by Gregory Kopp
After the draft riots had been over, Johannes walked up Third Avenue to what was left of the Provost Marshall Draft office.
“Soldier,” he said to a Union private guarding the office. “Where can I go to enlist?” The soldier pointed Johannes toward the officer in charge sitting at a narrow table with a crisp new uniform. The officer was writing dispatches to the Secretary of War. He took down Johannes’ name and instructed him to report for duty at the New York City Armory.
Johannes and other soldiers in the Union Army were sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in August 1863. They would engage the Confederate Army in a pivotal battle as a prelude to the fall of Atlanta.
Meantime, President Lincoln replaced the ineffective General Wool with Democrat General Dix, a tough no-nonsense commander. He would now be in charge of the Department of the East which included New York City.
New York City Mayor Opdyke served out the rest of his term but never ran again for elective office. The New York City draft riots disillusioned him on a future in politics.
Chapter Thirty-One
Madison, Alabama
Ethan, the Confederate private who escaped from New York City, made his way back to his home in Alabama. As he slowly walked up the dusty road to his farm, he spotted his widowed mother working in the garden.
“Hello, Ma. “He said.
His mother straightened up and looked at the bearded young man dressed in torn and dirty clothing. She squinted and then recognized him.
“My Lord, it’s Ethan!” and she hugged him tightly and burst into tears. She had been informed by the Confederate Government that he and his brother Daniel had been killed in Gettysburg.
After a welcome home dinner in their small farmhouse, Ethan revealed to his mother the British gold bar, he had stolen from the Treasury Building in New York City. She was frightened that the Yankees would come looking for it. They decided to bury it on the banks of the Tennessee River until after the war was over. Meantime, Ethan used the gold coins he stuffed in his pockets during the skirmish with Union militia soldiers to buy food and clothing for his family.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Washington City
“I am aware, Mr. Trenchard, you are not used to the manners of good society, and that, alone, will excuse the impertinence of which you have been guilty.” Mrs. Mountchessington said as she stomped off the stage.*
“Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap.” Said Asa Trenchard as he bowed to her. *
*Source : Our American Cousin
The audience in the theater erupted into uproarious laughter. At that precise moment, a gunshot was heard in the presidential box above. A good-looking young man in a black suit jumped out of the box to the stage. As he was flying through the air, he shouted “Sic Semper Tyrannus!”. But he caught a spur on the banner and bunting covering the box and landed on the stage with a dull thud fracturing a bone in his leg.
Just then a woman screamed “murder” and a man in a Union Army Major’s uniform holding a bleeding arm on his side shouted, “Stop that man!” He pointed in the direction of the man in the black suit limping quickly off the stage toward the exit of the theater. The audience exploded with noise and commotion. Someone shouted, “The President is assassinated!” While another one shouted, “Was there a surgeon in the house?”
Meanwhile, the assassin after forcing his way backstage past several workers reached the back door and went into the alley. Snatching the reins of his horse from an unwitting stagehand, John Wilkes Booth jumped on the horse’s back and galloped down F Street into the darkness.
Afterword
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves.. shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free”*
*Source: https://www.archives.gov/
I encountered these powerful words within the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States National Archives while researching my great great grandparents Stanislaus and Karolina.
I realized, that the issuance of this document represented the turning point in the American Civil War. The deadliest riots in New York City history and European palace intrigues were unable to stop President Lincoln’s inexorable march toward a "new birth of freedom".
The Kopp Chronicles continue as Stanislaus, Karolina, and other historical figures confront life’s uncertainties after the American Civil War!
Appendix One – Europe’s Great Powers
A photograph of General Christophe Michel Roguet, Aide-de-Camp to Emperor Napoleon III.
Source : http://military-photos.com/garde4.htm
A photograph of Prussian Crown Prince Regent William I circa 1870.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaiser_Wilhelm_I_nach_1870.JPG
An excerpt from an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 17 August 1860 describing the meeting in Baden between French Emperor Napoleon III and the Princes of the German Confederation.
Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13044543
Appendix Two – United States Census & Presidential Election
1860 Census form in Delphos, Ohio describing Stanislaus (Nicholas) and Karolina (Caroline)
Source : https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBS4-CKH?i=1&cc=1473181
A photograph of President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration on March 4, 1861 at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_inauguration_1861.jpg
Appendix Three – The Draft
A Confederate Army recruiting poster urging Southerners to avoid conscription (draft) circa 1862.
Source : https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/civil_war_series/3/sec2.htm
A recruiting poster from New York City prior to the New York City Draft riots printed by Baker & Godwin circa June 23, 1863.
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrollment_Act
A photograph of the only Draft Wheel that survived the New York City Draft riots. The Civil War Draft began with Draft Wheels similar to this over the entire city.
Source : https://www.nyhistory.org/civil-war-draft-wheel
Appendix Four – New York City Draft Riots
A photograph of New York City Mayor George Opdyke circa 1855-1865 who served in office from 1862 until 1864.
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Opdyke
A photograph of New York City Police Superintendent John Kennedy circa 1844-1860.
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alexander_Kennedy
A photograph of General Ward B. Burnett of the New York City Volunteers circa 1860-1865.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gen._Ward_B._Burnett_-_NARA_-_529245.jpg
A drawing from Harpers Weekly of the rioters and police during the New York City Draft riots in July, 1863.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_Draft_Riots_-_Harpers_-_beating.jpg
A drawing of rioters attacking a building on Lexington Avenue during the New York Draft Riots in July, 1863.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NYRiot.jpg
The lynching of a black man as depicted in Harpers Weekly during the New York City Draft Riots in July, 1863.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_Draft_Riots_-_Harpers_-_lynching.jpg
A drawing of the United States Sub Treasury Building and Assay Office in New York City circa 1867.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miller%27s_New_York_as_it_is-_(1867)_(14577924048).jpg
A photograph of Robert Todd Lincoln circa 1860-1870.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Todd_Lincoln,_three-quarter_length_portrait,_seated.jpg
Appendix Five – New York City Tenements
A photograph of a row of houses in the Five Points neighborhoo
d of Manhattan circa 1879.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Five_Points_New_York_City_C.1879.gif
A photograph by Jacob Riis of “Bottle Alley” New York City circa 1890.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bottle_Alley_Why%27o_Gang_Headquarters.jpg
A photograph by Jacob Riis of the notorious “Bandit`s Roost” 59 1/2 Mullbery Street New York City circa 1888.
Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bandit%27s_Roost_by_Jacob_Riis.jpeg
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About the Author
Gregory Kopp is a graduate of Northwestern University and a Principal Consultant for Kopp Company, a privately held firm specializing in Human Capital, Enterprise Performance and Media & Entertainment Consulting. Gregory is also a Talent Ambassador for The Walt Disney Company.
Read more at Gregory Kopp’s site.