Evidence 1: “Gen. Elzey and Gen. Winder waited upon the Secretary of War in the morning, asking permission to call the troops from the camps near the city, to suppress the women and children by a summary process. But Mr. Seddon hesitated, and then declined authorizing any such absurdity. He said it was a municipal or State duty, and therefore he would not take the responsibility of interfering in the matter.”—Document 13.1: John Beauchamp Jones, The Richmond Bread Riot

Evidence 2: “At 3 o’clock of that day the mob arrived and immediately commenced an attack with terrific yells, and a shower of stones and bricks, upon the house. In the next room to where I was sitting was a poor woman, who had been confined with a child on Sunday, three days previous. Some of the rioters broke through the front door with pickaxes, and came rushing into the room where this poor woman lay, and commenced to pull the clothes from off her. Knowing that their rage was chiefly directed against men, I hid my son behind me and ran with him through the back door, down the basement.”—Document 13.2: Testimony of New York City Draft Riot Victim Mrs. Statts

Evidence 3: “And were men wanted? More than a million rushed to arms! Seventy-five thousand first (and the country stood aghast at the multitude), then eighty-three thousand more were demanded; and three hundred and ten thousand responded to the call. The President next asked for four hundred thousand, and Congress, in their generous confidence, gave him five hundred thousand; and, not to be outdone, he took six hundred and thirty-seven thousand. Half of these melted away in their first campaign; and the President demanded three hundred thousand more for the war, and then drafted yet another three hundred thousand for nine months.”—Document 13.3: Clement L. Vallandigham, The Civil War in America

Evidence 4: “Resolved, That North Carolina has men as well qualified to examine and enroll her conscripts as can be sent here from the City of Richmond; and the course pursued in this respect towards the State is an insult to the intelligence of her people. . . Resolved, That the President having called upon the Governor of the State for more troops, we deem the call unjust until other States have furnished their quota. . . .”—Document 13.4: Calls for Peace in North Carolina

Evidence 1: “About this time the President appeared, and ascending a dray [wagon], spoke to the people. He urged them to return to their homes, so that the bayonets there menacing them might be sent against the common enemy. He told them that such acts would bring famine upon them in the only form which could not be provided against, as it would deter people from bringing food to the city.”—Document 13.1: John Beauchamp Jones, The Richmond Bread Riot

Evidence 2: “A thousand millions have been expended since the 15th of April, 1861; and a public debt or liability of $1,500,000,000 already incurred. And to support all this stupendous outlay and indebtedness, a system of taxation, direct andindirect, has been inaugurated, the most onerous and unjust ever imposed uponany but a conquered people.”—Document 13.3: Clement L. Vallandigham, The Civil War in America

Evidence 3: “Resolved, That we favor a proposition of peace to the enemy upon such terms as will guarantee to us all our rights upon an equality with the North; and if such a proposition should be made to and rejected by them, we would be willing to die to the last man upon the battle-field in defense of those rights and that equality. We feel that it is time to consult reason and common sense, and to discard prejudice and passion. The people must look and act upon things as they are.”—Document 13.4: Calls for Peace in North Carolina

Evidence 4: “Short as the time has been since Thursday, I can scarcely collect the link of events sufficiently to tell how the time has been spent. Oh I remember now that Mr Scales spent Friday night with us. He was taking a gloomy view of our prospects, but he talked just this way I remember one year ago. Then I confess I felt more determined ‘to do and dare and die’ than I do now.”—Document 13.5: Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, Diary

Evidence 1: “I learned an hour after that they marched through Cary Street, and entered diverse stores of the speculators, which they proceeded to empty of their contents. They impressed all the carts and drays [wagons] in the street, which were speedily laden with meal, flour, shoes, etc. I did not learn whither these were driven; but probably they were rescued from those in charge of them. Nevertheless, an immense amount of provisions, and other articles, were borne by the mob, which continued to increase in numbers.”—Document 13.1: John Beauchamp Jones, The Richmond Bread Riot

Evidence 2: “I, with several others, then ran to the Twenty-ninth-street Station-house, but we were lore refused admittance, and told by the Captain that we were frightened without cause. A gentleman accompanied us who told the Captain of the facts, but we were all turned away. I then went down to my husband's, in Broome-street, and there I encountered another mob, who, before I could escape, commenced stoning me. They beat me severely.”—Document 13.2: Testimony of New York City Draft Riot Victim Mrs. Statts

Evidence 3: “Resolved, That the course of the administration at Richmond towards North-Carolina has been any thing but fair. While she has put more men in the field than any other State according to population, and while her sons have every where fought and charged the enemy with unsurpassed courage, she receives but little credit for valor or patriotism, and has fewer Generals than any other State to command her troops. Our people have long complained of this injustice, but thus far their complaints have been disregarded.”—Document 13.4: Calls for Peace in North Carolina

Evidence 4: “The whole heavens overcast with clouds—All nature appearing to mourn over the wretched degeneracy of her children and weeping to see brothers arrayed in hatred against each other. ‘Man, the noblest work of God.’ Verily, when I witness and read of the track of desolation which Sherman’s army leaves behind them, I am constrained to think that the work reflects little credit upon the creator. I know that sounds irreverent but I sigh for the memory of those days when man’s noblest, better nature was displayed, when the brute ‘the cloven foot,’ was concealed and I could dream and believe that ours was the very best land—ruled by the very best men under the sun!! . . .”—Document 13.5: Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, Diary