Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-03

Washington Grays aud Weccacoe Legion,
marched down the track as far as Twenty
eight street, accompanied by Vice Presl-
dent Cassatt, Mr.. Pitcairn, Superintendent
of the Western Division Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, sheriff Fife and forty. i've depu-
ties, armed with wrts for the arrest of
prominent strikers. At Twenty-elghth
street the head of the column, composed Of
the Weccacoe Legion aud the Washington
Grays, found themselves confronted by
mob about two thousand strong, while on
the hill, some four hundred feet high, that
faced the right of the column, there were
ranged an immense multitude, at least ten
thousand strong. On the brow of the hill
were stationed deachments of the Four
tenth and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Regi-
menls (Pitlsburg troops), and Immediately
above the railroad two pieces u Hutchison's
Piusburg Battery.
Sheriff Fife, after in vain endeavoring TO
serve his writs, read the Riot act, at which
the mob jeered and laughed; whereat the
Sheriff and his deputies and Mr.. Cassatt
and Mr.. Pitcairn retired IN profound dis
gust. The troops were then deplOyed for
the purpose Of sweeping the mob from the
tracks, the Grays and Weccacoe Legion fac
ing the two thousand or more strikers that
occupied the tracks. At the back of the
command was train of coal cars, behind
which there were about two hundred of the
strikers. In order to force the principal
mob lack the soldiers Of the Grays and the
Legion crossed their muske.s, their inten-
ton being to avoid doing the strikers in
jury. The crowd laughed and jeered and
finally attempted to wrest the muskets
from the soldiers, who then came 10 a charge
uayunel, and in the melee that necessarily
followed one OF the strikers was wounded
by Il bayouet thrust. The cry arose from
the mob: stick to il; give it TO them
don't fall back = and the men behind the
coal cars began dscharging pistols at the
soldiers from under and between the cars,
while the crowd in front began heaving
rocks, with which Il number of the soldiers
were hit, and Sergeant Bernard of the
Weccacoe Legion was seriously wounded.
The firing by the troops then began.
There was no order given for ii. 1t began
with the discharge of single muskei, and
was Immediately followed by an almost
simultaneous discharge from front and rear,
right and left of the brigade. The firing
lasted about ten minutes, men continually
dropping in the fast reireatiDg mob 1t was
at this time that the Piltsburg troops threw
down their arms and fraternZed with the
strikers, Hutchison's battery and a cavalry
company alone excepted. Within five
minutes after the firing ceased the mob was
back again, but RETAINED for while from
further assaults upon the Philadelphans,
and, therefore, there was no firing upon
them. 1T was the most persistent mob,
said Lieutenant Elliott, Il ever saw The
brigade remained on the field Of battle I'M
| til o'clock, when they were ordered by
General Pearson back TO the round-house,
adjoining which is a building in which was
stationed the Second Brigade.
1t was this retreat that was the great mis-
take of the occasion. If the mob had been
pushed Immediately after they had been
fired into, the riot would probably have
been ended at once, and the immense de-
struction Of property that allerward hap
| paned been prevented. The Philadelphians
spent the night in the round-house and ad-
| joining depot supperless, their commissary
supplies being captured Immediately I'M
der their eyes within Il hundred yards OF
the found-house. 1t was about 7.30 or S
O'Clock when the mob began setting fire to
the cars. There were then in the round
house Enclosure the two brigades with their
Calling guns and the Hutchinson Artillery
with two pieces. About midnight ears fill
ed with burning coal and petroleum were
run by The mob down the track and against
the sand-house, a large building near the
| round house, which was soon in flames
The round-house and other buildings With
in the Enclosure, although in great danger
were saved by the use by the soldiers of the
hose belonging TO the railroad company.
A gun belonging 10 the Hutchinson Bat
terry, that had been lefl on the hill, was
now planted by the rioters within one hun.
dred yards Of the round-house, and loaded
TO the muzzle with couplings aud broken
rails. That gun was never fired, the Pitts
burg papers to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, and thirteen were found dead beside il
when the gray morning dawn gave evil
dence of the skillful craftsmanship of the
Philadelphia, who picked them of one by
one as they crawled on their bellies along
the ground in the vain endeavOr 10 dis
charge it. AT no time were the soldiers in
the round-house smuthered or scorched by
smoke or fire, as has been represented. 'On
the contrary said Lieutenant Elliott, with
a laugh, I'VE like 10 have fruze 10 death.
AT daylight, however, we began to think
about getting out, and at o'clock, afleI
| Gni L inc tba nr IIntnbigpp'u of.
terry and Withdrawing our oulposts, tie di.
vision left the round-house Enclosure
marching by fours in column down Penn
street.
1t was on this march that we lost all the
men who were killed or wounded during
our stay in Piusburg, except the few who
were hurt by stones on Saturday afternoon
We marched at an ordinary pace and in
good order. We were followed by no crowd
but from street corners and allcy-ways and
windows and house-tops we were fred up,
on as We marched along, our men return
ing the fire and inhciing considerably
more loss on their assailants than they re.
ceived. When we reached Forieth street
we let go at house from which an unusual
ly heavy fire proceeded, with the Gatlings
the only time they were used. When we
reached the United States Arsenal we were
refused admission by Major Burlington
the commaudant on the plea that his doing
so would bring the whole mob down upon
him-a scurvy excuse and a scurvy trick
as we could have held the Arsenal, admira.
bly, situated for defence, against all Pitts
burgf From there, ater leaving our wound.
ed in the Arsenal, we marched over the
bridge into Sharpsburg, where we were
kindly treated and given food by the vii.
| Layers. AfIpr march Of nhnnt 10 rnilc,