Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-07-04
J. B. MAcRuDER,
 Col. Com 2.
GEN. BUTLER TO COL. MAGRUDER. HEADoU,RrERs DEPARTMENT OF VlRGINIA,) FORTRESS MONROE, June l3, 1861.

FORTRESS MONROE, June l3, 1861.
 Col J. B. Margruder, Commanding the forces at
 Yorktown--
 SIR: Your favor of June 12th, by Capt Davies, with flag of truce, was this morn ing received. 1 desire first to thank you for the courtesy shown to the flag and it's messengers. 1 will accept the exchange for private Carter. The two citizens, Whiting and Lvel y, were taken with arms in their hands, one of which was discharg- ed from the house of Whiting upon the column of our troops, when all resistance was useless, and when his attack was simp- ly assassination, and when no of1ense had been committed against him. The house from which the shot was fired. and a build. ing which formed part of our outposts, are the only conflagrations caused by the troops under my command, and the light of these had ceased hours before your men ventured out from under their erthworks and dtches to do US the courtesy of bury ing our dead--for which act you have my sncerest thanks. After our troops return ed from the feld-=hours after--a building was burned which furnished our wounded some shelter, and from which we had moved them, but was not burned by our men, For your kind treatment of any wounded you may have, please to accept my assurances of deep obligation, and with the certainty that at any and every oppor- tunity, such courtesy and kindness will be reciprocated.
 am sorry that an officer so distinguish ed in the service of the United States as yourself, could, for a moment, suppose that the wanton destruction of private property would, in any way, be authorized CT tole rated by the federal government and its officers, many of whom are your late asso- ciates. Even now, while your letter is be- ing answered, and this is on its way to you, a most ignominous and severe punish ment, in the presence of all the troops near this post, is being inflicted on men who have enlisted in the service of the United States { not soldiers ) for plundering private property. All the private property which could not, by the strictest construction, be considered contraband of war, or means of feeding or aiding the enemy, which has been brought within my line, or in any way, has come into the hands of my troops, and discovered with the strictest examina- tion, has been taken account of collectel together to be given up to these peaceable citizens who have come forward to make claim for it. A board of secresy has been organized, and las already reported indem nity for the property of poaoeablo citizens, necessarily destroyed. In order to con vince you that no wrong has been done to private property by any one in authority Tn the service of the United States, l do my self the honor to enclose copy of gener- al order from this department which will sufficiently explain itself; and the most ac- | tive measures have been taken, rigldly to enforce it, and to punish violations thereof. That there have been too many sporadic cases of wrong to private nrQIerty, com mitted by bad men under my command, 1 admit, and most sincerely regret, and be- lieve they will, in future, be substantially prevented, and 1 mean they shall be re- paired, in favor of all loyal citizens, as far as lies in my power.
 You have done me the honor to inform met hat vidette Carter is not prisoner taken in battle. That is quite true-he was asleep on his post, and informs me that his l three companions left in such haste that