Written by
Stagenwalt, John, American, 1843 - 1885
Received by
Sheaffer, John, American, born 1802
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Date
August 21, 1866
Medium
ink on wove paper
Dimensions
H x W: 10 9/16 × 8 7/16 in. (26.9 × 21.4 cm)
Description
A letterwritten by John Stagenwalt, a 1st U.S. Infantry soldier stationed at New Orleans during its occupation by the Union Army. Written in brown ink on both sides of a single sheet of wove paper with a torn edge, the letter is addressed to John Sheaffer, of Bareville, Leacock Township, Pennsylvania, with the salutation [Dear Father]. At top left is [Jackson Barracks, La] and at top right is [August 21st 1866]. In the letter, Stagenwalt recounts the New Orleans Massacre writing "I have just returned to Jackson Barricks from the city of New Orleans. . . . Our regiment was there 2 weeks on the account of the late riot which took place in that city. . . . The Negros wanted to vote and the white citizens of that place would not let them, and thus commenced the riot. They fought very hard. Our regiment was ordered to disperse the rioters, of which we done at the point of the bayonet. There was 100 Negroes killed, 150 taken into custody, 90 white citizens killed, almost the same number wounded."
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place depicted
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Place made
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Place used
Bareville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
letters (correspondence)
Topic
Civil rights
Correspondence
Families
Military
Race relations
Race riots
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
Suffrage
Violence
White supremacy movements
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2021.16.22.5
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50fb27bab-3e63-489a-973c-51d3b6c68932

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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