"Desiring this communication to be laid before the president, and leaving my commission at his disposal, I have the honor to remain, sir,
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. Phelps, Brigadier-General."
On the day on which he received this letter, Gen. Butler forwarded to Washington this dispatch:
"New Orleans, La., June 18, 1862.
"Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
"Sir:—Since my last dispatch was written, I have received the accompanying report from General Phelps.
"It is not my duty to enter into a discussion of the questions which it presents.
"I desire, however, to state the information of Mr. La Blanche, given me by his friends and neighbors, and also Jack La Blanche, his slave, who seems to be the leader of this party of negroes. Mr. La Blanche I have not seen. He, however, claims to be loyal, and to have taken no part in the war, but to have lived quietly on his plantation, some twelve miles above 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.
