In 1863.
"While others cowered in fear of mob violence, Henry Jarvis Raymond, editor of the New York Times and a prominent Republican politician, was prepared to fight. Daily, he blasted the mob in flaming editorials in the Times.
Brightly illuminated by night, its plate glass windows gleaming a challenge to the mob, the imposing Times Building, an arrogant symbol of wealth, seemed to dare the rioters to attack. Raymond, who advised 'Give them grape (shot) , and plenty of it.' was quite ready to do so.
Inside the two northern windows, commanding the most likely avenues of attack were mounted Gatling Guns, manned by Raymond himself and Leonard Walter Jerome, a major stockholder of the New York Times (and future grandfather of Winston Churchill).
A third Gatling was on the roof of the building, in position to sweep the streets below. The entire staff of the newspaper had been equipped with rifles and stood ready for the attack that might have come at any moment. The Times was waited for the mob-Messrs. Raymond and Jerome probably would have like nothing better than a chance to play Gatling music for the rioters' edification but the attack never came. Learning that the Timesmen were well armed, the mob directed its attentions elsewhere. As it was to do many times in future years, the Gatling Gun had served well-without firing a shot."
I mentioned in our July 2 post on the suicidal charge at Gettysburg, "157 Years Ago Today the Course Of History Was Changed" that:
...Toward the end of the second day of battle at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, around 6:00 pm, the Confederates from Alabama were charging at a gap in the Union lines which when taken would allow them to wheel 90 degrees left and roll up the bluecoats by attacking from an unexpected and thus undefended direction.The stalemate-of-the-entire-war bit was not hyperbole.
When the 'Bama boys broke through it would force the Union forces to retreat, losing any chance at crushing the rebels and force a stalemate of the battle and more than likely the entire war, leaving in place the status quo ante and leaving the slaves in chains for at least another generation....
Sentiment in the North against the war had turned so negative that had General Lee been successful in Pennsylvania ten days earlier, the entire Union effort would have collapsed and Lincoln more than likely would have been impeached and convicted.
This is attested to by the fact that even with the Northern victory the riots that broke out in New York City over the draft came close to ending the great cause.
From The New York Times, July 14, 1863:
THE MOB IN NEW-YORK.; Resistance to the Draft--Rioting and Bloodshed. Conscription Offices Sacked and Burned. Private Dwellings Pillaged and Fired.
An ARMORY AND A HOTEL DESTROYED. Colored people Assaulted--An Unoffending Black Man Hung.The Tribune office Attacked--The Colored Orphan Asylum Ransacked and Burned--Other Outrages and Incidents.
A DAY OF INFAMY AND DISGRACE. ATTACK UPON SUPERINTENDENT KENNEDY. THE ATTACK ON THE ARMORY IN SECOND-AVENUE. SCENES BY AN EYE-WITNESS.
BURNING OF THE ORPHAN ASYLUM FOR COLORED CHILDREN. ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE OFFICE. OUTRAGES UPON COLORED PERSONS.
COURAGEOUS ACTION OF THE POLICE.
THE ATTACK ON THE MAYOR'S RESIDENCE. MEETING OF EX-OFFICERS AT THE ARMORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. CHARACTER OF THE MOB.
ROVING RIOTERS. APPREHENDED
ATTACK ON THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS. THE HOUSES BURNED IN LEXINGTON-AVENUE. DESTRUCTION OF A BLOCK ON BROADWAY. BULL'S HEAD HOTEL. A STATION-HOUSE AND THE RESIDENCE OF THE CITY POSTMASTER BURNED.
THIEVES AND PICKPOCKETS. THE POLICE. PREPARATIONS FOR TO-DAY.
