New York City Draft Riots
New York Times Article July 14, 1863
The following is transcribed from the The New York Times, dated August 14, 1863:
The initiation of the draft on Saturday in the Ninth Congressional District was characterized by so much order and good feeling as to well-nigh dispel the forebodings of tumult and violence which many entertained in connection with the enforcement of the conscription in this City. Very few, then, were prepared for the riotous demonstrations which yesterday, from 10 in the morning until late at night, prevailed almost unchecked in our streets. The authorities had counted upon more or less resistance to this measure of the Government after the draft was completed, and the conscripts were repaired to take their place in the ranks, and at that time they would have been fully prepared to meet it; but no one anticipated resistance at so early a stage in the execution of the law, and, consequently, both the City and National authorities were totally unprepared to meet it. The abettors of the riot knew this, and in it they saw their opportunity. We say abettors of the riot, for it is abundantly manifest that the whole affair was concocted on Sunday last by a few wire-pullers, who, after they saw the ball fairly in motion yesterday morning prudently kept in the back ground. Proof of this is found in the fact that as early as 9 o'clock, some laborers employed by two or three railroad companies, and in the iron foundries a the eastern side of the City, formed in procession in the Twenty-second Ward, and visited the different workshops in the upper wards, where large numbers were employed, and compelled them, by threats in some instances, to cease their work. As the crowd augmented, their shouts and disorderly demonstrations became more formidable. The number of men who thus started out in their career of violence and blood, did not probably at first exceed threescore. Scarcely had two dozen names been called, when a crowd, numbering perhaps 500, suddenly made an irruption in front of the building, (corner of Third-avenue and Forty-sixth-street,) attacking it with clubs, stones, brickbats and other missiles. The upper part of the building was occupied by families, who were terrified beyond measure at the smashing, of the windows, doors and furniture. Following these missiles, the mob rushed furiously into the office on the first floor, where the draft was going on, seizing the books, papers, records, lists, &c. all of which they destroyed, except those contained in a large iron safe. The drafting officers were set upon with stones and clubs, and, with the reporters for the Press and others, had to make a hasty exit through the rear. They did not escape scatheless, however, as one of the enrolling officers was struck a savage blow with a stone, which will probably result fatally, and several others were injured.
From the above it will be seen that the drawing by Provost-Marshal JENKINS did not commence punctually at 9 o'clock, as was intended. Intimations had been received that a riot was probable, and Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal-General NUGENT was applied to for a force which would be sufficient to preserve the peace. At 10 o'clock, however, no other response had been made to this application than the arrival of a dozen policemen, and Provost-Marshal JENKINS decided to resume the drawing. The wheel was placed prominently upon the table, the blindfolded man stood beside it, the man whose duty it was turn the wheel was ready, and Mr. JENKINS announced that the draft, which was begun on Saturday, would be concluded. At this time there were about two hundred persons present, and, during the twenty minutes before the riot was inaugurated, they freely made use of excited and threatening language. These ruffians did not hesitate at all about joining the main body of the rioters as soon as they arranged themselves before the building, and their exit was the signal for the attack, which commenced with a volley of stones. When the office had been cleared of the officers and other persons, many of the more excited of the rioters rushed in and played instant havoc with the machinery, and demolishing the furniture and papers. The books, lists, records, and blanks were dragged into the street, torn into fragments, and scattered everywhere with loud imprecations and savage yells. The men seemed to be excited beyond expression, and in their futile efforts to wrench open the iron safe, which contained the names of the drafted, gave themselves wholly to devilish rage and fury.
The destruction of tag material in the office was hardly accomplished when smoke was discovered to be issuing from too rear of the room, and this evidence of the building using; on fire was received with vociferous abouts, and other indications of delight. As the names gradually increased, the passions of the mob grew deeper, and their yelling and brandishing of clubs, and threatening of everybody connected with the enforcement of the draft was more emphatic. Some of the crowd supposed that the Enrolling officers bad secreted themselves in the upper part of the building, and notwithstanding the fact that women and children were known to occupy the upper floors, the cowardly wretches threw stones and other missiles into the windows.
Fearing that these poor people would either be burned to death or maimed by these projectiles, Deputy Provost-Marshal EDWARD S. VANDERPOEL bravely stepped to the front, and assuring the rioters that they had utterly destroyed all the drafting paraphenalia, requested them to withdraw, or to do something to prevent the destruction of the helpless women and children. Suspecting from his uniform that he was one of the drafting officers, one of the ??? seized him and struck. Mr. VANDERPORL ??? and in a pacific man??? could not resist them, he withdrew to the place where the police were posted. The rioters followed him with greet clubs, and the men, who were desperate, best him upon the body and head. His head was so badly bruised that blood flowed profusely, when he was thrown down and kicked. He afterward escaped by the aid of the police and one or two of his friends; but the rioters followed him, striking him with clubs. He is so badly injured that there is but little probability of his recovery.
Meantime the fire spread from the enrolling office to the adjoining buildings, and the entire block was consumed.
Soon after the rioting began Superintendent KENNEDY hurried to the scene in a carriage, and as he alighted a portion of the crowd recognized him, greeting him at first with uncomplimentary epithets and afterwards with blows. A score or more of the ruffians fell upon him, and dealt heavy blows upon his head, face and body, injuring him severely. They doubtless would have killed him outright had not a strapping follow in the crowd felt some compunction at the brutality of the rest and dashed in to the rescue. By vigorous blows he kept a clear space about Mr. KENNEDY's prostrate body until two policemen gathered up their Chief and removed him to a place of safety. In addition to his painful cuts and braises. Mr. KENNEDY was also a sufferer in the loss of his watch, spectacles and gold-headed cane. The ruffians in this as in many other instances made plunder a part of their programme.
The rioters soon betook themselves to other places, apparently with no concerted plan but bent on fresh depredations.
At about 4 o'clock the crowd proceeded from the scene of their exploits in Lexington-avenue and Forty-fourth-street, to the armory situated on the corner of Second-avenue and Twenty-first-street. The building was a large four-story one, and was occupied for the manufacture of rifles and carbines for the Government. In the early part of the day the Police authorities had placed in the building a large number of Policemen, consisting principally of the Broadway Squad. Their instructions were to protect the building and the property therein, and to resist with force any attempt of the invaders to enter the premises. The mob on Second avenue. Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets rapidly increased, and at the time the first attempt was made to force the doors of the building, it amounted to from three to four thousand, the greater part of whom were boys. At this time some 18 or 20 men, followed by scores of youngsters, made an attempt to force the doors of the armory on Twenty-first-street. The doors were burst open by means of heavy sledges, and the crowd made a rush to enter the building. Those in charge of the building, acting under instructions, fired upon those who were entering, and four or five were wounded. One man, named MICHAEL VANEY, was shot through the heart, and died immediately. VANEY was a mechanic, and worked in the Morgan Iron Works. He was about 40 years of age, and resided in Twenty-third-street, between Avenues A and B. The other persons who were shot are not regarded as being seriously injured.
The shooting of VANEY, who was one of the ringleaders of the party making the attack, was the signal for a general onslaught upon the armory. Loud and deep were the curses uttered against the officers who had shot their leader, and for the next hour the paving-stones flew thick and fast, and not until the last pane of glass in the windows of the building had been broken, did they desist. It is proper to remark that nearly all those who threw the paving-stones were boys under twelve years of age. During all this time efforts of a desperate character were being made to fire the building. The doors on Second-avenue were finally forced open, and an excited multitude tried to effect an entrance. They were promptly repelled by those inside. Very soon they received reinforcements and again they made the attempt to enter, some of them with lighted torches in their hands. Meantime a dispatch was received by the officers of the Broadway Squad in charge of the building, from Police Headquarters, to the effect that inasmuch as it was impossible to reinforce them, and the attacking party so greatly outnumbered them, they must retire in the best manner they could. In a short time, they were all safely outside the building, with the exception of two of their number who were pelted on the head with brickbats; one of them was very seriously injured. The excitement against all policemen, at this time, ran so high that it was regarded a most hazardous undertaking for one to show himself to the excited populace. The fact that there was a private entrance in the rear was a most fortunate circumstance for them.
The police having vacated the premises, the mob found it comparatively an easy task to enter and fire the building. In fifteen minutes from the time the crowd had undisputed possession of it, the entire structure was a mass of flame. About half a dozen men remained inside as a sort of forlorn hope, and when all escape for them by the ordinary wars had been cut off by the flames, the poor fellows let themselves down from the windows of the third story in the best manner they could. One took hold of the window ???, and another slid down to his feet and then dropped to the pavement. In this way they all managed to escape; but two of them bad each a leg broken, one had his skull so much fractured that be is not expected to recover, and another was so bruised and injured that when be was taken into a neighboring drug store life seemed extinct. Amid the excitement and confusion our reporter was unable to obtain the names of any of those who were thus injured.
At 11 A.M. word reached the Park Barracks of the disturbance, and Lieut. RIED and a detachment of the Invalid corps immediately repaired to the scene of the riot. They went by the Third avenue route, the party occupying one car. On the way up, crowds of men, women and children gathered at the street corners, hissed and jeered them, and some even went so far as to pick up stones, which they defiantly threatened to throw at the car. When near the scene of disturbance, Lieut. RIED and command alighted, and formed in company line, in which order they marched up to the mob. Facing the rioters the men were ordered to fire, which many of them did, the shots being blank cartridges, but the smoke had scarce cleared away when the company (which did not number more than fifty men, if as many.) were attacked and completely demoralized by the mob, who were armed with clubs, sticks, swords and other implements. The soldiers had their baronets taken away, and they themselves were compelled seek refuge in the side streets, but in attempting to flee thither several, it is said, were killed, while those that escaped, did so only to be hunted like dogs, but in a more inhuman and brutal manner. They were chased by the mob, who divided themselves into squads, and frequently a single soldier would be caught in a side street, with each end blocked up by the rioters. The houses and stores were all closed (excepting a few liquor shops, which had their shutters up, but kept the back door open,) no retreat was, therefore, open for him, and the poor fellow would be beaten almost to death, when the mob becoming satiated and disgusted with their foul work, be would be left sweltering in blood, unable to help himself.
Elated with success, the mob, which by this time bad been largely reinforced, next formed themselves into marauding parties, and paraded through the neighboring streets, looking more like so many infuriated demons, the men being more or less intoxicated, dirty and half clothed. Some shouted," Now for the Fifth-avenue Hotel -- there's where the Union Leaguers meet!" ???Others??? clamored among themselves for the muskets which they had taken from the soldiers. The streets were thronged with women and children, many of whom instigated the men to further wok of blood, while the injured men left the crowd, and found seats up the street corners, at one of which the ??? reporter heard the following conversation between an intoxicated youth, who was badly wounded in the head, and an elderly excited woman, probably his mother:
Youth -- "An' bedad, if it hadn't been for this lick, which the son of a -- guy me, I'd a belabored him 'aior this. And bedad I wud."
Women -- "Musshanulusha, ye betters mind yer own biserniss."
Youth -- "No, if SAM. GARRIGAN [or Galligan -- REP.] had a' dun the business browner, it wud be all right."
From this it may be inferred that the Sam. Garrigan, or Galligan, mentioned in the conversation above, is the ringleader, of which there can be little doubt, as the reporter frequently heard Garrigan's or Galligan's name cheered and called the "Bully boy." Garrigan or Galligan, we believe, is well-known wire-puller of the Ward, and from conversations between the men, we gleaned the following, which, may be taken for what it is worth: 1. That Garrigan or Galligan is the ringleader. 2. That the mob, numbering about 500 men, assembler this morning at Central Park, armed and equipped, i. e., with ??? and sticks, and from there ???the ??? commenced ??? ??? considerably augmented, for, as yet, the workmen had not all gone to their day's work. As soon as the Provost-Marshal's Office bad been gutted of its contents, and the adjoining building -- wheelwright's-shop, in which there was much combustible material -- had been fired, the telegraph wires were cut. Parties and bands of men and boys then visited the various workshops in the vicinity, and compelled the men to leave their work and join, threatening them with death unless they complied with their demands. It is said word was now sent by the rioters to Brooklyn, Jersey City and Albany of the outbreak, and a message, it is rumored, was received from the 'longshoremen of this City, Stating that they would be up in the evening, armed to the teeth, to assist them.
By this time the Fire Department of the District arrived on the ground, and were preparing to work on the fire; but were prevented from doing so by the mob, who threatened them with instant death if their orders were disobeyed. The ears were stopped from running either way; the horses in several instances were killed, and the cars broken to pieces; the drivers were threatened with violence if they attempted to move on, as by this means the City authorities would hear of the outbreak.
The fire, which had now consumed the wheelwright's shop, had extended to the Provost-Marshal's office, which was soon enveloped in flames, from which issued a large and dark volume of smoke.
The rioters meantime danced with fiendish delight before the burning building, while the small boys and "Rocks" and "Softs" sent showers of stones, against the office, smashing in the doors and windows, the fire seeming to do the work too tardily to suit them. The murky atmosphere and the heavy black clouds which lined the horizon, formed a strange, weird spectacle, which was made the more complete by the demoniac yells of the mob.
It new became evident to the firemen that if the flames were not subdued the whole block would be consumed; and, accordingly, several attempts to operate on the fire were made, but without success, as their apparatus was seized by the mob, and the firemen themselves were severely beaten. At this stage of the proceedings. Chief-Engineer DECKER, or some other high official of the Fire Department, appeared amongst the crowd, and, after much persuasion and talking, finally succeeded in quieting the rioters. The military, however, soon appeared on the ground, which aroused the ???ire of the mob, who renewed their violence with increased numbers.
To resume the thread of our-report, the military being immediately routed, they fled to the side streets, where, as we have shown, they were shamefully maltreated. After this the mob concentrated and returned to the fire, where they found their friends awaiting them, with nourishment in the shape of liquors, which, as mar be supposed, only added fuel to the fire already kindled: whisky soon accomplished its mission; the men became quarre??? some and squabbled amongst themselves. Some boasted of what they had done, one man boasting that he had nearly killed two soldiers, an I wounded many more. Another, an obese, small, villainous-looking Irishman, who carried the butt of a bayonet, boasted that he bad "done for" a nigger. Others, suffering from the wounds they bad received, consoled themselves by exclaiming: "Never mind, SEYMOUR and Wood are around, and will help us!" and "Old ABE will pay $300 to keep quiet," and the like. All vehemently protested against the "$300 clause," and were willing to be drafted, if the rich man would be made to shoulder the musket the same as they. Those who had done the most in routing the military, such as chasing a soldier until he fell from sheer exhaustion, and then beating him till he was near dead, were cheered and petted by their friends, who, both men and women, gathered around them by dozens.
During the row a man, said to be an officer or a policeman in undress uniform, shot a horse purposely, it is stated, because had the animal ??? moved, it would be at the risk of the life of those standing around him; the owner (the horse was attached to a dray) endeavored to clutch the man, who dodged him and run up a flight of stairs in a house near by, with the probable intention of getting on to the roof to escape the mob, who were so infuriated at the deed, which they, of course, interpreted to be a retaliatory act on his part; he was pursued and dragged down stairs with his skull broken, when he was pitched to the mob, who, it is said, literally tore him to pieces. At this point a policeman who had become separated from his companions, who were stationed on a corner near by, in attempting to rescue the wounded man, found himself surrounded by the rioters, who commenced to pound and beat him shamefully; he drew his revolver and shot one man. The influence of this was electric; they rushed upon the unfortunate policeman, whom they deprived of his arms, struck him with their clubs and pelted him with stones. His companions, observing this, quickly formed In a line, but their attempts to make a stand were abortive; overpowered by superior numbers, they were utterly routed, several of their number being badly injured. The rest fled through the side streets, where they were chased by the infuriated mob, some jumps fences and hid in the corners of uncultivated lots, where they were found and maltreated shamefully. Two cases of the most painful description came under the reporter's observation: A policeman, having eluded their vigilance for several blocks, unable to run away further, threw himself down and begged for mercy. But his entreaties were unheeded; he was pelted with stones and beaten with clubs until his features could not be distinguished for the blood; even then their persecutions were continued, until, abandoning himself to his fate, the policeman feigned death; then, through the exertions of a few of the more humane of the rioters, he was left alone; friends soon rushed to his aid, and conveyed him to the Station-house. Another was beaten until his eyes were so clotted with blood that he could not see.
The Orphan Asylum for Colored Children was visited by the mob about 4 o'clock. This Institution is situated on Fifth-avenue, and the building, with the grounds and gardens adjoining, extended from Forty- third to Forty-fourth-street. Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of the rioters, the majority of whom were women and children, entered the premises, and in the most excited and violent manner they ransacked and plundered the building from cellar to garret. The building was located in the most pleasant and healthy portion of the City. It was purely a charitable institution. In it there are on an average 600 or 800 homeless colored orphans. The building was a large four-story one, with two wings of three stories each.
When it became evident that the crowd designed to destroy it, a flag of truce appeared on the walk opposite, and the principals of the establishment made an appeal to the excited populace, but in vain.
Here it was that Chief-Engineer DECKER showed himself one of the bravest among the brave. After the entire building had been ransacked, and every article deemed worth carrying away had been taken -- and this included even the little garments for the orphans, which were contributed by the benevolent ladies of this City -- the premises were fired on the first floor. Mr. DECKER did all kindled, but to prevent the flames from bein??? kindled, but when he was overpowered by superior number, with his own hands he scattered the branch, and effectually extinguished the flames. A seeona??? attempt was made, and this time in three different parts of the house. Again he succeeded, with the aid of half a dozen of his men, in defeating the incendiaries. The mob became highly exasperated at his conduct, and threatened to take his life if he repeated the act. On the front steps of the building he stood up amid an infuriated and half-drunken mob of two thousand, and begged of them to do nothing so disgraceful to humanity as to burn a benevolent institution, which had for its object nothing but good. He said it would be a lasting disgrace to them and to the City of New-York.
These remarks seemed to have no good effect upon them, and meantime, the premises were again fired -- this time in all parts of the house. Mr. DECKER, with his few brave men again extinguished the flames. This last act brought down upon him the vengeance of all who were beat on the destruction of the asylum, and but for the fact, that some firemen surrounded him, and boldly said that Mr. DECKER could not be taken except ever their bodies, he would have been dispatched on the spot. The institution was destined to be burned, and after an hour and a half of labor on the part of the mob, it was in flames in all parts. Three or four persons were horribly bruised by the falling walls, but the names we could not ascertain. There is now scarcely one brick left upon another of the Orphan Asylum.
During the greater part of the day, a crowd, composed principally of overgrown boys, amused themselves by going around to the various newspaper offices down town, cheering the bulletins which announced the progress of the riot in the upper part of the City, groaning the editors of such journals as were deemed obnoxious by the mob, and chasing and beating every person of color who chanced to make his appearance. The Tribune, as a matter of course, came in for the principal share of the groans, and it is but fair to add, that the Daily News monopolized the cheers. Various hints were given out by the rioters that the Tribune would be attacked in the evening, but they were not credited, or if they were, no preparations appear to have been made to repel it. About 7 o'clock, however, the crowd of boys began to be swelled by a different class of roughs, who appeared on the ground with clubs in their hands, and from their appearance, had evidently been engaged in the more bloody work up town. They immediately gathered around the Tribune office and commenced a series of the most unearthly groans and demoniac yells. In a few moments one of the more forward among them commended an attack upon the door of the publication office, which was locked, but which soon gave way to the pressure of the mob, who, amid the crashing of broken door and windows, rushed in ??? In a ??? more files of the Tribune were thrown out to the crowd and torn and scattered to the winds. In less than five minutes the office was completely gutted, and the desks and counters upset and broken. At length a platoon of the First Ward Police came rushing up Nassau-street, and on seeing them the mob, which numbered not less than four hundred men and boys, ran like so many sheep, leaving Printing-house-square, in less than three minutes, almost as clear of people as it is of a Sunday morning. It was a striking illustration of the cowardice of a mob when confronted by a handful of determined officers of the law. Several shots were fired by the policemen at ringleaders of the mob -- but, so far as is known, none of them took effect. One of the policemen was also shot at by a rioter, the ball taking effect in the back. The wound is serious, but it is thought hot dangerous. Before leaving the office, the rioters set fire to the building, but it was extinguished by a policeman before much damage was done.
Among the most cowardly features of the riot, and one which indicated its political animus and the cunningly-devised cue that had been given to the rioters by the instigators of the outbreak, was the causeless and inhuman treatment of the negroes of the City. It seemed to be an understood thing throughout the City that the negroes should be attacked wherever found, whether then offered any provocation or not. As soon as one of these unfortunate people was spied, whether on a cart, a railroad car, or in the street, he was immediately set upon by a crowd of men and boys, and unless some man of pluck came to his rescue, or he was fortunate enough to escape into a building he was inhumanly beaten and perhaps killed. There were probably not less than a dozen negroes beaten to death in different parts of the City during the day. Among the most diabolical of these outrages that have come to our knowledge is that of a negro cartman living in Carmine-street. About 8 o'clock in the evening as he was coming out of the stable, after having put up his horses, he was attacked by a crowd of about 400 men and boys, who beat him with clubs and paving-stones till he was lifeless, and then hung him to a tree opposite the burying-ground. Not being yet satisfied with their devilish work, they set fire to his clothes and danced and yelled and swore their horrid oaths around his burning corpse. The charred body of the poor victim was still still hanging upon the tree at a late hour last evening.
Early in the afternoon the proprietors of such saloons and other places of business as bad negroes in their employ, were obliged to close up for fear that the rioters would destroy their premises. In most of them the negroes were compelled to remain over night, not daring to go home lest they be mobbed on the way.
At about five o'clock a large body of rioters, differently estimated from one hundred to three hundred, -- the latter much the nearer figure -- marched down Broadway with a banner, inscribed "No draft" with the American flag, and with every conceivable diabolical weapon. They amused themselves en route by cheering and groaning at will, and occasionally killing or maiming every "nigger" they met. When below Fourteenth-street they avowed their determination of entering the La Farge House and seizing every colored servant there. Fortunately they were met at Amity-street -- unexpectedly to them -- by a body of Police some two hundred strong, under Inspector CARPENTER and Sergeant COPELAND. The Police instantly formed company front, and, with Inspector CARPENTER far in advance, at once charged on the "double quick." The fight for a few moments was savage and terrific. Men fell by the dozen under the sturdy blows of the Police, who had orders to "make no prisoners," and in five minutes naught was left of the lawless horde but the bodies of those ruffians who were knocked senseless lying on the ground. Too much credit cannot be awarded to the Police for their behavior on this occasion. They did not know whether one hundred or five thousand of the lawless were their adversaries, nor did they wait to ascertain. On they charged, and in five minutes were masters of the situation. Capt. CARPENTER was far ahead of his men, with reckless courage, rushing into the midst of the mob, and handling his club against fearful odds. It is a wonder he was not killed. This charge, and its success, must have had a salutary effect, being the first regular fight with the organized mob, and showing them that the Police are their superiors.
The Police, at the time they met the mob, were on their way to Mayor OPDYKE's house, in Fifth-avenue, winch it was rumored was to be attacked. None of the Police were seriously injured in the encounter, while at least two of the rioters were tilled, and ten or fifteen more were so badly used up that they will not be likely to take a hand in another riot at present.
A short time previous to the fight above described, the mob had paid a visit to the residence of Mayor OPDYER, No. 79 Fifth-avenue. Their number was estimated at about 500. As the police had not yet arrived upon the ground, it seemed a foregone conclusion that the Major's house would share the fate of others, and be pillaged and burned by the mob. While the rioters were about preparing for the attack, Judge BARNARD made his appearance, and by a well-timed speech persuaded them to desist from their purpose. "While the Judge was addressing them, the ardor of the more violent roughs had time to cool, and on the conclusion of his remarks, they took up their line of match in another direction.
In accordance with the call of Gen. SANDFORD, the ex-officers now in the City, to the number of some two hundred or more, met at the armory of the Seventh regiment last evening, for the purpose of taking some action with reference to make their services of avail in the present emergency. In the absence of Gen. SANDFORD the meeting was organized by appointing Col. JULIUS W. ADAMS, late of the First Long Island volunteers, Chairman, and Capt. W.C. CHURCH, late of Major- General CASRY's staff, Secretary. On motion of Col. BAIRD, the officers present, willing to render service, were requested to record their names with the Secretary. It was also voted that the field officers present be appointed a Committee to devise a plan of operations. Gen. SANDFORD arriving in the meantime, the meeting resolved itself into a crowd, who gathered about him while he explained what action had been already taken to suppress disturbance, and what further measures were proposed to that end. He advised the officers representing different regiments to form a nuclei for as complete a reorganization of their several regiments as the exigency would permit. Officers at volunteer regiments were requested to enroll themselves under Col. J.M. DAVIES, late of the Harris Light cavalry, who would proceed immediately to perfect a regimental organization. All ex-officers of volunteer regiments now in the City are accordingly requested to report to Col. DAVIES, at the Armory of the Seventh regiment, at 8 o'clock this morning. They will come prepared to report the number of men they can procure to assist in quelling the riot. Discharged soldiers, citizens or others, organized or unorganized, willing to render service, are requested to report of the same time and Place. They will be furnished with arms and equipments, and at once set to work.
In the early part of the day yesterday, there were a number of respectable workmen and persons engaged in different occupations in the City, who were momentarily seduced from their labors and their work-shops, and went with the crowds in the street. But they at once saw the horrible character of the mob and the atrocious work they had on hand; they heard their threats and saw their shocking brutalities, and were only too glad to get out from among them. At last the mob or mobs were composed of only the vilest men in the City, and there was not a crime conceivable, from firing houses to hanging negroes, of which they were not capable. The reign of ruffianism was short, but it at last became a reign of the true article.
Some of the scenes in the side streets of the City, during the day were painful in the extreme, and humiliating to human nature. In the streets running north from Canal-street, where many colored people reside, mobs of foul-looking boys and men scoured up and down in the afternoon and evening, in pursuit of negroes, who were assailed wherever found; and our reporter observed in one gang, several women armed with sticks, rushing to and fro with the vile and cowardly crowd; but it is only justice to say that the voluble tongues of these women gave vent to their thoughts with an accentuation which was never acquired on this side of the Atlantic ocean. It was almost impossible to look down any street in that part of the City, or any other, without seeing a crowd roving hither and thither, or standing still in heated conversation. They seemed to have no special object in view. They appeared to have had no evil-defined atrocity to perpetrate. They were rather on the look out for something upon which to wreak their bad passions.
At 1 1/2 o'clock this morning, Inspector CARPENTER, at the head of 300 Policemen, marched from the Police headquarters to take down the body of the negro who was hung to a tree to Clarkson-street. They had gone but a short distance before they were recalled to repel an apprehended attack on the headquarters. No attack had been made when our paper went to press. The head- quarters were guarded by 600 Policemen and 58 soldiers from the regular army, brought from Forts Hamilton and Lafayette.
Two fine brown-stone private residences in Lexington-avenue, between Forty-third and Forty-fourth streets, were entirely destroyed. One of them was occupied by a mechanic named WM. TURNER; the other one was believed to be the dwelling of a Deputy Provost-Marshal, who was connected with the enrolling and drafting office in Broadway, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty ninth streets.
The drafting office for the Eighth Congressional District is located in Broadway, near Twenty-eighth- street. Here, under the direction of Provost-Marshal MANIERRE, the drafting was opened at 9 o'clock, and conducted without interruption until 12, when the announcement was made that further proceedings would be suspended until to-day. The mob soon afterward paid a visit to this place, sacked it, and then set it on fire. It was totally consumed, as well as the remainder of the block.
This famous hotel, for many years past kept by Mr. ALLERTON, and situated on Forty-fourth-street, between Lexington and Fifth avenues, shared the fate of so many other fine buildings in that part of the City. It was entirely destroyed, together with several barns, sheds and other out-houses on the premises. We do not understand that the cause of its destruction was owing to the fact that Mr. ALLERTON, or any one other person immediately interested in the establishment, was specially odious to the incendiaries. The mob entered the hotel in large numbers and demanded liquor. They took all there was in the house, and many of them drank to excess; they also took all the cigars they could find. Many of them then ransacked the house and took everything they could lay their hands upon. In a short time fames were discovered bursting from the second story windows, and before a single fireman was on hand the building was past all hope of being saved.
About 9 o'clock, the rioters in strong force assembled at the Twenty-third Precinct Station-house, near Yorkville, and set fire to the building before their intentions could be frustrated. The books and records of the Precinct were saved by one of the Sergeants. The house of Mr. ABRAM WAKEMAN, Postmaster of the City, was also visited by the mob, and totally destroyed by fire.
This industrious class of our population availed themselves of the confusion to ply their arts, and in every instance with great success. Indeed the chief notice of a large portion of the rioters in joining the mob seemed to be the opportunity that would be offered them for promiscuous pillage and plunder. Many instances were reported of men being robbed of watches, pocket-books, breast-pins, &c. and all the houses that were burned were first plundered of their valuables by the mob.
The events of the day resulted in a great many casualties -- a few fatal and many severe -- among the Police. We have been able only to obtain a few names.
Officer SWAINSER, Twenty-ninth Precinct, struck in the head and badly cut; HOLMES, Twenty-ninth, cut in the head severely: MORRISON, Twenty-ninth, dangerously wounded; CHARLES B. LAW, Eighth, seriously; NOLAN MCCARTY, Twenty-ninth, not expected to live; NOLEN WALSH, Eighth, badly cut; SUTHERLAND, Fifteenth, seriously cut and bruised.
At 2 o'clock this morning the City was apparently quiet. A heavy rain fell about midnight which helped greatly to disperse the rioters. The preparations to meet the outbreak to-day, if it is renewed, we are assured are suco as will prevent the recurrence of such scenes as were enacted yesterday. The rioters had it pretty much their own way yesterday, but if they resume their demonstrations to-day a good share of them will come to a bloody and well-deserved end of their career. --
THE POLICE -- THE NAVY-YARD -- THE FIRE DEPARTMENT -- THE PROVOST-MARSHAL's OFFICE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, ETC., ETC.
The riot in New-York has created an intense excitement in this city, and large numbers of persons crossed the river to see what was going on.
Capt. S.B. GREGORY, Provost-Marshal of the Third Congressional District, on hearing of the proceedings in New-York, packed up all his papers and transported them to a place of safety. There is nothing now in the building of the least importance to any one.
The draft, which was fixed for Wednesday morning, has been suspended for the present. Further notice will be given when the drawing will take place.
The number of persons enrolled in the different Wards comprising the District, and the number to be drafted, is as follows, all of the first class:
No. Enrolled. No. to be Drafted.
First Ward.........................707 180
Second Ward...................944 257
Third Ward.......................1,057 340
Fourth Ward.....................1,367 369
Fifth Ward........................1,960 551
Seventh Ward..................1,374 373
Eleventh Ward.................3,378 1,050
Thirteenth Ward...............1,869 528
Fifteenth Ward..................866 235
Nineteenth Ward...............686 169
Of the second class about 11,000 persons are enrolled, making in all of both classes nearly 30,000.
Chief Engineer CUNNINGHAM, in view of the present exigency, ordered last night that in case of fire, the bells shall ring three rounds, designating the district, and then the general alarm. This is for the purpose of assembling all the firemen, so as to extinguish any fire that may occur. These orders will be in force until further directions.
The colored people are having a hard time of it. They are attacked everywhere and beaten. They crowded about the police stations last night, asking for protection, being prevented from going to their homes, or even walking the streets.
The police to the number of 100 went to New- York, in charge of Inspector FOULK???.
There was great commotion in the Navy-yard. The walls were manned and mounted with guns. Thirteen 18-pounders are mounted on the Flushing- avenue ???ice, so as to sweep everything. Two 32- pounders command the main entrance, and all the vessels have been hauled into the stream, the guns shotted, and everything ready for any emergency.
Several companies of Marines, with 60 rounds of cartridges, and 12 boat-howilzers, rifled cannon, with ammunition-boxes, loaded with percussion shells, sh???apnell, canister, and grapeshot, were sent to New-York toward evening. The Marines were accompanied by 300 sailors, armed with cutlasses and revolvers.
Some guns were taken from the State arsenal in Portland-avenue on Sunday night, which gave rise to the rumor that it had been attacked. The facts are that two companies of artillery, belonging to the Seventieth regiment militia have been ordered to Fort Hamilton, and the guns were taken for their use. They were placed on vessels at the foot of Little- street and transported to the fort. There are no arms in the building at present.