FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Creation of the Metropolitan District.
Collision between Mayor Wood's Police and the Metropolitan
Police. Seventh Regiment called out. Dead Rabbits' Riot.
Severe Fight between the Roach Guards and Dead Rabbits.
Police driven back. Barricades erected. Military called out.
Killed and Wounded. Bread Riot. Financial Distress.
The year 1857 was a remarkable one in the history of New
York City, and indeed of the whole country. The year
previous had been characterized by intense political
excitement, for the presidential campaign had been carried
on as a sectional fight or a war between the upholders and
enemies of the institution of slavery as it existed at the
South. Pennsylvania alone by her vote defeated the
antislavery party, and the South, seeing the danger that
threatened it, had already begun to prepare for that
tremendous struggle, that afterwards tested to the utmost
the resources and strength of the North; while a financial
storm overwhelmed the entire country in disaster. To these
were added local causes, which affected New York City
particularly, and made it a year of uncommon disturbance.
The Republican party being largely in the ascendant in the
State, determined to revolutionize the municipal government,
and place the Democratic city partially under Republican
rule. Many bills were passed during the session of
Legislature, peculiarly obnoxious to the city authorities,
but that which excited the most bitter opposition was called
the Metropolitan Police Act, by which the counties of New
York, Kings, Westchester, and Richmond were made one police
district, to be controlled by a board of commissioners,
consisting of five members appointed by the Governor and
Senate, and to hold office for five years. This board having
organized, proceeded to create a police department. Mayor
Wood denied the constitutionality of the act and retained
the old police so that there were two police departments
existing at the same time in the city. The Mayor resorted to
all kinds of legal measures to defeat the action of the
board, and the question was finally referred to the Court of
Appeals for decision.
In the mean time the death of a street commissioner left a
vacancy to be filled. Governor King, acting under the recent
law, appointed Daniel D. Conover to fill it, while the Mayor
appointed Charles Devlin. A third claimant for the place
appeared in the deputy, who asserted his right to act until
the decision of the Court of Appeals was rendered. Conover
had no idea of waiting for this, and proceeded to assume the
duties of his office. The Mayor of course resisted, and so
Conover got out a warrant from the Recorder to arrest the
former on the charge of inciting a riot, and another on the
charge of personal violence. Armed with these papers, and
backed by fifty of the new policemen, he proceeded to the
City Hall. The Mayor, aware of the movement, had packed the
building with his own police, who refused him admittance.
The new police attempted to force an entrance, when a fight
followed, in which twelve policemen were severely injured.
While things were in this critical condition, the Seventh
Regiment passed down Broadway on its way to the boat for
Boston, whither it was going to receive an ovation. A
request for its interference was promptly granted, and
marching into the Park they quickly quelled the riot, and
the writs were served on the Mayor.
Intense excitement followed, and so great was the fear of a
terrible outbreak, that nine regiments were put under arms,
ready to march at a moment's notice.
But on the 1st of July the Court of Appeals decided the act
to be constitutional, and the disturbance ended. But of
course, while this strife was going on between the police,
but little was done to arrest disorder in the city. The
lawless became emboldened, and in the evening before the 4th
of July a disturbance began, which for a time threatened the
most serious consequences.
The origin of the term "Dead Rabbits," which became so well
known this year from being identified with a serious riot,
is not certainly known. It is said that an organization
known as the "Roach Guards," called after a liquor dealer by
that name, became split into two factions, and in one of
their stormy meetings some one threw a dead rabbit into the
room, and one party suddenly proposed to assume the name.
These two factions became bitterly hostile to each other;
and on the day before the 4th of July came in collision, but
finally separated without doing much damage. They were
mostly young men, some of them being mere boys.
The next day, the fight was renewed at Nos. 40 and 42 Bowery
Street, and clubs, stones, and even pistols were freely
used. The "Dead Rabbits" were beaten and retired, yelling
and firing revolvers in the air, and attacking everybody
that came in their way. Their uniform was a blue stripe on
their pantaloons, while that of the Roach Guards was a red
stripe. People in the neighborhood were frightened, and
fastened their doors and windows. No serious damage was
done, however.
About ten o'clock, a policeman in Worth Street, while
endeavoring to clear the sidewalk, was knocked down and
severely beaten. At length, breaking away from his
assailants, he hastened to the central office in White
Street, and reported the state of things. A squad of police
was immediately dispatched to arrest the ringleaders. On
reaching Centre Street they found a desperate fight going
on, and immediately rushed in, to put a stop to it. The
belligerents at once made common cause against them. A
bloody hand to hand conflict followed, but the police at
length forced the mob to retreat. The latter, however, did
not give up the contest, but mounting to the upper stories
and roofs of the tenement houses, rained down clubs and
stones so fiercely, that the police were driven off with
only two prisoners.
Comparative quiet was now restored, though the excitement
spread in every direction. It lasted, however, only an hour
or two, when suddenly a loud yell was heard near the Tombs,
accompanied with the report of fire arms, and crowds of
people came pouring down Baxter and Leonard Streets, to get
out of the way of bullets. Some wounded men were carried by,
and the utmost terror and confusion prevailed. The air was
filled with flying missiles and oaths, and shouts of
defiance. Now the Dead Rabbits would drive their foes before
them, and again be driven back. The bloody fight thus swayed
backwards and forwards through the narrow streets for a long
time. At length twenty five Metropolitan Police appeared on
the scene, while fifty more were held in reserve. Though
assailed at every step with clubs and stones, they marched
steadily on, clearing the crowd as they advanced, and
forcing the Dead Rabbits into the houses, whither they
followed them, mounting even to the roof, and clubbing them
at every step. After clearing the houses, they resumed their
march, when they were again attacked by the increasing
crowd, many of them armed with muskets and pistols.
Barricades were now erected, behind which the mob rallied,
and the contest assumed the aspect of a regular battle. The
notorious Captain Rynders came on the ground, between six
and seven o'clock, and attempted to restore quiet. Not
succeeding, however, he repaired to the office of the Police
Commissioners, and told Commissioner Draper, if he had not
police force enough to disperse the mob, he should call out
the military. The latter replied that he had made a
requisition on Major-General Sandford, for three regiments,
and that they would soon be on the ground. But it was nine
o'clock before they made their appearance. The police then
formed in two bodies of seventy-five men each, and
supported, one by the Seventy-first Regiment and the other
by the Eighth, marched down White and Worth Streets. This
formidable display of force overawed the rioters, and they
fled in every direction. This ended the riot, although the
military were kept on duty during the night.
At times, the fight was close and deadly, and it was
reported that eight were killed and some thirty wounded.
In the autumn, there came a financial crisis, that was so
wide spread and disastrous that the lower classes suffered
for want of food. Banks suspended specie payment,
manufactories were forced to stop work, and paralysis fell
on the whole industry of the nation. It was estimated that
ten thousand persons were thrown out of employment. These
soon used up their earnings, and destitution and suffering
of course followed. Their condition grew worse as cold
weather came on, and many actually died of starvation. At
length they became goaded to desperation, and determined to
help themselves to food. Gaunt men and women, clad in
tatters, gathered in the Park, and that most fearful of all
cries, when raised by a mob, "Bread," arose on every side.
Propositions were made to break open the stores, and get
what they needed. Flour was hoarded up in them because so
little could be got on from the West. The granaries there
were groaning with provisions; but there was no money to pay
for the transportation. There was money East, but kept
locked up in fear. As this became known to the mob, their
exasperation increased. To know that there were both food
enough and money enough, while they were starving to death,
was enough to drive them mad, and there were ominous
mutterings. Fortunately, the authorities saw in time the
threatened danger, and warded it off. A great many were set
to work on the Central Park and other public works, while
soup houses were opened throughout the city, and private
associations formed to relieve the suffering; and the winter
passed without any outbreak, though more than five thousand
business houses in the country failed, with liabilities
reaching three hundred millions of dollars.
Great Riots of New York 1712 to 1873,
Including a Full and Complete Account of the
Four Days' Draft Riot of 1863
