The path of the riots
"The spirit of mob is loose, and all parts of the city pervaded."
- EDWARD S. SANFORD, U.S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH SERVICE
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On Monday, July 13th, 1863, between 6 and 7 AM, about 50,000 men and women of various occupations gathered at the Provost Marshal's Office on Third Avenue and 46th Street, where the draft was set to take place.
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Names of members of the Black Joke Engine Co. No. 33, a volunteer fire company, were selected, and the rioters thus attacked. They cut telegraph lines to prevent other parts of the city being notified of the riot. Meanwhile, the Black Joke Engine Company smashed the windows of the Provost Marshal's Office and pushed their way inside. |
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"Towards evening the mob, furious as demons, went yelling over to the Colored Orphan Asylum in 5th Avenue [...] -- & rolling a barrel of kerosene in it, the whole structure was soon in a blaze, & is now a smoking ruin. What has become of the 300 poor orphans I could not learn. They must have had some warning of what the rioters intended; & and I trust the children were removed in time to escape a cruel death." |
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"While the fire spread down the block, the crowd went on a looting spree. Gold bracelets and brooches were taken from a jewelry store and valuables grabbed from upstairs apartments [...] Now, too, the rioters' anti-draft action was joined with looting, destruction of property, and an assault on a black man." |
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"All business in the upper part of the City suspended, Negroes chased everywhere & killed when caught. Terrible excitement throughout the City, resistance to the draft. Rows of buildings on third Avenue burning down, also on Lexington Avenue. Various other buildings fired by the mob. About 5 P.M. they appear before our factory Charles speaks to them and with the aid of Rev. Father Mahon they draw off towards Yorkville where late in the eve many buildings are fired. It was a terrible scene and we were of course all much exercised at the prospect of having the factory destroyed.[...]." |