BRITISH CONSULATE,
New Orleans, May 8, 1862.
Maj. Gen. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, U. S..Army,
Commanding Department of the
Gulf:
SIR: Mr. J. J. Burrowes, a British subject, and who lately
commanded a company composed entirely of British subjects, organized to comply
with the laws of this State, has informed me that, at your request and in
compliance with an order from Brigadier-General Juge, he appeared before you
yesterday for purposes which I shall have the honor to state in this
communication, and he begs my interference in behalf of himself and of the
other British subjects concerned. Mr. Burrowes states to me that you informed
him that every member of the "British Guard" must report to you with
uniforms and arms, and those failing to do so must leave this city within
twenty-four hours or be sent to Fort Jackson. It has come to my knowledge
within the past two days, and I am given to understand that you are in
possession of information to the same effect, that some members, a minority of
the whole, of the company of "British Guard," believing that the duty
which had been imposed upon them by the law of this State was at an end and
their services no longer required, a short time prior to the occupation of this
city by the military authorities of the United States, sent their arms and
equipments (their own private property, I believe) from the city—to whom or
where Mr. Burrowes is unable to inform me. For this reason it will be
impossible for them to report to you as soldiers, a character in which the
British subjects now in question have never been desirous of showing themselves
in the existing strife in this country.
It is not my intention in this communication to shield my
countrymen in the step they have taken, for it may be construed as a breach of
that neutrality imposed by Her Majesty on all of her subjects; but if it is
looked upon in that light I feel convinced that they, when they took such
action, were ignorant of the importance that might be attached to it, and did
it with no idea of wrong or harm.
It may not, sir, be irrelevant for me to mention that I much
regret to hear that the position of British subjects in this city as neutrals
should have been questioned or doubted. When the militia law of this State was
enforced by the authorities, requiring all men between the ages of eighteen and
forty-five years who were in the State to perform militia duty, I was compelled
to oppose the law, and informed the Executive of this State that the service
imposed upon British subjects was contrary to the law of nations, and placed
them beyond that neutral position which had been enjoined upon them by their
Government. This was partly at the instance of many British subjects, and
conjointly done with the consuls of seven other European Governments. In
consequence of our action the U.S. authorities, on taking possession of this
city, found that the city was to a great extent in the charge of the foreign
corps, and they were performing a service allowed by their own Government, and
one not deemed incompatible by either belligerent. Consequently, it is scarcely
reasonable to suppose that after so strongly opposing the militia law, for fear
of losing or violating their rights as British subjects, they would voluntarily
and knowingly place themselves in that unpleasant position which they have for
many months so carefully avoided. As I have had the honor to state above, and
for the cause mentioned, it will not be possible for some of the British
subjects, who were members of the "British Guard," to obey the verbal
order of questioned legality given to Mr. Burrowes—that they should report to
you as soldiers; and it would become my duty to solemnly protest in the name of
Her Majesty's Government against the alternative stated by you, the enforcement
of which would infringe the rights of British subjects residing in the United
States.
I have the honor to
be, sir, your most obedient servant,
GEORGE COPPELL,
Her Britannic
Majesty's Acting Consul.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume
2 (Serial No. 123), p. 124-5
