Very interesting letter about 1863 Draft Riots and New York Assay Office
RogerB
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During the New York Draft Riots of July 1863, the Assay Office was a potential target. The building had few defenses and only a handful of rifles. U.S. Army troops fresh from battle at Gettysburg could not be spared to guard the building. Here is a previously unknown description by Superintendent George Dunning of his “Sulphuric Acid Battery” used to protect the Assay Office.
This is a very insightful account and is surmounted only by Frank Leach’s 1906 description of the San Francisco earthquake and fire.
“United States Assay Office
New York
August 7, 1863
Hon. James Pollock,
Director, U.S. Mint
I send enclosed by requisition upon the department for $30,000, which, I respectfully request, may be immediately forwarded with your approval.
In a private note recently received from Dr. Linderman, I am asked to describe for your information, the “Sulphuric Acid Battery” which was extemporized at this office for defense against the rioters. I fear that in giving so formidable a name to a very simple affair I may have given an exaggerated idea of its importance.
The Treasury and Assay Office building in New York are protected in the basement and principal stories by strong iron doors and shutters. It was anticipated that in the event of an attack by the mob, efforts would be made to force these doors and windows; or failing there, to gain an entrance by ladders through our second story windows, which are entirely without shutters. As our supply of men and arms for the defense of the building was limited, I deemed it prudent, and eminently appropriate, that the Assay Office should fall back on its carboys !
At the most exposed points in the second story, porcelain parting jars were placed, with carboys of sulphuric [sic] acid ready to be decanted at a moment’s notice. Pitchers and India-rubber gloves were also at hand, and men selected for the duty of dispensing the acid in liberal doses.
The rioters did no visit us, but we have been informed that at one time they were meditating a night attack upon us, and were dissuaded from the attempt by learning that we had bomb-shells, and “sulphuric acid” batteries at all the windows !
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
George F. Dunning, Superintendent”
[RG104 Entry 1 Box 070. Available free at NNP. Original images made by John G.]
Comments
Thank you Roger for your always interesting and informative posts. That letter is a very concise but descriptive narrative that told a story of the building, the people and events that I could clearly visualize. Thanks again.
This type of "insider" commentary is unusual for government agencies and employees. The strict chain of authority resulted in little first-hand description becoming public. As noted above, Frank Leach's comments in letters to Mint HQ are revealing about conditions in the Mint and the city. They also highlight the high-risk initiatives Leach took to maintain financial viability in the burned-out city core.
Rodger
Thanks for returning back again. You do incredable research and are generous to share it here. You are a better man than I for coming back after a second go of banning
Thanks
Martin
Thanks Roger, you come up with some fascinating history. Nasty stuff, sulfuric acid, I'm sure just word getting out about that acid being deployed at the office would dissuade potential attackers.
I think the depiction of the draft riots in "Gangs of New York" is about as realistic as we will see in film.
Wow hard core protection. Thanks for the history lesson.
I saw that some time ago on the NNP. A hoot, ain’t it? Can you imagine if some gov’t official suggested throwing sulphuric acid on “demonstrators” today? There’d be riots in the streets!
BTW, welcome back.
This episode could make a fascinating movie.
Wow... that seems extreme... however, for the times - and considering the bloody reality of battles such as Gettysburg - perhaps people were inured to such violent defenses. It would certainly stop a major attack by a mob. Cheers, RickO
The NYAO only had a couple of rifles and a pistol available. The doorman was the security chief and there were a couple of guards. A determined mob could have pried off one of the first floor sets of bars and had free run of the place. (Window bars were welded to iron frames that were then bolted into the stone facade. Kind of like a wire grill for BBQing chicken.)
Great read as always. Thanks Roger
I wonder what the average value was of gold and silver on hand there throughout 1863?
Thank you for coming back @RogerB. You are one of the greatest assets we have on this forum.
+1
POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
Welcome back
Great story, and a good question by @CaptHenway
I'll check and post an answer tomorrow.
Roger, I thought I had missed my chance to thank you for all the history you post but all is well now. Thanks for lots of good stuff.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
You're welcome!
RE: "I wonder what the average value was of gold and silver on hand there throughout 1863?"
For FY 1862 the NYAO processed 24,694,911.13 oz. gold bullion and 1,493,952.04 oz. silver bullion. The report also shows weight of old U.S. gold and silver coins they processed.
That’s a lot of gold! So on any given day they would probably have 100,000 ounces or more of gold being processed.
Yep. At that time NYAO was still largely a refining facility, so bullion flowed in, was processed, then sent to the Philadelphia Mint, although some was cast in 400 oz bars for direct export through the ports of New York and Plattsburg (Lake Champlain).