Pen and Pencil Sketches of the Great Riots. An illustrated history of the Railroad and other great American Riots, etc

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," I'REFACE. kindly furnished me facts relating to the Police Department of great value, and which saved me much labor aud 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 every thing necessary to a complete understanding of the subjects treated of has been given, consistent with the continuity and interest of the narrative. The material for the account of the unparalleled Railroad Strike, with the Riots connected with it in various places, are gathered necessarily from the local press of the country. 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. In addition to the numerous illustrations from special designs, engraved expressly for this work, the Publisher is indebted to the courtesy of the Penn sylvania Railroad Company for a number of the finest illustrations, also to Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. 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 17

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 24

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 1* CONTENTS. 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 Mer chants. — 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 Birth day.—Loyalty of the People.— Mutiny Act. — A Riot becomes a Great Rebellion 46

Chapter IV

nOCTORs' 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 distingudshed 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 56

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 CONTENTS. 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 66

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 ... 79

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 ASTOR-PLACE RIOTS, 1849. Rivalry between Forrest and Macready. — Macready's Arrival in thia 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 Ill

Chapter IX. Police Riot

— -DEAD-RABBITS' RIOT — BREAD RIOT, 1S57. 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 129

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 sava the Life of the Nation.— The Rights of Government.— Drafting the Legitimate Way to raise an Army — It is not Unequal or Oppressive J3Q Rights of Municipalities. — Interference of the Legislature with the City Government. — Conflict between the Governor and Police Commissioners. — Provost Marshals. — Preparations of Superintendent Kennedy. — The Police System. — Attack on Provost Marshal Captain Erhardt. — -Telegrams of the Police 142

Chapter XII

Commencement of the Mob. — Its Line of March. — Its immense Size. — Attacks a Provost Marshal's Office Terrible Struggle of Kennedy for his Life with the Mob. — Mob cutting down Telegraph Poles. — Superintendent of Telegraph Bureau seized and held Prisoner by the Mob 152

Chapter XIII

Soldiers beaten by the Mob. — Gallant Fight of Sergeant McCredie. — Mob Triumphant. — Fifty thousand People block Third Avenue. — .A whole Block of Houses burning. — Defeat of the Broadway Squad. — Houses sacked iu Lexington Avenue. — Bull's Head Tavern burned. — Block on Broadway burned. — Burning of the Negroes' Orphan Asylum. — Attack on Mayor Opdyke's House. .160

Chapter XIV

No Military in the City. — The Mayor calls on General Wool 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. — Attack of Mob on the Tribune Building. — Government Buildings Garrisoned 175

Chapter XV

Telegraph Bureau. — Its Work. — Interesting Incidents. — Hairbreadth Escapes. — Detective Force. — Its arduous Labors. — Its Disguises. — Shrewdness, Tact, and Courage. — Narrow Escapes 1 DRAFT RIOT SECOND DAT. Fight between Rioters and the Police and Soldiers. — 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. — Colonel Nugent's House Sacked. — Fight with the Mob in Third Avenue. — Night Attack on Brooks and Brothers' Clothing Store. Value of the Telegraph System. — Seymour's Speech to the Mob 192

Chapter XVII. Draft Riot Third Dat

Scenes in the City and at Headquarters. — Fight in Eighth Avenue. — Cannon sweep the Streets. — Battle for Jackson's Foundry. — Howitzers clear the Street. — The Mob at Corner of Twenty-ninth Street and Seventh Avenue. — Dead and Wounded Soldiers left in the Street. — Captain Putnam sent to bring them away.— Terrific Night. -229

Chapter XVIII. Draft Riot

— FOURTH DAT. Proclamations by the Governor and Mayor. — Soldiers chased into a Foundry by the Mob. — Fierce Fight between the Mob and Military in Twenty-ninth Street. — Soldiers driven from the Ground. — Captain Putnam Mows down the Rioters with Canister. — Colored Orphans and Negroes taken by Police to Blackwell's Island. — Touching Scene. — Increased Force in the City to put down Violence. — Archbishop Hughes offers to address the Irish. -Strange Conduct of the Prelate 244

Chapter XIX. Closing Scenes

Tranquil Morning. — Proclamation of the Mayor. — Mob cowed. — Plunderers afraid of Detection. —Archbishop Hughes' Address. — Noble Character and Behavior of the Troops and Police. — General Brown's invaluable Services XX. Continued Tranquillity.— Strange Assortment of Plunder gathered in the Cellars and Shanties of the Rioters.— Noble Conduct of the Sanitary Police. — 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 267

Chapter XXI. Orange Riots Of

'1870 AND 1871. Religious Toleration.— Irish Feuds.— Battle of Boyne Water.— Orangeman. — Origin and Object of the Society. —Picnic at Elm Park. — Attacked by the Ribbonmen. —Riot of 1871. — Conspiracy of the Irish Catholics to prevent a Parade of Orangemen. — Indignation of the People. — Governor Hoffman's Proclamation. — Morning of the 12th. — The Orangemen at Lamartine Hall. — Attack on the Armories. — The Harpers threatened. — Firing of the Military. — Terrific Scene. — The Hospitals and Morgue. — Number of Killed and Wounded. — The Lesson 289

Chapter XXII. The Railroad Riots Of

1877. Labor Organizations. — Their Object. — Their Course of Action. — Rise of Labor Organizations. — List of those in England. — Their Object. — Laws against them. — List of American Organizations. — Their Failure as mere Strikes. — Become Riots. — Communism. — A Difficult Problem to Solve. — All Violence Must be Put Down. — Manner in which it should be done. — Napoleon's mode... 337

Chapter XXIII. The Railroad Riots West Virginia

Commencement of the Riots. — Extent of the Strikes. — Their Cause. — Riot in Martinsburg. — Trains Stopped. — A Man Shot. — Disgraceful Conduct of the Militia. — Never Reliable. — The Aid of the General Government Asked. — Caution of the President. — He Sends Aid. — His Proclamation THE RAILROAD RIOTS. MARYLAND. Governor Can-oil's Proclamation. — Cause of the Outbreak in Baltimore. — Attack on the Fifth Regiment. — Mustering of the Sixth Regiment. — The Armory attacked by the Mob. — A Fearful Night Scene. — Scene at the Depot. — The Fifth Regiment. — The President asked for Troops. — Number of Killed and Wounded. . . .359

Chapter XXV. The Railroad Riots

PENNSYLVANIA. The Riot in Pittsburg. — Its Origin. — The Track taken Possession of. — The Philadelphia Troops Sent for. — Their Reception. — Attempt to Clear the Track. — The Fight. — The Troops in the Round-house. — A Fearful Siege. — Attempt to Burn them out. — Flight of the Soldiers. — The Work of Destruction. — A Committee of Citizens Attempt to Quell the Rioters. — Union Depot set on Fire 369

Chapter XXX. Tue Railroad Riots New York

The Two Great Trunk Roads.— Table of Wages Given.— How to Decide what are Fair Wages. — Strike at Hornellsville. — Strike over the Central Road. — Strike at Albany. — Arrival of the Ninth Regiment. — Strike at Syracuse. — Riot at Buffalo. — Mr. Vanderbilt's Views.— The Great Meeting in New York 406

Chapter XXXI. The Railroad Riots Ohio

Cincinnati, ZanesviHe, Newark, Toledo, and Fort Wayne. — Military at Newark Sympathize with the Mob. — The Latter Entertain them. — The Governor orders Troops from Cincinnati. — Commands in Person. — Issues a Proclamation. — Raiding in Cincinnati.— Public Meeting at Toledo 429

Chapter XXXII. The Railroad Riots Illinois

Bloody Riot in Chicago. — Character of its Population. — Commencement of the Mob. — Shops and Factories forced to shut up. — Mobs in various Sections of the City. — A Communist Editor taught a Lesson. — Mob on the Lake Front. — United States Troops sent for. — A Mass-Meeting in the Tabernacle. — A Night Attack. — The Second Day's Struggle. — A Fight between the Military and Mob. — The Latter shot down. — Severe Fight near Canalport Avenue. — A Brave Boy. — The Regulars. — Battle of the Last Night. — General View of the Design of the Strikers THE STRIKERS AT ST. LOUIS AND LOUISVILLE. The Mob overcome the Police at Carondelet. — Citizens enrolling themselves. — A Steamer Boarded, and the Captain compelled to Raise the Wages of his Hands. — The Citizens of Louisville Join the Military.— The Mob put down 454

Chapter XXXIV

Lessons of the Strike LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. 1. Pittsburgh — Burning of the Union Depot, Frontispiece. 2. Fobt Lafayette, New York Harbor . . .17 3. Fort Hamilton ; from whence U. S. Tkoops were SENT TO AID IN SUPPRESSING THE DRAFT RlOTS . 17 4. Penn. R. R. — Horse-Shoe Curve, five miles west of Altoona 33 5. Penn. R. R. — Sample Track and Track Tank for Supplying Through Trains with Water while in Motion 49 6. New York Hospital — Scene of the Doctors' Riot . 65 7. New York — The Colored Opphan Asylum, 14:!d St. 65 8. Penn. R. R. — Coatesville Bridge . . . .81 9. New York — Burning of the Provost Marshal's Office 97 10. Penn. R. R. — Block Signal Stations .... 113 11. New York — The Fight Between Rioters and Militia 129 12. New York — The Attack on the Tribune Building . 145 13. New York — The Rioters Dragging Col. O'Brien's Body Through the Street 161 14.

New York — Burning of the Second Ave. Armory . 169 15. New York — The Dead Sergeant in 22d Street . 177 16. Penn. R. R. — Conestoga Bridge 185 17. New York — Hanging and Burning a Negro in Clarkson Street 193 18. Penn. R. R. — Allegheny Mountain Tunnel . . 201 19. New York — The Riot in Lexington Avenue . . 209 20. New York— A Night Scene in Company A's Room . 217 21. New York— Serving Chowder to the Soldiers . 217 22. New York — Receiving and Removing Dead Bodies at the Morgue 225 23. New York City— Battery B, N. G. S. N. Y., Equipping for a Move 233 24. New York — The Railway Suspension Bridge, Niagara Falls 241 25. New York City— Battery B, N. G. S. N. Y., Waiting for Orders 249 26. Baltimore — Attacking the Soldiers at the Armory LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 27. Baltimore— U. S. Artillery Guarding the Camden St. Depot 265 28.

Baltimore — Scene After the First Volley by the Sixth Regiment 273 29. Baltimore— The Mob Assaulting a Member of the Sixth 281 30. Baltimore — The Mob Firing the Camden Street Station - . . . 231 81. Baltimore — Carrying off the Dead Rioters . 289 • I I . IHlill.UO 111-. V_ .IlllVIllllJ WI I 111- J-I-\w Jii'-ii-ii- . —v~ 32. Baltimore— A Night Skirmish at Eutaw Street . 297 33. Baltimore — Arrival of Gatling Guns at Camden St. Depot 305 34. Pittsburgh — Rioters Distributing Stolen WniSKY. 313 35. Pittsburgh — Arrest of a Rioter Defended by the Mob 321 36. Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge, Fairmount Park . 329 37. Penn. R. R.— View of Harrisburgh . . . .337 38. Corning— The Construction Gang Righting Overturned Cars, under the Protection of the Militia 345 39. New York — Rioters Marching Down the New York Central Railroad Track at West Albany, July 24, 1877 353 40.

New York — The Construction Gang Repairing the Tracks at Corning, under Protection of the 23d Reg't, N. Y. S. N. G 361 41. Penn. R. R. — View of Pittsburgh .... 369 42. Corning, N. Y— Second Detatchment, 23d Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., Stopped by Rioters . . 377 43. Reading — Burning of the Lebanon Valley Bridge. 385 44. New York — Rioters Soaping the Track at Hornellsville 393 45. Penn. R. R. — View of Trenton, N. J., and R. R. Bridge 401 46. New York — Rioters Tearing up Rails at the Bridge at Corning 409 47. Newark, O. — An Engineer Lifted from his Train . 417 48. New York — The Stairway Defended by Artillery 417 49. Chicago — the Fight at Turner Hall, Arrival of U. S. Artillery . 425 50. Chicago — Depot of the Chicago and North Western Railroad . 433 51. Chicago — Charge of the 'Cavalry and 2d Regiment upon the Mob at Halstead St. . . 441 52.

Iowa — Railway Bridge over the Mississippi at Clinton 449 53. Iowa — Railroad Depot at Council Bluffs . . FORT LAFAYETTE. NEW YORK HARBOR. AND FORT HAMILTON ; FROM WHENCE UNITED STATES TROOPS WERE SENT TO AID IN SUPPRESSING THE DRAFT RIOTS OF 1863. THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEAV 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 de velopment aud 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 his tory 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 proba bility 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, amimi nition, 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.

Washing ton 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 jwssession 0f the city was needed, but only swift destruction. Doubtless the disastrous effects would have been in creased 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 it- TORE CITY. self from that which to-day constitutes its greatest danger — mob violence ? If it ever falls in ruins, the work of destruction will commence and eud 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 sub ject of such great and growing importance, we are con vinced, from their statements and views, a vast improve ment 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 ex igencies 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 pro portions of a revolution, but for such no local perma nent remedy can be furnished. The objections to relying on the military, as we in variably 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 con cerned, 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 al] gver the city, engaged in different occupations and THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW TORK CITY. 21 employments, and without previous notice being given, it is a long and tedious process to get them to their re spective headquarters and in uniform. This wastes much and most valuable time. Besides, they are com pelled 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 sy7mpathy in some particular out break, which would impair their efficiency, and make them hesitate to shoot down their friends and acquaint ances. 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.

They7 hesitate, or are apt to become hasty or disor ganized 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 makes 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 nar row 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 THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW TORK CITY. 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 usually7 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 bat talion, and have them drilled in such evolutions, ma nœuvres, and modes of attack or defence, as would be long 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 has ten, 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, they7 disable rather than kill — • which is just as effectual, and far more desirable. In THE GREAT RIOTS OF NEW TORK CITT. 23 addition to all this, being trained to one purpose, in structed to one duty, a mob would be their natural ene mies, and hence sympathy with them in any cause al most impossible.