punish the perpetrators. Consequently there
are no correct records to be consulted for information. There is
ample evidence, however, to show that more than twelve hundred
persons have been killed and wounded during this time on account
of their political sentiments. Frightful massacres have occurred
in the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, Catahoula, Saint Bernard,
Grant, and Orleans."

He then proceeded to enumerate the political murders of Colored men in
various parishes, and says:

"Human life in this State is held so cheaply that when men are
killed on account of political opinions, the murderers are
regarded rather as heroes than as criminals in the localities
where they reside."

This brief summary is not by a politician, but by a distinguished
soldier, who recounts the events which had occurred within his own
military jurisdiction. Volumes of testimony have since been taken
confirming in all respects General Sheridan's statement, and giving in
detail the facts relating to such murders, and the times and
circumstances of their occurrence. The results of the elections which
immediately followed them disclose the motives and purposes of their
perpetrators. These reports show that in the year 1867 a reign of
terror prevailed over almost the entire State. In the parish of St.
Landry there was a massacre of Colored people which began on the 28th
of September, 1868, and lasted from three to six days, during which
time between three and four hundred of them were killed. "Thirteen
captives were taken from the jail and shot, and a pile of twenty-five
dead bodies were found burned in the woods." The result of this
Democratic campaign in the parish was that the registered Republican
majority of 1,071 was wholly obliterated, and at the election which
followed a few weeks later, not a vote was cast for General Grant,
while Seymour and Blair received 4,787.

In the parish of Bossier a similar massacre occurred between the 20th
and 30th of September, 1868, which lasted from three to four days,
during which time two hundred Negroes were killed. By the official
registry of that year the Republican voters in Bossier Parish numbered
1,938, but at the ensuing election only _one_ Republican vote was
cast.

In the parish of Caddo, during the month of October, 1868, over forty
Negroes were killed. The result of that massacre was that out of a
Republican registered vote of 2,894 only _