Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-30
PHILADELPHIA RIOTS.

The Pennsylvania gives letter from a
correspondent relating the origin and pro-
gress Of the difficulties between the mob and
the military Of Philadelphia, as follows:
On Sunday evening, about seven o'clock,
the troops having arrived on the ground,
the Cadwalader Greys, under Captain Scott,
were detailed to clear Queen street be-
tween the church and Second street. The
citizens who had charge Of the church, had
marched arm in arm down Queen street,
and turning to the right. had passed down
Second street, till the last row was fairly
off the scene Of riot, when number Of men,
principally under age, armed with tludgeons
and stones, pressed forward on tho military.
General Cadwnlader, seeing tho opposition
at the corner, ordered Captain Hills com
panv Of City Guards to the assistance Of
the Cadwalader Grsys, and tho two compa-
MES, after great difficulty, succeeded in
clearing the street to the Second street line.
The mob growing more violent, no longer
contented itself with abusive and insulting
language, but managed to prevent tho COM
panies from throwing GU: their sen,inels.
Missiles Of all kinds were pitched forward
on the ranks, taunts given, till soldier after
soldier, when struck, or when personally
threatened and insulted, turned round to the
officers and asked, +" must we bear all this?"
The orders being however, to stand with
grounded arms, the mob increased in inso-
lence ana rushed up 10 snatch the muskets
from the soldiers, and several personal
struggles followed between the rioters at
to arrest the arms and the military
to keep them. Captain Hill, when endeav-
oring to clear the way, was seized by one
Of the crowd, struck on the back fthe head
with club, and flung to the ground. Vol
lies Of stones were thrown, a number Of the
volunteers injured, and a sergeant of the
Cadwalader Greys was carried seriously
wounded from the ground, II was then that
orders 10 fire were given, and his company,
together with the Cadwalader Greys obeyed
the command.
Such was the beginning Of the struggle,
and as it progressed, and the night grew
dark, the fierceness and maIigDaty of the
rioters increased. The Junior Artilerisis,
under Captain Drayton, were detailed TO
seize large stand of arms and a keg of
powder, in the Commissioners Hall, and
were surrounded when there by swarm
who had discovered their position, and who |
threatened to shoot them down one by one |
as they emerged from under cover. The |
arrival of the Cadwaladcr Greys dispersed
tho beseigcrs, but only temporarily, and in
a short time the military who were collected
in front ofthe church, became aware of the
character of the adversary with whom they had
to deal. Men were lurking about in every
corner, who, when they felt secure in their
would spring out for moment, fire
on the soldiers, and then retreat. Cannon,
stuffed with old iron in every shape, were
wheeled down the little alleys below the
church, discharged suddenly and the wheel
ed back. Such an attack was it.-secrct.
covert, murdcrous, ungovemed by any Of
the rules of civilized warfare, and equallcd
only in brutality and cowardce by Indian
tactics, that the volunteers sustained till
midnight. For twenty four hours at the
lowest, some of them for mach longer, they
had been kept on tho ground without any
thing but chance and imperfec, refreshment,
and withour sleep. A great debt does the
community owe them, for never did so small
a body of men act more CALAMITY From
the general in command to the last private
who left the spot at two O'Clock on Monday
afternoon, there was not man but did his
duty with courage and with humanity
When they came back to head quarters, ia
ded and exhausted, and twelve Of their
number left behind, wounded or dead, and
one brave captain, who had been singled
out by the mob for attack, desperately inlu-
red the citizens who had suffered their
minds TO be poisoned by the false rumors
that had been set afloat, should have paused
and reflected how far it was Just to cover
pith obloquy and reproach the characters of
officers and soldiers, who, when all others