I recently attended the first of three lectures given by the “Friends of John Jay” in the Ballroom of The John Jay Homestead. The lecture was given by Barnet Schecter, a New York based writer and Historian who is also a Fellow at The New York Academy of History.

Just when you think the Civil War is over, due to the conclusion of the Katonah Museum’s “Walt Whitman and American Art of the Civil War Era,” there was yet one more memorable event. The topic was “The Devil’s Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America” based on his research and the name of his book on the subject. Introduced by Melissa Vail, Chairman of The Scholars Committee, Mr. Schecter illuminated the era in yet another way to increase my understanding of the time.

It was just nine days after The Battle of Gettysburg when the riots took place on July 13 - 16, 1863.

One has Currier & Ives and Winslow Homer visions of men marching off to war proudly in their Union uniforms, yet the draft - unpopular as in any other period of History - tore New York apart at the seams. When Lincoln called for an Army of 75,000 at the start of the war, 8,000 New Yorkers signed up in the first 10 days, yet they became very War weary as it lagged on and Lee had several Victories for the South.

It was six months after the Emancipation Proclamation. The poor whites of the city were afraid that should they leave for battle that upon their return they would have been replaced by the newly freed slaves in their jobs. There was also a Commutation Fee which wealthier New Yorkers could afford to pay - 300 dollars - a tidy sum at the time, in order to avoid the draft. It was a time of great corruption in New York. There even was talk of secession so they could corner the cotton processing and export market with the South. It was a conflict over Race and Class. John Jay II informed Lincoln of the riot and pleaded with him to send a militia to stop the riots which he did. There were 175 people killed and over 2000 wounded.

The upcoming Lectures of “The 2010 John Jay Lecture Series - Through the Eyes of Three Generations of Jays” are:

• Thursday, March 18 - Cliff Sloan: “The Great Decision: Jefferson, Adams, Marshall and the Battle for The Supreme Court.”


• Thursday, April 15 - Graham Russell Gao Hodges: “David Ruggles: A Radical Black Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City.”

The lectures are $25.00 for non members and $15.00 for members. The Ballroom opens at 6:30; there is time to meet and greet fellow attendees and neighbors and the lecture begins at 7. At the end there may be a book signing but there are refreshments and discussions to enjoy!

Plus, take the time before or after the lecture to enjoy the exhibit “From Oppression to Freedom: John Jay and His Huguenot Heritage.”

For further information go to: JohnJayHomestead.org

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom