WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City,
D.C., June 29, 1862.
Maj. Gen. BENJAMIN
F. BUTLER,
Commanding, &c., New Orleans, La.:
SIR: My last
communication to you, intrusted for delivery to Cuthbert Bullitt, esq., then on
the point of departing for New Orleans, bore date on the 23d instant, and since
that time I have received your dispatches of the 17th, 18th, and 19th instant,
with their various inclosures.
The suggestions
made in your dispatch of the 10th instant as to a “qualified amnesty” have been
brought to the notice of the President, and his determination shall be
announced to you with the least possible delay.
The attention of
the President has also been drawn to your General Orders, No. 41, requiring
certain oaths from foreigners resident at New Orleans, as well as to your
correspondence on that subject with the acting British consul, and two
communications relative thereto have been received from the State Department,
of which copies are herewith transmitted to you by direction of the President
for your information and guidance.
The Department has
likewise received from the Secretary of State the inclosed copy of certain
instructions issued by him to the Hon. Reverdy Johnson to examine and report as
to the facts touching the sugars claimed by certain British, French, and
Grecian merchants, of which mention was made in your dispatch of the 17th
instant, and also a letter, of which a copy is inclosed, approving your course
with reference to the Mexican consulate, which it gives me great pleasure to
transmit to you.
The views expressed
in your dispatch of the 25th May, to which you again refer in that of the 18th
instant, as to the policy to be pursued in regard to persons held under the
laws of Louisiana to labor or service, but whom the fortunes of war have placed
within your command, have strongly impressed me. It has not yet, however, been
deemed necessary or wise to fetter your judgment by any specific instructions
in this regard.
Your last dispatch
upon this subject and the accompanying report of General Phelps, which were not
received until the 28th instant, shall be laid before the President. Pending
his consideration, and any action which he may see fit to take thereon, it is
confidently hoped that, exercising your accustomed skill and discretion, you
will so deal with this question as to avoid any serious embarrassment to the
Government or any difficulty with General Phelps.
Your cordial
commendation of his skill, experience, and courage renders the Department very
unwilling to forego the aid of his services.
The news of the
brilliant achievement of Lieutenant-Colonel Kimball, of the Twelfth Maine
Volunteers, and the brave men under his command, at Manchac Pass was very
gratifying to the Department, and it entirely approves your action in allowing
the regiment to retain the colors which they had so gallantly taken from the
enemy.
Information has
reached the Department that General McClellan has met with a serious reverse in
front of Richmond. Though the details have not transpired, it is quite certain
that the published accounts are very much exaggerated. The army has changed its
base, with comparatively little loss, to a much stronger position (Turkey
Point) on the James River, and will, it is confidently expected, very soon
march on and into Richmond.
I am, general, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
15 (Serial No. 21), p. 515-6
