, 1862-08-15

List him In the cause OF the republic: It 70
neglect his services, any petty military chief,
tain, BY ofsztng him freedom. can nave them |
{ r she purpose Of robbery and p1undeE It Is
tor the North that the African should be; per-
mitted to offer bis block for the temple Of |
freedom. Sentiments unworthy Of the man i
Of the present day, worthy. only OF another
Cain, coula prevent such an Offer from being
accepted. Iw3u1d recommend that the cadet
grponates Of The present year should be sent
10 South Catoltn1. sad this point toorganize
and discipline our African leviea, and that the
more promising non.commissioned officers
and pr7Vatea Ef the army be appointed as CONF
energetic efforts fn this direction would prob:
ahly accomplish more towards aspeedy te1mi..
nation Of the var, and an early res o7ation Of
peace and a1fty. than any other course which
could be adopted. l. hare the honor to re.
aea9a a; s' very 1SeRSe!Fa Fr yoSss Se epsasnf sea
HEApqrARrERs, DEpARrAEaT OF THHl :
Gu1F, New ORLEANS, July 81, 1854
GEEERA1- The general commanding wishes.
you to employ the contrabsnds in and about
your camp In cutting down all the trees, &c,
between your lines and the lake, and in form
ing ahattis according 70 the plan agreea upon
he visited you some time since. What wood
Is not used by you Is much needed in this
city. For this purpose I have ordered the
quaftermaster to furnish you with axes and
ope] 9d she Ma7 e ns H.
R. s. DAVIS, Captain and A, A. A. G.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TIE GULF,
NEw ORLEANS, July 81, 1S6
Captain 2. 8. Davis, Acting Assistant Aajutant
General: :.
srB-The communication from your Office
Of this date, signed" By order, Major General
Butler" directing me to employ the contra
bands in and about my camp in cutting down
all lhe trees between my lines and the lake,
! &c, has just been received. In reply, must
state that while / an willing to prepare Afri-
Gun regiments for the defense Of the govern
ulent against its a6sailanta, am not willing
to become the mere slave driver which you
propose, having no qualifications in that way.
| am, therefore: under the necessity Of tender
ing the resignation Of my commission as an
officer of the army Of the United States. and
respectfully request leaTe Of absence unti'
it is accepted, in accordance with para
graph 20, page IL, Of the general regulation.
| Willie an writing, as ha1f-past eight O'Clock
p. H., a c0lo1ed man is brought in by one o.
The pickets, Who has Just been wounded il
e1s or enerlllas, a mile or more from our lint
Of sertinels. As 1t is some distance from tt,
carp to the like, the party of wood choppers
which you have directed will probably need
considerable force to guard them against sin
liar attacks.
J.W. PHELPS, Brigadier General
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GUILE,
NEW ORLEANS, August ., 1852. !
GENERAL: By the act Of Congress, as M
de1stana it, the president ofthe United State
alone has the authority to employ Africans i
aims as part Of the military forces Of th
United States. -,
Every law up to this time, raising voluntee
or militia forces, has been opposed to the
! employment. Tne president has not IS II
indicated his purpose to employ the African
. | In arms.
The arms, clothing and camp equlpas
= | which T have here for the Louisiana volul
> teers are, by the letter of the secretary OF wa
= expressly limited to white soldiers; so that
have no authority to direct them, howeVl
: mnc1 may desire 30 to do.
do not think you are empowered to 0
!, ganize into companies negroes, and drill the
as D military organization, as an unexpec
: edlY informed you have done. cannot san
tion this couree Of actlon as at present "a.
| riEed, especially when We have need Of tt
services Of the blacks who are being shelter;
4. upon the outskirts Of your camp, as you vi
. sre By the orders for their employment sel
! you by the assistant adju:ant general.
Isebd your application to the preslden
:. but, in The meantime, you mast desist fro
~ the formation Of any negro military orgat
70 cation. BENZ. F. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.
Brig. General Phelps. commanding fore