York Civil War Roundtable: JOSEPH MIECZKOWSKI presents“The 1863 New York City Draft Riots”

The New York City Draft Riots of July 13-16, 1863 were by some measures the most bloody and devastating riots in American history. At a time when the Civil War was raging on battlefields, rivers and oceans, violence and terror ruled the streets of our largest city, and battle-weary troops had to be rushed from Gettysburg to help restore order. What began as a protest against the Federal draft quickly degenerated into a racial and social struggle as ugly as any in the Deep South.

Joe Mieczkowski is a retired Federal Executive and a Licensed Battlefield Guide for the Gettysburg National Military Park. Joe is the Past President of both The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides and the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table. He has three books, “After Gettysburg: Lee Retreats and Meade Pursues,” “Lincoln and his Cabinet,” and “Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet.”

The York Civil War Round Table (YCWRT) is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote, interpret, preserve, and protect the Civil War heritage of York County, Pennsylvania, through the education and exchange of information with its members and the general public. Membership is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the American Civil War.

Each meeting features a guest speaker talking about a Civil War topic of local or national interest. Meetings are FREE and open to the public. Please visit the YCWRT website for more information about the York County Civil War Roundtable.