The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-05-28
Letter fron General neBl,,

Letter from General DeBlals
ST. MAEr1NsvILLE, May IA, 1874
To His ExcelIency John McEnery. Gu.
ernor ot Louisiana: "'3''&
, SIR-The United States troops !,
rived here Oh Saturday last, and a,
Monday evening I and ten Others an, -
rendered to Col. DeKlyne. Chief Dem.
ty United States Marshal, who l,el
warrants against ns.
Had we attempted resistance or m,
attack after the arrival Of the Feil,.,l
tr"ps. which had been sent IA a no.,.
comitatus. the Deputy Mars al wouE
have used them to capture thosr-m
any "f those, against wh",n warraNh
had been issued, aud, under the ma.
text of executive process. would Law
joined the police and compelled IA "a
submit to the latter 81, fire in the dir.
ton Of the United States posse couis.
tus AS 4.&
Under these circumstances exclusive,
" we suspended operations on Satu,.
dag last. and not before, to tiAp knuul.
edge 1T Gen. Badger, lis officers and
privatrs. On Fri,lav night our men
fred on one Of their pickets.
Twas shown, this morning, a report
dated st. Martinsyille, May 10th, from
Gen. Badger % Gen. FBal,ley, in which
the f"'mrr says that We occupied an
almost inaccessible swampy island m.
til Wednesday, when he moved and
attacked, driving us from our camp
This report is ia grossly iucorrcta
it ia false We were. not on any swamw
island, hut on q plantation. alta .hat
distance frOmSt. MattiDsviIle. Thtn
Gen. badger attacked us, and did MOI
drire as "ne step. On the contrary. as
soon as IL left town and appeared with |
Ills forces, artillery and infantry, rs|
met him and stood within range ofhaI
rifles aud gun, with"nt firing a shot
and ready to charge as soon IA he
would have reached the point ulrnI
our shot guns could have been used /
with EFFECT. sHi
| IL order to bring Gen. Badger onth +
chosen field, we did not place one ain
gle man the road which led to It, and
did not return fire; hut tw" small de- +
,acl,nlemts If ON men appeared on hp|
faux and he immediately fell back and
returned to the Court. House and geuI
our camps. VI 80 y -
On Friday night-as even the Cpl,
VIII" entered our camp can certify TIL
while We were receiving rr-infosI
ments and messages offering re.iuknsI
ments. the news came that the FelenI
troops had arrived; and ON Saturday
morning; I discharged first the v1m1
teers, afterwards a portion OF my CON-
mand. and with the balance returned
to another camp.
Wewere not dispersed, aud Geapni
Badger did not try to find me while
was snrrvunued with armed men. Va
separated fully orranized. and for oN
ONLY ONE, reason-we did not intta|
or wisl, t" come in conflict with FedHI
al authorities and Federal. troops, and
by 80 doing assist those vii" had paI
to place ns in the alternative Of Mb
uniting to the police or comn'lttsd
high treason against the United s'ataI
As to the charge brought against
that we intended tn interfere with tn
rights Of colored citizens we deny It.
and to sustain onr denial rely on e'r
dence If the most prominent Mihr1
own class in this Community. Weta'
already proposed, and stilfpr"lsse,
recognize the election Of every Ra'l'tat
candidate IN the parish II, St. Martin
without distinction OF race gor color
provided they recognize yonr elreif1
rs G, verror. He. who, g.. ks jsN
should de- Justice"
/ pass nbn"ticed the many jrpa'
which haze filed the columns of y
New Orleans Republican, aud in VIM
it is proclaimed that Gen. BMlgrf
done this, and was ready to otn
. that lie would have cleaned out
killed everybody. Weave not |laH
birth or Ivy education, and in order
preserve own esteem, and that olssl
chosen I. lends, we state fae's as V
occurred. Badger attempted :" ag
= Us and was driven. Witl,Ont ttfin
val ot q Federal officer and feoe
troops, Badger aud his re-i'f"sss"t'
would have been driven from thsPI
ish Of St. Martin. YF.s4naE
Very respectfully,
ALClBlADE S. DEBLAEs,
Col. 'Comlnanding st. Martin MIMI
a. Who wants go"d. sound' w.