PHELPS, .Toni WoLcorr An American soldier, born at Guilford Centre, Vt. He graduated at West Point in 1536. and soon thereafter participated in campaigns against the Creeks and Seminoles. During the Mexican War he was engaged in several of the most important battles, and in 1550 was commissioned of the Fourth Artillery. In 1859 he resigned from the army, but on the outbreak of the Civil War entered the Federal service as colonel of the First Vermont Volunteers. On May 17, 1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, . and was sent to occupy Newport News. I le took military possession of Ship Island. Miss.. in No vember, 1861, and caperated with Farragut in opening up the Lower Mississippi in April, 1862. After the oecupation of New Orleans he, on his own initiative. organized the first negro troops enrolled for service in the Federal armies. This
action caused great excitement among the Con federates, whose Government on 1862. declared him an outlaw for having or ganized and armed negro slaves. The authorities at Washington were not then reads' to support l'helps. and ordered the troops disbanded and to be employed as laborers. On this order General Phelps resigned. August and took no further part in the war. During the latter years of his life he devoted himself to an anti-llasonie agitation, and in 1880 was nominated for the Presidency by the 'American' Party. He wrote several books, including a History of Madagascar (18S4) and the Fables l'h»-ion (15titi) : and translated de la Hodde's Sue;Of's seen les tie France (1864). Consult Howard. Life and Public Services of Gen. John Wolcott Phelps (Brattleboro, Vt., 1887).