THE NEW-ORLEANS RIOT. ITS OFFICIAL HISTORY. “It was no RiotHt was an Absolute Massacre by the Police—A Murder Perpetrated by the Mayor.” The Dispatches of Gens. Sheridan, Grant, and Baird—• the President Answered. Washington, Friday, Aug. 24, 1866. arrived last night, but sides with the Conven- The following ia the official correspondence tion. Move the whole matter before Grand Jury, but impossible to execute civil process relating to the New-Orleana riota. without certainty of riot. Contemplated to Office United States Military Telegraph, ) have the members of the Convention under pro- Hdqrs. War Department. ) cess from the criminal court of this district. Is The following telegram was received at 9.25 the military to interfere to prevent process of p. m., July 27, 1866: court ? ALBERT YOORHIES, New Orleans, La., July 27, 1866. Lieut.-Gov. La. His Excellency President Johnson. ANDREW J. HERRON, Sir: Gov. Wella haa, in compliance with the Attorney.Gen. La. proclamation of R. K. Howell, President pro tern., signed writs of election to fill the vacan- cies in the Convention, and forward the same to [Telegram.] the office of the Secretary of State. Executive Mansion, ) ALBERT YOORHIES, Washington, D. C., July 28, 1866. [ Lieut.-Governor of Louisiana. To Albert Voorhies, Lieut.-Gov. of Louisiana, ANDREW J HERRON, New Orleans, La. Attorney-General of Louisiana. The military will be expected to sustain and not to obstruct or interfere with the pro- Office United States Military lelegraph, ) ceedings of the Court. A dispatch on the sub- Hdqrs. War Department. ) ject of the Convention was sent to Gov. Wells The following telegram, received 2 p. m., July this morning. 28, 1866, from New Orleans, July 28, 1866 • ANDREW JOHNSON. President Johnson: Radical mass meeting composed mainly of large numbers of negroes last night ending in a riot. The Committee of [Telegram.] Arrangements of said meeting assembling to- Executive Mansion, j night, violent and incendiary speeches made, ne- Washington, D. C., July 28, 1866. ) groes called to arm themselves. You bitterly To His Excellency Gov. Wells, New Orleans, denounced; speakers—Field, Dostie, Hawkins, La. « Henderson, Heir, Ward, and others. Gov. Wells I have been advised that you have issued a 2 proclamation convening the Convention elected i Executive Mansion, ) in 1864. Please inform me under and by what i Washington, D. C., July 30, 1866. f authority this has been done, and by what au-. thoritv this Convention can assume to represent | [Telegram] the whole people of the State of Louisiana. To Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-Gen. Louisiana, ANDREW JOHNSON. New Orleans. You will call on Gen. Sheridan, or whomever may be in command, for sufficient force to sus- tain the civil authority in suppressing all illegal Office United States Military Telegraph, ) or unlawful assemblies who usurp or assume te Hdqrs. War Department. ) exercise any power or authority without first The following telegram, received 8.30 p. m., having obtained the consent of the people of the July 28, 1866, from New Orleans, July 28, 1866: State. If there is to be a Convention, let it be President Johnson : Your telegram received. composed of delegates chosen fresh from the I have not issued a proclamation convening the people of the whole State. The people must be Convention of 1864. This was done by the first consulted in reference to changing the or- President of that body, by virtue ot a resolution ganic law of the State. Usurping will not be adjourning the Convention subject to his order, tolerated. The law and the Constitution must and in that case also authorizing him to call on be sustained, and thereby peace and order. the proper officers to issue writs of election in ANDREW JOHNSON. unrepresented parishes. My proclamation is in response to that call, ordering an election on the 3d of September. As soon as the vacancies can (Copy.) be ascertained, an election will be held to fill Office United States Military Telegraph, ) them, when the entire State will be represented* Hdqrs. War Department. j Your obedient servant, The following telegram was received at 4.46 J. MADISON WELLS, p. m., July 30, 1866, from New Orleans July 30, Governor of Louisiana. 1866: To Hfs Excellency President Johnson. Convention met. A riot broke out in the city. Office U. S. Military Telegraph, ) i So far the police have the upper hand. Several Hdqrs. War Department. ) ' white and colored persons killed. Called on The following telegram, received 10.20 p. m., Gen. Baird for assistance, which is cheerfully July 28, 1866, from New Orleans, La., July 28, tendered. Intense excitement. Convention 1866: broken up ALBERT VOORHIES, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Lieut.-Gov. Louisiana. A Convention has been called, with the sanction of Gov. Wells, to meet here on Mon- Office U. S. Military Telegraph, } day. The Lieutenant-Governor and city au- Hdqrs. War Department. [ thorities think it unlawful, and propose to break The following telegram, received 12.46 p. m., it up by arresting the delegates. I have given July 31, 1866, from New' Orleans, La., July 30, no orders on the subject, but have warned the 9 p. m., 1866 : parties that I could not countenance or permit To Secretary of War. such action without instructions to that effect A serious riot has occurred here to-day. I from the President. Please instruct me at once have been in full consultation with the city au- by telegraph. thorities, and have kept my troops well in hand A. BAIRD, for such an emergency. The riot commenced Brevet Major-General. unexpectedly, and before the troops could reach the scene of action a number of persons were killed and wounded. I have felt compelled to Office U. S. Military Telegraph, ) declare martial law. and have appointed a Mili- Hdqrs. War Department. ) tary Governor of the ctyy. All is quiet now. The following telegram, received 4.40 p. m., Several prominent gentlemen connected with the July 30, 1866, from New Orleans. July 30, 1866: Convention are killed or wounded. A. BAIRD, To the President of the United States. Brevet Major-General. We are in the midst of a terrible riot, caused by the assembling of the Convention. Owing to the mixed condition of affairs among the State Headquarters, Department of Louisiana, ) officers. I see no hope of quiet without you give New Orleans, La., July 30th, 1866., \ us a Military Governor. Cannot Gen. Granger To the Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of be sent here ? War, Washington, D. C. F. J. HERRON, Sir: Late Major-Gen. U. S. A. I have the honor to inform you that a very • 4 * * I - M * 3 1 had n0t : From the evidencc of bad Wrbeer'applied Ln.vJT to byK theM ConTentin™ on for, protec- of the citizens, and of sympathy withon themthe part on b the L,euttD t Gov hadK?MV. freely | consulted with' ?f -me, and«™or I wasand soMayor fully : martialthe part law of thein thepolice, city, I feltand compelledappoint a to Military declare convinced that it was so strongly the intent of Governor, fiom which I hope, good results wif! the city authorities to preserve the peace in or- flow. I inclose herewith, copies of my corres- der to prevent military interference, that I did pondence with the Mayor, and a dispatch which hendef d 8,1 0Utbreak aS a thmS to be aPPre- i ^e Lieutenant-Governor claims to have received yr r ■ , , , „ , , J , j mom the President. I regret that no reply to 0 rn rb aas ured rae that evL if a writ of Brr e'st ° , ”7 dispatch to you of Saturday has yet reached thehI SheriffcihoV wouldof arrnotft attempt was issued to serve by the it court,with- remain,me. Gen. Sir, Sheridan very respectfullyis still absent your in Texasobedient I out my permission, and for to-day they designed servant. ^ ^ to suspend it. I ordered a steamer to be at a BAIRD Jackson Barracks, three miles below the city, at Brevet Mai nr an early hour in the morning, and a tug to be i ' Pn^«Jn Jinyfn ’ * ♦ ready to bear orders to the commanding officer ^ dmg Department ■of the First Infantry, stationed at that point. At 11.30 o’clock, A. M., Lieutenant-Governor Voorhiescame to see me, and after conversation, Washington, D. C., July 28, 1866. he feeling confident at the time of the ability j To At, , • , ,, , , of the policenolice to preservenreservo order,nrden I proposed"I totI ' To. Albert Voorhies, Lieut.-Governor of Louis bring to the city four companies, an hour in ad- vance of the proposed meeting of the Conven- The military will be expected to sustain and tion, at. 6 o’clock P. M., to be kept near by in not obstruct or interfere with the proceedings case they should be required to keep clear the of the courts. A dispatch on the subject of the streets in the vicinity of the hall in which the Convention was sent to Governor Wells this Convention was to meet. He agreed with me morning. that it would be very desirable, but left, not ap- ANDREW JOHNSON. prehending difficulty. At 12 o’clock M., I drove too see Judge How- ell, President of the Convention, to request that Office United States Military Telegraph, ) arrangements might be made to keep any crowd ffgdrs. War Department. ) that might assemble to protect the Convention The following telegram received 4.30 P. M., out of the streets, so as to avoid an accidental July 31, 1866, from New Orleans, dated July 31 collision. When I reached his house I learned 1866: * ’ that the Convention was to meet at 12 o’clock Hon.