I did my masters dissertation on the riots ten years ago. One of the most fascinating and violent episodes in American history:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/opinion/sunday/when-the-civil-war-came-to-new-york.html?hp&_r=0
To this day the bloodiest riot in American history.
and the backdrop for Gangs of New York :)
^Yeah. I enjoy that movie but a lot of people hate it.
Another tidbit...most if not all US Army troops who eventually put down the riots marched directly from Gettysburg!
Intresting stuff -thanks for posting that Gus.
You got it. Ironically it was about 95 degrees the whole week of the riots 150 years ago too.