90

ATTEMPT TO POSTPONE THE DRAFT.

Wool, commander of the military district, were too few at the beginning to quell the riot. Others were summoned from the military posts in the harbor, and these, with the efficient Metropolitan Police, managed, by Thursday, to hold the mob in check. At that time the volunteer companies of the city were beginning to return from Pennsylvania,' and the leaders of the riot plainly saw that further resistance to authority would be dangerous. So the city, after a sacrifice of life estimated at full four hundred persons, and a loss of property, for which it was compelled to pay, valued at $2,000,000, became quiet and orderly. The Draft was temporarily suspended until further orders from Washington, and the Governor gave assurances that it would not be renewed in the State of New York until the question of its constitutionality should be decided by the courts. His political friends urged him to use the military power of the State in the maintenance of that position.*

Governor Seymour implored the President first to suspend the Draft because of alleged inequality in its operation, and to postpone it until the courts should pass judgment upon it. The Executive agreed to suspend it

ernor would be the most speedy and efficient means for securing the triumph of the Conspirators; also, that the theory involved in that demand, when and no wrong done any one. I wish you to take good care of all property, as good citizens, and see that every person is safe. The safe keeping of property and persons rests with you, and I charge you to disturb neither. It is your duty to maintain the good order of the city, and I know you will do it. I wish you now to separate as good citizens, and you can assemble again whenever you wish to do so. I ask you to leave all to me now, and I will see to your rights. Wait till my Adjutant returns from Washington, and you shall be satisfied." And then the rioters cheered loudly, and went on plundering, burning, and murdering, while waiting for the return of the Adjutant, notwithstanding the Governor issued, on the same day, a proclamation against such disorderly conduct.

1 See note 3, page 52.

2 In his next annual message, Governor Seymour said the estimated number of the killed and wounded was 1,000.

3 About twenty persons (twelve of them colored) were killed by the rioters. The remainder were slain by the military and police in the performance of their duty. They made exemplary work with the insurgents, firing directly among them, with deadly effect. Over fifty buildings were destroyed by the mob, and a large number of stores and dwellings, not burned, were sacked and plundered.

4 "Governor Seymour," said the New York Daily News, "has pledged his word and honor (and the people of New York trust in and believe in him) that not one single drafted citizen shall be forced away from the State until the constitutionality of the conscription act shall have been decided." The New York Express said: "He is virtually pledged to call forth the entire militia force of the State of New York, to resist the kidnapping which Abolitionist howlers declare is inevitable, and we entertain no doubt that he will keep his word."

5 This little picture represents the manner of drafting. The names of persons liable to the Draft or col

THE WORK OF THE PEACE FACTION.

91

put in practice, would be destructive of the sovereignty of the people, so clearly declared in the Preamble to the National Constitution. It would so subordinate the Legislative to the Judicial branch of the Government, that Congress, which is the direct representative of the people, would have its powers confined to the duty of simply suggesting laws for the Supreme Court to create by a judicial fiat. The theory was inconsistent with the principles of representative Government.

1868.

After proper investigation, the Draft went peaceably on; the armies were filled; the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus was suspended throughout the entire Republic, and the war was prosecuted with August 19, vigor, in spite of formidable and organized opposition, which prolonged it. The Peace Faction, as essentially disloyal in theory and practice as were the armed Confederates, never represented the great mass of the Democratic or Opposition party in the Free-labor States. Its words and deeds were libels upon the genuine patriotism of the vast majority of the members of that party. Yet the influence of that active faction was such as to control the political action of the party, and to hold back thousands from the duty to their country which their patriotic instincts would have led them to perform. But in times of real, imminent danger to the sacred cause, they broke away from the thralls of the scheming demagogues who sought to make them instruments of mischief to their beloved country, and went nobly to battle. By that Peace Faction the war was prolonged at least two years, and, as a consequence, tens of thousands of precious lives, and tens of millions of treasure, were wasted. Its aims appeared no higher than the control of the powers and emoluments of public officers, and its loudest and most popular war-cry was, "Down with the Abolitionists! Down with the Negro !" That is to say, "Cursed be all Christian Philanthropists! Away with Justice and Humanity. Crucify them! Crucify them!" But the "common people" said "No;" and six months after the terrible "three days of July " in the City of New York, when no colored person's life was considered safe there, a regiment of Negro soldiers (Twenty-sixth United States Colored Troops), raised and equipped in the space of twenty days by the Loyal League of that city, marched down Broadway for the field, escorted by many of the leading citizens of the metropolis, and cheered by thousands who covered the sidewalks and filled windows and balconies. Everywhere the recruiting of this class of citizens was then going vigorously on. In that business Massachusetts had taken the lead, and Pennsylvania was a worthy imitator in zeal and success. When, late in 1864, the writer visited General Weitzel's (Twenty-fifth) corps, in front of Richmond, composed of colored troops, he found a large proportion of them from those States.'

We have alluded to Morgan's raid across the Ohio River, at about the time of Lee's invasion. The leader of it was the famous guerrilla chief, John

scription, were written on cards that were placed in the cylinder, made of tin, in which was a door. The drawing was public.. A person, blindfolded, stood by the cylinder, and when it was turned several times, so as to mix the cards, he thrust in his hand and took out one. This was handed to the marshal, or his deputy, the name on the card distinctly spoken, and then recorded. This process was repeated, until the required number in the township or ward was drawn.

1 So early as February, 1863, a few colored recruits were raised in Philadelphia, by Robert R. Corson and a few others, and sent to Boston to join the Fifty-fourth Regiment there. Such was the prejudice there against employing negroes in the army, that Mr. Corson was compelled to buy the railway tickets for his recruits, and get them into the cars, one at a time and place, to avoid creating excitement. From time to time this class of

92

• June 19, 1863.

RAID OF JOHN H. MORGAN.

H. Morgan, already mentioned.' The raid about to be considered had manifold objects in behalf of the Confederacy, namely, to prepare the way for General Buckner, who was in East Tennessee on the borders of Kentucky, to dash into that State and seize Louisville, and, with Morgan, capture and plunder Cincinnati; to form a nucleus for an armed counter-revolution in the Northwest, where the "Knights of the Golden Circle," and the "Sons of Liberty," of the Peace Faction, were numerous, and to prevent re-enforce ments from being sent from that region to Meade. Also for the purpose of plunder for himself and followers. So early as the middle of June, a pioneer party of about eighty Kentuckians crossed the Ohio into Indiana, at Leavenworth, to test the temper of the people. They swept through two or three counties in that region of the State, but were captured" when making their way back, by the Leavenworth Home Guards, under Major Clendenin, and the steamer Izetta. Morgan started northward a little later,' with thirty-five hundred well-mounted men and six guns. He crossed the swollen Cumberland River at Burksville, after some opposition from General Jacobs's cavalry,' and pushed rapidly on to Columbia, where he was encountered" and kept in check for three hours by one hundred and fifty of Wolford's cavalry, under Captain Carter, who was killed in the affray. After partly sacking the town, the raiders proceeded to destroy a bridge over the Green River, at Tebb's Bend, where they were confronted by two hundred Michigan troops, under Colonel Moore, and, after a desperate fight of several hours, were repulsed with a loss of more than two hundred killed and wounded. Moore was intrenched, and lost only six killed and twenty-three wounded.3

June 27. ⚫ July 1, 2.

d July 3.

⚫ July 4.

recruits were thus sent out of the State for enrollment, the authorities of Pennsylvania refusing to accept them

as volunteers. Finally, at the middle of June, Governor Curtin forbade their being sent away. A new policy was begun. Major George H. Stearns was sent to Philadelphia with authority to raise colored troops. Mr. Corson, M. L. Hallowell, of the Society of Friends or Quakers, and Colonel Wagner, went to Chelten Hills, in the neighborhood of the city, and selected a spot for a recruiting station for colored troops, which was named Camp William Penn, by authority from Washington, to the command of which Colonel Wagner was appointed. Seventy-five men, whom Mr. Corson had recruited, were joined to the Third United States Colored Troops, and these, combined, pitched their tents, on the 20th of June, on the site of Camp William Penn, which became a great rendezvous for colored soldiers. A Supervisory Committee for recruiting colored soldiers was then appointed, and Mr. Corson was chosen general agent. Very soon the Government had at Camp William Penn barracks for 1,600 men, with every necessary appurtenance. A recruiting station was also opened in a large building on Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia; and from the ladies of the city the colored troops received regimental banners, when 1 See page 499, volume II.

about to take the field.

2 Morgan's artillery and baggage was crossed on hastily-constructed scows, and the troops swam their horses.

Among the latter was a feminine soldier, a sprightly girl from Canada, only sixteen years of age, who served eighteen months in our service. She had been in seven different regiments, and participated in several battles. At Fredericksburg she was severely wounded. On account of the discovery of her sex, she was

From Green River Morgan moved rapidly upon Lebanon, then occupied by a thin regiment, under Colonel Hanson. His demand for a surrender being refused, the raiders tried for several hours to capture the place. Then they charged into the town, set it on fire, and captured Hanson and his men, with a battery. In this conflict Morgan's brother was killed. At dusk, the Confederates left the ruined village, pushed rapidly northward, by way of Bardstown, in a drenching rain, and, on the evening of the 7th," their advance reached the Ohio, at Brandenburg, about forty miles below Louisville. Morgan had fought and plundered on his way from Lebanon, and his ranks had been swelled by Kentucky secessionists to more than four thousand men, with ten guns. The advance of Rosecrans against Bragg at about this time had prevented the co-operation of Buckner, and Morgan determined to push on into Indiana and Ohio, in an independent

movement.

2

4

July, 1863.

♪ July.

At Brandenburg, Morgan captured two steamers' (Me Combs and Alice Dean), and, on the 8th,' proceeded to cross the river upon them, in spite of the opposition of some Indiana militia, and two gunboats that were patroling the Ohio. When his rear-guard was ascending the Indiana shore, and one of the steamers was a blazing ruin in the stream,' a force, equal to Morgan's, under General Hobson, which had been pursuing, reached Brandenburg. Steamboats were procured, and, before daylight on the morning of the 9th, Hobson and his little army were on Indiana soil. At the same time, a greater portion of General Judah's division, stationed in the section of Kentucky between the Cumberland and Barren rivers, had been concentrated and put in motion for the capture of Morgan. These consisted chiefly of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Kentucky cavalry, and went up the Ohio River in boats to intercept the raiders.

Morgan pushed northward to Corydon, the capital of Harrison County, before which he appeared on the afternoon of the 9th. There he was resisted by the Home Guards; but these were overpowered, the town was pillaged, citizens were murdered, three hundred horses were seized, and a new system of plunder was inaugurated, by demanding of the owner of each mill and factory one thousand dollars in currency, as a condition of the safety of his property from the flames. Having completed his work at Corydon, Morgan pushed on to Salem, the capital of Washington County, the next morning, captured between three and four hundred militia, pillaged the place, destroyed railway property, and received a thousand dollars each from three millowners. In this way he went on, from village to village, in the direction of Ohio, plundering, destroying, and levying contributions on the inhabitants almost without hinderance, until the evening of the 12th, when near Vernon, on the Madison and Indianapolis railway, he encountered stout resistance and defiance from about twelve hundred militia, under Colonel Lowe.

several times mustered out of the service, and then she would re-enlist in another regiment. Her name was Lizzie Compton.

1 The McCombs was first seized, and, while lying in the stream, gave a signal of distress, when the fine steamer, Alice Dean, appeared. The latter ran alongside the McCombs, when she was seized, and pressed into Morgan's service. When no longer needed she was burnt, with property valued at $60,000. The McCombs was not destroyed.

• Composed of the forces of Generals Hobson, Wolford, and Shackleford, consisting of Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky troops. These had formed a junction at Lebanon on the 6th, and, by order of General Burnside, Hobson was directed to assume the general command, and pursue Morgan until he was overtaken.

94

"July, 1863.

MORGAN IN OHIO.

Morgan was now assured that Indiana was aroused because of his invasion. There was, indeed, a great uprising of the people, but not in a way the Conspirators had desired and hoped for. The victories at Gettysburg and on the Mississippi had made their friends in that region exceedingly cir cumspect, and the counter-revolution had been postponed to a more propitious time. It was now the spontaneous uprising of the loyal people. News of this sudden and formidable invasion had reached Indianapolis, the capital of the State, on the 9th." Governor Morton' instantly issued a call for all the citizens to seize arms and turn out in a body to expel the intruders. The response was wonderful, and thrilled the loyal people of the country with joy, for it revealed the amazing latent power which the Government might, at any time, rely upon for help. Within fortyeight hours after the Governor's call was issued, sixty-five thousand citizens had tendered their services, and were hastening to military rendezvous. Party feeling was laid aside in the immediate presence of danger, and only the disloyal Peace Faction, which never, as we have observed, represented the great body of the Opposition, refused to respond. Within the space of three days, thirty thousand Indianians were organized and armed, and appeared in the field at various points.

Morgan was now alarmed. He moved quickly from the presence of Lowe's troops, under cover of darkness, and pressing on, his men in scattered detachments plundering as before, he concentrated his forces at Harrison, just within the borders of Ohio, preparatory to making his way back to Kentucky as quickly as possible. He knew that Hobson was in his rear, and Judah on his flank, and that thousands of armed Indianians were blocking every route, however circuitous, for a retrograde movement; so he determined to strike the Ohio at some point where he might cross over into Western Virginia, or Northeastern Kentucky, and make his way back to Tennessee with his plunder.

When Morgan left Harrison, Hobson, who was pressing on in his track at the rate of forty miles a day (notwithstanding his inability to get fresh horses, because Morgan had seized them), had so gained upon the invader, that there was not more than half a day's march between them. Morgan quickened his pace, exchanged his jaded horses for fresh ones from the pastures of Ohio farmers, and plundered somewhat less for want of time. He swept around a few miles north of Cincinnati (where Burnside, like Wallace the year before, had declared martial law,' and called upon the July 13. citizens to defend their homes), and pushing on through the rich southern tier of counties in Ohio,' struck the river at Buffington Ford,

b

1 See page 455, volume I.

3

2 A commission appointed by the State of Indiana to consider the claims of citizens to payment for losses incurred by Morgan's raid, closed their labors in December, 1867, when they had audited claims to the amount of $415,000.

3 See page 503, volume IL

On Saturday and Sunday, the 11th and 12th of July, nearly 12,000 men were formed into regiments; and a call of Mayor Harris for 3,000 mounted volunteers, to intercept the raiders, was fully responded to within twenty-four hours. For want of horses, arms, and equipments, they were not ready for the field until Morgan had swept by.

5 When they came to the Little Miami railway, east of Cincinnati, they obstructed the track, so that when s train came down, the locomotive was thrown from the road, wounding the engineer and killing the fireman. Then the raiders rushed from a wood near by, captured and paroled two hundred unarmed recruits, and burnt

the train.