Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-25
The following are the documents alluded to in the
Presidents message:
DOCUMENT Al

DOCUMENT A.
RICHMOND July 6, 1861.
To ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President and COMMANDMENT.
Chief of the Army and Macy of the United States
SIR Having learned that the schooner Savannah
private armed vessel In the service and sailing under
commission issued by authority of the Confederate
States Of America, bad been captured by one of the
vessels forming the blockadng squadron off Charleston
harbor, directed proposition to be made to the officer
commanding that squadron for exchange of the Off
and crew of the Savannah for prisoners of war
held by this government according to number and
rank To this proposition, made on the 10th ut
Capt Mercer the officer in command of the blockading
squadron made answer the day that the pris-
Preferred toy board of any of the YES
sells under my command"
1t appears, by statements made without contra
diction in newspapers published in New York that the
prisoners above mentioned conveyed to that city,
and have there been treated prisoners of war but
criminals that they have bee Put irons confined
in JAIL brought before the justice on charges
of piracy and treason and it is rumored that they
have been actually convicted of the offences charged
for other than that they bore arms in defence
of the rights of this government and ulder the authority
of it's commission.
| could not without grave discourtesy have made the
newspaper statements above referred to- the subject of
this communication if the threat of treating pirates
the citizens of this C0ntederacy, armed for its service
on the high seas had not been contained in your pro-
camation of the -- A pril last. That proclamation
however, to afford sufficient justification for
considering these published statements not devoid Of
probability.
1t is the desire OF this government so to conduct the
war now existing mitigate horrors far as may
be possible and with this INTENT its treatment of the
prisoners captured by its forces has been marked by
greatest humanity and enency consistent with public
obligation some have been permitted to return home
On parole others to remain at large under similar con
dtion within this COnederacy, and all have been furn
shed with rations for their subsistence spch
lowed to troops 1t is only since rhe has
been received OF the treatment OF the prisoners taken
the Savannah that have been compelled to withdraw
these indugences and to hold the prisoners taken by
us in strict confinement.
Just regard to humanity and to the honor of this
government requires me to state explicitly, that
painful as will be the necessity, this government will
deal out to the prisoners held by it, the treatment
and the same fate shall be experienced by those cap
tured on the Savannah, and if driven to the terrible
cessty Of retaliation by your execution of any of the
officers or crew of the Savannah, that retaliation will be
extended so far shall be requisite to the aban
donment of practice unknown to the warfare of civil
iz-d man and barbarous as to disgrace the nation
which shall be guilty of lnauguratiDg 1t.
With this vew and because it may not have reached
you, now the proposition made to the command
er of tie bockadng squadron to exchange for the ps
oners taken on the Savannah equal number of those
now held by US according to rank:
[ am sir, yours, &c,
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
|
Navg of the Confederate States.
RICHMOND, July 10th, 1861.
To His Eacelency, JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States
| SIR In obedience to your instructions, lett th
city of Richmond the morning OF the 7th of July a
6 O'clock A. M, as bearer of dispatches TO His Elk
celIencv Abraham Lincoln, President OF the Unltet
States At Manassas received from General Beaure
gard letter to General Mcdowell, commanding tn
=. S. forces at Arlington. From Manassas proceed
ed to Fairfax Court House, where was furnished b.
General BOnham, escort of fourteen cavalry, unde
the command of Lieutenant Breckinridge OF the Viz
ginia cavalry. Proceeding the direct road to Alex
andria to its junction with the road to Arlington
q detachment of cavalry under the command OF Col
Porter U S. a about three miles from the junction
from which place sent back my escort Capt. WhP
pie, U. S. A. accompanied me to Arlington, where
arrived about 4 O'Clock z. NJ, Monday the 9th. Gen
Mcdowell not being at Arlington, my arrival was tele
graphed him to Washington CITY
About 9 o'clock, p. M, Col. Van RensIaer, senio
aid-de-camp to General Scott, was sent to convey M
to General SCOTS headquarters where found Gen
Mcdowell to whom | delivered General Beauregard
letter. After reading Gen. BIS letter, he passed it t.
Gen. Scott, who being informed in this letter, that
desired to deliver your communication IN person. re
ceived It from me- After reading your commu nlcatlo
to Mr. Lincoln Gen. Scott informed me that repl
would De returned by MIR. Lincoln as soon as pos
sible-end at the same time Instructed me to retur
to Arlington with Gen. Mcdowell, thence to pre-
coed in the morning back to lines, which [ die
under an escort of twenty .. S. Cavalry con
manded by Lieut.. Putnam. In my intercourse wit
Gen. Scott and the other officers of the q. S. army,
have to say that was received with marked cons de-
alton and attention. and with that courtesy and kline
ness which should ever characterize the diplomatic re
tons of great nations, in well as in peace. u
Outstanding that the object of my mission was the d.
livery OF your letter to Mr. Lincoln, have the homo
to state that it was done, and subscribe myself
Your obedient servant,
TlIOS. II. TAYLOR,
Capt. Cavalry C. S. H..
.And 1t. Col. End Ky. Regiment.
IMpoRrANr TO VoLUNTEERs.-Capt William