OLIVER OTIS HOWARD TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

[Washington, D.C.] 12 Dec[ember 1874.]

FREDERICK DOUGLASS ESQ. WASHINGTON D.C.

DEAR MR DOUGLASS:

Is not the news by the morning’s paper that “150 blacks have been killed”
and probably four or five lives, the usual proportion, wounded perfectly

terrible?¹In December 1874 a large group of whites demanded the resignation of the black sheriff Peter Crosby in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As a means of reinstating himself to office, Crosby organized a group of rural blacks to march on Vicksburg. On 7 December, an armed force of whites repelled the group, and violence erupted. In the following days, whites roamed the outskirts of Vicksburg, murdering blacks. News reports initially downplayed the number of blacks killed. On 11 December, the New York reported that “the actual number of negroes killed in Monday’s fight is probably 150.” When the violence ended, the death toll was likely close to 300, with only 2 white casualties. President Grant finally dispatched federal troops to Vicksburg in January 1875, curtailing the violence and restoring Crosby to office. Cleveland , 7 December 1874; San Francisco , 8 December 1874; New York , 11 December 1874; Bangor (Me.) , 12 December 1874; William C. Harris, (Baton Rouge, La., 1979), 646–48; Foner, , 558. Can the that the black men are the aggressors pass itself upon
the nation for truth? Are we all dead?

Is there no longer any black left in the friends of right, of humanity, of justice. Congress has but one more session [illegible] [present]
constituent=can it want [damaged section] a law? Corruption may have
weakened us as a party—but on that account we canot cannot afford to
enthrone tyranny, murderers of our people & liars.

Put leaders & corrupt men under your feet if you please but let the
loyal millions who fought or backed up the fighting that America might be
free go back on their blood bought rights.

“Forty white men fighting 700 black men are driven back to Vicksburg with the loss of 8 white men & the killing of 150 blacks.” I cannot
believe it lives in light.²Tim. 6: 16.

Very truly yours

O. O. HOWARD

ALS: O. O. Howard Manuscripts, MeB.