The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-03 00:00:00

THE WHITE LEAGUE REVOLT.

It appears from the American papers that it was
only by the tame resistance made to the White
Leaguers at New Orleans by Governor Kellogg and
General Longstreet, that that city was bayed a large
amount of bloodshed, and only by the determined
attitude of General Grant that Louisiana escaped a
renewal of Civil War The actual losses in the street
fighting which took place on Monday, the 14th inst., are
reported as f ollows : White Leaguers killed, 8; wounded,
5 ; dangerously, 12. Metropolitans (supporters of
Kellogg) killed, 10 ; wounded, 14. Early in the
morning a meeting of citizens was held at the Cres-
cent Hall, and a deputation of "White Leaguers" as
appointed to wait upon Governor Kellogg to invite
him to abdicate. They returned shortly with Kellogg's
refusal; and thereupon the Leaguers were tulvised
to go home and arm. Meanwhile a number of large
buildings had been secretly filled with armed men.
About 2,300 composed the reserve stationed on
Julia-street, and 1,500 men were deployed on
Poydras-street. Generals Longatreet and Badger
had, it was said, 400 troops and five pieces of
artillery. About 3.30 General Badger was seen ad-
vancing towards the Leaguers with 180 infantry,
twenty mounted men, two 12-pound Napoleons and
one Gatling gun. A White League picket was at this
time stationed at the corner of Canal and Magazine
streets, and small bodies were to be observed at the
intersections far down the thoroughfare. The Me-
tropolitan Police moved into Peter's-street, on
the west side of the Custom House, and formed a line
of battle in the wide spacelto the east of what is known
as the Iron Building, at first turning their guns in the
direction of the swamp and subsequently toward the
levee. General Longstreet. who had in the meantime
arrived, rode down Canal-street a short distance, and,
addressing the small crowd gathered there, bade them
disperse or he would sweep the street. In the mean-
time Company E of the Crescent City White League,
armed with Sharp's carbines and Henry rifles, stole
down the levee behind bales of cotton and hay, coming
within a short distance of the Metropolitans, and on
their left flank before they were discovered.
A command of probably 300, under Captain John
Payne, also moved up from the head of Poydras street,
and at their approach the Metropolitan Artillery
commenced firing. The sharpshooters, secreted in the
hay and. cotton, now opened fire, and half a dozen
Metropolitan artillerists dropped at their guns before
they seemed aware from whence the shots came.
The infantry support failed to come to their relief,
and the artillerists, following the command under
Captain John Payne and Mr. Gauthier, charged,
driving the men from their guns and creating a
stampede. Mr. Gauthier was instantly killed, while
ten feet in advance of his men. Many of the Metro-
politans ran across the levee, and, it is said, some leaped
Into the river. The mounted men galloped in dis-
order up Crossman-street to the Custom House. A
body of White Leaguers then started across the levee,
capturing the river police station, Captain M`Cann,
and forty-five men. The fight continued along Peter's-
street and around the square bounded by that thorough-
fare, the Custom House, and Dec_atur-street. Kellogg
defended the Custom House, but. no serious attempt
was made to take the place, and in about an hour
from the commencement of hostilities New Orleans
was in the hands of the White League, whe at once
installed their own State Government, and congratu-
lated themselves on their victory.

Their triumph was very brief. President Grant,
says the Neav York Herald, was passionately roused
when the news reached him. He declared that he had
done everthing in his power to midst the South, and
especially Louisiana, but that he would maintain
the authority of the Government at all hazards. If
necessary he would take the field in person and rout
the whole party. In order that his declaration giving
five days' grace to the insurgent Government might
not be misconstrued, he telegraphed to Lieutenant.
General Sheridan to await orders to proceed to New
Orleans. Orders were also issued to the commanders
of infantry regiments in the youth, west, and north-
west to hold their commands in readiness to move
upon receipt of orders. The Quartermaster-General
was instructed to see that there was no delay
in furnishing the necessary transportation, while
the Navy Department received orders to have the
ironclails at Key West in readiness to be towed to
New Orleans. if the army ar.d navy were not suffi-
cient the President said he would not hesitate to call
upon the governors of Northern States to furnish
State troops, to the end that the rebellious spirit of
, the people of the South might not extend itself to
other States. "In a word," add the President, "I
shall deal with this trouble as I should have dealt
with the trouble in 186 L"
-

The result is known. At this display of the Presi•
dent's firmness the revolt collapsed.