Washington Arsenal Explosion
June 17, 1864 was a very hot morning as young women sat
together at long benches pulled up to a central table inside a workroom at the
Washington Armory located at the present-day Fort McNair along the Potomac
River in Washington, D.C. They inserted lead bullets into powder-filled
cylinders to form small arms cartridges for the Union Army. Young women and girls,
some as young as 13, were typically selected for this work as it was believed their
small hands and fingers made it easier for them to assemble the munitions. Most
of the women were young, Irish immigrants dressed in long hoop skirts and
long-sleeved blouses. As the morning progressed, the outside temperature
climbed to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature inside the workroom
was even higher. A window had been opened to provide some ventilation to the stifling
room.
This image from Harper’s Weekly shows women filling
cartridges in a similar workroom
at an arsenal in Massachusetts. Source:
Library of Congress
Earlier in the morning, the superintendent Thomas Brown had
set out three pans of fireworks on the ground next to the building to dry in
the sun. Shortly before noon, the drying fireworks ignited, sending star
pellets through the air. One of the pellets entered the workroom through the
open window setting fire to the cartridges the women were working with and
igniting the barrel of gunpowder sitting at the end of the table. The resulting
explosion blew the roof off of the building and filled the work room with smoke
and fire.
Women not killed during the initial blast scrambled to
escape the room. Some were trapped against the table by the heavy work benches
while others ran for doors and windows, their flaming skirts setting fire to
each other as they touched. In all, 21 young women died in the blast or shortly
after due to their injuries.
President Lincoln and Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton
ensured that the funeral expenses for the young women would be covered and
attended the funeral for the victims on June 19th. The young women
were buried in the Congressional Cemetery and a monument was erected in their
honor in 1867.
Rededication stone at the Arsenal Explosion Monument
at the Congressional
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Sources:
Philip mentions this event in this week's diary excerpt.
_______
JUNE 15TH
Cleaned our guns. Had a heavy artillery drill. Had sparring
in the battery and also had some dancing.
JUNE 17TH
Was on guard this evening. Was later sick. The arsenal at
Washington blew up at 2pm killing 18 young girls and wounding a number of
others.
JUNE 18TH
Very sick with the sore throat and a very bad cold.
Petersburg was captured by General Grant on the 17th. (laid siege) the
note in parentheses was added later
JUNE 19TH
Was confined to my bed all day. Nothing of any importance
transpired today. Received a letter with some money in it.
JUNE 20TH
Nothing new transpires. Have drill twice a day. Petersburg
was not captured as reported. Getting well again.
JUNE 21ST
Nothing of any
importance transpired in camp. No news from the front.
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