“A Terbulent Crowd”

on a rail road again

150 years ago today Andrew Johnson’s Swing Around the Circle tour rode the rails from St. Louis to Indianapolis. According to the September 11, 1866 issue of The New-York Times crowds were enthusiastic and polite along the way, especially enthusiastic for Ulysses Grant. Paris, Illinois, Where General Grant raised a company early in the war, displayed a transparency in his honor. At Greencastle, Indiana “The applause was terrific. The President was repeatedly cheered, and so especially was Gen. GRANT.”

Thousands greeted the train when it stopped in Indianapolis. The presidential party proceeded to Bates House along the crowded streets, “escorted by political associates and others bearing torches, variegated lanterns and transparencies.” Thousands were gathered at the hotel, crying for “JOHNSON and GRANT, those for the latter preponderating.” When the president was introduced on the hotel balcony he was “received with a few groans, huzzas for JOHNSON, cries for Gen. GRANT, and some rude remarks. The President said:

always seem outnumbered?

FELLOW-CITIZENS: [Cries for GRANT.] It is not my intention [Cries of “Stop,” “Go on”] to make a long speech. If you give me your attention for five minutes [Cries of “Go on;” “No no; we want nothing to do with traitors,” “GRANT, GRANT,” “JOHNSON,” and groans,] I would like to say to this crowd here to-night, [Cries of “Shut up; we don’t want to hear from you JOHNSON! GRANT! JOHNSON! GRANT! GRANT!”]

The President paused a few moments, and then retired from the balcony.

If President Johnson wasn’t in a bellicose mood that night, the same couldn’t be said for some of the people in the crowd, even after the president left the balcony. David Kilgore unsuccessfully tried to smooth things out and also left the balcony. Even though a Marshal and his men were reportedly patrolling the streets, shots were fired in the crowd. Transparencies were knocked down with clubs; the holder of a transparency inscribed “JOHNSON, welcome – the President.” was thrown down and shot at. More gunshots ensued; one man was shot in the heart, others wounded.