The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-08-10
A MEMORABLE DAY.
A Rsminiseence Of the Democratic Party Of
1868.

a Rsminiseence Of the Democratic Party Of
1868.
From the san Francisco Chronicle, July 1871
Thirteen years ago, to-day, broke out in
the city Of New York the most cruel,
bloody and destructive riot that ever oc-
curred in America. For five days the
great commercial metropolis of the United
States was virtually in the possession of
plunderers and murderers, who aimed at
the subversion of the laws and the destruc-
tion of the Republic. Before the riot was
quelled, millions of property were destroyed
and from twelve to fifteen hundred lives
were sacrificed. The "draft riots" as they
were called, we're believed by many to be
the result of . deep-laid conspiracy on the
part Of those who were opposed to the war,
for the preservation of the Union. Ac-
cording to this theory, the successful issue
of Lees invasion Of Pennsylvania had been
agreed upon as the signal for the develop
ment Of the insurectiou against the Gov
ernment, by the outbreak in New York
The city was at the time almost denuded of
military, and was left in nearly defense
less condition. All the regiments had been
called away into Pennsylvania to repel
Lees invasion, and the only military force
left was the Invalid Corps, IS it was called,
composed OF the manned and crippled sol
diers, who could no longer keep the field.
The brilliant flank movement OF the Con-
federats General around Hooker and Wash
ingtoD, terminated in the invasion of Penn
eyivania, with contingent eye to the cap
ture Of Washington and New York, had
filled the country with CONSERVATION. 1t
Was at this critical and alarming juncture
that the draft riots" broke out.
On the morning OF the 18th, the reports
coming into police headquarters showed
that the uprising was too large in its pro-
porfions, and too we'll concerted 70 be put
down BY few squads of police or a hand
full Of soldiers. The authorities saw at
once that it vas the beginning Of a general
outbreak in every part Of the .reat metrop-
oils, from the Battery to Harlem Bridge
Accordingly the Mayor, after consulting
with The PUlIce Commissioners, called on
General Wool for aid, and also applied to
Rear Admiral Paulding. commanding the
Navy Yard, for force of marines. Fur
ther applications for help were made as
the gigantic proportion OF the instruction
were developed, TO Col. Bowman, Supt Of
West Point, and to the Governors Of New |
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts,,
and Connecticut During the first day Of |
the riot some twenty policemen were more
or less seriously wounded. The number OF |
the killed and wounded of the mob could |
only be guessed at, as the dead and MANNED |
were Carried away by their friends and |
sympalhizers. The destruction of property
on this day consisted Of four buildings on |
Third avenue burned to the ground also |
block on Broad way, between Twenty eighth
and Twenty ninth streets two brown stone
buildings in Lexington avenue; Aller,on's
Hotel, near Bulls Head; the Colored Or
phan Asylum; the armory, corner of Twen-
ty-tirst street and Second avenue, and a
building at the corner Of Twenty filth street
and Fifth avenue. The rioters had also cut
down from sixty to a hundred telegraph
poles and rendered upwards of twelve miles
of wire useless.
The next day all business In the city was
suspended. Stores we're closed, factories
emptied Of their hands, and the street Cars
stopped running. Peaceable citizens began
to flee to the country, and a great hegira of
the colored population commenced. On
this day, Colonel OBrien, of the Eleventh
New York Volunteers, whose crime copsis
ted of the fact that he was raising a reei-
ment for the war, fell into the hands of the
rioters and was beaten to death, and five