The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-30

had NOT been applied to by the Convention for
protection, bit the Lieutenant Governor and
Mayor had Fl eely consulted with me and was
so fully convinced that it was SO strongly the
intent of the city authorities to preserve the
| peace in order to prevent military interior
ence that did not regard any outbreak as
| thing to be apprehended. The Lieutenant Gov
ernor had assured me that even if writ of ar
rest was issued by the Court the Sheriff would
not attempt to serve it without my permission,
and fortunately they decided to suspend it, /
ordered steamer to be at jackson Barracks,
| three miles below the city, at an early hour in
| the morning, and to try to be ready to bear or
ders to the commanding officer of the 1st in
fantry, stationed at that point.
CAT 11:30 in the evening Lieutenant Cover
nor Voorhees, came to see me, and after con-
versation, he, feeling confident at the time of
the ability of the police to preserve order, |
proposed to bring to the city four companies,
an hour in advance ofthe supposed meeting
| of the Convention at 6 in the evening to be
kept near by in case they should be required to
clear the streets in the vicinity of the hall in
| which the Convention was to meet de agreed
with me that it would be very desirable, but
| left, not experimenting difficulty.
| cat noon drove to see Judge Howell, Pres
| ident of the Convention, to request that ar
| rangements might be made to keep any crowd
| that might assemble to potect the Convention
out of the streets, so as to avoid an accidental
collision When | reached his house learned
1
| and that he had gone tolt.
| Returning TO my headquarters, | soon re-
ceived a letter from the Lieutenant Governor,
| informing me that large party of negroes
were collecting from all quarters and coming
into the center of the city. Yet he was not
| sure of his information. However, | at once
sent for the troops. Very soon afterwards |
| learned that riot had taken place near the
Convention hail. and sent staff officer to
investigate the facts. On his return he report
| ed having met Judge Howell, who said the
Convention had adjourned, for want of quo
rum, but would meet again at IL p o'clock in
the forenoon.
"This treasured me, but again sent to hur-
~ the arrival of the troops.
Immediately after this the riot assumed
serious character, the police, aided by citizens,
became the ASSISTANTS, and, from the evidence,
| am forced to believe, exercised great brutal
ty in making their arrests. Finally they at
tackled the Convention hail. and a protracted
struggle ensued The people inside the hall
gave up some persons who surrendered and
were attacked afterwards and brutality treated
Quite large number were injured; | cannot
inow say how many Governor Hahn, Dr.. Dos
tie, Mr.. Fish, and, perhaps other members Of
the Convention being among their number.
/ tOn the arrival of the troops | soon cleared
the streets, and order was rest red. From the
evidence of the bad feeling of citizens, and of
sympathy with them by the police, felt COM
lpelled to declare martial law and appoint a
military Governor, from which hope good re-
suits will ensue.
; II inclose herewith copies ofmy correspond
Ience with the Mayor, and of q dispatch which
the Lieutenant Governor claims to have re-
Iceived from the President. regret that no re-
Iply to my dispatch to you of Saturday has yet
reached me.
i General Sheridan is still absent in Texas.
II remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedi-
ent servant.
(SigneD "a. BAIRD,
"Brevet Major General"
GENERAL sHERIDAN's DISPATCHES.
FIRST DISPATCH.
"NEw ORLEANS, La, August 1, 1866.
gu. S. GRANT, General:
You are doubtless aware of the serious riot
which occurred in this city on the 3Oth. A po-
litical body, styling itself the Convention of
1864, met on the 30th for, as it is alleged, the
purpose of remodeling the Constitution ofthe
State. The leaders were political agitatorS
and revolutionary men, and the action of the
men was liable to produce" disturbance of
the peace. had made up my mind to arrest
the said men fthe proceedings Ofthe Conven-
ton were calculated to disturb the tranquility
of the Department, but | had no cause for ac-
ton until they committed the overt act. In
the mean time Official duties called me to Tex
as, and the Mayor of the city during my alb
sence suppressed the Convention by the police
force, and in so doing attacked the members of
the Convention and a party of 200 hundred ne
Igroes with firearms, clubs and knives, in a
compel me to say it was murder About forty
whites and blacks were thus killed. and about
one hundred and sixty wounded. Everything
is now quiet, but deem it best to maintain a
military supremasy IN the city for afew days,
until the affair is fully Investigated. / believe
the sentiment of the general community is
Igreat regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and
that the police could have made any arrest
they saw fit without sacrificing lives.
| (Signed) Up. II. SHERIDAN,
"Major General Commar ding"
NEW ORLEANS, La, August 2, 1866.
~. S. GRANT, General, Washington, D. c.:
1.-The more information obtain of the affair
of the Both in this city the more revolving it be-
comes. 1t was no riot. 1t was an absolute
massacre by the police, which was not eXcell-
ed i'll murderOus cruelty by that of Fort Pillow
1t was murder which the Mayor and police
OF the city perpetrated without a shadow of a
necessity. Furthermore, believe it was pre-
meditated, and every indication points to this.
l recommend the removing of this bad man. l
believe it would be hailed with the sncerest
qualification by two-thirds of the population of
J the city. There has been feeling of insecure
| ty on the part of the people here on account of
| this man, which is now so much increased that
| the safety. of life and property does not rest
with the civil authorities but with the militia
Try.
(SignedD P. H. SHERIDAN,
| Ma or General Commanding"
GENERAL GRANT TO SHERIDAN
WARRINGTON, August 3.
Major General Sheridan, New Orleans:
| Continue to enforce martial law so far as it
may be necessary to preserve the peace, and
do not allow any ofthe civil authorities to act,
| II you deem such action dangerous to the pub
lie safety.
close no time in investigating and reporting
the causes that led to the riot, and the facts
which occurred.
gu. S. GRANT, General
| sHERIDAN's THIRD DISPATCH.
''NEw ORLEANS, La, August 3.
U. s. Grant, Washington, d. c.
have the honor . report quiet in the city,
but considerable excitement in the public mind
There is no interference on the part of the mill
! tary with the civil government, which PERFORMS
| its duties without hindrancG. have permit
ted the retention of the military Governor APP
pointed during my absence as it gives conf
dence and enables the military to know what
is occurring i'll the city. He does not interfere
with civil matters. Unless good judgment is
| exercised there will be an exodus of Northern
| capital and Union men, which will be injurious
to the city and to the whole country. will
remove the military Governor in a day or
| two.
81 again strongly advise that some DISPOSE
tlon be made to change the present Mayor, as
| believe that would do more to restore conf
dence than anything that could be done If the
| present Governor COuld he chanped also If