The Pratt Street Riot of 1861

* Anniversary Bump!

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In 2011, the city planned a big parade to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the event and closed down Pratt St. along the Inner Harbor. There were dozens of groups in the line of march--everything from hundreds of reenactors to high school marching bands, a National Guard unit, baton twirlers, you name it.

Thousands were expected to turn out as spectators, including government representatives--the city had been planning and promoting the event for months. Then it started to pour down rain.

Every group in the line of march left except the reenactors. All the spectators left, too--the streets were empty.

The reenactors put on their ponchos and gum blankets and marched the entire parade route anyway, with flags flying and music playing. We were there to commemorate the service and sacrifices of the men who served--getting wet was a minor inconvenience compared to what they went through.

 
The Pratt St. Riot in Baltimore seems like a precursor to the St. Louis riot the following month after General Nathaniel Lyon captured insurgent militia at Camp Jackson in May 1861. The captured soldiers were paraded through the city by the Unionist 3rd Missouri Infantry thereby enraging the anger of pro-secessionist civilians. Gunfire broke out (it is claimed that it was an accident and unprovoked) leading to 28 civilian fatalities and Captain Constantin Blandowski of the 3rd Missouri.

Lyon was a complete hard***. A more fervent Unionists would be impossible to.find, and he never backed down for anyone.

He died in battle when, surrounded by Confederate soldiers, rather than surrender he started attacking them with rocks. One reb got smacked in the face with a big rock and his freind shot Lyon dead.

Lyon is just great.
 
Lyon was a complete hard***. A more fervent Unionists would be impossible to.find, and he never backed down for anyone.

He died in battle when, surrounded by Confederate soldiers, rather than surrender he started attacking them with rocks. One reb got smacked in the face with a big rock and his freind shot Lyon dead.

Lyon is just great.
That story is rather fictional and is continually repeated, General Lyon was on horseback, wearing a captains frock, attempting to rally his troops when he was shot from the saddle. Unless he had soldiers hading him rocks, he would not have been able to throw them.

There is no doubt that he was a bad a—, but some historical figures who died in their prime take on mythical proportions.

The Wilson’s Creek Park actually sells a print depicting his death. His personal surgeon also backs up the account in letters 1910, he retrieved the body and investigated the angle and direction of the wounds (3), at the Ray House.

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The Baltimore riot of 1861 (Pratt Street Riot) was a conflict which occurred on April 19, 1861, in Baltimore, Maryland. This conflict occurred between antiwar "Copperhead" Democrats and other Southern/Confederate sympathizers and members of the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania state militia regiments. These regiments were enroute to the national capital at Washington City, via the train system. The fighting began at the President Street Station (Baltimore Civil War Museum) and ended at the Camden Street Station. The riot produced the first deaths by hostile action in the American Civil War. This event was nicknamed the "First Bloodshed of the War between the States."

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I find it of notable coincidence that the first blood of this great struggle is drawn by Massachusetts men on the anniversary of Lexington.

I can't remember who said it but the quote has stuck with me from the moment I heard it.
 
The coincidence of the date was certainly noticed at the time as evidenced by this Currier & Ives lithograph from 1861 -
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https://americanantiquarian.org/earlyamericannewsmedia/exhibits/show/news-and-the-civil-war/item/55

Though no more outright violence of the kind seen on April 19 would occur as troops passed through Baltimore, the situation was still tense. Lance Herdegen - leading historian of the Iron Brigade - described what it was like for the Second Wisconsin to pass through the city in June 1861 in his book "The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory" (go buy and read this book it's absolutely incredible):

It was eighty miles from Harrisburg to Baltimore, where the 2nd Wisconsin would have to detrain and march through the city to reach another rail connection. When the train reached the Maryland state line, the boys in the cars raised cheers that continued for more than 30 minutes. "We were now in a secession state and all along the road there were squads of men stationed to prevent the burning of bridges and destroying other property," one new soldier wrote in his journal. Delays added to the long trip, and just as the first of the two trains carrying the Wisconsin men neared Baltimore the grim order was given to fix bayonets on their new muskets. The city was regarded as full of "Plug Uglies" and other hooligans who favored the Southern cause. At the depot, the soldiers detrained and formed ranks on a nearby street. Weighing on the minds of the new soldiers was the secessionist mob that had attacked the 6th Massachusetts during its march through Baltimore streets on April 19. When shots were fired at the Bay State troops the soldiers returned fire. Four soldiers and a dozen civilians died. Adding to the tension was the fact that the second train carrying the rest of the companies was running late. "This taxed our patience severely, for expecting their arrival every minute, it was at least three hours before they arrived," complained one soldier. While some soldiers slept on the dusty road, others mingled with curious onlookers. The tired and hungry Badgers were not permitted to take food or water from the citizenry for fear of poison. Police guarded them the entire time.

When the late second train finally arrived, the regiment formed for its journey through Baltimore. One private boasted with youthful vapor that he and his comrades "chafed like caged tigers" and were ready to teach the Plug Uglies a lesson that "they could have recited by heart for many a day." Many of the Wisconsin men, another private offered, "honestly wished for a muss with the sons of b*tches; and our guns were loaded - one bullet and three buck-shot each - and we had a mighty nervous feeling about the forefinger." It was a mile and a half tramp to the next depot and officers kept the Badger column under strict discipline, the soldiers marching along with a police escort assigned to watch the crowd. Despite the approach of midnight, citizens gathered on the sidewalks to launch shouts and cheers for the Confederacy mixed with groans, jeers, and curses for Wisconsin. A few stones sailed through the darkness and a couple pistol shots fired without damage, but the regiment was held firm by the company officers and did not respond. When one onlooker called out that the Wisconsin men were quaking in fear, a cheeky Badger raised a fist and yelled back that he and his friends "were shaking like h*ll to get hold of Jeff Davis." Sprinkled here and there along the route were signs of loyalty and the display of the Stars and Stripes, which served to cheer the soldiers.
 
Hats off to the reenactors of 2011 for their dedication!

By way of a contrast, if I'm not mistaken, (always a most distinct possibility!!!), sometime later, (a year or several months?) either the 5th or 10th New York were part of the garrison of Baltimore and upon being sent to the field were given a parade and reception by the citizens.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable could verify or debunk this story.

John
 
Even the lyrics to Maryland's state song, Maryland My Maryland, were inspired by this event, for example: "Avenge the patriotic gore That flecked the streets of Baltimore." And to illustrate where many Baltimore residents were coming from in those days: "Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!"

James Ryder Randall apparently wrote the poem "almost involuntarily" after finding out his friend Francis X. Ward had been killed by the 6th Massachusetts during the riot. "Some powerful spirit appeared to possess me ... the whole poem was dashed off rapidly ... [under] what may be called a conflagration of the senses, if not an inspiration of the intellect". The poem appeared a week after the riot on April 26 in the New Orleans paper The Sunday Delta. It was a plea for Maryland to secede.

Three days later on April 29, the state decisively voted down secession 53-13.
 
There is a book entitled Baltimore In The Civil War by a guy named Ezratty. I read it many many years ago so can't remember what I thought of it. I believe though it covered b the riots pretty well.

John
 
I find it of notable coincidence that the first blood of this great struggle is drawn by Massachusetts men on the anniversary of Lexington.

I can't remember who said it but the quote has stuck with me from the moment I heard it.
Massachusetts press made a great deal of that fact -- and that April 19 was also the date in 1689, when Royal Governor Andros was kicked out of Boston during the "Glorious Revolution".
 
In 2011, the city planned a big parade to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the event and closed down Pratt St. along the Inner Harbor. There were dozens of groups in the line of march--everything from hundreds of reenactors to high school marching bands, a National Guard unit, baton twirlers, you name it.

Thousands were expected to turn out as spectators, including government representatives--the city had been planning and promoting the event for months. Then it started to pour down rain.

Every group in the line of march left except the reenactors. All the spectators left, too--the streets were empty.

The reenactors put on their ponchos and gum blankets and marched the entire parade route anyway, with flags flying and music playing. We were there to commemorate the service and sacrifices of the men who served--getting wet was a minor inconvenience compared to what they went through.

Thanks for posting this. I can see myself among the soggy marchers. As foolish as it seemed, we were proud to carry on in such inclement conditions. The only secessionists in sight were a motley band of dubious characters with a "Hurrah for Jeff Davis" sign. Needless to say, we appreciated their enthusiastic presence despite their delusional politics. When we got back from the parade, the Sibley tent containing the rest of our stuff had collapsed in the high winds on the Ft. McHenry parapet, which forced us to sleep in the fort's flag room, which was mercifully dry, if not downright cozy. It was one of those memorable events that makes you ask yourself "was I having fun in all that rain?" Already knowing the answer was a resounding "H*ll Yeah!"
 
The Baltimore citizens may have a point. The military casualties from this event are the first caused by hostile action during the Civil War.
Vast majority of Baltimore citizens dont even know about this event, and as a Marylander, I dont think any who do think this was the start of the war. Never heard that in my life. We do claim it was the first casualties from fighting, though.
 
Vast majority of Baltimore citizens dont even know about this event, and as a Marylander, I dont think any who do think this was the start of the war. Never heard that in my life. We do claim it was the first casualties from fighting, though.

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment. My uncle lives in Towson, Maryland. Of course individuals everywhere know the ACW started on April 12, 1861. I agree with your comments about this event and Baltimore, Marylanders. But I will take it a step further. Most Americans don't know about this event and its association with Fort Sumter being fired upon by Confederate batteries.

Bill
 
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