Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-31
ByTHR PRESIDENT OF TaB ooSFEDER-
ATE STATES. %
A PRoCLAMATIoN

sleck General-n-chief Of the United States army in
forming the latter that report had reached this Gov
erument that VIM. b. Mumiord citizen OF the Confed
crate States had been executed by the United States
authorities at New Orleans for having pulled down the
United States flag in that city before s occupation by
the forces of the United States and calling tol state
ment Of the facts with view 10 retaliation If such al
outrage had really been committed under sanction OF
the authorities Of the United states. a
And whereas, (ao answer having been received TO
lid letter. another letter WAS the I'd August last,
s62) addressed by General Lee under instructions,
10 Gen Halleck renewing the inquiry in relation to the
laid execution OF said Mumford, with the Information
that in the event of not receiving reply within fifteen
DAYS it would be assumed thahe fact alleged was true
and was sanctioned by the Government OF the United
st ties.
And whereas an answer dated the It'll August llst
ls62l was addressed to General Lee by General II. W.
Haeek the said Generaln Chief OF the armies OF the
United States, alleging sufficient cause for failure to
make early reply said letter Of the 9th july asserting
that mo authentic information had been received in re-
zion to the execution of Mumord, but measures will
b. Immediately taken the facts of the alleged
exec uon" and promising that General Lee should be
duly informed thereof
And whereas on the 29th November last, (lS62) an
other letter was addressed under my instructions by
Robert Ould Confederate Agent for the exchange OF
prisoners under the cartel between the two
TO Lieut-Col. W. IL. Ludlow, agent Of the United
States under said cartel informing him that the eIpaua
promised the sald OF uenefdl Hatch,
Ith of August last had yet been received and that
If no answer sent to the Government within fifteen
dAys from the delivery of this last communication, IL
would be considered that an answer is declined:
And whereas by letter, dated on the Sd day Of the
present month Of December the said Lieut. Co ludlow
apprsed the said Robert Oud that he above recited
communication of 29th November hid heen received
aud Forwarded to the Secretary of War OF the United
States
And whereas. this last delay of fifteen days allowed
for has elapsed and answer has been received
And whereas ia addition to tho tacit admission
sutng from above reid,s to answer, have received
evidence fully establishing the truth OF the fact that the
said William B. MImford citizen of this COnlederacy,
was actually and publicly executed ia cold blood by
hanging after the occupation OF the city of New Orleans
by the forces under the command Of Gcn. Benjamin T.
Butler when said Mumford was Gnresisling aud nom
combaaut captive. and for offence alleged to
have been committed by him subsequent to tie date OF
the capture Ofthe said Guy
And whereas the silence Of the government OF the
United States sud its maintaining Of said Butler IL high
Office under it, sutEo.:'y for many mOnrhs alter his
co omission Of I ~ that - viewed In no other
light than as a berae murder, web a. . numerous
other outra.eS AID atrocities hereafter be mentonr
afford evidence only conclusive thai the said govern
ment sanctions the conduct of said Butler aud is de-
termned that he shah remain unpunished for h-
crimes
Now therefore, l. JEryERsoS DAVIS, President Of the
Confederate States of America, aud in their name, do
pronounce and declare the said Benjamin + Butler
be ielon deserving of capital punishment. do order
that he be longer considered or treated simply as
public enemy the Confederate States of America but
As outlaw and common enemy OF mankind, and that,
10 the event Of his capture the officer iu Command Of
the capturing force do cause him TO be immediately
cuted by hanging; and DO further order that
ussioued officer OF the United States taken captive,
shall be released paro before exchange, until tho
said Butler shall have met with due punishment for hi'
crimes:
And, whereas the hostites waged against this Con-
federacy by the forces of the United atcs under the
command OF said BENJAMIN 7. Butler have borne re-
semblance to such warfare is alone pcrm sbe by the
rules of international law or the ,ssges Of civilization
hut have been characterized by rPaed atrocities aud
ourages among the large number Of which, The follow
ing NAV b. cited examples:
Peaceful and aged citizens, unresistng Csptiyes and
non combatants haye been confined al hard labor with
balls and CHAINS attached to their limbs, aud still
held in dungeons and fOrtreSsrs Others have been sub
jeeted to Hse degrading punishment for selling medi
cines to the sick soldiers Of the Coufrderacy.
The soldiers OF tue United States have been invited
and encouraged by general orders to insult aud outrage
the wives. 10, mothers and the sisters Of citizens
Helpless women have been torn from their homes and
subjected to solitary confinement some in iortrcsses,
and prisons and one especially Island of barren
s,nd under a tropical sun have been fed with loAth-
some ratiOns that had been condemned unfit for SOL
uers and have been cAIO~Cl 10 Nllc West llNullS
Prisoners OF who surrendered 10 the naval forces
Of the United States agreement that they should be
released on parole have been seized and kept in close
confinement
Repeated preteytS have been sought or invented for
puuderiug the inhabitants OF the captured city by fines
levied and cNlcri under threat OF mprsoniug recnSantS
At hard labor with ball aud chain
The entire population Of the city of New Orleans have
been forced TO cc, between starvation, by the conscl.
ton Of all their property, and taking oath against
conscience TO bear allegiance to the invaders OF their
country
Eeress from the city has beeA refused those whose
fortude whtood c test even to lone aud agcd women
and to helpless child en- and after being cjOctc from their
homes and robbed OF tacr property ,hcy have been lett
to starNe IA the streets or sub'lSt On charity:
The slaves have been driven from the plantations IN
the neighborhood of New Orleans, I'LL their owners
would to share the crops with the Commanding
General hi- brother Andrew J. Butler and other Off
Gers and when such consent had been eXtOrtcd the
slaves have been restored TO the plantations and there
compelled 70 work under the bayoaets of guards of
United States soldiers
Where this par,nehH was refused armed exp, ditions
have been sent to the plantations TO rob them OF every
thing that susceptible OF removal and even slaves,
too aged or inGrn for work have, in spite Of their
treaties been forced from the homes provided by the
owners and driven to wander helpless the highway:
BY a recent General Order No 9l) the entire proper
ty in that part Of louisiana lying west of the Mississippi
have been assigned duty with orders % gather up
aud collect the personal property aud turn 10 the
proper officers upon their receipts such Of said property
AS may he required for the Of the United States
army; to collect together all the other personal property
and hing the same to New Orleans, and cause
il to be sod al public auction the highest bidders
an order which, il executed condemns to punishment
by starvation at least quarter Of million OF human
beings OF all ages sexes and condition. aud OF which
the execution although forbidden TO military officers by
the orders OF President Lincoln, is in accordance with
the Con6scntiop Law Of Our enenes which he has d.
recied be enforced through the agency OF civil off,
Gals Aud finally the African slaves have moi only been
excited to insurrecOu by every license and encourage
ment, but numbers Of them have actually been armed
ior servile war; war in Its nature Tar exceeding In
horrors the mecilcss atrocities Of tue slyages
And whereas the officers under the command Of the
sid Butler have beep in many instances, nOtiye and
jealous agents in the commission OF these crimes, md
no instance is known OF the refusal Of auy one OF them
TO participate In the outrsges above narrated
And whereas tie President Of the United States has,
hv signifcd only his