Wednesday, April 16, 2014

April 17, 1864---A small bread riot



APRIL 17, 1864:          

The Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina. The C.S.S. ALBEMARLE supports land-based troops in attacking the Union garrison at Plymouth, N.C.

The Savannah, Georgia News reports on a “small” bread riot in the city. 100 Savannah women mob a grocery store, grabbing bread, bacon, and other foodstuffs. The News explains: 

That the present high prices of provisions have provided distress no one can doubt, and it is probable that some who participated in the riotous proceedings of yesterday were goaded to their course by pressure of want, but if we are rightly informed many if not the majority of them, had not even that excuse for the commission of acts of lawlessness. Be this as it may, there can be no necessity or justification for such acts of outrage and robbery. It is not generally the truly worthy deserving poor who resort to such measures, and those who thus set the laws and public propriety at defiance forfeit the sympathy of the community. If there is indeed want and suffering let the sufferers make their condition known in the right quarter, and a community that has never turned a deaf ear to the appeals of the helpless and needy will give them relief.

We trust that our city authorities will investigate this matter, ascertain who   they are that truly need assistance, and take the proper steps for their relief. Such action is not only due to the wives and children of soldiers in the service, to the helpless poor, and to the peaceful and good name of our community, but also to the best interests of our city. While the mob spirit      should be met with firmness, we should, in these times, act in accordance with the maxim of "help one another." Let the turbulent be rebuked, but let not the worthy and law abiding poor suffer. 

Three women are arrested for theft and destruction of property.