Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-06-30
The Terrible Draf. Riot of 1888.


1t very nearly happened to me that
was opposed to the furious. desperate
drunken mob in the streets Of New
York. in July, 1868. with a small body
of crippled and sick, but very ready
/ veterans from the frN1t. No soldier
would court any such situation; any
good soldier of that time. | trust.
would have done his whole duty had
he been put forward in that crisis.
trust that | ami my forty-seyen sol
diers from the department Of the
gulf would not have shamed our com
rades, had we been put in 20 fight
against that hell of furious resistance
to law, of arson. murder and robbery
thatraged through the great city for
almost a week after July 18th, 1853
T his is all have right to say.
have elsewhere in these sketches
told how / was taken from a New
Orleans hospital with these forty
seven. all sick or wounded from Port
Hudson, as the best squad Emery
could get in those perilous days when
he had less than 2 900 men under his
command to defend the city, ana sent
up to Fortress Monroe on steamer in
| charge OF 500 Confederate prisoners.
( Having delivered them there we
went on to New York for transporta-
ton back, and started on our return
July 8; | believe that was the exact
date. The int rival OF three days was
spent on Governors island. / had
two opportunities to 90 over to the
city, and improved them. / knew
that the draft was about to be en-.
forced, and ! took some pains to tlIk
/ with those | met aboat it. heard
very little said on the subject. saw
no indications of armed resistance, or
any resistance. / had occasion to 20
to the headquarters of General Wool.
who commanded there, to get an
order for our transportation back 10
! New Orleans signed by the general
personally. But heard no whisper
or fear of any rising of the mob. or
resistance to the draft Nobody
/ seemed TO realize that the fires of a
lurid volcano were slumbering there.
ready to burst out in blood and de-
structiOn at the signal
Had our departure been delayed
three days, / know we should have
been ordered over to the city, to face
that bowling, deyilish mob sons.
where. There were no troops in the CITY
then; there was only a scant guard in
the forts. Everything was called in
| that could avail in that awful crisis.
until brigade of the army OF the
Potomac could be hurried up to the
rescue, and it was then known that
! New York was safe During that
memorable week there was carnival
OF blood in the empire city. beginning
In organized resistance to the draft
and destruction of its headquarters
extending to the murder Of negroes
and the burning of colored orphan
asylums, and gath ,ring in passion and
ungovernable fury and drunkenness,
swelling 10 the pillage and arsen of
buildings indiscriminately, and blind
killing for the sake of blood
1t was hideous time. People who
then lived in New York and survived
IT. and yet survive it, look back on Il
as they would on a nightmare.
For days the heroic police performel
miracles Of valor. They charged tn,
roaring mob everywhere, and without
hesitation, never failing to drive it
back when they came in direct con-
tact with it, no matter how great the
odds.
Marines from the government ships
that happened to b. in the harbor.and
few regulars from the forts. cam,
over and rendered veteran service.
The employees Of great establish
ments, public and private. including
the large newspaper offices and the