans that had been laid. Military etiquette often overrides the +public good, and here, at this critical moment, General Wool chose to +consider that, as General Sandford was Major-general, though not in the +United States service, he, therefore, ranked Brigadier-general Brown +of the regular army, and required him to act under the other's orders. +This, Brown promptly refused to do, and asked to be relieved, telling +General Wool that such a proceeding was an unheard-of thing. That he was +right the order below will show [Footnote: [GENERAL ORDER No. 36.] WAR +DEPARTMENT, + +_Adjutant-general's Office, Washington_, April 7th, 1863. + +6. The military commander's duties in reference to all troops and +enlisted men who happen to serve within the limits of his command will +be _precisely those of a commanding officer of a military post_. + +The duties of military commanders above defined, will devolve in the +_City of New York, and the military posts in that vicinity_, on Brevet +Brigadier-general H. Brown, Colonel Fifth U. S. Artillery. + +By order of the Secretary of War, (Signed) L. THOMAS, +_Adjutant-general_.] that his troops must be under his own command, as +he was responsible for their action to the Government, and Sandford was +not. Wool, however, continued obstinate, and a total disruption seemed +inevitable. Mayor Opdyke, President Acton, Governor Seymour, with +several prominent American citizens, were present, and witnessed +this disagreement with painful feelings. They knew that it would work +mischief, if not paralyze the combined action they hoped to put forth +in the morning. General Brown, finding Wool inflexible, turned away, +determined to retire altogether. The Mayor and others followed him, and +begged him not to abandon them in the desperate strait they were in--to +think of nothing but saving the city. General Brown had been too hasty, +sticking on a point of mere etiquette, with, perhaps, too much tenacity. +True, an officer must insist on his rank as a rule, but there +are emergencies when everything of a personal nature must be +forgotten--crises where it may be an officer's duty to serve in any +capacity, however subordinate, and trust to being righted afterwards. +Luckily, General Brown, on a sober second thought, took the proper view, +and returned to General Wool, and asked to be reinstated in his command, +but giving him to understand that, though he would co-operate in every +possible way with General Sandford, he still must retain distinct and +separate command of his own troops. This was right, and whether General +Wool perfectly understood the arrangement, or seeing how deeply the +gentlemen present felt on the subject, chose not to press a mere point +of etiquette, does not appear. We only know that if General Brown had +given up the command of his troops, the results to the city would have +been disastrous. + +While these events were passing in the St. Nicholas Hotel, the streets +were comparatively quiet. It had been a hard day for the rioters, as +well as for the police, and they were glad of a little rest. Besides, +they had become more or less scattered by a terrific thunderstorm that +broke over the city, deluging the streets with water. In the midst of +it, there came a telegraphic dispatch to the commissioners, calling +for assistance. The tired police were stretched around on the floor or +boxes, seeking a little rest, when they were aroused, and summoned to +fall in; and the next moment they plunged into the darkness and rain. +They were drenched to the skin before they had gone a block, but they +did not heed it--and then, as to the end, and under all circumstances, +answered promptly and nobly to every call. + +Acton had now gathered a large force at head-quarters, and felt ready to +strike at any moment. + +While the men flung themselves on the hard floor, like soldiers on +the field of battle, ready to start on duty at the first call, Acting +Superintendent Acton and his assistants never closed their eyes, but +spent the night in telegraphing, organizing, and preparing for the +fiercer fights of next day. Much was to be done to cover and protect +a district that reached from Brooklyn to Westchester, and it was an +anxious night. They had one consolation, however: though taken unawares, +they had at the close of the day come out victors, which gave them +confidence in the future, especially as now Brown and his trained +soldiers were with them. + +Some fifteen or twenty policemen had been more or less severely injured, +while the number of the killed and wounded of the mob was wholly +unknown. Both the dead and maimed were left by the police where they +fell, and were almost immediately hurried away by their friends. + +The destruction of property on this first day, consisted of four +buildings on Third Avenue burned, also a block on Broadway between +Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets; two brown-stone dwellings in +Lexington Avenue; Allerton's Hotel near Bull's Head; a cottage, corner +of Forty-fifth Street and Fifth Avenue; the Colored Orphan Asylum, and +the armory corner of Twenty-first Street and Second Avenue. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Telegraph Bureau.--Its Work.--Skill and Daring and Success of its +Force.--Interesting Incidents.--Hairbreadth Escapes.--Detective +Force.--Its arduous Labors.--Its Disguises.--Shrewdness, Tact, and +Courage.--Narrow Escapes.--Hawley, the Chief Clerk.--His exhausting +Labors. + +One thing Commissioners Acton and Bergen in their consultation settled +must be done at all hazards--telegraphic communication must be kept +open with the different precincts. Otherwise it would be impossible +to concentrate men at any given point, quick enough to arrest the mob +before they spread devastation and conflagration far and wide. Every +hour gained by a mob in accumulating or organizing its forces, increases +the difficulty of dispersing it. The rioters understood this partially, +and had acted accordingly; but the rich spoils they had come across +during the day, had driven, for the time being, all other thoughts +but plunder out of their heads. Some communications had already been +destroyed, and the rioters would evidently by morning have their eyes +open to the importance of doing this everywhere, and their efforts +must be foiled, no matter what the risk or sacrifice might be. They had +already cut down over sixty poles, and rendered upwards of twelve miles +of wire useless; and how much more would share the same fate the next +day, no one could tell. + +The superintendent and deputy of the Telegraph Bureau, Messrs. Crowley +and Polhamus, with the operators mentioned before, were, therefore, set +at work this very evening in the storm, to restore the broken lines. + +This was a perilous undertaking, for if once discovered, their lives +would be instantly sacrificed. + +The details of their operations, their disguises, ingenious +contrivances, deceptions, and boldness in carrying out their object, +would make an attractive chapter in itself. Often compelled to mingle +with the mob, always obliged to conceal what they were about, not daring +to raise a pole or handle a wire unless cautiously or secretly, they +yet restored the lines in the north section by morning, and those in +the south by Wednesday evening. Sometimes they were compelled to carry +a wire over the top of a house, sometimes round it, through a back-yard; +in short, every device and expedient was resorted to by these daring, +sharp-witted men. Once Polhamus had his boots burned off in tramping +through the burning ruins of a building after the wires. Once he and Mr. +Crowley came near being clubbed to death by the police, who mistook them +for rioters, so ingeniously and like them were they at work among the +ruins. Captain Brower rescued them, or their services might have ended +on the spot. + +This work was kept steadily up during the continuation of the riots. On +one occasion, Mr. Crowley, hearing that the wires were down in the Ninth +and Tenth Avenues, hastened thither alone, when he encountered a large +mob. Fearing to pass through it he hesitated a moment, when he noticed +a carriage driving in the direction he wished to go, in which was a +Catholic priest. He immediately hailed it and was taken in. As the +carriage entered the mob, the latter surrounded it, and supposing the +inmates were reporters, began to yell "Down with the d--d reporters;" +but the moment they recognized the priest, they allowed it to pass. +Often the two would take a hack; and passing themselves off as drivers, +go through infected districts, and search points to which they otherwise +could not have gone. One time they were returning from an expedition +through Third Avenue, and had reached Houston Street, when they were +hailed by a gang of rioters, who demanded to be taken downtown. They had +to comply, for the men were armed with pistols, and so took them in +and kept along Houston Street, under the pretence of going down through +Broadway, knowing that when they reached Mulberry Street they would +be in hailing distance of the head-quarters of the police. It was just +after daybreak, and Crowley and Polhamus urged on the horses, expecting +in a few minutes to have their load safely locked up. The fellows +evidently not liking the vicinity to which the drivers were taking them, +ordered them to wheel about, which they were compelled to do, and drive +under their direction to an old house in the Tenth Ward. There they got +out, and offering the drivers a drink and fifty cents, let them go. On +one occasion, Crowley, while examining the wires in Second Avenue, was +suspected by the mob, who fell upon him, and it was only by the greatest +coolness and adroitness he convinced them he was a rioter himself, and +so escaped. At another time they were going along in a common wagon, +when they were hemmed in by a crowd, and escaped by passing themselves +off as farmers from Westchester. Had they been discovered, they would +have been killed on the spot. + +DETECTIVE FORCE. + +The duties of this force are well known, but during the riots they had +something more important to do than to work up individual cases. The +force, with John Young as chief, and M. B. Morse as clerk, consisted +in all of seventeen persons. These men are selected for their superior +intelligence, shrewdness, sagacity, and undoubted courage. Full of +resources, they must also be cool, collected, and fearless. During the +riots they were kept at work day and night, obtaining knowledge of facts +that no others could get, and thus supplying the different precincts +and head-quarters with invaluable information. Their duty was a most +perilous one, for it called them to go into the very heart of the +turbulent districts; nay, into the very midst of the mob, where +detection would have been followed by death, and that of the +most horrible kind. Chief Young, with his clerk, was engaged at +head-quarters, so that fifteen men had to perform the required work for +the whole city. Sometimes alone, sometimes two or three together, they +seemed omnipresent. In all sorts of disguises, feigning all sorts of +employments and characters, sometimes on horseback and again driving an +old cart or a hack, they pressed with the most imperturbable effrontery +into the very vortex of danger. Ever on the watch, and accustomed to +notice every expression of the countenance, they would discover at a +single glance when they were suspected, and remove the suspicion at once +by some clever device. Sometimes one of them, seeing himself watched, +would quietly ascend the steps of a residence, and ringing the bell, +make some inquiry as though he were on business, and then deliberately +walk off; or if he thought it would not do to have his face too +closely scanned, he would step inside and wait till the crowd moved on. +Sometimes, with a stone or club in their hands, they would shout +with the loudest, and engaging in conversation with the ringleaders +themselves, ascertain their next move; then quietly slip away to the +nearest station, and telegraph to head-quarters the information. When +the telegraph had been cut off, they had to take the place of the +wires, and carry through the very heart of the crowd their news to the +department. + +On their ears again and again would ring the fearful cry, "There +goes Kennedy's spies;" and it required the most consummate acting and +self-possession to allay the suspicion. Often on a single word or act +hinged their very lives. Some of these men were in the mob that made the +first attack on Mayor Opdyke's house, and while apparently acting with +it, learned of the intended movement down to police head-quarters, and +at once telegraphed the fact, which enabled Carpenter to prepare for +them, and give them the terrible beating we have described. At the +burning and sacking of different buildings they were present, and often +would follow unnoticed the ringleaders for hours, tracking them with the +tireless tenacity of a sleuth hound, until they got them separate from +the crowd, and then pounce suddenly upon them, and run them into the +nearest station. The lawlessness that prevailed not only let loose all +the thieves and burglars of the city, but attracted those from other +places, who practised their vocation with impunity. To lessen this +evil, the detectives one night quietly made visits to some half a dozen +"lushing cribs," as they are called, in Eighth and Fourteenth Streets, +and seized about thirty noted thieves, burglars, and garroters, and +locked them up for safe-keeping. They also warned the negroes of +threatened danger, and directed them, to places of safety; and in case +of emergency acted as guides to the military in their operations. In +short, they were ubiquitous, indefatigable, and of immense service. They +played the part of unerring pointers to the commissioners, telling them +when and where to strike; yet strange to say, such was their skill, +their ingenuity, and exhaustless resources, that they all escaped being +assaulted, save one named Slowly. He was passing through the very +heart of the riotous district, in Second Avenue, when some one who had +evidently been once in his clutches, recognized him, and pointing him +out, shouted "Detective!" Instantly a rush was made for him, and he was +knocked down, and kicked and stamped upon. Regaining, with a desperate +effort, his feet, he sprang up the steps of a house, and fought his +assailants fiercely, till the lady of the house, seeing his perilous +situation, courageously opened the door and let him in, and then bolted +and barred it in the face of the mob. Through some strange apprehension, +the baffled wretches, though they howled, and swore, and threatened, did +not force an entrance, and he escaped. + +In this connection, while speaking of those whose duties were uniform +and running through the whole period of the riots, might be mentioned +Seth C. Hawley, the chief clerk. Like Acton, he has a nervous, wiry +temperament. This often makes a man rash and headlong, and hence not +reliable; but when combined, as in him, with perfect self-possession +and self-control, imparts enormous power. It matters not how nervous and +excitable a man is, if danger and responsibility instead of confusing +and unsettling him, only winds him up to a higher tension, till he +becomes like a tightly-drawn steel spring. Excitement then not only +steadies him, but it quickens his perceptions, clears his judgment, +gives rapidity to his decisions, and terrible force to his blow. Mr. +Hawley's duties were of a various and exhausting kind, so that during +all the riots, he allowed himself only one hours' rest out of every +twenty-four. Besides his ordinary supervisory duties over the clerks, +etc., he had to see to the execution of the almost incessant orders +of the commissioners, provide and issue arms, see to the refugees and +prisoners, and act as commissary to over four thousand men on duty in +and around head-quarters. Two men more perfectly fitted to work together +in such a crisis as this, than he and Acton, could not well be found. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +SECOND DAY. + +Appearance of the City.--Assembling of the Mob.--Fight between Rioters +and the Police and Soldiers.--Storming of Houses.--Rioters hurled +from the Roofs.--Soldiers fire on the People.--Awful Death of +Colonel O'Brien.--Fight in Pitt Street.--Deadly Conflict for a Wire +Factory.--Horrible Impaling of a Mart on an Iron Picket.--Mystery +attached to Him.--Second Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House.--Second +Fight for the Wire Factory.--Telegraphic Dispatches.--Citizens +Volunteering.--Raid on the Negroes.--They are hunted to Death.--Savage +Spectacle.--Negroes seek Head-quarters of Police.--Appearance and State +of the City.--Colonel Nugent's House sacked.--Fight with the Mob in +Third Avenue.--Battle at Gibbon's House.--Policeman Shot.--Night +Attack on Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store.--Value of the Telegraph +System.--Captain Petty.--Seymour's Speech to the Mob.--Cars and Stages +seized.--Barricades.--Other Fights.--Acton and his Labors. + +The early July morning broke tranquilly over the great city, and the +rattling of vehicles was heard in some of the streets, where men were +going to their places of business. In a large portion of it everything +wore its usual air of tranquillity, yet a close observer would notice an +uneasiness resting on the countenances of men. Furtive glances were +cast down side streets, and people seemed on the watch, as though in +expectation of something to come, and the very atmosphere appeared laden +with evil omens. Around police head-quarters, and inside the building, +were large bodies of policemen and the U. S. troops under General Brown. +But uptown, in the vicinity of Thirteenth Street and Second and Third +Avenues, crowds of men began early to assemble, though perfectly quiet +in their demeanor, while smaller knots in the adjoining wards could be +seen discussing the events of the day before. In the meantime, exciting +reports came from Harlem and Yorkville--as early as five o'clock, the +following telegram was sent to the Twentieth Precinct: "Notify General +Sandford to go immediately to Eighty-sixth Street and Harlem--mob +burning." Indeed the air was charged with electricity, but the +commissioners now felt ready to meet the storm whenever and wherever +it should burst. A large force of special policemen had been sworn in, +while General Brown had over seven hundred troops, ready to co-operate +with the police. The public buildings were all well guarded--Sandford +had a strong force in the arsenal, and the military and civil +authorities stood waiting the next movement of the mob. Telegrams +arriving, showed that the northern part of the city was alive with +gathering crowds, while from Sixth Avenue on the west nearly to Second +Avenue in the east, and down almost to Broome Street, the streets were +black with excited men. Stores were closed, factories emptied of their +hands, who voluntarily joined the rioters, or were forced into their +ranks, and there was evidently a gathering of the elements in those +directions for a fearful storm. Soon immense crowds began to patrol the +streets in different wards, showing that simultaneous action would be +required at various points. The troops were called out and marshalled in +Mulberry Street, and those companies selected for immediate action drawn +up in line. Colonel Frothingham, after an earnest conversation with the +officers, addressed the soldiers. He told them that the fate of the +city was in their hands, and everything depended on their good conduct. +Knowing the temptations to disorderly conduct in the midst of the great +city, he urged on them especially to obey implicitly their officers +under all circumstances. His manner and words were earnest, and listened +to with profound attention. Soon a company headed by Sergeant Carpenter, +with a police force two hundred and fifty strong, started for Second and +Third Avenues, where the greatest gatherings were reported to be. + +At this time the rioters seemed hesitating about their course of action. +There was apparently no recognized leader, no common understanding and +purpose, though all were engaged in animated discussions of some topic. +Dirty, ferocious-looking women were scattered through the crowd; some of +the men were armed, while all looked defiant and determined. + +There were doubtless many who had come from mere curiosity, and a few +attempted to allay the excitement, among them a Catholic priest, who +harangued them, urging them to maintain peace. His address seemed to +have considerable influence on those immediately around him; but as soon +as he left, his words were forgotten, and the mighty throng, estimated +by some at ten thousand, began to be agitated by passion. What would +have been the first act of violence, it is impossible to say, had they +been left undisturbed. But at the cry of "the police and soldiers are +coming," everything else was forgotten. + +Inspector Carpenter, coming down Twenty-first Street, struck Second +Avenue, and wheeling, moved in solid column through the crowd up to +Thirty-second Street. The force was assailed with hoots and yells, and +all kinds of opprobrious epithets, but no violence was shown, until it +had crossed Thirty-second Street. The mob not only filled the street, +but numbers, with piles of stones and brick-bats, had climbed to the +roofs of the houses. These deeming themselves secure, suddenly, with one +accord, rained their missiles on the rear of the column. + +The men fell rapidly, and two were dangerously hurt. Carpenter +immediately halted his command, and ordered fifty men to enter the +houses, and mounting to the roof, clear them of the assailants. +Barricaded doors were at once broken in, and every one that opposed +their progress clubbed without mercy, as they made their way to the +upper floors. Captain Mount of the Eleventh Precinct, led this storming +party. Officers Watson and Cole distinguished themselves by being the +first on the roof, fighting their way through a narrow scuttle. As +the police, one by one, stepped on to the roof, they rushed on the +desperadoes with their clubs, and felled them rapidly. Those who +attempted to escape through the scuttles were met by the police in the +rooms below; or if one chanced to reach the street, he was knocked down +by those keeping guard there. Some dropped from second and third story +windows, and met with a worse fate than those who staid behind. One huge +fellow received such a tremendous blow, that he was knocked off his feet +and over the edge of the roof, and fell headlong down a height of four +stories to the pavement beneath. Crushed to death by the force of the +fall, he lay a mangled heap at the feet of his companions. + +The fight was sharp and fierce, and kept up for nearly an hour, and +bodies scattered around showed with what deadly force the club had been +wielded. But with the clearing of the houses there came a lull in the +conflict, and the immense crowd looked on in sullen silence, as the +police reformed in the street, and recommenced their march. The military +force that had accompanied the police, had formed on the avenue, about +a block and a half above where the latter were stationed, while the +detachment was clearing the houses. Two howitzers were placed in +position commanding the avenue. Colonel O'Brien, of the Eleventh New +York Volunteers, who was raising a regiment for the war, had gathered +together, apparently on his own responsibility, about fifty men, and +appearing on the field, from his superior rank, assumed command. For a +short time the rioters remained quiet, but as the police marched away, +they suddenly awoke out of their apparent indifference. Maddened at the +sight of the mangled bodies of their friends stretched on the pavement, +and enraged at their defeat by the police, they now turned on the +soldiers, and began to pelt them with stones and brick-bats. O'Brien +rode up and down the centre of the street a few times, evidently +thinking his fearless bearing would awe the mob. But they only jeered +him, and finding the attack growing hotter and more determined, he +finally gave the order to fire. The howitzers belched forth on the +crowd, the soldiers levelled their pieces, and the whistling of +minie-balls was heard on every side. Men and women, reeled and fell on +the sidewalk and in the street. One woman, with her child in her arms, +fell, pierced with a bullet. The utmost consternation followed. The +crowd knew from sad experience that the police would use their clubs, +but they seemed to think it hardly possible that the troops would +fire point-blank into their midst. But the deadly effect of the fire +convinced them of their error, and they began to jostle and crowd each +other in the effort to get out of its range. In a few minutes the avenue +was cleared of the living, when the wounded and dead were cared for by +their friends. Order had been restored, and O'Brien, with some twenty +or thirty men, marched down to police head-quarters, and offered his +services to Genera Brown. Colonel Frothingham thanked him, but soon saw +that the Colonel was not in a fit state to have command of troops, and +so reported to General Brown. O'Brien appeared to comprehend the state +of things, and asked to be excused on the plea of sickness. He was +excused, and rode away. Whether he disbanded his handful of men, or they +disbanded themselves, was not stated, but _he_ was soon back again at +the scene of the riot. His residence was close by, but had been deserted +that morning by the family, which had fled in alarm to Brooklyn. +Scowling visages lowered on the colonel, as he rode slowly back among +the crowd, and low muttered threats were heard. Although an Irishman, +and well-known in that neighborhood, his sympathy with the Government +had awakened more or less hostile feeling against him, which his conduct +to-day kindled into deadly hate. Apparently unconscious or reckless of +this, he dismounted, and entered a neighboring drug-store or saloon. +After remaining a few moments he came out, and paused as he beheld the +crowd that had assembled around the door. There was little said, but +dark and angry countenances were bent on him from every side, and he saw +that mischief was intended. Drawing his sword, and taking a revolver in +the other hand, he deliberately walked out into the street. He had taken +but a few steps, when a powerful blow on the back of his head made him +stagger forward. In an instant a rush was made for him, and blows +were rained so fast and fierce upon him, that he was unable to defend +himself. Knocked down and terribly mangled, he was dragged with savage +brutality over the rough pavement, and swung from side to side like a +billet of wood, till the large, powerful body was a mass of gore, and +the face beaten to a pumice. The helpless but still animate form would +then be left awhile in the street, while the crowd, as it swayed to and +fro, gazed on it with cool indifference or curses. At length a Catholic +priest, who had either been sent for, or came along to offer his +services wherever they might be needed, approached the dying man and +read the service of the Catholic Church over him, the crowd in the +meantime remaining silent. After he had finished, he told them to +leave the poor man alone, as he was fast sinking. But as soon as he had +disappeared, determined to make sure work with their victim, they again +began to pound and trample on the body. In the intervals of the attack, +the still living man would feebly lift his head, or roll it from side to +side on the stones, or heave a faint groan. + +The whole afternoon was spent in this fiendish work, and no attempt was +made to rescue him. Towards sundown the body was dragged into his own +back-yard, his regimentals all torn from him, except his pantaloons, +leaving the naked body, from the waist up, a mass of mangled flesh +clotted with blood. + +But the dying man could not be left alone in his own yard. A crowd +followed him thither, among which were women, who committed the most +atrocious violence on the body, until at last, with one convulsive +movement of the head, and a deep groan, the strong man yielded up his +life. + +While this tragedy was being enacted here, similar scenes were occurring +all over the city. Mobs were everywhere, the spirit of pandemonium was +abroad, and havoc and revenge let loose. + +Lieutenant Wood, whom General Brown had sent off, with a company of +regulars, came in conflict with a mob, two thousand strong, in Pitt and +Delancey Streets. Marching along Houston to the Bowery, he turned down +the latter, and kept on to Grand. On reaching Pitt Street, he beheld +the hooting, yelling crowd coming straight towards him. He immediately +formed his little force of one hundred and fifty men in line across +the street, and brought them to "shoulder arms." One of the ringleaders +stepped forward to speak to him, when Lieutenant Wood waved him off. +This was the signal for the attack, and immediately a shower of stones +fell among the soldiers. The officer ordered the men to fire--it was +said over the heads of the rioters--in order to disperse them. The +result was scattering shots in return from the latter. Wood then ordered +a point-blank volley, when men tumbled over right and left. The crowd +did not wait for a second, but fled in every direction. Wood then +marched back to headquarters, but on the way slipped and sprained his +ankle, which caused a report that he had been wounded. + +A bloody conflict also took place between the police and mob in the same +avenue where Colonel O'Brien fell, below Thirtieth Street. There was a +wire factory here, in which several thousand carbines were stored. +Of this, some of the rioters were aware, and communicated the fact to +others, and a plan was formed to capture them. Having discovered from +the morning's experience that the military had been called in to aid +the police, arms became imperatively necessary, if they hoped to make +a successful resistance. All public depositories of arms they knew were +guarded, but this factory was not, and hence they resolved to capture it +without delay. Swarming around it, they forced the entrance, and began +to throw out the carbines to their friends. The attack, however, had +been telegraphed to head-quarters, and Inspector Dilks was despatched +with two hundred men to save the building, and recover any arms that +might be captured. He marched rapidly up to Twenty-first Street, and +down it to the avenue. Here he came suddenly upon the mob, that blocked +the entire street. As the head of the force appeared, the rioters, +instead of being frightened, greeted it with jeers and curses. It was +two hundred against a thousand; but the inspector did not hesitate a +moment on account of the inequality of numbers, but instantly formed +his men and ordered a charge. The mob, instead of recoiling, closed +desperately on the police, and a fierce hand-to-hand encounter took +place. The clubs, however, mowed a clean swath along the street, and the +compact little force pushed like a wedge into the throng, and cleared a +bloody space for itself. The orders were to recapture all the arms; for +this was of more vital importance than the capture of men. Wherever, +therefore, a musket was seen, a man would dash for it, and, seizing it, +fight his way back into line. On the pavement, the sidewalk, and in the +gutters, men lay bleeding and dying, until at last, the more resolute +having been knocked on the head, the vast crowd, like a herd of buffalo, +broke and tore madly down the street. One of the leaders was a man +of desperate courage, and led on the mob with reckless fury, though +bleeding freely from the terrible punishment he received. As his +comrades turned to flee, leaving him alone, a fearful blow sent him +reeling and staggering towards the sidewalk. As he reached it, he fell +heavily over against the iron railing, and his chin striking one of the +iron pickets, the sharp point entered it and penetrated through to the +roof of his mouth. No one noticed him, or if they did, paid no attention +to him in the headlong flight on the one hand, and swift pursuit on the +other. Thus horridly impaled, his body hanging down along the sidewalk, +the wretched man was left to die. At length Captain Hedden noticed him, +and lifting up the corpse, laid it down on the sidewalk. It was found, +to the surprise of all, to be that of a young man of delicate features +and white, fair skin. "Although dressed as a laborer, in dirty overalls +and filthy shirt, underneath these were fine cassimere pants, handsome, +rich vest, and fine linen shirt." [Footnote: D.M. Barnes.] He was +evidently a man in position far above the rough villains he led on, but +had disguised himself so, as not to be known. He never was known. The +corpse, during the fight that followed, disappeared with the bodies of +many others. + +The street being cleared, Dilks turned his attention to the factory, +which was filled with armed rioters, who were determined to defend it +to the last. Detaching a portion of his force, he ordered it to take the +building by storm. Dashing over all obstacles, the men won the stairway +step by step, and entering the main room on the second story, felled a +man at almost every blow. Those who succeeded in escaping down-stairs +were knocked on the head by the force in the street, and soon no rioters +were left but the dead and dying. How many fell in this fight it is +impossible to tell; but one physician alone dressed the wounds of +twenty-one desperately wounded men. Taking what guns they could find and +had captured in the street, the force marched triumphantly back, cheered +on their way by the spectators. + +In the meantime, Mayor Opdyke's house in Fifth Avenue had again been +attacked and partially sacked. Captain Maniere, one of the provost +marshals, however, assembled a small force, and drove out the rioters, +who were mostly young men and boys, before the work of destruction was +complete. The news of this attack had been telegraphed to head-quarters +of the police, and Captain Helme, of the Twenty-seventh Precinct, +despatched to its defence. At his approach the rioters dispersed. +Soon after, he was ordered with his command over to the Second Avenue, +accompanied by a detachment of troops under Captain Franklin. This was +in the afternoon--the mob had reassembled, and reinforced by those who +had been dispersed at Thirty-fourth Street, where Colonel O'Brien fell, +had overcome the small body of police at the wire factory, and again +taken possession of it. They had found some boxes of guns that had been +overlooked by Dilks, and having armed themselves, determined to hold +it. Even women joined in the defence. As the force approached, it was +greeted with shouts of defiance and missiles of every kind. An immense +crowd was gathered outside, while the windows of the five-story building +were filled with angry, excited faces, and arms wildly gesticulating. +Charging on this dense mass, and clubbing their way to the building, the +police entered it, and streaming up the stairways, cleared it floor by +floor, some being knocked senseless, others leaping from windows, to be +killed by the fall, and others escaping down-stairs, to be met by the +force in the street. A thorough search was now made for arms, and the +building emptied of them. Taking possession of these, the police and +military took up their line of march for head-quarters. They had not +proceeded far, however, before the mob that had scattered in every +direction began to pour back again into the avenue, and close on the +military that were bringing up the rear. Following them with hoots and +yells that were unheeded, they became emboldened, and pressing nearer, +began to hurl stones and bricks, and everything they could lay their +hands on, against the soldiers. The latter bore it for awhile patiently; +but this only made the wretches more fierce and daring. Seeing there +was but one way to end this, Captain Franklin ordered his men to "About +face;" and "ready, aim, fire," fell in quick succession. The yelling, +shouting crowd were in point-blank range, and the volley told with +deadly effect. The street was strewed with dead and dying, while the +living fled down the avenue. + +In the meantime, mobs had sprung up in every part of the city; some +larger and some smaller; some after negroes, others firing buildings or +sacking them. + +Some idea of the pressure on the Police Commissioners during this +forenoon, and the condition the city was in, may be gathered from the +following despatches, which are only a small portion of those received +and answered in two hours: + +10.20. From Thirteenth. Send military here immediately. + +10.22. To Seventh. Find military and send them to Thirteenth Street +forthwith. + +10.45. From Sixteenth. A mob has just attacked Jones' soap factory; +stores all closed. + +10.50. To Twenty-sixth. Tell Inspector Leonard to send one hundred men +here forthwith. + +10.55. To Twentieth. From General Brown. Send to arsenal and say a heavy +battle is going on. Captain Wilkins and company of regulars will report +to me here at once. + +11.18. From Sixteenth. Mob is coming down to station-house; we have no +men. + +11.20. From Eighteenth. The mob is very wild, corner Twenty-second +Street and Second Avenue. They have attacked the Union steam factory. + +11.35. To Twenty-sixth. Send another one hundred men here forthwith. + +11.35. From Twentieth. Send one hundred men to disperse mob assailing +Mayor Opdyke's house. + +11.38. To Twenty-first. Can you send a few men here? + +11.40. From Twenty-second. The mob has gone to Mr. Higgins' factory, +foot of Forty-third Street, to burn it. + +11.45. From Eighteenth. What shall we do? The mob is about 4,500 strong. + +_Answer_. Clear them down, if you can. + +11.50. From Eighteenth. We must leave; the mob is here with guns. + +11.50. From Twentieth. Mob tearing up track on Eleventh Avenue. + +11.58. The mob have just sacked a large gun-store in Grand Street, and +are armed, and are on the way to attack us. + +12.10. To Fifteenth. Send your men here forthwith. + +12.35. From Twentieth. Send two hundred men forthwith to Thirty-fifth +Street arsenal. + +12.36. From Twenty-first. The mob have just broken open a gun-store on +Third Avenue, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets, and are +arming. + +12.40. From Twenty-first. Send help--the crowd is desperate. + +And so on. + +Between these rapid telegrams asking for help, were others making and +answering inquiries. And so it was kept up from daylight till midnight +for three days in succession. These urgent calls for help coming from +every quarter at the same time, would have thrown into inextricable +confusion a less clear head than Acton's. It was a terrible strain on +him, and had it continued a little longer, would have cost him his life. +In the midst of it all he received anonymous letters, telling him he had +but one more day to live. + +But while the police head-quarters were thus crowded with business, and +the commissioners were straining every nerve to meet the frightful state +of things in the city, other means were being taken to add to their +efficiency. + +Governor Seymour had reached the city, and after being closeted with +Mayor Opdyke, had issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to +disperse, and saying that they would be put down at all hazards. + +At a meeting of the merchants and bankers in Wall Street, it was +resolved to close up business, and form volunteer companies of a hundred +men each, to serve under the military. General Wetmore was one of the +first to offer his services. The high-spirited citizen, William E. +Dodge, was among the most prominent advocates of the measure, and soon +found himself a captain under orders. The steamboat of the harbor police +was busy in bringing troops and cannon from Riker's and Governor's +Island, and rapidly steaming from point to point on the river, to +prevent destruction around the docks. Around the arsenal cannon were +placed. At the city armory, corner of White and Elm Streets, were a +company of the Eighty-fourth New York Militia, and some of the Zouaves +and other troops. The Sub-treasury and Custom House were defended by the +Tenth National Zouaves and a hundred and fifty armed citizens. In front +of the Government stores in Worth and White streets, the Invalid Corps +and a company of marines patrolled, while howitzers loaded with grape +and canister, stood on the corner of the street. Nearly four hundred +citizens had been sworn in at police head-quarters as special policemen, +and had been furnished with clubs and badges. All this time the fight +was going on in every direction, while the fire-bells continually +ringing increased the terror that every hour became more wide-spread. +Especially was this true of the negro population. From the outset, they +had felt they were to be objects of vengeance, and all day Monday and +to-day those who could leave, fled into the country. They crowded the +ferry-boats in every direction, fleeing for life. But old men and women, +and poor families, were compelled to stay behind, and meet the fury of +the mob, and to-day it became a regular hunt for them. A sight of one in +the streets would call forth a halloo, as when, a fox breaks cover, and +away would dash a half a dozen men in pursuit. Sometimes a whole crowd +streamed after with shouts and curses, that struck deadly terror to the +heart of the fugitive. If overtaken, he was pounded to death at once; +if he escaped into a negro house for safety, it was set on fire, and +the inmates made to share a common fate. Deeds were done and sights +witnessed that one would not have dreamed of, except among savage +tribes. + +At one time there lay at the corner of Twenty seventh-Street and Seventh +Avenue the dead body of a negro, stripped nearly naked, and around it +a collection of Irishmen, absolutely dancing or shouting like wild +Indians. Sullivan and Roosevelt Streets are great negro quarters, +and here a negro was afraid to be seen in the street. If in want of +something from a grocery, he would carefully open the door, and look +up and down to see if any one was watching, and then steal cautiously +forth, and hurry home on his errand. Two boarding-houses here were +surrounded by a mob, but the lodgers, seeing the coming storm, fled. The +desperadoes, finding only the owner left behind, wreaked their vengeance +on him, and after beating him unmercifully, broke up the furniture, +and then fired the buildings. A German store near by, because it was +patronized extensively by negroes, shared the same fate, after its +contents had been distributed among themselves. A negro barber's shop +was next attacked, and the torch applied to it. A negro lodging-house in +the same street next received the visit of these furies, and was soon +a mass of ruins. Old men, seventy years of age, and young children, too +young to comprehend what it all meant, were cruelly beaten and killed. +The spirit of hell seemed to have entered the hearts of these men, and +helpless womanhood was no protection against their rage. Sometimes a +stalwart negro would break away from his murderers, and run for his +life. With no place of safety to which he could flee, he would be headed +off in every direction, and forced towards the river. Driven at last to +the end of a pier, he would leap off, preferring to take his chances in +the water rather than among these bloody men. If bruised and beaten in +his desperate struggle for life, he would soon sink exhausted with his +efforts. Sometimes he would strike out for a ship, but more often dive +under the piers, and hold on to a timber for safety, until his yelling +pursuers had disappeared, when he would crawl stealthily out, and with +terrified face peer in every direction to see if they had gone. Two were +thus run off together into the East River. It was a strange spectacle to +see a hundred Irishmen pour along the streets after a poor negro. If +he could reach a police station he felt safe; but, alas! if the force +happened to be away on duty, he could not stay even there. Whenever +the police could strike the track of the mad hunt, they stopped it +summarily, and the pursuers became the pursued, and received the +punishment they had designed for the negro. All this was in the +nineteenth century, and in the metropolis of the freest and most +enlightened nation on earth. + +[Image: Hanging and burning a negro in Clarkson Street.] + +The hunt for these poor creatures became so fearful, and the utter +impossibility to protect them in their scattered localities so apparent, +that they were received into the police stations. But these soon proved +inadequate, and they were taken to head-quarters and the arsenal, where +they could be protected against the mob. Here the poor creatures were +gathered by hundreds, and slept on the floor, and were regularly fed by +the authorities. + +It is impossible to give a detailed account of what transpired in every +part of the city. If there had been a single band of rioters, no matter +how large, a force of military and police, properly armed, could have +been concentrated to have dispersed it. But bodies of men, larger or +smaller, bent on violence and devastation, were everywhere; even out at +Harlem eight buildings were burned, and the lower end of Westchester +was in a state of agitation and alarm. A mob of thousands would be +scattered, only to come together at other points. A body of police and +military plunging through the heaving multitude, acted often only as a +stone flung into the water, making but a momentary vacuum. Or, if they +did not come together again, they swung off only to fall in, and be +absorbed by a crowd collected in another part of the city. The alarm +of Monday had only been partial, but to-day it culminated. Families, +husbands, and sons left their business, and with arms patrolled the +streets. Stores were shut up, stages and cars stopped running, and all +business was suspended. + +The blood flowing through the thousand arteries of this great mart +seemed suddenly frozen in its channels, and its mighty pulsations to +stop at the mandate of lawless men. The city held its breath in +dread, but there were firm hearts at police head-quarters. Acton never +flinched, and in General Brown he found a soldier that knew his duty, +and would do it at all hazards. Still, the uprising kept swelling into +vaster proportions, embracing a still larger territory. + +Broadway was deserted. A few hacks could be seen, but with very +different occupants than those which they ordinarily contained. The +iron shutters were closed on the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and a stack of arms +stood in the hall-way. Crowds of respectable citizens, not on duty, were +making all haste toward railroad depots and steamboat landings. Every +boat, as it swung from the dock, was loaded to its utmost capacity with +people leaving a city that seemed doomed to destruction; going, many +knew not where, only out of New York. Cars were packed, and long trains +were made up to carry the crowds in haste to get away. But travel on the +Hudson River Road was soon stopped by the mob, that tore up the track to +prevent communication with other parts of the State, and the arrival of +troops. + +The Harlem and Third Avenue tracks were also torn up, as the rioters +were determined to isolate the great city, which they had doomed to +destruction. Passing from one object to another, now acting as if from +plan, and now intent only on destruction and plunder, the crowd streamed +from point to point with shouts and yells, that sent terror through the +adjoining streets. Suddenly, some one remembered that they were in the +vicinity of Colonel Nugent's house, in Yorkville, the assistant provost +marshal general, and shouting out the news, a rush was made for it, and +it was sacked from top to bottom. + +As the police were gathered together either at the precinct stations or +head-quarters, ordinary patrol duty was out of the question; hence, +many isolated, acts of violence could be committed with impunity. This +freedom from close surveillance, coupled with the contagion of the +lawless spirit which was abroad, made every section of the city where +the lower classes lived more or less restless. It was impossible for the +police to divide itself up so to furnish protection in individual cases, +and yet be in sufficient force to cope with the mobs, that numbered by +thousands. Although the whole city was heaving like a troubled sea, yet +the main gathering this day had been in the upper part and on both +sides of it. The terrific contests we described farther back were in +the Second Avenue, on the east side, but, nearly opposite, in the Sixth +Avenue, crowds had been gathering since early in the forenoon. + +For a long time they swayed backward and forward, apparently without +any definite purpose, and moved only by the spirit of disorder that +had taken possession of the city. But about two o'clock, these various +bodies began by mutual attraction to flow together, and soon became +one immense mass, and impelled by some information or other, gathered +threateningly around a large mansion on the corner of Forty-sixth +Street and Fifth Avenue. They had supplied themselves with all sorts of +weapons, revolvers, old muskets, stones, clubs, barrel-staves--in short, +everything that could be found, that might be of service in a fight--and +soon commenced plundering the residence. But their movements had been +telegraphed to head-quarters, and Captain Walling, of the Twentieth +Precinct, was dispatched thither, with a company of regulars under +Captain Putnam, a descendant of "Old Put." The report soon spread +through the crowd, that bayonets could be seen coming up the avenue. +Marching up to Forty-sixth Street, the force turned into it, towards +the Fifth Avenue; and breaking into the charge step, with the order "no +prisoners" ringing in their ears, struck the mob almost in the +centre, cutting it in two, like a mighty cleaver. There was no need of +bayonets--the police, at the head of the military, went right through +it, and scattered the men in every direction. The force then divided +into squads, and each one taking a section of the mob, followed it up +on a swift run, and smote them right and left for several blocks. The +larger portion went down Sixth Avenue, and seeing only a portion of the +police pursuing, turned and showed fight, when the leader received a +bullet in the head and fell. Seeing their leader fall, the mob wheeled +and took to their heels. + +Captain Walling in one instance saw a crowd with fire-arms standing in +an alley-way. Just then a fire-engine and company came down the street, +and he with his small force got behind it, and kept concealed until +opposite the unsuspecting crowd, when, with a shout, they dashed on it. +A volley received them,--with answering volley, the police charged into +the narrow opening. The rioters fled into a tenement-house, from which +came yells and screams of terrified women and children. Walling had some +sharpshooters with him, to pick off those beyond the reach of the clubs. +One fellow, armed, was seen astraddle of the ridge pole of a house. The +next moment a sharpshooter covered him, and he tumbled headlong to the +ground. The same afternoon he saw some twenty or thirty men attempting +to stave in a hardware store, evidently after pistols. Walling charged +on them alone, and with one terrible blow, his club sent the leader to +the pavement with his brains oozing out. + +Although the draft was almost forgotten by the rioters, in the thirst +for plunder and blood, still men in the streets and some of the papers +talked of its being unconstitutional, and to be contested in the +courts--others that it had been and would be suspended, as though any +disposal of it now could affect the conduct of the rioters. Force was +the only argument they would listen to. The riot had almost ceased to +wear any political aspect since the attack on the _Tribune_ office, the +day before, had been defeated. An occasional shout or the sight of a +negro might now and then remind one of its origin, but devastation and +plunder were the great objects that urged on the excited masses. The +sacking of Opdyke's house was done chiefly by a few youngsters, who were +simply following the example set them the day before; while the burning +of negro buildings, the chasing and killing of negroes, seemed to have +only a remote connection with the draft, and was simply the indulgence +of a hatred they were hitherto afraid to gratify. So the setting fire +to the Weehawken ferry afterwards, could be made to grow out of +politics only so far as a man who kept a liquor saloon there was a known +Republican. This seemed a weak inducement to draw a crowd so far, when +more distinguished victims were all around them. It is more probable +that some personal enemy of parties in the vicinity, finding the mob +ready to follow any cry, led them thither; for one man seemed to be the +leader, who, mounted on a fine cavalry horse, and brandishing a sword, +galloped backwards and forwards through the crowd, giving his orders +like a field officer. Mobs springing up everywhere, and flowing together +often apparently by accident, each pursuing a different object: one +chasing negroes and firing their dwellings; others only sacking; a +house, and others still, wreaking their vengeance on station-houses, +while scores, the moment they got loaded down with plunder, hastened +away to conceal it--all showed that the original cause of the uprising +had been forgotten. A strong uncertainty seemed at times to keep them +swaying backwards and forwards, as though seeking a definite object, or +waiting for an appointed signal to move, and then at some shout would +rush for a building, a negro, or station-house. + +The mob was a huge monster--frightful both in proportions and +appearance, yet not knowing where or how to use its strength. The attack +on Mr. Gibbon's house at Twenty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, during +this afternoon, was attributed to the fact that he was Mr. Greeley's +cousin, and that the former sometimes slept there--rather a far-fetched +inference, as though a mob would be aware of a fact that probably not a +dozen immediate neighbors knew. + +Some one person might have raised a cry of "Greeley's house," which +would have been sufficient to insure its destruction. The police being +notified of this attack, sent a squad of men with a military force to +disperse the mob. Captain Ryer formed his troops in front of the house, +and Sergeant Devoursney did the same with a part of his men, while the +other portion was sent into the building, that was filled with men, +women, and children, loading themselves down with the spoils. The +appearance of the caps and clubs in the rooms created a consternation +that would have been ludicrous, but for the serious work that followed. +No defence was made, except by a few persons singly. One fellow advanced +to the door with a pistol in his hand, and fired, sending a ball through +Officer Hill's thigh. The next instant the latter felled him to the +floor with his club, and before he could even attempt to rise he was +riddled with balls. Some of the women fell on their knees, and shrieked +for mercy; while one strong Irish woman refused to yield her plunder, +and fought like a tigress. She seized an officer by the throat, and +trying to strangle and bite him, would not let go till a blow sobered +her into submission. + +Some were loaded with shawls and dresses, and one burly, +ferocious-looking Irishman carried under his arm a huge bundle of select +music. As the police chased the plunderers down-stairs, and out into the +street, in some unaccountable way the troops got so confused that they +fired a volley that swept the police as well as the rioters. Officer +Dipple was so severely wounded that he died the following Sunday, while +Officers Hodson and Robinson both received flesh wounds. + +In the upper part of the city, few buildings, except those too near +police and army head-quarters, or too well defended, offered much spoil +except private houses, and these had been the chief objects of attack. +But Brooks and Brothers' clothing store in Catharine Street, situated in +a part of the city thickly populated with the very class mobs are made +of, became toward evening an object of great attraction to groups of +hard-looking men and women. As night settled down, the heavens being +overcast, it became very dark; for in all the neighboring houses the +lights were extinguished by the inmates, who were terribly alarmed at +the rapidly increasing crowd in the street. To deepen and complete the +gloom the rioters turned off the gas. Officer Bryan, of the Fourth Ward, +telegraphed to head-quarters the threatening appearance of things, and a +force of fifty or sixty men were at once despatched to the spot. In the +mean time Sergeant Finney, with Platt and Kennedy, stood at the entrance +to defend the building till the police could arrive. + +For awhile the three determined police officers, standing silent in the +darkness, overawed the leaders. But soon from the crowd arose shouts, +amid which were heard the shrill voices of women, crying, "Break open +the store." This was full of choice goods, and contained clothing enough +to keep the mob supplied for years. As the shouts increased, those +behind began to push forward those in front, till the vast multitude +swung heavily towards the three police officers. Seeing this movement, +the latter advanced with their clubs to keep them back. At this, the +shouts and yells redoubled, and the crowd rushed forward, crushing down +the officers by mere weight. They fought gallantly for a few minutes; +but, overborne by numbers, they soon became nearly helpless, and were +terribly beaten and wounded, and with the utmost exertions were barely +able to escape, and make their way back to the station. The mob now had +it all its own way, and rushing against the doors, burst bolts and bars +asunder, and streamed in. But it was dark as midnight inside, and they +could not distinguish one thing from another; not even the passage-ways +to the upper rooms of the building, which was five stories high. They +therefore lighted the gas, and broke out the windows. In a few minutes +the vast edifice was a blaze of light, looking more brilliant from +the midnight blackness that surrounded it. The upturned faces of the +excited, squalid throng below presented a wild and savage spectacle in +the flickering light. Men and women kept pouring in and out, the latter +loaded with booty, making their way home into the adjacent streets, +and the former rushing after their portion of the spoils. Coats and +pantaloons, and clothing of every description, were rapidly borne +away; and it was evident, give them time enough, the crowd would all +disappear, and there would be scarcely enough left to finish the work +of destruction. Thinking only of the rich prize they had gained, they +seemed to forget that retribution was possible, when suddenly the cry +of "Police! police!" sent a thrill of terror through them. Sergeant +Delaney, at the head of his command, marched swiftly down the street, +until close upon the mob, when the order, "Double-quick," was given, and +they burst with a run upon them. For a moment, the solid mass, by +mere weight, bore up against the shock; but the clubs soon made a lane +through it broad as the street. Just then a pistol-shot rung from a +house, almost over their heads. Many of the rioters were armed with +muskets, and the comparatively small police force, seeing that firearms +were to be used, now drew their revolvers, and poured a deadly volley +right into their midst. Several fell at the first discharge; and +immediately terror seized that portion of the multitude nearest the +police, especially the women, and many fell on their knees, crying for +mercy. Others forced their way recklessly over their companions, to get +out of reach. As the police made their way to the front of the store, +they formed line, while Sergeant Matthew, of the First Precinct, with +his men, entered the building. The scene here became more frightful +than the one without. The rioters on the first floor made but little +resistance, and, thinking only of escape, leaped from the windows, and +rushed out of doors like mad creatures. But as they attempted to flee, +those without knocked them over with their clubs. Having cleared this +story, the police mounted to the second, where the rioters, being more +closely penned, showed fight. Pistol-shots rang out, and some of the +police officers had narrow escapes. One powerful bully fought like a +tiger, till two policemen fell upon him with their clubs, and soon left +him stark and stiff. At last they drove the whole crowd into a rear +building, and kept them there till they had time to secure them. + +Just as the store was cleared, Sergeant Carpenter, who had been sent as +a reinforcement in case of need, came up with a hundred and fifty men, +and charging on the crowd, sent them flying down the narrow streets. +After quiet had been restored, a military force arrived and took +possession of the building. + +Just previous to this, another attempt was made to burn the _Tribune_ +building, but was easily repelled. The _Times_ office, near by, warned +by the fate of its neighbor the night before, had established a regular +garrison inside, while it brilliantly illuminated the open space all +around it, in the circle of which the rioters did not care to come. + +The invaluable service of the telegraph was tested to-day, not merely in +enabling General Brown and the commissioners to despatch men quickly to +a threatened point, but to keep a force moving from one ward to another, +as messages came in, announcing the incipient gathering in different +districts. Word sent to the station in the neighborhood where they were +acting, would instantly change their route; and knots of men, which if +left alone would soon have swelled into formidable mobs, were broken up, +for they found military and police force marching down on them before +they could form a plan of action. Nor was this all. A force sent to a +certain point, after dispersing the mob, would be directed to make a +tour through the disaffected districts--all the time keeping up its +communication with head-quarters, so that if any serious demonstration +was made in that section of the city, it could be ordered there at once, +thus saving half the time it would take to march from head-quarters. +Thus, for instance, Captain Petty was ordered this morning to +head-quarters from the City Hall, where he had passed the night, and +directed to take two hundred men (including his own precinct force), and +go to the protection of a soap factory in Sixteenth Street, Eighth and +Ninth Avenues. He moved off his command, marching rapidly up Broadway +and down Sixteenth Street. The mob saw it coming two blocks off, and +immediately scattered in every direction, which awakened the supreme +contempt of the captain. He now marched backward and forward, and +through the cross streets, up as far as Nineteenth Street, scattering +every fragment of the mob that attempted to hold together, and finally +returned to head-quarters. This was a long march, but the men had +scarcely rested, when the captain was hurried off to aid in the +protection at the wire factory in Second Avenue. In the fierce fight +that followed, he, with ten men at his back, charged up the broad +stairway, fighting his way step by step to the fifth story. Caught up +here at the top of the building, the rioters were clubbed without mercy. +Some, to escape the terrible punishment, plunged down the hatchway; +others attempted to dash past the men, and escape down the stairs. +At one time eight bodies lay in the door-way, blocking it up. He then +marched back to head-quarters. He had been marching and fighting all +day. Similar exhausting duties were performed by other commands, both +police and military. Inspector Dilks, with his force gathered from +various precincts, passed the entire day in marching and fighting. The +men, weary and hungry, would reach head-quarters or certain points, +hoping to get a little rest and refreshment, when the hurried order +would come to repair to a point a mile off, where the mob was firing +and sacking houses, and off they would start on the double-quick. +Uncomplaining and fearless of danger, and never counting numbers, both +police and soldiers were everywhere all this day, and proved themselves +as reliable, gallant, and noble a set of men as ever formed or acted as +the police force of any city in the world. + +In the meantime, Governor Seymour and the Mayor of the city were not +idle. The latter at the City Hall, fearing an attack, asked Acton for +a guard of protection, and fifty men were sent him. Report of the mob +assembled there, reached Governor Seymour, at the St. Nicholas, and he +immediately hastened thither, and addressed the crowd from the steps, +which allayed excitement for the time. This speech was variously +commented upon. Some of the criticisms were frivolous, and revealed the +partisan, rather than the honest man. If the Governor had not previously +issued a proclamation to the whole city, in which he declared without +reservation that the mobs should be put down at all hazards--if this +speech had been his only utterance, then the bitter denunciations +against him would have been deserved. It would have been pusillanimous, +cowardly, and unworthy the Governor of the State. But he spoke in his +official capacity, not only firmly, emphatically, and in no ambiguous +terms, but he had hurried up the military, and used every means in his +power to accumulate and concentrate the forces under his control to put +down the riot. No faint-heartedness or sentimental qualmishness marked +any of his official acts. Prompt, energetic, and determined, he placed +no conditions on his subordinates in the manner of putting down the mob, +and restoring the supremacy of the law. But here in this address he was +speaking to men who, as a body at least, had as yet committed no overt +act; and many doubtless were assembled expecting some public declaration +from the City Hall. He was not addressing the plunderers and rioters +that were firing houses and killing negroes, but a mixed assembly, the +excitement of which he thought best to allay, if possible. Some said he +began his address with "My friends;" others, "Fellow-citizens." Whether +he did one, or the other, or neither, is of no consequence and meant +nothing. To have commenced, "Ye villains and cut-throats, disperse at +once, or I'll mow you down with grape-shot!" might have sounded very +brave, but if that was all he was going to say, he had better kept his +room. + +A _proclamation_ like this address would have been infamous. Here +is where the mistake was made in the criticisms heaped upon it. His +official acts were all such as became the Chief Magistrate of New York. +The speech, therefore, must be judged rather by the rules of taste and +propriety, than, by those which apply to him officially. If a man's +official acts are all right, it is unjust to let them go for nothing, +and bring into prominence a short address made without premeditation +in the front of an excited, promiscuous assembly, moved by different +motives. That it was open to criticism in some respects, is true. +It should have been imbued more with the spirit of determination to +maintain order and suppress violence, and less been said of the measures +that had or would be taken to test the constitutionality of the draft, +and of his purpose, if it were decided in the courts to be wrong, +to oppose it. Such talk had better be deferred till after order +is restored. When men begin to burn and plunder dwellings, attack +station-houses, hang negroes, and shoot down policemen, it is too late +to attempt to restore peace by talking about the constitutionality of +laws. The upholding of laws about the constitutionality of which there +is no doubt, is the only thing deserving of consideration. The Common +Council of the city exhibited in this respect a most pusillanimous +spirit, by offering resolutions to have the constitutionality of the law +tested, when, the entire constitution and laws of the State were being +subverted! Unquestionably, some charity should be extended to men who +are pleading for those whose votes elevated them to office. Brutuses +are rare nowadays; and politicians do not like to shoot down their own +voters--they would much rather make more voters out of men no more fit +to exercise the right of suffrage than horses and mules. + +Governed by a similar spirit, Archbishop Hughes, although he had yielded +to the pressure made on him and issued an address to the Irish, calling +on them to abstain from violence, yet accompanied it with a letter to +Horace Grreeley, directly calculated to awaken or intensify, rather than +allay their passions. He more than intimated that they had been +abused and oppressed, and thought it high time the war was ended. +The proclamation was short, but the letter was a long one, full of a +vindictive spirit, and showing unmistakably with whom his sympathies +were. + +Towards evening a mob assembled over in Ninth Avenue, and went to work +with some system and forethought. Instead of wandering round, firing and +plundering as the whim seized them, they began to throw up barricades, +behind which they could rally when the military and police came to +attack them. Indeed, the same thing had been done on the east side of +the city; while railroads had been torn up, and stages stopped, to +keep them from carrying policemen, rapidly from one quarter to another. +During the day, Colonel Frothingham had stood in Third Avenue, and +stopped and emptied every car as it approached, and filled it with +soldiers, to be carried to the upper part of the city. Acton, too, had +sent round to collect all the stages still running in Broadway and the +Bowery, and in a short time they came rumbling into Mulberry Street, +forming a long line in front of head-quarters. A telegram from Second +Avenue demanded immediate help, and the police were bundled into them +and hurried off. One driver refused to stir, saying, roughly, he was +not hired to carry policemen. Acton had no time to argue the case, and +quickly turning to a policeman, he said: "Put that man in cell Number +92." In a twinkling he was jerked from his seat and hurried away. +Turning to another policeman, he said: "Mount that box and drive." The +next moment the stage, with a long string of others, loaded inside and +out with the bluecoats, was whirling through the streets. He had done +the same with the Sixth Avenue cars. The son-in-law of George Law +remonstrated, saying that it would provoke the mob to tear down the +railroad buildings. There was no time to stand on ceremony; the cars +were seized, and the company, to save their property, paid a large sum +to the ringleaders of the rioters. In fact, a great many factories and +buildings were bought off in the same way; so that the leaders drove +quite a thriving business. + +But, as before remarked, the commencement of barricades to obstruct the +movements of the police and military, after the Parisian fashion, was +a serious thing, and must be nipped in the bud; and Captain Walling, of +the Twentieth Precinct, who had been busy in this part of the city +all the afternoon in dispersing the mob, sent to head-quarters for a +military force to help remove them. He also sent to General Sandford, +at the arsenal, for a company of soldiers, which was promised, but never +sent. At six o'clock a force of regulars arrived from General Brown, and +repaired to the Precinct station-house. Captain Slott, of the Twentieth +Precinct, took command of the police force detailed to cooperate with +the troops, but delayed action till the arrival of the company promised +from the arsenal. Meanwhile, the rioters kept strengthening the +barricades between Thirty-seventh and Forty-third Streets, in Eighth +Avenue, by lashing carts, wagons, and telegraph poles together with wire +stripped from the latter. The cross streets were also barricaded. Time +passed on, and yet the bayonets of he expected reinforcement from the +arsenal did not appear. The two commanding officers now began to grow +anxious; it would not do to defer the attack till after dark, for such +work as was before them required daylight. At length, as the sun stooped +to the western horizon, it was resolved to wait no longer, and the order +to move forward was given. As they approached the first barricade, by +Thirty-seventh Street, a volley as poured into them from behind it, +followed by stones and brick-bats. + +The police now fell back to the left, and the regulars advancing, +returned the fire. The rioters, however, stood their ground, and for a +time nothing was heard but the rapid roll of musketry. But the steady, +well-directed fire of the troops, at length began to tell on the mob, +and they at last broke, and fled to the next barricade. The police then +advanced, and tore down the barricade, when the whole force moved on to +the next. Here the fight was renewed, but the close and rapid volley of +the troops soon scattered the wretches, when this also was removed. They +kept on in this way, till the last barricade was abandoned, when the +uncovered crowd broke and fled in wild disorder. The soldiers pressed +after, breaking up into squads, and chasing and firing into the +disjointed fragments as they drifted down the various streets. + +There was more or less disturbance in this section, however, till +midnight. At nine o'clock, an attack was made on a gun and hardware +store, in Thirty-seventh Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, but +Sergeant Petty was sent thither with a small force, and scattered them +at the first charge. At midnight, an attempt was made to destroy the +colored church in Thirtieth Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues; +but before the rioters had accomplished their work, Captain Walling, +with his entire force and the regulars, came up, and though met with a +volley, fell on them in such a headlong charge, that they scattered down +the street. + +All this time the arsenal presented the appearance of a regular camp; +videttes were kept out, sentries established, howitzers commanded the +streets, and everything wore the look of a besieged fortress. + +Sandford, whom Wool wished to take command of all the troops, evidently +thought that he had as much as he could do to hold that building, +without doing anything to quell the riot in the city. + +One of the first companies that came up from the forts the day before, +and hence belonged to General Brown's force, got, no one could hardly +tell how, into the arsenal, and were there cooped up as useless as +though in garrison--for if seven hundred men with cannon sweeping every +approach could not hold it, seven thousand could not. General Brown and +Acton needed this company badly, but how to get it was the question. +Governor Seymour held no direct communication with the Police +Commissioners; for they were not on friendly terms, as they were holding +their places in defiance of him, he having removed them some time +before. Mr. Hawley, the chief clerk, who knew the Governor personally, +acted, therefore, as the channel of communication between them. He now +went to him, and asked him how things were at the arsenal. He replied, +he did not know--no report had been sent him. Hawley then asked him to +send an officer and ascertain, and get back the company belonging to +General Brown's command. He replied he had no one to send. Hawley then +offered to go himself, if he would give an order to this company of +United States troops to report at once to General Brown at police +head-quarters. He did so, and Hawley, reaching the arsenal in safety, +gave the order to the adjutant-general, before calling on Sandford, so +as to be sure it was obeyed. + +On the northern limits of the city, serious disturbances had occurred +during the day, especially in Yorkville, to which Acton was compelled to +send a strong force. The mob also attempted to burn Harlem bridge, but +the heavy rain of the night before had made it so wet that it would not +ignite. Down town, likewise, mobs had assembled before the Western +Hotel and other places, but were dispersed before they had inflicted any +damage. Almost the last act in the evening was an attack on the house of +Mr. Sinclair, one of the owners of the _Tribune_. + +But rioters must eat and sleep like other people, and though knots of +them could be seen in various parts of the city, the main portion seemed +to have retired soon after midnight. + +In the police head-quarters, men were lying around on the floor in the +warm July night, snatching, as best they could, a little repose. General +Brown and staff, in their chairs or stretched on a settee, nodded in +this lull of the storm, though ready at a moment's notice to do their +duty. But there was no rest for Acton. He had not closed his eyes for +nearly forty hours, and he was not to close them for more than forty to +come. + +With his nerves strung to their utmost tension, and resolved to put down +that mob though the streets ran blood, he gave his whole soul to the +work before him. He infused his determined, fearless spirit into every +one who approached him. Anonymous letters, telling him he had not +another day to live, he flung aside with a scornful smile, to attend to +the telegraph dispatches from the different precincts. + +Troops and men were stationed at various points, and gunboats were +patrolling the rivers, and he must be on the alert every moment. The +fate of a great city lay on his heart, and he could not sleep. + +[Illustration: THE DEAD SERGEANT IN 22d STREET] + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +DRAFT RIOT--THIRD DAY. + +Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.--Fight in Eighth +Avenue.--Cannon sweep the Streets.--Narrow Escape of Captain Howell +and Colonel Mott.--Battle for Jackson's Foundry.--Howitzers clear +the Street.--State of Things shown by Telegraph Despatches.--General +Sandford sends out a Force against a Mob, at Corner of Twenty-ninth +Street and Seventh Avenue.--Colonel Gardin's Fight with the Mob.--Is +Wounded.--Mob Victorious.--Dead and Wounded Soldiers left in the +Street.--Captain Putnam sent to bring them away.--Disperses the +Mob.--Terrific Night. + +Tuesday had been a day of constant success to the police and military, +and many thought that the rioters were thoroughly disheartened, and +but little more hard fighting would be done. There had been two days +of exhausting work, and both parties were well tired out. The +commissioners, certainly, could not stand this terrible strain much +longer. Forty-eight hours without sleep or rest, and all the time under +the intensest mental strain, was telling on even the wiry Acton, though +he would confess to no fatigue. + +To one who could take in all that was passing in New York on this +morning, the city would have presented a strange appearance. + +The magnitude and demonstrations of the mob had aroused great fear for +the Navy Yard and the naval property of the Government, and the marine +company that had been on duty with the police was recalled by Admiral +Paulding for their protection; and this morning six war-vessels, +carrying in all over ninety guns, shotted and trained, could be seen +drawn up, so as to command every avenue to the yard, while the iron-clad +battery _Passaic_ and a gun-boat lay off the Battery to protect Fort +Columbus during the absence of its garrison. Marines armed to the teeth, +and howitzers, guarded all the entrances to the Navy Yard. Broadway +was almost deserted--no stages were running, street-cars had +disappeared--only here and there shutters were taken down from the +stores, and it looked like Sabbath day in the city. But at police +head-quarters all was activity. The African church nearly opposite was +filled with soldiers stretched on the seats and floor of the building. +Another house, a few doors from the police building, was also crowded +with soldiers. The owner of this empty house, having sent a flat refusal +to Acton's request for the use of it, the latter quietly told the +policemen to stave in the door. It took but a few minutes to send it +from its hinges; and now the troops were quartered in it also; for all +those in the service of the United States, under General Brown, had +their head-quarters here. + +In the basement of the police building was the telegraph, with the wires +running like nerves to every part of the city, over which inquiries +and answers were continually passing. Rooms all around were filled with +rations obtained from a neighboring grocery and meatmarket, taken with +or without leave. On the main floor, on one side, in their office sat +the weary commissioners; on the other, were Inspectors Carpenter, Dilks, +and Leonard, fit, each one to be a general, while scattered around were +police captains, detectives, and patrolmen. On the second story were +the clerks, copyists, etc.; while the top floor was crowded with colored +refugees, who had fled thither for protection. Some were standing and +conversing, others sitting in groups on boxes, or walking from room +to room; many of these sad and serious, as they thought of missing +relatives and friends, while the colored man placed over them, with +his shirt sleeves rolled up, was, with his assistants, dealing out +provisions. + +But soon it was announced that a vast crowd, numbering some five +thousand, was assembled near Eighth Avenue and Thirty-second Street, +sacking houses and hanging negroes. General Dodge and Colonel Mott, +with Captain Howell, commanding Eighth Regiment Artillery, were at +once despatched thither. As they marched up the avenue, they saw +three negroes hanging dead, while the crowd around filled the air with +fiendish shouts. As the firm, compact head of the column moved forward, +the mob fell back, but did not scatter. Colonel Mott dashed forward on +horseback and cut down one of the negroes with his sword. This seemed +to be the signal for the mob to commence the attack, and the next +moment they rushed forward on the soldiers with stones, brick-bats, and +slung-shots. Colonel Mott then told Captain Howell to bring two pieces +into battery on the corner of Thirty-second Street and Seventh Avenue, +so as to sweep the streets; but he could not get through the dense crowd +to do so. The infantry and cavalry were then ordered up and told to +clear the way. The former, with level bayonets, and the latter with +drawn sabres, charged on the mass, which parted and fell back some +distance, and then halted. Captain Howell then advanced alone, and +ordered the rioters to disperse, or he should fire on them. To this they +replied in sullen silence. The apparent unwillingness of the captain to +fire emboldened them to believe that he would not fire at all. Although +they refused to disperse, the officers, as long as they made no assault, +declined to give the word to fire. This delay encouraged the rioters +still more; and either believing the guns, whose muzzles pointed so +threateningly on them, were loaded with blank cartridges, or grown +desperate and reckless with rage, they suddenly, as though moved by a +common impulse, rushed forward and rained stones and missiles of every +kind on the soldiers. Seeing that their object was to seize the guns and +turn them on the troops, the word to fire was given. The next moment +a puff of smoke rolled out, followed with a report that shook the +buildings. As the murderous shot tore through the crowded mass, they +stopped, and swayed heavily back for a moment, when the pieces were +quickly reloaded, and again sent their deadly contents into their midst, +strewing the pavements with the dead and dying. Those, however, in the +rear, being protected by the mass in front, refused to give way, and it +was not till five or six rounds had been fired that they finally broke +and fled down the side streets. The military then broke into columns and +marched up and down the streets, scattering everything before them, and +arresting many of the rioters. + +Having finished their work, they returned to head-quarters. As they left +the district, the mob, or a portion of it, gathered together again, and +strung up afresh the lifeless bodies of the negroes. + +A few hours later, Captain Brower, with a police force, was sent +thither, to take down and remove the bodies of any negroes that might be +still hanging. He did so without molestation. + +Captain Howell's murderous fire on the mob came very near causing his +death two days after. Having the curiosity to witness the scene of his +struggle with the mob, he took his carriage, and drove over to it. A +gang of seven or eight ruffians, seeing his uniform, cried out, "There's +the man who fired on us here--let us hang him." Their shouts called +others to the spot, and almost before the captain was aware of his +danger, some fifty men were assembled, and at once made a dash at the +driver, and ordered him to stop. Captain Howell, quickly drawing +his revolver, pointed it at the driver, and ordered him to turn down +Thirty-first Street, and give his horses the whip, or he would shoot +him on the spot. The man obeying, lashed his horses into a run. At this +moment the crowd was all around the carriage, and one man was climbing +up behind, when he fell and was run over. A shower of stones and +brick-bats followed, breaking in the panels of the carriage, and +narrowly missing the captain's head. + +One stone struck an old wound in his side, and for a moment paralyzed +his arm. The crowd with yells and shouts followed after, when he turned +and emptied his revolver at them through the back window, which brought +them to a halt. Colonel Mott had a similar escape the day before. +Passing down one of the avenues in a carriage, he was recognized by some +of the rioters, who immediately assailed him with stones, and fired +at him. One of the bullets passed through the cushion on which he was +sitting. + +Soon after this affair in Seventh Avenue, word was telegraphed that +Jackson's foundry, corner of Twenty-eighth Street, First and Second +Avenues, was threatened. A military force was despatched forthwith to +it, piloted by four policemen. At Twenty-first Street and First Avenue, +they were fired on by the mob. The attack was continued through the +street to Second Avenue, and up this to Twenty-fifth Street, without +any notice being taken of it by the troops. Made reckless by this +forbearance, the rioters began to close up in more dangerous proximity, +when the howitzer was unlimbered and pointed down the avenue. The mob +not liking the looks of this, scattered, when the column resumed its +march. The mob then rallied, and followed after, with shouts and distant +shots, till the foundry on Twenty-eighth Street was reached. Here +another mob came up from First Avenue, and the two made a simultaneous +attack. The command was then given to fire, and a volley was poured into +the crowd. Rapidly loading and firing, the troops soon stretched so many +on the pavement, that the rest broke and fled. The military then entered +the building and held it. The mob gathered around it, threatening to +storm it, but could not pluck up courage to make the attempt. They +seemed especially exasperated against the policemen, and had the +effrontery to send a committee to the officer in command, demanding +their surrender. If their request was refused, they declared they would +storm the building at all hazards; but if complied with, they would +disperse. The committee had to shout out their demands from the street. +In reply, the officer told them if they did not take themselves off +instantly, he would fire upon them; upon which they incontinently took +to their heels. + +As the day wore on, things began to wear a still more threatening +aspect. Despatches came in from every quarter, announcing the activity +of the mob. To a question sent to the Thirteenth Precinct, a little past +twelve, inquiring how things were going on in Grand Street, was returned +the following reply: "Lively; store-keepers have fired into the mob; no +force there yet." + +12.20. From Twenty-first. Building corner Thirty-third Street, Second +Avenue, is set on fire by the mob. + +12.50. From Fifteenth. Send assistance to Twenty-first Precinct; they +are about attacking it. + +12.55. From Twenty-sixth. It is reported that Government stores in +Greenwich, near Liberty, are on fire; fired by mob. + +1.10. From Twenty-seventh. Send more men here forthwith. + +1.25. From Fourth. Fire corner of Catharine Street and East Broadway. + +1.45. A man just in from Eleventh Precinct, reports a number of bands of +robbers, numbering from fifty to one hundred each, breaking into stores +in Houston, near Attorney Street. + +1.47 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. The mob have cleared Twenty-first Precinct +station-house. + +2 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. A large mob surrounded Captain Green's house, +Twenty-eighth Street, Third Avenue. He escaped out of the back window; +they threatened to hang him. + +3.10 P.M. To Eleventh. Send to foot of Fourteenth Street, East River, +and if military is there, send word here forthwith. + +3.15. From Twenty-fourth. Mob are firing the building on Second Avenue, +near Twenty-eighth Street. Immediate assistance is required. Houses +occupied by negroes, who are fleeing for their lives. + +3.25. From Twentieth. The mob are sacking houses at Twenty-seventh +Street and Seventh Avenue. We have no force to send. + +3.30. From Twenty-first. There is an attack on the colored people in +Second Avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets. + +3.40. From Eleventh. Send to 242 Stanton Street, and take possession of +cavalry swords forthwith. + +There were five thousand cavalry swords there, and the mob were +assembling to capture them; and the telegram announcing the fact, and +the one ordering a force to seize them, were received and answered the +same minute. + +3.55. To Twenty-first. How do things look? + +_Ans_. Very bad; large crowd in Thirty-fifth Street, near Third Avenue, +and no assistance from adjoining precinct. + +4 o'clock. To Twenty-first. What is going on? + +_Ans_. The mob have captured some five or six negroes, and are preparing +to hang them; be quick with reinforcements. + +4.43. From Twentieth. News have just come in that the mob are about to +attack the Twenty-second Precinct station-house. + +5.15. From Sixteenth. Send us one hundred special shields and clubs; the +citizens are arming up well. + +5.15. From Twenty-ninth. Who feeds the special men? + +_Ans_. You must, far as able. + +_Reply_. No money. + +_Ans_. It makes no difference; they must be fed; we are responsible. + +5.20. From Twenty-ninth. The rioters are now on Seventh Avenue and +Twenty-eighth Street. They have just killed a negro; say they are going +to cut off the Croton; they have pickaxes and crowbars; and also say +they will cut off the gas; so reported by one of our men, who has been +in the crowd; they were about to fire corner of Twenty-eighth Street and +Seventh Avenue, when he came away. + +To have cut off the water and extinguished the gas, would have been +master-strokes; but the military arrived in time to prevent it. + +5.25. From First. Riot at Pier 4, North River; they have killed negroes +there. + +Thus, at the same moment, from the two extreme ends of the city, came +the news of riots and calls for help. From points five miles apart, +the wires would bring simultaneously tidings that showed the mob +omnipresent. + +In the midst of all these incessant exhausting labors, the following +telegram came from the Twentieth Precinct: + +"General Sandford says he has so many negroes at the arsenal, that he +must get rid of them." + +Acton's answer was characteristic. He had no time for formalities or +courteous exchange of views. In an instant there flashed back over the +wires the curt reply: + +"Tell General Sandford he must do the best he can with them there." + +General Sandford had at this time about the same number of men under his +command at the arsenal that General Brown had at police head-quarters; +yet the former, up to this morning, had not sent out a single company to +assist the police to arrest the devastations of the mob. He apparently +did not know what was going on, had hardly kept up any communication +with the Police Commissioners or Governor Seymour, but now begs the +former to relieve him of some colored refugees, as if the overworked +commissioners had not enough on their hands already. This request is +especially noteworthy, when taken in connection with his after report, +in which he states that on this morning the riot was substantially over; +so much so, at least, that the police could do all that was necessary +without the aid of the military. It would seem that if he really thought +that the rest of the work should be left to them, he might have sent off +some of his troops, and made room for the negroes in the arsenal. + +At about two o'clock in the afternoon word was received that a +large number of muskets were secreted in a store on Broadway, near +Thirty-third Street; and Colonel Meyer was ordered to proceed thither, +with thirty-three soldiers belonging to Hawkins' Zouaves, and take +possession of them. Reaching the place, he found a large mob gathered, +which was momentarily increasing. He, however, succeeded in entering the +building, and brought out the arms. An Irishman happening to pass by in +his cart, the colonel seized it, and pitching in the guns, closed around +it, and moved off. + +Citizens offering their services were coming in all day, and a company +was formed and placed under the command of Charles A. Lamont, and did +good service. Others also were enrolled and placed on duty. + +Colonel Sherwood's battery of rifled cannon arrived in the afternoon, +and was put in position in front of the arsenal, where the firing of +pickets all day would indicate that an attack was momentarily expected. +This did not look as if General Sandford thought the riot substantially +over. + +At about five o'clock, it was ordered by Sandford, with an infantry +force of one hundred and fifty, to corner of Twenty-seventh Street and +Seventh Avenue, to quell a mob assembled in large numbers at that point, +and which were gutting, and plundering, and firing houses. As they +approached, they saw flames bursting from windows, while, to complete +the terror of the scene, the body of a negro hung suspended from a +lamp-post, his last struggle just ended. At the same time that the +military arrived, firemen, who had come to put out the fire, reached +the spot in another direction. One portion of the mob immediately took +shelter behind the latter, so that the troops dared not fire and clear +the streets, while another ran up to the house-tops, armed with guns +and pistols, for the purpose of firing into the ranks below. The colonel +told his men to keep a sharp lookout, and at the first shot fire. Scores +of guns were immediately pointed towards the roofs of the houses. In the +meantime, from some cause not fully explained, the imposing force, after +this demonstration, marched away, leaving the mob in full possession of +the field. It had hardly reached the protection of the arsenal again, +when the plundering and violence recommenced; and in a short time two +more negroes were amusing the spectators with their death throes, as +they hung by the neck from lamp-posts. This was the second expedition +sent out by Sandford, the commander-in-chief of the military, during the +riot. + +Towards evening word was brought to the Seventh Regiment armory that the +mob had gathered in great force in First Avenue, between Eighteenth and +Nineteenth Streets. + +Colonel Winston, in command, immediately ordered out a force, composed +in part of the military, and in part of enrolled citizens, and with a +battery of two howitzers, under command of Colonel Jardine, of Hawkins' +Zouaves, marched rapidly to the scene of disturbance. Passing down +Nineteenth Street to the avenue, it halted, and unlimbering the pieces, +trained them so as to command the avenue, while the infantry formed in +line to support them. As soon as the rioters saw the guns bearing on +them, they dodged into basements, and mounted to the windows and roofs +of the tenement buildings that abounded in that vicinity. A number +of them armed with muskets and pistols, and the rest with stones and +brick-bats, began a fierce and determined attack on the troops. The +howitzers, loaded with grape and canister, at once swept the street. +After the first discharge, but few ventured to show themselves in the +avenue, until after they heard the report, when they would dodge +from behind corners and fire back. But from the tops of the houses an +incessant fusillade was kept up. The soldiers endeavored to pick them +off, but the rioters presented a small mark compared to that which the +troops, massed in the open streets, furnished; and it was soon apparent +that the fight was unequal. If they had only had a police force to enter +the buildings, and hunt the men from the roofs, the fight would soon +have been over. But the commander, thinking he could not spare a +sufficient number to do this work, or that the soldiers, cumbered +with their muskets, which, after the first discharge, would have to be +clubbed, could make no headway in such a hand-to-hand fight, made no +effort to dislodge the wretches, who loaded and fired with the most +imperturbable coolness. One man was seen to step round the corner, after +the discharge of the battery, and resting his gun on the shoulder of a +fellow-rioter, take as deliberate aim at Colonel Jardine as he would at +a squirrel on the limb of a tree, and fire. The ball struck the colonel +in the thigh, and brought him to the pavement. Other officers shared +his fate, while at every discharge, men would drop in the ranks. The +howitzers rattled their shot on the deserted pavements and walls of the +houses, but did no damage to the only portion of the enemy they had to +fear, while the fight between the infantry and the rioters was like +that between soldiers in the open field and Indians in ambush. Colonel +Winston soon saw that it was madness to keep his men there, to be picked +off in detail, and ordered a retreat. At the first sign of a retrograde +movement, a cry rang along the avenue; and from the side streets, and +basements, and houses, the mob swarmed forth so furiously, that it +assumed huge proportions at once, and chased the retiring soldiers with +yells and taunts, and pressed them so hotly that they could not bring +off all their killed and wounded. Among those left behind was Colonel +Jardine. He took refuge in a basement, where the mob found him, and +would have killed him on the spot, had not one of them recognized him +as an old acquaintance, and for some reason or other protected him +from further violence; and he was eventually carried to the house of a +surgeon near by. + +The mob were left masters of the field, and soon began their +depredations. The state of things was at length reported to police +head-quarters, and General Brown sent off Captain Putman, with Captain +Shelby and a hundred and fifty regulars and two field-pieces, to +disperse the mob and bring away the dead and wounded of Winston's force +that might remain. They reached the spot between ten and eleven o'clock +at night. The dimly lighted streets were black with men, while many, +apprised of the approach of the military, mounted again to the roofs +as before. Putnam immediately charged on the crowd in the street, +scattering them like a whirlwind. He then turned his guns on the +buildings, and opened such a deadly fire on them that they were soon +cleared. Having restored order, he halted his command, and remained on +the ground till half-past twelve. + +At the same time a mob was pulling down the negro houses in York Street, +which they soon left a heap of ruins. Houses plundered or set on fire +in various parts of the city, combined with the ringing of fire-bells, +thunder of cannon, and marching of troops, made this night like its +predecessor--one of horror. + +There was also a disturbance in Brooklyn. Shaw's and Fancher's +elevators, and Wheeler's store on the docks, were set on fire, and a +force ordered to put them out. + +The illumination of the windows from the _Times_ building this evening +shed a brilliant glow over Printing-house Square, and flooded the Park +to the City Hall with light, while an armed force within was ready to +fire on any mob that should dare expose itself in the circle of its +influence. + +At 12.15 the following telegram was sent: + +"To all stations. How are things in your precinct?" + +_Answer_. "All quiet." + +Thus the third night of this terrible riot passed away still unsubdued, +and still Acton sat at his post, awake, while others slept, and kept +feeling through the telegraph wires the pulse of the huge, fevered city. +The regiments coming back from Pennsylvania might arrive at any time, +and he was anxious to know the moment they reached the New York docks. +The Seventh Regiment, especially, he knew was expected to reach the city +that night by special train. Policemen were therefore kept on the watch; +but the regiment did not arrive till after daylight. About half-past +four in the morning, the steady ranks were seen marching along Canal +Street towards Broadway, and soon drew up in front of St. Nicholas +Hotel. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +FOURTH DAY. + +Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.--City districted.--Appearance +of the East Side of the City.--A small Squad of Soldiers chased into +a Foundry by the Mob.--Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in +Twenty-ninth Street.--Soldiers driven from the Ground, leaving a dead +Sergeant behind.--Captain Putnam sent to bring the Body away.--Mows +down the Rioters with Canister.--Storms the Houses.--Utter Rout of +the Mob.--Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to +Blackwell's Island.--Touching Scene.--Coming on of Night and a +Thunderstorm.--Returning Regiments.--Increased Force in the City to put +down Violence.--Archbishop Hughes offers to address the +Irish.--Curious Account of an Interview of a Lady with him and Governor +Seymour.--Strange Conduct of the Prelate. + +Only the principal disturbances of the third day were given, and of +these the accounts were very succinct. The movements of the mobs and +the conflicts with them were so similar in character, that a detailed +description of them would be a mere repetition of what had gone before. +After the police force, and the troops under General Brown had become +organized so as to move and act together, each fight with the rioters +was almost a repetition of its predecessor. Having adopted a plan of +procedure, they seldom deviated from it, and the story of one fight +became the story of all--a short struggle and a quick victory. + +It was hoped this morning that the rioters would conclude that they +could not carry out their mad designs; for the enrolment of large +bodies of citizens, and the announcement of the speedy return of several +regiments, showed that all the force necessary to subdue them was, +or soon would be, on hand. The day before, the Governor had issued a +proclamation, declaring the city to be in a state of insurrection; but +this morning appeared a proclamation from Mayor Opdyke, announcing that +the insurrection was practically ended. It is true he called on the +citizens to form voluntary associations, with competent leaders, to +patrol their separate districts, to protect themselves from roaming +gangs of plunderers, and so spare the exhausted police and military. Yet +he called on the citizens to resume their usual avocations, and directed +the railroad and stage lines to resume their routes. This opinion of the +Mayor was strengthened by the positive announcement that the draft had +been suspended, and the passage of an ordinance by the City Council, +appropriating $2,500,000 towards paying $300 exemption money to the poor +who might be drafted. It was plain, if the draft was the cause of the +continued riot, it would now cease. But in spite of all this, bad news +came from Harlem, and Yorkville, and other sections. In fact, it +was evident that the Police Commissioners did not share fully in the +pleasant anticipations of the Mayor. Having ascertained that the leaders +of the mob, learning from experience, had organized more intelligently, +and designed to act in several distinct and separate bodies in +different sections, they, with General Brown, divided the city into four +districts, in each one of which were to be stationed strong bodies of +the police and military, so that they could act with more expedition and +efficiency than if they were sent out from the common head-quarters in +Mulberry Street. It would, beside, save the fatigue of long marches. +Those separate stations were in Harlem, Eighteenth, Twenty-ninth, and +Twenty-sixth Precincts. A good deal was also expected by an invitation +given by Archbishop Hughes, that appeared in the morning papers, to the +Irish to meet him next day in front of his house, where, though crippled +from rheumatism, he would address them from the balcony. The Eighth +Avenue cars had been started, as well as those of the Third; and +many stores were opened. Still, on the east side of the city, in the +neighborhood of First Avenue, most of the shops were closed. + +It should be here remarked to the credit of the German population, which +were very numerous in certain localities on this side of the city, that +they had no sympathy with the rioters; on the contrary, sent word to the +Police Commissioners not to be concerned about their locality; they +had organized, and would see that order was maintained there. No better +title to American citizenship than this could be shown. + +[Illustration: THE RIOTERS DRAGGING COL. O'BRIEN'S BODY THROUGH THE +STREET.] + +Though early in the morning, it was comparatively quiet on the east side +of the city; yet near First Avenue knots of men could be seen here and +there, engaged in loud and angry conversation. They looked exhausted and +haggard, but talked defiant as ever, swearing terrible vengeance +against the military; for, though hidden from sight, in the miserable +tenement-houses near by, lay their dead, dying, and wounded friends by +scores. Near Nineteenth Street, the scene of the conflict the evening +previous, there were stones, brick-bats, shivered awning-posts, and +other wrecks of the fight. The grog-shops were open, in which men with +bloody noses, and bruised and battered faces, obtained the necessary +stimulus to continue the desperate struggle. Dirty, slovenly-dressed +women stood in the door-ways or on the steps, swearing and denouncing +both police and military in the coarsest language. Though the immense +gatherings of the preceding days were not witnessed, yet there was a +ground-swell of passion that showed the lawless spirit was not subdued, +though overawed. But the Police Commissioners were now prepared for +whatever might occur. The Seventh Regiment had been stationed on the +west side of the city, with a wide district to keep in order, thus +enabling them to concentrate larger forces in other directions. But, +although everything wore this favorable aspect to the authorities, +it was evident towards noon, from the steadily increasing size of the +groups observed in the morning, that they had resolved to try again +their strength with the military. The state of things was telegraphed to +police head-quarters, but the report making the mob not formidable, only +a company of about twenty-five men were sent out. Finding the rioters +numbered about two hundred or more, and not daring to fire their +howitzer, lest, before it could be reloaded, the former would rush +forward and seize it, they concluded to retire. The mob at once set +furiously on them, and forced them to take refuge in Jackson's foundry. +The following telegram to head-quarters announced the fact: + +"1.25. From Twenty-first. The mob has charged our military, about +twenty-five in number, and driven them into Jackson's foundry, First +Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street. The mob are armed, and every time a +regular shows himself they fire. A few good skirmishers would pick off +these riflemen and relieve the military." + +This was soon succeeded by the following: + +"1.54. From Twenty-first. Send military assistance immediately to First +Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street. The mob increases, and will murder the +military force." + +_Ans_. "They are on their way up." + +They soon arrived, and were at once furiously attacked by the mob. The +soldiers fired into them, but they boldly held their ground, and were +evidently bent on a desperate fight. + +The former now took up their stations at the junction of the streets, +and were about to sweep them with canister, when from some cause a delay +was ordered. This increased the boldness of the mob, and they taunted +and derided the soldiers. But in a few minutes a reinforcement of +regulars arrived on the ground and charged bayonets. The rioters fell +back, but rallying, forced the soldiers to retire in turn. The latter, +however, returned to the charge, when the mob again gave way, but still +stubbornly refused to disperse. + +News of the magnitude of the struggle reached the Seventh Regiment, and +they rapidly marched to the spot. Their steady tramp along the pavement, +and well-set ranks, discouraged the crowd, and they marched and +counter-marched through the streets without molestation. + +The mob, however, dispersed only to reassemble again in Twenty-ninth +Street, and began to plunder the stores in the vicinity, and spread +devastation on every side. + +This being reported to head-quarters, a military force was despatched +to disperse them. The rioters, however, instead of retreating, attacked +them with the greatest fury. Almost every house was filled with them, +and they lined the roofs with muskets and pistols, from which they +poured down a deadly fire. For nearly a half an hour the fire was kept +up without cessation, and many were killed. A sergeant was knocked down +by a brick-bat, and then seized and beaten to death. The troops finding +themselves unable to dislodge the assailants, retreated, leaving the +body of the sergeant in the street, where it lay for three hours. +General Brown not having a sufficient number of troops on hand, the mob +all this time had it their own way. It was nine o'clock before he +could despatch Captain Putnam with a strong force to put an end to the +disgraceful scene. Arriving on the spot, the latter addressed the crowd, +saying that he had come to carry away the dead body of the sergeant, +and should do it at all hazards. But he had hardly placed it in a wagon, +when the crowd began to assail his troops. He immediately unlimbered +his pieces, when it scattered in every direction. But the rioters came +together again at the corner of Thirty-first Street and Second Avenue, +where they were met by reinforcements, and made a stand. They filled the +houses, and mounted to the roofs, armed with muskets and revolvers, +and as Putnam appeared, commenced a rapid fire. Placing his pieces in +position, this gallant officer swept the street with canister, which +soon cleared it. Eleven of the ringleaders were shot down, and bodies +lay thick on the pavement. But this did not intimidate those in the +windows, or on the roofs, and they kept up a steady fire. Putnam, who +showed by his cool courage that the fighting stock from which he came +had not degenerated, now ordered his men to turn their fire on the +buildings. At each discharge, the heavy volleys brought down many of the +wretches, some pitching headlong from the roof, and dashing out their +brains on the pavement and flagging below. But the fight was very +unequal, for the assailants would expose their bodies as little as +possible; Putnam saw that the houses must be stormed, and gave the order +to do it. The fight was now transferred to the inside, and became close +and murderous. In the narrow halls and on the stairways, numbers were of +no avail, and the rioters fought with a desperation they had not before +exhibited. There was no way of escape, and they seemed to prefer death +to being taken prisoners, and for a half an hour maintained the conflict +in the darkened rooms and passages with a ferocity that was appalling. +At last, however, with their numbers sadly thinned, they were forced to +yield, and took refuge in flight. Many, unable to get away, hid under +beds and in closets, but the soldiers ferreted them out, and carried +them to police head-quarters. + +The arsenal had not been attacked, as Sandford seemed every day to think +it would be. Many colored people, as before stated, took refuge in it; +and about noon on this day, a body of police arrived before it, with the +children of the Colored Orphan Asylum that had been burned on Monday, in +charge. They had since that time been scattered round in station-houses, +but were now to be escorted to Blackwell's Island, for better security. +It was an impressive spectacle this army of children presented, as they +drew up in line in front of the arsenal to wait for those within to join +them. The block was filled with them. The frightened little fugitives, +fleeing from they scarce knew what, looked bewildered at their novel +position. It seemed impossible that they ever could have been the +objects of any one's vengeance. With a strong body of police in front +and rear, and a detachment of soldiers on either side, they toddled +slowly down to the foot of Thirty-fifth Street, from whence they were +taken by boats to the Island. + +The Sixty-fifth New York Regiment arrived from Harrisburg in the +afternoon, and just before midnight the One Hundred and Fifty-second +also reached the city, and marched up Broadway to police head-quarters, +where they were stowed away to get some rest. + +A heavy storm that set in during the evening, helped to scatter the +crowd that would otherwise have gathered on this warm July night, but it +at the same time gave a sombre aspect to the city. The crescent moon was +veiled in black, and thunderous clouds that swept heavily over the city, +deepened the gloom, and seemed portentous of greater evil. The closing +of all the stores and shop-windows at nightfall, through fear, left the +streets lighted only by the scattering lamps. This unusual stretch of +blank dead walls, emitting no ray of light, rendered the darkness made +by the overhanging storm still more impenetrable. Flashes of lightning +would reveal small groups of men bent on plunder, in sections where +the military and police were not stationed, but no open violence was +attempted. In other directions, the bayonets of the soldiers would gleam +out of the dense shadows, as they silently held the posts assigned them, +ready to march at a moment's notice. This was the fourth night, and the +cannon planted in the streets, and the increased military force, +showed that peace was not yet fully restored. The Seventh Regiment +was quartered in Thirty-fourth Street, part of the soldiers within +a building, and crowding every window to catch the first sign of +disturbance, and part stationed below, or marching back and forth in the +street. Other troops and policemen were massed at head-quarters, ready +to move, at the word of command, to any point threatened by the mob. + +The fourth night was passing away, and still Acton clung to his post, +and refused to take even a moment's rest. His whole nature had been +keyed up to meet the grave responsibilities that lay upon him, and +through the wires he still watched every threatened point in the city, +with sleepless vigilance. In the meantime, over a thousand special +policemen had been sworn in, and five hundred or more citizens had +voluntered their services, while the steady arrival of returning +regiments swelled the military force into formidable proportions. + +During the day, Senators Connolly and O'Brien had waited on General +Brown, and asked him to remove the military from their ward, as their +presence excited the people. The General very bluntly refused, saying he +should not permit his troops to retire from before an armed mob. He was +asked also to order the troops to leave Jackson's foundry for the same +reason, and gave an equally emphatic refusal. There was now to be no +compromise with the rioters, no agreement entered into. They had got +beyond the character of citizens with rights to be respected--they were +assassins and murderers, to whom was submitted the simple question of +subjection to law and authority, or death. + +The fighting through the day had been severe, but the disturbance had +not been so wide-spread and general. Outside of the city, there had been +threatening rumors. It was reported that there was danger of an uprising +in Westchester, where some leading Democrats had taken open opposition +to the draft, and a gun-boat had gone up as far as Tarrytown; but +nothing serious occurred. + +The rioters being almost exclusively Irish, it was thought that an +address from Archbishop Hughes would go far to quiet the ringleaders, +and he had therefore issued the following call, already referred to: + +To the men of New York, who are now called in many of the papers +rioters. + +MEN! + +I am not able, owing to rheumatism in my limbs, to visit you, but +that is not a reason why you should not pay me a visit in your whole +strength. Come, then, tomorrow (Friday) at two o'clock, to my residence, +north-west corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-sixth street. There is +abundant space for the meeting, around my house. I can address you from +the corner of the balcony. If I should not be able to stand during its +delivery, you will permit me to address you sitting; my voice is +much stronger than my limbs. I take upon myself the responsibility of +assuring you, that in paying me this visit or in retiring from it, +you shall not be disturbed by any exhibition of municipal or military +presence. You who are Catholics, or as many of you as are, have a right +to visit your bishop without molestation. + +JOHN HUGHES, Archbishop of New York. + +NEW YORK, _July_ 16, 1863. + +A curious incident was related subsequently in one of the New York +papers, respecting the manner in which an interview was brought about +between him and Governor Seymour, and which resulted in the resolution +of the Archbishop to address the rioters. The substance of the account +was, that a young widow of high culture, formerly the wife of a +well-known lawyer of this city--a woman living in an atmosphere of art, +and refinement, and spending her time in study, became so excited +over the violence and bloodshed that the authorities seemed unable to +suppress, and finding that the Irish were at the bottom of the trouble, +determined to appeal to Archbishop Hughes personally, to use his high +authority and influence to bring these terrible scenes to a close. + +Acting on this determination, she set out this morning for the +Archbishop's residence, but on arriving was told that he was at the +residence of Vicar-general Starrs, in Mulberry Street. Hastening +thither, she asked for an interview. Her request was denied, when she +repeated it; and though again refused, would not be repelled, and sent +word that her business was urgent, and that she would not detain him ten +minutes. The Archbishop finally consented to see her. As she entered +the library, her manner and bearing--both said to be remarkably +impressive--arrested the attention of the prelate. Without any +explanation or apology, she told him at once her errand--that it was one +of mercy and charity. She had been educated in a Roman Catholic convent +herself, in which her father was a professor, and she urged him, in +the name of God, to get on horseback, and go forth into the streets +and quell the excitement of his flock. She told him he must, like Mark +Antony, address the people; and in rescuing this great metropolis from +vandalism, would become a second Constantine, an immortal hero. It was +his duty, she boldly declared; and though she did not profess to be a +Jeanne d'Arc or Madame Roland, but a plain woman of the present day, +she would ride fearlessly by his side, and if he were threatened, would +place her body between him and danger, and take the blow aimed at +him. The cautious and crafty prelate was almost carried away by the +impassioned and dramatic force of this woman, but he told her it would +be presumption in him to do so; in fact, impossible, as he was so +crippled with rheumatism and gout, that he could not walk. She then +asked him to call the crowd, and address them from the balcony of his +house. He replied that he was just then busy in writing an answer to an +attack on him in the _Tribune_. She assured him that such a controversy +was worse than useless--that another and higher duty rested on him. +She pressed him with such importunity and enthusiasm, that he finally +consented; but as a last effort to get rid of her, said he feared the +military would interfere and attack the mob. She assured him they would +not, and hurried off to the St. Nicholas to see Governor Seymour about +it. She found the ante-room filled with officials and other personages +on important business, waiting their turn to be admitted. But her +determined, earnest manner so impressed every one with the importance of +her mission, that precedence was granted her, and she found herself at +once beside the astonished Governor. Without any preliminaries, she +told him she had just come from the head of the church, and wanted +his excellency to visit him immediately. No business was of such vital +importance as this. The self-possessed Governor coolly replied that he +should be glad to see the Archbishop, but business was too pressing to +allow him to be absent even a half an hour from his duties. She hastened +back to Archbishop Hughes, and prevailed on him to write a note to +Governor Seymour, asking him to call and see him, as he was unable +to get out. Fortified with this, she now took a priest with her, and +providing herself with a carriage, returned to head-quarters, and +absolutely forced, by her energy and determination and persuasive +manner, the Governor to leave his business, and go to the Archbishop's. +The invitation to the Irish to meet him was the result of this +interview. + +Why Archbishop Hughes took no more active part than he did in quelling +this insurrection, when there was scarcely a man in it except members of +his own flock, seems strange. It is true he had published an address +to them, urging them to keep the peace; but it was prefaced by a long, +undignified, and angry attack on Mr. Greeley, of the _Tribune_, and +showed that he was in sympathy with the rioters, at least in their +condemnation of the draft. The pretence that it would be unsafe for him +to pass through the streets, is absurd; for on three different occasions +common priests had mingled with the mob, not only with impunity, but +with good effect. He could not, therefore, have thought himself to be in +any great danger. One thing, at any rate, is evident: had an Irish mob +threatened to burn down a Roman Catholic church, or a Roman Catholic +orphan asylum, or threatened any of the institutions or property of the +Roman Church, he would have shown no such backwardness or fear. The +mob would have been confronted with the most terrible anathemas of the +church, and those lawless bands quailed before the maledictions of the +representative of "God's vicegerent on earth." It is unjust to suppose +that he wished this plunder and robbery to continue, or desired to +see Irishmen shot down in the streets; it must, therefore, be left to +conjecture, why he could not be moved to any interference except by +outside pressure, and then show so much lukewarmness in his manner--in +fact, condemning their opponents almost as much as themselves. + +The excitement consequent on the draft, exhibited in outbreaks in +various parts of the country, and in the vicinity of New York, was +increased by the reports of violence and fighting in the latter city. In +Troy there was a riot, and the mob, imitating the insane conduct of +the rioters in New York, proceeded to attack an African church. But a +priest, more bold or more patriotic than Archbishop Hughes, interfered +and saved it. That the latter, armed with nothing but the crucifix, +could have effected as much as the police and military together, there +can be but little doubt. This open and decided sympathy with law +and order, and bitter anathemas against the vandals who sought the +destruction of the city, were the more demanded, as such a large +proportion of the police force were Roman Catholics, and in their noble +devotion to duty, even to shooting down their own countrymen and men +of a similar faith, deserved this encouragement from the head of the +church. + +[Illustration: BURNING OF THE SECOND AVENUE ARMORY.] + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +CLOSING SCENES. + +Tranquil Morning.--Proclamation of the Mayor.--Mob cowed.--Plunderers +afraid of Detection.--Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, +Furniture, and Works of Art.--Archbishop Hughes' Address.--Useless +Efforts.--Acton's Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.--Change in +Military Commanders in the City.--General Brown relinquishes his +Command.--True Words.--Noble Character and Behavior of the Troops and +Police.--General Brown's invaluable Services. + +This week of horrors--a week unparalleled in the history of New +York--was drawing to a close. It had been one of terror and dismay to +the inhabitants, who thought only of the immediate effects on themselves +of the triumph of the mob. A great city laid in ashes, given, up to +robbers and cut-throats, is at any time a terrible spectacle; but New +York in ruins at this time was a republic gone--a nation, uncrowned and +left desolate; but the battle, both for the nation and city, had been +nobly fought and won; and Friday, the fifth day of this protracted +struggle, dawned bright and tranquil. The storm of the night before had +passed away, and the streets, thoroughly washed by the drenching rain, +stretched clean and quiet between the long rows of buildings, emblematic +of the tranquillity that had returned to the city. + +The cars were seen once more speeding down to the business centres, +loaded with passengers. Broadway shook to the rumbling of the heavy +omnibuses; shutters were taken down, and the windows again shone +with their rich adornments. The anxious look had departed from the +pedestrians, for the heavy cloud, so full of present woe and future +forebodings, had lifted and passed away. + +The following proclamation of Mayor Opdyke will show the true state of +things on this morning, and what the people had most to fear: + +"The riotous assemblages have been dispersed. Business is running in its +usual channels. The various lines of omnibuses, railway, and telegraph +have resumed their ordinary operations. Few symptoms of disorder remain, +except in a small district in the eastern part of the city, comprising a +part of the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Wards. The police is everywhere +alert. A sufficient military force is now here to suppress any illegal +movement, however formidable. + +"Let me exhort you, therefore, to pursue your ordinary business. Avoid +especially all crowds. Remain quietly at your homes, except when engaged +in business, or assisting the authorities in some organized force. When +the military appear in the street, do not gather about it, being +sure that it is doing its duty in obedience to orders from superior +authority. Your homes and your places of business you have a right to +defend, and it is your duty to defend them, at all hazards. Yield to no +intimidation, and to no demand for money as the price of your safety. +If any person warns you to desist from your accustomed business, give +no heed to the warning, but arrest him and bring him to the nearest +station-house as a conspirator. + +"Be assured that the public authorities have the ability and the will +to protect you from those who have conspired alike against your peace, +against the government of your choice, and against the laws which your +representatives have enacted. + +"GEORGE OPDYKE, Mayor." + +Down-town there was scarcely anything to show that New York had for +nearly a week been swept by one of the most frightful storms that ever +desolated a city. Even in the disaffected districts, no crowds were +assembled. In the corner groggeries, small groups of men might be seen, +discussing the past, and uttering curses and threats; and ruined houses +and battered walls and hanging blinds here and there arrested the eye, +showing what wild work had been wrought; but it was evident that the +struggle was over. The mob was thoroughly subdued, and the law-breakers +now thought more of escaping future punishment than of further acts of +violence. Bruised heads and battered forms were scattered through the +low tenement-houses in every direction, which friends were anxious to +keep concealed from the notice of the authorities. In dirty cellars and +squalid apartments were piled away the richest stuffs--brocaded silks, +cashmere shawls, elegant chairs, vases, bronzes, and articles of virtu, +huddled promiscuously together, damning evidences of guilt, which were +sure not to escape, in the end, the searching eye of the police, who had +already begun to gather up the plunder. Thus the objects mostly coveted +but a few hours ago now awakened the greatest solicitude and fear. + +Even if the military under General Brown and the police had not shown +the mob that they were its masters, the arrival of so many regiments, +occupying all the infected districts, was overwhelming evidence that the +day of lawless triumph was over, and that of retribution had come. Some +acts of individual hostility were witnessed, but nothing more. + +Archbishop Hughes had his meeting, and some five thousand assembled to +hear him. They were on the whole a peaceable-looking crowd, and it was +evidently composed chiefly, if not wholly, of those who had taken no +part in the riot. None of the bloody heads and gashed faces, of which +there were so many at that moment in the city, appeared. The address was +well enough, but it came too late to be of any service. It might have +saved many lives and much destruction, had it been delivered two days +before, but now it was like the bombardment of a fortress after it had +surrendered--a mere waste of ammunition. The fight was over, and to use +his own not very refined illustration, he "spak' too late." The reports +that came in to Acton from all the precincts convinced him of this, and +he began to think of rest. + +The strain was off, and overtasked nature made her demand, and he was +compelled to yield to it. The tremendous work that had been laid +upon him had been right nobly accomplished. Had he been a weak and +vacillating man, the rioters would have acquired a headway that could +not have been stopped, without a more terrible sacrifice of life and +property--perhaps even of half the city. Comprehending intuitively +the gravity of the situation, and the danger of procrastination or +temporizing, he sprang at once for the enemy's throat, and never ceased +his hold until he had strangled him to death. If he had waited to +consult authorities about the legality of his action, or listened to +the voice of pity, or yielded to the clamors of leading politicians +or threats of enemies, both he and the city, in all human probability, +would have been swept away in the hurricane of popular fury. + +On this day a most remarkable announcement was published: that a sudden +change had been made in the military command of the troops of the city +and harbor. General Dix superseded General Wool, and Canby, General +Brown. That Wool should have been removed at any time, might have been +expected; not from incapacity, but on account of his age, and because +any one could perform the mere nominal duties that devolved on him. But +why General Brown should have been removed at this critical moment, when +he and the Police Commissioners were performing their herculean task so +faithfully and well, is not so plain; unless it was the result of one of +those freaks of passion or despotic impulse, for which the Secretary of +War was so ignobly distinguished. But unlike many other blunders which +the War Department committed at this time, it did not result in any evil +consequences, for the fight was over. But of this fact the Secretary of +War was ignorant when he made out the order. + +General Brown, in relinquishing his command, spoke warmly of the noble +behavior of the troops during the riots, saying: "Engaged night and day +in constant conflict with the mob, they have in some fifteen or twenty +severe contests--in most of them outnumbered more than ten to one, many +of the mob being armed--whipped and effectually dispersed them, and have +been uniformly successful. In not a single instance has assistance been +required by the police, when it has not been promptly rendered; and all +property, public and private, which has been under their protection, has +been perfectly and efficiently protected; and with pride he desires +to record, that in this city, surrounded by grog-shops, but one single +instance of drunkenness has fallen under his observation. + +"To Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham, his able and efficient +adjutant-general, he tenders his thanks for his untiring assistance. + +"Having during the present insurrection been in immediate and constant +co-operation with police department of this city, he desires the +privilege of expressing his unbounded admiration of it. Never in civil +or military life has he seen such untiring devotion and such efficient +service. + +"To President Acton and Commissioner Bergen he offers his thanks for +their courtesy to him and their kindness to his command. + +"HARVEY BROWN, _Brigadier-general_." + +The praise he bestows both on the police and soldiers was richly +deserved; and he may well say that "with pride he desires to record that +in this city, surrounded with grog-shops, but one single instance of +drunkenness has fallen under his observation." With all a soldier's +tendency to indulge in spirituous liquor, to be thrown right amid +drinking-places, which by harboring rioters had lost all claim to +protection--part of the time suffering from want of food, and often +drenched to the skin, and weary from hard fighting and want of +sleep--not to step away occasionally in the confusion and darkness +of night, and solace himself with stimulating drinks, was something +marvellous. After hard fighting, and long marching, and short rations, a +soldier feels he has a right to indulge in liquor, if he can get it; and +their abstinence from it in such lawless times, not only speaks well +for their discipline, but their character. A single instance shows under +what perfect control the troops were. One day Colonel Ladue, seeing that +his men were exhausted and hungry, desired to let them have a little +beer to refresh them, and the following telegram was sent from the +precinct where they were on duty: + +"5.45 P.M. From 9th. Colonel Ladue wishes his men allowed to have beer +in station-house." + +_Answer_. "Mr. Acton says he is opposed to beer, but the colonel can +give his men as much as he pleases." + +"Acton is opposed to beer," but the troops are not under his command, +and he has no heart to deny the poor fellows the station-house in which +to refresh themselves after their hard day's work. This incident also +shows the strict discipline maintained in the police department. + +General Brown had done a noble work. Taking his place beside the Police +Commissioners, he bent all his energies to the single task of carrying +out their plans, and save the city from the hands of the rioters. He +never thought what deference might be due him on the score of etiquette, +or on account of his military rank; he thought only of putting down +the mob at all hazards. His refusal, at first, to serve under General +Sandford was not merely that it was an improper thing to place a +general of the regular army under the orders of a mere militia general, +[Footnote: Because he was especially assigned to the command of the city +by the Secretary of War.] having no rank whatever in the United States +army, but he knew it would paralyze his influence, and in all human +probability result in the useless sacrifice of his troops. The absurdity +of not moving until he received orders from his superior officer, cooped +up in the arsenal, where he remained practically in a state of siege, +was so apparent that he refused to countenance it. He was willing that +President Acton should be his superior officer, and give his orders, and +he would carry them out; for thus he could act efficiently and make his +disciplined battalion tell in the struggle; but for the sake of his +own reputation and that of his troops, he would not consent to hold a +position that would only bring disgrace on both. His views are clearly +expressed in his reply to a highly complimentary letter addressed to him +by the mayor and a large number of prominent citizens, for the signal +services he had rendered. He says: "I never for a moment forgot that to +the police was confided the conservation of the peace of the city; +and that only in conjunction with the city authorities, and on their +requisition, could the United States forces be lawfully and properly +employed in suppressing the riot, and in restoring that peace and good +order which had been so lawlessly broken. Acting in accordance with +this principle, and as aids to the gallant city police, the officers and +soldiers of my command performed the most unpleasant and arduous duty, +with that prompt energy and fearless patriotism which may ever be +expected from the soldiers of the Republic." + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Continued Tranquillity.--Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in the +Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.--Search for it exasperates +the Irish.--Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police.--Sergeant +Copeland.--Prisoners tried.--Damages claimed from the City.--Number +of Police killed.--Twelve hundred Rioters killed.--The Riot Relief +Fund.--List of Colored People killed.--Generals Wool and Sandford's +Reports.--Their Truthfulness denied.--General Brown vindicated. + +On Saturday morning it was announced that the authorities at Washington +had resolved to enforce the draft. It had been repeatedly asserted +during the riot that it was abandoned, and the report received +very general credence. Still, the official denial of it produced no +disturbance. The spirit of insurrection was effectually laid. + +It is a little singular, that, in all these tremendous gatherings and +movements, no prominent recognized leaders could be found. A man by the +name of Andrews had been arrested and imprisoned as one, but the charge +rested wholly on some exciting harangues he had made, not from any +_active_ leadership he had assumed. + +There were, perhaps, in the city this morning not far from ten thousand +troops--quite enough to preserve the peace, if the riot should break out +afresh; and orders therefore were given to arrest the march of regiments +hastening from various sections to the city, under the requisition of +the Governor. Still, the terror that had taken possession of men could +not be allayed in an hour, and although the police had resumed their +patrols, and dared to be seen alone in the streets, there was constant +dread of personal violence among the citizens. Especially was this true +of the negro population. Although many sought their ruined homes, yet +aware of the intense hatred entertained toward them by the mob, they +felt unsafe, and began to organize in self-defence. But the day wore +away without disturbance, and the Sabbath dawned peaceably, and order +reigned from the Battery to Harlem. The military did not show themselves +in the street, and thousands thronged without fear the avenues in which +the fighting had taken place, to look at the ruins it had left behind. +On Monday there was more or less rebellious feeling exhibited by the +rioters, on account of the general search of the police for stolen +goods, and the arrest of suspected persons. It exhibited itself, +however, only in threats and curses--not a policemen was assaulted. It +was amusing, sometimes, to see what strange articles the poor wretches +had stowed away in their dirty cellars. There was everything from +barrels of sugar and starch to tobacco and bird-seed. Said a morning +paper: "Mahogany and rosewood chairs with brocade upholstering, +marble-top tables and stands, costly paintings, and hundreds of delicate +and valuable mantel ornaments, are daily found in low hovels up-town. +Every person in whose possession these articles are discovered disclaims +all knowledge of the same, except that they found them in the street, +and took them in to prevent them being burned. The entire city will be +searched, and it is expected that the greatest portion of the property +taken from the buildings sacked by the mob will be recovered." The +rivers and outlets to the city were closely watched, to prevent its +being carried off. In the meantime, arrests were constantly made. + +It would be invidious to single out any portion of the police for +special commendation, where all did their duty so nobly; but it is not +improper to speak of the sanitary police, whose specific duties do not +lead them to take part in quelling mobs. + +They have to report all nuisances, examine tenement-houses and unsafe +buildings, look after the public schools, but more especially examine +steam-boilers, and license persons qualified to run steam-engines. +Hence, it is composed of men of considerable scientific knowledge. But +all such business being suspended during the riot, they at once, with +their Captain, B. G. Lord, assumed the duties of the common policemen, +and from Monday night till order was restored, were on constant duty, +participating in the fights, and enduring the fatigues with unflinching +firmness, and did not return to their regular duties till Monday +morning. + +The drill-officer also, Sergeant T. S. Copeland, became, instead of a +drill-officer, a gallant, active leader of his men in some of the most +desperate fights that occurred. His military knowledge enabled him to +form commands ordered hastily off, with great despatch. But not content +with this, he led them, when formed, to the charge, and gave such +lessons in drill, in the midst of the fight, as the police will never +forget. + +With the details of what followed we have nothing to do. The Grand Jury +indicted many of the prisoners, and in the term of the court that +met the 3d of August, twenty were tried and nineteen convicted, and +sentenced to a longer or shorter term of imprisonment. Of course a +large number on preliminary examinations got off, sometimes from want +of sufficient evidence, and sometimes from the venality of the judges +before whom they were brought. Claims for damages were brought in, the +examination of which was long and tedious. The details are published in +two large volumes, and the entire cost to the city was probably three +millions of dollars. Some of the claims went before the courts, where +they lingered along indefinitely. The number of rioters killed, or +died from the effects of their wounds, was put down by the Police +Commissioners at about twelve hundred. Of course this estimate is not +made up from any detailed reports. The dead and wounded were hurried +away, even in the midst of the fight, and hidden in obscure streets, or +taken out of the city for fear of future arrests or complications. Hence +there was no direct way of getting at the exact number of those who +fell victims to the riot. The loss of life, therefore, could only be +approximated by taking the regular report of the number of deaths in the +city for a few weeks before the riots, and that for the same length +of time after. As there was no epidemic, or any report of increased +sickness from any disease, the inference naturally was, that the excess +for the period after the riots was owing to the victims of them. Many of +these were reported as sunstrokes, owing to men exposing themselves to +the sun with pounded and battered heads. The Police Commissioners took +great care to keep all the wounded policemen indoors until perfectly +cured. Only one ventured to neglect their orders, and he died of a +sunstroke. + +The difference of mortality in the city for the month previous to the +riots, and the month during and subsequent, was about twelve hundred, +which excess Mr. Acton thought should be put down to the deaths caused +directly and indirectly by the riots. Although many policemen were +wounded, only three were killed or died from the injuries they received. + +Immediately after the riot, Mr. Leonard W. Jerome and others interested +themselves in raising a fund for the relief of members of the Police, +Militia, and Fire Departments who had sustained injuries in the +discharge of their duty in suppressing the riots. Subscriptions to +the amount of $54,980 were paid in, and $22,721.53 distributed by the +Trustees of the Riot Relief Fund, in sums from $50 to $1,000, each, +through Isaac Bell, Treasurer, to 101 policemen, 16 militiamen, and 7 +firemen. + +The balance was securely invested, to meet future emergencies, a portion +of which was paid to sufferers by the Orange Riot of 1871. + +The following is the list of colored people known to be killed by the +mob, together with the circumstances attending their murder, as given +by David Barnes, in his Metropolitan record, to which reference has +heretofore been made. + +COLORED VICTIMS OF THE RIOT. + +WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLS (colored). Nichols resided at No. 147 East +Twenty-eighth Street. Mrs. Staat, his mother, was visiting him. On +Wednesday, July 15th, at 3 o'clock, the house was attacked by a mob with +showers of bricks and stones. In one of the rooms was a woman with a +child but three days old. The rioters broke open the door with axes and +rushed in. Nichols and his mother fled to the basement; in a few moments +the babe referred to was dashed by the rioters from the upper window to +the yard, and instantly killed. The mob cut the waterpipes above, and +the basement was being deluged; ten persons, mostly women and children, +were there, and they fled to the yard; in attempting to climb the fence, +Mrs. Staat fell back from exhaustion; the rioters were instantly upon +her; her son sprang to her rescue, exclaiming, "Save my mother, if you +kill me." Two ruffians instantly seized him, each taking hold of an arm, +while a third, armed with a crowbar, calling upon them to hold his arms +apart, deliberately struck him a savage blow on the head, felling him +like a bullock. He died in the N. Y. Hospital two days after. + +JAMES COSTELLO (colored).--James Costello, No. 97 West Thirty-third +Street, killed on Tuesday morning, July 14th. Costello was a shoemaker, +an active man in his business, industrious and sober. He went out early +in the morning upon an errand, was accosted, and finally was pursued by +a powerful man. He ran down the street; endeavored to make his escape; +was nearly overtaken by his pursuer; in self-defence he turned and shot +the rioter with a revolver. The shot proved to be mortal; he died two +days after. Costello was immediately set upon by the mob. They first +mangled his body, then hanged it. They then cut down his body and +dragged it through the gutters, smashing it with stones, and finally +burnt it. The mob then attempted to kill Mrs. Costello and her children, +but she escaped by climbing fences and taking refuge in a police +station-house. + +ABRAHAM FRANKLIN (colored).--This young man, who was murdered by the mob +on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh Avenue, was a quiet, +inoffensive man, of unexceptionable character. He was a cripple, but +supported himself and his mother, being employed as a coachman. A +short time previous to the assault, he called upon his mother to see +if anything could be done by him for her safety. The old lady said she +considered herself perfectly safe; but if her time to die had come, she +was ready to die. Her son then knelt down by her side, and implored the +protection of Heaven in behalf of his mother. The old lady said that it +seemed to her that good angels were present in the room. Scarcely had +the supplicant risen from his knees, when the mob broke down the door, +seized him, beat him over the head and face with fists and clubs, and +then hanged him in the presence of his parent. While they were thus +engaged, the military came and drove them away, cutting down the body of +Franklin, who raised his arm once slightly and gave a few signs of life. +The military then moved on to quell other riots, when the mob returned +and again suspended the now probably lifeless body of Franklin, cutting +out pieces of flesh, and otherwise shockingly mutilating it. + +AUGUSTUS STUART (colored).--Died at Hospital, Blackwell's Island, July +22, from the effects of a blow received at the hands of the mob, on +Wednesday evening of the Riot Week. He had been badly beaten previously +by a band of rioters, and was frightened and insane from the effects +of the blows which he had received. He was running toward the arsenal +(State), Seventh Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street, for safety, when he +was overtaken by the mob, from whom he received his death-blow. + +PETER HEUSTON.--Peter Heuston, sixty-three years of age, a Mohawk +Indian, dark complexion, but straight hair, and for several years a +resident of New York, proved a victim to the riots. Heuston served with +the New York Volunteers in the Mexican war. He was brutally attacked +and shockingly beaten, on the 13th of July, by a gang of ruffians, who +thought him to be of the African race because of his dark complexion. He +died within four days, at Bellevue Hospital, from his injuries. + +JEREMIAH ROBINSON (colored).--He was killed in Madison near Catharine +Street. His widow stated that her husband, in order to escape, dressed +himself in some of her clothes, and, in company with herself and one +other woman, left their residence and went toward one of the Brooklyn +ferries. Robinson wore a hood, which failed to hide his beard. Some +boys, seeing his beard, lifted up the skirts of his dress, which exposed +his heavy boots. Immediately the mob set upon him, and the atrocities +they perpetrated are so revolting that they are unfit for publication. +They finally killed him and threw his body into the river. His wife and +her companion ran up Madison Street, and escaped across the Grand Street +Ferry to Brooklyn. + +WILLIAM JONES (colored).--A crowd of rioters in Clarkson Street, in +pursuit of a negro, who in self-defence had fired on some rowdies, met +an inoffensive colored man returning from a bakery with a loaf of bread +under his arm. They instantly set upon and beat him and, after nearly +killing him, hung him to a lamppost. His body was left suspended for +several hours. A fire was made underneath him, and he was literally +roasted as he hung, the mob revelling in their demoniac act. Recognition +of the remains, on their being recovered, was impossible; and two women, +mourned for upwards of two weeks, in the case of this man, for the loss +of their husbands. At the end of that time, the husband of one of the +mourners, to her great joy, returned like one recovered from the grave. +The principal evidence which the widow, Mary Jones, had to identify the +murdered man as her husband, was the fact of his having a loaf of bread +under his arm, he having left the house to get a loaf of bread a few +minutes before the attack. + +JOSEPH REED (colored).--This was a lad of seven years of age, residing +at No. 147 East Twenty-eighth Street, with an aged grandmother and +widowed mother. On Wednesday morning of the fearful week, a crowd of +ruffians gathered in the neighborhood, determined on a week of plunder +and death. They attacked the house, stole everything they could carry +with them, and, after threatening the inmates, set fire to it. The +colored people who had the sole occupancy of the building, fled in +confusion into the midst of the gathering crowd. And then the child was +separated from his guardians. His youth and evident illness, even from +the devils around him, it would be thought, should have insured +his safety. But no sooner did they see his unprotected, defenceless +condition, than a gang of fiendish men seized him, beat him with sticks, +and bruised him with heavy cobblestones. But one, tenfold more the +servant of Satan than the rest, rushed at the child, and with the stock +of a pistol struck him on the temple and felled him to the ground. +A noble young fireman, by the name of John F. Govern, of No. 39 Hose +Company, instantly came to the rescue, and, single-handed, held the +crowd at bay. Taking the wounded and unconscious boy in his arms, he +carried him to a place of safety. The terrible beating and the great +fright the poor lad had undergone was too much for his feeble frame; he +died on the following Tuesday. + +JOSEPH JACKSON (colored), aged nineteen years, living in West +Fifty-third Street, near Sixth Avenue, was in the industrious pursuit of +his humble occupation of gathering provender for a herd of cattle, and +when near the foot of Thirty-fourth Street, East River, July 15, was set +upon by the mob, killed, and his body thrown into the river. + +SAMUEL JOHNSON (colored).--On Tuesday night Johnson was attacked near +Fulton Ferry by a gang who mercilessly beat and left him for dead. A +proposition was made to throw him into the river, but for some reason +the murderers took fright and fled. He was taken by some citizens to his +home, and died the next day. + +---- WILLIAMS (colored).--He was attacked on the corner of Le Roy and +Washington Streets, on Tuesday morning, July 14th, knocked down, +a number of men jumped upon, kicked, and stamped upon him until +insensible. One of the murderers knelt on the body and drove a knife +into it; the blade being too small, he threw it away and resorted to +his fists. Another seized a huge stone, weighing near twenty pounds, +and deliberately crushed it again and again on to the victim. A force +of police, under Captain Dickson, arrived and rescued the man, who +was conveyed to the New York Hospital. He was only able to articulate +"Williams" in response to a question as to his name, and remained +insensible thereafter, dying in a few days. + +ANN DERRICKSON.--This was a white woman, the wife of a colored man, and +lived at No. 11 York Street. On Wednesday, July 15th, the rioters seized +a son of deceased, a lad of about twelve years, saturated his clothes +and hair with camphene, and then procuring a rope, fastened one end to a +lamp-post, the other around his neck, and were about to set him on fire, +and hang him; they were interfered with by some citizens and by the +police of the First Ward, and their diabolical attempt at murder +frustrated. While Mrs. Derrickson was attempting to save the life of her +son she was horribly bruised and beaten, with a cart-rung. The victim, +after lingering three or four weeks, died from the effects of her +injuries. + +Reports from the captains of the several precincts, with all the details +of their operations, were made out--also from the subordinate military +officers to their immediate superiors. The final reports of General +Wool, commanding the Eastern Department, and Major-general Sandford, +commanding the city troops, caused much remark in the city papers, and +called forth a reply from General Brown, who considered himself unjustly +assailed in them. Explanation of the disagreement between him and +General Wool having been fully given, it is not necessary to repeat it +here. The same may be said of the statement of General Wool, regarding +his orders on Monday the 13th, respecting the troops in the harbor. +But in this report of General Wool to Governor Seymour, there are other +statements which General Brown felt it his duty to correct. General Wool +says, that finding there was a want of harmony between Generals Sandford +and Brown in the disposition of troops, he issued the following order: + +MAJOR-GENERAL SANDFORD, BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN. + +GENTLEMEN:--It is indispensable to collect your troops not stationed, +and have them divided into suitable parties, with a due proportion of +police to each, and to patrol in such parts of the city as may be in +the greatest danger from the rioters. This ought to be done as soon as +practicable. + +JOHN E. WOOL, _Major-general_. + +After this had been issued, General Sandford reporting to me that his +orders were not obeyed by General Brown, I issued the following order: + +"All the troops called out for the protection of the city are placed +under the command of General Sandford." + +General Brown in his reply says, that he "_never saw or heard of +this first order_." The only explanation of this, consistent with the +character of both, is that General Wool sent this order to General +Sandford alone--either forgetting to transmit it to General Brown, or +expecting General Sandford to do it. + +At all events, sent or not, it was a foolish order. One would infer +from it that the whole task of putting down the riots belonged to the +military, the commanders of which were to order out what co-operating +force of police they deemed necessary and march up and down the +disaffected districts, trampling out the lawlessness according to rule. +This might be all well enough, but the question was, how were these +troops, strangers to the city, to find out where "_such parts of the +city_" were in which was "_the greatest danger from the rioters_?" It +showed a lamentable ignorance of mobs; they don't stay in one spot and +fight it out, nor keep in one mass, nor give notice beforehand where +they will strike next. Such knowledge could only be obtained from police +head-quarters, the focus of the telegraph system, and _there_ the troops +should have been ordered to concentrate at once, and put themselves +under the direction of the Police Commissioners. Again, General Wool +says he issued the following order to General Brown, on Tuesday: + +"SIR:--It is reported that the rioters have already recommenced their +work of destruction. To-day there must be no child's play. Some of the +troops under your command should be sent immediately to attack and +stop those who have commenced their infernal rascality in Yorkville and +Harlem." + +This order, too, General Brown says he never received. Thinking +it strange, he addressed a note to General Wool's assistant +adjutant-general, respecting both these orders, which had thus strangely +wandered out of the way. The latter, Major Christensen, replied as +follows: + +"The orders of General Wool published in his report to Governor Seymour, +viz.: 'That patrols of military and police should be sent through the +disaffected districts;' and the one July 14th, 'To-day there must be no +child's play,' etc., were not issued by me, and I cannot therefore say +whether copies were sent to you or not. They were certainly _not_ sent +by me. + +"C.F. CHRISTENSEN, + +"Major, Assistant Adjutant-general." + +We have explained how the error may have occurred with regard to the +first order. But there is no explanation of this, except on the ground +that General Wool perhaps sketched out this order, without sending it, +and afterwards seeing it amid his papers, thought it was a copy of one +he had sent. He was well advanced in years, and might easily fall into +some such error. + +It is not necessary to go into detailed account of all the statements +contained in General Wool's letter which General Brown emphatically +denies; but the following is worthy of notice. He says that General +Brown issued orders that General Sandford countermanded, and that +General Brown acted through the riots under his (Wool's) orders; whereas +the latter says, he never received but three orders from Wool during the +whole time, and only _one_ of those referred to any action towards the +rioters, and that was to bring off some killed and wounded men left by +a military force sent out either by Sandford or Wool, and which had been +chased from the field by the mob. + +But the statements of General Wool are entirely thrown into the shade +by the following assertion of General Sandford, in his report. He says: +"With the remnant of the [his] division (left in the city), and the +first reinforcements from General Wool, detachments were sent to all +parts of the city, and the rioters everywhere beaten and dispersed on +Monday afternoon, Monday night, and Tuesday morning. In a few hours, but +for the interference of Brigadier-general Brown, who, in disobedience of +orders," etc. + +The perfect gravity with which this assertion is made is something +marvellous. One would infer that the police was of no account, except +to maintain order after it was fully restored by the military on Tuesday +morning. General Sandford might well be ignorant of the state of things +in the city, for he was cooped up in the arsenal, intent only on holding +his fortress. So far as he was concerned, the whole city might have +been burned up before Tuesday noon, and he would scarcely have known it, +except as he saw the smoke and flames from the roof of the arsenal. He +never sent out a detachment until after the Tuesday afternoon, when, +as he says, but for General Brown's action, the riot would have been +virtually over. The simple truth is, these reports of Generals Wool and +Sandford are both mere after-thoughts, growing out of the annoyance they +felt on knowing that their _martinetism_ was a total failure, and the +whole work had been done by General Brown and the Police Commissioners +from their head-quarters in Mulberry Street. Acton and Brown had no time +to grumble or dispute about etiquette. They had something more serious +on hand, and they bent their entire energies to their accomplishment. +General Sandford held the arsenal, an important point, indeed a vital +one, and let him claim and receive all the credit due that achievement; +but to assume any special merit in quelling the riots in the streets +is simply ridiculous. That was the work of the police and the military +under the commissioners and General Brown. + +The statement of the Police Commissioners, Acton and Bergen, on this +point is conclusive. They say that General Sandford's error consisted +in "not choosing to be in close communication with this department, when +alone through the police telegraph, and other certain means, trustworthy +information of the movements of the mob could be promptly had." + +That single statement is enough to overthrow all of General Sandford's +assertions about the riot. It was hardly necessary for them to declare +further in their letter to General Brown: + +"So far from your action having had the effect supposed by General +Sandford, we are of the opinion, already expressed in our address to +the police force, that through your prompt, vigorous, and intelligent +action, the intrepidity and steady valor of the small military force +under you, acting with the police force, the riotous proceedings were +arrested on Thursday night, and that without such aid mob violence would +have continued much longer." + +WELL-EARNED PRAISE. + +On the week after the riot the Board of Police Commissioners issued the +following address to the force, in which a well-earned tribute is paid +to the military: + +_To the Metropolitan Police Force._ + +On the morning of Monday, the 13th inst., the peace and good order of +the city were broken by a mob collected in several quarters of the city, +for the avowed purpose of resisting the process of drafting names to +recruit the armies of the Union. + +Vast crowds of men collected and fired the offices where drafting was in +progress, beating and driving the officers from duty. + +From the beginning, these violent proceedings were accompanied by arson, +robbery, and murder. + +Private property, unofficial persons of all ages, sexes, and conditions, +were indiscriminately assailed--none were spared, except those who were +supposed by the mob to sympathize with their proceedings. + +Early in the day the Superintendent was assaulted, cruelly beaten, +robbed, and disabled by the mob which was engaged in burning the provost +marshal's office in Third Avenue, thus in a manner disarranging the +organization at the Central Department, throwing new, unwonted, and +responsible duties upon the Board. + +At this juncture the telegraph wires of the department were cut, and the +movement of the railroads and stages violently interrupted, interfering +seriously with our accustomed means of transmitting orders and +concentrating forces. + +The militia of the city were absent at the seat of war, fighting the +battles of the nation against treason and secession, and there was no +adequate force in the city for the first twelve hours to resist at all +points the vast and infuriated mob. The police force was not strong +enough in any precinct to make head, unaided, against the overwhelming +force. No course was left but to concentrate the whole force at the +Central Department, and thence send detachments able to encounter and +conquer the rioters. This course was promptly adopted on Monday morning. +The military were called upon to act in aid of the civil force to subdue +the treasonable mob, protect life and property, and restore public +order. + +Under such, adverse circumstances you were called upon to encounter a +mob of such strength as have never before been seen, in this country. +The force of militia under General Sandford, who were called into +service by the authority of this Board, were concentrated by him at and +held the arsenal in Seventh Avenue, throughout the contest. The military +forces in command of Brevet Brigadier-general Harvey Brown reported +at the Central Department, and there General Brown established his +head-quarters, and from there expeditions, combined of police and +military force, were sent out that in all cases conquered, defeated, or +dispersed the mob force, and subjected them to severe chastisement. In +no instance did these detachments from the Central Department, whether +of police alone or police and military combined, meet with defeat or +serious check. + +In all cases they achieved prompt and decisive victories. The contest +continued through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and till 11 +o'clock on Thursday night, like a continuous battle, when it ended by a +total and sanguinary rout of the insurgents. + +During the whole of those anxious days and nights, Brigadier-general +Brown remained at the Central Department, ordering the movements of the +military in carefully considered combinations with the police force, and +throughout the struggle, and until its close, commanded the admiration +and gratitude of the Police Department and all who witnessed his firm +intelligence and soldierly conduct. + +It is understood that he had at no time under his immediate command more +than three hundred troops, but they were of the highest order, and were +commanded by officers of courage and ability. They cordially acted +with, supported, and were supported by, the police, and victory in +every contest against fearful odds, was the result of brave fighting and +intelligent command. + +In the judgment of this Board, the escape of the city from the power +of an infuriated mob is due to the aid furnished the police by +Brigadier-general Brown and the small military force under his command. +No one can doubt, who saw him, as we did, that during those anxious and +eventful days and nights Brigadier-general Harvey Brown was equal to the +situation, and was the right man in the right place. + +We avail ourselves of this occasion to tender to him, in the most +earnest and public manner, the thanks of the department and our own. + +To the soldiers under his command we are grateful as to brave men +who perilled all to save the city from a reign of terror. To Captains +Putnam, Franklin, and Shelley, Lieutenant Ryer, and Lieutenant-colonel +Berens, officers of corps under the command of Brigadier-general Brown, +we are especially indebted, and we only discharge a duty when we commend +them to their superiors in rank and to the War Department for their +courageous and effective service. + +Of the Inspectors, Captains, and Sergeants of police who led parties in +the fearful contest, we are proud to say that none faltered or failed. +Each was equal to the hour and the emergency. Not one failed to overcome +the danger, however imminent, or to defeat the enemy, however numerous. +Especial commendation is due to Drill-sergeant Copeland for his most +valuable aid in commanding the movements of larger detachments of the +police. + +The patrolmen who were on duty fought through the numerous and fierce +conflicts with the steady courage of veteran soldiers, and have won, as +they deserve, the highest commendations from the public and from this +Board. In their ranks there was neither faltering nor straggling. +Devotion to duty and courage in the performance of it were universal. + +The public and the department owe a debt of gratitude to the citizens +who voluntarily became special patrolmen, some three thousand of whom, +for several days and nights, did regular patrolmen's duty with great +effect. + +In the name of the public, and of the department in which they were +volunteers, we thank them. + +Mr. Crowley, the superintendent of the police telegraph, and the +attaches of his department, by untiring and sleepless vigilance in +transmitting information by telegraph unceasingly through more than ten +days and nights, have more than sustained the high reputation they have +always possessed. + +Through all these bloody contests, through all the wearing fatigue and +wasting labor, you have demeaned yourselves like worthy members of the +Metropolitan Police. + +The public judgment will commend and reward you. A kind Providence +has permitted you to escape with less casualties than could have been +expected. You have lost one comrade, whom you have buried with honor. +Your wounded will, it is hoped, all recover, to join you and share +honor. It is hoped that the severe but just chastisement which has been +inflicted upon those guilty of riot, pillage, arson, and murder, +will deter further attempts of that character. But if, arising out of +political or other causes, there should be another attempt to interrupt +public order, we shall call on you again to crush its authors, confident +that you will respond like brave men, as you ever have, to the calls of +duty; and in future, whenever the attempt may be made, you will have to +aid you large forces of military, ably commanded, and thus be enabled to +crush in the bud any attempted riot or revolution. + +To General Canby, who, on the morning of Friday, the 17th inst., took +command of the military, relieving Brigadier-general Brown, and to Gen. +Dix, who succeeded General Wool, the public are indebted for prompt, +vigorous, and willing aid to the police force in all the expeditions +which have been called for since they assumed their commands. Charged +particularly with the protection of the immense amount of Federal +property and interests in the Metropolitan district, and the police +force charged with the maintenance of public order, the duties of the +two forces are always coincident. + +Whatever menaces or disturbs one equally menaces and disturbs the other. + +We are happy to know that at all times the several authorities have +co-operated with that concert and harmony which is necessary to secure +vigor and efficiency in action. + +Sergeant Young, of the detective force, aided by Mr. Newcomb and other +special patrolmen, rendered most effective service in arranging the +commissary supplies for the large number of police, military, special +patrolmen, and destitute colored refugees, whose subsistence was thrown +unexpectedly on the department. The duty was arduous and responsible, +and was performed with vigor and fidelity. All the clerks of the +department, each in his sphere, performed a manly share of the heavy +duties growing out of these extraordinary circumstances. The Central +Department became a home of refuge for large numbers of poor, persecuted +colored men, women, and children, many of whom were wounded and sick, +and all of whom were helpless, exposed, and poor. Mr. John H. Keyser, +with his accustomed philanthropy, volunteered, and was appointed to +superintend these wretched victims of violence and prejudice, and has +devoted unwearied days to the duty. The pitiable condition of these poor +people appeals in the strongest terms to the Christian charity of the +benevolent and humane. The members of the force will do an acceptable +service by calling the attention to their condition of those who are +able and willing to contribute in charity to their relief. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. + +Religious Toleration.--Irish Feuds.--Battle of Boyne +Water.--Orangemen.--Origin and Object of the Society.--A Picnic at Elm +Park.--Attacked by the Ribbonmen.--The Fight.--After Scenes.--Riot +of 1871.--Conspiracy of the Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of +Orangemen.--Forbidden by the City Authorities.--Indignation of +the People.--Meeting in the Produce Exchange.--Governor Hoffman's +Proclamation.--Morning of the 12th.--The Orangemen at Lamartine +Hall.--Attack on the Armories.--The Harpers threatened.--Exciting +Scenes around Lamartine Hall and at Police Head-quarters.--Hibernia +Hall cleared.--Attack on an Armory.--Formation of the Procession.--Its +March.--Attacked.--Firing of the Military without Orders.--Terrific +Scene.--The Hospitals and Morgue.--Night Scenes.--Number of killed and +wounded.--The Lesson. + +In a free country like ours, where toleration of all religions alike is +one of the fundamental principles of the Government, one would naturally +think that open persecution of any sect or body of religionists was +impossible. But the Irish, unfortunately, have brought with them to this +country not merely many of their old customs and national fetes, but +their old religions feuds. + +Nearly two hundred years ago, William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, +or William the Third, a Protestant, met the Catholic King, James the +Second, of England, In deadly battle, in the vales of Meath, through +which the Boyne River flows, and utterly routed him, and compelled him +to flee to the Continent for safety. According to old style, this was on +the first day of July, as the old ballad says: + + "'Twas bright July's first morning clear, + Of unforgotten glory, + That made this stream, through ages dear, + Renowned in song and story." + +According to new style, however, this has become the twelfth of the +month. The Ulster Protestant Society, known as Orangemen, was founded +in 1795. It was a secret political organization, founded, it is said, to +counteract the Ribbonmen, or Protectors, as they were called. Its object +in this country, it is asserted, is entirely different, and more in +harmony with other societies that have their annual celebration in New +York City and other places. + +It is not necessary to go over the bitter feuds between these and +the Catholic Irish in the old country. The hates they engendered were +brought here, but kept from any great outward manifestation, because the +Orangemen indulged in no public displays. We believe that there had been +only one procession previous to this. In this year, however, an imposing +display was resolved upon, but no trouble was anticipated, and no +precautions taken by the police. It was not proposed to parade the +streets, but to form, and march in procession up Eighth Avenue, to Elm +Park, corner of Ninetieth Street and Eighth Avenue, and have a picnic, +and wind up with a dance. As the procession passed Fourth Street, in +full Orange regalia, and about twenty-five hundred strong (men, women, +and children), playing "Boyne Water," "Derry," and other tunes obnoxious +to the Catholics, some two hundred Irishmen followed it with curses and +threats. + +Violence was, however, not feared, and the procession continued on, and +at length reached the new Boulevard road, where a large body of Irishmen +were at work. Beyond, however, the interchange of some words, nothing +transpired, and it entered the park, and began the festivities of the +day. + +In the meanwhile, however, the rabble that had followed them came upon +the Ribbonmen at work on the Boulevard road, and persuaded them to throw +up work and join them, and the whole crowd, numbering probably about +five hundred, started for the park. The foreman of the gang of three +hundred workmen saw at once the danger, and hurried to the Thirty-first +Precinct station, corner of One Hundredth Street and Ninth Avenue, and +told Captain Helme of the state of things. + +The latter immediately thought of the picnic, and, anticipating trouble, +telegraphed to Jourdan for reinforcements. In the meanwhile, the mob, +loaded with stones, advanced tumultuously towards the park, within +which the unsuspecting Orangemen were giving themselves up to enjoyment. +Suddenly a shower of stones fell among them, knocking over women and +children, and sending consternation through the crowd. Shouts and curses +followed, and the Orangemen, rallying, rushed out and fell furiously +on their assailants. Shovels, clubs, and stones were freely used, and +a scene of terrific confusion followed. The fight was close and bloody, +and continued for nearly half an hour, when Sergeant John Kelly, with +a force of sixteen men, arrived, and rushing in between the combatants, +separated them, and drove the Orangemen back into the park. The mob then +divided into two portions, of between two and three hundred each. One +party went by way of Ninth Avenue, and, breaking down the fence on that +side, entered the park, and fell with brutal fury on men, women, and +children alike. A terrible fight followed, and amid the shouts and +oaths of the men and screams of the women and children, occasional +pistol-shots were heard, showing that murder was being done. The +enraged, unarmed Orangemen, wrenched hand rails from the fence, tore up +small trees, and seized anything and everything that would serve for a +weapon, and maintained the fight for a half an hour, before the police +arrived. The second portion went by Eighth Avenue, and intercepted +a large body of Orangemen that had retreated from the woods, and a +desperate battle followed. There were only two policemen here, and of +course could do nothing but stand and look on the murderous conflict. +In the meantime, the force telegraphed for by Captain. Helme arrived. It +consisted of twenty men, to which Captain Helme added the reserve +force, with a sergeant from the Eighth, Ninth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, +and Nineteenth Precincts, making in all some fifty men. These he divided +into two portions, one of which he sent over to Eighth Avenue to protect +the cars, into which the fugitives were crowding, while the other dashed +furiously into the park, and fell on the combatants with their clubs. +They soon cleared a lane between them, when turning on the Ribbonmen, +they drove them out of the park. They then formed the Orangemen into +a procession, and escorted them down the city. A portion, however, had +fled for the Eighth Avenue cars; but a party of Ribbonmen were lying in +wait here, and another fight followed. Huge stones were thrown through +the windows of the cars, the sides broken in, over the wreck of which +the mob rushed, knocking down men, women, and children alike, whose +shouts, and oaths, and screams could be heard blocks off. The scene was +terrific, until the arrival of the police put an end to it, and bore the +dead and wounded away. + +About seven o'clock, Superintendent Jourdan arrived in the precinct, +accompanied by Inspectors Dilks and Walling, and Detectives Farley and +Avery. In the basement of the Thirty-first Precinct station, on a low +trestle bed, three bloody corpses were stretched, while the neighboring +precincts were filled with the wounded. Two more died before morning. +The street near each station was crowded with Orangemen inquiring after +friends. + +Although no more outbreaks occurred, the most intense excitement +prevailed among the Irish population of the city, and it was evident +that it needed only a suitable occasion to bring on another conflict. + +THE RIOT OF 1871. + +When the next anniversary of the Orangemen came round, it was discovered +that a conspiracy had been formed by a large body of the Catholic +population to prevent its public celebration. The air was full of +rumors, while the city authorities were in possession of the fullest +evidence that if the Orangemen paraded, they would be attacked, and +probably many lives be lost. They were in great dilemma as to what +course to pursue. If they allowed the procession to take place, they +would be compelled to protect it, and shoot down the men whose votes +helped largely to place them in power. If they forbade it, they feared +the public indignation that would be aroused against such a truckling, +unjust course. As the day drew near, however, and the extensive +preparations of the Irish Catholics became more apparent, they +finally determined to risk the latter course, and it was decided that +Superintendent Kelso should issue an order forbidding the Orangemen to +parade. This ludicrous attempt on the part of the Mayor to shift the +responsibility from his own shoulders, awakened only scorn, and the +appearance of the order was followed by a storm of indignation that was +appalling. The leading papers, without regard to politics, opened on him +and his advisers, with such a torrent of denunciations that they quailed +before it. Processions of all kinds and nationalities were allowed +on the streets, and to forbid only one, and that because it was +_Protestant_, was an insult to every American citizen. Even Wall Street +forgot its usual excitement, and leading men were heard violently +denouncing this cowardly surrender of Mayor Hall to the threats of a +mob. An impromptu meeting was called in the Produce Exchange, and a +petition drawn up, asking the president to call a formal meeting, and +excited men stood in line two hours, waiting their turn to sign it. +The building was thronged, and the vice-president called the meeting to +order, and informed it that the rules required twenty-four hours' notice +for such a meeting. The members, however, would listen to no delay, and +with an unanimous and thundering vote, declared the rules suspended. The +action of the city authorities was denounced in withering terms, and a +committee of leading men appointed to wait on them, and remonstrate with +the Mayor. One could scarcely have dreamed that this order would stir +New York so profoundly. But the people, peculiarly sensitive to any +attack on religious freedom, were the more fiercely aroused, that in +this case it was a Catholic mob using the city authority to strike +down Protestantism. The Mayor and his subordinates were appalled at the +tempest they had raised, and calling a council, resolved to revoke the +order. In the meantime, Governor Hoffman was telegraphed to from Albany. +Hastening to the city, he, after a consultation with Mayor Hall, decided +to issue the following proclamation: + +"Having been only this day apprised, while at the capital, of the +actual condition of things here, with reference to proposed processions +to-morrow, and having, in the belief that my presence was needed, +repaired hither immediately, I do make this proclamation: + +"The order heretofore issued by the police authorities, in reference to +said processions, being duly revoked, I hereby give notice that any +and all bodies of men desiring to assemble in peaceable procession +to-morrow, the 12th inst., will be permitted to do so. They will be +protected to the fullest extent possible by the military and police +authorities. A police and military escort will be furnished to any body +of men desiring it, on application to me at my head-quarters (which will +be at police head-quarters in this city) at any time during the day. I +warn all persons to abstain from interference with any such assembly or +procession, except by authority from me; and I give notice that all the +powers of my command, civil and military, will be used to preserve +the public peace, and put down at all hazards, every attempt at +disturbances; and I call upon all citizens, of every race and religion, +to unite with me and the local authorities in this determination, to +preserve the peace and honor of the city and State." + +Dated at New York, this eleventh day of July, A. D. 1871. JOHN T. +HOFFMAN. + +It was thought by many that this would counteract the effects of the +cowardly order of the police superintendent. But whatever its effect +might have been, had it been issued earlier, it now came too late to +do any good. The preparations of the Roman Catholics were all made. A +secret circular had fallen into the hands of the police, showing that +the organization of the rioters was complete-the watchwords and signals +all arranged, and even the points designated where the attacks on the +procession were to be made. Arms had been collected and transported +to certain localities, and everything betokened a stormy morrow. +Consequently, General Shaler issued orders to the commanders of the +several regiments of militia, directing them to have their men in +readiness at their respective armories at 7 o'clock next morning, +prepared to march at a moment's warning. His head-quarters, like those +of General Brown in the draft riots, were at the police head-quarters, +so as to have the use of the police telegraph, in conveying orders to +different sections of the city. Meanwhile, detachments were placed on +guard at the different armories, to frustrate any attempt on the part of +the mob to seize arms. + +The night, however, wore quietly away, and in the morning the Governor's +proclamation appeared in the morning papers, showing the rioters the +nature of the work before them, if they undertook to carry out their +infamous plans. It seemed to have no effect, however. Early in the +morning sullen groups of Irishmen gathered on the corners of the +streets, where the Irish resided in greatest numbers, among which were +women, gesticulating and talking violently, apparently wholly unaware +that the authorities had any power, or, at least, thought they dared +not use it. Other groups traversed the streets, while at the several +rendezvous of the Hibernians, many carried muskets or rifles without any +attempt at concealment. In the upper part of the city, a body of rioters +began to move southward, compelling all the workmen on their way to +leave work and join them. One or two armories were attacked, but the +rioters were easily repulsed. The demonstrations at length became so +threatening, that by ten o'clock the police seized Hibernia Hall. + +About the same time, the Orangemen--who on the issue of Kelso's order +had determined not to parade but on the appearance of the Governor's +proclamation changed their mind--began to assemble at Lamartine Hall, on +the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street. Their room was in +the fourth story, and the delegates from the various lodges brought with +them their badges and banners, which they displayed from the windows. +This brought a crowd in front of the building, curious to know what was +going on in the lodge room. Soon five hundred policemen, ten or fifteen +of them on horseback, appeared under the command of Inspectors Walling +and Jamieson, and occupied both sides of Twenty-ninth Street, between +Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Several policemen also stood on Eighth Avenue, +while the door of the hall was guarded by others. Inside the hall there +were probably some seventy-five or a hundred Orangemen, discussing the +parade. Some stated that a great many, concluding there would be none, +had gone to their usual work, while others, alarmed at the threats of +the Hibernians, would not join it. But after some discussion, it was +resolved, that although the number would be small, they would parade +at all hazards; and at eleven o'clock the door was thrown open, and +the Orangemen, wearing orange colors, were admitted, amid the wildest +cheering. An invitation was sent to the lodges of Jersey City to join +them, but they declined, preferring to celebrate the day at home. + +Two o'clock was the hour fixed upon for the parade to begin, and the +authorities at police head-quarters were so advised. In the meantime a +banner had been prepared on which was inscribed in large letters, + +"AMERICANS! FREEMEN!! FALL IN!!!" + +in order to get accessions from outsiders, but without success. + +The line of march finally resolved upon was down Eighth Avenue to +Twenty-third Street, and up it to Fifth Avenue, down Fifth Avenue to +Fourteenth Street, along it to Union Square, saluting the Lincoln and +Washington statues as they passed, and then down Fourth Avenue to Cooper +Institute, where the procession would break up. + +About one o'clock, a party of men came rushing down Eighth Avenue, +opposite Lamartine Hall, cheering and shouting, led by a man waving a +sword cane. As he swung it above his head it parted, disclosing a long +dirk. The police immediately advanced and swept the street. Eighth +Avenue was cleared from Thirtieth Street to Twenty-eighth Street, and +the police formed several deep, leaving only room enough for the cars to +pass. + +In the meantime, around police head-quarters, in Mott Street, things +wore a serious aspect. From six o'clock in the morning, the various +detachments of police kept arriving until Bleecker, Houston, Mulberry, +and Mott Streets were dark with the massed battalions, ready to move at +a moment's notice. Rations were served out to them standing. Early in +the day, Governor Hoffman and staff arrived, and were quartered in the +Superintendent's room, while General Shaler and staff were quartered in +the fire marshal's office. Commissioners Manierre, Smith, and Barr were +in their own rooms, receiving reports from the various precincts +over the wires. A little after nine a dispatch came, stating that the +quarrymen near Central Park had quitted work, and were gathering +in excited groups, swearing that the Orangemen should not parade. +Immediately Inspector Jamieson, with two hundred and fifty policemen, +was despatched in stages to Forty-seventh Street and Eighth Avenue, to +watch the course of events. Another dispatch stated that an attack +was threatened on Harper's building, in Franklin Square, and Captain +Allaire, of the Seventh Precinct, was hurried off with fifty men +to protect it. A little later came the news that the Orangemen had +determined to parade at two o'clock, and a police force of five hundred, +as we have already stated, were massed in Eighth Avenue, opposite +Lamartine Hall. About noon, a body of rioters made an attack on the +armory, No. 19 Avenue A, in which were a hundred and thirty-eight stands +of arms. Fortunately, the janitor of the building saw them in time to +fasten the doors before they reached it, and then ran to the +nearest police-station for help, from which a dispatch was sent to +head-quarters. Captain Mount, with a hundred policemen, was hurried off +to the threatened point. He arrived, before the doors were broken in, +and falling on the rioters with clubs, drove them in all directions. +During the forenoon, Drill-captain Copeland was given five Companies, +and told to seize Hibernia Hall, where arms were being distributed. As +he approached, he ordered the mob to disperse, but was answered with +taunts and curses, while the women hurled stones at his face. He then +gave the order to charge, when the men fell on the crowd with such fury, +that they broke and fled in wild confusion. Meanwhile, the detectives +had been busy, and secured eighteen of the ring-leaders, whom they +marched to police head-quarters. + +As the hour for the procession to form drew near, the most intense +excitement prevailed at police head-quarters, and the telegraph was +watched with anxious solicitude. The terrible punishment inflicted on +the rioters in 1863 seemed to have been forgotten by the mob, and it +had evidently resolved to try once more its strength with the city +authorities. Around the Orange head-quarters a still deeper excitement +prevailed. The hum of the vast multitude seemed like the first +murmurings of the coming storm, and many a face turned pale as the +Orangemen, with their banners and badges, only ninety in all, passed out +of the door into the street. John Johnston, their marshal, mounted on +a spirited horse, placed himself at their head. In a few minutes, the +bayonets of the military force designed to act as an escort could +be seen flashing in the sun, as the troops with measured tread moved +steadily forward. Crowds followed them on the sidewalks, or hung from +windows and house-tops, while low curses could be heard on every side, +especially when the Twenty-second Regiment deliberately loaded their +pieces with ball and cartridge. The little band of Orangemen looked +serious but firm, while the military officers showed by their +preparations and order that they expected bloody work. The Orangemen +formed line in Twenty-ninth Street, close to the Eighth Avenue, and +flung their banners to the breeze. A half an hour later, they were ready +to march, and at the order wheeled into Eighth Avenue. At that instant a +single shot rang out but a few rods distant. Heads were turned anxiously +to see who was hit. More was expected as the procession moved on. A +strong body of police marched in advance. Next came the Ninth Regiment, +followed at a short interval by the Sixth. Then came more police, +followed by the little band of Orangemen, flanked on either side, so as +fully to protect them, by the Twenty-second and Eighty-fourth Regiments. +To these succeeded more police. The imposing column was closed up by +the Seventh Regiment, arresting all eyes by its even tread and martial +bearing. The sidewalks, doorsteps, windows, and roofs were black with +people. The band struck up a martial air, and the procession moved on +towards Twenty-eighth Street. Just before they reached it, another shot +rang clear and sharp above the music. No one was seen to fall, and the +march continued. At the corner of Twenty-seventh Street, a group of +desperate-looking fellows were assembled on a wooden shed that projected +over the sidewalk. Warned to get down and go away, they hesitated, when +a company of soldiers levelled their pieces at them. Uttering defiant +threats, they hurried down and disappeared. As the next corner was +reached, another shot was fired, followed by a shower of stones. A scene +of confusion now ensued. The police fell on the bystanders occupying the +sidewalks, and clubbed them right and left without distinction, and the +order rolled down the line to the inmates of the houses to shut their +windows. Terror now took the place of curiosity; heads disappeared, and +the quick, fierce slamming of blinds was heard above the uproar blocks +away. The procession kept on till it reached Twenty-fourth Street, +when a halt was ordered. The next moment a shot was fired from the +second-story windows of a house on the north-east corner. It struck the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, and in an instant a line of muskets was pointed +at the spot, as though the order to fire was expected. One gun went off, +when, without orders, a sudden, unexpected volley rolled down the line +of the Sixth, Ninth, and Eighty-fourth Regiments. The officers were +wholly taken by surprise at this unprecedented conduct; but, recovering +themselves, rushed among the ranks and shouted out their orders to cease +firing. But the work was done; and as the smoke slowly lifted in the hot +atmosphere, a scene of indescribable confusion presented itself. Men, +women, and children, screaming in wild terror, were fleeing in every +direction; the strong trampling down the weak, while eleven corpses lay +stretched on the sidewalk, some piled across each other. A pause of a +few minutes now followed, while the troops reloaded their guns. A new +attack was momentarily expected, and no one moved from the ranks to +succor the wounded or lift up the dead. Here a dead woman lay across a +dead man; there a man streaming with blood was creeping painfully up a +doorstep, while crouching, bleeding forms appeared in every direction. +Women from the windows looked down on the ghastly spectacle, +gesticulating wildly. The police now cleared the avenue and side +streets, when, the dead and wounded were attended to, and the order +to move on was given. General Varian, indignant at the conduct of the +Eighty-fourth in firing first without orders, sent it to the rear, and +replaced it on the flank of the Orangemen with a portion of the +Ninth. The procession, as it now resumed its march and moved through +Twenty-fourth Street, was a sad and mournful one. The windows were +filled with spectators, and crowds lined the sidewalks, but all were +silent and serious. Not till it reached Fifth Avenue Hotel were +there any greetings of welcome. Here some three thousand people were +assembled, who rent the air with cheers. No more attacks were made, and +it reached Cooper Institute and disbanded without any further incident. + +In the meantime, the scene at the Bellevue Hospital was a sad and +painful one. The ambulances kept discharging their bloody loads at the +door, and groans of distress and shrieks of pain filled the air. Long +rows of cots, filled with mangled forms, were stretched on every side, +while the tables were covered with bodies, held down, as the surgeons +dressed their wounds. The dead were carried to the Morgue, around which, +as night came on, a clamorous crowd was gathered, seeking admission, to +look after their dead friends. A similar crowd gathered at the door of +the Mount Sinai Hospital, filling the air with cries and lamentations. +As darkness settled over the city, wild, rough-looking men from the +lowest ranks of society gathered in the street where the slaughter took +place, among whom were seen bare-headed women roaming about, making +night hideous with their curses. + +A pile of dead men's hats stood on the corner of Eighth Avenue and +Twenty-fifth Street untouched, and pale faces stooped over pools of +blood on the pavement. The stores were all shut; and everything wore +a gloomy aspect. The police stood near, revealed in the lamplight, but +made no effort to clear the street. It seemed at one time that a serious +outbreak would take place, but the night passed off quietly, and the +riot was ended, and the mob once more taught the terrible lesson it is +so apt to forget. + +Two of the police and military were killed, and twenty-four wounded; +while of the rioters thirty-one were killed, and sixty-seven +wounded--making in all one hundred and twenty-eight victims. + +There was much indignation expressed at the troops for firing without +orders, and firing so wildly as to shoot some of their own men. It was, +of course, deserving the deepest condemnation, yet it may have saved +greater bloodshed. The fight evidently did not occur at the expected +point, and doubtless the result here, prevented one where the mob was +better organized, and would have made a more stubborn resistance. + +That innocent persons were killed is true; but if they will mingle in +with a mob, they must expect to share its fate, and alone must bear the +blame. Troops are called out to fire on the people if they persist in +violation of the peace and rights of the community. Of this all are +fully aware, and hence take the risk of being shot. Soldiers cannot be +expected to discriminate in a mob. If the military are not to fire on +a crowd of rioters until no women and children, can be seen in it, they +had better stay at home. + +To a casual observer, this calling out of seven hundred policemen and +several regiments of soldiers, in order to let ninety men take a foolish +promenade through a few streets, would seem a very absurd and useless +display of the power of the city; and the killing of sixty or seventy +men a heavy price to pay for such an amusement. But it was not ninety +Orangemen only that those policemen and soldiers enclosed and shielded. +They had in their keeping the laws and authority of the city, set at +defiance by a mob, and also the principle of religious toleration and +of equal rights, which were of more consequence than the lives of ten +thousand men. The day when New York City allows itself to be dictated +to by a mob, and Protestants not be permitted to march as such quietly +through the streets, her prosperity and greatness will come to an end. +The taking of life is a serious thing, but it is not to weigh a moment +against the preservation of authority and the supremacy of the law. + +One thing should not be overlooked--the almost universal faithfulness +of the Roman Catholic Irish police to their duty. In this, as well as +in the draft riots, they have left a record of which, any city might be +proud. To defend Protestant Irishmen against Roman Catholic friends and +perhaps relatives, is a severe test of fidelity; but the Irish police +have stood it nobly, and won the regard of all good citizens. [Footnote: +Twenty-four pages are here added to correct the omission in paging the +engravings.] + +[Illustration: RECEIVING AND REMOVING DEAD BODIES IN THE MORGUE.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great Riots of New York 1712 to +1873, by J.T. 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Headley + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6856] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 2, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK *** + + + + +Produecd by Richard Prairie, David Moynihan, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + THE + + GREAT RIOTS + + OF + + NEW YORK + + 1712 to 1873 + + INCLUDING A FULL AND COMPLETE ACCOUNT + + OF THE + + FOUR DAYS' DRAFT RIOT OF 1863 + + By HON. J.T. HEADLEY + + + TO + + THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, + + WHOSE + + UNWAVERING FIDELITY AND COURAGE IN THE PAST, + + ARE A SURE GUARANTEE OF WHAT THEY WILL DO + + FOR + + NEW YORK CITY IN THE FUTURE, + + THIS WORK + + IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED + + BY + + THE AUTHOR. + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + +1. BURNING OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE + +2. THE OLD NEW YORK HOSPITAL, SCENE OF THE DOCTORS' RIOT + +3. COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM (ERECTED SINCE THE RIOT) + +4. HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN POLICE + +5. HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT + +6. FORT LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK HARBOR + +7. FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK HARBOR + +8. SCENE IN LEXINGTON AVENUE + +9. ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE OFFICE + +10. FIGHT BETWEEN RIOTERS AND MILITIA + +11. HANGING AND BURNING A NEGRO IN CLARKSON STREET + +12. THE DEAD SERGEANT IN TWENTY-SECOND STREET + +13. DRAGGING COLONEL O'BRIEN'S BODY IN THE STREET + +14. BURNING SECOND AVENUE ARMORY + +15. RECEIVING DEAD BODIES AT THE MORGUE + +PREFACE. + +The materials for the descriptions of the Negro and Doctors' Riots were +gathered from the Archives of the Historical Society; those of the +immediately succeeding ones, from the press of the times. + +For the scenes and incidents that occurred on the stage and behind the +curtain in the Astor-place Opera Riot, I am indebted to a pamphlet +entitled "_Behind the Scenes_." + +The materials for the history of the Draft Riots were obtained in part +from the Daily Press, and in part from the City and Military Authorities, +especially Commissioner Acton, Seth Hawley, General Brown, and Colonel +Frothingham, who succeeded in putting them down. + +Mr. David Barnes, who published, some ten years ago, a pamphlet entitled +"The Metropolitan Police," kindly furnished me facts relating to the +Police Department of great value, and which saved me much labor and time. + +Much difficulty has been encountered in gathering together, from various +quarters, the facts spread over a century and a half, but it is believed +that everything necessary to a complete understanding of the subjects +treated of has been given, consistent with the continuity and interest of +the narrative. + +Of course some minor riots--a collection of mobs that were easily +dispersed by the police, and were characterized by no prolonged struggle +or striking incidents--are not mentioned. + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. + +Character of a City illustrated by Riots.--New Material for History of +Draft Riots.--History of the Rebellion incomplete without History of +them.--The Fate of the Nation resting on the Issues of the Struggle in New +York City.--The best Plan to adopt for Protection against Mobs. + +CHAPTER II. + +THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + +Almost impossible for the present Generation to comprehend its true +Character and Effect on the People.--Description of New York at that +Time.--The Negro Slaves.--The Negro Riot of 1712.--Description of it.--The +Winter of 1741.--Governor's House burned down.--Other Fires.--Suspicion of +the People.--Arrest and Imprisonment of the Blacks.--Reward offered for +the supposed Conspirators.--Alarm and Flight of the Inhabitants.-- +Examination and Confession of Mary Burton.--Peggy, the Newfoundland +Beauty, and the Hughson Family.--The Conspiracy.--Executions.--Fast.-- +Hughson's Hearing.--Hung in Chains.--The Body, and that of a Negro, left +to swing and rot in the Air.--Strange Change in the Appearances of the +Bodies.--The People throng to look at them.--Negroes burned at the Stake. +--Terrific Spectacle.--Bloody Summer.--Execution of a Catholic Priest.-- +Strange Scenes.--Upper Classes accused.--Executions stopped.--Reason of +the Panic. + +CHAPTER III. + +THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + +Thorough Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.--The +Stamp Act.--How viewed by the Colonists.--Colden strengthens Fort George +in Alarm.--Arrival of the Stamps.--How the News was received by the Sons +of Liberty.--A Bold Placard.--Stamp Distributor frightened.--Patriotic +Action of the Merchants.--Public Demonstration against the Stamp Act.-- +Colden takes Refuge in the Fort.--Dare not fire on the People.--The People +at the Gate demand the Stamps.--Colden and Lord Bute hung in Effigy.-- +Colden's Coach-house broken open.--The Images placed in the Coach, and +dragged with Shouts through the Streets.--Hung again in Sight of the +Fort.--A Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling Green, and the +Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently on.--Prejudice +against Coaches.--Major James' House sacked.--Great Joy and Demonstration +at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Celebration of the King's Birthday.-- +Loyalty of the People.--Mutiny Act.--A Riot becomes a Great Rebellion. + +CHAPTER IV. + +DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. + +Body-snatching.--Bodies dug up by Medical Students.--Excitement of the +People.--Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from the Hospital.--Mob +ransack the Building.--Destruction of Anatomical Specimens.--Arrival of +Mayor, and Imprisonment of Students.--Second Day.--Examination of Columbia +College and Physicians' Houses.--Appeal of the Mayor and distinguished +Citizens to the Mob.--Mob attempt to break into Jail and seize the +Students.--The Fight.--The Military called out.--Beaten by the Mob.-- +Larger Military Force called out.--Attacked by the Mob.--Deadly Firing.-- +Great Excitement.--Flight of Doctors and Students. + +CHAPTER V. + +SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + +Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.--Our Experiment of Self-government +not a fair one.--Fruit of giving Foreigners the Right to Vote.--Bitter +Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.--First Day of Election.--Ships +"Constitution" and "Veto."--Whigs driven from the Polls.--Excitement.-- +Whigs determined to defend themselves.--Meeting called.--Resolutions.-- +Second Day's Election.--Attack on the Frigate "Constitution."--A Bloody +Fight.--Mayor and Officers wounded.--Mob triumphant.--Excitement of the +Whigs.--The Streets blocked by fifteen thousand enraged Whigs.--Military +called out.--Occupy Arsenal and City Hall all Night.--Result of the +Election.--Excitement of the Whigs.--Mass-meeting in Castle Garden. + +CHAPTER VI. + +ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. + +The Slavery Question agitated.--The End, Civil War.--The Results.--William +Lloyd Garrison.--Feeling of the People on the Subject.--First Attempt to +call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New York.--Meeting in Chatham +Street Chapel.--A Fight.--Mob take Possession of Bowery Theatre.--Sacking +of Lewis Tappan's House.--Fight between Mob and Police.--Mobbing of Dr. +Cox's Church, in Laight Street.--His House broken into.--Street +Barricaded.--Attack on Arthur Tappan's Store.--Second Attack on Church in +Laight Street.--Church sacked in Spring Street.--Arrival of the Military. +--Barricades carried.--Mr. Ludlow's House entered.--Mob at Five Points.-- +Destruction of Houses.--The City Military called out.--Mob overawed, and +Peace restored.--Five Points Riot.--Stone-cutters' Riot. + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. + +Starvation will always create a Riot.--Foreign Population easily aroused +against the Rich.--Severe Winter of 1836.--Scarcity of Flour.--Meeting of +Citizens called without Result.--Meeting called in the Park.--Speeches.-- +Sacking of Hart & Co.'s Flour Store, in Washington Street.--Strange +Spectacle.--National Guards called out.--Disperse the Mob.--Attack on +Herrick's Flour Store.--Folly of the Riot. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + +Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.--Macready's Arrival in this +Country.--The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera +House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side by +Side.--Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.--Anxiety of the Managers.-- +Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the Curtain.--Stamping of the +People.--Scene on raising the Curtain.--Stormy Reception of Macready.-- +Howled down.--Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by the Outrageous Language +of the Mob.--Macready not allowed to go on.--His foolish Anger.--Flees for +his Life.--His Appearance the Second Night.--Preparations to put down the +Mob.--Exciting Scene in the Theatre.--Terrific Scenes without.--Military +arrive.--Attacked by the Mob.--Patience of the Troops.--Effort to avoid +Firing.--The Order to Fire.--Terrific Scene.--Strange Conduct of Forrest. +--Unpublished Anecdote of General Scott. + +CHAPTER IX. + +POLICE RIOT--DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT--BREAD RIOT, 1857. + +Creation of the Metropolitan District.--Collision between Mayor Wood's +Police and the Metropolitan Police.--Seventh Regiment called out.--Dead- +Rabbits' Riot.--Severe Fight between the Roach Guards and Dead Rabbits.-- +Police driven back.--Barricades erected.--Military called out.--Killed and +Wounded.--Bread Riot.--Financial Distress. + +CHAPTER X. + +DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. + +Cause of the Riots.--The London _Times_.--Draft called a despotic +Measure.--The despotic Power given to Washington by Congress.--Despotic +Action sometimes Necessary, in order to save the Life of the Nation.--The +Rights of Government.--Drafting he Legitimate Way to raise an Army--It is +not Unequal or Oppressive. + +CHAPTER XI. + +Rights of Municipalities.--Interference of the Legislature with the City +Government.--Conflict between the Governor and Police Commissioners.--A +Wrong becomes a Practical Blessing.--Provost Marshals.--Riot not +anticipated.--Bad time to commence the Draft.--Preparations of +Superintendent Kennedy.--The Police System.--Attack on Provost Marshal +Captain Erhardt.--Telegrams of the Police.--Kennedy starts on a Tour of +Observation. + +CHAPTER XII. + +Commencement of the Mob.--Its Line of March.--Its immense Size.--Attacks a +Provost-marshal's Office, in Third Avenue.--Set on Fire.--Terrible +Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob.--Carried to Head-quarters +unconscious.--Acton's Preparations.--The Telegraph System.--Mob cutting +down Telegraph Poles.--Number of Despatches sent over the Wires during the +Riot.--Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held Prisoner by the +Mob. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Soldiers beaten by the Mob.--Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie.--Mob +Triumphant.--Beat Police Officers unmercifully.--Fearful Scenes.--Fifty +thousand People block Third Avenue.--A whole Block of Houses burning.-- +Attack on a Gun Factory.--Defeat of the Broadway Squad.--Houses sacked in +Lexington Avenue.--Telegraph Dispatches.--Bull's Head Tavern burned.-- +Block on Broadway burned.--Burning of the Negroes' Orphan Asylum.--Attack +on Mayor Opdyke's House.--A Crisis nobly met.--Gallant Fight and Victory +of Sergeant Carpenter.--A thrilling Spectacle. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +No Military in the City.--The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding +Eastern Department, for Help.--Also on General Sandford.--General Wool +sends to General Brown, commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. +Troops.--Marines of the States appealed to for Troops.--General Brown +assumes Command.--Attack of Mob on the _Tribune_ Building.--Its +severe Punishment.--Government Buildings garrisoned.--Difficulty between +Generals Brown and Wool.--Head-quarters.--Police Commissioners' Office +Military Head-quarters. + +CHAPTER XV. + +Telegraph Bureau.--Its Work.--Skill and Daring and Success of its Force.-- +Interesting Incidents.--Hairbreadth Escapes.--Detective Force.--Its +arduous Labors.--Its Disguises.--Shrewdness, Tact, and Courage.--Narrow +Escapes.--Hawley, the Chief Clerk.--His exhausting Labors. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +DRAFT RIOT--SECOND DAY. + +Appearance of the City.--Assembling of the Mob.--Fight between Rioters and +the Police and Soldiers.--Storming of Houses.--Rioters hurled from the +Roofs.--Soldiers fire on the People.--Awful Death of Colonel O'Brien.-- +Fight in Pitt Street.--Deadly Conflict for a Wire Factory.--Horrible +Impaling of a Man on an Iron Picket.--Mystery attached to him.--Second +Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House.--Second Fight for the Wire Factory.-- +Telegraphic Dispatches.--Citizens Volunteering.--Raid on the Negroes.-- +They are hunted to Death.--Savage Spectacle.--Negroes seek Head-quarters +of Police.--Appearance and State of the City.--Colonel Nugent's House +sacked.--Fight with the Mob in Third Avenue.--Battle at Gibbon's House.-- +Policeman Shot.--Night Attack on Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store.-- +Value of the Telegraph System.--Captain Petty.--Seymour's Speech to the +Mob.--Cars and Stages seized.--Barricades.--Other Fights.--Acton and his +Labors. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +DRAFT RIOT--THIRD DAY. + +Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.--Fight in Eighth Avenue.--Cannon +sweep the Streets.--Narrow Escape of Captain Howell and Colonel Mott.-- +Battle for Jackson's Foundry.--Howitzers clear the Street.--State of +Things shown by Telegraph Dispatches.--General Sandford sends out a Force +against a Mob, at Corner of Twenty-ninth Street and Seventh Avenue.-- +Colonel Gardin's Fight with the Mob.--Is Wounded.--Mob Victorious.--Dead +and Wounded Soldiers left in the Street.--Captain Putnam sent to bring +them away.--Disperses the Mob.--Terrific Night. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +DRAFT RIOT--FOURTH DAY. + +Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.--City districted.--Appearance of +the East Side of the City.--A small Squad of Soldiers chased into a +Foundry by the Mob.--Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in Twenty- +ninth Street.--Soldiers driven from the Ground, leaving a dead Sergeant +behind.--Captain Putnam sent to bring the Body away.--Mows down the +Rioters with Canister.--Storms the Houses.--Utter Rout of the Mob.-- +Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to Blackwell's Island.-- +Touching Scene.--Coming on of Night and a Thunder-storm.--Returning +Regiments.--Increased Force in the City to put down Violence.--Archbishop +Hughes offers to address the Irish.--Curious Account of an Interview of a +Lady with him and Governor Seymour.--Strange Conduct of the Prelate. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CLOSING SCENES. + +Tranquil Morning.--Proclamation of the Mayor.--Mob cowed.--Plunderers +afraid of Detection.--Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, Furniture, +and Works of Art.--Archbishop Hughes' Address.--Useless Efforts.--Acton's +Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.--Change in Military Commanders in +the City.--General Brown relinquishes his Command.--True Words.--Noble +Character and Behavior of the Troops and Police.--General Brown's +invaluable Services. + +CHAPTER XX. + +Continued Tranquillity.--Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in the +Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.--Search for it exasperates the +Irish.--Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police.--Sergeant Copeland.-- +Prisoners tried.--Damages claimed from the City.--Number of Police +killed.--Twelve hundred Rioters killed.--The Riot Relief Fund.--List of +Colored People killed.--Generals Wool and Sandford's Reports.--Their +Truthfulness denied.--General Brown vindicated. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. + +Religious Toleration.--Irish Feuds.--Battle of Boyne Water.--Orangemen.-- +Origin and Object of the Society.--A Picnic at Elm Park.--Attacked by the +Ribbonmen.--The Fight. After Scenes.--Riot of 1871.--Conspiracy of the +Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of Orangemen.--Forbidden by the City +Authorities.--Indignation of the People.--Meeting in the Produce +Exchange.--Governor Hoffman's Proclamation.--Morning of the 12th.--The +Orangemen at Lamartine Hall.--Attack on the Armories.--The Harpers +threatened.--Exciting Scenes around Lamartine Hall and at Police Head- +quarters.--Hibernia Hall cleared.--Attack on an Armory.--Formation of the +Procession.--Its March.--Attacked.--Firing of the Military without +Orders.--Terrific Scene.--The Hospitals and Morgue.--Night Scenes.--Number +of killed and wounded.--The Lesson. + + +THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW YORK CITY. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Character of a City illustrated by Riots.--New Material for History of +Draft Riots.--History of the Rebellion incomplete without History of +them.--The Fate of the Nation resting on the Issues of the Struggle in New +York City.--The best Plan to adopt for Protection against Mobs. + +The history of the riots that have taken place in a great city from its +foundation, is a curious and unique one, and illustrates the peculiar +changes in tone and temper that have come over it in the course of its +development and growth. They exhibit also one phase of its moral +character--furnish a sort of moral history of that vast, ignorant, +turbulent class which is one of the distinguishing features of a great +city, and at the same time the chief cause of its solicitude and anxiety, +and often of dread. + +The immediate cause, however, of my taking up the subject, was a request +from some of the chief actors in putting down the Draft Riots of 1863, to +write a history of them. It was argued that it had never been written, +except in a detached and fragmentary way in the daily press, which, from +the hurried manner in which it was done, was necessarily incomplete, and +more or less erroneous. + +It was also said, and truly, that those who, by their courage and energy, +saved the city, and who now would aid me not only officially, but by their +personal recollections and private memoranda, would soon pass away, and +thus valuable material be lost. + +Besides these valid reasons, it was asserted that the history of the +rebellion was not complete without it, and yet no historian of that most +important event in our national life had given the riots the prominence +they deserved, but simply referred to them as a side issue, instead of +having a vital bearing on the fate of the war and the nation. On no single +battle or campaign did the destiny of the country hinge as upon that +short, sharp campaign carried on by General Brown and the Police +Commissioners against the rioters in the streets of New York, in the +second week of July, 1863. Losses and defeats in the field could be and +were repaired, but defeat in New York would in all probability have ended +the war. It is not necessary to refer to the immediate direct effects of +such a disaster on the army in the field, although it is scarcely possible +to over-estimate the calamitous results that would have followed the +instantaneous stoppage, even for a short time, of the vast accumulations +of provisions, ammunition, and supplies of all kinds, that were on their +way to the army through New York. Nor is it necessary to speculate on the +effect of the diversion of troops from the front that such an event would +have compelled, in order to recover so vital a point. Washington had +better be uncovered than New York be lost. One thing only is needed to +show how complete and irreparable the disaster would have been; namely, +the effect it would have had on the finances of the country. With the +great banking-houses and moneyed institutions of New York sacked and +destroyed, the financial credit of the country would have broken down +utterly. The crash of falling houses all over the country that would have +followed financial disaster here, would have been like that of falling +trees in a forest swept by a hurricane. Had the rioters got complete +possession of the city but for a single day, their first dash would have +been for the treasures piled up in its moneyed institutions. Once in +possession of these, they, like the mobs of Paris, would have fired the +city before yielding them up. In the crisis that was then upon us, it +would not have required a long stoppage in this financial centre of the +country to have effected a second revolution. With no credit abroad and no +money at home, the Government would have been completely paralyzed. Not +long possession of the city was needed, but only swift destruction. + +Doubtless the disastrous effects would have been increased tenfold, if +possible, by uprisings in other cities, which events showed were to +follow. Even partial success developed hostile elements slumbering in +various parts of the country, and running from Boston almost to the +extreme West. + +In this view of the case, these riots assume a magnitude and importance +that one cannot contemplate without a feeling of terror, and the truth of +history requires that their proper place should be assigned them, and +those who put them down have an honorable position beside our successful +commanders and brave soldiers. It is also important, as a lesson for the +future, and naturally brings up the question, what are the best measures, +and what is the best policy for the city of New York to adopt, in order to +protect itself from that which to-day constitutes its greatest danger-- +_mob violence?_ If it ever falls in ruins, the work of destruction +will commence and end within its own limits. We have a police and city +military which have been thought to be sufficient, but experience has +shown that though this provision may be ample to restore law and order in +the end, it works slowly, often unwisely, and always with an unnecessary +expenditure of life. In conversing with those of largest experience and +intelligence in the police department on this subject of such great and +growing importance, we are convinced, from their statements and views, a +vast improvement in this matter can be made, while the cost to the city, +instead of being increased, will be lessened; that is, a cheaper, wiser, +and more effectual plan than the present one can be adopted. Of course +this does not refer to mere local disturbances, which the police force in +the ordinary discharge of its duties can quell, but to those great +outbreaks which make it necessary to call out the military. Not that there +might not be exigencies in which it would be necessary to resort, not only +to the military of the city, but to invoke the aid of neighboring States; +for a riot may assume the proportions of a revolution, but for such no +local permanent remedy can be furnished. + +The objections to relying on the military, as we invariably do in case of +a large mob, are many. In the first place, it takes the best part of a day +to get the troops together, so that a mob, so far as they are concerned, +has time not only to waste and destroy for many hours, but increase in +strength and audacity. The members of the various regiments are scattered +all over the city, engaged in different occupations and employments, and +without previous notice being given, it is a long and tedious process to +get them to their respective headquarters and in uniform. This wastes much +and most valuable time. Besides, they are compelled to reach the mustering +place singly or in small groups, and hence liable to be cut off or driven +back by the mob, which in most cases would know the place of rendezvous. + +In the second place, the members are taken out from the mass of the +people, between whom there might be a strong sympathy in some particular +outbreak, which would impair their efficiency, and make them hesitate to +shoot down their friends and acquaintances. + +In the third place, in ordinary peace times, these uniformed regiments are +not the steadiest or most reliable troops, as was witnessed in the riots +of 1863, as well as in those of the Astor Place in 1849. + +They hesitate, or are apt to become hasty or disorganized in a close, +confused fight, and driven back. In the commencement of a riot, a defeat +of the military gives increased confidence, and indeed, power to a mob, +and snakes the sacrifice of life, in the end, far greater. + +In the fourth place, clearing the streets does not always dissipate a mob. +A whole block of houses may become a fortress, which it is necessary to +storm before a permanent victory is gained. Half-disciplined men, +unaccustomed, and unskilled to such work, make poor headway with their +muskets through narrow halls, up stairways, and through scuttle-holes. + +In the fifth place, the military of the city cannot be called away from +their work for two or three days, to parade the city, without a heavy +expense, and hence the process is a costly one. + +In the last place, the firing of these troops at the best is not very +judicious, and cannot be discriminating, so that those are shot down often +least culpable, and of least influence in the mob--in fact, more lives +usually are taken than is necessary. + +The simplest, most efficient, and most economical plan would be to select +five hundred or more of the most courageous, experienced, and efficient +men from the police department, and form them into a separate battalion, +and have them drilled in such evolutions, manoeuvres, and modes of attack +or defence, as would belong to the work they were set apart to do. A +battery might be given them in case of certain emergencies, and a portion +carefully trained in its use. At a certain signal of the bell, they should +be required to hasten, without a moment's delay, to their head-quarters. A +mob could hardly be gathered and commence work before this solid body of +disciplined, reliable men would be upon them. These five hundred men would +scatter five thousand rioters like chaff before them. It would be more +efficient than two entire regiments, even if assembled, and would be worth +more than the whole military of the city for the first half day. + +Besides, clubs are better than guns. They take no time to load--they are +never discharged like muskets, leaving their owners for the time at the +mercy of the mob. Their volleys are incessant and perpetual, given as long +and fast as strong arms can strike. They are also more discriminating than +bullets, hitting the guilty ones first. Moreover, they disable rather than +kill--which is just as effectual, and far more desirable. In addition to +all this, being trained to one purpose, instructed to one duty, a mob +would be their natural enemies, and hence sympathy with them in any cause +almost impossible. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE NEGRO RIOTS OF 1712-1741. + +Almost impossible for the present Generation to comprehend its true +Character and Effect on the People.--Description of New York at that +Time.--The Negro Slaves.--The Negro Riot of 1712.--Description of it.--The +Winter of 1741.--Governor's House burned down.--Other Fires.--Suspicion of +the People.--Arrest and Imprisonment of the Blacks.--Reward offered for +the supposed Conspirators.--Alarm and Flight of the Inhabitants.-- +Examination and Confession of Mary Burton.--Peggy, the Newfoundland +Beauty, and the Hughson Family.--The Conspiracy.--Executions.--Fast.-- +Hughson's Hearing.--Hung in Chains.--The Body, and that of a Negro, left +to swing and rot in the Air.--Strange Change in the Appearances of the +Bodies.--The People throng to look at them.--Negroes burned at the Stake. +--Terrific Spectacle.--Bloody Summer.--Execution of a Catholic Priest.-- +Strange Scenes.--Upper Classes accused.--Executions stopped.--Reason of +the Panic. + +Probably no event of comparatively modern times--certainly none in our +history--has occurred so extraordinary in some of its phases, as the negro +riot of 1741. We cannot fully appreciate it, not merely because of the +incompleteness of some of its details, nor from the lapse of time, but +because of our inability to place ourselves in the position or state of +mind of the inhabitants of New York City at that period. We can no more +throw ourselves into the social condition, and feel the influences of that +time, than we can conceive the outward physical appearance of the embryo +metropolis. It is impossible to stand amid the whirl and uproar of New +York to-day, and imagine men ploughing, and sowing grain, and carting hay +into barns, where the City Hall now stands. The conception of nearly all +the city lying below the Park, above it farms to Canal Street, beyond that +clearings where men are burning brush and logs to clear away the fallow, +and still farther on, towards Central Park, an unbroken wilderness, is so +dim and shadowy, that we can hardly fix its outlines. Yet it was so in +1741. Where now stands the Tombs, and cluster the crowded tenements of +Five Points, was a pond or lakelet, nearly two miles in circumference and +fifty feet deep, and encircled by a dense forest. Its deep, sluggish +outlet into the Hudson is now Canal Street. In wet weather there was +another water communication with the East River, near Peck Slip, cutting +off the lower part of the island, leaving another island, containing some +eight hundred acres. Through Broad Street, along which now rolls each day +the stream of business, and swells the tumult of the Brokers' Board, then +swept a deep stream, up which boatmen rowed their boats to sell oysters. +The water that supplied these streams and ponds is now carried off through +immense sewers, deep under ground, over which the unconscious population +tread. Where Front and Water Streets on the east side, and West Greenwich +and Washington on the west side, now stretch, were then the East and +Hudson Rivers, having smooth and pebbly beaches. There was not a single +sidewalk in all the city, and only some half dozen paved streets. On the +Battery stood the fort, in which were the Governor's and secretary's +houses, and over which floated the British flag. + +But all this outward appearance is no more unlike the New York of to-day +than its internal condition. + +The population numbered only about ten thousand, one-fifth of which was +negroes, who were slaves. Their education being wholly neglected, they +were ignorant and debased, and addicted to almost every vice. They were, +besides, restive under their bondage amid the severe punishments often +inflicted on them, which caused their masters a great deal of anxiety. Not +isolated as an inland plantation, but packed in a narrow space, they had +easy communication with each other, and worse than all, with the reckless +and depraved crews of the vessels that came into port. It is true, the +most stringent measures were adopted to prevent them from assembling +together; yet, in spite of every precaution, there would now and then come +to light some plan or project that would fill the whites with alarm. They +felt half the time as though walking on the crust of a volcano, and hence +were in a state of mind to exaggerate every danger, and give credit to +every sinister rumor. + +The experience of the past, as well as the present state of feeling among +the slaves, justified this anxiety and dread; for only thirty years before +occurred just such an outbreak as they now feared. On the 7th of April, in +1712, between one and two o'clock in the morning, the house of Peter Van +Tilburgh was set on fire by negroes, which was evidently meant as a signal +for a general revolt. + +The cry of fire roused the neighboring inhabitants, and they rushed out +through the unpaved muddy streets, toward the blazing building. As they +approached it, they saw, to their amazement, in the red light of the +flames, a band of negroes standing in front, armed with guns and long +knives. Before the whites could hardly comprehend what the strange +apparition meant, the negroes fired, and then rushed on them with their +knives, killing several on the spot. The rest, leaving the building to the +mercy of the flames, ran to the fort on the Battery, and roused the +Governor. Springing from his bed, he rushed out and ordered a cannon to be +fired from the ramparts to alarm the town. As the heavy report boomed over +the bay and shook the buildings of the town, the inhabitants leaped from +their beds, and looking out of the windows, saw the sky lurid with flames. +Their dread and uncertainty were increased, when they heard the heavy +splash of soldiers through the mud, and the next moment saw their bayonets +gleam out of the gloom, as they hurried forward towards the fire. In the +meantime, other negroes had rushed to the spot, so that soon there were +assembled, in proportion to the white population, what in the present +population of the city would be fully 10,000 negroes. + +The rioters stood firm till they saw the bayonets flashing in the fire- +light, and then, giving one volley, fled into the darkness northward, +towards what is now Wall Street. The scattered inhabitants they met, who, +roused by the cannon, were hastening to the fire, they attacked with their +knives, killing and wounding several. The soldiers, firing at random into +the darkness, followed after them, accompanied by a crowd of people. The +negroes made for the woods and swamps near where the Park now stands, and +disappearing in the heavy shadows of the forest, were lost to view. +Knowing it would be vain to follow them into the thickets, the soldiers +and inhabitants surrounded them and kept watch till morning. Many, of +course, got off and buried themselves in the deeper, more extensive woods +near Canal Street, but many others were taken prisoners. Some, finding +themselves closely pressed and all avenues of escape cut off, deliberately +shot themselves, preferring such a death to the one they knew awaited +them. How many were killed and captured during the morning, the historian +does not tell us. We can only infer that the number must have been great, +from the statement he incidentally makes, that "during the day _nineteen +more were_ taken, tried, and executed--some that turned State's +evidence were transported." "Eight or ten whites had been murdered," and +many more wounded. + +It was a terrible event, and remembered by the present inhabitants with +horror and dismay. To the little handful occupying the point of the +island, it was a tragedy as great as a riot in New York to-day would be, +in which was a loss of 5,000 or more on each side. + +Many middle-aged men, in 1741, were young men at that time, and remembered +the fearful excitement that prevailed, and it was a common topic of +conversation. + +The state of things, therefore, which we have described, was natural. This +was rendered worse by the arrival, in the winter of 1741, of a Spanish +vessel, which had been captured as a prize, the crew of which was composed +in part of negroes, who were sold at auction as slaves. These became very +intractable, and in spite of the floggings they received, uttered threats +that they knew would reach their masters' ears. Still, no evidence of any +general plot against the inhabitants was suspected, and things were moving +on in their usual way, when, on the 18th of March, a wild and blustering +day, the Governor's house in the fort was discovered to be on fire. Fanned +by a fierce south-east wind, the flames spread to the King's chapel, the +secretary's house, barracks, and stables; and in spite of all efforts to +save them, were totally consumed. The origin of the fire was supposed to +be accidental, but a few days after, Captain Warren's house, near the +fort, was found to be on fire. Two or three days later, the storehouse of +Mr. Van Zandt was discovered on fire. Still, no general suspicions were +aroused. Three more days passed, when a cow-stall was reported on fire, +and a few hours later, the house of Mr. Thompson; the fire in the latter +case originating in the room where a negro slave slept. The very next day, +live coals were discovered under the stable of John Murray, on Broadway. +This, evidently, was no accident, but the result of design, and the people +began to be alarmed. The day following, the house of a sergeant near the +fort was seen to be on fire, and soon after, flames arose from the roof of +a dwelling near the Fly Market. The rumor now spread like wildfire through +the town that it was the work of incendiaries. It seems to us a small +foundation to base such a belief on, but it must be remembered that the +public mind was in a state to believe almost anything. + +The alarm was increased by the statement of Mrs. Earle, who said that on +Sunday, as she was looking out of her window, she saw three negroes +swaggering up Broadway, engaged in earnest conversation. Suddenly she +heard one of them exclaim, "Fire! fire! Scorch! scorch! a little d--n by +and by!" and then throwing up his hands, laughed heartily. Coupled with +the numerous fires that had occurred, and the rumors afloat, it at once +excited her suspicions that this conversation had something to do with a +plot to burn the city. She therefore immediately reported it to an +alderman, and he, next day, to the justices. + +Although the number of buildings thus mysteriously set on fire was, in +reality, small, yet it was as great in proportion to the town then, as +three hundred would be in New York to-day. Less than that number, we +imagine, would create a panic in the city, especially if the public mind +was in a feverish state, as, for instance, during the recent civil war. + +Some thought the Spanish negroes had set the buildings on fire from +revenge, especially as those of the Government were the first to suffer. +Others declared that it was a plot of the entire negro population to burn +down the city. This belief was strengthened by the fact that, in one of +the last fires, a slave of one of the most prominent citizens was seen to +leap from the window, and make off over garden fences. A shout was +immediately raised by the spectators, and a pursuit commenced. The +terrified fugitive made desperate efforts to escape, but being overtaken, +he was seized, and, pale as death, lifted on men's shoulders and carried +to jail. + +Added to all this, men now remembered it lacked but a few days of being +the anniversary of the bloody riot of thirty years ago. They began to +watch and question the negroes, and one of the Spanish sailors, on being +interrogated, gave such unsatisfactory, suspicious answers, that the whole +crew were arrested, and thrown into prison. But that same afternoon, while +the magistrates, whom the alarming state of things had called together, +were in consultation about it, the cry of "Fire!" again startled the +entire community. The ringing of the alarm-bell had now become almost as +terrifying as the sound of the last trumpet, and the panic became general. +The first step was to ascertain if there were any strangers in town who +might be concealed enemies, and a thorough search was made--the militia +being ordered out, and sentries posted at the ends of all the streets, +with orders to stop all persons carrying bags and bundles. This was done +on the 13th of April. None being found, the conclusion became inevitable +that some dark, mysterious plot lay at the bottom of it all, and the +inhabitants thought the city was doomed, like Sodom. First, the more +timorous packed up their valuable articles and fled into the country, up +toward Canal Street. This increased the panic, which swelled until almost +the entire population were seen hurrying through the streets, fleeing for +their lives. The announcement of an approaching army would not have +created a greater stampede. Every cart and vehicle that could be found was +engaged at any price, into which whole families were piled, and hurried +away to the farms beyond Chambers Street, in the neighborhood of Canal +Street. It was a strange spectacle, and the farmers could hardly believe +their senses, at this sudden inundation into their quiet houses of the +people of the city. The town authorities were also swept away in the +general excitement, and negroes of all ages and sexes were arrested by the +wholesale, and hurried to prison. The Supreme Court was to sit in the +latter part of April, and the interval of a few days was spent in efforts +to get at the guilty parties. But nothing definite could be ascertained, +as the conspirators, whoever they were, kept their own secret. At length, +despairing of getting at the truth in any other way, the authorities +offered a reward of a hundred pounds, and a full pardon to any one who +would turn State's evidence, and reveal the names of the ringleaders. This +was pretty sure to bring out the facts, if there were any to disclose, and +almost equally sure to obtain a fabricated story, if there was nothing to +tell. A poor, ignorant slave, shaking with terror in his cell, would +hardly be proof against such an inducement as a free pardon, and to him or +her an almost fabulous sum of money, if he had anything to reveal, while +the temptation to invent a tale that would secure both liberty and money +was equally strong. + +On the 21st of April the court met, Judges Philips and Horsmander +presiding. A jury was impanelled, but although there was no lack of +prisoners, there was almost a total want of evidence sufficient to put a +single man on trial. The reward offered had not borne its legitimate +fruits, and no one offered to make any revelations. + +Among the first brought up for examination was Mary Burton, a colored +servant girl, belonging to John Hughson, the keeper of a low, dirty negro +tavern over on the west side of the city, near the Hudson River. This was +a place of rendezvous for the worst negroes of the town; and from some +hints that Mary had dropped, it was suspected it had been the head- +quarters of the conspirators. But when, brought before the Grand Jury, she +refused to be sworn. They entreated her to take the oath and tell the +whole truth, but she only shook her head. They then threatened her, but +with no better success; they promised she should be protected from danger +and shielded from prosecution, but she still maintained an obstinate +silence. They then showed her the reward, and attempted to bribe her with +the wealth in store for her, but she almost spat on it in her scorn. This +poor negro slave showed an independence and stubbornness in the presence +of the jury that astonished them. Finding all their efforts vain, they +ordered her to be sent to jail. This terrified her, and she consented to +be sworn. But after taking the oath, she refused to say anything about the +fire. A theft had been traced to Hughson, and she told all she knew about +that, but about the fires would neither deny nor affirm anything. They +then appealed to her conscience painted before her the terrors of the +final judgment, and the torments of hell, till at last she broke down, and +proposed to make a clean breast of it. She commenced by saying that +Hughson had threatened to take her life if she told, and then again +hesitated. But at length, by persistent efforts, the following facts were +wrenched from her by piecemeal. She said that three negroes--giving their +names--had been in the habit of meeting at the tavern, and talking about +burning of the fort and city and murdering the people, and that Hughson +and his wife had promised to help them; after which Hughson was to be +governor and Cuff Phillipse king. That the first part of the story was +true, there is little doubt. How much, with the imagination and love of +the marvellous peculiar to her race, she added to it, it is not easy to +say. She said, moreover, that but one white person beside her master and +mistress was in the conspiracy, and that was an Irish girl known as Peggy, +"the Newfoundland Beauty." She had several _aliases_, and was an +abandoned character, being a prostitute to the negroes, and at this time +kept as a mistress by a bold, desperate negro named Caesar. This +revelation of Mary's fell on the Grand Jury like a bombshell. The long- +sought secret they now felt was out. They immediately informed the +magistrates. Of course the greatest excitement followed. Peggy was next +examined, but she denied Mary Burton's story _in toto_--swore that +she knew nothing of any conspiracy or of the burning of the stores; that +if she should accuse any one it would be a lie, and blacken her own soul. + +It is rather a severe reflection on the courts of justice of that period, +or we might rather say, perhaps, a striking illustration of the madness +that had seized on all, that although the law strictly forbade any slave +to testify in a court of justice against a white person, yet this girl +Mary Burton was not only allowed to appear as evidence against Peggy, but +her oath was permitted to outweigh hers, and cause her to be sentenced to +death. The latter, though an abandoned, desperate character, was seized +with terror at the near approach of death, and begged to be allowed +another examination, which was granted, and she professed to make a full +confession. It is a little singular that while she corroborated Mary +Burton's statement as to the existence of a conspiracy, she located the +seat of it not in Hughson's tavern, but in a miserable shanty near the +Battery, kept by John Romme, who, she said, had promised to carry them all +to a new country, and give them their liberty, if they would murder the +whites and bring him the plunder. Like Mary Burton's confession, if +truthful at all, it evidently had a large mixture of falsehood in it. + +On Saturday, May 9th, Peggy was again brought in, and underwent a +searching examination. Some of her statements seemed improbable, and they +therefore tested them in every possible way. It lasted for several hours, +and resulted in a long _detailed_ confession, in which she asserted, +among other things, that it was the same plot that failed in 1712, when +the negroes designed to kill all the whites, in fact, exterminate them +from the island. She implicated a great many negroes in the conspiracy; +and every one that she accused, as they were brought before her, she +identified as being present at the meetings of the conspirators in Romme's +house. The court seemed anxious to avoid any collusion between the +prisoners, and therefore kept them apart, so that each story should rest +on its own basis. By this course they thought they would be able to +distinguish what was true and what was false. + +Either from conscious guilt, or from having got some inkling of the charge +to be brought against him, Romme fled before he could be arrested. His +wife, however, and the negroes whose names Peggy gave, were sent to jail. + +On the 11th of May, or twenty days after the court convened, the +executions commenced. On this day, Caesar and Prince, two of the three +negroes Mary Burton testified against, were hung, though not for the +conspiracy, but for theft. They were abandoned men, and died recklessly. +Peggy and Hughson and his wife were next condemned. The former, finding +that her confession did not, as had been promised, secure her pardon, +retracted all she had said, and exculpated entirely the parties whose +arrest she had caused. + +An atmosphere of gloom now rested over the city; every face showed signs +of dread. In this state of feeling the Lieutenant-governor issued a +proclamation, appointing a day of fasting and humiliation, not only in +view of this calamity, but on account also of the want and loss caused by +the past severe winter, and the declaration of war by England against +Spain. When the day arrived, every shop was closed and business of all +kinds suspended, and the silence and repose of the Sabbath rested on the +entire community. Without regard to sect, all repaired to the places of +worship, where the services were performed amid the deepest solemnity. + +The day of execution appointed for Hughson, his wife, and Peggy was a +solemn one, and almost the entire population turned out to witness it. The +former had declared that some extraordinary appearance would take place at +his execution, and every one gazed on him as he passed in a cart from the +prison to the gallows. He was a tall, powerful man, being six feet high. +He stood erect in the cart all the way, his piercing eye fixed steadily on +the distance, and his right hand raised high as his fetters would permit, +and beckoning as though he saw help coming from afar. His face was usually +pale and colorless, but to-day it was noticed that two bright red spots +burned on either cheek, which added to the mystery with which the +superstitious spectators invested him. When the sad procession arrived at +the place of execution, the prisoners were helped to the ground, and stood +exposed to the gaze of the crowd. Hughson was firm and self-possessed; but +Peggy, pale, and weeping, and terror-struck, begging for life; while the +wife, with the rope round her neck, leaned against a tree, silent and +composed, but colorless as marble. One after another they were launched +into eternity, and the crowd, solemn and thoughtful, turned their steps +homeward. + +Hughson was hung in chains; and in a few days a negro was placed beside +him, and here they swung, "blind and blackening," in the April air, in +full view of the tranquil bay, a ghastly spectacle to the fishermen as +they plied their vocation near by. For three weeks they dangled here in +sunshine and storm, a terror to the passers-by. At length a rumor passed +through the town that Hughson had turned into a negro, and the negro into +a white man. This was a new mystery, and day after day crowds would come +and gaze on the strange transformation, some thinking it supernatural, and +others trying to give an explanation. Hughson had threatened to take +poison, and it was thought by many that he had, and it was the effect of +this that had wrought the change in his appearance. For ten days the +Battery was thronged with spectators, gazing on these bloated, decomposing +bodies, many in their superstitious fears expecting some new +transformation. Under the increasing heat of the sun, they soon began to +drip, till at last the body of Hughson burst asunder, filling the air with +such an intolerable stench that the fishermen shunned the locality. + +As simple hanging was soon thought not sufficient punishment, and they +were left to swing, and slowly rot in chains, so this last was at length +thought to be too lenient, and the convicts were condemned to be burned at +the stake. Two negroes, named Quack and Cuffee, were the first doomed to +this horrible death. The announcement of this sentence created the +greatest excitement. It was a new thing to the colonists, this mode of +torture being appropriated by the savages for prisoners taken in war. +Curious crowds gathered to see the stake erected, or stare at the loads of +wood as they passed along the street, and were unloaded at its base. It +was a strange spectacle to behold--the workmen carefully piling up the +fagots under the spring sun; the spectators looking on, some horrified, +and others fierce as savages; and over all the blue sky bending, while the +gentle wind stole up from the bay and whispered in the tree-tops overhead. +On the day of execution an immense crowd assembled. The two negroes were +brought forward, pale and terrified, and bound to the stake. As the men +approached with the fire to kindle the pile, they shrieked out in terror, +confessed the conspiracy, and promised, if released, to tell all about it. +They were at once taken down. This was the signal for an outbreak, and +shouts of "burn 'em, burn 'em" burst from the multitude. Mr. Moore then +asked the sheriff to delay execution till he could see the Governor and +get a reprieve. He hurried off, and soon returned with a conditional one. +But, as he met the sheriff on the common, the latter told him that it +would be impossible to take the criminals through the crowd without a +strong guard, and before that could arrive, they would be murdered by the +exasperated populace. They were then tied up again, and the torch applied. +The flames arose around the unhappy victims. The curling smoke soon hid +their dusky forms from view, while their shrieks and cries for mercy grew +fainter and fainter, as the fierce fire shrivelled up their forms, till at +last nothing but the crackling of the flames was heard, and the shouting, +savage crowd grew still. As the fire subsided, the two wretched creatures, +crisped to a cinder, remained to tell, for the hundredth time, to what +barbarous deeds terror and passion may lead men. + +Some of the negroes went laughing to the place of execution, indulging in +all sorts of buffoonery to the last, and mocking the crowd which +surrounded them. + +All protested their innocence to the last, and if they had confessed +previously, retracted before death their statements and accusations. But +this contradiction of themselves, to-morrow denying what to-day they had +solemnly sworn on the Bible to be true, instead of causing the authorities +to hesitate, and consider how much terror and the hope of pardon had to do +with it, convinced them still more of the strength and dangerous nature of +the conspiracy, and they went to work with a determination and +recklessness which made that summer the bloodiest and most terrific in the +annals of New York. No lawyer was found bold enough to step forward and +defend these poor wretches, but all volunteered their services to aid the +Government in bringing them to punishment. The weeks now, as they rolled +on, were freighted with terror and death, and stamped with scenes that +made the blood run cold. This little town, on the southern part of +Manhattan Island was wholly given to panic, and a nameless dread of some +mysterious, awful fate, extended even to the scattered farm-houses near +Canal Street. Between this and the last of August, a hundred and fifty- +four negroes, exclusive of whites, were thrown into prison, till every +cell was crowded and packed to suffocation with them. For three months, +sentence of condemnation was on an average of one a day. The last +execution was that of a Catholic priest, or rather of a schoolmaster of +the city, who was charged with being one. Mary Burton, after an interval +of three months, pretended to remember that he was present with the other +conspirators she had first named as being in Hughson's tavern. + +His trial was long, and apparently without excitement. He conducted his +own case with great ability, and brought many witnesses to prove his good +character and orderly conduct; but he, of course, could not disprove the +assertion of Mary, that she had some time or other seen him with the +conspirators at Hughson's tavern--for the latter, with his wife and Peggy, +and the negroes she had before named, had all been executed. Mary Burton +alone was left, and her evidence being credited, no amount of testimony +could avail him. + +Although the proceedings were all dignified and solemn, as became an +English court, yet the course the trial took showed how utterly unbalanced +and one-sided it had become. To add weight to Mary's evidence, many +witnesses were examined to prove that Ury, though a schoolmaster, had +performed the duties of a Catholic priest, as though this were an +important point to establish. The attorney-general, in opening the case, +drew a horrible picture of former persecutions by the Papists, and their +cruelties to the Protestants, until it was apparent that all that the jury +needed to indorse a verdict of guilty was evidence that he was a Catholic +priest. Still it would be unfair to attribute this feeling wholly to +religious intolerance or the spirit of persecution. England was at this +time at war with Spain, and a report was circulated that the Spanish +priests in Florida had formed a conspiracy to murder the English +colonists. A letter from Ogilthorpe, in Georgia, confirmed this. Ury, who +was an educated Englishman, but had led an adventurous life in different +countries, could not disprove this, and he was convicted and sentenced to +be hung. He met his fate with great composure and dignity, asserting his +innocence to the last. He made the eighteenth victim hung, while thirteen +had been burned at the stake, and seventy-one transported to various +countries. + +At the average rate of two every week, one hanged and one burned alive, +they were hurried into eternity amid prayers, and imprecations, and +shrieks of agony. The hauling of wood to the stake, and the preparation of +the gallows, kept the inhabitants in a state bordering on insanity. +Business was suspended, and every face wore a terrified look. The voice of +pity as well as justice was hushed, and one desire, that of swift +vengeance, filled every heart. Had the press of to-day, with its system of +interviewing, and minuteness of detail and description, existed then, +there would have been handed down to us a chapter in human history that +could be paralleled only in the dark ages. + +A swift massacre, a terrible slaughter, comes and goes like an earthquake +or a tornado, and stuns rather than debases; but this long, steady +succession of horrible executions and frightful scenes changed the very +nature of the inhabitants, and they became a prey to a spirit demoniacal +rather than human. The prayers and tears of those led forth to the stake, +their heartrending cries as they were bound to it, and their shrieks of +agony that were wafted out over the still waters of the bay, fell on hard +and pitiless hearts. The ashes of the wood that consumed one victim would +hardly grow cold before a new fire was kindled upon them, and the charred +and blackened posts stood month after month, hideous monuments of what man +may become when judgment and reason are surrendered to fear and passion. +The spectacle was made still more revolting by the gallows standing near +the stake, on which many were hung in chains, and their bodies left to +swing, blacken, and rot in the summer air, a ghastly, horrible sight. + +Where this madness, that had swept away court, bar, and people together, +would have ended, it is impossible to say, had not a new terror seized the +inhabitants. Mary Burton, on whose accusation the first victims had been +arrested and executed, finding herself a heroine, sought new fields in +which to win notoriety. She ceased to implicate the blacks, and turned her +attention to the whites, and twenty-four were arrested and thrown into +prison. Elated with her success, she began to ascend in the social scale, +and criminated some persons of the highest social standing in the city, +whose characters were above suspicion. This was turning the tables on them +in a manner the upper class did not expect, and they began to reflect what +the end might be. The testimony that was sufficient to condemn the slaves +was equally conclusive against them. The stake and the gallows which the +court had erected for the black man, it could not pull down because a +white gentleman stood under their shadow. + +Robespierre and his friends cut off the upper-crust of society without +hesitation or remorse; but unfortunately the crust next below this became +in turn the upper-crust, which also had to be removed, until at last they +themselves were reached, when they paused. They had advanced up to their +necks in the bloody tide of revolution, and finding that to proceed +farther would take them overhead, they attempted to wade back to shore. So +here, so long as the accusations were confined to the lowest class, it was +all well enough, but when _they_ were being reached, it was high time +to stop. The proceedings were summarily brought to a close, further +examinations were deemed unnecessary, and confessions became flat and +unprofitable; and this strange episode in American history ended. + +That there had been cause for alarm, there can be no doubt. That threats +should be uttered by the slaves, is natural; for this would be in keeping +with their whole history in this country. Nor is it at all improbable that +a conspiracy was formed; for this, too, would only be in harmony with the +conduct of slaves from time immemorial. The utter folly and hopelessness +of such a one as the blacks testified to, has been urged against its +existence altogether. If the argument is good for anything, it proves that +the conspiracy thirty years before never existed, and that the Southampton +massacre was a delusion, and John Brown never hatched his utterly insane +conspiracy in Harper's Ferry. There have been a good many servile +insurrections plotted in this country, not one of which was a whit more +sensible or easier of execution than this, which was said to look to the +complete overthrow of the little city. That the fires which first started +the panic were the work of negro incendiaries, there is but little doubt; +but how far they were a part of a wide-laid plan, it is impossible to +determine. + +Unquestionably, success at the outset would have made the movement +general, so that nothing but military force could have arrested it. + +There is one thing, however, about which there is no doubt--that a panic +seized the people and the courts, and made them as unreliable as in the +days of the Salem witchcraft. But these striking exhibitions of the +weakness of human nature under certain circumstances have been witnessed +since the world was made, and probably will continue to the end of time, +or until the race enters on a new phase of existence. Panics, even among +the most veteran soldiers, sometimes occur, and hence we cannot wonder +they take place amid a mixed population. Popular excitements are never +characterized by reason and common-sense, and never will be. In this case, +there was more reason for a panic than at first sight seems to be. + +In the first place, the proportion of slaves to the whites was large. In +the second place, they were a turbulent set, and had shown such a +dangerous spirit, that the authorities became afraid to let them assemble +together in meetings. This restriction they felt sorely, and it made them +more restive. All were aware of this hostile state of feeling, and were +constantly anticipating some outbreak or act of violence. Besides, it was +but a few years since the thing they now feared did actually take place. +And then, too, the point first aimed at was significant, and showed a +boldness founded on conscious strength. Right inside the fort itself, and +to the Governor's house, the torch was applied. It certainly looked +ominous. Besides, the very wholesale manner in which the authorities +thought it best to go to work increased the panic. In a very short time +over a hundred persons were thrown into prison. The same proportion to the +population to-day would be over ten thousand. Such a wholesale arrest +would, of itself, throw New York into the wildest excitement, and conjure +up all sorts of horrible shapes. Add to this, an average of two hundred +burned at the stake, and two hundred hung every week, or more than fifty a +day, and nearly three times that number sentenced to transportation, and +one can faintly imagine what a frightful state of things would exist in +the city. The very atmosphere grew stifling from the smoke of burning men +and women, while the gallows groaned under its weight of humanity. Had +this been the wild work of a mob it would have been terrible enough, but +when it was the result of a deliberate judicial tribunal, which was +supposed to do nothing except on the most conclusive evidence, the sense +of danger was increased tenfold. The conclusion was inevitable, that the +conspiracy embraced every black man in the city, and was thoroughly +organized. In short, the whole place was, beyond doubt, resting over a +concealed volcano, and the instinct of self-preservation demanded the most +summary work. Let the inhabitants of any city become thoroughly possessed +of such an idea, and they will act with no more prudence or reason than +the people of New York at that time did. An undoubted belief in such a +state of things will confuse the perceptions and unbalance the judgment of +a community anywhere and everywhere on the globe. + +Still, consistent as it is with human history, one can hardly believe it +possible, as he stands in New York to-day, that men have there been burned +at the stake under the sanction of English law, or left to swing and rot +in the winds of heaven, by order of the Supreme Court of the city. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +THE STAMP-ACT RIOT OF 1765. + +Thorough Understanding of the Principles of Liberty by the People.--The +Stamp Act.--How viewed by the Colonists.--Colden strengthens Fort George +in Alarm.--Arrival of the Stamps.--How the News was received by the Sons +of Liberty.--A Bold Placard.--Stamp Distributor frightened.--Patriotic +Action of the Merchants.--Public Demonstration against the Stamp Act.-- +Colden takes Refuge in the Fort.--Dare not fire on the People.--The People +at the Gate demand the Stamps.--Colden and Lord Bute hung in Effigy.-- +Colden's Coach-house broken open.--The Images placed in the Coach, and +dragged with Shouts through the Streets.--Hung again in Sight of the +Fort.--A Bonfire made of the Fence around Bowling Green, and the +Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently on.--Prejudice +against Coaches.--Major James' House sacked.--Great Joy and Demonstration +at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Celebration of the King's Birthday.-- +Loyalty of the People.--Mutiny Act.--A Riot becomes a Great Rebellion. + +At the present day, when personal ambition takes the place of patriotism, +and love of principle gives way to love of party; when the success of the +latter is placed above constitutional obligations and popular rights, one +seems, as he turns back to our early history, to be transported to another +age of the world, and another race of beings. + +Nothing shows how thoroughly understood by the common people were the +principles of liberty, and with what keen penetration they saw through all +shams and specious reasoning, than the decided, nay, fierce, stand they +took against the stamp act. This was nothing more than our present law +requiring a governmental stamp on all public and business paper to make it +valid. The only difference is, the former was levying a tax without +representation--in other words, without the consent of the governed. The +colonies assembled in Congress condemned it; hence the open, violent +opposition to it by the people rises above the level of a common riot, and +partakes more of the nature of a righteous revolution. Still, it was a +riot, and exhibited the lawless features of one. + +The news of the determination of the English Government to pass a stamp +act, raised a storm of indignation throughout the colonies, from +Massachusetts to South Carolina, and it was denounced as an oppressive, +unrighteous, tyrannical measure. From the wayside tavern and the pulpit +alike, it was attacked with unsparing severity. The Government, however, +thought it a mere ebullition of feeling, that would not dare exhibit +itself in open opposition. Nor does this confidence seem strong, when we +remember the weakness of the colonies on the one side, and the strength of +an organized government, with the law and force both, on the other. + +Cadwallader Colden, a Scotchman by birth, and a clergyman by profession, +was at that time acting Governor of New York; and to guard against any +resort to force on the part of the people when the stamps should arrive, +had Fort George, on the Battery, reinforced by a regiment from Crown +Point, its magazines replenished, the ramparts strengthened, and its guns +trained on the town. The people saw all this, and understood its import; +but it had the opposite effect from that which was intended, for, instead +of overawing the people, it exasperated them. + +At length, in October, 1765, a ship with the British colors flying came +sailing up the bay, and anchored off Fort George. In a short time the +startling tidings was circulated, that she brought a quantity of stamps. +It was like sounding an alarm-bell, and the streets became thronged with +excited men, while all the provincial vessels in the harbor lowered their +colors to half-mast, in token of mourning. In anticipation of this event, +an organization of men had been formed, called "Sons of Liberty." They at +once assembled, and resolved at all hazards to get hold of those stamps. +They had caused the act itself to be hawked about the streets as "the +folly of England and the ruin of America," and now they determined to +measure their strength with the Governor of the colony. That night, when +the town was wrapped in slumber, they quietly affixed on the doors of +every public office and on corners of the streets, the following placard: + +PRO PATRIA. + +_The first man that either distributes or makes use of stamped paper, +let him take care of his house, person, and effects._ + +VOX POPULI. + +"WE DARE." + +To the stamp distributors they said, "Assure yourselves, the spirit of +Brutus and Cassius is yet alive. We will not submit to the stamp act upon +any account or in any instance." + +McEvers, the head stamp distributor, frightened by the bold, determined +attitude of the people, refused to receive the stamps, and Golden had them +sent for greater safety to Fort George. He had written, to the British +Secretary, "_I am resolved to have the stamps distributed_." But the +people were equally resolved they should not be. Still, on the 30th day of +October, he and all the royal governors took the oath to carry the stamp +act into effect; but they soon discovered that they could find no one bold +enough to act as distributor. All along the sea-coast, in every part of +the colonies, the people were aroused, and either assembling quietly, or +called together by the ringing of bells and firing of cannon, presented +such a united, determined front, that not one person remained duly +commissioned to distribute stamps. On the last day of October, the +merchants of New York came together, and bound themselves to "send no new +orders for goods or merchandise, to countermand all former orders, and not +even receive goods on commission, unless the stamp act be repealed"--that +is, give up commerce at once, with all its wealth and benefits, rather +than submit to a tax of a few shillings on paper. + +Friday, the 1st of November, was the day fixed upon for a public +demonstration of the people throughout the colonies against it, and never +dawned a morning more pregnant with the fate not only of a nation, but of +the world. + +From New Hampshire to South Carolina it was ushered in by the tolling of +muffled bells, the firing of minute-guns, and flags hung at half-mast. +Eulogies were pronounced on liberty, and everywhere people left their +shops and fields, and gathered in excited throngs to discuss the great +question of taxation. + +"Even the children at their games, though hardly able to speak, caught up +the general chorus, and went along the streets, merrily carolling: +'Liberty, Property, and no Stamps.'" [Footnote: Bancroft.] + +In New York the uprising was terrific, for the population rushed together +as one man--as Gage, the commander of Fort George said, "by thousands." + +The sailors flocked in from the vessels, the farmers from the country, and +the shouts, and ringing of bells, and firing of cannon made the city +fairly tremble. Colden was terrified at the storm that was raised, and +took refuge in the fort. An old man, bent and bowed with the weight of +eighty years, he tottered nervously to the shelter of its guns, and +ordered up a detachment of marines from a ship of war in port, for his +protection. In his indignation, he wanted to fire on the people, and the +black muzzles of the cannon pointing on the town had an ominous look. +Whether he had threatened to do so by a message, we do not know; at any +rate, the people either suspected his determination or got wind of it, for +during the day an unknown person handed in at the fort-gate a note, +telling him if he did, the people would hang him, like Porteus of +Edinburgh, on a sign-post. He wisely forebore to give the order, for if he +had not, his gray hairs would have streamed from a gibbet. + +At length the day of turmoil wore away, and night came on, but with it +came no diminution of the excitement. Soon as it was dark, the "Sons of +Liberty," numbering thousands, surged tumultuously up around the fort, and +demanded that the stamps should be given up that they might be destroyed. +Golden bluntly refused, when with loud, defiant shouts they left, and went +up Broadway to "the field" (the present Park), where they erected a +gibbet, and hanged on it Colden in effigy, and beside him a figure holding +a boot; some said to represent the devil, others Lord Bute, of whom the +_boot_, by a pun on his name, showed for whom the effigy was +designed. + +The demonstration had now become a riot, and the Sons of Liberty +degenerated into a mob. The feeling that had been confined to words all +day must now have some outlet. A torchlight procession was formed, and the +scaffold and images taken down, and borne on men's shoulders along +Broadway towards the Battery. The glare of flaring lights on the buildings +and faces of the excited crowd, the shouts and hurrahs that made night +hideous, called out the entire population, which gazed in amazement on the +strange, wild spectacle. + +They boldly carried the scaffold and effigies to within a few feet of the +gate of the fort, and knocked audaciously for admission. Isaac Sears was +the leader of these "Sons of Liberty." + +Finding themselves unable to gain admittance, they went to the Governor's +carriage-house, and took out his elegant coach, and placing the two +effigies in it, dragged it by hand around the streets by the light of +torches, amid the jeers and shouts of the multitude. Becoming at last +tired of this amusement, they returned towards the fort, and erected a +second gallows, on which they hung the effigies the second time. + +All this time the cannon, shotted and primed, lay silent on their +carriages, while the soldiers from the ramparts looked wonderingly, idly +on. General Gage did not dare to fire on the people, fearing they would +sweep like an inundation over the ramparts, when he knew a general +massacre would follow. + +The mob now tore down, the wooden fence that surrounded Bowling Green, and +piling pickets and boards together, set them on fire. As the flames +crackled and roared in the darkness, they pitched on the Governor's coach, +with the scaffold and effigies; then hastening to his carriage-house +again, and dragging out a one-horse chaise, two sleighs, and other +vehicles, hauled them to the fire, and threw them on, making a +conflagration that illumined the waters of the bay and the ships riding at +anchor. This was a galling spectacle to the old Governor and the British +officers, but they dared not interfere. + +What was the particular animosity against those carriages does not appear, +though it was the only property of the Governor they destroyed, unless +they were a sign of that aristocratic pride which sought to enslave them. +There were, at this time, not a half-dozen coaches in the city, and they +naturally became the symbols of bloated pride. It is said the feeling was +so strong against them, that a wealthy Quaker named Murray, who lived out +of town, near where the distributing reservoir now is, kept one to ride +down town in, yet dared not call it a coach, but a "_leathern +convenience_." + +Although Sears and other leaders of the Sons of Liberty tried to restrain +the mob, their blood was now up, and they were bent on destruction. Having +witnessed the conflagration of the Governor's carriages, they again +marched up Broadway, and some one shouting "James' house," the crowd took +up the shout, and passing out of the city streamed through the open +country, to where West Broadway now is, and near the corner of Anthony +Street. This James was Major in the Royal Artillery, and had made himself +obnoxious to the people by taking a conspicuous part in putting the fort +into a state of defence. He had a beautiful residence here, which the mob +completely gutted, broke up his elegant furniture, destroyed his library +and works of art, and laid waste his ornamented grounds. They then +dispersed, and the city became quiet. + +The excitement was, however, not quelled--the people had not yet got hold +of the stamps, which they were determined to have. Colden, having seen +enough of the spirit of the "Sons of Liberty," was afraid to risk another +night, even in the fort, unless it was in some way appeased; and so the +day after the riot, he had a large placard posted up, stating that he +should have nothing more to do with the stamps, but would leave them with +Sir Henry Moore, the newly appointed Governor, then on his way from +England. + +This, however, did not satisfy the Sons of Liberty: they wanted the stamps +themselves, and through Sears, their leader, insisted on their being given +up--telling him very plainly if he did not they would storm the fort, and +they were determined to do it. + +The Common Council of the city now became alarmed at the ungovernable, +desperate spirit of the mob, which seemed bent on blood, and begged the +Governor to let them be deposited in the City Hall. To this he finally +though reluctantly consented, but the feeling in the city kept at fever +heat, and would remain so until the act itself was repealed. + +Moore, the new Governor, soon arrived, and assumed the reigns of +government. The corporation offered him the freedom of the city in a gold +box, but he refused to receive it, unless upon stamped paper. It was +evident he was determined to enforce the stamp act. But on consulting with +Colden and others, and ascertaining the true state of things, he wisely +abandoned his purpose, and soon made it publicly known. To appease the +people still more, he dismantled the fort, which was peculiarly obnoxious +to them from the threatening attitude it had been made to assume. Still, +the infamous act was unrepealed, and the people refused to buy English +manufactures, and commerce languished. + +At length, Parliament, finding that further insistance in carrying out the +obnoxious act only worked mischief, had repealed it. When the news reached +New York, the most unbounded joy was manifested. Bells were rung, cannon +fired, and placards posted, calling on a meeting of the citizens the next +day to take measures for celebrating properly the great event. At the +appointed time, the people came together at Howard's Hotel, and forming a +procession, marched gayly to "the field," and right where the City Hall +now stands, then an open lot, a salute of twenty-one guns was fired. A +grand dinner followed, at which the Sons of Liberty feasted and drank +loyal toasts to his Majesty, and all went "merry as a marriage-bell." The +city was illuminated, and bonfires turned the night into day. In a few +weeks, the King's birthday was celebrated with great display. A huge pile +of wood was erected in the Park, and an ox roasted whole for the people. +Cart after cart dumped its load of beer on the ground, till twenty-five +barrels, flanked by a huge hogshead of rum, lay in a row, presided over by +men appointed to deal out the contents to the populace. A boisterous +demonstration followed that almost drowned the roar of the twenty-one +cannon that thundered forth a royal salute. As a fitting wind-up to the +bacchanalian scene, at night twenty-five tar-barrels, fastened on poles, +blazed over the "common," while brilliant fireworks were exhibited at +Bowling Green. The feasting continued late in the night, and so delighted +were the "Sons of Liberty," that they erected a mast, inscribed "to his +most gracious Majesty, George the Third, Mr. Pitt, and Liberty." A +petition was also signed to erect a statue to Pitt, and the people seemed +determined by this excess of loyalty to atone for their previous +rebellious spirit. The joy, however, was of short duration--the news of +the riots caused Parliament to pass a "mutiny act," by which troops were +to be quartered in America in sufficient numbers to put down any similar +demonstration in future, a part of the expense of their support to be paid +by the colonists themselves. This exasperated "the Sons of Liberty", and +they met and resolved to resist this new act of oppression to the last. +The troops arrived in due time, and of course collisions took place +between them and the people. Matters now continued to grow worse and +worse, until the "riot of the Sons of Liberty" became a revolution, which +dismembered the British Empire, and established this great republic, the +influence of which on the destiny of the world no one can predict. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +DOCTORS' RIOT, 1788. + +Body-snatching.--Bodies dug up by Medical Students.--Excitement of the +People.--Effect of the Discovery of a human Limb from the Hospital.--Mob +ransack the Building.--Destruction of Anatomical Specimens.--Arrival of +Mayor, and Imprisonment of Students.--Second Day.--Examination of Columbia +College and Physicians' Houses.--Appeal of the Mayor and distinguished +Citizens to the Mob.--Mob attempt to break into Jail and seize the +Students.--The Fight.--The Military called out.--Beaten by the Mob.-- +Larger Military Force called out.--Attacked by the Mob.--Deadly Firing.-- +Great Excitement.--Flight of Doctors and Students. + +In former times "body-snatching," or digging up bodies for dissections, +was much, more heard of than at present. The fear of it was so great, +that often, in the neighborhood where medical students were pursuing their +studies, persons who lost friends would have a watch kept over their +graves for several nights, to prevent them from being dug up. Neither the +high social position of parties nor sex was any barrier to this +desecration of graves, and the public mind was often shocked by accounts +of the young and beautiful being disinterred, to be cut up by medical +students. In the city there was, a few years ago--and perhaps there is +now--a regular commercial price for bodies. + +[Illustration: THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.--Scene of the Doctors' Riot. Located +formerly on Broadway at the head of Pearl Street.] + +[Illustration: THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM 143d St. The former building +destroyed during the Draft Riot of 1863.] + +Although it was conceded that for thorough instruction in medical science, +subjects for dissection were necessary, yet no one outside of the medical +profession could be found to sanction "bodysnatching." There is a +sacredness attached to the grave that the most hardened feel. Whenever the +earth is thrown over the body of a man, no matter how abject or sinful he +may have been, the involuntary exclamation of every one is "_requiescat +in pace_." When, it comes to be one of our own personal friends, a +parent, sister, or child, to this feeling of sacredness is added that of +affection, and no wrong is like that of invading the tomb of those we +love. Shakespeare left his curse for him who should disturb his bones; and +all feel like cursing those who disturb the bones of friends who are +linked to them by blood and affection. + +In the winter of 1787 and 1788, medical students of New York City dug up +bodies more frequently than usual, or were more reckless in their mode of +action, for the inhabitants became greatly excited over the stories that +were told of their conduct. Some of these, if true, revealed a brutality +and indecency, shocking as it was unnecessary. Usually, the students had +contented themselves with ripping open the graves of strangers and +negroes, about whom there was little feeling; but this winter they dug up +respectable people, even young women, of whom they made an indecent +exposure. + +The stories did not lose anything by repetition, and soon the conduct of +physicians and medical students became a town talk. There seemed to be no +remedy for this state of things; the graveyards, which were then in the +heart of the city, were easily accessible; while plenty of men could be +found, who, for a small sum, would dig up any body that was desired. A +mere accident caused this state of feeling to culminate and suddenly break +out into action. In the spring, some boys were playing in the rear of the +hospital, when a young surgeon, from a mere whim, showed an amputated arm +to them. One of them, impelled by curiosity, immediately mounted a ladder +that stood against the wall, used in making some repairs, when the surgeon +told him to look at his mother's arm. The little fellow's mother had +recently died, and filled with terror, he immediately hastened to his +father, who was a mason, and working at the time in Broadway. The father +at once went to his wife's grave, and had it opened. He found the body +gone, and returned to his fellow-workmen with the news. They were filled +with rage, and, armed with tools, and gathering a crowd as they marched, +they surged up around the hospital. + +At first many seemed to be impelled only by curiosity, but as the throng +increased, the masons became eager for decisive action. Threats and +denunciations began to arise on every side, and then appeals for +vengeance, till at length they rushed for the door, and pouring into the +building, began the work of destruction. For a while there was a terrible +rattling of bones, as they tore down, and smashed every anatomical +specimen they could lay their hands on. Valuable imported ones shared the +common fate. They swarmed through the building, and finally came upon +fresh subjects, apparently but just dug up. This kindled their rage +tenfold, and the students, who thus far had been unmolested, were in +danger of being roughly handled. + +The news of the gathering of the crowd and its threatening aspect, had +reached the Mayor, who immediately summoned the sheriff, and taking him +with several prominent citizens, hastened to the spot. Finding the +students in the hands of the infuriated mob, he released them, and to the +satisfaction, apparently, of the rioters, sent them to jail for safe- +keeping. + +There was now nothing left for them to do, and they dispersed, and the +matter was thought to be ended. + +But, during the evening, knots of men were everywhere discussing the +events of the day, and retailing the exciting reports that were now flying +thickly around; and next morning, whether from any concert of action, or +impelled by mere curiosity, is not known, crowds began to fill the street +and yard in front of the city hospital. The discovery of the bodies the +day before had deepened the excitement, and now a more thorough +examination of the building was proposed, and also an examination of the +physicians' houses. Matters were beginning to wear a serious aspect, and +the Governor, Mayor, Chancellor, and some of the prominent citizens of the +town, came together to consult on a course of action. It was finally +resolved to resort in a body to the spot where the mob was assembled, and +make a personal appeal to it. They did so, and presented an imposing +appearance as they advanced up Broadway. Although representing the State +and city, they did not presume on their authority, but attempted +persuasion. Mounting the steps, they in turn addressed the throng, which +now kept momentarily increasing, and exhorted them as law-abiding citizens +to use no violence. Some made most pathetic appeals to their feelings, +their pride and self-respect; indeed, begged them, by every consideration +of home and justice, to desist, and retire peacefully to their homes. They +solemnly promised that a most thorough investigation should be made, and +they should have all the satisfaction the laws could afford. More they +ought not to ask. These appeals and promises produced a favorable effect +on many of the mob, and they left. But the greater part refused to be +pacified. Their blood was up, and they insisted on making the examination +themselves. They did not propose to commit any violence, but having begun +their investigations they were determined to go through with them. + +The Mayor and the Governor seemed to have an unaccountable repugnance to +the use of force, and let the mob depart for Columbia College without any +resistance. The professors and students were amazed at this sudden +inundation of the crowd, who swarmed without opposition through every part +of the building. Finding nothing to confirm their suspicions, they left +without doing any material injury. Still unsatisfied, however, they +repaired to the houses of the neighboring physicians, and the leaders, +acting as a delegation of the crowd, went through them with the same +result. It was a singularly well-behaved mob, and they received the report +of the self-constituted committees with apparently perfect satisfaction, +and when they had made the round of the houses, gradually broke up into +knots and dispersed. + +But the lawless spirit of a mob seldom arrests and controls itself. Having +once felt its strength and power, it is never satisfied till it measures +them against those of the legal authorities, and yields only when it must. +Hence, as a rule, the quicker "it feels the strong hand of power" the +better for all parties. Promising legal satisfaction, to law-breakers is a +very unsatisfactory proceeding. Obedience first and discussion afterwards +is the proper order to be observed. + +The Mayor had hardly time to congratulate himself on having overcome so +easily a serious difficulty, before he found that he had not as yet +touched it. In the afternoon, the crowd again began to assemble, and this +time around the jail, with the avowed purpose of taking vengeance on the +students and physicians locked up there for safe-keeping. Having asserted +and exercised, against all law, the right of domiciliary visits, it was +but a short and easy step to assert the right to punish also contrary to +law. As they gathered in front of the jail, it was seen that a different +spirit from that which they had hitherto exhibited ruled them. The tiger +was unchained, and loud shouts and yells were heard. "Bring out your +doctors! bring out your doctors!" arose on every side. They threatened to +tear down the building unless they were given up. The inmates became +thoroughly alarmed, and barricaded the doors and windows, and armed +themselves the best way they could for self-defence. Attempts were made to +parley with the crowd, but they would listen to nothing, and answered +every appeal with loud shouts for the doctors. What they _intended_ +to do with them by way of punishment was not so clear, though what their +fate would have been, if once at their mercy, there was little doubt. The +city authorities now became alarmed, murder was imminent, and having no +police force sufficient to cope with such a formidable mob, they decided +that the city was in a state of insurrection, and called out the military. +About three o'clock, the force marched up the street, and passed quietly +through the crowd, which opened as they advanced. As they moved past, a +shower of dirt and stones followed them, accompanied with taunts, and +jeers, and mocking laughter. The whole military movement was evidently +intended only for intimidation--to show the rioters what could be done if +they resorted to violence; for the soldiers, instead of taking up their +quarters, as they should have done, in the building, having exhibited +themselves, marched away. But the mob, still retaining its position and +threatening attitude, another force, a little later, consisting of only +twelve men, was sent up. This was worse than nothing, and as the little +handful marched solemnly up, the crowd broke out into derisive laughter, +and all sorts of contemptuous epithets were heaped upon them. Instead of +waiting for them to come near, they rushed down, the street to meet them, +and swarming like bees around them, snatched away their muskets, and broke +them to pieces on the pavement. [Footnote: John Jay and Baron Steuben were +both wounded in trying to allay the mob.] The soldiers, disarmed, +scattered, and hustled about, were glad to escape with whole bodies. + +This first act of open resistance excited the rioters still more--they had +passed the Rubicon, and were now ready for anything, and "to the jail! to +the jail!" arose in wild yells, and the turbulent mass poured like a +tumultuous sea around the building. They rushed against the doors, and +with united shoulders and bodies endeavored to heave them from their +hinges. But being secured with heavy bolts and bars, they resisted all +their efforts. They then smashed in the windows with stones, and attempted +to force an entrance through them; but the handful of men inside took +possession of these, and, with such weapons as they could find, beat them +back. Numbers were of no avail here, as only a few at a time could +approach a window, while those within, being on the defensive, knocked +them back as often as they attempted to climb in. The rioters, baffled in +their attempts, would then fall back, and hurl paving-stones and bricks at +the windows, when those who defended them would step one side. But the +moment the former advanced again, the latter would crowd the windows with +clubs and sticks. The enraged assailants tore off pickets, and advancing +with these, made desperate efforts to clear the windows. But those within +knew it was a matter of life and death with them, and stubbornly held +their ground. The fight was thus kept up till dark, amid yells and shouts +and a pandemonium of noises, and no efforts apparently were made to put an +end to it, and release the inmates of the jail. But steps had been taken +to organize and arm a large body of militia under an experienced officer, +and now in the dim starlight their bayonets were seen gleaming, as they +marched steadily forward on the dark, heaving mass that filled the street +far as the eye could see. The rioters, however, instead of being +intimidated at the sight, sent up a yell of defiance, and arming +themselves with stones and brick-bats, hurled them in a blinding volley on +the troops. So fierce was the assault, that before the latter had time to +form, many were knocked down, and some badly wounded. The commanding +officer, finding the fight thus forced on him, gave the order in a ringing +voice, "Ready, aim, fire!" A flash broad as the street followed, lighting +up the gloom, and revealing the scowling faces of the mob, the battered +front of the jail, and the pale faces of those guarding the windows. They +had not expected this close, point-blank volley, for the timid action of +the authorities had not prepared them for it, and they stopped in +amazement and hesitation. The commanding officer understood his business, +and instead of waiting to see if they would disperse, poured in another +volley. The rioters were confounded as they saw their comrades fall by +their side, but still stood at bay; until at last, seeing the dead and +wounded on every side, they could stand it no longer, but broke and fled +in every direction. In a few minutes the street was clear of all but the +dead and wounded, the groans of the latter loading the night air. The poor +wretches were carried away, and the troops remained on the spot all night. +The next day the city was in a fever of excitement. The number of killed +was greatly exaggerated, and the denunciations of the butchery, as it was +called, were fierce and loud. On almost every corner groups of excited men +were seen in angry discussion--multitudes gathered in front of the jail, +and gazed with horror on the blood-stained pavement. + +The soldiers who had committed the slaughter were cursed and threatened by +turns, but they quietly rested on their arms, ready, it was evident, to +repeat the experiment at the first open act of violence. For awhile there +was danger of a general outbreak throughout the city; but the authorities +had become thoroughly aroused to the danger of the situation, and seeing +that the quicker they brought the conflict to a close, the better, made +such a display of force, that the riotous spirit was overawed. Still, it +was not entirely subdued, and it was evident that it was kept under by +fear alone. The physicians of the city came in for almost as large a share +of the hatred as the military. They were the original cause of the +disturbance, and threats against them became so open and general, that +they were in constant dread of personal violence, and many fled from the +city. They scattered in every direction, and there threatened to be a +general Hegira of physicians. All the medical students were secretly +stowed into carriages, and hurried off into the country, where they +remained till the excitement died away. It did not, however, subside +readily; indeed, the danger of open revolt was so great for several days, +that the military continued to keep guard at the jail. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +SPRING ELECTION RIOTS OF 1834. + +Fatal Error in our Naturalization Laws.--Our Experiment of Self government +not a fair one.--Fruit of giving Foreigners the Right to Vote.--Bitter +Feeling between Democrats and Whigs.--First Day of Election.--Ships +"Constitution" and "Veto."--Whigs driven from the Polls.--Excitement.-- +Whigs determined to defend themselves.--Meeting called.--Resolutions.-- +Second Day's Election.--Attack on the Frigate "Constitution."--A Bloody +Fight.--Mayor and Officers wounded.--Mob triumphant.--Excitement of the +Whigs.--The Streets blocked by fifteen thousand enraged Whigs.--Military +called out.--Occupy Arsenal and City Hall all Night.--Result of the +Election.--Excitement of the Whigs.--Mass-meeting in Castle Garden. + +This country never committed a more fatal mistake than in making its +naturalization laws so that the immense immigration from foreign countries +could, after a brief sojourn, exercise the right of suffrage. Our form of +government was an experiment, in the success of which not only we as a +nation were interested, but the civilized world. To have it a fair one, we +should have been allowed to build and perfect the structure with our own +material, not pile into it such ill-formed, incongruous stuff as the +despotisms of Europe chose to send us. Growing up by a natural process, +educating the people to the proper exercise of their high trust, +correcting mistakes, and adjusting difficulties as we progressed, the +noble building would have settled into greater compactness as it arose in +height, and all its various proportions been in harmony. We should have +built slowly but surely. But when there was thrown upon us a mass of +material wholly unfit for any political structure, and we were compelled +to pile it in hap-hazard, it was not long before the goodly edifice began +to show ugly seams, and the despotisms of Europe pointed to them with +scorn, and asked tauntingly how the doctrine of self-government worked. +They emptied their prisons and poor-houses on our shores, to be rid of a +dangerous element at home, and we, with a readiness that bordered on +insanity, not only took them into our bosoms, but invited them to aid us +in making our laws and electing our rulers. To ask men, the greater part +of whom could neither read nor write, who were ignorant of the first +principles of true civil liberty, who could be bought and sold like sheep +in the shambles, to assist us in founding a model republic, was a folly +without a parallel in the history of the world, and one of which we have +not yet begun to pay the full penalty. It was a cruel wrong, not only to +ourselves, but to the oppressed masses of Europe, who turned their longing +eyes on us for encouragement and the moral aid which our success would +give them in their struggles against despotism. + +If the reason given for endowing this floating population--and dangerous +element under any circumstances--with the full rights of citizens had been +the true one, namely: to be just to them, and consistent with the great +doctrine of equality on which our Government rested, there might be some +little comfort in reflecting on the mistake we made. But this was false. +The right of suffrage was given them by a party in order to secure their +votes, and secure them, too, by appealing to those very passions that made +them dangerous to the republic, and which the interest of all alike +required should be removed instead of strengthened. + +All the good the Democratic party has ever done this country will hardly +compensate for the evil of this one act. + +If our experiment shall finally prove a failure, we verily believe it will +be owing to the extension of the political franchise to whites and blacks +who were unfit to use it, and cared for it not because of its honor, or +the good use to which it might be put, but as a piece of merchandise to be +sold to the highest bidder or used as a weapon of assault against good +order and righteous laws. + +Of course, the first pernicious effect of this transfer of power to +ignorant, reckless men would be felt at the polls in New York City, where +this class was in the greatest number. The elections here soon became a +farce, and the boasted glory of a free ballot-box a taunt and a by-word. +That gross corruption and villany practised here should eventually result +in the open violation of law, as it did in the charter election of 1834, +was natural. + +Political animosity was probably more bitter between the Democrats, under +Jackson's administration, and the Whigs, than between any two political +parties since the time of Federalists and Democrats, in the days of the +elder Adams. + +In the spring of 1834 especially, party spirit ran very high in the city. +As usual, for a month or more before the election, which took place on the +second Tuesday in April, all kinds of accusations and rumors were afloat. +There was no registry law, and comparatively few places for the polls, so +that there could be little check on voting, no end to repeating, while the +gathering of an immense crowd around each place of voting became +inevitable. At this election, there was a split in the Democratic party, +Mr. Verplanck being the candidate of the Independent Democrats, and Mr. +Lawrence of the "Tammany." + +The most extensive preparations were made on both sides for the conflict, +and it was generally expected there would be a personal collision in some +of the wards. + +Tuesday, the 8th of April, dawned dark and stormy, and the rain began to +fall heavily, at times coming down in torrents. But to such a fever heat +had the public feeling been carried, that no one seemed to heed the storm. +The stores were closed, business of all kinds suspended; while the streets +were black with men hurrying to the polls. At twelve o'clock the American +flag was hoisted on the Exchange, when the building became deserted, and +all gathered at the places where the voting was going on. Men stood in +long lines, extending clear out into the street, patiently enduring the +pelting rain, waiting till their turn came to vote. + +The famous expression of Jackson, "Perish credit, perish commerce," had +been taken out of the connection in which it was used, and paraded +everywhere. The sailors had been enlisted in the struggle, and rigged up a +beautiful little frigate in complete order, and named it the +"Constitution." Mounting it on wheels, several hundred of them paraded it +through the streets and past the polls. As they passed through Wall +Street, thundering cheers greeted them, and the excited populace, heedless +of the rain, fell into the procession, till it swelled to thousands, who, +with songs and shouts, followed after. Fearful of the effect of this +demonstration on the voters, the Jackson men hastily rigged out a boat, +surmounted by a flag on which was painted in large characters, "Veto;" and +"Constitution" and "Veto" sailed after each other through the city. This +should have been prevented by the authorities, for it was impossible for +these two processions to meet without a fight occurring, while it was +equally certain that the Whig one would be attacked, if it attempted to +pass the polls in those wards in which the roughs had the control. But the +"Hickory poles" had inaugurated a new mode of carrying on political +campaigns. Appeals were made to the senses, and votes obtained by outward +symbols, rather than by the discussion of important political questions. +This mode of electioneering culminated with the log-cabin excitement. + +In the Eleventh Ward, the Jackson party had two private doors through +which to admit their voters to the polls, while bullies kept back from the +main entrance the Independent Republicans. In most of the strong Jackson +wards, where it was all on one side, the voting went on peaceably enough, +but in the Sixth, it was soon evident that a storm was inevitable. Oaths +and threats and yells of defiance made the polls here seem more like an +object on which a mob was seeking to wreak its vengeance, than a place +where freemen were depositing their votes under sanction of law. The babel +of sound continued to grow worse in spite of the rain, and swelled louder +and louder, till at last the Jackson roughs, headed by an ex-alderman, +made a rush for the committee room where their opponents were assembled. +Some of them were armed with clubs, and others with knives, which they +brandished fiercely as they burst into the room. Before the members could +offer any resistance, they were assailed with such fury, that in a short +time nearly twenty were stretched bleeding and maimed on the floor; one so +badly wounded that he was carried out lifeless, and apparently dead. It +was a savage onslaught, and those who escaped injury reached the street +hatless, and with coats half-torn from their backs. The mob, now being +complete masters of the room, tore down all the banners, destroyed the +ballots, and made a complete wreck of everything. The Whig leaders, +enraged at such dastardly, insulting treatment, despatched a messenger in +all haste to the Mayor for help, but he replied that he could not furnish +it, as all the available force was away in other sections of the city on +duty. The excitement among the Whigs now became fearful, and they +determined to take the matter in their own hands. The election was to last +three days, and they concluded to let the polls, when the mob entered, +take care of themselves the balance of the day, and organize a plan for +self-protection on the morrow. + +A call was at once issued for a meeting at Masonic Hall, and that night +four thousand Whigs packed the building, from limit to limit. General +Bogardus was called to the chair, who, after stating the object of the +meeting, and describing the conduct of the mob in the Sixth Ward, offered +the following resolutions: + +"_Whereas_, The authority of the POLICE of the city has been set at +defiance by a band of _hirelings, mercenaries_, and _bullies_ in +the Sixth Ward, and the LIVES of our citizens put in jeopardy. And +_whereas_ it is evident that we are in a state of anarchy, which +requires the prompt and efficient interposition of every friend of good +order who is disposed to sustain the constitution and laws, therefore, be +it + +"_Resolved_, That in order to preserve the _peace_ of the city, +and especially of the Sixth Ward, the friends of the constitution and the +liberties of the citizen will meet at this place (Masonic Hall), to-morrow +(Wednesday), at half-past seven o'clock A.M., and repair to the Sixth Ward +poll, for the _purpose of keeping it open to_ ALL VOTERS until such +time as the official authorities may 'procure a sufficient number of +special constables to keep the peace.' + +"_Resolved_, That while at the Sixth Ward poll, those who are not +residents thereof will not take part in the election, but simply act as +_conservators of the peace_, until such times as the MAJESTY OF THE +LAWS shall be acknowledged and respected." + +These resolutions were carried with acclamations and shouts and stamping +of feet. + +There was no bluster in these resolutions, but their meaning was apparent +enough, and the city authorities understood it. From that hall, next +morning, would march at least five or six thousand determined men, and if +the mob rallied in force, to repeat the action of the day before, there +would be one of the bloodiest fights that ever disgraced the city. It was +believed that the great mass of the rioters were Irishmen, and the thought +that native-born Americans should be driven from their own ballot-box by a +herd of foreigners, aroused the intensest indignation. It was an insult +that could not and should not be tolerated. + +The next morning, at half-past seven, Masonic Hall was filled to +repletion. The excitement can be imagined, when such a crowd could be +gathered at this early hour. + +In the Ninth Ward a meeting was also called, and a resolution passed, +tendering a committee of one hundred to the general committee; that, with +a committee of the same number from each of the fourteen wards of the +city, would make a battalion eighteen hundred strong, to be ready at a +moment's notice, to march to any poll "to protect the sacred right of +suffrage." + +These measures had their desired effect. The presence of large bodies of +men at the different polls, for the purpose of protecting them, overawed +the unorganized mob, although in some of the wards attempts were made to +get up a riot. Stones and clubs were thrown, and one man stabbed; it was +thought at the time fatally. The Sixth Ward, "the Bloody Sixth," as it was +called, was the point of greatest danger, and thither the Mayor repaired +in person, accompanied by the sheriff and a large posse, and remained the +greater part of the day. Threats and opprobrious epithets were freely +used, and occasionally a paving-stone would be hurled from some one on the +outskirts of the crowd; but the passage to the polls was kept open, and by +one o'clock the citizens could deposit their votes without fear of +personal violence. + +The evil of having the election continue three days now became more +apparent than ever. The disorderly class, "the roughs," by their +protracted drinking, became more and more maddened, and hence riper for +more desperate action. This second night was spent by them in carousing, +and the next morning they turned out to the polls, not only ready, but +eager for a fight. Early in the forenoon, the frigate "Constitution" was +again on its voyage through the streets, followed by a crowd. As it passed +Masonic Hall, the head-quarters of the Whig Committee, it was saluted with +cheers. This was followed by a rush upon it, on the part of the mob, who +attempted to destroy it. The Whigs inside of the building, seeing the +attack, poured forth with a loud cheer, and fell on the assailants with +such fury, that they turned and fled. The news of what was passing, had, +in the meantime, reached the Sixth Ward folks, and a shout was raised for +followers. Instantly a huge crowd, composed of dirty, ragged, savage- +looking men, broke away with discordant yells, and streamed up Duane +Street towards the building, picking up paving-stones and brick-bats, and +pulling down pickets as they ran. Coming in sight of the little frigate, +they raised a shout and dashed on it. The procession had now passed the +hall, but the Whigs, informed of what was going on, again sallied forth to +the help of the sailors, who were fighting manfully against overwhelming +odds. But they were soon overpowered, and again took refuge in the hall. +This was now assailed, and stones came crashing through the windows. The +Mayor was sent for, and soon appeared with the sheriff, backed by forty +watchmen. Mounting the steps, he held up his staff of office, and +commanded the peace. But the half-drunken mob had now got beyond the fear +of the mere symbol of authority, and answered him with a shower of stones, +and then charged on the force that surrounded him. A fierce and bloody +fight followed. Citizens rushed out to the help of the Mayor, while the +watchmen fell on the mob with their clubs. They soon stretched on the +pavement more than their own number, but the odds against them was too +great. The Mayor received a wound--ten or fifteen watchmen besides +citizens were wounded--Captains Stewart, Munson, and Flaggs, badly +injured, the latter with his skull horribly fractured, ribs broken, and +face cut up. A few of the rioters were arrested, but the great mass broke +through all opposition, and streaming into the hall, forced the committee +to creep through back passages and windows. + +The news of this high-handed outrage was carried like the wind to the +lower anti-Democratic wards, and the excited Whigs came streaming up, +until Duane, Elm, Pearl, Cross, Augustus, and Chatham Streets, up to +Broadway, were black with determined, enraged citizens. Ten or fifteen +thousand were in a short time assembled, and a fearful battle seemed +inevitable. In this appalling state of things, the Mayor called a +consultation, and it was decided to declare the city in a state of +insurrection, and call on the military for help. A messenger was +immediately despatched to the Navy Yard for a company of marines. Colonel +Gamble, commanding, replied that he would be glad to comply with the +request, and put himself at their head, but that he had just sent them on +board the "Brandywine" and "Vincennes." Application was then made to +Commodore Hidgely, commander of the station; but he refused, on the ground +that he had no authority to interfere. A messenger was then hurried across +to Governor's Island for help, but he met with no better success. As a +last resort, General Sanford was now directed to call out the city +military. + +All this time the crowd kept increasing, while from out its bosom came an +angry murmur like the moaning of the sea before a storm. The polls were +deserted, and it seemed impossible that the opposing forces could be long +kept apart. At length word passed through the Whigs that the mob were +about to take possession of the arsenal. Instantly several hundred +citizens made a dash for it, and occupied it. This was a brilliant piece +of strategy, and no sooner did the rioters hear of it, than they swarmed +around the building with yells and imprecations. The Whigs, however, held +it, and some of them passed out arms to their friends. + +Three terrible hours had now passed since the first outbreak, and from the +Park to Duane Street, Broadway, and the cross streets on the east side of +it, were packed with excited men, their shouts, calls, and curses rising +over the dwellings in tones that sent terror to the heart. But for the +narrow streets, in which but few could come in contact, there would +doubtless have been a collision long before. + +But at this critical moment a detachment of infantry and two squadrons of +cavalry came marching down Broadway, and in close column. The crowd +divided as they advanced, and they drew up before the arsenal. The +gleaming of the bayonets and the rattle of sabres had a quieting effect on +the rioters, and they began to disperse again to the polls, to watch the +progress of the voting. In the meantime, the infantry took up their +quarters at the arsenal, and the cavalry at the City Hall, for the night. + +When the polls closed at evening, the ballot-box of the Sixth Ward was +taken under a strong guard to the City Hall, and locked up for the night. +It was followed by four or five thousand excited men, but no violence was +attempted. + +The election was over. For three days the city had been heaving to the +tide of human passion, and trembling on the verge of a great disaster, and +all because a few ruffians, not a fourth part of whom could probably read +or write, chose to deny the right of suffrage to American citizens, and +constitute themselves the proper representatives of the city. + +But the excitement did not end with the election. It was very close, and +as the returns came in slowly, the people assembled in great numbers, to +hear them reported. The next day, till three o'clock at night, ten or +fifteen thousand people blocked Wall Street, refusing to disperse, till +they knew the result. It was finally announced that Mr. Lawrence, the +Democratic candidate, was elected by a small majority. + +The next thing was to ascertain the character of the Common Council. The +same mighty throng assembled next day, forgetting everything else in the +intense interest they felt in the result. It would seem impossible to get +up such a state of feeling over the election of a few local officers, but +the city shook from limit to limit as the slow returns came in. At last, +it was announced that the Whigs had carried the Common Council by a small +majority. As the news passed through the immense concourse, a shout vent +up that shook Wall Street from Broadway to the East River. It rolled back +and forth like redoubled thunder, till every throat was hoarse. + +When the crowd at last dispersed, it was only to assemble again in +separate bodies in different parts of the city, and talk over the victory. + +Even then the excitement was not allowed to die away. The event was too +great to be permitted to pass without some especial honor, and a mass- +meeting was called in Castle Garden to celebrate it. Webster was sent for +to make a speech, the most distinguished speakers of New York were called +upon, and a day of general rejoicing followed, great as that which +succeeded Lee's surrender. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +ABOLITION RIOTS OF 1834 AND 1835. + +The Slavery Question agitated.--The End, Civil War.--The Results.--William +Lloyd Garrison.--Feeling of the People on the Subject.--First Attempt to +call a Meeting of the Abolitionists in New York.--Meeting in Chatham +Street Chapel.--A Fight.--Mob take Possession of Bowery Theatre.--Sacking +of Lewis Tappan's House.--Fight between Mob and Police.--Mobbing of Dr. +Cox's Church, in Laight Street.--His House broken into.--Street +Barricaded.--Attack on Arthur Tappan's Store.--Second Attack on Church in +Laight Street.--Church sacked in Spring Street.--Arrival of the Military. +--Barricades carried.--Mr. Ludlow's House entered.--Mob at Five Points.-- +Destruction of Houses.--The City Military called out.--Mob overawed, and +Peace restored.--Five Points Riot.--Stone-cutters' Riot. + +Most of the riots of New York have grown out of causes more or less local, +and wholly transient in their nature. Hence, the object sought to be +obtained was at once secured, or abandoned altogether. But those arising +from the formation of Abolition societies, and the discussion of the +doctrine of immediate emancipation, were of a different character, and +confined to no locality or time. The spirit that produced them developed +itself in every section of the country, and the question continued to +assume vaster proportions, till the Union itself was involved, and what +was first only a conflict between the police of the city and a few hundred +or thousands of ignorant, reckless men, grew at last into the most +gigantic and terrible civil war that ever cursed the earth. The Union was +rent asunder, and State arrayed against State, while the world looked on +aghast at the strange and bloody spectacle. The final result has been the +emancipation of the slaves, and their endowment with all the rights and +privileges of American citizens. But with this has come a frightful +national debt, the destruction of that feeling of common interest and +patriotism, which is the strongest security of a country; a contempt for +the Constitution, the concentration of power in the hands of Congress, +small regard for State rights, while the controlling power in the South +has passed into the hands of an ignorant, incapable, irresponsible class; +and, worse than all, the people have become accustomed to the strange +spectacle, so fraught with danger in a republic, of seeing the +legislatures and executives of sovereign States overawed and overborne by +the national troops. That frightful conflict for the slave has sown +dangerous seed; what the final harvest will be, the future historian alone +will be able to show. + +The inconsistency of having a system of slavery incorporated into a +republican government was always felt by good men North and South, as well +as its damaging effect on the social and political well-being of the whole +community; and steps had been taken both in Virginia and Kentucky to do +away with it by legislative action. Whether these incipient steps would +ever have ended in relieving us of the evil, can only be conjectured. We +only know that a peaceable solution of the question was rendered +impossible, by the action of the Abolitionists, as they were called, who, +governed by the short logic, that slavery being wrong, it could not exist +a moment without sin, and therefore must be abandoned at once without +regard to consequences. The system of slavery was no longer a social or +political problem, calling for great wisdom, prudence, statesmanship, and +patience, but a personal crime, not to be tolerated for a moment. The +whole South was divided by them into two classes, the oppressor and +oppressed, the kidnapper and kidnapped, the tyrant and the slave--a +relationship which liberty, religion, justice, humanity, alike demanded +should be severed without a moment's delay. + +These views, in the judgment of the press at the time, and of sound +statesmen, would eventually end in civil war, if adopted by the entire +North, and hence they denounced them. The Abolitionists were considered by +all as enemies to the Union, whom the lower classes felt should be put +down, if necessary, by violence. This feeling was increased by the action +of William Lloyd Garrison, the founder of the society, who went to +England, and joined with the antislavery men there in abusing this country +for its inconsistency and crime. These causes produced a state of public +feeling that would be very apt to exhibit itself on the first opportunity. +When, therefore, in the autumn of 1833, after Garrison's return from +England, a notice appeared for an antislavery meeting in Clinton Hall, +some of the most respectable men in New York determined to attend, and +crush out, by the weight of their influence, the dangerous movement. +Another class was resolved to effect the same project in another way, and +on the 2d of October the following placard was posted in naming letters +all over the city: + +NOTICE + +_To all persons from the South_. + +All persons interested in the subject of the meeting called by J. Leavitt, +W. Goodell, W. Green, J. Rankin, Lewis Tappan, + +At Clinton Hall, this evening, at 7 o'clock, are requested to attend at +the same hour and place. + +MANY SOUTHERNERS. + +New York, _October_ 2d, 1833. + +N.B. All citizens who may feel disposed to manifest the _true_ +feeling of the State on this subject, are requested to attend. + +Putting the appeal in the name of the Southerners, was an artful device +to call out the people. + +At an early hour crowds began to assemble in front of Clinton Hall; but to +their surprise they found a notice nailed on the door, that no meeting +would be held. Many, seeing it, returned home; but still the crowd +continued to swell to thousands, who rent the air with shouts and threats +against Garrison. Determined not to be disappointed in a meeting of some +kind, they forced their way upstairs, till the room in which it was to be +held was crammed to suffocation. The meeting was then organized, and +waited till quarter past seven, when it was moved to adjourn to Tammany +Hall. There it was again organized, and a gentleman was about to address +the crowd, when a man stepped forward to the president, and stated that +the meeting announced to be held in Clinton Hall was at that moment under +full headway in Chatham Street Chapel. Instantly several voices shouted, +"Let us go there and rout them!" But the chairman said they had met to +pass certain resolutions, and they should attend to this business first, +and then every one could do as he liked. The resolutions were read, and +after some remarks had been made upon them, adopted, and the meeting +adjourned. A portion of those present, however, were not satisfied, but +resolved to go to the chapel and break up the meeting there. The little +handful assembled within, apprised of their approach, fled, so that when +the mob arrived, the building, though the doors were open and the lights +burning, was empty. It immediately took possession of the room, and giving +a negro who was foremost in the sport the name of one of the +Abolitionists, made him chairman. The most absurd resolutions were then +offered, and carried, when the chairman returned thanks for the honor done +him amid the most uproarious laughter, and what had threatened to be a +serious riot ended in a wild, lawless frolic. + +This was the beginning of the Abolition riots in New York City, which +afterwards, to a greater or less extent, prevailed for years in different +parts of the Union. + +Next summer the excitement, which during the winter had nothing to call it +forth, broke out afresh, ending in destruction of property and bloodshed, +and the calling out of the military. On the evening of the 7th of July, an +assembly of colored persons of both sexes occupied Chatham Street Chapel, +for the purpose of listening to a sermon from a negro preacher. The New +York Sacred Music Society had leased the building for certain evenings in +the week, of which it was asserted this was one. Justice Lowndes, of the +Police Court, was president, and Dr. Rockwell vice-president of the +society, and they repaired to the building during the evening, and finding +it occupied, at once claimed their right to it, and demanded that the +blacks should leave. But the latter, having hired and paid for it, refused +to do so, when a fight ensued, in which lamps and chairs were broken, +loaded canes used freely, and some persons seriously injured. The news of +the fight spread rapidly, and a dense crowd gathered around the door. But +the police soon arrived, and forcing their way in, drove white and black +out together, and locked up the church. + +The riot, however, continued for some time in the street; but the blacks, +finding themselves outnumbered, fled, and peace was restored. + +A portion of the crowd, having recognized Lewis Tappan, one of the leading +Abolitionists, followed him home with hoots and yells, and even hurled +stones at his house after he had entered it. + +The next evening, at dusk, the crowd began again to assemble in front of +the chapel. But the lessee of it had closed and locked the gates. The +multitude determined, however, not to be disappointed of a meeting, and +forcing open the gates, obtained entrance. The meeting was then organized, +and Mr. William W. Wilder called to the chair. After making a speech, in +which he showed the evil effects of a sudden abolition of slavery, by +relating his experience in San Domingo, he moved an adjournment until the +next meeting of the Antislavery Society. The motion was carried, and the +assembly broke up. This was, however, altogether too quiet a termination +for a part of the crowd, and a shout was made for the Bowery Theatre. The +attacks on us by the English, for upholding slavery, and their sympathy +and aid for Garrison, and co-operation with him in agitating the question +of abolition in this country, had rekindled the old slumbering feeling of +hostility to that country; and Mr. Farren, the stage manager of the +Bowery, being an Englishman, it was transferred to him, especially as +reports had been circulated that he had spoken disrespectfully of the +Americans. + +This night having been selected to give him a benefit, his enemies had +posted placards over the city, stating the fact of his hostility to this +country--whether with the intention of causing a thin house, or breaking +it up altogether, is not known. At all events, the mob resolved on the +latter course, and streaming up the Bowery in one wild, excited mass, +gathered with loud shouts in front of the theatre. The doors were closed +in their faces, but pressing against them with their immense weight, they +gave way, and like a dark, stormy wave, they surged up the aisles toward +the foot-lights. In the garish light, faces grew pale, and turned eagerly +toward the doors for a way of escape. But these were jammed with the +excited, yelling mob. The play was "Metamora," and was under full headway, +when this sudden inundation of the rioters took place. The actors stopped, +aghast at the introduction of this new, appalling scene. Messrs. Hamlin +and Forrest advanced to the front of the stage, and attempted to address +them; but apologies and entreaties were alike in vain. The thundering +shouts and yells that interrupted them were not those of admiration, and +spectators and actors were compelled to remain silent, while this strange +audience took complete possession of the house, and inaugurated a play of +their own. + +But the police, having received information of what was going on, now +arrived, and forcing their way in, drove the rioters into the street, and +restored order. But the demon of lawless violence, that was now fully +raised, was not to be thus laid. Some one got hold of a bell, and began to +ring it violently. This increased the excitement, and suddenly the shout +arose, "to Arthur Tappan's." [Footnote: A silk merchant, and one of the +leading Abolitionists.] The cry was at once taken up by a thousand voices, +and the crowd started down the street. But instead of going to his house, +they went to that of his brother, Lewis, in Hose Street, a still more +obnoxious Abolitionist. Reaching it, they staved open the doors, and +smashed in the windows, and began to pitch the furniture into the street. +Chairs, sofas, tables, pictures, mirrors, and bedding, went out one after +another. But all at once a lull occurred in the work of destruction. In +pitching the pictures out, one came across a portrait of Washington. +Suddenly the cry arose, "It is Washington! For God's sake, _don't burn +Washington_!" In an instant the spirit of disorder was laid, and the +portrait was handed carefully from man to man, till at length the +populace, bearing it aloft, carried it with shouts to a neighboring house +for safety. It was one of those strange freaks or sudden changes that will +sometimes come over the wildest and most brutal men, like a gleam of +gentle light across a dark and stormy sea--the good in man for a moment +making its voice heard above the din and strife of evil passions. + +This singular episode being terminated, they returned to their work of +destruction. But suddenly the cry of "Watchmen!" was heard, and the next +moment the police came charging down the street. The mob recoiled before +it, then broke and fled, and the former took possession of the street. But +the latter, coming across some piles of brick, filled their arms and hands +full, and rallying, returned. Charging the watchmen in turn with a +blinding shower of these, they drove them from the ground. They then +kindled a fire on the pavement, and as the flames flashed up in the +darkness and gained headway, they piled on bedding and furniture, till the +whole street was illuminated with the costly bonfire. This caused the +fire-bells to be rung, and soon the engines came thundering down the +street, before which the crowd gave way. The burning furniture was then +extinguished, and the house taken possession of. It was now two o'clock in +the morning, and the mob dispersed. + +The next day nothing was talked about in the saloons, groggeries, and on +the corners of the by-streets, but the events of the night before; and as +evening came on, a crowd began to assemble in front of the battered, +dilapidated house of Lewis Tappan. Another attack was imminent, when the +police came up and dispersed them. They had not, however, abandoned the +purpose for which they had assembled. + +The little band of Abolitionists, that the year before had been composed +mostly of comparatively obscure men, had now increased both in numbers and +men of influence. Persecution had produced its usual effects--advanced the +cause it designed to destroy. Among other well-known citizens who had +joined their ranks were the two brothers, Dr. Abraham Cox, M.D., and Dr. +Samuel Cox, the latter, pastor of Laight Street Church, and one of the +most popular preachers of the city. Though opposed by a large majority of +his congregation, he had become known as a bold, outspoken man against +slavery; and now the mob, bent on mischief, streamed across the city +toward his church. It was dark, and as they gathered in a black, dense +mass in front of it, suddenly, as if by a common impulse, a loud yell +broke forth, and the next moment a shower of stones and brick-bats fell on +the windows. Babel was now let loose, and, amid the crashing of window- +glass, arose every variety of sound and all kinds of calls, interspersed +with oaths and curses on "Abolitionists and niggers." + +Shrieks of laughter and obscene epithets helped to swell the uproar. It +was evident they would not be satisfied until they left the church a ruin; +but at this critical moment, the Mayor, Justice Lowndes, the District +Attorney, and a posse of police officers and watchmen arrived on the +ground. Expecting trouble, they had arranged to be ready at a moment's +warning to hasten to any threatened point. Their unexpected presence +frightened the crowd, and fearing arrest, they slunk away in squads, and +the danger seemed over. But, evidently by previous arrangement, the broken +fragments, arriving by different streets, came together in front of Dr. +Cox's house, in Charlton Street. + +The doctor, however, was not at home. He had received warnings and threats +from various quarters, and knowing, from the fate of Lewis Tappan's house, +what that of his own would be, he had, during the day, quietly removed his +furniture, and in the afternoon put his family on board of a steamboat, +and left the city. + +The mob found the door barricaded, but they broke it open, and began to +smash the windows and blinds of the lower story. Before, however, they had +begun to sack the house, police-officers and watchmen, with two +detachments of horse, arrived and dislodged them. They did not, however, +disperse. A more dangerous and determined spirit was getting possession of +them than they had before evinced. Crowding back on each other, they +packed the street east, within four blocks of Broadway. Seizing some +carts, they made a hasty barricade of them across the streets, while a +neighboring fence supplied them with clubs. A large number were armed with +paving-stones, which they would smite loudly together, saying in deep +undertones, "_all together_." As they thus stood savagely at bay, a +collision seemed inevitable, and had they been attacked, would doubtless +have made a desperate fight. But being let alone they slowly dispersed. A +portion, however, though it was now late at night, could not retire +without venting a little more spite, and returning to the church, broke in +some more windows. + +Dr. Cox came back to his house next morning, to see if it was safe. As he +left the mutilated building, a crowd of boys, who were looking at the +ruins, immediately gave chase to him with yells and derisive laughter, and +pressed him so closely, at the same time hurling dirty missiles at him, +that he was compelled to take shelter in the house of a parishioner. + +The crowd around the house continued to increase all the morning, but a +hundred policemen arriving at one o'clock, no disturbance of the peace was +attempted. In the afternoon, Mayor Lawrence issued a proclamation, +denouncing the rioters, and calling on all good citizens to aid in +maintaining the peace, and assuring them that he had taken ample measures +to repress all attempts at violence. At the Arsenal, City Hall, and +Bazaar, large bodies of troops were assembled, ready to march at a +moment's notice; and it was evident that the coming night was to witness a +trial of strength between the rioters and the city authorities. + +As soon as it was fairly dark, large crowds gathered in front of Arthur +Tappan's store, and began to stone the building. Some fifteen or twenty +watchmen were stationed here, and endeavored to arrest the ringleaders, +when the mob turned on them, and handled them so roughly that they were +compelled to take refuge in flight. Alderman Lalagh was severely wounded; +but he refused to leave, and standing fiercely at bay, denounced and +threatened the maddened wretches, who in turn swore they would take his +life. He told them to force open the doors if they dare; that the inside +was full of armed men, who were ready to blow their brains out the moment +the door gave way. This frightened them, and they had to content +themselves with stoning the windows, and cursing the Abolitionist who +owned the building. In the meantime, Justice Lowndes came up with a strong +police force, when they fled. + +While this was going on here, similar scenes were passing in other parts +of the city. At dark, some three or four hundred gathered around Dr. Cox's +church, in Laight Street, discussing the conduct of the Abolitionists, but +making no outward demonstrations calling for the interference of the +police, until nine o'clock, when a reinforcement came yelling down Varick +Street, armed with stones and brick-bats. These charged, without halting, +so furiously on the police-officers, and the few watchmen stationed there, +that, bruised and bleeding, they were compelled to flee for their lives. +The next moment stones rattled like hail against the church, and, in a few +minutes, the remaining windows were smashed in. The police rallied when +they reached Beach Street, and hurried off a messenger to the City Hall +for the military. In the meantime, loud shouts were heard in the direction +of Spring Street, and with answering shouts the mob left the church, and +rushed yelling like Indians to the spot. A vast crowd was in front of a +church there, under the care of Rev. Mr. Ludlow, another Abolitionist, and +had already commenced the work of destruction. They had torn down the +fence surrounding it, and were demolishing the windows. Through them they +made an entrance, and tore down the pulpit, ripped up the seats, and made +a wreck of everything destructible without the aid of fire. The session- +room shared the same fate, and the splintered wreck of both was carried in +their arms, and on their shoulders, out of doors, and piled into +barricades in the street on both sides of the building, to stop the +anticipated charge of cavalry. Carts, hauled furiously along by the mob, +were drawn up behind this, and chained together, making a formidable +obstruction. They then rung the bell furiously, in order to bring out the +firemen. The watch-house bell in Prince Street gave a few answering +strokes, but information being received of what was going on, it ceased, +and the firemen did not come out. It was now near eleven o'clock, when, +all at once, an unearthly yell arose from the immense throng. Word had +passed through it that the military was approaching. Pandemonium seemed +suddenly to have broken loose, and shouts, and yells, and oaths arose from +five thousand throats, as the men sprung behind their barricades. It was a +moonless night, but the stars were shining brightly, and, in their light, +the sheen of nearly a thousand bayonets made the street look like a lane +of steel. The Twenty-seventh Regiment of National Guards, led by Colonel +Stevens, had been sent from the City Hall, and their regular heavy tramp +sounded ominously, as they came steadily on. The church-bell was set +ringing furiously by the mob and there was every appearance of a +determined resistance. As Colonel Stevens approached the first barricade, +he halted his regiment, and ordered his pioneer guard to advance. They +promptly obeyed, armed with their axes. A shower of stones met them, while +clubs were waved frantically in the air, accompanied with oaths and +threats. They, however, moved firmly up to the barricade, and the shining +steel of their axes, as they swung them in the air, was as terrific as the +gleam of the bayonets, and the crowd retired precipitately behind the +second barricade. The first was now speedily torn down, and the head of +the column advanced. The second was a more formidable affair, in fact, a +regular bastion, behind which were packed in one dense mass an immense +body of desperate men, reaching down the street, till lost in the +darkness. It seemed now that nothing but deadly volleys would answer. One +of the city officers advised Colonel Stevens to retreat, but, instead of +obeying, he ordered the pioneer guard to advance, and sustained it by a +detachment of troops. Amid the raining missiles they moved forward, when +the crowd fell back, some fleeing up the side streets. The guard then +mounted the barricade, and in a short time it was scattered in every +direction; and when the order "Forward" was given, the column marched +straight on the mob. At this moment, Justice Lowndes, at the head of a +band of watchmen, arrived on the ground, when the two forces moved forward +together, clearing the street of the rioters. While the fight was going +on, some of the gang remained inside the church, and kept the bell ringing +violently, until Colonel Stevens ordered one of his officers to cut the +rope. + +A portion of the mob now hurried to Thompson Street, where Mr. Ludlow +resided. The family had retired for the night, but their repose was +suddenly broken by loud yells and the sound of stones dashing in their +windows. Jumping up in wild alarm, they saw the doors broken in, through +which streamed the shouting, yelling crowd. + +Either from fear of the military, which they knew would soon be upon them, +or some other cause, they decamped almost as suddenly as they came, and +relieved the terror-stricken household of their presence. + +About this time, another immense mob had collected at Five Points. The +rioters here seemed to be well organized, and to act in concert. Runners +were kept passing between the different bodies, keeping each informed of +the actions of the other, and giving notice of the approach of the police. + +The destruction at Five Points was on a more extensive scale, and the +gatherings in this, then dangerous section of the city--the home of +desperadoes and depraved beings of every kind--were of such a character, +that for a time the city authorities seemed to be over-awed. The rioters +had it all their own way for several hours, and the midnight heavens +became lurid with burning dwellings. It somehow got round that they had +resolved to attack every house not illuminated with candles, and these +dirty streets soon became brilliant with the lighted windows. Five houses +of ill-fame were gutted, and almost entirely demolished. St. Philip's +Church, in Centre Street, occupied by a colored congregation, was broken +into, and for two hours the mob continued the work of destruction +unmolested. They left it a complete ruin. A house adjoining, and three +houses opposite, shared the same fate. The mob was everywhere; and +although the police made some arrests and had some fights, they were too +weak to effect much. About one o'clock a shout arose, "away to Anthony +Street!" and thither the yelling wretches repaired. + +The Mayor was at the City Hall all night, doing what he could; but the mob +had arranged their plans to act in concert, appearing in separate bodies +in different sections of the city at the same time, so that he hardly +knew, with the force at his disposal, where to strike. The next morning he +issued another proclamation, calling on the citizens to report to him and +be organized into companies to aid the police. He called also on all the +volunteer military companies of the city to rally to the support of the +laws. They did so, and that (Saturday) night they, with most of the fire +companies, who had offered their services, were stationed in strong bodies +all over the city; and the rioters saw that their rule was ended. Beside, +many of the most notorious ringleaders had been arrested and put in +prison. A short fight occurred in Catharine Street between the police and +mob, in which both had some of their men badly hurt; and an attempt was +made to get up a riot in Reade Street, but it was promptly put down. The +city was rife with rumors of bloody things which the mob had threatened to +do; but, with the exception of the military in the streets, the city on +Sunday presented its usual appearance. The lawless spirit was crushed out, +and a hundred and fifty of the desperadoes who had been instrumental in +rousing it were locked up to await their trial. + +In June of the summer of 1835 occurred the Five Points riot, which grew +out of the feeling between Americans and foreigners. It threatened for a +time to be a very serious matter, but was finally quelled by the police +without the aid of the military. Dr. W. M. Caffrey was accidentally killed +by one of the mob, and Justice Lowndes was dangerously wounded. + +In connection with the series of riots of 1834 and 1835, might be +mentioned the Stonecutters' riot, though it was promptly suppressed. + +STONECUTTERS' RIOT. + +The contractors for the building of the New York University found that +they could purchase dressed stone at Sing Sing, the work of the prisoners +there, much cheaper than in New York, and so concluded to use it. This, +the stonecutters of the city said, was taking the bread out of their +mouths, and if allowed to go on would destroy their business. They held +excited meetings on the subject, and finally got up a procession and +paraded the streets with placards asserting their rights and denouncing +the contractors. They even attacked the houses of some of the citizens, +and assumed such a threatening attitude, that the Twenty-seventh Regiment, +Colonel Stevens, was called out. Their steady, determined march on the +rioters dispersed them and restored quiet. Apprehensions were felt, +however, that they would reassemble in the night and vent their rage on +the University building, and so a part of the regiment encamped in +Washington Square in full view of it. They remained here four days and +nights, until the excitement subsided, and the work could go on +unmolested. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +FLOUR RIOT OF 1837. + +Starvation will always create a Riot.--Foreign Population easily aroused +against the Rich.--Severe Winter of 1836.--Scarcity of Flour.--Meeting of +Citizens called without Result.--Meeting called in the Park.--Speeches.-- +Sacking of Hart & Co.'s Flour Store, in Washington Street.--Strange +Spectacle.--National Guards called out.--Disperse the Mob.--Attack on +Herrick's Flour Store.--Folly of the Riot. + +Hunger will drive any people mad, and once let there be real suffering for +want of food among the lower classes, while grain is piled up in the +storehouses of the rich, and riots will surely follow. In the French +Revolution of 1789, there was a great scarcity of provisions, which caused +frightful outbreaks. It will never do to treat with scorn the cry of +millions for bread. When, amid the general suffering in Paris, one said to +Foulon, the minister of state, the people are starving for bread, he +replied, "Let them eat hay." The next day he was hung to a lamp-post. The +tumultuous multitude marching on Versailles, shouting wildly for "bread," +was a fearful spectacle. One can hardly blame starving men from seizing +food by violence, if it can be got in no other way; and if ever a mob +could be justifiable, it would be when they see their families suffering +and perishing around them, in the very sight of well-stored granaries. + +In the old despotisms of Europe, the poor and oppressed attribute all +their want and suffering to the rich and powerful, so that they are not +held back from redressing their wrongs by ignorance of their source, but +fear of the strong hand of their rulers. + +These men, embittered not only by their own sufferings, but by the +traditions of the past, when they come to this country are easily roused +to commit acts of violence by anything that reminds them of their old +oppressions. They have tasted the wormwood and the gall, and refuse to +have it pressed to their lips in a country where liberty is the birthright +of all. This is what has made, and still makes, the foreign population +among us so dangerous. The vast proportion of them are from this very +class. Ignorant of everything but their wrongs, they rise in angry +rebellion at any attempt, or fancied attempt, to renew them here. +Unfortunately there are Americans among us, who, knowing this, work upon +this sensitive, suspicious feeling, to accomplish their own ends. The +politician does it to secure votes; but the worst class is composed of +those who edit papers that circulate only among the scum of society, and +embittered by the sight of luxuries beyond their reach, are always ready +to denounce the rich and excite the lower classes against what they call +the oppression of the aristocracy. + +It is doubtful whether the frightful riot of 1863 would ever have taken +place, but for this tone assumed by many of the city papers. So of this +flour riot, it probably would never have happened, but for demagogues, who +lashed the ignorant foreign population into fury against their rich +oppressors. Starvation, which as we said may be a justification of +violence, did not exist--it was only the high price of provisions, growing +out of scarcity, that caused it, but which scarcity, they were told, was +created solely by the cupidity of the rich. + +The year in which the great fire occurred, was a disastrous one to the +crops of the country. The mighty West, that great granary of the nation, +was not then open as now, and the main supply of grain came from east of +the Alleghanies. Hence the cause which would create a short crop in one +section, would be apt to prevail more or less over all the grain region. +We imported wheat at this time very largely; not only from England, but +from the Black Sea. + +In September, flour was about seven dollars a barrel, but this, as the +winter came on, went up to twelve dollars--a great rise at that time. + +From Virginia, a great wheat State, came disastrous tidings; not only was +the crop short and the price of flour high, but it was said that the +latter would probably go up to fifteen or twenty dollars a barrel. In +Troy, a great depot for State flour, it was stated that there were only +four thousand barrels against thirty thousand at the same time the +previous year. As February came on, a report circulated in the city that +there were only three or four weeks' supply on hand. This was repeated in +the penny papers, with the information added, that in certain stores were +hoarded vast amounts of grain and flour, kept out of the market to compel +a still greater advance in the price. This was very probably true, as it +is a rule with merchants, when they have a large stock of anything on +hand, of which there threatens to be a scarcity, to hold on in order to +make the scarcity greater--thus forcing higher prices. This will always +prove a dangerous experiment in this country in the article of flour. It +is the prime necessary of life, and the right to make it scarce for the +sake of gain, and at the expense of human suffering, will always be +questioned by the poorer classes. + +Although the stock of grain on hand at this time was small, there was no +danger of starvation, nor was it to the instinct of self-preservation that +demagogues appealed. They talked of the rich oppressing the poor by their +extortions--of monopolists, caring only to increase their gains without +regard to the distress they occasioned. + +There was, doubtless, much suffering among the poorer classes, not only on +account of the high price of flour, but also of all the necessary articles +of living. Meat advanced materially, while from some strange fatality, +coal went up to ten dollars a ton. There seemed no reason for this, as the +amount sent to market was said to be largely in excess of the previous +year. In Canada, coal was so scarce, that the line of steamers between +Montreal and Quebec was suspended before winter set in. + +This state of things excited the attention of the people generally, and in +the fore-part of this month, a public meeting was called at the Tabernacle +to consider what could be done. It amounted to nothing. Some speeches were +made, resolutions offered, but nothing practical was proposed. The +temperance people attempted to make a little capital out of it, by +asserting that the high price of grain was owing to the amount used by the +distilleries--rye being sold as high as one dollar and seventy cents per +bushel. + +But a different class of people were now discussing the subject, and in a +different spirit. Their attention was directed to _men_, not +_theories_--the individual oppressors, not the general causes. + +Chief among those against whom the popular feeling was now directed, was +Hart & Co., large commission merchants in Washington Street, between Dey +and Cortlandt Streets. Their store was packed with flour and wheat, and +every day men passed it with sinister looks. Sometimes a little knot of +men would stop opposite it, and talk of the loads of grain stored up +there, while their own families were pinched for bread. They would gaze +savagely on its heavy iron doors, that seemed to defy the weak and +helpless, and then walk on, muttering threats and curses. These signs of a +gathering storm were, however, unheeded by the proprietors. Others, better +informed, were not so tranquil; and by anonymous letters tried to arouse +Mr. Hart to take precautionary measures. An anonymous letter addressed to +Mr. W. Lenox was picked up in the Park, in which the writer stated that a +conspiracy was formed for breaking open and plundering Mr. Hart's store, +and gave the following plan of action. On some dark night, two alarms of +fire were to be given, one near the Battery, and the other up town, in +order to draw off the watchmen and police, when a large crowd already +assembled in the neighborhood would make a sudden rush for the building, +and sack it before help could arrive. This letter was handed to the High +Constable Hays, who showed it to Hart & Co., but they seemed to regard it +as an attempt to frighten them. This was followed by anonymous letters +from other parties, that reached the Mayor, insisting on it that danger +was hanging over this house. He sent them to Hart & Co., but they, +thinking it was only a trick to put down the price of flour, paid no +attention to them. They locked their three massive iron doors at night as +usual, and went to their homes without fear, and the underground swell +kept on increasing in volume. + +The first plan of operation, if it ever existed, was either abandoned by +the mob or deferred till after other measures were tried. + +At length, on the afternoon of the 10th of February, the following placard +was posted up all over the city: + +BREAD, MEAT, RENT, FUEL! + +_The voice of the people shall he heard and will prevail._ + +The people will meet in the PARK, _rain or shine_, at four o'clock on + +MONDAY AFTERNOON, + +to inquire into the cause of the present unexampled distress, and to +devise a suitable remedy. All friends of humanity, determined to resist +monopolists and extortioners, are invited to attend. + +Moses Jacques. Daniel Graham. Paulus Hedle. John Windt. Daniel A. +Robertson. Alexander Ming, Jr. Warden Hayward. Elijah F. Crane. + +NEW YORK, _Feb_. 10_th_, 1837. + +The idle crowd had all day Sunday to talk over this call. Everywhere knots +of men were seen gathered before these placards--some spelling out slowly, +and with great difficulty, the words for themselves--others reading the +call to those unable to read it. The groggeries were filled with excited +men, talking over the meeting, and interspersing their oaths with copious +draughts of liquor, and threatening openly to teach these rich oppressors +a lesson they would not soon forget. + +There was something ominous in the hour selected for the meeting; four +o'clock in February meant night, before it would get under full headway. +It was evident that the leaders did not mean the meeting to be one of mere +speech-making. They knew that under cover of darkness, men could be +incited to do what in broad daylight they would be afraid to undertake. + +Before the time appointed, a crowd began to assemble, the character of +which boded no good. Dirty, ragged, and rough-looking, as they flowed from +different quarters together into the inclosure, those who composed it were +evidently a mob already made to hand. + +At length, four or five thousand shivering wretches were gathered in front +of the City Hall. Moses Jacques, a man who would make a good French +Communist to-day, was chosen chairman. But this motley multitude had no +idea or respect for order, or regular proceedings, and they broke up into +different groups, each pushing forward its favorite orator. + +One of the strangest freaks of this meeting, was an address to a +collection of Democrats by Alexander Ming, Jr. He forgot all about the +object of the meeting, and being a strong Bentonian, launched out into the +currency question, attributing all the evils of the Republic, past, +present, and to come, to the issue of bank-notes; and advising his hearers +to refuse to take the trash altogether, and receive nothing but specie. +This was the more comical, as not one out of ten of the poor wretches he +addressed had the chance to refuse either. Half starving, they would have +been glad to receive anything in the shape of money that would help them +through the hard winter. Yet when Mr. Ming offered a resolution, proposing +a memorial to the Legislature, requiring a law to be passed, forbidding +any bank to issue a note under the denomination of a hundred dollars, the +deluded people, who had been listening with gaping mouths, rent the air +with acclamations. It was a curious exhibition of the wisdom of the +sovereign people--this verdict of a ragged mob on the currency question. +They were so delighted with this lucid exposition of the cause of the +scarcity of flour, that they seized the orator bodily, and elevating him +on their shoulders, bore him across the street to Tammany Hall, where +something beside specie was received from behind the bar to reward their +devotion. + +There was, however, some excuse for him. He had been several times +candidate for city register, and hence was more anxious to secure votes +than flour--be a popular demagogue rather than a public benefactor. + +But there were other speakers who kept more directly to the point. They +launched at once into a bitter tirade against landlords for their high +rents, and against monopolists for holding on to flour at the expense of +the poor and suffering. Knowing the character of the audience before them, +and their bitter hatred of the rich that had grown with their growth, and +strengthened with their strength in the old country, it was not difficult +to lash them into a tempest of passion. They depicted the aristocrats +around them rolling in wealth, wrung from their necessities--laughing at +their sufferings while rioting in luxury--nay, hoarding up the very bread +without which they must starve, in order to realize a few dollars more on +a barrel of flour. Loud oaths and deep muttered curses followed these +appeals, and the excited multitude became agitated with passion. One of +the speakers closed his bitter harangue with "Fellow-citizens, Mr. Eli +Hart has now 53,000 barrels of flour in his store; let us go and offer him +eight dollars a barrel for it, and if he will not take it--" It was not +difficult to know how he meant to close the sentence; but just then, a +friend shrewder than he, seeing the legal consequences to themselves of an +open proposition to resort to violence, touched him on the shoulder, when +in a lower tone of voice he concluded: "_we shall depart in peace_." +In the excitement of the moment, he had evidently forgotten the guarded +language he intended to use, and was about to utter that which would have +consigned him to a prisoner's cell, but checked himself in time. He was +willing others should suffer the consequence of violating the law, to +which his appeals urged them; but his love for the poor did not prompt him +to share their fate. + +It was bitterly cold, and it was a wonder that the crowd had listened +patiently so long. The proposition to go to Hart's store with a demand for +flour, was instantly seized, and those around the speaker started off with +a shout, and streaming down Broadway, poured in one dark living stream +along Cortlandt Street into Washington Street. The clerks in the store +heard the turmoil, and suspecting the object of the rioters, rushed to the +doors and windows, and began to close and bolt them. There were three +large iron doors opening on the sidewalk, and they had succeeded in +bolting and barring all but one, when the mob arrived. Forcing their way +through this middle door, the latter seized the barrels, and began to roll +them out into the street. Mr. Hart, who, either from curiosity to hear +what the meeting would propose to do, or from his suspicions being aroused +from what he had previously heard, was on the spot, and as soon as he saw +the crowd stream out of the Park, down Broadway, he hurried to the police, +and obtaining a posse of officers, made all haste for his store. But as +they were going down Dey Street, the mob, which blocked the farther end, +rushed on them with such fury, that before they had time to defend +themselves, their clubs, or staves as they were then called, were wrenched +from their hands and broken into fragments. The crowd was not yet very +great, and the disarmed officers forced their way into Washington Street +and into the store. Their presence frightened the few inside, and they +hastily decamped. The Mayor, who was in his room at the City Hall, had been +speedily notified of the riot, and hurried to the spot. The crowd +remaining in the Park had also been informed of what was going on, and +dashing madly down Broadway, and through Cortlandt Street, joined with +loud shouts their companions in front of the store. The Mayor mounted a +flight of steps, and began to harangue the mob, urging them to desist, and +warning them of the consequences of their unlawful action. He had not +proceeded far, however, before brick-bats, and sticks, and pieces of ice +came raining around him in such a dangerous shower, that he had to give it +up, and make his way to a place of safety. The street was now black with +the momentarily increasing throng, and emboldened by their numbers, they +made a rush at the entrance of the store. Driving the police-officers +before them, they wrenched by main force one of the heavy iron doors from +its hinges. A half a score of men at once seized it, and using it as a +battering-ram, hurled it with such force against the others, that after a +few thundering blows, they one after another gave way, and the crowd +poured in. The clerks fled, and the rioters went to work without +hindrance. Mounting to the upper lofts, they first broke in all the doors +and windows, and then began to roll and heave out the flour. The barrels +on the ground-floor were rolled, swift as one could follow another, into +the street, when they were at once seized by those waiting without, and +their heads knocked in, and their contents strewn over the pavement. On +the upper lofts, they were rolled to the broken windows, and lifted on to +the sill, and tumbled below. Warned by their descent, the crowd backed to +the farther side of the street. Part would be staved in by their fall; +those that were not, were seized as they rolled off the sidewalk, and the +heads knocked out. One fellow, as he stood by the window-sill and pitched +the barrels below, shouted as each one went with a crash to the flagging: +"_Here goes flour at eight dollars a barrel!_" + +The scene which now presented itself was a most strange, extraordinary +one. The night was clear and cold, and the wintry moon was sailing +tranquilly through the blue and starlit heavens, flooding here and there +the sea of upturned faces with its mellow light, or casting the deep +shadow of intervening houses over the black mass, while the street looked +as if a sudden snow-storm had carpeted it with white. The men in the +windows and those below were white with flour that had sifted over their +garments; while, to give a still wilder aspect to the scene, women, some +bareheaded, some in rags, were roaming around like camp-followers after +plunder. Here a group had seized empty boxes; there others pressed forward +with baskets on their arms; and others still, empty-handed, pushed along, +with their aprons gathered up like a sack. These all knelt amid the flour, +and scooped it up with an eagerness that contrasted strangely with the +equal eagerness of those who were scattering it like sand over the street. +The heavy thud of the barrels as they struck almost momentarily on the +sidewalk, could be distinctly heard above the shouts of the men. Some of +the mob found their way into Mr. Hart's counting-room, and tore up his +papers and scattered them over the floor. It was evident they were bent on +utter destruction; but when about five hundred barrels of flour had been +destroyed, together with a thousand bushels of wheat in sacks, a heavy +force of police came marching along the street. These were soon after +followed by detachments of the National Guards from Colonel Smith's and +Hele's regiments. The flashing of the moonbeams on the burnished barrels +and bayonets of their muskets, struck terror into the hearts of the +rioters. The cry of "The soldiers are coming!" flew from lip to lip, +causing a sudden cessation of the work of destruction, and each one +thought only of self-preservation. Many, however, were arrested, and sent +off to Bridewell under the charge of Officer Bowyer, with a squad of +police. The latter were assailed, however, on the way, by a portion of the +mob that pursued them, and a fierce fight followed. In the struggle, +Bowyer and his assistants had their clothes torn from their backs, and +some of the prisoners were rescued. + +In the meantime, the military paraded the street, clearing it of the mob, +and preventing their return. In front of the store, and far beyond it, the +flour lay half-knee deep--a sad spectacle, in view of the daily increasing +scarcity of grain. + +Just before the military and police reached the ground, some one in the +crowd shouted "Meeches." This was another flour store at Coenties Slip, on +the other side of the city, nearly opposite. A portion of the mob on the +outside, that could not get to the store, and aid in the work of +destruction, at once hurried away to this new field of operations. On the +way over, they passed Herrick & Co.'s flour store, and stopped to demolish +it. They were loaded down with brick-bats, which they hurled at the +windows, smashing them in. The doors followed, and the crowd, rushing +through, began to roll out the barrels of flour. But when some twenty or +thirty were tumbled into the street, and about half of them staved in, +they, for some cause or other, stopped. Some said that they ceased because +the owner promised, if they did, he would give it all away to the poor the +next day. At all events, they would soon have been compelled to abandon +the work of destruction, for the police hastened to the spot, accompanied +by a large body of citizens, who had volunteered their help. Some were +arrested, but most of the ringleaders escaped. + +How many of those who attended the meeting in the Park anticipated a mob +and its action, it is impossible to say; but that a great number of them +did, there can be no doubt. + +By nine o'clock the riot was over, and those who had engaged in it were +either arrested or dispersed. + +The next day, Mr. Hart issued a card, denying that the exorbitant price of +flour was owing to his having purchased a large quantity for the sake of +monopolizing it, but to its scarcity alone. + +It was certainly a very original way to bring down the price, by +attempting to destroy all there was in the city. Complaining of suffering +from the want of provisions, they attempted to relieve themselves by +putting its possession out of their power altogether. With little to eat, +they attempted to make it impossible to eat at all. A better illustration +of the insensate character of a mob could not be given. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. + +Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.--Macready's Arrival in this +Country.--The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera +House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side by +Side.--Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.--Anxiety of the Managers.-- +Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the Curtain.--Stamping of the +People.--Scene on raising the Curtain.--Stormy Reception of Macready.-- +Howled down.--Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by the Outrageous Language +of the Mob.--Macready not allowed to go on.--His foolish Anger.--Flees for +his Life.--His Appearance the Second Night.--Preparations to put down the +Mob.--Exciting Scene in the Theatre.--Terrific Scenes without.--Military +arrive.--Attacked by the Mob.--Patience of the Troops.--Effort to avoid +Firing.--The Order to Fire.--Terrific Scene.--Strange Conduct of Forrest. +--Unpublished Anecdote of General Scott. + +Probably there never was a great and bloody riot, moving a mighty city to +its profoundest depths, that originated in so absurd, insignificant a +cause as the Astor-place riot. A personal quarrel between two men growing +out of professional jealousy, neither of whom had any hold on the +affections of the people, were able to create a tumult, that ended only by +strewing the street with the dead and wounded. + +Mr. Forrest, it is true, had a certain professional popularity, but +nothing to awaken a personal enthusiasm for him. Viewing the matter in +this light, some have thought, there was a mysterious underground +influence at work, that has never yet been discovered. But one needs not +to go far to find the causes that produced it. + +In the first place, ever since our revolt from England, especially since +the second war with her, in which the contest for the supremacy of the +seas was decided, the spirit of rivalry between the two countries has been +intense and often bitter. No matter what the contest was, whether between +two boats, or two bullies in the ring, it at once assumed the magnitude of +a national one, and no matter how conducted, the winner was always charged +with unfairness. It so happened that Forrest and Macready were the two +popular tragic actors on either side of the Atlantic. If they had stayed +at home, nothing would have been thought of it, but each invaded the +domain of the other, and laid claim to his laurels. Of course criticism +followed, national prejudices were aroused, and national peculiarities +ridiculed. The press took sides, and fanned the excitement. Among other +things, it was currently reported that when Forrest was in London, +Macready went to see him act, and publicly hissed him. This was generally +believed, and of course it alone would insure the latter an unwelcome +reception from Forrest's admirers here, should he ever appear on our +stage. + +Apparently unconscious of this hostility toward him, Macready came over in +the spring of 1849, and at once made an engagement at the Astor-place +Opera House, corner of Eighth Street and Lafayette Place. He was to appear +as Macbeth; and the play was announced sometime beforehand. Forrest at the +same time had an engagement at the Broadway Theatre. On the 7th of May, +the following two significant placards appeared side by side in all the +streets. + +ASTOR PLACE OPERA HOUSE. + +_This evening will be performed_ + +MACBETH. + +MACBETH ... Macready. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Pope. + +BROADWAY THEATRE. + +_This evening will be performed_ + +MACBETH. + +MACBETH ... Mr. Forrest. LADY MACBETH ... Mrs. Wallack. + +This public exhibition of rivalry stimulated the hostility of those +opposed to Macready, and there were some fears of disturbance; but nothing +serious was anticipated--in fact, it was rather a good advertisement, and +promised full houses. Niblo, one of the managers of the Opera House, +unwisely gave out tickets for more people than the building would hold, +and when, before evening, he found they were taken, he was alarmed. It +looked as if they had been so eagerly bought up for other purposes than +merely to hear Macready. He therefore went to the Chief of Police, and +requested the presence of a force in case any disturbance should be +attempted. It was promised, but as it turned out, most of it came too late +to be of any service. + +A tremendous crowd assembled in front of the building long before dark, +and the moment the doors were open, a rush was made, and the human tide +poured in, and flowing swiftly over the house, soon filled every part of +it, except the boxes. These filled up more slowly; but long before the +curtain rose, the house was packed to repletion, while the amphitheatre +and parquette were crowded with hard-looking men--a dense mass of bone and +muscle. The fashionable portion of the audience in the boxes began to feel +anxious, for not only were all the seats occupied, but all the aisles and +every foot of standing room. Some were in their shirt-sleeves, others were +ragged and dirty, while all had their hats on. Such an audience had never +before been seen in the Opera House, and it boded no good. Still, this +heterogeneous mass was orderly, but it was noticed that at short intervals +telegraphic signals were made by those nearest the stage to those in the +wings of the amphitheatre, and answered, indicating a thoroughly arranged +plan. The time before the play was to commence passed slowly, but the +hard-looking crowd seemed very patient. Occasionally, to vary the +monotony, some joke would be passed around, and once a man who was above +called out to those below, imitating the English pronunciation: "I say, +Jim, come 'hup 'ere! 'ere's some of Macready's hangels--'haint they sweet +'uns?" If a lorgnette was levelled from one of the boxes, those noticing +it below would put their thumbs to their noses and gyrate with their +fingers in return. On the whole, however, the strange-looking crowd were +orderly, although the quiet had an ominous look. + +But at half-past seven, the hour for the play to commence, that regular +stamping, common to most theatres, began. But in this case, it did not +continue for a little while and then die away, but beginning in a low +rumble, every moment gathered strength and grew louder, till it rolled +like thunder through the building, shaking the very walls, and making the +glasses in the great central chandelier jingle, as though knocked together +by invisible hands. As the mighty sound echoed through the recesses and +dressing-rooms behind the scenes, Niblo became agitated, and stepping +forward on the stage, peered behind the edge of the curtain, and surveyed +the strange scene. Turning to Mr. Bowyer, of the chief's bureau, who was +by his side, he said: "This looks rather dubious, Mr. Bowyer." "Yes," he +replied, "the 'Boy's' are here certainly. What made you sell so many +tickets? People are making a tremendous rush at the doors yet, and the +house is full; over full already." Niblo then turned to his partner, and +said: "What do you think, Mr. Hackett. Is there going to be a +disturbance?" "I don't know," he replied; "you must ask Mr. Bowyer." + +The latter, putting his eye to the crack, took a careful survey of the +audience, and remarked: "There is mischief in the parquette and +amphitheatre, but probably no actual violence will be attempted; the +'boys' will make a noise, and endeavor to prevent the play from +proceeding, but possibly they will do nothing further; they seem to be +patient and good-natured, but Mr. Macready may expect a rough reception." + +Macready, who had been dressing, now approached and also took a peep from +behind the curtain. His gaze was long and searching. The scrutiny did not +satisfy him, and he turned away and began to pace backward and forward in +one of the wings, moody and thoughtful. The stamping had ceased while the +orchestra was playing, but it now commenced again, apparently louder than +ever. Lady Macbeth in full dress now came on the stage, pale and agitated. +She also took a peep from behind the curtain. The spectacle frightened +her, and turning to Mr. Hackett, she whispered, rather than exclaimed, "My +God! Mr. Hackett, what is the matter? Are we to be murdered to-night?" "My +dear Madam," he replied, "keep calm, there is no cause for alarm; +everything will go on smoothly;" but his pale face and anxious look belied +his words. It seemed now as if the house would come down under the +continuous, furious stamping. Hackett turned to Bowyer, and asked if the +chief had come. The latter replied he did not know; and another silence +followed in the group behind the curtain, while they stood and listened to +the thundering tramp, tramp, that rose like muffled thunder. At length +Hackett asked: "How many policemen are there in the house?" "I don't +know," replied Bowyer. "But the chief should have known," retorted the +former. "What do you want the police to do, Mr. Niblo?" quietly asked +Bowyer. The latter hesitated a moment, when the attaches of the theatre +came crowding forward in alarm, and asking by their scared looks what it +all meant. + +Macready and Mrs. Pope, in full costume, were at this time standing apart, +talking together, evidently discussing the best course to be pursued. The +uproar seemed to grow louder, and prudence dictated a suspension of the +play; but Macready, after a moment's hesitation, determined to risk it, +and suddenly gave the signal to raise the curtain. The bell tinkled, and +the curtain slowly rose, revealing the gorgeous scene and the actors +standing in a blaze of light. Instantly the tumult ceased, and a deep +sudden hush succeeded. Those roughs were evidently taken aback by the +dazzling splendor that burst upon them. It was a new revelation to them, +and for the moment they seemed to forget the object of their coming, and +to be wholly absorbed in the vision before them. + +The first scene passed off quietly, and the fears of a disturbance were +allayed. In the second, taking Duncan for Macbeth, the crowd began to +hiss, but soon finding their mistake ceased. It was evident that some one +better posted than the mass had control of this wild element, so eager to +be let loose. At length Macbeth came on, and was received with deafening +cheers by those in the boxes. As these died away, a hiss ran through the +amphitheatre and parquette, followed by cat-calls, cock-crowing, and +sounds of every imaginable description. Macready had hardly uttered a +single sentence, before his voice was totally drowned in the uproar. +Forced to stop; he quietly folded his arms and faced the storm, expecting +it would soon blow over. Finding himself mistaken--that if anything it +grew louder and fiercer, his disdain turned into foolish anger, and +advancing to the footlights, and throwing all the contempt and scorn into +his face that he was master of, he deliberately walked the entire breadth +of the stage, gazing haughtily as he did so, into the faces of the roughs +nearest him, who were bawling their throats hoarse. This did not mend +matters any, as he easily could have foreseen, had he known this type of +American character better. He then attempted to go on and outbellow, if +possible, the audience. But it was like shouting amid the roar of +breakers. Nobody heard a word he said, still he stuck to it till he got +through that portion of the act. It was now Lady Macbeth's turn, and the +appearance of a woman, it was thought, would command that respect which in +America is almost always accorded to one. But her reception was worse than +that of Macready, for not content with shouts and yells they heaped +disgusting epithets on her, and were so vulgar in their ribaldry that she +flew in affright from the stage, "blushing," it was said, "even through +the rouge on her face." Macready, however, showing, if nothing else, good +English pluck, determined to go on. But he had scarcely finished the first +sentence, when some potatoes struck the stage at his feet; then rotten +eggs, breaking and spattering their sickening contents over his royal +robes; while howls that seemed to come from the lower regions arose on +every side. It was Pandemonium broke loose, and those in the boxes, +thoroughly alarmed, jumped to their feet and stood as if paralyzed, gazing +on the strange spectacle below. Macready's passions were now thoroughly +aroused, and he stubbornly stood his ground. Suddenly a chair hurled from +above, and evidently aimed at his head, struck the stage at his feet and +broke into fragments, followed by the shout, "Go off the stage, you +English fool! Hoo! Three cheers for Ned Forrest!" which were given with a +will. Then came another chair, narrowly missing Macready's head, who, now +alarmed for his personal safety, fled from the stage, and the curtain +fell. But the bedlam that had been let loose did not stop. Hoots, curses, +threats of vengeance, and the confused sounds of a mob given wholly over +to passion, struck terror into all hearts; and Macready, fearing a rush +would be made for him behind the scenes, left the theatre by a private +door, and jumping into a carriage was rapidly driven to his hotel. The +manager, alarmed for the safety of the building, attempted to announce his +departure to the audience, but in vain. They would not listen to him, and +as a last resort he chalked in large letters on a board, "_Macready has +left the theatre_" and hoisted it before the footlights. This had the +desired effect, and the headlong crowd, with shouts and laughter, began to +tumble out. Once in the street, they sent up a loud hurrah, and dispersed +in groups to their various drinking places, to talk over their victory and +damn all Englishmen. + +The fact that the mob refrained from damaging the theatre, shows that they +did not desire destruction; they had only done in their rough way what +other men deemed respectable, and even legislators, have often done, and +almost as boisterously, to prevent an obnoxious person from being heard. +They certainly had many respectable precedents for their course, and Mr. +Macready should have done what others have been compelled to do--given up +the attempt and waited for a more propitious time. That a man has a right +to play or speak, is true; but men of all grades have always asserted the +right to show their displeasure of the acting of the one or the sentiments +of the other. Not that there is any excuse for such conduct as we have +described, but it can be hardly called a serious riot, although by +whomsoever committed is unquestionably riotous in its character. + +Of this contemptible, disgraceful interference of his friends in his +quarrel, Forrest had nothing to say--he kept a studied silence. How a man +with any self-respect could have refrained from denouncing it, and +repudiating all sympathy and connection with it by a public card, it will +be difficult for men of ordinary sensibility to imagine. + +Macready now determined to throw up his engagement altogether, but after +much consultation and deliberation changed his mind. A letter was +addressed to him by many of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of the +city, in which they expressed their regret at the treatment he had +received, and urged him not to yield to such a lawless spirit. They +promised that he should be protected in his rights, and hoped he would +give the city an opportunity to wipe out the stain that had been put upon +its character. This he unwisely consented to do, and the next Thursday was +fixed for his appearance in the same play. When the placards announcing it +were pasted up, there appeared immediately alongside of them another, +announcing the appearance on the same evening of Forrest, in the Broadway +Theatre, in the character of the "Gladiator." + +In the meantime other posters appeared, and among them the following in +startling capitals: + +"WORKINGMEN! + +SHALL AMERICANS OR ENGLISH RULE IN THIS CITY? + +The crew of the British steamer have threatened all Americans who shall +dare to offer their opinions this night at the + +ENGLISH ARISTOCRATIC OPERA HOUSE. + +WORKINGMEN! FREEMEN! STAND UP TO YOUR LAWFUL RIGHTS." + +It will be observed, that this artful appeal was like a two-edged sword, +cutting both ways. It aimed at the same time to stir up the hatred of the +lower classes against the upper, by the word aristocratic; and the +national hatred of the English, by calling it the _English +aristocratic_ Opera House to be guarded by English sailors. Both +parties now began active preparations for the eventful night--the rioters +by increasing and organizing their forces, and setting on foot plans to +get possession of the house; the friends of Macready, to prevent this from +being done, and at the same time secure sufficient aid from the +authorities to suppress all open violence. To keep the rowdies from +occupying the house, tickets were sold or given away only to those known +to be friendly to Macready; while to suppress violence, three hundred +police were promised, to be supported if necessary by two regiments of +soldiers, who were ordered to be under arms at their quarters, ready to +march at a moment's notice. + +As the day advertised for the play approached, the excitement deepened, +and serious trouble seemed unavoidable. On the appointed evening, a strong +body of police was quietly placed inside of the house, with definite +instructions how to act. In the meantime, an immense crowd had assembled +in front of the building, and, when at last the doors opened, a rush was +made for them. But the police kept the crowd back, and only those who had +tickets were admitted. When the house was fairly filled, the doors were +closed and fastened. In the meantime the windows had been barricaded, with +the exception of one, which was overlooked. This the now disappointed +rabble assailed with stones, sending them through it, in among the +startled audience. They tried also to break down one of the doors, but the +policemen's clubs stopped them. Then commenced a series of yells and +shouts, mingled with horrid oaths and threats as the baffled wretches +surged around the building. Finding nothing else to vent their rage on, +they attacked the lamps in the neighborhood, breaking them to pieces, and +putting out the lights. + +In the meantime, the play inside, with this wild accompaniment without, +commenced. Notwithstanding all the care that had been taken, a large +number of roughs had succeeded in procuring tickets, showing that some +professedly respectable men had been in collusion with them. Although the +rioters inside were in a minority, they were not daunted, and being +determined that the play should not go on, commenced stamping and yelling +so, that Macready's voice from the outset was completely drowned. + +The police in disguise had mingled all day with the rioters, and +ascertained what the mode of action inside the house was to be. At a +certain point in the play, a signal was to be given, on seeing which the +entire body was to make a rush for the stage and seize Macready. The Chief +of Police arranged his plans accordingly, and imparted them to the force +under him. He therefore made no effort to stop the noise, but waited for +the expected signal. At length it was given, and the entire body of +rioters rose with a yell and sprang forward. But at that moment, the chief +gave _his_ signal, which was lifting his hat from his head. Every eye +of those determined policemen had been intently watching it, and as it now +rose, they sprang with a single bound upon the astonished rowdies, and +before they could recover from their surprise, most of them were outside +of the building, while the ringleaders were kept back and caged inside. + +The play now went on, but it was a spiritless affair. Every ear was turned +to hear the muffled roar of the voices outside, which every moment +increased in power as the mighty multitude kept swelling in numbers. + +The afterpiece was omitted, and Macready escaping through a private door, +hastened to his hotel. It seemed for a time that the building would be +torn down; but at length, a regiment of the National Guard, preceded by a +body of cavalry, was seen marching steadily up Broadway. The crowd parted +as it advanced, and as it turned into Eighth Street, the sharp word of +command, "right wheel," rang out distinct and clear over the uproar. The +rioters, instead of being intimidated, rushed to a pile of paving-stones +that unfortunately happened to be near, and arming themselves with these, +began to pelt the horses, which soon became unmanageable, so that the +cavalry force had to retire. + +The infantry then advanced, but were received with such a deluge of stones +that they, too, fell back to Broadway. Here they rallied, and at the order +forward, moved steadily on the mob, and forced their way to the front of +the Opera House. While forming line here on the sidewalk, they were +assailed so fiercely with paving-stones, that the soldiers fell rapidly. +The rioters were in close quarters, and the heavy stones, hurled at such a +short distance, were almost as deadly as musket-balls. Captain Pond soon +fell wounded, when the second in command told the sheriff that if he did +not give the order to fire, the troops would be withdrawn, for they +couldn't stand it. Recorder Talmadge, unwilling to resort to such a +desperate measure, attempted to harangue the mob. He begged them, in God's +name, to disperse and go home--if they did not, the soldiers would +certainly fire on them, etc. The only reply was hoots and yells of +defiance, and paving-stones. The Recorder then forced his way up to +General Hall, standing at the right of the battalion, and said: "You must +order your men to fire; it is a terrible alternative, but there is no +other." The General asked for the Mayor, for he was doubtful of his +authority to do so, without his order. "He won't be here," replied +Talmadge. General Sandford then said: "Well, the National Guards will not +stand and be pounded to death with stones; nearly one-third of the force +is already disabled." After a little more hurried conversation, the +sheriff said, "If that be so, you have permission to fire." The uproar all +this time was deafening, and the order, "Ready!" of General Sandford, +could hardly be heard; but the sharp, quick rattle of steel rose +distinctly over the discord. Still terribly repugnant to shoot down +citizens, General Hall and Colonel Duryea made another attempt to address +the crowd, and begged them to cease these attacks. "Fire and be d--ned!" +shouted a burly fellow. "Fire, if you dare--take the life of a freeborn +American for a bloody British actor! D--n it, you dassent fire!" and he +boldly bared his breast to the levelled muskets. "Fire, will you?" yelled +another, as he hurled a paving-stone at General Sandford, wounding his +sword arm. "Hit 'em again!" shouted a third, who saw the well-directed +aim. Still averse to shedding blood, General Hall told the soldiers to +elevate their pieces over the heads of the people, and fire at the blank +wall of Mr. Langton's house opposite, hoping thus to frighten the mob. But +this only awakened derision, and the leaders shouted, "Come on, boys! they +have blank cartridges and leather flints!" In the meantime, the police, +who had mingled with the mob, and were making arrests, began to force +their way out, in order to escape the fire that now seemed inevitable. The +troops moved across the street, and faced toward the Bowery, obeying the +word of command promptly, and marching with great steadiness, although the +pelting they received was murderous. To retreat would be pusillanimous, to +stand there and be pelted to death worse still; and General Hall finally +gave the order to fire point blank, but to aim low, so that men would be +wounded, rather than killed. The command fell clear and distinct, "Fire!" + +A single musket shot on the extreme left was the only response. They were +too near--their muzzles almost touching the hearts of the men, and it +seemed terribly murderous to fire. "Fire!" shouted General Sandford. + +Three more musket-shots, only, followed. "Fire!" Duryea then cried out, in +ringing tones. A swift volley ran along the line, shedding a momentary +glare on the wild faces of the mob, the streets, and adjoining houses, and +then came the report. This time the dead in their midst told the rioters +that it was child's play no longer, and they fell back. But getting a new +supply of paving-stones, they rallied, and once more advanced on the +troops. A second volley, more murderous than the first, sent them crowding +back on each other in terror. The troops now wheeled, and formed line +again in front of the Opera House. It had got to be eleven o'clock, and +more troops were ordered up, with two cannon. The mob, though dismayed, +still refused to retire, and hung sullen and threatening as a thunder- +cloud on the skirts of the military, and a third volley was poured into +them. The rioters now separated, and fell back into the darkness, when the +troops were ordered to fire the fourth time, in different directions--one +wing down Eighth Street, and the other into Lafayette Place. This last +volley, judging from the testimony of reliable witnesses, was altogether +needless. The conflict was over. + +A lawyer of Wall Street, noted for his philanthropy and kindness, resided +in Fourth Avenue, and being informed by a friend, late in the evening, +that men were lying dead and wounded in Astor Place, he hastened down to +see if he could be of any assistance to the poor creatures. Reaching +Lafayette Place, he saw in the dim light a line of soldiers drawn up, +though he saw no mob, only a few scattered men, who seemed to be +spectators. Suddenly he heard the order to fire, and the next moment came +a flash and report. He could not imagine what they were firing at; but +suddenly he felt his arm numb, and the next moment he grew faint and +dropped on the sidewalk, his arm broken to shivers. The brother of a well- +known banker was shot in Broadway by a random bullet; and a man, while +stepping out of a car in Third Avenue, was shot dead. Other innocent +persons fell victims, as they always must, if they will hang on the skirts +of a mob from curiosity. Men anxious to witness a fight must take the +chances of getting hurt. + +Great excitement followed; an indignation meeting was called in the Park, +coroners' juries stultified themselves, and a senseless outcry was made +generally. Twenty-two were killed and thirty wounded. It was a terrible +sacrifice to make for a paltry quarrel between two actors about whom +nobody cared; and in this light alone many viewed it, forgetting that when +the public peace is broken, it matters not how great or insignificant the +cause, it must be preserved; and if the police or military are called out +to do it, and are attacked, they must defend themselves, and uphold the +laws, or be false to their trust. The authorities have to do with riots, +not their causes; put them down, not deprecate their existence, or argue +their justice. + +If public indignation had been turned against Forrest, it would have been +more sensible. He knew perfectly well that if his friends persisted in +their determination to attack Macready, the second night, blood would be +spilt. It was _his_ quarrel, and yet he deliberately kept his lips +closed. He neither begged them for their own sake, nor for his, or as good +citizens, to forbear, and let his rival alone; nor after it was known that +many had been killed, did he express a single word of regret; apparently +having no feeling but gratification, that even at such a fearful sacrifice +his hated rival had been driven from the field. But responsibility is not +so easily shaken off, and in real life as well as in tragedy, conscience +will force a man to cry: + +"Out! damned blood spot! Out, I say!" + +Macready left the country, and the excitement died away; but the painful +memories of this absurd yet deadly riot will remain till the present +generation has passed from the stage. + +We cannot close this account more fitly than by relating an anecdote of +General Scott connected with it, that has never been made public. He was +living at the time in Second Avenue, nearly opposite Astor Place. He was +occupying the upper part of the house that evening, and his wife the +lower. When the first volley over the heads of the people was fired, he +hastened down, and sent off a servant to ascertain what it meant. Before +the latter returned, he heard a second volley. Hurrying below, he +despatched a second servant to find out what was going on, and went back +to his room. A third volley smote on his ear, and deeply agitated he +hurried below, and began to pace the room in an excited manner. His wife, +observing how much he was moved, remarked pleasantly: "Why, General, you +are frightened!" This was rather a staggerer to the old hero, and he +turned and exclaimed: "Am I a man to be frightened, madam? It is +_volley_ firing, madam--_volley_ firing. They are shooting down +American citizens!" The old chieftain had heard that firing too often on +the field of battle, to be ignorant of its meaning. He had seen ranks of +living men reel and fall before it; nay, stood amid the curling smoke when +his staff was swept down by his side, calm and unmoved, but here he was +unmanned. Over the ploughed and blood-stained field, he had moved with +nerves as steady as steel, and pulse beating evenly; but now he paced his +safe and quiet room with his strong nature painfully agitated, and all +because American citizens were being shot down by American citizens. The +fact speaks volumes for the nobleness of his nature, and that unsullied +patriotism which sheds tenfold lustre on his well-earned laurels. + +[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.] + +[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS METROPOLITAN POLICE, 300 Mulberry Street.] + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +POLICE RIOT--DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT--BREAD RIOT. + +Creation of the Metropolitan District.--Collision between Mayor Wood's +Police and the Metropolitan Police.--Seventh Regiment called out.--Dead- +Rabbits' Riot.--Severe Fight between the Roach Guards and Dead Rabbits.-- +Police driven back.--Barricades erected.--Military called out.--Killed and +Wounded.--Bread Riot.--Financial Distress. + +The year 1857 was a remarkable one in the history of New York City, and +indeed of the whole country. The year previous had been characterized by +intense political excitement, for the presidential campaign had been +carried on as a sectional fight or a war between the upholders and enemies +of the institution of slavery as it existed at the South. Pennsylvania +alone by her vote defeated the antislavery party, and the South, seeing +the danger that threatened it, had already begun to prepare for that +tremendous struggle, that afterwards tested to the utmost the resources +and strength of the North; while a financial storm overwhelmed the entire +country in disaster. To these were added local causes, which affected New +York City particularly, and made it a year of uncommon disturbance. + +The Republican party being largely in the ascendant in the State, +determined to revolutionize the municipal government, and place the +Democratic city partially under Republican rule. Many bills were passed +during the session of Legislature, peculiarly obnoxious to the city +authorities, but that which excited the most bitter opposition was called +the Metropolitan Police Act, by which the counties of New York, Kings, +Westchester, and Richmond were made one police district, to be controlled +by a board of commissioners, consisting of five members appointed by the +Governor and Senate, and to hold office for five years. This board having +organized, proceeded to create a police department. Mayor Wood denied the +constitutionality of the act and retained the old police--so that there +were two police departments existing at the same time in the city. The +Mayor resorted to all kinds of legal measures to defeat the action of the +board, and the question was finally referred to the Court of Appeals for +decision. + +In the mean time the death of a street commissioner left a vacancy to be +filled. Governor King, acting under the recent law, appointed Daniel D. +Conover to fill it, while the Mayor appointed Charles Devlin. A third +claimant for the place appeared in the deputy, who asserted his right to +act until the decision of the Court of Appeals was rendered. Conover had +no idea of waiting for this, and proceeded to assume the duties of his +office. The Mayor of course resisted, and so Conover got out a warrant +from the Recorder to arrest the former on the charge of inciting a riot, +and another on the charge of personal violence. Armed with these papers, +and backed by fifty of the new policemen, he proceeded to the City Hall. +The Mayor, aware of the movement, had packed the building with his own +police, who refused him admittance. The new police attempted to force an +entrance, when a fight followed, in which twelve policemen were severely +injured. While things were in this critical condition, the Seventh +Regiment passed down Broadway on its way to the boat for Boston, whither +it was going to receive an ovation. A request for its interference was +promptly granted, and marching into the Park they quickly quelled the +riot, and the writs were served on the Mayor. + +Intense excitement followed, and so great was the fear of a terrible +outbreak, that nine regiments were put under arms, ready to march at a +moment's notice. + +But on the 1st of July the Court of Appeals decided the act to be +constitutional, and the disturbance ended. But of course, while this +strife was going on between the police, but little was done to arrest +disorder in the city. The lawless became emboldened, and in the evening +before the 4th of July a disturbance began, which for a time threatened +the most serious consequences. + +DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT. + +The origin of the term "Dead Rabbits," which became so well known this +year from being identified with a serious riot, is not certainly known. It +is said that an organization known as the "Roach Guards," called after a +liquor dealer by that name, became split into two factions, and in one of +their stormy meetings some one threw a dead rabbit into the room, and one +party suddenly proposed to assume the name. + +These two factions became bitterly hostile to each other; and on the day +before the 4th of July came in collision, but finally separated without +doing much damage. They were mostly young men, some of them being mere +boys. + +The next day, the fight was renewed at Nos. 40 and 42 Bowery Street, and +clubs, stones, and even pistols were freely used. The "Dead Rabbits" were +beaten and retired, yelling and firing revolvers in the air, and attacking +everybody that came in their way. Their uniform was a blue stripe on their +pantaloons, while that of the Roach Guards was a red stripe. People in the +neighborhood were frightened, and fastened their doors and windows. No +serious damage was done, however. + +About ten o'clock, a policeman in Worth Street, while endeavoring to clear +the sidewalk, was knocked down and severely beaten. At length, breaking +away from his assailants, he hastened to the central office in White +Street, and reported the state of things. A squad of police was +immediately dispatched to arrest the ringleaders. On reaching Centre +Street they found a desperate fight going on, and immediately rushed in, +to put a stop to it. The belligerents at once made common cause against +them. A bloody hand-to-hand conflict followed, but the police at length +forced the mob to retreat. The latter, however, did not give up the +contest, but mounting to the upper stories and roofs of the tenement- +houses, rained down clubs and stones so fiercely, that the police were +driven off with only two prisoners. + +Comparative quiet was now restored, though the excitement spread in every +direction. It lasted, however, only an hour or two, when suddenly a loud +yell was heard near the Tombs, accompanied with the report of fire-arms, +and crowds of people came pouring down Baxter and Leonard Streets, to get +out of the way of bullets. Some wounded men were carried by, and the +utmost terror and confusion prevailed. The air was filled with flying +missiles and oaths, and shouts of defiance. Now the Dead Rabbits would +drive their foes before them, and again be driven back. The bloody fight +thus swayed backwards and forwards through the narrow streets for a long +time. At length twenty-five Metropolitan Police appeared on the scene, +while fifty more were held in reserve. Though assailed at every step with +clubs and stones, they marched steadily on, clearing the crowd as they +advanced, and forcing the Dead Rabbits into the houses, whither they +followed them, mounting even to the roof, and clubbing them at every step. +After clearing the houses, they resumed their march, when they were again +attacked by the increasing crowd, many of them armed with muskets and +pistols. Barricades were now erected, behind which the mob rallied, and +the contest assumed the aspect of a regular battle. The notorious Captain +Rynders came on the ground, between six and seven o'clock, and attempted +to restore quiet. Not succeeding, however, he repaired to the office of +the Police Commissioners, and told Commissioner Draper, if he had not +police force enough to disperse the mob, he should call out the military. +The latter replied that he had made a requisition on Major-General +Sandford, for three regiments, and that they would soon be on the ground. +But it was nine o'clock before they made their appearance. The police then +formed in two bodies of seventy-five men each, and supported, one by the +Seventy-first Regiment and the other by the Eighth, marched down White and +Worth Streets. This formidable display of force overawed the rioters, and +they fled in every direction. This ended the riot, although the military +were kept on duty during the night. + +At times, the fight was close and deadly, and it was reported that eight +were killed and some thirty wounded. + +BREAD RIOT. + +In the autumn, there came a financial crisis, that was so wide-spread and +disastrous that the lower classes suffered for want of food. Banks +suspended specie payment, manufactories were forced to stop work, and +paralysis fell on the whole industry of the nation. It was estimated that +ten thousand persons were thrown out of employment. These soon used up +their earnings, and destitution and suffering of course followed. Their +condition grew worse as cold weather came on, and many actually died of +starvation. At length they became goaded to desperation, and determined to +help themselves to food. Gaunt men and women, clad in tatters, gathered in +the Park, and that most fearful of all cries, when raised by a mob, +"Bread," arose on every side. Propositions were made to break open the +stores, and get what they needed. Flour was hoarded up in them because so +little could be got on from the West. The granaries there were groaning +with provisions; but there was no money to pay for the transportation. +There was money East, but kept locked up in fear. As this became known to +the mob, their exasperation increased. To know that there were both food +enough and money enough, while they were starving to death, was enough to +drive them mad, and there were ominous mutterings. Fortunately, the +authorities saw in time the threatened danger, and warded it off. A great +many were set to work on the Central Park and other public works, while +soup-houses were opened throughout the city, and private associations +formed to relieve the suffering; and the winter passed without any +outbreak, though more than five thousand business-houses in the country +failed, with liabilities reaching three hundred millions of dollars. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. + +Cause of the Riots--The London _Times_.--Draft called a despotic +Measure.--The despotic Power given to Washington by Congress.--Despotic +Action sometimes Necessary, in order to save the Life of the Nation.--The +Rights of Government.--Drafting the Legitimate Way to raise an Army--It is +not Unequal or Oppressive. + +The ostensible cause of the riots of 1863 was hostility to the draft, +because it was a tyrannical, despotic, unjust measure--an act which has +distinguished tyrants the world over, and should never be tolerated by a +free people. Open hostility to oppression was more than once hinted in a +portion of the press--as not only a right, but a duty. + +Even the London _Times_ said, "It would have been strange, indeed, if +the American people had submitted to a measure which is a distinctive mark +of the most despotic governments of the Continent." As if the fact that a +measure, because resorted to by a despotic government, was therefore +necessarily wrong. It might as well be said, that because settling +national difficulties by an appeal to arms has always been a distinctive +feature of despotic governments, therefore the American people should +refuse to sustain the government by declaring or prosecuting any war; or +that because it has always been a distinctive feature of despotic +governments to have naval and military schools, to train men to the art of +war, therefore the American people should not submit to either. It is not +of the slightest consequence to us what despotic governments do or not do; +the simple question is, whether the measure is necessary for the +protection of our own government, and the welfare of the people. To leave +this untouched, and talk only about despotism, the right of the people, +and all that, is mere demagogism, and shows him who utters it to be unfit +to control public opinion. Besides, there is a great difference between +measures that are despotic, which are put forth to save the nation's life, +or honor, and those put forth to destroy freedom, and for selfish ends. +Not that, intrinsically, despotic measures are always not to be deprecated +and avoided, if possible; for if tolerated in one case, they may be +exacted in another. + +[Illustration: FORT LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK HARBOR.] + +[Illustration: FORT HAMILTON, from whence U.S. Troops were sent to aid in +suppressing the Draft Riot of 1863.] + +Liberty can never be guarded too carefully, or the barriers erected around +the rights of every individual respected too scrupulously. But everything +in this world is a choice between two evils. The greatest wisdom cannot +avoid _all_ evils; it can only choose the least. Sound statesmanship +regards any stretch of power better than the overthrow of the nation. +Probably there never was a more able and wise body of men assembled, or +more jealous of any exercise of arbitrary power, than the First Congress +of the United States; and yet, almost in the commencement of our struggle +for independence, when events wore such a gloomy aspect that failure +seemed inevitable, rising above its fears of despotic measures, in its +greater fear of total defeat, it conferred on Washington powers that made +him to a large extent military dictator. He was authorized to raise +sixteen battalions of infantry, three thousand light-horse, three +regiments of artillery, together with a corps of engineers, and _appoint +the officers himself_. He had, also, full power, when he deemed it +necessary, to call on the several States for the militia; to appoint +throughout _the entire army all the officers under brigadiers_; fill +up all vacancies; to take whatever he wanted for the use of his troops, +wherever he could find it, with no other restriction than that he must pay +for it, which last was nullified, because he was empowered to _seize and +lock up every man who refused to receive in pay Continental money_. It +would seem impossible that a body of men who were so extremely sensitive +in bestowing power on a military commander, and so watchful of the rights +of individuals, could have committed such an act; and yet, who does not +see that, under the circumstances, it was wise. Now, granting that +conscription is a despotic measure, no truthful, candid man will deny +that, in case of a war, where men must be had, and can be got in no other +way, that it would be the duty of government to enforce it. It is idle to +reply that the supposition is absurd--that in this country such a thing +can never happen; for what has been in the world can be again. Besides, +this does meet the question of the _right_ of the Government, that +must be settled before the emergency comes. Now, we do not believe there +is sounder principle, or one that every unbiassed mind does not concede +with the readiness that it does an axiom, that, if necessary to protect +and save itself, a government may not only order a draft, but call out +_every_ able-bodied man in the nation. If this right does not inhere +in our government, it is built on a foundation of sand, and the sooner it +is abandoned the better. + +But we go farther, and deny that a draft is a despotic measure at all, but +is a just and equitable mode of raising an army. True, if troops enough +can be raised on a reasonable bounty, it is more expedient to do so; but +the moment that bounty becomes so exorbitant as to tempt the cupidity of +those in whom neither patriotism nor sense of duty have any power, +volunteering becomes an evil. We found it so in our recent war. The bounty +was a little fortune to a certain class, the benefit of which they had no +idea of losing by being shot, and hence they deserted, or shammed +sickness, so that scarce half the men ever got to the front, while those +who did being influenced by no motive higher than cupidity, became +worthless soldiers. A draft takes in enough men of a higher stamp to +leaven the mass. The first Napoleon, when asked what made his first "army +of Italy" so resistless, replied that almost every man in it was +intelligent enough to act as a clerk. The objection that a rich man, if +drafted, can buy a substitute, while the poor man, with a large family +depending upon him, must go, if of any weight at all, lies against the +whole structure of society, which gives the rich man at every step +immunities over the poor man. When pestilence sweeps through a city, the +rich man can flee to a healthy locality, while the poor man must stay and +die; and when the pestilence of war sweeps over the land, must one attempt +to reverse all this relation between wealth and poverty? + +When society gets in that happy state, that the rich man has no advantages +over the poor, there will be no need either of drafting or volunteering. +Yet, after all, it is not so unequal as it at first sight appears. War +must have money as well as men, and the former the rich have to furnish; +and if they do this, it is but fair that they should be allowed to furnish +with it also the men to do their fighting. Besides, there must be some +rule that would exempt the men that carry on the business of the country. + +We have said this much, because the riots in New York, which might have +ended in national destruction, were brought about by preaching views +directly the opposite of these. + +The military spirit is so prevalent in the nation, that in any ordinary +war the Government can get all the troops it wants by giving a moderate +bounty, and wages but a little greater than can be secured at any ordinary +business or occupation. Still, the right to raise them differently should +never be denied it. + +When the old militia system was given up in the State, and a certain +number of regiments were raised and equipped and drilled for active duty, +and for which the people paid taxes, it was thought they would furnish all +the quota that would ever be called for from the State--and in any +ordinary war will. The crisis, however, in which we found ourselves had +never been anticipated, and hence not provided against, and when Congress +attempted to do it in what seemed to it the best way, an outcry was raised +of injustice and oppression. It was hard, doubtless, but there are a great +many hard things in the world that have been and have to be borne. The +feeling of hostility unquestionably would have been less intense, had not +so many of those to be drafted been bitterly opposed to the war. Believing +it to have been brought about by the reckless demagogism and fanaticism of +their political opponents, and levied as it was against those who had been +their warm political friends, indeed, chief dependence for political +success, it was asking a good deal, to require them to step to the front, +and fight in such a war. Whether this feeling was right or wrong, had +nothing to do with the influence it actually exerted. + +On this feeling was based, in fact, the real hostility to the draft, in +which a portion of the press shared. But, as we said before, we having +nothing to do with the justice or injustice of this belief or feeling; we +only state the fact, with our denial that it furnished any excuse for the +denunciations uttered against the draft as a wrong use of power, or the +refusal to submit to it on that account. The Government, whether wrong or +right, must be supported, or abandoned and given over to revolution. In +ordinary times, denunciation of its measures, and the most strenuous +opposition to them, is the right and often the duty of every conscientious +man. This right, exercised by the press, is one of the most effectual +checks against abuses, and the most powerful lever to work reform and +changes. But in a great crisis, to set one's self against a measure on +which the fate of the nation hangs, is a flagrant abuse of that right; for +the effort, if successful, will not work change and an improved condition +of things, but immediate, irretrievable ruin, and put the nation beyond +the reach of reform. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Rights of Municipalities.--Interference of the Legislature with the City +Government.--Conflict between the Governor and Police Commissioners.--A +Wrong becomes a Practical Blessing.--Provost Marshals.--Riot not +anticipated.--Bad time to commence the Draft.--Preparations of +Superintendent Kennedy.--The Police System.--Attack on Provost Marshal +Captain Erhardt.--Telegrams of the Police.--Kennedy starts on a Tour of +Observation. + +The rights of municipalities have been conceded from the first dawn of +constitutional liberty indeed municipal freedom may be said to be the +first step in the onward progress of the race toward the full recognition +of its rights. To interfere with a great commercial city like New York, +except by general laws, is as a rule unwise, impolitic, and, indeed, +unjust. Like a separate State, it had better suffer many and great evils, +than to admit the right of outward power to regulate its internal affairs. +To do so, in any way, is fraught with mischief; but to do so as a +political party, is infinitely more pernicious. It leaves a great +metropolis, on which the welfare of the commercial business of the nation +mainly depends, a foot-ball for ambitious or selfish politicians to play +with. But as there are exceptions to all rules, so there may be to this-- +still they should always be exceptions, and not claimed as a settled +policy. + +We mention this, because the interference of the Legislature, or rather +the dominant part of it, in the internal policy of New York, about the +time the war commenced, was in itself a mischievous and tyrannical act, +while, under the circumstances that soon after occurred, it proved of +incalculable benefit. + +With the city stripped of its military, and the forts in the harbor of +their garrisons, the police, under the old regime, during the draft riots, +would have been trustless and powerless, even if the city government had +attempted to uphold the national authority, which is doubtful. The +Republicans established a Board of Police Commissioners, the majority of +which were of their own political faith, who had the entire control of the +department. Under their hands, an entire different set of men from those +formerly selected, composed the force, and a regular system of drills, in +fact, a thorough organization, adopted. + +But in 1862 the Democrats elected their governor, though they failed to +secure the Legislature. Mr. Seymour, immediately on his inauguration, +summoned the Commissioners to appear before him, the object of which was +to change the character of the board. The latter understood it, and +refused to appear. Legal proceedings were then commenced against them, but +they were staved off, and in the meantime the Legislature had got to work, +and took the matter in hand; and Messrs. Bowen, Acton, and Bergen, were +made to constitute the board--John A. Kennedy being superintendent of +police. Mr. Bowen, the president of the board, having been appointed +brigadier-general, resigned, and Mr. Acton, under the law, became +president. This political character of the board, so diametrically opposed +to the feelings and wishes of the vast majority of the citizens, tested by +the ordinary rules and principles of a Republican Government, was unjust; +a palpable, deliberate encroachment on the right of self-government. But +as we remarked, just now, it was fortunate for the country that such a +state of things existed. In the extraordinary, not anticipated, and +perilous condition in which we found ourselves, everything was changed. +Neither constitutions nor laws had been framed to meet such an emergency, +and both, in many cases, had to be suspended. What was right before, often +became wrong now, and vice versa. The article inserted in the Constitution +of the State, that the moment a bank refused specie payment, it became +bankrupt, was a wise and just provision, but to enforce it now, would be +financial ruin, and it was not done. + +This usurpation of the government of New York by the Republican party, +which seemed so unjust, was, doubtless, under the circumstances, the +salvation of the city. It was, moreover, highly important to the whole +country, in the anomalous war which threatened our very existence, that +the controlling power of the city should be in sympathy with the General +Government, but it was especially, vitally so, when the latter put its +provost marshals in it to enforce the draft. That this _mode_ of +enforcing the draft by provost marshals, was an encroachment on the rights +and powers of the separate States, there can be no doubt. It is equally +clear that the proper way was to call on the separate governors for their +quota, and let _them_ enforce the draft. If they refused to do it, +then it was time for the General Government to take the matter in its own +hand. This, however, was no encroachment on _individual_ rights. The +oppressive nature of the act and the result were the same to the person, +whether enforced by the State or General Government. Still it was a total +departure from the practice of the General Government since its first +organization, and it moreover established a dangerous precedent, which the +sooner it is abandoned the better. But this had nothing to do with the +opposition to the draft. That was a personal objection. + +With the Police Department in sympathy with the rioters, it is not +difficult to see what the end would have been. We do not mean by that, +that the heads of the department would not have endeavored to do their +duty, but it would have been impossible to control the kind of element +they would inevitably have to deal with. This even the long-tried, trusted +leaders of the Democratic party acknowledged. In fact, the police force +would not have been in a condition, with ever so good a will, to have +acted with the skill and promptness it did. + +The draft riots, as they are called, were supposed by some to be the +result of a deep-laid conspiracy on the part of those opposed to the war, +and that the successful issue of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania was to be +the signal for open action. Whether this be so or not, it is evident that +the outbreak in New York City on the 13th of July, not only from the +manner of its commencement, the absence of proper organization, and almost +total absence of leadership, was not the result of a general well- +understood plot. It would seem from the facts that those who started the +movement had no idea at the outset of proceeding to the length they did. +They simply desired to break up the draft in some of the upper districts +of the city, and destroy the registers in which certain names were +enrolled. + +A general provost marshal had been appointed over the whole city, which +was subdivided into various districts, in each of which was an assistant +provost marshall. Although there had been no provision for a general +assistant provost marshal or aid, yet Colonel Nugent acted in this +capacity. The drafting was to take place in the separate districts, under +the direction of the assistant provost marshals. + +Although there had been some rumors of resistance to it, they received +very little credence, and no special provision was made for such an +emergency. The city was almost denuded of the military; the regiments +having been called to Pennsylvania to repel Lee's invasion; yet so little +fear was entertained, that even the police department was not requested to +make any special preparation. The Invalid Corps, as it was called, +composed of the maimed and crippled soldiers who could no longer keep the +field, were thought to be quite sufficient to preserve the peace. + +The draft commenced on Saturday in the Eleventh and Ninth Districts, and +passed off quietly; and it was thought the same order would be maintained +throughout, and if any force were necessary to repress violence, it would +be when the conscripts were required to take their place in the ranks. + +Still Superintendent Kennedy of the Police Department feared there might +be some difficulty experienced by the officers in charge of the draft, +even if no serious resistance should be offered. Some of the enrolling +officers, a short time previous, while taking the names of those subject +to draft, had been assailed with very abusive language, or their questions +received in sullen silence or answered falsely; fictitious names often +being given instead of the true ones. In the Ninth District, embracing the +lower part of the city, the provost marshal, Captain Joel T. Erhardt, came +near losing his life in the performance of this duty. At the corner of +Liberty Street and Broadway a building was being torn down, preparatory to +the erection of another, and the workmen engaged in it threatened the +enrolling officer who came to take down their names, with violence, and +drove him off. + +Captain Erhardt, on the report being made to him, repaired to head- +quarters, and requested of Colonel Nugent a force of soldiers to protect +the officer in the discharge of his duty. But this the latter declined to +do, fearing it would exasperate the men and bring on a collision, and +requested the Captain to go himself, saying, if he did, there would be no +difficulty. Captain Erhardt declined, on the ground that he was not an +enrolling officer. But Colonel Nugent persisting, the Captain finally told +him, if he ordered him, as his superior officer, to go, he would. Nugent +replied that he might so consider it. Erhardt then said he would go, but +only on one condition, that if he got in trouble and asked for help, he +would send him troops. To this he agreed, and Captain Erhardt proceeded to +the building on the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street, and stepping on +a plank that led from the sidewalk to the floor, asked a man on a ladder +for his name. The fellow refused to answer, when an altercation ensuing, +he stepped down, and seizing an iron bar advanced on the provost marshal. +The latter had nothing but a light Malacca cane in his hand, but as he saw +the man meant murder he drew a pistol from his pocket, and levelled it +full at his breast. This brought him to a halt; and after looking at +Erhardt for awhile he dropped his bar. Erhardt then put up his pistol, and +went on with his enrolling. The man was dogged and angry, and watching his +opportunity, suddenly made a rush at the provost marshal. The latter had +only time to deal him, as he sprang forward, one heavy blow with his cane, +when they closed. In a moment both reeled from the plank and fell to the +cellar beneath, the provost marshal on top. Covered with dirt, he arose +and drew his pistol, and mounted to the sidewalk. + +The foreman sympathized with the workmen, and Erhardt could do nothing. +Determined to arrest them for resisting the draft, he despatched a +messenger to Colonel Nugent for the promised force. None, however, was +sent. He, in the meantime, stood with drawn pistol facing the men, who +dared not advance on him. Aid not arriving, he sent again, and still later +a third time. He stood thus facing the workmen with his pistol for three +hours, and finally had to leave without making any arrests. This failure +of Colonel Nugent to fulfil his promise and perform his duty came near +costing Erhardt his life, and then and there starting the riot. The next +day he had the foreman arrested, and completed his work of enrolling. + +The time selected for commencing the draft was unfortunate. Saturday, of +all days in the week, was the worst. It was a new thing, and one under any +circumstances calculated to attract universal attention among the lower +classes, and provoke great and angry discussion. Hence, to have the draft +commence on Saturday, and allow the names to be published in the papers on +Sunday morning, so that all could read them, and spend the day in talking +the matter over, and lay plans for future action, was a most unwise, +thoughtless procedure. If there had been any choice as to the day, one, if +possible, should have been chosen that preceded the busiest day of the +week. To have the list of twelve hundred names that had been drawn read +over and commented on all day by men who enlivened their discussion with +copious draughts of bad whiskey, especially when most of those drawn were +laboring-men or poor mechanics, who were unable to hire a substitute, was +like applying fire to gunpowder. If a well-known name, that of a man of +wealth, was among the number, it only increased the exasperation, for the +law exempted every one drawn who would pay three hundred dollars towards a +substitute. This was taking practically the whole number of soldiers +called for out of the laboring classes. A great proportion of these being +Irish, it naturally became an Irish question, and eventually an Irish +riot. It was in their eyes the game of hated England over again-- +oppression of Irishmen. This state of feeling could not be wholly +concealed. Kennedy, aware of it, felt it necessary, on Monday morning, to +take some precautionary measures. Still, in the main, only small squads of +policemen were sent to the various points where the drafting was to take +place, and merely to keep back the crowd and maintain order, in case a few +disorderly persons should attempt to create disturbance. It was true, a +rumor had been put in circulation that a body of men had planned to seize +the arsenal, and Kennedy, as a matter of precaution, sent fifty policemen +to occupy it. But during the morning, word was brought him that the +street-contractor's men in the Nineteenth Ward were not at work. This +looked ominous, and he began to fear trouble. Thinking that Provost +Marshal Maniere's office, 1190 Broadway, and that of Marshal Jenkins, +corner of Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue, would be more likely to be +the points attacked, he hurried off the following telegrams: + +July 13, 8.35 A.M. From Central Office to Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and +Twenty-first Precincts: Send ten men and a sergeant forthwith to No. 677 +Third Avenue, and report to Captain Porter of Nineteenth Precinct for +duty. J. A. KENNEDY. + +July 13, 8.50 A.M. To Twenty-ninth Precinct: Place a squad of ten of your +men, with a competent sergeant, at No. 1190 Broadway, during the draft--if +you want more, inform me. J. A. K. + +8.55 A.M. To Sixteenth and Twentieth Precincts: Send your reserve to +Seventh Avenue Arsenal forthwith. + +J. A. K. + +Telegrams were now pouring in from different quarters, showing that +mischief was afoot, and at nine o'clock he sent the following despatch: + +"To all platoons, New York and Brooklyn: Call in your reserve platoons, +and hold them at the stations subject to further orders." + +It should be noted, that ordinarily one-half of the police of the +Metropolitan District, which took in Brooklyn, is relieved from both +patrol and reserve duty, from six o'clock in the morning till six in the +evening. The other half is divided into two sections, which alternately +perform patrol and reserve duty during the day. A relief from patrol duty +of one of these sections takes place at eight o'clock A.M., when it goes +to breakfast. Hence, the orders issued by the Superintendent to call in +these could not reach them without a considerable delay. + +It now being about ten o'clock, Mr. Kennedy, having despatched an +additional body of men to the Twenty-ninth Precinct, got into his light +wagon, to take a drive through the districts reported to be most +dangerous. He went up far as the arsenal, and giving such directions as he +thought necessary, started across the town to visit Marshal Jenkins' +quarters in the Twenty-ninth Precinct. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Commencement of the Mob.--Its Line of March.--Its immense Size.--Attacks a +Provost-marshal's Office, in Third Avenue.--Set on Fire.--Terrible +Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob.--Carried to Head-quarters +unconscious.--Acton's Preparations.--The Telegraph System.--Mob cutting +down Telegraph Poles.--Number of Despatches sent over the Wires during the +Riot.--Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held Prisoner by the +Mob. + +Meanwhile, events were assuming an alarming aspect in the western part of +the city. Early in the morning men began to assemble here in separate +groups, as if in accordance with a previous arrangement, and at last moved +quietly north along the various avenues. Women, also, like camp followers, +took the same direction in crowds. They were thus divided into separate +gangs, apparently to take each avenue in their progress, and make a clean +sweep. The factories and workshops were visited, and the men compelled to +knock off work and join them, while the proprietors were threatened with +the destruction of their property, if they made any opposition. The +separate crowds were thus swelled at almost every step, and armed with +sticks, and clubs, and every conceivable weapon they could lay hands on, +they moved north towards some point which had evidently been selected as a +place of rendezvous. This proved to be a vacant lot near Central Park, and +soon the living streams began to flow into it, and a more wild, savage, +and heterogeneous-looking mass could not be imagined. After a short +consultation they again took up the line of march, and in two separate +bodies, moved down Fifth and Sixth Avenues, until they reached Forty-sixth +and Forty-seventh Streets, when they turned directly east. + +The number composing this first mob has been so differently estimated, +that it would be impossible from reports merely, to approximate the truth. +A pretty accurate idea, however, can be gained of its immense size, from a +statement made by Mr. King, son of President King, of Columbia College. +Struck by its magnitude, he had the curiosity to get some estimate of it +by timing its progress, and he found that although it filled the broad +street from curbstone to curbstone, and was moving rapidly, it took +between twenty and twenty-five minutes for it to pass a single point. + +A ragged, coatless, heterogeneously weaponed army, it heaved tumultuously +along toward Third Avenue. Tearing down the telegraph poles as it crossed +the Harlem & New Haven Railroad track, it surged angrily up around the +building where the drafting was going on. The small squad of police +stationed there to repress disorder looked on bewildered, feeling they +were powerless in the presence of such a host. Soon a stone went crashing +through a window, which was the signal for a general assault on the doors. +These giving way before the immense pressure, the foremost rushed in, +followed by shouts and yells from those behind, and began to break up the +furniture. The drafting officers, in an adjoining room, alarmed, fled +precipitately through the rear of the building. The mob seized the wheel +in which were the names, and what books, papers, and lists were left, and +tore them up, and scattered them in every direction. A safe stood on one +side, which was supposed to contain important papers, and on this they +fell with clubs and stones, but in vain. Enraged at being thwarted, they +set fire to the building, and hurried out of it. As the smoke began to +ascend, the onlooking multitude without sent up a loud cheer. Though the +upper part of the building was occupied by families, the rioters, thinking +that the officers were concealed there, rained stones and brick-bats +against the windows, sending terror into the hearts of the inmates. Deputy +Provost Marshal Vanderpool, who had mingled in the crowd, fearing for the +lives of the women and children, boldly stepped to the front, and tried to +appease the mob, telling them the papers were all destroyed, and begged +them to fall back, and let others help the inmates of the building, or +take hold themselves. The reply was a heavy blow in the face. Vanderpool +shoved the man who gave it aside, when he was assailed with a shower of +blows and curses. Fearing for his life, he broke through the crowd, and +hastened to the spot where the police were standing, wholly powerless in +the midst of this vast, excited throng. + +In the meantime, the flames, unarrested, made rapid way, and communicating +to the adjoining building, set it on fire. The volumes of smoke, rolling +heavenward, and the crackling and roaring of the flames, seemed for a +moment to awe the mob, and it looked silently on the ravaging of a power +more terrible and destructive than its own. + +At this time Superintendent Kennedy was quietly making his way across the +town toward the office of with a heavy club, endeavored to break in his +skull, but Kennedy dodged his blows. Careful only for his head, he let +them beat his body, while he made desperate efforts to break through the +mass, whose demoniacal yells and oaths showed that they intended to take +his life. In the struggle the whole crowd, swaying to and fro, slowly +advanced toward Lexington Avenue, coming, as they did so, upon a wide mud- +hole. "Drown him! drown, him!" arose at once on every side, and the next +moment a heavy blow, planted under his ear, sent him headforemost into the +water. + +Falling with his face amid the stones, he was kicked and trampled on, and +pounded, till he was a mass of gore. Still struggling desperately for +life, he managed to get to his feet again, and made a dash for the middle +of the pond. The water was deep, and his murderers, disliking to get wet, +did not follow him, but ran around to the other side, to meet him as he +came out. But Kennedy was ahead of them, and springing up the bank into +Lexington Avenue, saw a man whom he knew, and called out: "John Eagan, +come here and save my life!" Mr. Eagan, who was a well-known and +influential resident of that vicinity, immediately rushed forward to his +assistance, and arrested his pursuers. But the Superintendent was so +terribly bruised and mangled, that Eagan did not recognize him. He, +however, succeeded in keeping the mob back, who, seeing the horrible +condition their victim was in, doubtless thought they had finished him. +Other citizens now coming forward, a passing feed wagon was secured, into +which Kennedy was lifted, and driven to police head-quarters. Acton, who +was in the street as the wagon approached, saw the mangled body within, +did not dream who it was. The driver inquired where he should take him. +"Around to the station," carelessly replied Acton. The driver hesitated, +and inquired again, "Where to?" Acton, supposing it was some drunkard, +bruised in a brawl, replied rather petulantly, "Around to the station." +The man then told him it was Kennedy. Acton, scanning the features more +closely, saw that it indeed was the Superintendent himself in this +horrible condition. As the officers gathered around the bleeding, almost +unconscious form, a murmur of wrath was heard, a sure premonition what +work would be done when the hour of vengeance should come. + +Kennedy was carried into head-quarters, and a surgeon immediately sent +for. After an examination had shown that no bones were broken, he was +taken to the house of a friend, and, before the week closed, was on his +feet again. + +Acton, now the legal head of the police force, soon showed he was the +right man in the right place. Of a nervous temperament, he was quick and +prompt, yet cool and decided, and relentless as death in the discharge of +his duty. Holding the views of the first Napoleon respecting mobs, he did +not believe in speech-making to them. His addresses were to be locust +clubs and grape-shot. Taking in at once the gravity of the situation, he, +after despatching such force as was immediately available to the scene of +the riot, telegraphed to the different precincts to have the entire +reserve force concentrated at head-quarters, which were in Mulberry +Street, near Bleecker. + +He saw at once, to have his force effective it must be well in hand, so +that he could send it out in any direction in sufficient strength to bear +down all opposition. Subsequent events proved the wisdom of his policy, +for we shall see, after it had been accomplished, the police never lost a +battle. + +There being thirty-two precincts in the limits of the Metropolitan Police, +a vast territory was covered. These were reached by a system of telegraph +wires, called the Telegraph Bureau, of which James Crowley was +superintendent and Eldred Polhamus deputy. There were three operators-- +Chapin, Duvall, and Lucas. A telegraph station was in each precinct--thus +making thirty-two, all coming to a focus at head-quarters. These are also +divided into five sections--north, south, east, west, and central. The +Commissioners, therefore, sitting in the central office, can send messages +almost instantaneously to every precinct of the city, and receive +immediate answers. Hence, Mr. Acton was a huge Briareus, reaching out his +arms to Fort Washington in the north, and Brooklyn in the south, and at +the same time touching the banks of both rivers. No other system could be +devised giving such tremendous power to the police--the power of instant +information and rapid concentration at any desired point. That it proved +itself the strong right arm of the Commissioners, it needs only to state, +that during the four days of the riot, between five and six thousand +messages passed over the wires, showing that they were worked to their +utmost capacity, day and night. The more intelligent of the mob understood +this, and hence at the outset attempted to break up this communication, by +cutting down the poles on Third Avenue. This stopped all messages to and +from the precincts at Fort Washington, Manhattanville, Harlem, Yorkville, +and Bloomingdale, as well as with the Nineteenth Precinct. + +But fortunately, the orders to these had passed over the wires before the +work was completed. Subsequently, the rioters cut down the poles in First +Avenue, in Twenty-second Street, and Ninth Avenue, destroying +communication between several other precincts. + +Mr. Crowley, the Superintendent of the Telegraph Bureau, was made +acquainted early, Monday, by mere accident with this plan of the rioters. +Coming to town in the Third Avenue cars from Yorkville, where he resided, +he suddenly found the car arrested by a mob, and getting out with the +other passengers, discovered men chopping furiously away at the telegraph +poles; and without stopping to think, rushed up to them and ordered them +to desist. One of the ruffians, looking up, cried out, "he is one of the +d--d operators." Instantly yells arose, "Smash him," "Kill him," when +those nearest seized him. By great adroitness he disarmed their suspicions +sufficiently to prevent further violence, though they held him prisoner +for an hour. At last, seeing an opportunity when more important objects +attracted their attention, he quietly worked his way out and escaped. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Soldiers beaten by the Mob.--Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie.--Mob +Triumphant.--Beat Police Officers unmercifully.--Fearful Scenes.--Fifty +thousand People block Third Avenue.--A whole Block of Houses burning.-- +Attack on a Gun Factory.--Defeat of the Broadway Squad.--Houses sacked in +Lexington Avenue.--Telegraph Dispatches.--Bull's Head Tavern burned.-- +Block on Broadway burned.--Burning of the Negroes' Orphan Asylum.--Attack +on Mayor Opdyke's House.--A Crisis nobly met.--Gallant Fight and Victory +of Sergeant Carpenter.--A thrilling Spectacle. + +In the meantime, the mob that stood watching the spreading conflagration +in Third Avenue increased rapidly, fed by tributaries from the tenement- +houses, slums, and workshops in that vicinity. But they were soon startled +from their state of comparative quietness, by the cry of "the soldiers are +coming." The Invalid Corps, a small body sent from the Park, was +approaching. As it came up, the soldiers fired, either blank cartridges, +or over the heads of the crowd, doubtless thinking a single discharge +would disperse it. The folly of such a course was instantly shown, for the +mob, roused into sudden fury, dashed on the small body of soldiers before +they could reload, and snatching away their muskets, pounded them over the +head, and chased them like sheep for ten blocks. One soldier was left for +dead on the pavement, beaten to a jelly. Another, breaking from the crowd, +attempted to climb some rocks near Forty-second Street, when his pursuers +grabbed him and dragged him to the top, where they tore off his uniform, +and beat him till he was senseless, and then threw him down to the bottom +and left him. + +In the meantime, Sergeant McCredie, "fighting Mac," as he was called, from +the Fifteenth Precinct, Captain C. W. Caffrey, arrived on the scene with a +few men. Marching down Forty-third street to Third Avenue, they looked up +two blocks, and to their amazement beheld the broad avenue, as far as they +could see, blocked with the mob, while before it, bearing swiftly down on +them, and running for life, came the terror-stricken Invalid Corps. At +this juncture, other squads sent from various precincts arrived, swelling +this force to forty-four. It was a mere handful among these enraged +thousands; but McCredie, who at once took command, determined to stand his +ground, and meet as best he could the overwhelming numbers that came +driving down like a storm, filling the air with yells and oaths, and +brandishing their clubs over their heads. He thought that another police +force was beyond the mob, on the north, and if he could press through and +form a junction with it, the two combined would be strong enough to hold +their own. He therefore quickly formed his men in line across the street, +and awaited the shock. As the disorderly mass following up the fugitives +drew near, McCredie ordered a charge, and this mere handful of men moved +swiftly and steadily upon it. The rioters, stunned by the suddenness and +strength of the blow, recoiled, and the police, following up their +advantage, drove them back, step by step, as far as Forty-sixth street. +Here the sergeant, instead of meeting another body of police, as he +expected, met a heavier body of rioters that were blocking up Forty-sixth +Street on both sides of the avenue. Backed by these, the main body rallied +and charged on the exhausted police force in turn, and almost surrounded +them. To render their already desperate situation hopeless, another mob +suddenly closed in behind them from Forty-fifth street. + +Thus attacked in front and rear with clubs, iron bars, guns and pistols, +and rained upon with stones and brick-bats from the roofs of the houses, +they were unable longer to keep together, and broke and fled--part up the +side streets, and some down the avenue--bruised, torn, and bleeding. + +The desperate nature of this first conflict can be imagined, when, out of +the fourteen men composing Sergeant McCredie's original force, only five +were left unwounded. At the very outset of the charge, the sergeant +himself was struck with an iron bar on the wrist, which rendered the arm +almost useless. In the retreat, four men assailed him at once. Knocking +down two, he took refuge in the house of a German, when a young woman told +him to jump between two mattresses. He did so, and she covered him up just +as his pursuers forced their way in. Streaming through the house from +cellar to garret, they came back, and demanded of the young woman where +the man was hid. She quietly said he had escaped by the rear of the house. +Believing she told the truth, they took their departure. Officer Bennett +was knocked down three times before he ceased fighting. The last time he +was supposed to be dead, when the wretches began to rob him even of his +clothing, stripping him of every article except his drawers. He was soon +after taken up and carried to St. Luke's Hospital, and placed in the dead- +house, where he lay for several hours. When the sad news was brought to +his wife, she hastened to the hospital, and fell weeping on the lifeless +form of her husband. She could not believe he was dead, and laying her +hand on his heart, found to her joy that it pulsated. She immediately flew +to the officials of the hospital, and had him brought in, and restoratives +applied. He revived, but remained unconscious for three days, while the +riot raged around him. Officer Travis, in the flight down the avenue, saw, +as he looked back, that his foremost pursuer had a pistol. Wheeling, he +knocked him down, and seized the pistol, but before he could use it, a +dozen clubs were raining blows upon him, which brought him to the ground. +The infuriated men then jumped upon him, knocking out his teeth, breaking +his jaw-bone and right hand, and terribly mutilating his whole body. +Supposing him to be dead, they then stripped him stark naked and left him +on the pavement, a ghastly spectacle to the passers-by. Officer Phillips +ran the gauntlet almost unharmed, but was pursued block after block by a +portion of the mob, till he reached Thirty-ninth street. Here he attempted +to enter a house, but it was closed against him. As he turned down the +steps, one of the pursuers, in soldier's clothes, levelled his musket at +him and fired. Missing his aim, he clubbed his weapon, and dealt him a +deadly blow. Phillips caught the musket as it descended, and wrenching it +from his grasp, knocked the fellow down with it, and started and ran +across some vacant lots to Fortieth Street. But here he was headed off by +another portion of the mob, in which was a woman, who made a lunge at him +with, a shoemaker's knife. The knife missed his throat, but passed through +his ear. Drawing it back, she made another stab, piercing his arm. He was +now bleeding profusely, and his death seemed inevitable, when a stranger, +seeing his condition, sprang forward, and covering his body, declared he +would kill the first man that advanced. Awed by his determined manner, the +fiends sullenly withdrew. Officers Sutherland and Mingay were also badly +beaten. Officer Kiernan, receiving a blow on his head with a stone, +another on the back of his neck with a hay-bale rung, and two more on the +knees, fell insensible, and would doubtless have been killed outright, but +for the wife of Eagan, who saved Kennedy. Throwing herself over his body, +she exclaimed, "for God's sake do not kill him." Seeing that they had got +to attack this lady to get at Kiernan, they passed on. + +The scene in Third Avenue at this time was fearful and appalling. It was +now noon, but the hot July sun was obscured by heavy clouds, that hung in +ominous shadows over the city, while from near Cooper Institute to Forty- +sixth Street, or about thirty blocks, the avenue was black with human +beings,--sidewalks, house-tops, windows, and stoops all filled with +rioters or spectators. Dividing it like a stream, horse-cars arrested in +their course lay strung along as far as the eye could reach. As the glance +ran along this mighty mass of men and women north, it rested at length on +huge columns of smoke rolling heavenward from burning buildings, giving a +still more fearful aspect to the scene. Many estimated the number at this +time in the street at fifty thousand. + +In the meantime the fire-bell had brought the firemen on the ground, but +the mob would not let them approach the burning houses. The flames had +communicated with the adjoining block and were now making fearful headway. +At length Engineer Decker addressed the mob, which by this time had grown +thinner by the main mass moving farther down town, who told them that +everything relating to the provost marshal's office was destroyed, and now +the fire was destroying private property, some of which doubtless belonged +to persons friendly to them, and finally persuaded them to let the engines +work. Water was soon deluging the buildings, and the fire at length +arrested, but not until four were consumed with all their contents. + +The drawing commenced in the Eighth District, 1190 Broadway, Captain +Maniere provost marshal, on the same morning, and continued quietly until +about 12 o'clock, when it was adjourned, and policemen who had been +stationed there to guard it were sent over to the Ninth District, where +the mob was carrying everything before it. But coming in small bodies, +they were easily overcome and scattered. Sergeant Ellison, especially, got +badly beaten; and Sergeant Wade, who came up soon after, and charged +gallantly on the mob, shared the same fate, and had to be taken to St. +Luke's Hospital. The work of destruction having commenced, it went on +after this with the wild irregularity characteristic of mobs. The news of +the uprising and destruction of property, as it spread through those +portions of the city where the low Irish dwelt, stirred up all the +inmates, and they came thronging forth, till there were incipient mobs on +almost every corner. From this time no consecutive narrative can be given +of the after doings. This immense mass seemed to split up into three or +four sections, as different objects attracted their attention; and they +came together and separated apparently without any concert of action. A +shout and a cry in one direction would call off a throng, while a similar +shout in another would attract a portion thither. Some feeling the need of +arms, and remembering that a gun factory was at the corner of Second +Avenue and Twentieth Street, called out to the crowd, and soon a large +body was rushing in that direction. The Police Commissioners had also +thought of this, and hastily sent off the Broadway squad to occupy it, and +they succeeded, by going singly and in pairs, in reaching it--thirty-five +all told. These men, selected for their size, being all six feet or +upward, were ordered to hold the place at all hazards. + +In the meantime the mob endeavored to gain admittance, but warned off by +Sergeant Burdick, left. But scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed, +when they returned heavily reinforced, armed with all kinds of weapons, +and yelling and hooting like fiends. Stones and bricks came crashing +through the windows, but still the squad, though every man was armed with +a carbine, did not fire. + +The mob then tried to set the factory on fire, but failed. Enraged at +being baffled, a powerful man advanced on the door with a sledge-hammer, +and began to pound against it. At length one of the panels gave way, and +as a shout arose from those looking on, he boldly attempted to crawl +through. The report of a solitary carbine was heard, and the brains of the +man lay scattered on the floor. This staggered the mob for a moment, but +soon fear gave way to rage, and shots and stones were rained against the +building, smashing in the windows, and rapidly making a clean breach +through the door. Burdick sent to Captain Cameron for aid, but he replied +that he could not reach him. + +At 3:45 the following telegram was sent from the Eighteenth Precinct: + +"The mob have attacked the armory, Second Avenue and Twenty-first Street. +There is danger of firing the building." + +Fifteen minutes later came: "It is impossible for us to protect the +armory at Second Avenue and Twenty-first Street." + +_Answer_--"Draw your men off. D. C." + +The squad, in evacuating the building, found themselves cut off both in +front and at the sides. + +The only mode of escape was through a hole in the rear wall, some eighteen +feet from the ground, and scarcely a foot and a half in diameter. Piling +up boxes to reach this aperture, these large men squeezed themselves +through one by one, feet foremost, and swinging to a gutter-trough, +dropped into the yard below. Climbing from thence over a wall into a +stone-yard, they sped across it to the Eighteenth Precinct Station in +Twenty-second Street. Here taking off their uniforms, they made their way +singly, or in groups of two or three, back to the central office. + +No sooner did they leave the building than the mob entered it, and the +work of pillage commenced. Every man armed himself with a musket. The +stacks of weapons left, after they had taken all they wanted, were broken +up or rendered useless. One thrown out of the window fell on a man's head +in the street and killed him. + +While the armory was being attacked, another mob was sacking and burning +houses on Lexington Avenue, near Forty-seventh Street. Within five minutes +from the announcement of this fact, came from the Sixth Precinct the +following dispatch: "A mob of about seven hundred attacked some colored +people in Baxter Street, and then went to the saloon of Samuel Crook, in +Chatham Street, and beat some colored waiters there." + +A few minutes later from Sixteenth came: "A crowd of about three hundred +men have gone to the foot of Twenty-fourth Street, to stop men in the +foundry from working" + +At the same time the following was received from the Twenty-first +Precinct: "The mob avow their determination of burning this station. Our +connection by telegram may be interrupted at any moment." + +Another from the Twentieth said: "A very large crowd is now going down +Fifth Avenue, to attack the _Tribune_ building." + +As fast as the wires could work, followed "from the Twenty-fourth +Precinct:" + +"The mob have fired the buildings corner of Broadway and Twenty-fourth +Street." + +All this time, while new notes of alarm were sounded, and the police +department was struggling to get its force in hand, the work of +destruction was going on in the upper part of the city. Bull's Head +Tavern, in Forty-sixth Street, attracted the attention of the mob. The +sales of the immense herds of cattle in the adjoining yard had been +suspended, and the hotel closed. The crowd, however, forgetting the draft, +and intent only on pillage, streamed up around it, and shouted, "Fire it! +fire it!" While some were calling for axes and crowbars, ten powerful men +jumped on the stoop, and with a few heavy blows sent the hall door flying +from its hinges. The yelling crowd then rushed in, and after helping +themselves to what they wanted, applied the torch, and soon the entire +building was a mass of flame. + +[Illustration: THE RIOT IN LEXINGTON AVENUE.] + +At this time another mob was sacking houses in Lexington Avenue. Elegant +furniture and silver plate were borne away by the crowd, while the ladies, +with their children and servants, fled in terror from the scene. The +provost marshal's head-quarters were also set on fire, and the whole block +on Broadway, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets, was burned +down, while jewelry stores and shops of all kinds were plundered and their +contents carried off. A vast horde followed the rioters for the sole +purpose of plunder, and loaded down with their spoils, could be seen +hastening home in every direction. + +While these fires were under full headway, a new idea seemed to strike the +mob, or at least a portion of it. Having stopped the draft in two +districts, sacked and set on fire nearly a score of houses, and half +killed as many men, it now, impelled by a strange logic, sought to destroy +the Colored Orphan Asylum on Fifth Avenue, extending from Forty-third to +Forty-fourth Street. There would have been no draft but for the war--there +would have been no war but for slavery. But the slaves were black, ergo, +all blacks are responsible for the war. This seemed to be the logic of the +mob, and having reached the sage conclusion to which it conducted, they +did not stop to consider how poor helpless orphans could be held +responsible, but proceeded at once to wreak their vengeance on them. The +building was four stories high, and besides the matrons and officers, +contained over two hundred children, from mere infants up to twelve years +of age. Around this building the rioters gathered with loud cries and +oaths, sending terror into the hearts of the inmates. Superintendent +William E. Davis hurriedly fastened the doors; but knowing they would +furnish but a momentary resistance to the armed multitude, he, with +others, collected hastily the terrified children, and carrying some in +their arms, and leading others, hurried them in a confused crowd out at +the rear of the building, just as the ruffians effected an entrance in +front. Then the work of pillage commenced, and everything carried off that +could be, even to the dresses and trinkets of the children, while heavy +furniture was smashed and chopped up in the blind desire of destruction. +Not satisfied with this, they piled the fragments in the different rooms, +and set fire to them. At this juncture Chief Engineer Decker arrived, and +determined, if possible, to save the building, addressed the crowd, as he +had in the morning, hoping to induce them to forbear further violence, and +let him extinguish the flames. But they had now got beyond argument of any +kind, and knocking him down twice, pitched him into the street. But ten +brave firemen at this juncture rushed to his side, and together fought +their way through the crowd into the building, where they were joined by +two assistant engineers, Lamb and Lewis. They at once began to scatter and +extinguish the burning fragments, keeping back for a while, by their bold +bearing, the rioters. The latter, however, soon rallied in force, and some +mounting to the loft, set it on fire in every part. Decker and his few +gallant allies, finding it impossible to save the building, retreated into +the street, and soon the massive structure was a sheet of flame. + +The crowd now proceeded to Mayor Opdyke's house, and gathering in front of +it, sent up shouts and calls for the Mayor. They were, however, deterred +at that time from accomplishing their purpose by an appeal from Judge +Barnard, who addressed them from the steps of an adjoining house. + +Soon after, an immense mob was reported coming down Broadway, for the +purpose, some thought, of attacking the negro waiters in the Lafarge +House, between Amity and Bleecker Streets, but in fact to attack police +head-quarters in Mulberry Street, and break up the very centre of +operations. It was a bold stroke, but the ringleaders had been drinking +all day, and now, maddened by liquor, were ready for the most desperate +attempts. When the news of this movement reached head-quarters, the +commissioners saw that a crisis had come. The mob numbered at least five +thousand, while they could not muster at that moment two hundred men. The +clerk, Mr. Hawley, went to the commissioners' room, and said: "Gentlemen, +the crisis has come. A battle has got to be _fought now_, _and won +too_, or all is lost." They agreed with him. "But who," they asked, +"will lead the comparatively small force in this fight?" He replied that +he thought that Sergeant Carpenter should be selected, as one of the +oldest and most experienced officers on the force. "Well," they said, +"will you go down to his room and see what he says about it?" He went, and +laid before him the perilous condition of things, and that an immediate +and successful battle _must_ be fought. + +Carpenter heard him through, and taking in fully the perilous condition of +things, paused a moment, and then rising to his full height and lifting +his hand, said, with a terrible oath, "I'll go, and I'll win that fight, +or _Daniel Carpenter will never come back a live man_." He walked out +and summoned the little force, and as "Fall in, men; fall in," was +repeated, they fell into line along the street. When all was ready, Acton +turned to Carpenter, every lineament of whose face showed the stern +purpose that mastered him, and quietly said, "_Sergeant make no +arrests_." + +It was to be a battle in which no prisoners were to be taken. "All +_right_" replied Carpenter, as he buttoned up his coat and shouted +"Forward." Solid, and silent save their heavy, measured tread on the +pavement, they moved down Bleecker Street towards Broadway. As they turned +into the latter street, only a block and a half away, they saw the mob, +which filled the entire street far as the eye could reach, moving +tumultuously forward. Armed with clubs, pitchforks, iron bars, and some +with guns and pistols, and most of them in their shirt-sleeves and +shouting as they came, they presented a wild and savage appearance. +Pedestrians fled down the side streets, stores were hastily closed, stages +vanished, and they had the street to themselves. A huge board, on which +was inscribed "No Draft," was borne aloft as a banner, and beside it waved +the Stars and Stripes. + +The less than two hundred policemen, compact and firm, now halted, while +Carpenter detached two companies of fifty each up the parallel streets to +the right and left, as far as Fourth Street. Coming down this street from +both directions, they were to strike the mob on both flanks at the same +time he charged them in front. He waited till they had reached their +positions, and then shouted, "_By the right flank Company front, double- +quick_, CHARGE." Instantaneously every club was swung in air, and solid +as a wall and swift as a wave they swept full on the astonished multitude; +while at the same time, to cut the monster in two, the two companies +charged in flank. Carpenter, striding several steps in advance, his face +fairly blazing with excitement, dealt the first blow, stretching on the +pavement a powerful ruffian, who was rushing on him with a huge club. For +a few minutes nothing was heard but the heavy thud of clubs falling on +human skulls, thick and fast as hailstones on windows. The mob, just +before so confident and bold, quailed in terror and would have broke and +fled at once, but for the mass behind which kept bearing down on them. +This, however, soon gave way before the side attacks and the panic that +followed. Then the confusion and uproar became terrible, and the mass +surged hither and thither, now rolling up Broadway, and again borne back +or shoved up against the stores, seeking madly for a way of escape. At +length, breaking into fragments, they rushed down the side streets, hotly +pursued by the police, whose remorseless clubs never ceased to fall as +long as a fugitive was within, reach. Broadway looked like a field of +battle, for the pavement was strewn thick with bleeding, prostrate forms. +It was a great victory and decisive of all future contests. + +Having effectually dispersed them, Carpenter, with the captured flag, +marched up to Mayor Opdyke's house, when, finding everything quiet, he +returned to head-quarters. This successful attack of the police was +received with cheers by those spectators who had witnessed it. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +No Military in the City.--The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding +Eastern Department, for Help.--Also on General Sandford.--General Wool +sends to General Brown, commanding Garrison in the Harbor, for U. S. +Troops.--Marines of the Navy Yard ordered up.--Eventually, West Point and +several States appealed to for Troops.--General Brown assumes Command.-- +Attack of Mob on the _Tribune_ Building.--Its severe Punishment.-- +Government Buildings garrisoned.--Difficulty between Generals Brown and +Wool.--Head-quarters.--Police Commissioners' Office Military Head- +quarters. + +The terrible punishment the rioters received at the hands of Carpenter +had, however, only checked their movements for a time; and, as the sun +began to hang low in the summer heavens, men looked forward to the coming +night with apprehension. + +In the meantime, however, the authorities, conscious of the perilous +condition of the city, had resorted to every means of defence in their +power. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, nearly the whole of its +military force, on which it depended in any great emergency, was absent. +Lee's brilliant flank movement around Hooker and Washington, terminating +in the invasion of Pennsylvania, had filled the country with +consternation. His mighty columns were moving straight on Philadelphia, +and the Government at Washington, roused to the imminent danger, had +called for all the troops within reach, and New York had sent forward +nearly every one of her regiments. Ordinary prudence would have dictated +that the draft should be postponed for a few days, till these regiments, +now on their way back, or preparing to return, should arrive. It was +running a needless risk to urge it in such a crisis--indeed, one of the +follies of which the Administration at this time was so needlessly guilty. + +General Wool, at this juncture, commanded the Eastern Department, with his +head-quarters at the corner of Bleecker and Greene Streets. Mayor Opdyke +immediately called on him for help, and also on Major-general Sandford, +commanding the few troops that were left in the city. The latter +immediately issued an order requesting the Seventh Regiment to meet that +evening, at their drill-rooms, at eight o'clock, to consult on the +measures necessary to be taken in the present unexpected crisis, and +another to the late two-years' volunteers then in the city, to report at +the same hour in Grand Street, to Colonel William H. Allen, for temporary +duty. + +General Wool, also, during the afternoon, while the rioters were having it +all their own way, sent an officer to the adjutant-general of General +Brown, commanding the troops in garrison in New York harbor, ordering up a +force of about eighty men immediately. + +General Brown, on his way from his office to Fort Hamilton, was informed +by Colonel Stinson, chief clerk, that a serious riot was raging in the +city, and that General Wool had sent to Fort Hamilton for a detachment of +some eighty men, and that a tug had gone for them. Surprised at the +smallness of the number sent (he was, by special orders of the War +Department, commandant of the city, and commander of all the forts and +troops in the harbor except Fort Columbus), he immediately ordered the +company at Fort Wood to the city, and sent a tug for it. He then made a +requisition on the quartermaster for transportation of all the other +companies, and proceeded without delay to Fort Hamilton. General Brown's +office was close to General Wool's; but he did not think proper to consult +him on the movement. + +General Brown, immediately on his arrival at Fort Hamilton, directed that +all the troops there, as well as at Forts Lafayette and Richmond, be got +in readiness to move at a moment's notice, and also that a section of +artillery be organized, in case it should be wanted. Having taken these +wise precautions he hastened up to the city, and reported to General Wool. +The result proved the wisdom of his forecast. A new order was at once +dispatched for the remaining troops, and just at twilight, Lieut. McElrath +saw two steamers making directly for the fort. They were hardly fastened +to the dock, when an officer stepped ashore and handed him an order from +General Brown to send up at once all the efficient troops in the forts, +and have their places supplied as best he could with some volunteer +artillery companies. + +The reports coming in to police head-quarters had shown that it was no +common uprising of a few disaffected men to be put down by a few squads of +police or a handful of soldiers. The Mayor, after consulting with the +Police Commissioners, felt that it was the beginning of a general outbreak +in every part of the city, and by his representations persuaded General +Wool to apply to Rear-admiral Paulding, commanding the Navy Yard, for a +force of marines, and eventually to Colonel Bowman, Superintendent of West +Point, and also to the authorities of Newark, and Governors of New York, +New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island for troops. + +General Brown, after reporting to General Wool, repaired to police head- +quarters, which he adopted as his own, and issued the following order: + +"HEAD-QUARTERS, NEW YORK, July 13, 1863. + +"In obedience to the orders of the Major-general commanding the Eastern +Department, the undersigned assumes command of the United States troops in +this city. + +"Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham and Captain Revolle are of the staff of +the undersigned, and will be obeyed accordingly. + +"HARVEY BROWN, + +"_Brevet Brigadier-general_." + +He also sent a dispatch to General Sandford, at the arsenal, notifying him +of his action, and requesting him to come down and consult with him on the +course to be pursued. General Sandford, after awhile, did come down, and, +to General Brown's amazement, insisted that all the troops should be sent +up to the arsenal. General Brown, seeing the utter madness of such a +disposition of his force, refused decidedly to permit it to be done. This +was of course denying Sandford's claim to be his superior officer. It was +well for the city that he took this ground. + +Mayor Opdyke also issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to +disperse. + +But while these measures were being set on foot, the rioters were not +idle. + +[Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE BUILDING.] + +All day long a crowd had been gathering in the Park around the City Hall, +growing more restless as night came on. The railroad-cars passing it were +searched, to see if any negroes were on board, while eyes glowered +savagely on the _Tribune_ building. They had sought in an eating- +house for the editor, to wreak their vengeance on him. Not finding him, +they determined that the building, from which was issued the nefarious +paper, should come down, but were evidently waiting for help to arrive +before commencing the work of destruction. The mob, which Carpenter had so +terribly punished in Broadway, were marching for it, designing to burn it +after they had demolished police head-quarters. Their dispersion delayed +the attack, and doubtless broke its force, by the reduction of numbers it +caused. There seemed enough, however, if properly led, to effect their +purpose, for the Park and Printing-house Square were black with men, who, +as the darkness increased, grew more restless; and "Down with it! burn +it!" mingled with oaths and curses, were heard on every side. + +At last came the crash of a window, as a stone went through it. Another +and another followed, when suddenly a reinforcing crowd came rushing down +Chatham Street. This was the signal for a general assault, and, with +shouts, the rabble poured into the lower part of the building, and began +to destroy everything within reach. Captain Warlow, of the First Precinct, +No. 29 Broad Street, who, with his command, was in the gallant fight in +Broadway, after some subsequent fighting and marching, had at length +reached his head-quarters in Broad Street, where a despatch met him, to +proceed at once to the _Tribune_ building. He immediately started off +on the double-quick. On reaching the upper end of Nassau Street, he came +to a halt, and gave the club signal on the pavement, to form column. +Captain Thorne, of the City Hall, in the meantime, had joined his force to +him, with the gallant Sergeant Devoursney. Everything being ready, the +order to "Charge" was given, and the entire force, perhaps a hundred and +fifty strong, fell in one solid mass on the mob, knocking men over right +and left, and laying heads open at every blow. The panic-stricken crowd +fled up Chatham Street, across the Park, and down Spruce and Frankfort +Streets, punished terribly at every step. The space around the building +being cleared, a portion of the police rushed inside, where the work of +destruction was going on. The sight of the blue-coats in their midst, with +their uplifted clubs, took the rioters by surprise, and they rushed +frantically for the doors and windows, and escaped the best way they +could. In the meantime, those who had taken refuge in the Park found +themselves in the lion's jaws. Carpenter had hardly rested from his march +up Fifth Avenue to Mayor Opdyke's house, when he, too, received orders to +hasten to the protection of the _Tribune_ building. Taking one +hundred of his own men, and one hundred under Inspector Folk, of Brooklyn, +who had been early ordered over, and been doing good service in the city, +he marched down Broadway, and was just entering the Park, when the +frightened crowd came rushing pell-mell across it. Immediately forming +"company front," he swept the Park like a storm, clearing everything +before him. Order being restored, Folk returned with his force to +Brooklyn, where things began to wear a threatening aspect, and Carpenter +took up his station at City Hall for the night. + +This ended the heavy fighting of the day, though minor disturbances +occurred at various points during the evening. Negroes had been hunted +down all day, as though they were so many wild beasts, and one, after +dark, was caught, and after being severely beaten and hanged to a tree, +left suspended there till Acton sent a force to take the body down. Many +had sought refuge in police-stations and elsewhere, and all were filled +with terror. + +The demonstrations in the lower part of the city excited the greatest +anxiety about the Government buildings in that section--the Custom House +and Sub-treasury were tempting prizes to the rioters. General Sandford, +commanding the city military, had sent such force as he could collect +early in the day to the arsenal, to defend it; for, should the mob once +get possession of the arms and ammunition stored there, no one could tell +what the end would be. United States troops also were placed in Government +buildings to protect them. Almost the last act of the mob this evening was +the burning of Postmaster Wakeman's house, in Eighty-sixth Street. Mrs. +Wakeman was noted for her kindness to the poor and wretched, who now +repaid her by sacking and burning her house. The precinct station near by +was also destroyed. + +In the meanwhile, an event happened which threatened to disarrange all the +plans that had been laid. Military etiquette often overrides the public +good, and here, at this critical moment, General Wool chose to consider +that, as General Sandford was Major-general, though not in the United +States service, he, therefore, ranked Brigadier-general Brown of the +regular army, and required him to act under the other's orders. This, +Brown promptly refused to do, and asked to be relieved, telling General +Wool that such a proceeding was an unheard-of thing. That he was right the +order below will show [Footnote: [GENERAL ORDER No. 36.] WAR DEPARTMENT, + +_Adjutant-general's Office, Washington_, April 7th, 1863. + +6. The military commander's duties in reference to all troops and enlisted +men who happen to serve within the limits of his command will be +_precisely those of a commanding officer of a military post_. + +The duties of military commanders above defined, will devolve in the +_City of New York, and the military posts in that vicinity_, on +Brevet Brigadier-general H. Brown, Colonel Fifth U. S. Artillery. + +By order of the Secretary of War, (Signed) L. THOMAS, _Adjutant- +general_.] that his troops must be under his own command, as he was +responsible for their action to the Government, and Sandford was not. +Wool, however, continued obstinate, and a total disruption seemed +inevitable. Mayor Opdyke, President Acton, Governor Seymour, with several +prominent American citizens, were present, and witnessed this disagreement +with painful feelings. They knew that it would work mischief, if not +paralyze the combined action they hoped to put forth in the morning. +General Brown, finding Wool inflexible, turned away, determined to retire +altogether. The Mayor and others followed him, and begged him not to +abandon them in the desperate strait they were in--to think of nothing but +saving the city. General Brown had been too hasty, sticking on a point of +mere etiquette, with, perhaps, too much tenacity. True, an officer must +insist on his rank as a rule, but there are emergencies when everything of +a personal nature must be forgotten--crises where it may be an officer's +duty to serve in any capacity, however subordinate, and trust to being +righted afterwards. Luckily, General Brown, on a sober second thought, +took the proper view, and returned to General Wool, and asked to be +reinstated in his command, but giving him to understand that, though he +would co-operate in every possible way with General Sandford, he still +must retain distinct and separate command of his own troops. This was +right, and whether General Wool perfectly understood the arrangement, or +seeing how deeply the gentlemen present felt on the subject, chose not to +press a mere point of etiquette, does not appear. We only know that if +General Brown had given up the command of his troops, the results to the +city would have been disastrous. + +While these events were passing in the St. Nicholas Hotel, the streets +were comparatively quiet. It had been a hard day for the rioters, as well +as for the police, and they were glad of a little rest. Besides, they had +become more or less scattered by a terrific thunderstorm that broke over +the city, deluging the streets with water. In the midst of it, there came +a telegraphic dispatch to the commissioners, calling for assistance. The +tired police were stretched around on the floor or boxes, seeking a little +rest, when they were aroused, and summoned to fall in; and the next moment +they plunged into the darkness and rain. They were drenched to the skin +before they had gone a block, but they did not heed it--and then, as to +the end, and under all circumstances, answered promptly and nobly to every +call. + +Acton had now gathered a large force at head-quarters, and felt ready to +strike at any moment. + +While the men flung themselves on the hard floor, like soldiers on the +field of battle, ready to start on duty at the first call, Acting +Superintendent Acton and his assistants never closed their eyes, but spent +the night in telegraphing, organizing, and preparing for the fiercer +fights of next day. Much was to be done to cover and protect a district +that reached from Brooklyn to Westchester, and it was an anxious night. +They had one consolation, however: though taken unawares, they had at the +close of the day come out victors, which gave them confidence in the +future, especially as now Brown and his trained soldiers were with them. + +Some fifteen or twenty policemen had been more or less severely injured, +while the number of the killed and wounded of the mob was wholly unknown. +Both the dead and maimed were left by the police where they fell, and were +almost immediately hurried away by their friends. + +The destruction of property on this first day, consisted of four buildings +on Third Avenue burned, also a block on Broadway between Twenty-eighth and +Twenty-ninth Streets; two brown-stone dwellings in Lexington Avenue; +Allerton's Hotel near Bull's Head; a cottage, corner of Forty-fifth Street +and Fifth Avenue; the Colored Orphan Asylum, and the armory corner of +Twenty-first Street and Second Avenue. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Telegraph Bureau.--Its Work.--Skill and Daring and Success of its Force.-- +Interesting Incidents.--Hairbreadth Escapes.--Detective Force.--Its +arduous Labors.--Its Disguises.--Shrewdness, Tact, and Courage.--Narrow +Escapes.--Hawley, the Chief Clerk.--His exhausting Labors. + +One thing Commissioners Acton and Bergen in their consultation settled +must be done at all hazards--telegraphic communication must he kept open +with the different precincts. Otherwise it would be impossible to +concentrate men at any given point, quick enough to arrest the mob before +they spread devastation and conflagration far and wide. Every hour gained +by a mob in accumulating or organizing its forces, increases the +difficulty of dispersing it. The rioters understood this partially, and +had acted accordingly; but the rich spoils they had come across during the +day, had driven, for the time being, all other thoughts but plunder out of +their heads. Some communications had already been destroyed, and the +rioters would evidently by morning have their eyes open to the importance +of doing this everywhere, and their efforts must be foiled, no matter what +the risk or sacrifice might be. They had already cut down over sixty +poles, and rendered upwards of twelve miles of wire useless; and how much +more would share the same fate the next day, no one could tell. + +The superintendent and deputy of the Telegraph Bureau, Messrs. Crowley and +Polhamus, with the operators mentioned before, were, therefore, set at +work this very evening in the storm, to restore the broken lines. + +This was a perilous undertaking, for if once discovered, their lives would +be instantly sacrificed. + +The details of their operations, their disguises, ingenious contrivances, +deceptions, and boldness in carrying out their object, would make an +attractive chapter in itself. Often compelled to mingle with the mob, +always obliged to conceal what they were about, not daring to raise a pole +or handle a wire unless cautiously or secretly, they yet restored the +lines in the north section by morning, and those in the south by Wednesday +evening. Sometimes they were compelled to carry a wire over the top of a +house, sometimes round it, through a back-yard; in short, every device and +expedient was resorted to by these daring, sharp-witted men. Once Polhamus +had his boots burned off in tramping through the burning ruins of a +building after the wires. Once he and Mr. Crowley came near being clubbed +to death by the police, who mistook them for rioters, so ingeniously and +like them were they at work among the ruins. Captain Brower rescued them, +or their services might have ended on the spot. + +This work was kept steadily up during the continuation of the riots. On +one occasion, Mr. Crowley, hearing that the wires were down in the Ninth +and Tenth Avenues, hastened thither alone, when he encountered a large +mob. Fearing to pass through it he hesitated a moment, when he noticed a +carriage driving in the direction he wished to go, in which was a Catholic +priest. He immediately hailed it and was taken in. As the carriage entered +the mob, the latter surrounded it, and supposing the inmates were +reporters, began to yell "Down with the d--d reporters;" but the moment +they recognized the priest, they allowed it to pass. Often the two would +take a hack; and passing themselves off as drivers, go through infected +districts, and search points to which they otherwise could not have gone. +One time they were returning from an expedition through Third Avenue, and +had reached Houston Street, when they were hailed by a gang of rioters, +who demanded to be taken downtown. They had to comply, for the men were +armed with pistols, and so took them in and kept along Houston Street, +under the pretence of going down through Broadway, knowing that when they +reached Mulberry Street they would be in hailing distance of the head- +quarters of the police. It was just after daybreak, and Crowley and +Polhamus urged on the horses, expecting in a few minutes to have their +load safely locked up. The fellows evidently not liking the vicinity to +which the drivers were taking them, ordered them to wheel about, which +they were compelled to do, and drive under their direction to an old house +in the Tenth Ward. There they got out, and offering the drivers a drink +and fifty cents, let them go. On one occasion, Crowley, while examining +the wires in Second Avenue, was suspected by the mob, who fell upon him, +and it was only by the greatest coolness and adroitness he convinced them +he was a rioter himself, and so escaped. At another time they were going +along in a common wagon, when they were hemmed in by a crowd, and escaped +by passing themselves off as farmers from Westchester. Had they been +discovered, they would have been killed on the spot. + +DETECTIVE FORCE. + +The duties of this force are well known, but during the riots they had +something more important to do than to work up individual cases. The +force, with John Young as chief, and M. B. Morse as clerk, consisted in +all of seventeen persons. These men are selected for their superior +intelligence, shrewdness, sagacity, and undoubted courage. Full of +resources, they must also be cool, collected, and fearless. During the +riots they were kept at work day and night, obtaining knowledge of facts +that no others could get, and thus supplying the different precincts and +head-quarters with invaluable information. Their duty was a most perilous +one, for it called them to go into the very heart of the turbulent +districts; nay, into the very midst of the mob, where detection would have +been followed by death, and that of the most horrible kind. Chief Young, +with his clerk, was engaged at head-quarters, so that fifteen men had to +perform the required work for the whole city. Sometimes alone, sometimes +two or three together, they seemed omnipresent. In all sorts of disguises, +feigning all sorts of employments and characters, sometimes on horseback +and again driving an old cart or a hack, they pressed with the most +imperturbable effrontery into the very vortex of danger. Ever on the +watch, and accustomed to notice every expression of the countenance, they +would discover at a single glance when they were suspected, and remove the +suspicion at once by some clever device. Sometimes one of them, seeing +himself watched, would quietly ascend the steps of a residence, and +ringing the bell, make some inquiry as though he were on business, and +then deliberately walk off; or if he thought it would not do to have his +face too closely scanned, he would step inside and wait till the crowd +moved on. Sometimes, with a stone or club in their hands, they would shout +with the loudest, and engaging in conversation with the ringleaders +themselves, ascertain their next move; then quietly slip away to the +nearest station, and telegraph to head-quarters the information. When the +telegraph had been cut off, they had to take the place of the wires, and +carry through the very heart of the crowd their news to the department. + +On their ears again and again would ring the fearful cry, "There goes +Kennedy's spies;" and it required the most consummate acting and self- +possession to allay the suspicion. Often on a single word or act hinged +their very lives. Some of these men were in the mob that made the first +attack on Mayor Opdyke's house, and while apparently acting with it, +learned of the intended movement down to police head-quarters, and at once +telegraphed the fact, which enabled Carpenter to prepare for them, and +give them the terrible beating we have described. At the burning and +sacking of different buildings they were present, and often would follow +unnoticed the ringleaders for hours, tracking them with the tireless +tenacity of a sleuth hound, until they got them separate from the crowd, +and then pounce suddenly upon them, and run them into the nearest station. +The lawlessness that prevailed not only let loose all the thieves and +burglars of the city, but attracted those from other places, who practised +their vocation with impunity. To lessen this evil, the detectives one +night quietly made visits to some half a dozen "lushing cribs," as they +are called, in Eighth and Fourteenth Streets, and seized about thirty +noted thieves, burglars, and garroters, and locked them up for safe- +keeping. They also warned the negroes of threatened danger, and directed +them, to places of safety; and in case of emergency acted as guides to the +military in their operations. In short, they were ubiquitous, +indefatigable, and of immense service. They played the part of unerring +pointers to the commissioners, telling them when and where to strike; yet +strange to say, such was their skill, their ingenuity, and exhaustless +resources, that they all escaped being assaulted, save one named Slowly. +He was passing through the very heart of the riotous district, in Second +Avenue, when some one who had evidently been once in his clutches, +recognized him, and pointing him out, shouted "Detective!" Instantly a +rush was made for him, and he was knocked down, and kicked and stamped +upon. Regaining, with a desperate effort, his feet, he sprang up the steps +of a house, and fought his assailants fiercely, till the lady of the +house, seeing his perilous situation, courageously opened the door and let +him in, and then bolted and barred it in the face of the mob. Through some +strange apprehension, the baffled wretches, though they howled, and swore, +and threatened, did not force an entrance, and he escaped. + +In this connection, while speaking of those whose duties were uniform and +running through the whole period of the riots, might be mentioned Seth C. +Hawley, the chief clerk. Like Acton, he has a nervous, wiry temperament. +This often makes a man rash and headlong, and hence not reliable; but when +combined, as in him, with perfect self-possession and self-control, +imparts enormous power. It matters not how nervous and excitable a man is, +if danger and responsibility instead of confusing and unsettling him, only +winds him up to a higher tension, till he becomes like a tightly-drawn +steel spring. Excitement then not only steadies him, but it quickens his +perceptions, clears his judgment, gives rapidity to his decisions, and +terrible force to his blow. Mr. Hawley's duties were of a various and +exhausting kind, so that during all the riots, he allowed himself only one +hours' rest out of every twenty-four. Besides his ordinary supervisory +duties over the clerks, etc., he had to see to the execution of the almost +incessant orders of the commissioners, provide and issue arms, see to the +refugees and prisoners, and act as commissary to over four thousand men on +duty in and around head-quarters. Two men more perfectly fitted to work +together in such a crisis as this, than he and Acton, could not well be +found. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +SECOND DAY. + +Appearance of the City.--Assembling of the Mob.--Fight between Rioters and +the Police and Soldiers.--Storming of Houses.--Rioters hurled from the +Roofs.--Soldiers fire on the People.--Awful Death of Colonel O'Brien.-- +Fight in Pitt Street.--Deadly Conflict for a Wire Factory.--Horrible +Impaling of a Mart on an Iron Picket.--Mystery attached to Him.--Second +Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House.--Second Fight for the Wire Factory.-- +Telegraphic Dispatches.--Citizens Volunteering.--Raid on the Negroes.-- +They are hunted to Death.--Savage Spectacle.--Negroes seek Head-quarters +of Police.--Appearance and State of the City.--Colonel Nugent's House +sacked.--Fight with the Mob in Third Avenue.--Battle at Gibbon's House.-- +Policeman Shot.--Night Attack on Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store.-- +Value of the Telegraph System.--Captain Petty.--Seymour's Speech to the +Mob.--Cars and Stages seized.--Barricades.--Other Fights.--Acton and his +Labors. + +The early July morning broke tranquilly over the great city, and the +rattling of vehicles was heard in some of the streets, where men were +going to their places of business. In a large portion of it everything +wore its usual air of tranquillity, yet a close observer would notice an +uneasiness resting on the countenances of men. Furtive glances were cast +down side streets, and people seemed on the watch, as though in +expectation of something to come, and the very atmosphere appeared laden +with evil omens. Around police head-quarters, and inside the building, +were large bodies of policemen and the U. S. troops under General Brown. +But uptown, in the vicinity of Thirteenth Street and Second and Third +Avenues, crowds of men began early to assemble, though perfectly quiet in +their demeanor, while smaller knots in the adjoining wards could be seen +discussing the events of the day before. In the meantime, exciting reports +came from Harlem and Yorkville--as early as five o'clock, the following +telegram was sent to the Twentieth Precinct: "Notify General Sandford to +go immediately to Eighty-sixth Street and Harlem--mob burning." Indeed the +air was charged with electricity, but the commissioners now felt ready to +meet the storm whenever and wherever it should burst. A large force of +special policemen had been sworn in, while General Brown had over seven +hundred troops, ready to co-operate with the police. The public buildings +were all well guarded--Sandford had a strong force in the arsenal, and the +military and civil authorities stood waiting the next movement of the mob. +Telegrams arriving, showed that the northern part of the city was alive +with gathering crowds, while from Sixth Avenue on the west nearly to +Second Avenue in the east, and down almost to Broome Street, the streets +were black with excited men. Stores were closed, factories emptied of +their hands, who voluntarily joined the rioters, or were forced into their +ranks, and there was evidently a gathering of the elements in those +directions for a fearful storm. Soon immense crowds began to patrol the +streets in different wards, showing that simultaneous action would be +required at various points. The troops were called out and marshalled in +Mulberry Street, and those companies selected for immediate action drawn +up in line. Colonel Frothingham, after an earnest conversation with the +officers, addressed the soldiers. He told them that the fate of the city +was in their hands, and everything depended on their good conduct. Knowing +the temptations to disorderly conduct in the midst of the great city, he +urged on them especially to obey implicitly their officers under all +circumstances. His manner and words were earnest, and listened to with +profound attention. Soon a company headed by Sergeant Carpenter, with a +police force two hundred and fifty strong, started for Second and Third +Avenues, where the greatest gatherings were reported to be. + +At this time the rioters seemed hesitating about their course of action. +There was apparently no recognized leader, no common understanding and +purpose, though all were engaged in animated discussions of some topic. +Dirty, ferocious-looking women were scattered through the crowd; some of +the men were armed, while all looked defiant and determined. + +There were doubtless many who had come from mere curiosity, and a few +attempted to allay the excitement, among them a Catholic priest, who +harangued them, urging them to maintain peace. His address seemed to have +considerable influence on those immediately around him; but as soon as he +left, his words were forgotten, and the mighty throng, estimated by some +at ten thousand, began to be agitated by passion. What would have been the +first act of violence, it is impossible to say, had they been left +undisturbed. But at the cry of "the police and soldiers are coming," +everything else was forgotten. + +Inspector Carpenter, coming down Twenty-first Street, struck Second +Avenue, and wheeling, moved in solid column through the crowd up to +Thirty-second Street. The force was assailed with hoots and yells, and all +kinds of opprobrious epithets, but no violence was shown, until it had +crossed Thirty-second Street. The mob not only filled the street, but +numbers, with piles of stones and brick-bats, had climbed to the roofs of +the houses. These deeming themselves secure, suddenly, with one accord, +rained their missiles on the rear of the column. + +The men fell rapidly, and two were dangerously hurt. Carpenter immediately +halted his command, and ordered fifty men to enter the houses, and +mounting to the roof, clear them of the assailants. Barricaded doors were +at once broken in, and every one that opposed their progress clubbed +without mercy, as they made their way to the upper floors. Captain Mount +of the Eleventh Precinct, led this storming party. Officers Watson and +Cole distinguished themselves by being the first on the roof, fighting +their way through a narrow scuttle. As the police, one by one, stepped on +to the roof, they rushed on the desperadoes with their clubs, and felled +them rapidly. Those who attempted to escape through the scuttles were met +by the police in the rooms below; or if one chanced to reach the street, +he was knocked down by those keeping guard there. Some dropped from second +and third story windows, and met with a worse fate than those who staid +behind. One huge fellow received such a tremendous blow, that he was +knocked off his feet and over the edge of the roof, and fell headlong down +a height of four stories to the pavement beneath. Crushed to death by the +force of the fall, he lay a mangled heap at the feet of his companions. + +The fight was sharp and fierce, and kept up for nearly an hour, and bodies +scattered around showed with what deadly force the club had been wielded. +But with the clearing of the houses there came a lull in the conflict, and +the immense crowd looked on in sullen silence, as the police reformed in +the street, and recommenced their march. The military force that had +accompanied the police, had formed on the avenue, about a block and a half +above where the latter were stationed, while the detachment was clearing +the houses. Two howitzers were placed in position commanding the avenue. +Colonel O'Brien, of the Eleventh New York Volunteers, who was raising a +regiment for the war, had gathered together, apparently on his own +responsibility, about fifty men, and appearing on the field, from his +superior rank, assumed command. For a short time the rioters remained +quiet, but as the police marched away, they suddenly awoke out of their +apparent indifference. Maddened at the sight of the mangled bodies of +their friends stretched on the pavement, and enraged at their defeat by +the police, they now turned on the soldiers, and began to pelt them with +stones and brick-bats. O'Brien rode up and down the centre of the street a +few times, evidently thinking his fearless bearing would awe the mob. But +they only jeered him, and finding the attack growing hotter and more +determined, he finally gave the order to fire. The howitzers belched forth +on the crowd, the soldiers levelled their pieces, and the whistling of +minie-balls was heard on every side. Men and women, reeled and fell on the +sidewalk and in the street. One woman, with her child in her arms, fell, +pierced with a bullet. The utmost consternation followed. The crowd knew +from sad experience that the police would use their clubs, but they seemed +to think it hardly possible that the troops would fire point-blank into +their midst. But the deadly effect of the fire convinced them of their +error, and they began to jostle and crowd each other in the effort to get +out of its range. In a few minutes the avenue was cleared of the living, +when the wounded and dead were cared for by their friends. Order had been +restored, and O'Brien, with some twenty or thirty men, marched down to +police head-quarters, and offered his services to Genera Brown. Colonel +Frothingham thanked him, but soon saw that the Colonel was not in a fit +state to have command of troops, and so reported to General Brown. O'Brien +appeared to comprehend the state of things, and asked to be excused on the +plea of sickness. He was excused, and rode away. Whether he disbanded his +handful of men, or they disbanded themselves, was not stated, but +_he_ was soon back again at the scene of the riot. His residence was +close by, but had been deserted that morning by the family, which had fled +in alarm to Brooklyn. Scowling visages lowered on the colonel, as he rode +slowly back among the crowd, and low muttered threats were heard. Although +an Irishman, and well-known in that neighborhood, his sympathy with the +Government had awakened more or less hostile feeling against him, which +his conduct to-day kindled into deadly hate. Apparently unconscious or +reckless of this, he dismounted, and entered a neighboring drug-store or +saloon. After remaining a few moments he came out, and paused as he beheld +the crowd that had assembled around the door. There was little said, but +dark and angry countenances were bent on him from every side, and he saw +that mischief was intended. Drawing his sword, and taking a revolver in +the other hand, he deliberately walked out into the street. He had taken +but a few steps, when a powerful blow on the back of his head made him +stagger forward. In an instant a rush was made for him, and blows were +rained so fast and fierce upon him, that he was unable to defend himself. +Knocked down and terribly mangled, he was dragged with savage brutality +over the rough pavement, and swung from side to side like a billet of +wood, till the large, powerful body was a mass of gore, and the face +beaten to a pumice. The helpless but still animate form would then be left +awhile in the street, while the crowd, as it swayed to and fro, gazed on +it with cool indifference or curses. At length a Catholic priest, who had +either been sent for, or came along to offer his services wherever they +might be needed, approached the dying man and read the service of the +Catholic Church over him, the crowd in the meantime remaining silent. +After he had finished, he told them to leave the poor man alone, as he was +fast sinking. But as soon as he had disappeared, determined to make sure +work with their victim, they again began to pound and trample on the body. +In the intervals of the attack, the still living man would feebly lift his +head, or roll it from side to side on the stones, or heave a faint groan. + +The whole afternoon was spent in this fiendish work, and no attempt was +made to rescue him. Towards sundown the body was dragged into his own +back-yard, his regimentals all torn from him, except his pantaloons, +leaving the naked body, from the waist up, a mass of mangled flesh clotted +with blood. + +But the dying man could not be left alone in his own yard. A crowd +followed him thither, among which were women, who committed the most +atrocious violence on the body, until at last, with one convulsive +movement of the head, and a deep groan, the strong man yielded up his +life. + +While this tragedy was being enacted here, similar scenes were occurring +all over the city. Mobs were everywhere, the spirit of pandemonium was +abroad, and havoc and revenge let loose. + +Lieutenant Wood, whom General Brown had sent off, with a company of +regulars, came in conflict with a mob, two thousand strong, in Pitt and +Delancey Streets. Marching along Houston to the Bowery, he turned down the +latter, and kept on to Grand. On reaching Pitt Street, he beheld the +hooting, yelling crowd coming straight towards him. He immediately formed +his little force of one hundred and fifty men in line across the street, +and brought them to "shoulder arms." One of the ringleaders stepped +forward to speak to him, when Lieutenant Wood waved him off. This was the +signal for the attack, and immediately a shower of stones fell among the +soldiers. The officer ordered the men to fire--it was said over the heads +of the rioters--in order to disperse them. The result was scattering shots +in return from the latter. Wood then ordered a point-blank volley, when +men tumbled over right and left. The crowd did not wait for a second, but +fled in every direction. Wood then marched back to headquarters, but on +the way slipped and sprained his ankle, which caused a report that he had +been wounded. + +A bloody conflict also took place between the police and mob in the same +avenue where Colonel O'Brien fell, below Thirtieth Street. There was a +wire factory here, in which several thousand carbines were stored. Of +this, some of the rioters were aware, and communicated the fact to others, +and a plan was formed to capture them. Having discovered from the +morning's experience that the military had been called in to aid the +police, arms became imperatively necessary, if they hoped to make a +successful resistance. All public depositories of arms they knew were +guarded, but this factory was not, and hence they resolved to capture it +without delay. Swarming around it, they forced the entrance, and began to +throw out the carbines to their friends. The attack, however, had been +telegraphed to head-quarters, and Inspector Dilks was despatched with two +hundred men to save the building, and recover any arms that might be +captured. He marched rapidly up to Twenty-first Street, and down it to the +avenue. Here he came suddenly upon the mob, that blocked the entire +street. As the head of the force appeared, the rioters, instead of being +frightened, greeted it with jeers and curses. It was two hundred against a +thousand; but the inspector did not hesitate a moment on account of the +inequality of numbers, but instantly formed his men and ordered a charge. +The mob, instead of recoiling, closed desperately on the police, and a +fierce hand-to-hand encounter took place. The clubs, however, mowed a +clean swath along the street, and the compact little force pushed like a +wedge into the throng, and cleared a bloody space for itself. The orders +were to recapture all the arms; for this was of more vital importance than +the capture of men. Wherever, therefore, a musket was seen, a man would +dash for it, and, seizing it, fight his way back into line. On the +pavement, the sidewalk, and in the gutters, men lay bleeding and dying, +until at last, the more resolute having been knocked on the head, the vast +crowd, like a herd of buffalo, broke and tore madly down the street. One +of the leaders was a man of desperate courage, and led on the mob with +reckless fury, though bleeding freely from the terrible punishment he +received. As his comrades turned to flee, leaving him alone, a fearful +blow sent him reeling and staggering towards the sidewalk. As he reached +it, he fell heavily over against the iron railing, and his chin striking +one of the iron pickets, the sharp point entered it and penetrated through +to the roof of his mouth. No one noticed him, or if they did, paid no +attention to him in the headlong flight on the one hand, and swift pursuit +on the other. Thus horridly impaled, his body hanging down along the +sidewalk, the wretched man was left to die. At length Captain Hedden +noticed him, and lifting up the corpse, laid it down on the sidewalk. It +was found, to the surprise of all, to be that of a young man of delicate +features and white, fair skin. "Although dressed as a laborer, in dirty +overalls and filthy shirt, underneath these were fine cassimere pants, +handsome, rich vest, and fine linen shirt." [Footnote: D.M. Barnes.] He +was evidently a man in position far above the rough villains he led on, +but had disguised himself so, as not to be known. He never was known. The +corpse, during the fight that followed, disappeared with the bodies of +many others. + +The street being cleared, Dilks turned his attention to the factory, which +was filled with armed rioters, who were determined to defend it to the +last. Detaching a portion of his force, he ordered it to take the building +by storm. Dashing over all obstacles, the men won the stairway step by +step, and entering the main room on the second story, felled a man at +almost every blow. Those who succeeded in escaping down-stairs were +knocked on the head by the force in the street, and soon no rioters were +left but the dead and dying. How many fell in this fight it is impossible +to tell; but one physician alone dressed the wounds of twenty-one +desperately wounded men. Taking what guns they could find and had captured +in the street, the force marched triumphantly back, cheered on their way +by the spectators. + +In the meantime, Mayor Opdyke's house in Fifth Avenue had again been +attacked and partially sacked. Captain Maniere, one of the provost +marshals, however, assembled a small force, and drove out the rioters, who +were mostly young men and boys, before the work of destruction was +complete. The news of this attack had been telegraphed to head-quarters of +the police, and Captain Helme, of the Twenty-seventh Precinct, despatched +to its defence. At his approach the rioters dispersed. Soon after, he was +ordered with his command over to the Second Avenue, accompanied by a +detachment of troops under Captain Franklin. This was in the afternoon-- +the mob had reassembled, and reinforced by those who had been dispersed at +Thirty-fourth Street, where Colonel O'Brien fell, had overcome the small +body of police at the wire factory, and again taken possession of it. They +had found some boxes of guns that had been overlooked by Dilks, and having +armed themselves, determined to hold it. Even women joined in the defence. +As the force approached, it was greeted with shouts of defiance and +missiles of every kind. An immense crowd was gathered outside, while the +windows of the five-story building were filled with angry, excited faces, +and arms wildly gesticulating. Charging on this dense mass, and clubbing +their way to the building, the police entered it, and streaming up the +stairways, cleared it floor by floor, some being knocked senseless, others +leaping from windows, to be killed by the fall, and others escaping down- +stairs, to be met by the force in the street. A thorough search was now +made for arms, and the building emptied of them. Taking possession of +these, the police and military took up their line of march for head- +quarters. They had not proceeded far, however, before the mob that had +scattered in every direction began to pour back again into the avenue, and +close on the military that were bringing up the rear. Following them with +hoots and yells that were unheeded, they became emboldened, and pressing +nearer, began to hurl stones and bricks, and everything they could lay +their hands on, against the soldiers. The latter bore it for awhile +patiently; but this only made the wretches more fierce and daring. Seeing +there was but one way to end this, Captain Franklin ordered his men to +"About face;" and "ready, aim, fire," fell in quick succession. The +yelling, shouting crowd were in point-blank range, and the volley told +with deadly effect. The street was strewed with dead and dying, while the +living fled down the avenue. + +In the meantime, mobs had sprung up in every part of the city; some larger +and some smaller; some after negroes, others firing buildings or sacking +them. + +Some idea of the pressure on the Police Commissioners during this +forenoon, and the condition the city was in, may be gathered from the +following despatches, which are only a small portion of those received and +answered in two hours: + +10.20. From Thirteenth. Send military here immediately. + +10.22. To Seventh. Find military and send them to Thirteenth Street +forthwith. + +10.45. From Sixteenth. A mob has just attacked Jones' soap factory; stores +all closed. + +10.50. To Twenty-sixth. Tell Inspector Leonard to send one hundred men +here forthwith. + +10.55. To Twentieth. From General Brown. Send to arsenal and say a heavy +battle is going on. Captain Wilkins and company of regulars will report to +me here at once. + +11.18. From Sixteenth. Mob is coming down to station-house; we have no +men. + +11.20. From Eighteenth. The mob is very wild, corner Twenty-second Street +and Second Avenue. They have attacked the Union steam factory. + +11.35. To Twenty-sixth. Send another one hundred men here forthwith. + +11.35. From Twentieth. Send one hundred men to disperse mob assailing +Mayor Opdyke's house. + +11.38. To Twenty-first. Can you send a few men here? + +11.40. From Twenty-second. The mob has gone to Mr. Higgins' factory, foot +of Forty-third Street, to burn it. + +11.45. From Eighteenth. What shall we do? The mob is about 4,500 strong. + +_Answer_. Clear them down, if you can. + +11.50. From Eighteenth. We must leave; the mob is here with guns. + +11.50. From Twentieth. Mob tearing up track on Eleventh Avenue. + +11.58. The mob have just sacked a large gun-store in Grand Street, and are +armed, and are on the way to attack us. + +12.10. To Fifteenth. Send your men here forthwith. + +12.35. From Twentieth. Send two hundred men forthwith to Thirty-fifth +Street arsenal. + +12.36. From Twenty-first. The mob have just broken open a gun-store on +Third Avenue, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets, and are +arming. + +12.40. From Twenty-first. Send help--the crowd is desperate. + +And so on. + +Between these rapid telegrams asking for help, were others making and +answering inquiries. And so it was kept up from daylight till midnight for +three days in succession. These urgent calls for help coming from every +quarter at the same time, would have thrown into inextricable confusion a +less clear head than Acton's. It was a terrible strain on him, and had it +continued a little longer, would have cost him his life. In the midst of +it all he received anonymous letters, telling him he had but one more day +to live. + +But while the police head-quarters were thus crowded with business, and +the commissioners were straining every nerve to meet the frightful state +of things in the city, other means were being taken to add to their +efficiency. + +Governor Seymour had reached the city, and after being closeted with Mayor +Opdyke, had issued a proclamation, calling on the rioters to disperse, and +saying that they would be put down at all hazards. + +At a meeting of the merchants and bankers in Wall Street, it was resolved +to close up business, and form volunteer companies of a hundred men each, +to serve under the military. General Wetmore was one of the first to offer +his services. The high-spirited citizen, William E. Dodge, was among the +most prominent advocates of the measure, and soon found himself a captain +under orders. The steamboat of the harbor police was busy in bringing +troops and cannon from Riker's and Governor's Island, and rapidly steaming +from point to point on the river, to prevent destruction around the docks. +Around the arsenal cannon were placed. At the city armory, corner of White +and Elm Streets, were a company of the Eighty-fourth New York Militia, and +some of the Zouaves and other troops. The Sub-treasury and Custom House +were defended by the Tenth National Zouaves and a hundred and fifty armed +citizens. In front of the Government stores in Worth and White streets, +the Invalid Corps and a company of marines patrolled, while howitzers +loaded with grape and canister, stood on the corner of the street. Nearly +four hundred citizens had been sworn in at police head-quarters as special +policemen, and had been furnished with clubs and badges. All this time the +fight was going on in every direction, while the fire-bells continually +ringing increased the terror that every hour became more wide-spread. +Especially was this true of the negro population. From the outset, they +had felt they were to be objects of vengeance, and all day Monday and to- +day those who could leave, fled into the country. They crowded the ferry- +boats in every direction, fleeing for life. But old men and women, and +poor families, were compelled to stay behind, and meet the fury of the +mob, and to-day it became a regular hunt for them. A sight of one in the +streets would call forth a halloo, as when, a fox breaks cover, and away +would dash a half a dozen men in pursuit. Sometimes a whole crowd streamed +after with shouts and curses, that struck deadly terror to the heart of +the fugitive. If overtaken, he was pounded to death at once; if he escaped +into a negro house for safety, it was set on fire, and the inmates made to +share a common fate. Deeds were done and sights witnessed that one would +not have dreamed of, except among savage tribes. + +At one time there lay at the corner of Twenty seventh-Street and Seventh +Avenue the dead body of a negro, stripped nearly naked, and around it a +collection of Irishmen, absolutely dancing or shouting like wild Indians. +Sullivan and Roosevelt Streets are great negro quarters, and here a negro +was afraid to be seen in the street. If in want of something from a +grocery, he would carefully open the door, and look up and down to see if +any one was watching, and then steal cautiously forth, and hurry home on +his errand. Two boarding-houses here were surrounded by a mob, but the +lodgers, seeing the coming storm, fled. The desperadoes, finding only the +owner left behind, wreaked their vengeance on him, and after beating him +unmercifully, broke up the furniture, and then fired the buildings. A +German store near by, because it was patronized extensively by negroes, +shared the same fate, after its contents had been distributed among +themselves. A negro barber's shop was next attacked, and the torch applied +to it. A negro lodging-house in the same street next received the visit of +these furies, and was soon a mass of ruins. Old men, seventy years of age, +and young children, too young to comprehend what it all meant, were +cruelly beaten and killed. The spirit of hell seemed to have entered the +hearts of these men, and helpless womanhood was no protection against +their rage. Sometimes a stalwart negro would break away from his +murderers, and run for his life. With no place of safety to which he could +flee, he would be headed off in every direction, and forced towards the +river. Driven at last to the end of a pier, he would leap off, preferring +to take his chances in the water rather than among these bloody men. If +bruised and beaten in his desperate struggle for life, he would soon sink +exhausted with his efforts. Sometimes he would strike out for a ship, but +more often dive under the piers, and hold on to a timber for safety, until +his yelling pursuers had disappeared, when he would crawl stealthily out, +and with terrified face peer in every direction to see if they had gone. +Two were thus run off together into the East River. It was a strange +spectacle to see a hundred Irishmen pour along the streets after a poor +negro. If he could reach a police station he felt safe; but, alas! if the +force happened to be away on duty, he could not stay even there. Whenever +the police could strike the track of the mad hunt, they stopped it +summarily, and the pursuers became the pursued, and received the +punishment they had designed for the negro. All this was in the nineteenth +century, and in the metropolis of the freest and most enlightened nation +on earth. + +[Image: Hanging and burning a negro in Clarkson Street.] + +The hunt for these poor creatures became so fearful, and the utter +impossibility to protect them in their scattered localities so apparent, +that they were received into the police stations. But these soon proved +inadequate, and they were taken to head-quarters and the arsenal, where +they could be protected against the mob. Here the poor creatures were +gathered by hundreds, and slept on the floor, and were regularly fed by +the authorities. + +It is impossible to give a detailed account of what transpired in every +part of the city. If there had been a single band of rioters, no matter +how large, a force of military and police, properly armed, could have been +concentrated to have dispersed it. But bodies of men, larger or smaller, +bent on violence and devastation, were everywhere; even out at Harlem +eight buildings were burned, and the lower end of Westchester was in a +state of agitation and alarm. A mob of thousands would be scattered, only +to come together at other points. A body of police and military plunging +through the heaving multitude, acted often only as a stone flung into the +water, making but a momentary vacuum. Or, if they did not come together +again, they swung off only to fall in, and be absorbed by a crowd +collected in another part of the city. The alarm of Monday had only been +partial, but to-day it culminated. Families, husbands, and sons left their +business, and with arms patrolled the streets. Stores were shut up, stages +and cars stopped running, and all business was suspended. + +The blood flowing through the thousand arteries of this great mart seemed +suddenly frozen in its channels, and its mighty pulsations to stop at the +mandate of lawless men. The city held its breath in dread, but there were +firm hearts at police head-quarters. Acton never flinched, and in General +Brown he found a soldier that knew his duty, and would do it at all +hazards. Still, the uprising kept swelling into vaster proportions, +embracing a still larger territory. + +Broadway was deserted. A few hacks could be seen, but with very different +occupants than those which they ordinarily contained. The iron shutters +were closed on the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and a stack of arms stood in the +hall-way. Crowds of respectable citizens, not on duty, were making all +haste toward railroad depots and steamboat landings. Every boat, as it +swung from the dock, was loaded to its utmost capacity with people leaving +a city that seemed doomed to destruction; going, many knew not where, only +out of New York. Cars were packed, and long trains were made up to carry +the crowds in haste to get away. But travel on the Hudson River Road was +soon stopped by the mob, that tore up the track to prevent communication +with other parts of the State, and the arrival of troops. + +The Harlem and Third Avenue tracks were also torn up, as the rioters were +determined to isolate the great city, which they had doomed to +destruction. Passing from one object to another, now acting as if from +plan, and now intent only on destruction and plunder, the crowd streamed +from point to point with shouts and yells, that sent terror through the +adjoining streets. Suddenly, some one remembered that they were in the +vicinity of Colonel Nugent's house, in Yorkville, the assistant provost +marshal general, and shouting out the news, a rush was made for it, and it +was sacked from top to bottom. + +As the police were gathered together either at the precinct stations or +head-quarters, ordinary patrol duty was out of the question; hence, many +isolated, acts of violence could be committed with impunity. This freedom +from close surveillance, coupled with the contagion of the lawless spirit +which was abroad, made every section of the city where the lower classes +lived more or less restless. It was impossible for the police to divide +itself up so to furnish protection in individual cases, and yet be in +sufficient force to cope with the mobs, that numbered by thousands. +Although the whole city was heaving like a troubled sea, yet the main +gathering this day had been in the upper part and on both sides of it. The +terrific contests we described farther back were in the Second Avenue, on +the east side, but, nearly opposite, in the Sixth Avenue, crowds had been +gathering since early in the forenoon. + +For a long time they swayed backward and forward, apparently without any +definite purpose, and moved only by the spirit of disorder that had taken +possession of the city. But about two o'clock, these various bodies began +by mutual attraction to flow together, and soon became one immense mass, +and impelled by some information or other, gathered threateningly around a +large mansion on the corner of Forty-sixth Street and Fifth Avenue. They +had supplied themselves with all sorts of weapons, revolvers, old muskets, +stones, clubs, barrel-staves--in short, everything that could be found, +that might be of service in a fight--and soon commenced plundering the +residence. But their movements had been telegraphed to head-quarters, and +Captain Walling, of the Twentieth Precinct, was dispatched thither, with a +company of regulars under Captain Putnam, a descendant of "Old Put." The +report soon spread through the crowd, that bayonets could be seen coming +up the avenue. Marching up to Forty-sixth Street, the force turned into +it, towards the Fifth Avenue; and breaking into the charge step, with the +order "no prisoners" ringing in their ears, struck the mob almost in the +centre, cutting it in two, like a mighty cleaver. There was no need of +bayonets--the police, at the head of the military, went right through it, +and scattered the men in every direction. The force then divided into +squads, and each one taking a section of the mob, followed it up on a +swift run, and smote them right and left for several blocks. The larger +portion went down Sixth Avenue, and seeing only a portion of the police +pursuing, turned and showed fight, when the leader received a bullet in +the head and fell. Seeing their leader fall, the mob wheeled and took to +their heels. + +Captain Walling in one instance saw a crowd with fire-arms standing in an +alley-way. Just then a fire-engine and company came down the street, and +he with his small force got behind it, and kept concealed until opposite +the unsuspecting crowd, when, with a shout, they dashed on it. A volley +received them,--with answering volley, the police charged into the narrow +opening. The rioters fled into a tenement-house, from which came yells and +screams of terrified women and children. Walling had some sharpshooters +with him, to pick off those beyond the reach of the clubs. One fellow, +armed, was seen astraddle of the ridge pole of a house. The next moment a +sharpshooter covered him, and he tumbled headlong to the ground. The same +afternoon he saw some twenty or thirty men attempting to stave in a +hardware store, evidently after pistols. Walling charged on them alone, +and with one terrible blow, his club sent the leader to the pavement with +his brains oozing out. + +Although the draft was almost forgotten by the rioters, in the thirst for +plunder and blood, still men in the streets and some of the papers talked +of its being unconstitutional, and to be contested in the courts--others +that it had been and would be suspended, as though any disposal of it now +could affect the conduct of the rioters. Force was the only argument they +would listen to. The riot had almost ceased to wear any political aspect +since the attack on the _Tribune_ office, the day before, had been +defeated. An occasional shout or the sight of a negro might now and then +remind one of its origin, but devastation and plunder were the great +objects that urged on the excited masses. The sacking of Opdyke's house +was done chiefly by a few youngsters, who were simply following the +example set them the day before; while the burning of negro buildings, the +chasing and killing of negroes, seemed to have only a remote connection +with the draft, and was simply the indulgence of a hatred they were +hitherto afraid to gratify. So the setting fire to the Weehawken ferry +afterwards, could be made to grow out of politics only so far as a man who +kept a liquor saloon there was a known Republican. This seemed a weak +inducement to draw a crowd so far, when more distinguished victims were +all around them. It is more probable that some personal enemy of parties +in the vicinity, finding the mob ready to follow any cry, led them +thither; for one man seemed to be the leader, who, mounted on a fine +cavalry horse, and brandishing a sword, galloped backwards and forwards +through the crowd, giving his orders like a field officer. Mobs springing +up everywhere, and flowing together often apparently by accident, each +pursuing a different object: one chasing negroes and firing their +dwellings; others only sacking; a house, and others still, wreaking their +vengeance on station-houses, while scores, the moment they got loaded down +with plunder, hastened away to conceal it--all showed that the original +cause of the uprising had been forgotten. A strong uncertainty seemed at +times to keep them swaying backwards and forwards, as though seeking a +definite object, or waiting for an appointed signal to move, and then at +some shout would rush for a building, a negro, or station-house. + +The mob was a huge monster--frightful both in proportions and appearance, +yet not knowing where or how to use its strength. The attack on Mr. +Gibbon's house at Twenty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, during this +afternoon, was attributed to the fact that he was Mr. Greeley's cousin, +and that the former sometimes slept there--rather a far-fetched inference, +as though a mob would be aware of a fact that probably not a dozen +immediate neighbors knew. + +Some one person might have raised a cry of "Greeley's house," which would +have been sufficient to insure its destruction. The police being notified +of this attack, sent a squad of men with a military force to disperse the +mob. Captain Ryer formed his troops in front of the house, and Sergeant +Devoursney did the same with a part of his men, while the other portion +was sent into the building, that was filled with men, women, and children, +loading themselves down with the spoils. The appearance of the caps and +clubs in the rooms created a consternation that would have been ludicrous, +but for the serious work that followed. No defence was made, except by a +few persons singly. One fellow advanced to the door with a pistol in his +hand, and fired, sending a ball through Officer Hill's thigh. The next +instant the latter felled him to the floor with his club, and before he +could even attempt to rise he was riddled with balls. Some of the women +fell on their knees, and shrieked for mercy; while one strong Irish woman +refused to yield her plunder, and fought like a tigress. She seized an +officer by the throat, and trying to strangle and bite him, would not let +go till a blow sobered her into submission. + +Some were loaded with shawls and dresses, and one burly, ferocious-looking +Irishman carried under his arm a huge bundle of select music. As the +police chased the plunderers down-stairs, and out into the street, in some +unaccountable way the troops got so confused that they fired a volley that +swept the police as well as the rioters. Officer Dipple was so severely +wounded that he died the following Sunday, while Officers Hodson and +Robinson both received flesh wounds. + +In the upper part of the city, few buildings, except those too near police +and army head-quarters, or too well defended, offered much spoil except +private houses, and these had been the chief objects of attack. But Brooks +and Brothers' clothing store in Catharine Street, situated in a part of +the city thickly populated with the very class mobs are made of, became +toward evening an object of great attraction to groups of hard-looking men +and women. As night settled down, the heavens being overcast, it became +very dark; for in all the neighboring houses the lights were extinguished +by the inmates, who were terribly alarmed at the rapidly increasing crowd +in the street. To deepen and complete the gloom the rioters turned off the +gas. Officer Bryan, of the Fourth Ward, telegraphed to head-quarters the +threatening appearance of things, and a force of fifty or sixty men were +at once despatched to the spot. In the mean time Sergeant Finney, with +Platt and Kennedy, stood at the entrance to defend the building till the +police could arrive. + +For awhile the three determined police officers, standing silent in the +darkness, overawed the leaders. But soon from the crowd arose shouts, amid +which were heard the shrill voices of women, crying, "Break open the +store." This was full of choice goods, and contained clothing enough to +keep the mob supplied for years. As the shouts increased, those behind +began to push forward those in front, till the vast multitude swung +heavily towards the three police officers. Seeing this movement, the +latter advanced with their clubs to keep them back. At this, the shouts +and yells redoubled, and the crowd rushed forward, crushing down the +officers by mere weight. They fought gallantly for a few minutes; but, +overborne by numbers, they soon became nearly helpless, and were terribly +beaten and wounded, and with the utmost exertions were barely able to +escape, and make their way back to the station. The mob now had it all its +own way, and rushing against the doors, burst bolts and bars asunder, and +streamed in. But it was dark as midnight inside, and they could not +distinguish one thing from another; not even the passage-ways to the upper +rooms of the building, which was five stories high. They therefore lighted +the gas, and broke out the windows. In a few minutes the vast edifice was +a blaze of light, looking more brilliant from the midnight blackness that +surrounded it. The upturned faces of the excited, squalid throng below +presented a wild and savage spectacle in the flickering light. Men and +women kept pouring in and out, the latter loaded with booty, making their +way home into the adjacent streets, and the former rushing after their +portion of the spoils. Coats and pantaloons, and clothing of every +description, were rapidly borne away; and it was evident, give them time +enough, the crowd would all disappear, and there would be scarcely enough +left to finish the work of destruction. Thinking only of the rich prize +they had gained, they seemed to forget that retribution was possible, when +suddenly the cry of "Police! police!" sent a thrill of terror through +them. Sergeant Delaney, at the head of his command, marched swiftly down +the street, until close upon the mob, when the order, "Double-quick," was +given, and they burst with a run upon them. For a moment, the solid mass, +by mere weight, bore up against the shock; but the clubs soon made a lane +through it broad as the street. Just then a pistol-shot rung from a house, +almost over their heads. Many of the rioters were armed with muskets, and +the comparatively small police force, seeing that firearms were to be +used, now drew their revolvers, and poured a deadly volley right into +their midst. Several fell at the first discharge; and immediately terror +seized that portion of the multitude nearest the police, especially the +women, and many fell on their knees, crying for mercy. Others forced their +way recklessly over their companions, to get out of reach. As the police +made their way to the front of the store, they formed line, while Sergeant +Matthew, of the First Precinct, with his men, entered the building. The +scene here became more frightful than the one without. The rioters on the +first floor made but little resistance, and, thinking only of escape, +leaped from the windows, and rushed out of doors like mad creatures. But +as they attempted to flee, those without knocked them over with their +clubs. Having cleared this story, the police mounted to the second, where +the rioters, being more closely penned, showed fight. Pistol-shots rang +out, and some of the police officers had narrow escapes. One powerful +bully fought like a tiger, till two policemen fell upon him with their +clubs, and soon left him stark and stiff. At last they drove the whole +crowd into a rear building, and kept them there till they had time to +secure them. + +Just as the store was cleared, Sergeant Carpenter, who had been sent as a +reinforcement in case of need, came up with a hundred and fifty men, and +charging on the crowd, sent them flying down the narrow streets. After +quiet had been restored, a military force arrived and took possession of +the building. + +Just previous to this, another attempt was made to burn the _Tribune_ +building, but was easily repelled. The _Times_ office, near by, +warned by the fate of its neighbor the night before, had established a +regular garrison inside, while it brilliantly illuminated the open space +all around it, in the circle of which the rioters did not care to come. + +The invaluable service of the telegraph was tested to-day, not merely in +enabling General Brown and the commissioners to despatch men quickly to a +threatened point, but to keep a force moving from one ward to another, as +messages came in, announcing the incipient gathering in different +districts. Word sent to the station in the neighborhood where they were +acting, would instantly change their route; and knots of men, which if +left alone would soon have swelled into formidable mobs, were broken up, +for they found military and police force marching down on them before they +could form a plan of action. Nor was this all. A force sent to a certain +point, after dispersing the mob, would be directed to make a tour through +the disaffected districts--all the time keeping up its communication with +head-quarters, so that if any serious demonstration was made in that +section of the city, it could be ordered there at once, thus saving half +the time it would take to march from head-quarters. Thus, for instance, +Captain Petty was ordered this morning to head-quarters from the City +Hall, where he had passed the night, and directed to take two hundred men +(including his own precinct force), and go to the protection of a soap +factory in Sixteenth Street, Eighth and Ninth Avenues. He moved off his +command, marching rapidly up Broadway and down Sixteenth Street. The mob +saw it coming two blocks off, and immediately scattered in every +direction, which awakened the supreme contempt of the captain. He now +marched backward and forward, and through the cross streets, up as far as +Nineteenth Street, scattering every fragment of the mob that attempted to +hold together, and finally returned to head-quarters. This was a long +march, but the men had scarcely rested, when the captain was hurried off +to aid in the protection at the wire factory in Second Avenue. In the +fierce fight that followed, he, with ten men at his back, charged up the +broad stairway, fighting his way step by step to the fifth story. Caught +up here at the top of the building, the rioters were clubbed without +mercy. Some, to escape the terrible punishment, plunged down the hatchway; +others attempted to dash past the men, and escape down the stairs. At one +time eight bodies lay in the door-way, blocking it up. He then marched +back to head-quarters. He had been marching and fighting all day. Similar +exhausting duties were performed by other commands, both police and +military. Inspector Dilks, with his force gathered from various precincts, +passed the entire day in marching and fighting. The men, weary and hungry, +would reach head-quarters or certain points, hoping to get a little rest +and refreshment, when the hurried order would come to repair to a point a +mile off, where the mob was firing and sacking houses, and off they would +start on the double-quick. Uncomplaining and fearless of danger, and never +counting numbers, both police and soldiers were everywhere all this day, +and proved themselves as reliable, gallant, and noble a set of men as ever +formed or acted as the police force of any city in the world. + +In the meantime, Governor Seymour and the Mayor of the city were not idle. +The latter at the City Hall, fearing an attack, asked Acton for a guard of +protection, and fifty men were sent him. Report of the mob assembled +there, reached Governor Seymour, at the St. Nicholas, and he immediately +hastened thither, and addressed the crowd from the steps, which allayed +excitement for the time. This speech was variously commented upon. Some of +the criticisms were frivolous, and revealed the partisan, rather than the +honest man. If the Governor had not previously issued a proclamation to +the whole city, in which he declared without reservation that the mobs +should be put down at all hazards--if this speech had been his only +utterance, then the bitter denunciations against him would have been +deserved. It would have been pusillanimous, cowardly, and unworthy the +Governor of the State. But he spoke in his official capacity, not only +firmly, emphatically, and in no ambiguous terms, but he had hurried up the +military, and used every means in his power to accumulate and concentrate +the forces under his control to put down the riot. No faint-heartedness or +sentimental qualmishness marked any of his official acts. Prompt, +energetic, and determined, he placed no conditions on his subordinates in +the manner of putting down the mob, and restoring the supremacy of the +law. But here in this address he was speaking to men who, as a body at +least, had as yet committed no overt act; and many doubtless were +assembled expecting some public declaration from the City Hall. He was not +addressing the plunderers and rioters that were firing houses and killing +negroes, but a mixed assembly, the excitement of which he thought best to +allay, if possible. Some said he began his address with "My friends;" +others, "Fellow-citizens." Whether he did one, or the other, or neither, +is of no consequence and meant nothing. To have commenced, "Ye villains +and cut-throats, disperse at once, or I'll mow you down with grape-shot!" +might have sounded very brave, but if that was all he was going to say, he +had better kept his room. + +A _proclamation_ like this address would have been infamous. Here is +where the mistake was made in the criticisms heaped upon it. His official +acts were all such as became the Chief Magistrate of New York. The speech, +therefore, must be judged rather by the rules of taste and propriety, +than, by those which apply to him officially. If a man's official acts are +all right, it is unjust to let them go for nothing, and bring into +prominence a short address made without premeditation in the front of an +excited, promiscuous assembly, moved by different motives. That it was +open to criticism in some respects, is true. It should have been imbued +more with the spirit of determination to maintain order and suppress +violence, and less been said of the measures that had or would be taken to +test the constitutionality of the draft, and of his purpose, if it were +decided in the courts to be wrong, to oppose it. Such talk had better be +deferred till after order is restored. When men begin to burn and plunder +dwellings, attack station-houses, hang negroes, and shoot down policemen, +it is too late to attempt to restore peace by talking about the +constitutionality of laws. The upholding of laws about the +constitutionality of which there is no doubt, is the only thing deserving +of consideration. The Common Council of the city exhibited in this respect +a most pusillanimous spirit, by offering resolutions to have the +constitutionality of the law tested, when, the entire constitution and +laws of the State were being subverted! Unquestionably, some charity +should be extended to men who are pleading for those whose votes elevated +them to office. Brutuses are rare nowadays; and politicians do not like to +shoot down their own voters--they would much rather make more voters out +of men no more fit to exercise the right of suffrage than horses and +mules. + +Governed by a similar spirit, Archbishop Hughes, although he had yielded +to the pressure made on him and issued an address to the Irish, calling on +them to abstain from violence, yet accompanied it with a letter to Horace +Grreeley, directly calculated to awaken or intensify, rather than allay +their passions. He more than intimated that they had been abused and +oppressed, and thought it high time the war was ended. The proclamation +was short, but the letter was a long one, full of a vindictive spirit, and +showing unmistakably with whom his sympathies were. + +Towards evening a mob assembled over in Ninth Avenue, and went to work +with some system and forethought. Instead of wandering round, firing and +plundering as the whim seized them, they began to throw up barricades, +behind which they could rally when the military and police came to attack +them. Indeed, the same thing had been done on the east side of the city; +while railroads had been torn up, and stages stopped, to keep them from +carrying policemen, rapidly from one quarter to another. During the day, +Colonel Frothingham had stood in Third Avenue, and stopped and emptied +every car as it approached, and filled it with soldiers, to be carried to +the upper part of the city. Acton, too, had sent round to collect all the +stages still running in Broadway and the Bowery, and in a short time they +came rumbling into Mulberry Street, forming a long line in front of head- +quarters. A telegram from Second Avenue demanded immediate help, and the +police were bundled into them and hurried off. One driver refused to stir, +saying, roughly, he was not hired to carry policemen. Acton had no time to +argue the case, and quickly turning to a policeman, he said: "Put that man +in cell Number 92." In a twinkling he was jerked from his seat and hurried +away. Turning to another policeman, he said: "Mount that box and drive." +The next moment the stage, with a long string of others, loaded inside and +out with the bluecoats, was whirling through the streets. He had done the +same with the Sixth Avenue cars. The son-in-law of George Law +remonstrated, saying that it would provoke the mob to tear down the +railroad buildings. There was no time to stand on ceremony; the cars were +seized, and the company, to save their property, paid a large sum to the +ringleaders of the rioters. In fact, a great many factories and buildings +were bought off in the same way; so that the leaders drove quite a +thriving business. + +But, as before remarked, the commencement of barricades to obstruct the +movements of the police and military, after the Parisian fashion, was a +serious thing, and must be nipped in the bud; and Captain Walling, of the +Twentieth Precinct, who had been busy in this part of the city all the +afternoon in dispersing the mob, sent to head-quarters for a military +force to help remove them. He also sent to General Sandford, at the +arsenal, for a company of soldiers, which was promised, but never sent. At +six o'clock a force of regulars arrived from General Brown, and repaired +to the Precinct station-house. Captain Slott, of the Twentieth Precinct, +took command of the police force detailed to cooperate with the troops, +but delayed action till the arrival of the company promised from the +arsenal. Meanwhile, the rioters kept strengthening the barricades between +Thirty-seventh and Forty-third Streets, in Eighth Avenue, by lashing +carts, wagons, and telegraph poles together with wire stripped from the +latter. The cross streets were also barricaded. Time passed on, and yet +the bayonets of he expected reinforcement from the arsenal did not appear. +The two commanding officers now began to grow anxious; it would not do to +defer the attack till after dark, for such work as was before them +required daylight. At length, as the sun stooped to the western horizon, +it was resolved to wait no longer, and the order to move forward was +given. As they approached the first barricade, by Thirty-seventh Street, a +volley as poured into them from behind it, followed by stones and brick- +bats. + +The police now fell back to the left, and the regulars advancing, returned +the fire. The rioters, however, stood their ground, and for a time nothing +was heard but the rapid roll of musketry. But the steady, well-directed +fire of the troops, at length began to tell on the mob, and they at last +broke, and fled to the next barricade. The police then advanced, and tore +down the barricade, when the whole force moved on to the next. Here the +fight was renewed, but the close and rapid volley of the troops soon +scattered the wretches, when this also was removed. They kept on in this +way, till the last barricade was abandoned, when the uncovered crowd broke +and fled in wild disorder. The soldiers pressed after, breaking up into +squads, and chasing and firing into the disjointed fragments as they +drifted down the various streets. + +There was more or less disturbance in this section, however, till +midnight. At nine o'clock, an attack was made on a gun and hardware store, +in Thirty-seventh Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, but Sergeant +Petty was sent thither with a small force, and scattered them at the first +charge. At midnight, an attempt was made to destroy the colored church in +Thirtieth Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues; but before the +rioters had accomplished their work, Captain Walling, with his entire +force and the regulars, came up, and though met with a volley, fell on +them in such a headlong charge, that they scattered down the street. + +All this time the arsenal presented the appearance of a regular camp; +videttes were kept out, sentries established, howitzers commanded the +streets, and everything wore the look of a besieged fortress. + +Sandford, whom Wool wished to take command of all the troops, evidently +thought that he had as much as he could do to hold that building, without +doing anything to quell the riot in the city. + +One of the first companies that came up from the forts the day before, and +hence belonged to General Brown's force, got, no one could hardly tell +how, into the arsenal, and were there cooped up as useless as though in +garrison--for if seven hundred men with cannon sweeping every approach +could not hold it, seven thousand could not. General Brown and Acton +needed this company badly, but how to get it was the question. Governor +Seymour held no direct communication with the Police Commissioners; for +they were not on friendly terms, as they were holding their places in +defiance of him, he having removed them some time before. Mr. Hawley, the +chief clerk, who knew the Governor personally, acted, therefore, as the +channel of communication between them. He now went to him, and asked him +how things were at the arsenal. He replied, he did not know--no report had +been sent him. Hawley then asked him to send an officer and ascertain, and +get back the company belonging to General Brown's command. He replied he +had no one to send. Hawley then offered to go himself, if he would give an +order to this company of United States troops to report at once to General +Brown at police head-quarters. He did so, and Hawley, reaching the arsenal +in safety, gave the order to the adjutant-general, before calling on +Sandford, so as to be sure it was obeyed. + +On the northern limits of the city, serious disturbances had occurred +during the day, especially in Yorkville, to which Acton was compelled to +send a strong force. The mob also attempted to burn Harlem bridge, but the +heavy rain of the night before had made it so wet that it would not +ignite. Down town, likewise, mobs had assembled before the Western Hotel +and other places, but were dispersed before they had inflicted any damage. +Almost the last act in the evening was an attack on the house of Mr. +Sinclair, one of the owners of the _Tribune_. + +But rioters must eat and sleep like other people, and though knots of them +could be seen in various parts of the city, the main portion seemed to +have retired soon after midnight. + +In the police head-quarters, men were lying around on the floor in the +warm July night, snatching, as best they could, a little repose. General +Brown and staff, in their chairs or stretched on a settee, nodded in this +lull of the storm, though ready at a moment's notice to do their duty. But +there was no rest for Acton. He had not closed his eyes for nearly forty +hours, and he was not to close them for more than forty to come. + +With his nerves strung to their utmost tension, and resolved to put down +that mob though the streets ran blood, he gave his whole soul to the work +before him. He infused his determined, fearless spirit into every one who +approached him. Anonymous letters, telling him he had not another day to +live, he flung aside with a scornful smile, to attend to the telegraph +dispatches from the different precincts. + +Troops and men were stationed at various points, and gunboats were +patrolling the rivers, and he must be on the alert every moment. The fate +of a great city lay on his heart, and he could not sleep. + +[Illustration: THE DEAD SERGEANT IN 22d STREET] + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +DRAFT RIOT--THIRD DAY. + +Scenes in the City and at Head-quarters.--Fight in Eighth Avenue.--Cannon +sweep the Streets.--Narrow Escape of Captain Howell and Colonel Mott.-- +Battle for Jackson's Foundry.--Howitzers clear the Street.--State of +Things shown by Telegraph Despatches.--General Sandford sends out a Force +against a Mob, at Corner of Twenty-ninth Street and Seventh Avenue.-- +Colonel Gardin's Fight with the Mob.--Is Wounded.--Mob Victorious.--Dead +and Wounded Soldiers left in the Street.--Captain Putnam sent to bring +them away.--Disperses the Mob.--Terrific Night. + +Tuesday had been a day of constant success to the police and military, and +many thought that the rioters were thoroughly disheartened, and but little +more hard fighting would be done. There had been two days of exhausting +work, and both parties were well tired out. The commissioners, certainly, +could not stand this terrible strain much longer. Forty-eight hours +without sleep or rest, and all the time under the intensest mental strain, +was telling on even the wiry Acton, though he would confess to no fatigue. + +To one who could take in all that was passing in New York on this morning, +the city would have presented a strange appearance. + +The magnitude and demonstrations of the mob had aroused great fear for the +Navy Yard and the naval property of the Government, and the marine company +that had been on duty with the police was recalled by Admiral Paulding for +their protection; and this morning six war-vessels, carrying in all over +ninety guns, shotted and trained, could be seen drawn up, so as to command +every avenue to the yard, while the iron-clad battery _Passaic_ and a +gun-boat lay off the Battery to protect Fort Columbus during the absence +of its garrison. Marines armed to the teeth, and howitzers, guarded all +the entrances to the Navy Yard. Broadway was almost deserted--no stages +were running, street-cars had disappeared--only here and there shutters +were taken down from the stores, and it looked like Sabbath day in the +city. But at police head-quarters all was activity. The African church +nearly opposite was filled with soldiers stretched on the seats and floor +of the building. Another house, a few doors from the police building, was +also crowded with soldiers. The owner of this empty house, having sent a +flat refusal to Acton's request for the use of it, the latter quietly told +the policemen to stave in the door. It took but a few minutes to send it +from its hinges; and now the troops were quartered in it also; for all +those in the service of the United States, under General Brown, had their +head-quarters here. + +In the basement of the police building was the telegraph, with the wires +running like nerves to every part of the city, over which inquiries and +answers were continually passing. Rooms all around were filled with +rations obtained from a neighboring grocery and meatmarket, taken with or +without leave. On the main floor, on one side, in their office sat the +weary commissioners; on the other, were Inspectors Carpenter, Dilks, and +Leonard, fit, each one to be a general, while scattered around were police +captains, detectives, and patrolmen. On the second story were the clerks, +copyists, etc.; while the top floor was crowded with colored refugees, who +had fled thither for protection. Some were standing and conversing, others +sitting in groups on boxes, or walking from room to room; many of these +sad and serious, as they thought of missing relatives and friends, while +the colored man placed over them, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, was, +with his assistants, dealing out provisions. + +But soon it was announced that a vast crowd, numbering some five thousand, +was assembled near Eighth Avenue and Thirty-second Street, sacking houses +and hanging negroes. General Dodge and Colonel Mott, with Captain Howell, +commanding Eighth Regiment Artillery, were at once despatched thither. As +they marched up the avenue, they saw three negroes hanging dead, while the +crowd around filled the air with fiendish shouts. As the firm, compact +head of the column moved forward, the mob fell back, but did not scatter. +Colonel Mott dashed forward on horseback and cut down one of the negroes +with his sword. This seemed to be the signal for the mob to commence the +attack, and the next moment they rushed forward on the soldiers with +stones, brick-bats, and slung-shots. Colonel Mott then told Captain Howell +to bring two pieces into battery on the corner of Thirty-second Street and +Seventh Avenue, so as to sweep the streets; but he could not get through +the dense crowd to do so. The infantry and cavalry were then ordered up +and told to clear the way. The former, with level bayonets, and the latter +with drawn sabres, charged on the mass, which parted and fell back some +distance, and then halted. Captain Howell then advanced alone, and ordered +the rioters to disperse, or he should fire on them. To this they replied +in sullen silence. The apparent unwillingness of the captain to fire +emboldened them to believe that he would not fire at all. Although they +refused to disperse, the officers, as long as they made no assault, +declined to give the word to fire. This delay encouraged the rioters still +more; and either believing the guns, whose muzzles pointed so +threateningly on them, were loaded with blank cartridges, or grown +desperate and reckless with rage, they suddenly, as though moved by a +common impulse, rushed forward and rained stones and missiles of every +kind on the soldiers. Seeing that their object was to seize the guns and +turn them on the troops, the word to fire was given. The next moment a +puff of smoke rolled out, followed with a report that shook the buildings. +As the murderous shot tore through the crowded mass, they stopped, and +swayed heavily back for a moment, when the pieces were quickly reloaded, +and again sent their deadly contents into their midst, strewing the +pavements with the dead and dying. Those, however, in the rear, being +protected by the mass in front, refused to give way, and it was not till +five or six rounds had been fired that they finally broke and fled down +the side streets. The military then broke into columns and marched up and +down the streets, scattering everything before them, and arresting many of +the rioters. + +Having finished their work, they returned to head-quarters. As they left +the district, the mob, or a portion of it, gathered together again, and +strung up afresh the lifeless bodies of the negroes. + +A few hours later, Captain Brower, with a police force, was sent thither, +to take down and remove the bodies of any negroes that might be still +hanging. He did so without molestation. + +Captain Howell's murderous fire on the mob came very near causing his +death two days after. Having the curiosity to witness the scene of his +struggle with the mob, he took his carriage, and drove over to it. A gang +of seven or eight ruffians, seeing his uniform, cried out, "There's the +man who fired on us here--let us hang him." Their shouts called others to +the spot, and almost before the captain was aware of his danger, some +fifty men were assembled, and at once made a dash at the driver, and +ordered him to stop. Captain Howell, quickly drawing his revolver, pointed +it at the driver, and ordered him to turn down Thirty-first Street, and +give his horses the whip, or he would shoot him on the spot. The man +obeying, lashed his horses into a run. At this moment the crowd was all +around the carriage, and one man was climbing up behind, when he fell and +was run over. A shower of stones and brick-bats followed, breaking in the +panels of the carriage, and narrowly missing the captain's head. + +One stone struck an old wound in his side, and for a moment paralyzed his +arm. The crowd with yells and shouts followed after, when he turned and +emptied his revolver at them through the back window, which brought them +to a halt. Colonel Mott had a similar escape the day before. Passing down +one of the avenues in a carriage, he was recognized by some of the +rioters, who immediately assailed him with stones, and fired at him. One +of the bullets passed through the cushion on which he was sitting. + +Soon after this affair in Seventh Avenue, word was telegraphed that +Jackson's foundry, corner of Twenty-eighth Street, First and Second +Avenues, was threatened. A military force was despatched forthwith to it, +piloted by four policemen. At Twenty-first Street and First Avenue, they +were fired on by the mob. The attack was continued through the street to +Second Avenue, and up this to Twenty-fifth Street, without any notice +being taken of it by the troops. Made reckless by this forbearance, the +rioters began to close up in more dangerous proximity, when the howitzer +was unlimbered and pointed down the avenue. The mob not liking the looks +of this, scattered, when the column resumed its march. The mob then +rallied, and followed after, with shouts and distant shots, till the +foundry on Twenty-eighth Street was reached. Here another mob came up from +First Avenue, and the two made a simultaneous attack. The command was then +given to fire, and a volley was poured into the crowd. Rapidly loading and +firing, the troops soon stretched so many on the pavement, that the rest +broke and fled. The military then entered the building and held it. The +mob gathered around it, threatening to storm it, but could not pluck up +courage to make the attempt. They seemed especially exasperated against +the policemen, and had the effrontery to send a committee to the officer +in command, demanding their surrender. If their request was refused, they +declared they would storm the building at all hazards; but if complied +with, they would disperse. The committee had to shout out their demands +from the street. In reply, the officer told them if they did not take +themselves off instantly, he would fire upon them; upon which they +incontinently took to their heels. + +As the day wore on, things began to wear a still more threatening aspect. +Despatches came in from every quarter, announcing the activity of the +mob. To a question sent to the Thirteenth Precinct, a little past twelve, +inquiring how things were going on in Grand Street, was returned the +following reply: "Lively; store-keepers have fired into the mob; no force +there yet." + +12.20. From Twenty-first. Building corner Thirty-third Street, Second +Avenue, is set on fire by the mob. + +12.50. From Fifteenth. Send assistance to Twenty-first Precinct; they are +about attacking it. + +12.55. From Twenty-sixth. It is reported that Government stores in +Greenwich, near Liberty, are on fire; fired by mob. + +1.10. From Twenty-seventh. Send more men here forthwith. + +1.25. From Fourth. Fire corner of Catharine Street and East Broadway. + +1.45. A man just in from Eleventh Precinct, reports a number of bands of +robbers, numbering from fifty to one hundred each, breaking into stores in +Houston, near Attorney Street. + +1.47 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. The mob have cleared Twenty-first Precinct +station-house. + +2 P.M. From Twenty-ninth. A large mob surrounded Captain Green's house, +Twenty-eighth Street, Third Avenue. He escaped out of the back window; +they threatened to hang him. + +3.10 P.M. To Eleventh. Send to foot of Fourteenth Street, East River, and +if military is there, send word here forthwith. + +3.15. From Twenty-fourth. Mob are firing the building on Second Avenue, +near Twenty-eighth Street. Immediate assistance is required. Houses +occupied by negroes, who are fleeing for their lives. + +3.25. From Twentieth. The mob are sacking houses at Twenty-seventh Street +and Seventh Avenue. We have no force to send. + +3.30. From Twenty-first. There is an attack on the colored people in +Second Avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Streets. + +3.40. From Eleventh. Send to 242 Stanton Street, and take possession of +cavalry swords forthwith. + +There were five thousand cavalry swords there, and the mob were assembling +to capture them; and the telegram announcing the fact, and the one +ordering a force to seize them, were received and answered the same +minute. + +3.55. To Twenty-first. How do things look? + +_Ans_. Very bad; large crowd in Thirty-fifth Street, near Third +Avenue, and no assistance from adjoining precinct. + +4 o'clock. To Twenty-first. What is going on? + +_Ans_. The mob have captured some five or six negroes, and are +preparing to hang them; be quick with reinforcements. + +4.43. From Twentieth. News have just come in that the mob are about to +attack the Twenty-second Precinct station-house. + +5.15. From Sixteenth. Send us one hundred special shields and clubs; the +citizens are arming up well. + +5.15. From Twenty-ninth. Who feeds the special men? + +_Ans_. You must, far as able. + +_Reply_. No money. + +_Ans_. It makes no difference; they must be fed; we are responsible. + +5.20. From Twenty-ninth. The rioters are now on Seventh Avenue and Twenty- +eighth Street. They have just killed a negro; say they are going to cut +off the Croton; they have pickaxes and crowbars; and also say they will +cut off the gas; so reported by one of our men, who has been in the crowd; +they were about to fire corner of Twenty-eighth Street and Seventh Avenue, +when he came away. + +To have cut off the water and extinguished the gas, would have been +master-strokes; but the military arrived in time to prevent it. + +5.25. From First. Riot at Pier 4, North River; they have killed negroes +there. + +Thus, at the same moment, from the two extreme ends of the city, came the +news of riots and calls for help. From points five miles apart, the wires +would bring simultaneously tidings that showed the mob omnipresent. + +In the midst of all these incessant exhausting labors, the following +telegram came from the Twentieth Precinct: + +"General Sandford says he has so many negroes at the arsenal, that he must +get rid of them." + +Acton's answer was characteristic. He had no time for formalities or +courteous exchange of views. In an instant there flashed back over the +wires the curt reply: + +"Tell General Sandford he must do the best he can with them there." + +General Sandford had at this time about the same number of men under his +command at the arsenal that General Brown had at police head-quarters; yet +the former, up to this morning, had not sent out a single company to +assist the police to arrest the devastations of the mob. He apparently did +not know what was going on, had hardly kept up any communication with the +Police Commissioners or Governor Seymour, but now begs the former to +relieve him of some colored refugees, as if the overworked commissioners +had not enough on their hands already. This request is especially +noteworthy, when taken in connection with his after report, in which he +states that on this morning the riot was substantially over; so much so, +at least, that the police could do all that was necessary without the aid +of the military. It would seem that if he really thought that the rest of +the work should be left to them, he might have sent off some of his +troops, and made room for the negroes in the arsenal. + +At about two o'clock in the afternoon word was received that a large +number of muskets were secreted in a store on Broadway, near Thirty-third +Street; and Colonel Meyer was ordered to proceed thither, with thirty- +three soldiers belonging to Hawkins' Zouaves, and take possession of them. +Reaching the place, he found a large mob gathered, which was momentarily +increasing. He, however, succeeded in entering the building, and brought +out the arms. An Irishman happening to pass by in his cart, the colonel +seized it, and pitching in the guns, closed around it, and moved off. + +Citizens offering their services were coming in all day, and a company was +formed and placed under the command of Charles A. Lamont, and did good +service. Others also were enrolled and placed on duty. + +Colonel Sherwood's battery of rifled cannon arrived in the afternoon, and +was put in position in front of the arsenal, where the firing of pickets +all day would indicate that an attack was momentarily expected. This did +not look as if General Sandford thought the riot substantially over. + +At about five o'clock, it was ordered by Sandford, with an infantry force +of one hundred and fifty, to corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh +Avenue, to quell a mob assembled in large numbers at that point, and which +were gutting, and plundering, and firing houses. As they approached, they +saw flames bursting from windows, while, to complete the terror of the +scene, the body of a negro hung suspended from a lamp-post, his last +struggle just ended. At the same time that the military arrived, firemen, +who had come to put out the fire, reached the spot in another direction. +One portion of the mob immediately took shelter behind the latter, so that +the troops dared not fire and clear the streets, while another ran up to +the house-tops, armed with guns and pistols, for the purpose of firing +into the ranks below. The colonel told his men to keep a sharp lookout, +and at the first shot fire. Scores of guns were immediately pointed +towards the roofs of the houses. In the meantime, from some cause not +fully explained, the imposing force, after this demonstration, marched +away, leaving the mob in full possession of the field. It had hardly +reached the protection of the arsenal again, when the plundering and +violence recommenced; and in a short time two more negroes were amusing +the spectators with their death throes, as they hung by the neck from +lamp-posts. This was the second expedition sent out by Sandford, the +commander-in-chief of the military, during the riot. + +Towards evening word was brought to the Seventh Regiment armory that the +mob had gathered in great force in First Avenue, between Eighteenth and +Nineteenth Streets. + +Colonel Winston, in command, immediately ordered out a force, composed in +part of the military, and in part of enrolled citizens, and with a battery +of two howitzers, under command of Colonel Jardine, of Hawkins' Zouaves, +marched rapidly to the scene of disturbance. Passing down Nineteenth +Street to the avenue, it halted, and unlimbering the pieces, trained them +so as to command the avenue, while the infantry formed in line to support +them. As soon as the rioters saw the guns bearing on them, they dodged +into basements, and mounted to the windows and roofs of the tenement +buildings that abounded in that vicinity. A number of them armed with +muskets and pistols, and the rest with stones and brick-bats, began a +fierce and determined attack on the troops. The howitzers, loaded with +grape and canister, at once swept the street. After the first discharge, +but few ventured to show themselves in the avenue, until after they heard +the report, when they would dodge from behind corners and fire back. But +from the tops of the houses an incessant fusillade was kept up. The +soldiers endeavored to pick them off, but the rioters presented a small +mark compared to that which the troops, massed in the open streets, +furnished; and it was soon apparent that the fight was unequal. If they +had only had a police force to enter the buildings, and hunt the men from +the roofs, the fight would soon have been over. But the commander, +thinking he could not spare a sufficient number to do this work, or that +the soldiers, cumbered with their muskets, which, after the first +discharge, would have to be clubbed, could make no headway in such a hand- +to-hand fight, made no effort to dislodge the wretches, who loaded and +fired with the most imperturbable coolness. One man was seen to step round +the corner, after the discharge of the battery, and resting his gun on the +shoulder of a fellow-rioter, take as deliberate aim at Colonel Jardine as +he would at a squirrel on the limb of a tree, and fire. The ball struck +the colonel in the thigh, and brought him to the pavement. Other officers +shared his fate, while at every discharge, men would drop in the ranks. +The howitzers rattled their shot on the deserted pavements and walls of +the houses, but did no damage to the only portion of the enemy they had to +fear, while the fight between the infantry and the rioters was like that +between soldiers in the open field and Indians in ambush. Colonel Winston +soon saw that it was madness to keep his men there, to be picked off in +detail, and ordered a retreat. At the first sign of a retrograde movement, +a cry rang along the avenue; and from the side streets, and basements, and +houses, the mob swarmed forth so furiously, that it assumed huge +proportions at once, and chased the retiring soldiers with yells and +taunts, and pressed them so hotly that they could not bring off all their +killed and wounded. Among those left behind was Colonel Jardine. He took +refuge in a basement, where the mob found him, and would have killed him +on the spot, had not one of them recognized him as an old acquaintance, +and for some reason or other protected him from further violence; and he +was eventually carried to the house of a surgeon near by. + +The mob were left masters of the field, and soon began their depredations. +The state of things was at length reported to police head-quarters, and +General Brown sent off Captain Putman, with Captain Shelby and a hundred +and fifty regulars and two field-pieces, to disperse the mob and bring +away the dead and wounded of Winston's force that might remain. They +reached the spot between ten and eleven o'clock at night. The dimly +lighted streets were black with men, while many, apprised of the approach +of the military, mounted again to the roofs as before. Putnam immediately +charged on the crowd in the street, scattering them like a whirlwind. He +then turned his guns on the buildings, and opened such a deadly fire on +them that they were soon cleared. Having restored order, he halted his +command, and remained on the ground till half-past twelve. + +At the same time a mob was pulling down the negro houses in York Street, +which they soon left a heap of ruins. Houses plundered or set on fire in +various parts of the city, combined with the ringing of fire-bells, +thunder of cannon, and marching of troops, made this night like its +predecessor--one of horror. + +There was also a disturbance in Brooklyn. Shaw's and Fancher's elevators, +and Wheeler's store on the docks, were set on fire, and a force ordered to +put them out. + +The illumination of the windows from the _Times_ building this +evening shed a brilliant glow over Printing-house Square, and flooded the +Park to the City Hall with light, while an armed force within was ready to +fire on any mob that should dare expose itself in the circle of its +influence. + +At 12.15 the following telegram was sent: + +"To all stations. How are things in your precinct?" + +_Answer_. "All quiet." + +Thus the third night of this terrible riot passed away still unsubdued, +and still Acton sat at his post, awake, while others slept, and kept +feeling through the telegraph wires the pulse of the huge, fevered city. +The regiments coming back from Pennsylvania might arrive at any time, and +he was anxious to know the moment they reached the New York docks. The +Seventh Regiment, especially, he knew was expected to reach the city that +night by special train. Policemen were therefore kept on the watch; but +the regiment did not arrive till after daylight. About half-past four in +the morning, the steady ranks were seen marching along Canal Street +towards Broadway, and soon drew up in front of St. Nicholas Hotel. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +FOURTH DAY. + +Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor.--City districted.--Appearance of +the East Side of the City.--A small Squad of Soldiers chased into a +Foundry by the Mob.--Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in Twenty- +ninth Street.--Soldiers driven from the Ground, leaving a dead Sergeant +behind.--Captain Putnam sent to bring the Body away.--Mows down the +Rioters with Canister.--Storms the Houses.--Utter Rout of the Mob.-- +Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to Blackwell's Island.-- +Touching Scene.--Coming on of Night and a Thunderstorm.--Returning +Regiments.--Increased Force in the City to put down Violence.--Archbishop +Hughes offers to address the Irish.--Curious Account of an Interview of a +Lady with him and Governor Seymour.--Strange Conduct of the Prelate. + +Only the principal disturbances of the third day were given, and of these +the accounts were very succinct. The movements of the mobs and the +conflicts with them were so similar in character, that a detailed +description of them would be a mere repetition of what had gone before. +After the police force, and the troops under General Brown had become +organized so as to move and act together, each fight with the rioters was +almost a repetition of its predecessor. Having adopted a plan of +procedure, they seldom deviated from it, and the story of one fight became +the story of all--a short struggle and a quick victory. + +It was hoped this morning that the rioters would conclude that they could +not carry out their mad designs; for the enrolment of large bodies of +citizens, and the announcement of the speedy return of several regiments, +showed that all the force necessary to subdue them was, or soon would be, +on hand. The day before, the Governor had issued a proclamation, declaring +the city to be in a state of insurrection; but this morning appeared a +proclamation from Mayor Opdyke, announcing that the insurrection was +practically ended. It is true he called on the citizens to form voluntary +associations, with competent leaders, to patrol their separate districts, +to protect themselves from roaming gangs of plunderers, and so spare the +exhausted police and military. Yet he called on the citizens to resume +their usual avocations, and directed the railroad and stage lines to +resume their routes. This opinion of the Mayor was strengthened by the +positive announcement that the draft had been suspended, and the passage +of an ordinance by the City Council, appropriating $2,500,000 towards +paying $300 exemption money to the poor who might be drafted. It was +plain, if the draft was the cause of the continued riot, it would now +cease. But in spite of all this, bad news came from Harlem, and Yorkville, +and other sections. In fact, it was evident that the Police Commissioners +did not share fully in the pleasant anticipations of the Mayor. Having +ascertained that the leaders of the mob, learning from experience, had +organized more intelligently, and designed to act in several distinct and +separate bodies in different sections, they, with General Brown, divided +the city into four districts, in each one of which were to be stationed +strong bodies of the police and military, so that they could act with more +expedition and efficiency than if they were sent out from the common head- +quarters in Mulberry Street. It would, beside, save the fatigue of long +marches. Those separate stations were in Harlem, Eighteenth, Twenty-ninth, +and Twenty-sixth Precincts. A good deal was also expected by an invitation +given by Archbishop Hughes, that appeared in the morning papers, to the +Irish to meet him next day in front of his house, where, though crippled +from rheumatism, he would address them from the balcony. The Eighth Avenue +cars had been started, as well as those of the Third; and many stores were +opened. Still, on the east side of the city, in the neighborhood of First +Avenue, most of the shops were closed. + +It should be here remarked to the credit of the German population, which +were very numerous in certain localities on this side of the city, that +they had no sympathy with the rioters; on the contrary, sent word to the +Police Commissioners not to be concerned about their locality; they had +organized, and would see that order was maintained there. No better title +to American citizenship than this could be shown. + +[Illustration: THE RIOTERS DRAGGING COL. O'BRIEN'S BODY THROUGH THE +STREET.] + +Though early in the morning, it was comparatively quiet on the east side +of the city; yet near First Avenue knots of men could be seen here and +there, engaged in loud and angry conversation. They looked exhausted and +haggard, but talked defiant as ever, swearing terrible vengeance against +the military; for, though hidden from sight, in the miserable tenement- +houses near by, lay their dead, dying, and wounded friends by scores. Near +Nineteenth Street, the scene of the conflict the evening previous, there +were stones, brick-bats, shivered awning-posts, and other wrecks of the +fight. The grog-shops were open, in which men with bloody noses, and +bruised and battered faces, obtained the necessary stimulus to continue +the desperate struggle. Dirty, slovenly-dressed women stood in the door- +ways or on the steps, swearing and denouncing both police and military in +the coarsest language. Though the immense gatherings of the preceding days +were not witnessed, yet there was a ground-swell of passion that showed +the lawless spirit was not subdued, though overawed. But the Police +Commissioners were now prepared for whatever might occur. The Seventh +Regiment had been stationed on the west side of the city, with a wide +district to keep in order, thus enabling them to concentrate larger forces +in other directions. But, although everything wore this favorable aspect +to the authorities, it was evident towards noon, from the steadily +increasing size of the groups observed in the morning, that they had +resolved to try again their strength with the military. The state of +things was telegraphed to police head-quarters, but the report making the +mob not formidable, only a company of about twenty-five men were sent out. +Finding the rioters numbered about two hundred or more, and not daring to +fire their howitzer, lest, before it could be reloaded, the former would +rush forward and seize it, they concluded to retire. The mob at once set +furiously on them, and forced them to take refuge in Jackson's foundry. +The following telegram to head-quarters announced the fact: + +"1.25. From Twenty-first. The mob has charged our military, about twenty- +five in number, and driven them into Jackson's foundry, First Avenue and +Twenty-eighth Street. The mob are armed, and every time a regular shows +himself they fire. A few good skirmishers would pick off these riflemen +and relieve the military." + +This was soon succeeded by the following: + +"1.54. From Twenty-first. Send military assistance immediately to First +Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street. The mob increases, and will murder the +military force." + +_Ans_. "They are on their way up." + +They soon arrived, and were at once furiously attacked by the mob. The +soldiers fired into them, but they boldly held their ground, and were +evidently bent on a desperate fight. + +The former now took up their stations at the junction of the streets, and +were about to sweep them with canister, when from some cause a delay was +ordered. This increased the boldness of the mob, and they taunted and +derided the soldiers. But in a few minutes a reinforcement of regulars +arrived on the ground and charged bayonets. The rioters fell back, but +rallying, forced the soldiers to retire in turn. The latter, however, +returned to the charge, when the mob again gave way, but still stubbornly +refused to disperse. + +News of the magnitude of the struggle reached the Seventh Regiment, and +they rapidly marched to the spot. Their steady tramp along the pavement, +and well-set ranks, discouraged the crowd, and they marched and counter- +marched through the streets without molestation. + +The mob, however, dispersed only to reassemble again in Twenty-ninth +Street, and began to plunder the stores in the vicinity, and spread +devastation on every side. + +This being reported to head-quarters, a military force was despatched to +disperse them. The rioters, however, instead of retreating, attacked them +with the greatest fury. Almost every house was filled with them, and they +lined the roofs with muskets and pistols, from which they poured down a +deadly fire. For nearly a half an hour the fire was kept up without +cessation, and many were killed. A sergeant was knocked down by a brick- +bat, and then seized and beaten to death. The troops finding themselves +unable to dislodge the assailants, retreated, leaving the body of the +sergeant in the street, where it lay for three hours. General Brown not +having a sufficient number of troops on hand, the mob all this time had it +their own way. It was nine o'clock before he could despatch Captain Putnam +with a strong force to put an end to the disgraceful scene. Arriving on +the spot, the latter addressed the crowd, saying that he had come to carry +away the dead body of the sergeant, and should do it at all hazards. But +he had hardly placed it in a wagon, when the crowd began to assail his +troops. He immediately unlimbered his pieces, when it scattered in every +direction. But the rioters came together again at the corner of Thirty- +first Street and Second Avenue, where they were met by reinforcements, and +made a stand. They filled the houses, and mounted to the roofs, armed with +muskets and revolvers, and as Putnam appeared, commenced a rapid fire. +Placing his pieces in position, this gallant officer swept the street with +canister, which soon cleared it. Eleven of the ringleaders were shot down, +and bodies lay thick on the pavement. But this did not intimidate those in +the windows, or on the roofs, and they kept up a steady fire. Putnam, who +showed by his cool courage that the fighting stock from which he came had +not degenerated, now ordered his men to turn their fire on the buildings. +At each discharge, the heavy volleys brought down many of the wretches, +some pitching headlong from the roof, and dashing out their brains on the +pavement and flagging below. But the fight was very unequal, for the +assailants would expose their bodies as little as possible; Putnam saw +that the houses must be stormed, and gave the order to do it. The fight +was now transferred to the inside, and became close and murderous. In the +narrow halls and on the stairways, numbers were of no avail, and the +rioters fought with a desperation they had not before exhibited. There was +no way of escape, and they seemed to prefer death to being taken +prisoners, and for a half an hour maintained the conflict in the darkened +rooms and passages with a ferocity that was appalling. At last, however, +with their numbers sadly thinned, they were forced to yield, and took +refuge in flight. Many, unable to get away, hid under beds and in closets, +but the soldiers ferreted them out, and carried them to police head- +quarters. + +The arsenal had not been attacked, as Sandford seemed every day to think +it would be. Many colored people, as before stated, took refuge in it; and +about noon on this day, a body of police arrived before it, with the +children of the Colored Orphan Asylum that had been burned on Monday, in +charge. They had since that time been scattered round in station-houses, +but were now to be escorted to Blackwell's Island, for better security. It +was an impressive spectacle this army of children presented, as they drew +up in line in front of the arsenal to wait for those within to join them. +The block was filled with them. The frightened little fugitives, fleeing +from they scarce knew what, looked bewildered at their novel position. It +seemed impossible that they ever could have been the objects of any one's +vengeance. With a strong body of police in front and rear, and a +detachment of soldiers on either side, they toddled slowly down to the +foot of Thirty-fifth Street, from whence they were taken by boats to the +Island. + +The Sixty-fifth New York Regiment arrived from Harrisburg in the +afternoon, and just before midnight the One Hundred and Fifty-second also +reached the city, and marched up Broadway to police head-quarters, where +they were stowed away to get some rest. + +A heavy storm that set in during the evening, helped to scatter the crowd +that would otherwise have gathered on this warm July night, but it at the +same time gave a sombre aspect to the city. The crescent moon was veiled +in black, and thunderous clouds that swept heavily over the city, deepened +the gloom, and seemed portentous of greater evil. The closing of all the +stores and shop-windows at nightfall, through fear, left the streets +lighted only by the scattering lamps. This unusual stretch of blank dead +walls, emitting no ray of light, rendered the darkness made by the +overhanging storm still more impenetrable. Flashes of lightning would +reveal small groups of men bent on plunder, in sections where the military +and police were not stationed, but no open violence was attempted. In +other directions, the bayonets of the soldiers would gleam out of the +dense shadows, as they silently held the posts assigned them, ready to +march at a moment's notice. This was the fourth night, and the cannon +planted in the streets, and the increased military force, showed that +peace was not yet fully restored. The Seventh Regiment was quartered in +Thirty-fourth Street, part of the soldiers within a building, and crowding +every window to catch the first sign of disturbance, and part stationed +below, or marching back and forth in the street. Other troops and +policemen were massed at head-quarters, ready to move, at the word of +command, to any point threatened by the mob. + +The fourth night was passing away, and still Acton clung to his post, and +refused to take even a moment's rest. His whole nature had been keyed up +to meet the grave responsibilities that lay upon him, and through the +wires he still watched every threatened point in the city, with sleepless +vigilance. In the meantime, over a thousand special policemen had been +sworn in, and five hundred or more citizens had voluntered their services, +while the steady arrival of returning regiments swelled the military force +into formidable proportions. + +During the day, Senators Connolly and O'Brien had waited on General Brown, +and asked him to remove the military from their ward, as their presence +excited the people. The General very bluntly refused, saying he should not +permit his troops to retire from before an armed mob. He was asked also to +order the troops to leave Jackson's foundry for the same reason, and gave +an equally emphatic refusal. There was now to be no compromise with the +rioters, no agreement entered into. They had got beyond the character of +citizens with rights to be respected--they were assassins and murderers, +to whom was submitted the simple question of subjection to law and +authority, or death. + +The fighting through the day had been severe, but the disturbance had not +been so wide-spread and general. Outside of the city, there had been +threatening rumors. It was reported that there was danger of an uprising +in Westchester, where some leading Democrats had taken open opposition to +the draft, and a gun-boat had gone up as far as Tarrytown; but nothing +serious occurred. + +The rioters being almost exclusively Irish, it was thought that an address +from Archbishop Hughes would go far to quiet the ringleaders, and he had +therefore issued the following call, already referred to: + +To the men of New York, who are now called in many of the papers rioters. + +MEN! + +I am not able, owing to rheumatism in my limbs, to visit you, but that is +not a reason why you should not pay me a visit in your whole strength. +Come, then, tomorrow (Friday) at two o'clock, to my residence, north-west +corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-sixth street. There is abundant space +for the meeting, around my house. I can address you from the corner of the +balcony. If I should not be able to stand during its delivery, you will +permit me to address you sitting; my voice is much stronger than my limbs. +I take upon myself the responsibility of assuring you, that in paying me +this visit or in retiring from it, you shall not be disturbed by any +exhibition of municipal or military presence. You who are Catholics, or as +many of you as are, have a right to visit your bishop without molestation. + +JOHN HUGHES, Archbishop of New York. + +NEW YORK, _July_ 16, 1863. + +A curious incident was related subsequently in one of the New York papers, +respecting the manner in which an interview was brought about between him +and Governor Seymour, and which resulted in the resolution of the +Archbishop to address the rioters. The substance of the account was, that +a young widow of high culture, formerly the wife of a well-known lawyer of +this city--a woman living in an atmosphere of art, and refinement, and +spending her time in study, became so excited over the violence and +bloodshed that the authorities seemed unable to suppress, and finding that +the Irish were at the bottom of the trouble, determined to appeal to +Archbishop Hughes personally, to use his high authority and influence to +bring these terrible scenes to a close. + +Acting on this determination, she set out this morning for the +Archbishop's residence, but on arriving was told that he was at the +residence of Vicar-general Starrs, in Mulberry Street. Hastening thither, +she asked for an interview. Her request was denied, when she repeated it; +and though again refused, would not be repelled, and sent word that her +business was urgent, and that she would not detain him ten minutes. The +Archbishop finally consented to see her. As she entered the library, her +manner and bearing--both said to be remarkably impressive--arrested the +attention of the prelate. Without any explanation or apology, she told him +at once her errand--that it was one of mercy and charity. She had been +educated in a Roman Catholic convent herself, in which her father was a +professor, and she urged him, in the name of God, to get on horseback, and +go forth into the streets and quell the excitement of his flock. She told +him he must, like Mark Antony, address the people; and in rescuing this +great metropolis from vandalism, would become a second Constantine, an +immortal hero. It was his duty, she boldly declared; and though she did +not profess to be a Jeanne d'Arc or Madame Roland, but a plain woman of +the present day, she would ride fearlessly by his side, and if he were +threatened, would place her body between him and danger, and take the blow +aimed at him. The cautious and crafty prelate was almost carried away by +the impassioned and dramatic force of this woman, but he told her it would +be presumption in him to do so; in fact, impossible, as he was so crippled +with rheumatism and gout, that he could not walk. She then asked him to +call the crowd, and address them from the balcony of his house. He replied +that he was just then busy in writing an answer to an attack on him in the +_Tribune_. She assured him that such a controversy was worse than +useless--that another and higher duty rested on him. She pressed him with +such importunity and enthusiasm, that he finally consented; but as a last +effort to get rid of her, said he feared the military would interfere and +attack the mob. She assured him they would not, and hurried off to the St. +Nicholas to see Governor Seymour about it. She found the ante-room filled +with officials and other personages on important business, waiting their +turn to be admitted. But her determined, earnest manner so impressed every +one with the importance of her mission, that precedence was granted her, +and she found herself at once beside the astonished Governor. Without any +preliminaries, she told him she had just come from the head of the church, +and wanted his excellency to visit him immediately. No business was of +such vital importance as this. The self-possessed Governor coolly replied +that he should be glad to see the Archbishop, but business was too +pressing to allow him to be absent even a half an hour from his duties. +She hastened back to Archbishop Hughes, and prevailed on him to write a +note to Governor Seymour, asking him to call and see him, as he was unable +to get out. Fortified with this, she now took a priest with her, and +providing herself with a carriage, returned to head-quarters, and +absolutely forced, by her energy and determination and persuasive manner, +the Governor to leave his business, and go to the Archbishop's. The +invitation to the Irish to meet him was the result of this interview. + +Why Archbishop Hughes took no more active part than he did in quelling +this insurrection, when there was scarcely a man in it except members of +his own flock, seems strange. It is true he had published an address to +them, urging them to keep the peace; but it was prefaced by a long, +undignified, and angry attack on Mr. Greeley, of the _Tribune_, and +showed that he was in sympathy with the rioters, at least in their +condemnation of the draft. The pretence that it would be unsafe for him to +pass through the streets, is absurd; for on three different occasions +common priests had mingled with the mob, not only with impunity, but with +good effect. He could not, therefore, have thought himself to be in any +great danger. One thing, at any rate, is evident: had an Irish mob +threatened to burn down a Roman Catholic church, or a Roman Catholic +orphan asylum, or threatened any of the institutions or property of the +Roman Church, he would have shown no such backwardness or fear. The mob +would have been confronted with the most terrible anathemas of the church, +and those lawless bands quailed before the maledictions of the +representative of "God's vicegerent on earth." It is unjust to suppose +that he wished this plunder and robbery to continue, or desired to see +Irishmen shot down in the streets; it must, therefore, be left to +conjecture, why he could not be moved to any interference except by +outside pressure, and then show so much lukewarmness in his manner--in +fact, condemning their opponents almost as much as themselves. + +The excitement consequent on the draft, exhibited in outbreaks in various +parts of the country, and in the vicinity of New York, was increased by +the reports of violence and fighting in the latter city. In Troy there was +a riot, and the mob, imitating the insane conduct of the rioters in New +York, proceeded to attack an African church. But a priest, more bold or +more patriotic than Archbishop Hughes, interfered and saved it. That the +latter, armed with nothing but the crucifix, could have effected as much +as the police and military together, there can be but little doubt. This +open and decided sympathy with law and order, and bitter anathemas against +the vandals who sought the destruction of the city, were the more +demanded, as such a large proportion of the police force were Roman +Catholics, and in their noble devotion to duty, even to shooting down +their own countrymen and men of a similar faith, deserved this +encouragement from the head of the church. + +[Illustration: BURNING OF THE SECOND AVENUE ARMORY.] + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +CLOSING SCENES. + +Tranquil Morning.--Proclamation of the Mayor.--Mob cowed.--Plunderers +afraid of Detection.--Dirty Cellars crowded with rich Apparel, Furniture, +and Works of Art.--Archbishop Hughes' Address.--Useless Efforts.--Acton's +Forty-eight Hours without Sleep over.--Change in Military Commanders in +the City.--General Brown relinquishes his Command.--True Words.--Noble +Character and Behavior of the Troops and Police.--General Brown's +invaluable Services. + +This week of horrors--a week unparalleled in the history of New York--was +drawing to a close. It had been one of terror and dismay to the +inhabitants, who thought only of the immediate effects on themselves of +the triumph of the mob. A great city laid in ashes, given, up to robbers +and cut-throats, is at any time a terrible spectacle; but New York in +ruins at this time was a republic gone--a nation, uncrowned and left +desolate; but the battle, both for the nation and city, had been nobly +fought and won; and Friday, the fifth day of this protracted struggle, +dawned bright and tranquil. The storm of the night before had passed away, +and the streets, thoroughly washed by the drenching rain, stretched clean +and quiet between the long rows of buildings, emblematic of the +tranquillity that had returned to the city. + +The cars were seen once more speeding down to the business centres, loaded +with passengers. Broadway shook to the rumbling of the heavy omnibuses; +shutters were taken down, and the windows again shone with their rich +adornments. The anxious look had departed from the pedestrians, for the +heavy cloud, so full of present woe and future forebodings, had lifted and +passed away. + +The following proclamation of Mayor Opdyke will show the true state of +things on this morning, and what the people had most to fear: + +"The riotous assemblages have been dispersed. Business is running in its +usual channels. The various lines of omnibuses, railway, and telegraph +have resumed their ordinary operations. Few symptoms of disorder remain, +except in a small district in the eastern part of the city, comprising a +part of the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Wards. The police is everywhere +alert. A sufficient military force is now here to suppress any illegal +movement, however formidable. + +"Let me exhort you, therefore, to pursue your ordinary business. Avoid +especially all crowds. Remain quietly at your homes, except when engaged +in business, or assisting the authorities in some organized force. When +the military appear in the street, do not gather about it, being sure that +it is doing its duty in obedience to orders from superior authority. Your +homes and your places of business you have a right to defend, and it is +your duty to defend them, at all hazards. Yield to no intimidation, and to +no demand for money as the price of your safety. If any person warns you +to desist from your accustomed business, give no heed to the warning, but +arrest him and bring him to the nearest station-house as a conspirator. + +"Be assured that the public authorities have the ability and the will to +protect you from those who have conspired alike against your peace, +against the government of your choice, and against the laws which your +representatives have enacted. + +"GEORGE OPDYKE, Mayor." + +Down-town there was scarcely anything to show that New York had for nearly +a week been swept by one of the most frightful storms that ever desolated +a city. Even in the disaffected districts, no crowds were assembled. In +the corner groggeries, small groups of men might be seen, discussing the +past, and uttering curses and threats; and ruined houses and battered +walls and hanging blinds here and there arrested the eye, showing what +wild work had been wrought; but it was evident that the struggle was over. +The mob was thoroughly subdued, and the law-breakers now thought more of +escaping future punishment than of further acts of violence. Bruised heads +and battered forms were scattered through the low tenement-houses in every +direction, which friends were anxious to keep concealed from the notice of +the authorities. In dirty cellars and squalid apartments were piled away +the richest stuffs--brocaded silks, cashmere shawls, elegant chairs, +vases, bronzes, and articles of virtu, huddled promiscuously together, +damning evidences of guilt, which were sure not to escape, in the end, the +searching eye of the police, who had already begun to gather up the +plunder. Thus the objects mostly coveted but a few hours ago now awakened +the greatest solicitude and fear. + +Even if the military under General Brown and the police had not shown the +mob that they were its masters, the arrival of so many regiments, +occupying all the infected districts, was overwhelming evidence that the +day of lawless triumph was over, and that of retribution had come. Some +acts of individual hostility were witnessed, but nothing more. + +Archbishop Hughes had his meeting, and some five thousand assembled to +hear him. They were on the whole a peaceable-looking crowd, and it was +evidently composed chiefly, if not wholly, of those who had taken no part +in the riot. None of the bloody heads and gashed faces, of which there +were so many at that moment in the city, appeared. The address was well +enough, but it came too late to be of any service. It might have saved +many lives and much destruction, had it been delivered two days before, +but now it was like the bombardment of a fortress after it had +surrendered--a mere waste of ammunition. The fight was over, and to use +his own not very refined illustration, he "spak' too late." The reports +that came in to Acton from all the precincts convinced him of this, and he +began to think of rest. + +The strain was off, and overtasked nature made her demand, and he was +compelled to yield to it. The tremendous work that had been laid upon him +had been right nobly accomplished. Had he been a weak and vacillating man, +the rioters would have acquired a headway that could not have been +stopped, without a more terrible sacrifice of life and property--perhaps +even of half the city. Comprehending intuitively the gravity of the +situation, and the danger of procrastination or temporizing, he sprang at +once for the enemy's throat, and never ceased his hold until he had +strangled him to death. If he had waited to consult authorities about the +legality of his action, or listened to the voice of pity, or yielded to +the clamors of leading politicians or threats of enemies, both he and the +city, in all human probability, would have been swept away in the +hurricane of popular fury. + +On this day a most remarkable announcement was published: that a sudden +change had been made in the military command of the troops of the city and +harbor. General Dix superseded General Wool, and Canby, General Brown. +That Wool should have been removed at any time, might have been expected; +not from incapacity, but on account of his age, and because any one could +perform the mere nominal duties that devolved on him. But why General +Brown should have been removed at this critical moment, when he and the +Police Commissioners were performing their herculean task so faithfully +and well, is not so plain; unless it was the result of one of those freaks +of passion or despotic impulse, for which the Secretary of War was so +ignobly distinguished. But unlike many other blunders which the War +Department committed at this time, it did not result in any evil +consequences, for the fight was over. But of this fact the Secretary of +War was ignorant when he made out the order. + +General Brown, in relinquishing his command, spoke warmly of the noble +behavior of the troops during the riots, saying: "Engaged night and day in +constant conflict with the mob, they have in some fifteen or twenty severe +contests--in most of them outnumbered more than ten to one, many of the +mob being armed--whipped and effectually dispersed them, and have been +uniformly successful. In not a single instance has assistance been +required by the police, when it has not been promptly rendered; and all +property, public and private, which has been under their protection, has +been perfectly and efficiently protected; and with pride he desires to +record, that in this city, surrounded by grog-shops, but one single +instance of drunkenness has fallen under his observation. + +"To Lieutenant-colonel Frothingham, his able and efficient adjutant- +general, he tenders his thanks for his untiring assistance. + +"Having during the present insurrection been in immediate and constant co- +operation with police department of this city, he desires the privilege of +expressing his unbounded admiration of it. Never in civil or military life +has he seen such untiring devotion and such efficient service. + +"To President Acton and Commissioner Bergen he offers his thanks for their +courtesy to him and their kindness to his command. + +"HARVEY BROWN, _Brigadier-general_." + +The praise he bestows both on the police and soldiers was richly deserved; +and he may well say that "with pride he desires to record that in this +city, surrounded with grog-shops, but one single instance of drunkenness +has fallen under his observation." With all a soldier's tendency to +indulge in spirituous liquor, to be thrown right amid drinking-places, +which by harboring rioters had lost all claim to protection--part of the +time suffering from want of food, and often drenched to the skin, and +weary from hard fighting and want of sleep--not to step away occasionally +in the confusion and darkness of night, and solace himself with +stimulating drinks, was something marvellous. After hard fighting, and +long marching, and short rations, a soldier feels he has a right to +indulge in liquor, if he can get it; and their abstinence from it in such +lawless times, not only speaks well for their discipline, but their +character. A single instance shows under what perfect control the troops +were. One day Colonel Ladue, seeing that his men were exhausted and +hungry, desired to let them have a little beer to refresh them, and the +following telegram was sent from the precinct where they were on duty: + +"5.45 P.M. From 9th. Colonel Ladue wishes his men allowed to have beer in +station-house." + +_Answer_. "Mr. Acton says he is opposed to beer, but the colonel can +give his men as much as he pleases." + +"Acton is opposed to beer," but the troops are not under his command, and +he has no heart to deny the poor fellows the station-house in which to +refresh themselves after their hard day's work. This incident also shows +the strict discipline maintained in the police department. + +General Brown had done a noble work. Taking his place beside the Police +Commissioners, he bent all his energies to the single task of carrying out +their plans, and save the city from the hands of the rioters. He never +thought what deference might be due him on the score of etiquette, or on +account of his military rank; he thought only of putting down the mob at +all hazards. His refusal, at first, to serve under General Sandford was +not merely that it was an improper thing to place a general of the regular +army under the orders of a mere militia general, [Footnote: Because he was +especially assigned to the command of the city by the Secretary of War.] +having no rank whatever in the United States army, but he knew it would +paralyze his influence, and in all human probability result in the useless +sacrifice of his troops. The absurdity of not moving until he received +orders from his superior officer, cooped up in the arsenal, where he +remained practically in a state of siege, was so apparent that he refused +to countenance it. He was willing that President Acton should be his +superior officer, and give his orders, and he would carry them out; for +thus he could act efficiently and make his disciplined battalion tell in +the struggle; but for the sake of his own reputation and that of his +troops, he would not consent to hold a position that would only bring +disgrace on both. His views are clearly expressed in his reply to a highly +complimentary letter addressed to him by the mayor and a large number of +prominent citizens, for the signal services he had rendered. He says: "I +never for a moment forgot that to the police was confided the conservation +of the peace of the city; and that only in conjunction with the city +authorities, and on their requisition, could the United States forces be +lawfully and properly employed in suppressing the riot, and in restoring +that peace and good order which had been so lawlessly broken. Acting in +accordance with this principle, and as aids to the gallant city police, +the officers and soldiers of my command performed the most unpleasant and +arduous duty, with that prompt energy and fearless patriotism which may +ever be expected from the soldiers of the Republic." + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Continued Tranquillity.--Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in the +Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.--Search for it exasperates the +Irish.--Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police.--Sergeant Copeland.-- +Prisoners tried.--Damages claimed from the City.--Number of Police +killed.--Twelve hundred Rioters killed.--The Riot Relief Fund.--List of +Colored People killed.--Generals Wool and Sandford's Reports.--Their +Truthfulness denied.--General Brown vindicated. + +On Saturday morning it was announced that the authorities at Washington +had resolved to enforce the draft. It had been repeatedly asserted during +the riot that it was abandoned, and the report received very general +credence. Still, the official denial of it produced no disturbance. The +spirit of insurrection was effectually laid. + +It is a little singular, that, in all these tremendous gatherings and +movements, no prominent recognized leaders could be found. A man by the +name of Andrews had been arrested and imprisoned as one, but the charge +rested wholly on some exciting harangues he had made, not from any +_active_ leadership he had assumed. + +There were, perhaps, in the city this morning not far from ten thousand +troops--quite enough to preserve the peace, if the riot should break out +afresh; and orders therefore were given to arrest the march of regiments +hastening from various sections to the city, under the requisition of the +Governor. Still, the terror that had taken possession of men could not be +allayed in an hour, and although the police had resumed their patrols, and +dared to be seen alone in the streets, there was constant dread of +personal violence among the citizens. Especially was this true of the +negro population. Although many sought their ruined homes, yet aware of +the intense hatred entertained toward them by the mob, they felt unsafe, +and began to organize in self-defence. But the day wore away without +disturbance, and the Sabbath dawned peaceably, and order reigned from the +Battery to Harlem. The military did not show themselves in the street, and +thousands thronged without fear the avenues in which the fighting had +taken place, to look at the ruins it had left behind. On Monday there was +more or less rebellious feeling exhibited by the rioters, on account of +the general search of the police for stolen goods, and the arrest of +suspected persons. It exhibited itself, however, only in threats and +curses--not a policemen was assaulted. It was amusing, sometimes, to see +what strange articles the poor wretches had stowed away in their dirty +cellars. There was everything from barrels of sugar and starch to tobacco +and bird-seed. Said a morning paper: "Mahogany and rosewood chairs with +brocade upholstering, marble-top tables and stands, costly paintings, and +hundreds of delicate and valuable mantel ornaments, are daily found in low +hovels up-town. Every person in whose possession these articles are +discovered disclaims all knowledge of the same, except that they found +them in the street, and took them in to prevent them being burned. The +entire city will be searched, and it is expected that the greatest portion +of the property taken from the buildings sacked by the mob will be +recovered." The rivers and outlets to the city were closely watched, to +prevent its being carried off. In the meantime, arrests were constantly +made. + +It would be invidious to single out any portion of the police for special +commendation, where all did their duty so nobly; but it is not improper to +speak of the sanitary police, whose specific duties do not lead them to +take part in quelling mobs. + +They have to report all nuisances, examine tenement-houses and unsafe +buildings, look after the public schools, but more especially examine +steam-boilers, and license persons qualified to run steam-engines. Hence, +it is composed of men of considerable scientific knowledge. But all such +business being suspended during the riot, they at once, with their +Captain, B. G. Lord, assumed the duties of the common policemen, and from +Monday night till order was restored, were on constant duty, participating +in the fights, and enduring the fatigues with unflinching firmness, and +did not return to their regular duties till Monday morning. + +The drill-officer also, Sergeant T. S. Copeland, became, instead of a +drill-officer, a gallant, active leader of his men in some of the most +desperate fights that occurred. His military knowledge enabled him to form +commands ordered hastily off, with great despatch. But not content with +this, he led them, when formed, to the charge, and gave such lessons in +drill, in the midst of the fight, as the police will never forget. + +With the details of what followed we have nothing to do. The Grand Jury +indicted many of the prisoners, and in the term of the court that met the +3d of August, twenty were tried and nineteen convicted, and sentenced to a +longer or shorter term of imprisonment. Of course a large number on +preliminary examinations got off, sometimes from want of sufficient +evidence, and sometimes from the venality of the judges before whom they +were brought. Claims for damages were brought in, the examination of which +was long and tedious. The details are published in two large volumes, and +the entire cost to the city was probably three millions of dollars. Some +of the claims went before the courts, where they lingered along +indefinitely. The number of rioters killed, or died from the effects of +their wounds, was put down by the Police Commissioners at about twelve +hundred. Of course this estimate is not made up from any detailed reports. +The dead and wounded were hurried away, even in the midst of the fight, +and hidden in obscure streets, or taken out of the city for fear of future +arrests or complications. Hence there was no direct way of getting at the +exact number of those who fell victims to the riot. The loss of life, +therefore, could only be approximated by taking the regular report of the +number of deaths in the city for a few weeks before the riots, and that +for the same length of time after. As there was no epidemic, or any report +of increased sickness from any disease, the inference naturally was, that +the excess for the period after the riots was owing to the victims of +them. Many of these were reported as sunstrokes, owing to men exposing +themselves to the sun with pounded and battered heads. The Police +Commissioners took great care to keep all the wounded policemen indoors +until perfectly cured. Only one ventured to neglect their orders, and he +died of a sunstroke. + +The difference of mortality in the city for the month previous to the +riots, and the month during and subsequent, was about twelve hundred, +which excess Mr. Acton thought should be put down to the deaths caused +directly and indirectly by the riots. Although many policemen were +wounded, only three were killed or died from the injuries they received. + +Immediately after the riot, Mr. Leonard W. Jerome and others interested +themselves in raising a fund for the relief of members of the Police, +Militia, and Fire Departments who had sustained injuries in the discharge +of their duty in suppressing the riots. Subscriptions to the amount of +$54,980 were paid in, and $22,721.53 distributed by the Trustees of the +Riot Relief Fund, in sums from $50 to $1,000, each, through Isaac Bell, +Treasurer, to 101 policemen, 16 militiamen, and 7 firemen. + +The balance was securely invested, to meet future emergencies, a portion +of which was paid to sufferers by the Orange Riot of 1871. + +The following is the list of colored people known to be killed by the mob, +together with the circumstances attending their murder, as given by David +Barnes, in his Metropolitan record, to which reference has heretofore been +made. + +COLORED VICTIMS OF THE RIOT. + +WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLS (colored). Nichols resided at No. 147 East Twenty- +eighth Street. Mrs. Staat, his mother, was visiting him. On Wednesday, +July 15th, at 3 o'clock, the house was attacked by a mob with showers of +bricks and stones. In one of the rooms was a woman with a child but three +days old. The rioters broke open the door with axes and rushed in. Nichols +and his mother fled to the basement; in a few moments the babe referred to +was dashed by the rioters from the upper window to the yard, and instantly +killed. The mob cut the waterpipes above, and the basement was being +deluged; ten persons, mostly women and children, were there, and they fled +to the yard; in attempting to climb the fence, Mrs. Staat fell back from +exhaustion; the rioters were instantly upon her; her son sprang to her +rescue, exclaiming, "Save my mother, if you kill me." Two ruffians +instantly seized him, each taking hold of an arm, while a third, armed +with a crowbar, calling upon them to hold his arms apart, deliberately +struck him a savage blow on the head, felling him like a bullock. He died +in the N. Y. Hospital two days after. + +JAMES COSTELLO (colored).--James Costello, No. 97 West Thirty-third +Street, killed on Tuesday morning, July 14th. Costello was a shoemaker, an +active man in his business, industrious and sober. He went out early in +the morning upon an errand, was accosted, and finally was pursued by a +powerful man. He ran down the street; endeavored to make his escape; was +nearly overtaken by his pursuer; in self-defence he turned and shot the +rioter with a revolver. The shot proved to be mortal; he died two days +after. Costello was immediately set upon by the mob. They first mangled +his body, then hanged it. They then cut down his body and dragged it +through the gutters, smashing it with stones, and finally burnt it. The +mob then attempted to kill Mrs. Costello and her children, but she escaped +by climbing fences and taking refuge in a police station-house. + +ABRAHAM FRANKLIN (colored).--This young man, who was murdered by the mob +on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh Avenue, was a quiet, +inoffensive man, of unexceptionable character. He was a cripple, but +supported himself and his mother, being employed as a coachman. A short +time previous to the assault, he called upon his mother to see if anything +could be done by him for her safety. The old lady said she considered +herself perfectly safe; but if her time to die had come, she was ready to +die. Her son then knelt down by her side, and implored the protection of +Heaven in behalf of his mother. The old lady said that it seemed to her +that good angels were present in the room. Scarcely had the supplicant +risen from his knees, when the mob broke down the door, seized him, beat +him over the head and face with fists and clubs, and then hanged him in +the presence of his parent. While they were thus engaged, the military +came and drove them away, cutting down the body of Franklin, who raised +his arm once slightly and gave a few signs of life. The military then +moved on to quell other riots, when the mob returned and again suspended +the now probably lifeless body of Franklin, cutting out pieces of flesh, +and otherwise shockingly mutilating it. + +AUGUSTUS STUART (colored).--Died at Hospital, Blackwell's Island, July 22, +from the effects of a blow received at the hands of the mob, on Wednesday +evening of the Riot Week. He had been badly beaten previously by a band of +rioters, and was frightened and insane from the effects of the blows which +he had received. He was running toward the arsenal (State), Seventh Avenue +and Thirty-seventh Street, for safety, when he was overtaken by the mob, +from whom he received his death-blow. + +PETER HEUSTON.--Peter Heuston, sixty-three years of age, a Mohawk Indian, +dark complexion, but straight hair, and for several years a resident of +New York, proved a victim to the riots. Heuston served with the New York +Volunteers in the Mexican war. He was brutally attacked and shockingly +beaten, on the 13th of July, by a gang of ruffians, who thought him to be +of the African race because of his dark complexion. He died within four +days, at Bellevue Hospital, from his injuries. + +JEREMIAH ROBINSON (colored).--He was killed in Madison near Catharine +Street. His widow stated that her husband, in order to escape, dressed +himself in some of her clothes, and, in company with herself and one other +woman, left their residence and went toward one of the Brooklyn ferries. +Robinson wore a hood, which failed to hide his beard. Some boys, seeing +his beard, lifted up the skirts of his dress, which exposed his heavy +boots. Immediately the mob set upon him, and the atrocities they +perpetrated are so revolting that they are unfit for publication. They +finally killed him and threw his body into the river. His wife and her +companion ran up Madison Street, and escaped across the Grand Street Ferry +to Brooklyn. + +WILLIAM JONES (colored).--A crowd of rioters in Clarkson Street, in +pursuit of a negro, who in self-defence had fired on some rowdies, met an +inoffensive colored man returning from a bakery with a loaf of bread under +his arm. They instantly set upon and beat him and, after nearly killing +him, hung him to a lamppost. His body was left suspended for several +hours. A fire was made underneath him, and he was literally roasted as he +hung, the mob revelling in their demoniac act. Recognition of the remains, +on their being recovered, was impossible; and two women, mourned for +upwards of two weeks, in the case of this man, for the loss of their +husbands. At the end of that time, the husband of one of the mourners, to +her great joy, returned like one recovered from the grave. The principal +evidence which the widow, Mary Jones, had to identify the murdered man as +her husband, was the fact of his having a loaf of bread under his arm, he +having left the house to get a loaf of bread a few minutes before the +attack. + +JOSEPH REED (colored).--This was a lad of seven years of age, residing at +No. 147 East Twenty-eighth Street, with an aged grandmother and widowed +mother. On Wednesday morning of the fearful week, a crowd of ruffians +gathered in the neighborhood, determined on a week of plunder and death. +They attacked the house, stole everything they could carry with them, and, +after threatening the inmates, set fire to it. The colored people who had +the sole occupancy of the building, fled in confusion into the midst of +the gathering crowd. And then the child was separated from his guardians. +His youth and evident illness, even from the devils around him, it would +be thought, should have insured his safety. But no sooner did they see his +unprotected, defenceless condition, than a gang of fiendish men seized +him, beat him with sticks, and bruised him with heavy cobblestones. But +one, tenfold more the servant of Satan than the rest, rushed at the child, +and with the stock of a pistol struck him on the temple and felled him to +the ground. A noble young fireman, by the name of John F. Govern, of No. +39 Hose Company, instantly came to the rescue, and, single-handed, held +the crowd at bay. Taking the wounded and unconscious boy in his arms, he +carried him to a place of safety. The terrible beating and the great +fright the poor lad had undergone was too much for his feeble frame; he +died on the following Tuesday. + +JOSEPH JACKSON (colored), aged nineteen years, living in West Fifty-third +Street, near Sixth Avenue, was in the industrious pursuit of his humble +occupation of gathering provender for a herd of cattle, and when near the +foot of Thirty-fourth Street, East River, July 15, was set upon by the +mob, killed, and his body thrown into the river. + +SAMUEL JOHNSON (colored).--On Tuesday night Johnson was attacked near +Fulton Ferry by a gang who mercilessly beat and left him for dead. A +proposition was made to throw him into the river, but for some reason the +murderers took fright and fled. He was taken by some citizens to his home, +and died the next day. + +---- WILLIAMS (colored).--He was attacked on the corner of Le Roy and +Washington Streets, on Tuesday morning, July 14th, knocked down, a number +of men jumped upon, kicked, and stamped upon him until insensible. One of +the murderers knelt on the body and drove a knife into it; the blade being +too small, he threw it away and resorted to his fists. Another seized a +huge stone, weighing near twenty pounds, and deliberately crushed it again +and again on to the victim. A force of police, under Captain Dickson, +arrived and rescued the man, who was conveyed to the New York Hospital. He +was only able to articulate "Williams" in response to a question as to his +name, and remained insensible thereafter, dying in a few days. + +ANN DERRICKSON.--This was a white woman, the wife of a colored man, and +lived at No. 11 York Street. On Wednesday, July 15th, the rioters seized a +son of deceased, a lad of about twelve years, saturated his clothes and +hair with camphene, and then procuring a rope, fastened one end to a lamp- +post, the other around his neck, and were about to set him on fire, and +hang him; they were interfered with by some citizens and by the police of +the First Ward, and their diabolical attempt at murder frustrated. While +Mrs. Derrickson was attempting to save the life of her son she was +horribly bruised and beaten, with a cart-rung. The victim, after lingering +three or four weeks, died from the effects of her injuries. + +Reports from the captains of the several precincts, with all the details +of their operations, were made out--also from the subordinate military +officers to their immediate superiors. The final reports of General Wool, +commanding the Eastern Department, and Major-general Sandford, commanding +the city troops, caused much remark in the city papers, and called forth a +reply from General Brown, who considered himself unjustly assailed in +them. Explanation of the disagreement between him and General Wool having +been fully given, it is not necessary to repeat it here. The same may be +said of the statement of General Wool, regarding his orders on Monday the +13th, respecting the troops in the harbor. But in this report of General +Wool to Governor Seymour, there are other statements which General Brown +felt it his duty to correct. General Wool says, that finding there was a +want of harmony between Generals Sandford and Brown in the disposition of +troops, he issued the following order: + +MAJOR-GENERAL SANDFORD, BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN. + +GENTLEMEN:--It is indispensable to collect your troops not stationed, and +have them divided into suitable parties, with a due proportion of police +to each, and to patrol in such parts of the city as may be in the greatest +danger from the rioters. This ought to be done as soon as practicable. + +JOHN E. WOOL, _Major-general_. + +After this had been issued, General Sandford reporting to me that his +orders were not obeyed by General Brown, I issued the following order: + +"All the troops called out for the protection of the city are placed under +the command of General Sandford." + +General Brown in his reply says, that he "_never saw or heard of this +first order_." The only explanation of this, consistent with the +character of both, is that General Wool sent this order to General +Sandford alone--either forgetting to transmit it to General Brown, or +expecting General Sandford to do it. + +At all events, sent or not, it was a foolish order. One would infer from +it that the whole task of putting down the riots belonged to the military, +the commanders of which were to order out what co-operating force of +police they deemed necessary and march up and down the disaffected +districts, trampling out the lawlessness according to rule. This might be +all well enough, but the question was, how were these troops, strangers to +the city, to find out where "_such parts of the city_" were in which +was "_the greatest danger from the rioters_?" It showed a lamentable +ignorance of mobs; they don't stay in one spot and fight it out, nor keep +in one mass, nor give notice beforehand where they will strike next. Such +knowledge could only be obtained from police head-quarters, the focus of +the telegraph system, and _there_ the troops should have been ordered +to concentrate at once, and put themselves under the direction of the +Police Commissioners. Again, General Wool says he issued the following +order to General Brown, on Tuesday: + +"SIR:--It is reported that the rioters have already recommenced their work +of destruction. To-day there must be no child's play. Some of the troops +under your command should be sent immediately to attack and stop those who +have commenced their infernal rascality in Yorkville and Harlem." + +This order, too, General Brown says he never received. Thinking it +strange, he addressed a note to General Wool's assistant adjutant-general, +respecting both these orders, which had thus strangely wandered out of the +way. The latter, Major Christensen, replied as follows: + +"The orders of General Wool published in his report to Governor Seymour, +viz.: 'That patrols of military and police should be sent through the +disaffected districts;' and the one July 14th, 'To-day there must be no +child's play,' etc., were not issued by me, and I cannot therefore say +whether copies were sent to you or not. They were certainly _not_ +sent by me. + +"C.F. CHRISTENSEN, + +"Major, Assistant Adjutant-general." + +We have explained how the error may have occurred with regard to the first +order. But there is no explanation of this, except on the ground that +General Wool perhaps sketched out this order, without sending it, and +afterwards seeing it amid his papers, thought it was a copy of one he had +sent. He was well advanced in years, and might easily fall into some such +error. + +It is not necessary to go into detailed account of all the statements +contained in General Wool's letter which General Brown emphatically +denies; but the following is worthy of notice. He says that General Brown +issued orders that General Sandford countermanded, and that General Brown +acted through the riots under his (Wool's) orders; whereas the latter +says, he never received but three orders from Wool during the whole time, +and only _one_ of those referred to any action towards the rioters, +and that was to bring off some killed and wounded men left by a military +force sent out either by Sandford or Wool, and which had been chased from +the field by the mob. + +But the statements of General Wool are entirely thrown into the shade by +the following assertion of General Sandford, in his report. He says: "With +the remnant of the [his] division (left in the city), and the first +reinforcements from General Wool, detachments were sent to all parts of +the city, and the rioters everywhere beaten and dispersed on Monday +afternoon, Monday night, and Tuesday morning. In a few hours, but for the +interference of Brigadier-general Brown, who, in disobedience of orders," +etc. + +The perfect gravity with which this assertion is made is something +marvellous. One would infer that the police was of no account, except to +maintain order after it was fully restored by the military on Tuesday +morning. General Sandford might well be ignorant of the state of things in +the city, for he was cooped up in the arsenal, intent only on holding his +fortress. So far as he was concerned, the whole city might have been +burned up before Tuesday noon, and he would scarcely have known it, except +as he saw the smoke and flames from the roof of the arsenal. He never sent +out a detachment until after the Tuesday afternoon, when, as he says, but +for General Brown's action, the riot would have been virtually over. The +simple truth is, these reports of Generals Wool and Sandford are both mere +after-thoughts, growing out of the annoyance they felt on knowing that +their _martinetism_ was a total failure, and the whole work had been +done by General Brown and the Police Commissioners from their head- +quarters in Mulberry Street. Acton and Brown had no time to grumble or +dispute about etiquette. They had something more serious on hand, and they +bent their entire energies to their accomplishment. General Sandford held +the arsenal, an important point, indeed a vital one, and let him claim and +receive all the credit due that achievement; but to assume any special +merit in quelling the riots in the streets is simply ridiculous. That was +the work of the police and the military under the commissioners and +General Brown. + +The statement of the Police Commissioners, Acton and Bergen, on this point +is conclusive. They say that General Sandford's error consisted in "not +choosing to be in close communication with this department, when alone +through the police telegraph, and other certain means, trustworthy +information of the movements of the mob could be promptly had." + +That single statement is enough to overthrow all of General Sandford's +assertions about the riot. It was hardly necessary for them to declare +further in their letter to General Brown: + +"So far from your action having had the effect supposed by General +Sandford, we are of the opinion, already expressed in our address to the +police force, that through your prompt, vigorous, and intelligent action, +the intrepidity and steady valor of the small military force under you, +acting with the police force, the riotous proceedings were arrested on +Thursday night, and that without such aid mob violence would have +continued much longer." + +WELL-EARNED PRAISE. + +On the week after the riot the Board of Police Commissioners issued the +following address to the force, in which a well-earned tribute is paid to +the military: + +_To the Metropolitan Police Force._ + +On the morning of Monday, the 13th inst., the peace and good order of the +city were broken by a mob collected in several quarters of the city, for +the avowed purpose of resisting the process of drafting names to recruit +the armies of the Union. + +Vast crowds of men collected and fired the offices where drafting was in +progress, beating and driving the officers from duty. + +From the beginning, these violent proceedings were accompanied by arson, +robbery, and murder. + +Private property, unofficial persons of all ages, sexes, and conditions, +were indiscriminately assailed--none were spared, except those who were +supposed by the mob to sympathize with their proceedings. + +Early in the day the Superintendent was assaulted, cruelly beaten, robbed, +and disabled by the mob which was engaged in burning the provost marshal's +office in Third Avenue, thus in a manner disarranging the organization at +the Central Department, throwing new, unwonted, and responsible duties +upon the Board. + +At this juncture the telegraph wires of the department were cut, and the +movement of the railroads and stages violently interrupted, interfering +seriously with our accustomed means of transmitting orders and +concentrating forces. + +The militia of the city were absent at the seat of war, fighting the +battles of the nation against treason and secession, and there was no +adequate force in the city for the first twelve hours to resist at all +points the vast and infuriated mob. The police force was not strong enough +in any precinct to make head, unaided, against the overwhelming force. No +course was left but to concentrate the whole force at the Central +Department, and thence send detachments able to encounter and conquer the +rioters. This course was promptly adopted on Monday morning. The military +were called upon to act in aid of the civil force to subdue the +treasonable mob, protect life and property, and restore public order. + +Under such, adverse circumstances you were called upon to encounter a mob +of such strength as have never before been seen, in this country. The +force of militia under General Sandford, who were called into service by +the authority of this Board, were concentrated by him at and held the +arsenal in Seventh Avenue, throughout the contest. The military forces in +command of Brevet Brigadier-general Harvey Brown reported at the Central +Department, and there General Brown established his head-quarters, and +from there expeditions, combined of police and military force, were sent +out that in all cases conquered, defeated, or dispersed the mob force, and +subjected them to severe chastisement. In no instance did these +detachments from the Central Department, whether of police alone or police +and military combined, meet with defeat or serious check. + +In all cases they achieved prompt and decisive victories. The contest +continued through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and till 11 +o'clock on Thursday night, like a continuous battle, when it ended by a +total and sanguinary rout of the insurgents. + +During the whole of those anxious days and nights, Brigadier-general Brown +remained at the Central Department, ordering the movements of the military +in carefully considered combinations with the police force, and throughout +the struggle, and until its close, commanded the admiration and gratitude +of the Police Department and all who witnessed his firm intelligence and +soldierly conduct. + +It is understood that he had at no time under his immediate command more +than three hundred troops, but they were of the highest order, and were +commanded by officers of courage and ability. They cordially acted with, +supported, and were supported by, the police, and victory in every contest +against fearful odds, was the result of brave fighting and intelligent +command. + +In the judgment of this Board, the escape of the city from the power of an +infuriated mob is due to the aid furnished the police by Brigadier-general +Brown and the small military force under his command. No one can doubt, +who saw him, as we did, that during those anxious and eventful days and +nights Brigadier-general Harvey Brown was equal to the situation, and was +the right man in the right place. + +We avail ourselves of this occasion to tender to him, in the most earnest +and public manner, the thanks of the department and our own. + +To the soldiers under his command we are grateful as to brave men who +perilled all to save the city from a reign of terror. To Captains Putnam, +Franklin, and Shelley, Lieutenant Ryer, and Lieutenant-colonel Berens, +officers of corps under the command of Brigadier-general Brown, we are +especially indebted, and we only discharge a duty when we commend them to +their superiors in rank and to the War Department for their courageous and +effective service. + +Of the Inspectors, Captains, and Sergeants of police who led parties in +the fearful contest, we are proud to say that none faltered or failed. +Each was equal to the hour and the emergency. Not one failed to overcome +the danger, however imminent, or to defeat the enemy, however numerous. +Especial commendation is due to Drill-sergeant Copeland for his most +valuable aid in commanding the movements of larger detachments of the +police. + +The patrolmen who were on duty fought through the numerous and fierce +conflicts with the steady courage of veteran soldiers, and have won, as +they deserve, the highest commendations from the public and from this +Board. In their ranks there was neither faltering nor straggling. Devotion +to duty and courage in the performance of it were universal. + +The public and the department owe a debt of gratitude to the citizens who +voluntarily became special patrolmen, some three thousand of whom, for +several days and nights, did regular patrolmen's duty with great effect. + +In the name of the public, and of the department in which they were +volunteers, we thank them. + +Mr. Crowley, the superintendent of the police telegraph, and the attaches +of his department, by untiring and sleepless vigilance in transmitting +information by telegraph unceasingly through more than ten days and +nights, have more than sustained the high reputation they have always +possessed. + +Through all these bloody contests, through all the wearing fatigue and +wasting labor, you have demeaned yourselves like worthy members of the +Metropolitan Police. + +The public judgment will commend and reward you. A kind Providence has +permitted you to escape with less casualties than could have been +expected. You have lost one comrade, whom you have buried with honor. Your +wounded will, it is hoped, all recover, to join you and share honor. It is +hoped that the severe but just chastisement which has been inflicted upon +those guilty of riot, pillage, arson, and murder, will deter further +attempts of that character. But if, arising out of political or other +causes, there should be another attempt to interrupt public order, we +shall call on you again to crush its authors, confident that you will +respond like brave men, as you ever have, to the calls of duty; and in +future, whenever the attempt may be made, you will have to aid you large +forces of military, ably commanded, and thus be enabled to crush in the +bud any attempted riot or revolution. + +To General Canby, who, on the morning of Friday, the 17th inst., took +command of the military, relieving Brigadier-general Brown, and to Gen. +Dix, who succeeded General Wool, the public are indebted for prompt, +vigorous, and willing aid to the police force in all the expeditions which +have been called for since they assumed their commands. Charged +particularly with the protection of the immense amount of Federal property +and interests in the Metropolitan district, and the police force charged +with the maintenance of public order, the duties of the two forces are +always coincident. + +Whatever menaces or disturbs one equally menaces and disturbs the other. + +We are happy to know that at all times the several authorities have co- +operated with that concert and harmony which is necessary to secure vigor +and efficiency in action. + +Sergeant Young, of the detective force, aided by Mr. Newcomb and other +special patrolmen, rendered most effective service in arranging the +commissary supplies for the large number of police, military, special +patrolmen, and destitute colored refugees, whose subsistence was thrown +unexpectedly on the department. The duty was arduous and responsible, and +was performed with vigor and fidelity. All the clerks of the department, +each in his sphere, performed a manly share of the heavy duties growing +out of these extraordinary circumstances. The Central Department became a +home of refuge for large numbers of poor, persecuted colored men, women, +and children, many of whom were wounded and sick, and all of whom were +helpless, exposed, and poor. Mr. John H. Keyser, with his accustomed +philanthropy, volunteered, and was appointed to superintend these wretched +victims of violence and prejudice, and has devoted unwearied days to the +duty. The pitiable condition of these poor people appeals in the strongest +terms to the Christian charity of the benevolent and humane. The members +of the force will do an acceptable service by calling the attention to +their condition of those who are able and willing to contribute in charity +to their relief. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +ORANGE RIOTS OF 1870 AND 1871. + +Religious Toleration.--Irish Feuds.--Battle of Boyne Water.--Orangemen.-- +Origin and Object of the Society.--A Picnic at Elm Park.--Attacked by the +Ribbonmen.--The Fight.--After Scenes.--Riot of 1871.--Conspiracy of the +Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of Orangemen.--Forbidden by the City +Authorities.--Indignation of the People.--Meeting in the Produce +Exchange.--Governor Hoffman's Proclamation.--Morning of the 12th.--The +Orangemen at Lamartine Hall.--Attack on the Armories.--The Harpers +threatened.--Exciting Scenes around Lamartine Hall and at Police Head- +quarters.--Hibernia Hall cleared.--Attack on an Armory.--Formation of the +Procession.--Its March.--Attacked.--Firing of the Military without +Orders.--Terrific Scene.--The Hospitals and Morgue.--Night Scenes.--Number +of killed and wounded.--The Lesson. + +In a free country like ours, where toleration of all religions alike is +one of the fundamental principles of the Government, one would naturally +think that open persecution of any sect or body of religionists was +impossible. But the Irish, unfortunately, have brought with them to this +country not merely many of their old customs and national fetes, but their +old religions feuds. + +Nearly two hundred years ago, William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, or +William the Third, a Protestant, met the Catholic King, James the Second, +of England, In deadly battle, in the vales of Meath, through which the +Boyne River flows, and utterly routed him, and compelled him to flee to +the Continent for safety. According to old style, this was on the first +day of July, as the old ballad says: + + "'Twas bright July's first morning clear, + Of unforgotten glory, + That made this stream, through ages dear, + Renowned in song and story." + +According to new style, however, this has become the twelfth of the month. +The Ulster Protestant Society, known as Orangemen, was founded in 1795. It +was a secret political organization, founded, it is said, to counteract +the Ribbonmen, or Protectors, as they were called. Its object in this +country, it is asserted, is entirely different, and more in harmony with +other societies that have their annual celebration in New York City and +other places. + +It is not necessary to go over the bitter feuds between these and the +Catholic Irish in the old country. The hates they engendered were brought +here, but kept from any great outward manifestation, because the Orangemen +indulged in no public displays. We believe that there had been only one +procession previous to this. In this year, however, an imposing display +was resolved upon, but no trouble was anticipated, and no precautions +taken by the police. It was not proposed to parade the streets, but to +form, and march in procession up Eighth Avenue, to Elm Park, corner of +Ninetieth Street and Eighth Avenue, and have a picnic, and wind up with a +dance. As the procession passed Fourth Street, in full Orange regalia, and +about twenty-five hundred strong (men, women, and children), playing +"Boyne Water," "Derry," and other tunes obnoxious to the Catholics, some +two hundred Irishmen followed it with curses and threats. + +Violence was, however, not feared, and the procession continued on, and at +length reached the new Boulevard road, where a large body of Irishmen were +at work. Beyond, however, the interchange of some words, nothing +transpired, and it entered the park, and began the festivities of the day. + +In the meanwhile, however, the rabble that had followed them came upon the +Ribbonmen at work on the Boulevard road, and persuaded them to throw up +work and join them, and the whole crowd, numbering probably about five +hundred, started for the park. The foreman of the gang of three hundred +workmen saw at once the danger, and hurried to the Thirty-first Precinct +station, corner of One Hundredth Street and Ninth Avenue, and told Captain +Helme of the state of things. + +The latter immediately thought of the picnic, and, anticipating trouble, +telegraphed to Jourdan for reinforcements. In the meanwhile, the mob, +loaded with stones, advanced tumultuously towards the park, within which +the unsuspecting Orangemen were giving themselves up to enjoyment. +Suddenly a shower of stones fell among them, knocking over women and +children, and sending consternation through the crowd. Shouts and curses +followed, and the Orangemen, rallying, rushed out and fell furiously on +their assailants. Shovels, clubs, and stones were freely used, and a scene +of terrific confusion followed. The fight was close and bloody, and +continued for nearly half an hour, when Sergeant John Kelly, with a force +of sixteen men, arrived, and rushing in between the combatants, separated +them, and drove the Orangemen back into the park. The mob then divided +into two portions, of between two and three hundred each. One party went +by way of Ninth Avenue, and, breaking down the fence on that side, entered +the park, and fell with brutal fury on men, women, and children alike. A +terrible fight followed, and amid the shouts and oaths of the men and +screams of the women and children, occasional pistol-shots were heard, +showing that murder was being done. The enraged, unarmed Orangemen, +wrenched hand rails from the fence, tore up small trees, and seized +anything and everything that would serve for a weapon, and maintained the +fight for a half an hour, before the police arrived. The second portion +went by Eighth Avenue, and intercepted a large body of Orangemen that had +retreated from the woods, and a desperate battle followed. There were only +two policemen here, and of course could do nothing but stand and look on +the murderous conflict. In the meantime, the force telegraphed for by +Captain. Helme arrived. It consisted of twenty men, to which Captain Helme +added the reserve force, with a sergeant from the Eighth, Ninth, +Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Nineteenth Precincts, making in all some fifty +men. These he divided into two portions, one of which he sent over to +Eighth Avenue to protect the cars, into which the fugitives were crowding, +while the other dashed furiously into the park, and fell on the combatants +with their clubs. They soon cleared a lane between them, when turning on +the Ribbonmen, they drove them out of the park. They then formed the +Orangemen into a procession, and escorted them down the city. A portion, +however, had fled for the Eighth Avenue cars; but a party of Ribbonmen +were lying in wait here, and another fight followed. Huge stones were +thrown through the windows of the cars, the sides broken in, over the +wreck of which the mob rushed, knocking down men, women, and children +alike, whose shouts, and oaths, and screams could be heard blocks off. The +scene was terrific, until the arrival of the police put an end to it, and +bore the dead and wounded away. + +About seven o'clock, Superintendent Jourdan arrived in the precinct, +accompanied by Inspectors Dilks and Walling, and Detectives Farley and +Avery. In the basement of the Thirty-first Precinct station, on a low +trestle bed, three bloody corpses were stretched, while the neighboring +precincts were filled with the wounded. Two more died before morning. The +street near each station was crowded with Orangemen inquiring after +friends. + +Although no more outbreaks occurred, the most intense excitement prevailed +among the Irish population of the city, and it was evident that it needed +only a suitable occasion to bring on another conflict. + +THE RIOT OF 1871. + +When the next anniversary of the Orangemen came round, it was discovered +that a conspiracy had been formed by a large body of the Catholic +population to prevent its public celebration. The air was full of rumors, +while the city authorities were in possession of the fullest evidence that +if the Orangemen paraded, they would be attacked, and probably many lives +be lost. They were in great dilemma as to what course to pursue. If they +allowed the procession to take place, they would be compelled to protect +it, and shoot down the men whose votes helped largely to place them in +power. If they forbade it, they feared the public indignation that would +be aroused against such a truckling, unjust course. As the day drew near, +however, and the extensive preparations of the Irish Catholics became more +apparent, they finally determined to risk the latter course, and it was +decided that Superintendent Kelso should issue an order forbidding the +Orangemen to parade. This ludicrous attempt on the part of the Mayor to +shift the responsibility from his own shoulders, awakened only scorn, and +the appearance of the order was followed by a storm of indignation that +was appalling. The leading papers, without regard to politics, opened on +him and his advisers, with such a torrent of denunciations that they +quailed before it. Processions of all kinds and nationalities were allowed +on the streets, and to forbid only one, and that because it was +_Protestant_, was an insult to every American citizen. Even Wall +Street forgot its usual excitement, and leading men were heard violently +denouncing this cowardly surrender of Mayor Hall to the threats of a mob. +An impromptu meeting was called in the Produce Exchange, and a petition +drawn up, asking the president to call a formal meeting, and excited men +stood in line two hours, waiting their turn to sign it. The building was +thronged, and the vice-president called the meeting to order, and informed +it that the rules required twenty-four hours' notice for such a meeting. +The members, however, would listen to no delay, and with an unanimous and +thundering vote, declared the rules suspended. The action of the city +authorities was denounced in withering terms, and a committee of leading +men appointed to wait on them, and remonstrate with the Mayor. One could +scarcely have dreamed that this order would stir New York so profoundly. +But the people, peculiarly sensitive to any attack on religious freedom, +were the more fiercely aroused, that in this case it was a Catholic mob +using the city authority to strike down Protestantism. The Mayor and his +subordinates were appalled at the tempest they had raised, and calling a +council, resolved to revoke the order. In the meantime, Governor Hoffman +was telegraphed to from Albany. Hastening to the city, he, after a +consultation with Mayor Hall, decided to issue the following proclamation: + +"Having been only this day apprised, while at the capital, of the actual +condition of things here, with reference to proposed processions to- +morrow, and having, in the belief that my presence was needed, repaired +hither immediately, I do make this proclamation: + +"The order heretofore issued by the police authorities, in reference to +said processions, being duly revoked, I hereby give notice that any and +all bodies of men desiring to assemble in peaceable procession to-morrow, +the 12th inst., will be permitted to do so. They will be protected to the +fullest extent possible by the military and police authorities. A police +and military escort will be furnished to any body of men desiring it, on +application to me at my head-quarters (which will be at police head- +quarters in this city) at any time during the day. I warn all persons to +abstain from interference with any such assembly or procession, except by +authority from me; and I give notice that all the powers of my command, +civil and military, will be used to preserve the public peace, and put +down at all hazards, every attempt at disturbances; and I call upon all +citizens, of every race and religion, to unite with me and the local +authorities in this determination, to preserve the peace and honor of the +city and State." + +Dated at New York, this eleventh day of July, A. D. 1871. JOHN T. HOFFMAN. + +It was thought by many that this would counteract the effects of the +cowardly order of the police superintendent. But whatever its effect might +have been, had it been issued earlier, it now came too late to do any +good. The preparations of the Roman Catholics were all made. A secret +circular had fallen into the hands of the police, showing that the +organization of the rioters was complete-the watchwords and signals all +arranged, and even the points designated where the attacks on the +procession were to be made. Arms had been collected and transported to +certain localities, and everything betokened a stormy morrow. +Consequently, General Shaler issued orders to the commanders of the +several regiments of militia, directing them to have their men in +readiness at their respective armories at 7 o'clock next morning, prepared +to march at a moment's warning. His head-quarters, like those of General +Brown in the draft riots, were at the police head-quarters, so as to have +the use of the police telegraph, in conveying orders to different sections +of the city. Meanwhile, detachments were placed on guard at the different +armories, to frustrate any attempt on the part of the mob to seize arms. + +The night, however, wore quietly away, and in the morning the Governor's +proclamation appeared in the morning papers, showing the rioters the +nature of the work before them, if they undertook to carry out their +infamous plans. It seemed to have no effect, however. Early in the morning +sullen groups of Irishmen gathered on the corners of the streets, where +the Irish resided in greatest numbers, among which were women, +gesticulating and talking violently, apparently wholly unaware that the +authorities had any power, or, at least, thought they dared not use it. +Other groups traversed the streets, while at the several rendezvous of the +Hibernians, many carried muskets or rifles without any attempt at +concealment. In the upper part of the city, a body of rioters began to +move southward, compelling all the workmen on their way to leave work and +join them. One or two armories were attacked, but the rioters were easily +repulsed. The demonstrations at length became so threatening, that by ten +o'clock the police seized Hibernia Hall. + +About the same time, the Orangemen--who on the issue of Kelso's order had +determined not to parade but on the appearance of the Governor's +proclamation changed their mind--began to assemble at Lamartine Hall, on +the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street. Their room was in the +fourth story, and the delegates from the various lodges brought with them +their badges and banners, which they displayed from the windows. This +brought a crowd in front of the building, curious to know what was going +on in the lodge room. Soon five hundred policemen, ten or fifteen of them +on horseback, appeared under the command of Inspectors Walling and +Jamieson, and occupied both sides of Twenty-ninth Street, between Eighth +and Ninth Avenues. Several policemen also stood on Eighth Avenue, while +the door of the hall was guarded by others. Inside the hall there were +probably some seventy-five or a hundred Orangemen, discussing the parade. +Some stated that a great many, concluding there would be none, had gone to +their usual work, while others, alarmed at the threats of the Hibernians, +would not join it. But after some discussion, it was resolved, that +although the number would be small, they would parade at all hazards; and +at eleven o'clock the door was thrown open, and the Orangemen, wearing +orange colors, were admitted, amid the wildest cheering. An invitation was +sent to the lodges of Jersey City to join them, but they declined, +preferring to celebrate the day at home. + +Two o'clock was the hour fixed upon for the parade to begin, and the +authorities at police head-quarters were so advised. In the meantime a +banner had been prepared on which was inscribed in large letters, + +"AMERICANS! FREEMEN!! FALL IN!!!" + +in order to get accessions from outsiders, but without success. + +The line of march finally resolved upon was down Eighth Avenue to Twenty- +third Street, and up it to Fifth Avenue, down Fifth Avenue to Fourteenth +Street, along it to Union Square, saluting the Lincoln and Washington +statues as they passed, and then down Fourth Avenue to Cooper Institute, +where the procession would break up. + +About one o'clock, a party of men came rushing down Eighth Avenue, +opposite Lamartine Hall, cheering and shouting, led by a man waving a +sword cane. As he swung it above his head it parted, disclosing a long +dirk. The police immediately advanced and swept the street. Eighth Avenue +was cleared from Thirtieth Street to Twenty-eighth Street, and the police +formed several deep, leaving only room enough for the cars to pass. + +In the meantime, around police head-quarters, in Mott Street, things wore +a serious aspect. From six o'clock in the morning, the various detachments +of police kept arriving until Bleecker, Houston, Mulberry, and Mott +Streets were dark with the massed battalions, ready to move at a moment's +notice. Rations were served out to them standing. Early in the day, +Governor Hoffman and staff arrived, and were quartered in the +Superintendent's room, while General Shaler and staff were quartered in +the fire marshal's office. Commissioners Manierre, Smith, and Barr were in +their own rooms, receiving reports from the various precincts over the +wires. A little after nine a dispatch came, stating that the quarrymen +near Central Park had quitted work, and were gathering in excited groups, +swearing that the Orangemen should not parade. Immediately Inspector +Jamieson, with two hundred and fifty policemen, was despatched in stages +to Forty-seventh Street and Eighth Avenue, to watch the course of events. +Another dispatch stated that an attack was threatened on Harper's +building, in Franklin Square, and Captain Allaire, of the Seventh +Precinct, was hurried off with fifty men to protect it. A little later +came the news that the Orangemen had determined to parade at two o'clock, +and a police force of five hundred, as we have already stated, were massed +in Eighth Avenue, opposite Lamartine Hall. About noon, a body of rioters +made an attack on the armory, No. 19 Avenue A, in which were a hundred and +thirty-eight stands of arms. Fortunately, the janitor of the building saw +them in time to fasten the doors before they reached it, and then ran to +the nearest police-station for help, from which a dispatch was sent to +head-quarters. Captain Mount, with a hundred policemen, was hurried off to +the threatened point. He arrived, before the doors were broken in, and +falling on the rioters with clubs, drove them in all directions. During +the forenoon, Drill-captain Copeland was given five Companies, and told to +seize Hibernia Hall, where arms were being distributed. As he approached, +he ordered the mob to disperse, but was answered with taunts and curses, +while the women hurled stones at his face. He then gave the order to +charge, when the men fell on the crowd with such fury, that they broke and +fled in wild confusion. Meanwhile, the detectives had been busy, and +secured eighteen of the ring-leaders, whom they marched to police head- +quarters. + +As the hour for the procession to form drew near, the most intense +excitement prevailed at police head-quarters, and the telegraph was +watched with anxious solicitude. The terrible punishment inflicted on the +rioters in 1863 seemed to have been forgotten by the mob, and it had +evidently resolved to try once more its strength with the city +authorities. Around the Orange head-quarters a still deeper excitement +prevailed. The hum of the vast multitude seemed like the first murmurings +of the coming storm, and many a face turned pale as the Orangemen, with +their banners and badges, only ninety in all, passed out of the door into +the street. John Johnston, their marshal, mounted on a spirited horse, +placed himself at their head. In a few minutes, the bayonets of the +military force designed to act as an escort could be seen flashing in the +sun, as the troops with measured tread moved steadily forward. Crowds +followed them on the sidewalks, or hung from windows and house-tops, while +low curses could be heard on every side, especially when the Twenty-second +Regiment deliberately loaded their pieces with ball and cartridge. The +little band of Orangemen looked serious but firm, while the military +officers showed by their preparations and order that they expected bloody +work. The Orangemen formed line in Twenty-ninth Street, close to the +Eighth Avenue, and flung their banners to the breeze. A half an hour +later, they were ready to march, and at the order wheeled into Eighth +Avenue. At that instant a single shot rang out but a few rods distant. +Heads were turned anxiously to see who was hit. More was expected as the +procession moved on. A strong body of police marched in advance. Next came +the Ninth Regiment, followed at a short interval by the Sixth. Then came +more police, followed by the little band of Orangemen, flanked on either +side, so as fully to protect them, by the Twenty-second and Eighty-fourth +Regiments. To these succeeded more police. The imposing column was closed +up by the Seventh Regiment, arresting all eyes by its even tread and +martial bearing. The sidewalks, doorsteps, windows, and roofs were black +with people. The band struck up a martial air, and the procession moved on +towards Twenty-eighth Street. Just before they reached it, another shot +rang clear and sharp above the music. No one was seen to fall, and the +march continued. At the corner of Twenty-seventh Street, a group of +desperate-looking fellows were assembled on a wooden shed that projected +over the sidewalk. Warned to get down and go away, they hesitated, when a +company of soldiers levelled their pieces at them. Uttering defiant +threats, they hurried down and disappeared. As the next corner was +reached, another shot was fired, followed by a shower of stones. A scene +of confusion now ensued. The police fell on the bystanders occupying the +sidewalks, and clubbed them right and left without distinction, and the +order rolled down the line to the inmates of the houses to shut their +windows. Terror now took the place of curiosity; heads disappeared, and +the quick, fierce slamming of blinds was heard above the uproar blocks +away. The procession kept on till it reached Twenty-fourth Street, when a +halt was ordered. The next moment a shot was fired from the second-story +windows of a house on the north-east corner. It struck the Eighty-fourth +Regiment, and in an instant a line of muskets was pointed at the spot, as +though the order to fire was expected. One gun went off, when, without +orders, a sudden, unexpected volley rolled down the line of the Sixth, +Ninth, and Eighty-fourth Regiments. The officers were wholly taken by +surprise at this unprecedented conduct; but, recovering themselves, rushed +among the ranks and shouted out their orders to cease firing. But the work +was done; and as the smoke slowly lifted in the hot atmosphere, a scene of +indescribable confusion presented itself. Men, women, and children, +screaming in wild terror, were fleeing in every direction; the strong +trampling down the weak, while eleven corpses lay stretched on the +sidewalk, some piled across each other. A pause of a few minutes now +followed, while the troops reloaded their guns. A new attack was +momentarily expected, and no one moved from the ranks to succor the +wounded or lift up the dead. Here a dead woman lay across a dead man; +there a man streaming with blood was creeping painfully up a doorstep, +while crouching, bleeding forms appeared in every direction. Women from +the windows looked down on the ghastly spectacle, gesticulating wildly. +The police now cleared the avenue and side streets, when, the dead and +wounded were attended to, and the order to move on was given. General +Varian, indignant at the conduct of the Eighty-fourth in firing first +without orders, sent it to the rear, and replaced it on the flank of the +Orangemen with a portion of the Ninth. The procession, as it now resumed +its march and moved through Twenty-fourth Street, was a sad and mournful +one. The windows were filled with spectators, and crowds lined the +sidewalks, but all were silent and serious. Not till it reached Fifth +Avenue Hotel were there any greetings of welcome. Here some three thousand +people were assembled, who rent the air with cheers. No more attacks were +made, and it reached Cooper Institute and disbanded without any further +incident. + +In the meantime, the scene at the Bellevue Hospital was a sad and painful +one. The ambulances kept discharging their bloody loads at the door, and +groans of distress and shrieks of pain filled the air. Long rows of cots, +filled with mangled forms, were stretched on every side, while the tables +were covered with bodies, held down, as the surgeons dressed their wounds. +The dead were carried to the Morgue, around which, as night came on, a +clamorous crowd was gathered, seeking admission, to look after their dead +friends. A similar crowd gathered at the door of the Mount Sinai Hospital, +filling the air with cries and lamentations. As darkness settled over the +city, wild, rough-looking men from the lowest ranks of society gathered in +the street where the slaughter took place, among whom were seen bare- +headed women roaming about, making night hideous with their curses. + +A pile of dead men's hats stood on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty- +fifth Street untouched, and pale faces stooped over pools of blood on the +pavement. The stores were all shut; and everything wore a gloomy aspect. +The police stood near, revealed in the lamplight, but made no effort to +clear the street. It seemed at one time that a serious outbreak would take +place, but the night passed off quietly, and the riot was ended, and the +mob once more taught the terrible lesson it is so apt to forget. + +Two of the police and military were killed, and twenty-four wounded; while +of the rioters thirty-one were killed, and sixty-seven wounded--making in +all one hundred and twenty-eight victims. + +There was much indignation expressed at the troops for firing without +orders, and firing so wildly as to shoot some of their own men. It was, of +course, deserving the deepest condemnation, yet it may have saved greater +bloodshed. The fight evidently did not occur at the expected point, and +doubtless the result here, prevented one where the mob was better +organized, and would have made a more stubborn resistance. + +That innocent persons were killed is true; but if they will mingle in with +a mob, they must expect to share its fate, and alone must bear the blame. +Troops are called out to fire on the people if they persist in violation +of the peace and rights of the community. Of this all are fully aware, and +hence take the risk of being shot. Soldiers cannot be expected to +discriminate in a mob. If the military are not to fire on a crowd of +rioters until no women and children, can be seen in it, they had better +stay at home. + +To a casual observer, this calling out of seven hundred policemen and +several regiments of soldiers, in order to let ninety men take a foolish +promenade through a few streets, would seem a very absurd and useless +display of the power of the city; and the killing of sixty or seventy men +a heavy price to pay for such an amusement. But it was not ninety +Orangemen only that those policemen and soldiers enclosed and shielded. +They had in their keeping the laws and authority of the city, set at +defiance by a mob, and also the principle of religious toleration and of +equal rights, which were of more consequence than the lives of ten +thousand men. The day when New York City allows itself to be dictated to +by a mob, and Protestants not be permitted to march as such quietly +through the streets, her prosperity and greatness will come to an end. The +taking of life is a serious thing, but it is not to weigh a moment against +the preservation of authority and the supremacy of the law. + +One thing should not be overlooked--the almost universal faithfulness of +the Roman Catholic Irish police to their duty. In this, as well as in the +draft riots, they have left a record of which, any city might he proud. To +defend Protestant Irishmen against Roman Catholic friends and perhaps +relatives, is a severe test of fidelity; but the Irish police have stood +it nobly, and won the regard of all good citizens. [Footnote: Twenty-four +pages are here added to correct the omission in paging the engravings.] + +[Illustration: RECEIVING AND REMOVING DEAD BODIES IN THE MORGUE.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great Riots of New York 1712 to +1873, by J.T. 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