USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The riot started in Boston on the 13th of July when a mob broke into and sacked the gun store of William Reed and Sons in Dock Square, and secur d a quantity of small arms and ammunition together with fifty rounds of six pounder fixed ammunition, it evidently being their design to obtain possession of the guns of the Eleventh Battery at the Cooper Street Armory. The authorities at once made preparations to quell the outbreak. At six o'clock in the morning of July 15th, Colonel Kurtz. then Chief of Police, with Deputy Chief Ham, called at the residence of Major Jones, and informed him that the detectives had discovered that the rioters had planned to force the Armory on Cooper Street, and gain possession of the guns. Verbal orders were given Major Jones to notify the members of his Bat- tery to assemble at once at their Armory and hold them- selves subject to orders. Accordingly the Major in the early morning assembled every available officer and man of his command, and then sent out a part of this force for the absentees. In conference with his officers he secured a limited quantity of cannister and shot and made the nec- essary preparations to meet all emergencies that might
.
500
501
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
arise, incuding medical and surgical supplies under charge of Dr. John P. Ordway. About ten o'clock in the forenoon Mayor Lincoln made formal requisition on Major Jones for the services of the Battery, then assembled at the Armory in anticipation of coming events. Adjutant General Schouler called on Major Jones at eleven o'clock and prom- ised a detail of infantry support. Meantime Governor An- drew sent his secretary, Colonel Brown, on the City Boat, Henry Morrison, to Fort Warren, with a request to Colonel Dimick for troops to suppress a riot. Major Cabot in his report of the riot says that the Governor's Secretary re- ported "that the mob were beating the police, and that there was every appearance of serious trouble during the coming night and he wanted all the troops the Colonel could let him have. In 25 minutes from the time Major Cabot received the order from Colonel Dimick he had 166 enlisted men and non-commissioned officers ready to leave the fort. After serving 20 rounds of ammunition to each man this body of troops left Fort Warren for Boston where they ar- rived at 6.15 p. m. After loading with ball cartridge Major Cabot marched to the State House and reported for 'duty to Governor Andrew. The Governor instructed him to act under the diection of his Honor, Mayor Lincoln. Under orders from Mayor Lincoln he marched down Union Street en route for the Cooper Street Armory. On his way he detached Captain Neebukr with his officers and 55 men to guard the Armory of the Fusileers on the corner of Union and Marshall Streets. The remainder of the command marched to the Armorv of the IIth Militia Battery in Cooper Street, being followed by a crowd of hooting men, women and children. Some stones were thrown but no serious demonstration was made before they reached the Armory. The doors were opened and Major Cabot marched the command into the building and ordered the doors and shutters closed, hoping the crowd would disperse if the soldiers were out of sight. It became apparent in the afternoon of the 14th that an outbreak would be at- tempted and preparations were made to nip it in the bud.
The following "Special Orders" to Colonel Lee and to Colonel Codman, commanding respectively the "Forty Fourth" and "Forty-Fifth" Regiments, recently returned from the seat of war of which the following is a copy :
502
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
"Headquarters, Boston, July 14th, 1863,
Colonel: You are hereby ordered to report with your regiment forthwith for duty at Readville.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief, WILLIAM SCHOULER, Adjutant-General.
Whereupon Colonel Codman issued the following order : Headquarters 45th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia,
Boston, July 14th, 1863.
The 45th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia will rendez- vous at Readville, to-morrow morning at sunrise, or as near as possible. Each man will appear in uniform, and will bring his blankets, haversack and canteen. This is in ac- cordance with orders from State Headquarters. The Regi- ment, though mustered out of the United States service, is in the service of the Commonwealth and prompt obedience is expected to this order.
By order of Colonel Codman, G. C. WINSOR, Adjutant.
Nothing could exceed the zeal and soldier like prompt- ness with which the military organizations responded to the orders of the Governor. Major Gordon, U. S. A., in command at Fort Independence came up from the fort with a company of his men and offered the services of himself and his command for any military duty which the Governor or Mayor might order him to perform.
Captain Whiton's Company of Heavy Artillery, Massa- chusetts Volunteers, also on duty at Fort Independence, came to the city, and upon representations made by Major Rodman, U. S. A., in command of the U. S. Arsenal at Watertown, this Company was forwarded at once for guard duty at that important post. Captain Collins, Lieutenant Mckibben, and other United States Officers, on duty at Boston, also tendered their assistance and performed val- uable service. The rioters assembled in the evening of July 14th in the neighborhood of the Eleventh Battery Armory and attacked it with stones and other missiles. The Infan- try under command of Major Stephen Cabot, First Bat- talion of Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers, kept inside in perfect order, with guns loaded all ready for attack should the exigency arise. Previous to the arrival of Major Cabot and his command, full preparations were made by Major
1
503
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Jones, his officers and men. The Major personally ordered three guns loaded and had an attack been made at noon, they were ready for use.
The personal and official relations between Major Cabot and Major Jones, during this important service were perfectly courteous, pleasant, proper and officer-like in every particular and by their harmonious co-operation accomplished the result over which they were well satisfied.
Both of these officers were fully aware of all the dangers surrounding them. The plan of the rioters to attack the Armory and seize the artillery had been disclosed to thein by Colonel Kurtz, Chief of Police. The City and State officials were in possession of the same facts and they were all acting with 'and aiding the force in the battery in pre- paring everything necessary for the protection of the Arm- ory and suppressing the riot. At length an attempt was made by the mob to force an entrance to the building and obtain possession of the guns. It was not prudent to delay longer, and accordingly Major Cabot gave the order to fire, having first read the "Riot Act" to them from the window of the Armory ordering them to disperse. The effect of this discharge of the gun was electrical, several persons were killed and more wounded, how many will probably never be known, as they were carried away by their friends and afterwards kept hidden. This virtually crushed the great mob, although riotous demonstrations were after- wards made at Dock Square and in other parts of the city, but the presence and firm front of the military, many of them trained and experienced soldiers, and the courage and activity of the police, cowed the desperadoes. The unrest, however, lasted for some days, and it was not until the 21st that the authorities felt justified in relaxing the unusual vigilance and preparedness for stern measures. That one tremendous volley of grape and cannister through the closed doors of the Cooper Street Armory, under two cool and brave officers, was a severe and salutary lesson, doubt- less, in the end saving many lives of good and innocent persons, and much valuable property from destruction. It resembled the action of the young lieutenant of Artillery, Napoleon Bonaparte, in the streets of Paris, who put a fin- ishing touch to the French Revolution.
The Forty-Fifth were in Readville promptly in response to the order of Colonel Codman. The Quartermaster furn-
504
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
ished the men with arms, ammunition and equipments, and with blankets, slung in the old army fashion, they formed on the "Parade Ground." Here the Colonel gave the men a short drill in "Street Firing," and having loaded their guns with ball cartridges they boarded the train and were landed at Park Square. Having executed the order "Prime," with guns capped and at half cock to show the bystanders they were ready for serious business, they took up their line of march for Faneuil Hall, where quarters had been assigned them. It was the day following the Cooper Street riot and a renewed attack somewhere was expected that night. This, the danger point, and the post of honor, was given to the 45th, Colonel Codman being known as a cool, brave and judicious officer. Four guns were turned over to the Regiment, one at each corner of Faneuil Hall, in charge of gun squads, who had done garrison duty at Fort Macon, and were thoroughly versed in the handling of artillery.
The Regiment was on duty all night, half of the regiment at a time under command of Lieut .- Col. Oliver W. Peabody and Major Russell Sturgis, Jr. There were pickets out on all the neighboring streets, and no persons except market- men were permitted to enter the square. Strict orders were given to fire immediately upon the approach of any threatening body of people, and thus, by a policy of wise severity at the outset to prevent such a prolongation of outrages as had resulted from the misguided leniency of the New York authorities. Detachments were sent to various points, to the bridges of the city. One Corporal's guard was sent to the Federal Street Bridge and on their march through Sea Street, a rough section of the city, were pelted with stones and other missiles, mostly from the windows. The squad wisely refrained from replying, al- though some of them were struck. The night passed quietly away for the most part. There was a noisy crowd who made some disturbance but they were quickly scat- tered by the charge of a company of dragoons who were doing "patrol duty.' A regular guard was at the entrance of Faneuil Hall to keep the "boys in" as well as the crowd "out."
The 45th gave an exhibition of "Street Firing" which the Regiment executed in their usual fine style. Though the city in a few days, seemed restored to its pristine security yet
1
505
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
fearing some outbreak on Saturday, or Sunday night, the troops were kept until the following Tuesday. It seemed strange to many of the boys to post sentries and stand guard about the streets and alleys of Boston, with orders to allow no one to pass through, and the indignation of some of our worthy citizens at being compelled to go some other way, was often quite amusing. The days in the Old Hall were
.
General U. S. Grant "The Hero of Appomattox"
largely spent in watching the passers by from the windows. On one or two days the regiment had a "battalion drill" on the Common, where a large and admiring crowd watched the evolutions. The rioters began to cool off, reconsidered their plans and wisely concluded to run the risk of being drafted and perhaps die an honorable death in battle, rather than be ignominiously shot down, almost at their own
-
506
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
doors, for resisting the laws of the land. Meantime the men of the regiment, living at a distance, kept dropping in and swelling the ranks, until the number was increased to 500.
On Tuesday, July 21, 1863, they were paid off and dis- charged and since those days the old "Forty-Fifth" has lived only in history.
The two regiments were relieved from further duty by the following order :
Headquarters Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, July 21, 1863.
General Order No. 6.
Colonel F. L. Lee commanding the Forty-Fourth Massa- chusetts Volunteer Militia and Colonel Charles R. Codman, commanding the Forty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia are hereby ordered to dismiss their respective com- mands until further orders. In issuing this order, the Gen- eral commanding is desired by His Excellency, the Gov- ernor, John A. Andrew, to express to them, their officers and men, his thanks for their prompt response to the call of duty, and the admirable manner in which they per- formed it. Every duty has been performed to the entire satisfaction of the Commanding General.
R. A. PEIRCE, Brigadier General.
C. J. HIGGINSON,
Acting Adjutant General.
EXPRES
COMPANY
Site of Boston Post Office, 1860
Boston Post Office, 1916
Christ Church, 1775
This' church edifice is the oldest in Boston and was com- pleted in 1743. It is six years older than the Old South Meeting House and ten years older than the present King's Chapel. It stands on Salem Street, and is a prominent land- mark at the North End; its graceful spire, rising to a height of 175 feet, is an accurate reproduction of the one blown down in 1804. It was from the belfry of this church that the lanterns were hung out on the evening of April 18, 1775, the *signal which impelled Paul Revere in his midnight ride, through the villages and farms of Middlesex County, sound- ing the note of alarm. Paul Revere in his diary says that the lanterns were hung out on the belfry of the North Church, and this has caused confusion in the minds of many, but the apparent discrepancy in accounts was clearly. ex- plained in the columns of the "Evening Transcript," a few years ago. The Church of the Mathers, which stood on North Square, was called the old North Church, built at a much earlier date. A dispute arose as to whether the lan- terns were hung in the steeple of the Mather Church or of Christ Church. The authorities of the City of Boston went into the subject fully some years ago, and decided that Christ Church was unquestionably the place, and the city placed a tablet to that effect on that spot on the church.
How did Paul Revere come to speak of Christ Church as the North Church, when, as is well known, that was the designation of the Mather Church in North Square? The following is believed to be the explanation. The Mather Church, built in 1650, was the Most Northerly Church, and was called the North .Church. Seventy-five years later Christ Church was some distance further North, and it, in turn, became known as the North Church, and the Mather Church, to distinguish it from the new North was called the Old North Church. The Old South and the New Old South is an analagous case today. Judging from Paul Re- vere's phrase, Christ Church was called the North, not the Old North, while the Mother Church was standing, but after
508
1
509
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
that was destroyed, the words, "Old North" came to be ap- plied to Christ Church.
The corner stone of Christ Church was laid in 1723 by
1.1
1
Christ Church, 1775
Rev. Samuel Myles, then rector of King's Chapel, who pro- nounced the following words: "May the gates of Hell never prevail against it." It was opened for Divine services De- cember 29, of the same year, by Rev. Timothy Cutter, the
510
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
first rector. In a letter written about this time Dr. Cutter stated that there were "thirty-two Negro and Indian slaves" in his parish.
In less than a dozen years this church will have attained its bi-centenary. Beneath the chancel are buried the re- mains of Rev. Dr. Cutter, the first pastor, and his wife. In the tower is a very fine chime of bells, the oldest in America, and were first rung in 1745. The bells all bear appropriate inscriptions.
The bells are very sweet in tone, and on a clear and quiet morning can be heard many miles down the bay. One lis- tens to their musical notes and recalls the words of the English poet:
"Those Evening bells! those Evening bells!
How many a tale their music tells Of youth and home and that sweet time,
When last I heard their soothing chime."
There are some rare historical relics in this old church. The Bible, Book of Common Prayer, and Silver Communion Service, still in use, were presented to the Church in 1733 by His Majesty, King George, the Second. The old Bible is a most interesting one, and is called the "Vinegar Bible," on account of a curious error which appears on one of the pages, the' word "Vinegar" being printed in place of the word "Vineyard" in the chapter of St. Luke, which refers to the "Parable of the Vineyard." Some of the Prayer Books have paper pasted over "King and Royal Family," and the words, "President of the United States" written over it. At one time part of the Communion Set was pledged to the creditors of the church.
The figures of Cherubim in front of the Organ and .the Chandelier, were taken from a French vessel by the Priva- teer, "Queen of Hungary," and presented to the church in 1746 by Capt. Gruchy, a member of the church. The Chan- delier was arranged to hold candles, and it is said it, with the Cherubim, were intended for the French Cathedral in Montreal. While the battle of Bunker Hill was in progress, Generals Gage and Clinton used the belfry of this church as an observatory. When the latter saw how the tide of battle was going against the British, he hastened to Bunker Hill and placed himself at the head of a detachment in an assault against the American redoubt.
51I
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Rev. Matthew Byles was pastor from 1758 to 1775. His father was pastor of King's Chapel, and was famous for his wit and jokes. In 1777 he was arrested as a Tory, placed under guard and ordered to be sent to England in forty days. There are many good stories related of him in "Dealings with the Dead." He was discovered one morning pacing before his door with a musket on his shoulder, and one of his neighbors asked the cause. "You see," says the Doctor, "I begged the Sentinel to let me go for some milk for my family, but he would not suffer me to stir. I reasoned the matter with him, and he has gone himself, on condition that I keep guard in his absence." Although he was a Tory, he was intimate with the patriot General Henry Knox, who after the evacuation of Boston by the British, marched through Boston at the head of his artillery. Byles yelled out at him, "I never saw an ox fatter in my life." General Knox, who was very stout, did not seem to relish this per- sonal allusion. Now and then he found his match. He was at one time devoted to a lady, who finally married a Quincy. He met her one day and asked her how she happened to choose Quincy instead of Byles. She promptly replied, "If there had been anything worse than biles Job would have been afflicted by them."
As Christ Church was a Tory Church it was closed in 1776 when the British evacuated Boston but in 1783 it was reopened for service. The belfry of this church will always be associated with one of the most stirring and popular poems in our literature. The well known Boston Historian, Edwin D. Mead, says :- "It is through Longfellow's eyes, that every one of us, on the eve of each Patriots' Day. sees in the belfry height, 'a glimmer and then a gleam of light.' to give assurance that Lexington and Concord shall have their warning."
THY S GNA LANTERNS OF PAUL REVERE DISPLAYED IN T . _ 16 PLE OF THIS CHURCH
APW. 18 1775
WARNED THE COUNTRY OF THE MARCH OF THE BRITISH TROOPS TO LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
-
Christ Church, 1916
-
Trinity Church
The present Rector, Rev. Dr. Alexander Mann, although comparatively a recent comer to Boston, stands in the very front rank of Boston preachers, and is a well known figure
Rev. Alexander Mann, D. D., Rector
to many Bostonians. He was born in Geneva, New York, and on his father's side being of Scotch Highlander descent. After his graduation from the Theological Seminary in New York, he acquired a valuable experience as Rector of St. James of Buffalo. This parish had several mission churches
513
514
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
around the city and during Dr. Mann's pastorate it took three men to look after them. The congregations in these chapels were mostly railroad men and their families. It proved to be a good apprenticeship for understanding the point of view of the average man. At his next parish in Orange, N. J., the work was of an entirely different char- acter.
The Boston Herald says of him: "His hobby is to love
E
Trinity Church, Summer Street, 1870
people. He thinks no message ever delivered from the pul- pit has any value unless it moves its hearers to action. That is what sermons are for, and no sermons can move to action that do not not proceed from the knowledge of living, loving, sufferings of working men and women, a knowledge which can only be acquired by constant contact with people."
This is one of the oldest Episcopal Churches in Boston, dating back to 1728. Today it is one of the most widely known of all the churches of that denomination. Its first house of worship, erected in 1735, was a very plain wooden building and stood on the corner of Summer and Hawley
1
1 1
1
515
Wl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Streets, and in that building the Society worshipped for nearly 100 years. One of the most prominent pew holders in that church was Peter Faneuil, and no doubt he was very. influential in shaping the destinies of that church. The first pastor, the Rev. Addington Davenport, was a brother-in-law to Faneuil. When General Washington visited Boston in 1787, he attended service at Trinity, and listened to a ser- mon by Dr. Parker, who afterwards rose to be a bishop. This church might almost be called a Training School for Bish- ops, as so many of its Rectors have been called to the Epis- copate. Among them, George Washington Doane, to be Bishop of New Jersey; John Henry Hopkins, Bishop of Vermont: Thomas March Clark, Bishop of Rhode Island; Manton Eastburn, Bishop of this Diocese; Phillips Brooks, Bishop of this Diocese.
In 1828 the corner stone of a new house of worship was laid on the original site. It was a solid gothic structure of granite and was the home of the parish until 1872 when it went down in that cyclone of flame which swept the busi- ness district of Boston. That massive stone building with the square tower was a familiar landmark to two genera- tions of Bostonians and there are many citizens who readily recall its looks. Rev. Phillips Brooks at that time was the Rector of the Church and he wrote a most vivid description of the fire a day or two afterwards. He said: "The desola- tion is bewildering. Old Trinity seemed safe till night, but toward morning the fire swept into her rear and there was no chance. She went at four in the morning. I saw her well afire, inside and out. and carried off some books and robes, and left her. She went majestically, and her great tower stands now as solid as ever, a most picturesque and stately ruin. She died in dignity. I did not know how much I liked the great gloomy old thing till I saw her windows bursting and the flames running along the old high pews."
For several months prior to the destruction of the church, the parish had been considering a change of location and the subject of a new edifice was left to the direction of a Build- ing Committee. The site chosen by the Committee was the corner of Boylston and Clarendon Streets. The designs of Gamewell and Richardson, Architects. were accepted, and as a result Boston has that splendid church building on Copley Square, one of the finest structures of the kind in the United States. in a most commanding location. The
516
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
building was completed early in the year 1877 and is in the pure French Romanesque style, in the shape of a Latin cross. The whole interior is finished in black walnut and the vestibule in oak and ash. It has a handsome and unique
Rev. Phillips Brooks
chapel connected with the main structure by an open clois- ter, the effect of which is very pleasing. The cost of the building was $750,000. Some of the greatest preachers of the denomination have served this church as Rector and we have alluded to those who have been raised to the office of bishop. Perhaps the most widely known of tehm all was. the late Rev. Phillips Brooks. He was born in Boston, Dec.
1
517
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
13, 1833, and died Jan. 13, 1893. After his graduation from Harvard College he taught for a short period at the Boston Latin School and later studied at the Theological Seminary at Alexandria, Virginia. He was ordained to the ministry in 1859, and was Rector successively at the Church of the Advent and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. In 1869 he returned to his native city to assume the duties of Rector of Trinity Church, where he remained until 1891, when he was elected Bishop of Massachusetts. His sudden
A
Trinity Church, Copley Square, 1916
death was the occasion of public mourning seldom equalled in Boston, and his funeral at Trinity Church was a public demonstration of love and respect. Few men have ever im- pressed themselves so strongly for good upon the minds and hearts of all who came in contact with him. He was be- loved by men and women in all walks of life, irrespective of race or creed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.