Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 122

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006

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they stated, "That in discharging their duties they have used all the measures of persnasion and conciliation in their power. That their exertions have not been successful the above correspondence will show. It only remains, then, in pursuance of their instructions, to publish their proceedings and adjourn without day. But ere they do this, they owe it to themselves, and those whom they represent, to express their utmost abhorrence of everything like violence, and earnestly to implore their fellow-citizens to abstain therefrom." The sequel is thus given by a city print.

On Saturday night, July 30th, very soon after dark, a concourse of citizens assembled at the corner of Main and Seventh streets, in this city, and upon a short consultation, broke open the printing office of the Philanthropist, the abolition paper, scattered the type into the streets, tore down the presses and completely dismantled the office. It was owned by A. Pugh, a peaceable and orderly printer, who printed the Philanthropist for the Anti- slavery Society of Ohio. From the printing office the crowd went to the house of A. Pugh, where they supposed there were other printing materials, but found none, nor offered any violence. Then to the Messrs. Donaldson's, where only ladies were at home. The residence of Mr. Birney, the editor, was then visited ; no person was at home but a youth, upon whose explanations the house was left undisturbed.

A shout was raised for Dr. Colby's, and the concourse returned to Main street, pro- posed to pile up the contents of the office in the street and make a bonfire of them. A gentleman mounted the pile and advised against burning it, lest the houses near might take fire. A portion of the press was then dragged down Main street, broken up and thrown into the river. The Exchange was then visited and refreshments taken. After which the concourse again went up Main street to about opposite the Gazette office. Some suggestions were hinted that it should be demolished, but the hint was overruled. An attack was then made upon the residences of some blacks in Church alley ; two guns were fired upon the assailants and they recoiled. It was supposed that one man was wounded, but that was not the case. It was some time before a rally could again be made, several voices declaring they did not wish to endanger themselves. A second attack was made, the houses found empty and their interior contents destroyed. ... On the afternoon of August 2d, pursuant to a call, a very large and respectable meeting of citizens met at the court-house and passed a series of resolutions, the first of which was " that this meeting deeply regret the cause of the recent occurrences, and entirely disapprove of mobs or other unlawful assemblages." The concluding resolution was approbatory of the course of the colonization society, and expressed an opinion that it was "the only method of getting clear of slavery."

Negro Riot of September, 1841 .- This city

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has been in a most alarming condition for several days, and from 8 o'clock on Friday evening until 3 o'clock yesterday [Sunday] morning almost entirely at the mercy of a lawless mob, ranging in number from 200 to 1500.

On Tuesday evening last, as we are in- formed, a quarrel took place on the corner of Sixth street and Broadway, between a party of Irishmen and some negroes ; some two or three of each party were wounded. On Wednesday night the quarrel was renewed in some way, and some time after midnight a party of excited men, armed with clubs, etc., attacked a house occupied as a negro board- ing-house on Macalister street, demanding the surrender of a negro whom they said was secreted in the house, and uttering the most violent threats against the house and the negroes in general. Several of the adjoining houses were occupied by negro families. The violence increased and was resisted by those in or about the houses-an engagement took place, in which several were wounded on each side. On Thursday night another rencounter cook place in the neighborhood of the Lower Market between some young men and boys and some negroes, in which one or two boys were badly wounded, as was supposed, with Knives.

On Friday evening before 8 o'clock a mob, the principal organization of which, we understand, took place in Kentucky, openly assembled in Fifth street market, unmolested by the police or citizens. They marched from their rendezvous towards Broadway and Sixth street, armed with clubs, stones, etc. Reaching the scene of operation with shouts and blasphemous imprecations they attacked a negro confectionery in Broadway, next to the synagogue, and demolished the doors and windows. This attracted an immense crowd.

About this time, before 9 o'clock, they were addressed by J. W. Piatt, who exhorted them to peace and obedience to the law ; but his voice was drowned by shouts and throwing of stones. The mayor also attempted to ad- dress them. The savage yell was instantly raised : "Down with him ! run him off !" were shouted and intermixed with horrid imprecations and exhortations to the mob to move onward. A large portion of the leading disturbers appeared to be strangers-some connected with river navigation and backed by boat hands of the lowest order. They ad- vanced to the attack with stones, etc., and were repeatedly fired upon by the negroes. The mob scattered, but immediately rallied again, and again were in like manner repulsed. Men were wounded on both sides and carried off-and many reported dead. The negroes rallied several times, advanced upon the crowd, and most unjustifiably fired down the street into it, causing a great rush down the street. These things were repeated until past 1 o'clock, when a party procured an iron six pounder from near the river, loaded with boiler punchings, etc., and hauled it to the ground, against the exhortations of the mayor and others. It was posted on Broadway and

pointed down Sixth street. The yells con- tinued, but there was a partial cessation of firing. Many of the negroes had fled to the hills. The attack upon the houses was re- commenced with the firing of guns upon both sides, which continued during most of the night; and exaggerated rumors of the killed and wounded filled the streets. The cannon was discharged several times. About 2 o'clock a portion of the military, upon the call of the mayor, proceeded to the scene of disorder and succeeded in keeping the mob at bay. In the morning and throughout the day several blocks, including the battle- ground, were surrounded with sentinels and kept under martial law-keeping within the negroes there, and adding to them such as were brought in during the day for pro- tection.

A meeting of citizens was held at the court- house on Saturday morning, which was ad- dressed by the mayor and others, and a series of resolutions passed discountenancing mobs -invoking the aid of the civil authorities to stay the violence, repudiating the doctrines of the abolitionists, etc. The city council also held a special session to concert measures to vindicate the majesty of the law and re- store peace to the city. Intense excitement continued during the day, the mob and their leaders boldly occupying the streets without arrest. The negroes held a meeting in a church and respectfully assured the mayor and citizens that they would use every effort to conduct as orderly citizens, to suppress im prudent conduct among their own people, etc. They expressed their readiness to conform to the law of 1807. and give bond, or to leave within a specified time-and tendered their thanks to the mayor, watch, officers and gentlemen of the city, for the efforts made to save their prop- erty, their lives, their wives and children.

At 3 P. M., the mayor, sheriff, marshal and a portion of the police, proceeded to the battle-ground, and there, under the protection of the military, though in the presence of the mob, and so far controlled by them as to prevent the taking away of any negroes upon their complying with the law, several of the negroes gave bond and obtained permission to go away with their sureties, who were some of our most respectable citizens, but were headed even within the military sentinels, and compelled to return within the ground. It was resolved then to embody the male negroes and march them to jail for security under the protection of the civil and military authority. From 250 to 300 were accordingly escorted to that place with difficulty, sur- rounded by the military and officers, and a dense mass of men, women and boys, con- founding all distinction between the orderly and disorderly, accompanied with deafen- ing yells. They were safely lodged, and still remain in prison, separated from their families. The crowd was in that way dispersed.

The succeeding night the military were ordered out, the firemen were out, clothed with authority as a police band. About eighty citizens enrolled themselves as assist-

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ants of the marshal. A troop of horse and several companies of volunteer infantry con- tinued on duty until near midnight. Some were then permitted to sleep upon their arms, others remained on duty until morning guard- ing the jail, etc.

As was anticipated, the mob, efficiently organized, early commenced operations, divid- ing their force and making their attacks at different points, thus distracting the attention of the police. The first successful onset was made upon the printing office of the Philan- thropist. They succeeded in entering the establishment, breaking up the press, and running with it amid savage yells, down through Main street to the river, into which it was thrown. The military appeared in the alley near the office, interrupting the mob for a short time. They escaped through the bye- ways, and when the military retired, returned to their work of destruction in the office, which they completed. Several houses were broken open in different parts of the city, occupied by negroes, and the windows, doors and furniture completely destroyed. Among these was the negro church on Sixth street. One of the last efforts was to fire or other- wise destroy the book establishment of Messrs. Truman & Smith, on Main street. From this they were driven by the police, and soon after, before daylight, dispersed from mere exhaustion.

It is impossible to learn either the number of killed and wounded on either side ; prob- ably several were killed and twenty or thirty variously wounded, though but few danger- ously. Several of the citizen-police were hurt with stones, etc. ; the authorities succeeded in arresting about forty of the mob, who are now in prison. The mob was in many cases encouraged and led on by persons from Kentucky. About 11 o'clock on Saturday night a bonfire was lighted on that side of the river, and loud shouts sent up as if a great triumph had been achieved. In some cases the motions of the mob were directed and managed by mere boys, who suggested the points of attack, put the vote, declared the result and led the way ! After all the negro men had been disarmed and committed to prison for safe-keeping, under a solemn pledge that their wives and children should be protected, a band of white men were per- mitted to renew their brutal attacks upon these females and children. The excitement continued yesterday. The governor, who had arrived in town, issued his proclamation. The citizens rallied with spirit to aid the city authorities. Strong patrols of military and citizens last night prevented any further out- break.

Bank Mob, Jan. 11, 1842 .- Monday even- ing, the Miami Exporting Company Bank assigned its effects, and on Tuesday morning (January 1]) the Bank of Cincinnati closed doors. Early in the morning, the crowd, in consequence of their failure, began to collect around the doors of these institutions, and by 11 o'clock had broken into them, destroying all the movable property and whatever of

books or papers could be laid hold of. About this time ten of the city guards, headed by their brave captain, Mitchell, appeared, drove the rioters away, and, for a time, gallantly maintained their position ; but they were called off. On retiring, they were assailed- they fired, and wounded some one or two persons. The mob had, with this exception, undisputed possession of the city, and com- menced, first an attack upon Babes' Ex- change Bank, and after that, upon Lougee's exchange office, both of which they destroyed, making havoc of everything which was at all destructible.

Distressing Fire, Feb. 28, 1843 .- On Satur- day morning, about 5 o'clock, a fire broke out in the smoke-house of Messrs. Pugh & Alvord, at the corner of Walnut street and the canal, which, in its consequences, has been one of the most distressing that ever occurred in this city. The smoke-house was in the rear, and somewhat detached from the main building, being connected with it only by a wooden door and narrow passage-way, through which the meat was usually wheeled. It was thought the fire could be confined to the former, and for that purpose the pork- house was closed as tight as possible, by shutting all the doors and windows, to ex- clude a rush of air to feed the flames.

In the course of half an hour, the main building was filled with smoke, rarefied air and inflammable gas from the smoke-house ; and when the flames burst through the wooden door connecting the two buildings, an instantaneous roar of flame was perceived, and in the twinkling of an eye, the whole of this spacious, substantial building was a mass of ruins. The whole roof was lifted in the air and thrown into the streets in large fragments-the second story walls, on the north and south sides, were thrown down, and the whole eastern end of both stories fronting on Walnut street blown into the streets from its foundation up. The appear- ance of the explosion was awfully terrific, and its consequences fatal to several of our most estimable citizens. We annex the names of the killed and severely wounded, as far as we can now ascertain them. Killed-Joseph Bonsall, Caleb W. Taylor, H. S. Edmands, J. S. Chamberlain, H. O. Merrill, John Ohe, a German laborer, with two or three other German laborers. Wounded severely- George Shillito, H. Thorpe. T. S. Shaeffer, Mr. Alvord (of the firm of Pugh & Alvord), Samuel Schooley, Warren G. Finch, John Blakemore, Lewis Wisby, John M. Vansickle, Joseph Trefts, A. Oppenhermer, Jas. Tryatt, Robt. Rice, William H. Goodloe.

A few minutes before the explosion, the smoke settled to the ground around the corner of the building, on the canal and Walnut street fronts, which caused the removal of the masses of people which filled those spaces, unconscious of danger. But for this, the force of the explosion being in that direction, the destruction of life would have been frightfully extensive.

On Sunday morning, a special meeting of

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the city council was called, and in obedience to one of the resolutions passed, the mayor issued a proclamation, requesting the citizens to suspend their business on Monday, the 27th inst., and attend the funcrals of the deceased. On Monday, the court of common

pleas adjourned for this purpose, shops were closed, and the business of the day was set aside. The bells were tolled, and little was done save to aid in performing the last sad rites of the dead.

REMINISCENCES OF CINCINNATI IN THE WAR TIME.

Cincinnati up to the outbreak of the rebellion largely sympathized with the slave-holders so far as to deprecate any restrictions upon what was termed "their rights under the laws." Many of the leading families by blood and kindred were connected with the South : indeed largely came from there. Through trade with the South its citizens had been greatly sustained. "The establishment of an anti-slavery newspaper had resulted in its destruction by a mob, in which were some of the most prominent citizens, and the driving of its editor, Mr. Birney, to a distant city. The quarters of the negro population at times were subject to attacks from the scum of the city, aided by the rabble from the Kentucky side of the Ohio. Free speech, if it took the form of public protests against the continu- ance of slavery, was dangerous. Wendell Phillips was driven from the stage at Pike's Opera House, and waited for in the streets to be hung up by a howling pro- slavery mob, the mayor refusing to allow the police to suppress it. At the same era Mr. Yancey, of Alabama, was allowed therein to utter the most bitter disloyal tirade, with threats against the North, without a whisper of dissent from an audi- ence of three thousand.

With the firing upon Sumter, April 12, 1861, a spirit of vengeance for the insult to the flag seemed at once to take possession of the entire population. All thoughts of trade and money-getting were swept completely from the minds of the people as in any Northern city. These incidents illustrate the conciliatory temper of the public just prior to this event. On April 5th three cannon from Baltimore were allowed to pass through the city en route for Jackson, Mississippi, marked for the "Southern Confederacy " and on the very day before a slave was remanded into the custody of his master by a United States Commissioner in Cin- cinnati.

The first autheutic despatch of the bombardment reached Cincinnati Friday evening, the 12th, and was posted on the bulletin boards. The fact was a sur- prise to multitudes. Up to that very moment they had believed the South was not in earnest. It was all bluster ; there would be no war. What is note- worthy, the large German population of the city believed differently ; among them were many old soldiers who had been engaged in the German revolution of 1848, and they felt war "in the air." And it was the same with the officers of our army. We remember meeting on the street a valued acquaintance, in a Captain of the Topographical Corps of Engineers, on the reception of the news of the fall of Sumter. He greeted us with sadness and in tones of anguish exclaimed : " It is terrible-it is terrible; there is great suffering in store for us all ; it is to be a long and bloody struggle. God only knows how it will end." With that he drew in his breath between his closed teeth in his agony of emotion and walked away. This officer was a member of the Cincinnati Literary Club. In a paper read before the club in the preceding fall on the subject of "Forti- fications," he criticised the policy of President Buchanan in unsparing terms ; for this he was arrested to be tried by court-martial. His strong Union sentiments and his boldness of denunciation early made for him implacable enemies. He did excellent service in the war and is known in history as General John Pope. He was a rather short man, then in his prime, very handsome too, with full chest, sparkling black eyes, pearly teeth, dainty hands and feet, his figure just beginning to round into that fulness which at a certain time of life often overtakes both sexes, and when reached by some specimens of the gentler sex is sometimes happily expressed by the agreeable sentence, " fair, fat, and forty."

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HAMILTON COUNTY.

At the Gazette office a man had a sentence in favor of the South squelched by an egg striking him fairly in the open mouth, when amid the jeers of the crowd this egg receiver disappeared. Before night the city was gay with the Stars and Stripes. Never had the flag seemed so beautiful in the eyes of the American people. Until that moment they had no conception of the strength of their patriotism. Everywhere throughout the land it fluttered in its glory and was such an insignia of love for the Union, that even the lukewarm as a defence against the stigma of their more loyal neighbors felt compelled to display it. A comical incident occurred on the outskirts of an Ohio city, where a family of Inkewarm proclivities were alarmed by a cry in the street, when the mother called ont to her son, " John, they are calling out to us ' Secesh, secesh ;' run quick and put out our flag or we shall be mobbed." John thereupon obeyed. It was subsequently ascertained the cry had proceeded from a pedlar, who going by in a wagon was proclaiming his wares, " fresh fish."

The week that opened with Monday, the 15th, with the news of the fall of Sumter, and the call of Mr. Lincoln for 75,000 troops, was one of intense activ- ity all over the State. The legislature appropriated $1,000,000 to arm and equip the 10,000 men. These Gov. Dennison telegraphed the President were subject to his orders ; Cincinnati also voted by its Council $200,000 to aid in equipping the troops. These sums were then thought to be sufficient in view of the prediction of Mr. Seward that the " war would be over in ninety days."

Large and enthusiastic meetings were held in the city, participated in largely by leading Democrats, and every voice rang clear in support of the Government. The attitude of Kentucky at this time was alarming, and the citizens at one of these meetings amid a whirlwind of applause adopted resolutions signifying that it was too late to draw nice distinctions between armed neutrality and open rebellion-that both were alike rebellion-that those who did not sustain the Government in the present crisis were traitors. As Whitelaw Reid expresses it, "From the first day that the war was open, the people of Cincinnati were as vehement in their determina- tion that it should relentlessly be prosecuted to victory as the city of Boston." The attitude of Kentucky was indeed at this time peculiarly alarming. Her Governor, Beriah Magoffin, in response to the call for troops had declared-" I say emphatically Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States." Whereupon Governor Dennison telegraphed to Washı- ington, "If Kentucky will not fill her quota, Ohio will fill it for her." He more than kept his promise. Some of the first Kentucky regiments, so called, were almost entirely composed of Olio men and commanders. Sixteen days after the President's call, Ohio had volunteers offered enough to fill the full quota for the nation, 75,000 men.

What made the position of Cincinnati at this trying era especially interesting was that no large Northern city was so exposed, so inviting to attacks from its location and great wealth. If Kentucky should secede the city would have to be defended from her own hills instead of from those on the south side of the river. By wise management Kentucky was saved, but multitudes of her young men from her rich slave-holding centres enlisted under the banner of Secession.

General Henry M. Cist, in his article in the " Magazine of American History " entitled " Cincinnati with the War Fever," says :

" During the first week after the fall of Sumter, active work was done in recruiting and drilling companies and in perfecting regimental organizations. On Thursday, April 18th, the heartstrings of mothers, relatives, and dear friends received the first strain of war. When the three companies of Rover Zouaves and Lafayette Guards left the city under order to report at Columbus to take their place in a regiment en route to the defence of Washington, these companies were escorted to the depot by the Guthrie Grays and the Continentals, and there amid the tears and farewells of friends the soldier boys started, all aglow with martial ardor, for the fields of glory. During the week four regiments were

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HAMILTON COUNTY.

started in the eity, and reeruiting was so active that it became a question who was not to go. The Germans turned out with a magnificent soldierly body of men, over 1,000 strong, the regiment known as the famous 9th Ohio."

This was called the Turner Regiment. It paraded the streets as we remember in the white garb of the Turner Society, of which its members were mostly com- posed. It became one of the most effective of regiments and had the distinguished honor of making at Mill Springs the first bayonet charge of the war. It proved an unhappy punehing to the enemy, who, not relishing that kind of tiekling, broke and ran. They were, however, composed of "poor whites" and armed mainly with shot-guns.

This regiment was commanded by Col. Robert L. MeCook. He was a large- hearted man with a frank, open, laughing manner ; a lawyer and a partner with the eminent German lawyer, J. B. Stallo. He so hated pretense and show of any kind that he most unwillingly submitted to the requirement of wearing a military dress. On the occasion of this parade he was mounted on horseback, elad in citizen's dress with stove-pipe hat, bis only military insignia a sword buekled to his side. We lately met a lady who, when a child, was a school-mate with MeCook and she tells us that he at one time got into a quarrel with another boy and on being separated and reprimanded by the " school-marm," he answered, " It is all right-you are a woman-you don't know anything about war."

McCook, who was idolized by his men, was murdered in the summer of 1862 while riding, siek and recumbent, in a spring-wagon, attended by a small escort of cavalrymen, who all but one cowardly galloped off as the guerillas appeared.

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 122

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 1006

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006