By Joel Tyler Headley (1873)
First published in 1873, this book was republished in 2003 with an introduction by Pete Hamill. The Great Riots of New York presents an illustrated, fast-paced and chilling account of the major players and victims of over ten riots that rocked New York City from 1712 to 1873. Headley's main purpose in writing this account over a century ago was to show his appreciation for the metropolitan police force, for he believed they "saved the city" during the Draft Riots. Using eyewitness testimonies by military authorities, policemen, and those involved, and extracting facts from available archives, pamphlets, and newspapers, Headley discusses with precise detail such uprisings as The Negro Riots of 1712-1741, The Doctors' Riots of 1788, and the Abolitionist Riots of 1834 and 1835, among many others.
