The “Plug-Uglies”
1 JUNE 1857
THE “PLUG-UGLIES”
Few may remember today that the January 6th, 2021, Capitol riot was not the first violent threat against our election process. The tempestuous 1857 Presidential campaign pitted the Democratic ticket of James Buchanan and John Breckinridge against Republicans John C. Fremont (former Army officer of California fame) and VP hopeful William Dayton. To complicate matters a third “American Party” entered the race championing their single-issue, anti-immigration platform. Nicknamed by some the “Know Nothings,” the Americans touted former President Millard Filmore as a candidate.
The “Know Nothings” were far from dispassionate about their cause. And when election day rolled around on June 1st, having failed to sway a significant fraction of the voters, the frustrated Americans plotted to disrupt the election. They recruited a band of ruffians and malcontents from Baltimore, the “Plug-Uglies,” and paid their train fare to Washington. Armed with knives, pistols, bludgeons, pitchforks, brickbats, and all manner of other weapons, the Plug-Uglies rampaged up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Northern Liberties Market (near 5th and K Streets), the city’s polling site. This they seized, grinding the election process to a halt. City police were unable to control the riot, and Washington’s mayor William B. Magruder, appealed to the Marine Barracks. Two companies of US Marines were hastily mustered to face the Uglies. At this point, the thugs produced a brass cannon which they aimed at the Marine ranks. MAJ Henry B. Tyler repeatedly restrained his men from firing, and as the tension of the moment escalated, a grey-bearded 74-year-old man in civilian clothes stepped from among the spectators. Unknown to the rioters he was LCOL Archibald Henderson, the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Henderson approached the cannon and deflected its muzzle, admonishing the Uglies, “Men, you had better think twice before you fire this piece at the Marines.” Pistol shots now began to pop from the crowd, though none were well-enough aimed to strike Henderson. A platoon of Marines rushed forward and seized the cannon, and when one rioting pistoleer charged to within an arms-length of Henderson, a Marine rifle butt struck him down. Henderson manhandled this ruffian, dragging him straightaway to Magruder’s custody. More shots erupted, and one Marine was struck in the face with a ball. Unable to contain themselves any longer the Marines leveled their weapons and fired.
The Uglies dispersed immediately, and Marine officers quickly regained control of the scene. The Marines then followed the stragglers past City Hall to the train station to secure the town against any further Plug-Ugly incursions.
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 7 JUN 26
CAPT James Bloom, Ret.
Heinl, Robert Debs, Jr. Soldiers of the Sea: The United States Marine Corps, 1775-1962. Baltimore, MD: Nautical & Aviation Pub., 1991, pp. 61-63.
Metcalf, Clyde H. A History of the United States Marine Corps. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1939, pp. 187-88.
Millett, Allan R. Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps. New York, NY: Macmillan Pub Co., 1980, pp. 85-86.
Pierce, Philip N. and Frank O. Hough. The Compact History of the United States Marine Corps. New York, NY: Hawthorn Books, 1964, pp. 73-74.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1994. New York, NY: Funk & Wagnalls, 1993, pp. 614-15.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: The two companies of Marines were led by CAPTs William A.T. Maddox and Jacob Zeilin, both of whom had served honorably in the Mexican war. Zeilin would go on to become the 7th Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1864. USS MADDOX (DD-731) was involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident that triggered the Vietnam war. The platoon that rushed the cannon was led by LT Charles A. Henderson, the Commandant’s son. This was Archibald Henderson’s last contribution to USMC history. After a 39-year stint as Commandant, Colonel Henderson died in office on 6 January 1859.
Both Henry Ball Tyler and Jacob Zeilin had joined the Marines after being dismissed from West Point for academic deficiency (not an uncommon source of USMC officers in that day). Tyler “went south” in June of 1861 when his native Virginia seceded from the Union. He was appointed a LCOL in the Confederate States Marine Corps, its second ranking officer. He survived the war, though his military service ended with the peace. He is interred in Fairfax, Virginia.
James Buchanan won the 1857 election by a 174-114 margin of electoral votes. His presidency saw continued non-resolution of the slavery issue and a laissez-faire attitude to the secession of southern states. Many modern historians credit Buchanan’s administration as one of our least effective.
