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Charleston riot
The Charleston riot occurred on March 28, 1864, in Charleston, Illinois, after Union soldiers who were home on leave and local Republicans clashed with local anti war Democrats known as Copperheads. By the time the violent confrontation had ended, six Union soldiers and three civilians were killed and twelve others were wounded in what was one of the deadliest Civil War riots in the North. Besides the New York City draft riots of 1863, the Charleston Riot resulted in the greatest number of casualties of any such event in the North during the American Civil War. Fifty individuals would be initially arrested following the incident.
Political and personal animosities exemplified the clash of cultural differences in the North and especially in Coles County, Illinois during the time of the riot. These relations would ultimately boil over in the form of the Charleston riot that would become national news, being highlighted in notable papers such as the Chicago Tribune, New York World, and Richmond Examiner.
Civil-versus-military control and personal relationships from Illinois would lead to President Abraham Lincoln’s involvement in the aftermath. Lincoln had direct ties to Charleston. Notably, one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates occurred at the Charleston fairgrounds. Lincoln practiced law In Charleston and knew many residents. His father and stepmother also resided in Coles County, and he owned property there.
The aftermath of the riot centered around fifteen prisoners detained after the riot who became pawns in the struggle between the military who wanted to try them as an example to deter future insurrections, and the efforts of family and local supporters who appealed to the president for resolution through civil proceedings. Ultimately, Lincoln would set the prisoners free on November 4, 1864, after months of discourse and indecision.
Coles County was a contrasting blend of immigrants from the democratic, agricultural south, particularly Kentucky, along with those from the East Coast, who had originally settled in the area during the early 1800's. Many of these families from Kentucky were of Irish and Scottish descent, some tracing back their service to the American Revolutionary War. By the 1860s, Coles County was home to a rich, interrelated community which included some successful farmers. Its residents were in a sea of discontent for reasons including the economic hardships that came with the suffering of the Southern markets, the drafting of soldiers into the Union Army, the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans in local/national politics, and the overall bleak situation of the war. Many of the local Copperheads were among those who were particularly frustrated with the war.
Although the Charleston Riot is often considered as the marking of the pinnacle of the political tensions that existed during that time, there were other notable encounters that occurred beforehand that intensified the situation. In the face of the upcoming election, the Copperheads increased their political activity. This drove the political divide to violent levels. While Union soldiers were home on leave, there were reported incidents where they, after consuming corn whiskey, would force Democrats they saw around to get down on their knees and swear allegiance to the Union. On January 29, 1864, prominent citizens Judge Charles H. Constable and Dr. J. W. Dora became their target. The following day, in Mattoon, Illinois, Charles Shoalmax of the 17th Illinois Cavalry shot and killed Copperhead Edwards Stevens.
The level of violence in Charleston itself leading up to the riot was not as severe, but still significant. On March 26, two Copperheads were attacked and disarmed. Earlier that month, two Democrats also took a severe beating from Union Soldiers.
The news coverage of the event stated that the Peace Democrats were responsible for beginning the event. One such news source, from the Chicago Tribune, later reprinted in the Charleston Courier, labeled Nelson Wells as the instigator of the conflict. Most articles published from the time, insist that the whole event transpired as a more spontaneous event and was not directly prompted by any one individual. The most likely explanation is that the event occurred because a sizable presence of both Copperheads and Union soldiers had been in town that day. Many sources speculate that a sizable portion of the participants, at least on the side of the Peace Democrats, had been drinking quite heavily all day, and this led to the outbreak that resulted in the confrontation. Also, one of the events that is noted to have influenced the riot was the treatment of Judge Charles H. Constable by Union soldiers in January 1864 in Mattoon, Illinois. The soldiers humiliated Constable by making him swear allegiance to the federal government, due to his decision to allow four Union deserters to go free in Marshall, Illinois in March 1863. When the riot began, Judge Constable was holding court in Charleston.
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Charleston riot
The Charleston riot occurred on March 28, 1864, in Charleston, Illinois, after Union soldiers who were home on leave and local Republicans clashed with local anti war Democrats known as Copperheads. By the time the violent confrontation had ended, six Union soldiers and three civilians were killed and twelve others were wounded in what was one of the deadliest Civil War riots in the North. Besides the New York City draft riots of 1863, the Charleston Riot resulted in the greatest number of casualties of any such event in the North during the American Civil War. Fifty individuals would be initially arrested following the incident.
Political and personal animosities exemplified the clash of cultural differences in the North and especially in Coles County, Illinois during the time of the riot. These relations would ultimately boil over in the form of the Charleston riot that would become national news, being highlighted in notable papers such as the Chicago Tribune, New York World, and Richmond Examiner.
Civil-versus-military control and personal relationships from Illinois would lead to President Abraham Lincoln’s involvement in the aftermath. Lincoln had direct ties to Charleston. Notably, one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates occurred at the Charleston fairgrounds. Lincoln practiced law In Charleston and knew many residents. His father and stepmother also resided in Coles County, and he owned property there.
The aftermath of the riot centered around fifteen prisoners detained after the riot who became pawns in the struggle between the military who wanted to try them as an example to deter future insurrections, and the efforts of family and local supporters who appealed to the president for resolution through civil proceedings. Ultimately, Lincoln would set the prisoners free on November 4, 1864, after months of discourse and indecision.
Coles County was a contrasting blend of immigrants from the democratic, agricultural south, particularly Kentucky, along with those from the East Coast, who had originally settled in the area during the early 1800's. Many of these families from Kentucky were of Irish and Scottish descent, some tracing back their service to the American Revolutionary War. By the 1860s, Coles County was home to a rich, interrelated community which included some successful farmers. Its residents were in a sea of discontent for reasons including the economic hardships that came with the suffering of the Southern markets, the drafting of soldiers into the Union Army, the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans in local/national politics, and the overall bleak situation of the war. Many of the local Copperheads were among those who were particularly frustrated with the war.
Although the Charleston Riot is often considered as the marking of the pinnacle of the political tensions that existed during that time, there were other notable encounters that occurred beforehand that intensified the situation. In the face of the upcoming election, the Copperheads increased their political activity. This drove the political divide to violent levels. While Union soldiers were home on leave, there were reported incidents where they, after consuming corn whiskey, would force Democrats they saw around to get down on their knees and swear allegiance to the Union. On January 29, 1864, prominent citizens Judge Charles H. Constable and Dr. J. W. Dora became their target. The following day, in Mattoon, Illinois, Charles Shoalmax of the 17th Illinois Cavalry shot and killed Copperhead Edwards Stevens.
The level of violence in Charleston itself leading up to the riot was not as severe, but still significant. On March 26, two Copperheads were attacked and disarmed. Earlier that month, two Democrats also took a severe beating from Union Soldiers.
The news coverage of the event stated that the Peace Democrats were responsible for beginning the event. One such news source, from the Chicago Tribune, later reprinted in the Charleston Courier, labeled Nelson Wells as the instigator of the conflict. Most articles published from the time, insist that the whole event transpired as a more spontaneous event and was not directly prompted by any one individual. The most likely explanation is that the event occurred because a sizable presence of both Copperheads and Union soldiers had been in town that day. Many sources speculate that a sizable portion of the participants, at least on the side of the Peace Democrats, had been drinking quite heavily all day, and this led to the outbreak that resulted in the confrontation. Also, one of the events that is noted to have influenced the riot was the treatment of Judge Charles H. Constable by Union soldiers in January 1864 in Mattoon, Illinois. The soldiers humiliated Constable by making him swear allegiance to the federal government, due to his decision to allow four Union deserters to go free in Marshall, Illinois in March 1863. When the riot began, Judge Constable was holding court in Charleston.