New York Draft Riots: White Mobs Murder Black New Yorkers

For four days, white New Yorkers — largely Irish immigrants — rioted against the federal draft, turning their fury on the Black community. Rioters burned the Colored Orphan Asylum (233 children escaped), lynched at least 11 Black men, and drove thousands of Black residents from the city. Estimates of the death toll range from 105 to over 1,000. Federal troops had to be diverted from Gettysburg to restore order.