Year: 1862

his services petty military chiefain by ohering him
freedom have them for the purpose OF robbery ana
plunder it il for the interests Of the south well
for the North that the African should DO pormlsd 70
offer his block for the temple OF freedom. Sentiments
unworthy of the man o the present day. worthy only Of
another Cso, could prevent such an oner from ooinS
accepted would recommsnd thai the cadet graduates
of the should be to South Carolina ana
this point to organize and discipline our AFRICAN svies
and that the promising non commissioned onicers
and prvates of the army be appointed as company or
GERS to command them Prompt and energetic Efforts In
this would probably accomplish more towards
of peace amy than any other course which could be
adopted have the honor 10 remain, sir very respect


J. W. PHELPS, Brigadier General


HEApQu ARrERs, DEPARTMENT OF TIM GuE,(


NEW ORLEANS, July 81, 1852.


GsNsRAL-The General Commanding wishes you TO en-
poy in and about your camp ia cutting
down all the trees &C.. between lines and the lake
forming abattis according TO the plan agreed upon
since. What wood 10 not used by you is much
headed this city For this purpose have ordered the
Quarter furnish you with and for the
BY order Of Major General BUTLER


r. s. DAVIS, Captain and A. A. A. G.


HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TEE GuIy,l


New ORLEANS, July 81, 1862.
Captain R. g DAVIS Acting Assistant Adjuant General


SIR-lhe communication from your Office OF this date,
signed By order Major General Butler, directing mo to
employ the trabands and about camp in cutting
down all the trees between my lines and the lake So
has just been received In reply must state that while
willing prepare African regiments for the defence
the government against ASSISTANTS not willing
TO become the driver which propose hav
ing 40 qualifications in that way am Therefore under
the necessity rendering the resignation OF commits
sion an officer OF the army OF the United States and
respectfully request leave of absence until 1t is accept
cd, in accordance with paragraph 90 page IL OF the
General Regulation. While am writing, at half past
eight o'clck r. A coiorcd is brought in by Of
the pckets who has inst been wounded in the side by
charge Of shot which he says Cred at him by one OF
party OF three hare hunters gueras mile or more
from our line Of sentinels AS It is some distance from
the camp to the lake the party Of wood choppers which
yen have directed will probably need considerable force
10 guard them against similar attacks.


J. W. PHELPS, Brigadisr General.


HEApQu ARrERs DKPAR AESI or GULF,


New ORLEANS, August 2, 1862.


GENERALITY the act Of Congress as understand II,
the President OF the United States alone has the authority
to employ Africans in arms as part OF the military
forces Of the United States.


Every law up to this time, raising volunteer or militia
forces. has been opposed to their employment. The
President has not as yet indicated his purpose to employ
the Africans in arms.


The arms clothing and camp eluipage which / have
here for the Louisiana Volunteers by the letter Of the
Secretary Of War expressly limited to white solders
that have authority to direct them, however much
may desire so TO do.


do not think you are empowered organize into COM
panes negroes ana drill them military organization.
as unexpectedly informed you have done. cannot
sanction this OF action as at present advised
especially when have need of the services Of the
blacks who being sheltered upon the outskirts OF
your camp as you will by the orders for their
poynent sent you by the Assistant Adjutant General


will send your application to the President but, in
the meantime you desist from the formation Of any
negro military organization.


BENZ f. CUTLER, Major General Commanding.


Brigadsr General PHELPS, Commanding forces At Camp
Parapet.


HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GuLP,


NEW ORLEANS, August ., 1862


GEyERAL-I was somewhat surprised % receive your
resignation for the stated


When you were put in command at Camp paraps sent
Lieutenant Wezsl, my chief engineer, 10 make recon
noissance of the lines Of Carroton and understand
agreed betw you and the engineer that removal
your inrenchmsnts was q necessary military precaution
The work could not be done a that time because OF the
stage Of the water and the want Of men But now both
water and concur You have i've hundred Africans
organized into companies You write this work they
fitted to do. 1t must either be done BY them or my
soldiers now drilled and disciplined You have said the
location is unhealthy to tho sodiers-it the
gro. Is it not best that these unemployed Africans should
do this labor My attention Is especially called to this
matter at the present time because there are reports Of
demonstration to be made on your lines by the rcbels
and my judgment, il is matter of necessary precau
ton thus clear the right Of your ne that you
receive proper gunboas the lake be-
sides preventing the enemy from having cover To do
this the negroes ought TO be employed aud In so employ
ing them see no evidence Of slave driving or employing
you a slave driver


The soldiers the Army of the Potomac did this very
thing last summer in front OF Arlington Heights Are
the negroes any better than they Because OF order
TO do this necessary thing TO protect your front threaten
ed BY the enemy You tender your ree'guaton and ask
immediate leave OF absence. / you did not
poet ths either from your courage your patriotism or
your good To resign in face OF an enemy has not
been the highest plaud TO a soldier especially when the
assigned that he is ordsred to do that which
act OF Congress has specially authorized com
malluer 10 uO-- 10 tuo ucCcs-
sary work about camp upon forhcation. General,
your resignation will not Be accepted by me- leave OF
absence viii be granted and you will see TO it, that
my orders thus necessary for the defence OF the city
faithfully and diligently executed upon the responsibility
tha, soldier in the field his superior will
that all proper requsons for the food, shelter and
clothing Of these negroes at work are at once filed by
proper department. You will also send out proper
guard to protect the aepters against the guerilla force
BENJAMIN +. BIZ Tier, Major General Commanding.


While on This subject of the conflict between the black
and white will relate the adventures Of the river
steamer Empire Parish her last trip Baton Rouge'
an expedition which ended in .nippng in the budn
incpen serve nsurrection Some Of your readers will
remember that in my last mentioned that the Empire
Parish under dag Of truce and crowded with women and
children, fired upon By guerillas, few miles abov
Donaldsonville.


On last Tuesday, without the white nag and armed
with six FOUNDER Sawyer, with percussion shell and
canister, and manned by twenty five Of Company
G twenty sixth Massachusetts, regiment under command
Of First Lieut. James Brady Jr she again started on her
trip, with provisions TO land at almost every plantation
Information having been received at headquarters that
the rebels had declared martial law the parish Of
cension and that Of the most prominent citizens
were seizing men against their win and under the
acrption act kidnapping them OF to tho rebel
army Lieutenant Brady furnished with list Of per-
sons whom he was to arrest. The most noted among
them were Gilmore, late director of the United States
Mint Henry Minor Provost Marshal OF the parish Of As
censon Donald + Kenner ex.repycscntave in Congress
Thomas weighmsn, Brigade Inspector and Col Frasimon
landry.


The Empire Parish proceeded on her trip without
lsstation, stopping at almost every plantation After
leaving DonaIsonvle Lieutenant Brady observed q
driving horse and buggy and evidently either trying
get ahead Of the boat to give warning to band
Of sueras else following to watch the movements OF
the boat Arrived Colonel Landrys plantation where
the Empire Parish had been fred the previous trip
Lieutenant Brady landed with his men, to the pro-
prsoor but he had skedaddledp They found two men
apparently ovsrseers whom they at arrested tenn
porary for the purpose Of sllctng information. They
we're inclined to be somewhat reserved and pretended
ignorance but order from Lieutenant Brady to