New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-29
Gen. Butler and All his officers tt
be Executed.
Vnien Officers Found with Slaves 70 be Hung
THE PRIvATES TO BE PAR0LED
THEY ARE NOT FREE AGENTS
Negroes In Arms to be Hung when Taken
ny the President OF the Confederate States
pr0CIams tien.

A Proclamation.
Whereas a communication was addressed on the
9Th day Of July last, 1862, by Gen. ROber. +. Lee
acting under the instructions of the Secretary Of
Warof the Confederate State. of America to Gen.
II. ". HaDeck, Commander-in-C hief Of the United
States Army, informing the latter that report had
reached this Government that VIM. b. Mumfo'd,
citizen of the Confederate States had been executed
by the United States authorities al NewOrleaDs for
having pulled down the United States flag in that
city before its occupation by the United States
forces and calling for statement Of the facts, with
view of retaliation if such Outrage hsd really
been committed under the sanction Of the authorities
Of the United States
And whereas mo answer having been received TO
said letter. another letter wss on the % OF August
last 1852, addressed by Gen. Lee, under my it,
structions, TO Gen. Haleck renewing the inquiries
In relation 30 the execution Of the said MuDford
with the information that in the event of not recey-
ing reply within fifteen days, it would be assumed
that the fact was true, and was sanctioned by the
Government OF the United States;
And whereas, An answer dated on the 9TH Of Au-
gus, last, (lS62), addressed to General Lee by
General II. W. Halleck, the said Generaln-C G. ief
causes for failure 10 make early reply 10 said letter
Of the 9th July, asserting that ono authentic infor
nation had been received in relation to the execution
Of Mumford, but measures will be Immediately taken
10 ascertain the facts of the alleged execution, and
promising that General Lee should be duly informed
tbereof;
And whereas, On the 25th Of November last
1852 another letter was addressed, under my IN
struotions, by Robert Ould Confederate agent for
sbe exchange OF prisoners under the cartel between
tAe two Governments, 10 Lieut.-Col. W. II. Lud-
low, agent Of the United States under said cartel,
informing him that the explanation promised in the
said letter Of Gen. Haeck Of the 9TH Of August
Last, had not yet been received, and that if no
swer was cent 10 the Government within fifteen
Gays from the delivery Of this last communication,
Il would be considered that an answer 10 declined
And Whereas letter dated on the 50 day of the
presen, mouth Of December. the said Lieut.. Col.
Ludlow apprized the said Robt. Ould that the above
recl,ed communication of the 10Th Of November had
been received and forwarded TO the Secretary OF
War Of the United States, and whereas this last
delay of fifteen days allowed for answer has elapsed
and no answer has been received;
And whereas, in addition to the tseit admission
resultiny from thu above refusal 10 answer, have
received evidence fully establishing tue truth oil Inc
sset that the said William b. Mumford, citizen Q.
ths Copfederacy, was actually and hcly executed
In cold blood by hanging a.,er the occupation Of the
City Of New Orleans by the forces under General
e.ciamin Butler, when taid Mumford was al
en,esstibg and Iici-conbatant captive, and for no
stenss even alleged 10 have been committed by him
subsequent to the date Of the capture OF the said
ely
And whereas, The silence Of the Government OF
tse United States and its maintaining Oi sad but
lsr 10 high Office under its authority formaDy months
after his commission Of an act that can be viewed III
no other light than as a deliberate murder, az well
"a Of numerous other outrages and atrocities mere
After 70 be mentioned afford evidence too conclusive
abs, the laid Government sanctions the conduct OF
shs sad Butler, and IL determined that he email re-
raain unpupsbed for these crimes:
Now therefore. /, Jefferson Davis, President Of
the Confederate States OF America, ano IN 'hei
name do pronounce and declare the sand Benjamin
T. Butler TO be feon, deserving OF capitai punish
xeut. DO order that he ahall no longer DO consid-
sred or treated simply public enemy Of the Con
federate States of America, but as all outlaw anu
oouluon enemy of mankind, and that, In the even'
sf his capture, the officer in command OF the capur'
log force do cause him 10 be Immediately executed
by banging.
And do further order that no commissioned OIL
Ger of the United States taken captive, shall DO re-
leased on parole before exchange, until the sald
Butlsr sball have met with due punishment for hs
grimes.
And whereas The hostties waged against this
Confederacy by the forces Of the United States, n'
der the command of said Benjamin +. Butler, have
borne no resemblance to such warfare as is alone
,ermissibe by the rules Of international law or the
usage of civilization but have been characterized by
repeated atrocities and outragos among the large
number Of which the following may be cited as ex-
smples:
Peaceful and aged citizens, unressting captives
and non-oombatants, have been confined at hard
labor with chains kattsched to their limbs,s and
are still 80 held in dungeons and fortresses.
Others have been submitted to a like degrading
punshment for selling medicines to the ,ick soldiers
sf the Confederacy.
The soldiers Of the United States have been inyi-
Sed and encouraged in general orders to insult and
outrage the wives, the mothers, and the sisters Of
our citizens
Helpless women have been torn from their homes
and subjected 10 solitary confinement, some in for
tresses and prisons, and one especially Oh al Island
Of barren sand under a tropical sun; have been fed
with loathsome rations that had been condemned as
pnft for soldiers, and have been exposed TO the
tiIesi insnls:
Prisoners Of war, who surrendered 10 the naval
leroes Of tho Upited States agreement that they