New York Draft Riots - July 13-16, 1863

Jim Klag

Ike the moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
3,690
Reaction score
2,296
July 13, 1863 - Draft riots take place at New York City and Troy, NY, Boston, MA, Portsmouth, NH, Wooster, OH, and Rutland, VT, with 50 to 60 rioters reported killed in New York City alone. (Jul 13-16)
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
Race can not be forgotten....

Link: https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/disasters/riots-draft.html


There were many accounts in New York City newspapers of black individuals killed during the riot. Although there were an estimated 663 deaths, only 120 were reported to the police. Of those, however, 106 were African Americans. One account of Ebrahim Franklin’s death was typical. Franklin was in church, praying. He was a disabled man who made his living working as a carriage driver. He lived at home and supported his elderly mother. The mob reached him just as he was rising to his feet from his prayers and beat him to his death. They then dragged him outside and hung him in the church yard in front of his mother. Finally, they mutilated his corpse.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
Here is a link to engravings of the Draft Riots.... Here one attach showing a lynching...

 

Attachments

Kirk's Raider's

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 16, 2019
Messages
2,251
Reaction score
922
The City of New York and a few other cities post riots did use muncipal fund's to purchase substitutes for low income men subject to the draft.
Despite the riots the Union Army still won. Only five percent of the Union Army was composed of draftee's.
Leftyhunter
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
Here the Rutland, Vt. story... the key word is Ladders...


snip...

Two companies of armed soldiers arrived in Rutland on the evening of July 16. Capt. Edward J. Connor, 17th U.S. Infantry, commanded the companies. Connor soon had additional assistance for town residents raised a home guard unit to support the regulars. Armed with muskets provided by Crane, these 130 men were commanded by discharged officers of Vermont regiments. On July 29 and 30, deputy provost marshals went to serve papers at the quarries. The first deputy was initially successful and after arriving back in Rutland refused to return to West Rutland. Crane fired him. The second deputy served a few notices before he was surrounded and pelted with stones and he sensibly retreated. Armed support was necessary. On July 31, the soldiers boarded rail cars for West Rutland. The soldiers rode to within 100 feet of the quarry. The troops took positions to support the provost marshal if required, while four detachments proceeded directly to the quarries. There they promptly took possession of the ladders to prevent the exit of the Irishmen who wanted to support their colleagues above ground. Papers were easily issued to those isolated workers present and proper residences found of those men missing. Connor reported, I do not anticipate any further difficulty, and he was correct. By the end of August the U.S. regulars had departed Rutland, their work complete. It had indeed been a close call for Rutland. Due to the institution of town bounties coupled to existing federal and state bounty monies, the echo of names sounding out in the Town Hall never occurred again in Rutland. Donald Wickman is an author and historian who lives in Rutland.

Here is this...


snip...

150 years ago Federal Troops had to be called to West Rutland in when anger over the draft boiled over there.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
@O' Be Joyful Ft Fizzle... Draft Revolt...


snip...

The "Battle of Fort Fizzle" (also called the Holmes County Draft Riots and the Holmes County Rebellion) was a skirmish fought on June 17, 1863,[1] which took place during the American Civil War in the village of Glenmont (then known as Napoleon) in Holmes County, Ohio, between Union troops and local draft resisters opposed to the Conscription Act of 1863

here is this...


snip...

The Battle of Fort Fizzle was an uprising in Holmes County to protect local residents from federal provost marshals and deputies sent to Ohio to enforce the Conscription Act, which was also known as the Enrollment Act, during the American Civil War.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
Portsmouth, N.H... draft riot...


snip...

From the Portsmouth (N.H.) Gazette, July 16.
The following is as correct an account of the doings of the lawless crowd as we have been able to obtain in the excitement of the night. A large extra police force had been detailed, and, with the usual watchmen and the day police, instructed to prevent the congregation of any large crowd near the headquarters of the Provost-Marshal, Thursday night, the city authorities being determined that the outrages of the night previous should not be reenacted. Several well-disposed citizens, whom curiosity had drawn thither, appreciated the wisdom of the regulation, when it was suggested to them, and quietly withdrew. The first opposition was made by an Irishman, and as he absolutely refused to move, he was placed in the lock-up. Soon another person, an American, was arrested, and as he was being taken off, appealed to hi[???] "friends" for assistance. A rush was made to rescue him, the police resisted, one or two of the mob were seized, and a pistol was wrested from the bands of SAMPSON L. RUSSELL, who had been a prominent agitator and fomenter of discord during the past few days. The men who had been seized were taken to the Police-station and confined. This happened between 8 and 9 o'clock.
About 9 1/2 o'clock a mob of about 100 men, headed by this RUSSELL, RICHARD WALDEN and others, came to the Police station and demanded the pistol. They had come up from Water-street and vicinity, and made this their first demand. Their characters were well known to the Police, their real object well understood. Their demand was refused. Then they entered upon the foul work they had conspired to do, and made an assault upon the police. WALDEN selected one of the extra Police, Mr. GEO. FRETON, and made a cowardly and brutal attack on him with a long, square iron bolt. Mr. FRETON, who had nobly done his duty during the evening, received a severe and painful wound in the right wrist and arm in warding off a blow aimed at his head. A few moments after WALDEN gave the order to his fellow ruffians to "fire." Report followed report in rapid succession, of pistols.
Meanwhile Marshal BRAGDON had sent word to Mayor DEARBORN, who was in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Aldermen, that his presence was needed. He was promptly on the spot. Energetic measures were at once taken; the active members of the Board, as well as the Mayor, were equal to the emergency; the garrison at Fort Constitution, and the marines at the Navy-yard, were notified by signals that their assistance was required; a request was sent to Lieut. WELLES, in command of the guard at the Provost-Marshal's headquarter's, for immediate aid. Every one appealed to promptly responded. Many prominent and influential citizens united in the good work.
The Mayor reached the spot just as the pistols were discharged. Several shots were fired by the mob and by the Police. RUSSELL's revolver did good execution in the right hands. The leaders of the mob had had a taste of cold lead. Their deluded followers faltered and fell back. Presently Sergt. GRAY, with a small squad of soldiers from the headquarters of the Provost-Marshal, appeared; the faint gleam of their bayonets was seen in the dim light; they charged upon the mob, and it ran like sheep, taking their wounded with them. The mob was crushed. It was not long before a strong force of marines, under command of Col. MARSTON, arrived from the Navy-yard; and another of soldiers from the fort, under Lieut. WAINWRIGHT.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
Top