Rare Photo of an Urban Riot during the Civil War

Crud_Taylor

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16-2-Lincoln-riot.jpg


I came across this fantastic picture of a unionist riot in San Francisco in after Lincoln's assassination [here is the link] while doing some research for my dissertation. A line of police can be seen standing between the rioters and the offices of a pro-Southern newspaper. Apparently they couldn't keep the mob at bay because the presses were destroyed and "salvaged" by Charles and Michael De Young, who used the equipment to start the Daily Dramatic Chronicle. Michael De Young eventually became the director of the Associated Press.
 
An excerpt from a "San Francisco Letter" in the Sacramento Daily Union of April 21, 1865
sfriot.png
Attached is a pdf of the entire page containing the letter.

The ensuing paragraphs make it clear how little anyone knew of what was actually transpiring in the East. Rumor followed outrageous rumor. Some newspaper offices were plundered early in the day, but the police and military soon mobilized to protect others (as seen in the photograph).
 

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