The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14


Su-If in the course of the tour of inspec-
ton and investigation the Secretary of War
has directed you to make in his communica-
ton OF this date, you should find it necessary
to assume command over the Military Divi-
sion OF the South, or any portion thereof, the
President Of the United States hereby au-
thorizes and instructs you to take the COM
mand accordingly, and to establish your
headquarters at such point as you may deem
best for the interests Of the public service
am, sir, very respectfully,
4 Z. D. TOWNSEND, Adj. Gen.
Copy OF the above letter was furnished to
Gen. Mcdowell, Commanding Military Diyi-
sion of the South, January 5, 1876.
Telegram
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
Missouri,
Chicago, ILL.,, Dec. 26, 1874 J
Gen. W. W. Belknap, Washington:
Your letter received All right.
p. 81. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, !
st. Louis, Mo-, Dec. so, 1874.
Gen: W: W. Belknap. Secretary Of War, Wash
ington, D. c.: ~ -
Generul-I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt OF your confidential communication of
December 26, with Enclosures
Your obedient servant,
w. L. SHERMAN, General.
Next follows a telegram of Witt to the
President, informing him OF his election as
Speaker OF the House and protesting against
armed interference with the Legislature.
Next appear the kilograms of Sheridan.
dated january 5, addressed to the Secretary
of War, relating to terrorism. banditti, etc.
Gen. Sheridan sends to the War Department
for its information, letter from Major Merrill
dated Shreveport, December 80. He gives
the facts as to the probabilities of violence
there, and says the three Republican members
declared elected to the Legislature byi
the Returning Board, who have gone to New
Orleans to take their seats, beyond doubt,
could not safely return here now outside of
The officers named above, there is no one lett
here to do violence upon The leading Radi-
GALS have lett. The usual worrying and ha-
:assing OF the negroes goes On with little in
ermission, but lately no acts of violence to
Icts are now confined ytO plundering them, |
With or without some show of legal forms,
nd driving them from their homes to seek
places to live elsewhere.
The conflict for the Offices, whether con-
lucted by peaceable, legal means or by yio- |
ence, will stop what legal check now exists |
lpon crime and wrong doings; and will
realty aggravate the condition of things,
which is already serious enough, but do not
pprehend that it will result in disorder at |
present, because there ia nothing left to work
lpon, except the commoner orders, and part
y because the leading White Lsaguers have
,one to New Orleans.
The kilograms of Sheridan to Secretary of
Var, and those from the Secretary to Sheri-
Ian, heretofore published, appear in the cor
and also the following:
'. ". Belknap, Secretary Of War, Washington
Several prominent people have for the last
ew days been passing resolutions and manu-
acturing sensational reports for Northern
POLITICAL consumption. They seem to be try
ng to make martyrs of themselves. It can
lot be done at this late day. There have
'een too many bleeding negroes and ostra-
ised white citizens, for their statements to
e believed by fair-minded people. Bishop
Wilmer protests against my telegram of the
tn inst, forgetting that on Saturday last, he
committee that the condition of affairs here
'as substantially as bad as reported by me.
will soon send you statement of the num-
er Of murders committed in this State during
ne last three or four years, and the perpetra-
ors of which are still UNPUBLISHED. I think
nat the number will startle you. 1t will be
p in the thousands The city is perfectly
uiet. No trouble is apprehended.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut. Gen.
Sheridan sends communication to the '
ecretary of War (no signature), as illustrat-
lg the action Of the banditti in Louisiana in {
idnapping a member-elect of the Legisla-
Ire. Next follows Sheridan's telegram to
he Secretary of War, dated January g.. already
hol sc |
ley occurred in the organization of the State .
legislature, also the following telegram:
"NEw ORLEANS, Jan. 10, 1875, 3PM 1t
Hon. w. ". Belknap, Secretary Of War, Wash I
ington, d. c.:
"SiHnce the year 1855 thirty-five hundred
ersons, a great majority Of whom were
,lored, have been killed and wound
in this State. In 1868. the 6
fetal record shows that eighteen |
undred and eighty-four we're killed and I
ounded. From 1868 to the present time no ,
hcial investigation has BEEN made and the ]
vii authorities in all butsa few cases have t
spectators, consequently there are no e
'rrect records to be consulted for informa-
on. There is evidence, however, to show
at more than twelve hundred persons
we been killed and wounded during this
me, onaccount of their political sentiments
Fnghtful massacres have occurred in the g
lrishes of Bossier, Caddo, Catahoula, st. !
ernard, st. Landry, Grant and Orleans G
he general character of the above massacres d
the above named parishes is so we'll known il
at it is unnecessary to describe them. The
plated cases can be best understood by the S
flowing instances which Flake from a mass o
evidence now lying before me of men $
lied on account OF their political principles: a
In Natchitoches parish the number of
plated cases reported is thirty-three. In the 7
IRISH of Bienville the number Of men killed {,
thirty. In Red River parish the isolated d
ses Of men killed is thirty -four. In VIM 1;
IRISH the number of isolated cases where Il
IN whore killed is fifteen In jackson parish n
8 number killed is twenty. In Catahoula q
rish the number of isolated cases reported Ii
here men were killed is fifty, and most of 8
Q country parishes throughout the State
IL show a corresponding state of affairs. a
he following statements viii illustrate the d
aracter and kind of these outrages. On the o
tn Of August, 1874:
In Red River parish sig StatA and parish i