As
might be expected, many of the men drawn were of foreign birth,
and all day Sunday, the foreign quarter of New York was a
cauldron boiling.
On Monday, the resumption of the drawing was the signal for
revolt. A mob invaded one of the conscription offices, drove off
the men in charge, and set fire to the building. In a short
while, the streets were filled with dense crowds of foreignborn
workmen shouting, "Down with the rich men," and singing, "We'll
hang Horace Greeley on a sour apple tree." Houses of prominent
citizens were attacked and set on fire, and several drafting
offices were burned. Many negroes who were seized were either
clubbed to death or hanged to lamp posts. Even an orphan asylum
for colored children was burned. The office of the "Tribune" was
raided, gutted, and set on fire. Finally a dispatch to Stanton,
early in the night, reported that the mob had taken possession of
the city.
The events of the next day were no less shocking. The city was
almost stripped of soldiers, as all available reserves had
already been hurried south when Lee was advancing toward
Gettysburg. But such militia as could be mustered, with a small
force of federal troops, fought the mob in the streets.
Barricades were carried by storm; blood was freely shed.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164