The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-06-24


JefE. Davis Making Another Thrras
of R<taIasIOa &C or re spondence
Between Sen. Lowell and General
HEADQUA RTERs, DEPARTMENT No /.
JACKSON, Miss, Jane A.
Major General Berydmin r. Butler, Com
nsdnaiag United States forces at Ncau
OrLedBs:
SIR--i am instructed by the President OF
the Confederate States to communicate with
you under a flag OF truce, aud TO say that
lie has 6een Informed that ~ Van BeutBuy-
sen, a citizen of New Orleans, has been
placed in arrest by your orders, charged
with assisting 7. z. Van BentlIuyseH to
escape from that city, aud also With uphold
ing the Confederate Governmeut, aud that
you have further ordered that if the said
4. +. Van Benthuysen (who is charged
with desertion trom The United States SER
vice, be not found and delivered ap, W .
Van Benlbuysen stall, IN his stead, suffer
dea; h-tbe penalty of desertion.
The President, Therefore, directs me 10
notify you that, If the Iacss be as above
stated, be shall rigid'y apply the Tea tati0nis
-ilficliDg the satne penalty, even 10 death,
u,,Oft a citizen OF the United States, as msy
be Inflicted upcA the said w. Van Benthuy-
sen.
/ take the occasion TO add that, At the
time of the reported desertion OF Van
BenIhuy sen aud his two comrades, | made
a tull iuves.igatie', aud satisfied myself
that they were driven ashore hyslbe wind
aud tide involuntariiy, and they were &C
cordiBg.y held as prisoners Of war uutii
the evacuation OF New Orleans.
They stated at the time that they did not
wish TO be regarded as deseTleIs; but /
learned from Van Benthuysea subsequently,
that, being reported as q deserler, and fear
full that be would be held rs such, he con-
cluded to escape.
This letter will be transmitted through
Lieutenant Colonel Ogden, of my staff.
Your Obedieut servant,
NJ. LOWELL, Maj Gen. Com'ding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARr Nj or THE GuLF,
New Orleans, June 6, 1851
GENERAL; The communication by flag Ol
truce, under charge Of Lieutenant Colonel
Ogden, of your staff, was banded me this
morning / take leave TO assure you that
the Information on which Mr. Davis acted
was incorTect--the threat unnecessary, as il
would have been UNDECIDED bad ny judgment
determined any given course Of action nee
essary aud just.
Major Van BeDthuyeen, an ofacer hold
ing commission against the United States,
in arms, Was arrested by my oder for sid
ing the escape of scoundrel and spy, who
had at the same time been false to your
party as he was to mine, and confined in
Fort jackson, and told that, as his offence
was not the worst in the rebellion, if he
would produce the%py. who, was inform
ed, was under his control, be would be re-
leased, and so far his Offences pardoned.-
Being afterwards assured that the sp, had
escaped in fact, TO Richmond, upon Major
Van Benthuyseu's application, he was re-
leased some days since upon his parole, and
is now, as believe, quietly attending his
ordinary avocations about the City of New
Orleans.
To prevent the necessity of flags of truce
containing threats 10 me hereafter, allow
me to add that in no d. gree will they change
the course either of punishment or Of justice
which my Judgment may determine.
| have failed to find any other thing in
your note which requires reply. have the
honor TO be. youf obedient servant,
B. F. BUTLER. Maj. Gen. CONG.
Col. Ogden returned TO Jackson, Miss,
The Headquarters of Department No. l."
1t 2 o'clock p. ~, on Friday, taking with
him Gen. Buffers reply TO Lowell and
Mister Davis"