Military Rule in Chicago

General Sheridan wires the Secretary of War W.W. Belknap to inform him of the fire

Chicago, October 9

TO GENERAL BELKNAP, Secretary of War:

The city of Chicago is almost utterly destroyed by fire. There is now reasonable hope of arresting it if the wind, which is yet blowing a gale, does not change. I ordered, on your authority, rations from St. Louis, tents from Jeffersonville, and two companies of infantry from Omaha. There will be many houseless people, much distress.

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-general

Sheridan sends another telegram to Belknap Chicago, October 9

W.W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War:

The fire here last night and to-day has destroyed almost all that was very valuable in this city. There is not a business house, bank, or hotel left. Most of the best part of the city is gone. Without exaggerating, all the valuable portion of the city is in ruins. I think not less than 100,000 people are houseless, and those who had the most wealth are now poor. It seems to be such a terrible misfortune that it may with propriety be considered a national calamity.

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-general

Belknap wires back

WASHINGTON, October 10.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Chicago:

I agree with you that the fire is a national calamity; the sufferers have the sincere sympathy of the nation. Officers at the depots at St. Louis, Jeffersonville, and elsewhere, have been ordered to forward supplies liberally and promptly.

WM. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War

Belknap informs Mayor Mason of his actions

TO THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO:

General Sheridan has been authorized to supply clothing, tools, and provisions from the depots at Jeffersonville and St. Louis to the extent and ability of the Department.

WILLIAM W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War

The Mayor puts Sheridan in charge

The preservation of the good order and peace of the city is hereby intrusted to Lieut. General P.H. Sheridan, U.S. Army.

The Police will act in conjunction with the Lieut. General in the preservation of the peace and quiet of the city, and the Superintendent of the Police will consult with him to that end. The intent being to preserve the peace of the city without interfering with the functions of the city government.

Given under my seal this October 11, A.D. 1871.

R.B. MASON, Mayor

The Board of Police revokes the powers granted to the Special Police sworn in as the city was burning Ordered, by the full Board of Police, that all powers granted to special police since Sunday, October 8th, be and hereby are revoked. The large military force now in the city under the command of Lieutenant-general Sheridan, cooperating with the regular police organization, is now deemed sufficient to maintain good order and quietude for the future.

T.B. BROWN,
F. GUND,
MARK SHERIDAN, Commissioners.

Sheridan reports to the Mayor that all is well

Chicago, October 12, 1871

TO HIS HONOR THE MAYOR:

The preservation of peace and good order of the city having been intrusted to me by your Honor, I am happy to state that no case of outbreak or disorder has been reported. No authenticated attempt at incendiarism has reached me, and the people of the city are calm, quiet, and well-disposed.

The force at my disposal is ample to maintain order, should it be necessary, and protect the district devastated by fire. Still, I would suggest to citizens not to relax in their watchfulness until the smouldering fires of the burnt buildings are entirely extinguished.

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-general

Five days later, Sheridan reports again that the city is calm, and that rumors of crime and disturbances are without basis

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, October 17, 1871.

TO HIS HONOR MAYOR MASON, Chicago, Illinois:

I respectfully report to your Honor the continued peace and quiet of the city. There has been no case of violence since the disaster of Sunday night and Monday morning. The reports in the public press of violence and disorder here are without the slightest foundation. There has not been a single case of arson, hanging, or shooting--not even a case of riot or street fight. I have seen no reason for the circulation of such reports. It gives me pleasure to bring to the notice of your Honor the cheerful spirit with which the population of this city have met their losses and suffering.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-general

The Mayor officially thanks the General and asks his opinion on the need to continue military rule in Chicago

Chicago, October 22

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL P.H. SHERIDAN, U.S.A.:

Permit me to tender you the thanks of the city of Chicago and its whole people for the very efficient aid which you have rendered, in protecting the lives and property of the citizens, and in the preservation of the general peace and good order of the community. I would like your opinion as to whether there is any longer a necessity for the continued aid of the military on that behalf.

Very respectfully,
R.B. MASON, Mayor

Sheridan responds the next day

Chicago, October 23

GENERAL SHERIDAN TO THE MAYOR.

TO HIS HONOR, R.B. MASON, Mayor of Chicago:

SIR,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind note of the date of yesterday, and in reply I beg leave to report a good condition of affairs in the city. If your Honor deem it best, I will disband the volunteer organization of military on duty since the fire, and will consider myself relieved from the responsibility of your proclamation of the 11th instant. With my sincere thanks for your kindness and courtesy in my intercourse with you, I am respectfully your obedient servant,

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-general

The troops are relieved of duty

HEADQUARTERS MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, ILL., October 24, 1871

Special Orders No. 76.

1. The companies of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Sixteenth United States Infantry, on duty in this city, are hereby relieved, and will proceed to their respective stations as follows:--

Companies F, H, and K, of the Fourth, and E, of the Sixteenth, to Louisville, Ky.

Companies A, H, and K, of the Fifth, to Fort Leavenworth.

Company I, of the Sixth, for Fort Hays.

Companies A and K, of the Ninth, to Omaha.

The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary transportation.

By command of Lieutenant-general Sheridan

The volunteers are mustered out of service

HEADQUARTERS MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 24, 1871

General Orders No. 5.

The First Regiment Chicago Volunteers, raised with the approbation of the Mayor, and in pursuance of orders dated October 11, 1871, from these headquarters, is hereby honorably mustered out of service and discharged.... These troops were suddenly called from civil pursuits to aid Lieutenant-General Sheridan in preserving peace and good order, and in protecting the property of the unburnt portion of the city, a duty intrusted to him during the emergency resulting from the late fire. They came forward promptly and cheerfully at a time rendered critical by the unparalleled disaster which visited the city on the 8th and 9th insts., a calamity producing general distrust and distress, leaving a large part of the city in smoldering ruins, a large part in darkness by the destruction of the gas-works, and the whole of it without water; and this with a fire department crippled and exhausted by the struggle it had gone through. They have performed the arduous and delicate duties falling to them under these circumstances with marked industry, fidelity, and intelligence. The Lieutenant-General thanks officers and men of the command for the services rendered, and commends them to the kind consideration of their fellow-citizens; and he makes special acknowledgment of the valuable aid received from their commander, General Frank. T. Sherman--distinguished upon the battle-fields of the late war--as well as from his efficient staff, Major C. H. Dyer, Adjutant, and Major Charles T. Scammon, Aide-de-camp.

By command of Lieutenant-General Sheridan.

JAMES B. FRY, Assistant Adjutant-General

Sheridan sends his report to his superior officer, General W.T. Sherman, now Adjutant General

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, October, 1871

To the Adjutant General of the Army, Washington D.C.:

SIR: The disorganized condition of affairs in this city, produced by and immediately following the late fire, induced the city authorities to ask for assistance from the military forces, as shown by the Mayor's proclamation of October 11, 1871. To protect the public interests intrusted to me by the Mayor's proclamation, I called to this city companies A and K of the Ninth Infantry, from Omaha; companies A, H and K of the Fifth Infantry, from Fort Leavenworth; company I, Sixth Infantry, from Fort Scott; and accepted the kind offer of Major-General Halleck to send me companies F, H and K of the Fourth, and company E of the Sixteenth Infantry, from Kentucky. I also, with the approbation of the Mayor, called into the service of the city of Chicago, a regiment of volunteers for twenty days. These troops, both regulars and volunteers, were actively engaged during their service here in protecting the treasure in the burnt district, guarding the unburnt district from disorders and danger by further fires, and in protecting the store-houses, depots, and sub-depots of supplies established for the relief of the sufferers from the fire. These duties were terminated on the 23d inst., as shown by letters herewith and on the 24th inst. the regulars started to their respective stations, and the volunteers were discharged, as shown by special order No. 76, and general order No. 5, from these headquarters. It is proper to mention that these volunteers were not taken into the service of the United States, and no orders, agreements, or promises were made giving them any claims against the United States for services rendered.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P.H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General United States Army, Commanding

Sherman submits the report to the Secretary of War with his approval

The extraordinary circumstances attending the great fire in Chicago made it eminently proper that General Sheridan should exercise the influence, authority, and power he did on the universal appeal of a ruined and distressed people, backed by their civil agents, who were powerless for good. The very moment that the civil authorities felt able to resume their functions General Sheridan ceased to exercise authority, and the United States troops returned to their respective stations. General Sheridan's course is fully approved.

W.T. SHERMAN, General

In his final report to Secretary of War Belknap, dated December 20, Sheridan explains how he came to accept command

"[N]umbers of the leading citizens called upon me [on October 10] and urged me to assume military control of the city as they thought that the condition of affairs was such that nothing but prompt action on my part could save the balance of the city, restore confidence and maintain order. Among those who came to see me was the late Colonel Thos. W. Grosvenor [the citizen killed on October 20 by a volunteer sentry], who very strongly urged this course and said that the people would force me to assume control of affairs whether I desired to do so or not. Realizing, however, that his Honor, the Mayor, was doing all that lay in his power with the partially disorganized and worn out force at his disposal, I felt that my duty was to assist him to the utmost, and furthermore, it was my earnest desire that civil authorities should, if possible, bring the city through its troubles with such aid as the army could give. I accordingly refused to take any action looking towards a military control of the city. During the evening the excitement grew apace; certain persons commenced beating drums and calling the citizens together for organization under the Mayor's printed notice, (as they claimed) and the most absurd rumors of incendiarism, robberies, murders and lynching prevailed. I did everything that lay in my power to allay the excitement by ridiculing the minute men and denying the various reports, but found to my astonishment that some of our best citizens credited the most startling rumors, though I was utterly unable to find a single individual who had seen in person any of the alleged outrages....

I however finally agreed to be responsible for order in the city, under the direction of the Mayor, and afterwards called upon the Mayor and stated to him that I would be responsible for the peace and good order of the city under his direction, provided he was willing to issue a proclamation to that effect.

Aware of criticism of federal military intervention from Governor Palmer and others, Sheridan concludes his report

In conclusion, I beg leave to say to the Honorable Secretary of War, that in the performance of the duties above enumerated, that I never for one moment thought of infringing or abrogating any of the civil laws; that my only desire was to aid the civil authorities of this city to carry the heavy burdens which had fallen on them by an unparalleled calamity. If his Excellency, Governor Palmer, had, on the 11th of October, when I telegraphed him, or on the 12th when I saw him personally, intimated that my course was distasteful to him, I would have accepted any wise suggestions which he might have made, to satisfy the demands of a people prostrated and sick at heart from the loss of a very large part of their beautiful city. I was as pure in my motives as are those of the whole world who are now sending their charities here to relieve the distressed.