a rear room and joined the Home Guards at the fire engine house. The above named, Messrs. Burke, Banks, Carr, Hanford and Webster, were accused of having fired into the mob.
In a book called the “History of Washington,” giving an account of the day of the shooting, I find “As the column moved up Main St. and approached 1st Avenue, the Home Guards were forced to halt because of the mob in their front. The Guards were formed across the street.
“At the order given, their guns were loaded with ball cartridges but no demonstration was made about using them.
“Some of the noisier members now urged the others to make a rush on the Guards and disarm them. It was not until the Guards had held their position some seconds—perhaps minutes—that a few of the bolder members of the mob gained courage to make something like a rush. Even then it was not a united effort, made all along the line, but furtive attacks made in only one or two places.
“One of the first of these was directed at E. M. Carr, afterwards Brigadier General of Militia, but then only a private in the Home Guards. It was a most unfortunate selection for those who made it, for Carr was strongly built and as courageous as strong. He disposed of one or two of the first who approached him with his fist, but when others joined in the attack he clubbed his rifle and laid the nearest rioter at full length along the street. This discouraged others in the neighborhood and for a time Carr was left alone.”
The fact is, the Guards to the number of about 80 men, with loaded guns, moved from the dock to Commercial Street (First Ave.) in close column, the men all in their places. A simultaneous attack was made to take from us our guns from the front to the middle of the column. Our march was not checked till attacked.
Carr was not alone. He was with the column and was not left alone till the column was.
The Guards had loaded their guns before they left their quarters.
Also in the work entitled “Memoirs of Orange Jacobs” he says: “His Excellency Governor Watson C. Squire being in town ordered out the Militia, which, under the command of the bold and fearless Col. J. C. Haines, who was ably assisted by General E. M. Carr and others, did effective work.” This statement conveys the idea that Col. Haines deserves the principal credit for putting down the riots, when in fact he did
12
