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and other troops were on duty, patrol-ceived and disbursed over $40,000, ling the streets, and enforcing order; spontaneously contributed for the rebut there was no further attempt at lief of the sufferers, to whom every asriot, and the city resumed its usual sistance was given in making good their peaceful course. The exact number of claims against the city for their losses.* the killed during these fearful days is not known. From the several reports at the time it appears, that eighteen persons were killed by the rioters, eleven of whom were negroes. Col. O'Brien, an officer of the city militia, after sparing the rioters by firing over their heads, was caught by them and brutally murdered. Several policemen were killed in the discharge of their duty, or died of their wounds. In two days over fifty buildings were burned. The aggregate amount of property destroyed and stolen was estimated at over $1,500,000. The rioters, on their part, suffered severely. Several hundred of them were killed, or died of wounds received in conflict with the police and military.

1863.

The reaction from the riot was in favor of the authority of the government. The draft was the following month enforced in the city without opposition, Gen. Dix having, in the mean time, succeeded Gen. Wool, in charge of the eastern department. The draft, after various delays, was enforced in twelve states, bringing 50,000 soldiers into the service, and by the commutation clause contributing the large sum of over $10,000,000 to be employed as a fund for procuring substitutes. The negroes of the city, who had been so cruelly persecuted, were promptly relieved by the kindness and liberality of the citizens. A general committee was ap pointed by the merchants, who re

There were riotous demonstrations in other places, but none of such for midable proportions as in the city of New York. In Boston, on the night of July 15th, a riot broke out connected with the draft, which threatened at first to become very serious in its consequences. The Armory in Cooper Street was attacked between eight and nine o'clock P.M. by a mob of nearly 1,000 men and boys; and had it not been resolutely defended by a strong force, who fired upon the rioters and charged with the bayonet, killing six or eight and wounding a large number, the mob would certainly have accom plished its wicked design. Fortunately for Boston and the safety of the city, there was not only an energetic police force on duty, but the military were sufficiently numerous to put down any outbreak against the public peace and order. At Portsmouth, New Hamp shire, there was an incipient riot on the day of drafting, an attack being made on the police station house to rescue two men who had been arrested; but the crowd was speedily dispersed by a squad of soldiers, and all further resist ance to the draft in Portsmouth ceased. In Holmes County, Ohio, in the month of June, there was a disturbance which gave no little trouble to the authorities;

*See the "Report of the Merchants' Committee for the relief of colored people suffering from the riots in the secretary, Mr. Vincent Colyer, included in the pamthe city of New York," with the interesting report of phlet.

CH. V.]

THE ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINED.

the details are not important here; happily, at last, public peace was restored without the government being compelled to slaughter the rioters in their lawless career.

381

justly claimed as a decided verdict of the people in support of the government. It was so regarded by all parties throughout the country, and its effect upon their action was of marked imThe general sentiment of the country, portance. While it gave renewed vigor notwithstanding a powerful and fac- and courage to the friends of the adtious opposition in various quarters, ministration everywhere, it developed was in favor of the measures adopted the division of sentiment in the ranks by the government, and the autumn of the opposition, which, in its incipient elections justified the confidence of the stages, had largely contributed to their friends of the administration. For, defeat. The majority of that party every state in which elections were were inclined to acquiesce in the deliheld, with the single exception of New berate judgment of the country, that Jersey, voted to sustain the govern- the rebellion could be subdued only ment; and in all the most populous by successful war, and to sustain the and important states, the majorities government in whatever measures might were unusually large, and consequently expressive of the convictions of the people in the present condition of affairs. Vallandingham, as we have before stated (p. 340), was defeated in Ohio by 100,000 majority against him; in New York, which had elected Horatio Seymour governor, the previous autumn, by a democratic majority of 10,000, at an election held in November, for state officers, viz.: secretary of state, comptroller, members of the legis lature, etc., the majority in favor of the administration candidates was but little short of 30,000; and in Pennsylvania, notwithstanding the most vigor-ed States under control, for being spies, ous efforts of the democratic party, Gen. McClellan even taking part in the canvass, Governor Curtin was re-elected by more than 15,000 majority. "The result," as Mr. Raymond says, "was

be deemed necessary for its effectual prosecution; but the resolute resistance of some of its more conspicuous leaders withheld them from open action in this direction.”*

Mr. Lincoln having been censured, on the ground of leaving, as was alleged, the suspension of habeas corpus to military commanders, instead of acting directly himself, as it was said he ought to do, he issued a proclamation, in order to establish a uniform mode of action and obviate all objection. Having enumerated the various classes of persons held by officers of the Unit

traitors, aiders and abettors of the enemy, deserters, persons resisting the draft, etc., he said:-"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim and

ward, the democratic candidate for governor of Penn

* See Appleton's "American Annual Cyclopædia," sylvania, was sharply criticised, and was, at best, of for 1863, pp. 817-818.

+ McClellan's letter to a Philadelphia paper, under date of October 12th, 1863, in favor of Judge Wood

very doubtful expediency.-See Appleton's "Amer ican Annual Cyclopædia" for 1863, p. 740.

* Raymond's “Life of Abraham Lincoln,” p. 444.

make known to all whom it may concern, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended throughout the United States, in the several cases before-mentioned, and that this suspension will continue throughout the duration of the said rebellion, or until this proclamation shall, by a subsequent one, to be issued by the President of the United States, be modified and revoked. And I do hereby require all magistrates, attorneys, and other civil officers within the United States, and all officers and others in the military and naval services of the United States, to take distinct notice of this suspension and give it full effect, and all citizens of the United States to conduct and govern themselves accordingly, and in conformity with the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress in such cases made and provided."*

Early in October, the president addressed a letter to the Hon. C. D. Drake, and others, members of a Missouri delegation sent to Washington to urge changes in the military conduct of that department (see p. 246). It is interesting as showing the peculiar difficulties which he was called upon to encounter, especially in the questions which arose in the border states, and which were so hard to settle

* In connection with this subject of arbitrary arrests, and what was termed the despotic use made of the

suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, which were

strongly denounced by the democratic party, see President Lincoln's letter to the Hon. Erastus Corning, of New York, under date of June 13th, 1863, and also his

reply to a committee of the Ohio Democratic State

Convention, under date of June 20th, 1863.-Raymond's "Life of Lincoln," pp. 386-398; Duyckinck's" War for the Union," vol. iii. pp. 270-273; Appleton's "American Annual Cyclopædia" for 1863, pp. 799-807.

on any satisfactory grounds. The removal of Gen. Schofield was demand. ed, and the appointment of Gen. Butler in his place; the delegation also required the breaking up of the system of enrolled militia, and the substitution for it of national forces in the state. A few passages may here be quoted from Mr. Lincoln's letter:-"We are in civil war. In such cases there al ways is a main question; but in this case that question is a perplexing com pound-union and slavery. It thus becomes a question not of two sides merely, but of at least four sides, even among those who are for the Union, saying nothing of those who are against it. Thus, those who are for the Union with, but not without slavery-those for it without, but not with—those for it with or without, but prefer it with, and those for it with or without, but prefer it without. Among these, again, is a subdivision of those who are for gradual but not for immediate, and those who are for immediate but not for gradual extinction of slavery. It is easy to conceive that all these shades of opinion, and even more, may be sin cerely entertained by honest and truthful men. Yet, all being for the Union, by reason of these differences each will prefer a different way of sustaining the Union.

The evils now com. plained of were quite as prevalent under Fremont, Hunter, Halleck, and Curtis, as under Schofield. Without disparaging any, I affirm with confi dence that no commander of that department has, in proportion to his means, done better than Gen. Schofield.

I am satisfied that the pre

CH. V.]

ADDITIONAL CALL FOR TROOPS.

venting of the threatened remedial raid into Missouri was the only safe way to avoid an indiscriminate massacre there, including probably more innocent than guilty. Instead of condemning, I therefore approve what I understand Gen. Schofield did in that respect.

From time to time I have done and

1863.

383

On the 17th of October, in anticipa tion of the term of service of part of the volunteer troops expiring, and to provide for the probable demands of the campaign in the following spring, the presi dent issued a proclamation, calling out 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years or the war, not, however, exceed

several states were required to raise
their respective quotas, and, in 1863.
case of any deficiency, a draft
was ordered to be made in the states or
districts, to commence on the 5th day
of January, 1864. Active measures
were taken to forward recruiting; the
volunteers whose term of service was
about to expire generally re-enlisted ;
and when the day arrived which was
appointed for the draft, it was deemed
expedient that the drawing be further
postponed.*

said what appeared to me proper to doing three years. The governors of the and say. The public knows it well. It obliges nobody to follow me, and I trust it obliges me to follow nobody. The radicals and conservatives each agree with me in some things and disagree in others. I could wish both to agree with me in all things; for then they would agree with each other, and would be too strong for any foe from any quarter. They, however, choose to do otherwise, and I do not question their right. I, too, shall do what seems to be my duty. I hold whoever commands in Missouri or elsewhere responsible to me, and not to either radicals or conservatives. It is my duty to hear all; but at last, I must, within my sphere, judge what to do and what to forbear."*

The condition of affairs in this department, it may here be mentioned, continued to be greatly disturbed by political agitations, and the personal controversies to which they gave rise. Some months later, the president deemed it expedient to relieve Gen. Schofield from further command in the department of Missouri; and on the 24th of January, 1864, Gen. Rosecrans was appointed in his place.

* For the letter in full, and for the special instructions sent to Gen. Schofield, see Raymond's" Life of Abraham Lincoln," pp. 432-437.

On previous pages we have given the substance and tolerably full details of army operations and success, in the West and South, during the latter part of 1863. We purpose closing the present chapter with succinct notices of the position and movements of the Army of the Potomac, and of some few other events which may properly claim to be placed on the record. Lee, it will be remembered, after his defeat at Gettysburg (p. 333), retreated into Virginia, and was pursued by Meade, with

*The conscription act was brought up in the Thirty

eighth Congress and earnestly discussed. The chief point in the debates on the act was in reference to the propriety or necessity of retaining the $300 exemption clause. It was finally concluded to retain this, with the important restriction, that the exemption thus purchased should not continue beyond a single year, when the person relieved would again be subject to draft.

12th, Lee advanced in two columns, with the design of reaching the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, north of the river, and cutting off Meade's retreat. On the afternoon of the same day, Lee crossed his columns at Warrenton Springs, to the north bank of the Rappahannock, and advanced rapidly, purposing to strike Meade's line of retreat by the railroad. The commander of the Army of the Potomac immediately began a retrograde movement, so as to escape the consequences of the rebel attempt. It now became a sort of race between the two armies, and Tuesday and Wednesday, the 13th and 14th of October, were spent in determining which should first reach the heights of Centreville, and gain the race. The 2d corps, under Warren, marched all Monday night up to Fayetteville, to guard the road, and remained there till the whole army passed. On Tuesday, Lee as well as Meade, was pushing forward rapidly, by parallel roads, only six or eight miles apart. At Warrenton, Lee formed the bold design of sending Hill's corps, by a rapid détour, to seize the heights of Centreville, while Ewell's corps should fall upon Meade's flank and rear.

out, however, any special result. Lee found that our army had passed over retired in safety across the Rapidan, the river some hours before. On the and Meade, with his army, took up the old line on the Rappahannock. For some time the Army of the Potomac was enjoying needed rest and an opportunity for recruiting and preparing for future operations. A considerable portion of Lee's force was sent, under Longstreet, to aid the rebel cause, just then in a rather critical condition, in Tennessee, where Bragg was in command. This was in September, 1863; and Meade, having become aware of the fact, made an advance movement, and had matured a plan, which promised well, for attacking Lee on the flank. Before, however, he could carry out his plan, the Army of the Potomac was largely depleted by the sending of the 11th and 12th corps, under Hooker's command, to the aid of our army in Tennessee (see pp. 353, 358). This reduced Meade to the necessity of acting on the defensive simply, until he could be supplied again with reinforcements. Early in October, Lee resolved upon an offensive movement, for the purpose of driving Meade back from the line of the Rapidan, and, by a decisive flank march, get between Meade and his communications with Washington. On Friday, October 9th, Lee crossed the Rapidan, and moved northwardly by way of Madison Court House, so as to turn Meade's right, in which movement he was quite successful. Meade, on ascertaining the rebel purpose, immediately fell back from the Rapidan and crossed the Rappahannock without molestation, and when Lee reached Culpepper, on the 11th of October, he

It was on Wednesday, the 14th Oc tober, when our whole army passed Cedar Run at Auburn, Warren's corps bringing up the rear. To this commander was assigned the duty of covering the trains of the army, which were much delayed in the crossing by the pontoons. The position. was now an extremely critical one.

1863.

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