The major player in the story of the "Native Guard" is Major-General John Lawson Lewis, head of the military arm of the State of Louisiana. By 1862 he was in his mid 60s, had served in the War of 1812, had served in the militia of Louisiana most of his life, as Sheriff, and mayor of New Orleans. We have his words, his testimony, in front of the Congressional Committee of the United States, of his role and thoughts in the riots of New Orleans in the summer of 1866. At this time he was the Deputy Sheriff, serving under Sheriff General Hays.

In testimony, some of Lewis' answers to questions are careful and allusive....

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Question--- You are styled general. I suppose you got your title in the confederate service?

Witness--- No, sir. I never held the confederate commission. When the rebellion broke out I was major general of militia in the State of Louisiana. Previous to that—since 1840 or 1841—I had been a major general of the first division. The State was divided into divisions. The legislature, in 1862, abolished this system, and appointed a major general of the State, and the halance were brigadier generals. I was elected by the legislature major general of the State of Louisiana, and was ordered by the governor, about that time, to organize the militia of the State. It was my mission to organize the militia. After the city of New Orleans fell, the government of the State was removed to Opelousas, and I went with it. After that the whole system was changed; the militia system was abolished by an act of the confederate congress, and every man in the militia was declared to be in the confederate army.

Question--- What rank did you hold in the confederate service?

Witness---I never held any. I was a volunteer aid of General Gregg after the militia of the State had been abolished.

Question--- You did not yourself, then, engage in any fighting?

Witness--- I was a volunteer aid, and was in several battles. I was wounded at Mansfield.

Question--- Where were you when the surrender took place?

Witness---I was on the other side of Lake Pontchartrain.

Question--- Upon what service?

Witness---I was appointed by Governor Allen to visit the hospitals, to relieve the wounded and sick soldiers, not only the confederate, but Union soldiers, wherever I found them in the hospitals.

Question--- You fought through the war until the surrender in April, 1865, and have held office as sheriff since May, 1866?

Witness---I have; as deputy sheriff. I went out with my State when she went. As I have stated, I never held any commission in the confederate service. The only commission I ever held was one from Governor Allen as visitor of hospitals, with rank and pay of colonel of cavalry, to go around and relieve the sick and wounded.

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Question---There were men who were loyal to the government and tho flag all the while, were there not?

Witness---Yes, sir; I meet them every day. Some of them were here during the whole war. Some of them were members in every convention—were in the secession convention and voted against secession. I name, for instance, Mr. Rosier, who is a loyal man I can respect.

Question--- Do you not think it would be the duty of the government to take care of and protect the men who havo stood by it during this rebellion?

Witness---There is no doubt about it.

Question--- Let me ask you if there is not a large class of men in Louisiana who did just that thing from the beginning to the end?

Witness---No, sir; not a very large class; a very few.

Question--- How was it in regard to the colored men?

Witness--- Do you mean the slaves?

The Chairman. I include all the colored people of the State, as far as your knowledge extends. Were they not friends of the Union?

Witness--- The slaves naturally were. The effect of tho war was to change their status.

Question--- How in reference to those who were not slaves?

Witness---They were with us. I myself reviewed a regiment of colored men in the city of New Orleans, and they were ready to fight for us if we had brought them into requisition.

Question--- You cannot name any of those who did fight for you, can you?

Witness---We did not have any slave population in our army.

Question--- Were not these same men organized when General Butler took command, and enrolled in the United States service?

Witness---I do not know that. I left the city the 25th of April, 1862. I was acting under command of General Lovell, and was ordered by him to leave with my command. The colored men did not go with us. Those occupying the inferior position of slaves it was natural should sympathize with the men who set them free. They have all their rights with us now, except voting. Many of them own property. They do not sit on juries, but the colored people here have just as good rights in our courts as any of us.

There is more, from the Reports of the Committees of the House of Representatives, Made During the Second Session Thirty-Ninth Congress, 1866-67.

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Why was Major-General John L. Lewis, so careful and evasive in his answers? It maybe because of his record during the war. It seems that the Union Army believed that Major-General Lewis (who claimed he never served in the Confederate forces) under some authority was charged with the executions of seven Louisiana German Union soldiers POWs, he claimed deserted from the State of Louisiana militia and were committing treason. See O.R. Series 2, Vol. 4. pg. 708.

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David Upton