Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-08-30
TlG New Orleans Massacre.
Gen. Sheridan's Dispatches.
On Whom Rests the Res
possibility?

Union papers of the country and of
Gems Grant and Sheridan. The most
important of Gen. Sheridan's dispatch
es had been withheld from the People
by President Johnson, and one of them
mutilated so as to offer an apparent ex-
cuse for the President and the others
engaged in the massacre. The follow
ing are the dispatches which were sup
pressed and mutilated by Mr.. johnson.
The first dispatch of Gen. Sheridan is
the one mutilated. We put the parts
in Halic which "Moses" was unwilling
the People should see.
COPY.
OFFICE U. s. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
HEADQUARTERS WAR Dept.
Cipher.
The following telegram was received at
6:l5 p. NJ, August lst, 1866, from
NEW ORLEANS, La, Aug. /. 1866.
To U. s. GRANT:
GENERAL: You are doubtless aware of
the serious riot which occurred in this city
on the 30th. A political body, styling itself
the Convention of 1864, met on the 30th,
for, as it is alleged, the purpose of remodel.
ing the present Constitution of the State.
The leaders were political agitators and ravo-
lutionary men, and the action of the Con.
venton was liable to produce a disturbance
of the peace.
had made up my mind to arrest the said
men If the proceedings of the Convention
were calculated to disturb the tranquility of
the department but had no cause for ac
ton until they committed the overt act. =
In the meantime. o6icidl duties called me to
7eros, and the Mayer of the city, during
nay absence suppressed the Conreatton by tie
police force. and in so doing attacked the
members of the Contention, and a party of
t,oohundred negroes, uiM firearms, clubs
and kRires, IN a manner so unnecessary and
dtroctous as to compel me to sayit ,cas nur-
der. 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
supremacy in the city for few days, until
the affair is fully investigated Ibelieue the
sentiment Of the general community Is great
regret at THIS unnecessary cruelty, and that
the police could haze made any arrest Mey
sa,c fit without sacrJfc,ng Lioes.
lSigned p. Fl. SHERIDAN,
Major. General Commanding.
OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
HDoRs. WAR DEPARTMENT
COPY, CIPHER.
The following telegram was received at 6
p. NJ, August 2, 1866, from
New ORLEANS. La, Aug. 9, 1866.
To U. s. GRANT, General, Roshington.
The more information obtain ofthe
affair of the 30th, in this city the more re-
Voting it becomes. 1t was no riot il was
an absolute massacre by the police, which
was not excelled in murderous cruelty by
that of Fort Pillow. 1t was murder which
the mayor and police of the city penetrated
without the shadow OF necessity. Further
more. l believe it was premeditated, and
every indication points to this. l recom-
mend the removing of this bad man. be.
lieve it would be hailed with the sincerest
qualification by two.thirds of the population
of the city. There has been a feeling of
insecurity on the part of the people here on
account of this man, which is now so much
increased that the safety of life and proper
ty does not rest with the civil authorities,
but with the military
lOigneu l.. Ii. SHERIDAN,
Major-Genera Commanding.
OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
HDoRs, WAR DEPARTMENT.
COPY, CIPHER.
The following telegram was received at 10
p. NJ, August 3, 1865, from
New ORLEANS, La, Aug. 3, 1866.
To U. s. GRANT, General, Washington:
have the honor to report quiet in the
city, but considerable excitement in the
public mind. There is no interference on
the part Of the military with the civil gov.
ernment, which performs its duties without
hiDdrance. have permitted the retention
OF the military governor appointed during
my absence US it gives confidence and en-.
ables the military to know what is occurring
in the city. He does not interfere with
civil matters, unless good judgment is ex-
ercised There will be an exodus OF North
ern capital and Union men which will be
injurious to the city, and to the whole coun-
try will remove the military Governor
in day'or two. | again strongly advise
that some disposition be made to change
the present Mayer, as l believe it would do
more to restore confidence than anything
that could be done. If the present Gov
ernor could be changed also it would not be
amiss.
Signed p. H. SHERIDAN,
Major.General Commanding.
WASHINGTON, August 3, 1865.
To MU, Gen SHERIDAN, Ne,o Orleans:
Continue to enforce martial law so far as
may be necessary to preserve the peace, and
do not allow any OF the civil authorities 10
act il you deem such action dangerous to
the public safety, Lose no time in investi-
eating aud reporting the causes that led to
the riot, and the facts which occurred.
lSgnedl U. s, GRANT, General.
WASHINGTON, d. @. August 4, 1865.
To Maj Gen. SHERIDAN, Neto Orleans,
We have been advised here that prior to
the assembling of the illegal and extinct
Convention elected in 1864, inAammatory
and insurrectionary speeches were made to
a mob composed of white and colored per-
sons, urging upon them to arm aud equip
themselves for the purpose Of protecting and
sustaining the Convention, in its illegal and
unauthorized proceedings, intended and cal.
culated to upturn and superceds the exist.
ing State Government of Louisiana, which
~