In his letter of June 28, 1861, to his brother Phineas Flint in River Falls, Jerry Flint provides a first-hand account of the Milwaukee Bank Riot. This letter is in the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center.
Camp Utley,
Racine, June 28 1861
Dear Brother,
I have just returned from Milwaukee where we were ordered by Gen. King1 to break up the mob that had assembled to tear down the bank. You have of course read of the cause in the papers, so I will not stop to write it. About half past ten on Monday [June 24] the Col.2 received a despatch from Mil.3 to send two companies as soon as possible. The “Hudson Guard” was the first named, and the “Geneva Independents” next. In less than two hours from the time they telegraphed we were there and marching upon the mob, which numbered at least 500. They had just taken possession of a brass cannon, loaded with canister shot. This was taken from them before they had time to wheel it around into working order, by a detachment of our company, together with the Mil. Zouaves.4 After this, the mob dispersed, with the intention of rallying with greater force, as they said and, “cut us all to pieces.” The artillery company then placed one cannon so that it would sweep the bridge on Wisconsin Street and also guarding the Juneau Bank, and another at the corner of Main and Wis.3 The companies were then divided up and stationed in different parts of the city. I was with about 25 others, under Lieut. Keefe5 placed as a guard around the cannon on Wis.3 Street. You may think it strange that a gun, in our possession should need a guard around it, but I will tell you how it was. The artillery company were all German and this was a German mob, and we were afraid they were disposed to favor them, and so indeed it proved to be, for about midnight we had noticed several sly motions, but said nothing and kept walking backwards and forwards, apparently paying but little attention to what was going on. It was not long before their Captain gave them an order in dutch, we saw them spring to their cannon, but they were not quite quick enough for before they knew which way to turn, we had them between a couple of rows of pretty sharp bayonets. Our muskets were also pretty heavily loaded with buckshot. After they saw their situation, they cooled down and pretended that they meant nothing, just at this time the relief guard was called out. Before we left, we told the relief about it so as to have them on their guard. In about an hour, they tried the same trick on them. The Major6 was just passing and immediately ordered the Captain arrested. Before this however there had two more companies arrived from Racine, and one from Madison, so that including what citizens had taken up arms, there were nearly one thousand men, well armed, in the city. The next morning [Tuesday, June 25], everything was quiet, although a strict guard was kept. At 8 o’clock our company was marched up in front of the Police Office to keep away the crowd. The Zouaves then went to the jail and brought 25 of the prisoners down and marched them into the Office for trial. The crowd that had assembled was immense and the Germans were so thick that it was feared they would attempt to rescue the prisoners. Gen. King ordered the street to be cleared but the crowd refusing to stir. The Zouaves formed across the street in two ranks, and with charged bayonets rushed upon them. T’was fun to see them scatter. We still retained our position while another company formed on our right extending across the street and another on our left, rendering it impossible for the crowd to press in. The rest of the prisoners were then marched down and all allowed to go away on bail. Gov. Randall7 arrived in the afternoon and ordered the artillery removed from the streets. The next morning (Wednesday) [June 26] the rumor came that a large number of Germans were coming in from the country to assist in raising another row, but it was supposed generally to be false as everything appeared to be quiet. Things went on this way until [we] were seated at dinner when the order came quick and sharp “Hudson City Guards” “fall in.” In almost no time every man was in his place. Colonels Cutler8 and Paine with Gen. King rode on in front, while we marched by platoons down to East Water St. Where the mob had assembled to about 1500. As we approached them, we formed a hollow square so as to defend ourselves on all sides and marched right straight through them, they showing no fight except swinging clubs, and yelling most furiously, by this time two more companies had arrived at the spot and halted. The Major6 then announced to the mob that unless they immediately dispersed they would not be allowed [to] disperse at all, after a short consultation, they concluded to take up with the terms offered them so there was no fight this time. There being no more excitements at 10 [o’clock] Thursday morning [June 27] the soldiers were all sent away except our company, which it was thought best, to retain another day. By writing as I have done now you cannot form a correct idea of what a mob is until you have seen one, and to march into one is nothing very aggreable [sic]. Such beastly yells, with the swinging of knives and clubs was perfectly horrible. But there was only one thing that troubled the boys and that was we must wait for “orders.” We had to stand perfectly calm and let the wretches call us sons of bitches and everything that does rile and not allowed to charge after them. We some expect to have to go back Monday as the mob has threatened to burn the city unless the bankers redeem their bills. There was one thing that made us feel sad. One of the Sheboygan Riflemen9 belonging to our regiment was killed by accident. They came up in the morning and stacked their rifles on the sidewalk and it being so smooth one of the stacks commenced slipping. He sprung forward to keep them from falling, when one of them discharged the ball, passing through his breast. He just clasped his hands over the wound and exclaimed “oh dear” and sank back lifeless. If he had been killed in battle it would not have seemed so hard, because we are expecting it. I assure you, it was a hard sight.
There were only two men killed of the mob and that was done by the Lieut. of the Zouaves the first day before we arrived.
Capt. White10 acquitted himself to the satisfaction of all his men, marching boldly in front telling the boys to come on. We have just presented him with a sword that cost 40 dollars. He has pledged himself never to disgrace it, and we have sworn to follow him through “rivers of blood.”
Our camp is now a splendid looking place. They have raised a flag staff nearly 120 feet long, and have a flag 36 feet long. There is also a “twelve pounder” stationed on the ground which belches forth its thunders every morning and night.
We have preaching in camp every Sabbath afternoon by the chaplain11 who is a very eloquent man. His name is Barry. I took tea last Sunday with a very handsome lady with black hair and eyes. I tell you what it is, there is some of the handsomest females in Racine I ever seen.
There is going to be a celebration here the Fourth. I will send you a programme and you can see what it is.
I cannot think of anything more at present which will interest you. I see things every day that I think will be interesting, but when I sit down to write I forget all about them.
Write often as I am anxious to hear from home.
Jerry
1. Rufus King.
2. Halbert Paine.
3. After spelling out Milwaukee and Wisconsin the first time he uses them, Jerry abbreviates both thereafter as Mil. and Wis.
4. The Milwaukee Zouaves will become Company B of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry.
5. James Keefe, from Hudson.
6. Frederick Boardman.
7. Alexander Randall.
8. Lysander Cutler.
9. Warren Van Ness Reed, from Lyndon, Wisconsin, had enlisted on May 2, 1861 in the Sheboygan County Volunteers, which became Comapny C of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry. In A History of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry and Cavalry in the Civil War, Michael J. Martin quotes a Racine newspaperman who “wrote that Reed was a ‘young man of fine abilities, beloved by his comrades.’ His untimely death ‘cast a complete gloom over the Regiment … It seems hard to lose any of our brave soldiers on the field of battle, but infinitely worse is it to see them fall through accidents of this kind.'” (page 12; New York: Savas Beatie, 2006; available in the UWRF University Archives & Area Research Center, E 537.5 4th .M37 2006) The official Roster mistakenly lists Reed as dying on June 29, 1861.
10. Daniel W. White, from Hudson.
11. A. C. Barry of Somers, Wisconsin, was the 4th Regiment’s chaplain from June 15, 1861, to June 8, 1862, when he resigned.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 