The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-30
Respectfully,
May goth, 1878.
SrAUNToN, VA, May 10. 1878.

srAUNToN, VA, May Is, 1878.
Hon. JNo. LETCHER =
Dear Sir Yours of the 18th inst: with en-
closures, to hand. very cheerfully give the
facts in connection with the Richmond Bread
Riot so far as had any connection with IL. rag
ING the dates as given by Col. French as correct,
'"st the time of the riot was the 1st Lieut. OF
thg estate GUARD a military organization 10
Gated the city OF Richmond by state aut6orlsy'
nor The morning OF the Riot we received orders
to ren,-t to the Governor for duty, with 1nstruc-
tions to be prepared to suppress riot linen ex
istinp in, the lower part OF the city The State
(nard uNldef command of Capt. Gay prepared
at once obey the ordeI the men were fd
w. 'A Rw vomr, orders we proceeded to Cary street
at or near the corner OF 14th street. where we
f;rst met the NsoteYs Some one, acting under Inc
authority of tine Mayor OF the city. was readlnS
the Riot Act-I do not remember VINO u was )
but IN ahe %ns Ct po avail
ever So soon as We reading OF The floI act was
finished the State Guard vas ORDERED 10 cear te
The Street and in a few minutes the street was
cleared. We next marched to Main street;
where the rioters had oroaeh open itb snrainn
furious, and disorderly cpo"a Ine state W. W.
things just here seemed mos1 I1FeaCsnlng W., w
patiently waited for orders, and IN I'VE mlnltes
you gave orders to Capt G ~ directly. 70 form
the company into square, 10 iOau ni IN fva
minutes, to fire. The company was formed IN
obedience to your orders, and we We're iuliy pre- PFC
pared to execute them shall never @ ~ az az
Responsibility of those five minutes; nor Ihe us-
termination shown by YOU as YOU soUou or MiI.
watch in hand, awaiting the result OF your ofaer,
which had been given in loud ana ai l
voice SO that it could be heard by nearly the en-
IT The mob now rapidly dispersed. and by furth-
er orders from you the Guard followed closely IN
their rear, down Main street, along lin Dy tne
old Market, and up Franklin street, to me 1ronI
of the auction house of Hill Co. 50 far as
remember, it was here that Mr.. Davis made
speech; who constituted his hearers: am not
able to say; but cannot believe that they were
rioters; for they had by this time been dispersed;
and no further force was required
I was with the Guard from the time II lett me
barracks until their return. 1t was the only
organized force OF any kind called out to sup
press the disturbers OF the peace and wnile we
felt keenly the responsibility OF our position. we
vet felt assured. from your calm and cool deter
mination, thai nothing would be done except IN
ervation and promotion Of the public peace
You, and you alone, gave any orders TO tne mill
tary company ordered on duty. ior tne suppress res
sion of the riots and as you were present the
entire time. no one else had authority TO give
orders"
on duty. was with it the whole time, and did
not see Mr.. Davis at any time, except perhaps at
the Hill Auction house, when the rlot hao Deen
have heard the name of Col. Jno. Baldwin
mentioned in connection with the riots, Also 1
day / was satisfied at the time, and feel assured
now. that the riot was suppressed and the public
peace restored by the determined energy with
which you caused the mob to be followed up
and the firm, decisive command given by you in
person, at the most critica! part OF the day, to
the State military organization on duty.
beg to express to you personally the great
satisfaction felt in acting under your orders
knowing that you not only had the authority to
act. but the will and determination to do whatever
would be for the greatest public good. am on
ly surprised that any one should have given the
credit of what was done at that time to Mr.. Da-
Wis, or to any any one else but yourself
With very great respect,
am very truly, yours &C.,
HEBER KER.