Mittlestaedt, Richard E.

History

The Vigilance Committee of San Francisco was founded in 1856 following the murder of William H. Richardson by Charles Cora And James King of by James Casey. The leader of the new committee was William T. Coleman and its headquarters was Fort Gunnybags. On May 18, 1856, 2,500 armed vigilantes seized Cora and Casey from the sherriff's custody, tried them and publicly hanged them four days later. Following a fight in which the vigilantes seized arms from the state militia, the Committee held a parade of 6,1000 followers and then disbanded.

Although highly popular, the Committee did not enjoy universal support. Letters in this collection present the side of the "Law and Order" forces in opposition to the Committee. The Committee ceased operations in the fall of 1856.