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REPORT.
NiEW ORLEANS, January 5, 18(39.
To the Honorable the President and Members of the Senate, and the Honorable
the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the State of
Louisiana, in General Assembly convened: -
Since the submission of our former report, of date of September
24, 1868, the General Assembly passed the following joint resolution
entitled,
A Joint Resolution relating to the sitting ot the Joint Committee oil the late
election and the condition of peace and good order of the State during the
recess or adjournment of the General Assembly.
Be it resolved by the Senate aid Hlo'use of Bepresentatives of the State
of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, That the Joint Committee
upon the conduct of the late election and the present condition of
peace and order in the State, be and they are hereby authorized to continue in session during the interval between the recess or adjournment of the session of the General Assembly and its nest session, with
all the powers hitherto conferred upon them; provided, that its members shll only receive their per diem for the number of days they
are actually in session and shall not be entitled to any mnileage.
(Signed)                         CHAS. W. LOWELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(Signed)                           OSCAR J. DUNN,
Lieutenant Governor rand President of the Senate.
Approved October 21, 1868.
(id  H. C. WARMOTH, 
Govei-nor of the State of Louisiana.
In compliance therewith your Committee continued their inves tigations into the present condition of peace and order in the State
during the interval between the last and the present sessions. They
have the honor to submit the following report of the result of their
labors:
Your Committee would earnestly ask the attention of the good
, people of the State to the following statement, praying a dispas.
In.1
, o-. 
sionate judgment thereon, and not deprecatilg any just criticism,
but to the contrary inviting it. If they have erred either in the
credence which they have attached to the evidence which appears
hereafter, or in the conclusions at which they have arrived they
welcome any scrutiny of the former, however rigid, or any refu tation of the latter. It is to the uncontroverted facts about which
there is no dispute, to which with all good feeling they invite the
candid attention of every good citizen without regard to party, and
upon which they ask a disinterested and honest verdict.
The history of the last twelve months presents a frightful record,
such as has never been furnished before in the history of nations
without leaving an indelible blot upon the character of the genera tion of which it was written.
The facts elicited by this report rival in atrocity and in the exhi bition of the basest of human passions any thing that can be found
in the annals of the darkest age of the Christian era, and the day
will come when the relation of their horrors will curdle the blood
of whole generations, and men will wonder that monsters who coms
mitted such crimes were permitted to live among mankind.
The total number of murders reported by this committee in their
first report was two hundred and four (204). The number included
in the present report is five hundred and eighty (580).  The, number
of murders as taken from Brevet M,ijor General Hatch's record for
the months of September, October and November, 1868, is two
hundred and ninety-seven (297).  Some of the latter are probably
repetitions of those included in the committee's reports. On the
other hand neither the committee nor General Hatch have been able
to obtain full reports of all the murders committed in the State.  Ilsome of the most violent parishes, the terrorism has been so.Etn an
that no testimony has been received from them at all.
The total number of the murders committed in the State within
the last twelve months reported, is over one thousaind ( 000).
The total number of killed, wounded, robbed and otherwise
outraged during the same period of which we have accounts is one
thousandeighthundredandeighty-seven (1887). Is the continuance
of such a state of affairs compatible with the maintenance of law and
order, with the interest of the people of this State or of any class
of people among us, or with the dignity, self respect and Christian
}harcte,r of any community,
TV
r 
V
GENERAL R.EVIEW OF EVENTS SINCE SEPTEii3BER
24, 1868.
After the adjourunment of the General Assemnbly the excitement
on the part of a portion of our population which first broke out into
mob violence, in the riots and mnassacre of September 22, 1868,
rapidly increased.  Large mobs occurred and great numbers of
colored men and white  Republicans were slaughtered successively
in the parish of Orleans on September 22, and October 24, 1868;
of St. Landry,; on September 28th, 1868; of Bossier, on September
30, 1868; of Caddo, on or about October 12, 1868; of Jefferson, oni
October 23, 1868, and of St Bernard, on October 25, 1868.  On the
night of the 28th of October, 1868, Lafayette Square in front of the
City Tall, was, a little after dark, quietly filled by bands of armed
men weho noiselessly filed into its inclosures; these were soon rein
forced by large crowds of unorganized men until one immense mob
filled the square and adjacent streets.  A delegation waited lpou
the Superintendent of Metropolitan Police, and informed him that
they had come to take forcible possession of the police station. This
mob was addressed in friendly words by General Steedman, Colonel
R. N. Ogden, a merm)er of the Senate, and others.  The burden of
their speeches was not the unlawfulness or criminality of these pro.
ceedings, but expre,ssions of hope and assurance that all their ends
would speedily be attin-d by the election of Seym-our and Blair.
I)emocratic processiulns marched' through the streets in open defiance of General Roussean's orders.  The gun stores, during these disturbances, weire thronged with streams of men, who, witih or without
mon)ey, were furnished with arms and ammunition.
in most parts of thie State a systematic series of ouitran,es, robhl,e
ries and murders were committed oni the loyal people with the%' Its owed
iilteiition of intimidating, and thus forcing, them to abstain fcrm
voting, and of driving out of the country the Republican leaders.
Organized efforts were set on foot to compel the laborers of the
State to vote the Democratic ticket, under penalty of not obtaining
employment, and even of being discharged from work in violation
of existing contracts. Colored men were threatened with death unless they would accept of what were termed "protection papers"
setting forth that they were members of some Democratic club, and
would wear Seymour and Blair badges. Boards of PRegistrat,ion and
Supervisors of Election were threatened repeatedly, in a large number of parishes, with death, shQt at, and by vqriouls lawless proed
A~ 
VI
ings either driven from their parishes or prevented from making a
complete and fair registration. The advice of prominent and influential newspapers was inflammatory, and insidious, and calculated to
aggravate, rather than assuage, the passions of the bad and tumult
uous portions of the people. The civil authorities in many parishes
seem to have been used only as additional machinery for the commission of further and worse outrages upon those whom it was their
duty to protect.  The committee are informed that in some palrishes
a man could not live twenty four hours, who would attempt to prosecute parties guilty of these murders; that inl others an affidavit
would no sooner be made out against the guilty parties, than the
officer himself, before whom it was made would send information of
the facts to the accused parties, that they might escape.  These outrages were not the work of rowdies and roughs; their influential
movers and backers were men called respectable and influential.
There was a fixed predetermination on the part of a portion of the
white people of this State, to resist, by all means, fair or foul, the
continuance of the State Government, based upon impartial suffrage.
Many property owners and business men encouraged them in this
design.
The brutality of the outrages which attended the carrying of
these purposes into effect and the disposition t6 conceal and apologize for them, are only to be accounted for on the ground of
barbarism.  The patience and forbearance of the colored people
tnder these outrages is remarkable; that they did not spring from
cowardice is shown by the devotion which they have manifested
towards their friends, and the readiness with which they have
exposed themselives in their defence.  They manifested no desire to
provoke disturbances, or to encroach upon the rights of others. A
war of races is an impossibility.  There has been slaughter of the
negroes by the whites, but there has been nothing like war, simply
because there must always be two parties to a fight. The heroism
of this people as illustrated by many incidents recorded in this report,
vindicates their claim to stand alongside of any free people.  It
must be observed however, that by reason of continued outrages
without protection, the colored people are beginning to lose confidence in the government.
The charge of "negro riots" was hypocritical; it was intended
solely to arouse the passions of the base and turbulent, so as to 
iiake them ready instruments of designing political leaders   There
never existed a more peaceable and inoffensive population in any
State than the colored people of this State. A negro uprising or
riot, for a general onslaught upon the whites, was, to use the language of MIacaulay, "no more to be apprehended than a rising of
the women and children  against the men."  Leading Democrats
pledged themselves to proscribe socially and in all business relations
white and colored -Republicans. In this connection it will be apposite to notice a circular issued by the Democratic Central
Committee.  The following i><      cx.tr,ct fromt this extraordinary
political docLum,et
(CIRCULAR OF THnE DCFEOCnATIG C03NT,ALI COMNIITTE.
DI,,AIi S-IR —  DEAR SSR_       *      *     * X:       *  *    *    *    *
and we would earnestly declare to ours fellow citizens our opinion
that even the rmost imnplacable and ill-disposed of thle negro populationl, those who show the worst spirit towards the white people,
are not half so michi deserving our aversion and non-intercourse
with them as the debasedl whites who encourage and aid them, and
who become through their votes the office-holding oppressors of the
people.  lVhatever of resentment you iiave, should be felt toward
the latter and not against the colored men.  But in no case should
you permit this resentment to go further than to withdraw from
them all counmtenance, association and patronage, and thwart every
effort they may make to maintain a business and social foothold
among you.
(Signed)
THIOS. L. MACON,
President State Central Committee,
J. E. AUSTIN,
A. B. BACON,
THEO. F. THIENAMAN,
J. H. HALSEY,
Committee.
The planters in East Feliciana parish formed an association whose
objects and workings will be seen by the following copy of their
regulations:
.Resolved, That we will not employ for the future any freedman
who shall hereafter vote the Radical ticket, nor will we rent lands,
advance supplies, or assist in any manner any such persons.  A cer
(Siglned) 
tificate from the employers willbe necessary --  show that any freedman has voted the Democratic ticket, or has not voted at all. We
will always give our preference to those who voted the Democratic
ticket and are members of the Democratic clubs.
Resolved, That we will not patronize any professional man or
trade with any merchant who does not bind himself to be governed by the above re-llatL-:ons.
The planters in Rapides parish also resolved "hereafter not to
rent, lease or give any portion of their lands to freedmen, reserving,
however, the right to settle known conservative freedmen, who are
to be under the eye and direction of the planters or landholders;
also, that any planter or landholder among us who is so unmindful
of what is due to himself and the society in which he lives as to let
out lands in opposition to the will of a large majority of our people
as aboc-e expressed, deserves to be and will be branded as a ])t/ic
;cge>j)' Catsd treated accordin7gly."'
In the parish of  Pointe Coupnee, certain citizens addressed the
following letter to C. Kohn, Esq., of this city, the owner of a planita.
tion in that parish, who proposed to rent it to certain parties.  Tt
smacks so strongly of the old slave cus'torms, that even Democratic
papers of this city lhav.e felt constrained to condemn it:
WILLIAXIPOP-L, Ic,IiT COUP:LE, LA. }
DecemUer 1, 1868. 
aw. C. Ko.N, Esq.,
New Orleans, La.
The citizens at large have hal a meeting for the purpose of considering the condition of the labor of the country.  We, therefore,
as a committee of three, have been appointed to notify you, that
you are about to rent your land known as the "White Place," situ
ated on Bayou Latanache, to parties who are obnoxious to the communLty at large, viz: TounoLr & Cdo.  We, therefore, as a committee
appointed for the purpose above mentioned, request that the land
in question should not be so rented.  We find, from sad expenrience,
that it is bad policy to rent land to the colored people where no
white persons are on the place.  It is, therefore, the wish of the
cammLntity that no land shovld be so rented.  You w:ill, thereore,
tdce l77e ogice act?d govern yor.self accordiingly.
Yours with respect,
F.MAl.?YOIST,
H. W. COYLE,
!AMES DENNIS;
viin
(signed)
4 iiti
WI 
In some of the less enlightened portions of this Sta'te, politi cal
speeches to the negroes, provided they were on the Repibllican side,
were and are to this day termed "incendiary."
The only thing that has prevented us from experiencing more
than the horrors of St. Barthiolomew, has been the righteous.fear
which the leaders of these mobs and I)I.ea1s too iolence,'iave had
of the impending judgment of the North and the length of the arm
of Congress.  v
TH.E MURDERS OF COLONEL POPE AND JUDGE CtVASE.
On Oct;(ber 17, 1868, Colonel Pope, sheriff of St. Mary parish, and
an ex-United States officer, of high character, and Valentine Chase,
parish Jlldge, were pub'iely assassinated i1i the town of Franikl.n by
an armed body of nienr.  The particulars are given so far as they
can now safely be published under the head of that parish."
These were purely political murders.  Theirperpetrators rowa at
large, though well known to the officers and citizens of that paris-h
In this connection it is pertinent to state that the names of several
parties.vwho are acquainted with the nam,ies of the murderers, and
the details of the mluriders are known to the committee.  But under
the solemn assurances of these genltlemen, that if they should disclose the facts, their lives would not be safe even in this city, and
in compliance with their earnest appeals not to be compelled to
jeopardize their safety, and that of their dependent families, the
committee have not deemed it proper to insist at this time upoli
their testimony. Their names however will be given to the proper
authorities  at  any time that  a judicial investig,ation becomes
possible.
Your committee are tinfmea tat a Mr. John Hiunt, of St. Mary
parish, lhas been heard to boast that lie knows  all about tihese
muirderr,.  It is proper here to state, that it is believed from the declarations of many parties, that the immediate  cause  of Colonel,
Pope's murder, was the rage of certain parties of that parish against
him for his courage in replying to the circular of your committee
which was issued to all parish and judicial officers, in accordance
with your orders.  That the public may judge of the amotunt of provocation deemed sufficient in St. Mary parish to justify murder, we-,
here insert Colonel Popes entire letter:.
Al2
ii
: I 
FRNxLIN, PAmIsH OF ST. MARY. LA. 
September 3, 1868. 
Committee on the iate election and condition of order in the State.
"GENTLEMEN-In reply to your request in a circular dated September 1, which is just received, I have the honor to submit the
following:
"No murders in this parish have come to my knowledge, and but
one case of personal violence being made, altlhough threats have
often been made.
"One Arnbrime, a claim agent, and his servant, colored, were taken
from their boarding house in Jeanerett's by a band of armed men,
at midnight in June last, blindfolded and carried to the timber where
they were threatened with instant death unless they would promise
to never step their foot into the town again.
"This I received from the'parties, and both are probably now in the
city and will testify to the same.
"The present condition of the parish is bad; there appears to be a
settled determination on the part of the leaders of the Democratic
party in the parish to draw out by every means in their power all
white persons who differ with them in politics.
"This is not only expressed by their bearing, by the gross insults
one receives daily on the streets, the misrepresentations and scurralous abuse by the parish paper, but by threats that come to our
ears.
"One way of carrying out their designs is to break up the club organizations, so as to control the colored vote. This, so far, has not
been a success, although the most strenuous efforts have been made.
The gentleman that has furnished the room in which the club in
Franklin has met the last few months, has received warning that his
life and that of his wife, were placed in peril by persisting in that
course, and if he did not desist, his property also would be burned
to the ground.
"The gentleman in telling me that he could not furnish the room
longer, said he would not care for their threats if he could only get
justice, but he knew under the present condition of things that would
be an impossibility, as he already had experience,
"In the meantime affairs are getting worse, the abuse that at first
only received from a few is now getting general, so that it is impossible for myself, or any one known to sympathize with me, to stir
otit without being insulted."
i 
~
Your committee are informed that there are parties, now in Franklin, Parish St. Mary, who publicly justify the murders of Colone] Pope
and Judge Chase, on the ground that they had vilified the I)eople of
that parish.
We call especial attention to the following atrocious paragraph,
referring to these murders, which appeared in the New Orleans
l:imes of the 24th October, 1868:
"The homicide of certain persons who have been installed exclusively by the votes of the negroes and a few white strangers and
outcasts, in highly responsible judicial offices in the country are due
to the exasperation produced by a system of oppression, wrong, in
sult and spoliation, which were never exercised towards a brave an4
spirited people without producing like results."
THE LNMASSACRE IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS IN
SEPTEM:BER AND OCTOBER, 1868.
The excitement in the city of New Orleans first broke out into
violence and bloodshed on the night of September 22, 1868.
The testimony of A. P. Dumas, a respected and honored citizen
and old resident, shows the spirit that was abroad, and the momentary danger in which all prominent Republicans stood.
From this time until the last of October there was a continuous
and high excitement.
Republican processions were continually assaulted and fired into.
The streets at night were patrolled by armed men who maraudered, plundered and killed at will
Of the numbers thus clandestinely murdered no account can be
obtained.
Policemen were ambushed and shot while on duty.
Private citizens were stabbed and assassinated.
The gun shops were emptied of their arms and ammunition by
crowds of men.
Armed bands of desperadoes paraded in front of the residence of
the General commanding the United States troops, and fired at
defenseless men and women,
Flags bearing the words "No Quarter " were borne at the head
of these bands.
Although during these disturbances it is incontestably esabh04
)a 
fihat the attacks were exclusively by white Democrats upon Republicans, yet an attempt was made by a prominent citizen to ring a
general alarm on the bells of the city, upon the hollow pretext of a
'negro riot."  It is now clear that such an act would have precipitated a general massacre of colored and white Republicans.  It was
only prevented by the coolness and firmness of the Superintendent
of the  Metropolitan police, Mlajor WVilliamson.
On October 24, another preconcerted and muprovoked assault was
made upon a Grant and Colfax procession, in whichi a number were
killed and wounded.
After this the excitement was greatly intensified; Grant club
rooms vrere broken open and sacked.
The houses of prorminent Republicans were visited and seilrehed,
with the intention of killing them.
The nightly murders and robberies increased; numbers were compelled,to fleqe from their residences anid remain concealed for weeklis.
Threats were openly made against the lives of citizens.
The General comnmanding informed those comiing to him for protection that he could not afford it, and another United States General
gave it as his opinion that the officer in command would be justified
'in "withdrawing ihis troops, as he would do in the face of a superior
force."'  The rioters seemed to share in this opinion.
Thie secret organization of the Knights of the Whitc Cainclia met
and drilled with arms nightly, and it was their boast that at the
looked for signal they could demolish the United States troops in
fifteen minutes.
An armed mob besieged the office of the Superintendent of the
Metropolitan Police and demanded its surrender.
A colored man was tied up and shot at as a target till he was
killed.
Manly of the Boards of Registration were attacked, their offices
sacked and the registrars themselves compelled to suspend their
work and to fly for their lives.  Colored men were fired at from the
street cars.
A  Senator speaking in the midst of these tumults and riots to
their authors, termed them "the brink of a volcano-one of the
greatest political convul;sions tht,L 45e world has ever witnessed,"
evincing a comprehension of the true objects and extent of the disturbancis which coineides remarkablv with the views of your committee; 
xii
The dead bodies of the murdered were shot and otherwise mangled.
General Rousseau having received ample orders from Washington
to preserve the peace, issued an order, dated October 28, forbidding
all political processions. In defiance of this order D)emocratic clubs
continued to march through the streets, and that very evening an
armed mob filled one of the principal squares of the city and adjacent streets.
During this time, about the thirty-first of October, General Rous.
seau paid a visit to the "Innocent I' club and made there an address,
which will be found in another part of this report.
The total number known to be killed during these massacres is
sixty-three (63); a mnuch larger number is estimated.
Under this condition of things it is not strange that the RItepublicans in a mass refused to attend or to acknowledge the election as
legal or binding, notwithstanding the assurances of the Democrats
that they would be permitted so to do peaceably.
A permission which depended upon the promise of the men who
had scarcely left off slaughtering them was not reassuring; especially was this the case, when the cormmanding General of the United
States troops could give them no higher guarantee of safety than
the promise of their persecutors.
They had been robbed of their registration certificates, and almost
two-thirds of them had been prevented by violence from registering.
The fraud was complete; all that its perpetrators desired was, that
now their plot having been successful, Republicans should appear to
sanction  it by accepting  the protection promised.   That their
distrust of this promise was not ill-founded appears from the testimony of over fifty-three persons who. presented themselves to vote
on the day of election and were driven off by threats and violence.
The result of the massacre was, that out of the thirty-six thousand registered Republican voters of the parish, only two hundred
and seventy-six votes were polled. The work intended appears to
have been well done. 
THE MASSACRE IN ST. LANDRY PARISH ON THE 28TH OF
SEPTEMBER, 1868.
This massacre originated in a brutal assault, oni account of political
differences, upon the person of the editor of a Republican newspaper
and school teacher, b-y a company of three men. The colored people
came promptly to the rescue of their friend but were advised by him
and others to disperse peaceably, which they did. The cry of "negro
riot" was then suddenly raised, and circulated witb the greatest industry and rapidity, until the whole parish seemed to have been in a
flame of excitement. It is to be carefully noted that this cry was
raised as the result of the acts of the very parties who began the
trouble, and before any acts of violence had been committed by the
colored people.   The rioters convened from different parts of the
parish, armed and mounted, and began by disarming the colored
people; and then the work of murder seems to have commenced.
The printing office of the Republican newspaper was sacked, men
were arrested, imprisoned and then taken from the jail land shot
down in cold blood.  The sheriff himself heads a gang and takes a
black man to the woods to kill hinm. The murdered men were half
buried, leaving their feet and arms exposed as a prey to the buzzards.  Bands of armed men traversed the parish from plantation to
plantation, shooting thle colored men. Some men were murdered to
get possession of their small crops of cotton.   One witness states
that more than thirty colored men were taken at one time from under
the guard of citizens who had captured them, and were then shot
people were called out of their houses at night and killed.
During this time colored men were led in droves to tile registration
office, by white men, and after having registered, their certificates
of registration were taken from them by these white men.  At the
ensuing election these same colored men were driven to the polls
and compelled to vote the democratic ticket at the peril of their
lives.  The result of this species of electioneering was that the Democrats polled an almost unanimous vote in this parish where the Republican registered vote was over 3,000.   This massacre lasted from
three to six days; the total number killed was over two hundred.
It is to be noted that during its whole progress, the only instance of
the use of force by colored men was the firing by a party of them upon
a band of armed white men, who had commanded them to lay downi
their arms and surrender. There is no evidence that the blood of a
single white man pn the side of the murderers was shed durin  the
whole timet
Try 
It will throw much light upon this terrible siaughtg, to read thd
avowed purposes and plans of the men who perpetrated it, as disclosed six months before to General H. N. Frisbie, an ex-United
States officer; we here reprint that portion of his testimony which
reveals the existence of a preconcerted plot to accomplish the control
of the colored vote by these very means.
"In the spring of 1868, I was speaking in the parishes of St.
Mary, St. Landry and Lafayette, in behalf of the ticket headed by
Judge Taliaferro and Dumas, but for the Constitution also. In my
intercourse with the citizens of these parishes, I was informed by
parties of their plans and purposes, in the conduct of this and future
elections. Among other things, I was told of their contemplated
frauds upon the ballot box in the then coming election, and the particular manner in which said frauds were to be perpetrated, but what
surprised me most was the general intention, as openly expressed to
me by various parties in all of these parishes, to secure political control and predominance by any means and at any cost, even to the
sacrificing of all the leaders of the Republican party in those parishes
the only reason for not doing it then was the effect it might have
upon the public mind of the North, endangering the success they so
ardently desired in the comining Presidential election, but that after
that they would have control of the negroes at any cost, placing
great emphasis upon these words, and looking very wise and knowing while speaking."
THE MASSACPRE IN BOSSIER PARISH, SEPTEMBER 21, 1868.
This wholesale murder originated by the act of a strange white
man at Shady Grove firing without provocation at an old colored
man who was sitting peaceably in his house.  The colored men arrested the criminal, and were proceeding to deliver him over for
trial to the civil authorities, when he was rescued by a band of
white men.
This man went off and brought back with him an armed crowd of
one hundred white men who commenced an indiscriminate slaughter
of the colored people, women were killed while pleading for their
husbands, men were butchered in their houses, and while quietly at
work in the fields, a man was hung to a tree and left thlere for three
kV
10, 
days, milisters of the gospel were dragged out and beaten, and
forced to promise uot to preach again.  A colored man was butchcred in cold blood for the crime of being "too much of a radical'
for his butchers; a bowie knife was plunged through his shoulder
to his heart, till the blood spurted about his head, and he fell dead
on his back.  The colored men were then forced to kneel and look
into his eyes, and he was left on the side of the road as a prey for
buzzards.  Twvo women  were  hung by thie roadside with lariat
ropes.
As thle rage for blood grow more intense, -hundreds of white men,
inflamed with liquor, assembled to prosecute the foul work still
further.  A!ited States Marshal  came with some troops from
Shreveport, and begged them to desist, offering to arrest all colored
men against whom there might be charges, and turn them over to
the parish authorities; but in the words of this officer, " the waite
citizens of Bossier- seemed d(etermined to hunt the colored people in the
swamnps themselves," and as the officer "well knew that they would
shoot every colored nman they found with  arms," he withdrew and
left them, to prosecute their "negro hlunt," at will.  This mniassacre
lasted for three or four days. The total killed was one hundred and
sixty-twQ (162).  Total otherwise outraged, seven (7).  At the ensuing election the parish of Bossier gave one vote for "Grant and
Colfax." out of nearly two thousand (2000) registered Republican
voters.  Their work was well done.
THE MASSACRE IN CADDO PARISHI, ABOUT
OCTOBER 12, 1868.
?articular attention is called to the cold-blooded and unprovoked
murder of Robert Gray, and the non-action of the authorities in
allowing the murderer to go unpunished; also  to the fact that
Republicans, white or black, live in Caddo only at the risk of their
lives.   The advice of Dr. Moore of Shreveport to the  crowd,
' Whenever they met a Radicael nigger that would not give in, to
shoot him down," may in law-abiding communities seem strange
Notice will also be taken of the terr.ible murder of five colored men;
October 12, 1868, by Win. Wnright, Siam Wright and others, and of
the fact that twenty-five or thirty dead bodies of colored people
have floated down the river, past Shreveport, in the space of one
month.
i 
the murders and outrages practised for some weeks pevious t6
the late presidential election "fully established the supremacy of the
white race in this parish," as is shown by the fact that on the day of
election colored men were forced to vote the Democratic ticket, with
pistols pointed at their heads; and only in one single instance did a
colored man vote the Republican ticket, and he-James Watson
was shot dead " simply because he voted for Grant and Colfax."
Our report of forty-two killed and four maltreated in this parish
during the month  of October,  1868, probably falls short of the
actual number.
We append the vote of this parish in the last Presidential election.
ForSeymour andBlair............... 1385votes.
For Grant and Colfax.................. 1 vote.
The Republican registered vote in this parish is about three
thousand.
THE MASSACRE IN JEFFERSON PARISH OCTOBER 28, 1868.
The evidence sets forth the details of the horrible outrages per,
petrated in this parish from the twenty-third of October, 1868, to
the close of that month, during which time five (5) persons were
killed, nine (9) were shot and thirty.three (33) otherwise maltreated.No provocation can be named as an excuse for such conduct. Bands
of aPmed white men traversed portions of the parish and under prep
tence of searching among. the colored people for arms, committed
murders and innumerable other outrages upon  defenseless men,
women and children.
Men claimed to be authorized by the military to patrol the town
of Gret~na in that parish, and under color of this authority, numbers
of them roamed from house to house, breaking. open houses, robbing
men, women and children of money, clothing, household wares, arms,
registration papers and other property, and maltreating, shooting
and killing them, and threatening the colored people with wholesale
massacre if tLhe-y should vote the Republican ticket.
In their robberies nothing seemed small enough to merit the disdain of these chivalric gentlemen.  To steal fifty cent pieces andold women's spectacles fromn "niggers," was tot beneath the dignit.
of these champions of "a white man's government."
A3
!tvtt 
T MASSACRE IN ST. BERNARD PARISH, OCTOBEi
25, 1868.
The details of this massacre, which lasted for three days, are presented in the evidence.  They show that it originated from an unprovoked attack upon the colored men by a Democratic procession;
that respectable white men, planters and old citizens, were hunted,
captured and exiled from the parish; and that bands of armed desperadoes patrolled the roads, shooting down colored men and committing monstrous outrages; an ex-United States soldier, who was a
policeman, was killed without provocation. It was dangerous for a
colored or Bhite Republican to walk the street by day or night.
The marauders, (white men), thirty in number, sacked houses,
robbed the people of money, moveables, arms  and. registration
papers; killed men and hacked them to pieces with bowie knives,
and pveniedathe civil officers from performing their functions.
These outrages were accompanied with threats, that'" after the
soldiers leave we will kill eveiT d-d Republican, white and black,
in the parish." Large quantities of prepared cartridges with from
nine to eighteen buck shot in each, were collected in and at the
Millaudon Plantati6n.  The colored men were generally informed
beforehand, that on the day on which the massacre commenced
"theywould have' a chance to join the Democratic party; if they
did they would be protected;. if they did not they would be killed."
FIillieun, the baker who was killed by the colored men, had first fired
at them from his house and had previously been one of the most
violent and lawless oppressors of that people.
The total number of killed during this massacre  which  were
counted was thirty-eight (38).
The number killed of whom reliable information was received
was sixty-eight (68).
It is probable that many men were killed in swamps and other
secret places, whose number is known only to the murderers and
to Go&
.LETTER OF TI[IE HON. A. R. FRANCOIS.
This letter, tound' upon page 134, gives an interesting and detailkd statement of the abuses practiced upon colored men in St.
i7 Vilf 
Martin parish, and of the entire absence of protection by the laws.
The committee call especial attentibn to the state of affairs ia this
parish, and particularly to the sufferings of the colored people.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECITION.
In the parishes of Orleans, Avoyeiles, East Baton Rouge, Bienville,
Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, DeSoto,
lEast Feliciana, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette Morehouse,
Sabine, St. Bernard. St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany,
Union, Vermillion and Washington, the election was simply a sham,
and a nullity.
.No single essential of an clection, except certain forms. was complied with.  A so-called election, which is accompanied by general
fraud, bribery, violence, intimidation and coercion, that cannqt be
prevented or punished by the civil law, is no election.
.The registration; under our recent law, is a preliminary part of the
election.  It is as essential to a real election that tlhe registration
should be free, fair and easy of access in order that it may be a ~1
record of all the legally qualified electors who wish to register, as
that the polls and ballot boxes on the day of election should be free
from the pernicious influences above referred to.
The spirit evinced at this election has only been a continuation of
that manifested at the spring elections.
In all the parishes above named, during registration, fraud bribery,
intimidation, mot,s, and murders were perpetrated with the avowed
object of either forcing Republicans to vote the Democratic ticket
or to refrain from voting at all.  Iri portions of them these outrages
were suspended a few days before the election; but in most of them
they continued up to, and after the election, and in many of them
have not ceased to this day.  Even in New Orleans the pretene of
quiiet on the day of election was not successfully kept,up. In the
parish of Orleans, particular attention is called to the ev'iderice with
regard to the riots during registration, and especially to a statement
of an United States officer, who was an eye witness of some of them.
In this parish fraudulent naturalization papers were issued by
thousands.  It is even said that some judges so far forgot the law
as to allow their clerks to issue themn when not in open court.
There is no doubt that a large majority of Fi'leg'ally quali"d'voteis
Iid 
of this State at the late election were in favor of Grant and Colfax
and the Republican ticket, and that if all those who were legally
entitled to register and vote had been permitted to do so, the actual
vote polled would have been Republican by a greater majority than
at the spring election. In this estimate the committee have had
regard to the notorious fact that thousands of whites in this State
who voted for Seymour and Blair, secretly desired the election of
Grant and Colfax.  These voters if no proscription or intimidation
had been used would have voted in accordance with their sympathies.
The studied design of that portion of the Southiern Democrats
who counselled and aided these outrages, as shown by concurrent
testimony from widely separated parts of the State, was to firighten
and starve the colored people into voting with them, or to prevent
them from voting at all, and to banish or murder such white men,
and intelligent leading colored men, as had dared to actively advocate Republican principles.
The recognized leaders of the Democrats could at any time have
caused the murders and mobs to cease.  The proof of this is, that at
a word from these men, and from the public press that peace was
desirable on the day of election, the mobs, murdering, sacking and
violence in the city of New Orleans suddenly ceased.
We also quote General Rousseau's opinion on this point from his
report to General Grant: "The Democratic clubs pledged themselves to aid in securing to every registered voter the right to cast
his vote; and then I had no fear that ny man would be moileted ai
voting on the day of election.."
Members of the State senate indulged in threats, that the people
would not submit to certain laws. In the senate, Monday, August
24, Mr. Jewell made use of the following language in debate on
senate bill number one hundred and forty-two, which was an act intended to prevent laborers from being discharged in violation of
existing contracts, for political reasons: "Are we to be governed
and controlled in our domestic affairs? Is the sanctity of homes to
be infringed upon? Sir, if senators will persist in the passage of a
bill of this kind, and others of a kindred nature which I have heard
proposed, I, sir, as a senator, as a citizen of Louisiania, will take the
stump, and I will advise the people to resist all such laws even at
the point of the bayonet."
The Democrats at first invited the colored men to join their clubs,
*ssuring them that they were their natural protectors, and would
ii 
I
xxx
guarantee them all their rights more effectually than the Pepublicans.  Their attempt to inveigle the colored men to vote against
Grant and Colfax signally failed.  Then they turned back to their
original programme, a,.d the bloody history of September. and October fobllowed,    anyI parishes were in a state of anarchy; no civil
law was, or could be enutroed within their limits, and their so-called
elections were but the proceedings of vigilance committees.
Thef degree of violenco and intimidation which prevailed in certain parishes cannot be better illustrated than by thtie fact that in
some Republicans were entirely, and ia othlurs almo st entirely preverted from votifng.  Is has been incorrectly assorted that this was
"ieck,use leading Republicans advised them not to vote," wh}eIas,
it was notorious that the Republican State Campaign Committee,
tile only body insession and authorized to speak for the Repulblican
party, published on October 31st, and every day thereafter, until
after the election, an address to voters, in which occurs the follow.
ing, paragraph, "Therefore the committee calls upon all Republicans
to do their duty manfully, it urges them not to be intimidated, not
to yield to threats of violence, but to go peaceably to the polls on
election day, and vote as their consciences shall dictate. This cornmmittee is satisfied that with a peaceable and fair election, our majority in this State will be more than twenty thousand."  Terrorisin
prevented voting; not a preconcerted policy.
In this connection your committee ask attention to the following
correspondence.  It w-ill be seen that the Governor of the State
evinced a prompt and,iorough comprehension of the real state of
affairs; that he ma,d:.,se of all the means in his power for the
preservation of peace,:tc' that these means were  very limited.
Deprived by law of tel.void of the State, he was driven for a brief
period during the previ:m';g ar;,rchy and defiance of the civil law,
to a dependence upon the sword of the United States, to repress
the turbulent, to prevent imminent revolution, and to stop wholesale
massacre. Had that sword been in hands more friendly to the
existing government and less in sympathy with the malcontents we
believe much bloodshed and mischief might have been prevented.
That the Chief Executive of the State discharged his whole duty,
during these perilous times, with eminent courage, fidelity and
wisdom, will nat be denied. 
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
New Orleans, December 20, 1868. 
Hon. W Ym  P. KJoao,
United States Senate, Washingtonl,.D. C.
MY DAR SIR-In reply to your letter of recent date, I have to
say, that the personal relations between myself and General
Rousseau have been pleasant and courteous. He consulted with me
freely, and sought my advice as to the best means of preserving
the peace during the late troubles.  We differed widely as to many
of the means employed for that purpose. In my first interview with
him, I directed his attention to the fact that Congress had by tho
act of March 2, 1867, stripped the State Government of the power
to organize militia, its reserve force in the event of forcible resistance
to its authority. I informed him of the existence of secret armed
societies; the object of which was to overturn the State Government
and disfranchise the colored people, and that I should rely upon him
as the representative of the forces of the United States, whose laws
he was here to maintain, and through which the government I administered was established, to repress violence and insure peace and
tranquillity. He replied that he would, as far as it lay in his power,
use every effort to accomplish the objects indicated.  I did not find
General Buchanan, General Ilousseau's subordinate, and in the.
immediate command of the troops in this State, apparently as cordial
or so much disposed to act in harmony with the civil authorities.
At an interview between General Rousseau, General Buchanan,
General Hatch and myself, I became satisfied that the State had no
friend in General Buchanan, and that but little reliance was to be
placed in his active co-operation.  He was severe in his criticisms,
and seemed to sympathize with the hostility entertained by the
enemies of the Government, to the Metropolitan Police department,
and suggested as a necessity that the old rebel force be restored.
Our interview terminated without any satisfactory  understanding.
Subsequently General Rousseau ordered all the troops into the city,
with the exception of General Mower's regiment, the 39th Infantry.
I urged him to bring this regiment from Ship Island and station it
also in the city and adjoining parishes. I told him that the turbulent elements boasted that the troops about the city (all white)
would not fire upon them, and that the moral effect of a black regiment in the city, would be worth a brigade of white troops.  To this
request General Rousseau at first assented, but afterwards, to my surprise, replied that the effect of such a movement would be to incense
I 
the people all the more, and that a collision could not be avoided, and
that when once begun the colored troops could not be relied on, and
even if they could, the whole force would not be sufficient to withstand the onslaught of the armed citizens.  To these views I entirely
dissented. I informed General Rousseau on the eighteenth day of
October, that I had some days previously writ ten a private letter to the
Secretary of War, on the subject of the impending troubles, and
predicting that unless more troops were sent to the State there could
be no hope of a peaceable election, but upon the contrary, I feared
bloodshed. To prevent which I had requested that two (2) additionial regiments be sent to the State. General Rousseau said he
was glad I had done so, and that he would telegraph immediately
to the Secretary himself, and afterwards showed me the Secretary's
replcy, which was to the effect that General Gillem, of Mississippi,
had been instructed to forward all of his available troops at once,
and that it was the best that the Government could do.
After four days of intense excitement, resulting from the troubles
in Jefferson parish, where armed bands of men were shooting
negroes or driving them to the swamps, having driven the police
force away from Gretna, in the face of a company of United States
Infantry, sent to aid them in maintaining order; when the people
of St. Bernard parish were in a state of civil war; and when the
streets of New Orleans were filled with armed bands of white men,
also killing negroes and bidding defiance to the police and laws of
the State, I determined to throw the responsibility of preserving
order upon the representati ve of the General Government, which
had stripped me, by the act of March 2, of the power to organize a
force for that purpose. On the twenty-sixth October, I addressed
the following letter to General Rousseau:
Mlajor Genera1 L. H. RoussEAu
Commanding Department of Louisiana:
Genera,l-The evidence is conclusive that the civil authorities in the
parishes of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard are unable to preserve order and protect the lives and property of the people.
The act of Congress prohibiting the organization of militia in this
State, strips ine of all power to sustain them in the discharge of
their duties, and I am compelled to appeal to you to take charge of
the peace of these parishes and use your forces to that end.
If you respond favorably to my request, I will at once order the
sheriffs and police forces to report to you for orders.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Ig  H. C. WARMOTH,
(+overnor of Louisiana.
i 
In doing this, I had no purpose of avoiding responsibility, but I
was determined that no question of authority should be raised by
the military commandant.  General Rousseau telegraphed mny letter
to the Secretary of War, endorsing what I stated, and received the
following reply:
WAR DEPARTMENT,         }
WVASIINGCTON, October 26, 1868.
Brevet Maljor General L. H. ROUSSEAU,
Commandcling Department of Louisiana, New Orleans:
Your dispatch of the 26th, forwarding a message from the Governor of Louisiana and asking instmrieticns, has been received.  You
are authorized and expected to take such action as may be necessary
to preserve the peace and good order, anJ, to protect the lives and
property of citizens.
IT, gned.;':;IlOFIELD.
Secretary of War.
It was then the duty of General Routssealu to have issued his proclamation, enjoining such regulations as might have been necessary
to have preserved the peace and enforced it with his troops.  This
was my advice to him, but he believed he could accomplish more by
diplomacy than by force, and did not issue any proclamation until the
night of the twenty-eighth October. In the meantime armed white men
patrolled the streets night and day, sacking Republican club rooms,
the residences of IJnion citizens, churches and school houses. During the week preceding the election over sixteen persons were killed
in New Orleans.  On the night of the twenty-eighth of October
General Rousseau issued the following:
IIEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF LOUIsIAN, )
(States of Louisiana and Arkansas)
NEW ORLrEANs, LA., October 28, 1868.
to thle People of New Orleans:
FELLow-CITIZENS-I have received instructions from the authorities at Washington to take such action as may be necessary to preserve peace and good order and to protect the lives and property of
citizens.  As the city is quiet to-day, I think it a proper time to
make the above announcement, and to call upon all law-abiding
citizens to aid me hereafter in carrying out these instructions, and
to that eud they are earnestly requested to refrain from asseinbling
im-, v 
in iarge bodaies oh the streets, to avoid exciting d6inversatlion and
other causes of irritation and excitement, and to pursue their ordinary vocations as usual. The police force of the city has been reorganized and inefficient members have been dropped from the rolls
and others appointed in their places; and General J. B. Steedman is
appointed Chief of Police, pro tempore, by the Board  of Police
Commissioners. General Steedman and his police force will be supported by the military, and assurance is given alike to the peaceful
and the lawless that everything at my command and to the utmost
of my ability will be used in the endeavor to obey these instructions.
For the present, political processions and patrolling the streets by
armed men are prohibited.
(Signed)                   LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU,
Brevet Major General U. S. A., Commanding Department.
In the face of this order, Democratic clubs did have processions,
and armed bands continued their violence up to the day of election
The week preceding the election was one of intense excitementthe whole city w,as filled with alarm.  51y parlor was contantly filled
with men who brought reports of outrages upon their persons and
property.  A constant stream of men ran from the gun stores of
the city with arms and ammunition, and every evidence of general
tumult and rioting was apparent. During this time I was in daily
communication  with the  commanding  General, who expressed
g-eat concern, and lamented the meagre force at his disposal. It was
so small that General Buchanan stated, in General Rousseau's presence, that he (General R.) would be as much justified in retiring with
his troops as he would before an enemy of superior force. Such was
the condition of affairs in the adjoining parishes of St. Bernard, Orleans andjefferson for the six days preceding the election; while
for weeks previous a state of lawlessness existed in more  than half
the parishes of this State, affecting the security of every citizen.
You ask me the cause of all this trouble. The answer is to be
found in the deep-seated animosity of the rebel element of this State,
un.whipt of justice and turned loose by Andrew Johnson upon the
country without a rebuke, and allowed to resist by force the government established through Congressiorial law by the people of this
State; in the contumacy of the old ruling aristocracy who believe
they were born to govern, without question, not only their slaves,
but the masses of the white people; in the lack of sufficient physical
force to punish rioters and protect the honest citizen in his life and
,A. 4 
i,
kxal 
prope1ty, and in the wanton neglect of duty by the President in not
furnishing, upon the application of the Legislature, made on the
first of August, even if he had been compelled to call out the militia
of the several States, with sufficient force to preserve the peace.
You. ask me if I advised Republicans not to go to the polls and vote?
To this I reply that I had no authority whatever to act for the party;
I was constantly engaged in my o.ficial duties, a,ud left to the
respective executive committees the conduct of the campaign.  I
was, however, consulted by the chairman of the Republican State
Committee, who showed me a circular imploring the Republicans to
stand firm and go to the polls on the day ot the election and vote.
This circular I approved, acted upon the advice contained in it, and
voted for Grant and Colfax, although I felt assured that the election
would be throughout the State a farce or tragedy.
Such, indeed, was the fact, as the following figures are Luncontrovertible evidence.  The election for the ratification of the Constitution took place not quite six months prior to the Presidential election. As you know there were forty-eight parishes in the State,
seven of which, De Soto, Lafayette, St. Landry, Vermillion, Franklin, Jackson and Washington, gave four thousand seven hundred
and four (4704) votes for the Constitution, but did not cast a single
vote for General Grant. Eight other parishes, to wit-Bienville,
Bossier, Claiborne, Caddo, 3iorehouse, Union, St.  Bernard and
Sabine, gave five thousand five hundred and twenty (5520) votes
for the Constitution, but cast only ten votes for General Grant.
Twenty-one parishes, casting for the ratification of the new Constitution twenty-six thousand eight hundred and fourteen (26,814)
gave General Grant only five hundred and one (501) votes, and the
whole State polling for the Constitution in April, sixty-one thousand
one hundred and fifty-two (61,152) votes, or a majority of seventeen
thousand four hundred and thirteen (17,413) gave General Grant in
November only thirty-four thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine
(34,859) votes.
It is impossible for me to give in the limits of a letter all of the
facts in relation to the late election in this State. A committee
should be appointed by Congress to investigate the whole affair,
upon whose report should depend the count of this State in the
Electoral College and the admission of the Representatives elect to
seats in Congress.
In conclusion, I assert that the late election did not elicit the
t YA;, i
1. 
'xVII
honest will of the people, and that the result was attained by tse
most shameless resort to murder, assassination, tumult and iatimidation, not to speak of proscription, that was ever known ia this
country, and that to allow it to go as the expressed will of the people would be an outrage upon republican institutions and ruinous
to good government here for years to come.
YeiT Respectfully,
H.  C. WARMOTH,
Governor of Louisiana.
Our conclusion, therefore, is that the so-called election in parishes
which were in a state of anarchy was no election, and that the socalled returns from those parishes are null and void, and should not
be counted; they do not express the free, unrestrained choice of the
people, but are merely the registry of the dictates of armed mobs
and brute force.
In three parishes a degree of order was maintained, and in'm twenty
parishes the election was held according to the letter and spirit of
the law.  It is our opinion that the vote in these parishes should be
considered, and should decide the vote of the State. Any other
course would be virtually disfranchising the good and law-abiding
citizens, not for any acts of their own, but because of the acts of
their lawless and guilty persecutors. It is a recognized principle of
law that the wrong-doer shall not, under cover of the law, derive
benefit from his own wicked acts; and next to a successful result of
the late election, the greatest triumph of the bad men who have disgraced our State will be to profit by the fruits of their own lawless
ness, and to be allowed future opportunities to repeat their intimidations, violence and murders. The franchise of suffrage is the dearest
privilege of American citizens, and surely the good citizens of a peaceable locality cannot justly be deprived of the legitimate effects of the
proper exercise of this power because they chance to be in the same
neighborhood or State with localities controlled by desperadoes or
highwaymen.  The case is analogous to whatit would have been if the
election had been wholly ignored in about one-half of the parishes of
the State, and held fairly in due form in the remaining parishes, and
if citizens and localities can voluntarily disfranchise themselves temporarily by staying away from the polls without malice pretense,
how much more justly may they do so by infraction of the whole
letter and spirit of the law by which the election was ordered and
under which it was held. As in the former case the vote cast in 
xxvIH
localities where the election was lawfully held, would unquestionably
have been legal and binding; so it is evident that the same rule
,should be followed in estimating the result of the late election.
In the opinion of your committee tile General Assembly should
memorialize Congress of the facts respecting the last election, and
in the name of the State of Louisiana protest against the counting
of the pretended electoral vote of the State, cast by those persons
who assumed to act as the Presidential electors of the State, and
request that it be excluded from the canvass as fraudulent and null.
Your committee recommend that the General Assembly request
those electors, who received the highest number of votes iii the
parishes where a peaceable and fair election was held, to assemble
and cast the electoral vote of the State and transmit the same in the
manner prescribed by law.
Congress should also be requested to admit the RIepresentatives
to Congress who were duly elected by the votes of the peaceable
parishes, excluding the votes of those in which there was no peacoa
ble or lawful election.
Through the courtesy of William Baker, Esq., Chairman of the
Board of Registration, the committee have been furnished in advance
with the following tabular statement of the registry and the actual
vote in the before mentioned parishes. The examination of this
statement will confirm most strongly the other evidence in regard
to the nullity of the election in these parishes; 
0
0 0           O
to.~~~
41.a33..
2,287  1,865   520 1,345  1,249
2,099  2,598  1,247  1,350 2,835
1,571  1,386      1 1,388.5  955
]1,898i 1,636     1 1,635  1,9')8
3,5861 2,896      1  2,895  2,9S87
970    823      9   814-   200
768   536      28    503   437
1,196   959    150   80)    83.
3,157  2,954       2, 5  1~, 2
2,361  1,260...... 1,260  1,700
2,417  2,055   644  1,411  1,(68o
1,186.I.... 6()B
1,508 1,981....... 1,39S    659
5,999  3,130   672'  2,222' 3,677
.1,586  1,422......,4221  766
r1,745  1,526      1  1,525  1,318
_,o0 96~  2 934....
1,187   474       1   4731   679
1,528  1,2301  136  1,094!  681
5t. Lady..........  5,113  4,616  2,102
1,981  1,481     25  1,456 1,618
1,465  1,174,  4701  70-4   556
1,572  1,417      1 1,416   664
9 99  958... 91     )8  246
851   6561...       656 363
91,826!13,,9,5571|  89111 25,233 30,544
PAILISHE&
Orleansn......................
Avoyelles.....................         
East Baton Rouge.............
Bienville.....................
Bossier.......................
Caddo..
Calcasieu.....................
CaldweU.....................
Catahoula.....................
Cl-;,borne.....................
Deioto.................
East Feliciana...............
Franklin.....................
Jackson......................
Jefferson......................
Lafayette.....................
MUorehouse...
Sabine........................
St. Bernard.
St. Helena....................
St. Landry...................
St. Martin....................
St. Tammany.................
Union........................
Vermillion...
Washing ton.                     [
Deduct Republican, colored, (30,544) from number registered the
remainder will show about the number of Democratic votes when
there is a full registration and a free election, which would give the
Republiheans in those parishes a majority of not less tman 13,000,
X=
Total........................ 
GENERAL ROUSSEAU.
The committee invite especial attention to the evidence with regard
to the administration of this officer.  That which appears in this re.
port has been obtained incidentally. They have not sought to find
any matter of criticism upon his official conduct, but the duty assigned to them cannot be faithfully performed without referring to
such parts of it as are connected with the history of the past two
months. They do this by simply stating facts of record, leaving the
conclusions that may be justly drawn therefrom to your honorable
body.
Elections have been held in this State under the protection of three
successive military commanders, Generals Sheridan, Buchanan and
Rousseau; under tLe first there was no disturbance or violence at
the elections worthy of notice; under the second there was muchl
more, the record of which will be found in the former reports of your
committee; under the third there were more murders committed than
during all the preceding administrations since the surrender. This
statement, we believe, the reports of Major Genreral Hatch, of the
Freedmen's Butireau, and the evidence given before this committee,
will fully establish.
We have no knowledge of the number of troops under the command of each of these Generals in this State, but we believe that
from the time of the general withdrawal of all troops, except such
as were needed for police purposes, the difference in the number of
troops under the control of each was not great. It is due to candor
and truth to state that the powers of General Rousseau were, in
theory, more limited than those of his predecessors, before the inauguration of the State government; but we believe it is also true,
that the executive of the State was at any time ready and willing to
confer the most ample authority, from the State, upon General Rousseau, for the preservation of peace and order, and that, therefore,
practically, his powers were, or might have been, had he desired it,
as extensive as those of former commanders. But General Rousseau's own evidence is the most satisfactory upon this point. We
quote as follows from his last report to General Grant:
"Officers of the army generally, and my staff especially, always
found their uniform ample protection against either violence or the
slightest disrespect, and a simple request from them was sufficient
to disperse large and excited crowds of people." 
X.kI.t
thls being true, as your committee believe it is, there was not a
mob, nor a massacre, which occurred during this dark period, that he
could not, by timely precaution, have prevented.
The committee also here call attention to the evidence on pages
194: and 195, by which it appears that certain gentlemen who were members of the State Government, and called upon General Rousseau for
protection during the riots were recommended by him "to resign
their positions and they would not be molested," the General at the
same time, alleging as a reason for this strange advice, that "the
State government was obnoxious to the people." The General did
not, specify to what portion of the people the government was obnoxious, nor for what reasons. This report will, perhaps, still flirther elucidate his ideas upon this point.
We also call attention to the testimony of Dr. Mackay, on page 186.
During the riots the efficient regiment of Brevet Major General
Mower was lying idle at Ship Island.  The committee are at a loss
to comprehend why, in the alleged scarcity of troops, the aid of this
regiment was not brought into requisition to preserve the peace.
They are informed that General Rousseau was repeatedly requested
to take such action by Governor Warmoth  and many prominent
citizens.
The committee believe that General Sheridan, with one regiment
of men, would have preserved the peace throughout the State.
In the midst of the riot and bloodshed, General Rousseau visited
the headquarters of a DemoQratic club called the'-Innocents," and
addressed them in words which were reported in the morning papers.
This report appears on page 205.
SECRET POLITICAL AND SEMI-MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
Your committee are in possession of detailed, trustworthy and
sworn information of the existence of a secret political and semi
military organization, in this State, styled, "The Knights of the
White Camelia." The signs, ritual, and most of the operations of
this society throughout the parish of Orleans and portions of the
State have been made known to the committee by the same
testimony.
They call particular attention to the evidence on this subject.
They are of the opinion that it is a society most dangerous to the 
itikif
public welfare, and that its exposure, and its condemnation by all
good citizens is greatly to be desired. The evidence shows that it
exists throughout all the Southern States, and has branch organizations in many of the Northern States.
The concurrent testimony of General Thomas, General Reynolds,
and Governor Clayton, of Arkansas, proves the existence of an armed
secret organization in Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas, which is
known as the "Ku Klux," and which is ill reality a conspiracy
against the present State Governments in the South.
The testimony before the committee shows that the order exposed
in this report is the real organization which is known to the public
as the "Ku K!lux," and that the signs and ritual which we append
are those of that mischievous and unlawful society.
It is the same society of which the lamented Judge Chase spoke
in his letter to the Honorable L. D). Campbell, of Ohio, wlich is published in this report.
The com,mittee state that the evidence shows that large numbers
of respectable Southern law abiding citizens were in the political excitement preceding the late election drawn into this society.  Most
of such men we believe to have been ignorant. of its real character
and designs.  Such men are rapidly withdrawing from  its folds.
The tirme is not far distant when it will be abandoned to the reckless
acd l.nwles portion of society, who have everything to gain, and
itinlhi,ig to lo0e, by tpumult, violence, and anarchy.  The dangers
through -wltich we have passed from this conspiracy, however, and
which may arise again from it or similar organizations, lead your
committee to commend the subject to your special attention.
It is to be noticed that this order drilled secretly with arms.
Your committee believe that the confidence and numbers and concert of action displayed during the events herein narrated, by the
violators of law, and the perpetrators 0 thi'se crimes were strengthened, increased, and caused by the existence and influence of this
secret order.
It was boasted on the streets that it was able to defy, and, if needs
be, to annihilate the military. It is in evidence that it is the custom of this organization, when any desperate deed is to be accorm.
plished in any locality, to send members  of the order from other
localities to perform it. 
Your committee are at a loss to know how any people, possessing
the intelligence, the wealth, the land, and the arms of the country,
can find it necessary to band together in secret armed organizations
on any valid plea of self defence, againrst an equal number of poor,
ignorant, landless, inoffensive and unarmed people.  How can suchi
action be reconciled with any sense of chivalry or manly courage?
What reasoning can justify such oaths, and purposes, under the existing constitution, and the laws of the land?
So far as such societies are simply secret political organizations,
no legislation can properly be recommended against them.   Such
societies, while they are inmmoral and pernicious in all their tender,cies, are most dangerous to their inventors.  But every government
lms a right, alid it is its sacred duty to see that no secret military or
armed organization shall exist, especially when their sole purpose is
opposition to existing laws, and the destruction to the Government
itself.  Sluch societies are conspiracies, dangerous  alike to public'
-ncd individual safety.
Stringent penal laws should )be placed  upon our  statute books:
aoainst them,ndl should be rigidlly enfo)r('ed.
TliHREkT'S OF V'3(IOLENCE TOWARD THE GENERAL ASSE.M              BLY AND STATE  GOVEi~tNMENT.
It i,3 wvell known to all the State authorities and to the citizens at
large that threats of violence toward the General Assemnbly, upon
its re-convening, and toward the different departments of the State
government, have been rife among a certain class of our population
who are opposed, politically, to the present State government.  It
is also in evidence before your Commlittee that such threats were
not only confidently used by large numbers of the populace daring.
the prevalence of mobs, before the Presidential election, but also
that they are, up to the time of the writing of this report, very current upon our streets; even members of the General Assembly have
been heard to offer wagers that it would never again assemble.
Your Committee call attention to this fact merely as an incident
of the times worthy of record, showing th3 dangerous and lawless
tendency of the teachings of a school of politicians which
happily must become extinct before the progress of wiser and more,
beneficent principles.
A5
lxxlll 
The tlass of mren who utter these threats are not formidable of
themselves, but only as they may be countenanced and encouraged
by leaders of a higher class.
For this reason we think that their threats may be regarded as
very harmless.
We would suggest, however, the passage of some stringent law
for the punishment of persons found guilty of aiding, abetting or
inciting to disturbance of the peace or resistance to thle laws in this
particular manner.
THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU.
The Committee deem it proper to call the attention of the General Assembly to the faithful and efficient administration of this
Bureau by Brevet Majer General Hatch.  Without this distinguished
officer's energetic and persistent interposition in behalf of the freedmen, their sufferings and oppression would have been much greater
than they have been.  The Committee also acknowledge his kind:mness in furnishing them with valuable records from his office.
C ONCLUSIONS.
Your Committee respectfully submit for the consideration of your
honorable body the following conclusions and recommendations:
The one instance in vEnglish history of a political massacre, which
is so deeply shaded with horror upon the pages of Macaulay, is known
throughout the civilized world. At this day the perusal of its story
chills the blood; its infamy shrouded the reign and the generation, and
blotted the fame of the whole nation in which it occurred, and remorse'
and madness on account of their share in its commission blasted
and prematurely ended the lives of nearly all its perpetrators, so
that the name of "Glencoe" stands in blackness on the record of the
world's crimes along with that of St. Bartholomew.  The victims of
Glencoe did not exceed one hundred (100).  They were a band of
robbers and outlaws, and their depredations were so numerous and
great that their extinction was regarded by many of their own
countrymen as a public blessing. Yet three years afterward the
indignation of the public minid against the murderers was so great
iiiiii 
xxxv
that it shook the throne of William, and in the language of Macaulay, "the cruelty and baseness of the murderers excites,'e,Veii after
the lapse of a hundred and sixty years, emotions which n ike it difficult to reason calnly."
The massacre of Glencoe fades into utter whiteness befure the
massacres of the last twelve months in this State, whether you regard
the numbers of the murdered, the absence of all justification, the
demon-like atrocities attending their commission, thle character of the
sufferers and their murderers, or the motives which prompted, and
the spirit which accompanied their actions.
The effects of these occtarrences upon the prosperity of our State
have been serious, and cannot soon be remedied.  Capital has been
prevented from coming, commerce has been diverted to other ports,
trade has been injured, emigration has been checked, and the fair
name of our good State has been deeply tarnished,
The vice of invoking violence to accomplish political ends is
deeply imbedded in the customs of a part of our population; it is
probably one of the lingering relics of the times of slavery, when
political opposition to that practice was deemed icendiary, and held
to justify what were termed in the vernacular of those days, "extreme measures." However logical this reasoning may then have
been, the cause of this vice having disappeared, the vice should cease
with it,  There can be no peace or prosperity until the community
recognize practically the maxim that no citizen shall be allowed to
take the law in his own hands, and that the law must be obeyed.
Lawless men must be taught that the time for persuading men with
clubs, knives and pistols, is past. At the close of the rebellion, by
the supreme will of the American people expressed in the solemn
forms of law, that large class of our people who have been freed
from slavery, were incorporated into the body politic and clothed
with the power of the ballot. This was to enable them to defend
and maintain the civil and political rights into the possession of
which they had so recently come, and of which they would other
wise have been speedily dispossessed. These people naturally joined
the ranks of the political party which had freed and elevated them.
They have sent us to these places, having confidence that while we
shall legislate for the good of the whole people, we shall aho as
their agents lend the powers of the State government to protect and
not to oppress them, and to secure them in the peaceable poshessio
L 
XXXYI
of all the rights which are lawfully theirs.  Through persecution,
want, robbery and murder, they have held fast their faith in the
national government, and in their principles.  This they have done
under the frightful pressure of such trials and sufferings as have
caused many prouder, and more boastfuil people to succumb.  We
owe it as the first and most sacred duty of the hour to see that
their long tried, long suffering trust, be not disappointed; and that
the aam of justice, though slow, shall be sure, and shall reach the
perpetrators of the horrid crimes of the past twelve mouths.  Not
withstanding the long reign of passion and violence under which
our State has suffered, there is hope in the returning sense of justice and of self interest of the people at large, and in the moral influence of the incoming national administration.
The cry of "Negro supremacy" is a bug-bear, in which its authors
themselves do not believe. It is used merely for political effect
upon the low and ignorant. The hostility to "negro suffrage" is
not because it is "negro," but because it is Republican.
Nothing shows the preversion of moral sentiment so strongly as
the complaint made by certain parties, that investigations like this
stir up ill feeling, and are acts of enmity towards the people of the
State.  No parties have a more vital interest hi tile exposure of such
crimes than all the good people of the State; and not many months
will elapse before an overwhelming majority of the people of this
State will hail with delight all proceedings calculated to bring the
guilty parties in these outrages to justice, and to prevent similar
outrages in the future.  It is not only the blacks who are living
under a reign of terrorism.   Thousands of honest white men will
rejoice over the riddance of their parishes, from the dangerous char.
acters, who have sought to rule white and black alike by brute force
and a daring defiance of law.
The election of General Grant as President has already had a
quieting  and  subduing  effect upon  the restless, lawless  and
revolutionary  spirit  that  was  rife  and  ramnpant  throughout
the State. HIe is respected by the good and feared by the bad.
The firm hand of the National Government will need to be held
sternly for months to come upon the shoulders of the refractory and
evil-disposed men who have, with such impunity, defied its authority
for months past, to save the State from anarchy, and the innocent
persons, who have had the courage to deliver the testimony on)
these pages, from vengeance and dclestructioui 
xxxvII
Not the least of the beneficial effects of this report will be the
collection of facts and names, which will render the eventual pun.
ishment of the criminals more sure and speedy.
When the dream of a natural, inborn right to supremacy shall be
abandoned and the higher race will content themselves with that
superiority which their proud descent, their inherited virtues and
abilities, their education, wealth, and social influence, their habits of
political control, their command of all the avenues to commerce,
art, science, and the learned professions, and last, but not least,
which the natural desire for protection that the weak feel toward
the strong, will perforce give them; perchance all wiill t;hen see that
a genuine chivalry and sense of superiority i.'e not incompatible
with a generous guarantee to the lowest and humblest class of men
of every right, which any other men enjoy. Surely the time will
come when the people of this State will dwell together no longer
as Northerners and Southerners, as Union  men and Confederates,
as loyal and disloyal, bult as citizens of a common country, entitled
to equal rights, before the law, to a fair chance in the race of life,
and to such meed ofl social andl political distinction as each one's,
merits, and the fz.c,r of 3l(; c)untrymen imiay confer upon hlil.
Your Commit';et,:oiicrlend that the General Assembly n
morialize Congress, setting forth the condition of affairs in tl
State, and requesting su-ch  Congressional legislation as may L
proper and expedient in the premises.
If any one of the outrages recorded in this report hoad been
committed upon the person of an American citizen abroad, the
whole country would have been in a flame, and all the powers of the
Government, even to the last and expensive resort of arms, would
have been brought to bear, to redress his wrong and secure protection in the future. No cost of blood or treasure in such eases is
deemed disproportionate to the object to be attained, namely, the
making of the American flag and of the proud title of an American
citizen, a perfect shield and protection aboutf him against all wrong,
wherever the sun shines.
Is the Government of the United States less powerful to enforce
such protection upon its own  than upon foreign territory?
! " -1 1. IENDATIONS. 
It is notorious that under the administration of most of our State
courts juries cannot be found who will convict men guilty of outs
rages during these political tumults.
If a State neglects, or is powerless to protect its citizens, must
the United States remain a passive spectator of outrages upon its
own citizens, or is its power not competent to provicle for their
protection?
Our Constitution declares that the  allegiance which the citizen
owes to the United States is paramount to the allegiance which ho
cwes to the State.  Protection is the correlative of allegiance.
If this state of things continues, your committee submit as a question worthy of grave consideration, whether Congress may liot.establish additional courts, with the necessary jurisdiction, over this class
of offenses. Such protection would be fir more ample and less
obnoxious to the spirit of our institutions, as well as less costly than
that of troops, whether National or State.
The committee also recommend that Congress should be requested
to send a committee to this State to make a thorough  investigation
into the condition of affairs here, to the end that they may be better
enabled to judge of the legislation necessary to enforce the execution
of the laws and of the amendments to the Constitution of the TUnited
States.
It is impossible for any body of men at such a distance, even
from the most accurate statements of others, to form an adequate
conception of the evils to be remedied.
The committee recommend, with reference to cases of murder
herein reported in which criminal prosecutions have not been commenced, that the Governor be authorized and required to offer a
suitable reward for the apprehension of the criminals, and to employ
competent counsel on the part of the State, to assist the district
attorneys, which counsel shall also be atuthorized to prosecute every
civil officer who shall refuse or neglect to perform his duty in bringing such criminals to justice. Laws should be made providing for
the punishment by adequate penalties of district and parish judges,
district attorneys, sheriffs and other civil officers who refuse or neglect to arrest, prosecute or punish parties guilty of murder, and disturbances of the peace.
We recommend that the General Assembly require an annual re.
%MUZ 
port from all district and parish judges, sheriffs, district attorneys,
and police juries, of all the crimes committed in their respective
parishes, and of the disposition made of the criminals.
We recommend, also, the passage of severe penal laws upon the
subject of masked or armed bands of men traversing the country,
for purposes of disturbing the peace.
A well regulated militia is the sword of the State, to be used when
the civil officers fail to compel obedience. W~hile it should be
cautiously and prudently used, it should always be in readiness for
emergencies like those of the last six months. It may be well to
inquire whether a small body of mounted militia, which can be
moved to any part of the State where it is needed, upon short
notice; should not at once be organized.
If other means should fail to restore law and order in refractory
parishes, we recommend that Congress be asked to enlist into the
United States service, in such parishes as will not preserve the peace
and execute the laws, a sufficient number of loyal men, to be
stationed in these parishes-the cost of the same to be reimbursed
to the United States government by the State, which shall then
apportion it among such parishes by a special levy, to be collected
as all other taxes.
Your Committee recommend that each House of the General Assembly appoint a standing'committee upon the Peace and Order of
the State.
We invite attention to a minority report from one of the members of the Committee. Presenting as it does, in the strongest light,
whatever can be urged in extenuation of the course pursued by a
portion of our people, we commit the widely differing conclusions
of ourselves and our respected colleague to the calm and dispassionate judgment ol the people of this State. All of which, together with the evidence appended, is respectfully submitted.
HUGH J. CAMPBELL,
of the Senate.
PETER  HAIRPER,                   Joint
EDWARD S. WILSON,              Committee.
WM.  MURRELL,
of the House of Representatives.
.
.XlJX 
XL
MINORITY REPORT ON THE CONDUCT OF THE ELEC    TIONS AND PEACE AND ORDER OF THE STATE.
The undersigned member of the committee, differing honestly
from the report made herein by the majority of his co-laborers in
the work assigned them, submits the following statement for consideration:
There have been many outrages committed in this State during
the last year, and many frauds perpetrated at the recent elections.
Both political parties should bear its responsibilities.
The negroes have in mary instances committed brutal outages,
sparing neither age nor sex, having been taught to believe by their
white leaders that they were better than the white people of the
State, and entitled to more consideration by the Government. In
support of this statement I quote from a speech of Governor H. C.
Warmoth, delivered at Mechanic's Institute, February 22d, 1868.
He said: "The rebels (meaning the white people of the State) are
prisoners, enemies captured in war, with no rights, no privileges, no
anything, but what the Government in its magnanimity sees proper
to give them. Rebels are traitors and treason under the Constitution
is punishable by death."
Such teachings as these and the attempts to place the white men
of the State under the domination of the negro, is the real cause of
all the disturbances, disquietude and agitation, the violence and
disorders in the State.
The white people have had reasonable grounds for fear of an insurrrection, and they no doubt prepared themselves the best they
could to protect themselves and innocents from violence and harm.
The undersigned deems it unnecessary to say anything further
upon this matter as the official report of Major General Rousseau on
the subject is full, complete, and substantially correct.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The undersigned would respectfully recommend that the white
people of the State be left alone to manage their own internal
affairs, and that all political disabilities be removed from them
and for "God's sake let us have peace."
WILLIAM L. THOMPSON.
0
,& 5 
SUPPLIEMENTAL REPORT.
PARISH OF JEFFERSON.
A. J. Kemp states, on oath, that he resides in Gretna, parish of
Jefferson. That on Friday morning, Oetober 23, 1868, just after
leaving his house, he was shot at without provocation by a white
man named Henry Kern, but escaped and remained concealed until
5 P.M. He was then advised by a man named Frank (a Democrat),
to remain secreted, as he would be killed if he ventured out. When
the military force arrived he did venture to look out of the door, and
was seen by a crowd of white men, one of whom remarked, that is
the d-n son of a b-h we were looking for.
About 10 o'clock that evening about sixteen men came to the house
and demanded and obtained admittance; they came in and took Mr.
Clark and then searched the house.  One of them said to witness:
Come down you d —n son of a b-b, you are the very one we are
looking for."
They asked witness his name, and when told, one of them said,
iyou are the very one we'have been looking for."  They took said
Clark and witness to the house of the Hook and Ladder Fire Company, and asked witness where the arms of the Grand Army and
Loyal League were kept, and added that if he did not let them
know by 12 o'clock they would hang him, they having erected a
gallows in the house of the Fire Company.
Witness answered that he knew nothing of any such organization.
One of the party said: "You are a d-n liar, you are one of the
Commanders." The leader of this party acted as judge; witness was
ariaigned before him three (3) times, each time telling the same
story. They then wanted witness to take an oath to support the
Democratic party, and use his influence among his colored friends in
order to secure Democratic success at the coming election. Soon
after, the military forces arrived and interrupted their further proceedings. The man who acted as judge told the commanding officer
of the military to take charge of us, which he did, and placed a guard
Over us. About 9 o'clock A. M., on Saturday, the President of the
. 9 
0 
2
Democratic Club, of the town of Gretna, went to the commanding
officer and told him to release witness, as he had not been seen in
the riot, nor had any arms been found on his person, which was accordingly done.  Members of the Democratic party searched  the
houses of the colored people, taking from them their registration
papers, watches, money and many articles of value.  They also took
the banner belonging to the Gretna Republican Club. The house
where witness resided was broken open and his clothing and shoes
were stolen, and his books and papers destroyed.
Robert Miller states on oath that on Friday, October 23, 1868, a
party of men whose names he does not know, but who can be identified, came to his house in Gretna, during the absence of himself
and family (who had been compelled to leave to save their lives), and
broke open the door with axes, cut open two trunks, and took there
from property, money, and his registration papers, They also took
two guns.
Robert Sparks st.tes, on oath, that as he was walking along.
quietly through the streets of Gretna, on Friday, October 23, 1868,
he wa. stopped and searched by four white men, who drew their
pistols, and took from him his pocket book containing a ten dollar
gold piece, and a fifty cent pice.  They then made him take them to
his house, under the pretence of searching for arms, and made his
wife open her bureau drawers, anca searched through the house, and
stole about sixty or eighty d:.llars in money.  One of them snapped
a pistol at witness but it appears it was  not loaded.  They also
beat his wife brutally because she protested against their infamous
proceeding.
Uponleaving they stopped at Gasper's grocery and divided  the
money between them.  Witness  and wife then appealed to some
policemen to arrest these men, when said men again assaulted him
self and wife in the presence of the policemen, who then arrested
them, but turned them over to the citizens of Gretna, who allowed
them to go free.
These same men shot at witness three times, but did not hit him.
Witness went to the judge of the court at Gretna, and stated the
case to him. The judge said he could do nothing in the matter, as
the parties were residents of New Orleans.
S 
Samuel Perkins states on oath, that on Friday, October 23, 1868,
about five o'clock, A. AM., he was walking from the ferry into town,
he saw Mr. Worley, with a gun in his hand.  A Mr. Lenton said to
Worley, that "Sam  was the cause of the thief getting away."  Mr.
Worley said "that's him " (meaning witness).  " I will shoot him."
Witness turned around, when  Worley said, "I will shoot yolu."
Witness said, "Don't shoot me, for I tried to stop the disturbance;"
but hlie would have shot him if he had not gone close to him with
another man.
Some eight or ten white men now camne up and wanted to know
who it was that set fire to the buildings.  Witness answered that he
could not tell them; that he was in Gretna when the fire commenced,
whereupon Worley struck him on the head and neck.  Witness then
ran toward the ferry, but meeting solme white mene, who told -him
not to,.);o across to New Orieans, that they would protecthliim. He.
went home.
At ten o'clockthat night some unknown white men came to witness'
house and knocked, and obtained admittance.  They took him to the
Engine House, and said, "Now we have the chief oi' tile Republican
party-he won't lead the party any more."  They then told witness
that he was to be hung at twelve o'clock, and actually erected a
scaffold in thet building.  Soon after  ome United States troops
arrived and took charge of the Engine House, when these men all
left. The next morning a United States offices came and told wit.
ness there was no charge against him, and released him.
Mrs. Polly Gill states on oath, that she is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and resides in Gretna, Jefferson parish, and is fifty years
of age; that on the 23d day of October, 1868, about four o'clock,
A. M., she was on the levee, where there was a fire, and assisted in
carrying out the goods and furniture from the burning buildings.
When the buildings were burned down, a riot commenced. Witness
saw about twenty white men armed with guns, pistols, etc., who
were citizens of the town.  Among their number was Henry Carr,
Fred. Carr, John Linton, fMr Lambert, Fred. Strailey, B. Whitten
and Jeff. Sntten. Witness saw a white man named Lambert shoot
a clevred man named Scott. She also saw John Linton, Henry Carr
and Fred, Carr, white men, shoot Scott after Lambert had shot him.
Witness went up to Scott, who wac  then lying on the ground,
13I 
4
vomiting blood, from the effects of the shot wounds received at the
hands of these men, Lambert, Linton, Henry Carr and Fred. Carr,
who, after shooting him, went up and took hold of and straightened
him out, saying at the same time, "You, God d-  d son of a b -h,
we wish we had ten thousand more killed!" A white man then took
up an axe to strike him (Scott) on the head.  Witness said, "Men,
for God's sake, don't knock in his head, for he is dead!"  They laid
the axe down, saying,  "We will kill some more God d   d  black
ones!"  These men then turned around, and, seeing a colored man
by the name of Raymo standing close by, one of them struck him on
the head with an axe, knocking him down and causing the blood to
flow from the wound. This colored man in a few moments raised
his head, when another of these white men shot him through the
shoulder. Some colored men put him in a wagon and carried him
to his house, where he now lies, in bed, in a critical condition. While
witness was watching some furniture, a young white man came to
her and whispered in her ear, telling her that some white men had
broken open her house and shot a colored man and child. The name
of the colored man is Reuben Lindsey, and the child's name is E,
Wilkins. The man was shot in the neck and the child in the face
and breast. They are dangerously wounded and are not expected
to live. The colored man did not have any weapons, or use any bad
language to the men who shot him.  When  witness arrived at her
house she found this colored man and child lying on the ground, but
the white men had left. At night, about 12 o'clock, some white men
came to her house and knocked at her door; she asked them what
they wanted; they said they wanted the prisoner, Robert Mabey,
Witness told them he was not in, and told them to come in and search
which they did.  While doing so they stole two revolvers, which
were in her drawer, and a musket. They then went away; in half
an hour they returned again, came in and stole a banner, which
belonged to the Third Ward Republican Club of Gretna, and broke the
door down, and all the windows in the house
Richard Hill states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, residing in Gretna, parish of Jefferson; that on the morning of the 23d of October, 1868, a party of five armed white men came
to his house and took away two revolvers, and at night the same
party returned and searched his house again. They overhauled his 
press and found his pocket book which contained twenty ($20) dollars in greenbacks, which they took possession of and left. Witness
does not know who these men were; they were all strangers to him.
Witness further states that the colored people in Gretna are living
in great fear of the white )Democrats.
William Shingleton states on oath, that he is a citizen of the State
of Louisiana, and resides in Gretna, Jefferson parish; that on the
23d day of October, 1868, about twelve o'clock M., a squad of white
men —among whom he recognized a Mr. Doul, (a moss picker) —
came to his house, armed with guns, pistols and bowie knives, and
asked witness' wife for his gun. She replied that he did not have
any. They then turned everything in the house upside down, taking
witness' pocket book, containing $5 50 in greenbacks which they
found in the press. Then going out into the yard they took witness'
axe and went away.
Colan Cesar states on oath that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, residing in Gretna, Jefferson parish; that on the 23d day
of October, 1868, about 12 M., some white men came to his house,
armed with pistols, guns and knives, opened his trunk and took
from it his pocket-book, containing twenty ($20) dollars in greenbacks and his certificate of registration. They also took his order
for pay that he had received from the railroad office, and his pistol.
These men told witness' wife that if she said anything they would
kill him and her. She then ran out of the house, and afterwards the
men went away.
Rebecca Scott states, on oath, that she.is a resident of the State of
Louisiana, and lives on Main street, in Gretna, Jefferson parish.
That on the 23d day of October, 1868, a squad of armed white men
came to her house just after dinner, entered, and said they wanted
her firearms; witness replied that she had none, when one of the
men picked up a knife and told her if she did not give up her arms
he would stab her with it. Witness had none in the house; they
then took her spectacles, a black silk dress, three dollars and fifty
Bents in greenbacks, and five dollars in silver, and destroyed her
6 
a 
cups and dishes, stating as a reason therefor, that " the dad niggers
had no business to live in Gretna; let them go back to their masters'
plantations and hoe corn and cotton."  These men were all strangers
to witness.
Hypolite Williams states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State
of Louisiana, and resides in Gretna, Jefferson parish. That on the 23dcl
day of October, 1868, at 121 o'clock in the day time, one Thompson and
Frederick Carroll, a hunter, with a squad of white men came to his home
armed. Thompson asked if witness had any firearms, to which he an.
swered, "No." Thompson then said, "I must search your trunk," as he
supposed there was a revolver there.   He (Thompson) then searched
the trunk, but finding none, said he thought witness had no revolver,
but finding witness' pocket-book, he said, " Let me see what is inhere,"
but witness  took it from  him.   Thompson finally went away
with the rest of his squad, saying he did not believe there were any
arms there.  These men then went to John Lightfit's house and
entered it throngh a window, the doors being locked, and searched
for arms, but found-none, but took a tin box containing fifteen dollars
in greenbacks.
Elijah Hogans states, ol oath, that he is a resident of the
State of Louisiana, and resides in Gretna, Jefferson parish. That
on the night of October 23, 1868, a party of white men, John
Savan, Frank Hatch, and others, came to his house and ordered him to
come out, saying they "wanted that powder that he had in his house,"
there being none there to witness' knowledge; he told them to go
in and get it, but they did not go in, but said, "You need not think
yourself so d-d smart, for as soon as we get you to our headquarters we'll find were all that powder is." They then took witness
to the Hook and Ladder House, and there asked him where the
powder was.  Witness replied, "You were there, and I told you to
go in and get it," they answerd, 11 Never mind, we will find it," and
went back to the house and soarched it for arms and the powder, but
found neither. They took away witness' mare, clothing and other
articles of value. When they returned to the Hook and Ladder
House, they asked witness what he piant by mixing in politicl, tq 
7
which he replied tlh: he did not understand them.  They answered,
"Oh, yes you do; haven't they told you, you should have lands and
a mule, and a horse, if you would vote the Republican ticket? We
know all about it, anda we are going to kill you unless you tell us the
whole truth," adding, "You are the very one we wanted; you have
been the head one in this business, and we are going to shoot you
all to pieces." Witness answered that he couldn't tell them anymore.
They said, "You shall not be hurt if you will vote the Democratic
ticket," to which witness answered, "that he would die first."  At
this time the the troops came up and he was released.
Stephen Robbins states on oath, that he is a citizen of the State
of Louisiana, resides in Gretna, Jefferson parish; that on the 23d
day of October, 1868, about 10 o'clock, A. M., about fifteen unknown
white men came to his house, broke open the door and took a half
dozen knives and forks and two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) in
money. They opened all the trunks in his house, also his armoir
and bureau. They took the sum of seventy-five ($75) dollars in
greenbacks from one of his trunks. Witness had used no bad lan.
guage to any white man or gave them  any cause to treat him in
such a manner.
Philip Brandon states on oath, that he resides in Freetown, parish
of Jefferson, right bank; that on Friday, October 23, 1868, at about
11 o'clock, A. M., a gang of white men came to his house and took
his gun and fifteen ($15) dollars in legal tender notes. They made
witness fall into line and took him about a mile from home.  They
were met by a white man named Sawyer, who told them to release
witness, as he had done nothing.
This party shot and wounded three colored men whose names
witness did not know. After he was released he went home and
remained there.
Mary Antoine states, on oath, that she resides in Gretna, Jefferson
parish; that on the 23d of October, 1868, a squad of white men,
armed with gunst pistols hatchets and bowie-knives, came  to her 
8
house about 12 o'clock, M., while she was absent. She had left her
brother-in-law in charge of the house. Seeing so many armed white
men roaming about the streets, and learning they were robbing and
abusingcolored people, witness started for home to try and protect
her property. When she arrived there she found two white men in
her house, and her trunk broken open, and her pocket book carried
off, containing forty-four ($44) dollars in greenbacks. These men
told her brother-in-law that they had "orders from headquarters'* to
search colored peoples' houses for arms. Witness had no fire-arms
in her house, and was so badly frightened that she was afraid to
speak to them about her money.
Telisphore Baptiste states, on oath, that he is a resident of Freetown, parish of Jefferson; that on the 23d of October, 1868, at 3
o'clock A. M., a squad of about twelve white men, armed with guns
and pistols, came to his house, representing themselves to be police
officers; three of them came inside and took three guns, one belonging to him, one to his son, and the other to his nephew; they then
told him to go to the station and that the Captain of Police would
talk to him.  When he saw the Captain of Police he said he did  not
know anything about his guns.  A German in Freetown says he
knows where they are but he will not give the names of the parties.
They did not take anything else out of his house. They took all the
guns and fire-arms away from the colored people.
Delia Bethel states, on oath, that she is a resident of Gretna, parish of Jefferson; that on the 23d of October, 1868, four or five armed
white men came to her house and ordered her to show them all the
fire-arms and ammunition she had; she told them that she had nothiug of the kind in the house; that her husband had a pistol but had
it with him. They said that they would wait for him, and when he
came they would killhim; that they were going to kill all the d-d
niggers that they met because they went with the Radical party,
and turned against them. On the same day witness saw the body of
a colored man who had been killed on the levee. The colored people
in Gretna are afraid of their lives in consequence of the threats the
Democrats are making against them.
I 
Louise Brown states on oath, that she resides in Gretna, parlsh of
Jefferson; that on the morning of October 23, 1868, she was  standing on the levee with her husband, when a white man approached
her husband with a large butcher-knife in his hand and asked him
if he had any arms about him. He made no reply At this time
three other white men approached armed with pistols, and one had
also an axe handle.  One of them, nanled Toney Miyers, and one
Henry Carroll commenced beating her husband over the head in a
brutal manner with the axe handle.  He started to run down the
levee, when one of the band named Fred. Carroll, fired a pistol at
him, the ball entering his back.  They then left him to die like a
dog, offering no assistance whatever. Deponent further states that
although it is well known to the civil authorities of Gretna that said
Fred. Carroll shot her husband, and that the others beat him, yet
they have made no effort to arrest said parties. On the day following, four or five men came to her house and searched for arms, but
finding none, they left.  Her husband is still confined to his bed in
a critical condition.
Charles Green states on oath, that he is a resident of Freetown,
parish of Jefferson; that on Friday, October 23, 1868, he went to the
Gretna Ferry with his wife, and seeing some excitement there, he
hurried home and commenced working in his garden. At about 11,
A. M., a party of about fifteen white men  (among whom was one
Pred Carroll), led by a milkman named Pierre, came to witness'
house, when some one of said party remarked, "there is an old
ni,ger, let's kill him."  Another said, "No! don't kill that old man,
he is a good (ld man.  I have known him  for some time."  One of
them then drew has grun enCS witness and told him to open his door,
and asked if he had any arms. Witness told them that he had none.
They then searched the house and tumbled things about, but found
nothing.  They then told witness that if he staid at home they
would not harm him this time, but if they caught him out they would
kill him. Witness further says, that while he was at the Ferry in
Gretna, he saw a fire burning and went to look at it, and saw there
Henry Carroll and Frederick Carroll with a company of young men,
and heard them say as a colored man passed along, "Come, let's
kill him."  They then ran towards him, and some one threw a bricltk,
bat at him, whereupon he started to run.  Some said "catch him,'l
2
0
I 
io
and some said "kill him," and commenced shooting at him, several
of the shots hitting him, but he continued running. Some one, however, headed him off, and as he ran upon the levee a man shot him
dead.  A  colored man named Ramo  seeing this deed, remarked,
"What a pity that they have shot that poor man down for nothing,"
whereupon a white man fired at said Ramo and shot him  down.
His wife ran to him with her child in her arms, exclaiming  " Lord!
they have killed my husband."'  At this they fired at her, but missing her, hit the child (who has since died of its wounds).  Witness
believing it to be very unsafe to be it( here, then left for home.
Alexander Green states, on oath, that he resides in Freetown, in the
parish of Jefferson. That on the 23d day of October, 1838, some
fifteen white men came to his house, led by one Bob Milton; these
men told him not to move, or they would kill him.  They were all
armed with shot-guns, revolvers, knives, etc. They inquired if he
had any arms; he told them he had a gaun.  They then searched
through the house, breaking open trunks, armoirs and bureaus; they
found his gun and took it; they found his pocket-book, which contained $110, and took it, telling him if he said anything they would
kill him, and when he remonstrated, they told Ilim "hush your mouth,
you d-d son of b-h, or we will blow your brains out."
Robert Maybury states on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and a resident of Gretna, parish of Jefferson.
That on the mori,ng of the 23d of October, 1868, while yet in bed
he heard the bells ringing, and jumped up and went to the door, but
not seeing any fire, he went down to the levee near the ferry landing,
and then saw a great many buildings on fire. One Samuel Perkins,
colored, told witness to guard some goods that had been taken from
the burning buildings, but soon hearing the bells sound  the alarm
for that portion of the town where his house was situated he left and
went to his house, but finding no fire very near, started to go back,
but was stopped by a white man named Jake Woolly, captain of the
steamboat Champion No. 3, who asked him "what that fuss was on
the levee." Witness replied "he did not know." Woolly said "yes,
there was a d-n big fuss;" and he had his gun there to stop it, and
repeated the remark the second time, and bec'ause witness said he 
11
knew nothing about it Woolly gave him a severe punch und r his
ear with the muzzle of hlis gun.  A catholic school teacher pa sing
by stepped up and told Woolly he must not do that, at the same time
taking hold of his arms, told witness to run, which he did.  Wie'le he
was rtluning he was joined by a colored man named Albert  Kemp,
who was fired,t by a white man of bad character named Henry
Carr, who is always troubling colored people. Witness hid himself
that night and until S A. M. next day, in an out of the way lot, when
seeing the catholic teacher at a distance he went to him. The teacher
said, "wellI it was lucky I was passing by you at the time that
man Woolly was attacking you, as I saved your life,"' and told witness to go home and hide any arms that lie might have in his house.
As he arrived there a banid of white   o men, arimed with shot guns,
bowie knives, and revolvers, came and broke down the door of his
house and entered.  As they did so witness ran out the back door,
leaving a colored friend, RIeuben Lindsey, holding his nephew's baby;
the baby's mother, M{ary Wilkins, was also in the house.  The
party, thinking it was witness holding the baby, fired several shots,
taking effect in the head of said Lindsey, and -i thie flace of the baby.
Lindsey was not killed but is now lying in a very critical conditions
Witness further states that the white men are particularly down
on him, Samuel Perkins and A. J. Ke?p, and say if they could only
get them out of the w,ay, they could control the colored vote for the
Democratic party.
That during the riot these white rmen  killed a colored man and
would have split his head open with an axe, if a colored woman
named Polly Gill had not prevailed upon them not to do it.
James Voorhies (colored) states, on oath, that he resides in Free.
town, parish of Jefferson; that on or about Friday, the 23d day of
October, 1868, a party of about fifteen armed white men came to his
house and ordered his mother to open the door, which was done;
they then entered and searched the house and compelled his wife,
who was very sick in bed, to get up, whereupon they searched the
bed, they took from witness five dollars in money, his gun and his
watch, valued at twenty-five dollars.
Ruffan Wilkins states, on oath, that on Friday, October 23, 1868,
S he was walking quietly along in one of the streets of Gretna, a 
12
white man came up and, putting a revolver to his head, said:  "If
you do not enter the Engine House, I will blow your d    d brains
out! " Witness went into the house with the man, who threatened
to shoot him if he attempted to escape.
On Saturday, 24th, a white man named Henry Carroll came to witness' house, broke open the door and took from him a shot gun and
a musket, and then drew a revolver and fired at him; ther ball missed
him and struck another man in the neck. Witness' child was also
wounded by shots in the cheek and stomach. Witness spoke to
Carroll about having shot his child. He said, "If you say another word, I will blow your d —d brains outI"  On the night of
the 23d said Carroll came to witness' house and demanded  his
money and a Republican club banner then in his possession, which
he took.  Carroll also took witness' Registration certificate, and
was about to tear it up; but he took it away iroim him.
On the same day a colored man was shliot and killed by a wih,-e
man named Bob Barracks, and no attempt was made by the authorities to arrest him  and he is now walking about the streets of
Gretna. Another colored man named Ramo was shot and wounded
by a white man named Lampouse. No attempt has been made to
arrest him.
The white people are parading the streets armed with revolvers,
and claiming to have authority from military headquarters to
disarm all the colored people. Albert Kemp and Sam. Perkins (colored) are now hand-cuffed and marched through the streets. The
military stationed there seem to pay no attention to these outrages.
Susan Williams states, on oath, that on the 23d October, 1868, as she
was going out to work she was stopped at the ferry bya squad of white
men, armed with guns and pistols, who asked her where she was going;
she said she was going over to New Orleans to get work; they said,
"go  back, you damned nigger, you think you are going to take
Gretna;" she then left to go home, but before reaching her house
she saw so many armed white men surrounding it that she was
afrt-aid and went to a friend's house and stayed until they went away;
she then went to her house and found that they had broken into her
armoir, and had taken her pocket-book, containing $2 in greenbacks,
house receipts, marriage certificate, and other minor papers; there
was no one in her house at the time; she had locked the doors and
windows when she left 
13
Barney Allen, states on oath, that he resides in Gretna, parish of
Jefferson; that on the 24th day of October!-:S, six white men came
to his house and took his double barrelled gun, powder flask and shot
bag; also, a silver watch, which cost him twenty nine dollars and a
half ($29.50), one razor, and also private papers, consisting of receipts, &o., out of his pocket book. Witness is now living in New
Orleans, having left Gretna in consequence of threats having been
made against his life. He has also heard that the Democrats were
going to kill him the first chance they could get before the election.
William Green, states on oath, that he resides in Freetown, parish
of Jefferson, that on the 26th day of October 1868, about one hundred armed white men came to his house in broad day light, and
completely gutted it, taking his gun, axe, hatchet, wearing apparel,
and every thing of value that they could find; they also took his
Registration certificate, which they found in his pocket-book, in his
pants pocket.  Witness and his wife are afraid to remain in his
house, as the Democrats have threatened to kill him when they get
a chance.
Paul Hubeau, states on oath, that on Friday, October 30, 1868, a
party of armed white men, (among whom were Milton and Carpel),
went to his brother Ernest's house, in Freetown, and demanded all
the arms that were in the house, and searched the house thoroughly,
but found nothing. They found a gun in the potato patch, which a
friend had left there for safety, this they took and promised to return
after the election, but they have failed to do so.
[Ernest Hubeau,) whose house was thus searched a) is Justice of
the Peace in the parish of Jefferson, and was absent at the time of
the search Witness was present in the house at the time.]
William White states on oath, that on Tuesday, October 27, 1868
at 10 o'clock, he went to the court house in Gretna for the purpose
of paying the fine, and releasing his brother, who had been arrested
on Saturday the 24th, but was refused permission by the Judge to
0 
4
see his brother, and started to leave, when a white man named Capt.
Wirley, wanted to know his business; he told him he wanted to
assist his brother. Wirley said he had no business there, and added,
"G-d d-n you, get away from here quick."  Witness  did not
move, whereupon Wirley struck him on the head with a large stick
and drove him to the ferry landing and searched him; to see if he
had any weapons about him, and said if he had found any he would
have killed him.
Mima Hughes states, on oath, that she is a resident of the State
of Louisiana, and is residing in Gretna, and is twenty (20) years old;
that on the morning of October 30, 1868, between the hours of 8 and
10 o'clock, she saw a gang of fifteen or twenty (15 or 20) white men
running after a colored man named Harry Scott. These men were
armed with pistols, spades and axes, and they were crying out,
"Head him off," "kill him," etc.  Witness then saw Henry Carroll,
a resident of Gretna, shoot Scott in the back; she also saw a son of
John Linton, a keepeer of a coffee-house, in Gretna, and a Jew
named Albert Lamnben, both shoot him in the back. On the same
day, a body of white men came to the house of a c-)olored woman
named Polly Gill-where witness was visiting-a'id after destroying
most everything in the room, one of the white men raised his gun
and shot a colored man named Reuben Lindsey in th- face, and a
baby four months old, which he was holding in his arms. These
men took all the arms they could find in the possession of the colored
men; witness further states that Henry Scott was killed by the men
mentioned above; Scott, so far as witness knows, was a quiet
and peaceable man. The men mentioned above, also'took and
destroyed a "Grant and Colfax" banner that was in the house of
Polly Gill
Henry Taylor states, on oath, that he resides in the City of New
Orleans, La., and is employed as a messenger on the Committee on
the Conduct of the Late Election and the Condition of Peace and
Order in the State." That on Friday morning the 30th of October,
1868, he received from the chief clerk of the above committee, five
(5) summons, with Qrders to deliver them to parties living in thq
14
i. 
14
town of G-retna, rig',t bank, parish of Jefferson; that he crossed to
th,.} town of Gretna on the 4th district ferry, and inquired for the
parties to whom these summons were to be delivered, but could get
no information frc,L the white men of whom he made inquiries, and
who reside in the town of Gretna. Witness then went as far as the
railroad inquiring for these parties; he asked some colored people
who were living on the railroad; they told him they were acquainted
with the parties, but could give him no information as to their residences. While there, witness met two colored men going up the
railroad and asked them if they knew the parties; they said they did,
and advised hlm not to go near them, as they were armed and were
the leaders of the riot. Witness passed by the white men, who
remarked that they "would like to kill a nigger." Witness then went
to the ferry landing and looked for a policeman, but could find none.
He remained at the landing an hour; while there two white men
came down, accompanied by two soldiers, and got into a skiff; these
men asked the soldiers to loan them their revolvers, which the soldiers
did, and then they crossed over to the city. They afterwards returned, went into a grocery store with the same soldiers and there
returned to them their revolvers.
JEFFERSON-SUMRY.
Number killed positively sworn to........................... 5
Number shot positively sworn to......................... 9
Number maltreated positively sworn to..............-......33
I  
PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE
J. T. Von Tromp states on oath, that he is a registered voter of the
State of Louisiana; that he was a member of the Board of Supervi.
sors for the parisih of East Baton Rouge during the election of Novr.
3, 1868.
The board commeneced registering in the city of Baton Rouge on
the 8th of October, 1868, but was considerably interfered  with-by
G. W. Huested (Parish Judg,,e) issuing writs of mandamus against
it, whereby 150 white men and 1050 colored men were prevented
from registering. While witness was iii the performance of his
dutty James Cooper, Deputy Clerk, entered thie room  and said: "Mr.
Von Tromp, I believe there will be a disturbance down stairs; in
that case I will commence it in the registration room by shooting
you the first one."  Witness believes that those writs of mandamus
were issued solely for the purposei of preventiing, the  colored mrnen
from registering.
Our board was No. 1.  Board No. 2 was prohibited from register
ing by writ of injunction after eight or ten days work, thereby throwing double duties uponi us. lMIr. H. J. Puckett, the chairman of our'
board, also did everything in his power to register the white citizens
and to hinder the colored from exercising thle same privilege.  The
board was so much interfe red with during tl:e da,y that witness told,
lawyer Avery that if the court did not stop issuing these writs that
in order that the coioried anen an( o)thers sloutdnct be debarred from
their rights to register, tile reg,istrationl should be carried on at night.
lHec replied that if we wouild not ilo that, no more mandari,is writs
would be issued, but if we did, that lawyer Fuqua and others would
hav~e'ift-,v writs of maida-mus issued against us. This was said in presence of H. J. Puckett chairman of said board, and L. Franicois, a
member of the same.
On election day, Nov. 3, 1868, between the hours of 3 and 4 P. AM.,
witness was standing in the courtyard, opposite the north door; several
policemen were also standing there, keeping the people back. About-'this time one of said policemen raised a pistol.  Witness,  thinking
it was pointed at him, ran behiia d a mule. Great excitement was
8
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created by policemen running to and fro; every white main seemed
armed, and many of them wore badges.
Witness is certain that 200 colored men left the polls without
voting, as they were thoroughly intimidated and feared the whites
would kill them if they should attempt to vote the Republican ticket.
L. H. Burdick states on oath that he resides in Ba,ton Rouge, La.;
that he was.appointed by the Board of Registration as supervisor of
registration for the parish of East Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 1, 186,;
he was a member  of the second board, traveling through the parish.  The board opened their office Oct. 8, 1868, at Port ludso-,
and went through the parish without being nmolested until they  arrived at Baton Rouge, on the 19th of Oct.; at a o'clock of s-nid day,
the Deputy Sheriff,served an injunction on the board of registrars,
stopping further registration.  When they went toManchac precinct
to open an office they found it impossible to obtain board or lodging;
they returned to Baton Rouge, and according to orders opened their
office in the City Hall.  An injunction was then served on them by
the deputy sheriff, and the office closed, preventing further registration. They filed their answer and went to trial before the parish
courts, the case being called up and postponed from time to time
until Oct. 23, 1868.  The Judge tnen postponed decision until the
21th of October, thus preventing them from opening their books.
They received written instructions from Wmn. Baker, Chairman of the
Board of Registrars, for the two boards, in joint session, to make up
their books and appoint commissioners of election.  Mr. O. H. Hackett came into the office and ordered them (the second board) not to appoint any commissioners of election, that the first board were to appoint them. Mr. Puckett, chairman of the first board, agreed
with Mr. Hackett in this regard, and used abusive language toward
the members of the second board, which caused a crowd to collect in
and around the office; the men who composed the crowd were friends
of Mr. Puckett, and were armed. Mr. Hackett then said that if
the board did not appoint such commissioners as he wished there
would be a big row.  "We have got: t,o hlve it and we may  as well
have it now as any time."  Witness asked  Mr. Hackett if he was
chairman of the board of supervisors.  He answered no.  Witness
told him he thought he was taking too much authority upon himself
in appointing commissioners of election. He said he did not care a
18 
d- n for the seeoimd board. There was such an excitement, a mem ber of the first board movre that the joint session of the two l;oards
should be dissolved, which was done under protest by the second
board.  hr. Puckett told witness if he opened his mouth he would
send for the sheriff and have him put in jail.  Witness answerLd that
what he (Puckett) had done was  contrary to instruction  received
from Mr. Baker, Chairman Board of Registration, and called Ac  the
reading of the written instructions, which MAr. Puckett refused to do.
Witness then left the office; he was ruled out, and had nothing toddQ
wiLth  i,)pointm it of commissionefs for that parish.'On  the gd
day of November, 1868S, colored voters went to the polls to vote.
The policemen requested them to show their tickets.  The colored men
gave these icoers their tickets to examine, when these policemen
would return to them a Demo:atc ticket in its place.  The colored
people who were  an:;e to rea(d, went and voted said Democratic
ticket, being deceived by said pic semen.  Witness then wrote a note
to the chairman of the board of comma issioners, Mr. L. Gasta, infrrming him of this outrage, and requesting hir to have it stopped immediately. The commissioner went to the policemen and gave them
orders not to interfere withethe colored voters, but this had no effect.
Deponent theun inforrmed the voters on the outside of what the policemnen were doiing, and told them to put their tickets'ln their pockets
and allow no one to see them, which they did.  Then the policemen
in the hall commenced searchin,g their pockets, and if they found
Republican tickets in their possession they passed them through tihe
hall without permitting them to vote.  In several instances deponent
gave republican tickets to colored men to vote, and the policemen
took them ~rom them and tore them up, and offered to them Democra-tic tickets, which they refused to take, and came out without
voting.  Witness gave them another ticket, and they went a second
time to vote, and met with the same treatment, and were prevented
from voting.  Witness saw a large number of colored men  leaving
the polls andI was informed that they had been driven away by armed
white men.  J. 0. Fuqua, A. S. Herron, and Mr. Stafford sued out
the injunction writ, and Judge Husted issued the injunction, on the
ground that the second board was registering in the city without
legal authority.
George W. Eagan states, on oath, that he is a resident of East
Baton Rouge parish, State of Louisiana; that he was a member of
10
?A
A 4 
the Constitutional Convention of tlhis State in 186]-8 and the Republican Qandidate for State Senator for the 13th Senatorial district
at the election of the 17th and 18th of April, 18(6, and contestant
of the seat of the Hon. R. H. Day, at the present time; that he,
witness, left New Orleans on the 23d( day of October, 1868, and
arrived at East Baton Rouge on the following day and found said
town quiet and peaceable, a large number of the inhabitants being
away at the time, a portion of them attending a Democratic barbecue
at Pointe Coupee, others in the suburbs attending a horse race; also
a large number of Republicans were attending a barbecue on the
opposite side of the river.  About dark on the day of witness' arri.
val, a cannon was fired, the report of which seemed to be the signal
for the assembling of the Democraey, as about five or six hundred
immediately gathered in front of the house where he had'put up,
kept by J. L. LeBlanc, a prominent Republican. This crowd remained sometime, making violent demonstrations, especially at every
report of the cannon, and calling witness in the most insulting manner to come out, "and let them ride him on a rail."  Some said
"let's throw him into the river;" others said "lets drive him off."
Some said "this is the last night you can Stay in this town."  During
this time a Democratic procession was moving through town and
passed several times before witness' residence, insulting him in a
gross manner. Witness did not show himself at all, as he and his
friends did not consider it safe to do so, either during that night or
the following day.  It was currently rumored about the city on the
25th, that witness had better leave, as an attempt would be made to
assassinate him, and it was apprehended that a riot would be produced by an attempt to kill him. Apprehending this, witness decided to leave as soon as possible for New Orleans.  Accompanied,
therefore, by some friends he went down to the steamboat landing,
and soon the steamboat R. E. Lee, bound for that city, came along,
and going on board witness secured a stateroom, and carefully
avoided any political conversation while on board.  Knowing that he
was surrounded by his political enemies, and fearing there might be
a continuance of the violence manifested against him during his
short stay in Baton Rouge he was determined not to give any offense,
so that if he should receive any injury it should be unprovoked on
his part. There was an apparent courtesy manifested toward him,
but he thought they were trying to put him off his guard, in order
that they might the more easily carry out their villainous designs.
.-4
so 
He was frequently invited to the bar to drink by his political opponents, but declined every invitation to do so. Repeated attempts
were also make to get him upon the hurricane deck, but he refused,
believing that it was their intention to do him violence.  While he
was sitting in the cabin quietly conversing with a Mississippian, in
regard to planting interests, a stranger came in and calling him by
name informed him that a colored Republican was outside the cabin
and desired to speak to him a moment, that the colored man  had
sent for him, as he was not allowed to enter the cabin. Believiig it
to be his duty to respond to this request, he went to the door, which
he had scarcely closed behind him when he found himself surrounded
by a dozen or more white men, a portion of whom had fire-arms.
He was immediately attackled, as he believes, by three men, who
struck him with brass knuc~ic's and the muzzle of a large sized
revolver, and was immediately felled to the floor senseless.  AThen he
recovered his senses, he found himself in the barber-shop under the
care of a physician, the captain and two barbers of the boat.  \Vit ness further states that the men who stood by, and the men who
assaulted him, are all strangers to him, although he thinks lie could
identify two of the men who struck him, if he could see them. This
assault was altogether a political one, unprovokled, unjustifiable and
outrageous in every particular, and it is his firm belief, that it was
their intention to murder him. No steps were taken by the captain,
officers or others of the steamboat Robert E. Lee to arrest these
would be assassins.  Upon witness' arrival in New Orleans he was
attended by Dr. Hire, who for some time considered his condition a
critical one; but under the Doctor's constant attention, he has so
far recovered as to be able to walk about, but is still very weak and
suffers from continual pain in the head. Witness fears that he may
never recover from these injuries.  He finally states that persons
cannot live in the parish of East Baton Rouge who advocate the
principles of the Republican party, though they may be in all othor
respects upright, quiet and peaceable citizens.
Louis Francois states, on oath, that hlie was appointed Supervisor
of Registration for the parish of East Baton Rouge; that on the 3d
day of November 1868, about 9 o'clock A. M., hlie went to the poll to
vote, when a policeman by the name of Charles O'Connell, stopped
him and told him not to crowd the table. Witness tihen stepped back
it 
until thie tablo was cleared, and then approached again to vote the
Republican ticket, when he was caught by the. shoulder by J. Bogaln,
who jerkecd himr around and said,  "stand back, C —d d-n yon —if
yoa want to have trouble you can have it d-n quick," and con tinued cursing him until he Wvvalked away from himt, and waited until
he was engaged in talking.  Witness then went up and voted and
left the poll. He then went to the court house to see how the elec tion was going, and found the door on the north side crowded with
colored people; there were at least a dozen of white policemen keep ing thein back, and preventing them from voting.  At the sam io
the door opposite was clear id free for every white and colored manl
to            vote the D emoratio   ticket.  Seeing the imposition, suffered tMy
colored Republicans, he spoke to the shecriff about it, who replied,
that   the c      rowd wa s so large that he could not help it, but that lhe
would           see that every one had a chance to vote.'Witn(ess rem"nained
at            the court house until about 12 o'clock.  He saw a colore-d man
approach the tab     le to vote, he was met by Mr. John Gass, (a Democrat), whoy asked him to let him see his ticket, and gave him an-.
other one, the man wanted the tietet he  had taken from him.
Mr. Gass then gave him a ticket and swore it was the one he had
taken from him, and told him to vote it.  The man voted this ticket.
Mr. Gass had five or six tickets in his hand for the purpose of exchanging for Republican tickets, in order that the parties silould
vote the Democratic ticket.  In the evening, about four o'clock
while witness was at the corner of the court house, he heard very
loud talking inside of the house, and saw a great rnmany people running from that side; then, came a great number of policemen and
deputy sheriffs.  An order was given for the policemen to fall in.
Seeing there was going to be trouble he started to go away, when a
policenan by the name of Benton Hillen caught him by the collar
of his coat and said, "G-d d-n you, if there is anything done, I
will knock you downI " (at the same time keeping his club raised
over  witness' head.)   "Here, G  d d  n you, you are the ring
le-der'r"  Another policeman standing near by told Benton Hillen
to let witness go. He replied, "No, I am going td hold him right
here, and if there is anything done I will knock him down, and I am
responsible for what I do." Finally the sheriff came up, and by his
order witness was released. The sheriffs name is L. J. Bird. There
were from seventy-five-to one hundred policemen and deputy sheriffs
on hand when the order was given to.fall in, all armed with revolvers
29 
and clubs.  Thy consequence of this display of power was that
from two to three hunt, ed intimidated colored people left the polls,
v4tlo would have voted the Radical Republican ticket, if allowed a
free expression of their political feelings. Witness positively knows
that many of the policemen and deputy sheriffs on duty that day
would  lose no opportunity to inflict violence on the Republican
colored people, at the slightest imaginary provocation. The colored
people, knowing these facts, hastened to get away as soon as possible, for fear some excuse would be made for commencing an assault upon them, especially when they saw such a large number of
ofiicers drawn up in line between them and the court house.  Many
of the colored people saw witness under arrest, and knew that his
life was in danger in case any disturbance should take place.  Many
of themn told him, on and before election day, that prominent Democrats told them that if they voted the Republican ticket they would
be discharged off the plantations.  There were a great many colored men prevented from voting, because the commissioners would
say that. a letter was left out of the name, which would be on the
poll book, although the number on the registration paper would correspond with that on the poll book.  Deponent further believes that
these objections were made to shut out Republican ballots, and that
no hindrance would have been given to white men holding papers in
the same condition to vote the Democratic ticket.
Seventy-seven (77) electors state, on oath, that they are duly
registered voters of the parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, havng been registered at the court house, first (lst) precinct of said
parish, and that they were prevented from voting on the 8d day of
NIovember, 1868, by an armed body of men, who threatened colored
voters and caused them to leave said precinct; they further state
that had they been allowed to vote, they would have voted for General U.S. Grant, for President, and for'0. B. Darrall for Congreas.
Four hundred and forty-five (445) electors of East Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, state on oath, that they are twenty-one years of age, born
in the United States, and had resided one year in the State and ten
days in the parish, next preceding the election of iNovember 3, 1868;
that they were not- and arm not disfranchised, that they have not 
been able to register tinder the existing laws of the State for tlhe
reason that the office of the Surpervisors of Registration was closed,
and they were therefore deprived of the right of suffrage; they also
state that had they been allowed to register and vote, they should
have voted for General U. S. Grant, for President, and for C. B.
Darrall, for Congress.
Samuel George, states on oath, that he is a resident and registered voter in the First Precinct, parish of East Baton Rouge; that
on November 3, 1868, he was present at the poll at the court house
in Baton Rouge for the purpose of voting for President and Vice
President and member of Congress; when he reached the door,
(the poll being a few steps inside1, he saw a number of policemen
collected around the colored voters, and heard said policemen ask
them to show their tickets, and upon their showing them, these
policemen would change them for Democratic tickets.  If they refised to show them, the policemen would take them away by force,
and either compel them to vote ttbp Democratic ticket or would
not permit them to vote at all.  Finding that many Republicans
would not be sufficiently intimidated to vote the Democratic ticket,
the Democrats became greatly exasperated, and one WVm. Garig, a
commission merchant, placed himself on the north steps of the
court house, and with revolver drawn, ordered the Democrats to fall
in line, saying, "fall in, fall in men;" at the same time waving his
pistol; the Democrats at once formed a line, facing the court house;
all in said line then drew their revolvers, and drove the colored men
from the polls; this was about 4 or 5 o'clock P. M.; there were between one and two hundred.colored Republicans who would have
voted for Grant and Colfax for President and Vice President, and
for C. B. Darrall for member of Congress, who were thus driven
away without being permitted to vote.
John Shields states, on oath, that he is a registered voter of the
parish of East Baton Rouge; that on November 3, 1868, he went to
the polls to vote for Grant and Colfax, for President and Vice-President, and for C. B. Darrall, for member of Congress, for the third
district; when he arrived near the poll, assistant City Marshal Weiss
said he must show his ticket.  Weiss being an officer he showed him
4' 
25
his ticket; Weiss then took his ticket from him, tore it up and thre$ it
on the floor; a policeman, who stood by, handed him a Democratic
ticket, and told him to vote it, but he refused; he tried again to vote,
when one of the policeman offered him fifty cents not to do so,
and when he insisted on voting, his ticket was taken away and torn
as before; he then procured two  Republican tickets, and advanced
again; while waiting his turn to vote a large man (whose name he
does not know) came out upon the steps, with a pistol in his hand,
and called out, "fall in, fall in here, men, fall in line;" a Sne of white
men was at once formed in front of and facing the door, with revolvers drawn; deponent believes that more than fifty men were im
said line, these men then drove the colored voters from the polls, in
confusion, almost creating a panic; witness saw no arms in possession
of the colored men, nor any indication of disturbance on their part;,
most of the Republican voters then retired from the polls, not again
attempting to vote; deponent is satisfied that his life was in dangei
if he persisted in voting the Republican ticket, and he did not therefore again attempt to vote.
The followiug appeared in the New Orleans Bee, of December
12, 1868:
WARNING TO CARPET BAGGERS.
The Mayor of Baton Routge publishes the following notice to the
Supervisors of Registration for that parish, which they would do
well to heed It applies to some others as well:
MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE, 1
December 7, 1868. 
WHEREAS, In the report of William Baker, Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors to Gov. Warmoth, on the late election, as published
in the New Orleans Republican of the let inst., there is a statement
touching the conduct of the officials and citizens of Baton Rouge,
utterly false and malicious and mischievous in its design. And
whereas the author of this statement claims to derive his information
or opinion from a subjoined and piinted communication from the
Supervisors of this parish, I hereby make known to as many of those
Supervisors as have signed said document or-lent themselves to the
work of maligning this community, and also to their aiders and
abetors, who have furnished the data upon which this falsehood is
based, that they owe their prC~belst immunity here in some measure
A 
26
at least, to the efforts which the officials of this place have made id
the interests of peace, and to such protection to their persons as we
have from time to time afforded them.
As the protection of the law and the forbearance of the community are appreciated in no other way by these persons than as a
license for the perfidy and misrepresentation, I am compelled to say
that while my oath of office, and I believe an ever present sense of
duty, induces me to extend to all inhabitants and sojourners in the
city the protection of the law. I shall for the future regard these
miscreants as dangerous to the public peace and unworthy of public
confidence.
That while we are bound and willing to throw around them the
regis of the law, their oft repeated and gross insults upon the citizens of Baton Rouge, render more  and more difficult the duty of
saving them from the just'indignation of the subjects of their vituperation and abuse. They, as well as Mr. Baker and the Governor,
know that in this instance we have been misrepresented.
Given under my hand and seal of office, the date above written.
(Signed).  J. E. ELAM, Mayor.
BATON ROUGE-SUMMARY.
Number men maltreated......................................4
Number illegally deprived of their rights to vote, Nov. 3, 1868... 277
Number prevented from registering, although entitled'to do so... 445 
PARISH OF ST. LANDRY.
H. N. Frisbie, under oath, states as follows:
"In the spring of 1868, I was speaking in' the parishes of St. Mary,
St. Landry and Lafayette, in behalf, of the ticket headed by Judge
Taliaferro and Dumas, but for the Constitution also.  In my inter
course with the citizens of these parishes, I was informed by parties
of their plans and purposes, in the conduct of this and future elections.  Among other things, I was told of their contemplated frauds
upon the ballot box in the then coming election, and the particular
manner in which said frauds were to be perpetrated, but what surprised ime most was the general intention, as openly expressed to me
by various parties in all of those parishes, to secure poitical control
and predominancy by any means and at any cost, even fo the sacrificing of all the leaders of the Republican party in those parishes;
the only reason for not- doing it thea was the effect it might have
upon the public mind of the North, endangering the success they so
ardently desired in the coming Presidential election, but after that
they would have control of the negroes at any cost, placing Neat
emphasis upon these words, and looking very wise and knowing
while speaking." Some two months since or more, witness had occasion
to prosecute a colored man for the crime of perjury, who committed the
crime, as witness believes, incited thereto by persons professing to be
Democrats, and known to be malicious towards Northern men when not
known to be Democrats. The case was made so clear after investigation and arguments by able lawyers that a Democratic judge was
obliged to send him down for trial. A very few days afterwards
Judge Abell and C. H. Luzenburg, (Democratic Judge and District
Attorney,) caused a nolle prosequi to be entered and the man discharged, and this too without submitting the case to the grand jury,
or calling for the testimony of the witnesses who were responsible
parties and easily found.  Nor could it be ascertained after careful
inquiry, and from both of the parties above named, that any investi
gation was had, farther than to ascertain the politics of the parties.
10....  
This colored man, on the street and at colored Democratic clubs,
boasted, or declared he was discharged because he was a Democrat,
and witness was a Republican, and that no Radical could do anything
to him, no matter what he might do, nor to any other colored man if
they would be good Democrats.'He knew it, for they told him so;'
meaning thereby the Democrats.,' Iness charged and expects to
to prove the Legislature, as soon as this election is passed, that the
above named individuals, for partizan and political ends, did commit
malfeasance in office by unlawfully discharging a person accused of
crime.
Samuel C. Johnson, states on oath, that ho resides in Washington,
parish of St. Landry; that on the 28th of September, 1868, at about
10 o'clock A. M., he was startled by seeing quite an excitement in
one of  the white  schools, the children evidently  very much
frightened, were running home; he also saw at this time armed
white men riding through the town; he then left the town for his
home about one mile from said town; he had been there but a short
time when he learned that they were arresting all the colored men in
Washington; he then went back to the town, as he heard that the
white men had promised to protect the colored men in case of a riot;
they did protect the colored people until the riot was over. Col.
Thompson sent word to Washington, from Opelousas, to release all
theC0olored men that were under guard, and allow them to go home.
Witness shortly after left Washington to go to his home; on his way
he saw the body of a colored man lying in the road; he was shot in
the head and neck with buckshot; witness was informed by Joseph
Gradney that more than thirty colored men were taken from under
guard, in the town of Opelousas, and killed; Gradney also stated
that he was compelled to join the Democratic party to save his life,
and he was then on a Democratic horse, and had a red ribbon tied
around his left arm; he was formerly a color-bearer in the Republican party; he also told him that the white people of Opelousas had
killed W. Williams and James Pickett, both colored men, simply because they refused to join the Democratic party; parties continued
visiting witness' house inquiring for him, and he heard of colored
people being called out of their houses at night and shot; also shot
down as they were passing quietly along the road; he concluded it
besl to leave, and on the 4th of October started for New Orleans;
18
I 
he was iformed that a man  named Duprd killed two colored men on
his plantation, because -they had induced the other laborers to go to
a barbecue on the-26th of September.
Heniry  ardner states, on oath, that he resides in Washimgton,
parish of St. Landry, Louisiana; that he was in said town on the
28th day of September, 1868. At the time the report of a riot in
Opelousas was received, all the white residents commenced leavinLg
town on horseback and armed with shot guns for Opelousas; about
one hundred of them left Washington; he heard nothing further
until these men returned the same evening; theyreported the riot over
in Opelousas, and proceeded to arrest all the colored men in Washington; hearing of this witness left his house and went to a neighbor's house to secrete himself; about a half hour after, ten or fifteen
men came to this house, all armed with double barreled shot guns;
he hid himself under the house; they seemed to know where he was.
Mr. Hawkins (the sheriff) and Mr. Aaron Prescott, found him and
ordered him to come out; they started with him to the prison, where
they had the other colored men under guard; they had gone about
two blocks, when Mr. Hawkins ordered the company to disperse and
assemble again at Moundville, about two miles and a half from
Washington.  A young man in the company named Mr. Wm. Offut,
saidthat he "would not go away, and leave a man there to be"shot
down like a dog.". Mr. Stagg, one of the company remarked that Mr.
Hawkins had charge of the prisoner. Mr. Offut replied that he did
not hinder him from taking charge of witness, but he was not going
to leave hi& to be shot down like a dog; they then took witness on
to where the other prisoners were and kept him there until the next
morning. Mr. Aaron Prescott came the next morning and ordered
all said prisoners to come out on the banquette; he formed them in
line, and told them that Colonel Thomas had sent him word, from
Opelousas, that everything was quiet, and that he would let them
go, but if ever anything of the kind occurred again, they could consider themselves dead men. Deponent not putting much confidence
in this, did not sleep at home that night; at about 12 o'clock the
same night, a party came to his house, looking for him; they inquired of his wife for him, and not finding him, went away; witness
went down town again the next morning, and was informed that
to 
Mr. Hawkins, (the sheriff), had said that he had intended to
kill him the night that he arrested him; witness then went to
see Mr. Hawkins,  and asked him about the matter; Mr. Haw
kins told him, "Yes, it was my full intention to kill you before
I took you down there; I never intended to take you there,
a live man," and added, that aUll the company agreed to it but
one; witness did not sleep at home for several nights; these white
men came to his house three successsive nights, looking for him;
the third night they entered his house, and not finding him, went
into the next house, where deponent's sister lived, and afterward
went to her brother-in-law's house, whom they called out, and shot
about a block from his house, the first shot only wounding him, they
fired five or six shots into his body, finally killing him; witness then
left town, and remained hidden in a cane field for twelve days, waiting for an opportunity to escape; he finally procured a "dug-out"
and succeeded in getting to New Orleans.
Napoleon Lastraps states on oath, that he is a resident of Opelousas, parish of St. Landry; that on Monday, September 28, 1868,
between six and seven, P. M., while on his way to the office of the
"St. Landry Progress" newspaper, he was stopped by fifteen or
twenty men, one of whom, Mr. Solomon Davie, insulted him and
said, "See what you have done. I have always told you all that it
would bring something of that kind," and then asked "where are
the rest of the Republican leaders?" Witness answered that he
did not know. Davie told him that he believed he was lying, as
many had done already.. Witness said that he did not want to have
any trouble with him whatever, and turned to walk away.  After he
had proceeded about fifteen or twenty yards he was halted by one
of the party above menti(ed, who asked him if he had any arms.
He answered that he had a pistol.  The man told him to give it up,
that he would be responsible for it. A  lady was standing in the
door of her house near by, and witness asked her if she would allow
him to remain there during the night, as he feared to proceed farther.
He remained, aRd at about 11 o'clock a party of thirty or forty
armed white men came to the house, and knocked at the back door
very loudly and rapidly. Witness told them to wait a moment and
he would open the door. After he had opened it, one of the party
so 
walked through the hall and opened the front door, and admitted the
President of the "Seymour Knights," Solomon Loeb by name, who
asked witness if there was any ammunition or arms in the house.
He answered that he knew nothing about it, being a stranger, and
only stopping there for the night. The party then commenced to
search the house, two or three of them trying to raise a fuss with
witness all the time. In going to search the back yard and store
room one of them said "make the son of a b-h (meaning witness)
go into the rooms first with the light, and if any one is there concealed, they will fire on him first."
After completing the search there the party went over to the
Progress" office, compelling witness to accompany them.  VWhen
they arrived in front of said office they askedl witness where the key
was.  He answered that he did not know where it was.  The President of the club, Solomon Loeb, heretofore mentioned, then said
"We are authorized to go into this house." While they were standing waiting to get in, said President told witness that if he wanted
to live in that parish he must join the Democrats, adding, if he did
not he must leavethe parish, or if he remained he would be killed,
and further advised him, if he wanted to live, to join that party,
because in this parish "we have a white man's government, and it
has got to be a white man's government." The party then entered
said office compelling witness to go into each room first with the
light.  Said Loeb was the first man who destroyed any property in
the office.  Loeb then asked witness where Emerson Benily was.
He answered that he did not know.  Loeb said "we are the men
that not only talk, but when it comes to taking the gun we are
ready to take them." He continued talking insultingly.  Soon afterwards witness was allowed to go, but was advised to keep himself
very close, as this party would do him harm; he followed this advice,
and the following week went to the parish of St. Martin.  While
there Charles Be1!-, the Secretary of his club, was killed between
Breaux Bridge and St. Martin, while trying to make his escape, by a
party of white men who were stationed there as "pickets," watching
for the leading Republicans who were endeavoring to escape from
Opelousas. After killing Bell they said "we will now go for the
other one" (meaning witness), who being advised by his friends of
his danger immediately returned to Opelousas. In the parish of St.
Martin the colored people were compelled to take an oath to have
i 
nothing to do with the Republican party in order to save their lives.
About the 28th day of October witness left Opelous!,s and came
to New Orleans.
Beverly Wilson states, on oath, that he lives at Opelousas,
parish of St. Landry, Louisiana. On the 26th of September, 1868,
the Republican party held a public meeting at Opelousas. That on
the 28th day of September (3) three white men, armed, named Jim
Dickson, John Williams, and one Mayo, brother of the druggist,
went to the Methodist Church, where Mr. Bentley, the editor of the
St. Landry Progress, was teaching school.  One of the three guarded
the doors and the others went inside, and, approaching Mr. Bentley,
told him to sign a paper, which he held in -his hand, the substance
of which was a perfect denial of some remarks that Mr. Bentley had
made in his paper a few weeks before.  Mr. Bentley then asked
him if all the fuss would be done away with, if he would sign the
paper.  The answer was, "We will tell you about that after you
have signed it." Mr. Bentley then signed the paper. The three men
then fell upon him, beating him in a terrible manner with sticks and
Many thing they could lay hands on.  One of the party made the re
mark, "Let's put our mark on his face;" but they did not do it.
The children  then rushed  out from  the building, terrified, tell
ing every one they met that Mr. Bentley was being killed. Many
of the children living on the edge of town, the news soon spread to
the adjoining plantations; the colored people hearing  the news
armed themselves with what they could lay their hands on, and
proceeded to Opelousas to protect Mr. Bentley, as he was looked
upon as the leader of the Radical Republican party; but when they
had reached the edge of town they were met by John Simms and
Charles Thompson, who told them to go back, as the fuss was all
over.  They went back.  Another crowd of colored men from other
parts of the parish were met by a band of white Democrats. The
bandc asked the colored men where they were going.  They said,
they wanted to go into town to protect Mr. Bentley.  The white men
told them to lay down their arms; when one of the colored men said,
"I am the chief of this band; boys, fire!" which they did, killing
three horses, but hurt no person.  The white men returned the fire,
killing one colored man dead and wounding two or three others; the
rest of them were taken prisoners and lodge,! in the Opelousas jail.
They were -afterwards brought before Dr. Thompson, who ordered
n 
them to be shot.  Sheriff Hiays being present prevailed upon Dr.
Thompson to rescind his order for the time being. The following
night ten of these colored men were taken out of jail and shot dead,
and left upon the ground for some two or three days before they
were buried.  They were finally buried in the following manner:
a hole was dug about a foot deep, laying the bodies therein and
covering them over with earth so as to leave some portions of their
body out of the ground: some had their feet, some their arms, uncovered, upon which the buzzards were feeding.  On the 29th of September, 1868, a band of armed white men broke into the office of the
St. Landry Progress, and took the type and threw it into the middle
of the streets; they then broke up the press and all the furniture
that they could lay their hands on in the office. There they found!
the roll book containing all the names of members of the Republican
clubs in the parish.  They took the names of all the prominent Re
publicans and went about hunting them up.  Those that they could
finDd they killed on the spot; others who hid themselves in the swamp
and bush saw armed white men approaching, burning up their
houses and furniture. As for the number of colored men that were
killed, deponent cannot exactly say; but he has been told by respectable white men in the parish, that the number cannot be less
than (200) two hundred, and all those that wanted to have any pro,
tection for their lives, were told that they mnust join the Democratic
paty.  During the late registration, every colored man belonging to
the Democratic party was obliged to take his certificate of registratration to Mfr. Mayo, the druggist, and leave it with him, which they
all did, to the best of witness' knowledge and belief.  Deponent
does not know a colored man that did not do it, as they thought that
if they did not they would be looked upon with suspicion, that is, as
Radicals, which is equivalent to being an escaped murderer in this
parish.   All the so-called colored Demoerats were furnished with
protection papers by the Central Hancock Club, and were told that
no white man would hurt them when they showed this paper.
This paper was given to almost all the colored tnen, and witnes8'
reads as follows
5
n
4 
OPELOUSAS, October 5, i868.
t his is to certify that Beverly Wilson is a member of the First
Colored Hancock Democratic Club of the First Ward, and is entitled
to the friendship, confidence and protection of all good Democrats.
:   "(Signed)                   LEON MAISO, President.
"Approved, T. L, MACON,
"President Democratic Central Committee.
" Approved by Central Hancock Club,
"(Signed)                    WM. H. ELLIS, Secretary.
"' Approved, J. H. OVERTON,
"President Central Democratic Committee,
"Parish St. Landry.
"Approved, J. H. HIALSEY Chairman."
It is a perfect reign of terror in St. Landry for colored men;
they are now taunted every day, with the expression, "Now, where
is your protection-the Yankees do not care anything about you."
Deponent is now living in the city of New Orleans,.and is trying his
best to get something to do, as he is afraid to go back, and wishes
to make enough money to send for his family; he does not know
what will become of the colored people in that parish if something
is not done very soon for their protection. The white men disarmed
all the colored men in the parish be.ore they commenced firing on
them.
Emerson Bently states, on oath, that he is a native of the st,te of
Ohio; to<t ho* il his nineteenth year; that he has resided in Opelousas, St. Landry parish, La., for the past ten months; that for seven
months he was engaged as English editor of the "St. Landry Progress."
That on Monday morning, Sept. 28th, 1868, three white men, armed
with pistols, appeared at the back door of the Methodist Episcopal
church, used by witness as a school house. At least two of them
were members of the Seymour Knights.
One of thenm named J. K. Dickson asked witness to step to the
door, which he declined to do. Dickson said "just as you please,
sir," and stepping up into the doorway took from his pocket a copy
of the "St. Landry Progress" of the 20th Sept., 1868, containing an
account of a Republican meeting held at Washington, parish of St.
0'4
t PlROTOTION." 
Landry, on Sept. 13, 1868, and asked him if he was,aware that.- a
party of gentlemen on Sunday last, Sept. 13, went to Washington
armed for self protection, in consequence of speeches that had been
made in Opelousas Radical Republican clubs, and reports that had
been circulated throughout the community that the Radicals intended
to burn the town of Washington.  "We warned you," said he "that
in case you lied about that affair, you could not escape ourrevenge.
Notwithstanding our warnings you have published statements that
are both malicious and false."
Witness said, "do you mean to say that I lied in that report?"
"Yes sir I" said he, "g-d d-n you, I do," and struck witness several
blows with a heavy cane on his shoulders and back.  One S. Mayo,
lately constable of Opelousas, had at this time gone to the front door.
When Dickson conmmenced striking witness, the pupils commenced
jumpilng our- of the windows, some of them passed through the
door where Miayo stood, who pointed his pistol at ti'cm; wit.',~s; was
soon e  reely alone with these three men. Dickson struck him about
fifteen times with his cane, cursing i:;l meanwhile in an ouitageoms
manne,  cailing him  a "d —d Radical dog;"  Mfayo  and  John
Williamrs encouraged him, saying, "Give it to him, Dickson; g-d
dod him  use him un; there are three of us." Dickson then drew
from his pocket a document which he read to witness; in effect it
was an acknowledgment that deponent's editorial report of  the
Washington meeting was false and malicious, to be signed by him
as editor of the Progress; Williams placed a chair at the table and
said: "Now, g-d d -d  you, sit down and sign, or we will have satisfaction;" witness hesitated to do so, when Williams said: "Let's do
it right; let's do it thoc —oughly," and taking the cane from Dickson,
struck him a number of blows; witness asked them what part of
that editorial report theiy considered false; Dickson replied, "we
do not want to talk with you; sign that, or we will use you up;'
being at their mercy, and feeling that they were about to resort to
extreme measures, he asked Dickson if they would go away and let
him alone if he would sign the document; he replied, "yes; until
you lie again;" witness then signed the paper and they left.  As
witness passed out he met a, large crowd of men, principally friends,
who had come to see about the disturbance; he did not observe th!at
any of them were armed;  the children had spread the report
through the town that "they are killing Bentley;" one of the
.first. mAn he met was the Deputy Shrigff, who'Goqod what had
35 
happened; he told witness that he could do nothing until he went
before a Justice of the Peace, and procured a warrant for the arrest
of the parties. B. R. Gantt, a member of the Democratic Executive
Committee of the parish, advised him to go immediately before a
Justice of the Peace and make affidavit.  As the streets were
thronged with citizens, witness a,dvisc-;( his friends to return to their
homes; he afterward met Judge George R. King and Dr. James
Ray, both prominent Democrats-Dr. p!ay being a member of the
Democratic Committee; both expressed the desire that this should
be considered merely a " personal affair," and that he should allow
the law to take its course; that there was no necessity of its being
the cause of a public disturbance; witness told them he should Jo
so; and went immediately to the office of Justice D. P. Hill and made
affidavit against the three parties that had assaulted him, and then
went to the Progress office; on the way he saw numbers of his
friends collected in groups; he advised them to go immediately to
their homes, which they did; he saw also armed white men moving
about town; he then went up stairs in the Progress office and lay
down, feeling at the time quite ill; some of his friends advised witness to order the clubs to come immediately to Opelousas and revenge
the outrage; he told them no, that he had received assurances from
members of the Democratic Committee that they wished the law to
be enforced, and that Dr. George Hill had met him acd told him to
go home, that a lawyer would be procured and that he need not
trouble himself any further; Dr. Hill is a Democrat. Deponent
does not know that any word was sent to any Republican clubs,
ordering them to come to Opelousas. About 1 o'clock he heard very
exciting talk down stairs, and recognized the voice of Dr. Little; h3
said, in effect," Mr. Donato, you have sent for the clubs to come to
Opelousas to revenge the whipping of that scoundrel Bentley; a
party of gentlemen caned him for half an hour and did not give him
half enough, and now you wish to bring men to murder our wives
and children; we own this town; this has been going on long enough;
now see if you can take it." At this time some one entered the
office, and stated that they were fighting down town. A friend came
to witness and told him that he must conceal himself; that Dr
tittle and about twenty armed men were below; they concealed him
in the loft of a barn in the yard of the Progress office, where he slept
until about half-past 8 P. M., when he was aroused by voices and
peopl wA pi in thQ {ard; he recognized te voi-es of members of
I
'16 
the "Seymour Knights,"' and heard Solomon Loeb (the President of
the club,) say: "We are going to kill every man who has been engaged in deceiving the freedmen and trying to create enmity between
the races."  Men with lights were searching the barn, mentioning
deponent's name frequently with curses;  they came to the door
leading to the loft where witness was secreted; it was locked, and
not finding the key they proposed to break down the door with an
axe, when one of them remarked: "He is not there-there is no loft
to the barn;" another then said,  "Come on boys; let's go and get
Frangois D'Avy;" they then left after posting sentinels around the
office and yard of the Progress; he heard numerous parties pass and
repass, halted by the sentinels; he also heard shots fired. At 7 o'clock
the next morning a friend came and told him that he must leave tbat
place, that they were returning to search for him; that they would
kill him; that Mr. Durant, the French editor of the Progress, had
been killed, and Frangois D'Avy had been shot during the night;
witness had just left the barn and concealed himself in the weeds
of a garden in the rear when a large body of armed men came and
searched the loft thoroughly; during the day he saw bodies of armed
white men riding through the town and heard several shots in
different parts of the town. Tuesday night, September 29, 1868,
about 10 o'clock, witness heard parties of men passing to and from
the Progress office, loading a wagon two or three times with material,
and dumping it into the street and elsewhere; he could not dclistinguish any of the parties as they proceeded in silence not calling each
other by name.  On Wednesday they visited the office several times;
about evening a large numiber of them came; they appeared to be
fixing a seat on a wagon; he heard parties say they were going to
burn old Bentley; a coloredl child said "please don't kill him, he is
my teacher."  For thirty-three hours deponent had nothing to eat or
drink; at night he ran across the prairie to a field, when he was pursued by an armed body of white men.  On Thursday night, assisted
by friends, he escaped to the country; on Saturday night following,
he was surrounded in a gully, but escaped; on Sunday night he remained on a plantation about five miles from Opelousas; he sent
men each day to Opelousas to ascertain the particulars of the disturbance; he heard that prisoners were placed in the jail luring the
day and at night they were taken out and shot; armed men went
tom house to house sp eg,';A the possession of colored
37 
people, and that every prominent Republican had been killed or
forced to leave. Colored men had to pledge themselves to vote the
Democratic ticket or abstain from politics. Drs. Thompson, Little
and Estarge were the leaders of the white men, and ordered prominent Republicans to be killed. Colored men were obliged to wear a
red ribbon for protection. The number estimated as having been
killed ranged from fifty to a hundred, and some were quite positive
that no less than two hundred were killed and wounded. F.
Perrodin, a Deputy Sheriff, was a leader among the rioters, and
gave protection papers to colored men on condition that they would
discountenance the Republicans and abstain from politics. For
weeks it was common talk that if they could kill off the leaders of
the Republican party they could control the colored vote.
Linden E. Bentley states, on oathi, tha  he,lie has been engaged as
foreman of the St. Landry progress.  On Monday morning, September 28, 1868, a colored boy came to the o-i, (ncld told him that armed
men were at the school house of his brother, (Enmerson Bently, editor
of the Progress) trying to kill him.  lHe started iimmediately and
met his brother coming toward the court house with a crowd of colored persons. He told witness that three men came to the school
house and said to him that he had been publishing a lying account
of a meeting held by the Republicans, at Washington, La., in which
some remarks vwere made of "rebel spirit exl)ibited."  These  thiree
men then commenced beating him with a cane.
Witness states that his brother then went tc -'e office of Dr. If il,
Justice of the Peace, to make affidavits against saidc three men, whose
names are Mayo, Dickson, and Williams; witness then returned to
the Progress office, and was soon followed by his brother; sho-tly
afterward white men, mounted and armed, came into town from every
direction, arnd congl:a>lcd near the court house.  Armed;...l.
were sent around town to disarm the negroes.  The freedmen were
also coming into town armed, but witness' brother, and others, advised them to return to their homes and keep quiet, which most of
them did.  At about 2IS o'clock an armed and mounted crowd of
white men, 30 or 40 in number, accompanied by Mr. 0. H. Violett,
former agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, came to the Progress office
and demanded to see Messrs. Gustave and Cornelius Donato, (pro
38 
prl'etors of said paper) who came in, and Dr. Little, acting as spokes man for the crowd, told them that they, (the Messrs. Donato) had
called in the freedmen, armed for the purpose of massacreing the
women and children of the white people, because Bently had had a
caning which he deserved, and that they had sent out couriers to tell
the freedmen to arm and come to town; that a courier had been cap tuLred who was on his way to Washington to bring the Republican
club at that place, to Opelousas, armed.  The Messrs. Donato denied
that they had in any manner tried to excite a riot, or had sent a
courier to Washington.  At this juncture a -white man came in and
said.'at]e  are ~ar ti   at Hlilaire Paillt's" a  Dlantation a short
dist':iace out of town, whereupon the crowd mounted and left.  Deponent's brother concealed himself and deponent closed up the office
and went to John Biowni's house where he was boarding.  He knew
noti,.:ng, of the fi n't e- oept fromt report.  He heard that one white
,man and two or three colored men were killed, and several wounded
cti e ch side.  Armed pickets were placed over the town, and perEc A entering orG leavin  the town were challenged.  Monday night,
at about 11 o'clock, a band of fifteea or twenty armed men came to
the house wvhere witness was staying, and demanded the key of the
Progress office.  Their leader, Pat. Ward, had a revolver, cocked, in
his hand; he approached the table where deponent was sitting, and
asned, "are ytol Bently's brother?" He answered that he was.  Ward
then sai&d'  "you are a pretty radical son of a b-h, ain't you?"  Deponent does not doubt but that he intended to shoot him but for a
young lady, who placed herself between them, and held his arm.
Said V,ard was drunk at the time.  Witness informed this gang that
he had left the back door of the office open, and that a man named
Jesse Hutchins was working in the office.  After a while the crowd
left and he saw no more of them; soon after, at about twelve o'clock,
he heard two shots fired in quick succession, in the direction of the
residence of MIr. F. J. D'Avy) a leading Republican of the parish;
about fifteen minutes after this Mr. D'Avy came running into the
house, in bare feet and shirt sleeves, with his hand onthe side of his
head: a ball had grazed his head. near the ears Witness saw Mr.
D'Avy pass the house on his way home, the next morning; he had
not been further molested.
On the same night above mentioned Mr, iD)arant, French editor of
89.. 
the Progress, disappeared, and was not seen nor heara fron  unti1
Wednesday, when it was reported that a crowd of w~i!: men took
him from his house into the woods, and it is m:?osed murdered him.
He was a citizen of France.
Witness remained at home  until Wednesday morning; he then
went down to the court house, with Clement Camp, a fellow workman,
and obtained permission from an old gentleman, who seemed  to be
acting as provost marshal, to go to the Progress office to get some
clothing; he found the material destroyed, the press broken, and the
type strewed about the floor and in the streets. Having been advised to leave deponent started at ten o'clock that morning on the
steamer J. S. Blackford.  On the way down Bayou Courtaubleau he
saw white men riding about armed with shot guns, revolvers, etc.
Pierre Young, thirty-seven years of age, a registered voter of the
parish of St. Landry, Louisiana, states, on oath, that he was born
in Opelousas, Lonisiana, and was the slave of one Dr. Thompson's
wife's father, (Caddie Dupr6).  He has been working a crop of cotton
on government land, near Washington, in said parish.  On the 29th
day of September, 1868, a large force of white men, about two or three
hundred in number, armed with pistols, guns and swords, came to
his place, headed by one Camillie Petrie (sheriff of Washington),
Dr.  IcMillan, Capt. Prescott and Yorick Vallard; Camillie Petrie
asked witness where his fire-arms were; witness replied that he did
not have any; when Petrie said, ",You — n son of a b-h, you lie, you
have got some;" witness still persisted that he had none, when he
again said, "You d-d son of a b-h, if you don't go and get them for
me I will cut your head off," he had a sword in his hand at the time.
Said Petrie then went away and returned in a few moments with
three colored men, one of whom was Henry Clay, president of a
coleo::e Democratic club, the other men's names were Natchey and
King; Henry Clay asked witness for his arms, witness replied that
he had none. Clay then said that it was a d-n lie, that he did have
arms. - atchey then said to witness, "Who gave you the right to
come on government land."  Dr. McMillan then spoke, and said,
"You black son of a b-h, you have no right to be working on government land, go work for your master; if you don't do it, in a few
days we will kill you." Witness made no reply and walked away from
40 
4i
41i
-.im.  The next night,,t 8t o'clock,A sheriff Petrie came to witnessi
house with ten white peon ar m.eca, ud asked witness' wife where he
was.  She replied tha hie had gone to the country). Petrie then called
her a " black, lyih-ng' bb,".,tnd saicl he would puft her in jail, and that
he would kill witness. They then viwet away. During this time witness
was hiding in the bushes, inot ten -L ees from his house.  Witness
also states, thl,at on the 29th day of September, 1888 Paul Lambert and
a son of Mr. Ach.ilie Dupre, and Pierre Gradny, and Sustan Lambert,
went to Achille Dupre's plantatio.n and tock Francois; a colored man,
from the f&d, and asked hlim fotr his we,poes; he replied that he did
not have any.  Paul Lammbert then stepped uIp a-tnd calling him a lying
son of a b —h, sho  hita n dead.  They thlen went to the house of
another colored man on th sa. i( p!anitt, oia named Willis Johnson,
when Paul Lamnib)ert as'e    i  if he wou4 id (vote the Democratic ticket:
he replied that he below-cd to the Republican party.  A  son of
Achille Dup,-, (a boy of fiften), tln drew a pistol and shot him
(W. Johnson),  dead,  it- bel entering  just over the right ear.  They
then left and went  to Paul Laiiberit's plantation and took a colored
man named Wilson Deacon and his son, a short distance from their
house and shot tilicem dead  T1ie sai.' W7ilson Deacon had voted the
Democratic ticket, and w-itnC  )ess "-II     that he was killed so that
these white men could get t,i rop of cot-ton, which w:as a fine crop.
When MArs. Wilson D)eaco". askc: tltes'yaen why they had killed her
husband, thley replied, "by order of Dr. Thlornpson."  She then asked
them how she was going to rake a living, since- they had killed her
husband, and they repli(ed, "tL-he best way you can,.bult you can't
take your crop off my land."  Yorick Valiard told witness that if the
colored rmen did ne:)t tvot  th,: Dtcratie ticket, the -white peopl::
would kill them off.  The colored men were obliged to vote the Democratic ticket or run tme risk of lc,sing their lives.  Witness states
that there were about tPc t i.,h tl -ei.. Rep'ublicans in St.
Landry parish, but that lhe does neCt kno)w of one who voted the Rpublican ticket.  Witniess states that he has knowledge of over one
hundred and,'f Ly (150) colored men who were miurdered during the re.
cent riot last September in this parish.  Witness further states that
he saw guards placed over the dead bodies so that they might
be made food for buzzards, they were left lying on the top of the.
ground, and in the ditches and swamps.   About 9 o'clock in the evening of the 29thl day of Se(ptember, witntess was sttanding about 0hoen
6 
htindrd and fifty feet from the Opelousag end of the Washington
long bridge, when he saw two or three hundred armed men coming
over the bridge with a colored man by the name of Victor Dufau as
their prisoner; when they came to about thirty feet of the bridge,
they halted and placed the said Victor Dufau against some brush by
the road.  A white man, one Capt. Prescott, of Washington, parish
of St. Landry, gave the order to a colored man Natchey, in their
party, to load, prime, aim, fire.  Said Natchey did fire, and killed the
said Victor Dufau.  A  few days after the riot witness was met by
Sheriff Petrie, who asked him to be a Democrat; witness told him that
he could not, as he belonged to the Radical party.  Said Petrie then
said that witness would be a dead nigger if he did not vote the
Democratic ticket. Witness was fearful that the threat would be
carried out, and took the first favorable opportunity to leave the
parish, taking to the woods during tho days.
S. A. Miller states, on oath, that since the let day of July, 1865,
he has been a resident of St. Landry parish, State of Louisiana, and
known as an ex-soldier of the federal army, and in politics a Republican. Deponent aided the loyal men of the parish to favor reconstruction of the State of Louisiana. according to the acts of Congress.
And on the 17th and 18th days of April, 1867, he lent an unflinching
aid to carry our constitution. Was at the polls on the 17th and 18th
days of April, 1868, and saw an outrageous attempt on the part of
the opposers of reconstruction to intimidate the colored men from
voting the Republican ticket.
Deponent came to New Orleans in the latter part of July, 1868,
and on the 29th day of October, 1868, was employed by Hon. C. B.
.Darratl, candidate for Congress, to take some tickets to the parish of
St. Landry for distribution, and work for the election of the Republican candidates.
He arrived in Opelousas about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Octo
ber 31, 1868. Mr. Malone, driver of the mail coach, told hitSi that
on arriving in town he had better go to Col. Thompson and get a
Democratic certificate of protection, or else his life would be in danger, as he(,was known to be- a Republican. Mr. Malone also advised
him to go to "Hayes' Hotel," and then he might not be molested
trig$ the night.  Deponent went to this hotel.  Mr. White, one of
i
$1 
the proprietors, gave him a rom. A few minutes afterwards Mr
James G. Hayes. the proprietor, came in and told him that his political career had been too obnoxiots to the people of the parish for him
to stop at his hotel, unless he could show a certificate of protection
fi'om the Democratic head quarters, or something to that effect, Deponent left the hotel, and went over to the office of the Freedmen'#
Bureau. While there Mr. Violett, ex-agent of the Freedmen's Bureau
for the parish of St. Landry, approached him and said: "god d-n
you Radical son of a b-h, you reported me and had me removed,
so that you might have that office for your radical purposes. About
that time deponent was handed a letter reading as follows: "Mr.
Miller: You must leave town immediately." Signed, "Young Democrats." Just then a great many people came over to said office, and
made all kinds of threats against him.  These men wanted to know
if he did not know better than to come there when the people were
so excited, and bring tickets for radical purposes. Many of these
men were armed with large revolvers.  Charles  Moss approached
deponent with revolver in hand, and told him that he could not see
thie "election through."  Deputy Sheriff Perodin, and a man that
clalmed to be one of the town council, came to deponent, the latter
saying: "Mr. Miller, you must get out of this corporation immedi
ately." Witness asked him to' let him wait until the next morning,
so that he could take a stage or boat.  No, says he, " you must go
now, as you have coime here as a Republican, we cannot keep the
people down unless you do."  Witness then appealed to them as a
citizen and resident of the parish, to have protection from the civil
authorities until he reached the limits of said parish; he replied "that
Deputy Sheriff Perrodin would see him safe as far as the corporation
limits." Witness then started to leave the parish with Capt. Dutton,
A. S. A. C., and the Deputy Sheriff as his guard. As they were on the
stage road going toward Grand Couteau, and near the town: line,
deponent saw a great many horsemen coming from town, whom he
recognized as residents of Opelousas; they all had large revolvers
hanging on them, and moved on both sides of deponent, forming a
complete circle around him. Deponent was now some little distance
from town, when Capt. Dutton and the Sheriff halted to return home;
he then bade them good bye, and asked them if they did not think
it was a hard looking chance for him to escape from a crowd of
horsemen like that?  The Deputy replied, "you should have known
better than to have come here, when people are so exciti"  A
43
4 
horseman then came up, and sIti, "I will take charge of this man
now."  Deponent asked himn if hle was an officer?  lte replied "yes."
Deponent then went with this mani. On his way three horsemen,
Charles Moss, Gill Cochran and G-, junior, kept close behind depo nent.  Witness called the Deputy Sheriff's attention to these men.
The Deputy admitted that Chlarles Moss had said to him a short time
before, that he would kill deponent, but said that the said Moss was
a low puppy.  The Deputy Sheriff halted these men and told them to
go back to Opelousas, that they were not following them for any
good.  Cochran replied that he was "going squirrel hunllting, and he
be d-d if he would go home.'" Just then some colored men were
passing on horseback.  W-itue-ss tried to hire a horse from them at
any price, but these men were afraid to recognize him, although he
knew them well, s hlie had to content himself on foot.  Witness was
now completely surroundedrl by horsemen. The Deputy Sheriff, Mr.
C. C. Dusion ordered them to lhalt, and conic to hita. After much
persuasion on the part of said Deputy, three of these vile wretches
came forward, and were ordered by the Deputy to go home. They re plied, in fact, swore, that thiey would not; that they had a right to
go squirrel hunting; and tid the Deputy that he had no business
out there.  Deponenit vwas continually passed and repassed by these
men; they would halt at times and' allow him to pass; then they
would pass him. Deponent while passing Charles Moss' pl'antation,
which is about three miles from town, was met by said Moss' brother.
The Deputy Sheriff represented this young man to be good and quiet,
and said that he would order him to take back those two men that
lived in town.  The Deputy gave said order, directing him to take
Cochran and Gaurrique jun'r to town.  Cochran drew his revolver
and said,  "he be d-d if he would be taken back."  The Sheriff
made him and G-, jun'r stop there and he went on.  After depo nent and the Deputy Sheriff had gone about a quarter of a mile
further. the Deputy tol(dl him that lie (tihe Deputy) must go back
home, (deponent was now about eight or ten miles distant from
Grand Couteau), and that he (deponent) must nIowgo into the woods
and make his escape the best way lie could.  The Deputy promised
deponent that he would watch on the road so as not to let Charles
Moss or any of tho,se town rats go after hirm, for Charles Moss had
said previous to deponent's leaving Capt. Dutton's company, that he
would "kill that Radical Ltiler that night."  Deponent asked the
Deputy if he would not accomi-pany himi as far as Grand Coutean.
The Deputy replied that he couild not.  Deponent then proceeded on 
45
his way alone, the Deputy returniin  to Opelousas.  Deponent had
gone about forty steps, when he saw Charles Moss coming towards
him on a grey horse, with his revolver pointed at him.  Said Moss
had just passed the Deputy Sheriff; and said Deputy called upon
Moss to halt; Moss not doing s, the Sheriff fired at him, and run
his horse full speed after him and shot again; the horse stumbled
down and threw the Deputy Sheriff into the mud and water. The
Deputy then called out to deponent telling him to get out of the way
the best he could, for if Moss come back on them he could give
himself nor deponent no protection.  Deponent then crept through the
fence to an adjoining pasture on his hands and knees until he reached
the middle of it; he then took the clothes out of his satchel and put
them inside the bosom of his shirt, and buttoned up his coat so as to
hide the white as much as possible.  Deponent heard men whistling
to each other in the woods, a-d saw Charles Moss running his horse
as fast as he could tow;ard Opelousas.  Deponent crawled from the
pasture into the woods, and had just got into some briars when he
heard the hoofs of a g'reat many horses on the other side of the
pasture, coming from the direction of Opelousas, the moon shining
brightly he saw at least forty horsemen together; they patrolled the
road; five of them on horseback passed within forty feet of the briar
bush where he was hiding; they went on the other side of the stream.
Deponent heard the hoofs of horses coming from Opelousas, and
hear dpne of the horsemen say, "here is where the d-d Radical went
through the pasture." At this time there was a continual arrival of
horsemen, sometimes two at a time. Deponent remained in the briar
bush about two hours, and made up his mind to move through the
picket line, and moving down toward a little opening, saw Charles
Moss sitting about forty yards ahead of him on his grey horse.
Deponent crawled away from him about three rods into the briars; he
then saw a white man with a black mask on his face, his hands were
white.  Deponent made a noise in the l)ush; the man in mask raised
his gun and took aim, but deponent laid perfectly quiet, hugging the
ground until the man in  iask took down him gun; hlie then gave a
low whistle, and deponent saw something moving around from one
side of the tree to the other about thirty paces from him; presently
this figure gave a low whistle, and about two minutes afterward
some one came to him dressed in a white gown, or something similar,
and threw something over a limb of the tree about four feet above
him; it was then about day lIght, and deponent started in a half run,
4 
seeing the person dressed up in the white robe climb up the rope
until he reached the limb of the tree which 1lie sat on. Deponent
stopped, hearing something rurnning down on his left in the brush;
he then started again, seeing that they were trying to flank him,
deponent, went to the same pasture, from which he had made his escape
first, and seeing some small houses in the distance, went toward
them; a colored man cried out, "who is there?" Deponent beckoned his hand at him to hush, and then turned back toward the fence,
and crawled along the ditch for a couple of hundred yards, and then
laid flat down on his back in said ditch, which was about one foot
deep; presently deponent heard a man say, "have youl seen that
man pass through there?"  Some one at the house replied, "no,
could you not shoot him?"'  The sun was shining on deponent, he
did not move an inch one way or the other, except when he could
hear them going through the grass and briars a short distance out
side of the fence.!e lay in the ditch most of the day; filially the
men rode off, followed by a pack of dogs, barking.  Deponelt could
hear the new volunteers ask the question, if they  "had  not killed
that d-d white Radical yet?" and say, "here is a fresh track;"
and then they would run and call their comrades, and dogs. Sunday night, as soon as deponent thought it was as dark as it would
get, he crawled to the road, crossed it, and entered the plain prairie;
he had proceeded about two hundred yards, when he heard a squad
of horsemen coming towards him; they passed on; deponent kept
back of all the fields until hlie got a little beyond Capt. Pratt's plantation, where the large prairie opens; after going some distance into
it, deponent looking back, saw eight or ten horsemen place themselves along where he had already passed; he moved on, almost out
of strength.  From Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, until Monday at
X o'clock, deponent only had a bowl of coffee. He is satisfied from
the determination of the people of St. Landry parish, that a Republican could not live there, and declare hi;.s political sentiments, for, if
he did his life would be in peril and his property stolen.  Deponent
also states, that he was informed by many, that colored men were
killed nightly   An&  in conclusion, states that terrorism  exists
throughout the parishes of St. Landry and Lafayette, Louisiana.
Charles E. Montamat states on oath, that he was appointed supervisor of registration on the 3d of October, 1868, for the parish of
St. Landry; that between the 12th and 20th of October some plan
46 
teS came with colored men to the office in numbers of iwenty and
twenty-five in clubs, to receive their certificates of registration, these
men worked for these planters, the colored people had badges of Seymour and Blair on their coats, also badges of red ribbon on their
coats.  They delivered their certificates of registration to them personally.  The planters who brought v these colored men for their certificates, demanded from them their certificates.  Through ftar they
were obliged to give them up.  On the day of election, November
3, 1868, the colored voters came to the polls to vote; their employers
came with them and gave them a democratic ticket and told them to
vote that ticket.  On the 1st day of November, 1868, one S. A. Miller, a PRepublican, came from New Orleans, for the purpose of distributing Republican tickets and votinpg, as he was a citizen of that
parish.  Mr. Mliler came to the house where deponent was boarding.
Deponent met him on the gallery and shook hands with him. Some
six men followed behind him.  Mr. Miller told deponenthe came
from the sheriffs house (Mr. Hiarris), where he had applied for board
and lodging (it being- a boarding house).  He was refused.  Mr.
Miller stated that he wanted'o see the Captain of the Freedmen's
Bureau.  While deponent was talking with Mr. Miller in the Captain's office a man named G. Violet called said Miller on the back
gallery, where somne very abusive language wasused to Mr. Miller
by the said G. Violet; this said G. Violet was discharged from the
position as agent of the Freedmen's BuLreau for interfering in politics.  A notice was given to Mr. Miller to leave the parish in ten
minutes, when he started to go away. Some thirty (30) men had
gathered together on the gallery.  Mr. Miller, seeing so many men
around him, asked the Captain to give him protection.  The Captain
replied he had no protection, but would accompany him (Mr. Miller)
two miles out of the town. The Captain with the deputy sheriff
proceeded with Mr. Miller two miles out of town where they left him.
The planters forced their laborers to vote the Democratic ticket
whether they were willing or not, by misrepresentation and intimidation. Deponent heard that the reason why the Democrats wished
Mr. Miller to leave the parish was that he was a leader of the Republican party.
John Baptiste Antoine (colored) states, on oath, that he is a resident of New Orleans, and a registered voter in said city; that on or
, i
v 
48'
aboiit the 27th day of October, 1868, he wehit to Opelousas on busi'
ness connected with the Republican party. Whlen he arrived at
Opelousas, a colored man named Charles Prescott advised him to
leave immediately; that he was in danger. A white man asked witness what he came there for. He answered that he had conme to see
his friends.  The white man then asked him if he was a Republican
or a Democrat.  He answered that he was a Democrat.  The white
man said that was right, adding that "every nigger that they found
to be a Radical they would kill; that they would not allow any Radicals about that place; every nigger that would join the Democratic
party to drive the carpet-baggers out of the place would be safe; but
if they joined with the  car      pet-baggers they would be killed."  Deponent saw a party of white men take a colored man named "Toney"
from his house, and after taking him a short distance, they shot him
in the head and body with buckshot, killing him in stantly-this occurred at about 11 o'clock, P. M., on October 28, 1868. The only
provocation was that he was a Republican, and had been heard to
cheer for Grant and Colfax. A day or two previous to the election
these same white men discovered that deponent was a Republican
and a discharged Federal soldier. He was informed by his colored
friends that they, said white men, were hunting for him, and they
would surely kill him, as they never spared a colored Republican who
came there from the city. Witness managed to escape by hiding
in the woods until dark, he then rode rap-(liy to Berwick Bay, and
arrived in New Orleans without further molestation.
On September 29, 1868, the office of the "St. Landry Progress," a
Republican newspaper, was destroyed by a c':,?v,d of armed men.
LANDRY SUMMARY.
Number killed, positively sworn to........................ 55
Estimated by different parties and the Democratic papers... 150 to 200
Number sihot, positively sworn to.......................... 4
Number otherwise maltreated, positively sworn t o........... 8
REMtIARkEs. -Under the state of lawlessness and intimidation existing
it has been impossible to procure full evidence from this parish. The
probabilities are that the larger estimates are nearest the truth.
..  
PARISH 0F ST. MARY.
Josiah Fisk states, on oath, that on the election of Col. Pope, as
sheriff of the parish of St. Mary, witness was requested by said
Pope to go to Franklin, in said parish, to act as his legal adviser.
Witness was at that time a resident of New Orleans, and practicing
law in said city.  When he arrived at Brashear City, he received a
message from Col. Pope, saying that the people had become hostile,
and had resolved that no Republican should hold office or have a
house in the parish; also advising witness not to bring his family,
but to go alone, and not let any  one know that he knew him, (Col.
Pope) or was seeking him until he (witness) had secured a house,
as he would not be able to get one if he did.  On witness' arrival at
Franklin he sent his son to the hotel to secure rooms; he was told
that they could be accommodated that night, and if suited, the landlady told him she would let them have any three rooms in the hotel
that he desired. Witness remained at the hotel that night (September 1, 1868), and -in the morning the landlady informed him that she
had received orders not to rent any rooms, unless she could rent half
the house, which would have been about twenty or thirty-rooms. After
a private interview with Col. Pope and Mr. Roberts (editor of the Attakapas Register, who had also been refused a house), witness went
to the landlady of said hotel, and told her that he would rent thehalf
or the whole of the house, if she would rent it.  She replied that she
had received instructions not to let him have any rooms in her house
at all. Witness having heard of a house to rent back of town, sent
his son to the agent (one Demortie) with money to pay the rent in
advance.  Said Demortie inquired who wanted the house, and was
informed that Mr. Fisk wanted it. He replied that he would not rent
the house without proper references. Witness then went personally
to Mr. Demortie, who told him that he wanted some one to vouch for
him. Witness replied that he knew of no one, but would pay the
rent in advance, to which Demortie replied, "I will tell you plainly,
I will not rent my house to any but a Democrat, and I ask you plainly
are you a Democrat or Repu,blican?" to which witness replied, "I am'
7
*t 
taking no active part in politics at present, but I am a Republican."
Mr. Demortie then told him he could not have the house at any price.
Witness, however, found a house occupied by a widow lady, and had
agreed upon the terms, and offered the money, when she told him
that she would like time to. consider and find out about him, for if he
was a Republican she would be afraid the Democrats would either
kill her or burn her house. So witness could not get this house, but
afterwards procured rooms at the house of Mr. Baldwin.
Witness was informed that the Democrats were pledged to kill or
drive away every Republican officer in the parish, and at the request
of Col. Pope he never appeared on the streets with him (Col. P.) except once, and then they were obliged to separate on account of the
crowd gathering, hooting, and yelling "here comes Pope, the carpetbagger, and his scallawag lawyer."  A few hours before the murder
of Col. Pope and Judge Chase they were both at the court house.
Witness met Judge Chase at the door and spoke to him about the
threats that had been made. Judge Chase told him that one of the
crowd had told him that they had concluded not to murder him
(Chase) as he had resided so long in the parish, and being a planter,
but that they would certainly kill Col. Pope and all the balance of
them.  While talking witness saw three or four men directly opposite
the court house talking in a violent manner and looking threateningly
at them. Witness called the judge's attention to these men, and
told him that they would kill him.  He replied, "Yes, I believe they
will kill nme."
Sometime afterward witness was in a room in town when he received notice from men belonging to the Seymour Knights that they
would kill him that evening (October 17, 1868). A man in the room
advised him to leave immediately, which he did as soon as he saw
which direction the "Knights" took, he taking the opposite direction, riding rapidly for home. Witness thinks he could identify
several of these men. There are two roads leading from Franklin
to Mr. BaldwiA's place, which form a junction before reaching the
house, and it was at this junction that they intended to kill witness,
but riding rapidly he had just passed this point when the club came
up; but finding they had missed him, they returned to Franklin, sep erating, and some going to the house of Col. Pope and some to the
house of Jack Moore, a col6red man and President of a Republican
club, whom they searched for, but he having gone to a place about
fifteen miles distant to spend the night, they did not find him.  All
66
v 
the leading colored men had to take to the swamps, not daring to
return home until they were assured of protection by the military.
Pickets were stationed on the road so that witness could not get to
Franklin from Mr. Baldwin's place. He, however, escaped by crossing the Teche and wading through the swamps to Grand Lake and
taking a skiff to Brashear. He stayed all night about three miles
from that place, and was here met by a man named Slack, who told
him that he could not get to Brashear, as the Democrats had pickets
out.  The military arrived at Brashear the next morning, and witness
then finding it safe proceeded. Witness knows nothing concerning
the murder of Col. Pope and Judge Chase except what he has learned
from his wife and others, and from such information, he states that
Col. Pope and Judge Chase were together on the gallery in front of
Pope's room which was in the rear of the hotel and on the second
floor. The murderers came along under the gallery softly until they
reached the stairs, up which they rushed and fired several balls into
Col. Pope before he had a chance to rise, when he jumped for his
room into which he fell dead.  Judge Chase struggled with them on
the gallery and stairs, they firing at and stabbing him during the
time. He fell on the bank of the bayou a few paces away. Previous to this one evening a man had been stationed at a bridge
(which witness passed on his way home) for the purpose of killing
witness, but being detained in Franklin later than usual that night,
tho man thought he had missed him and started for town, but as
witness was riding rapidly toward home he met the ma who said,
"You old scallawag, you are late to-night, but I will get you yet,"
and drawing his pistol exclaimed,  "I'll give you h-11 now," and
fired at witness, but missed him. He then yelled after him, that he
would "jayhawk him yet." There never had been a word between
this man and witness, and no violent language had been used to engender any ill feeling. He further states that on the 18th, the day
after the murder of Pope and Chase, he was informed of the names
of some of the murderers, and wrote out an affidavit and writ for
their arrest, but as the sheriff was dead, and he could have no communication with the coroner or any constable, he found that in
order to have the parties arrested it would be necessary to
deputise a colored man to execute the writ. He also had satisfactory
proof before him that the murderers, assisted by a large number of
their Democratic friends, were drawn up in line of battle, and that
they had all the streets leading into Franklin picketed, and were
51 
52
sending-the women and children out of town, as though preparing
for battle. He also had proof that secret societies were formed all
over the State, binding themselves by a pledge or oath to kill all the
leading Republicahs in the State and to protect each other at all
hazards, and that the pledge was acquiesced in and sanctioned by
the Democratic party of this parish.  He also had proof that the
Democrats had been receiving arms and ammunition for several
weeks before the murder of Col. Pope and Judge Chase, and that the
merchants in Franklin had refused to sell powder to Republicans.
He was satisfied from the proofs before him that if he issued  the
writ, and an attempt was made to execute it and arrest the murderers, it would bring on a regular battle between the Democratic
and Republican parties, and although the Republicans numbered
about one thousand the most, yet most of them were unarmed, while
the Democrats were armed, he deemed that the contest would be unequal, and not being.willing to have unarmed Republicans slaughtered he refused to give out the write and has it now in his possession.
Josiah Fisk further states on oath, that he is a duly qualified Justice of the Peace, of Ward No. 3 of said parish of St. Mary. Upon
being informed of the murder of Col. IT. H. Pope, and Valentine
Chase, he wrote an affidavit and a warrant for the arrest of the
murderersybut  he could not get any officer or any other person to attempt to serve said warrant,except a colored man. He ascertained
that the murderers were well armed and drilled, and was satisfied
that any attempt to arrest them, especially by a colored man,
would result in the death of those making the attempt, and he did
not issue the writ.  In connection with Mr. James Baldwin, the
founder of the Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, and the Hon.
John Page, of Jefferson, who was at Mr. Baldwin's house; he addressed a corhmunication to the commander of the Post at New
Iberia, in said parish, stating the facts of the murders and the situation of affairs in Franklin, and soliciting aid from him.  In a few
hours the messenger returned bringing a reply, of which the following is a copy, to wit:
HEADQUARTERS POST OF NEW. IBERIA, 
New Iberia, La., Oct. 18, 1868.
Messrs. Pisk, Baldwin and Page:
SIRS —Your note of this date has just been received.   In reply I
would respectfully beg leave to state, that the position in which I
t*  
am placed as a Post Commander, is one which will not allow my
taking any steps in any matter unless it be to assist the civil officers
in keeping the peace.  Strict orderst'have been issued, which pro hibit military commanders from t'aking any action, unless it be upon
requisition from the Sheriff to assist in quelling a riot. The case
presented by you does not come within the scope of my orders.
However, knowing that this case is a serious one, more so than any
that has come to my notice, I shall telegraph to New Orleans for
orders. I would be much obliged if you would furnish me with all
the particulars of this case, with names of witnesses, in order that I
can make a full report by letter.
I am gentlemen, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed)                           STAUNTON WEAVER,
1st Lt. 20th U. S. I., Commanding the Post.
Mr. Fisk then addressed a communication to General Rousseau, of
which the following is a copy, to wit:
Major General Rousseau, Commanding the Department of the Gulf:
DEAR SIR-The undersigned respectfully represents that a mob
went to the room occupied by Col. 11.11. ilope, in the town of Franklin, and parish of St. Mary, and killed him and Valentine Chase;
Col. 11.11. Pope was the Sheriff, and Valentine Chase was the Parish
Judge. The Coroner elect has failed to qualify, which leaves a Justice of the Peace the highest officer in the parish. The mob is armed
and bids defiance to the civil authorities. I am a Justice of the
Peace of said parish, and respectfully solicit your aid in furnishg
troops to assist the civil authorities in dispersing said mob, and in
arresting the murderers, nd preventing the town of Franklin from -
(Signed)                                JOSIAH FISK,
Justice of the Peace 3d ward, parish of St, Mary.
Being satisfied that it was not safe to remain longer in that parish,
witness came to New Orleans; upon his arrival General Rousseau
sent for him and made inquiries as to the situation of affairs in
Franklin, and wound up the interview by stating that he was satisfied
that we ought to have two companies sent to Franklin, but that deponent must call on him through the Governor. Deponent then
addressed a communicaton to the Governor, of which the following
is a copy, to wit:
a8 
54
ST. MARY PARISH, October 20, 1868.
To Ilis Excellency H. C. Warmoth, Governor of Louisiana:
A mob in Franklin, parish of St. Mary, on the night of the 17th
of October, 1868, went to the room occupied byColonel H.  [. Pope,
Sheriff of said parish, and in cold blood, without any words or
quarrel, shot and killed him, and also killed Valentine Chase, Parish
Judge of said parish. The Coroner elect of said parish has not
qualified, which leaves a Justice of the Peace the highest civil officer
in the parish.  As I am a Justice of the Peace of said parish, and
aS said mob is now armed and bidding defiance to the civil authorities, and as the civil authorities here are unable to disperse said
mob, or arrest the murderers, I deem it my duty to call on you for
assistance in arresting the murderers and in dispersing said mob,
and to restore peace and quiet. Yours, etc.,
JOSIAH FISK.
Witness wrote a communication of which the following is a copy,
to wit:
PARISH OF ST. MARY. November 5, 1868.
To His Excellency H. C. Warmoth, Governor of Louisiana:
The undersigned most respectfully represents, that on the 17th day
of October, 1868, a mob went to the residence of Col. H. H. Pope, in
Franklin, parish of St. Mary, and killed him and Valentine Chase.
On the night of the twenty-eighth of the same month, a mob, coinposed in part of the same persons, went to the plantation of Mr.
James Baldwin, near Franklin, and tore down the doors of the cabins
and drove all the colored people from the plantation. Women with
little children in their arms had to leave their homes, and hide in the
woods and swamp, to save their lives. They then broke down the
gate that led into the yard inclosing Mr. Baldwin's residence, and
tried to get into his house, but failed. They left with curses, threatening to return again. From the violence and threats used, Mr.
Baldwin did not deem it safe for him or his family to remain there.
They left the plantation, and a large crop of sugar cane. The only
excuse they gave for murdering Col. Pope and Judge Chase, was,
because they had the presumption to hold office, one a~ Sheriff, and
the other as Parish Judge, under the Constitution adopted'under the
reconstruction acts.  The only reason they had for wanting to murder Mr. Baldwin and his family, was because Mr. Baldwin had
donated twenty- thousand dollars toward the building of an Institu 
tion for the education of a niggers.'; The thurderers -ar  at largei
and bid defiance to the civil authorities. They have killed or run
every officer from the parish that held office under the present Constitution, except myself, and they threaten to kill me if I issue a writ
for their arrest.  Nearly all the waite men who would not join in
the conspiracy against the new State Government, and all the leading colored men have been killed, or, to save their lives, have had to
flee from the parish.  When the white mob appears at the negro
quarters, if they do not run, they are accused of inciting a riot, and
are shot down without mercy; if they run and hide to save their
lives, they are branded as cowards. A great number, both white and
colored, are now refugees, and dare not return to their homes. In
consideration of the above facts, I most respectfully solicit your aid
as the Executive officer of the State, in procuring troops from the
United States Government, to aid the civil authorities of this parish
in arresting the murderers and in bringing them to trial.
Yours respectfully,.
(Signed)                             JOSIAH FISK,
Justice of the Peace, 3d ward, parish of St. Mary.
Witness had proof from Mr. Baldwin, his wife and daughter, and
others, of the truth of every fact stated in said communication.  The
Mr. J. Baldwin who was driven from his plantation, as stated in said
communication, is an aged man between sixty and seventy, and the
man who founded the Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio. iHe
donated one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the University at
Berea; and had donated twenty thousand dollars towards building
an Institution of learning on the plantation near Franklin, from
which he and his family were driven. He had also made a standing
proposition, pledging himself (in addition to the twenty thousand
dollars) to give as many dollars as the Methodist church or any
person would give, for the benefit of said Institution. Ten thousand
dollars had also been given by Mr. B —, from France, and twenty
thousand had been given by individuals mostly residing in the
Northern States to purchase the plantation adjoining Mr. Baldwin's
for an orphan's home. Thegplantation had been purchased and a
large brick buirding commenced.  The walls of the front building
were up, the roof on, and they were about commencing to plaster it
when Col. Pope was killed.  In consequence of the excitement and
threats made, the hands all quit work, and the building was deserted.
65 
'ihe mob ticknowldged, that the  made a oharge on the asuyitum th
night that they made the attack on Mr. Baldwin, but found go one
there.
Mrs. Vashti H. Fisk states, on oath, that she was at the house of
Mr. John Baldwin, near Franklin, St. Maliy parish, Louisiana, on the
night of the 28th of October, 1868, when she heard the firing of guns
and pistols about the negro cqularters; shortly after a mob or company of men came upon the gallery of the house and kicked at the
door and called Mr. Baldwin several times. Mr. Baldwin, who was
then in bed, asked them what they wanted. They replied that they
wanted him to come out; they wanted to talk with him. He told
them to come in the morning if they wanted to see him. They then
said they wanted some coffee. Mr. B. replied that his daughter and
her child were sick, and could not make coffee. They replied that
they would be back it an hour and would have coffee, or they would
take possession of the place. They swore and talked in an angry
and rough manner. After they left the doors were barricaded with
trunks, lounges, boxes, etc.  On returning they tried to open  the
door, but failing, they left.  In the morning, finding the gate broken 
down, the doors of the negro shanties knocked down and the negroes
driven away, and deeming it unsafe to remain, witness, in company
with MIr. Baldwin's family, consisting of Mr. Baldwin, his daughter
and her child, packed up what they could carry of their clothes and
went to the bank of the Teche, where they stayed till the morning
of the 30th of October, when a boat coming down, they got on board
and came to New Orleans, leaving the furniture at the house.  Mr.
Baldwin's daughter had been very sick.
Prince Davis states on oath, that he is a resident of Franklin,
parish of St. Mary; that on the evening of October 17, 1868, he was
in the club room when several persons came to the house, and one of
them, named Thomas Gorda, looked in the room and then returned to
the crowd and said something to them, they then hallooed "hurrra
for Pope, the d-d son of a b —h." The crowd then left and went to
the tavern where Col. Pope was; a short time after they left, witness
heard the report of pistols at the tavern,  and soon after left
the club-room and started to go home; at the corner near his house
66 
he overtook two colored men, one named Morris.  While speaking
with them, Fred. Gates, Dan. (Iaffrey, George Gravenburg and
some other white men came along and said "who is that?'  Morris;
replied, "it is the old man Morris," when Caffrey said "we have
killed Pope and Chase, is that anything to you?"'  Morris said "no."
They then inquired for Wash. Williams' house.  Morris warned Williams that they were after him, and he left.
John Fields states on oath, that he has been a resident of St. Mary
parish since November 1865.  At the Constitutional election held in
April, 1868, he was elected Justice of the Peace for the fourth ward.
On the 11th day of Mlarch, 1868, he purchased a horse from James
Cook, and paid for the same; he rode said horse through Patter sonville, Franklin and Jenerette, electioneering and attending Repub lican club meetings; after it was ascertained that he was elected
he was accused of stealing said horse, arrested and put in jail with out any trial.  He offered A. J. Rosencrans, C. B. Darrall and Col.
IH. H. Pope as security for his appearance to answer said charge,
which was refused.  He was still confined in the parish jail in the
town of Franklin on the 17th day of.October, 1868, when Col. H. H.
Pope, sheriff, and Valentine Chase, parish Judge, were  murdered.
The jail is situated directly opposite to the tavern where the above
murders were committed.  Deponent heard the report of pistols, and
immediately afterwards the crowd came running from the tavernto
the jail.  They came near to the window of the cell where deponent
was confined, and one of the crowd  remarked to the others." We
have killed Pope and Chase, and we had better now kill the negro,
Justice of the Peace."'  Some one replied, "We had better, go in."
One remarked "If we go in he will cripple some of us, so that they
will find us out."-. The reply was, "We were in there the other day
and searched the cell, he has nothing to cripple us with."  Another
said, "If that negro hits you with his fist there will not be much
more left of you."  One said to another, "Come, let me hold you up,
and you shoot him through the window."  He replied, "No,  he
mightjerk the pistol out of my hand and shoot me before you could
let me down."  The reply was,  "We have got him wher  we  want
him.  If Grant and Colfax are elected we will go in an;d-kill him
while Kraminer (the jailor) is sweeping out the jail, If Seymoour and
8
-i
I 
Flair are elected we will take him out and tie him  to a stake and
shoot him and let his friends see him. - Come, let's go and kill Jack
Moore and Wash Williams.  We must let none escape.' The question was then asked, " Where does Fisk stay?" The reply was " He
stays at the Baldwin Place."  The remark then was, "If we can not
get him to-night we will get him some other time." Deponent kno'w,s
three of the persons engaged in the above conversation personally.
Some of the others he knows by reputation, having heard their
names called. Deponent was arrested and put in jail in Franklin
on Saturday, the week after the election in April, 1868, and remained there until the latter part of June, when he, together with
three others confined in the same cell, not liking the fare very much,
found means of making their escape. Deponent remained out of
jail until the latter part of August, when he was advised by Col.
Pope (in consequence of the political excitement and threats which
had been made against deponent and other Republicans) to give
himself up and be put back in jail. He gave himself utip under a
promise from Col. Pope that he would help him to get out in a short
time on bail. During the time that deponent was out he was in disguise at night and frequently dressed in women's clothes, and passed
amongst the Democrats and saw their signs, heard their pass-words
and threats against the Republican party and  against particular
members of that party whom they named. Deponent is able to give
some of the signs and pass-words.  They pledged themselves to let
none escape except such as would take an oath to support Seymour
and Blair. Deponent heard them mention the names of s3veral
Republicans that they intended to kill, among which were those of
Pope and Chase.  The club known there as the " Seymour Knights'"
were pledged to sustain each other at all hazards, and if one happened to be arrested they were pledged to assist him, and if necessary, in order to clear him of a charge, they were to swear that he
was not in the place where the offense was alleged to have been
committed, or anything else that was necessary to get him clear.
The following extract from the Cincinnati Gazette, containing a
brief memoir of Judge Chase, and a letter from him to the HIon S.
D). Campbell, are here inserted:
t
8 
[Special Correspondence of the Oiuoiti Gazette.]
HAMILTON, OIXo, October 23d., 1868
The people of this community are deeply affected by the announcement first made that one of their former fellow-citizens, Judge Valentine Chase, was murdered by rebels in St. Mary parish, Louisiana
on the night of the 17th ultimo. Mr. Chase was a native of this
county, and at one time represented this and Preble counties in the
State Senate.  He was a graduate of Miami University, and for some
years practiced law in this city. In 1851 he was a prominent can,
didate of the Democracy of this county for the office of Lieutenant
Governor. About six years after that he married a lady in Brashear
parish, Louisiana, where he shortly afterward took up his residence.
He resided there until the war broke out in 1861, when his Union
sentiments made him an object of rebel wrath, and he was driven
out of the State.  Coming back to this city effectually cured of his
Democratic proclivities, he at once took active part in the Union
cause as editor of the Hamilton Telegraph.  As sufficient evidence
of his peaceable and conservative character, I may state that the
proprietors of the Telegraph at one time threatened to discharge him
because he would not resent personal assaults. At the close of the
war he returned to Brashear parish, and was elected Parish Judge
by the Union party-a crime for which he forfeited his life. The following letter written by him to the Hon. L. D. Campbell, just a fortnight before his assassination, will be read with painful interest, as
the testimony of one who was standing on the brink of death, and as
it were prophesying his own sad fate. His death is the-best evidence
that the prediction he makes with regard to the purpose of the south ern rebels in the case Seymour and Blair are elected, is well founded:
/
INGLEWOOD PLANTATION, Sept. 3, 1868.
lon. L. D. Campbell:
It is with deep feelings of anxiety that I address you this note of
inquiry.  Are we rushing headlong into another revolution?  The
inquiry may surprise you if you are a stranger to the wild fury
which is hurling this community into a state of anarchy, and is inau.
gyrating a reign of terror similar to that of 1861.  The leaders
are becoming bold, and openly avow their intention to murder all
the newly elected State;- and parish officers, or drive them from the
ou
I 
60
State.  Mexico is often alluded to as a sample of what we are
coming to.  They look to the Democracy of the north to support
them.   You  are there;  tell me, are  these  hopes  baseless,'or
well  founded?   What  stand  do  the  conservative  Union  men
of the North take?  Whom  do they support, and  what  are  the
prospects  for Seymour  and Grant?  For, on this issue depends,
in my judgement,  the extent to which  this insurrection  shall
be carried.  That it will be inaugurated I have no doubt.  There
is an extensive secret organization pledged to it.  It is claimed this
organization extends from Maine to the Rio Grande,  If Seymour
should be elected they expect, from the principles announced in
General Blair's letter, that he will aid them in the overthrow of all
the State governments South. And even should he fail, they will try
it, and thus throw the country into a state of anarchy.  If the Democracy of the North assist them as a party, it will be extensive; and
God help the country.  If it shall be confined to this section, blood
will flow for a while, but a timely interposition of the army will suppress it.  Give me your views.  I know that you are always looking
ahead, and I know that you are in confidence with the present administration, and can give me some assurance of the prospect that
lies before it of preventing this great calamity. These insurrectionists think that because President Johnson was opposed to the reconstruction acts, he will be slow to check their overthrow by violence.
I hope this is not the case.  I believe he has been persecuted, but
still I believe he will not be untrue to his country for the purpose of
avenging himself on a party.
Please let me hear from you soon, and direct your letter to Mrs.
Thos. J. Cocke, for if directed to me I should probably never get it.
The bitterest rebels have free access to the post office here, and it is
believed are playing their old game.
My regards to your family and all our friends.
With: great esteem, I remain, Yours &c.
V. CIIASE.
The following are extracts from the "Planters' Banner" of October
10,1868, and are inserted as illustratfive of the public sentiment
which preceded these murders: 
61
"Where are the carpet-baggers of St. Landry? They are where the
carpet-baggers of St. Mary will be one of these days. * * * *
The recent disaster of the radicals in St. Landry, and the dwindling
of Loyal League clubs in the parish, have had a terrible effect on the
little rat Pope.  He looks on the streets as though he  had been
chawed up by a terrier.- He has a complication of diseases-his
liver don't act, he has the cholic, the toothache and the yellow
jaundice, and don't feel very well himself.  If he dies, the shell of
an English walnut would make a good sarcophagus in which to convey his precious remains to his Northern friends, or if he is to be
buried on Southern soil, as he has no "forty acres" of his own in which
to be buried, he should be put in a pair of oyster shells and buried at
low water mark where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four
hours."  *  *   *  *   *  *  *  *  *   *  *' *  *  *  *  *  *
Speaking of a Republican meeting held near Franklin, a few days
previously, it says: "That was Pope's funeral procession, and the
funeral processsion of the radical party in St. Mary. * * * * *
"Blank certificates will be prepared, and every colored person who
votes the Democratic ticket in November, in St. Mary, will have one
of these certificates filled and duly signed, as a proof that he is in
harmony with the white people of the country, and it will entitle
him always after to be considered the friend of the white man and
entitled to the white man's friendship and protection.  Those colored
people who stick to the carpet-baggers till after the election will
have the door shut in their faces. They will be too late." * * *
The "Planters' Banner" also published the following in reference
to these murders:
"Since the shocking events of the night of the 17th, all parts of
our parish have been diligently patrolled by armned police every
night. Most of the negroes now show a disposition to vote the
Democratic ticket, and live on friendly terms with the white people
of the parish.  Many say they do not intend to go to the polls or to
vote next Tuesday, but will work in the field all day."  *    *
"The bloody event of last Saturday night we fear is but the prelude to bloody events all over the South.  It is the foretaste of an
irrepressible conflict between Radical office holders and the people of
the South, which we fear it will be impossible for conservative men
to restrain, 
The Times has the following atrocious sentiment referring to the
murder of Colonel Pope:
"The homicide of certain persons, who have been installed exclusively by the votes of the negroes and a few white strangers and
outcasts, in highly responsible judicial offices in the country, are due
to the exasperation produced by a system of oppression, wrong,
insuIlt and spoliation, which were never exercised toward a brave and
spirited people without producing like results."
In connection with this horrible outrage, the Crescent made the
following comment:
An indication of the terrible and irretrievable failure of the
Radical scheme of reconstruction."
The remains of Colonel Pope were brought by his friends to New
Orleans, where a large concourse of ex-army and navy soldiers and
citizens, and the following officers of the United States army:   Generals Rousseau, Ayres, Hatch, Buchanan, Neill, Tompkins and,Beckwith; Colonels Keeler, Russell, and McClure, and Captains Baldy,
Burbank and Major Hutchings, escorted them to the boat which was
to bear them to his former home.
The following resolutions were adopted by a meeting of ex-army
and navy soldiers:     *     *      *     *      *    *      *    *
We, the ex-soldiers and sailors, late of the United States army,
and many residing in the State of Louisiana, have learned of the
assassination of Col. Henry H. Pope, at Franklin, in the parish of St.
Mary, with astonishment and horror. Were this an isolated case of
brutal and cowardly murder, it might be passed over as one of those
atrocities, which might, and occasionally does occur in any country
or community, but when it constitutes only one instance of a long
series of similar outrages actually perpetrated, and in conformity to
the threatened designs of extended organizations, whose cardinal
principles seem to be violence and bloodshed committed upon individuals, solely for political opinions, the occurrence becomes one
which should excite alarm in the bosoms of all good citizens, and
should arouse every lover of civilization and peace, to the most
determined efforts, in arresting and bringing to condign punishment
those who participated in, or give countenance to these crimes against
the peace and dignity of the State, and against the sacred rights of
humanity. That our united opinion may stand publicly recorded, we
do therefore concur in the passage of the following resolutions:
Besolved, That we shall ever remember the good qualities of Col.'
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I 
Henry R. Pope as a soldier and a citizen, and now proclaim  to the
world that in both capacities he bore himself as became an American
patriot.
Resolved, That we  condole with his widow and all his family
friends, and assure them that our hearts are filled with the most poignant grief for their irreparable loss.
Resolved, That we feel that in the fall of our late comrade in arms
we recognize that the cowardly hand of the assassin is raised against
us all, and that we are called upon to meet the emergency with the
same patriotism and courage which animated us in going forth seven
years ago to meet the armed enemies of our country.
Resolved, That we assert and shall maintain our right to live in
this country and to have our opinions, to express and vote them on
all occasions freely, on the general ground that we are citizens of
the United States, and on the special ground that we have assisted
in bearing the flag of our country in victory from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande.
Resolved, That we appeal to the Government of the United States,
whose honor we have maintained upon many a saniguinary field, for
protection in our persons and property, and in the free exercise of
our political rights as men and Americans.
Resolved, That we appeal to the General commanding the United
States forces in this State to use the troops of his command, to his
utmost ability, to give security to his late comrades in arms, and to
afford them safety in loving and advocating the principles of justice
and the sacred cause of our common country.    *         *    *      *
The Republican has the following remarks upon the occasion:
*  *  *  "It was an occasion of the deepest solemnity and grief.
In the presence of such a profound affliction, party spirit was melted
into patriotism, and minor differences sunk in the recollection of the
gallant career of the departed soldier whose hearse stood before us
draped with the flag of his country rich he had so nobly defended."
The Planters' Banner thus refers to the destruction of a Repub
lican paper:
"Last Sunday night the Radical press and type of this place were
destroyed by the hands of persons at present unknown to the public,
and the editor and printer left the next morning on the Peerless."
ST. MALY —SUArY.
Number of killed, positively sworn to.............-.. 2
Number of maltreated, positively sworn to...................... 3
6
0 
4
46
4 
PARISHII OF ST. BERNARD.
Brevet-Major Kinzie Bates, 1st United States Infantry, states, on
oath:
Questioni- (By Mr. Campbell,) State, if you please, all the facts in
your knowledge with regard to the troubles in St. Bernard parish,
: the month of October last.
A4swe-ce-On Monday morning, the 26th day of October last, at
:,.-,ut 2 o'clock in the morning, witness was directed by the cor i::mding officer of the post at Jackson Barracks to proceed to the
court house of the parish of St. Bernard, with his company, to quell
a riot that was said to be going on there, and to be guided in his
actions by Circular No.  2, from  HIeadquarters,  Department of
Louisiana.  (Deponent does not remember the date,)  Hie marched
to the court house, a distance of sixteen miles, and arrived there about
8:30 A. M.  Vhile there, he received a message from Mr. Thomas Ong,
living about two miles distant, requestiing him to come to his (Ong's)
place, as his life was in danger.  He placed eight men  in a wagon,
and directed the balance of his company to follow him on foot.  As
he approached Ong's place, he noticedc about' a dozen white men
armed, sitting in front of the gate; as he reached the gate about
sixty mounted men. armed with double-barreled shot guns, came up;
they had some freedmen prisoners; Mr. Ong came out and placed
himself under witness' protection.  ~'Nitness asked this party what
their object was, and was informed they were a sheriff's posse who
were arresting the supposed murderers of Pablo Fillieu. Leblanc, the
deputy sheriff, came up and spoke to witness.  Witness asked hinm,
at once, to disperse his posse, adding that he would take care of the
parish.  They then marched over to the court house with their
prisoners, and witness saw no more of them. There was a very
bitter feeling existing amongst these people against Mr. Ong.  The
sheriff of the parish, whom witness had not seen before, came to him
and desired to make some arrests. To prevent any further trouble,
wit ess furnished him a squad of men under a discreet noni-commissioned officer; he made some twenty arrests on the different
plantations   These men witness took charge of; and fed with rations
9' 
bSiuoing to his cn. Aftc                 eash  gui ard  a guard  t the
court house, which he was unable to do, before he placed them in
charge of the civil authorities of the parish.  During that morning
a fight occurred upon the plantation of General A. L. Lee, some
miles below, and Dr. Lee, father of General Lee, was taken prisoner
by a party of Sicilians. WVitness kn4ew nothing of this affair until
late in the afternoon, and having his hands fuill, he could not divide
his small force of twenty-four (24) men to send a detachment down
there. -That night, however, Dr. Lee was brought up and placed
under his protection.  A large number of negtoes gathered on Mr.
Ong's plantation, unader the protection of the military authority,
many of them stating that they were afraid to remain at their homes.
Witness remained there three days.  The parish remaining quiet,
he was relieved by another company of his regiment, and then
returned to the city.
A few days afterwards, Brevet Major General RIousseau sent wit    ness back to the said parish to make a full investigation, which he
did as far as the excited state of affairs would permit. He made a
report to the General, on his return, and as far as he can recollect,
the following is a synopsis of it: On Sunday, the 25th October,
1868, there was a Democratic meeting at the court house of St. Ber    nard parish, composed of the Constitution and other clubs of the
parish and the "Seymour Infants," of New Orleans. These clubs
were marching up the road in the afternoon, when a Metropolitan
policeman, and ex-soldier of the United States army, by the name of
Michael Curtis, camne riding down the road; as he passed these
clubs, he shouted out "fight, fight down the road." Some one in
the procession called upon him to halt. He paid no attention to it,
and rode faster, when he was fired upon, but not hit; he sprung from
his horse, and while climbing over a fence, was shot through the
head and instantly killed.  His pistol was  by his sidb, one barrel
discharged. Deponent has been told that a coroner's inquest ren    dered a verdict that he came to his death by a pistol shot inflicted
by his own hand. A short time after this the same procession came
in contact with a freedman, who was shouting for "Grant and Col    fax."  He was pushed or assaulted in some  way, when he drew#%
revolver and shot a man through the shoulder. He was instantly
shot down and killed by some member of the procession. Another
freedman was killed the same afternoon,  but deponent does  not
remember' the particulars. That night a number of freedmen from
-1 
the plantations down the road attacked the house of a baker l)y the
name of Pablo Fillieu, and after a desperate fight, killed  nim, b)urnt
the house, completely destroying its contents and his body. Numbers of the citizens came out armed and fired upon the neogr()c,, and
they ran back to the plantations where they worked.
Dr. Lee's statement of the trouble at his plantation will be found
in deponent's report at Headquarters, Department of Louisiana..
There were two white men killed (Curtis and Fillieu), and witness
obtained the names of eight freedmen, which, however, he does not
now recollect. It was impossible to find out the exact number of
killed, as many of the freedmen were hidden in the cane. Lieutenant
Spaulding, the officer who relieved deponent during his absence from
the parish, in order to assist him in making out his report, visited
the different plantations and conversed with the freedmen. They
were adverse to making any affidavits or statements. The above
statement was obtained by conversing with a number of the people
of the parish. Deponent farther States, that in his opinion the
presence of the United States troops protected Mr. Thomas Ong
from personal injury.
Question- (By Mr. Campbell.)  State, if you please, the reason why
the freedmen, in your opinion, were adverse to making any affidavits
or statements.
Answer-From what Lieutenant Spaulding told me, and what I
saw myself, they were evidently under  the impression that they
would be marked and suffer bodily harm.,
On Tuesday, November 3, 1868, a freedman on Mr. Cofield's plantation, while at work digging potatoes, was taken by a party of
Sicilians, numbering five or six, to a canal in the rear of the place
and stabbed to death. When deponent left he heard a coroner's jury
was investigating the affair.
A. G. Thornton states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, residing in the parish of St. Bernard; that he was elected
Parish Judge on the Republican ticket for the above parish, at the
election held on the 17th and 18th days of April, 1868; that for three
years previous to his election-he was a practitioner of medicine in
said parish; and that for a large portion of this time he was the
only physician there. Witness is acquainted with all the leading
men in the parish, having lived in the State for over twenty years,
67
it 
and was always treated kindly by them up to  ile time he was
elected to the office of parish Judge. Some six weeks previous to
the election held on November 3, 1868, there was a Democratic
meeting held at the court house of the parish, where the white nmen
lost no opportunity of insulting the colored men during the day,
often brandishing knives and pistols in their faces. This conduct
caused the colored people, and the few white Republicans living in
the neighborhood, to greatly fear them.  After the meeting broke up
they formed themselves into a procession and marched down the
road.  Witness saw many of them flourishing pistols in the air as
they were passing along, and has no doubt they were all armed.
They insulted every Republican they passed, and upon seeing wit      ness they cried out, "There goes a scallawag."  Thie same day of
the procession a large body of men, headed by Recorder G astinel,
of the parish of Orleans, were in the vicinity of the court house.
About 1 o'clock he (Recorder Gastinel) came over to witness' resi      dence (which is about two hundred yards distance from the court
house), accompanied by some of his company, and took seats on the
gallery. While sitting there the "long roll" was beaten at the
court house, whereupon the whole crowd started down the road,
yelling and making the most outrageous noises  Many of them
were on horseback. Upon their arriving at Mr. Turner's place they
surrounded his house, broke down his fence, and then started, as
they said, "in pursuit of the d-d black son of a b —h of a Repub      lican who stopped the negroes from coming to their meeting," refer      ring to witness, as he afterwards learned from good authority; being
under the impression that he resided at Mr. Turner's place, as seeing
Recorder Gastinel on witness' gallery, they took it to be the house of
some Democrat.   [Gastinel and his friends had their horses and
carriages in witness' front yard.]
At the meeting held by the Democratic party there were but five
or six colored persons present, and he knows  positiv.ely that tlt )
are only four colored men who are Democrats in the whole parish
only one of whom is old enough to vote.
~*      From the day of this meeting it was plain to see that it was  ex      cessively dangerous for either a white or a colored Republican to
walk the streets by day or night. It was so much so that witness
refused to visit the sick after dark, although often called upon. Af      ter this the Democrats held their meetings at a sugar house, a mile
below the court house. On Sunday, the 25th day of October, 1868,
69 
there were about thirty men whom witness took to be "Inndcents" of
New Orleans, who came down to the meeting, and it was in this
neighborhood the riot commenced, by the killing of two negroes.
About three o'clock in the evening a crowd passed witness' house, on
their way to the court house. Witness' front doors and windows
were closed, but the crowd stopped at his gate and cursed him with
the most obscene oaths for at least fifteen minutes, and then went
away.  After they had been gone about twenty minutes, Michael
Curtis, a Metropolitan policeman, and an ex-soldier of the U. S. A.,
was shot dead by a party of these white men from the court house
while he was making his way to witness' house for protection. Said
Curtis was on his way from Mr. Ong's with a note to Antoine Chalaire,
the sheriff, who was supposed to be at the court house, requesting
this official to summon a posse of men for the purpose of preserving
the peace; witness had already given the same order to the sheriff,
who gave him no answer at the time. A day or two aftewards, said
sheriff told witness that he was powerless to act, but witness believes
he did not want to, as he is a Democrat.  Witness did not see any
negro with a gun or other fire-arm, or making any hostile demonstration during the day; nor does he believe there was a negro out
with a gun in any portion of the parish on that day. Of the thirtyfive (35) negroes who were murdered during the riot, witness could
not learn of one who had a pistol or gbtm on his person; he does not
mean to say thatihere were only thirty-five negroes murdered during
the riot, as he has no doubt there were many more, but that was
the number officially reported to him.
On 31onday, October 26, 1868, a band of about thirty (30) white
men, armed, came to witness' house in the morning, just after the
United States troops had passed, on their way to Mr. Thomas Ong's
residence, to give him protection, and took his hat, two guns,
table knives, carving knives, and many sundry household articles;
they.also upset the mattrasses on the beds; in one case, making three
little children, who were sick, get up, that they might, as witness
presumes, search between the mattrasses for money or silverware.
During the day of the riot armed white men patrolled the parish,
demanding of the colored people their registration papers  and
money, which they gave up under penalty of death.  This information witness received from a number of the negroes themselves, and
has every reason to believe the truth of their statements.  Witness
69 
70
has no hesitation in saying that it would have been the height of
folly for Republicans to have attempted to vote on the 2d of November, 1868, in St. Bernard parish. Within a mile of the court
house a negro was cut to pieces in a horrible manner, with a bowie
knife, until he was dead, because he would not "Hurrah for Seymour
and Blair" when he met a party of white men; this witness has from
negroes and could, if necessary, give the name of two Democrats,
whom he heard say, "After the soldiers leave, we will kill every
d-.d Republican, white and black, in the parish."  Witness further states, that it is impossible for him to act as parish judge for
this parish, either in civil or criminal cases, as neither of the parish
officers or witnesses will pay any attention to his official orders, and
furthermore, that he is the only officer in the parish who has taken the
oath of eligibility, and that Philogene Jourda, the clerk of the court,
Antoine Chalaire, the sheriff, and all the constables, are inimical to him
in feeling on account of his politics.  Some weeks ago Governor
Warmoth appointed for the parish a full police jury, six magistrates,
six constables and an assessor. Most of the police jurors have been
murdered, and every one of the other appointees hlave been frightened
away by being charged in some way or other with producing the
riots, which charges are known to be false. Of all the appointments
made by the Governor, not one of them has yet come forward to
qualify, although witness has often notified them to do so. There
has been no police jury in this parish for many months.
Thomas Ong states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and is a resident of the parish of St. Bernard; that prior
to the last registration in this parish, certain white men visited colored men, and told them "they must come over to the Democratic
party; that if they voted the Republican ticket they would be killed;"
and in some instances planters and other employers threatened to
discharge the colored men if they did not vote the Democratic ticket.
Prior to a Democratic meeting held at the court house in said parish,
on or about September 20, 1868, at which a large number of the
"Innocents" and other  "roughs" from  New  Orleans, attended,
there was an attempt to create a riot, A call was made for a Republican meeting to take place at the court house, on the 27th of
September 1868. The negroes in St. Bernard and in the upper part 
oe Pla uemine pariah, were told if they attended this meeting " it
would be at their costl," as the white people of the parish were
determined they (the negroes) should not attend Republican meetings
unless they attended Democratic meetings also. The white people
numbering from one hundred to one hundred and fifty (1 00 to 150)
on that occasion assembled on the " Millaudon Plantation," a point
the Republican procession would have to pass in going to the court
house. They were armed with double barrelled shot guns, and had on
the premises a large quantity of prepared cartridges, with from nine
to sixteentbuck shot in each one. As the procession was returning
to their homes, two or three negroes, whom the Democracy had succeeded in entrapping, were sent out to insult them as they passed
the sugar house.  Some three or four carts containing arms, covered
with hay, belonging to, and driven by white men, passed witness'
house early in the morning of the day the Republican meeting was
held. The colored men were unarmed at the meeting; and on the
road witness had told them not to carry arms, that if found with any
they would be arrested immediately and confined until the meeting
was over. A system of intimidation was carried on all the time,
until the whites assembled on the public road in an armed body,
Sunday October 25, 1868, and commenced the slaughter by killing
colored men. The colored people had been generally informed that
on this day they would have a chance to join the Democratic party;
if they did, they would be protected; if they did not, and attempted
to vote on the day of election they would be killed. They were also
threatened with wholesale massacre on that Sunday night. In
regard to the burning of Fillicu's house, witness has been informed
by good authority, that the colored men, who had been threatened
with death, at the- hands of the whites, were on their way to Marreros'
plantation for defense, and that while passing Fillieu's house they
were fired on-some say as many as three times, others five. For
the succeeding three days, bodies of armed white men prowled around
the parish, killing and maltreating every colored man that appeared
on the road, and not content with this, went to their residences, robbed
them of their money, provisions, clothing, registration papers, and in
some instances, the discharge papers of discharged soldiers, were
taken. This they did notwithstanding the presence of United States
troops, who were there to aid the civil authorities in preserving the
peace.  On Tuesday, October 27th, 1868, abody of white men arrested
four colored men, and after taking them about two miles from their
4'
f ) —: 
homes, released them and told them to "run for their lives;'" and
when they started all four were fired upon; three of them were killed,
and the other was severely wounded, but succeeded in making his
escape.  About 4 o'clock P. M., Sunday the 25th of October 1868,
witness fearing a disturbance, dispatched a letter by a member of
the Metropolitan Police force, addressed to the Sheriff of the parish,
apprising him of his apprehension of a disturbance, and demanding
his presence with a posse in that part of the parish, to preserve the
peace. The policeman above mentioned, was shot from his horse
and killed by men in the Democratic procession; his name was
Michael Curtis; he was a discharged United States soldier, having
been five years in the service, and during that time he had participated in all the heavy fought battles of Virginia. Hie was a member
of a New York regiment.  The citizens of the parish knew from said
policeman's reports that he had been a volunteer soldier in the service
of his country; in fact, he never disguised the fact, but rather made
a boast of having aided in conquering the rebellion, and therefore
felt that he had a right to live in any portion of the country where
the stars and stripes wave.  The killing of Curtis greatly exasperated the llacks, as they knew that he was one of the men who
had fought $-or their freedom. The men who chased Curtis onl thile
road and shot at him, were all on horseback; they and the man that
shot him, are known to the authorities, but norse of' them have been
arrested. The men who committed the horrible outrages on the 27th
and 2Sth October, 1868, are also known to the authorities, and are
allowed to go unmolested; but nearlv one lhuudred colored men and
women, who were suspected onl very flimsy grounds of having been
present at the burning of Fillieu's house, have been arrested, and after
a mock examination before a magistrate, were committed to prison
to await their trial before the'District Court, and were conveyed to
an adjoining parish for safe keeping; there, after a lapse of some
days, they were taken before a Democratic Judge on a writ of habeas
corpus, and released from custody, on the grounds that the commitment was not sufficient to hold them.  Witness firmly believes that
there were at least twenty (20) negroes killed during the three (3)
days rioting. During the last Registration, one Edmund Villery, a
large sugar planter in St. B3ernard parish, had been refused regis-.
tration, and deponent happening to mneet him in the road just after
beinrg refused, he became very much excited, and in a conversation
with deponent said, "that the d-d niggers had refused to register
him as a voter, but they were registering every d-d black son of a
;",- 2 
b-h who presented himself;" at this he (Villery) became very violent,
and brandishing his cane, said "that if every white man in the
parish was like him, no d-d nigger should vote, hlie would kill them
all first; he would murder them before they should vote." This he
repeated several times.
It is in evidence, that on the 25th of October,  1868, between
the hours of 10 o'clock,  A.  M.,  and 6 o'clock, P.  M., in the
vicinity of the  court house  of St.  Bernard  parish,  when  the
Democratic "Bumble Bee" club, with some of the "Innocents "of
New Orleans, were  marching down  the public road, two colored
men were sitting on the track which run along this road, the above
named clubs "hurrahed for Seymour and Blair."  The colored men
tooknonotice of it.  One of the men in the procession struck one of
these colored men on both sides of his face with his right hand, while
he held a six shooter in his left hand, cocked; he knocked the colored
man down, and taking his revolver in his right hand, pointed it at
him.  The colored man drew his revolver and shot said man in the
shoulder. - The colored man was immediately shot dead by the other
members of the club.  As the other colored man, who was  sitting
with deceased, started to run, he was shot dead also.  At this time
the general shooting of all colored people commenced; also of all
white men that they could get a chance at, who were known to be
Radicals.
ST. BERNARD-SUAMAIRY.
Number killed, positively sworn to>..................from 38 to 68
Number shot, positively sworn to...........................
Number otherwise maltreated, sworn to................  4
10
i"
0 
4 
PARISH OF CADDO.
Solomon Thomas, states on oath, that he resides in Shreveport,
Caddo parish, Louisiana, that on the 14th of October, 1868, he
was  standing in Mlr. Eugene's grocery, on Texas street, with
Mr. Robert Gray, a Justice of the Peace, elected on the Radical ticket, but who was never allowed to take his seat by the
D)emocrats. Two white men by the name of Hugh Curry, a planter,
and Charles Worsel, a Constable, First Ward, entered the store.
Curry asked SEr. Eugene the price of apples; at the same time gave
Worsel a wink; said Worsel went to the door leading into the yard,
and taking aim with his revolver fired at Robert Gray. The ball entered his left breast, from the effects of which shot the said Robert
Gray died soon after.' The Chief of Police, Joe Brison, and Deputy
Sheriff Edmund Sturgis were on hand before he died, and had him
conveyed to the infirmary, where deceased made a full statement before he died in the presence of these two officers; but they made no
attempt whatever to arrest the murderer, Worsel;  they were in
favor of having Gray killed. To witness' positive knowledge,
Republicans, white or colored, cannot live in Caddo parish without
the risk of being killed at any minute, day or night. About five
minutes after Worsel had shot Justice Gray, he aimed his revolver
at witness; fortunately the cap snapped. Witness ran from him and
secreted himself under the house; it was Worsel's intention to kill
him. Not finding him, he (Worsel) went with a squad of white
men, all armed, to a grocery situated at the edge of town, and spreed
it for two or three hours.  He then returned to town alone, and'
said to a crowd of white men: " If there is any man that has got
anything to saybecause I killed a nigger, now is the time to say so."
Dr. Moore, of Shreveport, immediately joined him, and they went
to the grocery; Dr. Moore treated the crowd, amounting to fifteen
or twenty, and told them whenever they met a Radical nigger that
would not "give in" to shoot him down.  Gus. and Wm. Worsum
and Dors. Bickem pursued witness twenty days to kill him, and
searched for him day and night.  To his knowledge every colored
man in Caddo had to vote the Democratic ticket; the pollswere sur 
rounded with armed white men; bands of them went to every
colored man's house, and took his arms away-none of which have
since been returned.  The only colored man- that voted the Radical
ticket was named James Watson, and he was killed the same night,
report says, by young Watson, a son of Col. Watson, and Henry
Allen, (Col. Watson's brother-in-law. Witness saw the dead body of
James Watson and assisted in burying him; he was shot in three
places.  The said James Watson was respected by both white and
colored citizens of the parish; he was not an officer of any political
club: witness never heard him talk politics, and knew him to be a
quiet and peaceable man; he was nmurdered simply because he voted
for G;,ant and Colfax.  He was about twenty-three years of age, and
was born and raised in Caddo parish.  About the 12th October,
Wm. Wright, Sam Wright, Edmund Sturgis, MIr. Ziegler and Mr.
Shideft, with a young man named Johnny, went up to Tom Johnson's
brick yard and took five colored men away from their work; after
tieing their hands, marched them down to the plantation of Mr.
Reuben White, then they crossed Bayou Pierre, and reaching Red
river these five colored men were placed on the river bank standing
up and riddled with bullets by the above named parties; witness
saw the bodies fioatig in the river.  In the course of a month at
least twenty-five or thirty dead bodies of colored people have floated
past Shreveport.
M. P. Hunnicut, states on oath, that he was a member of the
Board of Supervisors for Caddo parish during the late registration;
he heard white men question colored men in regard to how they
would vote at the approaching election; if the colored man dia not
answer he was put down immediately as a Radical, and was told, if
he voted "the G-d d-d Radical ticket" they would kill, him.
A man by the name of Calhoun gave a great deal of trouble by
coming daily to the Supervisor's office and taking blank oaths to" fill
them out," as he said, "for Democratic niggers," but that he would
not let Radical niggers have any; witness remonstrated with several
gentlemen in regard to the way this man was interfering with the
Board; and the said Calhoun hearing of it told parties "that he
would blow that G-d d-d son of a b-h's head off before he left
town," This man kept interfering with the Supervisors until about
16 
77
two days before they closed their office.  On the last day of registration a man by the name of Wright, brother of the Clerk of the
Tenth Judicial Court, came into the office, took a blank form No. 1,
and erased the words "twenty-one years old; "witness taking the blank,
said; "I will make it out for you;" he then admitted that he was
only twenty years old.  Witness then tore the blank up.  A colored
man then came in; -Wright asked him if he was going to vote the
Radical ticket; the man made no reply; Wright then said: "You
are a G-d d-d Radical-vote that ticket and we will kill you."
Witness spoke up and told the colored man to vote as he pleased.
Wright then said: "Maybe he will not be allowcd to vote as he
pleases," and was much excited.  He then abused witness in a very
disgusting manner.- A package of Republican tickets, on board the
steamboat Lizzie Hopkins, arrived at Shreveport at 2 o'clock Saturday evening; witness applied at 4 o'clock to the clerk of the boat;
he referred him to the discharging clerk, who showed him on his
book where he had delivered said package to dray No. 87 to be delivered to him; the clerk informed witness that the driver knew him,
and would deliver them to him. Upon inquiry witness found out at
the Controller's office, that there was no dray numbered "87;" that
59" was the highest number licensed.  On Monday morning,
November 2, witness made complaint to several members of the
Democratic Committee about this matter; some of the members
went to the boat, and blaming the clerks, finally had them delivered
to him from this boat. He afterward found out that they had been
secreted on the boat.  Receiving these tickets so late he was not
able to distribute them to Republicans so as to give them a chance
to vote. Another lotiof tickets, sent to him by the Hon. J. P. Newsham was not received until the day after the election.  The letter
that was sent at the same time, however, was received on the morning of election.  The wrapper on the tickets was completely torn off.
On the Presidential election day, November 3, 1868, witness gave
some Republican tickets to a colored man, by request, in the
presence of two white men.  The colored man was followed by the
two men, the tickets taken away and torn up, and they gave him a
Democratic ticket, telling him "if he did not go and vote the same
they would kill him."  The colored man's name is Monroe Jacobsthe white men were strangers to witness. 
Sinclair Potter states, on oath, that on or about the middle of 0O
tober, 1868, while he was sitting at home with his wife -in Shreveport, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, four white  en,  armed with
guns and pistols cameto him, and told  im not to run away from
the house, if he did, they would shoot him.  One of these men, with
a; sword in his hand, approached him and took hold of his ear.
Deponent tried at this time to get out of the house by the back
door.  One of the party seeing him, raised his gun and said, "'' Old
man there is no use of your trying to get out, your house is surrounded."  A colored  man by the name of George Saunders occupied the house with him.  These  men went intohis room  and took
his wife and made her go with them all over town, looking  for a
colored man by the name  of "Charley,'? whom thoy said " they
wanted to kill," as he had been in the riot over in Bossier  parisl.
About the 3d day of October a soldier came to deponent's blacksmith shop, and told him thathe had buried five (5) colored men that
he found dead a little back of his camp; he said he saw them shot
down by a squad of white men, numbering about fifteen (15), and that
they were not arrested, and- that they refused to bury the colored
men that they had killed when ordered to do so by the commanding officer; that on or about the 25th of October, a white man by the name of
Lipp, who keeps a dry goods store onTexas street, called him to
his house and told him his life was in danger in consequence of beig
connected with the Radical party, and deponent hearing of so many
colored people being killed, left Shreveport and came to this city.
No Republican meetings were held in or about Shreveport for at
least a month before the Presidential election.  A white man, whom
deponent has known for over a year, (but could not recall his name,)
told him to leaveothe Republican ranks as his life was in danger;
and if he would come over and.join the Democrats, heshould not
only have all the money he wanted but also a house to live in. The
man that told deponent this is a carpenter by trade and owns real
estate in hrevepor t.  To witness' s own - knowledge at least' twelve
colored vpav   left Shreveport in consequence  of political
oppresson
CADDO;L^ARY.
Numb::er k ma itively sorn to...................... 42
Num'b   therwise maltreated....................... 4
IS 
PARISH OF EAST FELICIANA.
John SE White states, on oath, that he was appointed Supervisor
of Registration for the parish of East Feliciana by Mr. Baker,
chairman of the said board.  On the election day the polls were
opened at half past seven o'clock A. M., and everything seemed to
go on peaceably until about nine, when he heard a body of white
men make the remark that "every d    d Radical s-n of a b-h
that voted the Radical ticket would have his head blown off,'" at
the same time presenting pistols to two negroes.  Shortly afterwards witness went over to the court house. A man by the name of
Evans Wite, town constable of Clinton, came up to him and said,
"I don't want any Radical tickets distributed here, and if you have
any, you can throw them away as soon as possible, or I will drive
you away from the court house," at the same time pointing his fist
at witness's face. There were about ten white men standing around
the polls; they commenced shouting, " Will the d   d Radical s-n
of a b-h!  Kick him out I" etc.  Witness immediately left the
court house, and on going down the street was accosted by a crowd
of colored men who were driven away from the polls because they
wanted to vote the Republican ticket.  A colored man by the name
of Henry, who had been appointed as Commissioner of election,
told him that he had been taken from his house, and shown his
grave in which he would lay, should he accept the position of Commissioner. From most every precinct in the city, witness has heard
similar reports of the most discouraging character, and states that
the intimidations and frauds committed in this parish are too numerous to' mention.  Out of at least 1800 colored men who would
have voted the Republican ticket, he believes there were only 650
who had the least chance. He further states that every one was
requested to show open tickets before they put the'min' the box,
thus keeping away a great many Republican voters fri  the polls.
Zeno Johnson states, on oath, that on the:     pf September,
1868, he went with 140 colored men to Jackson, Louisiana, to register according to the laws; and there the supervisors, named
.. I 0-010
-- r 7 
Beirthune, -Meyer,  and J. L. White,  told  them  they  had  lio
blanks to register them.  At the same time they registered all the
white men that presentea themselves. Some white men hearing
witness and others finding fault with the supervisors for refusing to
register them, told them to "clear off." About forty of them then
went away, the balance remaining. About the 29th of September
the Board removed to Clinton and refused to register the colored
men there also
Herman Morrison states, on oath, that eighty-one colored persons
were refused registration by the Board of Registration; that they
are all twenty-one years of age and over; that they were all born in
the ITnited States, and have resided in the State of Louisiana one
year next preceeding the 3d day of November, 186S, and resi dents of the parish of East Feliciana, -ten days next preceeding the
3d day of November, 1868, and that they are not disfranchised
by any acts of Congress. That they were not able to register under
the existing laws of this State for reasons that were beyond their
control, whereby they were deprived the privilege of voting on the
3d of November, 1868; and had they been registered as the laws
direct they would have voted for U.S. Grant and S. Colfax, the Republican ticket.  He farther states, that he was one of the party of
eighty-one that were refused registration; that at the poll held in
the First Ward in the school house, presided over by John East,
Tom Jefferson and, as commissioners of election, there was
fraud practised in this; that the commissioners said there were only
nineteen votes for Grant and Colfax, when in fact, to his knowledge, forty-nine colored persons voted the Republican ticket; furthermore, that MIr. Tom Jefferson, who is a justice of the:peace and
who was one of the commissioners, and who claimed to be a Republican, did so far forget his oath of office and position as to deceive a
great many colored voters by giving them Democratic tickets, which
he told themwere Republican ones.  They voted the said tickets,
believing at ie time they were voting the Republican ticket.  As
witness was going to the polls he was halted by a man with a revolver in his hand, who said to Bij,,You are the fellow I am
looking for; I want your arms."  U  said "I have none."  He immediaeily sead witness from head to foot.  Witness asked him
for his order to Parch him.  He held off his revolver and said "there
is my authority."  Witness said, "I thought you ought to have a writ.
:...,.. 6 
80 
ten order."'  He replied in a fierce manner, "I have my verbal order
from the commissioners of election." ()ne of the men who was
standing by the man  that searched him, was Mr. Robert Newport
Eighty-one signatures corroborate thle above testimony, as it appears
by the petition sworn to before L. A. Fuller, 5th Justice Peace,
parish of East Baton Rouge, La.
The following action of the Democratic planters of this parish,
was printed in the Republican.  It confirms the accounts given by
the colored men:
At a meeting of the planters of East Feliciana, held at Clinton on
the eight instanlt, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That we will not employ for the future any freedmen
who shall hereafter vote the Radical ticket, nor shall we rent lands,
advance supplies, or assist in any manner such persons. A certificate
from the employers will be necessary to show that any freedman has
voted the Democratic ticket, or has voted at all. We will always
give our preference to those who voted the Democratic ticket,
and are members of the Democratic club.
Resolved, That we will not patronize any professional man, or
trade with any merchant who does not bind themselves to be governed by the above requisitions.
}AST FELICITNA —SUMMARY.
Number maltreated......................................    5
Republican voters excluded fiom registration................  121
Republican votes fraudulently thrown out..................30
Republican voters illegally excluded from voting............. 1150
11
8i  
PARISH OF WASHINGTON.
Charles Benedict and David Hennessy state, on oath, that they are
citizens of the State of Louisiana, and residents of the city of New
Orleans, and that they were supervisors of registration for Washington parish during the recent registration; that on the evening of October 6, 1868, they arrived in Franklinton, the county seat of said
parish; they rode into town on a wagon driven by a colored man by
the name of Joe Magee. He asked witnesses if they were the "registrars."  They answered  "yes."  Mr.  Benedict  then  asked this
colored man how things were in the parish.  Hle answered, "all the
colored people are Republicans and will vote that ticket if the white
people will allow them to." - Witnesses opened their registration
books at the court house on the 7th of October, 1868, registering
but few whites or blacks during the day. They at once saw that
the colored people were completely under the control of the whites.
The following day they commenced registration at 8 o'clock, A. M.,
and registered quite a number of colored voters. During the day
witnesses were repeatedly called out of the office by colored people,
who asked-them  "what they should do," as they had been told if
they did not vote the Democratic ticket they must leave the parish.
The citizens had refused to grind their corn, and refused to sell them
goods, even when they had placed their money on the counter. Witnesses saw an instance of the latter in the store of John R. Wood.
From this date colored women would come into witnesses' office and
tell them that their husbands and brothers wished to see them at
night at some designated place, that they might receive advice as
to what to do; that they were on the verge of starvation, as they
were obliged to send their corn to Covington, parish of St. Tammany,
some forty miles distant, in order to have it ground. Witnesses advised these people to put up as much as possible with all these inconveniences until after the:ection.  They replieq, "We are all
Republicans  every one of us.  The white DemoCrats will not let
us vote that ticket; they will kill us, they say, if we attempt it."
On the 14th of October, 1868, witnesses opened their registrations 
84
office at Beulah church, third precinct, and- registered about (100)
one hundred colored men there.  During this registration there were
from fifteen to twenty (15 or 20) white men  in the church all the
time, who were continually making threats against the colored people if they did not vote the Democratic ticket, saying "We will kill
every d-d nigger in the parish if they do not vote as we want
them to," and "They've got no blue-coated, d-d Yankee sons of
b -s now to protect them.  We rule our own parish now."  On
Sunday, the 18th of October, 1868, witnesses met some seventy or
eighty (70 or 80) colored people in the woods, just below the church,
near a creek, who accosted them saying, "Our white friends cannot
blame us; we will have to vote the Democratic ticket to save our
lives."  On Monday the 19th of October, witnesses registered more
colored people at the above named precinct who reported that their
houses had been visited at night by bands of armed men, who told
them "they must go to the polls and vote the Democratic ticket."
These colored men told witnesses "they did riot want to vote atall,
if they could not vote the Republican ticket."
On the 22d of October, the Board of Registrars, of which witnesses
were members,'- returned to Franklinton court house.  On Friday
evening 23d instant, there was considerable excitement in town caused
by the people running to and fro.  About 10,o'clock, P. M., a colored
man came to witnesses' room and told them they had better leave
town as soon as possible, because he had heard several of the citizens
say they were "going to kill them" as "they were nigger lovers and
had visited the niggers at night." Witnesses remained, but saw
that their pistols were in good working order.  About 12 o'clock
that same night, some sixty or seventy (60 or 70) armed men, with
masks on their faces and white sheets on their horses, passed the
house in which witnesses were and proceeded to the residence of a
colored man by the name of Ishamn Buckhaulter, who is one of the
leading colored men in the parish. They broke down the doors of
his house andentered it with lighted torches, and demanded of him
his Republican tickets and his registration papers (he had not yet
registered).  They took about one hundred tickets, which he had
for distribution, and destroyed them: This party, who were of the
Ku lux, next eint to the house of Robert Magee, who is another
leading Republican, and took from him  about the same number of
tickets and destroyed them. On  the following evening this sae
esvitig 
85
party went to the house of GCeorge Washington  Burrows, a colored
man, and took some fifty (50) Republican tickets from him, after
rhamefully beating him and breaking down the doors of his house.
The following morning witnesses went to the postoffice, about 10
o'clock, and as they were going away, they saw a colored man beckon ing to them from the edge of the woods. Mr. Benedict remarked to
Mr. Hennesy that he (Hennesy) had better go on, and that he
(Benedict) would go and see what the colored man wanted.  On his
way there, ho saw four white men on horseback, armed with double barrelled shot-guns.  He found the colored man hidden behind a
tree, crying, who stated that a squad of "Ku Klux" had been to his
house the night before and "beat his old father almost to death."
Witness told him, he could do nothing for him, that he was watched
just as much as the colored people were.  This colored man stated
that his father was beaten because he denied that witnesses had been
to his house on several occasions. His father denied it, because he
knew witnesses would be assassinated if it was known they had
visited him. This same gang of Ku Klux patrolled the parish for
five nights, committing outrages on the colored people.  On the
morning of the 3d of November, 1868, the colored voters were
brought into town by armed white men. A man by the name of
Hapgood came in with a pair of "six shooters" at his side.  Pulling
out a revolver before the crowd, he said, "Show me the black
Republican son of a b-h that dares to vote the Republican ticket,
and I will shoot him on the spot." Then he commenced distributing Democratic tickets to all the colored men, and made them vote
that ticket, with his revolver pointed at their heads.
Witnesses registered in the parish two hundred and fifty-six (256)
colored men.  These men would have voted the Republican ticket
unanimously if they had been permitted to do as they wished, but
not one Republican ticket, was cast in the whole parish. There were
some thirty(30) colored hands on the plantation of Mr. Brumfield (a
white Republican) who did not register, as they stated they knew
they would not be allowed to vote as they wished; Mr!.:/Brumfield
did not register for the same reason  Mr. R. Babington, who is the
postmaster at Franklinton, Washi'kton parish, was the s!ecretary of
this gang of "Ku Klux."  He gave all the colored me  a certificate
gav~~~~~~~Le all<. th ooe
signed R. Babington, secretary, "certifying that the bearer had voted
the Democratic ticket and upon presentation at any store they could 
buy goods." Any colored men not having such certificate could not
get the necessaries of life at any price.  On  the 5th of November a
colored man named Elijah Andrews met Mr. Benedict (one of the
witnesses) and his wife, on the road leading to squire Richardson's;
he was crying; Mrs. Benedict asked him why he was crying? He
answered that "he had been driven away from his home by one Wmn
McGee, who had come to his house with a double barreled shot gun
and- wanted to know why he had not been to the election?" He told
McGee that he was sick and not able to go; whereupon, MAcGee
took his registration paper away from him and told him to "get out
of the parish inside of five days or he would kill him."  This colored
man's statement was verified by Mrs. Squire Richardson, who lives
near his house. There is a family of white people living about ten
(10) miles from Franklinton, by the name of Mushgrove, consisting'
of a father and four sons; they are a desperate set. They came to
Franklinton An the 4th of November, and remained three or four
days, committing all kinds of depredations on the colored people.  In
their tours around the town they would insult and knock down
every colored man they had a chance at; they split one colored
man's head open with a club and left him lying on the ground; these
same men halted before Mr. Hennesy's (one of the witnesses) roomand fired two shots through it, which fortunately injured no one; they
then galloped off. Witnesses further state that their lives were continually threatened while they were attending to their official duties
as spervisors of registration and election, and that they fully believe that it is impossible for Republicans, especially white ones, to
live ia Washington parish, as the most prominent white citizens
swear that no white or colored Republicans shall obtain a foothold in
their parish.  Postmaster Babington, before mentioned,  has taken
and subscribed to the "recantation oath" which is now on file in the
office of the Hon. Geo. E. Bovee, Secretary of State.
WASHINGTON-SUMMARY.
Number maltreated.......................................    7
Number.of Republican voters prevented from voting by intimi  dation............................................. 256
.86
t, 
PARISH OF BOSSIER.
Henry Taylor states, on oath, that he is a citizen and duly registered voter in New Orleans, Louisiana, and that on the 29th of September, 1868, while he was at Shady Grove, Bossier parish, he saw
a co'lored man on a gallery; a strange white man approached, and
remarked to the colored man that he was a d-d Radical. The
colored man replied that he was a Radical, when the white man
drew a pistol and fired at him. He fell, but was not hurt. The
white man then got in his wagon and covered himself up, but the
colored mien hearing the shot fired, ran from their quarters to the
wagon and taking the white man out chained him and kept him as a
prisoner, intending to take him to Bellevue and turn him over to
the civil authorities. Captain Curtis, and other citizens of Bossier
parish, clubbed together that night and unchained him. iHe then
went off, and brought back with him from ninety to a hundred men,
armed with revolvers, shot guns and rifles. When they arrived at
the Shady Grove Plantation, they commer.nced firing at the colored
people, killing eight (8) men and two (2) women. The women
were killed while pleading for their husbands. After this they took
seven men to the springs, six of them were killed, and one of them
was shot and left for dead, but was able to return'to the plantation.
These white men learning that they had not killed all the men they
took from the plantation, returned and killed the wounded man and
his wife. They also saw some carpenters at work making coffins
for the dead, whom they killed with their tools in their hands while
at their work.  The killed at ihe Shady Grove plantation amounted
to eighteen men and three women.  This armed band of white men
took all the arms on the place. The colored men did not use any
weapons or bad language. At Gum Springs, these men met a colored
man, whom they ordered to take his hat off, which he refused to do,
when they put a chain around his neck, cut his throat and hung him
up to a tree. He remained hanging to this tree for three days, when
he was taken down and buried by the colored men, at the request of
the planters; said colored men being afraid to go near him until 
reqiiested to do so by the white men.  This band of  white   eiie
went to the preachers' houses and brought them out by force, and
beat them with their guns, and made them swear never to preach
the gospel again. These preachers were so badly beaten that the
people were obliged to carry them home and put them to bed; it
was supposed that they would die. These white men said that they
would kill all the "nigger men" and then they could rule the women.
Mrs. Catharine Taylor's child died and she was obliged to get protection from the white men to bury it, These white men who committed the murders were composed of citizens of Bossier parish, and
many of them leading planters.  On the 7th of October some fifty
planters, well armed and mounted, went to Benton, Louisiana, and
held a meeting. They started out in squads to different plantations,
killing men and women-twenty (20) colored men were killed that
night.  While the colored men werc picking cotton in the fields they
were shot down, without knowing who killed them or for whatzthey
were killed. The colored women ran away from the Shady Grove
plantation with their children, leaving everything. When witness
returned to said plantation he saw about twenty-five white men
there, some in the cabins and others standing about with their guns
in their hands, and heard them say that they intended to kill every
man, woman and child on the Dixon plantation (eighteen miles from
Shreveport, Louisiana), near Carolina Bluff. The remaining colored
men who were on the plantation left, for fear of losing their lives.
Witness then left with his wifo.
Isaac Young, a resident and duly registered voter of Bossier
parish, states on oath, that ho was a laborer on Dr. Vance's plantation; that on or about the 30th of September, 1868, about day light
in the morning, a party of white men, among whom were John
Vance, Thomas Vance, Calvin Vance, Whitfield Vance, Captain
Carter, James Brownlee, -       Ogden, William  Haynes, Griffin
Cheatham, Marsh Griffin, John Arnold, Bob Stinson, William Agent,
Joe Graham, Tom  Marks, Bill Marks,  Andrew Marks, George
McCauley, and James McCauley, all residents of Bossier, came to
Dr. Vance's plantation and took from there the following named
colored men: Simon Crawford, Alex. Arnold, Jeff. Williams, Steve
Vance, and two others named Steve and Bob.  These latter they
took to Benton and killed, and the rest they killed at Gum Springs,
8 
a few miles above. - Witness saw said John Vance kill one Fien'
Chambers, at the gate on Dr. Vance's plantation.  Vance shot him
first in the breast, when Jim Saunders shot said Chambers three
times. The shooting was because of the said John Vance aslking
Chambers to go with him to Benton, and on Chambers refusing,
Vance fired, but missed, when he again fired, hitting him in the
breast.  Chambers then jumped at and caught Vance  by  the
shoulder, and fell with him struggling. Saunders then shot Chambers three times Chambers was not armed. After the shooting, as
a colored man named Alfred Green came out of the gate to see
what the trouble was, Vance threw his pistol at him.  Vance and
Saunders then left. Witness heard all of this transaction himself,
lying concealed under the house of Dr. Vance! he had fled from the
place in the morning to avoid being taken away with the others,
and had returned and concealed himself under the house.  Friday,
October 2, 1868, in the night, about twelve o'clock, Fred Kinney
came to witness and told him that the white men (Vance and others)
had released him (Kinney) for the purpose of finding him (witness),
so as to betray him into their hands. Kinney also told witness that
Dr. Whitfield Vance ordered the colored man Bob to be killed, saying that he was too much of a Radical for him, when a large bowie
knife was put on his shoulder and driven down into his heart.  The
blood spurted about his head and he fell dead on his back.  The
white men then made the colored men kneel down about the deceased and look into his eyes, and then ordered them to carry him
to the side of the road, saying that they would make buzzards meat
of hint. Kinney also stated to witness, that as these white men
were going to Benton they met two colored women on horseback,
whom they took from their horses, and, taking their lariat ropes,
hung them to a tree near by, and then ordered the colored men to
take the-ir bodies to the side of the road and cover them with brush.
The origin of this difficulty was, that on Sunday, the 27th of Sep'
tember, 1863, a white rman-a stranger to the people-stopped at
the negro quarters, on the Shady Grove plantation, and wished to
purchase corn. This stranger inquired of an old colored man who was
lying down in front of his quarters what his politics were. The old
man not answering him, he raised his gun and snapped one barrel
at said colored man.  He then fired the other barrel, but the colored man turning over, the shot entered the door.  The colored
1$
8 
me  then arrested thisi white man for the purpose oQ taking him
before the civil authorities; but on Monday morning a body of
armed white men came and released this man, and took him to a
justice of the peace, but refused to allow any colored men to go to
give testimony.  No evidence being against him he was released.
This white man reported around that he had been whipped and
robbed by the colored men on the plantation, and on the strength
of his report he and others took witness' horse and four other
horses as a compensation for the alleged robbery, when in fact
nothing had been taken from him.  This was the same party who
took away and murdered the colored men, as above stated. For
two weeks after these events witness was pursued and searched for
by these white men, but succeeded in eluding them, and, believing
that his life was not safe in the parish, he came to New Orleans.
These white people had a spite against witness, as he was a Republican and had assisted the Republican party.  The name of witness
was mentioned among others as an object of revenge. William
iaynes, told witness's wife that he (Haynes), Jim Chatham, and
Whitfield Vance, would give two hundred dollars ($200) reward for
him (witness), dead or alive. The object of these persecutions was
to make the colorea men vote the Democratic ticket, which witness
has since learned they were compelled to do.
C. W. Keeting, a resident of Shreveport, Caddo parish, Louisiana,
twenty-seven years of age, states, on oath, that he is Deputy United
States Marshal, for the District of Louisiana, and that on the 30th
day of September, 1868, he was called upon, by a number of citizens
of Shreveport, to make an application to the commanding officer of the
post of Shreveport, Captain Chas. E. Farrance, for a detachment of
United States troops, to aid in suppressing a riot, then said to be
going on in Bossier parish between white  and colored citizens.
About 6 o'clock in the evening witness proceeded to the bayou, near
the Shady Grove Plantation, Bossier parish, with a company of
United States troops, under the command of Captain Coes; upon
arriving there witness found about seventy-five citizens of Shreveport armed, and nearly all mounted.  Witness saw no colored man
in the vicinity; the white men had pickets thrown out; witness
went to the commnanding officer of these men-one Captain Nuttfor information in regard to the riot, and was told by him that the 
91
trouble originated a few days before, by a white man from..Anss
shooting among some colored men residing on the Shady (}rove
Plantation; that the white man was arrested and held a prisoner by
the colored men, and afterwards released at the request of citizens
of the parish; that this white man proceeded to his home, and procured the assistance of about forty or fifty other white men, and returned to said plantation early in the morning of the 30th of
September, 1868, and commenced firing on the colored people, killing one and wounding four or five others.  They  then  started
toward Benton, with quite a number of colored men  as prisoners
About 11 o'clock A. M., of the same day, the colored men of the
Shady Grove plantation, and from other plantations in the vicinity,
to the number of about fifty, armed themselves and proceeded to
the bayou, near iMr. Bari's plantation, and arrested two white men
named Brownlee and Ogden.  The colored men stated that they
were going to take them to Shreveport, as they were with the Arkansas men that did the shooting on the Shady Grove Plantation that
morning.  They had proceeded down the road but a short distance
when the order "fire" was given by sonme one in the party, and both
Brownlee and Ogden died from the effects of the wounds received;
then the colored men returned to their homes  Witness left the
troops at the ferry, near the Shady Grove Plantation, and rode
towards Benton in company with Captain Nutt and two other citizens of Shreveport, where they arrived about 12 o'clock at midnight;
witness found about one hundred white men assembled at that place
armed, but no colored men were to be seen here nor were there any
on the plantations from the ferry to Benton, a distance of about five
miles.  Early the next morning about two hundred white citizens
from the different sections of Bossier parish, reported to Captain
Nutt, armed and mounted.  As many of these men were under the
the influence of liquor, and talked of kiling the colored people that
had left the plantations and were supposed to be armed and hid in
the swamps, witness told Captain Nutt that if these men would
go home, that  he (witness) would take a detachment of United
States troops mounted and go to the swamps and counsel.the colored
men to return to their plantations, and then all those that were
guilty of any crime could be arrested by the proper authorities.
Captain Nutt favored this plan, but the white citizens of Bossier
seemed determined to hunt the coloredpeoale in the swamps themselves,
and as witness well knew that they would  shoot every colored 
92
man they found with arms, he would have nothing to do with them.
The Sheriff of Bossier-Mr. Hill-arrived a short time after, and
witness returned to Shreveport, leaving him in charge; 3Ir. Nutt
and many others left for their homes when witness did. On the 1st
day of October some of the white men f-om Arkansas returned to
Bossier and killed five colored men who had taken no part in the
riot whatever. For about a week after this, armed citizens rode
through the parish shooting colored men; they said they had the
names of all the men that were in the party that killed Brownlee
and Ogden, and that they were determined to kill every one of these
men they could find. Five (5) colored men were taken from the
brickyard of Mr. Johnson, near Shreveport; three of them were shot
and their bodies thrown into Red river. One colored man that had
been wounded was taken friom Mr. Smedley's plantation and killed.
The colored people of  Shreveport and vicinity were  greatly
frightened, and thinking that their whole race [was about to be
murdered, left for other portions of the State. It would be impossible to state the correct number of killed, but from the best information that could be obtained by the Agent of the Freedmen's
Bureau and witness, the number' of killed in Bossier parish and
about Shreveport, Louisiana, from the 30th day of September, 1868,
to the 7th day of October, 1868, will exceed one hundred (100).
George Harris, a registered voter and a resident of Bossier part
ish, La., and for the last ten (10) years a preacher of the gospel,
states on oath that he is President of a Republican club in Bellea
vue, Bossier parish. That about the 20th of October, 1868, witness first heard that Democrats were going to kill him because he
was a Radical.  Elias Cong, Tom Gillmore, Elias Connell, Jim Hearn,
and Thomas Hutchinson, who live on their plantation, between Bellevue and Red Shute, said that the Democrats would kill all the niggers
before they should vote the Radical ticket. Just before the election
witness saw, about seven miles from Bellevue, towards Shreveport,
one colored man, his wife, and two other women, (one of whom was
pregnant) lying dead in a house. They were all shot. A colored
boy, about fourteen or fifteen years of age, was also dead in the
house; he was cut with a knife in the side. Witness saw, about the
same time, three colored men lying dead on the top of the ground.
They had been shot, and evidently left there for the buzzards to feed 
upon.  Witness saw the dead bodies of two colored men and one
woman floating down Bayou Red Shute. Witness having heard
that the Democrats were going about the parish killing the colored
people, and having heard so many threats against his life, left for
New Orleans, traveling eighty (80) miles through the woods, and
avoiding all roads that were much traveled. The colored people
were all terrified, not knowing when their time would come to be
muLrdered.
BOSSIER-St ARY.
Number killed, positively sworn to................... 162
Number shot, positively sworn t o............................  I1
Number maltreated, positively sworn t o......................  6
RE,ARKIS.-It is estimated that many more persons were killed in
the. Bossier "negro hunt" than the above estimate,
I
93 
li 
IPARISH OF OUACHITA.
RPEMARKS.-The following affidavit refers to matters embodied in a
former report, and is inserted for the purpose of correcting some
errors in that report:
Hon. O. H. Brewster states, on oath, that he is thirty-six years of
age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the parish of
Ouachita, State of Louisiana.  That before the election of April 17
and 18, 1868, he kept a store at Trenton, in said parish. That lihe
represents the said parish in the lower House of the Legislature
of Louisiana, having been elected on the Republican ticket by
the Republicans of his representative district. That a short time
after the elections of April, 1868, five houses, situated about
three miles from Trenton, were set on fire by a party of white
men in disguise; it was said there was fifteen or twenty of them.
They were dressed in black robes, and their faces painted black. The
houses burned were occupied by colored people, except one, where
lived a white woman, who had several children; it was quite currently
reported that this woman was living with a colored man. Every
respectable person with whom witness talked about this outrage
strongly condemned it, except one merchant of Trenton; he approved
it, saying "that he was glad of it; that the persons living in those
houses were a parcel of thieves; that he had often missed property
that he supposed had been stolen by the inmates of said houses."
A colored man named Jordan Hunter was one of the principal tenants
of one of those houses, and was, during the night they were fired,
shot at (it is said a great number of times) and wounded in four (4)
several places, dangerously, but not mortally.  Witness  knew him
well, and had often traded with him; he was a very honest man,
and Southern men, who had known him from his boyhood, gave the
highest praise to his character. The day after this outrage had
been committed, Hunter left for Monroe, and his wife, after having
vainly sought shelter about the town, and after having been turned
out everywhere, came to witness, and lie gave her the hospitality of
his house.  The excitement ran very high for several days among the
colored people who came to witness'for advice; he persuaded them to
. *   
bear these things patiently, and not to commit any excesses.  A Pew
days after a meeting largely attended by planters and merchants
was held, and a series of resolutions condemning thieving among
colored people, and murdering and burning among the white people
and other outrages perpetrated by secret Klans, having been introduced by Capt. Jos. P. Crosby, a very influential and prominent
citizen of the parish, and unanimously adopted, it quieted the whole
matter.  That action had a very good effect, as witness has never
heard of any other disturbance in that section since, and he thinks
if intelligent and well inclined Democrats would take similar steps
everywhere in Louisiana, it would contribute a good deal to re-establish law and order in the State.  In regard to Franklin Sinclair,
the colored teacher, who was murdered on the 16th of April, he was
a candidate on the Republican ticket for Representativei and witness
was chosen in his stead, after the news of the sad event reached the
Republican headquarters at Monroe. When witness came to Monroe
on Friday morning he was quite astonished to find the Republicans
voting for him, as he had had no intimation of any nomination.
Franklin Sinclair was very highly esteemed by the Southern people
who knew him, and almost every white man with whom witness
conversed on the subject, expressed his regrets at this foul murder,
and allowed that since they knew him they had not seen him out of
his place once.  The only offense Southerners could find him guilty
of, that witness ever heard, was that he had been teaching a negro
school.  In regard to the conduct of the election, on Friday night,
April 17, 1868, witness received a note from Mr. Butler, commissioner of elections at Forksville, setting forth that there had been
such threats and so much intimidation used against the Republicans
at that poll, that he dared nat' continue the election the next day
without some protection, and requesting witness to make application
at headq(uarters for troops, in order that every citizen might be protected in the free exercise of his rights.  Troops were not sent,
however, and witness does not know whether that poll was opened
the next day or not. In witness' precinct at Trenton, everything
went on very fairly, the Deputy Sheriff stationed at the poll, a Mr.
Coats, a Democrat, who stood there during the whole time that the
election was going on, freely acknowledged to witness, after the polls
had closed, and the election was concluded, that everything had been
fairly conducted, and that he did not see any illegal voting by either
party.
d 
the ion. Frank Morey states, on oath, that in the month of October, 1868, a few days before the Presidential election, a colored man
named Mitchell Allen, a prominent member of the Republican club
at Monroe, Ouachita parish, who was employed as a fireman by the
North Louisiana Railroad Company, was assassinated at Girard
Station, Morehouse parish.  There was strong circumstantial evidence pointing to a well known character about Monroe, name unknown, who was known by the soubriquet of "Redi Henry," as the
assassin.  Said "Red Henry" has since that time, been killed in
Arkansas.
LFrom the Republican.]
The Monroe Intelligencer gives us a pleasant view of affairs in
that section on the day of election.  It is another proof of the per fect security with which Republicans could vote:
The ffollowing is as correct a statement of the trouble at the
Filhiol box, on the day of election as we  have been able to  get.
Everything went on quietly, and nearly two hundred votes had been
polled when the commissioners started to dinner.  On  their return,
they found that about thirty strange white men on horseback, aceompanied by one colored man, and fully armed, had arrived in front of
the polls. On re-opening the polls, a colored man voted a Republican ticket, and the crowd of strangers being informed of it immediately called on the colored man in their company, whom they called
Bob Stiff, to pitch into him. Stiff immediately knocked this colored
man down with a stick, but after he had been struck once or twice
the man succeeded in making his escape.  While this was going on
a difficulty occurred between another colored man and the strangers,
who were about to kill him, when Mr. P. Carrington interfered, and
saved his life at the risk of his own. Shortly after this, the party of
strangers mounted their horses and rode down the road; they had
been absent but a short time, when some firing was heard in the
direction they had taken.  On their return they stated that a colored
man named Culpepper, in Mr. Filhiol's field, had fired at them, and
that they had killed him in consequIence.  In proof of this they exhibited a stick in which some shots were lodged.  At Bight there
was considerable apprehension of dificulty among both races, but
nothing serious occurred, excepting the buring of a schoolhouse
belonging to the colored people on the Bres plantation, and of the
!3
97
s 
:ornctcrib, withl twelve lhundred bushels of corn on the Faust planta:
tion.  A colored man, whose name we have been unable to learn,
was shot in the mouth. That night about fifteen colored men came
to town for protection, which was extended to them by the sheriff.
On Wednesday warrants were issued against a number of the men,
who were said by the colored meni to have been implicated in the
difficulties of the night. On Wednesday night Sheriff Wisner, and
Mr. Dobson, acting as his deputy, with some cavalry, started down
to arrest the accused, whom they brought to town on Thursday.
The prisoners immediately gave bonds for their appearance for trial
on Friday. On that day the case was continued until Monday.
On Friday three of the principal witnesses in the difficulties of
Tuesday night, named Simon Peterson, Daniel Webster and Orphey
Johnson, all colored men, started down the river to go to their
homes, and stopped on the Copley plantation for one of them to
see his wife, when they were taken out of the cabin by a party of
eleven white men.  Four of the white men took them to the deadening in the rear of the plantation and there told them lo kneel
down and say their prayers, as they would be killed.  Instead of
doing this they broke and ran, when fire was opened on them by the
whites, and Peterson and Webster were killed, but Johnson succeeded in making his escape Johnson came to town on Friday
evening about dark, and his story created a great deal of indignation
among all classes of our community.
Mr. Duffel, who has charge of the Copley plantation, makes the
following statement as to what occurred prior to taking the men
out of the cabins: The white men came riding to his house furiously
and stated that they had been fired on by some negroes from the
corner of the fence, and that the negroet had hid themselves in one
of the cabins, and unless they were brought out immediately, they
would burn up the quarters. Mr. Duffel went in search of the negroes, and found them hid in the loft of one of the cabins. A shot
was fired at him, said by the colored men to have been by accident,
when he told them that they must come down or the cabin would
be burned up, with them in it. The negroes then came out and
were taken away by the four white men, as stated by Johnson.  The
names of these four men are Pinekney Faust, Marion Faust, Beaver
and John Faulk.
Warrants were issued on Saturday for the arrest of the four accused, and on Sunday morning Sheriff Wisher started out with a
11.
ti 8 
posse for their arrest, but did not succeed in finding any of them.
The bodies of the two killed colored men were found on S nday
afternoon by some colored men, together with the dead boiies of
their horses,
The case of the parties arrested by Sheriff Wisner was c nued
on Monday until Thursday.
OUACITA-SUMMARY.
Number kiled..............................................4
Number shot...............................................2
Number maltreated..........................................3
~
99 
~A
4
I 
PARISH OF RAPIDES.
W. F. McLean states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and resides in the town of Alexandria, Rapides parish,
That he is the editor and publisher of the Rapides Tribune, the
official journal of the parish; that the first issue was made on the
Bd day of October, 1868, and on the evening of the same day he
left for New Orleans, to obtain type and material for the purpose of
completing his newspaper and job office.  He afterwards returned
to Alexandria with new type and material for the purpose above
specified, and with two additional printers. On the night of the
15th of October, 1868, the office was broken open by a, mob, and
portions of the press-which rendered it useless-and all the new
type and material, with a large quantity of the old type, *as by
them thrown into Red river; all of the old type and some of the
new that was in the cases was scattered in the street, together with
the cases.  The civil authorities took no action in the matter what
ever. The loss in material alone sustained, amounts to about three
thousand dollars ($3000). The loss of business, and the expense
incurred amounts to about two thousand ($2000) more. On the
31st day of October, 1868, witness again left for New Orleans, for
the prpose of refurnishing his office with type, material, paper, etc.,
and again arrived at Alexandria on the morning of the 15th of November, with the material specified.  On the night of the same day
his office was again broken into, and all the type and material and
portions of the press-so as to render it useless-together with his
trunk, clothes, papers, books, and everything of a movable character,
was taken out and destroyed.  This loss amounts to about three
thousand dollars ($3000).   The business being entirely destroyed,
the loss of business is about two thousand dollars ($2000); but
cannot be properly estimated in consequence of the complete des truction of the office.  It is'possible to print a Republican
paper in the said parish, without the immediate protection of the
military forces.  Witness was appointed Mayor of Alexandria, by
Governor Warmoth, (under and by authority of the act incorporat
r 
-,, 04  11 
o102
kng the town of Alexandria, approved September 29, 18688,) a
short time before the general elections, but declined to act as such,
believing it best not to attempt to exercise the authority of the
office, during such exciting timnes, or until the election was over.
When he returned, on the 15th of November, he stated to some
friends that he would issue his proclamation on the 17th and enter
upon the discharge of the duties apprctaining to the office of Mayor.
This fact becoming known to the acting Mayor, and other members
of the Democratic party, they commenced a series of abusive assaults during the day, (15th inst.,) and at night assaulted witness,
with missiles of every description.  The night was very dark, so
much so that witness could not recognize any of the parties. Some
friends of witness told him on that day, that there were many parties who had told them "to advise him not to exercise the functions
of the office; that he would not be    allowed to do so, and if he attempted it he would not live a week."  John McBride, a printer in
the office, was with witness when he was stoned.  McBride had been
frequently told by parties, to suggest to witness, that he had better
not attempt to exercise the duties of the office. Judge John
Osborn, District Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, told witness
that the "Ku Klux Klan," robed and masked, had visited and
stoned his (Judge Osborn's) dwelling at night, in Alexandria, twice
in one week, about the second week in November.  The same acts
were perpetrated on Judge Barlow, parish Judge; and such threats
were made by them against him that he was obliged to seek the
houses of friends at night, to save himself from assassination. Both
of the above named Judges were elected to office on the Republican
ticket, at the election held on the 17th and 18th days of April, 1868.
On the 17th day of November, in Alexandria, Mr. C. W. Boyce,
late president pro tern. of the State Senate, and now Justice of the
Peace, was asked who he voted for, on November 3, 1868. He replied, "for Grant and Colfax." Thereupon he was knocked down
and beaten. The party that assaulted Mr. Boyce is well known to
the civil authorities of the place, but so far they have failed to act
in the matter.  After assaulting Mr. Boyce, the same party drove
him across the river, to Pineville, where he resides. Acts of violence
of this kind are of frequent occurrence, and no notice whatever is
taken of them by the authorities, and it is believed they have been
committed with the knowledge and consent of the acting Mayor
E. R. Boisatt, and other prominent citizens of the parish.  Mr.  T. 
io,8
J~. Colamy, chairman of the Board of Supervisors for said partshi,
informed witness that while counting the votes, the day after the
election, a mob outside of the sheriff's office threatened to hang the
members of the Board of Supervisors, and many other acts of hostile demonstration, were committed for the purpose of intimidating
the parties who had charge of the election returns.  A large number of both white and colored voters, were obliged to vote the Demmocratic ticket for fear of bodily harm, who otherwise, would have
voted for Grant and Colfax at the late Presidential elections
ItAPIt)ES-SUMMABY.
Number maltreated................... 7.......-7
I.I * 
4. 
0
$
t
'i 
PARISH OF ST. TAMMANY.
Charles B. Evans, states, on oath, that he was a member of the
Board of Supervisors for the parish of St. Tammany during the late
regstration in this St.ate. That two colored men came to him on
Reitaini                                                 tohismtt.o 
the 4th day of November, 1868, and requested him to have some
white men arrested, that lived in Washington parish. These colored
men stated that on the night of Sunday, November 1, 1868, a party
of men, disguised and armed, came to their house in Washington
parish and took them to the swamp. They were asked how they
were "going to vote;" they replied, "Radical." They were then
tied to a tree and whipped with sticks, and left in this situation
until Tuesday morning about 9 o'clock. They only had one meal
during their confinement. They were told, upon being released, to
go and vote, and leave the parish, and mind that they "did not lose
their lives while doing so."  They then went to the polls with the in tention of voting, and were asked by a colored man how they were
going to vote; they remarked, "Radical."  One of them was imme diately knocked down by this colored man. The Republican tickets
that were sent out to the different precincts for distribution among the
colored people, never reached them, because the other two members of
the Board, Mir. E. Linderman and Captain J. H. Ingraham, employed
Democrats to distribute them.  When  deponent held  them  to
account for this negligence, they replied, "that they could not find
anybody else to go;" but witness knew very well that they could
have found plenty of honest, colored Rlepublicans, who would have
been glad to have undertaken the trust.  One of  the returning
officers, appointed by the other two members of said Board of
Supervisors, while on his way to "Bayou Chitto," got drunk, and
had his ballot box taken away.  This officer's name was E. Shean,
and tickets that had been intrusted to him to deliver among the
colored people, were not received by them.
The following is an official statement of Wrin. Baker, Chairman of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of November 3, 1868, in the Parish of St, Tammany:
14
8 a 0
I 
106
The parish of St. Tammany is no exception to the other parishes
where intimidation has been resorted to. The report of the supervisors shows conclusively that citizens in that parish no longer enjoy
the privilege of the ballot. "A week or ten days before the election
tle Ku-Klux Klan rode around parts of the parish and threatened
and intimidated the voters." "The editor of the St. Tammany Vindicator had to fly from the parish to save his life." Houses of known
Republicans were visited as a part of the system of intimidation and
surveillance.  The Democrats announced that no white man should
vote any but an open ticket.  Out of 1465 registered  voters 261
failedl to vote.  Yet the white and colored population of the parish
are about equally divided.  The registrars conclude asfollows: "We
are satisfied that had there been no,intimidation used, the Republican
majority in the parish would have been at least two hundred."
ST. TAM.ANY-SUiM'ARY.
Number maltreated.................................. 
...........~........  2 
PARISH OF UNION.
J. E. Trimble states, on oath, that he resides in Unioin parish,
State of Louisiana; that on or about September 1, 1868, in the town
of Farmersville in said parish, a Democratic club, organized under
the name of "The Central Democratic Club of Union Parish," notified the colored people, that, in case they became members  of the
Democratic club, and voted their ticket, they would be protected
from the Ku-Klux, and they would issue to them protection papers;
and in case they should not vote, they must surrender to the club
said protection papers. Many colored people were induced through
fear to become members of this, and other Democratic clubs through
out the parish. Several colored members of this organization came
to deponent, stating that they were members of this club, but desired
to vote the Republican ticket, if they could safely do so.  At pre cinct number two  (deponent was informed),  the colored people
were marched in file to the polls, under the leadership of the officers
of their club, to vote the Democratic ticket, previously prepared for
them. As Chairman of the Board of Registration for the parish of
Union, the returns, made to witness in his official capacity, from
Marion, precinct number six, were informal, in this, that there was
no certificate of the Commissioners of election of that precinct ac companying them, as required by law; at said precinct about one
hundred and seventy-six ballots were polled, all Democratic. On or
about the 18th of April last, while attending the election at the
Downsville precinct, a colored man named "Jack," to whom witness
had furnished Republican tickets, was threatened with violence, and
through fear he left the place to return to his home. As soon as it
was discovered that he was gone, a party of three white men fo1l lowed him, and overtaking him on the road, struck him on the back
of the head with a heavy stick or club; he ran off through the woods,
when he was fired at with pistols. Upon reporting the above to the
proper officers, no action (so far as deponent knows) was ever taken
in the matter.
UNION -SUMMARY.
Number maltreated.................................................. 1 
I~~~~~
-1 
PARISH OF BIENVILLE.
W. H. Honnens states, on oath, that he is a resident of the parish
of Bienville; that on the 28th day of May, 1868, a party of seven
white men came to hIis house on their way to Pine  BlufI Landing,
asking if they could do anything for him at the landing, on the arrival of the boat. HIe gave them a letter to deliver on the boat. On
their'return they stopped at his house, and called him out. When
he went out, one of them, named Hardy Took, fired at him.  The
ball hit him in the head, and knocked him senseless.  When he recovered he found that he had fourteen wounds, twelve of which were
in his hip and thigh. His wife came out upon the balcony, and beggedc
them to spare his life, but they continued to fire at him, until she
called the colored people for assistance, when they left. The follows
ing morning the same party passed his house, and one of them,
named H. Shehee, came and inquired how le was, if he was badly
hurt.  Having been informed that these men would come back and
complete their worlk, he left the parish as soon as he was able to
move, leaving his tur-niture, house and property, to the mercy of
these people. Since he came to New Orleans he has received information that they have driven his colored workmen away from his
place, and prevented them from gathering the crops. On the
same day, May 28, 1868, a party of white men  took a colored
man named Moses Lawhorn, from his house to the woods, and there
murdered him. After killing him they cut off his head to make sure
that he was dead; the only provocation was that he was a Bepubi.
can. About a week after witness left, he received information that a
party of unknown white men, had shot a colored man named Robert
Vickers, because he did not attend a Democratic meeting, which he
had been notified to attend.  All the colored men in the parish are
notified to attend these Democratic meetings, and failing to do so,
are visited at night, taken out, and either whipped and beaten, or
murdered.
BIENVILLE-SUMMARY.
Number killed, positively sworn to.............................1
Number shot, positively sworn to.....................2......
IQ
-0-1 
0
~
6 
PARISH OF WINN.
D. M. Wvhite, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he was as.
Assistant Sub-Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in
the parish of Winn. About the latter part of August (1868) a party
of armed whlite men went to the house of Hal Frazier and his son
Brantly Allen, colored, the latter teacher of the freedmen's school,
near Frazier's mill, and called them to come out; as they did
not answer, these men went to the window and fired several times
into the house, but fortunately without hitting them. They were
compelled to leave the house and conceal themselves in the swamp
in order to preserve their lives. The colored men are threatened
with violence if they do not vote the Democratic ticket.
SMITmFIELD, December 12, 1868.
W. B. Phillips, Esq.:
DEAR SIR-A most horrid murder was committed by two white
men at Frazier's mills, in Winn, fifteen miles from here.  Two colored
men by the name of Hal Frazier and Robinson, were sent to their
final resting place without a moment's warning.  Hal Frazier was
an honest colored man, and owned a saw mill, but was a strong
Radical. Capt. White has been driven away from Winn parish, and
they tried to decoy me to Alexandria, for the purpose of assassinating
me. The fact is, Phillips, if you was here I would not give two bits
for your hide.
*       *       *        *                  *     *       *       *
W. S. CALHOUN.
S. B. Shackleford states, on oath, that he is a resident and duly
registered voter of Rapides parish, State of Louisiana; that previous to 1860, one Hal Frazier (colored) was a slave of one John
Frazier, of Winn parish, and that said Hal Frazier bought and
paid for himself, and has since purchased a saw mill with machinery
t
V4
.-. 0 *
Yours tr aly,
(Signed) 
attached and about 2000 acres of land, of said John Frazier, his
former owner. That about the 8th of December, 1868, a double
murder was committed at said saw mill on the persons of said Hal
Frazier and one Jesse Robinson.  That, of Winn parish,
told witness that in a conversation with John Frazier, about fifteen
days previous to the murder, said John Frazier asked him (        )
to leave Frazier and come and work for him.  He ( —) replied
that he was working for Hal Frazier and could not leave.  John
Frazier then replied,'"D-n you; you and Hal Frazier will both
smell bullet packing in less than ten (10) days; we will break up
that nest of Radicalisml" Witness is of the opinion that said
John Frazier and one Doctor Cockrell, son-in-law of said John Frazier, were accessories to the murder of said Hal Frazier and Jesse
Robinson.
CALHOUNE'S PLANTATION, RAPIDES PARISH, 
December 10, 1868.  11
General A. L. Lee, lEditor of New Orleans Republican.
DEAR SIR-I write to inform you of the latest rebel outrage in
Winn parish, perpetrated on two colored men named Hal Frazier
and Jesse Robinson.  On the morning of the 8th inst., two strangers went to Hal Frazier's saw mill —as they said-to buy a bill of
lumber.  Noot finding Hal at the mill they left.  Yesterday, at about
twelve o'clock, they returned, and finding Hal there, engaged him in
conversation about the price of lumber, etc.  One of them took Hal
from the mill to measure some lumber, while the other remained
near Robinson. WVhile Hal was kneeling down, drawing a plan for
the house the stranger wanted built, the man pulled his pistol and
when Hal raised his lhead he was shot, the ball entering under his
right eye and coming out at the back of his head. As soon as the
pistol was shot the man in the mill drew his pistol and shot Robin.
son througch the back and once through the head.  As soon as they
found Hal was dead, one of them took his pocket book, which contained some three or four hundred dollars in money  and valuable
notes.  They then mou-nted their horses and rode off.  Hal Frazier
was a hard working man and owned the saw mill anild considerable
property, in land, stock, etc.  No one had anything against him,
except that he was a thorough Radical; it was on that account he
was murdered.  I left the parish, as I know that I will be mur
0
i    I
,, L I
I 
~ig
dered in the same manner as Frazier was, as some parties hard
threatened to " fix"  me the same way.  I
I am respectfully, etc.
D). W. WHITE,
Late Supervisor of Winu parish
WINN-SUMMARY.
Number killed positively sworn to.....................2
Number maltreated positively sworn to...................3
15
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.4%     i         i                          
,A
4
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PARISH OF PLAQUEMINE.
Joseph Whittier, states on oath, that he was in the parish of
Plaquemine on the 21st day of October 1868, and was working on the
Fasinon plantation; he was going out hunting, when a white man
seeing him, hallooed, "hurrah for Seymour and Blair;" witness answered, by hurrahing for "Grant and Colfax," when a white man
came up and struck him in the face with a club; there were four
other white men with him; he made no resistance, for there were too
many for him. Witness ran, and they fired three shots at him, but
he was not wounded.
>LAQUEMINE- SULALY
Number maltreated...............1
I"
.,. 
I 
PARISH OF TENSAS,
Nestor Smith states, on oath (at an inquest held over the body of
Richard Hollis, who was killed at Ashwood, Tensas parish, Louisiana,
on the 23d day of October, 1868), that he was standing behind the
deceased in the store; a colored man who was standing beside him
asked deceased who he was for? Deceased replied  "I am for Grant,
and will be for him until I die," At, that, a white man by the name
of Blanchard, who was also there, said "If that is your calamity, get
out of here." When the shot was fired Mr, Blanchard was behind the
counter. Witness saw the pistol in Blanchard's hand and saw him
fire it.
The verdict of the jury in the above case was, "that the death of
said Richard Hlollis was caused by a pistol shot fired by a man
named Blanchard, whose christian name is unknown, and who if a
stranger in this parishi" and was signed by the following persons,
viz;
W. M. McGALLIARD.
JOE CLARK.
H. E MOORE.
his
ROBERT H CROOK.
marl
t  his
CHARLES H KELLEY,
mark.
TEXA-S8, Y.
pmber killed, positively sworq t..,.,,..*,
4%' 
r
,. l
14 
PARISH OF LAFAYETTE.
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, Chairman
of the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of the
3d of November, 1868:
"From the parish of Lafayette there does not appear to have been
any interference with registration, but armed bands of men patrolled
the parish and intimidated and prevented Republicans from voting."
0 
.6 
PARISH OF CLAIBORlNE,
From the Republican, November 17, 1868.
Sometime since a mob partially destroyed the printing establishment of the Homer Illiad, owned by Hon. Y-. Jasper Blackburn, M.
C.  This was done dumng the [absence of Mvr. Blackburn to this city,
and 3r. Pratt, of Claiborne, a Democratic PLepresentative in the present
Legislature, very promptly and mag,nanimrously off-ered to place at
sir. Blackburn's disposition the printing material of the Mfinden
Demlocratic pa,per.
The publication of the illiad was resumed again, and we now
learn from Mr. Pratt that the establishment has been sacked a second
time in the nght, and this time comple-tely demolished.
The people of Claiborne parish seem to fear the truth, and very
unwisely demonstrate their hostility to the discussion of Iepublican
principlcs, by dest-oying tTe and breaki.g up presses.
They are as Bad. as the benighted citizens of Franklin, Opelousas,
and Alexandria, who have done the same thing once.  The expense
of this luxuiy will be paid by tihe tax payers.
16 
a                                                                                                   I 
PARISH OF ASCENSION.
Mark Shonberg states, on oath, that he resides in the town of
Donaldsonville, parish of Ascension; that on Saturday, October 17,
1868, between the hours of eight and nine o'clock P. M., he saw
Mr. F. Reno, L. Guin, and about forty other men, all white, armed
with shot guns and revolvers. Reno told witness that they were
going to shoot him on sight; afterwards said Reno sent him word
he was going to shoot him himself.  These men purchased all the
fire arms in the town and put them in a secret place. Dr. Franklin,
who was with witness that night, was told by some of those men
not to go in company with witness, for they "wanted to shoot the
d-d son of a b-h." The doctor answered them, " I have always
been his physician and I will not leave him; he is a gentleman, and
if you want to shoot him, you will have to shoot me." The doctor
went with him to his house, and told him not to go out at night, for
he was in danger from these armed men. The civil authorities belong to this party of armed men, and will use no means to protect
the Republican citizens, but give these armed men protection. Witness is the postmaster appointed by the United States Government;
he also has the warehouse, and landing of the steamboats, where his
duty compels him to go.  These men are watching him every night;
they also patrolled the town every night; they stopped at his house
at midnight and, knocking at his room door, called him to come out,
when he went to the door they had gone; it being dark he did not
see them.  Witness was notified that he would be arrested, in the
morning on false charges, in order that they could get the chance to
kill him and raise a muss. Witness was told on Sunday night that,
in order to accomplish their designs, he was to be arrested the next
morning; he took a horse and buggy and came to New Orleans,
leaving his family, property, and all that he had at the mercy of
these men.
Morris Marks, Parish Judge, parish of Ascension, states on oath,
that the white citizens of the town of Donaldsonville, in the parish
of Ascension, are in every way and manner striving to create, by
threats and open demonstration, and by their disloyal course to bring
about dissatisfaction, and if possible riot and bloodshed between the 
12A
two races. Every imaginable dishonorable, low and degraded means
are put in practice, to bring about the ends of those who are leaders
in this, and other diabolical outrages, that have been, and are being,
perpetrated upon the loyal and law-abiding- citizens of both races
Those of the civil officers of the so-called Democratic party are none
other than those who still hold dear the rebel cause, and are in great
measure the upholders of the course pursued. ~The paper called
"The Drapeau," edited by Felix Renaud, assisted by one R. H.
Bradford, both of whom are as mean as the meanest could be, are
by their obnoxious publications, inciting the people toriot and murder which can be proved by the issues of the paper itself. - At the
meeting of a club of so-called Democrats, ill the first ward of the
parish of Ascension, of which H. L. Duffee is President, resolutions
were proposed, and unanimously passed, to the effect that at the
coming election those who are disfranchised by law, and consequently
not registered, are determined to vote peaceably if they can, and
forcibly if they must. Deponent is advised by his friends not to
return to the parish, as his life has been threatened by those who are
the leaders of the so-called Democratic party. As regards the election held on the 17th and lith days of April, 1868, frauds of the
grossest character which were perpetrated are daily com ing to light,
Gustave Arnheim states, on oath, that he is a resident and registered voter of Donaldsonville, parish of Ascension; that his life as
well as that of every loyal citizen, is in danger, having been repeatedly threatened by a gang of armed men, of which Felix Renaud is
the leader.  They meet daily at said Renaud's bar-room, where they
keep their arms deposited.  Deponent and others have used every
endeavor to prevent the disturbance, which this gang appear to so
anxiously seek. He and others have, however, found it impossible
for them to remain there without protection.  This condition of
things has been reported to General Hatch by the Bureau Agent
stationed at Donaldsonville. To avoid a disturbance which this gang
of unprincipled men had arranged, deponent left the place in a carriage on Monday morning and came to New Orleans to report to the
Governor and petition for assistance, and to warn Judge Marks not
to return to Donaldsonvil]e, as his life was in great danger.
ASCENSION —SUMMARY.
Number maltreated............ I....e.................... 
i 
PARISH OF CATAHOULA.
M. J. Lemmon states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and has been a resident of the parish of Catahoula for
the past two (2) years. He was appointed agent of the Freedmen's
Bureau for the above parish in May, 1867, and was relieved July 31,
1868. That J. A. Fanning arrived in the above parish on the 18th
day of October, 1868, as chairman of the Board of Supervisors, in
company with William Goodwin and Schuyler Marvin, as commnis sioners,  Mr. Marvin being sick and unable to work, Mr. Fanning
appointed witness in his place. The Board proposed to open their
office on or about the 20th day of October, 1868, at Mossy Grove, on
Black river. On that day witness was warned by James Dunckley,
Jr., not to open an office there, for if it was done his wife would
find him hanging to a tree some morning, and that the citizens would
not permit it. Dunckley also said that witness had been distribu ting " incendiary documents" among the freedmen, (meaning the Re.
publican papers of the State,) and that he understood that a Republican meeting was to be held at Mossy Grove, and if they should
attempt it they would be driven away and badly hurt.  This same
day, or the day following, a letter was dropped in Mr. Faniing's
hat, while he was at supper, warning him to leave the parish immediately.   On account of these threats the Registration office was
not opened at Mossy Grove; and witness firmly believes, from his
knowledge of those men, that if it had been, they would have carried their threats into execution, and no doubt would have killed the
members of said Board of Registration. But notwithstanding this,
he determined to, and did hold a Republican meeting at Mossy
Grove, advising the freedmen to come armed, as their lives were
threatened, which they did. Witness thinks there were about two
hundred freedmen in attendance. Just before the meeting commenced, about twenty-five white men, armed with double barreled
shot guns, came to deponent's place, and, finding the freedmen
armed, thought it advisable not to make any attack, and went away.
The meeting was held and passed off quietly. Witness received a
letter- found in his yard-warning himself and Mr. Fanning  to
.- i a a 
126
leave the parish on or before the 26th of October, or they would be
hung.  Another letter was also received by witness on the following
morning, containing similar threats. These letters were signed
"K. K. K.," with a picture of a gallows.  On the nights of October,
26th and 28th, a body of armed men came to witness/ house, disguised with masks; but finding some freedmen up, and not seeing
witness, left on both occasions without saying anything or doing
any harm.  To deponent's knowledge, a great many freedmen were
discharged from plantations because they refused to join the D)emocratic clubs ad vote the Democratic ticket.  A few  days before
the election a party of thiree white men went to the house of an old
colored man, in the night, took him into the woods, stripped him,
tied him to a st-ake, and gave hlim a large number of lashes with a
harness trace, and then told him to go, and if they found him in that
part of the parish the next day they would kill hlim. He started to
run and was fired at tlhree times, but was not hit.  The old maan was
so badly bruised from the said beating, that it took him three days
to get to witnress' house, a dista?ce of fifieen miles; and from what
he told and from wtncss' own knowle dge of these people, he has no
hesitation in saying tlhat the sole and only purpose of these men was
to get possession of the old man's crop, consisting of about twelve
acres of cotton and the same in corn. Witness firmly believes that
there have been-from twenty to twenty-five freedmen killed during
the past eight or ten months in Catahlioula parish.  About the 1st of
January, 1868, three colored men were arrested on suspicion of having killed an ox, and while on their way to jail were met b)y the
"Ku Klux,;" anid taken fromn the parties who had them in charge. A
few weeks after their bodies were found floating in a bayou.  Mr.
Newman, of Catahoula, (a. brother of Mr. Isidore Newman, broker in
New Orleans,) told witness that a party of white men visited his
place about the first of this year, and killed all the colored men,
women and children on the place, and then set fire to the house, gin
and barns, which were thereby burned to the ground.  Mr. Talliaferro, the chairman of our Board, told witness that he thought there
would be at least seven or eight hundred (700 or 800) freedmen that
would not register, on account of the threats that had been made
against them, such as, "They would be killed," "be hanged," "be
driven off the places," etc.  And many were deceived by being told
that it was not necessary for them to register again, that they could
vote on their old registration papers, while others were told that
I 
they had plenty. of time to register for tlie next three or four weeks,
when the parties tellirng these lies knew positively that the Registration office would close in a few days, viz: on the 24th of October,
1868.  Witness found his life inr so much danger while residing in
this parish, that he left oni the 29th dl,av of October and arrived in
this city on the 31st.  WTitness further states that Republicans cannot liv  with any security in Catahoula parish   That the leading
citizens of the parish were very sangune that Seyniour  and Blair
would be elected Presidenit and Vice Presidernt, and it was nothing
unusual to hear them say-infact it was their boast-'" that after
Seymour and Blair were elected, no G-d d —d Radical should live
in the parish."  The following are some of the names of the "Ku
Klux Klan" of Catahloula parish and of the parties that came to
witness' house, as before statoed:   - us runckley, Jr., R. R. Brown,
F. T. Leatherman, Frank Folk, John  Lacraunx, Mlichael  Lacraux,
Michael Beard, Joseph White, H. I-amsey, WTilliamn Jones, Eugene
Barrow, Rollins, and Turnage.  All these parties were at witness'
house, and he believes the man Rollins and his brother were the
murderers of the three colored mren arrested on suspicion of having
killed the ox hereinbefore spoken of.  That the said RPollins was
very bitter against the colored race, and witness believes from what
he has heard that he (Rollins) has kille-d at least thirty or forty of
thle said race since      surrener iof General le..., in 185.
Hlon,. 0. H. Brewster, mIember of the  iouse of Representatives,
State of Louisiana, states, on oath, that lie left the city of New Orleans on the 21st day of October, 1868, for the landing, six iiles
below Trinity, Catahoula parish.  On his arrival there he met Mr.
Lemmon, ex-agent of the Freecldmen's Bureau, and saw him pick up a
letter in his yard; the letter contained the following words, as near
as witn ess can recollect: "You and your Radical friend, Fanning,
(present Bureau agent for this paris,,Ih,) must leave tiis parish by the
26th instant, under the penalty of  being'hung;" it was signed
"K. K.  K.," and contained a picture-, of a gallows.  On the 23d of
October, 1868, witness visited Trini'ty and called upon the Board of
Supervisors, and was informed by Air. Taliaferro, who is a member
.of the Board, that there were about eight hundred freedmen who
had not registered.  This was on the 24th, and next to the last day
of closing registration.  Mr. Taliaferro believred these freedmen had
I; I
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I
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J2 9 
been deceived by the planters for whom they worked, and that the6'
planters had told said freedmen that their old registration papers
would do, and that the registration office would not close on the 24th
of October, 1868, but would keep open for three or four weeks
longer.  Mlr. Taliaferro said he thought they would have a peaceable election in the parish, but there was no doubt the parish would
go Democratic, on account of so many freedmen being deprived the
privilege of registering.  Witness says it was published in the papers that he would make a Republican speech that night at Lemmoin'is
place. A few of the colored men who came to the place of meeting,
came armed with double-barreled shotguns.  He asked these parties
why they came armed?  They replied that' parties of armed white
men had visited them on the plantations, and told them if they went
to hear Brewster, or any other Radical speak they would kill them,"
and that hundreds would have come to the meeting if they had not
been afraid of getting killed.  The following morning Mr. Lemmon
and witness found a letter in the gully, tied to a corn cob, containing
a warning, as follows: "Lemmon and his Radical friend must leave
by the 26th," signed "K. K. K,!! I"  A day or two afterwards
witness went to Ouachita parish to a point twelve miles below
Monroe, to fill another appointment that had been published. Directly after landing, he met an old overseer, and heard him say to a
boy on a white mule, "run quick and tell all of them."  It was
about a half mile to the store; after going there, and while conversing with Mr. Filhio, a crowd of men collected around, some of them
showing their fire-arms, and surrounded witness.  The man who
seemed to be the leader said "I believe this is Mr. Brewster?"  Witness replied, "Yes t how do you do, sir?"  He answered  "None of
your business." Witness then said "there is no need of having any
trouble; what is the matter?"  To which he replied  "We want to
notify you that you must leave this place to-day, or you will not live
:till night," or words to that effect. They also told witness that if
he intended to hold a Republican meeting he had better come with
a strong force, or they would not succeed. Witness told him he
"would like to know why they pursued this course?"  He replied
(the leader) "because you belong to a party that is trying to excite
the colored people to kill off all the white men, women and children;
the colored people are quiet now, and we are determined to keep
them so."  Witness answered, "I refer you to my course in the
State Legislature, to show  you that I have worked for the good of
-4 
the whole people, both white and black."  He answered, "It hmakes
no difference what your course has been; you belong to a party that
wants to bring on a war between the two races, and we are not
going to allow it, and we don't want any more talk about the matter." Witness went into Mr. Filhio's house, who recommended him to
go away for fear-these men would commit some outrages.  Witness
then left Mr. Filhio's house and started for Monroe, where he arrived
in the afternoon, and then immediately went to Trenton. He had
only been there a few minutes when two of his Democratic friends,
whose names he would not like to give, told him his presence might
make a disturbance, and he had better be on the lookout. Witness
saw several colored men who told him they could not vote for "Grant
and Colfax" and live there; that they would have to vote for "Seymour and Blair"  to save their lives  Many of them told witness
that their employers had taken their registration papers and would
make them vote for "Seymour and Blair." Just after dark witness
found the excitement so high that he started to return to MIonroe,
and while passing through the grounds that surrounded his house
he was fired upon by white men, who had previously threatened that
they would kill him before morning. He thinks these men were
strangers to him and were from some of the hill parishes.  Witness
is perfectly satisfied from his travels through the different parishes
of the State, thal- the Democratic party is controlled by a set of
white desperadoes, and that honest Democrats are as much intimidated as Republicans. A day or two after witness went to Madison
parish, and after passing Delhi, he was told by a Democrat that the
"Ku-Klux-Klan 1" had waited on a shoemaker, and warned him to
leave in a certain time; he was then packing up to go: Witness
found everything quiet along the river in this parish; he made
speeches at Millikenis Bend and in other portions of the parish, and
was well treated by the Democrats in each place.  In coming down
the Teche country through St. Mary parish since the election, witness
says it was openly said by Democrats on board of the boat, that "if
there was no other way to get rid of the Radicals, the Legislature
would have to go up."
Abraham Jackson, colored, states, on oath, that he was obliged
to flee from the town of Htarrisonburg, parish of (atahoula, on the
17
l 
:co
3lrd of November, 1868, on account of the demonstratioIns made by
the Democrats toward taking his life; that for some months past he
had been engaged in teaching a colored school in Harrisonburg; that
abou-tt two months since he found it necessary to close his school on
account of threats made against him by parties professing to be Demociats, since which time he had been engaged in cutting wood and
doing any other work he could get to do. On Mionday night, November
2, about 10 o'clock, witness being on the road, about three hundred
yards firom his house, he heard the sound of a body of men approaching, and being afraid, he crouched behind some rocks on the
road side, which they passed.  He judges there were a hundred
of them, all armed with guns and revolvers; they went directly to
his house ansd inquired for him; witness hearing everything they
said from where he was concealed.  A friend, who was at the house,
told them he did not know where witness was; whereupon they
threatened to shoot him if he did not tell. They then went to John
M,oore's (a colored man) house, and inquired forwitness; Moore told
them he dip not know where witness was; and then told them that
witness had read the Republican papers and documents to him so
much that he had become a Republican, otherwise he would be a
Democrat.  These men replied: "God d-n him, he had better
make his escape from here, for if we lay our eyes on him we will
slay him.'  One of their number, a Captain Gillespe, said: "If he
(witness) comes to the polls to-morrow I will blow his brains out,"
adding, "I will be there myself, and if Jackson enters the court
house door I will shoot him." Witness knows of nothing they have
against hiir except that he taught a colored school, and read the
Radical papers to the colored people, and tried to enlighten them as
much as he could; he has never heard them say they did not wish
the colored children taught, but has heard them say they "did not
want a black teacher in town." Witness says a large number of
colored men have been found killed in the parish on account of their
politics the past year.  There was a band of men called "Ku-Klux"
that went about the country in the night, and it was supposed those
found killed met their death at their hands. Witness farther states,
that there are about forty colored Democrats in the parish, and that
they are allowed to carry weapons, but that colored Republicans are
not allowed to carry them or have them in their houses; that on the
day of the election-he did not dare to go to the polls on account of 
i131
the threats made against him the night before, and becau,se the
Democrats had said that none but Democrats slhotld put tiheir ~ickets
in the ballot box.
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, C]::6ii,an of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of the
3rd of November, 1868, in the parish of Catahoula:
"From the parish of Catahoula, the report shows, with a previous
registry of at least twenty-five hundred for twenty-three hundred
and seventy (2370) voted. Under the present registration not onehalf of that number registered, and less than one thousand voted
This the Registrar accounts for by saying:'There was such a
system of imprecation, abuse, entreaty, espionage and threats and
annoyances generally, that very many voted against their convictions
and many more were deterred from registering at all.'' The vote
as given is not a fair expression of the sentiment of the people
of this parish at all.''There was no absolute fraud in receiving
or counting votes'"
CATAROUI.-SUMMAIRY.
Number killed, positively sworn to......................... 3
Number killed, estimated by witness.....................20 to 25
Number maltreated, positively sworn to....................6;  
PARISH OF ST. MARTIN.
Wm. Dunn states, on oath, that he made a contract with Mr.
I)elahousay, in the parish of St. Martin, on the first day of January,
1868, to cultivate~about sixty or seventy acres of land. Witness
was treated very well before the election, which took place on the
17th and 18th days of April, 1868, but after the election, knowing
that he voted the Republican ticket, said Delahousay came to him
when at work and said that he had allowed him (witness) favors
before, but now he should hold him strictly to his contract, and if
the Constitution was adopted war would commence; On frequent
occasions said Delahousay had threatened to shoot witness and his
son and the men that were at work for him; one of whom, by the
name of Emanuel Brown, was driven away from the place because
he went to register. Several white men made threats against a
colored man named Jack Johnson, because he took the New Orleans
Advocate, and'against witness, because he took the Republican.
They also said if they could get witness and one or two other colored
men out of the parish they could control the rest of the colored men
in that portion of the parish where witness lived. These threats becoming sonumerous, and the feeling againit witness so bitter, and the
election of November 3 being so near at hand, he sold out his
standing crop at less than half its value, and left the parish, as he
felt that a longer stay would endanger his life. Witness also states
that many men were discharged from the different plantations because they had registered; and all kinds of threats were used by the
Democrats towards the colored men to induce them not to register,
telling them that if they did, they must vote the Democratic ticket,
or they would be driven off the plantations. That the colored people
were very,much frightened, as they did not know what moment their
cabins would be visited by bands of white men for the purpose of
killing them. That during the first part of October, a band of white
men visited the house of a colored man in this parish and killed
him and his mother.
k X  
134
The following letter, from the Hon. A. R. Francois, a State Sena
tor from this parish, is here inserted on account of the graphic history which it relates of the progress toward reconstruction in that
parish, and because in its general outlines it is a very correct de.
lineation of the state of affairs'm the rest of the State during the
past two years.
Mr. Frangois is a property holder, an old resident, and a gentleA   who was universally respected in his parish:
Hon. P. Harper;
Dear Sir-I have the honor to inform you that your communication of September, 1868, is received, and be assured that, with all
my good will, I comply with your request.  My pen is not one of an
English grammarian, nor can I find language to describe all the rebuffs and sneers which my race and their friends have been compelled to bear in the parish of St. Martin from the Democratic
aristocracy, for its seems to all observers that this parish is a small
hereditary monarchy instead of a simple parish in a State of this
American Pcpublic.  Since law in some shape or another has made
its appearance in this section of the State, a single family have been
the promulgators and interpreters of it according to their own views
and to their own profit.
This great family began with the Bryants, but are connected with
the Fournets, Garys and DeBlancs by intermarriages.  Sir, is it
necessary for me to give you a sketch of this intermixed family?  I
believ (; for if you wish to be minutely informed of the reputation of J:i  small potentates, you have only to travel on the Teche
from oee and to the other, and inquire among all classes of people,
and you-. a get a clear idea of the compact existing among this intermixed family.  Not a single dark deed was ever committed in St.
Martin except by the hands or at the instigation of this artful and
cnuning family. The policy of these Democratic leaders are ques tions of family, not of principle.
Now, sir, can I give you a description of all the abuses of which
my race has been the victim in St. Martin?' I know that it is impos sible; but sir, I feel that it is my duty to tell you, that wherever you
may go in St. WMartin, you will discover by the attitude of the canaliers
of that parish, that a bitter feeling still exists against the United
States Government, and all those who are willing to sustain that
government, and they are yet unable to conceive how the negroes
can possess any rights at all, to be respected. Sir, in St. Martin a
i 
white man in dealing, will cheat a negro without a single feeling of
remorse. They will kill a negro without deeming it to be murder;
to debauch a negro woman, they do not think seduction; to take the
property of a negro, they do not consider robbery. And I speak
truly then I say the lives of the negroes and their friends are but
as the twice pressed grape-a thing fit to be trodden under foot by
every brutal clown or thug among the St. Martin white aristocracy.
And, sri when abusedc, if a colored man demands jV3ti^c  and the
respect due to all human beings according to their personal merits,
the slaveocrats rise scornfully and call him an insolent dog, who
barks at, the white race, and who does not know that he is by fate
doomed to be forever crushed like a vile worm beneath the heels of
servitude and obscurity!  It is a common expression in every still
rebellious slaveocrat's mouth, that when chance shall be theirs they
will have us racked for our insolence; will rend the flesh from off our
vicious bones and bathe them in blood, and tear out o-;::,.cirsed
tongues for ever having had the foolish impudence to demanrci equality
with the Southern aristocracy before the laws, Or to iu!.e:~,:s   with
the great political questions of the South.  Now, sir, youa Cannot
conceive how little the white people of St. Martin who call themselves christians feel or care for the lives of the poor black men,
who are truly christians.  Nor can you ever know half the wrongs
or the bitte- mockeries which my race has endured in St. Martini
neither can you imagine the anger of the Southern people in this
section of the State against the blacks and the northern people.
You, nor any other, can have an idea of the base persecutions to
which we have been subjected in St. Mirtin, except you were there,
and experienced in your own person the horrors of confusion and
desolation that we have sustained for many years past. Permit me
to refer to the year 1861, when the great confusion of the rebellion
began in our section of the State.  The political agitators (especially
the "intermixed family,") wished to find a pretext to bring the white
people of the parish entirely in favor of the rebellion, and promptly
did they excite others less skilled in political machinations to bring
about the object of their wishes; therefore the great mass of ignorant
whites were instigated against what they called a d-d Yankee.
A white mechanic from the North, long a resident of the parish,
employed at Fausse Pointe as a cooper, was denounced without the
least proof; as an abolitionist, and was sent before the court for trial
with seventeen colored men, whom he-was accustomed to employ on
Sundays to advance his business.
1.3'S
PI 
136
lThe court conscious that there was no evidence against the white
man, who was the first to be tried, dismissed his case but the people
excited by their skillful politicians came out en masse as a " Vigilance
Committee," and hanged the white man at St. Martinsville. This dark
deed took place near the Bayou known as the "Te6che," the highest
tree served as the gallows. He was hoisted by way of a pully, and
it was terrible to see the agitators grasp the rope in their right
hands and start on a double quick until the neck of their poor victim met with the pully. The masters of the seventeen colored men
accused with this unfortunate man, demanded that the severest
punishment be inflicted upon their slaves for having had any connection with " that Yankee."  Was their process pursued regularly
according to law?  We cannot tell, but we do know that out of the
seventeen negroes, six were hanged, as if it was done by law; for a
sentence was read to them and the sheriff, named  "Greig," hanged
them with his own hands. The other eleven were sent to hard labor
at the Penitentiary. In 1863, when the Union army made its appearance on the "Te6che " and took possession of New Iberia, the colored
people throughout the parish heard of it, and a party of about fifty
slaves from "Breaux Bridge" started in a body with the intention
of passing into the Federal lines, but when they got within fifteen
miles of St. Martinsville the political agitators sent to New Iberia
for Federal protection, saying that the negroes were in open revolution against the white race.  At that time these Federal officers did
not act consistently with their positions. A company commanded
by Captain Wood was sent to act in conjunction with the people of
St.  Miartin who were all armed.  Both parties, Union and Rebel, fixed
them,selves in line of battle atihe foot of the St. M,[artinsville T6che
Bridge, over which the poor slaves had to cross, and when they got
within two hundred yards of the bridge a deputation (the same that
went to New  Iberia after them) demanded the Federal officer to
open fire on the rebellious negroes, but he refused, saying he could
not say that those negroes were in rebellion against the white race.
At this moment these fugitives recognized the United States soldiers
and shouted hurra for Uncle Sam!  The agitators exasperated, ordered their party to open fire on those defenseless black people, and
the Federal officer so disgraced himself as to stand an impartial
witness to that butchery of his country's best friends! and sir, the
horrors did not stop there. A few in that small band of men were
only wounded, and they were hanged to every post of the bridge.
At that barbarous sight thle Federal troops retired, but the bodies 
did not remain there, for the slaveocrats were inot satisfied that theA
example should remain unperfected; a ditch was dug in the outskirts
of the town and those martyred people were tied with a "lassoD"
some around their necks, others around their legs, then part were
fastened to the tails of horses, others were seized by the agitators
themLselves, and all were dragged in triumph to the ditch, and in humanly corded one uapon another  This butchery to this day has
impressed upon the minds of some heretofore slaves that the Yan kees were not their friends, and are not even now, or they would
not permit so many outrages to be practiced upon them even to the
present time under thleir very nose.  What if some persons do know
about law, when the intelligent people of our parish ignore it, or
interpret its meaning according to their own wills?  But the colored
people know one thing, and that is, that the Northern people are the
victors, and should extend protection to the people that stood by
them and whose rights are trampled upon every day.
On the 25th day of April, same year (1863), two colored men,
Hamilton and Frederick by name, were hanged on Declolet's plant8ation vwithout any process of law or any cause whatever, under the
pretence that they were in the so-called rebellion against their
masters and the white race.  Another was shot dead by a Mr.
C-Grrdnier, Jr., because while a little tipsy he expressed his sorrow at
the execution of those innocent men.  Shortly afterward, in'the same
year, on Lastirapp's plantation, four (4) colored  persons, a man,
his wife and two children were shot dead because they were going
to leave their master's plantation to join the Federal toops at New
Iberia.  Warch 4, 1864, Joseph Oliver, a respectable colored man, of
good family, was taken from his home, about seven miles from New
Iheria, under the pretence that he had dealt with the Yankees during their occupation of that place, and brought into the village by
two'white men named Norwood, and Tiller, who called upon the
people to unite with them in having said Oliver hung, but a few experiencecd men opposed to that mode of proceeding, directed the
party to St.. Martinsville, where a Confederate "court martial" was
convened, but about a mile out of town, the party concluding it was
going to too  ach trou ble to obtain a judgment to have a "nigger"
hung, resolved to execute him  at once; accordigly they shot him
dead on the spot, took his clothes, boots and. money,. and left his
body naked on the ground   In 1866 a colored man was found
18' i
k 
188
hanged at "Grande Pointe."  It is still a mystery who committed the
deed, and no effort was ever made to find the guilty party.  Mareh
10th, of the same year, a fishing party, composed of a young man
named Caytan, aged sixteen, a woman and two young girls were
seated in a small boat fishing in the "]Bayou Teche," in front of
Onesiphore Delahoussay's plantation   The young man was at one
end of the boat eating, when the report of a gun was heard, and he
received a load of shot in his head from a gun in the hands of
Onesiphore Delahoussay, Jr., who then had the whole party arrested on the pretence that they were stealing wood from his place.
They were taken to St. Martinsville, to be placed in jail, but the
civil officers seeing the absurdity of Delahoussay's pretence did not
comply with his desires. The young man lost one eye as the result
of this wound.  His parents took the necessary steps to bring the
case before the court, but lawyers refused to take charge, and judges
refused to receive their affidavit, with the exception of one justice of
the peace, in New Iberia, who received it, but no suit was brought
because the constables refused to execute the warrant of arrest.
The same year a colored man named "Jean Louis" was killed in
the woods at "Fausse Pointe," no effort was made by the authorities
to find the criminal party, and the death of that man is still a mystery.
The same year a colored girl was employed as a servant by a family
named Melancon; after several months service a difficulty arose
between the girl and Mrs. Melancon, the latter refusing to pay the
girl her wages.  She brought a suit before the justice of the peace
at St. Martinsville and gained the suit. When she'went back to
Melancon'm plantation for her clothes, Melancon seized her in a rage
and whipped her unmercifully, asking this poor orphan girl if she
did not know that she had no right to bring his wife, "a white lady,"
before the law?  Thereupon the gbl came back to make her complaint again before the authorities, but the judge refused to entertain her case farther. In 1867, at "Fausse Pointe," a colored man
named "Jean Baptiste" was with a fishing party on the lake shore.
He had absented himself for a few moments from the party, when
the report of a gun was heard, and when his friends reached the spot
he was found dead. His murderer, a white man, was standing near
him with a-gun, claiming as a reason for the act that the negro was
stealing horses, which was false, and witnesses can testify to it. 
189
Abundant evidence can be brought, if required, fo prove all of the
foregoing statements.  In addition to all this there is evidence at the
"Freedmen's Bureau" in New Iberia that numerous cases of murders
and ill treatment of the colored people have not been investigated,
nor prosecuted by the agents of the Bureau, since 1865. Lieut.
Cornelius, for several years one of said agents, was very intimate
with the slaveocrats of St. Martin, and instead of deciding cases
himself, or sending them before some military authority, that would
protect the freedmen, he would send them before the civil officers of
the parish, or leave them unattended in his office; therefore no suits
or prosecutions were brought against those disturbers of the peace,
and lawfessness was encouraged and is continued until this time.
And now, sir, we have reached the great event of the election of
the 17th and 18th of April, 1868. When the Union men, both black
and white, were called upon to vote for a Republican form of goverument, by adopting a Republican constitution, under which to
bring the State back into the Union; and here, again, we had all the
hardest trials imaginable.  Notices. of election were not given, as
the law requires, in the newspapers published in the parish; the first
notices that were given were handbills posted in a few places, and 
these not until the 13th of April, and then not giving what was most
important for voters to know, viz: the places where the polls were to
be established; they only stated that polls would be established, for
instance, at "Coteau," which is a portion of the parish eight or nine
-niles in length by five or six in breadth. Some of the registrars
announced verbally that the Coteau poll would be opened at Cleophas
Romero's store, but on the day of election it was transferred to Jos.
Gario's, without notice.  No mention was made in said handbills
-,about the number of ballot boxes that would be used at each poll,
and it was understood by the Republicans that the ballots "For," or
"Against:the Constitution" and all officers to be voted for under its
provisions would be cast in one box, according to Special Order No.
65, Head Quarters Fifth Military District, which reads as follows:
"The ballots to be cast for or against the constitution shall have
on them, printed or in writing, the names of the several officers voted
for under its provisions," etc.
This order was not executed by the Registrars and Commissioners,
some of whom required the ballots to be cast in three different
boxes, others in one.  In St. Martinsville, at the poll superintended
by C. D. Olivier, Chairman of the Board of Registration for the
parish, ballots were ast in three different boxes; those voting  the -
41
0 
140
Republican ticket having cast their ballots in one box only, their
votes were contested, and were not counted for Justice of the Peace
nor corporation officers, whom the Rcepublieans hadl really elected by
twenty-five majority in the Second Ward.
The Republicans attempted in vain to obtain from the Registrars,
C. D. Olivier, P. Bienvenue and J. B. Vandorgrift, even verbal information (in the absence of written) as to the places where the polls
would be established, and the number of boxes in which to vote.
The inlriable answer was, "Nothing has yet been decided by the
3oard;" and it is a well known fact, that the Democra,tic party was
organized in secret clubs with pass words and signs; that C. D.
Olivier was a member, and that they all were well informed as to
how the election was to be conducteLd. The polls at St. Iartinsville,
Fausse Pointe and Bayou Plomb were surrounded by armed gangs
of men, assuming a very hostile attitude, and said to have been
under the control of the Sheriff; said forces were composed of white
men, most of whom belonged to the secret Democratic organization.
They were armed with double-barreled guns, pistols and daggers;
their duty was to disarm every person who approached the polls,
and this was violently practiced upon Republicans and apparently
on Democrats.  In this gang of armed men were some notorious
guerrillas, who  openly boasted of having killed the first Union
soldiers on the soil of this State. During the two days of election
they prevented colored Republicans from voting according to their
opinions, and frightened the timed from the polls.  When a Republican approached the polls he was violently searched and insulted.
The Commissioners  of Election  also acted entirely in a party
spirit; three Democrats were permitted to come up to the polls to
one Republican, and then the Republican vote would be refused for
one cause or another.
These Commissioners, most of whom had been fraudulently registered, were, or pretended to be, ignorant of their duties as defined by
military orders, and acting On their own responsibility, assumed the
right of preventing about two hundred and fifty Republicans from
voting (though they had their registration papers) on the following
grounds, viz: Some were presumed to be too young, although they
were willing to swear they were twenty-one years of age; others
were rejected for being too old, or for having been born (as the
commissioners claimed) in the State when under the French gevernment, and therefore would be obliged to take out naturalization papers
r
4 
141
before they were entitled to vote.  This was done without tale least
proof, and simply upon their appearance; some were prevented for
alleged non-residence, although their registration papers showed
that they were residents; thus the Commissioners prevented many
Republicans from voting, and permitted Democrats to vote, although
both resided on the same plantations; others had their registration
papers taken from them, as the Commissioner claimed they were
fraudulently obtained, because by some mistake in the types, the
numbers on the printed lists furnished the Commissioners from headquarters, did not exactly correspond with  the numbers of their
registration papers.  But with similar mistakes  Democrats were
permitted to vote.  These last charges are brought especially against
the Commsioners at St. Martinsville, who allowed themselves to be
guided by the opinion and decisions of one Valsin Frournet, (of the
intermixed family), who, althofigh disfranchised,,was permitted, together with many othler disfranchised and disloyal men, to surround
the ballot box for the purpose of intimidating colored voters and
driving them from the polls.  While this right was denied by said
Commissioners notonly to Republicans and loyal men, buit also to
Republican candidates.
On -he second day of the election, April 18th, most of the persons
desiring to vote at St. Mfartinsville being Republicans, the commnissioners of election proceeded so slowly that when  the polls closed,
at least one hundred and fifty or two hundred of them had not
had an opportunity to vote.   The way this was done was  as
follows: The commissioners permitted Democrats and disfranchised
rebels who were standing by, to challenge every Republican voter,
upon the most frivolous grounds, and permitted all sorts of questions to be asked them, such as, the very day on which they were
born, the name of their master before the war, or if they were
christened in the Catholic church, or not, and made them procure
their christening papers, to prove their ages. All these questions
were asked in the most insulting tone imaginable. On account of
these outrages the Republicans, at a late hour opened a separate
poll, but not in time to take the ballots of all who had been refused
the right to vote.  Mr. L. E. Laloire, one of the deputy supervisors
for the parish, took the affidavits of about sixty-two Republicans who
had been prevented from voting by the commissioners of election.
At "Fousso Pointe" the same system of intimidation prevailed;
6 
Republicans were searched, insulted, and their lives threatened if
Key did not vote the Democratic ticket  One J. D. Broussard, a
disfranchised rebel, who was allowed to register and vote, was, with
E. Broussard, P. Traham, Alcb Dugas and Gustave Loreau on a cornmmittee appointed bythe secretorganization, to notify awhite Republican
named Ovide E. Smith, on the 16th day of April to leave the place
within twenty-four hours, and he was folced b do so. The new list
of voters was not revised by the Registrars of St. Martin, according
to orders from headquarters, and the consequence was tilaat about
one hundred  rebe   fraudulently register.d, were permitted to
vote.
The Board of Registrars is to be blamed for having registered
persona; >;ho had been stricken from the list by the former Board for
reasons;'ct forth in the registry books, with satisfactory evidence
which had:een furnished said Board,'and especially for registering
Dr. Alf. Duperier,,whose name had been stricken from the list for
the following cause, to wit:' Having been a member of the Legislature of Louisiana before the 21st of January, 1861, and afterward
aided the rebellion by a loan of one thousand dpllars to arm and
equip men to prevent the advance of Federal troops."
The registrars allowed rebels  to register although they were
clearly disfranchised; alao many who were under age. Also persons of foreign birth without producing their naturalization papers,
who had been rejected by the former Board because they could not
produce said papers. They went so far as to register one J. Dorville Broussard (heretofore mentioned),, who was elected (as the
present) parish Recorder, and whose antecedents are well known to
the whole community, and especially to C.D.  Olivier, Chairman of
said Board of Registrars.
J. D. Broussar was State Assessor before the 21st of January,
1861, and afterwards served as an officer in the rebellion, and also
held civil office under the Confederate States government.
Auguste Maris was a postmaster before the 1st of January, 1861,
and served as a commissioned officer in the Confederate States army,
and afterward rebel postmaster for the parish of St. Martin, and yet
this Board of Registrars permitted this "celebrity" to register and
vote, although an order from headquarters ordered his name to be
erased from the list, which order was not complied with until after
he had voted.
In many instances the Registrars refused to grant new  registra
142
r,
-4 
143
tion papers to colored voters, who had lost their certificates, because
they could not remember the numbers, and many were refused the
right to vote on that account.
The Board of Registrars did not open their office on the days nor
at the places mentioned in the notices given by them, and thus a
good many colored citizens were deprived of the chance to register,
while Democrats were initiated into all the secrets of the Board  If
you could have a committee appointed by the "two houses" to investigate the frauds in St. Martin, you would find out more than
this, and besides that, we would prove all the above statements.
I remain, sir, yours most respectfully,
(Signed)                        ALEX. RI FRANCOIS.
Hon. A. R. Francois sitates, on oath, that he is a citizen of the
State of Louisiana and Senator from the Fourteenth District,
parishes of St. Martin, TIberville ana West Baton Rouge. Deponent
obtained leave of absence from the Senate and went to St. Martin;
where he arrived on the 20th of September, 1868. A Republican
meeting was held in St. Martinsville for the purpose of receiving
him; deponent was nominated President of the meeting; Hon. Mr.
McCarhLy addressed the meeting.  While he was speaking, deponent
was informed that the Democrats had armed themselves and were
coling for the purpose of disturbing the meeting.  Deponent also
learned from reliable sources that the Democrats were arming themselves by taking arms from stores, and every place where they could
procure them. He sent three persons to the Mayor to inform him
of these facts, and also to tell him that the Republicans were peaceable citizens, assembled to express their political sentiments, and
they relied upon him to keep peace and order.  The meeting was
not disturbed. After the meeting was dismissed the delegations
left in different directions; one delegation attempted to p~:: through
the town, but was prevented fiom doing so by the Democeats who 
were armed in regular military style.  They also prevented IRepubli
cans from cheering for Grant and Colfax.  The Mayor of the town
was at the head of the Democrats; he was seconded by V. Fournet,
who seemed to have control over aUll the Democrats. The Republican delegatlon attempted to pass through the line of the Democrats;
who aimed their guns at them, evidently with the intention of
firing.  The Republicans then prooured arms the best way they 
could, and as they passed the line of Democrats they still had
their guns aimed at them, and threatened to take their lives; at the
same time insulting and abusing them, evidently for the purpose of
creating a riot. The delegation then passed without resenting their
insults and abuse, and proceeded to their homes; after which, the
Democrats surrounded the town, and blockaded all the main roads,
preventing every Republican from going in or out of the town.  They
circulated a report that the Republicans intended to burn the town
and murder all the Democrats in the place. This report was circulated for the purpose of defending themselves in their actions.
They continued to guard the town until Thursday, when a detachment of Federal troops arrived, and compelled them to leave the
main roads, and ordered them to go to their homes, but they did
not; they were camped in companies on nearly all the plantations
in the vicinity of St. Martinsville, when deponent left on Sunday. at
12 o'clock, 27th of September, 1868.
'The Courier of the Teche"l savs:
On election day, all the negroes in this parish,> except about fifty,
were actively engaged in picking cotton, chopping wood, cutting
cane, and attending to other work. The freedmen of this parish pretend that they have had enough to do with politics, and are not going
to meddle with them any more, and that they have had too much to
do with Radicalism, and will fight out the horrid monster if ever it
dares to show its ugly head among them hereafter.  They have completely recovered their senses.  They now truly understand what is
to their best interest and advantage, and appear determined to let
the white man rule the country.  They want peace, but not such
peace as Grant is willing to grant.
"TOE NEGROES' VOTES.- If the whites had been willing to urge on
the negroes of this parish to vote the Democratic ticket, our majority
would have been increased by at least two hundred. But we deem
it a badcl precedent to advise and induce the negro to vote on either
side.  If he votes now Democratic, he may vote with thel RPadicals
the next time, if he has a chance; and it will be with exceeding bad
grace that we should then go to him and tAl him'that he has no
right to vote; it were much better forthem to remain at home, attend
to their work, and let the white man take care of the politics of the
country.' It is better, much better for ourselves, and for those poor
deluded people to tell them the truth at once; we know that it is
I"
I 
i45
neither our interest nor theirs that they should cotittntie to enjoy the
sacred privilege of suffrage. Let us not therefore endeavor to make
pliant tools of them now, for we know not how  sharp against us
may be that tool in the future."
T.E FRPEEDM,EEN.  " We are glad to announce that in the parish of
St. Martin the Freedmen and colored population have understood
their position, and how much they have been deceived by scallawags
a3d radicals generally.
"They have in this last election either voted the Democratic ticket
or abstained fromr voting, though our Sheriff had appointed  and
posted deputies at nearly every point with special instructions to
protect all, whether black or white, going to, and returning from,
the polls.  The freedmen have, with very few exceptions, willingly
expressed their determination not yet to exercise a privilege robbedi
seeniugl-y, for their advantage, by political adventurers, who have
used themr as instruments, and who have by day and by night taught
them that it was a duty they owed to the government, to burn and
destroy the property, and to murder the wives and children of those
who fed and clothed them.  Were it not for the counsels of moderation given them by our white population, the freedmen would have
certainly punished, and in a severe way, their coward leaders."
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, Chairman of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of Novem.
ber 3, 1868:
"In the parish of St. Martin the Registrars report that' the registration itself was not free, for armed bands of mien prevented colored
men from going to register; several of their leaders were killed.'
The chairman reports that he knows nothing about the returns, as
they were not made to him.  Other persons took possession of the
returns from the Commissioners of Election, and he was not allowed
to see or compile them as required by law.'?
ST. MARTIN PARISH-SUM"ARY.
Number killed, positively sworn to........................... 2
Number maltreated, positively sworn to...................... 4
Illegal Democratic votes cast at the November election........100
Republican voters illegally excluded from voting.... e...20
19 
4
II 
'4:
I
PARISH OF ST. HELENA.
Charles H. James states, on oath, that he arrived at Amite City
on Wednesday, October 28, the night appointed by General Sypher to
speak at Tangipahoe, and found a large assemblage of people addressed by one Dr. White (Democrat); about forty of them were
armed, and remarked that they were waiting for General Sypher,
"that G-d d-d son of a b-h; that G-d  d-d carpet baggert,
Sypher, why don't he come up with a carpet bag full of revolvers
and a dirty shirt."  Constantly heard the cry, "When is that G-d
d-d Sypher going to arrive." Same night witness went to Tangipahoe, and arrived about 12 o'clock at night; between 12 and 1 a
band of armed men (mounted), about ferty-two in number, came
into the town; their horses as well as thenselves covered with white
sheets, en masque, making inquiries for J. H. Sypher.  They took a
colored man named John Kempt out of his house and carried him
about three hundred yards where they completely riddled him with
buckshot. They also went into a store at Tangipahoe and demanded
forty-two drinks and four bottles of whiskey, with revolvers pointed
at the proprietor's head; after getting which they took all the money
in the store and left. In Franklinton the same party carried off a
colored man who has not since been heard from. On November 2
the same party visited the Board of Supervisors of RegistrationD. Hennessy and Charles Benedict-and told them that if they ditributed any Republican tickets in that parish they would take
their lives.  They then left and proceeded toward a negro sttlement in that vicinity; they also visited the house of a colored man
named Butler, and demanded of his wife his whereabouts. She
came out and recognized the following men: Dunba.r Lemons, B.
Davidson, of Amite, and, Wm. Bell, of Tangipahoe.  Butler, who
was concealed under the floor of his house, heard them threaten that
if he voted the Republican ticket they would kill him. They also
inquired for General Sypher, and said they wanted to "kill the
G-d d-d son of a b-h."  Captain Warren, Deputy Collector of
Internal Revenue, left Amite in company with a member of the
Board of Registrars for Fr_lintonX on hemorning of the 2d,
r. 
148
with Republican tickets, where they arrived at 10 P. M. in safety
On the way back they met three men disguised, when they concealed
themselves in the woods, after dismounting and turning their horses
loose. While there, a band of forty mounted men, armed, passed;
after they passed they resumed their way, and were informed by the
negroes along the road\ that these men threatened to murder anly
man who voted the Republican ticket.  On their arrival at Amite
the people generally expressed their astonishment at seeing them
alive. - Captain Warren's friends informed him that bands of armed
men had gone out in all directions to assassinate him; that he was
one of "Sypher's!pets," and they "would get the d-d son of a
b-h out of the way."  Dr. Taylor, of Amite, ordered his overseer
to discharge every man who voted the Republican ticket.  During
the six days witness remained in Amite general inquiries were made
as to who and what he was.  On leaving, on the 3d, two men,
armed, (and so buried up in overcoats that it was impossible to
recognize them,) approached him when he was getting on the train,
and remarked: "There goes a carpet-bagger; I would like to kill
the d-d son of a b-h; he is one of Sypher's pets."  Witness saw
the ballot box opened, and the ballots counted at 3:45 P. W.'in
Amite
Luella Ellis states, on oath, that she residesin  New Orleans,
Louisiana; that she'was teaching a colored school of boys and girls
on the 23d and 24th of October, ] 868, at Greensburg, St. H!elpa
parish.  One day a white man by the name of J. Wheat came to her
house and tried to get in, but when she refused to open the door ho
came on the galleryand remarked, "I'll break open this dd
shanty and get them out of there."  He used other bad language; and
fire aa  pistol three times from the gallery; one Charles Kempt came
on the gallery to assist him. They both tried to break open the door
but did not succeed.  Some one called them away.  Witness being
much afraid of losing her life removed to the city of New Orleans
She heard these men say that she should not {each a colored school
any more in this prih.  She taught school in Greensburg about
x weeks; the school],waslupported by voluntary subscription; she
had been a teacher previous to this.  On Wednesday, October 21,
1868, some white men, unknown to her, went to her school-house and
broke up the furniture and threw it down the well, frightening the
ehildren away fro  the  hloolt-house   Oh Saturday, October 24. 
149
1868, about 5 P. M., a white man named Jerry Kemp, beat a colored
man and compelled him to put on a Democratic badge.  On the
17th day of October, 1868, two white men named Charles Rempt
and H. J. Wheat, beat a colored man named Alick Wheelan in a very
unmerciful manner; these men after beating him went down town
and beat another colored man.  The civil authorities made no
endeavor to stop this, but rather encouraged the men to do it.
John Hart states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana; that he resides in St. Helena parish; he left said parish
on account of the way the white Democrats were and are treating
the colored people. An old colored man named Joe Thomas, has
been hiding in the swamp for the past two weeks, being threatened
for having made Republican speeches.  The Democrats have been
for some time shooting and cutting colored women as well as men.
The Ku Klux led by Henry Wormack, Levi McGhee, and one Thomp.
son, with their faces disguised, and horses covered with white sheets
go about to different colored people's houses, and after frightening
them, they go into the house and break up furniture and dishes, and
sometimes threaten to burn the houses; they did to  deponent's
knowledge, burn up two colored churches.  A day or two before he
cam8 away, hlie was met by one Allen, who told him to give him his
revolver, as he would not allow Radicals to carry fire arms; witness
gave it to him.  The colored people were  not allowed to vote the
Radical ticket, but all those that did not go to the swamps were
made to go to the polls and vote the Democratic ticket. Witness
does not knew of one colored person that voted the Republican ticket.
He saw one old coloredman lying in a ditch pierced with six balls;
he was killed because he was a prominent Republican.   Another
colored man was shot in the side, and was confined to his house until
election day, when three of the Ku Klux went to his house and forced
him to the polls to vote the Democratic ticket, although he was hardly
able to walk.  A colored man named Mumford McCoy, left the parish,
his life having been threatened on account of iis politics; after he
left a party of  Ku Klux visited his house, and threatened to kill his
Wife if she did not tell where he was.  (An old white man by the
name of Gill, had to hide her in his hous e to kcep the Ku Klux from
killing hero
'I 
150
;-itord McCoy states, on oath, that hl  is a resident of Greens
-urg, St. Helena parish, La. On or about the 15th of October, Guy
P.d,-aall, Mehaley Carter, Jeff Thompson, Peter G. Quin, Charley
Kempt, Alonzo Delahoussay, Bob Hodge, and Tom Huss, all armed
with pistols and bowie knives, came to witness' shop, and called him
to the door, saying they wanted to speak to him; Mehaley Carter
said: "I come to tell you what you may expect; we understand you
are the representative of your color in this parish, and you are leading them wrong; if a drop of white blood is spilled in the parish,
your head will come off, and all the rest of the leaders' heads, yours
in particular."  Witness replied: "gentlemen, I am for peace, and
have been advising my colored friends, in my addresses, to keep the
peace, and you know it; but the way the white men are beating and
knocking the colored men about, would cause fights between some of
them, and if blood should flow in such cases, would it be right for
me to be' killed for it?"  To which they replied, shaking their fingers
at him -!e while, "it makes no difference how it is done, your head
come;       Now we have told you what you can depend upon.')
They then t;urned( and went towards the court house.
On Saturday, October 17, 1868, Hezekiah Wheat and Charles
Kempt hired a colored man n'amed Jerry Fletcher to go down to witness' shop to pick a quarrel with him in order to have an excuse for
taking his life.  When he arrived at the shop witness was absent;
Wheat and Kempt followed Fletcher to the shop, and sent  im to
witness' house for him; witness met him on the way, when the following conversation ensued:
Question by Witness.-"Were you going to my house to see me?"
Answer.-"Yes."
-Q.-"What for?"
A.- "I heard you have been talking about me because I am a Democrat."
Q.-"Who told you so?"
A.-"Them men," (pointing to Wheat and Kempt.)
Q.-"Do you believe it?"
A.-"No, I do not.  I have known you ever since you came to the
country, and never knew anything wrong about you.  I am  a man
after your own heart. My name is on the Democratic paper, but I
am going to vote the same ticket you do; but them men (pointing to
Wheat & Kempt) made me come."
Kempt and Wheat then passed.  Witness then said, "let us go
'Y'
41 
t51
down to the shop." Which they die, Kemp  and Wheat following
them.  Wheat followed witness into the shop and asked him if he
had any water.  He answered "yes; I will get some cool," going
to the well about ten steps distant.  When witness returned, Wheat
asked him to drink; he declined. Wheat pressed him, and said he
must. le declined several times, Wheat still pressing him to drink.
Wheat then said, "I believe you are afraid I am going to kill you."
Witness answered, "I reck6n not; what are you going-to kill me for?"
Kempt, Wheat and Fletcher then went and each took a drink out of
a bottle they had, and took some water out of the bucket. Wheat
then came into witness' shop, in a threatening manner, when his
cousin John Wheat ran in and took him away.  The  whole party,
including the two Wheats, Kempt, and Fletcher, all of whom were
armed, then went to the court house; Nelson Vaughn and Bill
Wheeler (colored) were at this time passing said court House, on
their way to witness' shop, when Kempt, assisted by Wheat, knocked
Wheeler down, beat him most brutally, and gouged his eyes out.
I). W. Thompson (brother of Senator Thompson) interposed and took
them off.  They then said to Wheeler: "God d-n you, g6 down to
your friend, your protector," meaning witness.  Wheeler then went
to witness' shop in company with several others, but witness, fearing
the white men would create some disturbance with him for having
them in his shop persuaded them to go home and returned to his own
house, sending his wife to close the shop.
Kempt and Wheat then proceeded to Gill's store. aCmi,fd  by
George McGehee and about eight or ten other men, and told some
colored men there, that they would either make good Demo"c;:is out
of them or kill them. They repeated the same in Coles' stole, adding that they would pin Seymour badges on them, and if they did
not wear them continually they would kill them; if they caught
them once without them they would kill them. They took Ned Rayford (colored) out of Gill's store, and another colored man out of
Coles' store, and beat them most brutally, so that their lives are
despaired of. Witness was compelled to leave home on or about the
20th of October, because a party of armed men came to his house,
and inquired of his wife where he was, and said they would have
him that night; they would wait there until they got him, that they
intended to kill him. In consequence of these threats witness was
compelled to hide in the woods to save his life.  The next day
(Sunday) during funeral service at Day's church (colored), about
41"0 
7
152
seven miles from Greensburg, about eighteen white men rode up
with clubs and pistols, saying that they would "kill all the colored
preachers:"  The congregation being very large, the colored men
and boys went and cut clubs to protect the preachers, and as the
services closed they guarded them (there were three preachers there
that day) out of danger.  The  congregation   was  so large the
white men seemeid  fraid to attack them.  Four colored men, going in a different d-iretion from that which the major part of the
congregation took, were overtaken by these  white men and one,
Buckly Ishman (one of those who had a badge put on  him  at
the store the evening before), was asked  by, one Geo. McGehee
where his badge was.  He replied "I have left it at home."  AlcGeihee
then struck at him v:ith a stick, but missed him, and Ishman made his
escape in the swamp.  They pursued. but could not catch him.  Returning to the road they said. "Now, we will -get old Mark Lee," but
he had escaped in the swamp.  They then started after Isaac Hunter, who was riding a mule; overtaking him George MeGehee struck
him with a club, cutting his head badly. McGehee struck at him
again and'grazed his shoulder and thigh. He fell from his mule and
taking to the swamp escaped from his pursuers.  rhe same day
witness learned at church, that a resolution had been passed at the
Democratic club the day before to take him to the court house and
make a Democrat out of him.  Street Thompson (white Democrat)
told Jerry ilorn that witness would not come out of the court house
alive, and witness' friends and wife requested him to leave and save
his life, and report the troubles in the city, which he did, leaving
on Sunday.'On  Mfonday the white  Democrats went  to witness'
house twice, and three times to the  shop, looking for him, and
when going away from the house the last time they were overheard
to say "it's a bad, rainy night, he' will be sure to come in, and we'll
get him."  Since leaving, witness has learned that these  same
people have broken up the colored school, taught  by Miss Ellis,
of Jefferson City, and threatened that if she ever attempted to teach
another colored child in the parish they would cut both her ears off
close to her head.  They have burned two churches belonging to the
colored people, saying-to them "we.do this to let you know that we,the white people, intend to do what we please in this country; that
we intend to rule this country, and to show you that the Yankees
and carpet-baggers can do you' no good.  They never have done
anything for you they promised.' Vv'e are your friends, and you see
to whom you have to look.  Now  if you will sign. with your
I 
own hands that you will never have anything to do with tho Yankees
and carpet-baggers and hold no more club meetings we Will b uiild
your churches again."
Deponent farther states, that on the 29th dayeof October 1868,
the "Ku Klux," composed of about forty (40) men completely disgaised, having their faces masked with skulls, and white caps'about
three feet long on their heads, and their horses coyered with whitei
sheets, went to the house of John Kempt, who was the coroner of:
the parish of St. Helena, broke down the fence that surrounded his:;
house, broke his front door down with an axe, and after fore,'g an
entrance into his house, they began rushing through the,h9Uss for
IMr. Kempt,.who had left his bed on hearing thenoise to. see what
was the matter.  On findiag him -they throQttled him anddraggedhim
out of the house by the throat, and on arriving in the street, they
said, "G  d d-n you, now we are going to. give you a chance to
die a Radical.  You said that you intended.to die a Radical, now
we are going to give you a chance to die one."  They then fell back:
a few feet and riddled his body with buck shot and balls., Th-ey
then went back to his house and demanded his money" and-pape:s,
including notes.  After being terribly beaten, his' (KempUs)  Wife
gave them the papers.  After killinag Mr. Kempt this band went
to Warner Hall's, (who lives our (4) miles from this place?, to kill'
him, and not finding him or his wife at home, they asked their little
boy, whom they found in bed, where his father' was; he said he did
not know.  They then said in a savage manner, "If you do not tellus, we will kill you."  The boy still said he did not know.  They
then pulled him out of bed, and knocked him down, then making
him get up, they knocked him down again.  During the melee, other
members of the band broke open old man Hall's trunk and took all
the money he had put there for safe-keeping, -besides taking his
receipt for four (4) bales of cotten that he had let James Cochran
have, and also took his registration papers.  While they were occu-..
pied in seeing what they could steal out of the trunk, the, boy slipped
away, thereby saving his life.  These same men found Mr.. Hallo6n
election day, and giving him a Democratic ticket, said, "Vote that
ticklet or we will kill you," which he did to save his life.'While
these men were in Alr. Hall's house they threatened to burn.it,
and would have done so had it not been, for one of the number, who
objected; nevertheless they destroyed all, the bedd,.'m,; a
On Thursday, the 29tii day of same'mouth, this same band, went:'(
20
it 
to a colord tnan's house named Sam Hlutchlnsn, and took him out
of his bed and dragged him out doors, and told him they were going
to kill him,. and when he begged them not to do it, they said "G-d
d-n you you need not beg, we intend to do it."  As they were
dragging him along he broke away from them and run a few feet,
when they fired, bringing him to the ground, wherd they left him,
thinking him dead.  After they had left, his wife went to him and
found him alive, but terribly wounded with buckshot  and balls.
This band then went to another colored man's house, (Nelson Vaughn)
and' seeing him runningfrom his house, they fired at him and felled
him to the'ground, thinking  him dead they left.  The same night
that Mr. Kempt'was murdered, this same band burned the colored
Methodist church.  Witness also states that they have no cause to
seek his life, except that he is a Radical and President of a colored
Club in GCreensburg, and the colored people look to him as a leader,
but that he has always given them good advice, to attend faithfully
to their contracts and to,their work, and to be quiet and peaceable;
yet witness has always advised them to vote the Radical ticket as
he believes that to be right,
On Saturd'ay, October 17, witness was invited into the office of Mr.
Pipkin, a lawyer, who told him that he wished to have a talk with
him, saying, "I should have done so before, as you are in a very
dangerous condition. You are looked' upon as the leader of the Radical freedmen hlere, and your life is threatened unless you join the
Democrats and change your principles.  They are readyto raise any
sum you ask if you will only join the Democratic party-and I tell
you Mumford, I l)elieve they will kill you.,'  Witness replied that he
did not think it was right to be forced to change his principles, and
asked him if they had any charge against him-if he had been accused of doing anvthing wrong?  He replied, "No, Mumford, they
have nothing against you, only that you are a Radical, and they
think that if you can be changed they can control the balance of the
colored people in the parish."  He also advised witness to join the
Democratic party to save his life.  Witness said, " Mr. Pipkin, if I
am to be killed for standing to my principles, it must be so, but I
cannot change themr, though I be killed for not doing it."  He then
replied, "I would not be in your fix for all the parish, for you are
sure to be shot or killed.  Witness alwaysl ooked upon Mr. Pipkin
as a friend, and blieve's tliat he'told him What he really thought was
the truths,
164 
155
CROSS qUESTIONED.
Question-VWhat can you say as to the feeling of the white people
in the parish toward the colored people?::
Answer-It is bad; they say they intend and are determined to
kill every Radical, white or black..'
Q.-Do you consider this bitter feeling to be against the cl6bred
people as a race, or against the Radical party, white or black.
A.-It is against both white and black Radicals, for'they went to
the houses of Judge George and Doctor Yerks, both white Radicals,
on the same night that they shot Kempt, but they both becoming
alarmed had left, and were in the woods. E They passed a resolution
at the Democratic Club, that no employment should be given by their
party to Radicals; that no Doctor should attend on their families,
and that no Lawyer should defend the cases of Radicals in court.
Q. —Do they allow colored Democrats to carry weapons of any kind?
A.-Yes;, they allow them to carry pistols and knives, and if they
cannot get them themselves, the white peopl4give weapons -to them.
Q.-Do they allow colored Radicals to carry:such arms? 
A —No sir; they do not,, and if any weapons are found upon a col
ored Radical he is severely punished by the white Democrats,
Witness was afraid,to go to ths polls to vote the Republican
ticket as these men had threatened to kill all the colored men who
would not vote the Democratic ticket, or         who would vote the Republican ticket.  The colored men who voted the Democratic ticket
were compelled to vote it, or were threatened With: death.  On, or
about the 28th of October, Turner's chapel was burned by a mob,
who remarked that they did it just to show the niggers what they
could do; that if the niggers wantede any friends they would be cornpelled to accept them, and do as they pleased, and not rely on the
yankees or carpet-baggers. Witness dares not return to his house,
believing if he did his life would be taken, as a price is put upon his
-head; three hundred ($300) dollars is offered by Jeff Thompson and
another man.
Richard Lee states, on oath, that a band of armed white men
went to his brother's house which is situated ten miles from Amito
City, parish of St He  na, on the Jackson railroad; they shot his
I 
brother dead, his body was found completely riddled with bullets.
Deponent- further states that his brother Daniel was elected coroner
of St. Helena, but had to resin the position as the white men told
him that they would kill him if he did not do so; on one occasion
he had to run from his house to save his life. Deponent's brother was
kWled on the 30th of October, 1868.  They took from him one hundred and ten dollars in gold, sixty dollars in silver and twenty dollars
iu greenbacks, and also a revolver, valued at twenty dollars.
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, Chairman of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of the 3d
of November, 1868, ini the parish of St. Helena:
"lThe Registrars of the parish of St. Helena report that'during the
time they were engaged in' registering, such an amount of intimidation existed in the parish as to'prevent many from registering, and
many who had registered were prevented from voting, while a large
number who would have voted the Reputblican ticket voted the
DemoCratic ticket through fear of per's 6lviolence; that justprevious
to the electin n-an organizatio n: lknowni as the Ku Klux Klan, in' disguise, and threatening manner paraded aibout the parish for the
purpose of intimidating the peaceably disposed of the Republican
party.  At Tangipahoa, one of the voting precincts in the parish,
:-oie J'ohn Kemp, a prominent Republican, was murdered by this
band, and another citizen was wounded.  After due deliberation the
S upervisors concluded it was not  safe for them to disperse themselves at the Various polls on the day of election.' They conclude:
'In our judgment the election was unfair, and should be deemed
void.' "'
ST. HELBA-SUMMARY.
Number kilid, positively sworn to..............  4
Number shot, positively sworn to........................... 3
Nfber maltretd,? positively sworn to,............
156 
PAIRISH OF VE'RMILLION,
Romar Andus states, on Oath, that between the hours of 1 and 2
o'clock on the night of October 16, 1868, he heard  firing at his
mother's house, which is situated a few rods from  his, two miles
from the town of Lafayette, parish of Vermillion; he immediately
dressed himself and went over to her  house to see what was the
matter. On approaching the house he saw about one hundred white
-men, four of them who had their faces blackened, he recognized
Alcide Bernard, Douglas Cochran, Oland and Eugene Durio; they
are all planters and well to do in the world.  As he was about to
enter his mother's house he was stopped by these men, who asked
him "what he wanted."  He replied, "I heard the alarm over here
and I came to see what was the matter."  One of the men then
jerked his pistol away from him and said, "let's kill him, too."
Deponent then ran to the woods to save his life; they fired a shot at
him as he started, but it missed him.  After these men had left his
"othr'a house he, rQucrnrad to it. FJindijng the house in darkness lhe
went to a neighbor's house and borrowed a light.  On opening the
door of his mother's house he found her lying dead across the door
way; at the opposite door he saw his brother, a man of forty years
of age, lying dead. Upon examination he found that his mother had
been shot in the breast, and his brother through the breast and thigh.
Deponent got Sheriff Furniss Martin to go to the house and see the
dead bodies of his mother and brother and gave him the names of
the parties whom he recognized; the sheriff arrested three of the
four named and lodged them in jail, but no witness appearing
against them, they were released. The only reason that deponent
can give for the murder of his brother is, that he had attended a
Republican meeting at St. Martin's about two weeks before the
murder, and when the meeting broke up his brother led the colored
men through the town to their homes, contrary to the wishes of the
white citizens.
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, Chairman of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of the 3d
of November, 1868, in the parish of Vermillion:
.. 0 0 0
'V 
158
' From the parish of Vermillion I have a report from the Registrar
which sets forth, among other things,' that for two or three months
prior to the election an armed band of men, under the guise of a vigilance patrol, took charge of the town of Abbeville and its environs,
threatening every one who was not prepared to express Democratic
sentiments. The Registrar's life has been more than once threatened;
messt:,:: sent to him to'shut up his Republican mouth, or a hole
would be bored in him,''no one would dare vote the Republican
ticket.'  ThLc club room was guarded so as to keep Republicans from
meeting.  Considering the alove facts, and many  others not mentioned, I, as supervisor of registration, do not and can not consider
the election of the third instant as a fair and honest expression of
the will and wishes of the peoplel that it is not only unfair, but that
it was conducted in its incipient canvass by the force of Democratic
powder and lead.  I therefore enter this my solemn protest, against
any Democratic majority that may be claimed.'"
VERMILLION- U[ AY.
Number killed, positively sworn to........................... 2
Number maltreated.................... 
..t..
t 
PARis' OF I)E SOtTO.
Stephen Umphries states, on oath, that he is a member of the
State Legislature, and that a few days before the April election, he
was standing in the door of Terrel's coffee house, opposite the court
house, at Mansfield, when he was approached by Mr. Chas. Reynolds,
a planter, who said to him, "I understand you are going to run for
the State Legislature."'  Deponent replied, "they say so."  As he
said this Reynolds took one of three bricks which he had in his hand
and attempted to strike deponent  in the face with it;  deponent
raised his arm to protect his face, therebyireceiving a severe blow
on his arm.  Reynolds fired another brick at his head, which missed
it, and striking the door was  shattered to pieces.  Deponent went
over to the court house \and informed Judge Wormack what Reynolds had done.  The Judge promised to arrest the said Reynolds,
but failed to do so.  A few nights after this outrage, while deponent
was at home, a black man came to his gate and:called to him to
come  out;  he  paid  no  attention  to  the  summons.   At  this
time a colored friend of deponent's was approaching his house, and
answered  this stranger at the gate; said stranger taking this
colored friend for deponent, fired at him, but did not hit him.  Deponent learned afterwards from good authority that this strange
black man had been sent to his house to kill him by Captain Hiawkiins, a storekeeper in the town of Mansfield.  Deponent lived on the
edge of town; after he had been elected Representative his life was
daily threatened; the white people told him that they would kill him
if they caught him'in town.  His fEmily are now living in Mansfield,' but he does not dare to go to them. Hie has been informed by
several parties that have left Mansfield since he took his departure,
that the white people have determined'o kill him if he should return
to the parish.  Deponent further states, that he canl give no better
evidence of the intimidation of the colored people in his parish than
by referring to the late Presidential election, where it'i i;e seen
that out of about two thousand qualified colored voters, nGt c'e vote
was cast by them for the Republican candidates. 
George Washington states, on oath, that he is a citizen of th1
St~ate of Louisiana, and has resided in the parish of DeSoto since
the spring of 1865.  He was. elected a Justice of the Peace for the
Fourth Ward of said paris at the election  f April, 1868, and received his commission from the Governor on the 6th day of Decem.;.day win es took     th   at
ber of said year.  On the following day witness took the oath of
office before Hurd McDonnel, Clerk Of the Parish Court;  after
which he walked over to the store of Perry Williams, and while rying on a pair of shoes, Mr. Longmire, a keeper of a' livery stable
in the town of Mansfield, came- in" With one hand on his revolver,
and a cowhide in the other, and easked him what he came  to town'
for; witness answered, " I come to town; "he conitinued rasking him
"why?" and witness continuedto answer  s before.  When looking
at him very hard he said he would'. either whip me-with his cowhide or kill me with his pistol;" when witness saw his determination he told him he would rather take a whipping than to be killed;
whereupon he gave him from thirty to forty lashes with the cowhide,
cutting through a heavy overcoat, an undercoat, and taking a piece
of fesh out of his little finger, anCi severely injning his righ wst;
the rim of his hat was also cu off by the descending bows  Whie
he was whipping witness he neve took his:hand off of his revolver,
it being his intention to shoot him if he made:any resistance  witness was sitting all this time on a trunk, not daring to get up; after:he had finished the whipping, he said that "he would kill mne if I indicted him."  Witness made no answer, and he walked away.  Soon
after witness walked away (the best way his wounds wouldcl permit)
to the house of a friend, a colored man named William Jones; he
had not been in the house more thani ten minteS when John Easton
(a tinner) and  fr.- Pates (a grocery keeper) came in and Easton
said: "I am looking for a colored man named Poleon Hope,;  ad
looking at'witness said: "Washington, you had better go With me
to the court house and resign, for if you don't you will surely be
killed if you remain in this parish.,'
Witness told him he would not go, as 3Mr. Longmire was out there
with a pistol and would kill him.  Easton then cocked his pistol and
called witness a G-d d-n rascal, anci  said he could blow him to
hell in a minute, and catching hold of him dragged him t the gate.
Witness caught hold. of a post, and breaking away  from  him,:
returned to the house and  found Mr.  Woodham  (partner          of
Perry Williams) and  Mr. Whitworti  (planter) standing by Whe
lw
id 
door. Whitworth commeneed clarsng witness, and told him he
would certainly be killed if he tried to assume the duties of the
office, and that he had better get outof the parish.  These four men
then went to a coffee-house to get a drink, and when he saw them
coming back he got out of the back window, and went to the house
of a Union white lady, by the name of Mrs. Collus, where he
remained secreted until night. He then went to a colored friend's
house, where he remained all night, and returned to Mrs. Collus,
house in the morning before day.  He lived at these two houses
until he left Mansfield for New Orleans via Shreveport. Mr. Long mire told witness that if he said anything to the authorities in New
Orleans in regard to the whipping that he (Longmire) had given
him, that there were a thousand men in the parish that were of
the same mind that he was, and any one of them would kill him
if he (Longmire) did not.
A few hours after witness had been whipped, Mr. Longmire met
witness' brother at Dr. Tate's drug store, near the court house, and
said, "I whipped George to-day," referring to witness; witness'
brother asked him "what right he had  to do it;" Longmire
answered, " I will whip you, too," and made a thrust at him with a
large dirk knife, which was warded off by Dr. Tate, who then
shoved witness' brother into the back room of the store, and shut
the door; Dr. Tate was formerly the owner of witness' brother;
Longmire then went away, and returned, bringing a large crowd of
white men with him, some having handcuffs and ropes, and all
armed with arms of every description. About an hour after dark,
while witness was sitting in Mrs. Collus' house, he heard firing about
the college; Mrs. Collus looked out of her back door, and told him
that from the noise over at the college -there must be a great many
persons there, and that it would not be safe for him  to remain at
her house, as they might suspect his being there. He then took to
the field and made his way to the house of an old colored man
named Cmsar, where he remained all night.  The following morning
Mrs. Collus told witness that the firing the night before was at his
brother as he was making his escape from the drug store to the
ravine, but it was so dark that he escaped unhurt, otcept a blow
which he received from Longmire as he was running. There are
about two thousand legal colored voters in the parish of DeSoto, and
with one or two exeptions they would all have voted for Gr~ut and
1'6i
21 
Cofax if they had been lermitted to do so by the white men; but
not a vote to witness' knowledge was cast for "these candidates in
that parish; colored m:en were forced to vote the Democratic ticket
Mr. James MeClanahan, one of the editors of the Mansfield Times,
pointed a pistol at a colored man namned Henry Crosby, and told
him that he must votethe Democratic' ticket; Crosby succeeded in
making his escape  while:they were on their way to the polls
Bowling Williams, ex-Sheriff of DeSoto parish, rolde around town
with the said J. MeClanahan on the day of. election-November 3,
1868-and made every colored mian that';they could get hold of go
to the polls and vote the Demociatic ticket  On the day of election
news came into Mfansfield thiat the colored people would not vote
the Democratic ticket at Kingston, a preoinct aboLt twelve miles
from the court house, when about sixty armed white men went out
there immediately; the colored men had alH left the polls when these
men arrived, but overtaking soneic of them on the road they made
them return to the polls and vote the Democratic ticket with pistols
pointed at their heads.
Sunday night, a short time before thle election, a colored man by
the name of Charles Meeks went to the colored church during service,
while it was filled with women and children, andl firing his pistol
just  outside the  door, then  entered,  and  commenced  cursing
and said "he wanted  to kill some  Radical niggers;" this  man
Meeks had gone over to the IDemocrats, and was put up to commit
this outrage by Mr. Longinire, with whom he lives and works.
The next day witness ].aid thles facts before Judge Wormack, justice of the peace for the fourth ward at Ilansfield, but nrothing was
done about it; Longmire came over to the court house and said,
"Meeks was one of his imen, and would do just bhat he wanted him
to do."  The white people of the parish w'eCre all under arms and for
some time before the election would ride all over the parish, frightening the colored people, giving them to understand that they (the
white men) were prepared and determinied to see tlat the colored
men voted as they did.  There wvas a Republican meeting held in
M.ansfield about one week lbefroe trie April election.  Many colored
men that attended it were fined twei'ty-five cents for every holr that
they were away fro= their work, by,,Judcge:Vorme,ck.  A colored
man by the name of Hleniy Crosby reffused to accede to these-terms,
at the last election, and the consequenc,e -was tliat he was killed on
the 11th of December, by a w,lite man named Sarey (for whom  he
i (I j 
163
Worked), at his plantation, about seven miles from Mansfield, on
Augusta road.  This was done in the day time, and in the prc. sence
of Dr. Roach, Jim and Bob Hollingsworth.  The same night a body
of twenty-five armed men went to the house of a colored man, named
Henry Alexander, and shot him dead, and wounded his little son by
a shot through his mouth; said Alexander had a fine crop, and it
was believed by all his friends that he was killed in order that the
white people could get his ('.Oj
D   S0'TO —SUMMAlY.
Number killed, positively sworn to............................2. 
Number shot, positively sworn to..........................1
Number maltreated, positively sworn to.........................4
Number of Republicans illegally deprived of voting............2000
4 
4'
~\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 
PARISH OF MOREHOUSE.
W. A. Moulton states, on oath, that he was Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors of Registration for the parish of Morehouse; on the
night previous to the election some unknown parties canie to his
gate and called for him.  When he opened the door they inquired if
that was Moulton.  He answered "yes."  They then called to him
to come out to the gate, saying that they wanted to speak to him,
He replied that he was going to bed and could not come out. Nothing
more was said, when they immediatelyshot at hirm. On the next morn,
ing he proceeded to the court house to see that the polls were opened and
properly organized, and after openly voting the only RIepublican ticket
voted in that parish, he left the polls. During his absence, from his
residence, he was told that a party of colored men, lead by four
white men, came there and asked for him. The landlady told thema
that Moulton was not in; and they being satisfied that he was not
there, then left.  The names  of three of these white  men were
Boatner, Higman and Pugh. He was told that some parties were
intending to make a raid on him the night of the election, and he
prepared to defend himself in case of any attack, but there was
nothing done that night. Witness saw indications of vialence in
every place where he travelled in the parish to complete registration,
more particularly against himself.  Previous to his departure from
the parish he received a notice warning him'to leave the parish,
signed by the K. K. K.
IOREHOUSE-SnMAY.
Number maltreated............................... 1
-. 
le,
f( 
4
PARISH OP OI.LEANS.
A. P. Dumas states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the Stat'3 of
Louisiana, and a dulyregistered voter; that on the 12th of September,
1868, at 8 o'clock P. M., he illuminated his house-it being the
night of the Republican torchlight procession —and placed the portiaits of Grant and Colfax in front of his house on the balcony;
some white men passed the house, in squads of ten and twenty, at
different times before the procession came along, hallooing for
"Seymour and Blair," and making insulting remarks, which witness
did not wish to answer, as his family and some lady friends were
present on the gallery.  After the procession had passed witness
took down all the transparencies and pictures, so that his family
and friends might not be insulted by these squads of white men;
every  day  since  the procession, witness has been insulted and
threatened by members of the Democratic party; these mei.?i
his house every night and remark, "this is the house (mean:ig
witness' house); we  must  have  the white nigger Radical;  you
(witness) must never put the pictures of Grant and Colfax out on
your gallery again, and not illuminate your house again for the
nigger procession."  On the night of September 22, 1868, witness
again illuminated his house and put the pictures of Grant and Colfax
on his gallery, believing that he had as good a right to do so as any
one else.. hen he put out said pictures, the Democrats cheered for
Seymour and Blair. These white nmen, who are unknown to deponent, then went into the middle of the street and said: "Look at
the picture; we know the place well now; we'll passit again to-night;"
meaning that they would insult or injure him.  Witness was all the
evening on his balcony;  the procession commenced passing his
house at about quarter past 10; the clubs halted in front a few
moments and gave him three cheers, and he answered by cheering
for "Grant  and  Colfax," firing off rockets at the same  time.
The procession passed on very quietly, and at half-past 11 o'clock
his house was closed and all the transparencies, etc., taken in; witness was in his parlor with a party of friends, when he heard quite 
a noise in front of his house, and looking through the blinds he
saw from fifty to one hundred men  standing outside, armed with
guns and pistols; they called for witness, but he did not go out;
they tried to break into the house, and said they wanted to kill every
one in the house; he remained very quiet, and sent a man out by
the back gate to bring the police to protect him, but the man found
so many men on the street that he could not pass, and returned to
the house; the crowd outside threatened to make an attack, and remained about the house until half-past 1 o'clock, when -they left.
Some time after a squad of men came back and remarked, "we
have a chance to kill him;" witness and the others in the house remained very quiet, and this squad also left.  Between 11 and 12
o'clock witness heard a number of shots fired, and people running
in every direction; he did not go out, fearing that the Democrats
would kill him or burn his house. Since this time many threats
have been made against him. On the morning of September 23,
1868, when Si,r. Forrest was killed by Guerin, some white men came
in front of witness' house with revolvers and guns, pointing their
weapons at the house; they had just supplied themselves with these
weapons from the gunsmith's near his house. They continued
coming all day until 9 o'clock P. M.  Colored men also came to
purchase arms, but the gunsmith refused to sell them any; the
white Democrats being there and preve-rting him.  At 5 o'clock P.
M. witness went with Mr. Joubert t) the office of the Chief of
Police; he related to him all the facts, and the Chief of Police told
him, "never mind; all will be right; I will take notice of what you
say."
Captain E. Davis states, on oath, that he was marshal of the Colfax Defenders (a Republican club) on the night of September 22,
1868; as iis club was passing the corner of Customhouse street,
going down Rampart, between 10 and 11 o'clock, P. M., the cry was
given to "fall back."  He was on horseback and immediately rode
up to Canal street, to see what was the matter; when near the corner of Canal and Burgundy streets, he was fired at by a policeman.
Witness pursued the man, but he escaped. Witness then rallied all
the men from the Republican clubs that he could, and started down
Rampart street; when passing between CuStomhouse and Bienville
streets, several shots wereo fired at the  lub from a house on the
"8 
id9
South side of the street  Members of the club rushed acrss td
enter the house, but witness prevented them -from doing so, and
marched them down Rampart to Orleans street, where he met a
crowd of policemen and citizens, who told him that some persons
were firing from a house on the corner of Rampart and St. Ann
streets.  Witness went by the house, but the firing had ceased.
Hie then marched his club to their club room and dismissed them.
Louis Coregano states, on oath, that on the night of September 22,
1868, he was a deputy marshal of the "Warmoth Guards" (a Republican club). As they were marching along Canal street, at the corner of Bourbon street, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock
P. M., he saw a white man fire two shots at the club from the gallery
of Dumonteil's confectionery; he had heard no shots fired previous
to these.
William M. Batchelor, and J. B. Cooper state on oath, that they
were seated in a Rampart and Dauphine street car, at their starting
place on Canal street, waiting for the car to start, on the night of
Sept. 22, 1868, between ten and eleven o'clock. They saw the clubs
passing on Canal street, and supposed without observing closely, that
they were Democratic clubs. They saw a man on the balcony of
Dumonteil's confectionery (corner of - Bourbon and Canal streets)
fire five shots at the procession, and immediately after several shots
were fired from the side-walk, and from other directions, at the procession, which immediately scattered in every direction;  immedi
ately after a Democratic club came cheering and shouting from St.
Charles street, and pursued and fired inio the other procession.
Previous to this, deponents had been listening to a speech being
made to these Democratic clubs at the St. Charles Hotel.
Hiomere Bouthd states on oath, that on the night of September 22,
1868, he was a deputy marshal of the "Warmoth Guards."  When
the club was passing the corner of Bourbon street, on Canal, a person standing on the corner in front of Dumonteil's confectionery
called out "three cheers for Rollins," which was responded to by the
22 
ita
ctubs iby three cheers for'"Grant and Colfax."  The Grand  Marshal
told them to keep quiet; the man ran into Dumonteil's. A policeman
told the club that he would have the man arrested. At this time a
shot was fired from the gallery of the confectionery.  This seemed
to be a preconcerted signal, for in a moment the firing became general, from the sidewalks and galleries, on each aide of canal street.
The club dispersed as speedily as possible.
James Gibney states, on oath, that he is a sergeant of police, thaton the evening of Sept. 22, 1868, he Was on duty, and during the
time the Republican clubs were passing out Canal street, he was
standing on the corner  of Royal and Canal; as the last club was
passing the corner of Bourbon, he heard the noise of a disturbance
from that quarter, and immediately ran that way.  He found severel
members of the club on the sidewalk.  He saw them breaking the
windows with their torches. With the aid of other policemen he
cleared the sidewalk. As the members of the club were retreating
from under the balcony of Dumateil's confectionery; a man appeared above on the balcony, and fired into the procession, and the
firing then became general along the street; the clubs immediately
dispersed.  Witness, with a detail, accompanied them as far as
"Congo Square," down Rampart street.  The members of the clubs
went quietly to their homes.
C. C. A. Stevens states, on oath, that he is a policeman, and on the
night of Sept. 22, 1868, he was detailed as corporal in charge of a
"squad," to accompany a Republican club called "The Grant Invincibles," for the purpose of preserving order. While they we're passing the corner of Bienville and Rampart streets, some three or four
shots were fired at the procession; some of the members of the club
ran away, and otherstto.d to see what was the cause of the firing.
Witness blew his whistle to call together his "squad," for the purpose
of keeping the peace.  The procession then proceeded down Rampart
street, and at the corner of St. Anne street eight shots were fired
into the proces-.,in from the upper part of the building, occupied as
a coffee house   Other shots were fired from a car which was passing;
witness followed the car, and called to the driver to stop, but no attention was paid to him; from that time everything was quiet. 
171
E. Alix states, on oath, that on the night of September 9, 1868,
he, with his Club (the Warmoth Guards),  was  passing out Canial
street, by the corner of Bourbon, between  10 aad 11 o'clock.  As
they were passing Dumonteil's confectionery, a person on the sidewalk commenced cheering loudly for Rollins, a noted colored Democrat, and for Seymour and Blair, to which the members of the Club
responded, by cheering for Grant and Colfax; a policoeman, fearing
that this might cause a disturbance, spoke to the m'n' on the sidewalk, admonishing him to be quiet; some of his companions then
shoved him into Dumonteil's saloon, and the doors were closed; at
this time some person appeared at the railing of the gallery overhead,
and fired into the Club; some members of the Club attempted to enter
the saloon, but finding the door closed, broke in the windows; witness endeavored to stop them-at this time shooting had commenced
from all directions at the Clubs, and the men dispersed and scattered
for home.
Julins Lanabbre, also a member of the "Warmoth guards," fully
corroborates the above testimony.
Richard Fortune statQs, on oath, that as a member of the "Pinchback Zouaves;" he was in the Republican procession on the night of
September 22, 1868; at the time of the commencement of the distnrbance on Canal street, he was on Rampart street, near Customhouse,
a crowd of white men gathered on the sidewalk, yelling and firing
into the procession; shots were also fired from the house on the left
hand corner of Rampart and Bienville, going down. After this excitement was over, as witness was standing on the corner of Conti
and Trdm6 streets, a crowd of white men came up, headed by a man
named John Henry, who threatened him, and was about to attack
him, but the better counsel of his friends prevailed; soon after witness saw another crowd who carried with them a white flag, on which
was displayed the words, "No Quarters;" they were all armed with
pistols and knives.
A. T. Selover states, on oath, that he was Vice President of the
5th Ward Radical Republican club, during the recent political canvas.
On or about the 22d of September, 1868) at 8 o'clock in the evening, 
172
he went with his Club to the house of the Hon. Octave Beloti on
Claiborne street, for the purpose of witnessing a presentation of a
flag to his Club. After the presentation was over, deponent marched
with his club, in company with some other Republican clubs, through
some of the principal streets in the 2d District of the city. Every
thing went off peaceably and quietly until said clubs reached Canal
street, and had passed down said street until the head of the column
had passed down Rampart street, for the purpose of quietly dispersing, when suddenly and unexpectedly the rear of the column was
fired upon by parties about Dumonteil's confectionery, which is located at the corner of Canal and Bourbon streets.  Not anticipating
any trouble, most of those in the procession were unarmed, and consequently a stampede was immediately created throughout the column, the boys crying out: "we are attacked, we are attacked."  The
Zouave Club, just ahead of deponent's, cried out: "rally, boys, rally,"
and rushed back to the rear of the column to resistthe attack.  Word
came back, "all is quiet, boys, return to your clubs," when immediately a promiscuous attack was made on the entire column, from
Bourbon to Basin street, from banquettes and windows, completely
breaking up the whole column. At this time Mr. R. H. Shelly was
armin arm with deponent, and they were advised by the boys to "run
for their lives." Deponent then crossed over to he south side of
Canal street, and while quietly walking on said street a person
dressed in light uniform came running furiously behind him, and
while passing gave deponent a desperate thrust with a sharp instru.
ment, cutting through his coat, vest and shirt, inflicting a wound on
his breast (6) six inches in length. The force of said blow threw
his arm in lock with deponent's, and in his drawing away from him
the instrument inflicted a severe and very dangerous wound across
the centre of deponent's arm,, just escaping the main artery. After
deponent had been cut, the would-be assassin turned around, looked
him in the face, and ran rapidly away. Deponent was advised to go
to the hospital and see Dr. Smith, and ascertain the extent of his
wounds; on his way there he met some of his Democratic friends,
and showed them his wounds; they remarked that it was "a shameful
affair." He also met several of his colored friends, who were much
agitated in consequence of being attacked, and having been plundered of their torch lights, banners, flags, musical instruments, and
their friends left dead on the streets. Several of his friends advised
him to go home, as his life was in danger.  After the general ex
0 
citement was over deponent heard hackmen making brags how many
"niggers" they had cut, at the same time displaying long knives, and
saying "that they were not through with the black sons of b   s
yet." The day after the riot deponent heard some "Dagos" remark,
as he was passing along, where they were delivering oysters, that "they
made the damned niggers fly last night."  Deponent heard one say
that he "wanted to kill ten more niggers, and would not be satisfied
until he did." During this time it was dangerous for a republican
to be seen on the streets, even in the day time. The streets were
thronged with men, business paralyzed, parties at every corner secretly consulting and strangers in passing them would be subjected
to the strictest scrutiny. Every man seemed to be armed, and the
gun shops were doing the best business in town. The shops were
thronged daily with customers buying revolvers, shot guns, and the
latest improved rifles.- The poor negroes were discharged, and thrown
out of employment on account of their politics.  The officers of
steamboats furnished the colored men with Democratic certificates,
giving them protection from -their party, and promising them employment if they would vote the Democratic ticket: The  gun shops
refused to sell fire arms to the colored people. A colored man took
his revolver to a gun-smith on Dryades street, above Poydras, to
be repaired, but was not able to get it back until the riots were
over, and then only obtained it through the agency of Mr. Henry, a
school teacher. This is only one case, however, out of a hundred.
About the last of October deponent, while  talking with some
friends at the Customhouse, saw immediately opposite, in front of a
coffeehouse, a fierce looking man with a Spencer rifle in his hand,
looking into the coffeehouse in a very suspicious manner; he got
into position to fire, but did not.  Several police officers were on the
corner of Canal street, and although they saw this man's movements,
made no effort to arrest him. This man passed up Canal street unmolested by said police officers. Deponent is favorably known by
both the Radicals and Democrats, and was advised by the latter to
look out for himself, as he was  "spotted;" he was also invited by
some of them to come to their houses and live.  Some of the leading Republicans, were frequently obliged to change their abode, in
consequence of having been threatened and attacked. During the
late riots, and a few days before the Presidential election, bands of
armed men, visited Republican club rooms and sacked them of every
173 
174
thing that was of use to them in processions, such as banners, etc.
The Republicans about this time held a public meeting in "Congo
Square," Second District. While Mr. Thomas W. Conway was addressing the meeting a rough looking man approached the stand,
and in a loud and yelling way denounced Mr. Conway and his party
as " a set of G-d d-d carpet-baggers, scallawags and robbers,"
and that "they would catch it soon."  Mr. Conway, to avoid trouble
called for a police officer and had the fellow taken away, at the
same time advising his audience to take no notice of him.  When
the meeting was about to break up, some colored men came running
toward the stand crying out that they were "killing all of their
people up on Canal street." Some of the clubs (Republican) were
attacked while peaceably parading. Mr. Conway advised the different clubs to keep back of Rampart street, as the enemy were in
force on Canal street.  They did so, but in'dispersing, they were
attacked, shot at and plunqered of their banners, and had to run to
save their lives. Dr. Clark and deponent walked up Canal street
towards the river and over the ground where the scene had happened;
the dead and dying were strewn by the way, lamps ahd oil were
scattered in every direction.  They saw no negroes; while making
this inspection, about fifty men passed us in one squad yelling over
their victory, and cursing the "d-d  negroes and dd Yankees,"
at the same time discharging their fire-arms at any one that they
thought did not belong to their party. This was done in front of
General Rousseau's headquarters.
Gabriel Paholy states, on oath, that on the night of September 22,
1868, as a member of the "Pinchback Zouaves" he was in the
Republican procession. His club had begun to pass down Rampart
street at the time of the commencement of the disturbance at the
corner of Canal and Bourbon streets.  A crowd of white persons
gathered dn the sidewalk between Canal and Customhouse sreets
a   commenced yelling ad firing into the club; other shots were
fired from the houses, and he particularly noticed frqm a white house
on the south side of Rampart street. He proceeded with the club
to the corner of Claiborne and St. Ann streets.  As he was returning
he -saw a person on Villere street carrying a white flag, on which
was displayed the words "No qutrter."  Nearly every person whom
i.
II 
he sat on the streets at this time was hurrahing for "Seymourt  and
Blair;" most of them were "Sicilians."  He, finding it unsafe to
proceed, turned back and remained all night at the house of a friend.
Raphael Santana states, on oath, that on the night of September
22, 1868, he was marching with his club, the'"Pinchback Zou-? 
As they were passing down Rampart street, between Canal and C(ustomhouse, parties on the banquette fired into the procession. Shots
were also fired from the gallery of a brick house, on the corner of
Bienville and Rampart. The procession proceeded as quietly as
possibly down Rampart street, and was again fired into, at the corner of St. Peter. The members of the club, now justly excited, ran
to the house, determined to find the assassin, but were dissuaded
from carrying out their purpose by the police, who  promised to
search for him. The club then dispersed.
Octave Rey states, on oath, that on the night of September 22,
1868, he was Grand Marshal of the "Warmoth Guards," and as he,
with his club, were passing out Canal street, past the comner of
Bourbon, between ten and eleven o'clock, a man standing on the
corner, in front of Dumonteil's confectionery, apparently  very
much emited, commenced cheering in a loud manner for, "Willis
Rollins," a notorious colored Democrat. Witness sent a policeman
to quiet him, fearing that owing to the feeling against said Rollins
among the members of the club, the men would become excited.
The policeman spoke to the man, who immediately went inte
Dumonteil's saloon, and the doors of the saloon were closed. Some
excited members of the club ran up on the side-walk, when he called
all the men to fall into the ranks. At this time he heard some person
running on the gallery overhead, and looking up saw a man at the
railing, who fired a revolver at the club. This was the first shot fired,
and apparently directly at him. He then advised all his men to go
home. At this time the firing had become rapid, and to avoid
empdsure, he being on horseback, rode along under the balcony on
the sidewalk to Rampart street, but found that the procession was
entirely dispersed.
i
11 
William R. Mason states, on oath, that on Tue sday night, Septemni
ber 22, 1868, that he was standing opposite Dumonteil's confectionary
on the coiner of' Bourbon and Canal streets, at about half-past ten
o'clock, looking at the Republican procession. Thinking he saw
Captain Rey saluting some person on the gallery of said confectionery he remarked to a friend, who was with him, "What is the matter
here, it seems strange that they should salute us from this corner;"
his friend replied that he did not understand the movement. Immediately afterward a shot was fired at Captain Rey from the said
gallery, a shot was returned from the club, and the firing then
became general. TJpon the springing of the rattles by the policemen,
in the vicinity, the clubs immediately disperse& -As witness was
proceeding homeward, he passed, on almost every corner, groups-of
half a dozen or more of men who are identified with the Democratic
party, at this time they were peaceable though excited.
Pierre Edwards states, on oath, that he was in the Republican
procession on the night of September 22, 1868; his company was
turning from Canal street down Rampart, when the firing commenced
on the corner of Bourbon and Canal.  That part of the procession,
then on Rampart street, was immediately fired upon by a crowd on
the opposite corner of Canal and Rampart. They halted the procession. and the firing ceased. Tlie procession again started down
Rampart street, when some persons in a passing car fired again into
them; some members of the club tried to overtake the car, but it was
driven too fast, and they did not succeed. Witness left the club, and
went home, at the corner< of St.- Louis and Rampart streets.
Baptiste Barrow fully corroborates the above testimony.
James Johnson states, on oath, that on the night of September
22, 1868, he was with his club, the "Pinckback Zouaves," in the
Republican procession.  As they were passing Dumonteil's confectionery, corner of Bourbon and, Canal streets, shots were fired into
the procession by persons on the gallery of said saloon. The club
proceeded out to Rampart street, down which they turned; they were
again fired upon near the corner of Conti; they were also fired upon,
seven times by white men from a passing car.  The club proceeded
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177
to the corner of Touloue street, Where thoy Awre  et t     y tV
Hon. Messrs. Campbell and Lowell, who  persuaded them to go
quietly to their homes, and avoid'any further duicty.h 
William Brown fully corroborates the above testimony.
Edward Linderman states, on oath, that about half-past 10 o'clock.
on the night of September 22, 1868, he was stnding on the corner
of Canal and Carondelet streets in front of Kuntz's confectionery;
at this time the Republican processior was passing on the- opposite 
side of Canal street, in front of ]D)umonteil's saloon; when the last
club of the procession had arrived at this point he heard considera- 
ble yelling and cheering by white men from the sidewalk for "Seymour and Blair," and also for "Rollins."  The men in the procession
hissed, which caused considerable excitemeant; a shot was fired' at
this moment from the gallery of Dumonteil's confectionery, where a
number of white men were congregated; afer the' first sh6twas 
fired, he saw distinctlyseveral more shots firedom the saidgl ey t:i-; -
the procession; some members of the club then commenced smashing the glass in the windows of the saloon, and this was followed by
a general retreat of the procession in that vicinity. Witness crossed
over and found a pool of blood on the sidewalk where the affray
had commenced, and walking on, he found a colored man on Bur-'
gundy street, lImg apparently dead; the procession had at this time
dispersed, and eveirthing seemed to be quiet; 
Charles H. Washington states, - on oath, that on - the night:of
September 22-; 1868, he was on the corner of Canal and Daes {al
streets, as the Republican procession was passing on the oth  side 
of Canal street; he saw the procession fired into from i: lek Am
building on the corner of Dauphine and Canal streets; the' Republican clubs fell back to Rampart street, when they were. again fired
into from the building No. 6 Rampart street; hesaw:-eontmiual
firing of pistols in front of Christ Church, on Canal Steet;: the;
members of these clubs ran in Pa  directions;    saw A colored man 
running from Bourbon street out Canal, and upon reaching Bur
23
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i78
gundy street he fell, appaently dea,d; a crowd of white men started
from the corner of Burgundy and Canal, and ran rapidly after the
procession to Rampart, firing into the procession coninually.
The wounded man referred to above has since died.
Felix Dumonteil states, on oath, that on the evening of September
22, 1868, at about aquarter past 10 o'clock he was walking on Canal
street from Claiborne street toward his store on the corner of Bourbon and Canal; he saw a procession coming out Canal street, and
soon after heard firing in the direction of said procession, he then
ran toward his store; upon reachiing it he found the doors on the
CanaI  street side closed; quite a crowd was collected there, mostly
of colored people; through the windows he saw his clerks trying to
close the doors on the Bourbon street side, resisted by the people
outside.  He then went down to the kitchen entrance on Bourbon
street, and went in to the assistance of his clerks, and succeeded in
closing the door; soon after quiet was restored.:
Felix Somali states, on oath, that he is employed as a waiter in
Dumonteil's confectionery, corner of Canal and Bourbon streets; that
on the night of September 22, 1868, there were several gentlemen
and ladies on the gallery of the saloon at the time the disturbance
commenced; he was in the kitchen filling an order when he heard
the report of pistols, and the noise of the smashing of glass; he
ran out upon the gallery to see what was the matter, and found that
two men who had been sitting apart from the rest had gone; he immediately turned off the gas in the saloon up stairs, and while thus
enaged  y.eral men -rushed up from below, and one of them ran to
the railing of - the gallery and fired into the procession,;nd  then
ran back down stairs.- Witness tried to prevent this man from
shooting, and requested him not to go out on the gallery, but did
not succeed in his endeavors.  All the waiters were  then called
down stairs to aid in closing the doors.  Witnesa and others did not
go, being afraid.  Soon after this everything became quiet again.
During the whole disturbace,he saw no member of theclubs in the
saloon.       X   I''
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179
John (Connor (poliicem'an) states, on  ath, "that h1  AS     the i n.
tral Police Station on the evening of tlp'tmer 22," 868, at aHlout
10 o'clock, P. M., and news coming in of a disturbance on Canal
street, he immediately went down there; upon reaching the corner of
Canal and Rampart streets, he saw about thirty4ve members  f the
Republican procession-they appeared very much excited.  Witness
labored in vain to pacify them until after-the arrival of the Chief
with others, when they were prevailed upon to leave for their homes,
and promise not to interfere with any body unless they were first interfered with.  Witness was detaied with another policeman to go
down with them; on the way down Rampart street he was repeatedly
told by the members of the Republican club that they did not wish
to interfere with, nor molest any one, but that they had been fired
upon on Canal street without any cause or provocation.  When
deponent had reached St. Peter street with the party he was guarding, he heard two shots fired, which seemed to him from the sound
to have been fired from the confectionery building on the corner.
The eolored men got very much excited and made an attack on the
said confectionery, doing some damage to the show window; they
said they wanted the man that had fired the shots at them.,  The
Sergeant and policemen told them that they should have justice done
them; they then proceeded on their way quietly.  There was no
further disturbance.
Philip Montani states, on. oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and resides at No. 322 Prieur street, New Orileans. On
the night of September, 22, 1868, between ten and eleven o'clock,
he was passing Dumonteil's confectionery, corner of Bourbon and
Canal streets.  He saw a white man come out of said confectionery
and cheer for Seymour and Blair, remarking, "Get out, you d-d
niggers." A man from the procession stepped up on the sidewalk
and was immediately pushed back into the street by said white man.
A white man then fired a pistol at the procession fiom the balcony
of the saloon and the proprietors immediately closed the store.
Two more shots were then fired from the gallery; the shots were
fired through the blinds on said gallery.  The procession proceeded
out Canal street to Rampart, and stopped; thle were there joined
by a party from Dauphine striet, and all proceede d own Rampart
street.  The procession was again fired upon from a private house 
180
.on the cote~ of' Cloti street  Witnes  xouldnot soee who fired the
shbot.  He had no welpon-wit him.  After this he went home.
J. J. Williamson, chief of police in New Orleans, states, on oath,
that on the night of Sept. 22, 1868, at about half past eleven o'clock,
he was in the office of the fire alarm and police telegraph, city hall,
receiving reports from different sections of the city, and directing
the movements of bodies of police, when Mr. Joseph Ellison came in
and in an excited manner said, "who is in charge here?  I want the
general alarm rung on all of the bells." Witnless asked him why; he
said "I want the citizens called out to stop and putdown the riot."
Witness told him that everything was quieted down, and that the
colored people had all dispersed for their homes.  Mr. Ellison said:
"I don't care, I will have the alarm rung and have the people out."
Witness answered him, "we have had enough of riot and bloodshed for once" and although the fire alarm office was not under his
control, he would not permit him, or any other person, to ring an
alarm from that office that night.  Mr. Ellison replied that he did not
care for him orhis police; he could and would ring an alarm without
the use,of "that office."  Witness told him that his actions were caleculated to incite a riot; that if he undertook to carry out his threats,
or if he went out of that office with those intentions, he would arrest
him and put him in confinement, let the consequences be what they
may.  Mr. Ellison at once changed his tone, and remarked that he
cwould go to Generals- Rousseau and Buchanan, and left the office.
Aid R. L. Bradley, special officer William Walsh, and operator
Adams were present during this interview, and fully corroborate the
above testimony.
Joseph Ellison states, on oath, that about noon of Sept. 22, 1868,
he was called upon by the chief of police, who  desired him to use
his influence to prevent Democratic clubs from turg out on that
.... f~~~urlrg out on that
evening.  Witness complied by writing a note to the "Frank Blair
Quards, Jr.," request, ing them not to turn out.  The chief stated that
he had made arrangements with Mr. Landry, Marshal of the First
Ward, Club (who were to turn out that evening to serenade Colonel 
*181
Fuller, at the St. Charles Hotel), which, if carried out, would prevent
any collision between the different political clus.  Mr.,Landry being absent when these clubs started down the street, Mr. Maxwell
and witness came down  ahead, of the clubs to see that the streets
were clear, and that no possibility of a,cpllision could take place;
they requested Mr. M. Farrel, then on Canal street, to solicit the
marshal of any colored club to avoid St. Charles street, for a few
minutes, during the time that the Democratic clubs might be at the
St. Charles Hotel.  Witness also stationed private police officer  Mc,
Intyre at the corner of St. Charles and Canal streets, with the same
instructions, and to promptly advise him, at the St. Charles Hotel, so
that he could induce the Democratic clubs to leave the street prior
to the approach of the colored clubs. While there he saw the colored clubs passing out Canal street, and soon after received intolligence of a fight on Canal street. He then, with a view of preventing the Democratic clubs from entering into the trouble, ran down
St. Charles street to Canal, and out Canal to Carondelet, calling loudly
to the First Ward Club to go back. There was no crowd at Dumonteil's, on the opposite corner, at this time, but there was rapid firing
farther out Canal street.  He could not distinguish who was doing
the firing on account of the darkness. He could find but one man in
the Democratic clubs who would acknowledge that he was armed.
After this occurrence an excited crowd gathered about' the "Clay
Statue," whom he endeavored to send home; they demanded that some
action should be taken, as people were being butchered in the out skirts of the city.  Two  gentlemen volunteered to ride down and,
bring  back  correct information.  On the report of one of them
(Deputy Sheriff Dick), about fifteen minutes later, that there was
considerable fighting on Esplanade street, witness, accompanied by
Mr. Wells, went to the office of the chief of police, and thence to the
telegraph office, where, finding said chief (who was receiving a dis patch at the time), asked him what was the news.  He stated in re ply that there was a devil of a fight in the Third District, and as the
police were not sufficient he had sent to General Neil for a company
of cavalry.  Witness then told the chief that if he could not take care
of the people of New Orleans they should be allowed tX take care of
themselves, and that he ought to ring the alarm bell; his reply was
very rough, that no man should, touch the alarm, etc., to which wit ness answered that "if it was  necessary to-ring the alarm it would
be done: that he would ring it.himsolf," and on Williamson's threat
to arrest him if he repeated it, heidid repeat it, stating at the same
4 
182
time that he had spent an hour in endeavoring to protect the piac,
alnd his officers, and this was a poor roturh for it. Witness then
drove to General Rousseau's residence on Apollo street, near Terpsichore, and awoke the Geeneral, who had not been notified that troops
had been ordered out, and'then proceeded, in company with General
Rousseau and Mr. Wells, to the residence of General Buchanan, who
was also not aware that troops had been ordered out, who accompanied them to the city hall (this was seven minutes past twelve).
and from there to the "Clay Statue," where they found the chief of
police, and after a short interview the Generals left. Witness states
that his motive in desiring the ringing of the alarm was a necessity
of self protection, when the law failed, and he was unwilling to trust
the handling of troops to a partisan chief of police, who was evidently incapable of doing his duty, and in whom a maps of the citizens had no confidence.
JacT Evans states, on oath, that he resides in Algiers, parish of
Orleans, near the line of Jefferson parish; that on or about Friday,
October 23, 186S, during the excitement at Gretna, a party of white
men came to his house, broke in the door, and took from the house his
gun, axe, hatchet, and several other articles of value; they also broke
down his fence and his corn cfib, letting the cattle into the crib.  Before leaving they beat an ola colored man who was in the house.
Frank Johnson (colored) states, on oath, that on the night of
October 24, 1868, he was In the Republican procession with the
Eleventh Ward Club; at the corner of Carondelet and Canal streets
they met the Democratic "Working ]en's Club," who cheered for
"Seymour and Blair;" this club answered by cheering for "Grant
and Colfax."  They then cried out, "You d- d black sons of b-hs,
hush up your d-d mouths."  They, however, continued cheering as
before; when the club was in front of the  "Constitution Club Rooms,"
on Canal street, between Baronne and Dryades streets, a pistol was
fired from the sidewalk; the shot was answered from the procession,
and a fight immediately commenced; during the fight the policemen
on this beat ran away; a colored boy named Antoine was killed in
4K
0 
B83
the melee; two colored men and a colored woman were shot dead,
and several were wounded.
Samuel Bell and Edward DeCree corroborate the above testimony. 
Account of the riot in New Orleans on Saturday night, October
24, 1868, taken from the Republican of'October 26, 1868:
An  eye witness, whom, we are informed, is a  United States
officer, states that "when the head of the column (Republican)
reached the hall of the Constitution club, the foot still on the
north side of Canal, making the form of the letter S, I saw the Dem ocratic Working Men's club approaching on the south side of'Canal
street from St. Charles at a quick pace, and remarked to my friend
that I apprehended trouble, when he replied,' You are quick to dis cern the temper of the people,' and scarcely had the words passed
his lips ere the white club dashed into the centre of the colored line,
when the firing commenced.  Being unarmed and in no way prepare for this attack, the colored men fled precipitately, not, however,
till several shots had been fired into their ranks, they apparently
being unaware of the true nature of their situation. Such yells
and hurrahs as accompanied their triumph over four unarmed black
men, whom they left in the gutters riddled with bullets, could hardly
be exceeded by the warrantable clamfor of a victorious' army.  A
mere child, a boy of perhaps ten summers, was struck with a club,
breaking his neck and killing him instantly.  His corpse was left
between those of two colored,men, and was by my friend picked up
soon after and laid upon the banqiiette.  The white club then turned
and marched toward St. Charles street in confused order.  That it
was an unprovoked assault is certain, the Democratic journals to the
contrary notwithstanding. Numerous anxious parties were assembled as near as safety allowed, awaiting the restoration of quiet, and
for a half hour I never knew such an excitement.  Squads of men
were hurrying to and fro firing their pistols, yelling and making
night hideous with their wild demonstrations, and while we were
gazing upon the result of their demonstration, firing was heard at
the corner of Basin and Canal streets, to which point they all-ran,
crying'kill'em, kill'em,''white men to the rescue.' Anxious, of
course, to ascertain the true result, I hastened there, but was too
late, as a man had been carried from there either killed or wounded, 
184
I could not learn which.  At  this moment a: shot was fired at the
corner of Common and Basin streets, and there was a general rush
for that point, but I did not go there.  Five men in citizens dress
then ran back and deliberately fired as many bullets into the lifeless
body and again rejoined the'Seymour Sentinels,' of whom be it said
none of them participated in this horrible tragedy.
"Twenty or thirty besides myself drew around the spot, when a
policeman came up and ordered the crowd to disperse.  Then they
set upon him, driving, him away and taunting him with,' Where's
your Metropolitans?''Where's  your Yankee troops?''Come
back and carry him  off.''He's your brother,' and such like
jeering."
We have another verson of the affair near the corner of Canal and
Franklin streets.
A policeman stated that "when the Democrats in uniform were
passiinl along on the north side of Canal street near Franklin, and
cheering for Seymour and Blair, a colored man,:barefooted and not
in uniform, who had just come up Franklin from Customhouse street,
stood on the Corner and cheered for Grant and Colfax.  Men on t~
opposite side then shouted,'Kill the black son of a b-h; Oet's o
for him.'  Then the colored man in the neutral ground was shot as
described..    
"The body of the murdered:man, whose name is Henry Clay, was
conveyed to the Tr6m6'Station and delivered to his friends yesterday.
Edward Crosby, another colored man, died at the Marine Hospital
this morning of wounds received Saturday evening.  Coroner Roche
will hold an inquest on Wednesday morning and investigate all the
circumstances connected with this maqost unfortunate tragedy."
Dr. D. Mackay states, on oath, that he is a commissioned surgeon
of the Metropolitan Police of this city; that on the night of October 24, 1868, he was called upon to visit a colored man at the First
Distrct, main station.  He found him severely woundedl about the
head and face, as if with a hatchet, and a gun shot wound in the
right thigh.  Deponent ordered the patient to be taken to the Charity Hospital, after he had dressed his wounds.   He was lying without any covering in the hall', of the station, shivering with cold.
This was after eleven o'clo   P. M.  Superintendent of Police J. J. 
Wiiamnson said,'he could not beotheed 4endinD  Or  t6
the hospital that time of ni.ght"- The wounded man was 1a d+s
charged United States soldier.  Deponent then had him  covered
with blankets.  The patient remained   the station until ml,ig
when he was removed to his home.'Deponent visited him at his
home a few hours afterwards and extracted a ball from the upper
and back part of his head, which had entered the brain.  He died
on Monday, October 26, 1868.  On Sunday mouning, October 25,
about two hours after deponent had dressed the wounds of said
colored man, there were brought in dead to the; main station threo
(3) colored men and one (1) boy, sohe of them with four gun shot
vwounlds in their bodies, and their heads and faces severely lacerated
The boy's neck was dislocated and his body covered with contused
-woiunds, as if kicked or stamped upon.  Deponent believes he was
Ltaken by the heels and swung against a wall or post.  On the 17th
day ofSeptember deponent was called upon to atetnd a wounded
(white) police oicer, at two o'clock A.,.,. t the FourthDis rict
s tion.  He had an incised wound between the eighth and ninth
r, producing internal hemoribage, which cansed his death about
fliv hours afterwards.  The officer's name was Butler.  lie was a
member of the Tenth Ward Radical RepubliCan Cluab. He was
stabbed by a man that said, "he woud getrid of:oe d-d Radical
son of a b-h."  Deponent  sited, furm (4) other colored men' who
were suffering from gun shot wounds received on Saturday, October 
24, 1868; three of them still have bullets in their bodies:. One[ se
ponent extracted which had-gone clear through. the- Upper part of
the left lung, and the man is probably  disabled for  e. Depnen
is known in his district as a Repubican, and has been assaulted
while quietly walking the streets.  HIe would not:vote during the
day of election because the same ferocious crowd:urrounde  the
polls who had been the cause of all the troubles i this city that
have taken place since the massacre at the /Mechanics' Institute, on
the 30th day of July, 1866.  Deponent firmly believes that- if the
Democratic clubs had supposed that the military would have been
used to suppress any violence that"they might have committed, no
Republicans would have been molested; but, on the oa    they
reckoned on the affiliation of the First Jnited States infantry, under
the command of Generals Rousseau and BuI   nan.  Deponent has
repeatedly seen-colored men insute d and abd by members, Of
24
'i',
6 
that i,gmint   Hle kiios numerous caes Where oolored men hauh
been discharged from employment because they were members of
Republican clubs and would not join the Democratic organizations.
Some Captains of vessels anld stevedores before employing colored
men, would require from them a certificate from some one of the
presidents of the Democratic ward clubs.  The club house of the
Tenth Ward Republican Club, of which deponent was president,
was sacked on or about the 27th day of October, 1868, by a band of
men known as the 4' Innocents." The man that struck deponent
was a member of the Blair Guards.
Question (by Mr. Campbell)-State, if you please, all that occurred
in an interview between General Rousseau and the Chief of Police
and some Democratic citizens of Algiers, with reference to a request
of the latter to be allowed to patrol the streets of their town, which
interview took place on or about the 28th day of October, 1868.
Answer-I entered the Chief's office at the same time with the
citizens referred to and heard the request, made to General Rousseau, that they should be allowed to patrol the city.  The Genes
answered, "Well, I can see no objection for any citizen to do thaW'
I then asked the General "if he meant by any citizen, colored men
also;" when one of the Algiers deputation said, "Oh, we would take
care of the colored men."  The  General then said, looking at deponent haughtily, "What need is there for both parties patrolling
tle city?  I do not think this is the proper time to start such a
question, and it is just such men as you are that create disturbance."
Deponent replied, "General, no one desires peace more than I and
my party do; bit-I would be better protected by a patrol of colored
men than by one formed of such men as these," pointing to the
deputation from Algiers. Superintendent Williamson then ordered
him out of his office, although he was there and spoke merely as a
citizen like the rest present. Deponent further states, that out of
allHhe colored men that were killed and wounded on the night of
the 24th of Octeber, 1868, not one of them were armed.  Deponent
repeatedly heard Democrats while in the cars, and who knew him
to be a Republican, threaten his life and other "white niggers," as
they called the prominent Republicans; furthermore, he firmly believes that if General Mower, with his few colored troops, had been
brought over to this city from Ship Island, no disturbance whatever
wonld have arsen frQm political causes.
186
I
I 
187
William Richardson states, on oath, that on Saturday evening,
October 24, 1868, while he was with his club passing the colier of
Baronne and Canal streets, a shot was fired from the window of a
house on the southeast corner of said street; a second shot was fired
from the sidewalk by a white man, the firing then became general
and the members of the club scattered and ran.
WVilliam Lewis states, on oath, that on Saturday night, October
24, 1868, he was with his club, First Ward Club; they were quietly
marching along Canal street, past the corner of Baronne, when firing
commenced from the building occupied by the "Constitution Club."
The firing was so heavy that he ran away to the corner of Erato and
Bacchus streets, here he, with some others, met a Democratic club
coming down Bacchus street; members of this club commenced
chasing  them and yelling  "Kill the d          d scallawags."  He
managed to escape in safety.
Emile Oliver states, on oath, that he is a citizen of Louisiana; that
on the night of October 24, 1868, between the hours of ten and
eleven o'clock, a colored man named Alfred Garner came to his
house, No. 359 Camp street, and said to him, "Oliver, I'm shot;"
witness examined him, and found that he was shot in the breast; he
asked him who shot him, he answered, "I was shot at the corner of
Erato and Camp streets, coming home, when some unknown white
men came along and shot me."  He got into witness' bed, and in
half an hour he died.  Mr. Garner was a' member of the Grant
Guards, and was out parading with the club; he was a true
Republican.
Peter Joseph states, on oath, that on Saturday evening, about
eight or nine o'clock, October 24, 1868,-he was passing on Josephine
street, near the corner of Fulton; the Working Men's Democratic
Club was passing down Josephine street toward Magazine street; at
the corner of Annunciation street, some member of the club fired a
shot at some colored people who were quietly standing on the sidewalk. Witness afterwards reported at the Rousseau street police 
station, and received orders to call in his men, as: there was a riot
on Canal street.  He met two men in the uniform of the above
named club, and heard one of them remark, " I'll bet you that the
Radicals will be short of some voters t-morrow morning."  Witness
continued his course to the corner of Dryades street, where he saw
two colored men wounded. One James Williams, who was shot in
the head, has since died. He afterwards heard a call whistle, and
running in the direction he found near the corner of St. Mary and
Religious streets, officer Kline lying with his throat and leg cut, and
officer Wolfram badly beaten. There were two caps belonging to
members of the "Working Men's Club" lying in the vicinity; he did
not succeed in ascertaining who were the perpetrators of this out,
rage. On Sunday morning, October 25, 1868, he, with Corporal
Kline, of the Metropolitan Police force, were threatened and abused
by armed white men at the Jackson street ferry landing, they were
six in number, two of them came into the street and drew their
revolvers, one of them levelled his at witness and Kline, saying,
" Shall I shoot the son of a b-h," the-other said, "let him off," the
former replied. "I want to try it on a Metropolitan Policemi,
any way," but he did not fire.  As witness and Kline, soon after,
were passing the station, these men commenced to abuse them by
saying, " You half white sons of b'hs, and all you Metropolitan
Polide."'  On Monday, October 26, 1868, a colored woman notified
witness that she overheard some white men say in a grocery on Jackson
street, "We will have to go for that half white son of a b-h that
lives on Philip street (meaning witness), he's on the Metropolitan
Police, we'll get a sly crack at him."  On the following day, about
noon, a squad of about thirty white men, armed with shot guns,
revolvers, etc., came to the corner in search of witness, but not
finding his house, went away.
Simon Jones states, on-oath, that on or about the 24th day of
October, 1868, as he was coming out of the Post Office he heard a
party of men who were there congregated, remark: (' There goes
that d-d Radical son of a b-h; let's make a row with him and
kill him."  To avoid the crowd, witness went into the private office
of the Deputy Postmaster; a few minutes afterward a man came
into the office and said that on a previdods occasion he hacl asked
I~A
t 
189
Charles Smith and witness whether they would allow their daughters
or sisters to marry a "nigger," and that they had replied in the
affirmative; witness then replied that it was untrue, and that he
would leave the matter with Charles Smith to settle; this man then
said that he had said so, and that he was "a dld nigger loving son
of a b-h, and ought to be killed."  Witness then seeing that the
excitement was increasing  in the street, went up stairs into the
Custom House, and from there he went to his room   Having heard
that one Winn Rogers had laid a plot to assassinate him at 1 o'clock
that night, he remained at the house of a friend; when he returned
to the house a few days afterward, the ladies of the house told him
that a party came there the first night that he was away, and swore
that they would shoot him; they did not, however, make any attempt
to enter the house. They came again on the following night at
about 12 o'clock, and swore  they would "go through the house,
ladies and all, if witness was not produced; that they had sufficient
men to do the work, and his blood should be spilled that night."
At about this time Walter Rogers, brother of this man,  Wiinn
Rogers, came to the door of his house, on the opposite side of the
street, and called his brother in; no further demonstration was made
after that.  Witness has been told that it was unsafe for him to go
about that locality, as they were fully determined to murder him.
Eugene Staes states, on oath, that on 5Ionday, October 26, 1868,
during the night a body of armed men came to his house, corner of
Claiborne and St. Philip streets; they attempted to break open the
door, threatening to kill him, but were prevented from doing so by
some more quiet members of the party;  they, however, left,
threatening to return and kill him if they caught him. They returned the following night, and' again attempted to break into the
house, but were prevented by some parties unknown to witness.
They have since called for h'im, but he, with his family, have remained away from home at night.
Edward Giff states, on oath, that on the morning of October 2,6
1868, about 32 o'clock, he was  standing on the corner of Toulouse
and Rampart streets, as a:uigbt watehman, when  seven white men 
190
came to the opposite corner and called to him and another policeman
named Nicholls, who was with him, to halt, and then asked them
who they were.  At this time these men discovered that they were
policemen, and one of them, who was on horseback, called out to the
others to "come on, now we have got them," and one of them fired
at policeman Nicholls, and the man on horseback fired at witness.
Witness then ran for his  life, they continuing to fire at him. He
turned and fired one shot at them.  He succeeded in escaping to the
Station house, and found that Nicholls had been wounded by one of
the shots fired at them by the aforesaid party (which consisted of
seven men on foot and one on horseback).  Witness took Nicholls
home and remained with him until morning.
J. Lanabere states, on oath, that on Monday morning, October 26,
1868, some time before 4 o'clock, about twenty unknown white men
came to his coffee house, corner of St. Peter and Basin streets, broke
into the house, destroyed the billiard table and all the furniture, and
took in cash about one thousand dollars; also three gold watches and
his books, besides other property.':The Sicilians had previously
threatened to kill the owner of the: house "and every d-d nigger in
it."  The bar-keepertold them that they could kill hinif they wanted
to do so.  They replied, "never mind, we will come back another
time." These men came around the house every day, using bad language and abusing the colored people.  On October 27, 1868, a
number of these men were standing on the corner in front of his
coffee house with pistols in their hands, not allowing any person to
approach the bar-room. Mr. Gustave Arnheim, his bar-keeper, was
coming at the time and these'men shot at him three times, preventing him from coming to the house. Witness knows of no reason for
this persecution.  He is a Captain in the "Warmoth Guards."
James Wilson stagy  Hi oath, that on Monday evening, October
26, 1868. a number of white men, twenty or thirty, many of whom
wore tL  miforms of Democratic clubs, some with red caps, white
capes alc )JL?k papts, came rushing into the house were he lives,
corner of;rito:A Walk and Dryades street, and called loudly "Where
is the d —d son of b   h who fired that pistol at us." Witness 
191l
baid he did not know of a shot having been fired. They held hini
and searched his room for arms, saying, if they found any weapons
they would kill him on the spot; they found no weapons, but found
and took his watch and coat, a box of carpenter's tools, and a pocket
book, containing about ten dollars; they also took from his wife's
hand her pocket-book containing about nine dollars and a half.
Witness is now without house or home, and is afraid to go back to
get his bed and bedding, as parties lurking around there b,ey they
will shoot him if he shows himself.
Celestin Oliver states, on oath, that on Monday morning, October
26, 1868, about one o'clock, a party of about forty armed white men
came into his neighorhood, near the corner of Franklin and St.
Philip streets, and inquired of a lady named Mrs. Bryan where he
lived, and offered her twenty-five dollars to tell them; she told them
that she did not know any such person, fearing that they would kill
him. On Wednesday evening, October 28, as he was going home
he-vas met by a young colored boy who told him  not to go home,
as he had heard a party of white men say that they "wanted to put
his light out," because he had been a captainin one of the colored
clubs; he remained away from home for five nights until the excitement was over.
Richard  Johnson  states, on oath, that on  the  26th day  of
October, 1868, at nine o'clock, a party of about forty white men
came to his house, No. 197 Franklin street, all armed with shot
guns, revolvers, etc.  They knocked att the door and ordered him to
open it, which he did; one of them demanded weapons from him;
he told them he had none; they said he was a d-d liar, and asked if
there were any more men in the house; he told them there were. four,
when six of these white men went to them and demanded their
arms, but they did not have any. They then searched the house
and took the registration certificates away from two of the men in
the house. They told all of the men in the house that if they went
to the polls to vote they would kill them. They also threatened to
kill witness on the spot if he did not give them his certificate of
registration, at the same time presenting a pistal to his head and 
19!
drawing a knife on him.  Witness told them' thal they would have
to kill him, as he did not have any.  They then left, ordering him
to put out the lights after they got away.
William Nicholl states, on oath, that on the night of October 26,
1868, he was on duty as a policeman, on the corner of Toulouse and
Rampart street, a party of white men appeared on the opposite
corner and fired several shots at him, one of which took effect in his
back, where it still remains. Their intention evidently was to kill
him, but he succeeded in making his escape to the stationhouse.
Another policeman named "Giff" was also fired upon about the
same time and in the same vicinity; he, however, escaped unhurt.
John G. Seldon states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the State of
Louisiana; that on the 26th day of October, 1868, between 3 and 4
o'clock P. M., he was at the corner of Toulouse and Burgundy
streets, in the presence of L. D. Larene and, A. Dourd, when  one
Alphonse Picon came up to him without any provocation, and presented a pistol to his face, asking him  if he was armed; he
answered "no;" Picou then said that he was a Democrat; that he
was hunting Belot and all the leading men of the Republican party;
witness answered that he was a Republican, and fully determined
to sustain it; he then left him; an hour afterward, when in company
with his daughter, he met the same man-A. Piconu-on the corner of
Claiborne and St. Ann streets; he saw the said Alphonse Picou draw a
revolver from his pocket and shoot a colored man, who then ran
away; witness then went away with his daughter to avoid the difficulty.  On the 28th day of ()ctobe, 1868, about 11 o'clock P. M.,
some twenty unknown white men attemptecl to break open his door,
saying, "this is John G. Seldon's liouse, the leader of the Republican party;" ome one of them remarked that he was a Creole, "let
him be; we will see him after awhile;" these men then went away.
Augustin Maurice states, on oath, that on Monday evening, October 26, 1868, he saw a party of white men break into the Eighth
Ward Republican Club room, frdm which they took a banner and an
American flag; the party numbered about one hundred men, and we're 
armed with shot ~iis and revolver'. They destroyed ail the t     rnir
ture and transparencies, and everything:that:was in the room.  These:
men called themselves "wide-awakes;"7 they said they would kill' all
the officers of the said club before the week  was out.  On Tuesday, October 27, 1868, from about eleven o'clock P. M. until!four'
o'clock the following morning, about fifty white men surrounded
witness'house, armed with guns, pistols, etc.; they knocked at his
door but he did not answer; they-concluded he was notin, and said
that they would wait for him; they, however, left finally,  and went
to his neighbor's (Mr. Foucher), broke into his house, broke; his furniture, and took away clothing and about ninety dollars in money;
they left, saying that they were going to burn the colored church on
Poet street.  
William Murrel states, on oath,;that on Monday night, October 26,
1868, he attended the meeting of th  "Guiding Star Benevolent Association" on Terpsichore street, between Carondelet and St. Charles
streets; while there about twenty "Innocents" (a noted Democrati,c
club) in uniform broke into the room and drove all from it, an
threatened to kill the ladies who were there unless they should showt
where the arms were concealed;- the laddiesinformed them tht there
were no arms in the place.  T heySdstroyed a United States flag; and
took sixty dollars from the colored woman; who resided in the house,
and took away and destroyed all her furniture and everything she
possessed. They also broke into the Second Ward Republican Club
room, and destroyed whatever they could lay their hands on; they
also brokeinto a barber shop, belonging -to a col6r,ed man named
Stephen Strange.  They shot at every colored man whomp they met,
and by mistake shot and killed one of their own men, supposing him
to be a colored man. Qn the following morning he sawt. these sanme
men displaying the trophies (money and other articles of value)which they had taken from: the  olored people the night previous:
and boasting of wh'ait they had' done'-.:...
John Little states, onl oath, that on the night of Oct6bdr26, 1868,
a party of abo ut' one hundred armed white men came to his house
and demanded to know-if the body of the colored man named Jamesa
Williams (who was killed on the night of,ober  24 in the riot:fn
25
I 
danal street),  as in the house;-if it was,'they Would biirn thd
"d —d son of a b-h," and that they would not permit the body to
be buried.  Witness is afraidto stay in his house at night,- as this
orowd of men (all of whom he believes are armed) said they wanted
to get him, and he is afraid they would kill himr if he remained.
P. M. Williams states, on oath, that he resides at No. 300 Gr:vier
street; that on the nights of OCtober 26 and 27, 1868, a body of
armed men, some of whom were mounted, came to his house and demanded admittance.  The gentleman of the house told them that he
would not open the door.  They then broke open the door, and one
of them said "strike a light boys, we will get that d-d son of a
b-h that spoke to us from the gallery."  After obtaining a light
they went up stairs and commenced breaking open trunks, armoirs,
bureaus, etc., and taking the contents-two hundred and twenty-five
dollars in greenbacks, eighty dollars in city money, three hundred and
nineteen dollars in bonds, also watches, jewelry, chains, etc., and all
the valuables that could be carried away, and breaking the crockery,
glass-ware and other valuable property that was in the trunks, belonging to different  individuals.  They broke the furniture, took the
bedding from the beds, and placed  everything in confusion.  They
opened a closet and took liquor.nd cigars ad everything that they
could use.  They destroyed and carried away property to the amount
of twelve hundred dollars National currency..
Captain Eugene Staes states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the
State of Louisiana, and minute clerk of the House of Representatives.;:
Question-By  Mr.  Campbelf-.Captain,  please state all that
was said in any conversation between yourself and General Rousseau on or about the 27th day of October, 1868, when you  applied
to him for protection, in company with Mr. William Vigers, Chief
Clerk of the House of Representatives?
Answer-On or about the 27th day of October, 1868, I went, in
company with Mr. William Vigers, chief clerk of the  House  of
Representatives, to the  Idquar ser  of (General Rousseau, to de.
mand protection, my  home having been attacked,  and my  life
threatened the fight before by a bandof men who were, to the befist
104
I 
of my knowledge and belief, white Democrats, the Generalsaid "hd
was willing to extend protection to any onet but could not detail his
troops on guard to every one that came and Bed of him prtection,
but would do all he could to keep quie in the city, and that t would
take twenty thousand men to do that."  Upon stating to the General
what position Mr. tigers and myself held, he said  it was probably
on that account that we were the object of the hatred of the opposing party," and added, "that the State officials were obnoxious to the
people, and if they were to resign their positions, that quiet would be
restored immediately; that in the present excited condition of affairs
he was unwilling to have his men killed for the purpose of maintaining in position men who were obnoxious to the people."  The
same night of the interview a band of men came to my house for
the purpose of destroying it, to the best of my belief, as threats had
been made to that effect, but they were prevented by some one, I do
not know who.
Captain William Vigers, chief clerk of the House of Representatives, being duly sworn, corrobo6ates the  foreging statement of
Captain Eugene Staes, and also states that- his\ h6use was entered
on or about the night of October, 27, 158,; or the morning of October
28, 1868, by a party or parties unknown, while he and his famly
were absent, who destroyed furniture to the amount of: seventy-five
dollars.
On account of threats offered deponent absented hinmself from
his home for the space of fifteen days, not thinking his life would be
safe if he should return during that time.
The following appears in the Republican, of October 27, 1868:
" On Friday evening last a large number of Democratic citizens
waited on Mayor Conway, at his residence, and urged him to appoint
an entirely new police force, including the Chief, and to disregard
the Metropolitan District Police law.   x. Conway was disinclined
to act upon their suggestions, and gave them his views of the effect
of such a movement on the prospects of the Democratic party at
the North.,
"His constituents were not satisfied with his reasoning, and told
him, in substance, that they would give him till 5I o'clock Saturday
evening to consider the matter, d-ig that if he would not act
i96 
tiey would; take the matter ito their ow  hands. -On Saturday
evening others or tie same dtizen  visited the: abyor at his residenee, but it is not -hale' ed that they succeed  in persuading Mr.
Conway that it was prudent to disregard a State law.;:
"Last evening delegations from Democratic clubs, many of the
men armed with muskets, estimated by one of:the morning papers
to number six hundred in all, patroled the streets, and at length
approached the City Hall.
- "They marched up St' Charles aud Oarondelet streets in detachments of from- twenty to fifty; some of the squads halting at
Hawkins' Branch and at Cassidy's to fortify their courage with' old
Bourbon or other stimfulants.    -
"They gathered in front of the City Hall, and success seemed
about to crown their movements until Major Keeler or Captain De
Russy appeared, and accompanied Sheriff Maxwell to the Mayor's
parlor, where  a  number of  citizens had assembled, offering
assistance.;
"It being considered certain'that~ the m itary authorities would
sustain the Superintendent of the Police, and order the selfcqnstil
tuted guardians of the peace to disperse, prominent Democrats
were called upon or volunteered to address the assemblage. 
"The MHayor was not convinced of the necessity of establishing
a citizen's police, and could not be won over to its support.
- ",The art to address the multitude of armed citizens from the
front of the City Hall was General Steedman, who, according to the
Times, spoke as follows:.  
"'To-day has been one of excitement.  In obedience to the call
of the Mayor, six hundred men have reported here for duty.  The
Mayor says there will be no need for yeoar  ervices here to-night; I
therefore advise you to go quietly to your homes.  He has been
advised that.the chief Executi've of th State had informed General
Rousseau that he was willing to turn over his authority to the miitary commander.  Gen. G #ousseau had refused to receive it.  The
Democracy,were a peopl, of law and order.  If the party in power
coul4 not run the machine, let them get. off of it-4et them turn the
lrower over to the people to whom it rightfully belongs.
"':~ now, quietly to your homes, with the assurance that good
news.iinsm  tore for you, for I,have intelligence+,ta Horatio Seymour
now ioi the satrap; a-d ris producing'amnng  th~e people of the
%of
I -p 
107
North great changes. The American eagle will yet overshadow this
land; the Goddess of Freedom will ineel and not beg in vain for
human rights/ I beg, then, of you, as men engaged in the great
struggle for human rights, to go now to your homes.'
"Mayor Conway being called upon, said that he was ready to indorse every word that had fallen from the lips of General Steadman.
He believed that Goneral Rousseau was doing everything in his
power to show himself the friend of the city. Hee begged the crowd,
as peaceable citizens, to disperse and go peaceably to their homes.'"
General Harry T. Hays next spoke thus, according to the same
report:
"I came here to say to-night that if your'liberties were imperilled, I would be the first to shoulder a musket. I wish to give
you some advice as one of you-as one of the poorest of you: I
went to the Chief of Police to find out precisely how the police
stands, and I tell you that the Chief of Police has bearded, the Commissioners, and told them that while they were sitting that they
should not put a negro policeman on duty.  This much praise is his
due. At the time he spoke there was not one negro policeman on
duty."
He gave them, in conclusion, the some advice as that given by
preceding speakers.
Senator Ogden was the next speaker, and said:
"I have no praises (referring to an interruption) to give to any
but the citizens Of New Orleans.  I am proud to have been born a
citizen of the place, and I tell you,. gentlemen, that we have stood on
the brink of a volcano-one of the greatest political convulsions that
the world has ever witnessed. It is the cause of law and order, the
cause of our wives and sisters, that has united us to-night. All that
we now ask is that their lives and our property shall be protected.
When, therefore, the chief executive comes to you and begs you to
disperse, will you not hearken to his appeal? Will you not go, like
good citizens, to your homes?  When the Governor of this State
comes to you and tells you that he cannot control the storm he has
raised-that the dissensions which he has occasioned have sprung
into armed men, General Rousseau did right to refuse to shoulder
his responsibility.  This action of General Rousseau it is inow the 
i9S
duty of the people to sustain.  The speaker begged his audience to
retire quietly and be contented with the present situation,"7
Sheriff Maxwell also addressed the armed people and advised tthecm
to retire from the scene and go to their quiet  homes.  When these
speeches were ended some of the club delegations left, but not all.
The Mayor went over to the office of the superintendent of police,
and between these officials there became a good understanding. After the Mayor's return to his parlor, there being still quite a crowd
remaining in front of the city hall, Lieutenant Spaulding appeared
in uniform, and informed the people that it was his duty, in obedience
to military orders, to request them to disperse. His request was
heeded without much delay, as he appeared to be backed up by soldiers to enforce any orders he might be compelled to execute.
W. B. Gray states, on oath, that on Tuesday, October 27, 1868,
between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock P. M., he was
aroused by some unknown persons knocking at his door. He got
out of bed and opened the door, and saw about twenty-five men
armed-with shot guns, pistols, etc.  One of these men, designated
by his companions as "Major," asked him if his name was Gray.
He answered yea These men then asked him if he was marshal
of any "nigger club."  He answered that he had been a marshal
of a Republican club.  Several of these men then remarked, "You
are the very G-d d-d Radical son of a b-h," and told him to
"come out there."  He remonstrated with them.  The Major told
them to wait until he asked some questions.  He then asked witness if he had any arms.  He answered that he had a revolver. He
then asked if he knew "where any other leading nigger Radicals
lived like himself." Witness was afraid to tell them, fearing that
they would go and kill them; he answered " No." They then asked
him if the niggers had any arms.  He answered that he did not
know.  Afterwards these men took hold of witness and pulled him
into the street.  He was in his night shirt.  Some of them said,
- uis:s'ioot him."  Others said, "Let us hang him to the lamp
]-oMt  rT   Major said, "If we make too much noise  all these
nia?er trick of town will come out and make it too hot for us; we are
too far from the rest of our men to do this; we will let it go until
another time; but we must have his arms."  The Major then commanded witness to go into the house with them to deliver his re
I 
voliver.  Several of them followed him into his rooms where Jais
wife and children were.  His pistol was lying on the table near his
bed.  They seeing it said, "GG-d den you, give us that pistol;" at
the same time several pistols were presented to his head.  He- gave
them his pistol, thinking it was the besk They then went into his
parlor and broke some furniture and crockery.  They then left his
house saying,  "We  will come again for you, you d-d ninger son
of a b-h!"  They then crossed the street to a house whe'  r.
Payne lived (formerly a candidate for Representative  f      or };:mt v:trict).  They demanded of Mir. Payne his arms.  Witnu:. L,Yw,  imp
formed that these men were coming to pay him another r'eit) a'n
believing that they would come and kill him he moved his f-jln, ly
away.  He was informed that these men came to his house the fol-.
lowing night, but found that he had left
Noah Douglas states, on oath, that he was shot at on Orleans
street by a party of white men on Tuesday, October 27, 1868.
Hon. D. Douglas, late a member of the Constitutionalk Convention, states, on oath, that on Tuesday, October 27, 1868, between
the hours of twelve and two at night, he was passing down Rampart street, accompanied by a friend.  Arriving at the corner of
St. Ann street they were attacked by a party of white men, who
said, " There are some of Warmoth's thieves!" These men followed
them and shot his friend, who fell, and witness was compelled to fly
for his life.
Napoleon Richardson states, on oath, that on the night of October 27, 1868, a white man named Flanders Clark came to his house,
No. 110 Prytannia street, and broke open the door.  He was accompanied by six other armed white men. They demanded his
guns.  He told them he had none.  They then searched the house,
but found none.
Is
it 0,
0 
Edwarc Mead states, on oath, that he is a citizen of Louis'ana.,
that on Tuesday, October 27, 1868, between the hours of eleven and
twelve o'clock at night, a body' of armed white men came to his
house, on First street, between Liberty'and Franklin, and finding
him up in the loft called out to him to come down, and wanted to
know what he was doing up there.  He told them that he heard
them coming and went up there to hide, as he was afraid of them.
The leader of the gang then wanted to know if he had any fire
arms. Witness answered that he had a gun. The leader said,
"Then give it up to me, as the cavalry are coming." The gang then
took witness' gun from his bedroom, his pocket-book (containing
six dollars and thirty-five cents, all the money he had in the world
for his daily support), from under his pillow, and said, "Give up
your fire arms and we will not hurt you, but if you don't we will
kill you."
John Campbell states, on oath, that on Tuesday night, October
27, 1868, he saw a crowd of white men standing on the corner of
Third and St. Patrick streets, at about twelve o'clock. They went
to his house and broke in and searched for him, for the purpose of
killing him; they did not succeed, however, in finding him. They
broke into the Eleventh Ward Republican Club room, and destroyed
the United States flag and all the furniture in the room.
Charles Grandpre states, on oath, that on the 27th day of October,
1868, at about 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening, as he was standing in
the cigar store, at the corner of Orleans and Rampart  streets, he
saw a party of white men shooting and creating a disturbance; he
shut his door and kept very quiet, fearing an attack;  the same thing
occurred again at about 9 o'clock; he afterward heard that some
colored men were shot. On Saturday, October 24, 1868, while the
Democratic procession was passing his place, some party fired into
his store
Reuben Johnson states, on oath, that on Tuesday nightj between
11 and 12 o'clock, October 27, 1868, a party of white men, one of
who)m had a large knife in his hand, came to his residence and
.2'16d 
searched the house-as they pretended-for weapotis; they ransacked
the house generally, and took from him a double barrelled shot gun;
they opened all the drawers and upset everything in the house; they
afterward entered the house of a neighbor.
'~:iarles Collins states, on oath, that he resides at No. 62 Franklin
c;::- that on Tuesday, October 27, 1868, t:a,,ut 9 o'clock P. M.,
a -rowd of white men entered his house and stabbed him in the back
and shoulder with a bowie knife; they asked h[ if he had any arms
concealed in the house; he told them that he had none; they searched
the house fox arms; not finding anything, they left without committing
any further outrage.
Alfred Taylor (colored) states, on oath, that on the night of October 27, 1868, a party %jf t-n or more white men entered his resi.
dence on Calliope street, between Baronne and Carondolet, and took
forcible possession of his registration certificate.
Warwick King, (colored) states, on oath, that on the same night
aforesaid, a party of twelve or more white men, entered his residence, No. 153 Calliope street, and robbed him of his registration
certificate, a pistol and a hatchet.
Robert Jones (colored) states, on oath, that on the same night, a
party of about eight white men came to his residence, No. 207,
Calliope street, and took from him his certificate of registration.
William C. Brewer states, on oath that on the 28th day of October,
1868, at about 2 or 3 o'clock P. M., he was on Roman street,' and
saw a crowd of white men running toward Prieur and St. Ann streets;
he inquired what was the matter, and learned that these white men
had tied a colored man up as a target and shot at him; they killed
said colored man, and pursued others to treat them similarly.  Wit
ness was compelled to leave his house with his family, as threats had
been made against his life,
26
I,, 1
01 
J. P. iartin states, on oath, that on the 28th day of October,
1868, he was at the corner of Urquart and Mandeville streets, between the hours of eleven and twelve P. M.  He saw a crowd of
about fifty white men on the corner headed by a man named
"Jacobs," they went to a house on Spain street, belonging to a man
named "Antoine." They broke the furniture and everything in the
house, Mr. Antoine and his family being absent at the time; having
been threatened, they had left to save their lives. These men took
from Mr. Antoine's house about eighty-five dollars ($85), and afforwards broke into the house adjacent and took therefrom a considerable amount of clothing.
Benjamin Scott states, on oath, that on Thursday evening, October
29, 1868, about four or five o'clock, a crowd of about twenty white
men were congregated at the corner of Conti and Marais streets,
they were in pursuit of Mr. Wickliffe, the Auditor of the State, to
kill him, but it being day light, they did not attack.  The people
living in the house did not dare to remain there during the night.
Witness has also been compelled to move from fear of being murdered.
J. P. Martin states, on oath, that on Thursday, October 29, 1868,
at about 11 o'clock, P. M., a Democratic club called the "Wide
Awakes," broke into the hall of the " Young Friends' Association,"
and broke the benches and all other furniture and articles in the
place; they pretended to be in search of arms.  On Monday, October 26, witness saw a band of white men, armed with guns and
pistols, parading the streets in the Third District. 
Henry L.]Tarzin states, on oath, that he is clerk of the Board of
Supervisors of Registration of the Fifth Ward; that owing to
threats of violence, he was compelled to suspend his work on
Thursday and'riday, October 29 and 30, 1868.  The Chairman of
the Board was assaulted at his own residence on the night of the
80th, and has been compelled to leave the city for safety.
d 
20M
Peter Johnson (colored) states, on oath, that on the night of
October 30, 1868, at about half past nine o'clock, three whie men
came to his house, and ordered him to let them in, or they would
break in the door.  He opened the'door and they demanded of
him his registration certificate, and those of two other colored men
who were with him. Witness told these men that their papers had
already been taken away by the Democrats, whereupon they left,
saying "we can get nothing here, let us go somewhere else."
The Times of Friday, October 30, 1868, has the following account:
"The Second District yesterday morning, was, comparatively
speaking, quiet. The station and court building was guarded
during the night with fifty soldiers. Two places were entered by
-bodies of armed men, and the contents of the buildings more or
less injured.  Economy  Hall,  on  irsuline  street,  between
Villerd and Robinson streets, was sacked.  It was at one time a
registration office, and is a place of great resort for negroes residing
in the faubourg Tr6m6.
"The origin of the unfortunate difficulty of Tuesday noon is yet
an inexplicable mystery, and would probably require days of searching investigation to ascertain all the particulars. The following are
those known to be killed or wounded:
"Joseph Punch, colored, residing at the corner of St. Anthony
street and the Mexican Gulf Railway, was wounded at No. 255
Dauphine street, it is thought dangerously, and sent to the Charity
Hospital.
A"A colored man, stabbed and killed at the corner of St. Ann and
Bourbon streets His body was taken to the Second District Station,
afterward sent to the graveyard. The colored man, George AlleN
wounded on Crossman street Tuesday morning has since died. 
" Deputy Coroner Espinola, we hear, has held an inquest on the
body of a colored man, unknown, found dead a few squares from
the Laharp Street Station House, Third District.
"Mr. Sanches, who was shot in the left side going home Monday
night, we hear, is doing well.
"The police report a colored man wounded at the ceoer of St.
Ann and Derbigny streets
"The lower portion of the city was patrolled Tuesday night by
I 
204
the citizens.  They report everything quiet in the Seventh and
Eighth Wards.
"The colored man found dead at the corner of St. Ann and
REampart streets was taken to Trdma Station.
"Accounts were brought to the station of one or two political assaults made in the rear portion of the city, and of houses being
broken open and entered.  About midnight a half dozen shots were
fired out on Johnson street, between  New Basin and Common
streets, and two other shots were fired in the same quarter some
time after. Shots were heard in the neighborhood of Claiborne
Market, and a good many on Common street, about daybreak.
"A man by the name of Nugent, who is said to have made himself unpopular with laborers, is reported to have been chased and
fired at.
"About 10 o'clock Tuesday night a party of about a dozen men
entered the club room of the "First Ward Grant and Colfax Club,"
on Terpsichore street, between St. Charles and Carondelet.  No
persons but women-nud children were in the place, and they were
not molested; but the flags, uniform caps, lamps and other paras
phernalia of the club were carried off, except what was destroyed
and thrown in the streets.  During the time occupied in' cleaning
out' the establishment, sentinels were posted at the street  orners,
and all passers halted.
"So quietly was the affair conducted that many residents in the
immediate vicinity were not aroused from their slumbers. One or
two shots were fired near the corner of Terpsichore, on St. Charles
street, but we cannot learn that any one was injured."
The following paragraph appeared in the New Orleans Bee, in
connection with the state of lawlessness in the Second District:
"At twelve o'clock yesterday a negro was shot in the head and
killed at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann streets, and another
was subsequently found dead at the corner of St. Ann and Rampart
streets.  They are reported by the police to have been killed by
some of the armed men going through the streets. A third negro
was killed near the house 225 Dauphin street."
POLICE REPORTS.-George Allen, colored, wA, shot on  Crosm,,w
rtreet yesterday. 
The following appeared in the New Orleans Bee of October 31,
1868:
"There was a large meeting of thie'Innocent' club last night at
their hall on Orleans street, where Gen. Rousseau appeared and ad.
dressed them in acknowledgement of the serenade tendered to him at
his headquarters, which happened, he said, while he was absent. He
spoke but briefly, giving them good advice, which was received with
the heartiest applause, and will no doubt be faithfully observed.  Fle
said he was satisfied that offenses of which they were not guilty had
been charged upon them, that they did not look like men who were
either cruel or ferocious, and hoped that no more disturbances would
occur, and that all persons entitled to vote would be allowed and
encouraged to do so."
Joseph Neele (colored) states, on oath, that he is employed on the
ferry, boat called the "Belle Lee," commanded by Capt. Wiley. On
the 31st day of October, 1868, said Capt. Wiley came up to him and
said, "Joe, mind what I tell you, if you vote the Republican ticket
on the 3d of November, I will shoot you and throw you in the river;
no one will know it.  The niggers make me mad, and I hate every
nigger." Witness, therefore, did not dare to vote on the day of elec.
tion.
A. T. Selover states, on oath, that he was commissioner of election
in New Orleans, during the election held November 3, 1868r at Poll
No. 3, Precinct 10, 5th Ward.  From the opening of the polls until
about noon, the white voters had complete possession of the polls.
At noon they, finding there were being no Republican votes polled,
started around in bands, in search of colored voters and offered them
money, and in some cases threatened them, to induce them to vote.
They told many that they would protect them and see that they should
vote as they might choose. Several white men attempted to vote twice;
they were, however, detected and prevented. Contrary to orders the
deputy sheriffs took charge of the ballot box, after the counting was
over, and took it to the sheriff's office.  The sheriff had given them
orders to "stick to it until hell froze over."
205
0 
206
W. B. Phillips states, on oath, that on the morning of November 3,
1868, he went to the poll near the corner of Claiborne and Common
streets, and while there he saw three young white men approach a
colored man and tell him "if he did not want his brain.s blowed out,
he had better vote for Seymour and Blair."
). W. Brandon states, on oath, that on November 3, 1868, the day
of the election, he went to the poll corner of Josephine and Laurel
streets, with thirty three (33) colored men, to vote, and when there
was threatened by a crowd of white men there congregated, who
remarked, "here come the d    d nigger sons of b-s, and a white
Radical with them, to vote the damned Radical ticket." Witness
advised the colored men to return home; while they were returning
some one in the Democratic ranks said, "if those d-  d niggers
had voted, and had not voted as we wanted them to they would never
have seen another day."
Joseph Mintan states, on oath, that he served in the federal army
during the late war, and for having done so he has been repeatedly
threatened, some telling him "you will pay for it when Seymour and
Blair are elected"  On the day of the election, November 3, 1868,
he was walking along quietly, when he was seized by a party of
seven or eight white men, who wore the badge of the "Broom Rant
gers,# and who told him that he must vote.  He told them that he
had not his registration certificate with him; that he did not wish to
vote.  He told them this because he believed it to be unsafe to vote
the Republican ticket. HQ finally made his escape from them.
Leander Collins states, on oath, that on the 3d of November, 1868,
he was'standing on the corner of St. Louis and Trdm6 streets; he
saw a colored man coming down Trdmd street and saw two white
men shoot at him, but without hitting him. They then arrested the
colored man and took him to the Parish prison.
Thomas Washington, George W. Washington, Edward Johnson
and Stephen Rag state, on oath, that during the election of Novema 
ber 3, 1868, they went to poll number three, precinct twenty rT.entjl
Ward, corner of Laurel and Josephine streets, to vote; whenr,, Wi:,
a few steps of the polls a man in the crowd (which numbe;ed a, o —t
forty), who wore a red ribbon badge, marked deputy shei t;:;
"there comes that same white d-d Radical son of a b-h ht  as
at Jackson street poll this morning with some d-d Radical niggers
here to see if he can vote them at this poll, but I'll be d-d if he does,
except-they vote for Seymour and Blair." Hiearing these threads
used by the deputy sheriff, they concluded to go home.  Had it not
been for this intimidation they would have voted the regular Republican ticket.
Daniel Hollins, Patrick Johnson, James Williams, James Page,
Washington Green, Jordan Mulligan, S. C. Criber and William
Leonard (all colored) state, on oath, that on November 3, 1868, the
day of election, they went to poll number two, precinct twenty,
Engine house number twenty-two, on Tchoupitoulas street, for the
purpose of voting, and when near said poll, a white man came up to
them and asked if they were going to vote.  They replied "yes.'
He then asked what ticket they were going to vote. They answered
the Republican ticket.  The white man then said, "You d — d sons
of b-s, you don't vote no  such d-d ticket at this poll."  They
asked him if they didn't vote at that poll  He replied "Yes, but
you have got to vote for Seymour and Blair, or not vote at all."
They immediately turned from the poll and went home. Had it not
been for this intimidation they would have voted the regular Republican ticket.
Edward DeCree, Pierre Grant, Charles Ennis, Samuel Campbell,
David Fisher, Samuel Bell and Samuel Basil (colored) state, on
oath, that they are registered voters in New Orleans, Louisiana, in
the Tenth Ward; that on November 3, 1868, during the late election,
they Bent to poll number one, precinct twenty, on Jackson street,
for tile purpose of voting, when within a short distance of the poll
(around which a crowd of about two hundred white men were congregated) they heard some person in the crowd remark, "here comes
the d-d black Radical sons of b —, and a d-d white Radical with
q~6
ol 
tihe, to vote the d-  Radical ticket."  They then believing it to be
impossible for them to vote, started to leave the polls. As they were
leaving the same man said, "it is better for you d-d niggers to go
home, for if you had voted the d-d Radical ticket, your G-d d-d
heads would have been blown off."  Witnesses further state that had
they not been thus intimidated they would have voted the regular
Republican ticket.
The following is an official statement of Wm. Baker, Chairman of
the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election of the 3d
of Nov-ember, 1868:
"There is not a ward in the city in which threats of violence have
not been made to the Supervisors of Registration in the performance
of their duties. Mlany of them for some time prior to the election
were afraid to sleep in their own houses at night. Others were
threatened, and in one instance one of the newspapers called upon
the people to'hang the Registrars to the nearest lamp post.' Is it
any wonder that they resigned rather than perform their duties at
so much personal risk? In the First Ward one of the Registrars
was hung in effigy in front of bis own door. Since then, as a matter
of personal safety, he has sold out his place of business at great
loss, and moved to another portion of the city.
"One Registration office (the Sixth Ward) was broken into and all
the furniture and stationery destroyed, fortunately the records were
deposited elsewhere for safe keeping. The First Ward Registration
office was broken'into and the whole records destroyed. It is believed it was done for the purpose of destroying the evidence which
the Registrars had been collecting, respecting the breaking into the
house of colored men, and with pistols at their heads and threats of
instant death if they resisted, robbing them of their registration
papers. I am in possession of many affidavits setting forth these
facts. Many club rooms were broken into and sacked, the furniture
and everything destroyed.
"So far had these threats of violence, intimidation and murder
been carried that when  the Registrars came to that part of their
duty requiring them to appoint Commissioners of Election, that in
not one ward in this city could be found Republicans who were ready
to incur the risk of serving as Commissioners of Election, showing
most conslusively the reign of terror which had been inaugurated
and which but too truly maie " the election a farce," the "tragedy"
having preceded it.
~69 
:The consequenCers of the intimidation jut referred.to, is:no where
mor. -perceptible than in the city of.lW Orleans, r With m     than
eighteen thousand (18,000) registered:coired,voters in this city,
and certainly not less than six.thousand white.pblicns  it appears
that less than three hundred persons voted the Reubican tibket.
Why the Republicans did not vote, is easily explained, by takieg a
glance at the weekly mortuary report of the Secretary to the Board
of Health, which shows that three white men and ten colored came
by their death, either by gunshotor other wound, in one week in this
city, during which time such a  t   of anarchy or mob la$ existed
that the ordinary police authorities were powerless, aduc the streets
at night were patrolled by bands o  self!appointed men, a,rmed Fwith
all kinds of dangerous weapons, during' which time no colorea'd "man
or known Republican dared show themselves on the strets after
dark."
John Dennis state: on 6ath, that:' n. the -d de,  of N'b o r,
1868, he saw Judge Gasti4l and Mi. Rounseleau make thee cobIred
men vote the Democratic ticket at the poll on Sti. Philip Street, be-tween Marais and Trdmd streets; these men did not wish to vote, but
did so, being afraid that they would be, killed if they did not.  -(The
said Rousseleau is a member of the'"Ihnocent Club.")  Mr. Rousseleau's brother-in-law was there,: and made colored men 4 vot6 tthe
Democratic ticket.  At the corner of apa       i:and Ursulitne streets,
Mr. Trdme' and John Henry, members dr  the "Inoeent Club,"
stopped witness and asked,him to vote the:Democratic ticket, when ihe
refused to do so; they:told: him  he must vote that ticket; he left
them; between 11 and 12 o'clock these men came to his heuse for
him, but he was out, they then went to hi: imcle's, Mr.:Johnhson
Dennis's house, a-nd made him ieave his,4ck-b 4and  toe the Democraftic: tiket, one of these men -was  named Lieutenant Joo Jaeobs,
of the Third District Station.  At No. 14 Engine House Witneis a
white men point theirS re volvies at colored men's heads, and make
them vote the Democdtic ticket;; he. sdl#:Jud,ge Gastiniel: fit
his revolver at colored'men's:.eads' at: the'engine h:tS of Pelican.fl, Hook"  adcl Ladder No. 4 a6nd make them Am-,e De,:
cratic ticket;; -Judlge Montaiat Riandy Arthu Guerin were togethl
at Poll No. 21 and forced colore  mend  to vote Th  Dmoraib
ticket.  Witness fifrther stateS thaty'e  aw Ju:Gastinel, A'
Sambola, and ailtser manzal $U  ~C 2th
27 
one night, il  the latepmt of Octobe;  go:to3 coomy Hali,
on Ursuline eStreet, and destroy all the blanks for the registration of voters, and call- the' furniture in the room.  The  Supervisors of jRegistraion,held their ofice there.  Witness intends
leaving the State for fear of being kilied; his life being openly
threatened by one Oscar Blasco, Marshal of the "Innocent Club."
(YRO-'8,XAMINED
Question (by Mr. Campbell)  Do you know  JudgeGastinel?
Answer-I know Judge Gastinel by name, sight, and by reputation.  I was ralsed with him all my life. 
Question-You state that you saw Judge Gastinel make three
(3) colored men vote the Democratic ticket, because they were
afraid they would be killed; how do you know this?
Answer-I heard the threats, I heard Rousseleau say, "We  will
go in your bed and get you out, and you will be sorry for it; you
had better vote my ticket."  Judge Gastinel told them to vote; he
would fix it all right with them; "hey must vote histicket."  A
young man by, the name of Heny, who  was along with me,witnessed this at4the Engine hose of Pelican  Hook and Ladder,
No. 4.
Q.-How close were you to the parties? 
A.-About fifelen (15) feet.
Q.-Are you sure that it was Judge Gastinel?
A.-I am, for I know him v  rywell.
Q.-You state that you saw Judge Gastinel and Mr. Sambola,
with thirty orfifty other men, on the night of Octqber 23, 1868,
go to Economy Hall, andcdestroy blanks, furniture, and so on?
A.-I did.
Q.-Are you personally acquamted with Mr. Sambola?
A.-Not personally; I know him by name and sight; I used to go
to his house before the wr; I have known him for about twentyfive years. 
Q.-State how close you were to those parties on that night, and
if you are positive: that they were the parties.
A.-I live a quarter of a block fom Economy all.  I was standing on the top of my gate, looking over at them.  They were about
fifty feet off.  The moon was shining; it was a clear night; you
could pic up,  pin in the street. - I recognized the parties plainly.
While I waso looki  at them they went into the Hall.  I heard the
breaking of th things,  nd through the windows saw the breaking
,.:glo 
211
of the glass  After it was dclone they,ame out with a new banner
in their hands, and passed right before my door; there were about
thirty or fifty of them,  A young colored man named Henry saw
this beside myself..  
Charles J. Fogarty states, on oath, that on the 3d day of November, 1868, he visited the polls in the Eleventh Ward, six in number.
A Republican could not express his political sentiments without
endangering his life.  Nearly all the white men, (and they were
numerous about each poll,) wore armed with revolvers; Republicans
were in the greatest danger, and probably would have been kied
had they attempted to vote.  Few Republicans voted, and upon
inquiring of the negroes why they did not vote, they answered that
they would not go to the polls because they believed that if they
did they would be killed. Republicans, appointed as commiioners
of election, refused to serve for the same reasons, and others we
appointed, 
Joseph Lee states, on oath, that he resides on Dryades street, between Common and Graver streets;Qthat on Novenbcr 6, 1868, he
was standing on the corner of Common and Dryades streets, at
about half past ten o'clock A. M., when he saw a white man run out
of a house and assault a negro, hittig him three or fourtimes, and
then drew his revolver and pointed it at said negro and said, "I am
going to shoot that G-d d-d nigger."  A policeman came up to
interfere, when said white man pointed his revolver at said policeman, who turned and walked away.
James McDonald corroborates the above testimony..
The Committee append to the testimny from this parish the following evidence, in relation to a seeret semi-military an political
sociey, styled in its ritual "The fuights of the White Camelia."
The evidence shows that this organization extends throughout all
the' Southern States, and also has auxiliary branches in many of the
Northern Stats, an  paticularly an ew york city    d Wington,
11 
]~ is al~o i- e~ctn:, thit: s- -is'the  sade orgnization which,
w      i~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~ a n                            ds
under tho commn naame Of the "Ku KluX u'an," has committed so
many crimes and: spread psoh terorthroughou: the South fr  the
past two years, and whose existence and operations have been reported to the War Department by Major General Thomas and Brevet Major General Reynolds, and which have also been exposed by
Governor Clayton, of Arkansas
The evidence before the Committee' has omre from persons within
the order, and from "'different parts of the'State a~n' of tie aion. 
The evidence to the facts herein presented is signed and sworn
to; the names o0~ the  itnesss are, for obvious reasons; withheld.
The Committee are'lso in possession of' much informationl of the
loa:ai' op' erations of the'order in this State, wioh'hit is not deemed
expedient now to publis'h.'.
. states, on oath, that he is a member of tih6; order of "'Knights
ofthe White Camelia-,"' conmxnonly known as the Kii Klux Kla'n;, and
that'whe'n seeing' a "special meeting called,'which was done by inserting the following in the New Orleans Times: "K. W. C., No.-,
important," he attended.  He has also visited the following Cous
cils of the K. W. C.'s, viz:
Council No. 11, Poydras and Carondolet streets.
Council No. 14, Magazine and Phillip streets..
Council No. 13, at the Fair Grounds, 
Council No. 10, at the School qf "Medicin, Common street.
Council No. 9, E'agle HEall, Prytania street and Felicity road.
-Council No.4, corner Bienville street and Exchange  Alley.
Councii-No. 8, corner Canal and Ramrpart streets.
The K.  C. C.is a secret organiz'ation composed entirely of Whit'e,
men Who are opposed to granting to a ny 6ther race, or class of men,
rights or privileges that did not bbi6'ng to tl'em"before' the late war.
Before any person can' become a member of this'secret order his
name must be presented by some nmember of the order, and balloted
for at least one week before he can become a member; the person
whose name is before'the order is supposed not to "khow that fact,
nrot even'of "the "e'xist'enc:'e of the:organization;.  One black ball is'sufficient to reject-in that ev'ent he-i's never to knowo: the fact.'But if
he is accepted, then the; "'brother who proposed himmay, (in as
guarded a manner as'  p'ss'ible) "m'ake himself acquainted wit"th his
views upon the matte'r of''permitting''the'negro or Afirican race' to
2i4,
If, 
2914:
have any voice in the political affairs of this country,; or of granting
that race any rights or privileges that they did not uhave or enjoy before the commencement of the rebellion.  If the, applicant is found to
be all right, or in other words, if he is unconditionally opposed to the
African race having any control whatever of our political affairs, and
also opposed tb' "Scallawags," or white men who believe that all men
are born equal and entitled to equal rights and privileges upon this
continent, and if he is willing to  cionsider the last named class as
enemies of the white race, he may be brought to the council room for
examination, under oath. Before the candidate is permitted to enter
the council room he must take the following oath, which is administered by thie person known to the order as the "Grand Conductor."
You solemnly swear, in presence of these witnesses, that you will
never, by word, act, or sign, or by any other means whatever, divulge
or make known, to any person or persons, the existence of this order,
its objects, its places of meeting, or the name of any person or per
sons you may see here, or anything you do now, or may hereafter
see here, or suspect concerning this order.  You further swear that
you will make true and faithful answer to all questions that may be
put to you by those who' are authorized by this order to ask such
questions, so help you God. For the faithful keeping and performance of this oath, you pledge your life and sacred honor.
The candidates are blindfolded and taken into the council room in
charge of the Grand Conductor.  As soon as they have entered they
are challenged by. the person who is at the heads of the council, and
known as Grand Commander, viz:
By Grand Commander: Who comes there?
Answer by Grand Conductor  Friends of our race.
Q.-What do they want?
A.-Peace and order and the observance of the laws of God and
the.maintenance of the constitutionframed by our forefathers inl 1776.
Q.-To do that what must we do?
A.-We  must be joined together as brothers and united as are the
flowers that grow upon the same stem.
Q.-Are they willing to join us?
A.-They are here to answer for themselves under oath.
The candidates are then seated -and. addressed by the Grand Commander as follows  
4p 
214t
By Grand Oommander: My friends, it becomes ray duty to pro
pound to you certain questions which you Iust answer. truthfully.,
Your admission into this order depends upon your reply:
Q. —Do you belong to the white race? 
A.-I do.''
Q.-Do you believe in the superiority of the white race?
A.-I do.
Q~.                   
Q.-/ Hazi you ever marry any woman that did not or does not be.
long to youir race?,
A. —No.
Q.-Will you promise never to marry any woman unless she be.
longs wholly to the white race?
A.-I will.
Q.-Are you opposed to allowing the political affairs of this county
to go, in whole or in part, into the hands of the negro or African
race?
A.-I am.
Q.-A-Will you do everything in your power to prevent its going
into the hands of any inferior race, and especially that of the Africaa
race?
A.-Yes.
Q.-Will you promise, under oath, never to fail to cast your vote
at any election for a white man attached to our principles, when he
is opposed by a negro or one attached to negro principles, unless
prevented by severe illness or other disability?
A.-I wilL
Q.-Will you promise to defend and maintain the principles of
this order against all enemies, and at all times and places to observe
a marked difference between the white and the negro or African
races?
A.-I will.
By the Grand Commander:  You have answered the questions
satisfactorily.  It now becomes my duty to administer to you the
oath that we have all taken.
The Oath.-You solemnly swear in the. presence of these witnesses
that henceforth you will maintain and defend the superiority of the
white race upon this Continent, and at all times observe a marked
difference between the White and negro or African ragesi that yoq 
will do all in your power -to prevent the political aff&irs of this
country, in whole or in part, passing into the hands of negroes or
other inferior race; that you will never fail to cast your vote against
a person opposed to our principles, who may be a candidate at any
election for any office of honor, profit or trust, unless prevented by
severe illness or other disability; that you will never marry any
woman that does not belong to the white race; that you will ob6y the
orders of those who by our statutes have a right to give orders; that you
will at all times and in all places respond, if at the peril of your
life, to a sign of distress or cry of alarm coming from any fellow
member of this order, and that you will defend and protect them,
and will do all in your power to assist them through life; that you
will never reveal to any one, without authority, the existence of this
order or its signs of recognition, its pass word, its signal of alarm
or distress, or the name or names of any of its members or anything
whatever that you may see, hear or know concerning this order; you
further swear that you will always cherish those grand principles
and use your influence, your intelligence and power to instil the
same into the minds and hearts of others. For the faithful keeping
and performance of this oath you pledge your life and sacred honor.
By virtue of the power in me vested, I now pronounce you
"Knights of the White Camelian"
At this point the newly initiated are turned over to the Lieutenant
Comrm.ander, who proceeds to instruct them in the secrets of the
ordcer, viz:
Time sign of recognition is made by carelessly drawing the index
~',?r)r)r of the left hand across the left eye, (all the other fingers of
that hand closed).  If the person addressed be a member of that
order he will respond in like manner.  If either party have any
doubts he will ask the question, "Where were you born?"  The an swer  is, "On Mount  Caucasus."  Q.-"Are you free?"  A.-" I
am."  Q.-"Were your ancestors free?"  A. —"They were."  Q. "Are you attached to any order?"  A. —"I am."  Q.-"To what
order?"  A.-" To the order of the Knights of the White Camelia."
Q.-" Where does it grow?"  A.-" On Mount Caucasus.'
The order has a signal of alarm, which is giveii by four raps with
the hand upon the door of the council for entrah}~. The same
number of raps are given upon the bells for a grand aia
There wore in August last fifteen (15) Councils of K,    ~'.s in
the Parish of Orleans, but they now  number eighteen (1I), one of
which is the Grand Council for the Parish of Orleans and State of
Louisiana. The Grand Council is composed of three members.
i b5 
The Grand Commanider andrthe Grand Lieutenant of a council are
allowed to sit with the Grand Council while transacting the business
of their immediate Council, and at no other time, so that the Grand
Commander and Grand Lieutenant of each Council take their turn
sitting with the Grand Council.  Each Council reports to the Grand
Council once in each week; the Grand Commander and the Grand
Lieutenant take the report of their Council to the Grand Council and
sit with them while receiving the report and transacting the business
of this Council and retire with the verbal orders from the Grand
Council, which they deliver verbally to their Council, thus making
the number present, while transacting the business of any particular Council, five (5).
The city of New Orleans, Algiers, and Jefferson are divided into
military districts, with a Grand-Military Commander for the State,
and subordinate officers for the districts.
The Grand Military Commander for the State of Louisiana is.
The organization comprises principally ex-rebel soldiers, although
any youth of eighteen and upwards can become a member, whether
a citizen of the United States or not. All the banished and transported desperadoes now in New Orleans are members of the K. W.
C.'s or K. K. K.'s.
The reckless, disappointed, Democratic politicians are all members.
Many merchants, clerks, and brokers, have been drawn into the order
under the pretence of uniting to redeem the State from the so-called negro rule. These men are withdrawing from the order as they discover its
criminal designs. Every foreigner, whether he had been in the State a
week or no, that could be made to promise that he would vote the Democratic ticket was brought to the Democratic Committee, and they (the
committee) would give the friend of the foreigner who brought him a
note to the Democratic Judge' of the court, who would give said foreigner naturalization papers, so that he could register and vote; thousands of names were registered in this way.  Every member of the order who could not procure a revolver was supplied with one by the
Councils;  the members  subscribing according to  their means.
Muskets  were procured  also, and  armories established  where
the mremrbers (K. W. C.) drilled.
In case the order and signal was given for a general massacre of
the loyal whites (scallawags and carpet baggers, as they call them)
and blacks, all the me'mbers of the order (K. W. C.) could go to the
gun stores, or places where arms were sold, and take them, and the
4f
io
,k \,
. -.1
, t, 
Council would afterwards pay for them. In case of a massacre, if
the military interfered they would fight them too, and they openly
boasted that they could "clean the military out in fifteen minutes."
T've huse of every prominent Republican Ns watched, and the
hours that each kept, so, that in case of a massacre they would know
where and when to find their victims. In October, 1868, they con eluded to break up the Metropolitan Police force, under the pre tence that "they were not a lawful force, and were not capable of
preserving the peace," notwithstanding the K. K. K.'s were the only
ones that did disturb the peace, and to arrest one of them would have
been the means of calling out twenty thousand armed men.
D]uring the disturbance in Jefferson and Gretna, six black men
were murdered in Gretna and their bodies thrown in the Mississippi
river by members of the K. W. C's.. It was the intention of the K.
li. K.'s to kill enough RIepublicansbefore the election to intimidate
the rest from coming to the polls; they said they had no hopes of
Seymour's election, but they were determined to redeem the State
o; LoTouisiana from negro and Radical rule.
.b murclers committed in the State of Louisiana, in the differaent
iXe:;a, were committed by the K. K. K's.  The braves [members]
WC~!:i, boast among themselves of killing, saying,  "I took two
ni~ggrs down" an) d "I took one down," etc.
Their mode of assassination was as follows, to wit: When any Republican becomes prominent in the carrying out of the reconstruction laws of Congress, or by his expressing a desire to allow
the black man his equal rights before the law, o in keeping cormpany}, with black men and instructing them in their political rights,
such Republican becomes hatefutl to hem,  and they wish to get rid
of him in any way; they cain it "attending to him;" and wheon a
?iac-eber -wants a man killed he Will say in the Council of which he
is a member to the Grand Comanander, and those present "I want
," (giving the ma' name and addres in full), "attended to,"
then  gives the reason w y he wants him attended to. When it is
put t o a  vote of all the members present, and if a majority of votes
cast are in favor of the proposition, it is granted; bAt if a majority
of  votes are not in favor of it, then nothing is done; but if it should
be cacnried and granted, they then elect' a member to eirry out the
designs. If any one is proposed by another ho staads up, and if
the      members think him a fit person he is elected, but if not he is ro          28
ii 
jectad, for the reason that they do not consider the brother a fit peison to participate in the work on hand.  If a brother is elected to
perform any work, and rises up to excuse himself as being sick, etc.,
a doctor is called-a member of the order-and if pronounced well
and in good health, he is then branded as a coward and not permitted to enter the Council in future, and is again sworn to secrecy
as to what he knows.
In cases where a man is to be "attended to," reckless desperadoes
are always proposed and elected. When a man is to be killed,in a
district, word is sent to another district and a member is sent to do
the work, giving the members in the district where the victim lives
due notice of the time it is to take place, when they are on hand in
waiting, and if the brother gets into trouble the members in waiting assist him to their utmost ability. In the country parishes they
send word to an adjoining parish, and that council elects a brother
to do the work, who immediately notifies the brothers of the council
in the parish where the victim Hves, and thqy are about at the time
specified, when if the brother gives a sign of distress, they rush
forward and assist him.  The K. K. K. members boast that the
Legislature-i. e. the present body-wiill never be allowed to meet
here again.
This order exists in all the Southern States; but in some to a
greater extent than in others; in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas to a greater extent than in
the others.  The members of the order say "they will remain united
as long as a black man holds office;" but a black man can vote free.
provided he does not vote the Republican ticket. Witpess further
states that he has the names, residences, and business of the wealthier members of the order, and of the prorniment men in the councils.
They talk of reorganizing the order, altering the constitution, and
changing the signs and pass words. It is asserted by members of
the Ku-Klux that they are glad the Radical Legislature are moving
their quarters from the Mdchtnics Institute to the old Louisiana
Bank, as they did not want to see the Institute burned dpwn, which
would be the case if said Legislature continued to occupy it, and
that it is very doubtful whether the Legislature meet in January
or not.  Bets have already been made that the Legislature will not
meet. One man said on Canal street on Sunday that every man who
had a white heart was a waking arsenal, and by two words he could
i 
219
have Canal street min an uproar.  He said that the miliary forces
would not last five minutes-besides, he knew the military authorities sympathized with the white people of New Orleans, and that it
was, and is the determination of the whites to remain united until
the last Radical and nigger is out of office.
The following is a continuous narrative of some of the secret proceedings of this organization in New Orleans for the two months
preceding the election:
SEPTEMBER 16, 1868.
The city is laid out in military districts, and every member is required to arm himself.
OCTOBrR 2, 1868.
- -states, on oath, if a member is able to walk he must go to
the place armed and ready for action; in no case must a member
provoke a quarrel; if he does, he will get, no assistance, even if he
is killed, so long as he commences the disturbance and is to blame
for it.
They are determined to resort to violence in case Grant is elected;
they propose to raise all over the South.
They call it slow poison to have a black man to rule over them.
They also say that in case of a disturbance that no man under
General Rousseau will shoot at a white man.
OCTOBcoR, 1868.
The members at No. 9 met last night at, up stairs.
They appointed a patrol of one hundred men divided into groups
of ten each, who have a chief, and they all under a grand chief,
. They are to meet every night at 7 o'clock in case they
should be needed; as matters now, stand they will not patrol except
called out.
The G. C. said last night: " Brothers, all of you that can come to
drill, do so; the armory is up stairs."
A supply of arms has arrived here lately; it is stated that the
order now numbers sixteen thousand (16,000) in the parish of Or
leans, La.
There is a move on foot in the city (October 29, 1868) to put
Judge Ong, of St. Bernard, out of the way. The orders come from
St. Bernard parish.
O0OBER 10, 1868.
Council No. 4 met at the fair:grounds. Nearly all-the members
aro foreigners- The meeting was a special one, called by order of the
k 
220
Grand Council.  Resolutions were passed urging every man of foreign birth to go forward and procure naturalization papers, and to
see that every man did so, whether he belongs to the order or not
It was also stated that there would be no trouble in getting papers,
even if the applicant was only three days in the country, as the
Democratic Committee had matters arranged with the Courts about
giving men papers. Resolutions were also passed forbidding Democrats to employ a colored man, except that he could get his services
for a less price than that of a white man;'also prohibiting memberrs
from talking or associating with white Republicans, or evene to do
business with them, when it could be possibly avoided.
OCOPER 25, 1868.
Council No. 15. On Friday there were two colored men killecd,
and in the evening there were five colored men killed, by members
of Council No. 15 and some members of the "Wide Awake Club."'
The bodies were thrown in the river.  (Some of the members of
No. 15 say that there were six colored men killed and throwii ill the
river.)
There are about twenty United States soldiers in Gretna; they are
drinking whiskey with the Democrats, and say that they (the soldiers) do not care a d-d how many " niggers " are killed.  Yesterday (24), the Democrats or K. K. K. pointed their pistols in the faces
of the Metropolitan police and made them march down to the river.
Orders have been issued to all the Councils to hold themselves il
readiness until election, and to carry their arms with them.
The "Innocents" will march to-morrow evening (2500 s+ro::)
through those portions of the city that are the most thickly s-ttled
with colored people.
~JEnFr, so~, OcToBIR 26, 1868.
The authorities of Jefferson had nine men in custody last evening,
seven of them members of the Metropolitan police and two suspected
spies, who gave some sigrns of the K.  K. K., but could not carry
them out.
On Saturday five men were arrested as spies, because they could
not show all the signs and pass-words; but afterwards, proving that
they belonged to Council No. 12, they were released.
Twenty man have been detailed from each Council, to remain in
Jefferson and do picket-duty, until the police matter is settled.
Large numbers of the K. K. K. have come to Jefferson frl?m adjoining parishes; they are armed with shot-guns; every man.s well
armed.
I 
221
OCrOBER 28, 1868.
Theme were one thousand Manhattan revolvers received on Friday
lIy one of the commanders of tri "Braves," expressly for the mem.
hers, to whom they have since been distributed. The revolvers
have six chambers and a six-inch barrel.  On Friday and Saturday
night the "Braves" had mounted pickets about the outskirts of the
city, none inside of Claiborne street. These pickets were to see if
any crowds of colored men assembled.  They had a lariat or lasso,
and pretended to be catching stock.  The outski-nis of the town were
watched because the major part of the colored people lived there.
OCTOBER 26, 1868.
It was announced in the Councils of thie K. K. K. some nights
ago, that if any disturbance took place all the members who had no
arnis could go to the gun store-the proprietor of which was a member of tl] order-and get all the arms they wanted, and the order
would pay the bill.
The Democratic Central Committee granted permission to the
Innocents " to parade, the object being to intimidate and frighten
the colored people. They rejoice in the belief that they have that
accomplished already.
A large attendance was had at every Council last evening. No
business was:,transacted; the members were merely present for the
purpose of being on hand in case of a disturbance. Extra patrols
and pickets were out last night from every Council.
Some of the members are very uneasy and anxious to kill certain
Radicals.  They say that unless an example  is made of some
one, they will not leave nor will they keep away fiom here and let
the black man alone.  They boast of having the Radicals, both
white and black, cowed down.
Large numbers of the K. K. K. moved about in groups in the
balck part of the cit.  About one hundred of the Wide Awakes and
Innocents carried muskets and shot guns; every man was armed
with one or two revolvers and knives.
A supply of arms having arrived, the different Councils are now
furnishing them to those who have none.
OCTOBER 27, 1868.
If a disturbance takes place in Jefferson there will be one started
in Algiers, so that the colored men living over there, and who it is
thought  would  go  to  Jeffersona Qn  hearing of v  4isturbance, 
222
will be kept across the river. Council No. 15 is in Algiers; the
K. K. K. care nothing about the military, as they say that the military cannot get around fast enough for the kind of fighting they
will do. The K. K. K. will not commence a disturbance, but will
give cause to be attacked in some manner, when they will call all
members to action by their signs and signals.
Council No.9, seventy-two (p2) members present, met last night
over, Camp street; they went up iilto th third
story to drill, those who had been in the Confederate army declined
to drill, stating that they were perfect in drill. About thiiy (30)
men then drilled for about fifteen or twenty (15 or 20) minutes.
The room is a bad one, and it is the intention to get another in tb
Second Ward, which the Council represents. There were about one
hundred new muskets there, and it is believed that they were brought
OCTOBER 31, 1868.
Council No. 10 met Sattrday evening.  The Grand Commander
requested all the members to go to the polls armed, but under no
circumstances to try to keep any colored man or white Radical away
from the polls, as the Democrats were certain of carrying the State;
that matters had gone too far already, and that the Radicals would
take advantage of what had occurred.
NOvEMBERr 13, 1868.
Council No. 9 met last night; twenty-five new members were
admitted; violent speeches were  made by             and          to
the effect that the organization had acted on the defensive too long;
tat the Radical party had been the aggressors for the last six
months, plundering the people, etc.
They spoke very bitterly against Lieutenant Governor Dunn, saying, "here is a negro that could be bought for fifteen hundred
dollars ($1500) seven years ago, now the Lieutenant Governor of
the State and President of the Police Board-how long are we to
put up with it?"  They also complained about the Radical Press
getting to know too much about them.
NOVE~nER. 18, 1868.
Council No. 14 met last night; a letter was received and read from
the Tammany Hall (N. Y.) Vigilance Conmittee, remomniending
four (4) men to the "tendei mereies" of the K. K. KO 
tJhese men are noted Radicals, and they will be watched; the
letcter will be sent to every Council in the city.
NOVEMBF.  26, 1868.
They talked of revising the whole Constitution, and reorganizing
the order, and excluding a certain class of memberis, who they say
never ought to be admitted, viz: Loafers.
DECMBER 3, 1868.
One man said that they had been outraged, the G. C. replied
"Yes, and the eyes of twenty thousand indignanIt men will watch
the traitor, he need not think that he will escape, ho will be found
sooner or later." In Council No. 4, they think that it is one of their
mnembers who has betrayed them, and in No. 14, they strongly suspect    - 
COUNCIL No. 14, DECEMBER 9, 1868.
The Grand Conductor said that they might as well throw the
doors open and admit everybody, as there was no secret about the
order now.  He also spoke of the benefit derived from the organization, and the great necessity for keeping it together, saying that
it was the fear of the order that kept the Radicals in the Legislature
from passing several extreme measures; he also told the members
that nothing had been received from the Grand Council yet. The
members, in speaking of the Legislature, say that it will not be
allowed to meet.  They Vso say that they will positively kill every
black man that is put on the police.  Some say that when the Legislature meets there will be a committee to wait upon the Governor and
first request him to urge the repeal of certain acts, and if he refuse,
they will then demand their repeal. The notices in the Times calling sl,cial meetings are for effect,, merely to make people believe
that they are not affected by the exposure of their signs, etc.
There are a number of the members of Council No. 10 who drill
every night at          -, Canal street.  They drill with musketsthe muskets are always found in the drill room when they meet.
Only one hundred drill at one time, as that is all the muskets they
have there. Council No. 9, meet and drill in the room over
On CaL'? street.  Each Council has a drill room; each
Council aiso detai s a certain number of men armed with revolvers
most of them the l~atnhattan revolvers-that were received from
New York for distribution, and which have been referred to at
earlier dates. During the riots these armed men patrolled the city,
- 9
2 
and when they met a colored man they would assault, rob, and some,
times kill him. This patrolling party broke up the Republican
Club rooms.  This patrolling party was divided into groups of ten;I
men each, with a chief, and the whole under a grand chief. When
these groups met a policeman they would assault or kill him.
----- states, on oath, that on or about the twenty-sixth day of
October, 1868, he was in the Merchants' Bank, on Camp street, and
while there saw several gentlemen come into said bank and go into
the back room, where they were met by some officers of the bank,
who delivered to them money or a check, and orcdered the bookkeeper to make the entry of money paid to purchase arms to ]cep
the peace.
ORIEANS-SUMMARY.
Nunmber killed.............................................63
Number shot................................................11
Number maltreated............
Total victims of massacre.............................161
24 
APPENDIX,.
Tre following a(%davits and st-i,,;f. ents wcre received too late to
be compiled in the body of the i;:eport, and are here inserted as an
A-,)e d-ir:
PARISH O0  ST. LANDPRY.
t?. J. D'Avy states, on o: - ai: he i, a citizen of the State of
Louisiana, and a resident of tlhe parish of St. Landry; that on Monday, Septemb)er 58, 1868, hle was informed that Emerson Bently had
,just been killed at his school house. HEe proceeded immediately to
tic sch)ol1 hous, anid meeting' BenLly about one block from the school
house, he ie.arned  f'roIm  him (Bently) what had just transpired; that
the Seynouir K.lnights lad called upon him and administered to him
a cati ng(r becaujse  of an rticle published in the "Progress" about a
,neeting' neld at \v'Wash,hington.  Witnress is of the opinion that Mr.
Bentlv's editorial irep)r ofL tlat  fceting was moderate and entirely
4hut iul....iii. Beni:ty and witness were proceeding together they
me  B.. mC-ib   erwT-  o' the Democratic Committee, when withjesS iat)ree-  hm oi-'f v-hat had tLranspired and asked him what he
ilad done in tlre case, cand what steps he had taken towards having
,he asswaltinPg parties arrested. lIe replied that " he had nothing to
45  ithI it.": VTitiess lthen referred him  to the treaty which had
.-en muae by join committee of both parties the week previous
?L/arauteeing  the preservatTion of peace and order during the cam?aign (Gantit was a mrnember  of that coimnittee).  Gantt replied
nf-  you and thel treaty.  If you are Inot satisfied with it, tear it
-'a  (() +0 t —,";    i7    t  es'itent  tlhenr, -)nO soon meeting several
-s,-2 8,......l,_.d a,ll that hlad tra', iod( —-t   e conversation with
gently anld CGantt-and wiulrie doiag'   be: l c nted a great stir around
hthc cort hboise, sone twventy or t      ityr+1    -? r.iding to and fro at full
speed.  -Vittss then left these part  s and went towards the court
hlouse, wlhere lihe met Dr. Jamrc;. Iay,    a member of the peace committee and asked him what was meant by the excitement.  Hlie answvered thiat "it was nothing; in a few moments it would subside."
29 
Two or three linutes after, the court house bell rang, when witnesg
saw men  coming frotm all directions —some mounted and some on
foot-armed with shot guns and revolvers. Witness then met P. L.
Hebrard, a Democrat, who advised him to go home.  He said the excitement would subsicde after a little, but he would advise him (witness) to keep out of sight, as he beil,g the leader of the Plepublieans,
and being on the street a,t that tife of niigh-U, mIlight tend to excite
the feelings of the people more.  Witness then started to go home,
and when nearing the "Progress " Ofce he met a company of the
Seymour Knights mounted and armed withi shot g,-uns and revolvers,
commanded by one Ned Lewvis.  As they passed witness some one
of them remarked "Where are your niggers now, God d-n you."
Witness then went in the "Progress " office and found Mr. Bently
in bed with a high fever.  MAr. Doenato and otihers having senit to
witness to know what steps it was best to take, witness replied that
"the only thing to be done was to telegraph to the Governor." They
agreeing with witness, he sent for a cou'rier while he wrote the dispatch.  While witness was writing the dispatch near the window
up stairs in his house hlie saw his rebel uncle, Yecs D'Avy, with a
shot gun going towards the Cathiolic church; at the same time August Perodin passed him on horseback armed also, and asked him
where he was going.  Ile (Yoes D'Avy) replied "on picket."  By
the time half of the telegram was written, witness was informed
that they were fighting at Paillet's plantation.  He started immediately down town, and on resahing the "Progress"  office  saw
several companies of armed wbnme men coming up the street, stopping all colored men, beating so0]-( and searching others.  Witness
called Linden Bently and informed him of the fact and told him to
close the "Progress " office and get away with his brother as soon
as possible, as he (witness) anticipated very serious trouble. Witness then went to Felix Ihessassier's grocery, where he met Gustave
Donato, and while talking with him was told by a colored man that
"several companies were coming up town after them, and to get
out of the way as quick as they could."  Witness proposed to these
gentlemen to come home with him.  They hesitated, and he proceeded home alone and remained in his garden until after dark and
then went to get his supper. While he was at supper he was informed that everything was becoming quiet and there would be no
danger.  He retired to bed sometime after supper, and about 10 or
11 o'clock he was awakened by his aunt saying, "My son, they are
,.1 i 
after you."  She opened a clothes press and shoved him  into it.
Sonie of these men lnocerd at tile door, saying,  " We want D'Avy,
we will not hurt you, do not be afraid."  She refusing to open the
door, they procured some instrument (witness thinks it was an axe)
and was about to break open the press when his aunt opened it, and
witness stepped out saying, "here I am gentlemen, I am but one man."'
Witness then heard the salue remark that he had heard during the
evening, viz: " Where are your niggers now, God d-n you."  Witness recognized Ned Lewis as the commander of the company.  A
great many hands then laid hold of witness and dragged himn into
the street, where he received a blow with the butt of a gun, near
his arm pit, knocking his shoulder out of place, and at the same time
he was shot on the right side of his head, the bullet glancing on the
cheek bone below the temple; the force of the powder stunning him
and causing him to fall, he feigned death until his enemies departed.
This company halted a short distance from the house, when another
company, of horsemen, rode up, crying out, "What is the matter
here?" and receiving the reply from the former party "it is nothing,
it is D'Avy who is killed;" they anoswered "bully for that."  They
also indulged in hearty laughiter after passing witness.  Witness
seeing several men coming back I:itlL shot guns he arose and ran
through the house.  A volley was fired at him, but he escaped.   On
passing through the parish, witless found the public roads guarded;
he was halted once by pickets and was once captured, but escaped
with an ankle out of place.  Witncss could state some other inci dents in this connection, but will not, as it would endanger the lives
of his friends.  HIe was eighty days on the way from Opelousas
to New Orleans, having left Opelousas on the 28th day of Septem ber and arrived in New Orleans December 17, 1868.  During this
time he was concealed and traveling through fields, woods  and
swamps; he had several opportunities of conversing with some of
the bitterest Democrats, who expressed themselves freely to him,
not knowing who he was.  These parties said that the State now
being in the Union, no one or two companies of Yankees could come
there and rule them as they had done heretofore; and if they at tempted such a ting, they would "give them the worst thrashing
they ever had;" anld no "carpet-bagger " or scallawag could ever
come and live in that parish again.  Now they had the upper hangd
of the Radical negroes, they intended to keep it. These parties told
witness that they had destroyed the; nigger paper, or "black owen,"
227 
228
the Progress, and that they had killed between three hundred and
fifty and four hundred Radical niggers, about the majority the Radicals had over them. It is the opinion of the witness that no Union
or loyal man can live with safety in the parish of St. Landry, a nd
that no redress can be obtained by tL-em through the present civil
officers of the parish.  Deputy sheriffs and  other leading citizens
were at the head'of cmp.anies, committing depredations, arresting
peaceful citizens and lodging them in jail. Theseoprisoners wou'id
disappear before morning.   The bloody work was carried on with
enthusiasm, even women e,ui.i  qg in these deeds.  Witness estimates
the number killed durine.; tri riot in St,. Landry parishl between four
and five hundred, there beirag from five to ten persons ill.ed every
night from the 28th day& of September until the 3d day of November,
1868, about which time the murders ceased.
Stephen Jones states, on oath, that on the 29th day of September,
1868, he was in the town of Opelousas, parish of St. Landry, and(
while returning from his work on said day, he was approached by
Mr. Francois Richard and about 25 other white mn, all armed with
revolvers, etc.  They accused deponent of shooting Dallas Hays on
Saturday night; deponent told them that he was not gni!'y of the
act; they said he should never shoot at another man, anid ordered
him to walk before them to the road.  The leader of these men,
Francois Richard, sent one of his men to Oploeusas to ask Solomonl
Loeb, the President of the "Seymour Knights," what they should do
with him.  F. Perodin, Deputy Sheriff, returned with the messenger;
he remarked, "boy, walk on before rne," whiich witness did, going
towards Opelousas.  When they arrived on the outskirts of the town
F. Perodin ordered him to enter tile woods, which lhe did; hle then
told him to enter some brush; deponent, thinking they were going to
kill him, ran; while running a white man named Henry Quatreveaux
shot him in the armr, tie ball pasilg tl-hrouglt his muscle; another
passed through his thigh.  In.i.L oiidition he took refuge in the
field of Enos Parrots where he rema)ined until night, whlen he went
to his home, and putting on his shoes left for WVashiington and New,
Orleans; he was five weeks in making the journey.  Deponent has
left his family in destitute circuminstances, and states that hi lM;ff
would be in great 4anger if he shoulld atteinpt to return.
.A, 
ill.D'~L~   X S:._';',~.  s:Ati'..,o'.totj   rv:e.  4w,4.. ws..............
from to'g mree hundrecd  cl!oredl mnen that woulcd have regisf':e!
at thO -coti  house if they Iac' not been prevented from doing so by
.ioe  n, ar<med with,l$ kinrds of fire arms, who would press tmaei
out of thli- positions in such a manlerl that they would not be so
~m olih as to atcnipt to) -'egi;?, knowing that if they we~:e net shot
aF, ~ ~~....,                       they ing  i~:o not shot04
or clubbed on the spo, that they Tvould be " marked men," and subject, sooner or later, to the maL.reatment of tho Democra,ts. DIeponent wvas prevailed u.pon to call on the Alayor, H-on. James E. Lam,
and put these facts before him;;i reply, the ~Iavor said: "He
could I not help it; thft it wai done by the ord er of Sheriff Bivd.
De~onent then left and went to the court house and told his friends
what the Mayor had said; they saidct: "Very well; there is no use to
tiy to register, then; the way they are pushing and jerking us about
plainly tell us that they do not mean to let us."  On the 3d clay of
November, 1868S, between the hours of 2 and 3 o'clock P.., drepo
net- went to the poll at the court house to vote; after le',-  thiere
he saw the impossiilit,y of doing so;  policemen  demanded the
cc}o.red people to show tlhem their tickets, which demand berg retased(3, the colored me:i were forcibly pushed away from the polls by
5ai(Jl po!'cmtoen; deoi)   -,it saw at least twenty or thirty treatecd -in
that manner; there w -e some colored men that vote'd, but flheyhad
to vote the Democratic t.'e.  About 4 o'clock P. M. about fifty
deputy sherif's and pwieeman, with revolvers in their hands, fll in
l,e outside of thle court house, by order of Edward  Cheatam,
i)epuaty Sherf.' Tf' colored m-en seeing this warlikedemonstr,oton,
walked and ran away; Cheatam and Mayor Elamn called u)po  tbiem
'o come back, that they would not be hurt, but the colored Ieeple 
were filled with terror, and. could not be persuaded to come back.
The streets were patroledc by bands of armed white men day and
night.  Deponent firmly believes that no less than two or three hundred colored me  w,ee i-r~lgtened away from the polls at East Baton
Rouge on the 3d day o' November, 1868.
PARISH OF ST. BERNARD.
John B. Jaccques states, on oath, that he was commissioned a
Metropolitan policeman on the 19th day of October last, and repoted the same day to the Lieutenant of Police, Third District, for
duty, and was directed by him to go to the court house in St.
Bernard Parish, and report to Corporal Taylor, of the Metropolitan
police force. He arrived at the court house on the following day,
and reported himself according to his instructions; he was put
immediately on duty.  The next day'he was told by several colored
women passing by, that he had better not walk far from the court
house, as the white people said "they were going to kill all the
MIetropolitan policemen."  While deponent was at his house on the
30th day of October last, two white men, one Tanas and Robert
Dncreaux, went there at 5 o'clock P. M., with a colored man named
W'm. Gofney, who was their prisoner; the white men were armed.
Goney called to deponent to "come out," which he did; the white
men said: "you are our prisoner." Deponent asked them "why?"
they answered; " were you not with William Godchaux, to kill Mr.
A. iMararo at his plantation?" (Battlegroundplantation).  Deponent
said, "110no sir;" but seeing that they were determined to take him
prisoner, asked permission to return to the thouse and get his coat,
(he was in his shirt sleeves). Ducreaux replied, "no, I will shoot
you if you do; get some one to bring out your coat, but you cannot
go in the house."  Deponent's little boy brought him his coat.  He
was then taken, in company with the colored man Gofney, to the
parish prison, in New Orleans, by Mr. Ducreaux, Mr. A. Mararo,
and Mr. Challiere, the Sheriff of St. Bernard.  He was confined in
prison friom Friday at 8 o'clock P. M., until Sunday morning at 7
o'clock, when he was released and taken back to the parish of St.
Bernard by Sheriff Challiere, MIr. Dublanc and Felix Poke (all of
St. Bernard)and confined in th e court house jail, where he was
230 
i1
sonfined eight days.  The same day that he was released, iAir. Marar6
told him that he had been imprisoned because it was reported about
that he had been down on his plantation to do him some harm; but
he believed he was innocent of the charge, and got the Sheriff to
set him at liberty.  Deponent told him that he was innocent, and
that he had not been down to his place.  There were eight or nine
other colored men confined in jail at the same time that deponent
was, and released with him; but they were innocent of any crime,
as proved before Judge Toker at the court house.
The following letter was received by the Hon. Tho,mas, Oug:
PARISH ST. BERNARD), D)ecember 19, 1868.
M. THOMAS ONG:
DEAR SmR-I called on Judge Thornton to make the affidavit I
spoke to you about, and he refused to arrest the parties.  He states
that the freedmen could get no justice in that parish, and if he arrested the parties it would be at the risk of his life.  I saw General
Lee yesterday, and he thinks Judge Thornton is right, as for the
present it would be impossible to convict those partie,  i St. Bernard.      *               *       *  *            *  *            *
Yours truly,
H. M. WHItTTE,{IOR(E.
Mr. Whittemore is agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, and the
parties spoken of are accused of having committed certain murders
and outrages in the parish of St. Bernard on the 26th, 27th and
28th days of October, 1868; and the above agent was ordered to
make affidavit by General Hatch, Assistant Agent Freedmen's Bau
rean for this State.
states, on oath, that there were from thirty-five to fifty colored people killed during the recent riot in St. Bernard parish.  One
woman was shot in the abdomen, while she was lying in the gutter
pleading for mercy. A colored man was shot near her, and afterw-ards cut to pieces with a knife.  These two persons were killed
within half a mile of where the'United States troops were stationed.
It is believed that at least one-half of all those killed in the riot
( S4.f"ne d ) 
illed after the ar-ival of the troops. Colored men say that
ite people said to them, "I suppose you think the soldiers
Lown here to protect you,'niggers,' but you will find out
t ey came here to protect us, white people, before they  go
-:,t one week before the riot commenced it was stated by Ahich  Cl Cartis, the Metropolitan policeman who was murdered during
said riot, that it would not be safe for any Me-?.?politan policeman
to go by the hou-se of Pablo Fillieu, as he had t       o:r at:oned to " kil
eveWi,, trop olitan policeman that passed there."  This man Pablo
Fi'leul was said to have been a very pa&s.i;:t:e and vindictive man;
the colored people generally were afraid of h-em.  It is stated that
Pablo Fillien fired t-he first shot the night taiL't  o e was killed, and
that the colored people demanded an entrar,,o his hos0e, it was
presumed to get whiskey, as he had heen ihu thte habit 0  selling
thei5 licnuor.
states, on oath, that a party of  white men
named  Juilien Cerpas  and his son  Oscar, Philip Gautier, Victor
Stopena, Victor Besant, Pepi Stave, and his son Joseph, Leona Sto-s
end and his son Paphael, and PRaphael Vaillon-all planters, went
to.T-1Yes Dirkins plantation, in sighit of the court house, on Monday
the ~,Ct,h day of October last, at 3 o'clock, P. 1., and surrounding the
colored people's qutarters, comimenced an indiscriminate fire upon
them, kiling a color        ed mi  named Pie-rre C-aulet and wounding
three mren and one womani throutih both breasts.  These men took
twenty.t dollars in greenbacks from Geor_;e,' Washington and three
edolars ald'a razor from another' colored ranu both hands on the
place; they also broke down the door to ritness' cabin.  Thei white
inen of th3 parish made all the colored enca vote thLe P mocratic
ticktO- at the late election, givin:  thierml to unciersta:. thliat thley
Ued a11 be killed if they should votc  -,e Riadical tic1 t, T;ci only
reasoi that the above named whlite men  ave  flor.. wundmg,,' thie said colored people was,,         i  os    We want
to  till aH tie Radical niggers in tic'....  "'i,hc  -uud- have
shot more, but all that could rfi- -)or tihe,:  hei;'',;, hid utilti
thie slaughtjter was over.  Aiiother squad cf armed white men went
to the plantation of MIr. Oliver the same day, and took four colore-d
mci from thleir quarters and shot them dead.  The day after thie
-8
. 
Plresidential election a squad of white men went to the plantaition' i(
Mr. Cofield, about 3 o'clock, P. M., and took a colored man fromt the
field; they asked him "how h1' hams voted." He replied, "like'the
rest of the colored men."  } 0o  being  satisfied with this answer,
they took him to a ditch and cut him to pieces and left him there.,
A white man in the parish by the name of Pablo Fillieu h,ad been in
the habit of making threats against the colored people if they should
vote the Radical ticket. At a Democratic meeting held at his house
on the 25thl day of October last, he laid plans with the white people
present to go that night to, the houses of the colored people and
shoot them down as they presented themselves at the door.  Wit'
ness heard that the said Pablo Fillicu fired the first shot the Sunday
night that lie was killed.
PARISH OF ST. MARY.
C. H. Alden states, on oath, that the recent election in the parish:of
St. Mary was a perfect farce; that he has been living in said parish
since January last, and that all was quiet until three or four months
prior to said election. when the Democrats commenced making all
Kuds of threats, denouncing all who did not favor and ack knowledge'
'themselves Derinocrats, and that they also intended to kill all whodid
Jioi support Seymour and Blair."  Deo(:nent was told after the election that if ho did not leave the Radical party he would share the
same fate as all the leading R-'epublicans; which was, that he would
be put out of the way so soon as they (tLh Democrats) should gain;
sufficientstrengtlh; this Was said in J  threatening manner,  by an
old citizen of the parish, two or three ic onths before the election.
The P Republ.-i-,as have a lar1ge majority in tlhe parish of St.  Mary,
but tele asre  orjlored people, and easily intAimidated by  the  white'
Mali.l.rat. TL'e colored Repablicans had their clubs well organized
thrc:,y.o!dT tk: p'arish, but these clubs were broken up on several oc
csce,;> by t<e bi'i'Ntal treatment of the Democrats; notwithstanding
t' I,'.y r in- C( firm up to the time of the assassination of Col.
P,:-=pc ax'.(?Idg(, Chas,e.  On the same night, all the homes. of the
leadenlyg a::i.'c k]-epablicans of the town of Franklin were searched,
but tllhe occupants were not found, as they had that day  attended Ga:
PRelublican meetiLyg in the upper portion of the parish, and did, n49..
return, lhearing of t he murder of the said Pope and Chase, and that
0'
i,i
i)  
234
their own lives were threatened, and knowing full well that they,
too, would be killed if they should return to their homes.  The following day (Sunday) all the Democrats of Franklin were on the
streets armed with guns and pistols; deponent, not understanding
the meaning of this demonstration, left town.  Mr. Snear, a member
of the board of supervisors, left at the same time. They had searched
Snear's boarding house for him the night before; he made his escape
out the back way and came to the city, where he remained. Deponent remained with a friend that night, down the Bayou, and learning
the following day that all was quiet at Franklin, returned to said
place, as he was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and considered it his duty to go back and complete the business appertaining
to the office, although his life had been threatened by such remarks
as "you are the only white Radical in the parish now, and we will
get you." The supervisors of each board had all left except deponent, and Capt. Abe Smith, who had just returned from the city, with
extra blanks for the office.  Deponent tried to get Republicans to
assist him in the business of registration, but failed; he was therefore compelled to appoint Democrats as supervisors. From the time
that Col. Pope and Judge Chase were assassinated the streets of
Franklin, and in fact the entire p.-,rish, was under patrol.  The last
week of registration passed off quietly; there were very few colored
men registered during this time, in consequence of the great excitement prevailing, and they knowing that the roads were well guarded
where they would have to pass.  On the following Saturday the office was closed and'deponent left for the city, as he had been told by
a friend that he was not safe one moment after the closing of the
office of registration.  Deponent returned to Franklin a few days
before the election for the purpose of appointing Commissioners of
Election.  ile was compelled to appoint Democrats, Republicans being afraid to act; while performing this duty he was again notified
to leave, with others, and did so the day previous  to the election.
Deponent has been informed by some of those who were present on
the day of election that there was much fraud practiced by  the
Democrats. On the night of the 18th of October, 1868, the office of
the "Attakapas Register" was broken open, and the contents, consisting of a portion of the press and type, taken out and thrown into
the river. 
a35
PARISH OF TENSAS.
ST. JOSEPH, Lt, Parish of Tensas, December 15, 186&
CoLorEL-Inciosedfindthe Coroner's report of amurder committed
in this palrish shortly before the late election.  With the exception
of this unfortunate affair, I amr happy to say that good order has
prevailed in this parish, and the citizens, black and white, voted as
their own wishes dictated, which accounts for the large majorities
we gave or Grant.  Very respectfully,
(Signed)                     H. R. STEELE, Parish Judge.
Colonel HUGH J. CAIPBELL, Chairman Cornmittee on Condition of Peace and
Order in the State. 
The testimony inclosed corroborates the testimony before published -inder the head of the parish of Tensas..
PARISH OF CADDO.
The following is the copy of a telegram received by Govemrnor
Warmoth:
"Sa REvJo.RT, December 19, 1868.
"To his Excellency, Governor WAol oTn;
"William Pittman and Heul, under sentence of imprisonment
for life, pronounced this morning for murder of Bob Watson, a
oolored man, were rescued by an armed crowd from the custody of
the Sheriff on their way to the jail after sentence. The excitement
here about it is intense.  The police jury offer one thousand dollars
reward Will the State offer five thousand dollars, or how rnuch?
"JOHN J. HOPE, Sheriff Caddo paris
PARISH OF MADISON.
Hon. Curtis Pollard states, on oath, that he is a citizen of the
State of Louisiana and a duly registered voter.  Last Saturday
night about fifteen armed white men, four of whom were disguised
by hav'g white sheets thrown over them (about ten of these men
were on horseback), came to my house in Madison p,rish, which is
situated op posite tQ Vic.ksburg, about an hour Aftr Cark   I h 
heard a few days before this visitation that men were coming to kill
me, and consequently was on the lookout for them.  About the time
they arrived I had ten guards about my place. These men in white
sheets approached my house, and seeing them, my friends and self
fired at them,, they then run away.  I do  Ao Hmnow whether any of
them were hit or not. The following night these same men went to
the house of Mr. John McDonald, sheriff of the parish, elected on,
the Republican ticket at the spring election, and made an attempt'
to assassinate him.  Mr. McDonald also had some.~iei[s with hlim
in his house X( protect his life, and seeing these mn; ired at'',):,
but do not know whether any of the shots took cifect Or n        On
the 29th of December the said sherifi's house was v;~e (i.ci'i by
the same party, who  made another attempt to 1ihua, b-it were
discovered in time to be prevented in their d(esi..  The  white
citizens of the parish are continually abusing the colored people on
account of the little crops they have raised; they say they are going
to take their crops away from t]em, also their stock ond money, or
else take their lives.  About four weeks ago a claim agent, who was
telling colored men (ex-United States soldimers) in the parish how
to get their bounty, was taken from his house at 12 o'clock by eleven
or twelve.Ku Klux (hand. cuffed) to,.,Iiliken's bend, tied to a tree
and whipped with a cow4ihide, and told to leave the parish imme
diately, which he did by the first boat that night.
The colored people in the parish live in a great state of terr,er
from the threats made against them and outrages coimtted by the
white'people, so much'so that they are afraid to rent or work landd
on th'eir own account.  The white people say that they will not rent
any Iand to colored people that voted for General Grant uniless they
pay them twelve dollars an acre rent for the land, and thlienthey
must pay them half cash down. The white people know very well
that the colored people are not able to make any such arrangement,
thereby depriving them of doing anything for themselves.  The
colored people are very anxious to rent or buy land upon the same
terms as are offered to white people, which is from two dollars and a
half to three dollars per acre.  Colored people in many portions of
the parish were made,to vote the Democratic ticket by the Ku Klux.
M1any of the colored people were deprived of the right to register in
consequence of the threats made against the Supervisors by the Ku
Klux, which prevented them from visiting certain portions of the
parish.
2,0,6 
287
PARISHI OF ST. HELENA.
Samuel H. Houston states, on oath, that during the Presidential
election in the parish of St. Helena, there was a perfect reign of
terror.  The so-calleJ Democratic party of this parish beat  and
miamed several neg'roes  because they were  Republicans, and in
some cases murder was comn{ited.  John Kempt, a mulatto, coroner of said parish, was ta,en from his house and brutally murdered
by an armed mob, about forty in number, who went over the pari.sh
and committed other murde:.;  The black people were run into the
woods, and in many cases tte women were cruelly whipped.  The
planters read a resolution to the negroes (that had been adopted by
the Democratic clubs throughiout the parish) informing them that
they tmust vote the Democratic ticket, otherwise they would run them
ou4t of the country.  The negroes in Abram Wormack's plantation
r*iate the facts as above stated.
Witness was a registrar  iider Gc.neral Buchanan, ii this parish,
and while acting in sfad capacity he was very'kindly treated by the
people, bI),,. he:  2tur0ned during the campaign his life, and that
of GeneaI Syphr, w as thbieatened, and he believes that they would
have been, —r-dered hare they visited Tangipahoe, as they were advert.sceJ to do. The hous(: in which he resided was  entered by a
mob, who came for the purpose of murdering him, but having been
notified c' the danger, h.e had previously left.  Had the election
been a fair one the Republican ticket would have had from two to
three thousand majority.  Witness was informed by a Democrat of
truth and veracity that at least one hundred and fifty negroes were
murdered between Carline Bluffs and Shreveport, in a few days proceding the late Presidential election'.
The following is an official statement of William Baker, Ohair
man of the Board of Registrars, as to the conduct of the election
of the 3d of November, 1868, in the following parishes:
PARISH OF JEFntSON.
in the parish of Jefferson the riot and murder of a number of
colored citizens was but another link in the chain with which  loyal
c::tlens were to be bold and deprived of the right of exercising 
238
the frianchise, except at the risk of their lives. One of the most
intelligent and useful cf tbhe  Registrars was threatened and told
that his life was to be the price of his daring to continue in the performance of his duties; his family was also visited and threaten&
Under these circumstances he resigned.
In this pa;s'L (Joffrsou), on the day of election, one of the Commissioners reports " t,a.',J three or four gangs, numbering some two
h-Lrdred men  each, went to Kennerville on cars or special trains
provided by the Jackson Railroad.  They were apparently organ~
ized bodies and all armed."   These rowdies demanded that the
returns should be made out in their presence, "and even went so
far as to enter the private apartments of the Commissioners and
with drawn revolvers and every conceivable kind of weapon forced
the Commissioners to make the returns at once," "and owing to
threats and intimidations the tickets were forced to be thrown under
the table and destroyed against their will."
One thing with reference to the vote in the parish of Jefferson I
forgot to mention. It is this:
There are registered in Carrollton, Kennerville, Gretna
and the Glassworks, Precincts 2, 3, 4 and 5.....  3461
Whites............................... 1061
Colored................................. 240f — 3461
Democratic vote in the four precincts........ 995
Republican vote in the four 1recincts......   658
Total number voting..................
Registered whites not voting.................
Colored men not voting...................
Total not voting......................
Thus.showing that considerably less than half of the registered
voters voted.
PARISH OF ST.'BERNARD.
In the parish of St. Bernard, such was the state of things that two
of the' registrars had to take to the swamp for safety, and wait for
the excitement to abate.  One of the registrars came to this city and
has not been heard of up to the present time. No commissioners of
election were legally appointed, and no legal election wa  ho1ld  il th:
parisb,   thQ  registrars report to this Qffie.
1'.
1653
66
.1808 
PARISH OF ST. LANDRY.
The registrars of the parish of St. Landry report that for nearly
two months before the election a state of anarchy existed in the parish, and that over two hundred colored men were murdered during
that time. Of the election they say such was the state of things at
that time that no one would have dared vote any but the Democratic
ticket, except at the risk of his life.
PARISH OF WASHINGTON.
In the parish of Washington, the registrars had to go armed night
and day, and were frequently threatened and insulted. Colored men
were beaten and obliged either to vote as directed, or not at all. So
outrageous were these acts of violence, so far was it from being a
fair election, that the registrars refused to certify to the returns, "regarding the election in this parish as carried by the knife and re
volver."1-                                -
PARISH OF PLAQUEMINES.
The registrars for the parish of Plaquemines report that legal
voters were refused the right of voting; others were permitted to
vote on old registration papers; some who were not residents of the
parish were allowed to vote, while many, from the murders in the
city of New Orleans and the adjoining parish of St. Bernard, were
so intimidated that they were afraid to vote.  In one precinct an
election was held by unauthorized parties, and should not be regarded
at all, under any circumstances.  But for these influences the registrars report that the Republican ticket would have had six hundred
more votes in the parish.
PARISH OF ST. MIARY.
The parish of St. Mary, add what has transpired there during the
time the Board of Registration has been in existence, is too well
known for any one to contend for'a moment that anything like a fir
election has been held in the parish.  I have b o other commn'ts to
make; I merely submit a copy of a report by the registrars of the
parish
,2-89
41
0
t 
240
NEW ORLASs, November 6, 1868.
WmLHI, BAxER, Esq.,
Chliairman Board of Registration
SIR-The undersigned, Supervisors of         strtistirion for the parish
of St. Mary, would respectfully represent tLa"t the returns of the
election from said parish have been duigi  sentiin; but,  under t he
existing circumstances, we have seen proper to make this futiher
statement:
The chairman of this Board, a resident of the said parish of St.
Mary, was compelled by threats to leave the upper end of the parish,
and other members of the Board were driven out of Franklin several
days before the election. Such an amount of violence and intimidation was used before the election and on the day of election, that we
are satisfied that the election in the parish was not an expression of
the will of the people, and we believe the returns from all the precincts, except Brashear and Pattersonville, should not be counted.
Not fully knowing our powers under these peculiar circumstances,
we have signed and sent in the returns accompanied with this further
statement of the facts.
Very respectfully.
, Signed by the Supervisors of lReg-'Istration of the parish of St.
Mary.
PARISH OF EAST BATOlN RPOUGE.
In the parish of East Baton Rouge the circrmstanes attending
the registration and election, am,hough not acompanied )ythe same
amount of violence as is found in many other parishes' yet tie fast5
show clearly enough that no election such as is contemplated by latw
was held. The parish being a populous one, two sets of Supervisors
were appointed, so that all duly qualified might have an opportunity
to register in the short time allowed by law. One Board was to be
located in the city of Baton Rouge, thie (dher was to move from point
to point in the parish  Whhen the n~iovL;.g Board came to Manchac,
they found it impossible to get accoo,modation of any kind; they
were unable to hire any place for an- ofice; no one would supply
them. board or lodging.  They proposed, to erect a temporay shed
for registering in.  Colored men and others were forbidden to work
0
t 
for them.  So after traveling a day  and night, they had no  othei
alternative but to return to Baton Rouge, where they announced
they would be ready to register all who came  and were qualified
By this time a large number of colored men were in the city of Baton
Rouge waiting to be registered, but had up to that time been unable
in consequence of the interference of the Mayor, Sheriff and others,
who insisted the Registrars should only register one colored man for
every white man registered.  As there are about five colored men
for every three white men in the parish, this course would neees
sarily have prevented two fifths of the colored-men from registering.
The presence of the second Board in the city of Baton Rouge gave
the opportunity for these men to register.  At this moment Messrs.
Fugua, McCollum and others, obtained from the Parish Judge, a
writ of injunction prohibiting the sehond Bomd from proceeding
any further in the work of registration in the parish of east Baton
Rouge, thus practically closing the registration ofice seven days
sooner than provided for by law, thereby preventing, it is believed,
about twelve hundred colored men from registering, by a base use of
the law, and the prostitution of justie/ to serve the purposes of
those who are legally disfranchised.  With  respect t the election
in East Baton Rouge, the protest of four of the Supervior's of',gistration is the best evidence in wlhat light it is to be viewed. The
original protest is attached to this communication, so that your Excellency may see for yourself:
PARIsH oF EAsr BATON ROUGE, LA., Nov. 9, 1868.
To Chairmen and Yem'syei of Board of Registration
GT7LT,L77E, —We, the undersigned, Supervisors of!,{'ei'stration of
tl?:!)as! h of East Baton Rouge, do solermnly protest,against the
elecJ.; j held in said parish, on the taird day  of Novemnbcr, 1868, for
the foilcrwing reasons, viz:  Dhiat being -obstructed by the Pai'ish
CouLrt,  and want of material, we failed to complete  the registration
of the parish by about (1200) twelve hundred persons, who would
have registered..
The conduct of the police, who were authorized by his fononr,
MAayor Elam, and Thompson Bird, Sheriff, to keep,'the peace, at the
Court House, First Precinct, on the day of the' election, was outran
geous in the extreme, they taking away th'ballots of citizens wishl
-LSS00~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"'
-i
24i
=map,
ol 
ing to vote for Republican'Electors anti Congressmen, and substi
tuting other tickets instead; on their refusing to vote said substituted tickets they would destroy their certificates  of registratio
(This was not done in every case, but in many).  In consequence of
the threats and intimidations used by said p)olice, about (200) two
hundred men left the poll without voting.  All other precincts in t1ie
parish (with the excepton of the first) were conducted in accordance
with law.  We signed the rcturns of the elation believing it was
required by law, otherwise we would not have done so.
We have the honor to be your obedient servants,
(Signed by the Supervisors of the Parish.)
PARISH OF CLAIBORNE.
We append a letter from the HIon. W. Jasper Blackburn, of (Ctaiborne, member of Congress from the Fifth District. Mr. Blackhburn
being one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the State, with
a record as a Uaion mn throughout, and as an editor and citizen
sans peur et sans r    he, his testimony will deservedly have great
weight throughout the Union.  The following is his letter:
HoIMER, LA., December 15, 1868.
Edit  in Chief New Orle  Republicnm:
My DEAR FRIEND:-Beside the second des*uction of my printing
office, there have been many other foul and cowardly outrages committed in this parish since the election. Several freedmen have been
shot, and numbers of persons, Republicans, both black and white,
have been taken out at night and whipped nlost unmercifully, and
ordered to leave the country.  In consequence of such brutal and
heathenish conduct as this, many of the best citizens of the parish
both Democrat and Republicans, have moved away, and others are
constantly leaving.  And yet the infamous, rotten, cowardly Rebel
'press of the country seem to think it strange, "passing strange,"
Yhat any one should leave so good and so peaceable a land as this!
Would lyou believe it, that the entire press of this  section-all Rebel
and Tory now, since the brave mobbing of the loyal offices-come
out openly and commend and recommendmobocracy, and set assassins and outlaws upon the loyal officials of tli land?  Such is the
plain and naked truth!
"'7 "'i
4{ 
243
To prove this, I will give you just, a few sample extracts from
these journals, which I trust you will find room for, to the cend that
their infamy may have the extent of your circulatjon.
And as "charity begins at home," so will I.
The Claiborne Advocate of the twentyeighth ultmo, published t
this place, and edited by one John Doe and one Richard Roe, has the
following article:       -
XRKsANSS.-This State is cursed beyond all others but Tennessee,
in the low and vindictive wretch whom the Radical party have evated to the position of Governor.. He has declared martial law in
a considerable portion of the State-is organizing negroes into regimni-ts, and hounding them on to the destruction of the white popula
tion.  lie has started three companies of negro soldiers to find Cullen Baker. If he would head this delectable battalion in person, we
would wi.sh him God speed in the object of his expedition  There is
no greater' good coujd happen to Arkansas than for Governor Clayton
to go in search of Cul. Baker-and ind him                     t
The Southwestern, of the 25th inst, published at Shreveport
speaking on the same sibjeet, has the following:
"ARANsAs MIILITLA m  THE FiE9.-A Little Rock dispatch, of tho
9th, says Governor Clayton had sent three companies of negro militia
to look for Cullen Baker.  We hope they wll' have, a good time of
it.  Sending negro troops to hunt up Cullen Bake  is like seding
a small sized male individual in search of a stream o chain lightning.
Ugh! Governor Clayton has also ordered the raising of six thousand
cava'iv throughout the State.  Serious trouble is apprehen& "
)ov, we all know who "Cullen Baker" ia gentleman in his
line, I take it, compared with any editor who would put forth oh
paragraphs as eithier of the foregoing, and we ao  know  who
Go;ernor Claytoa is, and are somewhat aquainted with the oondi
tion of Arkansas  We all know somehiing of the outlawy ad assassination there,-which have compelled Governor Claytbn to resort
to the stern constitutional means which he h  called into reqai
tion to enforce order and bring about pe- preiy the Meanse
which will have to be used in Lomfisana before murderel and  Obbers can be made to know their plac and feel their just doom, and
the sooner the better.  None but amassis at heart, and the cowardly
aiders and abettors of thieves and robbers will objt, under the 
,umslces, to t, he employment of such  m'ea  to enfore the law 
244
I will begin at home again,:and give aother quotation from the
Claiorne Advooaa'    In that sprightly sheet, of the 5th instant, we
have this item:
,AlNuu=   TIM  EL ITo0.-We  understnd  that Warmoth,
Governor, "So-called," has isued'a ptoclamation declaring the elec tion of three Democratic members from this State to Oongress a
nullity.  This action, on the part of his Excellency, which  has
neither law, precedent or reason for its sanction, is based upon aHlle gations of -teor and fraud, which neover had any exten except in
the Governor's imagination                   a
"This thing o: elections by the people, at least in the South, is
rapidly degenerting into a farce.
"' We shall not, however, be atll,surprised if it evntualy cnds in
t'aged      y, 
"Our  eople have already edd more from te capet-bag dy nasty, i  t*e way of outrage and oppression, than they woud nave
submitted to but for the peculiar circumstancesi Siurouno,Lg there
uentdurance has about ceased to be a virtue.  We have tiicd the
effect of turf urpon these incorrigible rascals in the- political apple
trea  It is abo-: c"te to resort to stones,"
*.*         *       *       *       *       *       *      *      *
]But seriously, if Governor Warmoth should do what the Advocato
here seems fearful he will, he will only have done a just and right
eous thing.  What, tolerate such outrage and infamy as were perpetrated by rebel outlaws and assassins at the late pretended elec
tion in this State:?  N ever!  It does seem to me that the Governor,
with others who had theofficial counting of the vote, should at once
have declared the whole thing null and void. If it is not yet done,
either by the Louisiana officials or at Washington, the whole question of voting in this State will have become a farce too contemptible
and too corrupt to be tolerated, or at least too much so for any decent,.honest man to ever again take any part therein, as they most
assuredly were not permitted  to do so, in this section, at the late
so-called elections.  Wipe the whole thing out and let us, in the
future, have at least some show of decency and fairness at whatever
cost.
I might procee to give many extracts to show that the rebel-tory
press of this section encourages and recommends mobbcracy.
Tie Shreveport Southwestern of the 2d instant, the leading instigator of riot And mobocracy in Northwes,ern Lquisiana, contains
tho following ehar~teristic item
/
/1
1;
II 
245
"ANoTusr PA.IcAL Ad  DsmoYED.-The Rpides Tribn, pu ished ht MetAe dria by W. F. McLean, has -one the way of thp
Homer liad.  Some party who had the goo of the community at
heart entered the ofice at night Eud destroyed the press and type."
And such is the general tone of the T6ry press throughout the
*    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *'*
And that pink of decency and chivalry, the Alexandria Demoera;
encour'ages and justifies the mobbers of Mcean's office at that
place by saying it was the work of himself or some of his friends,
thus aping the villainous slanders of certain political nondescripts
and reckless liars who had similar remarks to mak in regard to the
first mobbing of myofie        $ *    *     *    *  o        *    *
Now what does all this prove?  Simply that the "public sentiment" of this country is at present manufactured, swayed  and
dir-ected by influences that are as foul, vicious and corrupting as the
very'society of hell itself I
Is there any way to remedy tbis?  O  shall the evil be endured
forever?
It is useless, worse than folly, to listen to the proestaLtions of
peace and good will from those whose past history'h  a   respect
prove them as false as the author of lies.
When Mr. Brecinridge —the immortal "John Oataine!"-heard
that Mr. Lincoln was  assassinated, he simply remarked, using a
quotation:
"if'twere well done when'tis done,
Then'twere well it was'done quickly."
And this is precisely the spirit which still actuates  his leading
followers. Assassination is a mild remedy with them when a brave
and honest man stands in the way of their success
Indeed, it would seem that the best of them are hardly reliable
or to be ti-usted under the most sacred circumstances. * * * *
I tell you what they will do: They will lick the dust from the feet
of General Grant, and the next moment murder a man for voting
for him! They are acting in this way constantly. The rebel organs
of the Soutth vehemently pleadffing for a conservative administration
anid mild terms at the hands of the incoming President, while their
debased minions are assassinating every man they can find who
voted for hin!  And this infamous conduct  these leading dovils
indorse.  And not only so, they instigate and advise it  They gloat
over and glory in it I And shall such men be trusted  Shall they
be tolerated? 
246
Shall such e({itors be fostered and permitted tc. manufaeturb and
diret "C public -se-timeni," while loyal editors, who sustain the Governmnent and advocate peace under the rulie of right and justice, are
mobbed with impunity, and robbed of their harcearned property
and frced to leave the country or be mndecred or starve?  I merely
askfo infrormation.       *       *              *       *
I want it known that I ask no mercy or  iramunity at the hands of
the common foe; and especially do 1 wat'l,    fiends to know that,
notwithstanding I have been time and  l..n mobbed and huntd
down by rogues and rascals and cowardly mur  d erers, "I still live,"
and am yet man enough to be "just and fear not."
W. JASPEItR BLAKBURN,
Fifth Congressional!s6:Y:.t, Louisiana.
As ain illustration of Mr. Blackburn's perfect knowledge of the
people with whomin lie has to deal, and of a political foresight and a
penetration into the real designs of the conspirators of this State,
whlich it is to be regretted that more persons had not shared befoe
the last election, and to show how  subsequent events more than
confirmed his first predictions, we reprint a portion of his testimony,
as published in our former report. His statements were at that
tile denovmce(d and branded as false and malicious by the Democratic prcss and by Democratic members of the General Assembly,
Dtih what truth the facts recorded in these'pages will show.
Extract from the evidence of the HIon. W. Jasper Blackburn befre this committee, published in their report of September 24, 1868:
CLAIBORNE PARISn.
Fo- Reeks previous to the late election (of April 1868) parties of
armed n-er w    blank book'and pencil, perambulated the country,
called c.:i free    n in the fields, at their cabins, or on the highways,
whereve-r they could find them, and by menaces and threats forced
them to swear that they would not go to the election, or if they did
that they would not vote for the then pending Constitution, or for
tee Radical State ticket, and after thus procuring the names and
plcedges of the freedmen, these hostile white men told the freedmen
that if they failed to keep their oaths or pledge; thus extorted,ithey'
would kill them.  After this conmducet had progre sdcl for some nue,
certain parties who had been thus misused (I?d at the office of a
,ertain loyad justice of the peace by te nare of Wilson Adams an,
glade affidavit to the facts here mentioned. These affidavits were
i;m,t to the Sher;ft of the parish, who declinmed to execute them oi
I
,r 
ihave anything officitay tOdo therewith,  ilving as'a r'easo, thatt; hto
could not do so wiout the aid of more physical force than  hLt
could command.  By this means hundreds of ficedmen were dterred from going to the polls.
kAnd besides thi,p armed men appointed by the so-called Der.sratic party for that purpose, attendcd the different polls in tE
pa~sh, challenged vot~.:, browbeat and threatened freedmen, i',i>*t lring many frcm voting at al who attended the polls to voto tEND
RJ.adical Ieprubiicm~ <v,~et, and icing others to vote the D2emocrat;.c
-iacet.  k1 these At ad more of a similar character, are pateut to
the public mind" of tihe parish of Claiborne'
I further tes tiS- s i,d swear that pending the ratification of tJO
Constxitutio it was not advisable or safe in the parish of Claiborne
for any man to favor, or advocate on the stump, the adoton.of that
instrument nor was it safe for, any man, white or blacl, to vote
openly for the adoption of the same on the days of the election. I
would state that since the cl6se of the war, and especiafl, fo  the
few months previous to the late election and immediately tixeo:after,
what is termed the ruling public sentiment of the white pooplo, was
very hostile toward those termed loyal citizens regardless of color,
but more- especially toward leading freedmen who had taken a
prominent part in elections andpolitical maters, some of whom have
been murdered on account of their political sentiments and acti-vity
in.politics, and many more greatly abused and outrageously tor tured, nor do I know of a single instance of any effectual aterlpt to
bring any perpetrators of these outrages to an account beforo the
civil tribunals, or to a proper punishment in any way.
In regard to the late election in the parish of Claiborne and some
of the adjoining parishes, I would state that I look upon' the whole
transaction as a farce and a cheat, and a perfect mockery upon the
elective franchise- for instance, at the electipu for members to the
late Constitutional Convention, where there was no brute force used
4to deter men Lora voting hs they pleased, and when the Democratic
party had in the field regl'lar nominees, intelligent and popular gen tlemen, and had all  induced an independent Republican ticket to
run, nevertheless tLhe ro1-,  ~TV,bt;rcan nominees were elected by
a majority of about onic:usand, whereas, at the recent, elctiqn, by
rEns of fraud and vi~.e, the Republican tioket was defeated by
a "te ranging fromn -t, -~     hn.1tdred majority, wheccls~ togre,(-;.
2,-4 
istered vote shows a majority of about fifty blacks, with  several
hundred white minority.
I would mention as a sample of the unfairness used, the fact that
at the precinct called Terryville, where the registration shows a large
Republic,u majority, there was not a single Republican vote polled.
This- fact was basted of by Democrats before the poll was counted,
tliuns showing that they knew by pre'nous concert of action what the
result was to be; and this is but a ar exposition of the manner iD
which the late election was conduc'd throughout North Louisiana,
I wish to state that during the pendency of the reconstruction
measures of Congress, I stood almost alone in their advocacy and
defense among the white men of my section.
Prominent freedmen have been taken out at night since the late
election and terribly whipped; one in the vicinity of Hiomer named
Scott, and one within the corporate limits' of said town, whose name
I do not now recollect, but who had been employed about the office
of the agent of the Bureau, and who was known t  be a prominent
Radical.
The main features of this statement I swear to positively, and uinhesitatingly assert that there is no feature thereof which is not the
current information of the section in which I live.  I would not impugn the motives of my political adversaries who are my neighlbors,
but we differ so much in our notions of right and wrong  in such
tiings, that what I would  swear to as radically wrong they would
swear to as radically right; for instance, many of them hold that it
is proper and legitimate for an employer to discharge a freedman if
hlie?.-fuse~ to vote as he dictates, whereas, I hold that such conduct
is wi' ng and inadmissible, and is prostituting the elective franchise
and su-Lversive of liberty.
I flve it as my deliberate testimony under Oath that, to  he bLest
of my kLnowledge and belief, I do not think it is the purp6'se or
intention of what is termed the secession element in the South —the
so-called Democratic party as it now stands organized-includinig
as it does almost the entire white population of the countiy, I do
not thmk it is the purpose or intention of this ulement over to submir (q ietly to neo sufftage, unless they find they can control it for
their-pwn purposes.  Whenever they can find a black man whom
they can controel an(d who will vote with them, he is all right and a 
249
very honest fellow-he must vote, but freedmen who vote the Radical or Republican ticket are great rascals in the fair and impartial
estimation of these liberal-minded and constit-ution-loving Democrats, and ought to die, and frequently do.
The truth is, the ruling Democratic element in my section will
not listen to reason or arguLment on the political issues of the day,
If a man says he is a Radical or Republican it is enough, "he is a
negro bqualitist;" such is their argument and it is folly to waste
breath with them.
Nothing, in my estimation, but the election of a true and firm
Republican as President of the United States, can restore the countiy
to quiet and peace. If this is not accomplished I fear all is lost.
APPENDIX-SUMMAPY.
Number killed.............................................151
Number shot.............................................   2
Number maltreated...................................... 1
Number of Republicans excluded from registering.............. 300
Number of Republicans excluded from voting.................2108
ng affidavits were received after the foregoing had
gone to press:
PARISH OF RAPIDES.
B. C. McKinney states, on oath, that lie is a citizen of the State
of Louisiana, and a registered voter in the parish of Rapides.  On
the third day of November, 1S68, he was appointed and sworn in as
Commissioner of election at poll,   Plainsance Ward.  When
he arrived at the poll he saw Mr. M. Ryan and Captain J. G. Hoe,
and other white men, present.  Mr. Ryan objected to their holding
the election at that precinct, on the ground that the previous election was held at Mr. Hoe's store.  The Commissioners held the first
election at Mr. Hogan's, and no objections were made.   When they
were about to open the polls in the morning Mr. Ryan came in and 
protested against holding the election at that place, and said it was:
illegal.  Louis Taylor, deputy sheriff, asked Ryan to kcep order in
32 
250
the house.  Ryan replied that he wanted to put one of the citizens
out (a the house, and added that he would have Taylor arrested and
charged with assault and battery.  Mr. W. S. Calhoun said to the
Commissioners that if they could not hold a peacable election they
had better close the box.  Taylor went up to Mr.  Ryan and told
him if he did not keep order hlie would be compelled to put him out
of the building.  Mr. Ryan then left the house and went out into the
yard, and remained there with his friends for sometime, and witness
heard nothing nore from him during the day.  He was drunk and
very insulting to all in the house.  On or about the seventh day of
November witness was arrested at W. S. Calhoun's plantation, by
Harris, deputy sheriff, on a warrant issued by W. W. Whittington,
a justice of the peace in Alexandria, and was carried to the court
house l)efore Whittington, and was tried on the charge of holding
an illegal election, and found guilty.  The affidavit was made by
Rlyan.  Xitness was placed under two hundred  and fifty ($250)
dollars bonds.  The court room was crowded with Democrats, who
were all armed with revolvers   Mr. CallhouLn was  grossly insulted
by Ryan while a prisoner in the sheriff's office, and was in the court
house abused very much by Ryan.  Witness and Mr. Calhoiuni have
to appear and stand their trial in the month of May at Alexandria,
and if thb(-:e is no more protection for them than there is now, witness does not think that their lives would be safe.   le is positive
that had Messrs. Calhoun, Taylor'and himself gone to Alexandria
unaccompanied. by their friends one if not all of them would have
I)een murdered. Witness does not think that a fair election can be
held in Rapides parish without the aid of the military.
Hon. W. S. Calhoun states, on oath, that he is a resident of
Rapides parish, State of Louisiana, that on the 3d day of November,
1868, he was a commissioner of election at Pleasant's Ward, parish
of Rapides.  He arrived there at 6 o'clock, A. M., and saw Judge
Ryan who was opposed to hoqlding the election.  Witness remarked
to him that "this was a Democratic trick for the purpose of preventing the commissioners of election from holding the election,"
,and then said to the colored Republicans who were present, "' you
see the Democrats are your friends, anld don't want you to vote."
After this remark, J. G. P. Hoe made a Democratic speech to the 
251
colored people, telling them that they were free, and to vote for
whom they chose, but not to be led by a d-d puppy.  The said
Hoe was armed with a club and revolver, and had about ten of his
company with him, all armed. The commissioners then proceeded
to a room to hold the election, and were sworn in by one Lewis
Taylor, a deputy sheriff, who delivered the ballot box to them,
Judge Ryan went into the room with the commissioners, he being
in a beastly state of intoxication, and was so boisterous that they
could not proceed with their business; the said Ryan protested against
the election, and made threats to arrest the commissioners and send
them all to the penitentiary.
ANitness told the colored Commissioner, B. C.  AIcKenney, that as
they could not hold a peacable election, they had better go home.
Ryan finding that the Commissioners were about to do so, orderedc
the polls to be opened, still using improper language, and threatening witness, that he would report him to Congress; witness remarked
that he had better wait until he got there. On or about the 7th day
of November, 1868, Deputy Sheriff Harris came to witness' house
with a warrant for him to appear forthwith before W. W. Whittington, justice of thile peace, at the town of Alexandria, on the charge
of holding an illegal election; witness not thinking his life was safe
took a friend with him, aind accompanied the deputy sheriff to
Alexandria, where they arrived on the  8th; the deputy took witness before the Justice; while in charge of said deputy, witness was
most grossly insulted by Judge Ryan, and the civil authorities would
uot protect him.  Justice Whittington put witness under five hunched dollar bonds, but Ryan objecting to this, he was allowed to go
on his parole to appear at 10 A. M. on the 9th. Witness was notified
by his friends to leave the town, as his life was in danger, which he
did; but returned the next day and appeared before the justice of
the peace; he found much difficulty in securing the services of an
attorney on account of his political opinions but finally did secure
the services of Judge Cullum, and stood his trial, was found guilty of
the above charges, and put underbonds in the sum of one thousand
.dollars, to appear before the next term of the District Court; witness
immediately left the town, and is certain this plot was laid in order
to assassinate him. He is satisfied that no fair election can be held
in the parish of Rapides without the protection of military authority.
t 
252
PARISH OF ST. BERNARD.
J. Lewis Spalding, commanding the United States forces in the
perish of St. Bernard, states: "On  the 15th day of November,
(Sunday) I left Lee's plantation in company with General A. L.
Lee, for the city of New Orleans, taking a carriage from his place.
I left him in the city and returned myself the next day; I arrived
at the court house about dark.  After taking dinner, I started on
my return, stopping at Ong's plantation to change my horse for a
mulq; the night was eXceedingly dark, and I allowed the mule to
take his own way, I being unable to see.  About three miles from
Ong's in the most lonesome part of the road, I heard the cry halt,
coming from one or two voices; the mule at once stopped; I de manded the cause of this with some emphasis, at the same time
taking my pistol ready for any emergency; almost instantly a light
from a dark lantern was thrown into the carriage, the lantern being
in the hands of some party on horseback on my right; by this light
I could discover two more men on horseback on my leoft, armed with
guns.  As soon as it was seen who I was, I heard one of them say
to the others in Spanish, that -it was the Lieutenant, when one of
them rode up and said they expected a friend, and wanted to
frighten him.  I told them to go on, which they readily did.  The
following extract from a letter of Lieutenant John Hamilton, will
tend to explain the cause of my adventure:    *      *    *    *
"I was astonished to hear of your adventure last night, it clearly
demonstrates the fact that the evil passion of these cut throats have
not yet subsided, but I do hope that a day of reckoning is near at
hand.    *    *    *    *    I think it would be well for you to
make a statement of the occurrence of last night, and forward it
through me to General NeiL  I think the intention on the part of
these vagabonds was to make an attack on General Lee, or Mr. Ong,
had they been in the carriage with you.  I think it is but right that
the proper authorities should be put in possession of the facts. * *
* *    *    *    *    4    I have been in command of the troops
in this parish for two months, with the exception of a few days that
Lieutenant John Hamilton, first infantry, was here, it is my decided
opinion that during the past twelve weeks there have been no less
than thirty or forty murders committed in this parish, and I doubt
if the annals of crime furnish more brutality than these murders
indicate.. 
253
It is presumed by some that this is only tie sixth day of creation, and that the devil was to be let loose a short time before the
end of the creation, which was to be the millenium. If such is the
case I am inclined to believe that the "old gentleman" has slipped
one or two links, if not the whole chain, in this parish.  It is not
without reason that history has always been considered as the light
of ages, the faithful evidence of truth} and the source of prudence
and good counsel. Confined without it the bounds of the age and
country wherein the people of this parish live, and shut up within
the narrow circle of such branches of knowledge as are peculiar to
them, and the limits of their own private refleetions, they have continued in a kind of depraved infancy which leaves them strangers
to the rest of the world and profoundly ignorant of all that has preceded or even now surrounds them; thus situated they have only
sought out all that is infamous and vile, and all that can debase.
I have not the time nor the disposition to write of the many acts of:
villainy they have committed since my stay here and known to myself, and I am glad that I have not the time, for I desire to forget
that such a people live; their brutal life and character is fully written in the habits of the Alligator. But I have written more than I
intended and will close."'*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
General  A. L. Lee states, on oath, that he is informed by Lieutenant Spalding, of the United States army, that on or about Sunday,
October 25, 1868, the day when Pablo Fillicu, a party of white
men armed visited the "Daguin plantation" and there took by force
a negro man and cut his "ham-strings,"'I and then forced him to try
to walk; after torture these men then shot the negro to death. 
0 
THE REPORT OF THE FIREEDMEN'S BUREAU.
Through the kindness of Brevet Major General Edward Hatch,
Assistant Commissioner, and of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Lucius
H. Warren, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, your committee are
enabled to append a full detailed copy of the report of murders and
outrages during the months of September, October and November,
1868, made by the Bureau firen this State to headquarters at Washington. The report of murders in St. Bernard parish during the
massacre of October will be found under  a separate heading.'
Part of the report of the Bureau covers the same ground as that of
your committee, but the largest portion of cases specified in the
two reports are distinct and separate.
The Bureau also seems not to have completed its reports from all
parts of the State; for instance, its report states little in reference to the massacre of St. Landry, of which your committee has a
detailed account.  On the other hand, the report of the Bureau
from Caddo and Claibornlme pariskes is much fuller than that of the
committee, it having been impossible, on account of the frightful
lawlessness and terrorism prevailing in those parishes, for your conmittee to procure testimony'-from them.
The total number of murders included in the following reports (of
the Bureau is two hundred and ninety-seven.
Total number of other outrages is one hundred and ninety-tweo
-0.. 
List of Murders and Outrages.Reported to.Headquarters Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
District of Louisiana durifig the month of September, 1868.
rARISE.S.   When Com'ted.   On whom Committed.              By whom Committed.            Nature of Outrage.          Remarks.
William Johnson, colored....
Jacob Johnson,     do.....
Edward Armsteatl,  do....   n
Emerson Bently, white........
Killed.............................. No action reported.
Driven~ft,m homes located I No action reported.
Iunder homestead act.........
(Result of riot in St. Landry parish.)
OtheTrs  are           supposed killed in isolat.
ed p laces, but no positive evidence
of the same.
Name not stated, white.....
Name not stated, white.......
Name not stated, white.......
Dixon, Mayo and Williamas,
white................................
Opelousasrit.........
... 2..Nint e........t
......... d.....o......
28........N po.oeSot....
t Not stated......... One freedwoman.............. OverseerDarnellPlantation. Assault and Battery........... Accused under $250 bonds.
St, nary. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                                  (~~~One accused escaped, th~e other ar.
September13..... Freed girl...........................o white Rape attempted............. pone  accusd sa          d    charged
I/rested, alibi proven, and  dicagd
NLebuzan and two deputies arrested,
,tried by parish Coiirt, were attempt ing to arrest McElroy and Pearsons
at t                 ime.
R~eferred to civil auLthorities.
Allen was teacher of colored school
McElroy and Pearsons,,white
Labazan', col., Constable,
Iand two deputies, colored..
Ranny M'cTiers...................
Persons unknown..........L       avsc
..,..........
One freedman......
McElroy, white.;..::..............
Pearsoils, do.................:...
JTohn Battise, colored.........
Brantley H. Allen, colored..
Hull Frazier, colored.....[....
Supposed by reason of an old feud,
designing parties endeavor to imtd.
cate the freedmen.
............... hMurdered...........................
Nne freedman............... Not stated.............K...........
Aames Stewart, colored........ Tameshot thrioug e hea.....No.ctin
Killed...................
S h ot thrug h hed.....
-  Killed; stabbed  thirty  seven tmes.....................
Killed................................
On Mrs. Child's plantation.
No action taken.
[Friends of deceased dare not com-.
~plain, thouLgh perpetrators can be~
[identified.
No arrest made. 
No arrest made.
N~o arrest made.
It is also stated that numerous other murders and outrages have been committed but the same have not been specifcally reported.
II   q
i
Not stated.........
Not stated.........
Not stated.........
September 28....
September 28
1 1 28::.,.,:
1 1 28.....
11 28.....
11 28.....
f
St. Tandry
and
Calcasieu.
I
SL
I
blatcmtochm
Sex,ine,
and Winn.
I
f
De Soto. —'7 -
Whipped..........................
Killed..................:::............
1.
.ai....................... 4"' "
serio wounded.
.1
stly wounds&...............
o white men....................
ineteen freedmen..............
wo white men...................
wo freedme...................
ot sped......................
Ml
Cm..
M-
Not stated.........
.1
.........
11
.........
11
Augur,t 2,9.
11 29.........
September
Brutally dealt with.........
Shooting, both seriously
I wounded................... I.....
-Assault..............................
Lives attempted; several
I shots fired at there..........
dam Car.n,,whi.......
11
Not stated.........
About August 16
About Sept. 6...
September IS....
is....
11 IS....
ryant Offord, colored.......
ame not stated, mhite.......
obert Steb'bins,.colored.....
eorge'Afeens, colored.......
ne freedman.....................
ames Taylor'Afeens..........
ames Taylor 1%lcens.........
ames Taylor 1NIeens.......... 
List of,''[dttders   Od Otrage, els. -   ( Co-tizJve].)
By whom Cozmitted.        Nature of Outr-ge.,nmarks.
Persons  uknown.        Shot; attempted murder,Y.... No,action taken. *
.......................Q.. On the 2tlth inst., at Shady Grov.,
Ri,,,t".................. I.............. eight miles from Shreveport.
Shot-, and wounded...............
ye, white...... Killed..........................:.......
...-........Shot and killed..........A.. About two miles from Sh,reveport.
Five colored men................ Shot andk
Whiteman........................... Assault and battery............ Referred to civil authoritil
K. K. K...... Murdered...........................
25 Wila.................. Do...........................
2Not stated.            Driven from parish.............About the last of September.
Peter Harwell, white...... Shot and wounded............ ft
James Keener, white.......... II treatment..............
o Not stated........................... Supposed murdered...........
Four white men.................. Whipped and beaten.......... Badly cat with strap.
I-Iienry Jtees, coloredm........
,Revc,,ry   Ogden wliite.......
J~tinos [Broivnlee, whiite......
,Fliirt-3on freedmen............
Tliwo freedmen....................
On(, treedwom~an.........
[W  11ilia m 1;w e I, c olior'ed....
September 2......
Rep't'd Scot. 20)
Re,p't'd Sept. 3.
"   30..
Rep't'd Sept. 10
Rep't'd Sept. 20
Rep't'd Sept..30
About Sept, 26
"  26
"26
26
"  26
"  26
26
Hiarrison Christopher, col..
Freedwoman....................
Tom Anthony, colored......
William Walla,ce, "...
Moses Ferguson,.....
J.   B Ashot,    "            "
Isaac  Brdley,...
One freedwvoman........
Na,tha.,n Heodges,3 colored...
Green Htint(~/i, clrd....
*  Jones was taken from hi, home, shot, placed upon a brush pile, which was fired, and left for dead.  He afterward sueededee    in crawling off, thougl
badly burned.
** That freedmen in the northern part of the parish are constantly being taken from their homes by desperadoes, and either killed, or forced to leave
their homes, crops and everything they possess; that no laws of any kind are enforced.
*** States there is a spirit of brutality and terror reigning throughout the parish, and freedmen are daily driven from it, leaving their year's labor and
inemselves destitute; that cases are daily referred to the civil authorities, but no action is taken; that the parties complained against are by some means
informed of the fact, and freed people are taken from their homes, or stopped on the highway and then taken to the depth of some wood, and whipped or shoe
The freedmen are.forcedito leave the parish or be in constant dread of being killed.
f On the night of the 15th inst., the five colored men were arrested, tried and acquitted, and have since left the parish. It is also stated that Christapher was taken from his home by two white men and given to the colored men, with instructions for them (the colored men) to kill him; but no evidence.
substantiating the same was taken...
it Harwell took a pistol and chased freedmen about town; he shot one freedwoman in the leg, snapped two caps at others, was arrested, and fned $12.00
$ Was compelled to leave his home and his crop; will not be permitted to return unless he submits to a punishment of one hundred lashes.
is  Wa tlaken from his home in September, head shaved, shot at, not since heard from.
I
I
I
'II
I
i
I
.1
PARISHES. WJien CoDi't,d
O'Ll;V-"lolll
I
(,',,,iado
C,3
and
Boisac-r.
(!3ib,>rne,
k "
r- I
i
Oatahoula,           ISepriber7....
iN! o-ses Neiivillm, colored..... 
List of Murders and Outrages, etc.-(Continued.)
.    I.. S.  e.  =._   Co.mitted.      By w__._._., u  * _                          er
PBHnisi. When Comlted. On whom Committed. By whom Committed. Nature of Outrage.
Tensas
and        Rep't'd Sept. 20 George Dyson.................... Calvin Humphreys.......Shot and killed...........
Concordia.,                                                                                                  Cor
Ouachita'  
and        Pep't'd Sept.30 William Bishop, white....... Not stated........................... Assault and highway rob'ry
JaA lon.
I~. 
East Feliciasna. September 26... Prince Orange, colored...... Dewitt Carter................... Assault and battery............
Madison.    September 12..'One freedman...........Freedman............Shot and killed................
Orleans, Left September 25........ Edward Forrest, colored...... Arthur Guerin, white........... Shot and killed...............u
...Bank.         
I certify that the foregoing is a correct list of murders and outrages as reported.to these headquarters
during the month of September, 1868.
LUCIUS H. WARREN,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States Army, Captain Thirty-Ninth Infantry,
Hi-,~~~.          Acting Assistant Adjutant Genera]         i
I Killed...................... 52
SUMMARY-SE},TEMBER.    Wounded................... 11
Maltreated.................. 18
NoT-Numerous other murders and outrages committed which have not been specifically reported.
C>.,. 
List of Lurders and Outrages Reported to He1adquarters Bureau Refugees, l"reedm,,at anll Abaldoe
____           qof Louisiana during the month of October, 1868.
PAISES  W*nCmtd           nwo    omte.               B   hmCmitd    -    naueo  urge                                      imrs
Two Freedmen....................
Three Freedmen                    i.................
Two white boys..................
Two white men...................
Seven freedmen..................
Five freedmen.....................
One freedman.....................
One freedman.....................
Jack Handy and others, col.
Warrick King, colored.........
Tom Murray, colored..........
Charles Rrown, colored.......
!William Davis, colored........
Stephen Strain, colored.......
|Alexander Brown, colored...
iP. M. Williams, colored......
Frederick Ellis, colored......
Frank James, colored.........
Antoine Cardenas, white girl
Dennis Frick, colored.........
Sam Milton, colored............
Freedman...........................
John Moylan, D'pty Sheriff..
Ilp''dOc.-10.Freedman.......M.Cre,wie... AsalanBatr....
'4'4 10..'4.....~~...........- aul D...........So   t
Freedwoman...........................
4......................
Henry Skinner, colored......
Wesley Gregory, colored......
~....         
* i Others  snpposed woundled, but not
reported.
. } Names uot reported.
'i
.. EFtimated loss $2083, City currenty.
d 1 Accuised arrested.               ~
..: Accused arrested. 
. Accused arrested.
.   These  parties were confined  ia
d   jail at time.
. In hands  of Grand Jury.
I fIn hands of Grand Jury.
a.. These ea-es referred te civil a! thritie,s.
I..I On Black Hlawk Plantation;  aecused
a r reste d.
..Accused  acquiitted  Zulu  tljc died of
self-defense.
t_                               _
to perpetrators,
Riot October                                                                    d......s.......
White men,names not stat'd
White men,names not stat'd
Armed white men.
Armect mob...................
Charles  C. Claytos   n, white
Charles Wire, colored........
Sam'l Milton,- colored.....
Disguisedpersons..............
Unknown.'......................
Peter Bles          sn a     dFssie...
Mr. Carter, white...............
Ir  D................
Samuel Stafford, whited........
Don.........
Notstated...........................
Singleton Parks, colored....
Joe Porter, colored.............
Mitchell Allen.................... Three Disguised mnen........
Lake, a few miles from Monroe, was shot six times; accused rode off shouting Ku-Klux; no clue
~S
I
I
8
Remarkf3.
Nature of Outrage. i
I
When Com'ted.    On,%yhom Committed,
By whom Committed.
RARISHES.
-Orleans, Jef- f
.ferson,Plaq'ne- 
,mine, 1'ft b'nk (
October 25
25
25
October 24
24
24..:::::
October 27.:
27..
27.::::::
27........
27........
27.......
26...
28
October
23::::'.'.:
23.
23
R.t'd Oct. IO..
lo..
IO..
IO..
lo..
October 1......
October 6
Riot in Gretna................
Orleans,
'Left Bank.
tz
VD
,Tefferson,
Bank.
WAst FeUdana -
0
Teness   r
I and I
f,oncor"   t -
.,Ouachita and I
Jackson. f
etob,er 14......
* Near Cre 
PASHES.   Wihen Com'ted.   On whom Committed.           By whom Committed.         Nature of Outrage.                  erk.
( IRep't'd Oct. 10.. One white man.................... Not stated..........................iHung.......................
-atahoula,. Wer a t
C[            l utc " I 10.. Two freedmen............................................ Driven from parish..............  er acuse o  
C~ ~~~~~~~~~~1. ucaAenthol                                                 ho....................Wer  acuedo1tln
10.. Bureau Agent                                           at twice                 *,~    
o'i  "  10.......................... Shot  at   twice.......................
( October 28...... Dennis Lyle, colored........... Armed white men.............. Life attempted................  Came to house at nightasking shl    X tcitoe'i" as........ 2 Rlandall Ly]e, colored......... Armed white men........Shot and wounded..............  ter at time of committing deed.
Sab          " o   s'31....... Anderson West, colored...... James Wiley, white............ ]          **
Sabind     I      t 31........ James Watson.............................
Wan.d         c 31       Jo3 smt.......D. J03n heite............... SLives threatened.......For political reasou.s.
Winn..o,t.......
31....... Thomas Alexnder, colored Fete Meyers, white............ J 
............ Benjamin Harrison, colored Eugene Jordan, white........Killed.................................n  ***
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
f October 31....... Freedboy............... Frank Pain, white.......Dragged about three miles'
with rope about his nec.!
Xl~~dwe~lL it   J   31  Norment Nobles, colored............ Frank Pain, white.......Whipped...................... t
1        38:1...John Jackson, colored                              Lives threatened............
31...... Davis Adams, co.ored.......... Citizens of parish, white.. 
151    M artin Cannel, colored.....................
October ii)  Rll. 0. Butler, white........James.Butler, colorer   Assault and battery...... Accused esped.
Bapides.'   15..  Offi.e Iapides TriWbune.......Not stated.......................... Broken up........................ Republican paper; part of ps   ken
,,];off, type and cases scattered in st,
St Landry  (!
and       Rep't'd Oct 2. f tt 
.ozalcasieu.!{. P                         o         e           
O0 tober 17..... l.E. E    Hr. Pou knon.                           Kil    led..............................Coroner's inquest.
St. Mary. y          17.....Valentine Chase, P'sh Judge.... Killed.................... No clue to perpetrators.
" 17....Attakapas Register........................... Destroyed........................... A Republicanpaper.    $
* Private parties also make affidavit of receiving letters signed K. K. K. of their lives being threatened, et.
**  Supposed to be identified with case of freedman under head of B3ossier and Caddo, mouth of November.
**b Supposed to be the same as case of Benjamin L. Yardison reported in Aunust 1l.st.
t It is stated that in the last three cases the freedmen- went with Sheriff to exente % w- t arrant            in arresting Frnk Pain —tha  they in turn were prsued and
4ad to flee ior their lives fro,ni about fifty armed men, of whom Frank Pain, Frank Stevens, Daniel Wade and Charles Legnosky were recognized.
t   Reports of colored people being killed for reason of political opinions are received, but no   cfi case reported. In Vidalia,  i ana, t Is.
stated that a band of dlespera does appeared in Coltumbia, and then ditpersed over the forest and Nvaylaid the reads, for the purpose of killing Judges  T. S. Cr
ford, Wade H. Haugh and Mr. J. Hi. Crawford, and that it is impossible to execute the laws of thle( country.
ft't One freedman found dead in road three miles from Opelousas.  Others reported as forind in different part's of parish. No action reported.
1 Press and kve taken- out and destroyei Editors lefl; f'r New Orleans.
List o      f       and  Ouitrages, et. —('Co ntti,)ued.)
to
8
I!I 
0 [c?d s. (and Ou  r age, e'.-( GColtli,ttte(.)
B 3dy v-homi Comimitted.
IPersors unknown..............
D. II. Corcoran, Durio, anid
T. Bcrnard, white............
Persons       u    rnk nown..............
16....Tw~~~~~~~~~~~~~'erson's un fredmn~own..........................Fud(ed......Fotn  i  emlinByu
..............
, October 30...Two freemen.......................................Mudrd........
OP4o rrson   Wa snk...o.~.....i  d......nr...
Charles Wasson..................
O n whom Committed.
Oick Arehnauix, colored........
Joselph  Martiu, colored  }
and his mother, age 75, col I
Peter. colored......................
Pierre, colored.................. -
Two freedmen....................
Two freedmen....................
When Co-n'ted.
October  11........
o "    16........
October 16........
O       16........
"      16........
October  30........
October  14.......
October  10.......
October  31........
October  31.......
31.......
........
27........
14.......
17
'; 1........
12.......
12
12........
14
For  political  causes; no:tiona
I) taken.
Were alleged participators inf Bo,
sier rot, were in charge of civil au ) thorities at time of being killed.
At time of murder of Robt. Gray, ol.      W
House broken open; has fied from the        c
parish.                                      -
Were taken  from Shreveport in  day
time to R. White'gIsland and killed.
j At Four Mile Spring, west of Shreve
1 port.
,Shot; body thrown in lriver.
Forceman not killed  for fear of  re cognition, as they were identified.
In Fourth Ward, near Shreveport,.
was tied, taken from home; not
heard from sinco.
.Armenl white                                    ee,en.............
......0.....
ODistuised             whit  e  pneunot..
Disguised white men........
Disguised white men.........
(Gharles Wasson, white......
Fiye white men..................
Calhoun,  Johnson,  and
Iabout ten others, white...
P. Ward, Mr. Cox. J. Wil  liard,J. Arnold andl othlers
Austin  and others,  white...
JWright, ex-deputy sheriff
and others......................
*  In Lafayette parish, near the St. Landryline; a coroner'sinquest held; no clue to the murderers.  The two freedmen were leading colored 1epublicvn
**  The body of a freedman was found floating in red River.
***  States that probably sixty or seventry freedmen have been killed in connection with Bossier Riots, in addition to those previously reported.
t  Information received that armed bodies of men have been Fcouring  eossier parish in searehl of fr-eedmen supposed to be implicated in killing of
Brownlee and Ogden in recent riots, and killing them whenI found-tia.t the civil athorities takLe no action in bringing guilty partles to justice.
tt Much uneasiness and alarm amongst freedmen, caused by the outspoken approval by the whites of the acts of killing etc., of freedmen in Bossier parish
I
I
I
I
I
i
PARTSHES.
Lafayette
and I
Vermillion.
.- l —.. —-,,,,.-,-:7
Nat-,ire of Outrage.
Sliot and killer..................
Killed.......................
..............................
.................................
................................
Found dead......................
Murdered...........................
Remark,,.
No cltio to miirderers.
Acciised discharg,)d for wt)nt of
I evidence.
Float,ing lii Vcrmillion Bayott.
Robert Gray, coloed...........
t
L. Faulkner...................
Ono freedmen.....................
A,Ifred Hazen......................
C-liarles Stokes, col,)red......
Henry colored.....
rank Dupre, colored
Solomon Thomas, colored
olomon Thomas, colored...
illed...............................
** In Slireveport: no action take.*.
Violent assault,,tnd batry
I lives threatened, etc.......:
Killed...............................
Alurdere(-l............................
Mur(-Iered...........................
.
Life,ittempted..................
Life,,*tempted................
Caddo
and
:0-4sior.
Murdered.......................
Four Freedmen.................
I Murdered.......... I
Murdered...........................
Lives attempted.........I.......
Henry Dixon, colored..........
One
- Foreemaii, colored..........
Cne freed girl.....................
ne FreedmaD.................... White mei-i........................ Mur(lered.........................
Claiborne.e
ep't'd Oct. IO.-            tf 
List of 3~iurde?-s and Outrages, etc.-(  Continued.)
PARISIES.    When  Com'ted.    On whom Committed.              By whom Committed.            Nature of Outrage.                      Remarks.
. _ ____,, _I_ ~~~~~~~...,,_
Rep't'd Oct. 20.. Wm. Wallace, colored.....Parties uninown.........urdere.........urdered.....' Body found in woods.   *
Rep't'd Oct. 31.. Freed people....................... Armed white men........Lives threatened................
Rep't'd Oct. 31..   **s     
October 26....... A. Brown, colored........Not stated.............. Shot and wounlded........,,. Aounded in and at his w  house
Claiborne.     "    31.      Ibut made lis escape.
laiborne   31........ Henry Shelton, colored....... Disguisedl white men........Shot through lWounds cosierd;a
"31..:......Ien Johnson, colored.....
3 1....BnJohnson, colored|AsTc......., Assault and battery.......Nearly beaten death.
l"3    Freedwoman...............................  IAnd severely beaten.
"31..... One freedwoman................Fi.' — "
~    31.............. nearly beaten to death......*
l l " 31......... |Oe freed woman | i | |{  ~ir~st ravished ana(l"then|
*  Wallace was taken from home the night of September 26th, by four white men.  Armed white men were going through the parish'disarming all freed
men; much oppression and a perfect system of terror exists.
A party of armed and disguised men visited the house of Joshua Scanlin, colored, on 20th inst., and failing to find him drew their arms on his wife and
other women present, threatening them with instant death if they did not discover his, Scanlins, whereaboults. Case referred to civil authorities.  No action
taken.
~**  The parties committing the above consisted of nine or ten men armed and disguised; they started from Haysville, about twelve miles from Homer, and:
travelled south in the direction of Minden, stopping at all cabins, coIImmitting violence and maltreatinig women.  The freedpeople will not divu]ge anythii,:
even of acts committed against themselves, for fear of death.  No action taken by civil authoriti*.
I certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the murders and outrages as reported to these headquarters
during the month of October, 1868.
LUCIUS II. WARRE-N,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States Army, Captfiin Thirty-Ninth Infantry,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
Killed..................... 118
SUMMARtV-OCTOBERI   Wounded.................. 16
( Maltreated................. 45
NOTE-Armed bodies of men scour Bossier parish, capturing freedmen and killing them when found.  Freedmen reported as found dead in the roads, in
different parts of the parish. - Parties in Claiborne parish traverse the parish, stopping at all cabins, committing  violence and maltreating women. - Freed-men will not testify from fear of death. 
List (f Murders and other OUtrages Reported to Ieadquarters Bureau RIefugees, Fireedrmen and Abandoned Lands, 1is
t ict of Louisiana, durintg the month of Novem)ber, 1868.
vs   On whoml Committed.  By whom Committed.
James Mason, colored....... I Unknown........................
James Johnson, colored....................f  
General T-ylor, colored....  (
William Brown, colored....Cl............. ii  th orii e s  
John Smith, colored............
Arnold Lewis, colored......Six Spaniards...................xSais
PIARISHES.
Orleans.    (
Left Bank.   (
St. Bernllard   |
and
Plaquemine, 4 I
Left Bank.   ]
St. Helena    l
and
Livingston.
Iberville and
West Baton
Roiuge,
Mumf(ord(l McCoy, colored.. Armed white men.............
Colored Baptist C!hirch....... Unknown incendiaries........
Mort, colored..................F..... 
Daniel, colored..................
Henry, colored.................
Henry Jourdan, colored.....
Louisa, colored.............. 
H. E. Burton, Bureau Agent
Smith, color ed....................
Freedman, name not given...
November....
......
I....
"1     6.....
Rep't'd Nov. 10.
';     10..
C      10..
Rep't'd Nov. 13..
November 10....
"      17.....
o'     13...
,Rep't'd Nov. 10..
For political reasons has fled parish.
) Freedman instructed  to make  affi.
davit in justice court; nothing  since
heard regarding same.
Referred  to civil authorities.
18th inst.; coffin with inscription, etc,
placed at his door.
About  July  5, 1868, pay refused for
| labor; case referred to Parish Judge.
Washington Smith, colored...
Charles Nelson, colored......
John Newell, colored......
George Johnson, colored....
{Mr. Mentz, Sheriff..............
Eugene Jackson, colored..... Don Louis Pellein...............
* In this parish freedmen complain of being ordered to leave plantations where they have been working, and it is reported that several outrages have been
committed by disguised men, styling themselves Ku Klux.
i
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-. 
Remarks.
Estimated loss $350; two shot.,i
I fired iii shop.
WI-.e-n Com'ted.
Novei,,.I,)er'3......
11         3......
i
Nov(,i-i,iber 20....
1         1. 20...
1         11 20....
il          3...
Nature of Outrage.
Shop broken open; c6nI tents destroyed................
Long incarceration without bringing them to trial
or examination.................
In confinement six montli's.
In confinement seven montli,-..
In confinement one month.
Aefe,rre(I to civil Authoritie-,,.
Rep't'd Nov. 15..
fe threatened..................Has fled parts
e,-troyed by fire................
4
oveiiiber 6......
a ca. I
For political'reasons.
For political reasons.
For political reasons.
IFor political reasons.
Referred to civil ai-ithor.tie&
Referred to civil a-Lithoriti".
Ea-strelici,ina.
I
I
Parties iinknown................
11
Assault and battery...........
............
Li threat' ened; notified
to leave parish..................
Assault and battery..........
Life threatened etc.
Thr't'ng to ],-ill, shot
Thr't'ng to kill, shot at twice
.................
.il
..........................................
Dr. Felix De Lee...'
.....'::.......
De W, t Carter..................
-1,
Life threatened, etc............
Shot, wounded in left
Shot, severely wounded in
I lea and arm.
Lifthreatened,                             - - -
I I 11
............
Driven from plantation by
I force of arms..................
I
an,.es not given.................
oseph Mallon, white..........
11                11
.........
o,,,eph Geary..........
......:....
.K. N............................
.. if ..
St. Martin.
a 
List of  -[urders an?ld  Ot!Iragjcs, etc. —(Coniinued.)
hn w-hom Oimited.            By whom Comni-itte(l.         Nature of Outrage.
Th~iti~)a~il~d.  I................  -
Natchitoches, 
1-bine and 
Winn.
gRep't'd o.  *10.. *
forember 3...... Freedmcn, pa,:iy of............    eedNer l s   t                                                   
...... Two fresdme.................od....s
"d   5.........................Murdere................Suspected  at$e
Jackson~~~~~~~5...... One- freedmen...                                     Wone........g.ria
Rep't'd No. 10.. Freedmen...........................
November 4...... Emanuel Right, colored......
Iep't'd Nov. 18..Freedmen, No. not rt,ted....
e    18..  t'
and embee 1    O I m....... s!Ons edhmen...                   d..............t, 
U n  No2embe 22.... Green Foster, eolored.........
20..... One freedman..................
"20h....!  L. Hubbard, white..............
November O55......ma
Bo r ovember 5 ~....!One freedman.....................
5,!Teacher Bureau school........
Rep'td Nov.'10..{ ttt
r 
Ouachit    j
and    a
Jason.    i n
l i
i i
I
>talioiila. qi
I
Plointe  Coupee'
and          I
W'st Foliaiaai
Ulnion lu ~
and'
!lvorehouse. [,
B3ossier.
and
Caddo. I
*  Many freedmen make complaints of being compelled to vote under compulsion; that they are threatened and fearful of personal volence and othe:
*omplaints of a similar nature.  No action taken.,
e*  Freedmen complain of being discharged, etc., for voting contrary to wishes of employers, etc
.**  Subsequent reports state accused parties released, under bonds, court: hvi-ng adjourned to January 1st, 1869.
t The cause of these acts is the refusal to vote as the whites demand; these cases occurred in the portion of parish known as Sicily Island; no action
reported.
t  Freedman kiled had a difficulty with Hubbard a few dlays previous, in which Hnbbard was stabbed.   No evidence to implicate  him.       Hubbard)  in the
tilling.
ttt  Tlitat dead bodies continue to float down the river from Bossier parislh.
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0
rARIHE.g.
hen Com'ted.
Reiiiar'ks.
November IO......
Avoyelle,s. I
White...
N(>t stated........................
"I
....................
Not stated........................
Murdered...........................
Wounded.........................
Near Filhails pl-,%i,-tati'on; acclased wrested and uiader bonds.
Suspe'ted parties arrei3ted, in jv4l
I awaiting trial
i
Defrauding of wages and
I share of -
lashes
...........
IMany complaints of this nature madeINear Henry Green's plautation.
Freedmen are fleeing from parii3h. 0
Pla-nts.............................
f,To,.ies Grange and:ftve
( others, whites..............
Plot roported.......................
i
suped white nian........
illed.............................
W&mnt issued for his arrmt Dec. 5,'O&
Puck,6r mtested, under $2600 bouds.
.ft
.kbout two miles from Shre'vepoi4.
- Has left parish.
William Puck,5r, white........
Unknown........................
Freedman...........................
Unknown...........................
Not ted.....
Shot and badly wounded.....
Seriously stabbed...............
Murdered...........................
Lii e threatened.................. 
List  of JOurders and  Oittrages, etc.-( Continued..)
?ArISHES.     When  Corm'ted.    On whom Committed.           By whom Committed.           Nature of Outrage.                    Remarks.
Rep't'd Nov. 11.. One freedman.................... Unknown..................... Murdered...............
Bossier                1.. Onoedman.                      UnknownA...............ou er..ed...............M
t and            November 11.....*....**
* Caddo        |Rep't'd Nov. 20Q... Squire Jones, colored.....Armed whie menLie threatened................. t
"      0.. - tt
r Novntiber 5A.... lpCMroe Of W Jasper Persons unknown...........................   esNo                   cluo.
Blackburnered...................                                                        letprtar
Two ease  eotd   odfnt   n
Claiorne.      l          Notstatd.2.. Oe........ Not statedm..............Murder.............................reeived.
e,~  and  November 11 ~~~l..:... *** ora
St. Matio.    Rep't'(d Dec. l...Sur Joe, colored......  Ar r Barrms, white....... Shot and killed............... 4
i~~~~ifecuea yheatdsoered of..the.mur.
November 21.... Laura Cerin. P5rkins,,ol'd. W it ll................ Shot in arm f o..............           have  ed from parish; no clue
i,  21.!San,uel Perkins. color-,., Wh~ite mDen........................ ethreatened............ tno identity of perpetrators.
'  Nov.30.. Marcel, colored                Parties uknow..........Killed................................ On plantation of M'me Ralph Forman
I                              Two cleases yet soerted; no dfthe a n.
Lafayet.! "             2}...Nostted.............. No sae                                                          |............ luderers.
lRalph Formatin, Jas. Tallis
| Ni ovembl1)er 21... iicrre Jeans Louis, colored c...     Smith, FranLee   Siupith.  Burecur   Shot, badly wounded, sup                                                                    Smith, Frank Piaisance      posed motly
.!a t i n. |                      | ei't'J   auid others..               cr...................
* Body found gth inst., about seven miles from Shreveport; a paper was attached to the body warning Ideath to any person who removes the body."
**  Found dead in the woods near Lawyer Looney's place, apparently shot and dragged off the road.
Statements in regard to the riot in Bossier parish corroborated, resulting in the massacre of fully one hundred freedmen, and one freedwoman, on
September 30th, and October 1st; states one instance where line freedmen were taken to bank of Red River ad told to swim for their lives that they plunged
in and as they arose to the surface were shot, not one escaping.  Again, three fre         eden, while engaged in making a coffin, for one of their friends who was
killWed, were brutally murdered.
Has been in o woods since the time of the riot; has been hunted and pursued by aimed white men intending to kill him.
tt That the District Court is in session; that two white men have been found guilty of murder, for the killing of two freedmen Immediately after the elec
tion, at about two miles from Shreveport.  Sentence has not yet been passed upon them.
tflt Information has been received that the freedmen are in complete subjection to the will of the whites, by whom they were compelled to vote, subject to
their dictation, unler peiialty of de ath frorm K. K. K., etc.
About the middle of November.  No coroner's inquest or examination held by civil authorities, at the time; Warrant sinceissusd, and case to be exam inul, Decembeir 3d.
C,'2.I.
Ca I. 
Ll   i *f  3I:,de~'drs aild O'Utt-dage,', ec(t.-( C     otii ted.j
-  *.....  _. _.... _.....:: _............._....:..=:......,....._.......,,..._...=:,..,....,..:... ='....i.:.:
PSAISHLES.    When Coris'ted.    oil whlom1  ComnsIituld.  I 13N whom  Comn-iisitted.           Natture of Outrage.                     Itmarks.
L,,Lafayette., Novc,mber 21..... I 
Eat'.,e.                    I           -a.     a  [-i,r  wli:,ao,I }9] L               3Novambv r 30O..... Sid   c, cc relt,i,,-cal................... Sh(.t, on         head...        cta(  tan.
*  On the night of the 21st his gn and two horses wcre tkcne from him by a c'gang of arnmedr men, of whom  the  h~ovo  prties  were.  recognized  Tie acetseId were arrested. Jud['ic A. S.?,loss visited Pierre and took his testimony, as he wa.s suposed to be dyinig. Pierre -;t,es that  Tali s snapged two caps  at
him; that Ralpla Formanl tien shot him,; on 25th inst., Fcrlrman escaped iand -ent to Texas; the ol-ther four examined hefcre Judge Moss, as alibi  proven, an&
were discharged.
I certify thilt the foregoing is a correct  lis, of.nurdlers  and   outrages  reported to thesc headquarter,   during
the time above specified..
LUCIUTS IH. WARREN,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States Army. Captain Thirty-Ninth Infantry,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
i Number killed...................114
SUMMAtARY-NOVEMIIhER - Number wounded............... 7
Number maltreated.............. 24
..IQ
Of
t~,
cl; 
-List o/ Murdders and Outrages Reported to Heodquarlers Bureau Refugees, Free(
P'arish of St. Bernard, Louisiana, in connection with the Riots of (
When Com'ted.    On whom Committed.              By whom Committed.             Nature of Outrage. 
October 25...... Pablo Fillio, white................   Pab
MognAnd'   tliar s, ThmsnIKilled............................Pa
Pablo  illio   whit............. lIora   an  oterso1'd
'  2.5  Mike Curtis, white.............. Syca John Bauef, white...... Killed........................... bl.
"    25      One   white  man,  Demo- Eugene Lock  colored.........ounded
cratic procession..............  
25....Eugene Locke, colored........ Valery Veillon, white    K......... illed................
Supposed by Pablo Fillio,, Killed and body consumed
'   25....Thompsonl Morgan, colored,    white........................  in burning he 
"   25....Isaiah Johnson, colored...... Pablo Fillio, white.............. Woundiied........................... i
25........ Little   Jacob,   colored...........................................
25...... John Proctor, colored.....................................
25....Billy Smith, colored..........................................
25....Henry Sterling, colored...... Democratic prccession..............................
25....... Spencer  Jones, aged fifty,  Vallery Veilon, wh.t
sco2 Spencer Jones, aged Eftr, W~allery~ei...................!s....... I  white...................................I
cole red...............                               t
26....Pierre Golet, colored..................JulianCerpas, hite  Kild................!
26........  Res Voltaire, colored...................................... 
26....Baptist Clemir, colored......  Treme   Le,  Pter
26........ Emile Agenor, colored.... Te e   J          i.   P tr
and party, all wvhite............................
26      Fraioss colored...... i.......l...............o
*"                  "          6,        Yllll~aokoedy............e~ilipooner v'hie  [...........ls. 
26....... Henry, colored................... 
26.. Joseph Cole, colored...........   illon el...
* 26.................. I-Mal sh~~~~~~~~~~it,cooe.....................IJuin eps................1;
26'........ Feltb  Thomas, freedwomin.  Alm,,A'larsh all",Yhite.........Woduded.
26........ Willi.am TrahockL, colored.... Philip Goodyeear, white.........................l
" 26........ David    Jones,  colored.......... I..... |.......................
'    26........ JulienSerpas............
26....Alld Le, ecolored............'1.te       s.......
~~~~~~~~...................i........................
26                                                                                               l
27........ Nloaed ie t, colored.........................................
"    27.....Sophia Iarshall, freedw'll'n! Jui. S        i te.....  t,........................ 
November 1.....Eugneoseph, colored.......Sarapio.......... o, ie....o,  hite
November...rn...  old Lew is, colored.... Parties unknon, white...................................il
NOTE-In addition to the cases above specified, flity-four minor outrages have been reported as comiimitt(
sisting of destruction of household goods, robbery,f clothing, household effects, money, arms, registratio
of a portable nature tlhey possssedl.  Twen,ty robberies of registretion papers and four disecliarges from Uni 
Mutrders acid Oitt ages in St. Bed)'lacrd Pa)-ish, of  Riots of  October 25 and 26, 1868.
___           Designation.           Killed.    Woded.  Iino
-~~~~~~~        wo n,nae.  M~inor  o utragf....  Total.
Whites........................        21                      1
SUMMA~R Y............
$Freed People................ 11 80
Aggregate.....................    13 16                      55          84
I certify that the foregoing is a correct list of thle murders and outrages reported at these headquarters in
connection with the riot in the parish of St. Bernard, La., October 26, and 25, 1868.
LUCIUS IH. WARREN,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States Army, Captain Thirty-Ninth Infantry,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General
co
4 
II 
RECAPITULATION.
_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SlPPLEQENTAL  SUPPLF.-'ORIGINAL REP1ORTI OP.II|   TOTAL  BOT]
I  I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-                      I              1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
l EpOn  ITA   L.                 |    I -l POT. RFOT-s  / REPOI
AscensionI.   2................2                                            "   l 
Assumption    1...........e.*...' —-- 1              51  lt   1 
Avoy-les.....                   4''                    i 2   3i
Bienville........................   3e 2 2
1..... i~ i"4i"l It  ~,  1i!
Bossuier................162 1       6   169   5' 1              9
Caldwell..t-t*Z       ZI\ \5   4    i     |j nl   1.1    1  a   
Carrlcaiu** ***** j1l..                         21: 1j! JS  51  3'.*  
Catahoula............ 20|1 | 26i                   l       ll. il l 2 31!i 
C     la lborne.................... 4    it  1' 6, 1
Concordia............   i.    11 * 
aDetSotoa....      0 41             1       1   2            2I 112
Claiborno..............I     ~        ~     ~','F I~'I  1'l ~2~    i i
Cocri............... [', i       i[          i    1 i::
Cdd~ot.................2    -I'.  46,i                I61 ~        2    
i42~~ ~ ~                       I
,f