I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from Texas, where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande.  On my way up from the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of July 30 by one of my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving the details of the massacre—­no milder term is fitting—­and informing me that, to prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior military officer present, had assumed control of the municipal government.  On reaching the city I made an investigation, and that night sent the following report of the affair: 

“Headquarters military division of the Gulf, “New Orleans, la., Aug. 1, 1866.

“General U. S. Grant: 

“You are doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this city on the 30th.  A political body, styling themselves the Convention of 1864, met on the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the purpose of remodeling the present constitution of the State.  The leaders were political agitators and revolutionary men, and the action of the convention was liable to produce breaches of the public peace.  I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until they committed the overt act.  In the meantime official duty called me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say that it was murder.  About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and about one hundred and sixty wounded.  Everything is now quiet, but I deem it best to maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until the affair is fully investigated.  I believe the sentiment of the general community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the police could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing lives.

“P.  H. Sheridan,
“Major-General Commanding.”

On receiving the telegram, General Grant immediately submitted. it to the President.  Much clamor being made at the North for the publication of the despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the newspapers.  It appeared in the issues of August 4, but with this paragraph omitted, viz.: 

“I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the overt act.  In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say it was murder.”