The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-18 00:00:00

E. M. Stanton.

Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that a very serious
riot has occurred hero to-day. I had not been applied to
by the Convention for protection, but the Lieutenant-
Governor and Mayor had freely consulted with me, and I
was so fully convinced that it was so strongly the intent of
the city authorities to preserve tho peace, in order to pre-
vent military interference, that I did not regard an outbreak
as a thing to be apprehended. The Lieutenant-Governor
assured me that even if a writ of arrest was issued by the
court the sheriff would not attempt to serve it without
my permission, and for to-day they designed to suspend
it. I ordered a steamer to be at Jackson Barracks, three
miles below the city, at an early hour in the morning, and
a tug to be ready to bear orders to the commanding officers
of the First Infantry stationed at that point. At 11.30
p.m., Lieutenant-Governor Voorhees came to see me, and
after conversation he, feeling confident at the time of the
ability of the police to preserve order, I proposed to bring
to the city four companies an hour in advance of the sup-
posed meeting of the Convention, at six o'clock p.m., to bo
kept near by in case they should bo required to keep clear
the streets in tho vicinity of the hall in which the Con-
vention was to moot. He agreed with mo that it would
be vary desirable, but left, not apprehending the difficulty.
At twelve o'clock I drove to seo Judge Howell, Presi-
dent of the Convention, to request that arrangements
might be made to keep any crowd that might assemble to
protect the Convention out of the streets, so as to avoid an
accidental collision. When I reached his house I learned
that the Convention was to meet at twelvo o'clock, and
that he had gone to it.

Returning to my headquarters, I soon received a letter
from the Lieutenant-Governor, informing me that large
parties of negroes were collecting from all quarters, and
coming into the centre of the city, yet he was not sure of
his information. However I at once sent for the troops.
Very soon afterwards I learned that a riot had taken place
near the Convention-hall, and I sent a staff officer to in-
vestigate the facts. On his return he reported having met
Judge Howell, who said the Convention had adjourned for
want of a quorum, but woti!ld meet again at 1.30 p.m.
This reassured me, but I agaii sent to hasten the arrival
of troops.
Immediately after this the riot assumed a serious cha-
racter ; the police, aided by cittzens, became the assailants,
and from the evidence, I am forced to believe, exercised
great brutality in making their arrests. Finally they
attacked the Convention ball, and a protracted struggle
ensued. The people inside the hall gave up. Some, who
surrendered, were attacked afterwards, and brutally
treated. Quite a large number wore injured—l cannot
now say how many—Governor Hahn, Dr. Dostie, Mr.
Fish, and perhaps other members of the Convention,
among the number.

On the arrival of the troops I soon cleared the streets,
and order was restored.

From the evidence of the bad feelings of the citzions
and of sympathy with them by the police, I felt compelled
to declare martial law and appoint a Military Governor,
from which I hope good results will ensue.

I enclose herewith copies of my correspondence with
the Mayor, and a despatch wkieh the Lieutenint Governor
claims to have received from the President.

I regret that no reply to my despatch to you of Satur-
lay has yet reached me. General Sheridan is still
bsent in Texas.

I remain, sir, very rer er,e, LAcuiltluy;
Brevetyotir o blei,d,
joe nr..tc,' see
nr ve aranit.,
Now Orleans City Hall, July 23, 1866.
Brevet Major-General Baird :
A body of men claiming to belong to the Convention of
1864, and whose avowed object is to subvert the present
Municipal and State Governments, will, I learn, assemble
on Monday next. By the laws and ordinances of the city
which my office makes obligatory upon mo to see faithfully
executed, all assembles todisturb the peace and tranquillity,
and proved to bo unlawful, are to be dispersed by the
Mayor, and the participants held responsible.
It is my intention to disperse this unlawful assemblage
if found within the corporate limits of the city, by arrest-
ing the members thereof, and holding them accountable to
existing municipal laws, provided they moot without the
sanction of the military authorities.

I will esteem it a favour, Goneral, if at your earliest