Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-20
THE THREATENED REBEL Retail.
IATION.
C0rrexpoHdence Between Conn
nsanders of Federal and
Rebel Armies.
FHE RULES OF CIVILIZED WARFARE.
Insulting Letters From Gen. Lee.
DECLINATIoN or GEN. HALLEck TC
RECEIVE THEM.
Gen. Lee 10 Gen. Mcclellan.
HKApQ'R rs DEPT NORTHERN ,

To Mayor Gen. Geo. B. Mcclellan, Command
ing ArHy Of the Potomac:
GENERAL: Il has come to my knowledge
thae many of our citizens, engaged in peace
ful av 0cations, have been arrested and impris-
oned because they refuse to take the oath Of
allegiance to the United States, while others
by hard and harsh treatment have been COM
PEELED to take an oath not to bear arms against
that government
I have learned that about one hundred Of
the latter class have been released from
Fortress Monroe. This government refuses to
admit the right of the authorities of the United
States 10 arrest our citizens and extort from
them their parole not to render military ser
vice to the country, under the penalty of in
curing punishment in case they fall into the
hands of your forces. / am directed by the
Secretary Of War to inform you that such
oaths will not be regarded as obligatory, and
persons who take them VIII be required 10
render military service.
Should your government treat the rendition
OF such service by those persons as a breach of
parole, and punish it accordingly, this govern
ment will resort to retaliatory measures as the
only means of compelling the observance Of
the rules of civilized warfare.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant, r. E. LEE,
General Commsnding.
GEN. HaIIeek TO Gen Mcclellan.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WAsHINGToN, August l3.
Major General George B. Mcclellan, Command
ti.g Arntg Of the Potomac;
GENERAL: I have Just reco;1 --~ ~,
| Adiutant Generals ONCE your ieGter " ouIy
30th, inclcsing letter from General r. E.
Lee of July 2lst. The letters of General Dix
I y, Il,
| proper information for 3 reply to General
Lees complaints in regard TO the troatment of
| prisoners at Fortress Monroe. The govern
! nent of the United States has never author
| lied any extortion OF oaths of allegiance or
military paroles, and has forbidden any meas
ures to be resorted TO tending to that end
Instead of extorting oaths of allegiance and
paroles, it has refused the application of sew
| eral thousand prisoners to be permitted TO take
| them and return to their homes in the rebel
States. At the same time this government
claims, and will exercise the right to arrest
imprison, or place beyond its military lines
any person suspected of giving aid and infor-
NATION 70 its enemies, or of any other treason
able act And if persons so arrested volunta
riiy take the oath of allegiance,.or give theil
military parole, and afterwards violate thei
plighted faith, they will be punished accord
ing to the laws and usages OF war. You vii
assure Gen. Lee that no unsoefnly threats o
retaliation on his part will deter this govern
ment from exercising its lawful rights owe
both persons and property of whatsoeVe
name and character.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
II. w. HALLECK,
General in. Chief u. s. Army.
GEN Lee TO Gen. HanecH.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE G. s.,
NEAR RICHMOND, Aug 2. I
To the General Commanding The Arrny of tn
United States, Washington:
GENERAL: On the 18th Of June last wa
instructed by the Secretary of War to inquir
of Major General Mcclellan as to the truth
alleged murders committed on our citizens
officers of the United States army. The cas-
of VIM. B. Mumford, reported to have bee
murdered at New Orleans by order of Msjc
General B. T. Butler, and Colonel John Over
reported to have been murdered in Nilsson
by order Of Major General Pope, were tho'
referred TO. / mad the honor to be informe
. by Major General Mcclellan that he had II
ferred these inquiries to his government for
reply. Ne answer has as yet been receives
! The President of the Confederate States b,
= since been credibly informed that numeroV
: other officers OF the Army of the United Stat
| within the Confederacy have been guilty
felenies and capital offences which are punisl
able by all laws, humane and divine.
lam directed by him to bring to your n
tice few of those best authenticated. New
papers received from the United States al
nounce as . fact that Major General Hunt
has armed slaves for the murder of their ma
ters, ard has thus done all in his power to i
sugurate 8 seryile war, which is worse tbs
that of the savage, inasmuch as it superad
other horrors to tie indiscriminate EEAught
of ages. sexes, and condition. Brigadier Ge
eral Phelpes is reported TO have initiated
New Orleans The example set by Major Ge
eral Hunter on the coast of South Carolin
] Brigadier General G. w. Fitch is stated in u
same journal to have murdered in cold blot
!, two peaceable citizens because one Of his me
while invading our country, was killed
ID some unknown person while defending
home.
am instructed by the President Of the Co
federate States to repeat the inquiry relative
the cases of Mumford and Owen, and to 8
whether the statements in relation TO the acti
of Gems. Hunter, Phelps and Fitch are adm
ted to be true, and whether the condGct
these Generals is sanctioned by their Cover
ment. am further directed by His Exc
lency, the President to give notice that, in I
event of not receiving reply 30 these
quiries within fifteen days from the deliye
of this letter, it viii be assumed that t
alleged facts are true, and are sanctioned
I. the Government of the United States.
In such an event, on that Government VI
3 rest the responsibility of the retributive or
taliatory measures which shall be adopted
put an end TO the merciless atrocities viii
:, now characterize the war against the Conf
crate States.
's. I erl. most respectfully, your o.
:, [Signed] =. y. l-s1,
.., ualleck to General Lee.