The New York Times Book of the Civil War, 1861-1865 by Harold Holzer

Author:Harold Holzer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hachette Books
Published: 2010-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

AN EVENING RIOT IN THE FIRST AVENUE.

THE RABBLE IN CONFLICT WITH CITIZEN-VOLUNTEERS — THIRTY OR FORTY PERSONS KILLED.

JULY 16

A messenger brought information to the Seventh regiment Armory, at 6 o’clock last evening, that the mob was in great strength in the First-avenue, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, apparently organizing, preparatory to moving upon a marauding expedition. Col. [Cleveland] WINSLOW, of the [New York] Fifth regiment, (Duryea Zouaves,) then in command at the Armory, immediately ordered a detachment of volunteers under arms, consisting of three companies, comprising an aggregate of 150 men, and a battery of two howitzers. Placing himself at the head of this force, ... Col. WINSLOW led his command at the double quick to the scene of the disturbance. Passing down Nineteenth-street, the howitzers were brought into position, promptly unlimbered, and trained up and down the First-avenue, while the infantry formed in line to support them. The locality abounds in tenement-houses, where the class of persons live of which the mob is composed, and into these buildings the mass of the rioters took refuge on the appearance of the soldiers. From the roof and windows of every house the mob at once opened an attack, delivering a brisk and persistent fire upon the military of musketry and pistols, as well as a volley of bricks and other missiles. To this assault the soldiers replied, and the howitzers raked the avenue up and down with canister, of which ten rounds were discharged. It is estimated that this fire killed as many as thirty persons, and the effect was a partial dispersion of the rioters, although some of the more bold among them lurked behind the corners of the buildings, whence they would sally out, discharge their guns, and again go to cover....

About 11 o’clock the riot in Nineteenth-street and First-avenue was renewed. Capt. PUTNAM and Capt. SHELBY, of the United States army, with two field pieces and 150 men, repaired to the scene. They were assaulted with stones and brickbats from the tops of houses and from windows. They fired upon the mob and cleared the streets. The brickbats came so thick from the houses that it became necessary to give the order to turn the fire on the buildings. Five rounds of grapeshot were fired, with destructive effect. It is impossible at this late hour to give the number killed.1 The troops remained on the ground until 12 1/2 o’clock, at which time perfect quiet reigned in the neighborhood.

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