The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-01-20
To W. W. Belknap. Secretary of War
THE RESULT OF SHERIDAN'S INvESTI,
CATIONS.

To w. W. Belknap, Secretary of War
THE RESULT OF sHERIDAN's INvEsTI,
CATIONS.
Next appear kilograms of Sheridan
dated Jan 9th, addressed to the Sec
rotary of War, relating to terrorism,
banditti etc. The kilograms of Gen
eral Sheridan to the Secretary of War,
and those from the latter to the for
mer, heretofore published, appear in
the correspondence, and also the fol-
lowing telegram:
New ORLEANS, January 10, 1875.
To Hon. W. w. Belknap, Secretary
of War, Washington:
Since the year 1864 nearly $500 per-
sons, a great majority of whom were
colored men, have been killed and
wounded in this State. In 1868 the
official record shows that 1884 were
killed and wounded From 1868 to
the present time no official investiga-
ton has been made, and the civil au-
thorities in all but few cases have
been unable to arrest, convict and
punish the perpetrators. Consequent
ly there are no correct records to be
consulted for information. There is
ample evidence, however, to show
that more than 1000 persons have
been killed and wounded during this
time on account of their political sen
timents Frightful massacres have
occurred ip the parishes of Bossier,
Caddo, Catahoula, St. Bernard, St.
Landry, Grant and Orleans. The
general character Of the massacres in
the above named parishes is so we'll
known that it is unnecessary to de-
scribe them. The isolated cases can
best be illustrated by the following
instances which take from mass of
evidence now lying before me of men
killed on account of their political
principles: In Natchitoches parish
and the parish of Bienville the num-
Der of men killed is thirty In Red
River parish the isolated cases of men
killed are thirty -four. In VIM par
ish the number of isolated cases where
men were killed is fifteen. In jack
son parish the number killed is
twenty. In Catchaula parish the
number of isolated cases reported
where men were killed is fifty, and
most of the country parishes through
ing state of affairs. The following
statement will illustrate the character
and kinds Of the outrages: On the
Both of August, 1874, in Red River
parish, six State and parish officers.
named Mitchell, Divers. Holland,
Howell, Edgerton and Willis were
taken, together with four negroes, un-
der guard to be carried out of the
State, and were deliberately murder
ed On the 10Th of August, 1874, the
White League tried. sentenced, and
hanged two negroes. On the 18th of
August, 1874, three negroes wero shot
and killed at Brownsville. just be-
fore the arrival of the United States
troops in the parish, two White
Leaguers rode up to negro cabin and
called for drink of water. When an
old colored man turned to draw it
they shot him III the back and killed
him. The courts were all broken up
in this district, and the district Judge
driven out In the parish of Caddo
prior to the arrival of United States
troops, all of the officers at Shreve-
port were compelled to abdicate by
the White Leaguers, who took pos
session of the place Among those
obliged to abdicate were Walsh, the
mayor, Rapers, the sheriff, Wheaton,
the clerk of the court, Durant the re-
corder, ana Ferguson and Renfro, ad-
ministrators. Two colored men who
had given evidence in regard to frauds
committed in the parish were compel
led to flee for their lives, and reached
this city last night, having been snug
gled through in cargo of cotton.
In the parish of Bossier the White
League have attempted to force the
abdication of Judge Baker, United
States Commissioner and Parish
Judge. together with O'Neall, the
Sheriff, and Walker, the Clerk of the
Court. and they have compelled the
Parish and District Courts to suspend
operations. Judge Baker states that
the White Leaguers notified him
several times that if he became can
didate on the Republican ticket, or if
he attempted to organize The Republi-
can party, he should not live until the
election. They also tried to intimi-
date him through his family, b. max
ing the same threat to his wife, and
when told by her that he was United
States Commissioner, they notified
him not to exercise the functions of
his office. In but few of the country
marshes can IT be truly said that the !