Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-05


! EAST LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI,
TANGIPAHOA La, July Is, 1862.
To MaiOrGeneral Butler, Commanding United State
| Forces. New Orleans, La
GENERAL: I have received petitions from
! officers Of the LIST regiment Louisiana par;isa,
rangers touching the case of Henry Castle, ir.
private of Company II, of that regiment, an,
also an application respecting Tho. c. Penning
/ ton, private Of Capt Wilson Tste's company
Of the same regiment and l deem it expedien
TO request your eaily consideration Of the sub
ject.
1t appears that Private Castle was captured
by detachment Of Federal troops in the vicin
| ity of Baton Rouge, on or about tBe seventh
| (7th) Of the present month, and private Pen
nington on or about the 2Sh day Of June, tha
they were taken to New Orleans and are now
held either there OF at Of the forts in tue Vi
cinity, in close confinement, with the threat thai
they are to be tried and executed as members o.
q military organization not sanctioned by the
laws Of civilized warfare.
1t is to be observed that tie first great law oi
nature, the right Of selfdefense, is inherent in
communities as well as individuals No law
condemns the individual who slays the robbsr
or the assassin and no Just law can condemn a
community for using all its power to resist the
invaders and drive him from their soil.
The exercise Of this right, so universally re-
cognized, becomes an imperative duty when the
invader, as has been the case with tie Federal
troops in this district, dsTegards those rules of
warfare recognized and respected by all civilized
nations, and adopts that code which has hereto
fore been confined to the Tudest savages.
The proof Of this, is unfortunately too abun-
dant in the vicinity Of Baton Rouge. 1t is at
tested by helpless women and children flying
from their burning homes; by the desolation OF
plantations, by the plunder Of private property,
and the wantOn destruction of growing crops.
Such acts are crimes against humanity, and JUS
tify all men in taking up arms against their per
petTatoTs.
The independence of nations has rarely been
achieved by regular armies Oar own ReT5lu-
lion, that Revolution which successfully estab-
hshed the great principle foT which the Conied-
crate States are now cOntending, that all gov
eTnments derive their Just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed" >" was mainly fought out
by men who left the plOw at the news Of the
enemy's approach, and returned to 1t when be
had been driven back. II may be conceded
that in Europe, where the governments main
" Telv upon large standing armies, which
are, as much As possible, disconnected with
the people; and where the policy is to pre-
vent the people from bearing arms under
almost any circumstances, some very absurd re-
inenents on this subject have been asserted
and to some extent tolerated; but such doc
trines have never been recognized on this con-
tinent-the United States especially have al
ways repGdiated them.
The various revolutions which have agitated
the Central and South American States have
been conducted by tie people frequently without
organization, and without leaders other than
those chosen upon the spUr of the occasion, to
direct d single enterprise. And to Tecur to the
OF our fOrefatheTs the history of that
immortal struggle abounds with instances where |
.he hardy yeomen, ss at Lexington and Banker
Hill, were like the clansmen of Roderick DHu,
called by concerted signal to some LaneTick
Mead A" and then selected their officers upon the
very field of battle. But whatever difference Of /
opinion may exist on this point, it has never |
been claimed even by the most stringent advO- /
cate Of legitimacy, that one beligerent has any /
right to complain Of the name or form which /
The other may choose to give to its military OF
yanizaticns. The right to adapt these to the /
peculiar service required, has been universally 4
conceded so far indeed has this practice been /
,arried in naval warfare that privateersmen, the 4
militia of the seas" with charters as broad as
be oceans bounds, are recognized as legitimate
mong belligerents. And now, indeed the eI-
raordinsTy spectacle is presented to the con
emplation of civilized man, in this bOasted nine
senth century, OF the Christian world, of a
Iation claiming 10 be civilized, in violation Of
IS constitutional obligations inauguraiiug, de-
.berately, servile war by stimulating the half
ivilizad African to raise his hand against his
MASTER and beneiactor, and thus make war upon
he Ang)o-Saxon race-wsr on human nature
7his, with the Federal government, is legitimate
warfare but the defense of their hresides by
southern citizens is treason and murder. IN
military organizations the Polish lancers, the
French zouayss and British corps Of scouts and
guides in the late East Indian war, are eases in
,oint. The COnfejeTsts States claim and have
exercised this undoubtsd right. The formation
# companies batteliOns and regiments Of par
isan rangers has been specially authorized By
n act of Congress. The officers of this corps
re commissioned; the men are regularly mus
cred into service, receive pay, rations and
equipments from the government, and are enti-
led to the same privileges and governed by the
anne regulations as all other troops in the Con
edeTate service. It is not perceived, therefore,
What pretext can be offered by the enemy for
ubjecting the members Of this corps to a differ
mt treatment from that extended to other prls-
,ners of war, certainly no such distinction can
,e recognized or tolerated by US. The govern
nent having called these men into service is
,ound by every obligation Of good faith to pro
ect them 10 the extent Of its power. And If
ound necessary for their protection, as well as
or that of numerous uEarmed citizens who have
,een subjected TO outTages unparalleled IN civ
lizsd warfare, Will not hesitate, feel constrain
d to declare, 10 resort to retaliation even to the
ztent sanctioned by the Jewish law" an eye
or an eye, tooth for tooth, and life for life F"
swat an answer containing an explicit de-
laration Of the intentions of the United States
respecting these prisoners.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
RUGGLES, Brig-Gen. Com.
HEADQUAR's DEPARTMENT oP THE GULF,