Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-10-04
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
Report Of the Military Cemmis sisu


The Military Commission TO investigate the
causes OF the New Orleans riot, was composed
OF Brevet MAYOR General jos. A. Mower, u. y
u 5. Vols; Brevet Brigadier General J. Irwin
Gregg, ". =. A; and Brevet Brigadter General
George Baldy, U. ). Vols. In their report they
say:
'The immediate causes of thi. riot. which tn.
Board are directed 70 investigate, are, IN their
opinion, 10 be found in the violent feelings
OF hostility toward the so-caIled con veniion OF
1864 which have for some tame prevailed in the
community, and which was finally, by tue
course of events, famed into the flame OF an
actual outbreak of riot, bloodshed, and massa-
ere.
"The board do not consider themselves called
upon TO decide or discuss in any manner the
question Of the legal existence and powers of
tne convention as such Wheeler any attempt
at official action on their part would have been
recoen nized by the courts as Of any legal vaiidi-
~ ie point admitting OF grave doubt This,
however, was not the question under discus
sion between the civil and military authori-
ties, the decision Of which was, it appears,
pregnant OF the greatest OF conseq uences to
the State and 10 the nation. That question
was whether the persons claiming TO consti-
tute such con vention should be allowed 70 as =
semble.
.sThe board will endeavor to state briefly and
comprehensiyely the action OF the civil and
military authorities upon this point and will
make short comparison of testimony thereon
with n view Of deciding the cause and fixing
the responsibility for the non arrival OF the
bloodshed which took place. The events OF the
day will then be considered in chronological
order, the board making the best summary IN
their power Of the voluminous vidence which
they have taken, and which, in their opinion
points with Irresistible force to the quarter in
which the accountability for crime will be
found 10 rest.
The Board, after reviewing the evidence. at
length say: sOf the further occurrences of the
day OF riot the board would respectfully call
attention TO the brutal treatment and almost
trnhs Il ~ Al
prisoners at the various station n-h houses, before
they were, by military orders, removed to the
hospitals. The evidence Of Lieut.. Col. Crosby
Major Sheridan, and DIR. Avery on this point
shows as horrible a scene OF suffering and neg
lectas could have been presented on q lost bat
ue-neld. They would also call attention 20
the evidence on the subject Of the renewal Of
the attack on negroes. and the shooting Of them
in their dwellings by botn citizens and police
late on the same night in Victory street The
board will state IL as their firm con viction. that
but FOR the declaration of martial law, and the
presence OF the troops, fire and bioodshed
would have ragged throughout the night in ali
negro quarters Of the city, and that the lives
and property OF Unioniss and Northern men
would have been at the mercy OF the mob
The coneervators OF the peace being for the
time the insuga.ors of violence nothing would
have remained but IN arming for self-defence,
and a scene might have ensaed unparalleled
in the history OF the age. As in the Gordon
riots in London and the more recent draft riot
in New York, the affair would have passed
-,
hands OF that class whose only object would
have been plunder and destruction irrespec-
tive OF party. In the boards opinion, the pro-
perty OF the Southern merchant not less than
the life of the negro and the Unionist was that
night under the protection of the Federal bay
one: alone"
FINALLY, the board would state that in their
opinion, the whole DRIFT and current OF the
evidence tends irresistibly 10 the conclusion
that there was among the class of violence
known TO exist in this city, and among the
M m far nF n afu<x
before alluded TO, a preconcerted plan and
purpose Of attack upon this convention, pro-
yided any plausible pretext therefor could be
found. Threats TO members to "prepare their
coffins," warnings to friends to keep clear of
the vicinity, anonymous letters dissua
those whose purpose TO be present was known,
all these taken together, the board regard as OF
significance which can hardly be mlsintsr-
preted. Though not In evidence, II is within
the personal knowledge OF the board that a
mock obituary Eotice OF the demise Of the con-
ventlen on the Both OF July was some weeks
previously posted in this city.
whether, and 10 what degree, Mayor Mon
roe can be regarded as an accomplice In or
knowing TO this purpose OF attack, will prob.
ably, by direct testimony, never appear.
Whether any definite instructions were given
TO the police the board regard as immaieriaI
He knew their feelings toward this party of
negro suffrage TO be Identical with those OF the
mob. Three fourths OF them were ex -Coufed-
crate soldiers, and least one of their officer
appointed by himself notorious thug. assas-
SIN, and former leader OF the very men Of blood
who might be expected TO be foremost In the
attack. Had the police been sent 70 the ha in
advance, with orders to preserve the peace, they
could have had no excuse for the attack on the
conventions; on the contrary, they must have
acted in It's defence; and this was the ad-
vice OF General Heron. Bot IL the police
fighting ensues. then precipItated In mass
upon the scene, IL is easy to forsee what will
be their action in Quelling the riot. The cen-
vention and its supporters have been long held
Qiafs ND
tors against law, and the police would have
acted by the order OF the Mayor but for the IN
reference of9eneral Baird. As it is a maxim
that man must be presumed TO intend the
legitimate consequences of his acts, the board
are reluctantly forced to the conclusion that
although the instance Of Lieutenant Governor
the issuing OF the proclamation, yet that Mayor
Monroe well knew that before the excited pas
slons Of the mob il would be q barrier OF straw
to fire; that no troops had been asked for, and
without the presence OF police, violence was
inevitable. When, therefore, he withdrew
and massed his armed police, and on the break
ing out of the riot precipltated them upon the
scene, the board are compelled to;conclude that
he knew what their action would oe, and that
ne intended the inevitable consequences OF his
own acts.
dence which seems in many instances 70 indi-
cate clearly the identity of parties guilty of
murder. The impossibility OF bringing such
criminals to justice under the civil government
as ii now exists would be in their opinion uni
yersally acknowledged by this community
Reliable evidence would seem 10 fix the identy
Of one Of the murderers Of Captain Loup, the
ex-United States officer. The evidence against
the notorious Lucien Adams, though direct
is tn at Of negroes. In this connection the board
would respectfully call attention to the small
proportion of negro testimony taken, and TO
the fact that all important points regarded as
esta blished rest upon white testimony alone
"Attention is called to the manner in which,
since his ad vent into office, Mayor Monroe has
made his appointments and changes on the
police an his disregard of the Recommendation
and advice OF the chief HIS appointment of
Lucien Adams as q sergeant 10 considered by
the chief as outragipg the feelings Of the com.
munity. But the board are compelled TO state
that, in their opinion, IL is the party to which
such men as Luclen Adams were leaders that
Mayor Monroe owed his reelection. and that
he now fears 10 disobey their dictation.
''ln regard to the chief OF police and his share
OF the res onsibl for the riot, il will be re-
out the orders Of his superior. The board are
inclined TO regard him as we'll disposed in the
main, and only regret that he should not have
thought it mis- duty TO resign, rather than to aid
in executing q programme OF which ne must
have foreseen the result There is but one point
on which his testimony may be regarded as IN
validated. In common with the Mayor and the
police generally, he denies the giving of any
orders TO arm. II the evidence OF the policeman
Dorsey and the clerk and telegraph operator
Cazeaux Is TO be credited, such orders were sent
by the Mayor through the chiefs and subordl-