Schedule for Canada, perchance?
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August 26, 1862:
Martial law in Chicago — an attempted stampede to Canada, and how it was stopped.
[From the Chicago Times.]
Immediately after the reception in this city of the order from the War Department, concerning persons subject to military duty who might contemplate and attempt an escape from the country, in order to avoid the impending draft, C. P. Bradley, Superintendent of the Chicago Police, prepared to enforce the order in all cases that come within his jurisdiction. The order was received yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock. Between that hour and sunset quite a number of men in the city, not liking the appearance of things military hereabouts, prepared to leave for Canada, or some other portion of the globe where drafting is not at present a needful regulation. But unfortunately for these would be excursionists, the vigilant eye of the newly constituted Provost Marshal was upon them — Learning that there would probably be a stampede at night, by the Michigan Central and Michigan Southern Railroads, Capt. Bradley took the precaution to have a posse of his men stationed at each depot, a short time before the departure of the evening train.
Lake Michigan a path for others with reason to get to Canada
Capt. Nelson, of the first precinct polices, was stationed with a posse of the police at the Michigan Central Depot, while Sergeant Beade had an inferior force at the Michigan Southern Depot. At eight o’clock both trains were entered and a rigid scrutiny was had of all outgoing passengers. This resulted in the street of thirty men, who had tickets to Detroit, and who were at once taken in custody and marched under guard to the Central police station for further examination. A few of those arrested, however, were soon discharged, having furnished satisfactory evidence of their loyalty.–Most of them, however, were deemed guilty of attempting to escape from the jurisdiction of the United States, contrary to the order from the War Department. They were accordingly confined in the county jail for the night, and this morning will be conveyed to Camp Douglas, sworn into the service, and made to do military duty for the term specified in the order for the draft.
Two shippropellers, the Galens and Acme, left this port yesterday afternoon, loaded with passengers, most of whom are supposed to be on their way to another clime. A tug was dispatched last evening in search of these propellers, with orders to bring them to and take in custody all persons unable to give satisfactory reasons for their departure. This game, however, will be blocked to-day, as a tug, carrying a six-pound cannon, will be stationed at the entrance of the harbor, and overhaul every passenger boat and vessel that passes out.
Couldn’t make his “way to another clime”?
Our citizens may as well bring their friends to a realication [realization?] of the fact that Chicago is virtually under martial law. Captain Bradley is now clothed with the powers of a Provost Marshal, and in future no male citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years will be permitted to leave the city, on any route leading east, or on any of the lake boats, without a pass from the proper source.
We find that this sudden arrest of fugitives, in conformity to the new order, will operate as a complete cheek upon all attempts to escape from the country to avoid the draft. The authorities are in earnest about his matter, and such cowardly sneaking as was manifested last night and during the whole of the past week will be at once stopped.
This running away from duty has been practiced in most instances by wealthy men, while the poor men have been left to become the victims of the draft. In future there will be no more sneaking, no more running away, no matter what may be the wealth of the individual.
This article seems supportive of the Union war effort, but it is said that in 1861 the Chicago Times
began espousing the Copperhead point of view in supporting Southern Democrats and denounced the policies of Abraham Lincoln. General Ambrose Burnside suppressed the paper in 1863 because of its hostility to the Union cause, but Lincoln lifted the ban when he received word of it.
According to History of the Chicago police from the settlement of the community to the present time, under authority of the mayor and superintendent of the force Cyrus P. Bradley was Chicago’s First Chief of Police (p.75). This book seems to back up the Chicago Times article:
Before the war he was a member of the Light Artillery, which became known as batteries “A” and “B,” but he did not go into actual service. When the war broke out he was superintendent of police, and did valuable service as provost marshal, “by placing an ironbound embargo,” says his biographer, “upon fugitives from the draft. Policemen were placed at all the depots and on vessels in the harbor, and all persons subject to the draft were compelled to show they Avere not leaving to avoid service.” He resigned the superintendency in 1862, was afterward elected secretary of the Police Board, continuing in that capacity till 1864, and from that date to his death was connected with the government secret service, doing splendid work in the detection of counterfeiters. He died March 6, 1865. (pp.75-76)
Would-be draft dodgers temporarily held at Camp Douglas
This image of Camp Douglas is hosted at Son of the South
You can read a description of the political cartoon at the Library of Congress
