New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-26
THE letter vsiIch CO... Taylor Carried to
Washington
OF. rAyEos,s Arcouyr

@A-" DSbSEN SS-AASAA So.- @f+ENAttA W
Washington -
cor. 7AyLoRrs 4ocoUxr or Hrs rRfp.
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The Richmond Enquirer publishes the following
official copy Of the letter addressed by President
Davis to Lincoln, which was carrfedto Washington
by Col, Taylor, and Col. TayIorts repof5 Of his
visit and return 2 -
q ti'e aTnyaad Navy q The Uritsd States;
Sa.--ffaving learned that the schooner Savan-.
nah, private armed vessel in the service and sail
ing nnder commission issued by authority Of the
Confederate States Of America had been 5aptglfed
by one Of the vessels forming the .bIoe kadiug
squadron OH Charleston harbor, i directed pro.
positionto be made to the officer commanding that
squadron for an exchange Of the officers ard crew
of the Savannah for prisoners Of #ar held by this
Government, 'ssacc0fiing to number and ranks
To this proposition, made on the 10th ntt., Capt.
Mercer the officer in command of the blGcsaaiug
squadron made answer on tie same day tFSas tiie
prisoners (refefred toy are not on board 81 anyo
| the vesselsunder my command" Es ss
aIt now appears by statements made Hibhsat con-
! traaiction ia newspapers published in NeT YORK,
that the prisoners above mentioned were conveyed
to that city, end have there been pntn ifons;%sen-
fined III jail brought before the eonrts Of Justice On
charges Of piracy ana treason, and If ID ever ra-
mored that they have been actually convicted Of
the offences charged, for other reason than that
they bore arms Id defence Of the rights Of this Gov
ernfaant and under the authority Of its commission.
| tcouid not without grave dscoavtes7 have made
| the newspaper statements above referred to the
subject of this communication if the threat of
treating pirates the citizens of this Confaderacy
armed for its service the high seas Had nosbeen
contained in yourproelanafion Of the april last
That proclamation, however. seems to afford ,suf
icient justification for Considering these Published
statements az not devoid of probability.
It is the desire of this Government 40 ta conduct
the war now existing a5 to mitigate its horrors
far as may be possible; and, with ibis intent, its
treatment Of the prisoners captured by its forces
has been marked by the greatest humanity and
eniencJ consistent with public obligation; some
have been permitted to return home on parole,
| others to remain at large under siaiilaE condition
within this Confederacy, and all have beenfarnish
ed With rations for their subsistence, saGh as are
alfawed 10 our own troops. i is only siace the
news has been received of the treatment of the
prisoners taken ON the Savannah, that have been
compelled to withdraw these induigancies and to
hold the prisoners taken by us in strict confne-
| nlent.
A lust regard to humanity and to the honor of
this Government now requires me to state expli-
CITY, that painful will be the necessity this Gov
ernInent will deal out to the prisoners held by it
the same treatment and the same fate as shall be
experienced by those captured on the Savannah !;
and if driven to the terrible necessity of retaliation
by your execution Of any of the officers CT crew of
the Savannah. that retaliation will be extended so
far as shall be requisite to secure the abandon
4 ment of practice unknown to the warfare of
civilized man and so barharous as TO Disgrace the
nation which shall be guilty Of inaugurattng it.
| With this view, and because it may not have
reached you, now renew the proposition made to
the commander of the blockading squadron, to ex-
change for the prisoners taken on the Savannah,
an equal number of those now held By us, accord
ing to rank.
am, Sir yours, etc,
President ard Chief Of the Arfn7 and Navy
the Confederate Staes. -. -.
TO His Exsersney, JefEsrson Davis.
Si7.-En obedience to your instructions. + left the
city of Richmond on the morning Of the 7th Of
July, at O'Clock A. M, as Bearer Of Dispatches
to His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of
! the United States. At Manassas received from
General Beauregard letter to General Nj meDowell,
commanding the U. s. forces at Arlington. From
Manassas I proceeded to Fairfax Court House,
; where was furnished by General Rouhan1 an es-
, cort of fourteen cavalry under the command OF
Lieutenant Breckinridge, of the Virginia Cavalry.
Proceeding on the direct road to Alexandria to its
junction with the roadto Arlington, met de-
tachrnent of cavalry under the commend Of Colonel
Porter, U. s. A., about three miles from TIE juno.
! tion from which place L sent back ny escort
Captain Whipple U. S. A., accompanied ne to AZ
: ugten where / arrived about o'clock 2. NJ,
5 Monday the Sth. General Mcdowell not being AZ
9 Arliaston, my arrival was teiegraphedt nm to
: Washington City.
: Abide. Camp to Gen. Scott, was sent 70 convey
: me to- Gen. Scott's headquarters, whara found
. Gen. Mcdowell, to whom delivered Gen. Beaure,
" CARDS letter After reading Gen. BIS letter, ht
l. passed it to Cen Scott who being informed in thi
= letter that desired to deliver your CoClnlulcatioI
g in person. received it OF me. After reading you
< communication to ar. Lincoln, Gen Scott informed
u me that reply would be returned by Mr.
o Lincoln as soon possible, and at the came tint
II instructed me return Arlington with Sen Nc
5 Dowetl, thence to proceed in the morning back t.
Id our Iires, which did, under an escort of twent
', U. s cavalry, commanded by Lieut. PE-1aul. I
u my intercourse with Gen. Scott and the ether off
'S GERS of the U. S. Army, have to say, that wa
received with marked Consideration and attention
and with that courtesy and kindness which shoul
ever characterize the diplomatic relations Of grea
nations in war as well as in peace. Understanding
lie that tie object of my mission was TIC tslivery
at your letter to Mr. Lincoln, I have The honor t
State that it was done, and subscribe n-satt
., Ycn. obedieut eFv1tIt,
tn IIiDS. II. IA EL0R,
is Capt Cavalry C. s. A. aud L--i'1- q hy Regt