The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-22

Correspondence between Cen. utler
and Gen. Phelps ON tho Sub ject Of
Aiming Negroes.
HEADQUARTERS DEPT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, August 2, 1862,
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
SIR: beg leave to enclose to you cop
les of orders and correspondence with Gen.
Phelps upon the subject of arming and
equipping the negroes.
General Phelps, without orders and with
out my knowledge, has organized five COM
panies of negroes, and the first official infor-
nation I had of his doings in that behalf,
was requisition for arms and equipments
for them.
It becomes more necessary, in my judg.
ment, to employ them differently, and I
thought by that means could find employ.
ment for all, and not raise the question Of.
fensively between General Phelps and my
self, until it was settledat Washington, and,
therefore, sent the order to employ the ne.
groes without sending an answer to his
requisition. But his letter of resignation
has left no choice but to insist that my Or
der should be obeyed.
submit the whole matter to the depart
ment. l need not discuss it. Gen. Shep
ley, who has been with you, can do it much
better than can. MIR. Roselius, who I
have sent by the Connecticut, can tell you
much more fully than it was possible to do
IN dispatch what has been the effect of the
course of General Phelps.
An instruction broke out among the me-
groes few miles up the river, which caus-
ed the women of that neighborhoOd to apply
10 an armed boat belonging to US, passing
down, for aid, and the incpient revolt was
stopped by informing the negroes that we
repel an attack by them upon the women
and children.
All is for the determination OF the de-
partment, to which shall give the fullest
obedience. l have the honor to be your
obedient servant. BENZ. F. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New ORLEANS, La, July 80, 1862.
Captain R. S. DAVIS, A. A. A. General:
SIR: enclose herewith acquisitions for
arms, accoutrements, clothing, camp and
garrison equipage, &C., for three regiments
of Africans, which propose to raise for the
defence of this point. The location is
swampy and unhealthy, and our men are
dying at the rate of two or three day {.
The Southern loyalists are willing as un-
derstand, to furnish their share of the tax for
the support of the war but they should
also furnish their quota of men, which they
have not thus far done. An opportunity
now offers of supplying the deficiency, and
it is not safe to neglect opportunities in war.
l think that, with the proper facilities,
could raise the three regiments proposed in
short time without holding out any induce
ments or Offering any reward. I have now
upwards of three hundred Africans, organ
lied into five companies, who are all willing
cause in any way that it may be pat to the
test. They are willing to submit to any
thing rather than slavery.
Society in the South seems to be on the
point of dissolution, and the best way of
preventing the African from becoming in.
strumental in general state of anarchy is
to enlist him in the cause of the republic.
If we neglect their services, any military
chieftain, by Offering him freedom can have
them for the purpose of robbery and plum.
der. 1t is better for the interests of the
South as we'll as for the North that the
African should be permitted to offer his
block for the temple of freedom. Senti-
ments unworthy of the man of the present
day, worthy only of another Cain, could
prevent such an offer from being accepted.
would recommend that the cadet gradu-
ates of the present year should be sent to
South Cerolina and this point to organize
and discipline our African levies, and that
the more promising non-commissioned off.
GERS and privates OF the army be appointed
as company officers to command them.
Prompt and energetic efforts in this dircc-
tion would probably accomplish more to
wards speedy termination of the war, and
an early restoration of peace and amity than
any other course which could be adopted.
have the honor to remain, sir, very re-
specially, your obedient servant,
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. Gen.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
NEW ORLEANS, July 81, 1862.
GENERAL: The General Commanding
H. - L. L