" The New York City Draft Riots - July 1863 "
On April 8, 1863, President Lincoln announced the conscription
act calling for 300,000 men. It was to take effect in
July. By July the cost of living in the city rocketed
sky high, New York had a large population of immigrants
who had fled the " Potato Famine ", the newly arrived
Irish found the work force competition hard. To make matters
worse the city was swelling with recently freed Blacks
who came North and further infringed on the job market.
Raging battles broke out in numerous sections of the city
between the Blacks and Irish. The majority of these skirmishes
where unorganized and for the most part sporadic. But
Confederate agents of Celtic extraction watched these
events closely. After all New York City was known to be
sympathetic to the Southern cause in many instances. Whether
it be the businessman who enjoyed a good relationship
with his counter parts in Dixie or the average working
man who didn't like the ideas that he had to fight his
fellow Americans to free Black men.
Lincoln's
National Conscription Act called for all males between
18 and 45 years of age to register for military service.
On Saturday, July 11, 1863 the drawing for the draft took
place at 1190 Broadway near the corner of West 29th. Street,
and at 667 3rd Avenue near the corner of West 46th. Street.
Both locations belonging to the War Department's provost
Marshall.
-2-
The conscription had many flaws. But the biggest was that
many rich New Yorkers could buy their way out of the draft
for the sum of $300.00. When the first names were pulled
the anger of the people swelled. The timing was right
for the many Southern sympathizers and well placed agents
to trigger the anti-draft powder keg. The Confederate
Secret Service was well aware that Lincoln had called
upon the states bordering Pennsylvania to supply 100,000
men for immediate service. This left New York City almost
solely guarded by the municipal police.
It was a long, sultry day for the workingman on the hot
cobblestone street's of old New York. Already the seeds
of rebellion had been planted in the hearts and minds
of the dock workers, those who labored in the factories,
and the general population of the working class. Many
a man pondered his fate in becoming a solider and fighting
in the South by the mere spin of a lottery wheel.
-3-
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 1863 Sunday was as the day before hot,
sticky, and sultry. These were the dog-days and something
ominous blew on the hot wind that early morning. The Chief
of Detectives Sgt. John Young commanded a 16 man detective
force. The intelligence he was getting from the street
by his men reeked of impending disaster. Sgt. Young's
detectives had been out in all wards of the city. The
men had been to every dive in the city. They picked up
talk of the impending fire storm to come. From the smoke
filled saloons on Hudson Street, the firehouses, the Five
Points, and the bars that lined the Bowery. The draft
must go, Monday morning there would be a enormous rally
at 6th. Avenue and Central Park South (57th. Street).
Sergeant Young immediately dispatched one of his men to
City Hall to notify Mayor Opdyke of the intelligence from
the streets. The Mayor's reaction was that the Sergeant's
actions were too premature. Even Police Superintendent
John Kennedy thought there was little chance of violence
from the crowds reaction to the draft. After all the first
day of the draft was peaceful (Saturday) wasn't it ?
-4-
MONDAY JULY 13, 1863 As the morning sun was started to
climb in the sky it became obvious that something was
a miss. On Water street, as on West Street the Blacks
outnumbered the Whites on line to "Shape-Up". As a matter
of fact at most piers there were no Whites to be seen.
The same scenario was played out at hundreds of factories
across the city. Many workers did not show up at their
offices either.
At approximately 7:15 large groups of men rumbled towards
the waterfront. Marching west on Spring Street & filling
Canal Street from curb to curb. All armed with clubs,
crowbars, and baling hooks. They marched north on Broadway
jeering as they past City Hall. They taunted every foot
patrolman they came across. Some carried placards which
read " NO DRAFT". As one group of long- shore men reached
Pier # 9 the Blacks who had been working fled.
A mounted patrolman at the intersection of West Broadway
and Grand Street was ripped from his mount and beaten.
Both his revolved and steed taken by one of the Hudson
Dusters who galloped to the front of his men as if a General
leading his troops into battle. As the crowd marched north
towards Central Park it picked up strength by the minute.
Railway drivers abandon their cars to join the growing
numbers. Passengers in work clothes became marchers, fire
fighters left their quarters and joined as the crowd passed
by.
-5-
The crowd-now a mob- reached the 10,000 mark as it headed
north, it took them 20 minutes to pass a given point at
Columbia college, they filled the streets from curb to
curb. At this point they were joined by all the gangs
that inhabited the city, the Pug Uglies, Dead Rabbits,
Gas house Gang, Chinsters to name a few. Normally they
were doing battle with each other. Now they were going
to battle the establishment as a unified group. A Roman
holiday was in the making.
As
the mob reached Central Park the skilled agents of the
Confederacy and their sympathizers were ready. The mob
was inflamed, the cry when up, " Burn the City ". The
crowd now headed downtown smashing windows and looting
as they went along. They overtook every foot patrolman
they encountered. Frantic patrolmen " rang " Headquarters
on Mulberry Street. The Police teletype system crackled
to mobilize all available men. Police Superintendent Kennedy
ordered 69 men to be dispatched to 1190 Broadway under
the command of Captain Spaight. The Captain and his men
were shortly over run. Now snipers fired from the roof
tops, the large caliber rounds shattering on the cobble
stone spraying lead into the legs of the blue coats.
A
different story was unfolding at the Provost Marshall's
office in the 19th. Precinct. The office was located at
East 46 Street and 3rd. Avenue. Sixty men under the command
of Captain G.T. Porter held the line.
-6-
At approximately 10:15 A.M. the mob grew wild as the Draft
Board opened. At first it was verbal a few rocks thrown
at the Police and the few Blacks that dared ventured out
on to the street. It appeared that Porter and his men
could hold the building. Captain Porter sent a few of
his larger men into the crowd, they were able to "collar"
the rock throwers.
Then all Hell broke loose. Someone in the crowd shouted
" Stop the Cars ", at that moment swarms of men took to
the horse drawn trolleys. The horses were uncoupled, the
drivers forced from their coach, and the passengers fled
in terror. This fueled the mob even more. Next came a
charge against the cops, they had to retreat into the
building. The mob began to stone the building, windows
and door were pounded. Cobble stones were ripped from
the street, some weighing 80 pounds were hurtled against
the doors. Soon ten men appeared with a battering ram.
It took only a few minutes to breach the main door. The
battle continued inside, hand to hand combat, shots rang
out. Battlers fell on both sides, but there wasn't any
way the cops could hold the building. The police retreated
out on to East 46th. Street, lucky to escape with their
lives.
The mob smashed the furniture, destroyed files, and then
set the building a blaze. At this point Superintendent
Kennedy arrived on the scene from 300 Mulberry Street.
He was out of -7- uniform and unarmed. Someone in the
crowd yelled " There's Kennedy ". The superintendent was
immediately set upon and beaten severely. He only salvation
was John Eagan who begged the mob not to kill him. Eagan
was able to commandeer a feed wagon and take Kennedy to
Police Headquarters at 300 Mulberry Street. There he lied
close to death from the server beating. With Kennedy fighting
for his life the Mayor appointed one of the Police Board
commissioners in charge, Mr. Acton, in addition he appointed
Inspector Dan Carpenter to head " field operations " The
city was now in flames, thousands of rioters surged through
the city streets. Battles were raging every where. At
West 39 Street and Tenth Avenue a small band of patrolman
exchanged shots with snipers on the roof tops. The Colored
Orphan Asylum was being sacked and burned. Blacks were
being hung for the lamp posts. The mob battled the police
on Broadway, Lexington Avenue,3 Avenue. At East 22 Street
the station house was over run. The desk officer had to
make his escape through the back window and swim to safety
across the small pond which is presently East 23rd. Street
near 1st. Avenue.The 12 Precinct was the next to fall.
At 3rd. Avenue and East 44th. Street a mob gathered and
overpowered the small squad of patrolman. As numerous
cops lay injured on the street Sgt. Mc Credie arrived
with reinforcements enabling the injured cops to be removed
to a safe house on East 46 Street. On East 31st Street
Blacks were hung from the lamp posts. -8- The cooler headed
insurrectionists had other plans, take the gun factory
located at East 21st. Street and 2nd. Avenue. They had
won every encountered with the police so far. Now if they
could arm their confederates with carbines they could
take control of the entire city. Inspector Carpenter had
hoped that they would not get so far downtown...but he
had make arrangements just in case. Carpenter had the
" Broadway Squad " secretly hidden in the factory. In
civilian clothes and armed with carbines that awaited
the onslaught. The Squad commanded every window and approach.
The rioters now numbering in the thousands headed towards
the factory. It became apparent that the building could
not be held. The men had to make good their escape by
climbing through the windows in the rear. At this point
Inspector Carpenter sounded the alarm, ordering the entire
force to respond back to the Central Office. In addition
the Steamboat Squad was dispatched to all the harbor forts
to bring as many Army troops it could transport back to
Manhattan. The leaders of the mob now decided to march
south and take Police Headquarters. Insp. Carpenter ordered
a force of 200 men to march north on Broadway with the
ultimate order * " Take No Prisoners, Strike Quick and
Hard ". *( I once heard a similar order from Chief Mc
Dermott at the U.N. riot when President Nixon was addressing
the U.N. " KICK-ASS, AND TAKE NAMES, NO COLLARS TODAY
LADS " -9- At Amity Street and Broadway the two came together.
The battle raged for 20 minutes. The mob armed with pistols,
rifles, bats, and an assortment of various other weapons
engaged the cops in a pitched battle. When the smoke cleared
numerous rioters lay dead and dying. The police had won
their first victory. But there was still more violence
and death to come this was still the " first day of the
riot ". At approximately 6 P.M. a building that was inhabited
by Blacks at 42 Baxter Street was under siege. By the
time police arrived to disperse the mob numerous Blacks
were assaulted or dead. Captain Jordan and Sgt. Walsh
were credited with saving the remaining Black inhabitance
from certain death at the hands of the mob. A new battle
was raging at 104 Park Street and at New Bowery Street
and Roosevelt Street more fighting had broken out. At
approximately 7 P.M. a crowd of about one thousand gathered
at the Tribune Building at Printers Square. They were
set upon seizing Horace Greeley, a strong abolitionist
and supporter of the war. A battle broke out, the police
were able to incapacitate the leaders and the group dispersed.
But at the same time the Weehawken Ferry terminal was
being blown up. Inspector Carpenter was able to get some
detectives to infiltrate the crowds, this proved vital
as information was funneled back to Headquarters. -10-
At approximately 11 P.M. another new and great mob was
marching south on Broadway. They were intent on taking
the Tribune building. Inspector Carpenter in charge concealed
a large force of men in City Hall park. The contingent
of police lay in wait for the mob to cross Chambers Street.
As the crowd approached City Hall the police made their
attack. The element of surprise enable the police to break
up the mob, they then fled in all directions. This time
the mob re-grouped and lay siege to Brooks Brothers clothing
store on Catherine Street. Subsequent battles were raging
at the hotels on Fulton street, and Cortland Street. Snipers
were every where. At the foot of Fulton Street and Water
Street a mob of hundreds battled with the Steamboat Squad
who were attempting to land a company of Marines from
the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The exchange of gun fire was heavy,
many fell dead on both sides. The smell of gun powder
lay low in the humid air, it burned the nostrils. -11-
Tuesday, July 14, 1863 (The Second Day) Through out the
night and into the early morning hours of Tuesday the
sniping and battles continued. At approximately 2 A.M.
two hundred men were dispatched by Insp. Carpenter to
White Street just west of the Tombs. The mission was to
recover the body of William Jones, a Black who's body
was left on hanging from a lamp post since early Monday.
The police were unable to enter White Street due to the
heavy sniper fire. Jone's body was used as bait for any
policemen who tried to venture into the Street. As the
detachment of police attempted to enter White Street the
sniping started once again. After approximately 15-20
minutes of exchanging fire with the sniper's a violent
thunder storm erupted. Only the heavy rain and lighting
allowed to police to recover Jone's body. At the same
time that the police were attempted to retrieve Jone's
body several undermanned stations houses were sacked and
burned. As dawn was breaking battles raged along 2nd.
Avenue. Insp. Carpenter commanded a force of 250 men,
as the body of police marched in between E. 32 street
and East 33rd. Street the were showered with bricks. After
the first round of brick the bullets began to fly. Almost
every roof top was maned by snipers. The barricaded houses
were now under siege by the police. They were making an
attempt to gain control of the -12- roof tops and neutralize
the snipers. Now the battles was above 2nd. Avenue as
dozens of rioters fought the police in hand to hand combat.
Many bodies were flung to the flagstones below. As the
battle raged above the street below Col. O'Brien of the
11th. New York Volunteers arrived with approximately 50
men to assisted the remaining cops doing battle on the
street. With in the hour the rioters were dispersed. Approximately
2 hours after the battle O'Brien returned to the scene,
this proved to be a fatal mistake. He was recognized and
set upon by a mob who beat him to death. His body could
not be recovered until after dark. At 10 A.M. Insp. Dilks
commanding 200 men was to make an assault on the factory
at East 12 Street and 2 Avenue. This was the same factory
abandon by the Broadway Squad the day before. The factory
was still in control of the rioters, an there was still
2,000 carbines stored in the building. A savage battle
ensued, this one lasting for 5 hours. Numerous people
were killed on both sides. Bodies littered the street
in front of the building. At approximately 3 P.M. the
police had gained control of the building, the remaining
carbines were loaded on wagons and set for transport to
Headquarters. As the main body of policemen left for Headquarters
a new mob appeared and re-took the building. A force of
100 police returned to the building, an additional 50
rioters were killed. -13- Another battle broke out at
Spring and Crosby Street. This time the police were assisted
by military, once again many fell wounded or dead. The
police escort of carbines was ambushed at north of East
Houston and 2nd. Avenue. Rioters were laying in ambush
inside the Marble Hill cemetery at East 2nd. Street and
2nd. Avenue. In the ensuing gun battle 80-100 rioters
were slain compared to 10 police officers. At 21st Street
and 1st. Avenue the rioters battled with the military.
The rioters were able to man a gatteling gun, numerous
soldiers fell under the rapid fire of the weapon. With
more military reinforcement arriving the rioters departed
to another ward to continue the fight. At Pitt Street
and East Broadway snipers felled soldiers attempting to
ride west to assist the police at the battle on Allen
Street and Grand Street. Further north on East 47 Street
home were being looted and burned. Black smoke covered
the city, raining down cinder and ash. The smell of gun
powder and burning buildings filled the air. On the west
side in the neighborhood named " Hell's Kitchen " by the
local police after the first day of battle, the Hotel
Allerson at 11 Avenue between W. 40 St. and W.42 Street
was under siege. The Allerson was home to numerous Union
soldiers of no-commission rank. Here the rioters relieved
the Union troops of their weapons. On 9th. Avenue in the
30's roving bands cut down telegraph poles and used them
to barricade the major intersections of Hell's Kitchen.
The poles were set a blaze, and also used as make shift
gun ports to provide -14- cover for the rioters now deemed
riflemen. As these battles were taking place the Weehawken
Ferry Terminal was set a blaze once again, burning what
was left of the structure from the previous nights attack.
the soldiers guarding the terminal fled as a mob 1000
strong descended upon them firing their carbines as they
approached. At approximately 6 P.M. artillery was brought
to Hell's Kitchen. Small parrot guns sprayed the intersections
of 9 and 11 Avenue with grape shot. The rioters were no
match for the "big guns "........ now the Union troops
could engage their foes at a safer distance. The artillery
was able to clear the intersections of the dozens of telephone
poles set up as barricades but it took little effect on
the snipers that were picking off soldiers at 3 and 4
blocks away. That job would only be completed by house
to house fighting. The possibility of the city being taken
over completely by mob rule made President Lincoln dispatch
troop from the battle of Gettysburg to New York City.
At 9 P.M. roving groups looted gun and hardware shops
along 37th. Street between 8th. Ave and 9th. Avenue. They
then battled police in a running gun battles through out
the west side. The police were able to kill off many of
the mob, the rest fled into the tenements of Hell's Kitchen.
-15- There were battles continuing past midnight and into
the early morning, but for the first time since the riot
broke out it appeared that the police were gaining some
sort off control. Now 90 % of the battles were being won
by the police with some assistance by the military. By
3 A.M. it appeared that the backbone of the riot was broken.
Still there was fighting through out the city. The third
day of the riot was dawning. -16- Wednesday, July 15,
1863 The Third day of Battle At 9 A.M. a patrol commanded
by Captain Brower of the 17th. Precinct encountered sniper
fire in the area of 32nd. Street between 6 & 7 Avenues.
The force of 150 men were pined down. Just as on White
street, the bait a Black man was observed hanging from
a lamp post at 7 Ave and 33 St. Around 11 A.M. a large
battle broke out on Center Street near Worth Street in
the Five Point section. The force of police encountered
approximately 500 people looting stores and a warehouse.
After an exchange of gun fire the night stick finished
off the stragglers. The largest battle of the day occurred
was at Jackson's Foundry located at e. 29th. Street and
2nd. Avenue. This time the rioters encountered Union troops.
Once again parrot guns were brought into action. Grapeshot
rained down on the rioters like hot rain. Dozens were
killed or wounded. The Union troops lost few in the battle.
Through out the night smaller battles broke out around
the city, but now as large as the first few night. The
police were out in force. On Sullivan Street the " Arch
" a Black neighborhood resembled an military bivouac -17-
swarming with military and police officers. The entire
neighborhood took on the appearance of a battle field.
Still there was rioting on Greenwich Street near Spring
Street where warehouses were being sacked. At 42nd. Street
and 10 Avenue volleys of shot were still being exchanged
between troops and rioters. The following station houses
were attacked, the 7th. Precinct at 247 Madison Street,
the 10th. Precinct at Essex Market near Delancy Street,
and the 27th. located at 117 Cedar Street. -18- Thursday,
July 16, 1863 " The Final Day " Much of the City of New
York lay in ruin, some where between 1,200 and 1,500 persons
were reported killed. Another 8,000 lay wounded. Approximately
100 buildings were still smoldering. The N.Y.P.D. suffered
heavy casualties, one Officer Dibble was accidentally
shot and killed by Union troops. Superintendent Kennedy
was still fighting for his life, he managed to survive.
In an official statement by New York State Governor Seymoure
he praised the N.Y.P.D. when he stated " The draft riots
of July 1863 were put down mainly by the energy, boldness,
and skill of the New York City Police department. This
statement proved to be as false as the Governor's sediments.
In 1865 former Mayor Fernando Wood now a member of congress
and the Governor plotted with Confederate agents and New
York Cooper Head democrats. The had full knowledge and
assisted the Confederate agents with a plot to burn the
city. The peace democrats in the north had long hated
Lincoln. As a mater of fact on the day Fort Sumpter was
fired on Mayor Wood demanded the city also secede. The
head lines of the New York Daily New's boldly screamed
"Mayor Wood New York to Secede with South". The New York
democrats wanted the city to be a "Free Port". -19- All
through out the War for Southern Independence New York
City was openly pro Confederate. Including the Catholic
Church. It openly supportive of the Southern Cause . The
church's weekly news letter was full of anti war, and
pro Souther messages. Even the Cardinal of New York City
refused to intervene and try to quell the Draft Riots
in 1863. The week before Thanks Giving 1865 Confederate
Officer Cobb Kennedy and several other Confederate agents
had slipped into the City. Dispatched from Canada they
were taken in by the sympathetic democratic Copperheads.
The plan never got off the ground as expected. But they
were to start several fires in many downtown hotels. This
included the total destruction of P.T. Barmun's Museum
across the park from City Hall. However several agents
were arrested, including some Union officers who appeared
to be double agents. But it was Kennedy who was to pay
with his life. On the morning of March 25, 1865 Captain
Robert C. Kennedy, C.S.A. was executed at Fort Lafayette,
New York harbor. Prior to his death he was befriended
by several NYPD detectives who had worked the case. Also
Chief of Detectives Young was a frequent visitor. Providing
Kennedy with many needed provisions, and forwarded his
many letters. Prior to Kennedy's trial the governor of
New York ordered Mayor Wood to have union General Dix
and several of his command arrested. Stating that the
military had no right in conducting the trial. It was
Dix who later refused to commute the death sentence, and
pursued that Kennedy be -20- tried by a military court.
New York peace democrats had pushed for the trial to be
conducted as a civilian event. This way his life could
be speared. A few months later the war ended. Several
of the other alleged co-conspirators were set for military
trial. This never came about. This was the decision of
New York State Supreme Court Justice William H. Leonard.
He ruled that the war was over. And the writ of habeas
corpus had been restored. Therefore civil law was made
paramount to military law. Thus the Southern District
Court of New York found that, although they were in the
city at the time, and had know several Confederate agents,
this was not enough proof. All charges were dismissed.
Several years later there would be five former Confederate
officers who would serve as New York State Supreme Court
Judges. Not to mention the New York City Fire Marshall.
The Father of New York City's youngest Mayor. Mayor Mitchell.
The elder Mitchell served as an aide to General Stonewall
Jackson. And in the 1880's the District Attorney for New
York City was also a former Confederate officer. It is
said that history is written by the victors. I have always
felt the truth is out there, all we have to do is seek
it.
