Jersey City, New Jersey draft riot
The rioting in New York City also rippled west across the Hudson River into Jersey City. On Tuesday evening, a crowd of a few hundred persons assembled at the railroad crossing. This crowd was largely dissuaded from violence after being spoken to by Father Kelly of the Grand Street Catholic Church, Sheriff McAnally and Police Chief Reily. According to the New York Sun, smaller splinter groups “hunted negroes & etc.” but no further description was provided. On Wednesday afternoon around 12-1 o’clock, A massive fire blazed at the Jersey City and Bergen Horse Railroad Company stables and car houses. Workers and citizens were able to successfully remove all 105 horses to safety. But an estimated $10,000 worth of buildings, cars, harnesses, oats and ten tons of hay were all destroyed. Arson was suspected; the New York Sun reported three prowlers lurking about.[1]
After eight o’clock in the evening, a crowd estimated at around two hundred people gathered at the intersection of Prospect, Newark and Railroad Avenues. The residences of blacks were apparently located close by in this neighborhood. Most of the blacks living in Jersey City had left earlier in the day. Blacks fleeing New York City were also fleeing through Jersey City, arriving from ferry boats and the train. Some residents of Jersey City took in and assisted them. Fortunately, no attacks were made on any residences. There was a lot of talk about the draft, but some of the crowd dispersed. The New York Tribune reported that most of the crowd marched down the street to City Hall. Beginning around 9 o’clock, a crowd of about two to three hundred people coalesced at City Hall. Apparently, the swearing in of special riot police was occurring there. The crowd remained relatively subdued; when Mayor Romar arrived, he was given three cheers by the crowd. Following the mayor, corporation attorney R.D. McClellan spoke to them. To further assuage the crowd, he announced that draft procedures had been suspended in Jersey City. Then Father Kelly spoke, pleading and urging the crowd to refrain from violence. The crowd dispersed from City Hall without incident.[2]
Threats had been made to vandalize or set fire to the Bethesda Baptist Church as well as the residences of prominent citizens. Sometime around 10-11 o’clock on Wednesday evening, a mob of about a dozen persons armed with stones and firearms proceeded to vandalize the residence at 134 Steuben Street. This was the home of the German immigrant family of John Engler. His windows were broken, and four bullets were shot into the interior of his house. The bullets lodged into the wall above his sleeping son’s bed. Engler, who was an older man, went out to confront the mob and was severely beaten. Fires were also set at black residences in the 6th Ward. These buildings were owned by a man named Crow.
By Thursday July 16th, things appeared to have returned to normal. Nevertheless, two companies of soldiers were stationed in the city just in case. Along the waterfront where naval monitors were docked, another sizeable force of marines was stationed with a gun boat. At 11-12 o’clock on Thursday evening, another fire targeting a stable of horses occurred. It was on Henderson Street and owned by a gardener named Peter Henderson. Two of the three horses were rescued, but one perished in the flames. The horse, valued at $100 and the building, valued at $500, were lost. Arson by “vagabond boys” was suspected.[3]
[1] New York Sun, July 17, 1863.
[2] New York Daily Herald, July 16, 1863. New York Sun, July 16 and July 17, 1863.
[3] New York Daily Herald, July 16, 1863. New York Tribune, July 17, 1863. New York Sun, July 17 and July 18, 1863.