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colored people.
Their Orphan Asylum was attacked, and the inmates fearfully abused, and the rioters,—imitating the Paris riots at the outbreak of the French Revolution,—hanged some of their victims to the lamp-posts.
The defection in New York spread to Boston, and to other parts of the country; but nowhere was life so brutally assailed, and property placed in jeopardy, as in the former city.
Reliable information was received at the State House that a riot was likely to take place in Boston.
The Governor took immediate means to prevent it. The chief point of attack of the rioters was to be the armory of the Eleventh Battery, in Cooper Street, in which were deposited the guns of that company,—the only available cannon in the city.
It became apparent, on the afternoon of the 14th, that an outbreak would at least be attempted; and active preparations to meet the exigency were immediately made.
The alarm spread also to the cities of Cambridge, Roxbury, Charlestown, Lowell, and New Bedford; and applications were made by the authorities of those places to the Governor for military assistance to maintain order, which requests were granted to the full extent demanded.
A brief abstract of the orders issued, having reference to the anticipated riots, will illustrate the active energy and determined resolution of the Governor to suppress all insubordination.
We give them in the order in which they were issued.
The afternoon of July 14, Major Charles W. Wilder, commanding the First Battalion Light Dragoons, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, was ordered to have the companies in his command assemble at their armories forthwith, and await orders.
Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Holmes, commanding the First Company of Cadets, received like orders.
He was to apply to the Master of Ordnance for ammunition.
Major-General Andrews, of the First Division, with his staff, was to report immediately to the State House. Brigadier-General R. A. Peirce, in command of Readville Camp, was ordered to send in the men belonging to the Second Regiment Heavy Artillery, then being recruited at Readville, under command of Colonel Frankle, who were to report at headquarters,
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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