The Great Riots of New York by Joel Tyler Headley

The Great Riots of New York by Joel Tyler Headley

Author:Joel Tyler Headley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: book, books, city of new york, history, rioting, stamp act riot, draft riots, orange riots
ISBN: 9781781665251
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-06-13T00:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER XIV.

No Military in the City. - The Mayor calls on General Wool, commanding Eastern Department, 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. - General Brown assumes Command. - Attack of Mob on the Tribune Building. - Its severe Punishment. - Government Buildings garrisoned. - Difficulty between Generals Brown and Wool. - Head-quarters. - Police Commissioners' Office Military Head- quarters.

The terrible punishment the rioters received at the hands of Carpenter had, however, only checked their movements for a time; and, as the sun began to hang low in the summer heavens, men looked forward to the coming night with apprehension.

In the meantime, however, the authorities, conscious of the perilous condition of the city, had resorted to every means of defence in their power. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, nearly the whole of its military force, on which it depended in any great emergency, was absent. Lee's brilliant flank movement around Hooker and Washington, terminating in the invasion of Pennsylvania, had filled the country with consternation. His mighty columns were moving straight on Philadelphia, and the Government at Washington, roused to the imminent danger, had called for all the troops within reach, and New York had sent forward nearly every one of her regiments. Ordinary prudence would have dictated that the draft should be postponed for a few days, till these regiments, now on their way back, or preparing to return, should arrive. It was running a needless risk to urge it in such a crisis - indeed, one of the follies of which the Administration at this time was so needlessly guilty.

General Wool, at this juncture, commanded the Eastern Department, with his head-quarters at the corner of Bleecker and Greene Streets. Mayor Opdyke immediately called on him for help, and also on Major-general Sandford, commanding the few troops that were left in the city. The latter immediately issued an order requesting the Seventh Regiment to meet that evening, at their drill-rooms, at eight o'clock, to consult on the measures necessary to be taken in the present unexpected crisis, and another to the late two-years' volunteers then in the city, to report at the same hour in Grand Street, to Colonel William H. Allen, for temporary duty.

General Wool, also, during the afternoon, while the rioters were having it all their own way, sent an officer to the adjutant-general of General Brown, commanding the troops in garrison in New York harbor, ordering up a force of about eighty men immediately.

General Brown, on his way from his office to Fort Hamilton, was informed by Colonel Stinson, chief clerk, that a serious riot was raging in the city, and that General Wool had sent to Fort Hamilton for a detachment of some eighty men, and that a tug had gone for them. Surprised at the smallness of the number sent



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.