Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-22
Col. James Fiske, Jr., returned to this city
to-day, entirely recovered from the injuries
received during the riot

Col James Fiske, Jr., returned to this city
to-day, entirely recovered from the injuries
received during the riot.
An earthquake shock yesterday morning
wss felt at Leedsville, Duchess county, N. Y.
The work of rebuilding the cocks and piers
! according to the plans ofGen. Mcclellan, for
improving the river front of this city, COM
kasnced yesterday between Castle Garden and
pier one, North River The chief feature of
tn is plan is the construction of river wall
of solid masonry, sufficiently broad to give
river streets 250 feet width along North River
and $50 feet wide along East River, between
the Battery and 3ist street, and ! 70 feet north
of that street.
Maj. Gen. Shaler, who commanded all the
troops on the day OF the riot, in his special
| report states that the number on duty was
1892 rank and file. After detailing the po-
stion of the regiments during the day, and
| repeating the circumstances of the riot, which
differs little from the previous reports, the
General sums up by praising the militia for
the promptitude with which they turned,
and numbers that appeared in the ranks; in
| some of the regiments the increase being 80
per cent. more than usual on parade He
continues Their conduct during the twenty
four successive hours service vas in the high
tan of the public press, and few persons
with bigoted and prejudiced minds have en-
deavored to create an impression that some
of the regiments acted hastily in firing on the
9th avenve, but by a carful perusal of the
official reports OF all the principal command
ing officers engaged, and of the citizens re-
siding in the neighborhood into the crcum-
stances attending the melee, have failed to
discover sufficient cause for the statements
made. The testimony is abundant to show
that long before the troops retaliated firearms
were discharged and missiles of all kinds
thrown at them from the sidewalks and houses,
and it was not until an officer of the Saith reg
iment had been struck down by missile
thrown from a house-top, one of the men
shot in the head, another received flesh
wound, two of the men of the ninth had been
killed outright, a number wounded, and three
more killed, that fire was opened upon the
mob. 1t is the opinion of the most expirienc-
ed officers of the police force and of the mill
itary present, that the troops did not fire any
too soon, but that in few minutes more it
would have been difficult if not impossible to
overpower the mob, and that the lives lost at
9Th avenue and oath street, saved the sacri-
| flee of much greater number at some other
point. The extremely delicate service of
Gen. Verian, commanding the escort to the
procession, was performed in highly cred
table manner, and to my satisfaction. The
regimental commanders of the escort and
and the officers and men under them with
coolness and discretion, discharged their du-
ties under circumstances calculated to excite
and aggravate the most experienced troops,
and are entitled, therefore, to commentator
of their superior officers. Orders issued from
time to time were obeyed by all the com
mands on duty with alacrity." The report
ooncln6as nv commenting the pOloa for thair
gallant conduct in attacking the mob, as well
as the patience and GOODNESS in bearing with
its abuse, and the national guard are declared
not only entitled to the respect of their su-
periors, but to the confidence of the public at
large. Gen. Varian in his report, states that
he gave his troops specific orders to fire as
soon as fired upon.