Charleston riot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charleston riot |
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| Part of Illinois in the American Civil War | |||
| Date | March 28, 1864 | ||
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The Charleston riot happened on March 28, 1864, in Charleston, Illinois. This event took place during the American Civil War. It was a fight between Union soldiers and local Republicans on one side. On the other side were local Democrats known as Copperheads. When the riot ended, nine people had died and twelve were hurt.
One reason the riot started was how Union soldiers treated Judge Charles H. Constable. They made him promise loyalty to the government. This happened because he had let four Union soldiers who had left their army jobs go free. Judge Constable was holding court in Charleston when the riot began.
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What Caused the Charleston Riot?
News reports at the time said that the Peace Democrats, also called Copperheads, started the riot. One newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, even named a person, Nelson Wells, as the one who began the fight. However, most stories from that time suggest the event happened suddenly. It was not planned by one person.
The most likely reason for the riot was that many Copperheads and Union soldiers were in town that day. Tensions were high between these groups. The fighting itself lasted only a short time.
Who Were the Copperheads?
The Copperheads were a group of Democrats during the Civil War. They were also known as Peace Democrats. They strongly disagreed with President Lincoln and the war. They wanted to end the war quickly through a peace agreement.
Copperheads were against the draft, which forced people to join the army. They also opposed the end of slavery. They worried that freeing enslaved people would cause problems in the North. They believed the government was becoming too powerful.
The Role of Coles County
Coles County, where Charleston is located, had many Copperhead supporters. John O’Hair, a leader of the Copperheads, was even the sheriff of Coles County during the war. This shows how strong their views were in the area.
The Copperheads in Coles County were different from some other groups. They used physical violence to show their anger. By fighting Union soldiers, they were showing their dislike for the government. Their anger was fueled by the draft, the idea of a strong central government, and racism. These strong feelings led to the riot in Charleston in March 1864.
After the Riot: What Happened Next?
After the riot, the Copperheads were forced out of Charleston. Rewards were offered to catch those who ran away. John O’Hair, the Copperhead leader, was among those who left town. Only two Copperheads, Nelson Wells and John Cooper, died in the riot.
Other Union troops were called from Mattoon to help. But by the time they arrived, most of the people who started the fighting had already left.
Prisoners and Casualties
Fifteen people were arrested and held for seven months. They were first kept in Springfield, Illinois. President Lincoln ordered them to be moved to Fort Delaware. He then ordered their release on November 4, 1864. Two of the prisoners were accused of murder but were found not guilty in December 1864. Twelve other Copperheads were also accused of murder, but they were never caught. Their accusations were dropped in May 1873.
Nine people died in the Charleston riot. They included:
- Major Shuball York, a soldier from the Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
- Privates Oliver Sallee, James Goodrich, John Neer, Alfred Swim, and William G. Hart, all Union soldiers.
- John Jenkins, a loyal citizen.
- Nelson Wells and John Cooper, both Copperhead citizens.
Twelve people were wounded, including Colonel G.M. Mitchell and several other soldiers and citizens. This list was put together by Colonel Mitchell in a report on April 8, 1864.
The 54th Illinois Infantry Regiment
The 54th Illinois Infantry Regiment was involved in the riot. In January 1864, most of the soldiers in this regiment joined again as volunteers. They were given a break from duty, called a veteran furlough, and went to Mattoon, Illinois.
On March 28, 1864, while some of their men were in Charleston, a group of Copperheads attacked them. This attack killed Major Shubal York and four other soldiers. Colonel G. M. Mitchell was also wounded. About an hour later, the rest of the regiment arrived from Mattoon. They took control of the town and captured some of the people involved in the riot.
