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


THE RESULT OF SHERIDAN INVEST,
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 1854 nearly $500 per-
sons, great majority of whom were
colured men, have been killed and
wounded in this State. In 1863 the
official record shows that 1854 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 eases have
been unable to arrest, convict and
punish the perpetrators Consequent
ly there are no correct records to be
consulted tor information. There is
ample evidence, however, TO show
that more than 100 persons have
been killed and wounded during this
time on account of their political sen
timents- Frightfh massacres have
occurred IN 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 well
known that it is unnecessary to de-
scribe them. The. isolated cases can
best be illustrated by the following
instances which | take from a mass OF
evidence now lying before me of men
killed on account of their political
principles: In Natchitoches parish
and the parish OF Bienyille the num-
Der of men killed is thirty. In Red
River parish the isolated cases of men
killed are thirty four. In Winn par
ish the number of isolated cases where
men were killed is fifteen In Jack
son parish the number killed Is
twenty. IA Catchaula parish the
number of isolated cases reported
where meo we're killed is fifty, aud
most of the country parishes through
out the State will show correspond
ing state of affairs. The following
statement will illustrate the character
and kinds of the outrages: On tine
30th 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 18th OF August, 1874, the
White League tried, senteaced, ano
hanged two negroes. On the 18th O.
August, 1874, three negroes We're slio
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 anc
called for drink of water. When al
old colored man turned to draw /
they shot him in the back and killeC
him. The courts We're all broken al
in this district, and the district lude'
driven out. In the parish of Cadd'
prior to the arrival of United State
troops, ali of the officers ut Shreye
port were compelled TO abdicate b,
the White Leaguers, whe took pos
session of the place. Among thos'
Obliged to abdicate were Walsh, TIL
mayor, Rapers, the sheriff, Wheaton
the clerk of the court. Durant the re
corder, and Ferguson and Renfro, ad
illustrators, Two colored men VIII
had given evidence in regard TO fraud
committed in the parish were compel
led to flee for their lives, and reache,
this city last night, having been SNUG
gled through in cargo of cotton.
In the parish of Bossier the Whit
League have attempted to force tn
abdication of Judge Baker, Unite.
States Commissioner ami Paris
Judge. together with O'Neall, til
Sheriff, and Walker, the Clerk of tn
Court. aud they have compelled III
| Parish and District Courts to suspend
operations. Judge Baker states tha
| the White Ieaguers notified hin
several times that if he became can
| didate on the Republican ticket, or j
he attempted to organize The Rerubli
can party. he should not live until tn
election. They also tried to intimi
date him through his family, b. max
ing the same threat to his ,wife. ant
when told by her that he was Unitet
States Commissioner, they notifies
him not to exercise the functions o
his office. In but few of the countr.
parishes can il be truly said that tn
| law Is properly enforced. and in SOM
of the parishes the Judges have no
been able TO hold court for two years
InrSp f,f., IN THE State IL haId q