River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-03-21
Collision Between the McEnery Militia
and the Police.
The Combatants Use Muskets and
Cannon
Que Man Killed and several wounded


thing of a serious nature was on foot.
1t was generally supposed that, success
attending the demonstration on tho
previous evening, it would be followed
up by an attack on the different sta
tions through out the city. A thousand
| different reports prevailed during the
morning, but at noon the excitement
had gradually subsidized, there being
nothing further done to warrant the
1 feeling.
Later in the day, however, and about
nightfall, it became evident that
movement of some sort was on foot.
/ Bodies of men were assembling at diff
ferent points in the central portion
of the city, and arms were freely dis
4 played. 1t was said upon the streets
that one of the large political clubs
had offered Governor McEnery four
thousand men early in the afternoon,
and the increased number of bodies ap.
pearing seemed to justify this assertion.
A company of about one hundred was
1 assembled at the lower part of Camp
street, another in Fordras and Maya
zine, and another gathering was report
ed in the nelghborhood of the sugar
shed.
/ About $50 ?. NJ, squadron of
militia moved down Royal street, and
emerging into the piazza in front of the
St Louis Cathedral, fired into the
station house. The fire was returned
from the building, ball Just grazing
Col. Ogden's shoulder.
The militia retreated, but in about
twenty minutes were reinforced by
some three hundred men. Pickets
were then stationed at the intersection
of Royal with Toulouse streets and
Peter with Siam streets, AID at the
head of St. Peter street, and at the
corner of Charters and Siam streets.
There was also a guard placed at the
corner of Chartres and Toulouse
streets.
After the first branch station-house
was closed and boited, the stores of p. !
BUrond anu j. Guilfoux & Lelee. con-
tanning arms, were broken open by
the militia and the contents appropria-
ted.
At about 9:45 Gen. Badger, with three /.
companies of police numbering eighty
each, and one piece OF artillery, form
ed at the corner of st. Louis and Char /
tres streets. The piece was soon after
limbered up and taken down the street, /
the police marched by tours on the /
vanquette. When they reachcd Tou 4
louise street firing began, raking
volley being delivered from the corner
of Jefferson street. The police return
ed the fire, but In the confusion had
some difficulty in Numbering the
piece. There was continuous musket-
ry fire for about five minutes, when at
last the gun was gotten into position
and discharged twice down Chartres
street. This created some indecision
ia the ranks of the militia, and they
fell back momentarily but quickly rail-
lied and firing was resumed. A final
shot was discharged from the gun, and
the militia retreated into Jackson
Square, the police remaining on Char
tres, between Toulouse and st. Peters
streets.
At ten o'clock the militia were being
rapidly reinforced from all quarters OF
the city, the squads leaving in the di-
rection of Jackson Square.
So far as known one man was killed
and eight wounded on the side of the
militia. There was only one casualty
reported among the police, Il man be-
ing slightly wounded on the arm.
Lieut.. King, of Gen. Emory's staff,
arrived or the scene of action at the
corner of st. Peter street and the
levee, at 1880 o'clock, and asked for
the commander Of the mob. Some one
informed the officer that this was not
mob, but real citizens of New Orleans.
Colonel Ogden aud General Wagga-
men coming up, the United States
officer informed him that he came from
General Emory and had orders to re-
quest the militia to dispense, adding ut
the same time that General Emory had
received instructions to that effect from
Washington.
Col. Ogden responded that he would
order the men to retire and dispense
\ Immediately. He requested that Mr..
Bond, who had position in the cours
buildings, would he permitted TO past
/ through the lines with his friends. The
+ officer said he could merely submit this
request 10 the commander of the po-
/ lice. Col. Ogden went down and en-
deavored to have Mr.. Bond released,
but his efforts were of no avail.
We learn that about this time Gen.
Waggaman, commanding the militia,
was met by Gen. Smith, Y. $. A., in
front Of the Cathedral Gen. Smith
requested Gen Waggaman, in the name
of the United States, TO disperse,
which the latter mt once COM
piled with, remarking at the
same time; General Smith despite
your courtesy, | cannot say / am glad
10 meet you, since il appears that / am
destined to have that pleasure only in
the capacity OF prisoner II will I've
remembered that General Wagelman