1862 Civil War Draft Riot - 150th Anniversary Commemoration

A ceremony will take place to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1862 Civil War Draft Riot on November 10, 2012. The event will be held in Port Washington’s Historic Court House on the corner of Main Street and Wisconsin Street. The intentions of this event are to honor all veterans and to remember the historic event that occurred in our very own Ozaukee County.

On November 11, 1862, William A. Pors, an attorney and draft commissioner of German Protestant descent, was ambushed by a mob of angry Luxembourg farmers, who opposed President Lincoln’s draft. As Pors prepared the draft, a crowd of over 200 farmers stormed the courthouse with bricks and clubs. Pors fled to Milwaukee to find refuge from the destructive mob. Later, Governor Edward Salomon ordered eight companies of the 28th regiment to surround the village of Port Washington. At dawn on November 12, 1862, the troops surrounded the rioters and occupied the town. The national flag was restored on top of the courthouse and the soldiers celebrated their bloodless victory.