The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-15
Was the Firing TOO Early 2

1t is said that an effort will be made to show
that the firing of the troops upon the crowd
was too early-that the rioters had not made
sufficient demonstrations of violence to be met
with such summary return of musketry. In
spector Walling, who will be good witness
on this point, is of the opinion nevertheless
that the firing would have been a necessity
within ten min utes at the latest. Showers of
bricks and stones were thrown from the house
tops and windows, while pistol shots were be-
ginning to come thicker every moment. The
mob seemed to be gaining courage and strength
and it would soon have been absolutely neees-
sary to commence firing.
Gen. Lloyd Aspinwall remarked last night
in conversation with friend, that it was hard
ly worth while to consider the question whether
or not the troops fired Minute or two too
soon rather than minute or two too late, and
had they waited longer they might have been
minute too late.
The Times says that when it was ascertained
by the police and military authorities that a
large and determined mob had gathered in 9Th
avenue, near the Orange headquarters, with
an apparent purpose of attacking the process
sion, Brig Gen. Varian was sent there with
the 9th, 7th, 9th, 22d and Saith regiments. On
his arrival at the scene of threatened hostilites
there were indications that men on the roofs
and in the windows of certain buildings on the
east side of the avenue, near 18th street, were
preparing to fire upon the Orangemen. Gen.
Varian detached the right wing of the 7th reg
iment, under the lead of Capt Moore's COM
rany, and sent it forward on the west sidewalk
to act as flankeIs and stationary guards. The
orders of the General were that if the sus
pected men threw stones or other missiles or
fred on the procession, the men of the 9TH
we're at once to fire upon them.
Ten. NarlaA eSpeClallV cautioned this Hank
| ing party that they were TO avoid, il possible,
| firing on women or children. eff those men
| use Violence" said the General, "use your
| pieces aud aim well.' Capt Smith moved his
| company to the spot designated, and there re-
| manned. sAs the procession moved in front OF
the right wing of the 9TH, several stones and
| other missiles were hurled from the opposite
| buildings when eight or ten of the 9TH mer
elevated their muskets and fired. AT the same
moment several missiles were thrown from the
| sidewalk crowd and few pistol shots were
| fired. The 9th regiment was in a column by
companies, when in some inexplcable manner
the men opened fire to the right and left
| Scarcely hai the volley been fired than the
ground held by the 9th was deserted by them
| and the men rushed for shelter to the side
walks and houses, thereby making it impossi
BILE for the wing OF the 7th to maintain its for
nation; The S4th also opened fire, and became
as much demoralized as the 9th.
That the men of the 9th AMI 84.h regiment
acted hastily and iil-advisedly in a militar,
sense in using their muskets without the wore
OF command from their officers, there can b.
no question Still is is quite evident that tb,
scattering volley given by these regiments
proving so deadly in its general effect, checked
the beligerent tendency of the mob and proba
bly, saved many lives as in a few minutes NOR
the melee would have become general and DIES
perate. The 9th regiment also fred on tn
crowd, being melted thereto by an assault o.
one of their officers. The 22d regiment distin
guished itself by not firing shot, as the lnel
received no orders from their officers. Thi
conduct ELECTED few words of earnest prais
from Gen. Varian That the men of the I'll
were distinctly authorized to fire on the Occa
sion shows the confidence reposed in them b.
| the General.