War Protesters in the CW

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Here's a question for those more learned on this forum in the life and times of the citizenry during the war, and that is, how prevelant were open and active war protests during the war? Aside from a few documented groups opposed to the war up North, has anyone seen contemporary accounts of organized protests to the level of what we see today or perhaps the Viet Nam era? Any and all comments and thoughts are appreciated.

[ArtilleryNick]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

One of the biggest protests to the war as well as the draft that was ennacted that comes to my mind was the protesting and rioting in New York in late July of 63. Even had Federal troops sent to New York who had participated in the fighting in the peaceful town of Gettysburg. I believe that this also was racially motivated as well, but they were protesting the war.

[NoahBriggs]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

Americans seem to love a good riot now and then. Down in Dixie there were the Richmond Bread Riots. As the name implies the initial protest was the scarcity of food. It soon widened, though, into a general riot protesting the war and its drain on the Confederate economy.

[Canton Zouave]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

The Land of Vallandingham is full of organized and disorganized anti-war efforts. Many of the Ohio papers that I have reviewed cover a lot of the anti-war movement. The Ohio Repository and the Stark County Democrat give both the Pro-War and Anti-War views respectfully, and can be viewed at the Ohio Historical Society. Archibald McGregor, the Editor for the Stark County Democrat was an ardent anti-war supporter. The Ohio Repository, a Republican paper, has many articles identifying such anti-war groups as the "Knights of the Golden Circle" & McClellan's Avengers, just to name a few. I will dig out some of my notes and post some volume and page numbers if you wish to look up some additional information.

[bizzilizzit]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

Americans seem to love a good riot now and then. Down in Dixie there were the Richmond Bread Riots. As the name implies the initial protest was the scarcity of food. It soon widened, though, into a general riot protesting the war and its drain on the Confederate economy.

Did you know some Southern papers suggested that the so-called Bread Riots news accounts were actually propaganda started by Northen newspapers to demoralize the Southern people?
Elizabeth Topping

[bizzilizzit]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

One of the biggest protests to the war as well as the draft that was ennacted that comes to my mind was the protesting and rioting in New York in late July of 63. Even had Federal troops sent to New York who had participated in the fighting in the peaceful town of Gettysburg. I believe that this also was racially motivated as well, but they were protesting the war.

As I understand it, they weren't proesting the war, they were protesting the draft and it's unfair addendums to the poor.
Elizabeth Topping

[Silvana Siddali]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

Elizabeth is right; the Richmond Examiner, for example, was full of editorials on the bread riots, though most of those editorials claimed that the riots were instigated by Irish women.

I'd like to get back to the original question, though, since to my mind anti-war protesting and rioting aren't exactly the same thing. The riots in July 1863 were specifically targeted against the draft laws and the recent Emancipation Proclamation. Yes, they're also related to the Democrat antiwar movements, but not in a pacifist sense.

There are some great new works out there on the peace movement and antiwar protests. Check out Jennifer Weber's new book Copperheads (Oxford, 2006) for a detailed description of the loyal and disloyal opposition.

By the way, I'd like to recommend a fantastic primary source collection on peaceful protest: Nonviolence in America: A Documentary History (Orbis, 1995). I think this would be your best bet for learning more about various forms of peaceful abolitionist dissent. You might also check out Jacquelyn Nelson's 1991 Indiana Quakers Confront the Civil War.

[Linda Humphries]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

Salisbury NC Bread Riot in March 1863

You can read about it at this address:

http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/mar2005/index.html

[Enfilade]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

There were plenty of malcontents during the War. In North Carolina alone there was a swell of anti-war movements attributed to the "Raleigh Standard" editor William Holden who ran unsuccessfully against Zeb Vance during the war for Governor. But after the War Johnson appointed him Governor.

Also bushwackers and deserters who fled from duty in Lee's Army and hid out in the NC mountains and Piedmont foothills caused havoc. Eventually the Confederate military was dispatched to arrest them and bring them to justice.

There was also riots in Salem when Stoneman came through in 1865. Many ransacked the famous Fries Mill and stole cloth and equipment.

As far as the Hippie-Drug Culture 1960's marching in the streets holding signs, etc, and comparing it to the 1860's cannot be given justice. But in it's own way, the American Civil War had it's desenters. Even in the South.

Regards,

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles

http://www.northstaterifles.com

combinations@northstate.net

[Seamus]

Re: War Protesters in the CW

Ross,

This was posted on the Olustee Homepage. In reference to Major Archibald Bogle, 1st North Carolina (colored) Infantry.
"Major Bogle reached Camp Sumter on March 14, and shortly afterward a civilian arrived among some other Olustee prisoners. David A. Cable, who had been a captain in a ninety-day Ohio regiment in 1861, had apparently dropped out of the conflict because of dissatisfaction with the political turn it had taken. Somehow he attached himself to the Federal army that penetrated Florida, and when he fell into Southern hands he introduced himself as what might have been called a minister extraordinary - very extraordinary. He said he had come representing Northern peace men who wished to work with the Confederates to see Lincoln defeated in the November election. From the Andersonville stockade he wrote the Confederate vice-president Alexander Stephens, to propose a meeting; Stephens asked President Davis to grant Cable a parole for that purpose, but David and Stephens did not get on well and the arrangement was never made. The gate that closed behind Mr. Cable would not reopen for him while he lived."

James