Railroads and the Making of Modern America

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1924 | Diary
Rutherford B. Hayes Comments on the 1877 Railroad Strike
In this 1877 excerpt from Rutherford B. Hayes' diary, the President notes the positive qualities of the railroad men who are on strike, but sees their actions as detrimental to those who wish to work. He also wonders what actions could be taken to "end or dimish the evil" of strikes.
1922 | Diary
Rutherford B. Hayes Diary Entry, August 2, 1877
This August 2, 1877 entry from President Rutherford B. Hayes' diary notes the proximity of his relatives to the violence in Pittsburgh.
August 21, 1895 | Broadsides
Broadside Offering a $500 Reward for the Arrest of Train Robbers, August 21, 1895
In this 1895 broadside, the Pacific Express Company offers a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of those who robbed Union Pacific train Number 8 on August 21.
October 4, 1890 | Broadsides
Broadside Offering a $200 Reward for Information Regarding an Attempt to Derail a Union Pacific Train, October 4, 1890
In this October 4, 1890 broadside, the Union Pacific Railroad offers a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals who attempted to derail a train.
April 27, 1889 | Letter
Thomas E. Calvert 1888 strike remarks
Following the strike of 1888, railroad officials were careful to avoid hiring union members and employees who had "behaved badly" during the 45-day strike. Thomas Calvert, as General Superintendent in Lincoln, worked with railroad officials to help in the process of regulating re-employment.
March 13, 1889 | Letter
H. B. Stone and G. W. Holdredge Correspondence, 1889
Following the strike of 1888, railroad officials were careful to avoid hiring union members and employees who had "behaved badly" during the 45-day strike. In this exchange, G. W. Holdredge, General Manager of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad and H. B. Stone, Vice President of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Company, work to clarify the status of workers who may or may not be eligible for re-hire. Railroad companies made an effort to keep agitators and violent strikers from reentering the railroad workforce.
February 11, 1889 | Letter
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad post-strike report
The C, B & Q Master Mechanic for West Burlington, Iowa, reports on the work history of several firemen and hostlers who were re-applying for work in the wake of the 1888 strike. Master Mechanic West indicated employees with hash tags (#) who should never be rehired.
February 10, 1889 | Letter
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad post-strike report
The C, B & Q Master Mechanic for West Burlington, Iowa, reports on the work history of several engineers who were re-applying for work in the wake of the 1888 strike. Master Mechanic West indicated employees with hash tags (#) who should never be rehired.
June 23, 1888 | Letter
History of the Strike
William F. Merrill forwards two reports about strike workers and violence to Paul Morton, General Freight Agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; the reports were compiled by Superintendant Crance of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company and Kohl, Superintendant of the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company.
June 11, 1888 | Letter
S. E. Crance to W. F. Merrill, strike violence
In the wake of the 1888 strike, railroad officials worked to compile lists of violent protesters and their victims; in this report, S. E. Crance lists violence at strategic points along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad line.
May 2, 1888 | Letter
S. E. Crance to W. F. Merrill, strike violence
In the wake of the 1888 strike, railroad officials worked to compile lists of violent protesters and their victims; in this report, S. E. Crance lists violence at strategic points along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad line.
April 21, 1888 | Newspaper
THE GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE
This April 21, 1888 report and response from Harper's Weekly gives an overview of the Burlington, Chicago and Quincy Railroad Strike; the role of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the ready availability of replacement workers, and escalating violence all draw the writer's attention. A response to the strike written by William Dean Howells, American author and literary critic, was added to the Harper's article and is written from the point of view of a stockholder favoring arbitration.
February 28, 1888 | Letter
Henry B. Stone letter, February 28, 1888
Henry B. Stone, Master Mechanic for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy, reflects on the costs in personnel and goodwill that are inevitable with a strike; he believes circumstances make it "simply impossible for the Company to yield to the demands which have been made."
May 4, 1881 | Book
Nemo, King of the Tramps: A Story of the Great Railroad Riots
This Dime Novel, written in 1881 by Captain Fred Whittaker, offers a popular, fictional account of the Great Railway Strike of 1877.
1878 | Government report
Testimony of Robert Pitcairn to the Committee
Robert Pitcairn served as the Pittsburg division superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad and had ordered the double-heading of trains on July 19th for all eastbound traffic. Because trains would be twice as long but run with fewer trainmen, workers on the Pennsylvania refused to run the trains and the strike spread from the Baltimore and Ohio onto the Pennsylvania lines. Pitcairn describes his view of the violence in Pittsburg, emphasizing the restraint of the military and the riotousness of the "crowd." Pitcairn places special emphasis on the role of the women in the crowd.
1878 | Government report
Testimony of Roger O'Mara, Chief of Detectives of Pittsburgh
Roger O'Mara, Pittsburgh Chief of Detectives testified on February 11, 1878 to the committee appointed to investigate the railroad strikes. He emphasizes the inability of the local police force to serve warrants and restrain the crowd.
1878 | Illustration
Firing into a Mob on Baltimore Street
Railroad detective Allan Pinkerton's history of the strike emphasized the unruliness of the mob and the threat of foreign, anarchist, and communist influences on American labor. Here, his illustration shows the military defending law and order, firing their weapons into a mob in Baltimore during the 1877 strike.
1878 | Government report
Testimony by Norman M. Smith, manager of the Pittsburgh transfer station for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
Norman M. Smith describes the moment of firing into the crowd in Pittsburgh and his impressions of the military and the "mob."
1878 | Illustration
Attempt to Burn Camden Depot
Railroad detective Allan Pinkerton's history of the strike emphasized the unruliness of the mob and the threat of foreign, anarchist, and communist influences on American labor. Here, his illustration shows the rioters' attempt to burn down Baltimore's Camden Station during the 1877 railroad strike.
1878 | Government report
Testimony of Soloman Coulson, a police officer at the time of the Pittsburgh riot
Testimony given on February 12, 1878 by Soloman Coulson, a Pittsburgh police officer, described the violence at the railroad roundhouse and the makeup of the crowd gathered outside the roundhouse.
1878 | Illustration
Women Leading a Mob in Baltimore
Railroad detective Allan Pinkerton's history of the strike emphasized the unruliness of the mob and the threat of foreign, anarchist, and communist influences on American labor. He also emphasized the role of women in inciting the conflict. Here, his illustration shows women leading a mob against the police during the 1877 railroad strike in Baltimore.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 4, 1877, full page
This August 4, 1877 full page from Leslie's Illustrated demonstrates the impact groupings of illustrations had in this type of periodical.
August 18, 1877 | Illustration
Governor Hartranft's Headquarters on a Car of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, At Pittsburgh.
The conjunction of military and governmental forces in opposition to the riot is shown in this illustration.
August 18, 1877 | Illustration
"The Moral of the Strikes"
An illustration of "The Moral of the Strikes" which emphasizes their cost to working-class women and children.
August 18, 1877 | Illustration
Pittsburgh Policemen Recovering Property Stolen by the Mob in the Recent Riots
On August 18, 1877, Leslie's Illustrated depicted the confiscation of property taken during the riots. Note that goods are being removed from working-class homes, to the distress of women and children.
August 13, 1877 | Newspaper
ART. IX.—The Recent Strikes
This August 13, 1877 article reports on the violence and destruction of the Great Railroad strike in cities across the eastern United States.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Colonel Agramonte's Cavalry Charges the Mob
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the U.S. cavalry charging into the crowd in Chicago on July 26, 1877, and emphasizes the crowd's fear and panic in the face of sabers-drawn, overwhelming military response.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 11, 1877, front page
This August 11, 1877 front page from Leslie's Illustrated is meant to capture the immediacy of the violence and action associated with the strikes.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Construction Gang Repairing the Tracks at Corning
The strike spread from Baltimore into small towns, big cities, and rural areas in the summer of 1877. This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts a gang of workers under the protection of the 23rd New York State National Guard Regiment repairing the tracks near Corning, New York.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Workingmen's Mass Meeting in Tompkin's Square, Wednesday Evening, July 25th
An August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicting a New York City meeting in Tompkins Square; both supporters and opponents of the strike are visible in the image. Note the placard to the side of the stage: "Our Strength Lies in the Justice of Our Demands Let the Workingmen of the World Unite."
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Scene in the Armory of the Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y. — The troops awaiting orders.
During the strikes, New York's Seventh Regiment occupied the armory for several days in preparation for violence in the city. Although there were several large meetings held, no mob action took place in New York.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Police Watching, In Concealement, The Crowd in Tompkins Square
Although there was no large-scale unrest in New York, crowds did gather in Tompkins Square during the Railroad Strike. Tompkins Square had been the site of civil unrest and rioting at several points in New York history, including during the 1863 Draft Riots, and police feared speakers would rile up strike supporters.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Ruins at Pittsburgh
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the smoldering ruins of the roundhouse and shops at Pittsburgh after the riots. Such scenes of devastation, rendered from the vantage point and perspective to see the whole scope, were similar to images of destruction in the Civil War.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Rioters Tearing Up Rails at the Bridge at Corning
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts strikers tearing up the track and bridge near Corning, New York in advance of an oncoming engine. These confrontations were both organized and spontaneous, dependent on the deep experience and expertise of the railroad workers with the operation of the roads.
August 11, 1877 | Newspaper
Rioters Marching Down the New York Central Railroad Track
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the crowd marching down the New York Central railroad track at West Albany, New York on July 24, 1877.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Construction Gang Righting Overturned Cars
Scenes of repair and destruction of railroads in this August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated were similar to illustrations throughout the Civil War. This lithograph depicts a construction gang, under the protection of the New York State Militia, righting overturned cars near Corning, New York.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Strike on the Erie Railroad
An August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicting masses of strike supporters stoppping a train at Corning, New York, even as armed soldiers make their presence known.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Robert M. Ammon Directs the Strikers
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts Robert M. Ammon, leader of the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne strike, sending information to the strikers via telegraph.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Mob Threatens the Ninth Regiment
This August 11, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the crowd threatening infantrymen of the Ninth New York State National Guard in Albany on July 24, 1877. Such discussions tested the loyalties of local and state militias, as strikers justified their cause and gained solidarity with militia.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Sixth Regiment Figthing Its Way Through Baltimore
This August 11, 1877 image from Harper's Weekly depicts the Sixth Regiment fighting its way through Baltimore.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Blockade of Engines at Martinsburg, West Virginia
This August 11, 1877 image depicts the blockade of railroad engines in Martinsburg, West Virginia, by orderly and well-dressed citizens. Unlike Allan Pinkerton's depictions, this Harper's illustration features the role of women less as unruly participants and more as witnesses and forces of restraint and care in the stand-off.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 11, 1877, full page
This August 11, 1877 full page from Leslie's Illustrated demonstrates the impact groupings of illustrations had in this type of periodical.
August 11, 1877 | Illustration
The Burning of the Lebanon Valley Railroad Bridge, August 11, 1877
This August 11, 1877 image from Harper's Weekly depicts the burning of the Lebanon Valley Railroad bridge by rioters during the Great Railroad Strike.
August 8, 1877 | Newspaper
Railroad Strikers/Employees
This brief article, an opinion taken from PUCK Magazine, speculates about the future position of railroad employees.
August 8, 1877 | Illustration
The Fifth Pennsylvania Quelling a Riot
This illustration from the August 8, 1877 issue of PUCK Magazine mocks the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment's efforts to put down the riot.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
An Armed Mob Marching To The Scene of Action In Pittsburgh.
Note the imagery that is slightly reminscient of Archibald Willard's famous painting The Spirit of '76.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Maryland. - Arrival Of A Battery Of Gatling Guns At The Camden Street Depot, Baltimore.
By July 23d, there were 700 troops stationed at Camden Station and Gatling guns and other field pieces were in place to repel rioters from the station and the railyards.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Stairway Defended By Artillery.
This image comes from a series of illustrations "Scenes In The Armory Of The Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y." depicting the soldiers' stay in their armory in preparation for violence on the streets of New York.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Mob Assaulting a Member of the Sixth
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the assault on a soldier of the Sixth National Guard Regiment in Baltimore, emphasizing the disparity in force and posture between the "mob" and the lone soldier.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
An Engineer Lifted From His Train By A Mob At Newark, July 20th.
The worst agitation in Ohio occured at Newark, an important Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
United States Artillery Guarding The Camden Street Depot In Baltimore
Federal troops were employed to supress violence, or dimish threats of violence, and protect strategic targets.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Mob Attacking Soldiers at the Armory
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the strikers and the crowd attacking soldiers at the Baltimore Armory, and emphasizes the defensive posture of the military and the aggression of the crowd.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
A Mob Attacking a Train At Hornellsville, On July 22d
As the Great Strike of 1877 developed, strikers on the Erie Railroad in New York stopped trains along their stretch of the route.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Workmen Dragging Firemen and Engineers from a Freight Train
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts striking and armed railroad workers pulling firemen and engineers from a train in Martinsburg, West Virginia, to protest the pay cuts and the double-heading of trains.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Scene After the First Volley
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts the streets of Baltimore after troops opened fire on strikers during the 1877 Strike.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Members of Battery B., N.G.S.N.Y., Equipping In the Arsenal For A Move.
This image comes from a pair of illustrations: "New York City. - The Influence, In The Metropolis, Of The Railroad Strikes - The State National Guard Preparing To Move To The Seat Of Action."
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Carrying Off the Dead
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts citizens carrying the dead from the streets of Baltimore. The image dramatizes the strike violence Americans were reading about in newspapers and periodicals.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 4, 1877, Railroad Riot Extra
A striking cover from the August 4, 1877 Railroad Riot Extra from Leslie's Illustrated emphasizes the tone of newspaper coverage of the Railroad Strike.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Battery B., N.G.S.N.Y., Waiting For Orders In The Old Arsenal On Elm Street.
This image comes from a pair of illustrations: "New York City. - The Influence, In The Metropolis, Of The Railroad Strikes - The State National Guard Preparing To Move To The Seat Of Action."
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y., Drilling In Loading and Firing.
This image comes from a series of illustrations "Scenes In The Armory Of The Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y." depicting the soldiers' stay in their armory in preparation for violence on the streets of New York.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Philadelphia Police Charging On The Mob At Callowhill Street Bridge, On The Morning Of July 23d.
Philadelphia strikers and their supporters gathered at the Callowhill Street Depot and Bridge to stop freight runs on Monday, July 23. Nearly 1200 police were ordered to the terminal, eventually sending 100 marines to clear the tracks.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
A Skirmish Between the Rioters and Police In Eutaw Street, Baltimore
When members of the Maryland National Guard moved through Baltimore on their way to Camden Station, street violence erupted as strikers and supporters protested the use of armed troops to keep order in Cumberland, Maryland.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Pennsylvania - The Railroad Riot.
A detailed rendering of the violence at Pittsburgh's Twenty-eighth Street crossing, as 600 Philadelphia militiamen open fire on a crowd of between 5,000 and 7,000 people blocking the tracks.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
A Night Scene In Company A's Room.
This image comes from a series of illustrations "Scenes In The Armory Of The Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y." depicting the soldiers' stay in their armory in preparation for violence on the streets of New York.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Mob Sacking a Private Residence in Pittsburgh, July 23d.
Wide-spread rioting in Pittsburg led to the burning of over 40 buildings and the deaths of dozens of people.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Rioters Distributing Stolen Whisky at Pittsburgh.
Images of rowdy or drunken strikers were common in the wake of the 1877 strikes.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Pennsylvania - Retreat Of The Philadelphia Troops
As the Philadelphia Militia was driven from the Twenty-eighth Street roundhouse by rioters, they moved through the streets of Pittsburgh to the supposed safety of the Allegheny Arsenal, frequently under fire.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Mob Firing the Camden Street Station
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts a stealthy and determined crowd setting fire to the Camden Street Railroad Station.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Fifth New Jersey Militia Guarding the Switch-House at East Newark
Fears of violence during the 1877 strike pushed many states to press local guards and militias into service in railyards.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Pennsylvania - Attempt To Arrest A Rioter At Pittsburgh.
The violence at Pittsburgh resulted in numerous arrests - one is pictured below.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Pennsylvania - Bishop Twigg Urging The Pittsburgh Rioters To Desist, On July 23d.
With other local clergy, Bishop Twigg of Pittsburgh tried to quell the violence of the strike and rioting.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
The Sixth Regiment Firing Upon the Mob
This August 4, 1877 image from Leslie's Illustrated depicts soldiers from the Sixth National Guard Regiment firing into the crowd, which includes women in the foreground and features the crowd hurling bricks, waving clubs, and shooting at the soldiers with a revolver.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
New York. - Rioters Soaping The Track At Hornellsville.
Strikers greased the tracks running out of Hornellsville up Tip Top Summit, effectively preventing trains from climbing the grade.
August 4, 1877 | Illustration
Serving Chowder To The Soldiers.
This image comes from a series of illustrations "Scenes In The Armory Of The Seventh Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y." depicting the soldiers' stay in their armory in preparation for violence on the streets of New York.
August 1, 1877 | Newspaper
PUCK'S CARTOONS. The Railroad to Ruin.
This article from the August 1, 1877 issue of PUCK Magazine gives the magazine's opinion of that year's railway strike. PUCK comes down against the strikers, but places some of the blame on the "railway monopolists."
August 1, 1877 | Newspaper
My Adventures in the Strike Region.
This satirical story from the August 1, 1877 issue of PUCK Magazine follows an unlucky businessman and his unfortunate circumstances during a trip to Chicago during the Great Railway Strike.
July 30, 1877 | Newspaper
Last Week
This article from the July 30, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post presents a number of miscellaneous items in relation to the current behavior of strikers, as well as responses to the National Guard's occupation of the city.
July 30, 1877 | Newspaper
Collapse of the Strike
This selection of articles from the July 30, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the events of the railroad strike around the country and describes the situation regarding current railroad operations.
July 28, 1877 | Newspaper
General Sherman
This article from the July 28, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post presents a series of opinions and responses concerning the reasons for the strike.
July 28, 1877 | Newspaper
The Situation
This article from the July 28, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the expected next-day arrival of General Hancock and volunteer troops and outlines what the editors believe will be a satisfactory end to the strike in Pittsburgh.
July 28, 1877 | Newspaper
The End Drawing Near
This section of articles from the July 28, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the nationwide events occurring in relation to the strike and include a discussion of the attempts at negotiations between officials and laborers.
July 27, 1877 | Newspaper
The Labor Uprising
This article from the July 27, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the state of the strike around the country. There are reports of violence in some areas while in others order is being maintained and things are well under control.
July 26, 1877 | Newspaper
Status of the Strike
This article from the July 26, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes a stoppage in the railroad strike's violence, but mentions that an agreement between the railroad owners and the strikers seems unlikely.
July 25, 1877 | Newspaper
PUCK'S CARTOONS. Digging Their Own Graves.
This article was a supplement explaining the image on the cover page of the July 25, 1877 issue of PUCK Magazine
July 25, 1877 | Newspaper
Striking Everywhere
This selection of articles from the July 25, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post reveals how the strike is affecting railroads and communities all over the country, as well as how citizens are responding.
July 25, 1877 | Newspaper
Excitement Waning
This article from the July 25, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post informs readers of the state of the strike in Pittsburgh and notes the Governor's response.
July 25, 1877 | Illustration
Digging Their Own Graves
This image from the front page of the July 25, 1877 issue of PUCK Magazine mockingly depicts two strikers "digging their own graves."
July 25, 1877 | Newspaper
Here and Elsewhere
This article from the July 25, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post is optimistic about the handling of the strike in Pittsburgh but disapproving of strikes at manufacturing establishments.
July 25, 1877
The Tyranny of the "Brotherhood"
This article from the July 25, 1877 edition of the Toledo Blade states the newspaper's strong oppositon to the "tyranny" of the railroad union, whose "managers care nothing for the welfare of the community at large, nor the best good of its members."
July 25, 1877
The Chicago Strike
This article from the July 25, 1877 edition of the Chicago Inter-Ocean gives notice of the newspaper's support for the striking workers. The editors state that "we recognize their privilege to do as they please about working, and shall utter no reproach against them," as long as they abstain from violence.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
The Strike Spreading
This July 24, 1877 article from the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the strike's spread throughout the country.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
Outside Opinion
This article from the July 24, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post includes the opinions of two New York newspapers, noting the repercussions mob violence may have on railroad companies and workers, as well as how they believe the public should understand the causes of the uprising.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
Help Yourself
This selection from the July 24, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post includes three articles. The first two note the ability of citizens to keep peace, that military aid was unnecessary, and that railroad workers were not included in the mob. The third section notes recuperation on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
July 24, 1877
The Strike
This article from the July 24, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Dispatch notes the outbreak of violence in the city and states that "the railroad war in St. Louis has actually begun." The newspaper condemns the workers who are destroying property, but supports the "real workingmen" who "do not cut their own throats in this way."
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
Among the Ruins
This article from the July 25, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post notes the railroad strike's extensive destruction and details public and private efforts to keep it under control.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
The Labor Agitation
This selection of articles from the July 24, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post looks at the events surrounding railroad strikes in cities around the United States and notes the crime and violence taking place.
July 24, 1877
Progress of the Strike
This article from the July 24, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat commends the actions of the Missouri railroads, which have done their best to support the workers and have "removed the last excuse for disorder or violence." The editors condemn Communists, but support the striking workers in their quest for higher wages—a request the newspaper hopes the company will consider.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
Capital Location. For Permanent Seat, Martinsburg. Election, Tuesday, Aug. 7th, 1877
This July 24, 1877 editorial from the Martinsburg Statesman downplays the extent of the riot, stresses the dignity of the strikers convictions, and portrays the officers of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as stubborn and tone-deaf in the face of the strikers' reasonable requests.
July 24, 1877 | Newspaper
After the Riot
This July 24, 1877 article from the Pittsburgh Daily Post chronicles the efforts of militia, the police, and citizens to put down the railroad strike.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
Noble Words
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Daily Alleganian and Times summarizes a sermon given by Rev. E. B. Raffeasperger which supported the plight of the railroad men, but denounced violence.
July 23, 1877
Cause of the Strike and a Remedy
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune outlines the various causes of the strike—placing blame on railroad workers and railroad executives—and stresses that the remedy to this situation can only be achieved once mob rule has been replace by law and order.
July 23, 1877
Timely Advice
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Dispatch advises the Missouri Pacific Railroad to "set the example to other roads to promptly acquiesce in all reasonable demands" by the workers in order to peacefully end the railroad strike.
July 23, 1877
[Let Us Have Peace]
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Inter-Ocean argues that a strike cannot be allowed to start in Chicago, or the city will see the same bloodshed and violence as in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The editors state that violence must not be allowed to flourish; despite the contention between railroad workers and railroad executives, peace should trump workplace disagreements.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
The Strike
This July 23, 1877 editorial in the Baltimore American emphasizes the participation of the "lawless classes" in the strike, hijacking it from the employees and turning it into a dangerous national threat, similar to the Paris Commune.
July 23, 1877
The Great Strike
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune suggests that railroad corporations should adopt new policies to meet the needs of railroad workers, which will also keep many of the corporations from falling into bankruptcy.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
Local News. The Situation Here
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Daily Alleganian and Times gives an account of recent events and notes the continuing excitement generated by the strike.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
General French Ordered To Send Troops
This July 23, 1877 article in the Baltimore American notes Secretary of War George W. McCrary's order to General William H. French to send troops to Cumberland, Maryland to "suppress the riot."
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
Reign of the Mob
This July 23, 1877 article from the Pittsburgh Daily Post details the mob's strength during the railroad strike and provides a description of key events.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
The Troops To Open The Line At Cumberland And Provide Against Trouble At Piedmont
This article from the July 23, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American notes that two companies of troops had been dispatched to Cumberland, Maryland, to reopen the rail line.
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
Reporters And Reporters
This article in the July 23, 1877 edition of the Daily Alleganian and Times describes incidents stemming from the vast number of reporters who had arrived to cover the strike.
July 23, 1877
Bad Allies
In this article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Toledo Blade, the editors support the striking railroad workers, but condemn the "mob of scoundrels who took advantage of the occasion to commit all sorts of depredations."
July 23, 1877 | Newspaper
Rioters In Full Possession — Robbing Of Freight Cars, Etc.
This article from the July 23, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American gives an account of the rioters halting rail service and robbing freight cars.
July 23, 1877
The Strike
This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat condemns the recent actions of the railroad strikers and hopes that the city can avoid a repeat of the violence in Pittsburgh, where the mob has "pillaged and burned and murdered in the carnival of crime."
July 22, 1877 | Newspaper
Failure To Close The Drinking Houses
This letter to the editor, printed in the July 22, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American, asks why saloons in Baltimore remained open, even after receiving the order to close, and seemed to indicate the ineffectiveness of the police in the situation.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
In The March Towards Camden Station
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the mob's attack of the Sixth Maryland Regiment and recounts the violence that occurred during its march to Camden Station.
July 21, 1877 | Letter
McCrary Updates Carroll
On July 21, 1877 Secretary of War George W. McCrary informs Maryland Governor John L. Carroll of the troops that are coming to his aid.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Firing On The Crowd
This July 21, 1877 article from the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the Maryland Sixth Infantry Regiment firing into the crowd in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Riot at Camden Depot
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the rioters assaulting the Fifth Maryland Regiment at Camden Station in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Killed And Wounded
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American lists the killed and wounded and describes their wounds in detail.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Railroad War in Maryland
This article from the July 21, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American gives an account of the militia and National Guard being called to suppress the riot, the bloodshed in Baltimore, the depot on fire, and the general excitment surrounding the confrontation on July 20, 1877.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
At The Hospital
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes scenes from the hospital after the Baltimore riots.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Bloodshed On Baltimore Street
This article from the July 21, 1877 Baltimore Sun gives an account of the confrontation between soldiers and citizens in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Depot On Fire
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of a depot fire not far from Camden Station.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Holding The Fort
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the military defending Camden Station from the Baltimore rioters.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
An Alarm Of Fire
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the mob setting fire to railroad passenger cars and an engine.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Tearing Down The Telegraph
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American recounts the mob's destruction of railroad property, including tearing down the telegraph office, ripping up the railroad tracks, smashing locomotives, and burning depots.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
A Perilous Night—fire—riot—murder
This editorial from the July 21, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American emphasizes the strike and violence was preventable if adequate police had been on the scene and available.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Riot Begins
This July 21, 1877 article from the Baltimore American gives an account of the strike's opening moments and details the confrontation between the police, the military, and the mob.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Railroad War
This July 21, 1877 article from the Pittsburgh Daily Post details the extent of the railroad strike and the government's efforts to suppress it through military force.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Last Night in Baltimore
This article from the July 21, 1877 Baltimore American gives an account of the events that led to the large gathering of people outside of Camden Station the previous evening.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Bad Temper Of The Crowd
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the attitude of the crowd during the Baltimore riots.
July 21, 1877 | Letter
Note from McCrary to Carroll
On July 21, 1877, Secretary of War George W. McCrary sends a message to Maryland Governor John L. Carroll telling him that federal troops are coming to his aid.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Crowd Was Continually Reinfored By Fresh Arrivals
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the composition of the crowd during the Baltimore riots.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Statement Of An Eye-Witness
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American gives an eye-witness account of the confrontation between the military and the rioters.
July 21, 1877 | Letter
Carroll's Response to McCrary
On July 21, 1877, Maryland Governor John L. Carroll sends Secretary of War George W. McCray a report, informing him that order has been restored in the state.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Police Commissioner's Announcement
On July 21, 1877, two Baltimore Police Commissioners, the Maryland Governor, and the President of the Board of Police ask residents to abstain from gathering in crowds.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Mighty Strike. Mad Anarchy Here
This article from the July 21, 1877 edition of the Daily Alleganian and Times gives an account of the strikers halting trains and notes the arrest of the ringleaders.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Military Call From Big Sam
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the mob surrounding the Sixth Maryland Regiment armory during the riots in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Status of the Strike
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post updates the status of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad strike.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
The Attack on the Fifth
This article from the July 21, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American gives an account of the attack on the Fifth Regiment by the mob, which threw stones and bricks, forcing the troops to charge into Camden Station with fixed bayonets.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
A General Riot
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American describes the scene of the riot near the Sixth Maryland Regiment armory.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Further Particulars
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun provides numerous details of the Baltimore riot, including names of the killed and wounded and an account of what occurred.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Riot at the Sixth Regiment Armory
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun describes the riot at the Sixth Maryland Regiment armory in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Hayes' July 21 Proclamation: A Manifesto Against Domestic Violence
On July 21, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes issued a proclamation ordering all strikers to disperse and return home. He noted that a state of "domestic violence" existed in Cumberland, Maryland, and "along the line" of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Tearing Up Tracks
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun describes the damage rioters caused to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's tracks near Lee Street in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
List Of The Dead And Wounded
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun lists the dead and wounded during the riots.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Reported Killed
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore American reports the number of citizens killed when the military shot into the crowd outside Camden Station in Baltimore.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Carroll's Second Proclamation
On July 21, 1877 Maryland Governor John L. Carroll issued a second proclamation, asking the state's citizens to maintain law and order.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Impediments To Departure
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun describes the rioters' confrontations with a Baltimore and Ohio railroad engineer and brakeman as well as the Baltimore Police.
July 21, 1877 | Newspaper
Further Particulars Of The Depot Fire
This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the fire started by rioters at Camden Station in Baltimore.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
Governor Carroll's Proclamation
In this July 20, 1877 proclamation, Maryland Governor John L. Carroll asks the citizens of Maryland to abstain from acts of lawlessness and assist the authorities in maintaining law and order. Carroll refers to the strike as a "conspiracy" to interfere with the business of the railroad.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
The Strike at Home
This article from the July 20, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post describes the blockade of the by railroad workers on strike and describes the strike's impact on the entire region.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
Carroll Requests Hayes' Assistance
On July 20, 1877, Maryland Governor John L. Carroll requests military assistance from President Rutherford B. Hayes to stop the "rioters" and prevent "domestic violence."
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
A General Strike
This article from the July 20, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American gives an account of the strike and notes the military's effectiveness at calming the mob, but the reluctance of railroad workers to return to work.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
The Railway Strike
This article from the July 21, 1877 edition of the London Times gives an account of the strike's changing scope following the arrival of Federal troops as well as the suspicion of its growth in other cities around the country.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
The Strikers at Grafton
This letter to the editor from the July 20, 1877 Baltimore American supports the strikers as having "just cause" and criticizes the government officials for overreacting and creating the crisis.
July 20, 1877 | Newspaper
Determined to Fight
This article from the July 20, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American notes the attitude of the railroad workers toward any attempted to break up the strike.
July 19, 1877 | Newspaper
Federal Troops to Quell the Strike
This article from the July 19, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American details the events that led to the Federal government sending troops to disperse the rioters.
July 19, 1877 | Newspaper
The Strike in West Virginia
This article from the July 20, 1877 edition of the London Times provides a description of the strike-related events in West Virginia.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Strikers in Full Possession of the Line
This excerpt from the July 19, 1877 edition of the London Times offers a description of the strikers' control of the Baltimore and Ohio line.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Midnight News from the Seat of War
This article from the July 18, 1877 edition of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the strikers' growing strength and the government's inability to stop it.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Dispatches from General French and Colonel Delaplaine
This excerpt from the July 18, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American lists several military dispatches in response to the strike, including correspondence from West Virginia Governor Henry M. Matthews asking Secretary of War George W. McCrary for assistance and tactical messages between the field commanders.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
The Situation at Martinsburg
This article in the July 18, 1877 edition of the Baltimore Sun gives an account of the previous day's confrontation in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Governor Matthews' Letter
West Virginia Governor Henry M. Mathews requests United States troops to quell what he called "domestic violence" and to stop the activities of what he deemed "unlawful combinations."
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Governor Matthews Explains
West Virginia Governor Henry M. Matthews replies to Secretary of War George McCrary's request for more information about the state's military strength, noting that some of the state and local militia were sympathetic to the strikers. He also claims that U.S. troops are necessary to prevent "bloodshed."
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
An Explanation by Captain Charles J. Faulkner, Jr.
This letter to the editor by Captain Charles J. Faulkner, printed in the July 19, 1877 edition of the Baltimore Sun defends his decision to leave the railroad yard at Martinsburg, West Virginia. Faulkner's letter comes in response to newspaper editors who suggested that his company left too soon.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
The President Asks for Information
In response to West Virginia Governor Henry M. Matthews request to President Hayes for U.S. troops in the crisis, Secretary of War George W. McCrary replies by asking for details about the scale and scope of the "insurrection."
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
The President's Proclamation
On July 18, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes issued a proclamation calling the citizens engaged in the strike to peacefully disperse and return to their homes.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
Mr. Garrett to the President: An Urgent Request for United States Troops
On Wednesday, July 18, 1877, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad President John W. Garrett sends a message to President Hayes urging him to send United States troops to end the strike and the "open intimidation" of railroad employees who did not join the strike.
July 18, 1877 | Newspaper
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Strike
This article in the July 18, 1877 edition of the Baltimore Sun notes the extent of the trouble on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the rioting at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the militia's ineffectiveness.
July 17, 1877 | Newspaper
Labor, Trouble, and Disturbances
This dispatch from West Virginia Governor Henry M. Matthews, reprinted in the July 17, 1877 edition of the Baltimore Sun, states Matthews' desire to preserve the peace and protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's trains.
July 17, 1877 | Newspaper
A British View of the Baltimore Strike
This excerpt from the July 18, 1877 edition of the London Times offers a glimpse into the British view of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Strike.
July 17, 1877 | Newspaper
Trouble on the Baltimore & Ohio
This article from the July 17, 1877 edition of the Baltimore American gives an account of the strike's origins in Baltimore, its spread to Martinsburg, West Virginia, the arrival of the miltary, and a description of the demonstrations that took place.
July 16, 1877 | Newspaper
The Military Called Out
The American reports that John King, vice-president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, requested state militia to guard the property of the railroad and quell the "riot." West Virginia Governor Henry M. Mathews in a telegraph assures King that he will do everything in his power to "suppress the riot."
July 11, 1877 | Newspaper
Garrett Announces Wage Reduction
This July 11, 1877 circular announces a wage reduction for workers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
1877 | Photograph
The Great Railroad Strike, Opposite 32nd and 31st Sts.
Part of a series of stereographs published in the wake of the 1877 Railroad Strike. The images show the destruction at Pittsburgh, which resulted from violent clashes July 21-22.
1877 | Photograph
The Great Railroad Strike, Interiors of Upper Round House
Part of a series of stereographs published in the wake of the 1877 Railroad Strike. The images show the destruction at Pittsburgh, which resulted from violent clashes July 21-22.
1877 | Photograph
28th St and Upper Round House, citizens shot here
Part of a series of stereographs published in the wake of the 1877 Railroad Strike. The images show the destruction at Pittsburgh, which resulted from violent clashes July 21-22.
November 18, 1873 | Newspaper
DISCRIMINATION ON ACCOUNT OF COLOR ON RAILROADS
The New York Times reported on its front page the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Catharine Brown's case. The case aroused Republicans to reconsider the intent and purpose of the Congress in the midst of the Civil War because it turned on the railroad's Congressional charter from 1863 which clearly barred any discrimination on the basis of race or color. The railroad's main argument before the Supreme Court rested first on the idea that separate cars were customary, locally sanctioned, and equally accommodated, and second on the specious reasoning that because they carried colored passengers they had not violated the Congressional charter--colored persons were carried, just in a different car. The spirit of the Congress in 1863, the Court decided, suggested otherwise. The decision, however significant and newsworthy, was sorely limited in its application. Only a handful of railroads in the District of Columbia possessed such language in their originating charters.
March 23, 1872 | Illustration
Accident to the Boston Express
This image from the March 23, 1872 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a train derailment on the Boston Express near Springfield, Massachusetts.
April 28, 1870 | Legal decision
Draft of Catharine Brown, Evidence Given
Catharine Brown's case--Case No. 4582--was scheduled to go to trial in October 1868 in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, but was delayed because of various procedural motions by the railroad's attorneys. When these motions were denied, the case was tried over three days in March 1870. The all white jury rendered a verdict of guilty against the railroad company and awarded Brown $1,500 in damages. Then, the defendant railroad attorney's sought an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Here is their statement of argument, denying that the railroad used violence or made derogatory remarks. Furthermore, in denying Brown's claims, the railroad argued that there were distinctions between through and local passenger types of service, even on the Baltimore and Ohio, and that separate colored cars on local lines were run at the request of black passengers.
December 31, 1869 | Legal decision
Seth E. Beedy Deposition
Catharine Brown's attorneys deposed two white men who were on the train with Brown and witnessed her expulsion from the cars in Alexandria. Both lived in Maine and were deposed in December 1869. Seth Beedy was traveling with Benjamin Hinds, who knew and recognized "Kate" Brown. Beedy testified, "she was ejected by violence and that alone."
December 31, 1869 | Legal decision
Benjamin H. Hinds Deposition
Catharine Brown's attorneys deposed two white men who were on the train with Brown and witnessed her expulsion from the cars in Alexandria. Both lived in Maine and were deposed in December 1869. Benjamin Hinds' testimony was particularly significant because he described in detail the violence he witnessed, and because he knew Brown "since January 1866," perhaps from her work in the U.S. Capitol, and tried to intervene on her behalf.
March 4, 1868
Catharine Brown, Complaint
Catharine Brown filed suit against the Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown Railroad in March 1868, arguing that a month earlier she was forcibly and violently ejected from the ladies car in Alexandria, Virginia, because of her color. She sought damages of $20,000 to pay for her medical care and to compensate for the injustice of segregation and discrimination. Brown's original petition focused on the railroad's duty as a common carrier and on Brown's first-class ticket which permitted her to ride in the ladies car.
March 4, 1868 | Legal decision
Catharine Brown, Plaintiff's Prayers
A brief description of the judgement Catherine Brown hoped for as the jury decided her case.
December 7, 1867 | Illustration
Railroad Disaster in Ohio
This image from the December 7, 1867 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a tragic November 21, 1864 railroad disaster near Lockland, Ohio in which two trains collided. At least four people were killed.
July 23, 1864 | Illustration
The Great Railway Disaster Near Montreal, Canada
This image from the July 23, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a major railway disaster near Montreal, Canada. The conductor failed to heed a signal that the Belacil Bridge was open for barge traffic and the ensuing accident killed ninety people and wounded one hundred more.
March 8, 1863 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, March 8, 1863
In this letter from March 8, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing how busy he has been preparing "the estimates for the western work." He notes the lack of available laborers and expects the situation to grow worse if the government calls for more troops (which he believes it should). He also states, however, that there has been a decrease in business over the past month and that they have been "discharging quite a number of men" as a result. Reed also describes accounts he has seen of rioting in Detroit, and details similar civil disobedience which took place recently in Keokuk, Iowa. He expresses fear of the possibility of "military despotism."
February 1, 1855 | Contract
Contract Between the Illinois Central Railroad Company and Pinkerton & Company, February 1, 1855
In this February 1, 1855 contract between the Illinois Central Railroad and Allan Pinkerton's Detective Agency, Pinkerton & Company agree to establish a "Police Agency" in Chicago to assist the Railroad in the "prompt and efficient performance of their business."