, 1862-08-16
Tbe :Gtihtttte.
SATURDAY, AUGUST Is, 1862.


The But1efsPhe1pa lmbr0gI1g--
We referred in our last issus to the matter
Of difference between Gen Phelps and Gen.
Butler with reference to the employment OF
the negro The partial presentation OF the
case ts incomplete and will give wrong I'M
preston The following is Gen. Buffers LET
ter closing the correspondence, from which 1t
Is evident that Gen. But1er has the best Of the
argument, a. well as the power to enforce it.
Gen. Phelps was ipjudicious, and hssty, or he
would not have fallen into this error of judg-
Enent, not his first II we remember right.
HzADQuAaE1Rs, DaFAnrxHsr or zHs GuL1, [
NEW ORLHANs, August 3, 1854.
GhHHRAL-1 was someWuat surprised to IT,
cclVe your resignation for tie reason stated
When 'Fou were put in command at Camp
PaFapet, sent Lfeutenant Wettzel, my chief
engineer to make reconnofsonce Of the lines
OF CaIrolton, and understand It was agreed
between you and the engineer That removal
the right Of your entertainments wse a neceG-
saLy military precaution-
The work could not be done at that tima
because Of the stage OF thu water and the
want OF men. But now botn water and men
concur. Iou have five hundred Africans or
ganszed into companies. You write methis
Wo1k they are fitted to do. 1t must eithsr be
done: by Lhem or my soldiers, noE drilled and
dis sciplined. You hare said the location il
unhealthy to the soldiers is not to the ne
.Afdeane should do the labor. Ny attention
il especially called to this matter at the pres
ent t1ms, because there are reports OF demon
strnttOEe to be made on our lines by the reb-
els; and, In my Judgment, 1t is matter Of
necessary precau;t0n thus to clear the right
OF your l1ne, SO that you can receive the
proper aid from the gunboats On The lake, be-
kioes. Preventing the enemy lrom h.ving
cover. To do this ths negroes ought to be
employed, and In so employing them see no
evi1erce Of slave driving Or employing you Us
s1aVe driver.
dia this very thing last summer, In front Of
Arlington Heights. Are the negroes any
| hetttr than they? Because Of an order to do
this necessary thing, to protect your front,
Threatened BY the enemy, sou tender yons ri
| sigpation and ask immediate lcave of abserce.
! I a. sure you I did not expect this, either
from J our courage, your patriotism or you1
! good se1Ee. 70 rrsiga In face OF an enemy
| ms net been the highest plaudit to 3 soldier,
! especially when the reason assigned is that he
| fs crd. red TODD that which recent act ol
/ Congress has specially authorized con-
mander to oo-s. G. employ the African to de
the necessary work about q camp or upon {
fertilization. General, Jcur resignation vii
not be accepted By me; lea.e Of absence viii
net te granted, and you will zee to It taat n,
orders, tins ecEssSTg Tor the defense Of tn
city, are faithfully and diligently executed
Held owes to his superior. I will gee that ii
proper requisi7ions for the food, shutter an
clothing Of these negroes at work ars at one
filled by tie proper department. You vii
also sccd out q proper guard to protect tn
1aborcrs agaicst the guerilla force, If an
theru ,uty be in, the neigh hbortood.
| BENJAMIN f. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.