Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2)

Upon the 15th day of June, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a draft of three hundred thousand men to fill the ranks of the Union army. The proclamation was received with murmurs of discontent from large masses of the populace in every city of the North; and the murmurs proved to be only the foreshadowings of very serious disturbances in New York, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Troy, Buffalo, and in short, every city of importance. In New York, the draft commenced on Saturday, July 11th. It had previously been announced through the press, that on this day the ballots for one district would be publicly counted at the corner of Forty-sixth street and Third avenue, and that immediately afterward the wheel would be turned, and the draft begin.

Quite a large crowd was assembled at an early hour at the office of the Provost-Marshal of the Ninth Congressional District; and at about nine o’clock Assistant Provost-Marshal Charles E. Jenkins stepped upon the table and read out his orders in relation to the draft, and the manner in which it was to be conducted. Upon the table was a large wheel, containing the ballots, on which were inscribed the names of all those who had been enrolled; one of the enrolling clerks, having been blindfolded, then proceeded to make the drawings of the names. The business began and proceeded pleasantly, and with no demonstrations even of ill-humor; and at the close of the day, there was no cause for apprehending a disturbance growing out of the draft. But so severe were the apprehensions of many of the working classes, lest they should be forced from their homes, that secret associations had been formed to resist the draft, even at the cost of bloodshed. The next day being Sunday, these parties took occasion to meet, and to make resolutions to resist upon Monday, to the utmost extremity. Accordingly, upon the morning of the 13th, a very large crowd had gathered about the corner of Forty-sixth street and Third avenue, and for a short time the business of the day proceeded quietly, and without any sign of disturbance; from seventy-five to one hundred names had been drawn from the wheel and announced, when suddenly the report of a pistol was heard in the street.

This seemed to be the signal for an attack upon the office, for almost upon the instant a perfect shower of brickbats, paving stones, and other missiles, were hurled from the street into the building, a proceeding which took everybody by surprise. Following the shower of stones came an immense crowd, who poured into the office, carrying everything before them. The wheel containing the remaining ballots of the Twenty-second Ward was carried by two of the clerks to the top story of the house, and placed in a room, the inmates of which refused to have it there, when it was placed in the hall. The Provost-Marshal, Commissioner, Surgeon, engrossing clerks, with the members of the press, effected their escape, by a back door. Captain Jenkins clambering a fence, and secreting himself in the next house until a favorable moment arrived, when he made his way home.

One of the clerks who endeavored to save some of the papers, was seized by the crowd, the papers taken from him by force, and torn in pieces. The mob now had possession of the building. In a few moments afterward, a man appeared with a can of turpentine, which he poured on the floor of the office, and, setting fire to it, the room was soon in a blaze. All this time the mob were breaking up the pavement and assaulting the police and men attached to the office with stones.

The fire which had been kindled in the back office, spread rapidly to the upper part of the house, the flames in a little time communicating to the three houses on the north side, which were of equal size with the one occupied by the Provost-Marshal.

Around the bell-tower in Fifty-first street, the mob had sent their friends to stop the bell from ringing. When engine Number Thirty-three, and Hose Fifty-three were coming down Third avenue, they were cheered by the mob, but not allowed to work.

The corner building having been nearly destroyed, one of the engineers now mounted the engine and appealed to the crowd for permission to throw water upon the fire, telling them that they had accomplished their purpose in burning the Marshal’s office.

About one o’clock Chief-Engineer Decker arrived at the scene of conflagration, and seeing how matters stood, he ordered the firemen to go to work and extinguish the flames, and thus prevented the conflagration from extending to the neighboring buildings.

But a great deal of damage had already been done; and not less than six families were turned houseless into the streets.

Shortly after eleven o’clock a detachment of the Provost Guard, numbering fifteen and a half files, belonging to the Invalid Corps, left the Park Barracks and reached the ground about noon. Upon reaching Thirty-fourth street, the mob began to surround them, hooting, yelling, and groaning. The guard formed in line between Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth streets, but were so closely pressed upon all sides, that they were unable to “order arms.” The mob now commenced pushing and jolting the soldiers, and throwing stones at them, when Lieutenant Reed, who was in command of the guard, ordered his men to load, and immediately after gave the order to “fire.” The soldiers poured a blank volley into the crowd, and no one was hurt. The crowd, who had retreated a short distance when the firing occurred, quickly rallied, and closing upon the guard, wrested arms from their hands, and discharged several of the pieces which had been reloaded. The soldiers, thus attacked, retreated quickly, but were pursued by the infuriated throng.

The pursuit was kept up as far as Twentieth street, when it was abandoned, and a majority of the men escaped. One of the soldiers was pursued up Forty-first street to First avenue, where a crowd of some twenty men surrounded him, knocked him down, and beat him until he was insensible. A number of women joined in, and one of them endeavored to stab him with a bayonet, but another woman took the weapon out of her hand, and carried it off. The soldier was left dead on the walk.

It was impossible to tell whence the first steps of this movement proceeded; for in twenty or thirty different places men ceased labor as if at some mysterious signal, and poured pell-mell into the streets to join the rioters.

The streets from Forty-first to Sixty-third and the avenues were full of knots and throngs of laboring men, some counseling violence at once, others discussing their power to effect anything, many drowning bitter judgment in frequent potations of ardent spirits.

The telegraph poles were cut down, and thrown across the track of the street cars; which were not allowed to run on the Third and Fourth avenue railroads.

The rioters were composed of the employees of the several railroad companies; the employees of Brown’s iron factory, in Sixty-first street; Taylor’s factory, in Forty-first street; Cummins’, street contractor, and numerous manufactories in the upper part of the city. The crowd marched through many of the streets in the upper part of the city, compelling laborers in every quarter to knock off work and fall in. A few demurred, but were brought into the ranks by furious threats. Thus compelling all whom it met to swell its ranks the crowd soon reached vast proportions, every moment increasing in boldness. Well dressed men appeared to be specially obnoxious to it. The general cry was, “Down with the rich men.” Three gentlemen talking together on Lexington avenue were set upon and knocked down, narrowly escaping with their lives.

One of the Guard endeavored to make his escape by climbing the rocks near Forty-second street. No sooner, however, was his intention discovered, than another portion of the rioters seized him, and taking him to the top of the rock stripped his uniform off him, and after beating him almost to a jelly, threw him over a precipice some twenty feet high on the hard rocks beneath. Not contented with this, stones and dirt were thrown at him as he lay helpless until he was half buried.

Soon after the defeat of the soldiers a strong squad of police made their appearance in line of battle. As soon as the mob caught sight of them they fired a volley of stones, knocking down two of the officers. The police drew their clubs and revolvers, but after a contest of a few minutes they were also forced to retreat, which they did in good order until near Fortieth street, when one of them discharged his revolver four times into the midst of the throng, shooting a horse that was attached to a wagon standing on the corner. A rush was made at once for the officer, who immediately retreated into a store near by, the people of which at once barred the door and endeavored to give him protection. The crowd, however, went to the back of the house, tore down the fence, and rushed into the building, seized the policeman, knocked him down, and beat him in a fearful manner.

Police Superintendent Kennedy, through in citizen’s dress, was observed by the mob, who made a rush at him and knocked him headlong into the gutter, when several of the rioters kicked him and beat him dreadfully about the head, face, and body. Some one of his friends who chanced to be near by, recognizing Mr. Kennedy, went to his assistance and succeeded in rescuing him. Mr. Kennedy was taken into a store and thence removed to his residence in a carriage. His injuries, though severe, did not prove fatal, as was at first feared by his friends.

Growing more violent every instant the mob continued to hoot and yell through the streets; stopping before some of the handsomest dwellings they passed, attacking them with violence, and breaking in the doors and windows; then entering they pillaged and destroyed at will. Those who were disposed to theft carried away every available article they could lay hands upon, and threw into the streets everything they could not conveniently carry with them—as handsome, marble-topped furniture, sofas, arm-chairs, pier-glasses, pictures, &c. The chief objects of their rage were the unfortunate negro population, and after them all who sought in any way to protect them, or to quell the riot.

The crowd divided into gangs, with their leaders bearing pieces of board for banners on which were written “Independent,” “No Draft,” &c., and it was unsafe to express a single word in dissent from the proceeding. Hundreds of mere boys, from fifteen to eighteen years of age, were armed with clubs, or pickets, and marching in the ranks.

The mob now began firing all the buildings they had sacked; and in a dozen streets at once the incendiary flames shot up, and seemed to threaten a general conflagration. The fire engines were brought out: but they were set upon by the frantic, yelling mob, which was rapidly swelling to dangerous proportions, and prevented from being set to work.

About 2 o’clock P. M. a gentleman connected with the Press, while standing on the corner of Forty-sixth street and Third avenue, was attacked by the crowd, crying out, “here’s a d—d Abolitionist; let’s hang him.” He was seized by the hair and dragged toward an awning post, but fortunately something else diverting the attention of the crowd, he escaped up Third avenue—but only for a short time, for a blow with a paving stone on the back of the head and another one in the face, stunned him so that he lost all consciousness, and while in this state, he was robbed of his gold watch and chain, diamond breast-pin and thirty-three dollars in money.

At three o’clock a procession of about five thousand, people marched up First avenue, all armed with bars, pistols, &c., threatening vengeance on all persons connected with the draft. They halted in front of the Eighteenth ward Station-House in Twenty-second street, yelling in a demoniacal manner.

About four o’clock P. M. the rioters, perfectly frenzied with liquor, roamed about in every direction attacking people miscellaneously, and burning every building in which they saw a policeman take refuge.

The police suffered severely in these attacks of the first day, seventeen of them having been badly wounded; many of them so much injured that they were carried to hospitals.

The city was particularly unsuited to resist a riot at the time when the ringleaders of this one chose to begin it, as nearly every regiment in New York had been sent to the defence of Pennsylvania. The militia, however, were called out, by order of General Wool.

The First and Third cavalry, which had been ordered to parade at the funeral of Colonel Zook, were sent forthwith to the Seventh avenue arsenal.

Lieutenant-Colonel Missing, with a portion of his force, was ordered to the upper arsenal.

One hundred citizens of the Sixth ward reported themselves in readiness to General Sandford, for such duty as he might assign them to, and were sent by him to the arsenal in White street.

The authorities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard were notified of the disturbances, and a large force of United States Marines, besides a considerable number of soldiers of the regular army, were ordered into instant service.

General Sandford issued the following order, calling a meeting at the Seventh regiment armory, at eight o’clock in the evening of the 13th, to concert measures for the protection of the city:

The ex-officers of this division, and of the United States Volunteers now in this city, who are disposed to assist in preserving the peace of the city, are requested to meet at the Seventh regiment drill-rooms, over Tompkins Market, this evening at eight o’clock.

In answer to the call of General Sandford, the ex-officers then in the city met at the Seventh regiment armory on the same evening, and took steps toward the formation of one or more regiments to assist in protecting New York.

One of the greatest outrages perpetrated during the four days’ riot, was the burning of

THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM.

This building was fired about five o’clock in the afternoon. The infuriated mob, eager for any violence, were turned that way by the simple suggestion that it was full of colored children. They clamored around the house like demons, filling the air with yells. A few policemen, who attempted to make a stand, were instantly overpowered—several being severely or fatally injured. While this was going on, a few of the less evil disposed gave notice to the inmates to quit the building.

The sight of the helpless creatures stayed for a moment, even the insensate mob; but the orphans were no sooner out, than the work of demolition commenced. First the main building was gutted, and then set on fire. While it was burning, the large wing adjoining—used as a dormitory—was stripped, inside and out. Several hundred iron bedsteads were carried off—such an exodus of this article was probably never witnessed before. They radiated in every direction for half a mile.

Carpets were dragged away at length; desks, stools, chairs, tables, books of all kinds—everything moveable—was carried off. Even the caps and bonnets of the poor children were stolen. While the rioters stripped the building of its furniture, their wives and children, and hundreds who were too cowardly to assist the work of demolition, carried it off. The wing, while burning, swarmed with rioters, who seemed endowed with a demoniacal energy to rend in pieces, rob and destroy.

Shutters and doors were torn off and tumbled into the streets. These were seized and torn to pieces almost before they touched the ground, and, with everything else, carried off with surprising celerity. Several persons were injured, and one killed, by the falling of shutters and furniture from the windows. What was very marked as the destruction proceeded, was the absence of excitement. Things were done as coolly by the rioters, as if they were saving instead of destroying property.

In the early part of the day the building occupied by the Provost-Marshal, corner of Twenty-eighth street and Broadway, was attacked by a mob, fired, and together with the adjoining buildings, laid in ashes.

Mr. John Decker, Chief-engineer of the Fire Department, now made an effort to stay the devouring flames, by addressing himself to the insane mob, and counselling them, as a matter of common sense, to allow the engines to work, and so save the property of those who were entirely innocent of bringing on the draft. At first there seemed a disposition to listen to him, and the engines were got ready, but before they could be set to work, the largest portion of the mob, which had gone tearing down Broadway, learning the firemen’s intentions, came rushing back—howling, cursing, swearing, and vowing vengeance.

In less than a minute they cleared the streets, drove the firemen from their engines, stoned the police from the sidewalks, and again took possession of the engines, hose-carriages, etc., which, however, they did not damage.

Half an hour later, Chief Decker got his engines at work, and succeeded in eventually saving a part of the building on the corner of Forty-seventh street, the whole of the rest of the block having been destroyed.

About eight o’clock in the evening, the frenzied rioters having reached Printing House Square, commenced an attack on the Tribune office, hurling bricks and stones into its windows, and utterly destroying them. An entrance to the counting-room was next effected, and an attempt made to set the building on fire. At this instant a strong police force came upon the full run across the Park, scattering the rioters. A heavy rain soon set in, and the mob dispersed in every direction; though a great deal of petty mischief continued to be done during the night by those who did not seek their homes, or had none to seek. Whole blocks of buildings were burned during this one day’s riot; and the damage to government property alone was estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

THE SECOND DAY.

At an early hour on Tuesday morning, after a night of sleepless anxiety to the inhabitants of the city, demonstrations of violence began, and the outrages of the previous day were renewed. At about half-past eight o’clock, it was reported at the Police Headquarters that a large body of rioters were gathering along the Second avenue, threatening every house along the thoroughfare. A police force of three hundred men was immediately detailed under Inspector Carpenter, for the purpose of breaking up the crowd; finding the railroad track obstructed, they left the street cars, and marched in solid column toward Second avenue, where the mob received them with ominous silence.

When the whole force had reached the block between Thirty-fourth and Thirty fifth streets, they were closed in upon by the mob, and assailed by a thick shower of bricks and stones, which rained from the houses and windows in the neighborhood. For some moments the men wavered, and the peril was imminent, when the reassuring voices of the officers in command recalled them, and they returned the shower of stones with a volley of bullets from their revolvers. The order was then given to charge, and a most furious onset was made upon the rioters—the police driving them into the houses, chasing them all over the buildings and again into the street, where they were scattered by a most vigorous application of clubs. All the side streets were then cleared, and the police marched over the battle-ground victorious. The men behaved bravely, hunting every rioter, and clubbing him if he made any resistance.

The police then marched through the Avenue, and were met by a detachment of the Eleventh regiment of the N. Y. S. V., headed by Colonel O’Brien and a couple of field-pieces, under command of Lieutenant Eagleson. The forces united, and countermarched down the avenue. The mob had in the mean time rallied, when the military formed a line of battle, and fired upon the crowd. Bullets whistled through the air in every direction, shattering shutters and doors.

Many of the rioters fell, and some were killed; two children were killed also, and a woman wounded. At this point no further hostile demonstrations occurred on the part of the mob; and the police and military force marched to the Central office. About noon, however, the riot was resumed on Second avenue. About five hundred of the mob entered the Union Steam works at the corner of Twenty-second street and Second avenue, and commenced carrying away the muskets which had been deposited there the day previous, the arms having been taken from Mr. Opdyke’s armory in Second avenue before the building was fired by the mob.

During the morning all the factories and shops in the neighborhood were visited, and threats made to burn each establishment to the ground unless it was closed. As a consequence, every factory for a mile around the Union Steam Works was shut up, and the streets swarmed with infuriated men.

The mob had taken possession of the latter building for the purpose of using it as a fortification from which to resist the police.

About two o’clock, a force of two hundred police, under command of Inspector Dilks, arrived on the ground. Some of the rioters, becoming alarmed at being thus caged, endeavored to escape, but were too late, for upon the moment Inspector Dilks gave the order to charge. In an instant four of the rioters were stretched upon the pavement. The men, with all the pluck of veterans, rushed into the building upon the mob, and after a desperate fight of a few moments, during which some of the policemen as well as the rioters, were injured, succeeded in conquering the crowd, causing them to leap from the windows, and rush to every other avenue of escape.

A large number of women at this moment attacked the police, cursing them in a fearful manner, and in some instances stoning them.

Having cleared the building of the rioters, the police came into the street again, each man holding a musket, and charged upon the mob, which scattered in every direction.

At this same place the mob subsequently augmented so greatly that they stormed the place and notwithstanding the resistance of the small force of police left for protection, took possession of it. Reinforcements speedily arrived, and again the building was emptied of the mob; the police then marched through the district, the military bringing up in the rear; and again the crowd rallied, following them, and sent into their ranks a shower of every sort of missile they could lay hands upon. Quick as thought Captain Franklin gave the order “’bout face,” which brought the soldiers face to face with the crowd. In an instant thereafter the order to “fire” was given, and a volley was poured into the mob. Fifteen were reported killed and wounded. A charge was made with fixed bayonets, when the mob broke and scattered like sheep. The force then returned to their rendezvous with about two hundred carbines which they had captured.

The crowd was being constantly reinforced as the day wore on. A number of gentlemen attacked one gang of the ruffians, and succeeded in capturing two of them. About five o’clock a large squad of rioters attacked a building on Twenty-ninth street, because it was alleged that “Horace Greeley lived there.” While engaged in the destruction of the house and its contents a detail of about fifty soldiers and thirty policemen appeared on the ground and marched through the street clearing it of all obstructions.

A short time afterwards, in another portion of the street a gang of rioters raised a cry against a gentleman passing by “that he was a Tribune reporter,” and instantly he was set upon by the infuriated mob, who pursued, knocked him down, and beat and kicked him about the body, face and head in such a way as to leave him nearly dead. A gentleman present interfered and succeeded in saving the young man’s life. He was taken to his residence near, and it was found on examination that he had received no mortal wound.

This same mob while in the vicinity set upon a man against whom they had conceived some fancied antipathy, and beat him to death.

The riot was now increasing in all parts of the city notwithstanding the vigorous measures adopted for quelling it. An attack was made upon the residence of Mayor Opdyke by a comparatively small body of men and a party of boys, who threw stones and brickbats at the windows. Not more than half of the rioters, however, entered the building, their object evidently being plunder. About twenty gentlemen living in the neighborhood, having anticipated the attack, assembled at a given place, and, with such weapons as were at hand, rushed upon the crowd and drove them from the door. They then entered the Mayor’s house and speedily expelled the rioters. Meantime the mob was increasing and the cry was “Burn the building!” The front steps were then occupied by the small party of gentlemen whose determined looks the crowd did not seem to relish.

Happily, a body of police appeared, and charging upon the rioters put them to flight. The policemen were relieved by a detachment of two hundred soldiers.

One of the most atrocious and bloodthirsty acts of the second day’s riot was the murder of Colonel O’Brien, who had command of a portion of the military troops. The mob having been in great measure dispersed, a temporary quiet ensued toward evening, and Colonel O’Brien took advantage of this circumstance to return to his residence, and remove his family to a place of safety, fearing the violence of the rioters against them, for he had heard many threats to that effect. He alighted from his carriage in Thirty-fifth street, and had just entered his house when a part of the mob, who had apparently been watching for him, made their appearance, and pouncing upon him dragged him into the yard, where they beat and kicked him in the most brutal manner.

Several women who were among the crowd also kicked the unfortunate man. Yelling like so many devils, three or four men seized the Colonel by his hair, and dragged him into the street, where they again kicked and beat him.

A man keeping a drug store on the corner, carried out a glass of water to give the Colonel, whereupon the mob turned about and completely gutted his store.

After beating Colonel O’Brien until he was insensible, they again dragged him into the yard and threw him into a corner, where every now and then they visited him and renewed their attack upon him.

Several persons witnessed this outrage from their near windows, and protested against it, when the mob cried out “kill them too, don’t let’s have any witnesses.” The ringleaders notified the neighbors that they intended burning the block at night, and were going to burn the body of the Colonel.

The brutal murderers watched over his body until life was extinct, refusing to allow any one to approach to give him the slightest assistance. Two Roman Catholic priests finally came up and conveyed his body in a hand-cart to the Bellevue Hospital Dead-House. He was terribly mangled, and his body was almost naked and covered with gore.

Among the acts of the rioters during Tuesday, were the following: The main track of the Hudson River railroad from Fifty-ninth to Fifty-third streets was torn up by the insurgents about ten o’clock in the morning, the Albany express train which left at that hour being compelled to back out of town on one of the turn outs. The crowd was armed with cart-rungs, small clubs, and other weapons. After damaging the railroad they proceeded down the avenue, amusing themselves by applying the torch to the house of any person whom they considered opposed to them.

The Western Hotel, the Western Drove-Yards, and other buildings, were in this manner destroyed.

At the corner of Twenty-sixth street and Eleventh avenue, the Hudson River cars were stopped and threatened with destruction, but were eventually allowed to proceed on their way.

The residence of Colonel Nugent, Eighty-sixth street, was utterly destroyed; and an adjoining building was burned to the ground. A large factory in Harlem was fired, and completely consumed. Post-Master Wakeman’s residence in Yorkville was pillaged of everything it contained, and then reduced to ashes; an attack was made on the clothing store of Mr. Brooks, Catherine street, the rioters carrying away articles of clothing of great value. The robbery was interrupted, and the probable subsequent destruction of the building prevented, by the arrival of a police force, who fell upon the mob with great fierceness, capturing many, and scattering the remainder in confusion. Thieves, garroters, rowdies and ruffians of all descriptions took this opportunity of joining the mob and robbing and plundering at their pleasure. Many of the rioters arrested by the police were recognized as old offenders.

Another assault upon the Tribune Office was attempted, but did not amount to anything. A large crowd was collected in the Park, and around the City Hall. Governor Seymour made his appearance upon the front steps of the building, and addressed the crowd in the following manner:

“My Friends: I have come down here from the quiet of the country to see what was the difficulty, to learn what all this trouble was concerning the Draft. Let me assure you that I am your friend. [Uproarious cheering] You have been my friends—[cries of “Yes,” “Yes,” “That’s so”—“We are and will be again”]—and now I assure you, my fellow-citizens, that, I am here to show you a test of my friendship. [Cheers.] I wish to inform you that I have sent my Adjutant-General to Washington to confer with the authorities there, and to have this Draft suspended and stopped. [Vociferous cheers.] I now ask you as good citizens to wait for his return, and I assure you that I will do all that I can to see that there is no inequality, and no wrong done to any one. I wish you to take good care of all property as good citizens, and see that every person is safe. The safe keeping of property and persons rests with you, and I charge you to disturb neither. It is your duty to maintain the good order of the city, and I know you will do it. I wish you now to separate as good citizens, and you can assemble again whenever you wish to do so. I ask you to leave all to me now, and I will see to your rights. Wait until my adjutant returns from Washington, and you shall be satisfied. Listen to me, and see that no harm is done to either persons or property, but retire peaceably.” [Cheers.] Some of the crowd here shouted, “Send away those bayonets,” referring to a company of soldiers who were drawn up in front of the City Hall, but the Governor declined to interfere with the military, and bowing to the crowd, retired.

A person named Andrews, formerly of Virginia, then introduced himself and asked the crowd to disperse, and await the reply from Washington, which he was certain would come by telegraph this afternoon, and which he knew would be, that no draft would take place. [Cries of “Send these soldiers away, then we’ll go.”] Upon the suggestion of some person, Mr. Perrin told the crowd that the soldiers present were subject to the command of Governor Seymour, and could not go unless he ordered them away. The speaker then retired, as did also the crowd, after many mutterings against the troops.

Those of the mob who had gathered solely with a view to oppose the draft, gradually dispersed; but the crowd had attracted to itself too many who were only anxious to pillage and destroy, to be so readily broken up; and the rioters only left the City Hall to assemble elsewhere. Again night, but not quiet, descended upon the scene. From end to end of the city the feeling of anxious fear was increased rather than diminished. Violence, theft and bloodshed reigned in all directions, and the sky was lurid with the lights of the still burning buildings.

THE THIRD DAY.

The Seventh regiment had been sent for, and were hourly expected on this day, the 15th; but the expected arrival of a body of military fresh from the seat of war did not, apparently, in the least intimidate the rioters, who went about threatening the houses, property, and lives of all who came under their displeasure, and boasting that they were so well organized as to fear nothing. One of the first acts of the rioters upon this day was a cowardly and brutal outrage upon an unfortunate negro, whom it was alleged had shot one of their number in self-defence. Immediately a crowd of two or three hundred rioters surrounded the unfortunate wretch, and seized him as he was endeavoring to enter his house. Dragging him into the middle of the street, they jumped upon him and pounded him with their fists and with stones, until life was extinct. “Hang him”—“hang him,” was the cry, and procuring a piece of clothes line, the crowd suspended the lifeless body from the limb of a tree, where he remained hanging several hours. This fiendish act accomplished, the insurgents cried, “burn his house,” when a rush was made upon the building, and the door burst open. After emptying it they set fire to and destroyed it. The firemen arriving upon the ground in response to the alarm, saved the adjoining property from injury.

Meantime a woman told the mob that a row of tenement houses in the rear were occupied by colored people, when the ringleader, armed with a cudgel, led to the place in search of the inmates, but they had effected their escape, having been apprised of their danger by some friendly neighbors at the commencement of the outbreak. Incensed at the escape of their prey, the mob burned the buildings, and fled on the arrival of the police. The body of the unfortunate negro was cut down, and removed to the dead-house.

At a later hour, the mob, strongly reinforced, again appeared in the neighborhood, when they were fired upon by a company of military who had been ordered to the spot. Several of the rioters were killed, but their names were never ascertained.

About half past two o’clock a large force of the mob stopped at a lumber-yard on Fourteenth street, fired it, and burnt it to the ground, causing the luckless owner a loss of ten thousand dollars. The rage of the bloodthirsty rioters continued to expend itself upon the colored population, and upon all who had the reputation of being abolitionists. Many beautiful buildings were laid in ashes, for no other reason than because some maliciously disposed person volunteered the information that “an abolitionist lived in the pile somewhere.”

It was certain death not only to any negro to be seen upon the streets but to any white person who expressed pity for the bad treatment to which the poor wretches were subjected. The telegraph wires were cut in many directions; and much inconvenience as well as a great deal of damage caused thereby. All the principal hotels in the city were organized for defence, and the male boarders armed themselves in case of attack; while in private families there was an almost universal compulsory fast, both because the markets were closed up, and because it was dangerous to go into the streets even for the purpose of purchasing the necessaries of life.

Nearly all day there were demonstrations by the rioters in Seventh avenue, in the vicinity of the arsenal. Cannon had been placed so as to command all the approaches to the arsenal, and a strong force of cavalry was on the ground. These preparations had the effect of keeping the mob at a respectful distance, but the spirit of turbulence manifested itself occasionally, and was often met by a terrible retribution from the military. Cannon were held in readiness, and the conflicts during the day, resulted in the killing and wounding of between forty and fifty men, women, and children. Toward night the mob found a negro man, and, having expended their rage by nearly killing him, they then hung him to a lamp post at the corner of Twenty-eighth street and Seventh avenue.

An attack upon the gas-house was made, but before it resulted in anything disastrous, a detachment of infantry came up, and immediately put the rioters to flight. To protect the works from any further damage the military kept guard upon them all night.

Late in the afternoon a consultation was held by Governor Seymour, General Sandford, General Wool and General Brown on the propriety of proclaiming martial law; but Governor Seymour was averse to such an extreme measure, depending upon the military forces then in the city and those expected to arrive to quell the disturbances.

In the course of the day the mob increased to the number of eight hundred persons. A large body of them attacked a shoe store on Grand street, and having appropriated every article of property it contained they set the building on fire, and reduced it to ashes. The citizens of the Tenth, Eleventh, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Nineteenth Wards having organized themselves into Committees of Safety, patrolled the streets carrying arms. Toward evening the Tenth, and Sixty-fifth regiments returned to the city, and were loudly cheered as they walked up Broadway. This somewhat sobered the rioters, but robbery and pillaging continued during the succeeding night, although both the military and police were on the alert. On this day the excitement had spread on the one side of the city to Brooklyn; and on the other to Hoboken; fires occurring in both cities ignited by the incendiaries, who profited by their wicked acts. Boston, Troy, Buffalo, and very many other cities of the North suffered by the riot during the fifteenth, and for several days succeeding.

THE FOURTH DAY.

The morning of the fourth day of the riot opened under auspicious circumstances. People awoke to find the cars and omnibuses running, and they never were so glad to see them before. The railroads and stage lines were assured ample protection by an order of Governor Seymour requiring General Sandford to furnish the Police Commissioners such force as they might require to protect their depots and stables.

The public confidence was still further increased by the arrival of the Seventh, and Seventy-fourth Regiments, and the battery of the Eighth.

The Sixty-fifth, Colonel Burns, of Buffalo, was placed by Governor Seymour under the orders of General Wool, and at an early hour three companies of it were assigned to the sub-treasury building. The other four companies were retained for street service at General Brown’s headquarters.

The battery of the Eighth regiment, Captain Brown, which arrived with the Sixty-fifth, was threatened by a mob at the Battery, but the two negro servants accompanying it were firmly protected.

The expectation of the other regiments, five of New York and five of Brooklyn, whose return Governor Seymour had requested, tended to increase the feeling of safety which was growing with the citizens. A Michigan regiment, whose term of service had nearly expired, was also expected to return home by way of the metropolis.

The appropriation, moreover, of two million five hundred thousand dollars by the Common Council to satisfy the three hundred dollar exemption clause, withdrew most of those who feared the draft from the mob; and few but the thieves were left.

About noon a large gang of rioters fired upon a company of soldiers from a house on the Seventh avenue. The soldiers returned the fire, and immediately ten or a dozen desperate fellows, armed with clubs and guns, rushed out of the house, and pursued the soldiers, who wheeled about and poured the contents of their muskets into them. In an incredibly short space of time, the streets became thronged with rioters, who made the most violent demonstrations against the soldiers, but were soon driven from the vicinity. When the military were out of sight, the mob finished sacking some houses they had broken into, and threatened to use the torch forthwith for the balance of the block.

Very fortunately the mob was foiled in all its efforts to obtain possession of the Arsenal, the lower floor of which was filled with artillery and equipments, and the second floor with muskets, swords, sabres, pistols, and all kinds of infantry and cavalry equipments. Had the rioters gained possession of the building, there would have been no lack of arms for any number they could have mustered. The third floor, of the size of the entire building, is the drill-room, now used for barracks and guard-house. In the centre and around the sides muskets were stacked, and soldiers lying, with knapsacks under their heads, asleep. It looked almost like a battle-field; coats, equipments, arms, soldiers lying indiscriminately together. “Here,” said Major Kiernan, of the Sixth Missouri, to a gentleman present, “you have a glimpse of war as it is.”

The military being present in large force, the rioters became hourly less demonstrative. Notwithstanding this, however, a great deal of damage was done in various parts of the city. The most violent demonstrations of the rioters were now subdued; and on the following day business was resumed throughout the city, and all the stores which had been obliged to be closed, were again opened. As the disturbance in New York city subsided, the rioting in adjacent towns, and all other places affected by it, gradually decreased; and quiet again succeeded the short, but bloody “reign of terror.”