In March 1859, citizens of several central Louisiana parishes had formed "Vigilance Committees" to put down what they saw as untrammeled criminal activity in their area, known as the Attakapas Country. State authorities became dismayed at the summary justice these groups were dispensing and on May 28, 1859, Governer Robert C. Wickliffe "invited" these groups to disband. His order was largely ignored. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
H. L. Griffin, "The Vigilance Committees of the Attakapus Country; Or Early Louisiana Justice," Proceedings of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association 8 (1915): 157.