ecoming a father. At that time there was
considerable war excitement in New York. The rebels had broken loose and
had invaded Pennsylvania. All the New York State militia were then sent
to the front. My mind was fully made up to enter the navy as soon as our
child was born and my wife well. The grade of ensign had been created in
the navy. Getting good recommendations from Duncan, Sherman & Company
and from Captain Otis, I made application to the Secretary of the
Navy---Gideon Welles---and received permission to be examined for the
position of ensign.

The draft riots in the city had begun (July, 1863) and all business was
at a standstill. The three hundred dollars' clause was the cause of the
trouble. A man in moderate circumstances could pay that amount and be
exempt from military service, but a poor man would be compelled to go.
The State militia being away, the city was defenceless. Besides, there
were thirty thousand known criminals among the population, and a great
number of rebel sympathizers. The drawing of names for the draft took
place at Forty-second Street and Second Avenue. Early in the morning a
large mob gathered and very quickly drove the officers from the building
and gutted the place most thoroughly. The police from that precinct came
running up Second Avenue, and used their clubs very freely. When they
got close to the mob, affairs were different. The rioters disarmed the
police and gave them a most unmerciful beating, several being killed
outright. One had sought refuge in a house, where he was found hidden
under a mattress and thrown out of a second-story window. Everything in
the building was destroyed and the place set on fire. The same result
happened at every house where a policeman had been assisted or
sheltered. Next the Invalid Corps, composed of disabled soldiers, made a
charge on the crowd.

They were disarmed and driven back, and in a short time news of the riot
spread over the city and pandemonium reigned for the time being. All
places of business were closed and not a policeman dared to leave the
station-houses. A number of good citizens took possession of the
armories and arsenals and guarded them from capture by the rioters.
Buildings in different parts of the city were set on fire, and the
firemen would be on hand with their engines, but would not be allowed to
throw a single stream of water. The Coloured Orphan Asylum was pillaged
and burnt to the ground. The Old Firemen's was an or