The expectation of the other regiments, five of New York and five of Brooklyn, whose return Governor Seymour had requested, tended to increase the feeling of safety which was growing with the citizens. A Michigan regiment, whose term of service had nearly expired, was also expected to return home by way of the metropolis.
The appropriation, moreover, of two million five hundred thousand dollars by the Common Council to satisfy the three hundred dollar exemption clause, withdrew most of those who feared the draft from the mob; and few but the thieves were left.
About noon a large gang of rioters fired upon a company of soldiers from a house on the Seventh avenue. The soldiers returned the fire, and immediately ten or a dozen desperate fellows, armed with clubs and guns, rushed out of the house, and pursued the soldiers, who wheeled about and poured the contents of their muskets into them. In an incredibly short space of time, the streets became thronged with rioters, who made the most violent demonstrations against the soldiers, but were soon driven from the vicinity. When the military were out of sight, the mob finished sacking some houses they had broken into, and threatened to use the torch forthwith for the balance of the block.
Very fortunately the mob was foiled in all its efforts to obtain possession of the Arsenal, the lower floor of which was filled with artillery and equipments, and the second floor with muskets, swords, sabres, pistols, and all kinds of infantry and cavalry equipments. Had the rioters gained possession of the building, there would have been no lack of arms for any number they could have mustered. The third floor, of the size of the entire building, is the drill-room, now used for barracks and guard-house. In the centre and around the sides muskets were stacked, and soldiers lying, with knapsacks under their heads, asleep. It looked almost like a battle-field; coats, equipments, arms, soldiers lying indiscriminately together. “Here,” said Major Kiernan, of the Sixth Missouri, to a gentleman present, “you have a glimpse of war as it is.”
The military being present in large force, the rioters became hourly less demonstrative. Notwithstanding this, however, a great deal of damage was done in various parts of the city. The most violent demonstrations of the rioters were now subdued; and on the following day business was resumed throughout the city, and all the stores which had been obliged to be closed, were again opened. As the disturbance in New York city subsided, the rioting in adjacent towns, and all other places affected by it, gradually decreased; and quiet again succeeded the short, but bloody “reign of terror.”
OPERATIONS IN TENNESSEE, IN 1863.
The headquarters of the Army of the Cumberland was established at Murfreesboro’ on the fifth of January, 1863, the army itself occupying a position in front of the town which was completely encircled by extensive earthworks, constructed with the view of rendering it a depot of supplies and the base of prospective operations. The rainy season set in and a suspension of activity on the part of the Federals ensued, but the cavalry of the enemy was as lively and ubiquitous as ever, and not only often succeeded in capturing many men and wagons, but also in burning a number of steamers on the Cumberland, with the view of cutting off the communications of the Union army, and of stopping its supplies.
On the 31st, Brigadier-General Jefferson C. Davis with three brigades, made a bold dash in the direction of Rover and Franklin. During an absence of thirteen days the two brigades of cavalry he had with him visited eight towns and secured one hundred and forty-one prisoners, including two colonels and several other officers, without the loss of a man.
BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON, TENN.
On the 3rd of February, 1863, Major-General Wheeler, Brigadier-General Wharton and Colonel Forrest, with five thousand Confederates and twelve cannon, marched on Fort Donelson. They were met half a mile from the fort by a skirmishing party, under Captain McClanahan, sent out by Colonel A. C. Harding, commanding the garrison, which consisted of nine companies of the Eighty-third Illinois, one company of the Fifth Iowa cavalry, and two sections of Flood’s battery, in all about six hundred effective men. The battery consisted of four rifled brass pieces, in addition to which there was one siege gun, a rifled thirty-two pounder, in position. The skirmishers fell inward slowly, firing upon the enemy as they retired, until they were called in. The Confederates now displayed a white flag and demanded the surrender of the fort and garrison. Colonel Harding replied that he “would fight while he had a man left.” He had formed his line of battle, (in the shape of a crescent,) one flank on the river and the other extending to a brick building near the intrenchments; he had sent for gunboats, and was content to abide the issue. The enemy completely encompassed the town; and the fire of artillery opened on both sides. His men were all mounted; and made charge after charge upon the gallant defenders, whose Springfield rifles emptied scores of saddles at each assault. The rebel General Wharton dismounted his men, gained the rear of the town, and they then forced their way into it. Colonel Forrest, who had fired his troops with daring emulation, led his brigade, in line more than a mile long, to the attack. It was met by a perfect storm of lead. The troops pressed on through the fatal hail, driving the Federals from their rifle-pits and chasing them into the town, but here the pursuers were greeted with a deadly shower that threatened them with annihilation, and they wavered, turned and fled. But they were soon rallied, reformed, and again urged into the mouth of destruction; and, in this spirit, was the contest kept up from noon till half past seven o’clock, when another flag of truce was sent in with a second demand for an unconditional surrender.