Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-02-06

native on lh' Town III WHICH ne ultt,
graduated from the United states Mil
itNy Academy in 1885, and served for
/ twcnty-thrcc years afterwards with high
credit as an officer of the 4th United States
artillery in Texas, on the Plains and in
the Mexican war. He was one Of IA com
mission of three officers to whom was en-
trusted by the War Departments the prep
aration of the manual for the artillery ser
vice of the United States army which
was in use for many years, during which
| that arm of the service became distn-
guished for its efficiency. This manual
was largely his work He was severely
wounded in the battle of Cherubusco, in
Mexico, and brevctted captain for mcri.
tOrious and gallant service at Cuntreras
and Cherubusco.
lie resigned his commission in Novem-
Der 1859, ms his West Point record states,
"from conscientious scruples." What
these scruplcs We're is not stated. But
the great question then before the country
was that of slavery. John Browns mad
attempt to inauguratc n servilc insurrcc-
tion had just failed, and his raid on Har-
pcrs Ferry had been defeated, AMI his ar
rest effected, in large part, by United
States troops. In the light of Captain
Phelps's known views and subsequent his
tory, it may he presumed that his "scru-
ples' Were against remainngas an officer Of
an army which he believed was to he used
to sustain human slavery. Seventeen
months later, the tender of his sword to
his State, for service in Il war which he
doubted not was to destroy slavery, was
willingly accepted 10y Governor Fairbanks
No member of Nermont's FIRST reni-
meut of Volunteers, in the civil war will
ever forget Colonel Phelps a thorough
soldier and master of the details of his
profession, just, upright, conscientious, a
man who knew no fear kind of heart
and of universal courtesy, extended to
high and low alike, observant of
every duty as an officer and gen
tlelnan, and requiring strict obedience and
faithful service from all under him. he
came to be looked up to by the officers and
men OF his command as father. He
gave to them in turn the kindeet and most
faithful care. He made the regiment a
model of drill and good order, and Il school
of military discipline for the hundreds Of
its members who became officers OF regi-
mcnts subsequently organized. and thus
undoubtedly contributed not Il little to the
general high standing of the Vermont
troops in the war.
Colonel Phelps led his regiment on the
/ first reconnaissance made from Fortress
Monroe, in May lNGi, when he occupied
for few hours the ancient village of
Hampton, Va; and his regiment ON the
9th of ,iay, under his direction. threw up
at Newport News the first permanent
/ Notifications constructed 10y Union troops
on the soil Of Virginia. Gen. Phelps was
promoted toa brigadier-gencr;rship ON that
/ day, and was in command of the post at
/ Newport News and ON the Peninsula till
selected by Gen. Butler to command the
portion of his expedition sent to occupy
| Ship Island, in the Gulf. He went thithpr
with 1000 troops in December, 1851, and
sgnaizcd his arrival by issuing Il pro
clamation to the southern people drclar-
ing slavery to be Incompatible with free
institutions, and its overthrow the object
of the war In June, 1862, while in com
mand at Carrolton, Louisiana, he began
eulisting CUutrabandS who had sought
refuge in his lines, as soldiers, and made
a formal rcQustion for arms and clothing
for three regiments of Africans, which,
propose to raise tor the defence of this
point, he added society in the South
seems To be ON the point of dissolution and
the best way of preventing the African
from becoming instrumental in Il general
state of anarchy is to enlist him in the
cause OF the Republic. VI 1t is for
the interest OF the South as well as the
North that the African he permitted to
oiler ms block for the temple of freedom. y
Gen. Butler disapproved the requsition
ana directed Cen Phelps to employ his
contrabandS IN building entertainments
but not TO organize them as soldiers. Gen,
fhelpS reply was Il am not willing to
become the mere slaVe-driNer you propose,
having no quallllcatlons that way = and
at once threw up his commission. Gen.
Butler, VINO had very hlGh opinion of
Gen. Phelps, refused to accept his resi--
nation, but Phelps was not the kind of
man to yield IN such controversy. a
few days Later following the ar