The New York herald., 1844-07-17
PHILADELPHIA RIOTS.

PHILADELPHIA RIOTS.
[Trom Philadelphia Ledger, July isl
| 1t is remarkabl that amid the conflicting state
ments respecting the "first fire" Of the troops, on
Sunday evening, the 7th instant, no EXPOSITION,
bearing official sanction, should have enlightened
the public, and promptly opposed the force Of pub
lie calumny and ingratitude II the public had seea
such statement, It would have altered the views
| OF many persons. Even up to this time nothing
official has appeared In view of this fact We have
obtained the following papers, drawn up with great
haste, amid multiplied occupations, by General
Cadw allader and Col Page The state meni OF en-.
eral Cadwalader relates simply to the first fire. and
1 the march OF the troops into Southwark, on sun
day evening We ask those who yet deny the ne
cessy OF hiring when the order was executed, to
ponder well on the particular statements OF Gen
Cddwallader, detailing the mode Of warning given
to the mob to dsperse, aad the forbearance OF the
volunteers under aggravated insult and injury. The
statement Of Colonel Page gives, in brief what
took place under his immediate command, during
the entire time of his being duty in the dis rlct.
| Both statements are simple, condensed views OF
the matter. We offer them as interesting to all
parties. They tell their own tale, and reed no
comment.
| BRIGADIER GENERAL CADwALLADER's STATEMENT.
| take a moment to say that many and urgent
requests were made to General Patterson and to
the sheriff to have military force sent to ST. Phi
lips church on Sunday afternoon, and we were in
| formed that unless such fcrce was sent, that the
persons in the church could not retain possession OF
It, Under these circumstances, 1t was supposed
that it would have been attributed To tlmidity if we
had not gone, and'the sheriff was particularly de-
sirous that, if our lorce was sufficient one, the
military should receive possession Of the church
and protect It, considered our force, although
not large, sufficient for the purpose OF maintaining
possession until daylight the next morning; but
stated that an additional supply Of ammunition
would pc then necessary, as well as reinforce
sion with the mob-this it was supposed there
would be no difficulty in providing, tor the troops
| expected to arrive from the county. On our arri.
val at the church halted the troops and gave no
tice to the mob to dsperse and stated that all per-
sons were required to clear the street and 60 to
their homes and informed them that l was or
dered to use force to do so If the order was not
complied with, or if resistance was offered, and
| that intended to obey my instructions. In obe-
dience 10 instructions, previously received from
Major General Patterson gave directions 10 all
were detached for any particular service to fire in
| the event of being assalled or resisted, without
further orders. l then directed Col. Pleasanton tc
detail Capt SCOTS company to clear the street as
but finding it necessary, sent Capt. Hil's compa-
ny to unite with Capt Scott in the performance OF
the same duty. | then gave notice again to all
persons the corner OF Second and Queen sts to dis
perse ,and warned them that the responsibility would
rest upon themselves if they did not do SO: Much
unruly conduct occurred. and insult was lavished
upon officers and men in the discharge o their duty
| had at the time these companies were clearing
| the street, numbered and loaded two six FOUNDER
field pieces, and placed them in front OF the church
Capt. Pattersons company was detailed for receiv-
ing possession OF the church. then, after repeat
ing instructions to the officers at the corner Of
Second and Queen, to maintain their position, and
to fire If resisted or assailed, returned to the
Church, and informed the citizens within that
l thanked them in the name oil the public au
thories for the faithful manner in which they had
protected the property entrusted to their care, and
accompanied them to the corner of Queen and
Second streets, to pass them out at the guard sta
| toned there. The momentthe last member OF the
committee had passed, Captain Hills sword was
| seized by one of the mob, and he was knocked
down by blow on the neck from brick or stone.
Two men who attempted to assist him were struck,
| and an attempt made to wrest their muskets from
| them. At the same moment a shower Of stones
| were hurled upont the military AMID the shouts OF
| the mob; one of which struck Sergeant Starr, CT
the Cadwalader Grays, in the breast, and another
a private OF the same company, both OF whom
were knocked down and disabled, and have not al
| this time recovered. A member OF Capt. Hills
company fired at the man who had hold of the
Captains sword when he fell, and the Company
aimed and fired over their Captain, who WAS yet
| lying stunned by the blow. Capt. Scouts Company
\ fired about the same time.
| STATEMENT OF COLONEL PAGE
/ While General Cadwaader was engaged with q
portion Of his command in clearing the streets M
| Second and Queen streets, was performing the
like duty under his instructions at Thud and
Queen. Our orders were not to fire except in de-
fence, and when assaulted. The companies DE-
tailed met with considerable opposition. The mob
retired slowly and sulleny on all sides. The ut
most forbearance was exhibited under thelr IN
suts and il was not without great delay
and much difficulty that the avenues of Third
| and Queen were finally cleared, and the military
posted. Crowds remained, however, outside OF
the lines drawn across the streets, menacng by
words as well as gestures. The approaches W
! from Third and Queen had scarcely been taken
possession Of before the firing was heard at Second
and Queen, an attack having been made upon the
Artillery companies at this point by the mob. The
/
can be recollected, as follows:-In Third street,
| Just below Queen, the State Fencibes, 1t. Middle
Capt. Mallory, with a six FOUNDER, No. 1; the Ger
mantown Blues, Lieutenant Bockius the above
under my immediate command: was also charged
with the superiRtendence Of the other line Of &C.
fence, in Queen street, above Third. The line
under the immediate command Of Captain Tustin
consisted of the National Guards Lieut.. Matheys;
Monroe Guards, Capt. Small; Wayne Artillery,
Capt. Fairlamb, and detachment OF the Wash
ngton Artillery, with six FOUNDER. No. 2, under
Lieut. Bringhurst. The line up Third, near TO
Catharne, was formed by companies under the i'm
mediate command Of Col. Murphy. Thus the APP
proaches Southwest and North were guarded at
the time and during the attack upon the Artillery
on the East. The firing in that quarter lasted
considerable time when 1t was interrupted, and SO
| continued until late hour OF the night Then u
was that the murderous discharge Of cannon took
place at the corner of Third and Christian, at the
line commanded by me. Not shot had been
fired by any of the military, comprising these three
corners OF ueIenCe up 10 tnis point anu tlcy were
at distance Of square from the point of the first
attack by the mob. Many OF the shot, however,
from Second and Queen, came up and struck amcng
| them at Third and Queen. The effect Of the first
| fre Of the rioters was terrible. The cannon
| was filled with all sorts of missiles, and could
/ not have been more than hundred and fifty
| feet from my line when discharged. Fortunate
| ly for my command, had drawn up my
right company, the Fencibes, close to the west
| side Of the street, and the left, the Germantown
Blues close to the east side Of the street, leaving
the centre oi the street clear, except so tar il
was occupied by the six FOUNDER, with Capt. NAL
| lorv, and his detachment. The discharge struck
| to the eastward Of the SIX pounder, and owing to
the elevation and obliquity OF the fre, spent it's
greatest force upon the buildings on each slde Of