, 1862-08-20


CAMr PAEArEr, La., Aas. 2, 1852.
Major General B. F. Butler, commanding the De- !
Ea1Tn:ent OF the Gulf:
Sir R:-Two communications from you OF |
this date have this momeut been received. !
One Of them refers to the raising Of volun- |
desist from the formation Of any negro mi'i~
ts1y Organizations; and the otner declaring,
in spirit contrary to all usage in military
service, and to all the rights aud liberties Of a
citizen Of a free government, that my resigna-
t5en will not be accepted BY you. that leave
Ut absence until its acceptance by the presi-
dent viii hot be granted me, and That must
see to it that your orders-Ehich coa1d not
obey without becoming a slave lnyseli-arc
faithfully and diligently executed.s'
what kind Of slavery 1 AM to be subjected,
whether to African slavery or to that which
you thus so of1snsiye}y propose for me-, CIV
ing nc an order wholly opposed to my con-
y1c:ions of right: as well as OF the higher
scale OF public necessities ia the case, amt IN
s;sting upon my compiling with it faithfully
and diligently, allowing sne no room to escape
with my CONVICTIONS or my principles, at any
sacrifice thst may make. I cannos submit
| to either kind Of slavery, and cannot, there
| fore, for double rsason, comply with your
order Of the Slsf Of July, in complying with
to African slavery and to that which you re-
! sort in its defense.
Desirous to the last Of saving the public in
terssts involved, I appeal to your sense Of
Justice to reconsider your decision and make
| tie most to the cause out Of the sacrifice
which Offer, By granting the quiet, proper
and customary action upon my resignatiou>
By refusing my request you would subject
ne to great Inconvenience, without, as fat IS
can see, any advantage either to yourself or
to TIE service With the view Of securing
myself tardy justice In the case, being re-
mote from the capital, when the TRANSMISSION
! ct the mails is remarkably irregular and M
certain, and in order to give Tou every assur-
ance that my resignation is rendered in strict
compliance With paragraph twenty OF the
regnlatiops to be unconditional and imr1e-
! date" 1 herewith enclose copy for the ad-
| infant general Of the army, which desire may
be forwarded to him, to be laid before the pre-
Eiacnt, for his early action in the case as his
my position, sufficiently unpleasant already,
promises to become much more Sd still by
the course Of action which am sorry to fad
that you deem it proper to pursue, urgently
request his excel.ency, By speedy acceptance
Of my commission, to liberafe me from Thai
sense Of feufocation- from that darhling sense
| Of bondage and enthralment which, It appear
to me, like the snake around the muscles aui
einews of Laocoon, Is entang1ing aud deaaea
ing the energies Of The governmcnt and
ent the evils and liberate Us from t6ei
baneful and fascinating influence forever: Il
conclusion Of this Communication, and
! should also hope Of my services in this de-
, partment, I deem it my duty to state, least i
might not Otherwise come to your notice, tha
several parties Of the free colored men Of Ney
Orleans have recently come to consult me Q.
. the propriety Of raising one Of two regiment
| Of volunteers from their class Of the popula
don for the.sdefense Of the government an
good order, and that l have reccommende
. them to propose the measure to yon, hayin
no power to aet upon 1t myself I am, sil
very respectfully, your ohedient servant,
Il j. ". PHELPs: Brig. General.
MONDAY, August 4, 1863.
J P.S.-The negroes Increase rapidly. Tne1
are doubtless now SIX hundred able bodle
men in camp. These added to those who al
e suffering use1essly in The prisons and jaiis {
New Orleans and vicinity, and feeding fro1
the general stock Of provisions, would make
= good regiment Of one thoassna men, vi
might contribute as much to the preservatie
Of law and good order as 4 regiment Of ca
g. eassig1e, and probably mach more. Now,