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CH. V.]

SECRETARY SEWARD'S CIRCULAR.

375

CHAPTER V.

1863.

ENROLLMENT AND DRAFTING: RIOTS: MR. LINCOLN'S COURSE AND POLICY:
MILITARY OPERATIONS.

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Secretary Seward's diplomatic circular-Its statements, etc. - National enrollment - Preparations for the draft-Unpopular measure- - Riotous demonstrations - City of New York - The disgraceful riot there, in July, 1863-Details of the lawless proceedings, cruelty and outrage of the mob and their leaders - Loss of life, property, etc. - Reaction - Riots in other places, Boston, Portsmouth, etc. The measures and policy of the administration generally approved — Result of the autumn elections — Mr. Lincoln's proclamation respecting the habeas corpus suspension — The president's letter to Mr. Drake in regard to Missouri and border state affairs - Proclamation calling out 300,000 volunteers-Army of the Potomac-Its position in the autumn of 1863 — Gen. Meade's purpose-Lee's offensive movements Meade retires rapidly to Centreville Rebels repulsed at Bristoe Station - Lee retreats to the line of the Rapidan - Meade plans the Mine Run move-Causes of its failure-Occasional encounters with the rebels- - Gen. Averill's famous raid on Longstreet's communications - Rebel plot on the Canada frontier-Came to nothing - Daring act of piracy-The steamer Chesapeake seized by pirates off Cape Cod - Recaptured by United States gun boat, Ella and Annie, near Halifax-Restored by the colonial court to her owners.

1863.

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THE important victories of July, | ly with the people of the United States." 1863, at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and Gettysburg, not only afforded to the country at large encouraging hope of the rebel military organization being speedily broken down, but also gave the secretary of state an opportunity of furnishing the principal foreign governments with some useful information in regard to the progress of the national arms. Under date of August 12th, Mr. Seward issued a diplomatic circular, addressed to the consuls of the United States abroad, for the purpose of convincing "those who seek a renewal of commercial prosperity through the restoration of peace in America, that the quickest and shortest way to gain that desirable end is to withdraw support and favor from the insurgents, and to leave the adjustment of our domestic controversies exclusive

It was frankly admitted that no great progress had been made by our arms in Virginia; and the reason given for it was, that "the opposing forces there have been too equally matched to allow great advantages to accrue to either party, while the necessity of covering the national capital in all contingencies has constantly restrained our generals, and forbidden such bold and dangerous movements as usually conduct to brilliant military success." Looking with far more satisfaction to the great West, Mr. Seward declared that, in the recent campaign, 50,000 square miles had been reclaimed from the insurgents; and he further called attention to the fact that, "since the breaking out of the insurrec tion, the government had extended its former sway over and through a region of 200,000 square miles, an area as large

as Austria or France, or the peninsula gress, passed at the close of its session, of Spain and Portugal."* The rebels, in March, 1863, the national enrollment, in his judgment, had lost in the opera- preparatory to the draft, was made tion of July, fully one-third of their generally throughout the loyal states. entire forces, and at best, by the rigid Col. J. B. Fry was appointed by the enforcement of their conscription act, president provost-marshal general, with they could only gather anew a force his office at Washington, and provostvarying in number from 70,000 to 100,- marshals were appointed for the various 000 men. On the other hand, not only districts into which the country was were our armies already superior in divided. The enrolling officers were numbers and ability, but the increase directed to enrol all able-bodied persons from the draft of 300,000, ordered by between the ages of eighteen and fortythe president, would be more than suf- five, the object being to ascertain, as far ficient to replace those whose terms of as possible, how many men liable to miliservice had expired, and to fill up the tary duty there were, on the 1st of July, ranks of the veteran regiments. Affirm in the United States, and also to arrange, ing positively that the people were in regard to military service, how much ready and willing to sustain the gov- had already been rendered, and how ernment in its efforts to put down the much was still due in the several disrebellion, at any cost, he stated, as one tricts. Opposition, to some extent, was evidence, that the national six per cent. made to the action of the officers, but loan was purchased at par by our own in general it was readily and promptly citizens at the average rate of $1,200,- repressed. The result of the enrollment, 000 a day. Gold was selling in our which was not completed in all the market at 123 to 128, while in the rebel states, showed that there were considerdistricts it commanded 1,200 per cent. ably more that 3,000,000 men liable to premium.+ Urging, with much skill, military duty. For making the draft, considerations of this kind, Mr. Seward one-fifth the number of men enrolled was content to leave his statement of in the first class (i. e. between the ages facts to make its due impression upon of twenty and thirty-five), was adopted all those concerned in the issue now ap- as the quota of a district; and the proaching its final settlement. boards in charge of this matter apportioned this quota among the towns and Wards forming sub-districts, so as in

In accordance with the act of Con* The rebels, according to Pollard's way of represent

ing matters, grew cheerful and quite hopeful under this state of things. "While Mr. Seward," he says, was making to Europe material calculations of Yankee success in the square miles of military occupation, and in the comparative arithmetic of the military power of the belligerents, the Confederacy had merely postponed its prospect of a victorious peace, and was even more seriously confident of the ultimate issue than when it first declared its independenc›.”—“ Third Year of the War," p. 82.

ing doleful statement: "The condition of the currency has become so alarming that its importance has risen even above the excitement of military movements. From every quarter of the Confederacy essays, schemes, expedients and remedies are daily scattered broadcast over the country, and suggestions of every character and description are urged. One thing is certain and indisputable, that the present financial management is an utter and absolute failure, rendered so not by Mr. A Richmond paper, in October, mad the follow- Memminger, but by the people themselves."

CH. V.]

THE DRAFT RIOT IN NEW YORK CITY.

making the draft to furnish the number of men required. Each name of this class in the sub-district was written upon a separate slip of paper, and placed in a wheel, or circular box, which was then made to revolve, and a name was drawn out and registered. This process was continued until the requisite number of names had been obtained. The person drafted was obliged to report immediately for duty, under penalty, unless he furnished a substitute, or paid $300 computation money.*

The draft, as we have stated on a previous page (see p. 258), was thoroughly unpopular, and politicians were not lacking in zeal in pointing out its odious features, and in berating the government for resorting to so oppressive a measure. The annual elections were considerably influenced by popular denunciation on this subject; in several quarters vigorous efforts were made to have the conscription act pronounced unconstitutional; and the result was look ed for with much anxiety by loyal men, as a test of the strength and ability of the government. Strenuous exertions were made in the different states to fill the quotas under the call of the president for 300,000 men; but as they were only partially successful, the machinery for the draft was set in motion early in the month of July.

As was perhaps to be expected, this novel and, as many called it, despotic mode of filling up the ranks of the army, was not allowed to be enforced

*On the subject of "Enrollment and Draft," consult the article in Appleton's "American Annual Cyclopædia" for 1883, pp. 361-371. VOL. IV. 48.

377

1863.

without rousing some of the worst passions of human nature, and giving rise to disgraceful scenes of riot and bloodshed. Particularly was this the case in the city of New York, which has a mixed and diverse population, a considerable portion of whom demagogues and mischief-makers have not found it difficult, at times, to persuade to evil courses, and excite to deeds of violence and cruelty. After several postponements, Col. Nugent, the provost-marshal of the city, completed all the arrangements for the draft, and it was announced through the press, by Capt. Jenkins, marshal of the ninth congressional district in New York, that, on Saturday, July 11th, the ballots would be publicly counted, at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 46th Street, and that immediately thereafter the wheel would be turned and the draft begun. More or less of trouble was apprehended, and the police was held in readiness for any emergency. The number required from the city was 20,000, to which fifty per cent. was to be added to cover exemptions. Over 1,200 names were drawn in this district, and though a large crowd had gathered to witness the proceedings, the day passed off pleasantly and without any disturbance. Loyal citizens and the guardians of the public peace breathed more freely, and rejoiced in the conviction that there was no further danger, and that all would go well.

Sunday, however, intervened, unfo1tunately for the carrying forward the draft. Evil minded persons availed themselves of the sacred day of rest for the purpose of stirring up a spirit hos

tile to the enforcement of the law, and combinations were formed to resist it by force, even to bloodshed. The commutation clause, allowing exemption, on the payment of $300, was invidiously represented as a privilege of the rich at the expense of the poor, and much popular feeling was excited on this account by those who misrepresented the motives of the enactment. Political and other prejudices were also excited among the people, particularly an absurd and unjust apprehension of the competition of the emancipated negro race with the northern laboring classes, while the compulsory operation of the draft upon those who could not readily escape from it was undoubtedly a prominent cause of disaffection. The result was, a resolution by a number of desperate characters, acting as lead ers, to break up, by force, all further proceeding with the draft.

with frantic yells, rushed upon the place, seized and destroyed the records, and smashed in pieces the desks, tables, and boxes in the office. With savage fury, the mob set fire to the building, regardless of women and children in the upper part of it; with horrible perversity, they took possession of the hydrants and refused to allow the firemen to use them in subduing the flames; and, in two hours' time, the whole block was a pile of smoking ruins. Policesuperintendent Kennedy appeared on the ground, was attacked by the rioters, and was nearly killed before he could be rescued from his assailants. The mob now having attained to vast proportions, and being joined by gangs of thieves and scoundrels from every hole and corner of the city, entered on a career of murder, pillage, and arson. The Bull's Head Hotel, on 44th Street, was burned down, because the On Monday morning, July 13th, or- proprietor refused to furnish rum for ganized bodies of men, abandoning their the rioters; several brown-stone houses usual employments, went from yard to in Lexington Avenue, and various other yard, and from shop to shop, compel- dwellings, were destroyed by fire; the ling those at work to leave and join Armory in the 2nd Avenue, corne! the processions which were marching of 21st Street, was attacked, and towards the corner of 3rd Avenue after a brave defence by a small police and 46th Street. A vast crowd was force, was set on fire and burned to the gathered, and the officers, unconscious ground; the Colored Orphan Asylum, of danger, entered upon the morning's on 5th Avenue, was furiously assailed, work. The draft recommenced, and a and with circumstances of unheard of few names had been drawn from the cruelty towards the inmates, was sackwheel, when a huge paving stone came ed and reduced to a mass of ruins; the crashing through the window, dashing Tribune newspaper office was attacked, in pieces the glass, and knocking over and only saved from destruction by a several persons. Other stones speedily vigorous onset of the police; and every followed, and made havoc among the where the reign of terror seemed to officials and reporters behind the rail- have set in, as if all law and order were ing. Immediately thereafter the mob, | paralyzed, and as if the great city was

CH. V.]

SUPPRESSION OF THE RIOT.

379

given over to raging demons, and doom. the same, and with as little effect; the ed to absolute ruin.

Unhappily, the militia of the city were absent, having been summoned to join the forces in Pennsylvania, which Lee had invaded, and had not yet returned home. This threw the burden of checking the mob upon the police, and such small detachments of the United States troops as could be spared from the forts in the harbor. The Metropolitan Police at this time numbered about 2,000 men, of whom only 800 could be separated from their special duties to make head against the mob. As parties of the rioters appeared at the same time in dif ferent quarters of the city, even this force had to be divided, the largest number in one command being 350. They were assisted to some extent by special policemen sworn in from the citizens. Wherever they appeared, the mob felt the effects of their discipline and organization; and, in fact, during the day and night, the safety of the city depended almost wholly on the bravery and devotion of these guardians of the metropolis.

1863.

On Tuesday, the malignant character of the mob seemed to have increased, if that were possible. Apparently, they were masters of everything; they continued their work of destruction; they threatened the city with a general conflagration; they assaulted and pursued and murdered every negro man, woman, and child who came within their reach; and they plundered stores and dwellings and private citizens with impunity. Mayor Opdyke issued a proclamation, but to no purpose; Gov. Seymour did

governor addressed a large crowd from the City Hall steps, begged them to preserve peace and order, stated that he had written to Washington and obtained a suspension of the draft for the present, etc. Gen. Wool called out the "veteran volunteers," and assigned to Gen. Harvey Brown the command of the Federal troops in the city; while Gen. Sandford aided him in every way in his power with such of the militia as could be gathered together. Prompt and energetic action was felt to be absolutely necessary. The military and police met the mob with decision wherever it attempted to make head; there was no further scruple at using ball cartridges; the rioters were frequently driven from one locality to appear again in another; and by degrees, the ringleaders having been killed or made prisoners, this disgraceful outbreak began to be subdued.

During Wednesday, the 15th, and Thursday, the 16th of July, the riot was still active, although greatly reduced in its capacity for mischief; on the latter day, the citizens began again to open their places of business; the cars and stages resumed their running; and there was now a sufficiently strong military force in the city to quell all disturbance and compel obedience to the laws.* For several days, cavalry

* On the 16th the Romish archbishop, John Hughes, had a placard posted about the city, addressed “To the men of New York, who are now called in many of the papers rioters," and asking them to visit him the next

day, when he said he would make a speech to them.

An immense crowd gathered at two P.M. on Friday, in characteristic address, made up of jokes and appeals of one kind and another to obey the laws, etc.

Madison Avenue, corner of 36th Street, and listened to a

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