Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-29
The New Orleans Massacre.
GEN. sHERIDAN's DISPATCHER

1t has been claimed by the Republican press
of the country, since the rebsl massacre OF
Uuionists in New Orleans the last of July, that
the administration had purposely, and with IN
tent to cover up its guilt in aiding the rioters,
suppressed portion of Gen. Sheridan's de-
spatches, and mutilated the one which was
given to the press. This charge has been
made with SO much circums tantial evidence of
it's truthfulness, as to compel the President TO
give the public Sheridan's despatch in full. 1t
has been also understood, that Gen. Sheridan
has insisted that these dispatches should be
printed in full, as he sent them, and not sup
pressed or garbled as had been done by the or
der OF connivance OF Andrew Johnson.
The first despatch of Gen. Sheridan. given
in a mu,ilated form to the press at the Time,
we print below, the italicised portion living
been carefully suppressed at the time by An
drew johnson or his tools
OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
HEAD QUARTERS WAR DEPARTMENT.
Aug. l, 1866, from ; CIV Orleans, La, Aug
l 1866:
u. S. Grant, Gsnerai
You are doubtless aware Of the serious riot
which occurred in this city the 30h. A
political body, styling itself the convention of
1864, met on the 30,h for, es Il is alleged, the
purpose of remodellng The present constitution
| of the State. The leaders were political agta-
| tors and revolutionary men, and the action of
the Convention was liable 10 produce breaches
of the public peace. | had made up my mind
| to arrest the head men if the proceedings of
the Convention were calculated to disturb the
tranquility of the department, but | I'D no
case for action 2Dt they committed over
act. In The mean time, Official duty GATED me 10
Texas, and the Mayor of the city, during my
absence, suppressed the Contention by The use OF
the police force and in so doing attacked the
members Of the contention and party Of itco
hundred negroes, ruth firearms, cabs and
knlues, in q manner so unnecessary and afro
oous to compel TO say at u.uraor.
| About forty whites and blacks ibus hIed
and about one hundred ana Sky uaded.
Every thing is now qnlet, bat deem It 5s,t 20
maintain a military supremacy II lite cIty lor d
few days, until the affair Is fully inv sstiSated
| believe the sentiment OF the general cOmmu-
| nifty is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty
and that the police could have made any ar
rests they saw fl wlhou, sacrificing lives.
| L. Ii. SHERIDAN,
Msior-Gener4l command ~.
| After this Infamous attempt 10 suppress lie
honest opinion of Sheridan, and the d;ung
words in which brave soldier ch4Ts Clerk c
the butchery which Monroe. aided by the Pres
dent OF the United States, perpetraied at New
! Orleans, it is matter Of no surprise thA- the
subsequent dispatches OF Gen. Sheridan should
have been entirely withheld from Tie puolo
These two dispatches We print below, and lei
the public read and ponder them well:
New Orleans, Aug. 2.
To e. S Grant, Washington The more
information | obtain Of the affair OF the
10Th ult. in this city, the more revolving il be-
| comes.
the police, which was not excelled in murder
Gus cruelty by that Of Fort Pillow.
1t was a murder which the Mayor and the
police perpetrated without the shadow OF a ne
cessty.
Furthermore, believe it was premedit@.ed
! and every indicst ton points 10 this.
!, | recommend III, removal of this bad man
| believe it would be baled with sincerest graf
.fication by two-thirds of the population OF TIT
} city.
There has been a feeling OF insecurity on II,
part of people here on account Of this man
which is now so much increased, thaI the safe
f ty of life and property does not rest with the
civil authorities, bul the military.
=. ii. SuERIDAN.'