Most of us have heard various stories about Port Washington’s Civil War draft riot. As we are in the process of celebrating our state’s sesquicentennial, I thought it might be interesting to revisit the fall of 1862 to help us recognize that even in Wisconsin, far removed from the battlefields, there was not universal acceptance of President Lincoln’s call for additional soldiers. In my reading of various historical resources I became fascinated with how the draft resistance in our city was reported, depending on who was writing the account. So, rather that summarize my findings, I’m choosing to share some of the material with you as it was written.

REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN FOR THE YEAR 1862: On the 4th of August the War Department issued General Order No. 99, making a requisition by draft, for 300,000 additional troops, the quota assigned to this State being 11,904...On the 21st of October, General Order No. 33 was issued, fixing the time for draft; and on the 24th, General Order No. 34, assigning the quotas to the several towns in the counties delinquent in volunteers. With but few exception, the draft was made in conformity with Order No. 33...In but two counties, Ozaukee and Washington, were there any violent demonstrations of opposition. In the former, some evil minded persons succeeded in exciting the passions and prejudices of the ignorant and misguided. The Draft Commissioner was violently assaulted, escaping with his life only by flight, and the records were destroyed. But the authors of this kindled a flame, which soon outran their control, and an infuriated mob ran riot through the town; old personal differences were made the occasion of attack; houses, with their contents, were demolished, and the wrecks of once happy homes, now stand, through the village of Port Washington, as a sad moment of lawless violence. One hundred and twenty-six of the ringleaders were subsequently arrested, and the draft enforced under the direction of the United States Provost Marshal Walter D. McIndoe. Although temporarily delayed in Washington County by interference with the Draft Commissioner, no serious difficulty occurred and the draft has since been made...