e New Orleans, on the opposite side of the
river. He has a son in the secession army, whose uniform and
equipments, &c., are the symbols of secession of which
General Phelps speaks. Mr. La Blanche's house was searched
by the order of General Phelps, for arms and contraband of
war, and his neighbors say that his negroes were told that
they were free if they would come to the general's camp.

[Illustration: COOKING IN CAMP]

"That thereupon the negroes, under the lead of Jack,
determined to leave, and for that purpose crowded into a
small boat which, from overloading, was in danger of
swamping.

"La Blanche then told his negroes that if they were
determined to go, they would be drowned, and he would hire
them a large boat to put them across the river, and that
they might have their furniture if they would go and leave
his plantation and crop to ruin.

"They decided to go, and La Blanche did all a man could to
make that going safe.

"The account of General Phelps is the negro side of the
story; that above given is the story of Mr. La Blanche's
neighbors, some of whom I know to be loyal men.

"An order against negroes being allowed in camp is the
reason they are outside.

"Mr. La Blanche is represented to be a humane man, and did
not consent to the 'exodus' of his negroes.

"General Phelps, I believe, intends making this a test case
for the policy of the government. I wish it might be so, for
the difference of our action upon this subject is a source
of trouble. I respect his honest sincerity of opinion, but I
am a soldier, bound to carry out the wishes of my government
so long as I hold its commission, and I understand that
policy to be the one I am pursuing. I do not feel at liberty
to pursue any other. If the policy of the government is
nearly that I sketched in my report upon the subject and
that which I have ordered in this department, then the
services of General Phelps are worse than useless here. If
the views set forth in his report are to obtain, then he is
invaluable, for his whole soul is in it, and he is a good
soldier of large experience, and no braver man lives. I beg
to leave the whole question with the president, with perhaps
the needless assurance that his wishes shall be loyalty
followed, wer