November 12, 1862 (Wednesday): Riots In Wisconsin

Port Washington WI (portwashington.wi.us)

MADISON, WIS., November 12, 1862.
Honorable E. M. STANTON:
    Very serious disturbances in regard to the draft have occurred in two counties. In Ozaukee County commissioner injured and obliged to flee for his life, and boxes destroyed and houses torn down. I furnished the provost-marshal with 600 men to protect new draft and make arrests. It being impossible to serve notices personally on those drafted, I instructed commissioners to publish by posters or otherwise. Please sanction this course. Provost-marshal has made fifty arrests, and will make more in that and other counties. What shall be done with the men arrested? They ought not to remain in the State. It will take too many to guard them. They are arrested under the proclamation of September 25, for resisting draft.


    E. SALOMON.
    Governor of Wisconsin.

Official Records, Series III., Vol. 2, Part 1, Page 765.

The draft riots in Wisconsin were mainly in communities of German immigrants.  Just having arrived in a new country they were not ready to so quickly leave home and family to fight for a war they most likely did not completely understand.  Order was quickly restored after the riots and they did no long term harm to Wisconsin furnishing its quota of men.  But it was a good illustration early enthusiasm for the war was beginning to wane.