Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-26
Effects of our Fare
Interesting Correspondence Between Gen.
eraI Gilmore and General eaMrc ard.

Interesting Correspondence Between Gen.
eral Gilmore and General Beaurcaard.
Since the occupation OF Morris Island by
General Gilmore very interesting correspon
tience has been going on between General
Beauregard and himself BY reference to the
date of the first communication from General
Beauregard to General Gilmore it will be OBJ.
served that the former was, fguratively speak
ing, cooked and primed, ready to give General
Gilmore terrible volley of gratuitous advice
for his special edification on the anniversary
of the natal day of the Republic. Fortunatel y
the communication was not sent to our naval
authoritles-through whom, at that time, an
intercourse under flag of truce was maintained
until some days after, and General Gilmore
passed that holiday In Guetness and peace,
nnd!stnrb. d by gratuitous lectures from Gen
eral Eeauregard on subjects which he under.
stands quite 4 well as the Rebel chieftain.
The long elementary treatise on international
law, as ii affects the conduct of war between
two opposing forces, WAS evidently written
for the eye and information of Major General
Hunter, under whose authority these offenses
against the law of nations (as General Beaure-
gaId cha raCteriZed them) were committed. The
change OF commanders in the department I'M
doub eddy induced General Beauregard to sus-
pend fer the time the transmission OF the com.
munication but the fact that Gen Gilmore
had IN his command, operating against Charles
ton, regiment or two of negro troops, which
had but recently whipped the chivalry on
james Island in q little contest, impelied the
writer to change the date and compose new
Introductory, in which form it came TO hand.
| am able to give only q synopsis of the CORES
pondence. which will, however, be found to
be very full and covering all the points. 1t is
as follows:
GEN. BEACREGARD TO GEN. GILMORE
Under date OF headquarters, Department of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, Charles.
ton, ). o., July j, 1862 Gen. Beauregard says
II h,OG ,,txr
to address Gen. Gilmore with q view of effect
ing some understanding as to the future con.
duct OF the war in this quarter. And then,
after alluding TO the expedition set on foot bv
his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Hunter, to the Com.
bahee river, which seized and carried away
negro slaves off plantations on its banks, raw
aged our plantations. &c, he says he does not
propose to enter upon q discussion touching
that species OF pilaging, but desires to acq uaint
Gen. Gilmore formally that more than one
plantation was plllaged. buildings burned and
crops destroyed, acts which were not rendered
ne ceSsary by any military exigency. He shows,
IN It manner satisfactory to himself, that this
'aiiitary exjgency did not exist, and then enters
npon a lengthy elementary treatise on the laws
OF narions governing the conduct OF bellige-
rents, quoting Fattel and Wheaton to sustain
his propositions, and to define the rights of the
victor as we'll in civil as national wars.
Ire exercises OF the right of eminent
domain after conquered is admitted, and
IT'S boundaries defined. Then he takes up
the question OF the employment of negroes, and
quotes Napoleon and "Abbott'-a new au-
thority-to show the - atrociOus consequences
which ever resulted in the employment of a
mercllcss, servile race as soldiers; - that Ma
poleon refused TO employ the Serfs in his cam
raign against Russia, because he dreaded the
results OF civil or intestine war. He charac-
terises all who call TO their aid such material
in the language ofthe publicists, as barbarians,
&c
which resulted in the burning of the villa yes
of Darien, GA, and Button, and the raya ges
On the Ccmbahee, are regarded by Gen. I'll H.
more as legitimate measures OF war, whc'L he
Will ieel authorized TO resort to herea ftet He
forwarded accounts taken from Northern
papers OF the raids on Darien, Blutfton, Com
baii6e, dc.
GEN. GILMORE To CEN nEAUREGARD
general Gilmore addresses General Beau
regard from headquarters III the field, Morris
Island, under date OF July i, and acknu VII
edges the receipt OF General Beauresard's
communication of July !, written with 81 yipy.
of etiecting some understanding rs to the future
conduct OF the war in this quarter. He states
that, while he and his Government will scru-
pulously endeayor TO conduct the war upon
principles established by usage among CT giiized
nations, he shall expect from the commanding
General opposed 10 him full compliance with
the same rules, in their unres tricted app!ica-
ti0n 10 all the forces under his command
In conclusion. after expressing his surprise
that General Beauragard should choose the
navy as a channel through Whila ae commit
nicates with him, when the oppo= ing pickets on
sIres that hereafter I'll communications he sent
10 him through his OWE. lines, and not by way
OF the b ckading feet
EEAUREGAEp RESPONDS.
Gen. BCauTegaId. under date of july y,
I-r}, says lie l. at Il loss 10 perceive the neees-
Sly for the remark that Gen. Gilmore Will
expect from him 'stuil compliance with the
same rules established by usagcs Of civilized
nations, SEQ III their unrestricted application
TO all his forces,'' iuaznuCh as he is wholly
unaware that any departure from the same
has ever been alleged on his part, or by any OF
his tTcops, from The established laws and usages
between civilized people; and then he calls for
more specific charge.
As to Tire channel OF communication, he says
II need not cause surprise. Until made ac-
quainted with Gen. Gilmores views, he be-
neyed he wsuld naturally prefer that route
ter flags OF truce, inasmuch as il was clearly
the one least calculated TO Interrupt his ope!-
atoms TOR the reduction Of Battery Wagner;
ana ne is quite unable, he says, to understand
the grounds of Gen. GilmOre's surprise or his
objections. He assures Gen. Gilmore, in con-
clusiOn, that SO far as he is concerned he shall
avoid all proyocalions, either for cavl or COM
plant, and he shall do what he may to con-
duct the war upon principles recognized by
other nations.
GEN. BEAUREGAED DEMANDs DBsRRTRR
In commune tion, bearing the same date
as the preceding, he states that during a sus-
pension of hostilities on Morris Island, on July
i9, 1868, private Thomas Green, company II,
list South Carolina infantry, deserted and en-
tered the Federal lines, and that he be returned
10 the commanding officer at Fort Wagner,
GEN. GILMORE TO GEN. BEACREGARD
In reply TO Gen. Beauregard's two dispatches
Of the 22d ultimo, Gen. Gilmore, on the 5th of
August after noticing the remark of Gen Beau
regard that he was at q loss toperceiye the ne
cessity for his statement that he {Gen.G. } should
expect a full compliance on his (Gen. B.'s) part
with the same rules, &c, in their unrestricted
application to all the forces under his COM
mand, states that he considered his remarks as
pertinent and proper at that time.
Events, he adds, since TRANSFERRED, show them
to have been erninently SO. In proof he quotes
the circumstances OF agreement for mutual
paroling and returning to their respective
commands the wounded prisoners in our hands.
You declined, General Gilmore goes on to
say, to return the wounded officers and men
belonging to my colored regiments, and your
subordinate i'll charge Of the exchange asserted
that the question had been left for after consid-
Grafton. He could but regard this transaction
rs a palpabie breach Of faith on General
Beaurpgards part, and q fragrant violation of
General Beauregard's pledges as an officer
In regard to the case of private Green, claimed
as deserter during suspension of hostllities,
he states that he did enter our lines durirp