New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-15

tine Governor, and he directs me to say II
You that he must decline to receive any
| communication trem committee appointed
by the mass meeting assembled on Cana
street. He does SO. am instructed to say
because he has definite and accurate in
formation that there are now sssembler
l several large bodies Of armed uen in dtfe,i
en,t parts OF the city. who are met at the
| call which convened the mass meeting
which Sou represent. He regards this as
menace. and he will receive no communi
cation under such circumstances. He fur
the!more directs NE to say that. should the
! people assemble peacab!y without menace.
! he would deem it one Of his highest duties
to receive any communication from them
or t" entertain any petition addressed to
the government. have received and an
. :s y0u' seniH11E%SsRRy HESRy ac z niRRs T1mSsF
| Brigaaier General and Judge Advocate
General. Louisiana State Militia.
To which Mr.. Mari orally replied as FOL
! lows:
! repeat that there are no armed rieters
! there are no armed men on Canal street. 50
/ far as We know. We came on a mission OF
| peace. and We believe that If the Governo.
mad sceedei 20 the proposition we brough:
! to-day it would have pacifed the people OF
| Louisiana and ,nighr-Ur would-preven;
! violence or bioodshed. So tar as We are
concerned we are prepared to pledge to
| hin no violence in person or property,
| and We feel, on the contrary, in position to
| assure him that theveshOuld be pertec: ilL
| mun!ty 20 both.
The substance OF the foregoing reply was
| subsequently, by Mr.. Marr's request. re-
| iuced to writing by the Governors private
secretary and handed to him TO read to the
! mass meeting
Genera! Dill bb,e. on the par. Of the Cove:
! nor. replied:
have to re peat what said before. that
while there may be no armed men on Canal
street, there are armed bodies within q
| short distance, assembled on the same call
as your mass meeting.
The committee then retired to repor. the
result OF its interview.
When the committee returned from the
State House and informed the meeting that
they had failed to see the Governor. bu.
had seen Judge DibDie, who spoke for the
Governor. loud and angry shou: went up.
Mr.. Marr stated that he had been informed
by Judge D;bbie that the Governo, de.
clined to see or treat with them. He also
read the correspondence on the subject.
after which DR.. Beard spoke. advising the
people to go home, arm themselves. ard re.
turn for action. The crowd then dispersed.
although quite a number Of men ;oite
around Clay Statue.
This condition Of things was reported 10
General Badger. d: that time a. the Jack.
son square station. with nearly all his force.
He had Gat!i1g gun and three small!
orass howitze:s for canister. The several
poiice captains hac charge OF their con-.
nands. all apparently we'll armed and the
men in good sDri--.
Meantime. the y.:i..ls companies OF the
White League, armed with every variety OF
weapon. appeared in the streets, taking
,Os,tion N va:ious portions Of tue city.
Fully 5000 armed men were in their ranks.
The corner Of P.rsisas and St. Charles
streets was eei.:tsd ~ General Ogden. the
Grand Commander Of the League. with his
staff, from which poin. the movements 0:
the organization were directed. About
four o'clock barricade @: lumber. boxes.
iron plates from the stree: crossings. ETC.,
was thrown up across Camp street.
A few minutes before four o'clock Gen.
erai Badger issued an order for his com.
mand to march. They started UP near the
.evee and met with no opposition until near
the head Of Canal street. Arrived On the
levee. the artillery-,hree brass pieces and
two Gatling guns-were depioyed. and the
infantry properly detailed to supper: them.
No organized enemy appeared TO oppose
them. They were on open ground, near
the iron building. but almost instantly a
dropping fire from behind hay and cotton
bales commenced on them. Loose and
lively moving crowds Of citizens were or
Canal. Common. Grav:er and the cross
streets, and on hearing each sLo: they
rushed one way or the other.
The police took their exposed position
surrounded by apparently GOO men behind
the bales Of cotton and hay. Their atten.
ton was directed somewhat up the leyee.
where the greater strength of the enemy
seemed to be. and. sitting on his horse.
General Badger raised his hat and gave the
OICtt W 0IOs AU IEO AISG ulSCudEGc every
loose citizen sought cover. and there was a
tremendous stampede ensued for the side
streets. The excitement spread to Camp
street. and men knew not which way to
turn. Many called, ''It's false alarm: it
is only done to keep carriages and cars
away" but the fight of the day was
going in witk unparalleled vindictiyeness.
At the first discharge OF the cannon every
hay and cotton bale seemed to blaze with
fire. Only heads and arms were presented
as targets for the Winchester's of the police.
Badger sat his horse, encouraging his men,
and seemed to have a charmed life. for
several men dropped every second. Not a
man tinched while he had support, but the
fire of their almost unseen enemy swept
them away like wheat before the reaper.
A fifth of the force lay on the levee dead
or so wounded as to be unable to move.
Not enough men were left unhurt to support
the artillery, and standing at the guns were
not one-half enough to work them. Unable
TO see hardly foe fall, but the crack and
blaze coming increasingly from the bull
warks before them, fire from roofs and
windows behind and above them commenc-
ing, nd man falling at each report, the
majority who could walk sought tho iron
build ling, carrying their wounded. All but
the com mmands of Rey and Joseph, which
were SO mewhat out of the line of the main
fight were demoralized. Every man in
sight was blackened with powder and