Newark, New Jersey draft riot
New Jersey announced recruitment procedures on June 29th of 1863. The state was going to first attempt to recruit soldiers to meet their requirements to avoid resorting to the draft. The state was seeking to openly recruit 6,000 men for New Jersey regiments. Newark was expected to recruit nearly 700 men from its thirteen wards.[1]
On Monday evening, July 14th of 1863 (the first night of rioting in downtown New York City), the mayor of Newark issued a proclamation warning crowds that there would be consequences for disturbing the peace. Nevertheless, a mob vandalized the newspaper office of the Newark Daily Mercury on Broad Street.[2] A crowd of several hundred had assembled there around 9 o’clock that evening. It was no coincidence that the proprietor/owner of the Daily Mercury was also District Provost Marshal Miller! The crowd gave three cheers for the New York conscripts, for States Rights, for Clement Vallindigham, New York Governor Seymour, New Jersey Governor Parker, General Runyan, Mayor Bigelow and others. The crowd booed for President Lincoln, Provost Marshal Miller and his provost guards. Disparaging remarks were made about the spinning wheel used to randomly select names for the draft. Criticism about the $300 commutation clause was also disparagingly uttered. As the crowd grew increasingly agitated, an older man named Stainsbrough was assaulted for unknown reasons. He was struck in the face and his hat was torn from his head. Stainsbrough retreated into a nearby store. Another man, Captain S.C. Fordbain, who had recently served with the 26th New Jersey Regiment, was also assaulted but was not injured.[3]
Around 10 o’clock, a young man addressed the crowd, decrying the wrongs of Vallindigham (the anti-war Copperhead), the abolition of Thaddeus Stevens and the hardships of conscription on the common man. He demanded that the newspaper display their “flag for Vallandigham” and urged the crowd to destroy the building if it was not. The crowd wanted some indication that the Daily Mercury newspaper was opposed to the continuation of the Civil War. As a Republican newspaper that was run by a recruiter for Civil War soldiers, there clearly would be no such display. A few prominent citizens, labeled by the New York Tribune as “Copperheads” arrived and attempted to dissuade the mob from engaging in violence. The rioters tore down the doors and shattered the windows with building materials looted from the nearby City Bank construction site. A squad of ten to fifteen policemen arrived under the leadership of Sargent Henry Haury. The rioters entered the building and commenced vandalizing it. The police succeeded in breaking up and dispersing the rioters before the rioters could destroy the printing equipment.[4]
The mob proceeded to the residence of Provost Marshal Miller on Fulton Street. Miller’s family had been notified in advance and left for a friend’s house. The rioters arrived and proceeded to vandalize Miller’s residence. Darkness, rain and dense bushes reportedly minimized the overall damage. This mob was not large, yet no police force arrived to break up the vandals. Additionally, the provost guard had been sent to New York City earlier in the day to combat the rioting there, so they were not available to assist. Major Bigelow was out of the city, but Alderman N.C. Ball arrived by train around 10 o’clock and proceeded to Miller’s home. He pleaded with the crowd to refrain from further acts. Alderman Remer and Mr. P.S. Duryee also spoke to the crowd attempting to assuage them. The crowd lingered and reportedly gave cheers for Jefferson Davis, General McClellan and General Fitz John Porter. They booed President Lincoln, Provost Marshall Miller and other officials. The crowds lingered for several hours into the evening cheering and yelling, but no further vandalism or violence was undertaken. This effectively broke up the riot that Monday evening. Damage to the Daily Mercury building and Provost Marshall Miller’s residence were estimated at about $250.[5]
Acting Mayor Ball called in police reinforcements to prevent further violence. On Tuesday evening, July 16th of 1863, a large crowd assembled at the intersection of Broad and Market Streets. General Runyon arrived and addressed the crowd. The general stated that he had been in consultation with Governor Parker. Both men urged the people to maintain law and order. Gen. Runyon stated that no draft had yet been undertaken in New Jersey. The state was attempting to meet its soldier requirements first through open recruitment. He also told the crowd that authorities were looking into the constitutionality of drafts and were seeking to prevent it through legal means. Runyon’s address apparently appeased the crowd, as they dispersed without incident.[6] A report was sent out by telegraph that a large fire had broken out with several of the factories burning.[7] Yet, this was a false report, and was later retracted.[8]
[1] Newark Daily Advertiser, July 8, 1863.
[2] Albany Evening Journal, July 14, 1863. Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 1863. Fall River Daily Evening News, July 15, 1863.
[3] New York Tribune, July 15 and July 17, 1863.
[4] New York Tribune, July 15 and 17, 1863.
[5] New York Tribune, July 15 and 17, 1863. New York Daily Herald, July 16, 1863.
[6] New York Daily Herald, July 18, 1863.
[7] New York Daily Herald, July 16, 1863.
[8] New York Daily Herald, July 17, 1863. The New York Sun, July 17, 1863.