rabble aroused?
From The New-York Times May 13, 1867:
More Trouble with the Negroes in Richmond – Arrest of a Speaker at a Freedmen’s Meeting.
RICHMOND, Sunday, May 12.
Another riot occurred in the lower portion of the city last night. The negroes attempted to rescue a drunken negro from the police, and bricks, clubs and pistols were used. Four policemen were badly beaten and one was severely injured. A company of soldiers, who were guarding the Libby Prison, were called out, and captured eighteen of the rioters. While this was going on another difficulty occurred on First-street, but it was quieted by the persuasion of a colored juryman.
To-day mounted soldiers patrolled the streets to keep order, and squads of policemen were placed at all of the churches in view of threats of the negroes to force their way in among the white people.
A large procession of negro societies attended a funeral to-day accompanied by an unarmed company of colored militia, the officers of which carried swords. There was no disturbance.
JEDEKIAH K. HAYWARD, of Massachusetts, was arrested last night for using language at a negro meeting on Friday night, calculated to create a riot. His language was as follows: “After Judge UNDERWOOD leaves you can hold high carnival on what you please. I need not advise you what to do, for great bodies do as they have a mind to.” He was arrested on a warrant from the Mayor, and was released on $3,000 bail to appear to-morrow.
According to The Yale Courant Volume II (1866-1867 page 274 at Google Books:
Jedekiah K. Hayward, who has appeared as an incendiary speech-maker in Richmond, was in Dartmouth College the first year of the war, but did not graduate in consequence of an unpleasantness with his fellow students and the Faculty.
The June 1, 1867 issue of Harper’s Weekly (page 341) provides an image “soldiers dispersing the mob” and notes “a bitter feeling prevailing against the police, who are former rebel soldiers appointed by the Mayor, who is also an unreconstructed rebel.”
in more peaceful times?
