Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-01
BY the President of the Con nfederate States.
A PROCLAMATION.

JAMES j. GILBERT.
BY the President OF the Confederate States.
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas communication was addressed the 9Th day
of July last Qs62 by General Roberto Lee acting un-
crate States of America to General H. W. Haeck General
n-ehe of the United States army informing the latter that
report had reached this Government that VIM. B. Mum
ford Confederate States been executed
by the United saes authorities New Orleans for having
pulled down the United States fis in that city, before its
occupation by the forces the United States and calling
statement of the facts. with view TO retaliation if
of the authorities of the United States:
And Whereas (no having been received to said
letter. another letter was, the I'd August last 62
addressed by General Lee under my ns uot0ns to Gen
Haeck renewing the inquiry in relation to the said exc
event of not receiving reply within fifteen days would
be assumed fact alleged was true and sanction
ed by the Government of the United States.
And whereas an answer dated on the 7h August last,
s was Is. s. to Il Lee BY Genea G m 81 W.
ted States alleging sufficient cause for failure to make
toentc information had been recuived relation to
execution OF Mumord, but measures will be Immediately
taken to ascertain the facts of eaeged execution and
thereof
letter addressed under my intructOns by Robert Oud
Confederate for the exchange of prisoners under the
Ludlow, agent of the United States under cartel in
forming him that the explanations promised the said let
ter OF General Haeck, of 7h of August last had yet
been received and that if sent to the Gov
w1nn nteen Gays from the delivery of this las
communcauon, IL Would be considered that
declined:
And whereas by letter. dated on The Sd day of the pres
ent month of December the said Lieut. Col Ludlow ap
prsed the said Robert Oud that the above
nication of the 29h November had been received
warded to the Secretary of War of the United States:
and, Whereas this last delay of fifteen days allowed for
answer has elapsed, and answer has been received
And Whereas in addition to the tact admission resulting
from above refusal to have received evidence
fully the truth Of the fact that the said William
B. Mumford, citizen of this ConfedeTacy actually
and publicly executed in cold blood by hanging the
occupation of the city of New Orleans by the forces under
tie command Of Gen Benjamin F. Bnter when said Mum
ford was an uDresstng and -com5atant captive and
for Cfence alleged have committed him
subeequeot to the date of the capture of the said city,
And whereas the silence of tha government of the Uni
ted States ard it's maintaining of sad Butler n high Office
under it's authority for many months ster he Commission
OF an act that can be viewed in other light than
del herate murder as well as of numerous other ouTages
and atrocities hereetter to be mentioned afford evidence
only too conclusive that the said sanctions the
conduct of said Butler, and determined that he shall
an unpun shed for his crimes:
Confederate America and in their name do pro
and declare the said Benjamin F. Butler be fell
longer considered treated simply as a public enemy
of the Confederate States of America but and
capture the officer in command of the capturing force
cause him to be Immediately executed by hanging and
do further ORDER that commissioned officer the
States taken captive shall be released befo
change ua the said Butler shall have mat with due pun
And whereas the hostiities wagel ganst this Confed
D % the as sn of the Red Rna as under the
bance to such warfare alone permissible by rules
been characterized by repeated atrocities and ourages
among large number which, the following may be c
Peaceful and aged citizens unressng captives and
comDatants have been confined hard labor with balls aud
chains attached to their limbs and still held dun
geons and fortresse Others have been subjected like
degrading punishment for selog medicines sick
The soldiers the United States have been invited and
encouraged by general orders insult and outrage the
wives the mothers and the sisters of citizens
Helpless women have been torn from their bomes and
subjected to solitary confinement some in rtresses and
PRISONS and especially, island of barren sand
undea tropical SUM- have been fed with oathsome raons
that had been condemned unfit for soldiers and have
been exposed to the vilest insults
Prisoners of who surrendered the forces of
the United States agreement that they should
leased on parole have been sezd and kept in close
fnement:
Repeated pretexts have beer invented for plum
derng the inhabitants of the captured city By fines levied
and exacted under threat of mprisonng at hard
The entire population Of the city of New ORLEANS have
been forced to elect between starvation by the concaon
OF all their property and taking an oath conscience
to bear allegiance to the invaders of their country.
Egross from the city has been refused to tn whose for
to helpless Chi aud after being elected from their
and th robbed of their o hy have been left
The slaves have been driven from the plantations in the
neiehborhood of New Orleans. till their would con-
share the crops with the Commanding General,
brother Andrew J! Butler, and other officers; and when
stored to the plantations and there compelled work
der the bayones OF guards of United States soldiers
Where this partr ershp refused armed expeditions
been sent the plantations rob them of thing
that was su ceptbe of reoVa and Slaves too aged
forged from the homes provid by the and driven
to wander helpless the highway:
By recent General Order (No sD the entire property
in that part of louisiana lying of the Mississippi river
has been sequestraed for confscation and officers have
been assigned TO duty with orders to gather up and col
ect the personal property and turn over to the Of
upon their receipts such of said property may be
reuaired for the of the Unted States army col
ect together all The other personal property ard
bring the same to New Orleans, and cause it to
he sold at pubic auction the highest bidders
an order which, executed condemns to punishment by
starvation at least quarter of million OF human beings
of all sexes ana condtions and OF which The execu
ton although forbidden to military officers by the orders
of President Lncoln is in accordance with the Confseaon
Law enemies, which E8 has directed enforced
through the agency of civil officials And finally the Ari
slaves have not only been excited to by
every license and CEMENT but numbers them
have &C ualy been armed Tor servie war, in its
nature far exceeding in horrors the mercess arocl
ties of the savages - i.
and Whereas the scers under the command of the sd
Butler have been, in many instances active and jealous
commission of and instance
of the refusal of any of them to participate in