Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-09-04
spicy Correspondence between Brute Butler and
FhsIPs on the Niger brigade Question

On the Both ult, Brigadier General Pbelps sent 70
quisluon 10 Brute Butler for arms accourements, etc
or tnree regiments @ Africans" which he proposed
TO raise for the defence of this point" New Orleans
ln his letter to Butler Phelps cays he thinks that viii
the proper facilities be could raise the three repme
oi oyallsts IN short tme and that be has now mn
wards OF three hundred Africans organized into five
companies who are willing to show their devotion f.
slavery He adds: 1 -
" 1t is for the interests of the South as well os for ~.
n orth that The African should be permitted to or his
oLock for the temple of freedom Sentiments
OF The man OF the present day. worthy only Of another
Oaln could prevent such offer from beise accented
Phelps On The following day A: f' "
GenetGt-Ihe General Commanding wishes Won tn
employ the contrabands In and about your camp in cut
tlng down all the trees &c, between your lines and the
ake' ana IN forming abattis according to the plan
agreed upon some time since What wood is not r ,oJ
by you is much peeded in this CITY. For this nnrnosa
nave oTdered the Quartermaster to furnish you with
axes and tents for the ccntrabands to be uuarered in
By order of Major General BUTLER,
R. S. DAVIS,
Capt and A. A. A. G.
OF course, Mr.. Brgadier Phelps didn't relish this
splash of cold water upon his favorite project He re-
piled:
L must state that while am Willing to prenare A.
rican regiments for the defence Of the Goyernment
against us asSallanS, am not willing to become the
mere slave driver which you propose, having no quail
hc2tlons in that way.
am, therefore, uuder the necessity of teraeripg the
resignation Of my commission as an officer of the orov
of the United States and respectfully reCuost esva c
absence until 1t accepted, in accordance with para
gralh 70, page II, of the General Regulations,
The following is Buffers reply:
Headquarters, De partmcnt of the (iuir
New Orleans, Aug. 2, 1862
GeR2ral-I was somewhat surprised to rCc9ive vorr
r eslgDatiOn for the reason stated
When you were put in command of Camp paranat
sent Lieutenant Wefz2l, my chief engineer to make
Of the lines Of Carrolt0n and under
stand 1t was agreed between you and the engineer that
removal OF the wood between Lake P0ntcbarran and
the right of your enrenchments was neces ry militia
ry precaution.
The work could not be done at that time because of
the stage OF the water and the want of men. But now
both water and men concur. You have five hundred
Africans organized into Companies
I 0C write me this work thew are fitted to do IT
must either be done by them my soldiers now drilled
ana disciplined You have said the location is uphea
my 10 te soldier 1t Is not to the negro Is it not best
hat these unemployed Africans should do this labor
Hy attention is Especially called to this matter at the
present tme because there are reports of dmorstra
ions to be made on your lines by the rebels, and in
ny judgment, 1t IS matter of necessary precaution
nus to clear the right of your ne so that you can re-
eTe the proper aid from the gunboas on the lake. be-
IceS preventing tie enemy from having To do
NJ 4
oylng them see no evidence Of slave driving or en-
1Ioying you as slave driver.
ihesolders of the army of the Potomac did this verv
hing last summer, in front Ct Arlington Heights. Are
he negroes any better an they Because of an order
90 this necessary thing, to protect your front,
threatened by the enemy you tender your resignation
nd ask Immediate leave of absence. | assure YOU
Id not expect this either from your courage your
atrotism or your good To resign in the face of
n enemy has not been the highest paudit to soldier
specially when the reason assigned is that be is ordered
do that which recent act of Congress has specially
uthorized a commander to do. e. to employ the
African to do the necessary work about camp or up
n ratification
General, your resignation viii not be accepted by me
cave of absence will not be granted and you will see to
that my orders thus necessary for the defence of the
ity are faithfully and diligently executed upon the re-
possibility that soldier in the field owes to his supe
or / will see that the proper acquisitions for the food
better ard clothing Of these negroes at work are at
nee Tiled by the proper department. You will also
end outa proper guard to protect the aborers against
be guerilla force, any there may be in the neighbor
ood BENJAM1N r RnTI r9 C
Major General Commanding. a
The matter has been referred to tie War Department
t Washington.