Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-04

, CONGREGATIONS caused. by'the9troops under my
command, and the light of these hau Ceased
hours before your men ventured out from nn'
der their earthwoIks and bitches to do US the
courtesy OF burying our dcad-tor "nlcn ac'
you have my s~incerest thanks. After our troops
returned from the held-hours after-a build,
ing was burned which furnished our ~ounoeo
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 certainly that at any
and every opportunity, such courtesy AID
kindness will be reciprccsted.
sn sorry that an officer 30 distinguished
!, the service of the United States ny yourself
could, for a moment, suppose that the wanton
destruction Of private property "oulo, IN any
nav be authorized or tolerated BY the Federal
Government and its others, many oil whom are
,.o,r late associates. Even now, while your
letter is beire answered, and this is on It's way
70 you n mos, ignominious and severe punish
ment, in the presence Of all the troops near
! this post is being inflicted on men VINO nave
enlisted in the service Of tho United states
mot soldiers) for plundering private properly.
All the private property which could no', NJ
IN, ~strictest construction, tie considered con-
trsband Of war, or means Of feeding or aln'ns
Inc enemy. which has been brought within my
Inc mr. in anv way has come into the hands 81
NV ,roous. and discovered with the s~:r!ctes.
sx,mination. has been taken account oi, COL
lectci together to be given up TO those peaces'
~, -it;zans VIII have come forward 10 make
claim for il. a beard O! secrecy has been or
uanized, and has alresdy reported 'Enennlt!
ior the property Of 2eaceabIe c'ttzens hecessH
rily destroyed. In order oconrincc you 'Ant
no wrong has been done 10 private properly
by any one 10 authority in the service "1 lhe
United States, | do ID. self the honor TO inc'cSe
. Copy OF 8 general order from this Department
which will sufficiently explain ltSelf; and the
most active measures have been taken, r'g'diy
TO enforce it, and TO punish violations there"i'
That there have been too many sporadic cases
Of wrong to private property, c1nm'ttco oy
bad men under my command, aouit, a'"
most sincerely regret, and believe they VIII, III
The future, be substantially prevented, and
mean they shult be repaired, in favor OF al
loya! citizens, as far as lies in my power.
You have done me the honor to inform Inc
that videt,e Carter is not q prisoner taken III
bat,le That is quite ,rue-be was asleep on
mis- post, and informs nle that his three com
Lannon's left in such hustle that they tlrsot to
wake him up, and they being mounted and
INV men on foot, the race was 4 difficult one.
If it Is not the intention Of your authorities TO
,rest the citizens Of Virginia, taken IN actual
conflict with The United States, rs soldiers, III
wha, light shall thry be considered: Please
Inform me in what light you regard them. II
not soldiers, must they not he assassins!
4 sergeant Of Captain Dariess omman
will be charged 10 meet your sergeant, at 4
o'ciock, at the village Of Hampton, for the pur'
pose Of the exchange Of private Carter.
need not call your attention TO the fact,
that lnere will BE- unauthorized acts OF violence
committed by those who are not sufficiently
amber the restraint Of their commanding Oh
Accrs. Nv men complain that ap ambulance,
hayisy the wounded, YVES fired into by your
cavalry, and, | am informed, that If you have
any prisoners they were taken while engaged
in the pious duty 10 their wounded comrades,
and not 10 battle. 1t has never occurred 10 u!
mind that either firing into the ambulance, OF
capturing persons in charge OF the wounded
men, was all act authorized, recognized, OF
sanctioned By any gentleman in OF
the forces il Virginia. Before this unhappy
strife, | had not been so accustomed to r.gatd
the acts of my late associate citizens OF The
United States, and | have seen nothing, in the
course of this contest III the acts Of those IL
authority to lead me 10 a different conclusion,
| have the honor To be, most respectfully,
your ob4Gient servant,
BENJAMIN F. BrrLEE.
P. s.-Iaclo:ed certificate, by Lively and
Whiting, which will show you that they, a!
least, received no harm from the FEDERAL
troops =. T. l..
Col. Engrulrr to Gen. Butler.
SIB-l have just received yours OF the 18th
inst. With respect to the firing on tho All
bulance by my cavalry, | have simply to say
that the statement Of your informant is entire
" untrue. Ny cavalry was never ahead q