The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-22
BARRACKS in CITIES.
Editor New Orleans Bullet

Editor New Orleans Bulletin:
Last fall the little revolution Of the 14th Of
September called down upon our city the
army and navy of the United States. A very
few days after the overthrow Of the usurpa-
ton New Orleans was virtually under military
rule, and troops were encamped in and
around the city. As all this seemed to
be regarded by the United States authorities
as military necessity" not a voice waf
ruled and it was plain to the commonest com.
prehension that no resistance to any power
put over them would be made by this people
in the face of the army and navy. As the
navy was potent while lying in the middle Of
the Mississippi River, SO the army would be
most potent in quarters at the United States
Barracks below the city.
Notwithstanding this, however, regular bar
racks for soldiers were established at the Com
mercial Hotel corner of Tchoupitoulas and
Girod streets, ct the Continental Hotel, cor
ner of Carondelet and Julia, and in the Lee
building, corner of Carondelet and Grod.
The Commercial Hotel being in an obscure
business quarter, the thing was tolerable, but
the last named buildings are in the very heart
Of the city and Immediately among the private
residences of our people, and the establish
ment of barracks here was simply shocking
But the United States Government said it
was war, and the conquered murmured not
At last, however, came compromise" and
peace, absolute peace, with Theoretically all
her attributes. Our ladies' and children, our
sick, all drew q long breath and said "Now
we'll be relieved of the nuisance" But, alas,
the barracks remain. vl<s
Now, Mr.. Editor, If you are at all surprised
at our complaint, just come and spend week
with us, and experience what We have expert
enced for eight long months, and tremble at
the idea of experiencing ind fnitely. Be-
hold here-either alongside of you or oppo-
site you-a four-story building filled with
soldiers at every moment gaping at every
member of your household through every
opening sufficiently large for the eye to pene-
trate; see these same soldiers, through their
open windows, en- dishabiUe, washing, dress
ing OF undressing at night and early morn
ing, lying undressed on their uncovered gal
leries; see their guard-house open on the
street, with dslinquents undergoing military
punishments; see these poor wretches marched
back and forth to the water-closets; hear q
brass band practicing nearly all day, singly
or collectively; hear the drum Give or six
drums) and flies for " reveille, for "tatoo, I"
for breakfast, dinner, supper, aud for
Heaven knows how, many things be-
tween meals; see your family or your COM
pany conversations interrupted while these
internal noises hold sway: see the man who
works hard all day and until late at night
aroused from his sleep by the "reveille " OF
$50 A. NJ; see crowds of the idle and disso-
Lutte drawn around your door by the drill
or the brass band; see animals in vehicles
dashing away at the sudden burst Of drums
on the gallery above their heads; see all this,
and far more, that will not occupy your
space to detail. and then say if your sympa-
thies are not Aroused.
For eight long months has this punishment
been inflicted on us, and no relief seems at
hand And yet relief there ought to be.
We believe that ocr city authorities have the
power to remove such nuisance from our
midst, and we appeal to them to consider the
matter. From the military authorities we
expect nothing. The spirit that would so far
violate civilization as to establish the nuis-
ance over ladies and children Ito say nothing
Of the male "banditti y will continue it indef-
initely. There is nothing surer than that in
not one city north of Mason's and Dixon's
line would they dream of quartering soldiers
in the midst Of its business or its residences.
Nor would enc of those cities permit such
thing for moment
OF the soldiers we do not complain. They
obey orders. If the officers Who are control
ling them get their orders thus to violate all
decency and propeiety from Washington, let
us know it. The evil is shocking, let it ema-
nate whence IL NAV CTrJzrr