In answer to a Senate resolution of January 11, 1875, copies of corre spondence relative to certain disorders in the State of Louisiana. JANUARY 25, 1875.-Referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, The Secretary of War has the honor to transmit to the United States Senate, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 11th instant, copies of correspondence relative to certain disorders in the State of Louisiana. WM. W. BELKNAP, COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO CERTAIN DISORDERS IN LOUISIANA, PREPARED UNDER RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, DATED JANUARY 11, 1875. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, January 21, 1875. Official: PART I. E. D. TOWNSEND, Reports and communications of Major Lewis Merrill, Seventh Cavalry, United States Army, relative to disorders in certain parts of Louisiana embraced within the limits of his command. [Telegram.] Received in cipher at the Adjutant-General's Office, October 25, 5.50 p. m., 1874, from General W. H. Emory, commanding Department Gulf. DATED NEW ORLEANS, LA., To ADJUTANT-GENERAL United States Army, Washington, D. C.: An inquiry was made of Major Merrill yesterday in regard to his reported action in personally appearing and making affidavits against parties in Shreveport for alleged violations of the act approved November 20, 1872, but no answer received. This action, as reported, was taken without orders either given by me or by higher authority. Being an innovation of the customs of service, inviting future controversy, I submit the question for the decision of the War Department before approving or disapproving his action. W. H. EMORY, Colonel and Brevet Major-General, Commanding. [Telegram.] DATED HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, TO ADJUTANT-GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C.: Referring to my telegram in cipher of yesterday, Major Merrill informs me that, having no cipher, he thinks it necessary to answer by mail. I send copy of my reply to him, and suggest that a cipher be sent him. The dispatch is as follows: "In the absence of cipher use mail, as you propose, for your report. The department commander was under the impression, derived from your own statement, that you had a cipher, or he would, as he will now do, suggest to the Adjutant-General that one be sent you. The Government at Washington has the right to exercise control over the official acts of its officers, and to this end, and without any reference to previous action, which cannot be known until your report is received, the department commander directs that in any case where you design going outside of instructions, or departing from established usages of the Army, you shall first consult these headquarters; and in cases where circumstances may force you to such departure, that you immediately report." Acknowledge receipt. W. H. EMORY, Colonel and Brevet Major-General, Commanding. [Cipher telegram.] Received October 27, 1874, from headquarters Department Gulf. DATED NEW ORLEANS, October 26, 1874. To ADJUTANT-GENERAL United States Army: I have telegraphed Major Merrill that the reported arrests at Shreve port, on affidavits made by him, are exciting much discussion and comment, and are mischievous in their effect, and that the circumstances which would justify him in departing from an established rule of service and appearing personally as a prosecutor must be peculiar, and such as cannot be anticipated by department commander in absence of his report. W. H. EMORY, Colonel and Erevet Major-General, Commanding. [Telegram.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Col. W. H. EMORY, United Siates Army, Commanding Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La.: Your cipher dispatches of 25th and 26th and one referring to them of 26th, (relating to Major Merrill,) received. The President prefers to await report on subject of former before giving decision; meantime. your action seems perfectly proper. E. D. TOWNSEND, [Cipher telegram.] Received October 27, 1874, from New Orleans, La. DATED OCTOBER 27, 1874. TO ADJUTANT-GENERAL United States Army : Notwithstanding its length, in justice to Major Merrill I send his statement of the case at Shreveport, my own views, as given in cipher yesterday, being unchanged; but I give no orders in the case and no reply except to call to Major Merrill's notice that my telegrams to him, copies of which you have, show no distrust of his ability or intention to remove him. W. H. EMORY, Colonel and Brevet-Major-General, Commanding. [Telegram.] DATED HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF the Gulf, To ADJUTANT-GENERAL United States Army, (Received 12.58 p. m.) Washington, D. C.: The following, received last night, is the dispatch that I refer to in my cipher of this date : To ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, SHREVEPORT, October 26, 1874. Headquarters Department of Gulf, New Orleans: Telegram received. If what I have already seen is a fair sample of discussion and comment, can only say that it is based on falsehood. I expect abuse, as a matter of course. The facts are that only five arrests have been made; that no more than these were even contemplated; that this was the only course which promised to prevent future trouble; that neither myself nor any other officer or soldier was present at either the arrests or hearing; that the effect has been in the highest degree valuable here in restoring respect for law, and promises to prevent bloodshed. Whatever mischief is done elsewhere, is not by the facts, but by the falsehood of the White League leaders in regard to it. No civil authority or machinery of any kind, local, State, or national, has for a long time existed here, and the community was fast drifting into a state where any uncontrolled lunatic could set a match to the mine. My action was taken to set civil functions going and restore respect for civil law, to remind community that this was not a state of war. My name was appended to affidavit, because any one else who signed it would have been killed, and not to constitute myself prosecutor, which I have not done. In view of all the facts, I say that not only have I not done wrong or made any mistake, but I would have been grossly lacking in foresight, prudence, and ability to cope with difficult circumstances had I failed to act as I have. I beg to be understood that I obey every order and suggestion with alacrity. This is a difficult position, and not of my own seeking; if my ability to conduct this command is doubted, I would be only too glad to be relieved of a great responsibility which I did not seek, but shall not shirk. This is said without the least feeling save wish to relieve the commanding general of any embarrassment he might feel in taking that course. LEWIS MERRILL, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT UPPER RED RIVER, Shreveport, La., October 25, 1874. SIR: The following report will show the status of affairs here, and the course which, upon full consideration of all facts which within my knowledge should influence my judgment, I had decided upon as the one best calculated to avoid the necessity of any intervention of the military, and to prevent the present hot excitement from precipitating a conflict. The purpose of the leaders is beyond doubt, and so confessed, to force the United States Government to overthrow the local government of this State and substitute for it a military government. It is needless for me to discuss the folly of the ideas entertained by these men; it is the fact that they are fully possessed with the notion that they can succeed in this by forcing a conflict. Finding, in part from their own statements to me, that this was the determination of the leaders here, I at once determined to take such measures as would, if possible, thwart their purpose and avoid any future need of even apparent interference, least of all any open conflict. The leaders here are some half-dozen reckless, passionate men of broken fortune, who miss no chance to foment trouble, and whose whole time is occupied in setting afloat disturbing rumors and blowing into a flame every ember of sensation and excitement which they find. Of them the chief man is one A. H. Leonard, the major-general for this part of the State of the McEnery militia. He is a reckless but shrewd man, hopelessly involved, and with only one hope, that in a storm he may come to the surface. The others are more or less of his character, but lacking his ability, and are merely puppets in his hands. Following these men are a large class of white men who, while not bad citizens or generally disposed to do wrong, are influenced in a great measure by passion kept hot by the leaders, and who are not permitted by them to stop and think of the consequences of their acts. Another large class who in case of trouble would be involved with these is composed of men who simply follow because such is the apparent drift of public opinion. The three classes include the large majority of the white people in this section. There was, to my mind, after careful review of all the facts, but one thing that would prevent a bloody conflict on the day of the election, which was to take some measures which should sharply call to the minds of the followers of these reckless men the existence of the authority of the national Government, which, in the last event, would, at all hazards, protect every citizen of the United States in his just rights, and to bring to mind the fact that peaceful, legal measures could, even in times of excitement, be quietly enforced. If a halt could be called in their passionate course, which would give time for thought and |