[Untitled], September 18, 1862.
[Untitled]
Sir: We have possessed for 19 years a sugar plantation known by the name of the “Star Plantation,” situated about 33 miles above this city, on the right bank of the Mississippi.
We were in the peaceable and unequivocal enjoyment of this plantation, when lately, as you will see below, by arbitrary acts of the federal authorities at New Orleans, we have sustained considerable losses.
Some particulars of what has taken place will show you the losses which we have experienced, and will give you a glance at the nature of the acts committed by the officers of the United States, acting in virtue of orders emanating from the headquarters of the department of the Gulf.
At two different periods General Butler has sent detachments of cavalry and infantry of the army of the United States, under the command of Col. Thomas, to various points above New Orleans.
The first of these expeditions dates back to the 29th of August last, when Lieutenant Perkins was detached by Colonel Thomas with a picket of federal soldiers, and came to make a search on our plantation. The only excuse which he invoked to justify this violation of domicil was that the United States had the most pressing need of animals and of various articles that could be found on the plantation. In spite of the energetic protestations of our manager, they took possession of a great number of animals and of various articles, of which an inventory is herewith annexed under the letter A. The whole were sent to New Orleans.
A few days afterwards, on the 8th and 9th of the present month, a detachment of troops of the United States committed a similar violation of domicil, and again carried away animals and various articles. This detachment, moreover, committed numerous depredations. The losses to which this second expedition subjected us are enumerated in the memorandum B. Besides this, the soldiers of the United States induced our slaves to escape by promising them the protection of the federal authorities. Encouraged by the support which was promised them, they left our plantation, and took refuge in the federal camps. An inventory of said slaves is annexed, and is designated by the letter C.
Our manager has been unable to obtain any receipt for the articles carried off in the name of the government. It has been in vain that on our part we have implored General Butler. We have to abandon now the idea of making a direct claim on the representative of the federal government at New Orleans; but we have recourse to you, Mr. Consul, persuaded, as we are, that you will take the necessary steps to obtain from the government of the United States what we have been unable to obtain in a friendly manner from its representative here.
We reserve to ourselves, moreover, the right to claim hereafter such sums as may be due us for the loss which will be sustained by our standing crop, which is seriously jeopardized in consequence of the taking away the stock, which is necessary to its cultivation.
We have the honor, &c., &c.,
The Consul of France at New Orleans.
Document A.
| One stallion, of pure blood, named Black Eagle | $1,500 | ||||
| Two mares, of pure blood | 1,600 | ||||
| One carriage horse | 500 | ||||
| Four young horses, of pure blood | 1,200 | ||||
| Twenty work mules, at $225 | 4,500 | ||||
| Twenty-five Merino sheep | 300 | ||||
|
3,000 | ||||
| Saddles, bridles, and harness | 200 | ||||
| 12,800 |
Twelve thousand eight hundred dollars.
Document B.
| Fifteen work mules, at $225 | $3,375 00 |
| Three carts and harness for nine mules | 400 00 |
| One cart, broken on place | 100 00 |
| One saddle horse and one cabriolet | 500 00 |
| One hogshead of sugar weighing 1,200 pounds, at 10 cents | 120 00 |
| Ten barrels of flour | 120 00 |
| Six barrels of mess pork | 132 00 |
| One tierce of shoulders | 88 00 |
| Two barrels of lamp oil, 41 gallons, at $2 50 | 92 25 |
| Fifteen gallons of lard oil | 41 25 |
| Taken a chest carpenter’s tools | 175 00 |
| Injuries to steam-engine | 1,000 00 |
| Wines, liquors, groceries, crockery were, &c | 500 00 |
| Clothes and shoes for the negroes | 600 00 |
| Six hogs and vault the back yard | 150 00 |
| Fifty barrels of Indian corn | 50 00 |
| 7,443 50 |
Seven thousand four hundred and forty-three dollars and fifty cents.
Document C.
Sixty-six negroes, worth sixty-six thousand dollars.
[Translation.]
Recapitulation.
| Document A | $12,800 00 |
| Document B | 7,443 50 |
| Document C | 66,000 00 |
| 86,243 50 |
Eighty-six thousand two hundred and forty-three dollars and fifty cents.