WAR AND DISCOURAGEMENT 105 
property of residents. The end came in a bloody encounter 
within a block of Field’s home at Gramercy Square, when a 
detachment of soldiers met a mob of rioters at Twenty-First 
street and Third Avenue. Thirteen men were killed, eighteen 
wounded, and many were taken prisoners. 
The wife of David Dudley Field, whose residence ad- 
joined that of his brother, wrote of this terrifying experience: 
“My husband got back just in time to save, by prompt and 
vigorous action, our property. Our poor servants were terri- 
bly alarmed; they were threatened by incendiaries who 
warned them to leave the premises. . . . Think of one hun- 
dred and eighty soldiers sleeping in our stable, the officers 
being fed in the basement. . . . As the rioters approached 
our house they were met by a company of soldiers that Dud- 
ley had just sent for; their glittering bayonets and steady 
march soon sent them back before they had time to effect 
their demoniacal purpose.” Isabella Field Judson, daughter 
of Cyrus, recalled that when the rioters approached their 
home, the servants fled, excitedly taking the cat and a box 
of tea but leaving silver, ornaments, and other valuables. 
The suspense that Field suffered while awaiting news from 
home was convincing illustration of the need for an ocean 
cable. His anxiety began on July 16 when a letter dated July 
1 arrived from his firm telling of Lee’s raid into Pennsylvania. 
The battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1 to July 3, 
and with a cable the news would have been in London on 
July 4. Instead of that, Field began worrying intensely on 
July 16—thirteen days after the battle was over. A ship was 
due on July 18, and Southern sympathizers among the British 
expected it to bring news of the critical defeat of the Northern 
army. The steamer was delayed, however, and did not arrive 
on the day it was due. The next day was Sunday, and no news 
was forthcoming. 
Field was too restless to attend church. Hailing a cab, he 
drove to the house of the American minister, but Adams was 
