A. L. Pearson,
Major General.
To which I replied, as follows.
Mifflin, July 20, 1877—5.45, P.M.
General A. L. Pearson, Pittsburgh:
Your dispatch received. You say Cassatt suggests that another regiment be held under arms. Do you ask that the order be issued?
James W. Latta,
Adjutant General.
Then immediately after that I got one from Pearson which opened up the whole situation, and was acted on. That dispatch is on the same page, and reads as follows:
Pittsburgh, July 20, 1877—6.35, P.M.
Major General James W. Latta, (Fast Line west:)
After every exertion on the part of myself and staff, since four o'clock this A.M., I have but two hundred and thirty men on hand. There are not less than four or five thousand strikers, and increasing in large numbers hourly. The sympathy of the various companies is with them, and I have no hesitation in saying, that to avert bloodshed, we should have not less than two thousand troops. While I can scatter the crowd, it will be only for the time being, and at fearful loss of life. I suggest that two thousand men be sent to-night.