Against this garbling of my report—­done by the President’s own order —­I strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of Mr. Johnson’s well-known personal hostility toward me.  In the mean time I received (on August 3) the following despatch from General Grant approving my course: 

“Headquarters armies of the united states, “War Dept., Washington, D. C., “August 3, 1866—­5 p.m.

“Major-general P. H. Sheridan,
“Commanding Mil.  Div. of the Gulf,
“New Orleans, La.

“Continue to enforce martial law, so far as may be necessary to preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the civil authorities to act, if you deem such action dangerous to the public safety.  Lose no time in investigating and reporting the causes that led to the riot, and the facts which occurred.

“U.  S. Grant,
“Lieutenant-General.”

In obedience to the President’s directions, My report of August 1 was followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it tells the whole story of the riot: 

“Headquarters military division of the Gulf, “New Orleans, la., August 6, 1866.

“His excellency Andrew Johnson,
“President United States

“I have the honor to make the following reply to your despatch of August 4.  A very large number of colored people marched in procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven (27), and were addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, ex-Governor Hahn, and others.  The speech of Dostie was intemperate in language and sentiment.  The speeches of the others, so far as I can learn, were characterized by moderation.  I have not given you the words of Dostie’s speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate.

“The convention assembled at twelve (12) M. on the thirtieth (30), the timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the general public was ominous of trouble.  I think there were about twenty-six (26) members present.  In front of the Mechanics Institute, where the meeting was held, there were assembled some colored men, women, and children, perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty (20), and in the Institute a number of colored men, probably one hundred and fifty (150).  Among those outside and inside there might have been a pistol in the possession of every tenth (10) man.

“About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from sixty (60) to one hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up Burgundy Street and across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying an American flag.  These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and canes and clubs in addition.  While crossing Canal Street a row occurred.  There were many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone