"We are ordered to be ready to move at midnight. We take the boat to Milwaukee at half past one for Ozaukee we suppose. There seems to have been some disturbance there in relation to the draft, and the Governor has ordered eight companies of us there, in order that the presence of six hundred bayonets may cool them down....They have had a terrible time here, a perfect 'reign of terror.' Houses have been sacked, their contents destroyed, citizens almost murdered....about eighty or ninety prisoners have been taken."
Private Thomas N. Stevens (Correspondence)
Private Thomas N. Stevens (Correspondence)
 (Click to Enlarge)
The 28th regiment at a reunion in 1913. Source: The Library of Congress |
The Army
For the rioters, their lot ended up worse than if they had not rioted. "The steamer Sunbeam brought here this morning 81 of the Ozaukee rioters, who were under the charge of a detachment from the 28th, consisting of Captain White's company....They, [the rioters] looked deeply crestfallen, and they were probably ashamed of the scraps they have gotten themselves into. They have been taken to Camp Washburn, and will undoubtedly be put into the army without any further chance of a draft." The Milwaukee Wisconsin, November 13th.
The prisoners were eventually taken to Camp Randall and put into the army without a draft. Many of them were upset with the arrest and the decision, among them Nicholas Kemp and John Druecker. |
Other Draft Riots
The riot and the press coverage of the riot led to many other draft riots in Wisconsin. The first was in Washington County. "The following morning, the news of the riot at Ozaukee and the success of the mob there....produced great excitement. Just as he had completed the draft for [Trenton], the whole assemblage united in giving one of the most unearthly howls....It was the signal of the determination of the masses to follow the example of Ozaukee." The Madison Journal, November 12th, 1862.
The news reached Brown County as well. Hundreds of Belgian farmers, some of whom did not understand a word of English, marched upon the home of U.S. Senator Howe. Howe, who was a brave man, stepped out onto the terrace and delivered an impromptu speech. Much of this was lost on the crowd, but Senator Howe succeeded in slipping out a side door.
Governor Salomon, fully aware of what had happened in Ozaukee County, set the draft for Milwaukee back a week. In that time, there was continued threat of a riot. When the day came, the Governor picketed thousands of soldiers near the drafting place to stop a riot. This succeeded in stopping any violence.
The irony is the fact that only 1,700 out of 4,500 men drafted were actually mustered into the army. The others were discharged for various reasons.
The news reached Brown County as well. Hundreds of Belgian farmers, some of whom did not understand a word of English, marched upon the home of U.S. Senator Howe. Howe, who was a brave man, stepped out onto the terrace and delivered an impromptu speech. Much of this was lost on the crowd, but Senator Howe succeeded in slipping out a side door.
Governor Salomon, fully aware of what had happened in Ozaukee County, set the draft for Milwaukee back a week. In that time, there was continued threat of a riot. When the day came, the Governor picketed thousands of soldiers near the drafting place to stop a riot. This succeeded in stopping any violence.
The irony is the fact that only 1,700 out of 4,500 men drafted were actually mustered into the army. The others were discharged for various reasons.
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The Election of 1864 After the draft, there was a growing feeling of resentment among the Germans in Ozaukee County towards the Republican administration, and this showed up in the election of 1864 and beyond. "German Protestants, nowhere more numerous than in Ozaukee County, where the draft riots were at their worst, at no time gave a Republican presidential candidate a majority until the 1916 election." The Immigrant Experience in Wisconsin. As seen on the map, the blue represents McClellan and the red Lincoln. Ozaukee County went democratic, but Lincoln won the state. (Click on the image on the right to enlarge) |
This is a map of the Election of 1864  |
