The Washington union., 1857-06-13
LOCAL ws.

H
captan rslSf showing Che agency and conduct of the
marines in quelling the recent yolefce and bioodshod
committed at our city elections, ' DC iVsna below
prepared by the Captain and transmitted by Me v
mandant Of the marines TO the Navy Department
MARINE BARRACKS,
! Washington, June 2, 1851
SIR In compliance with your order received aoit 70
clock on immediately collected the availa-
BILE marines at headquarters and the ard amount
ing in all TO one hundred prvates with due proportion
of commissioned officers This force divided into
two oonpaies first commanded by breyet Major
zielin the second BY captaiii MYdos, with subaltern
TO each company Lieutenants Henderson and Turner.
After supplying my command with ball cartridges, l
loaded and proceeded direct TO the City Hall On my
rival there, reported to the mayor of the city of Wash
ington In obedience to a order from the Navy Depart
ment received by me- through you 10 the effect that
to obey sutl orders the mayor might wish exc
cued with view to clearing Gle bols " the different
precincts of the municipal election, then being heid in
the city of Washington. The mayor forthwith proceed
ed to the first precinct of the Fourth ward accompanied
| by and my command We arrived upon the
ground, and Immediately drew up my command in line
in front of the precinct which had the effect to clear the
precinct The mayor then proceeded to address the Off
of the election and those around the precinct but
did not listen 10 or hear his remarks Immediately
thereafter and perhaps while the mayor yet deliver
ing his address, committee consisting of two persons
from the house with message to me- to
the effect that those in charge of planted Mt the
market house would fire upon me if did not immed-
atey abandon my position in front OF the precinct re-
/ piled, then win take your cannon and straghtway
proceeded with my command to the nlarbet-houre On
arriving opposite to the caIior halted ifiy command
faced it to the 'front.' and with the first platoon OF the
| first company with Major Zeilin at its head /
charged and took possession of the cannon. My
purpose to take the with little loss of
life possible; had have fired before charging
the loss of life would have been immense The charge of
bayoncts however sufficient without the FIRE to dspesc
the rioters in every d6ttot in their flight they did
not forget however, to discharge their feyofScfs Pts
tolls also freely fired from behind the wooden enclo
at the market house, which returned by single
shots from the first platoon still in charge of the
About this time the marines in line fired upon by
another gang of rioters from the opposite of the
street, dangerously wounding in the face be-
longing TO the first company which caused the blood TO
spout from his mouth and nostrils. This fire
turned by portion Of the marines belonging to the I'd
company, commanded by Captain Maddox being still
engaged in looking out for those who had fed from the
cannon and taken refuge around and about the market
house but, hearing the report Of this fire from the
I'd company faced about and beheld several persons
the opposite side of the street in the agone Of DEATH
and many others, to all appearance, badly wounded
Immediately ran down the line and ordered the to
firing, and not another shot fired by any of
/ them After reloadng the discharged muskets / re-
manned upon the ground about 30 minutes and then at
the request OF the mayor marched my command to the
City Hall, where remained until the from Baltimore
came in in the afternoon when /, with my command,
accompanied the mayor to the railroad depot-lndcr-
from tlat cxpcCIcu Otncr from
Baltimore in the In that event. the mayor thought
the depot would be the best place to settle with them
and in that opinion entirely concurred; but none
remained at the depot until halfpast o'clock, and,
being entirely satisfied that all and would be quiet
for the night ordered Lieut. Henderson to the Barracks
in command Of the men, and went home myself and
/ tired to rest am, very respectfully,
4 III. b. TYLER,
Captain Of Marines, commanding
ARcnD HNDERsoy, Brcvet Brigador General and Com
| mandant Of the Marine Corps.
The facts and statements in the preceding report beget
very serious reflections. It has been good fortune
know for many years the author of this report Those
| who know him best value him the most There
/ is no one in the District who unes close than
the Captain does the refinemcnts of honor the vaor
of the soldier, and the kindness of a gentleman.
! He knows that the duties of soldier are Of the
highest confidence and responsibility and that there
are crises in human affairs which require the exer-
/ tion of frmness prompude, and decision. II often
happens that such qualities alone preserve the pub
lie peace, and prevent the efuson Of human blood Such
crisis is clearly depicted in the report before
free, unbought unmolestcd exercise of the electoral
franchise according to the laws and constitution of the
country, is sacred right and invaluable blessing pre-
cious to frcemen and formidable trants only No po
ltica party that aims at power by striving to bully
nmidate the voters is worthy the confidence of the peo
pie the benefits of good government and every at
dation should be bafed by determined perseverng re-
sstance The wicked and concerted efforts made in various
quarters of the Union to murder outright democratic
brethren for dschging their duties at the polls strikes
at the very foundations upon which noble ancestors
reared the great fabric of American Institutions and
crime which, in magnitude and aocy, far transcends
any personal outrage as the welfare Of the Union
exceeds the value of any individual.
The lawess miscreants who hailed from Baltimore on
the morning of city elections hired to assault
democratic brethren, to control the polls and
vive, If possible the expiring embcs of the Snownothing
confagration. Wicked hopes, but vain.
We lament the boodshcd which our contest for equal
rights and sacred laws brought upon innocent persons
But do not scruple to affirm that all the blood and
havoc which stained city caused by the unpro-
vokcd violence of the plug ugcs and their aiders and
abcttos. Their assaults sudden and murdcous
that neither the dispersed militia any volunteer com
| pany could be formed and marched to the scene of
outrage in time to prevent the butchery Of the demo-
cratic voters In such crisis the most convenient and
expeditions assistance became necessary and for calling
out the marines to assist the civil magistrates and police
the government is entitled to the highest praise The
marines too, well merit the confidence Of government
for, by their nnncss and prompude, they stopped the
slaughter, rcpecd the rans and restored to Washing
ton the blessings of law and order
We cannot close this article without bearing witness to
the promptitude, energy, and daring displayed by Gen
Henderson during the riot. Although not in command
of the Marines and simply acting private citizen
this veteran and gallant officer was i'm the midst NJ to