The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-08-17
GEN. BUTLER ON THE CONTRABAND
QUESTION.

The following interesting letter from
Gen. Butler has been received at the War
Department:
| "HEApGvAnTERs DEPARTMENT OF vIRGINIA.l
fokThLss MoNRvE, Jul! 30 1871.
''lIoN SIMON CAMERON. SECRETARY OF WAR
Sir. By an order received on the morning
OF the 2Gtb July from Major General DIX,
| by telegraphic order from Lieutenant
General Scott, | was commanded to for
ward, Of the troops of this department -four
regiments aud a half, including Col. Ba-
ker's California Regiment, to Washington
via Baltimore. THIS order reached me Mt 2
O'Clock a. NJ, by special boat from BaltI.
more. Believing that it emInated bcause
! IT come pressing exgency for the defense
! If Washington, issued my orders before
| daybreak tor the eInbarkation OF the II oops.
| sending those who were among the very
best regiments had. In the course OF tie
| following day they were all embarked for
Baltimore, with the exception vi some 4oU,
Tor whom had not transporti0n, although
had all the transport force 10 the hands
| OF the Quartermaster here. to aid the Bay
line Of steamers, which, by the same orde,
from the Lieut. General. vas directed 10
furnish tran -portation. Up to and at the
time Of the order bad been preparing for
an advance movement by which hoped to
cripple the resources o' the enemy ut York
town, ard especially by seixing large
quantity Of negroes who we're being pressed
INTO their service in building the Iatreneh-
mehts there. | had tive days prev 'ou,ly
Desn enabled TO mount for the fret time,
he first company of Light Artillery, which
4 l. 81
hsd but single rItlsd cannon, an iron AK
pounder. vi course everything must and
did yield to the supposed exIsency and the
orders. This ordering away the troops
IRON this department. While It weakened
rne posts "a, Newport News, Lscessisted the
xithdrawal Of the troops from Hampton.
where | was then throwing up intrench.d
works 10 enabe me to hold the town with
q email force, while advanced up the York
or James rivers. IB the viIiag. If Hampton
there were large number Of negroes, ,com.
posed in great measure OF women and
childrea of the men who bad fed ,hither
within my lines for protect on, Who had rs
capped from mauraudipg parties Of rebels
sho had been gathering up able bodied
blacks 10 aid them in constructing their
ba, eri on the james and York rivers.
! had employed the men IN usmptoB in
throwing up intrenehments. ard they we're
working zealou-ly and efici N, At that
du v, .syinz our soldiers from that labor
under the gieam Of the mid day sun. The
~amen we're earning sahsfan tally their osn
sub.tence IN washing. marketIr z ,and taking
care of the clothes Of the soldiers, aud Ss-
tim. ~ere being served cut to the men vho
worked for the suppor. nf the Chi jrer.
Bst by the evacuation oi Hampton, render
ed necessary by the sishdrawai Of the
troop. leaving ms scarceiy 5000 raen out
side The fort, including the force AT New
port News, all these black people we're
ni,hgsd $. break up their homes al Hamp-
ton, f-eirg across the creek within my l,nes
Tor protection and saprsrs. ind-ed il vas
a most disJesssg eight 10 see ihr.e poor
creatures. who hai trusted TO she protection
~ the arms OF the United States. and wno
aided the troops Of the United States in
shsn enterprise, 70 Be thss stlgsd 70 Gee