The June 1st (1861) issue of Harper's Weekly describes a deadly encounter between a group of Union volunteers and a St. Louis mob:
"About six o'clock (on 11th) [of May] a large body of Home Guards entered the city through Fifth Street from the [Union] Arsenal, where they had been enlisted during the day, and furnished with arms. On reaching Walnut Street the troops turned westward, a large crowd lining the pavement to witness their progress.
"At the corner of Fifth Street parties among the spectators began hooting, hissing, and otherwise abusing the companies as they passed, and a boy about fourteen years old discharged a pistol into their ranks.
"Part of the rear company [of the volunteers] immediately turned and fired upon the crowd, and the whole column was instantly in confusion, breaking their ranks and discharging their muskets down their own line and among the people on the sidewalks. The shower of balls for a few minutes was terrible, and bullets flying in every direction, entering the doors and windows of private residences, breaking shutters, and smashing bricks in the third story.
"The utmost confusion and consternation prevailed, spectators fleeing in all directions, and but for the random firing of the troops scores of people must have been killed. As most of the firing was directed down their own ranks the troops suffered most severely, four of their number being instantly killed and several wounded.
"Immense crowds of people filled the streets after the occurrence. The most intense indignation was expressed against the Germans. Mayor Taylor addressed the excited crowd and induced them to disperse under the promise that no further violence should be done. The city was comparatively quiet during the evening and night, a heavy rain preventing the assembling of large crowds."
Credits
Image, Information and quotes:
Harper's Weekly
JUNE 1, 1861 (Page 349)
"The Fight at Saint Louis"
Courtesy, Library of Congress.
