Map source: Rare Maps
The “Battle of Liberty Place” was an armed coup by the White League of Louisiana to reimpose “White Only” governance in the state. It took place on September 14, 1874 following weeks of planning. TheĀ map above and the “history” below recount the coup from the perspective of the white insurgents. For a more comprehensive look at this attack on Black Suffrage, here is my account of the insurgency.
In looking at this “HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION” you may be confused about who is being referred to. Several times the author refers to “Kellogg.” William Pitt Kellogg was the governor of Louisiana from 1873 to 1877. Kellogg was a Northern lawyer and Republican who had become active in New Orleans politics at the close of the Civil War. In 1872 he ran for governor of Louisiana as a pro-Ulysses S. Grant candidate and he was elected, although the vote count was disputed by the Democrats. Kellogg was sworn in as governor, but his Democratic opponents called him “Usurper.” So, in the text, if you see the term “Usurper” used, the author is referring to Kellogg.
You will also that there is fighting with the “Metropolitans.” The Metropolitan Police Force was formed in 1868 and it was extremely unpopular with the white supremacists in Louisiana. The Metropolitans were an integrated police force. In 1870, out of a force of 647, 182 black officers were in the Metropolitans. So, when the text refers to the “Metropolitan Brigade,” it is referring to the police.
Throughout, the text refers to the “citizens.” Of course, most of the people on both sides of this controversy were citizens, but here the author uses the phrase “citizens” to denote those favoring white restoration. Similarly, the text refers to Governor McEnery. This was John McEnery, a Virginian who served as an officer in the Confederate army and who became a political leader among white supremacists after the war. The Democrats ran McEnery for governor in 1872 and he lost the disputed election. Shortly before the White League was founded, McEnery gave a speech predicting violence:
“There is not a decent thinking man in Louisiana who will deny that race lines of distinction are already sharply drawn, and that as each day passes the breach gapes wider, that separates the white from the colored race in this State of ours. Further, that unless this insolent encroachment on the rights, political and social of the white people of Louisiana is ended, the day of the irrepressible conflict will come when physical force shall solve the political problems of Louisiana polities. The only means of averting this calamity lies in the union of the white people of the State, representing as they do, its virtue, courage and wealth, into one compact and imposing phalanx.” New Orleans Bulletin, June 23, 1874.
You will also see various people as holding military titles. “General F.N. Ogden” was a Confederate officer who led a “militia” made up primarily of White Leaguers. He served as president of the White League. Many of the leaders of the White League were former Confederate officers and in 1874 they were given military titles and led “units” which the text refers to as “companies.” Opposing them were integrated units under command of another former Confederate, James Longstreet who had endorsed Black citizenship and civil rights.
The “Roll of Honor” below tells which people in the White League and allied organizations whose lives were lost or who were wounded.
Now, let’s look closely at the map. Below is the drawing of the Steamer Mississippi at the wharf along the Mississippi River at the base of Jackson Square. Underneath the name of the ship is the notation that it is “WITH ARMS.” Landward is the notation that there was a guard of Metropolitan Police in front of the ship, blocking White Leaguers from grabbing weapons from it.
The map depicts events along Canal Street, the central locus of the attempt to overthrow the state government, in great detail. Here it shows the location of the Henry Clay statue around which gathered the White League supporters rallying before the insurrection. The site is only three blocks from the center of Federal command at the Customs House. You will note that while the rally was depicted as “unarmed”, drawn on the map are the locations of White League armed forces under command of “McGloin,” “Borrland,” “Richardson,” and “Blanchard.” You can also see notations on the map of the locations where White League sympathizers and members “fell.”
This was not the only militarized sector of the city. In the detail below, the White League has barricaded several streets and stationed a number of paramilitary units. This square was important culturally in New Orleans, as well as politically. It is where City Hall was located and “General Ogden,” the commander of the White League, had his headquarters there. On Camp Street you can see a notation that “COLEMANS BATTERY” was stationed there, indicating the presence of artillery.
Here, the map shows where the White League overwhelmed the Metropolitans near the Mississippi River.
For those of you studying the “Battle of Liberty Place,” this is an interesting resource with a history from the White League side.
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