behind AotW

Irish-born Private James Organ of Company E, 9th Louisiana Infantry was wounded and captured at Sharpsburg in September 1862. While on a detail in Richmond, VA he was involved in the Richmond “women’s bread riot” of 2 April 1863, and was charged with assault and robbery during the disorder. I don’t know the outcome of his trial, but he returned to his Company and was captured at Spotsylvania, VA on 12 May 1864 and died while a prisoner at Point Lookout, MD on 7 August 1864.

A summary of the Hustings Court actions – including Organ’s case – was published in the Richmond Daily Dispatch of 14 April, seen here. Obviously it was not purely a womens’ riot. That newspaper is online from the Library of Congress.