November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Lot consists of 2 items (A) Paving stone with painted inscription reading, "BALTIMORE / PRATT STREET RIOT / PAVING STONE / APRIL 19, 1861.". (B) 24 May 1861 letter to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore from William Harris petitioning for them cover his losses amounting to $266 when his establishment on Pratt Street was "entered by a body of men, to him unknown, on Sunday 21st April last, who demanded and seized the Fire Arms enumerated below..." He goes on to list 2 rifles, 2 DB (double barrel) guns, 12 assorted pistols, and 2 Colts pistols ("fine".) The paving stone conveys the damage one could do when thrown and comes from initial riot when a mob, angered by Lincoln's call for troops to suppress the rebellion after Fort Sumter, attacked Massachusetts militia troops in transit to Washington while they moved from one train depot to another. Period accounts mention paving stones prominently among the missiles hurled by the mob, which also tried to grab soldiers' muskets, displayed weapons and fired random shots. Soldiers eventually opened fire. 3 soldiers, 8 rioters, and at least 1 bystander were killed, with numbers of wounded and injured adding to the total. The Governor and Mayor called out the militia in an effort to restore order, but Harris's letter, referring to the theft of arms just 2 days later, shows how unsettled the city was. In May, the city was placed under military rule. Whether Harris really did not know whom his weapons went to, was really robbed, or was trying to cover himself with the authorities as well as for a purported financial loss is an open question.
Item Dimensions: 5 - 1/2" X 4 - 1/2"