Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-23
THE NEW YORK RIOT.

testified as follows:
My name is Charles W. Sandford, and am
Major General commanding the military forces of
this county.
between eleven and twelve o'clock, on Thurs ,
day last received a message from the Mayor, re-
gues,ing me to attend him in his office. proceed
ed there, and found all the magistrates mentioned
by the Mayor assembled. The Mayor informed me
OF the object OF my being sent for and he has stated
correctly my reply, when my opinion was asked.
Alter 1t was decided to issue the order for the mill
tary to turn out, it was understood by the magis-
trateS present, that the effort should be made by
the civil authority TO preserve the peace; and that
the military should not be called out until that eff
fort failed. l received in consequence, the follow
ing order, after left the Mayors office -
MAyoa's OFFICE, City Hall, May 10, lS49.
Having reason 10 apprehend serious riot, this
evening, which will require more force TO preserve
the peace than is possessed by the police Major
General Sandiord is requested TO hold sufficient
military force in readiness to meet the apprehended
emergency.
C. S. WOODHULL, Mayor
After receiving the above order, ordered one
regiment 10 assemble at their drill rooms, and one
troop of light artillery, with two FOUNDERS, TO
assemble at the arsenal, with small detachment
OF infantry to protect the pieces.
Coroner-What were the names Of the compa-
MES ordered
Iordered one regiment, consisting of eight COM
panes, Numbering three or four hundred men, O.;
parade; but rs the notice short and late in the
day, they numbered only little ovor two hundred
at mastering. ordered out, also, the seventh reg
inent or National Guards, as they are known
the public. | went Myself in the evening TO the
artillery drill rooms, and informed the magistrates
that would be there TO await their orders. I'M
derstood there was to be large police force at the
theatre, which many Of the magistrates thought
would be sufficient to preserve order without the
military. The infantry was commanded by Colo
mel Duryea, who was present when entered the
drill room.
In answer to the Coroner, he said-Thero were
eight captains TO the regiment but whether they
were all present not, he could not tel!-Captain
Subway, Capt. Underhiil, Capt. Fond, Capt.
Price, and do not at present recOect what others,
We're there. We remained there until received "a
verbal message from the Sheriff. who was at The
theatre, the purport of which was, that the mob
had attacked the theatre, had driven in the police,
and were assang the building. He requested me
to come up soon as possible. This was, as well
as can recollect, between eight and nine o'clock
in the evening. After receiving the message i'm
medlate!y ordered the regiments to get ready to
march-to distribute their ammunition, and move.
The ammunition consisted of one thousand rounds
OF ball cartridge. at the same time sent orders to
the Arsenal Yard for the horse belonging to this
regiment, and small number of horse of another
regiment assembled there, to come in front of the
drill rooms and march with to the ground
had nothing but their sabres. The troops were put
under march and moved rapidly up Broadway to
AStor Place. | was not aware, until got on the
ground, of the amount of the mob and supposed
that a small military force, added to the police,
wOuld be sufficient TO maintain order. Before ar
irving on the ground, mounted and took charge
of the cavalry, which were in advance, consisting
of about 40 horsemen, directing the infantry TO fol-
low close after l ordered the horse to form
front of from five to Ten entering As,or Place
They advanced In that order till they got nearly OPP
posite TO the Opera House. We were assailed at
this point by shower of stones and brick bats by
which almost every man was more or less hart
and the horses rendered almost unnana5eable.-
The men pushed rapidly through Asor Place, and
were received throughout the whole distance with
shower of stones. The infantry followed them.
There dense mob extending the whole dis
lance to tie Dowery, and as far as could see to
the Third Avenue. The mounted men, being CON
spicuuus marks, received most OF the stones, and
were driven eff the ground. dismounted, return
cd through the mob, and took charge OF the infant
~, who were halted in line across the open space
beyond the theatre, with dense mob on both sides
of them, who were assailing them with all sorts of
opprObrous epithes, and frequent vOeys of stones.
l ordered Colonel Duryea to form column of di-
vision for the purpose Of first clearing the ground in
the of the theatre, Intending afterwards TO 60
to the front. The column vas formed promptly,
and moved forward through the mob until stopped
by an excavation in the ground, which not seen,
owing to the darkness of the night. We then NOV
ed and fled around this broken ground and cleared
the rear of the theatre by sweeping the mob before
u.s. without charge--they retreaed before US. |
stationed at this time, two bodies Of troops at each
end Of the theatre, extending the street. and
sent into the theatre for Mr.. Matsell and the Sher-
if, who came out TO Mr.. Matsell furnished
sufficient police to replace those two lines of the
military and the whole were then put in march
round 9Th street and down Broadway by the flank;
the Sheriff at my request accompanied We
moved down Ast0r Place, through the mob, and as
close to the theatre as we could get. The mob par
tally reiterated towards the middle and opposite
part of the street. and commenced al attack on the
troops with paving stones. The pavement had
been broken up in that neighborhood, for the pur-
pose Of laying water pipes, and building sewer, as
1 was informed then ordered the regiment to be
divided and form in two lines across the street, the
right wing advancing towards the BOwery and the
left toward Broadway, with the view ofdriving the
mob each way from the front OF the theatre. Du-
ring this period, the constantly assailed the
troops with showers Of stones and briclbats, and
many of them were seriously hurt. 4 number of
the men near me, and General Hail. were struck
at the time aud some Of then very dangerously in
jured.
After eyngt this order, advanced myself towards
the middle ui the street, by the side Of Capt Shu-
way, who led the first company, anu Col. Duryea,
who was by his side until we got nearly two thirds
of The wav across the street. The Sheriff was Just
behind At this time we were assalled by vOey
of stones, by which more than twothlTds in the
front rank were or less lnjurCd--the captain,
the colonel and myself being struck too eight ont
Of Inc eleven men constituting the front rank were
more or less injured. At this time pistol was fir
I'd nv some man in the mob, within very short
4;,.oco ,r tl,o tyoors bv which Capi Shuwav was