Thursday, July 16
Governor Seymour's proclamation appeared in the morning papers:
Quote:
Proclamation.
Whereas, It is manifest that combinations for forcible resistance to the laws of the State of New York and the execution of civil and criminal process exist in the city and county of New York, whereby the peace and safety of the city and the lives and property of its inhabitants are endangered: and
Whereas, The power of the said city and county has been exerted, and is not sufficient to enable the officers of the said city and county to maintains the laws of the State and execute the legal process of its officers; and
Whereas, Application has been made to me by the Sheriff of the city and county of New York to declare the said city and county to be in a state of insurrection:
Now, therefore, I, Horatio Seymour, Governor of the State of New York and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the same, do, in its name and by its authority, issue this proclamation in accordance with the statute in such cases made and provided and do hereby declare the city and county of New York to be in a state of insurrection; and give notice to all persons that the means provided by the laws of this State for the maintenance of law and order will be employed to whatever degree may be necessary, and that all persons who shall, after the publication of this proclamation, 'resist, or aid in resisting, any force ordered out by the Governor to quell or suppress such insurrection' will render themselves liable to the penalties prescribed by law.
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Two full regiments had arrived and were resting up, and a third, the Seventy-fourth Regiment New York National Guard, was expected to arrive some time that day.
Several thousand troops were in the city, but no one knew exactly how many. Besides the Naval Brigade, the two National Guard Infantry Regiments, the U.S. Infantry companies drawn from the forts, and other troops in Federal service, there were any number of militiamen and Guardsmen not in Federal service. These included the regiments whose battle-tested veterans had mustered out of Federal service at the end of their 2-year commitments in May and June 1863 - including Duryee's Zouaves, Wilson's Zouaves, the 1st German Rifles, Hawkin's Zouaves, Ellsworth's Zouaves (AKA the 1st New York Fire Zouaves) and the Astor Rifles (1st German Infantry).
The 14th New York Cavalry Regiment (1st Metropolitan Cavalry) was patrolling the streets (its commander, Col. Thaddeus Mott, would later become a major general of the Egyptian Army).
The day was generally quiet. However, a series of fights took place east of Gramercy Park.
Around noon, a small group of 25 police were sent to reinforce a military detachment in the Twenty-first Precinct. They arrived to find a mob of about 200, threatening the soldiers. THe mob rushed the soldiers and seized a howitzer. The police and soldiers retreated to Jackson's Foundry at 1st Ave and 28th St. The mob increased in size and the soldiers were taking and returning fire. More soldiers arrived, fixing bayonets and pushing the mob back momentarily, only to be forced back. Eventually, a force of several companies arrived and pushed back the crowd.
Several blocks away, near 1st and 22nd, a series of skirmishes between soldiers and rioters left a cavalryman, Sgt. Charles Davids, dead. A force under Capt. Putnam went in to retrieve the body. They had managed to put the sergeant's body on a cart and move it out when the mob attacked again. Putnam drove them back and pursued them north. The mob took refuge in and around 31st Street. A pitched battle ensued, as Putnam's artillery and infantry fought the armed mob. As in earlier engagements, they cleared the streets but continued to take fire from the buildings. Putnam's companies stormed the buildings and fought room-to-room for a half hour.
Searches throughout the night turned up several weapons caches, and infantry regiments, supported by cavalry and artillery were now deployed throughout the city to support the police, militia and volunteers.
Friday, June 17 and thereafter
The riot was over and the city was quiet. Some 50,000 were estimated to have rioted. The number killed on all sides is unknown - the official death toll was 119, including 4 police officers. Numbers of dead up to 2,000 have been claimed, but while the official estimate probably missed many who died in hospitals away from the rioting or days later, there is no evidence to support the higher claims.
Historian Adrian Cook in "The Armies of the Streets" analyzed the causes of death of those on the official death toll. Most were killed by gunshots, followed by beatings with clubs, cudgels and bricks. Others were killed jumping or being thrown from buildings. Of the 18 blacks on the list, most were beaten and/or hanged. Contrary to Scorcese's "Gangs of New York" image, none were stabbed to death. About 105 police and 73 soldiers were wounded.
Property damage was extensive. Thousands of blacks were left homeless, and many fled the city. Thousands did not return - New York City's black population fell from 12,472 in 1860 to 9,945 in 1865. The Colored Orphans Asylum was rebuilt.
Martial law was never declared. The police remained the primary security force, with the military units deployed to support them. By the end of the riots, some 10,000 troops were in the city or en route.
The draft resumed on August 19 without incident. About 75% of the 150,000 total conscripts were paid substitutes.