Galen T. Porter
Encyclopedia
Galen T. Porter was an American law enforcement officer and police captain
in the New York City Police Department
. One of the senior police commanders during the New York Draft Riots
, he helped defend the Third Avenue draft office and later headed the Nineteenth Precinct.
in 1807. He moved with his family to New York City
as a child and later worked in the boot and shoe trade before joining the Metropolitan Police Department
in 1849. He was promoted to police captain soon afterwards and appointed to head the old Twelfth Precinct where he remained until the start of the New York Draft Riots
in 1863.
In the first hours of rioting, Porter was one of the first officers dispatched to confront the mobs. A half hour after rioters first began leaving Central Park
, Superintendent John Alexander Kennedy
directed Porter to send 60 officers to Third Avenue and reinforce patrolmen being threatened there. Fifty members of the Invalid Corps also joined Porter's squad. By the time of Porter's arrival however, the crowd outside the Third Avenue draft office becoming increasingly violent and "packing the avenue for half a dozen blocks on either side of Forty-Sixth Street". Horse carts and private carriages were blocked from passing through the avenue. Those that attempted to do so were stopped, their horses unhitched, and the drivers and passengers chased away. "No Draft" signs also began appearing at various points on the street. Porter's squad were slowly forced back by the sheer size of the crowd and, by 10:00 am, they "stood with drawn clubs and their backs to the building".
The appearance of the Volunteer Engine Company No. 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", prompted its members to address the crowd. Their fire chief had recently been selected in the Saturday draft lottery and the company announced its intention of "smashing the wheel and destroying the records". As the rogue firemen were encouraging the crowd to join them, someone fired a pistol and the engine company led the crowd against the police. Police attempted to hold their ground, however they were quickly overwhelmed by the rioters and Porter ordered a retreat into the building. Once inside however, Porter and his men were unable to lock and barricade the doors. The firemen were able to force their way into the building, followed by the rest of the mob armed with firearms and clubs, and began destroying the draft office. The police briefly attempted to hold off the rioters in the hallways before fleeing into an alley and then to Second Avenue. Provost Marshal Charles E. Jenkins was able to save the draft records due to their efforts.
Porter commanded the Nineteenth Precinct for the duration of the riot. On Wednesday morning, he led his command in a tour through the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Wards as well as recovering the body of a negro
who had been killed at Seventh Avenue
and Thirty-Second Street. He and the officers of the Nineteenth were the first to confront the rioters and would be involved nearly every major engagement during the riot. Porter resigned a year or two following the riots. He lived in retirement until his death from pneumonia
at his East 129th Street home on March 30, 1883.
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
in the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. One of the senior police commanders during the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
, he helped defend the Third Avenue draft office and later headed the Nineteenth Precinct.
Biography
Galen Porter was born in Braintree, MassachusettsBraintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
in 1807. He moved with his family to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a child and later worked in the boot and shoe trade before joining the Metropolitan Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
in 1849. He was promoted to police captain soon afterwards and appointed to head the old Twelfth Precinct where he remained until the start of the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
in 1863.
In the first hours of rioting, Porter was one of the first officers dispatched to confront the mobs. A half hour after rioters first began leaving Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, Superintendent John Alexander Kennedy
John Alexander Kennedy
John Alexander Kennedy was the superintendent of police for New York City.-Biography:He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 9, 1803. His father was a native of Ireland who became a teacher in Baltimore. John moved to New York City and worked with his brother...
directed Porter to send 60 officers to Third Avenue and reinforce patrolmen being threatened there. Fifty members of the Invalid Corps also joined Porter's squad. By the time of Porter's arrival however, the crowd outside the Third Avenue draft office becoming increasingly violent and "packing the avenue for half a dozen blocks on either side of Forty-Sixth Street". Horse carts and private carriages were blocked from passing through the avenue. Those that attempted to do so were stopped, their horses unhitched, and the drivers and passengers chased away. "No Draft" signs also began appearing at various points on the street. Porter's squad were slowly forced back by the sheer size of the crowd and, by 10:00 am, they "stood with drawn clubs and their backs to the building".
The appearance of the Volunteer Engine Company No. 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", prompted its members to address the crowd. Their fire chief had recently been selected in the Saturday draft lottery and the company announced its intention of "smashing the wheel and destroying the records". As the rogue firemen were encouraging the crowd to join them, someone fired a pistol and the engine company led the crowd against the police. Police attempted to hold their ground, however they were quickly overwhelmed by the rioters and Porter ordered a retreat into the building. Once inside however, Porter and his men were unable to lock and barricade the doors. The firemen were able to force their way into the building, followed by the rest of the mob armed with firearms and clubs, and began destroying the draft office. The police briefly attempted to hold off the rioters in the hallways before fleeing into an alley and then to Second Avenue. Provost Marshal Charles E. Jenkins was able to save the draft records due to their efforts.
Porter commanded the Nineteenth Precinct for the duration of the riot. On Wednesday morning, he led his command in a tour through the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Wards as well as recovering the body of a negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
who had been killed at Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
and Thirty-Second Street. He and the officers of the Nineteenth were the first to confront the rioters and would be involved nearly every major engagement during the riot. Porter resigned a year or two following the riots. He lived in retirement until his death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his East 129th Street home on March 30, 1883.
Further reading
- Bernstein, Iver. The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and Politics in the Age of the Civil War. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Cook, Adrian. The Armies of the Streets: The New York City Draft Riots of 1863. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1974.
- Costello, Augustine E. Our Police Protectors: History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. New York: A.E. Costello, 1885.
- McCague, James. The Second Rebellion: The Story of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. New York: Dial Press, 1968.