Camp Parapet: “Contraband” Camp
Camp Parapet: “Contraband” Camp Enslaved blacks who freed themselves by escaping to Union army camps during the Civil War were called “contraband of war”. Slaves from sugar plantations along the Mississippi made Camp Parapet a “contraband camp” after New Orleans was captured by Union navy and army in the spring of 1862. The camp commander, General John W. Phelps, refused to return runaway slaves to their owners. The planters complained about General Phelps to General Benjamin F. Butler, overall commander of Union troops in the New Orleans area: “My negro sam and his wife Mary left my farm, about 2 miles above Camp Parapet, on the morning of the 19th instant, before daylight…..I called on General Phelps…He could not give any redress, his views on the slavery question are different from any other I ever heard on this subject before.” W. Mitthoff to General Benjamin F. Butler, May 21,1862 “As the President of the Police Jury, Parish of Jefferson, Left Bank (East Bank), I feel it my duty to call your attention to the demoralizing effect on the serving population, not alone of this Parish, but of the whole state, by the course General Phelps adopted in refusing to return our servants.” W. Mitthoff to General Benjamin F. Butler, May 29, 1862 “Seven of my most valuable slaves have been for nearly a month at General Phelps’ camp, and all my efforts to get them back have proved unavailing.” Polycarpe Fortier to General Benjamin F. Butler, June 4, 1862 “ I am informed that two of my slaves, viz: Nancy, a negress, about 35 or 40 years old, and Louisa, a dark griff about 40 or 45 years old, are at the camp of General Phelps above Carrollton.” V.
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