“The riots commenced on Monday morning, July 13, and were not entirely suppressed until the following Friday. The only protection the city had, on the outbreak, was the Metropolitan Police, – all the regularly organized militia regiments being off in the service of the Government.
The riot which commenced on the first day of the Draft was ostensibly in opposition to it, but early took the character of an outbreak for the purposes of pillage, and also of outrage upon the colored population.”
David M. Barnes
The Draft Riots in New York, July, 1863
Other Witnesses
Perry notes the heat of the day and the savagery of the mobs. Her husband was at home recuperating from injuries sustained from a fall from a horse. Perry is quoted in an article by Stephen D. Lut that originally appeared in the May 2000 issue of America’s Civil War.
