Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-07-24

brethren to make the attack. Fifteen or
twenty of the parties impatiently swore
that they would Ego in" and not wait
any longer, when stones were again
thrown and pistols discharged by them.
BY the combined movement and impet-
uous charge, the line of voters was bro
ken, and in the general alarm the COM
missioners of election fed, deeming it
unsafe to continue at their post, The
voters in the line We're, for the larger
part, naturalized citizens. Driven away
some of them did not return, according
to crcditable witnesses; the aim of the
rioters was avowedly against those whom
they designatedas foreigners and whom
they would not permit to vote. But it
is proper to say that this hostility was
not extended to those of American birth,
though of politics opposite to their own.
The rioters having gained their object in
the Fourth Ward, gave three cheers for
their victory. These Disturbances oc-
CURED between nine and ten o'clock in
the moraing.
Information of these disgraceful and
riotous occurrences was communicated to
the Mayor of Washington. At that
time there were only one policeman and
six or seven members of the Auxiliary
Guard at the Fourth Ward precinct, and
these were driven away. The Mayor
visited the scene, and having ascertained
the true condition of affairs, forthwith
called upon the President of the United
States, and requested him to order out
the Marines for the preservation of the
peace. In accordance with representa-
tons made, first verbally, and afterwards
in writing, and unoer oath, the Presi-
dent acquiesced. on the ground, as lie
assumed, that the civil force was INSULT
cient to repress the riotous proceedings,
against the desperate and superior num-
bers Of the disturbers of the public peace.
Accordingly, official orders we're imme-
diately despatched to the Garrison, re-
curing the Marines to repair to the City
Hall, and that they report to the Mayor
for duty.
When it became known at the Navy
Yard that the Marines had been ordered
out, six-pounder, or field piece, was
taken from the Anacostia Engine House,
by party of men and boys avowedly
for hostile purposes, and with which to
operate against the military. The per-
sons having il iii possession drew it to
the first precinct of the Fourth Ward
before the Marines reached that neigh
borhood, and from twenty to twenty-five
minutes anterior to that time. The
Mayor, returning to the polls, demanded
that they be opened, but several persons
interposed, saying that they should not
until the Marines were removed, while
another person was, at the same time,
haranguing the excited crowd. The
Mayor attempted to address. them, and
to inform them that the Marines we're
not there to attack, but to protect citi-
zens in their rights. But he was sa-
luted with the cries Of "Drive him off !"
"turn him out" and other similar ex-
pressions.
The Marines, on their arrival, were
tainted by the rioters, and provoking
language was made use of with view
to irritate and insult them. During
these proceedings message was sent by
the party in possession of the cannon,
saying that if the officer in command
did not abandon his position they would
fire upon him. 1t was then that a charge
was made upon the gun by the first pla-
toon of the first company Of Marines,
and after two of the Marines had boon
wounded by the rioters. 1t was taken
without bloodshed. Just before this
was accomplished an attempt was made
to FIRE it. The discharge Of pistols con-
tinued in quick succession, and stones
we're thrown by the rioters as they re-
treated from the cannon, and not until
then did the Marines fire their muskets
in the direction Of their assailants.
The Mayor did not give the order to
FIRE, nor did either of the officers in COM
mand, according to the testimony elicit
ed and the Marines may have mistaken
for an order to that effect the words,
"Wby don't you fire p the language ut
tered by some person unknown TO the
witnesses Intercepted on that point
The Marines numbered ninety or one
hundred; they were nearly all raw re-
cruits, and principally American born
citizens. After the first FIRE, in response
to the pistol shots, the Marines were or
deed TO discharge their guns in the d.
rection of the flashes Of the pistols. The
fact is well known that number Of per-
sons were killed and wounded in coase-
quence of the discharge Of fire arms on
that occasion.
II should here be stated that the can
non, from its position, would, if fred,
have raked the polls and street; and
what the effect would have been may be
conceived from the fact that il was load
ed with about half pound Of powder,
sixty or seventy rife cartridges, (tied in
handkerchief eight large stones, and
several pounds Of shot.
The Marines we're supplied, each, with
twenty rounds Of ammunition; the car
tridges containing, in addition TO the
usual quantity Of powder, a ball and
three buckshot.
According to the testimony, IL was
not known, until few minutes previous
to the Marines being ordered out, that
their services would be required, nor
we're any persons in the ranks besides
the enlisted men.
We repeat, that the police force on
that day was insufficient to preserve the