New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-03
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
ABOUT THE COUSHATTA MASSACRE

ABOUT THE COUSHATTA MASSACRE
More About the White League
Messrs. Hoar, Frye, Wheeler and Mar
shall appeared in their seats, ready fol
duty. Witnesses were not tardy, and at
torneys began to look as if they could en-
joy themselves better somewhere else. Re
porters settled down moodily, and the
work began, the first witnes called being
Senator NJ. II. Twitchell-I reside in Red
River parish; the Democrats made a com.
promise with the Republicans that there
should be no acts of violence; in the last OF
August two white men killed two negroes
a committee investigated the affair and a
call was made on the white people to go to
the rescue; the town of Coushatta was
plcketed by whites and there was shooting
at the pickets; eighteen colOred and eight
white men were arrested; the White League
held the prisoners; it was finally decided to
take the prisoners out of the parish; six of
the white men were taken about forty
miles and then murdered; my brother was
among the killed; the bodies were mutt
lated; the body of Devices could scarcely
be recognized, and the widow was not per
mitted to take the body away; the White
League would not permit the bodies to be
removed; my brother was twenty-fou years
old; socially he was greatly liked; he was
never charged with any crime; he was the
head of temperance society; all the mur-
dered men we're of good character; the only
offense was that they were Republicans;
have succeeded in part in hunting up the
n 60 ttA Svr
ton as dared; deputy marshal made
some arrests; there isnot particle of doubt
as to who the assassins are; no one dared
to prosecute the case; Winn. one of the two
murdered cOlored men, had said he could
not work with the Democratic party or
advise his acquaintance to do so; two COL
ored men were hung just after the Coushatta
massacre; the rabbie declared that if they
had occasion to make another attack on
the Radical stronghold not woman or
child should be left; Allen, a colored man,
fire made under the body; had not troops
gone there not q single Republican vote
would have been cast; the effect of the
COushatta massacre frightened the col0red
people beyond estimate; they were told that
If they sustain ed Republican candidates
they would be killed: many of my friends
did not dare to be seen talking with me;
several families we're compelled to leave
the parish; I could only escape by going off
with soldiers; enc time when l left
travelled over fifty miles, having relays Of
white men began to suspect that l wished
to leave, and so they picketed all the roads
to intercept me; l left two weeks after
and believe that it is not safe for
me to return home, nor will it be
until the COushatta murderers are arrested;
they fear to see me, knowing that would
prosecute the case; no jury in that parish
would return a verdict against the aesas
sins; there was no cause OF complaint
against the murdered officers, except that
they were Republicans; the White Leaguers
are not disposed to give the colored man his
rights under the law; Republicans, with one
exception, never cOunseled colored people
to acts Of violence; that one man was
driven out of the party; formerly resided
IN Bienville parish; things there were gener-
ally governed by orders from Coushatta;
The only remedy is to punish the
nurderens: one third of our people are
reckless, and rule the other twO.thirds;
many residents of Red River parish do not
,are for the State government; some Con.
'ervative White Leaguers advised against
PAPER, which the White League seized and
published paper for themselves: they
published something about the Coushatta
murders, but it was not correct account;
hey must have seized the United States |
nails; there were evidences that the White |
league was military organization; on |
lection day man stood at the polls and |
ook down all the names of those who voted |
he Republican ticket; they killed the |
leputy postmaster and ran off the post |
Master; they took charge of the mails.
,;voo II in no
ederal army in 1861; the disturbances and |
disorders began in Red River parish about |
he middle OF last July; up to that time |
here was good order; the races had got |
long tolerably we'll together; have been a |
member of the police jury ever since the |
arish was formed, and am State Senator; |
he Coushatta massacre was on the last day |
last August; there had been a rumor |
hat the blacks were rising, and that rumor
,as the cause of picketing the town; one
olored man was shot by a picket because |
1ere fired on by somebody; two oolOred men
fterward acknowledged that they were the
ersons who fred on the pickets; they
'ere afterward taken out and hung; my
rother was informed by Smith that he
,ould be assassinated: the six murdered
'hite men were sacrificed because they
ere leading Republicans and Office
olders; do not know, except by hearsay,
hO the assassins are; the names of the
ictims were J.R. Twitchell, MIC. Willis, F.
Edgerton, j. Devices, w. F. Howell and
lark Holland; they were all oficeholders;
le massacre took place in CaddO parish, by
ed river: persons who saw the dead bodies
formed me about the mutilatiOn; will not
We the name OF my informant. as it would
, certain death to him; as United
tates commissioner obtained some testi-
Ony in the case; it was publicly an
,unced that on the first of January there
ould not be Republican in the Red river
slley, except they were hanging to limb;
n quite certain that the White Leaguers
ould have sufficient influence to prevent
~ jury from convicting the Coushatta MUIR
,rers; | think the Democrats will ackn0wl-
ge that there was much fraud used in at
mpting to elect McEnery; colOred men
we been disarmed by the White League.
General A. s. Badger-The White League
rs organized last July; it was on . mil
.ry basis, and drilled; about the first of
ptember, they numbered from 5000 to
90; articles in the Conservative press
gmented their numbers; dealers in arms /
d received large orders; guns were pur.
ased in New York; never heard of Black
,ague; would certainly have known of it i
d there been one; never thought the '
lOfoO men iuUeuucO " IAsc, uV HUI cAAnA |
0 blacks ever intended to pillage or burn; {
ey generally are in awe Of white men; I
the fourteenth of September the I
rious White League companies were as {
nbled at their several places under arms; I
mass meeting was held at Clay statue, |
q committee sent to make Governor
,llogg abdicate; had the militia at the
ad OF Canal street, where l was informed 9
1t the White League companies were
wing out Poydrss street and down the c
zee; Canal street was filed with people, q
d l sent Sergeant Taylor with few men t
tell them to disperse; he was fired ?
and compelled to return; when u
artillery arrived near the head