The National tribune., 1902-12-25
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS.

VIM Larter, Co. X, 10th n. Y, Ala
media, Cal, writes: when the New
York draft riots began, / was in a hos
pital at Newark, n. J. There was grea
excitement. Capt. Graham, an officer Of
the Excelsior Brigade, believe, then il
the hospital as the result of the PENN
sular Campaign, having lost an arm, was
reading an account Of the riots to mum
Der Of men around him. Some one pro
posed that we offer our services in sup
pressing the riot. Capt. Graham said
Organize a company Those who want
ed to go were told to Fall in A line
formed, two deep. Capt. Graham has
tened to the telegraph office and wired
the Mayor of New York, offering our ser
vices. The reply came, Bring your com
mand down. We gathered up some ole
guns that were around the hospital, anc
took passage on the 400 p. m. train. Ar
irving in New York, foot of Cortland
street, we landed and marched up Green
WITCH street, thence to Hudson. The negro
hanged by the mob was still there, sur
rounded by the enraged rioters, who were
tention of burning it. We passed on the
other side of the street. We were cursed
by the mob, and several shots were fired
We reported at the Office of the Chief ol
Police, located, think, on Addison street
We then marched to the 18th Avenue AT
mory, where We We're given Sprlnsh>
rifles and 40 rounds eacn. The rioters
had threatened to burn the armory, and
therefore we were stationed at this point
and remained in possession until Wednes
day morning, when the Wilson Fire Lou'
ayes arrived, and we marched out, leaving
the armory to them. Later, We were sup
port to fourgun battery that had beer
sent to New York from the Army of the
Potomac. The night the rioters took tht
42d street brewery we were double-quickeC
to that point, en- route being fired on IRON
windows and house-tOps. A few yolley:
dispersed the rioters. One volley was free
by the battery, blank cartridges being used
Soon after. we were ordered to Hudson
street, where fire had been started by
the mob. We drove back the rioters anC
held them at bay. Thursday Governor
Seymour arrived in New York City arc
advertised that he would address thu
rioters at the City Hall. About lOOOt
gathered at that place. We formed OIL
the City Hall steps in front of the Gov,
not the ad ,ice of Governor Seymour. The
New York Tribune Building was stormed
and the full police force was required tC
restore order. We then took possession OF
.Cosick's,' ON City Hall Square. The next
day, when Police Headquarters were
threatened, We marched at double-quIcE
into the basement of the building. The
policemen formed outside, and in case they
were defeated, we were to form the for
lorn hope. Next, we were sent to the ar
mory. After seven days and nights. Of
almost continuous activity, our services
were no longer required, the riot having
come to an end. We marched down
Broadway, passed various hotels and pub
lie buildings, the people Cheering us, and
reached City Hall. Thence we marched
down Cortland street, crossed the ferry
and went to Taylor's Hotel, where we had
a substantial meal"
EFFECTIVE WORK OF THE PARROT GUN
T. E. HILBERT, Battery G. Cd Pa. H
A., Adams, Neb., is surprised at the con
troversy regarding the Petersburg EX-
press. He served in the Eighteenth
Corps, and has pretty thorough knoWi
edge of what took place around the
"Cockade City" from June 10, 1864, untl
January, 1866. Comrade HILBERT states
that the Express" was in operation
long time before the 13-inch mortar was
mounted The mortar was intended to
drop shells into the rebel Notifications,
and not for use against the city proper
The Parrot gun was manned by the
LIST Conn., II. A.. and for a time took as
its target the clock in the Court House
although the clock was never hit. one
shell struck the Courthouse; another de
strOyed a large part Of jewelry store
and it is said that still another shell ex,
ploded on Old Street, killing a bride and
groom just as they We're leaving. the
church. When he entered Petersburg,
Comrade HILBERT found evidence of the
destruction wrought by the rifed gun. lie
is quite sure none Of the mortar shells ever
reached Petersburg. After the capture of
the city, Comrade HILBERT was assigned
to provost duty.
GEN. HAYs's BRIGADE.
John L. Brady, First Lieutenant, LIST
Del, Medicine Lodge, hs..., writes: RE
ferring 10 Picket Shots Nov. 20. and for
the information Of Comrade Henry r..
Gift, Co. G, 111th N. Y, will say that
his regiment, together with the Both,
125th and 126th N. Y, all under command
of that gallant Pennsylvania soldier, Gen.
Alexander Hays mot Hayesl, joined the
Third Division Of the Second Corps at
Gum Springs. Va. in the midst Of q