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•HUNT- LIBRSRY
CARNEGIE INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY
HUNT LIBRARY
PRESENTED BY
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL
CORRESPONDENCE OF
GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF
GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
DURING THE PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR
IN FIVE VOLUMES
VOLUME II June, 1862 — February, 1863
PRIVATELY ISSUED 1917
COPYKIGHT, IQI? BY JESSIE AMES MARSHALL
THE'PLIMPTON'PRESS NOaWOOD'MASS'U'S'A
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL
CORRESPONDENCE OF
GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF
GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June %5tht 1862
Mesdames SLOCUMB and URQUHART
ME&DAMES: I have the pleasure to inform you that my necessities which caused the request for permission to use your house during your absence this summer have been relieved. I have taken the house of General Twiggs, late of the United States Army, for quarters.
Inclined never on slight causes to use the power entrusted to me to grieve even sentiments only entitled to respect from the courage and lady-like propriety of manner in which they are averred, it is gratifying to be enabled to yield to the appeal you made for favor and protection by the United States.
Yours shall be the solitary exception to the General Rule adopted — that they who ask protection must take upon themselves corresponding obligations or do an equal favor to the Government.
I have an aged mother at home, who, like you, might request the inviolability of hearthstone and roof-tree from the pres- ence of a stranger. For her sake you shall have the pass you ask, which is sent herewith.
As I did myself the honor to say personally, you may leave the city with no fear that your house will be interfered with by any exercise of military right, but will be safe under the laws of the United States.
Trusting that the inexorable logic of events will convict you of wrong toward your country when all else has failed. I
remain' Your Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Comdg.
VOL. II — I
2 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 24, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Mr. H. M. PALFREY
SIR: You will please pay all bills that are necessary and proper for fitting up Gen. Twiggs' house for Maj. Gen. Butler's occupancy, and when it is all finished present the vouchers at these Head Quarters and the account will be settled.
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER, R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From H. W. Palfrey
Palfrey & Go's Real Estate, Stock, Auction & Mortgage Loan Office,
No, 43 Carondelet Streett NEW ORLEANS, June 28, 1862 CNot in chronological order]
A. J. BUTLER, Esq.
SIR: I have just received your note of this date. My instruc- tions from General Butler are to collect some rent and notes due to General Twiggs, and to pay some bills of furniture for General Twiggs' House in Prystania Street, after said bills are approved and signed by him or by his orders.
I have nothing to do with purchasing any furniture. I expect to collect $500 or $1000 for General Twiggs on Monday or Tuesday, but may be disappointed. I have already paid $212 out of my private funds for matting.
Your obedient servant, H. W. PALFREY
P.S. I send you copy of General Butler's orders. From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 26, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 138
H. W, PALFREY, the former agent of the estate and property of Gen. D. E. Twiggs, is hereby appointed custodian of said property, and will hold rent and take care of the same till further orders. He will pay the necessary bills of expenses of fitting up said Twiggs houses in Prystania Str., upon approval of the bills at these Headquarters, and appropriate thereto such sums or personal property as may be sufficient for that
purpose* By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt A. A. A. G.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 8
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 26, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 46
ALL the property in New Orleans belonging to Gen. D. E. Twiggs, and of his minor son the income of which he has received under the charge of his agent, H. W. Palfrey, Esq., consisting of real estate, bonds, notes of hand, Treasury notes of the United States, slaves, household furniture, etc., is hereby sequestered, to be held to await the action of the United States
overnmen . ^ command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and "A. A. A. G.
From a Union Man
NEW ORLEANS, June 26*A, 1862
Major General BUTLER
SIR: Please accept the accompanying case of pistols in token of the gratitude I feel for your coming here, and the re-establishment of Federal rule in place of the tyranny prac- tised by Jeff Davis and his followers. I was a Union prisoner at the time of the fleet coming up to the city, and since my liberation have received many acts of kindness at the hands of yourself and those of your command, and I take this method of testifying my appreciation therefor.
Yours Respectfully, A UNION MAN
From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 26, 1862
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
SIR: I send herewith the copper plates for printing Confed- erate States Treasury notes. I hope by this capture I have dangered their exchequer. The plates are, however, pretty well worn.
I also enclose a letter showing the determination of Mr. Memminger, C. S. Treasurer, in regard to the Specie of the New Orleans Banks.
By an order I have rendered it impossible for them to do business out of the state. I have the honor to be
Very Respt. Yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
4 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Exhibit referred to in Foregoing Letter
Confederate States of America, Treasury Department, RICHMOND, June 5, '62
[Not in chronological order]
Messrs. WOOD & BROTHERS, Agents of Banks of NEW ORLEANS
SIRS: The coin of the Banks of New Orleans was seized by the Government to prevent it from falling into the hands of the public enemy. It has been deposited in a place of security under the charge of the Government, and it is not intended to interfere with the right of property in the Banks further than to insure its safe custody.
They may proceed to conduct their business in the Confed- erate States upon this deposit just as though it were in their own vaults.
Very Respectfully, C. G. MEMMINGER, Sect, of Treas.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 26$, 1862
To General Dix
MY DEAR GENERAL: When I read your decision and patriotic order as Secretary of Treasury to "shoot on the spot" whom- soever should attempt to haul down the American Flag, my heart bounded with joy. It was the first bold stroke of the Union under the past administration.
It gives me therefore redoubled pleasure more directly to testify my admiration by sending you the identical flag of the Revenue Cutter "McClellan," which was the subject of that order, together with the Confederate flag which was hoisted by traitor hands in its place.
David Ritchie, a young Scotch Sailor on board that boat, remaining true to his adopted country when so many of her sons proved recreant, went on board the "McClellan" when she was being burnt by the Confederates and brought off the Flags.
His affidavit which accompanies this will give the detail of facts. I doubt not the Secretary of the Treasury will permit you to retain the flags, which could not be in better hands. Believe me, General, ^ ^ Ym
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 5
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 27, 1862
The President
SIR: I have the honor to send you with this note three swords with their equipments, formerly belonging to David E. Twiggs, late Brevet-Major General in the army of the United States.
They are each presentation swords. One given him by resolution of Congress which bears the following legend:
"Presented by the President of the United States agreeable to a resolution of Congress to Brig. Gen'l. DAVID E. TWIGGS, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in storming Monterey.
"Resolution approved March 2nd, 1847."
Another by the State of Georgia, and bears the following legend and inscription:
"Constitution
The State of Georgia to Major General DAVID E. TWIGGS, U.S.A., as a tribute to his gallantry in Mexico 1847. Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Cerro Gorde, Chapulte- pec, Molino del Rey, Mexico."
The third by his native City, Augusta, Ga., and has the following legend : " Texas, 8th and 9th of May 1846, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gorde. To Gen'l. DAVID E. TWIGG from the citizens of Augusta, Georgia."
General Twiggs left these swords with a young woman on the evening before he fled from New Orleans, and in his flight on the day of the approach of the fleet, he wrote in his carriage while en route this extraordinary paper.
"I leave my swords to Miss Rowena Florence, and box of
Sll VP^T*
NEW ORLEANS, %5th, April, 1862
DAVID E. TWIGGS"
This paper was claimed as a deed of gift of these very valuable weapons by the young person named, but as she had neglected to inform her father of this singular donatio causa fugae, and as the girl's mother caused them to be given to a negro to be sent to Gen'l. Twiggs' house, and as they were found in possession of this negro, I venture to interfere with this testamentary disposition.
A more lamentable instance of the degradation to which this rebellion has reduced its votaries can hardly be imagined.
6 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Swords given to a General for courage and good conduct in the armies of the Union as tokens of admiration by his fellow- citizens and the gratitude of a State and Nation, voluntarily bequeathed for safe-keeping to a woman as a more proper custodian than himself, by that same General, when flying at the approach of the Armies of that country which he had re- nounced and betrayed, at last find a depository with a negro, for the sake of enslaving whom even the double crime of treachery and rebellion had been consummated.
Now that the weapon given by the United States is returned to the Executive, and the others placed at his disposal, might I take leave to suggest a possible disposition of them.
Might not the first be presented to some Officer as a token of appreciation of loyalty and devotion to the country?
The qualities of courage and good conduct on the battle- field have never been found wanting in our armies, but loyalty and entire devotion to the country have failed in so many examples of which General Twiggs is a shining one, that some token of respect for those qualities bestowed in this manner, might not be inappropriate.
The sword from the State of Georgia might be deposited in the Library of West Point, with an appropriate inscription, as a perpetual memento to the youths there, how worse than useless are all education and military training, even when allied to gallantry and courage, if heartfelt patriotism and undying fidelity to the Constitution and the Flag are wanting.
That given by the City of Augusta might be deposited in the Patent Office as a warning against the folly and uselessness of such an invention as "Secession."
Pardon the freedom of these suggestions and believe me
most faithfully, v , , . 0
* Your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. General Commanding From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 27th, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: Enclosed will be found several letters addressed to "General David E. Twiggs, late of the U. S. Army," by his son-in-law, Col. Myers, late of the army and now Quartermaster General, I believe, of the Confederate State Government.
The letter of Nov. 12th, 1860, which encloses the order for General Twiggs to take command in Texas, shows that at
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 7
that early day he was contemplating the treason he has since acted, and that he sought the very place so as to be in posi- tion to do the utmost mischief.
The others of dates May 16th, 22nd, and 26th, disclose the reasons of his appointment as "Provisional General" by the rebel Government, and his declination of the position of Major General.
All these were found in his house, which I have taken pos- session of, and with its furniture have had put in order for quarters for myself and a portion of my staff.
I have caused all the property here which General Twiggs owned or of which he received the income, to be sequestered, and the rents, after paying expenses, to be held to await the action of the Government of the United States. I have the honor to be, Fowr obedimt Servant,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General Comdg.
From J. Bailey Myers
NEW YORK, June 28*A, 1862
Major General BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: Will you allow me to add my congratu- lations to those of your many friends on your late successes. I have watched them with deep interest, and done all I could to cooperate by a little scribbling and newspaper censorship on my own hook.
I believed in your star when it was a little under a cloud of detraction, and I enjoy immeasurably the display of its fuller light. If I can serve you in any way here, pray use me. I will with pleasure attend to any wish or commission. I have been a thousand times tempted to give up everything here and join you, and have used every exertion to get a leave of absence to do so, in vain. I was in Boston day before yesterday, and found Fay very busy in your matters. I envied him for having it in his power to serve you. He is a splendid fellow. In the cars, hotels, and in fact everywhere, the name of Butler was in all, and in the churches. My old Uncle, Captain Bailey, U.S.N., was greatly pleased with you. He is a staunch old fellow and loves a row.
Be so kind as to present me kindly to the gentlemen of your
mi i ary ami y. Very respectfully, and truly yours,
J. BAILEY MYERS
8 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Information received by General Butler Relative to Governor
Moore
NEW ORLEANS, June 28, 1862
DEAR SIR: I have this morning seen a person who has just now returned from the town of Washington, the head of Navigation on the Bayou Cortableu which enters Atchafalaya.
He informs me that the Secession Govr., Thos. O. Moore, was there when he left, and that he had issued a lengthy Bombastic Murderous Proclamation, regarding trading Con- federate money, the only currency, and he orders all steam boats to be burned up at once, and authorizes every person to become partisan Rangers, and he also has the audacity to order the U. S. emblem to be torn in tatters wherever found. I am endeavoring to get a copy of his Document.
Mr. Moore is on a thieving expedition there. He seized the steam boats "Anna Pervette," "Nina Simms," and loaded them both with cotton. He went there with a lot of more thieves from Red River on the Steam Boat "Elmira" — he came in at what is called the mouth of Old River, or Old Red River mouth is the more proper name for that entrance. He has also loaded the "Elmira" and sent her to Red River also.
This Old River entrance into Red River is about 11 miles above the mouth of the entrance to the Red River from the Mississippi — there is any quantity of water in it at all seasons of the year, to allow of Gun Boats to go there. You can send boats into Atchafalaya by the same route as the Texas steamers run to Berwicks Bay, or at this stage of water they could go in at the Mississippi entrance, Bayou Plaquemines. One gun boat stationed there would prevent any further carrying of either cotton or sugar from Washington. This gentleman informs me that it is very much against the 'desires of the Washington people to have their property taken such care of by Moore. The business men and property owners are all Union men but dare not speak. It is said that Moore has sent it to Jefferson, Texas, both by the three above mentioned steam boats, and by mule teams across the Opelons — as Prairies.
I omitted to mention that in the event of a Gun Boat being sent there and remaining until low water mark in the Miss, it might not be easy to take her out, although there is always abundance of water for her to lay in. You have two stern wheel boats, the "Bee" and "Barvutaria" that can go in there
at all seasons of the year loaded. T/ ,- 77
* Very respectfully
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 9
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June Wth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 146
ALL cotton purchased by any officer, soldier, or person con- nected with the U.S. forces at Baton Rouge will be first offered for the use of the Penitentiary at the price for which it was purchased, before it can be sent away for sale or exchange.
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER, R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., June 29/A, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: My last communication to you entrusted for delivery to Cuthbert Bullett, Esq. — then on the point of departing for New Orleans, bore date on the 23rd instant, and since that time I have received your despatches of the 17th, 18th, and 19th, instant, with their various enclosures.
The suggestion made in your despatch of the 10th instant, as to a "qualified amnesty," has been brought to the notice of the President, and his determination shall be announced to you with the least possible delay.
The attention of the President has also been drawn to your General Order No. 41, requiring certain oaths from foreigners resident at New Orleans, as well as to your correspondence on that subject with the Acting British Consul, — and two communications relative thereto have been received from the State Department, of which copies are herewith transmitted to you, by direction of the President, for your information and guidance.
The Department has likewise received from the Secretary of State the enclosed copy of certain instructions issued by him to the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, to examine and report as to the facts touching the sugars claimed by certain British, French, and Grecian merchants, of which mention was made in your despatch of the 17th instant; and also a letter, of which a copy is enclosed, approving your course with reference to the Mexican Consulate, which it gives me great pleasure to transmit to you.
The views expressed in your despatch of the 25th May, to which you again refer in that of the 18th instant, as to the
10 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
policy to be preserved in regard to persons held under the laws of Louisiana to labor or service, but whom the fortune of war have placed within your command, — have strongly impressed me. It has not yet, however, been deemed neces- sary or wise to fetter your judgment by any specific instruc- tions in this regard.
Your last despatch upon this subject, and the accompany- ing report of General Phelps, which were not received until the 28th inst. shall be laid before the President. Pending his consideration, and any action which he may see fit to take thereon, it is confidently hoped that, exercising your accus- tomed skill and discretion, you will so deal with this question as to avoid any serious embarrassment to the Government, or any difficulty with General Phelps. Your cordial commenda- tions of his skill, experience, and courage renders the Depart- ment very unwilling to forego the aid of his services.
The news of the brilliant achievement of Lieut. Col. Kim- ball of the 12th Maine Vols., and the brave men under his command at Manchac Pass, was very gratifying to the Depart- ment, and it entirely approves your action in allowing the Regiment to retain the colors which they had so gallantly taken from the enemy.
Information has reached the Department that General McClellan has met with a serious reverse in front of Rich- mond. Though the details have not transpired, it is quite certain that the published accounts are very much exagger- ated. The army has changed its base, with comparatively little loss, to a much stronger position (Turkey Point) on the James River, and will, it is confidently expected, very soon march on and into Richmond. I am, General,
Very respectfully , Your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec. of War
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of State, WASHINGTON, %4th June, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I notice that Major General Butler is represented to have required certain oaths from foreigners at New Orleans. Though his general right, pursuant to martial law, to make any exactions which he may deem necessary for the peace and safety of the District under his command, cannot be ques- tioned, the expediency of requiring oaths from those who do
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 11
not owe a permanent allegiance to the Government is so doubt- ful that I am directed by the President to request you to order him to discontinue that practice for the future, and to cancel any such obligations which may thus have been compulsorily contracted. Foreigners owe temporary allegiance to the au- thorities wherever they may reside. From this nothing but a treaty stipulation can absolve them. In general, however, it is best to observe that they will observe this allegiance. If, however, they disregard it, the particular acts by which this disregard may be shown, are liable to punishment by the civil, or if this should be silent or inadequate, by martial law. It is preferable for the maintenance of harmonious relations with foreign powers that misconduct on the part of their citizens or subjects within our jurisdiction should not be anticipated, but that its actual development should be awaited. When it shall have occurred, is notorious in particular instances, or shall be susceptible of due proof, their Governments can- not reasonably complain if the guilty parties are punished in proportion to their offence.
This department having been officially apprised by the British Legation here that Mr. Coppell had been duly appointed Acting British Consul at New Orleans, I will again thank you to direct General Butler to respect his official acts accordingly. It is to be regretted that the General should have deemed it advisable to issue a certain order in consequence of which that gentleman deemed it necessary formally to relinquish his Con- sular functions. He has been requested through the British Legation here to resume them. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, WILLIAM SEWARD
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 9,7th June, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To the Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have just held an interview with Mr. Stuart, Her Britannic Majesty's Charge d'Affairs, in the course of which he has assured me that the letters of Mr. Coppell, the British Acting Consul at New Orleans, to the legation here, and everything else con- cerning him which has come to their knowledge, have uni- formly shown entire fairness towards this Government. It is to be apprehended, therefore, that General Butler in his correspondence with Mr. Coppell, especially that which relates to certain sugars at New Orleans, must have assumed a con-
12 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
trary hypothesis, and that in the severity of his remarks he has done that gentleman injustice. I will, consequently, thank you to communicate the fact and express to General Butler the President's desire that he will do what he can towards removing from Mr. Coppell's mind the impression of injury which he may have done to that gentleman. I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Department of State, WASHINGTON, D.C., Wth of June 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Honorable Reverdy JOHNSON, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
SIR: The President regards the renewal of commerce at New Orleans, and on the Mississippi and its tributaries, as a most effective means of bringing this unhappy civil strife to an end, and restoring the authority of the Federal Govern- ment. Such a restoration of trade is also calculated to deprive foreign powers of all excuse for sympathy with the insurgents. Under these circumstances, he deeply regrets every case of collision that occurs, even unavoidably, between the military authorities at New Orleans and the Consuls, merchants, and others concerned in commerce. While he will in all cases maintain the national rights, he desired to protect and guard the national honor in intercourse with foreign nations.
A correspondence between Major General Butler, and the Consuls of Great Britain, France, and Greece in regard to a certain quantity of sugars claimed by certain British, French and Grecian merchants has been brought to the notice of this Department through a report of Major General Butler, made to the Secretary of War.
The President desires and authorizes you, in addition to the special duties already assigned to you, to examine into the merits of that transaction, and to report the facts thereupon to this department, to the end that justice may be done in the matter.
The carrying this instruction into effect may detain you at New Orleans longer than was anticipated, but the importance of the business makes it advisable that it should be adjusted prior to your departure. I am sir,
Your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 13
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 29/A, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M, STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I am on my return from Baton Rouge, where I have been for the purpose of inspecting the Garrison and ascertain- ing if possible what is the sentiment of the people toward the Government.
The Garrison, consisting of two regiments 21st Indiana and the 6th Michigan Volunteers, with a section of Everett's Battery (6th Mass.), are in fine condition and health, and, I believe, strong enough to resist a threatened attack by Gen- eral Van Dorn, who has been put in command of the Depart- ment of the Mississippi in place of General Lovell, removed.
I have been agreeably disappointed in the feeling at Baton Rouge. There is a tiredness of the war and longing for the restoration of the old state of things, under the Union, which is gratifying. I had a visit from a dozen or more gentlemen of Baton Rouge and vicinity, representing some five or six mil- lions of property, and had conversation with them upon the new system of Partisan Rangers just now inaugurated, i.e. Guerilla Warfare. They deprecate it, and will do everything possible to discountenance it.
They offered to take the oath of allegiance if I required, but assured me they thought they could do more good by abstaining from that oath for the present, because it would be impossible for them to have communication with these partisans if they took the oath, and it should be publicly known.
Governor Moore has issued an address more remarkable than any document of the kind ever penned. I enclose a copy.
At the same time, General Van Dorn has issued his General Order No. 1, which recommends that all inhabitants remove eight miles from the river. I brought before me some of the most violent of the rebels, and after calling their attention to the present state of things, I proposed to them the oath of allegiance, and, after consideration over night, two of them, Mr. Benjamin, brother of the rebel Secretary of War, and Byam, the Mayor of the City, took the oath.
I brought away with me and now have under arrest five of those who had used threats toward the men who had shown themselves favorable to the Union.
14 LETTEBS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Upon full reflection and observation I find the condition of public sentiment to be this:
The planters and men of property are now tired of the war, well-disposed toward the Union, only fearing lest their negroes should not be let alone, would be quite happy to have the Union restored in all things.
The operative classes of white men of all trades are as a rule in favor of the Union.
In fact, this rebellion was at first inaugurated for the pur- pose of establishing a landed aristocracy as against the poor and middling whites, who had shown some disposition to assert their equality with the planter, and had begun to express themselves through organizations and on the basis of the Masonic Order into societies, of which the South is full, of which that ritual is the pattern. This disinclination of the people to the war has required the Conscription act, so that we now have the before unheard of fact of a people professedly fighting for their liberties against oppression, and obliged to do so by their leaders in a most rigid Conscription Act.
Free Conscripts are certainly evidence of progress in terms.
I have directed all the funds in the several banks belonging to the State of Louisiana to be sequestered and held for the disposition of the Government. They are all collected in Confederate Treasury notes, and so may not be very valuable.
By some unfortunate oversight the Paymasters came down here with $285,000 too little money to pay the troops up to last of May. Some of them have not been paid for six months, and some not since they have been in service, nine months. Men were disheartened; the Mails brought intelligence of the destitution of their families. Two months' more pay come due July 1st.
In this emergency, specie seized and which by the direction of a Commission was to be sent to Washington, in amount $50,000, was taken by pledge of personal credit and the faith of the Government a hundred thousand dollars more, which will be paid out to the suffering soldiers.
Major Locke, one of the Paymasters, has also been ordered to report to Washington to get funds to pay the allotment, and for the July payment which ought to be made at once, may I ask that his mission be speeded at once? Details are given in a note to the Secretary of the Treasury, a duplicate of which is enclosed.
The question of how to feed the people of this City and
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER 15
the surrounding country becomes of the utmost magnitude, and to it I have given the best exertions.
Owing to the impression at the North that the river was opened, no flour has been shipped from Northern Ports. It is now at a fabulous price. Moore's proclamation has frightened all the people from the Red River County from sending the flour here, and we are in danger of starving.
Upon consultation with Col. Turner, Chief Commissary of Subsistence, it has been thought best to distribute gratuitously under proper safeguard the Flour and Beef we can spare, say 2000 barrels of each.
The leading Secessionists will be taxed to pay the expenses, which I set down at about $75,000. It is absolutely neces- sary that a fast-sailing steamer, capable of containing 4000 Bbls. of Flour, Beef, & Pork, be at once forwarded for the use of the City. Col. Turner has made the necessary requisition for the flour, 4000 Bbls.
The trustees for the Charity Hospital have resigned, but have been continued in office, as will be seen by the enclosed correspondence.
July 3rd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
A boat from Vicksburg this morning brings news (but no official despatches) that there has been an attack upon the place, that a portion of the fleet have got by the Batteries and joined fleet of Commander Davis above, that General Williams has made a lodgment on the opposite Bank of the River and erected a Battery there, and with his rifle (d) 12 pounders is throwing shells into the town and enemy's camp. This is the rebels' last defense on the river, and must yield.
We are threatened with a Guerilla War which is claimed will be interminable. I take leave to suggest that it can be terminated in a few days. A reward offered of a $1000 for each Guerilla head, and freedom to the Negro who should bring it in, would bring that uncivilized system of war fare to a sudden termina- tion by an equally uncivilized remedy. "Fire set to fight fire."
I am sorry to say that some of the stories about the unhu- mane acts of our enemies are true. Insults to the dead are too shocking to be tolerated.
I hope all those who have whined over Order No. 28 will read the Order which I have felt it my duty to enforce in the cases of Mrs. Phillips, Keller, & Andrew, copies I enclose.
I beg leave to call attention to my call for more troops, I have enough to hold all I have occupied, but if the ulterior
16 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
movements in Texas and upon Mobile are to be carried out, more will be required.
Col. Deming again returns home for reasons which he prays leave to explain to the Department, and is charged with some personal communication to which I pray attention.
I am deeply gratified, as indeed are all the loyal citizens of New Orleans, to learn that Acting Brig. Gen. Shepley has been made Military Governor of Louisiana. His successful administration of the City affairs has rendered him very accept- able. It will be necessary to give him a Commission as Brig- adier General so that he may be able to command the troops detailed to him to guard the State.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
Copy of Governor Moore's Address
OPELOUSAS, June 18, 1862
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA
THE occupation by the enemy of a portion of the territory of our State imposes upon us new and unaccustomed respon- sibilities. It creates an anomalous condition of affairs, and establishes between the Citizens of New Orleans and all other of our towns in the actual occupation of the enemy, and those of the Country Parishes, relations very different from those which regulate their ordinary intercourse. It is not surprising that a people who are now experiencing the first invasion of their State should not at the outset have appreciated the duties and necessities of the new position in which they suddenly find themselves placed.
New Orleans is the Commercial Depot of the State. To it the whole agricultural products of our soil are conveyed, and from it are brought in return a large measure of the supplies for our plantations and the merchandise which forms the object of every species of traffic.
The channels of trade constantly flow between it and the Country freighted with the every-day transactions of all classes of our citizens, thus binding our urban and rural population together by the strong bands of mutual depend- ence and reciprocal benefit.
Trade with the Enemy forbidden
A state of public war resulting in the armed occupancy of New Orleans by the enemy, changes these relations.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 17
There cannot be a war for arms and a peace for trade between two people at the same time.
The armed occupants of that city are our enemies.
To each loyal Citizen of Louisiana and of the Confederacy, every citizen of the country hostile to us is an enemy. We cannot barter our products for theirs. We cannot exchange our corn, cattle, sugar, or cotton for their gold. We have even no right to pay money that was owing to the citizens of the now hostile States before the war.
Absolutely non-intercourse, the entire suspension of com- munication by visit or for trade, is the only safe rule for our guidance. It is a rule recognized as imperative by all writers on public law, and universally administered by the authorities of nations at war. Communications with Citizens of occupied Cities must cease.
Nor is it prudent to hold communication with citizens of any portion of our territory, temporarily occupied by the enemy. However much we may deplore their misfortunes, we must not permit these to be made the instruments for our further damage.
The only proper and permissible manner in which we can communicate with the enemy or those under his control who are within his lines, is under a flag of truce. Communication with New Orleans since its armed occupation has been almost unrestrained, save by the fears of those who desired, from motives either of gain or curiosity, to enter the lines of the enemy.
This communication must cease and at once. It is well- known that the General Commanding the invading army opposes no obstacle to the ingress of any of our citizens into New Orleans, but invariably attaches to the passport for egress thfc statement: "This Pass is given upon the parole of honor of the holder, that he will in no way give information, coun- tenance, aid, or support to the so-called Confederate States or Government."
This cunningly-devised trap to catch the unsuspicious visit- ors was expected to trammel him in the rendition of those services which his country demands. No parole is ever given when these passports are delivered — none ever required. This condition is inserted in the passport without notification to the applicant that it is to be required, in the belief that the apparent tacit consent of the receiver to a condition thus sneakingly sought to be foisted upon him, would be held binding in morals and in conscience.
VOL. II — 2
18 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
At first the passports were received unsuspectingly and with- out knowledge of the characteristic trickery contained in this clause, but it is now well-known that none are given without it.
Using the Enemy's passports
Whoever now, therefore, voluntarily place himself in the power of the enemy by entering their lines, throws a shade upon his loyalty to his Government. The possession of a passport containing the clause above quoted, subjects the holder to grave suspicion. Its receipt is incipient neutrality, the desire to fulfill the condition assumed to be imposed is only disguised indifference to our success. The attempt to fulfill it is treachery to our cause. No man can pretend to assimilate this ex parte declaration of a Federal Provost Marshal, to which no assent is made by parole or act, to the parole of honor well recognized in military usage, the observ- ance of which must ever be regarded as a primary duty. Such paroles are given to, are received by prisoners on either side, that they will not resume their participation in hostili- ties until exchanged, and by persons sent from out the lines that they will not reveal what their presence has enabled them to see or hear.
Neither the citizens of New Orleans or those visitors who have gone there since the occupation of the enemy are regarded by him as prisoners of War. If prisoners, it is his manifested duty to feed them, and when permitted to depart from his lines he would require of them a parole to cease hostilities, until exchanged.
The passport shall not be a shelter from duty. It has come to my knowledge that some persons have gone into New Orleans voluntarily, and without any apparent or avowed purpose to accomplish, save the gratification of an idle curiosity, and have since returned with these Passports. When required to perform Militia duty afterwards, or accosted by the enroll- ment Officer of Conscript, they present the Passport in which a Federal Officer has assumed a promise that the holder will not countenance or aid this Government. If he does not countenance then he must necessarily recognize the pretension of those who seek to crush it. Nor can he separate one part of the pretended parole from the other.
He cannot claim that he holds himself bound by the stipu- lation not to give aid and support to this Government, and thus avoid military duty, without also confessing to an obli- gation not to countenance it, which is treason unmasked.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 19
The military officer will be charged with Orders on this subject, the rigorous execution of which will be required. The Confederacy and the State recognize but two classes — its friends and its foes. In this mighty and awful struggle for our sacred rights, for the sanctity of our homes, for the enjoy- ment of liberty, for the salvation of our country, all considera- tions of blood and friendship must give way, all apprehensions for the safety of property must be disregarded. Obedience to the laws and acquiescence to the policy of the Government will be the cheerful homage that every true man will make. Those who are not true must be deprived of the power of harm.
Spies, Salaried Informers & Tories
Not the least evil of the consequences flowing from com- munications by our citizens with the places occupied by the enemy is the facility it affords to spies who traverse the country through the negligence of officers or the unsuspicious security of the people. These spies communicate with the salaried informers who are to be found in some localities, ready to serve any master for gold.
The world has never furnished an instance of a people renouncing their Government and establishing a new one with the unanimity which has characterized the people of the Confederate States. Not even the men of '76, those fore- fathers whom we are accustomed to think of battling with undivided hearts for a severance from the crown and the inde- pendence of their nation, approached nearer to perfect unanim- ity than ourselves in struggle against a foe, more malignant and vindictive than the one confronted by them. In the revolt of the colonies, whole Districts were inhabited by Tories, who strove to throttle the infant liberties of their country and bind her by fetters to the throne. In our struggle they are rarely to be met, but, though very few in number, they exist, and with a hate of our Government not exceeded by the hate of their predecessors to the government of George Washington.
They can be tolerated no longer; if they did not wish to live under the Confederate Government, they were warned by its President a year ago that they were at liberty to depart. They have made their option. They cannot live here and dis- regard our laws. They can neither hold property nor enjoy liberty if they disown the Government which protects the one and insures the other. This would be true even in ordinary circumstances, but when the foe who aims at our subjugation
20 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
is pressing our soil, short must be the shrift of those who stand ready to welcome him.
All possible vigilance must therefore be exercised for the detection of these spies and salaried informers, and for their apprehension. All citizens should report to the nearest au- thorities the names and the proof or grounds of suspicion.
Nor must less rigor be enforced in the case of those per- sons who have not obeyed the President's warning. Strangers must give a satisfactory account of themselves, the doubtful must be closely watched, the disloyal must be imprisoned, and when found guilty of treason must be held liable to the penalty due to that capital crime.
Confederate Notes the currency of our Country
Manifold are the inducements presented by the enemy to begin trading with him. As temptation to you to thus vio- late your sacred duty as citizens of the Confederate States, he offers high prices for your products, which he promises to pay in gold and silver. With equal assiduity he is engaged in efforts to depreciate the currency of your country. He for- gets that every Confederate Bond is a record and certificate of a sum that has been contributed by generous and confiding citizens to secure the independence of their country — that every Confederate Note is the evidence that thus much of the wealth of the people has been loaned to the Government to help it in its struggle — that all the resources of a Republic of ten millions of people, occupying a vast territory of unsur- passed productiveness, are pledged for their redemption — that they constitute a currency that measures the value of all our property, and that custom and loyalty recognize them as a legal tender. They are received and paid as such by all patriots, in exchange for what he offers for sale. The refusal to take Confederate money does a direct injury to our sacred cause, fans the latent spark of treason, and gives indirect aid and comfort to the ruthless enemy who invades our soil, ravages our coasts, insults our mothers, wives, and daughters, and tyrannizes over our conquered cities. The refusal to take Confederate money, if general, would at once paralyze our Government and put the Confederacy in imminent peril. Such refusal affords a presumption of disloyalty, and the plea of ignorance is but a slight palliation of the grave offence.
River Steam Boats for Transports
The enemy needs river steamboats to transport his troops to their plundering expeditions along the Mississippi, and he
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 21
seizes all that lie within his reach; he searches for them in Bayous seldom navigated, and by the aid of traitorous inform- ers, he has succeeded in capturing those that were thought to be effectually hidden.
This must be prevented at any cost. As no concealment can be depended on, the Boats must be destroyed whenever the near approach of the enemy shall leave no other means of preventing their capture.
Supplies of Provisions for New Orleans
The delicate question of permitting New Orleans to be supplied with provisions, while in the occupation of the enemy, was presented to me soon after my return from Camp Moore, whither I had gone for the purpose of concerting Richmond plans for the future which will soon be made manifest.
Much was and is to be said for and against the policy. It is sufficient for my present purpose to say that I have given permits to two agents of the City to carry provisions to our citizens so long as the Federal General should faithfully observe his pledge not to appropriate any of the provisions to other uses than supplying the wants of our own people. I was not unaware of the danger that attended such a policy in affording advantages for the establishment of an intercourse which the previous part of this address will show I could not approve. But I did not suspect that such a concession, made in tender consideration of the pressing wants of the City, would be abused by any of its own citizens to the extent of committing an act, little short of affording direct aid to the enemy. The recent act of the Cashier of the Bank of America and his accomplices has convinced me that any departure from this rule that the necessities of the population of any locality must be held subservient to the paramount consideration of the public safety, is attended with peril, and that in my desire to relieve the people of New Orleans, I was subjecting the public interests to danger of injury. No boats will hereafter be per- mitted to go down to New Orleans or Baton Rouge, while those places are occupied by the enemy, unless, after the arrival of the Commanding General, Confederate Officers should be de- tailed for the purpose of going in charge of them in the manner usually practiced by belligerents.
Continued resistance our paramount duty
It is not proper for obvious reasons to state here in detail the measures I have taken and the plans devised for the defense of our homes. The loss of New Orleans and the open-
22 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ing of the Mississippi, which will soon follow, have greatly increased our danger and deprived us of many resources for defense. With less means we have more to do than before. Every weapon we have and all that our skillful mechanics can make will be needed. Every able-bodied citizen will hold himself in readiness for immediate service. Brave, vigi- lant, energetic officers are authorized to raise bands of Parti- san Rangers. Let every possible assistance be rendered them in forming, arming, equipping, and mounting their companies, and in giving them support and information when in service. Let every citizen be an armed sentinel to give warning of any approach of the insolent foe. Let all our River banks swarm with armed patriots, to teach the hated invader that the rifle will be his only welcome on his errands of plunder and destruc- tion. Wherever he dares to raise the hated emblem of tyranny, tear it down and rip it in tatters.
Mumford the Martyr
The noble heroism of the patriot Mumford has placed his name high on the list of our martyr sons. When the Federal navy reached New Orleans a squad of Marines was sent on shore who hoisted their flag on the Mint. The City was not occupied by the United States Troops, nor had they reached there. The place was not in their possession.
William B. Mumford pulled down the detested symbol with his own hands, and for that was condemned to be hung by General Butler after his arrival. Brought in full view of the scaffold, his murderers hoped to appal his heroic soul by the exhibition of the implements of an ignominious death. With the evidence of their determination to consummate their brutal purpose before his eyes, they offered him life on condi- tion that he would abjure his country and swear allegiance to her foe. He spurned the offer, scorning to stain his soul with such foul dishonor. He met his fate courageously, and has transmitted to his countrymen a fresh example of what men will do and dare when under the inspiration of fervid patriotism. I shall not forget the outrage of his murder, nor shall it pass unnoticed.
Rules that will not be relaxed
I am not introducing any new regulations for the conduct of our citizens, but am only placing before them those that every nation at War recognizes as necessary and proper to be enforced. It is needless therefore to say that they will not be relaxed.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 23
On the contrary I am but awaiting the assistance and presence of the General appointed to the Department to inaugurate the most effectual method for their enforcement. It is well to repeat them.
Trading with the enemy is prohibited under all circum- stances. Traveling to and from New Orleans and other places, occupied by the enemy is forbidden — all passengers will be arrested.
Citizens going to these places and returning with the enemy's usual passport will be arrested. Conscripts or Militia men having in possession such passport, seeking to shun duty under the pretext of a parole, shall be treated as public ene- mies. No such papers will be held sufficient excuse for inaction by any Citizen.
The utmost vigilance must be used by officers and citizens in the detection of Spies and salaried informers and their apprehension, promptly effected. Tories must suffer the fate that every betrayer of his country deserves.
Confederate notes shall be received and used as the cur- rency of the country.
River Steamboats must in no case be permitted to be captured. Burn them when they cannot be saved.
Provisions may be conveyed to New Orleans only in Charge of Confederate Officers, and under the precautionary regula- tions governing communication between belligerents.
Our struggle and its sure result
The loss of New Orleans, bitter humiliation as it was, has not created despondency, nor shaken our abiding faith in our success. Not to the eye of the enthusiastic patriot alone, who might be expected to color events with his hopes, but to the more impassioned gaze of the statesman, that success was certain from the beginning. It is only the timid, the unreflect- ing, and the property owner who thinks more of his possessions than his country, that will succumb to the depressing influence of disaster. The great heart of the people has swelled with more intense aspirations for the cause, the more it seemed to totter. Their confidence is well-founded. The possession by the enemy of our^eaboard and main water courses ought to have been foreseen by us. His overwhelming naval force necessarily accomplished the same results attained by the British in their war of subjugation. The final result will be the same. Let us turn unheeding ears to the rumors of foreign intervention. To believe is to rely on them.
24 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
We must rely on ourselves. Our recognition as a Nation is one of those certainties of the future which nothing but our own unfaithfulness can prevent. We must not look around for friends to help when the enemy is straight before us. Help yourselves, it is the great instrument of national as of indi- vidual success. ^ ~ T..-
THOMAS O. MOORE
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS June SOth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 151
FIDEL KELLER has been found exhibiting a human Skeleton in his Book Store window in a public place in this City, labelled "Chickahominy," in large letters, meaning and intending that the bones should be taken by the populace to be the bones of an United States soldier slain in that battle, in order to bring the authority of the U. S. and our Armies into contempt, and for that purpose had stated to the passersby that the bones were those of a Yankee soldier, whereas in truth and fact they were the bones purchased some weeks before of the Mexi- can Consul, to whom they were pledged by a medical Student.
It is therefore ordered that for this desecration of the dead he be confined at Ship Island for two years at hard labor, and that he be allowed to communicate with no person on the island except Mrs. Philipps, who has been sent there for a like offence. Any written message may be sent by him through these Headquarters.
Upon this order being read to him, the said Keller requested that so much of it as associated him with "that woman" might be recalled, which request was therefore reduced to writing by him as follows:
NEW ORLEANS June 80th, 1862
Mr. Keller desires that, that part of the Sentence which refers to the communication with Mrs. Philipps be stricken out, as he does not wish to have communication with the said Mrs. Philipps. Witness. D. WATERS, (signed) F. KELLER
Said request seeming to the Commanding General reason- able, so much of said order is revoked, and the remainder will
be executed. r»^j <•** ^ T*
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 25
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 30th, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 152
JOHN W. ANDREWS exhibited a Cross, the emblem of the suf- fering of our blessed Savior, fashioned for a personal ornament, which he said was made from the bones of a Yankee soldier, and having shown this, too, without rebuke in the Louisiana Club which claims to be composed of Chivalric Gentlemen:
It is therefore ordered that for this desecration of the dead he be confined at hard labor for two years on the fortifications of Ship Island, and he be allowed no verbal or written com- munication to, or with any one, except through these Headquarters. By Qrder of MAJ GEN BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G. From Count Mejan
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, June SQth, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I am obliged to direct a letter to Gov. Moore in order
to protest against the treatment which several of my fellow
citizens, residing in the interior, have been submitted to. Would it cause any inconvenience to have this letter sent
to the nearest point where it could be put into the post office.
Accept, Sir, the considerations, etc.
The French Consul, COUNT MEJAN
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 30, 1862
To Count MEJAN, French Consul
SIR : It will give me great pleasure to aid in forwarding your letter to Governor Moore in any way you may suggest. I have the honor to be, Very trul^ your obedient servant>
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 30, 1862
Count MEJAN, French Consul
SIR: I beg leave to call your attention to the fact that I have not received your report of the large amounts of specie
26 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
placed under your charge, just previous to the coming up of the Fleet of the United States.
Presuming that a press of business has prevented. I am
Most Respectfully Your Obt. Servt. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June SQth, 1862
Capt. MORRIS
CAPTAIN: I am reliably informed that the enemy are bring- ing down a large number of cattle to the mouth of Red River, and thence running them across the Mississippi, are supplying the Confederate Army.
I would most respectfully urge upon you to send a gunboat to cruise between the mouths of Red River and Black River. This would entirely obviate the mischief.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept of the Gulf
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
SIR: I have the honor to enclose to you certain certificates of deposits in the Confederate States Treasury of the pro- ceeds of several confiscations by the rebel District Court here. All records of the proceedings save these have been destroyed or carried away.
Also please find a receiver's bond, which may be useful as showing the form of the proceedings of the rebels in that behalf. I remain Your Obt. Servt.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 30, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 156
THE City of Jefferson is hereby authorized and empowered to issue, by its usual Municipal Officers, Notes in the simili- tude of Bank notes to an amount not exceeding Twenty-five thousand Dollars, under a denomination not less than One or greater than Ten Dollars. For the redemption of which one per cent, of the City Taxes & Revenues shall be pledged and
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 27
set apart. As soon as that sum shall have been realized, public notice shall be given that said notes will be redeemed in specie
or its equivalent. D r> j * T\T ^ T>
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G. From General Butler
Head Qrs. Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 1862
IN the matter of the appeal of W. N. Mercer, President, and Auguste Montreuil, Cashier, of the Bank of Louisiana, defend- ants, from the judgment of the Provost Court, upon the complaint of A. Durand, complainant.
This is an application by the defendants, representing the Bank, made to the General Commanding, asking him to revise and set aside the judgment of the Provost Court, made in favor of the Plaintiff, Durand.
It is based upon the legal theory that over all matters within garrison, camp, and perhaps geographical military department, wherein martial law has been declared, the power of the Commanding General is absolute, and that, looking to him as the representative of the martial power of the govern- ment here, all applications for redress must be made when any wrong is supposed to have been done.
This view being sound, so far as I can see, I have with the best thoughts possible under the circumstances re-examined the case and the reasons assigned for the appeal.
Error is claimed on two grounds, first, that the Provost Court had no jurisdiction of the cause, and second, that the judgment was not in accordance with the law which should govern its decision.
The argument assumes that law to be Genl. Order No. 30, and does not dispute the authority which made it, or the effect of that order, but contents itself with endeavouring to con- strue the order.
The objection to the jurisdiction of the Court is put upon two grounds — first, that the Provost Court has not jurisdic- tion of the subject matter, second, that the proper parties were not before it so as to enable it to act with regard to the rights of those, who were not summoned in the case.
It is said that the question, being one of a right of property, cannot be entertained by a Court which only acts to punish the infraction of military orders and police regulations.
A technical answer to this objection, which is in the nature
28 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
of a plea to the jurisdiction, would be that it does not appear this plea was put in till after the hearing upon the merits.
It is a familiar rule that a party shall not be allowed to go into Court, and have a hearing on his case, take the chances of a decision in his favor, and then, if adverse, repudiate the Court before which he has appeared, and to whose judgment he has submitted his cause.
This rule has been held very strictly, both as to jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties.
But in a Court where no technical rules are allowed to work injustice, a technical answer is not sufficient.
Of what then do the defendants complain? The Bank says the Court has made an order which takes away the property of the Bank, and gives it to another, and that the Court has no power so to act. But is that so? Is it not the Commanding General's order, which does that of which complaint is made? The Bank nowhere complains that the General has not the power to make such an order, if, in his judgment, it becomes a military necessity, and that some order on the subject matter was so is shown by the fact that the first question put to him on entering the city was, what currency would be pro- vided for the people to save them from starvation and bread riots.
It has passed into history that he permitted a vicious cur- rency as a medium of circulation for the purpose of meeting this exigency. Again, it will be remembered that the Bank now claims that it is exempted from this order, because, by order of another Military Commander in September last (there was no civil law for it), it was obliged to suspend Specie Payment against its will, and substitute Confederate notes for its daily currency instead of its own bills. This order was submitted to if not with joy, at least not under protest, so far as I am informed.
The order, as well as the law of the land then is, that the Bank shall pay its depositors in Gold or Silver coin, and United States Treasury Notes, or its own bills. A citizen com- plains that this order of the Commanding General has not been obeyed, to his prejudice.
For what, then, is a Provost Court, in Military phrase constituted? Confessedly, to inquire into, determine, and punish the infraction of military orders.
To do this the court must act in rent as well as in personam. A familiar example would be, if the Commanding General
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 29
orders all arms to be given up, and some citizen neglects or refuses to obey, would it not be within the jurisdiction of a Provost Court, although its judgment should act upon a right of property involving millions of dollars worth of muskets?
If the act brought before the Court, therefore, is alleged to be an infraction of a military order, it is determinable in a military Court.
Again, it is said, that the Court has not jurisdiction, because, the stockholders of the Bank were not summoned in and made parties, and that their rights and interests will be affected by this decision. This is all true. But did the learned Counsel for the Bank ever hear of a suit against a bank in any Court, where the stockholders were summoned in, unless it was sought to charge them, individually, which is not the case here.
A corporation acts through its authorized agents, and is bound by their acts, and is to be charged upon notice to them. This objection of want of sufficient power in the President and Directors of the Bank of Louisiana to pay the depositor, M. Durand, in their own bills, which is only changing the form of indebtedness from a depositor to a billholder, under the order of the Provost Court, without the consent of their stockholders, would provoke a smile in a less serious discussion, when we remember that this same Board of Directors, with- out asking leave of their stockholders, against law and right, put 3,000,000 of its bullion out of their hands and out of the State, whence they will probably never see it again.
I am of opinion that these objections to the jurisdiction of the Court, are untenable.
The other objection as to the merits of the decision can, it seems to me, be disposed of in a word. If the order is a proper one, it must be obeyed. Its propriety cannot be discussed by me. It is admitted that Durand is a depositor in the Bank of what the Bank chose to take as money — treated as money — credited to him as money — nay forced upon the community as money. He has not been paid his deposit.
The Bank should pay him in specie. The decision following the letter of the order, is that the Bank may give him their own bills instead of money. Of that decision the Bank has no cause to complain. Durand is now the creditor of the Bank as a depositor. The decision makes him their creditor as a billholder. In equity they have nothing to complain of, he may have, because he does not get his gold, to which by the
30 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
laws of banking, laws of the State and the United States he is entitled.
He does not seek to reverse the decision. Let it stand.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gidfy NEW ORLEANS, July 2nd, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 166
IN view of the great distress now existing in New Orleans, an attempt to relieve it will be made on the following plan :
I. There shall be one Superintendent with entire control, under the direction of the General Commanding the Depart- ment. He shall have the custody of all monies appropriated to the subsistence of the poor of the city, and shall be charged with the purchase of all provisions for the poor of New Orleans, and with the distribution of the same.
A Return of Provisions received and issued, and the disburse- ments on account of purchases of subsistence, and expenses incurred in distributing, with an account of all monies received, will be rendered monthly with vouchers to the Headquarters of the Department.
II. There shall be an Asst. Superintendent for each dis- trict of the City, appointed by the Superintendent, whose pay shall be three Dollars per day. It will be his duty to collect all informations of the poor and needy within his district, and to give orders to those who are in want upon the District depot for provisions. These orders shall be in Duplicate, one or which is retained and accompanies his return of donations, which he makes up daily to the Superintendent. He will also give orders for the sale of provisions under instruction from the Superintendent.
Cases of destitution shall be certified to either by a Clergy- man of the District, by a responsible person known to the Asst. Superintendent, by personal observation, or by other satisfactory evidence to prevent imposition.
III. There shall be in each district of the City a Depot of Supplies for distribution and Sales. There shall be attached to each as it may be found necessary, a Salesman in charge of the Depot at $2.50 per day, one Asst. at $£.00 per day, and two Assts. at $1.50 pr day, each to be appointed by the Super- intendent. The Salesman will receive orders from the Asst. Superintendent of his District, and see that they are promptly
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 31
filled. He will render an Account daily to the Superintendent of all provisions expended, whether by donations or sales, accompanied by the orders of the Asst. Superintendent, which shall be his vouchers for the issues of the purchases distrib- uted, as also an account of the monies received. He will make his requisitions for provisions upon the Superintendent. Stores properly located will be occupied for these purposes, taking those vacant and belonging to known enemies of the
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 2, 1862
Col. BENJAMIN F. LARNED, Paymaster General, U.S.A.
GENERAL: I have directed Major Locke to report to you, and he goes home by the "McClellan."
By some strange and unaccountable want of knowledge of the needs of this department, there was not money enough sent down to pay the troops here up to March last by the sum of $285,000, as Major Locke reports to me.
Many of them have not been paid since they were in ser- vice. I have by pledge of personal credit got money enough, with having the allotment paid in New York, to pay the March Payment.
I desire that Major Locke be immediately sent back with money sufficient for the June payment.
I beg leave to refer you to my letter of this date to the Secretary of the Treasury for memoranda of the needed action. (A copy is enclosed.) I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 2, 1862
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of Treasury
SIR: Will be found enclosed herewith minutes of the doings of a Commission to enquire into the seizure of the Specie of Samuel Smith & Co. The finding is that the Case should be sent to the Department for investigation. I should have sent the specie ($50,000) to you, but this remarkable state of things exists.
32 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
Two Paymasters came down here with $285,000 too little money to pay the troops of this Department, some of whom have not been paid for six months, and they and their families are suffering for their just dues; which from the inefficiency of the Pay Department in not making proper requisition has not been furnished them. I shall therefore appropriate this $50,000 toward the payment of the troops left unpaid, one of which is a Western Regiment not paid since December, and one a Maine one, not paid since October.
I shall borrow of one of the Banks here $50,000 more in gold. I cannot get Treasury notes upon my own credit and pledging the faith of the Government.
This I have promised shall be returned in gold in sixty days, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum, and trust that pledge will be made good, as I shall have to suffer the loss.
I shall also obtain from Adams & Co. here $50,000 in Treas- ury notes, or thereabouts, and by leaving the allotments unpaid here but to be paid in New York, I shall be able to have the payment completed.
But this only pays the March payment, leaving two months still due. May I ask therefore that my draft in favor of Adams & Co. be honored, and a future draft not exceeding in all $50,000, be honored at sight, so that Adams & Co. can send forward the remittances to the soldiers' wives, which have been used here to pay others, and that $50,000 in gold be sent me to repay that which I have borrowed.
I could not let my soldiers go longer unpaid. It was injur- ing the credit of the Government with our foes and breeding sickness and discontent among my men.
Trusting that this action will meet approval in the emer- gency. lam Most truly Yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Hd. Qtx. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA. July 2d, 1862
Mr. ASA S. BLAKE, Agt. Adams Express Company
SIR: I hereby order you to furnish me with the Sum of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) at the earliest possible moment, for which Amount I propose to give you a Check on the Asst. Treasurer of the United States at New York.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 33
This is in accordance with the terms proposed to you at our last interview, and I shall hold you for the above amount, as heretofore stated. Respectfully Yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 8, 1862
W. B. DAISMORE, Esq., President, Adams Express Co.
DEAR SIR: I have this day compelled Mr. Asa Blake, your Agent of this City, to furnish me with the Sum of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000), for which amount have handed him a check drawn upon the Asst. Treasurer of the United States at New York. He has strongly resisted me in the matter, not wishing to deviate from his instructions and the rules of your Company.
Knowing, however, that the matter as proposed and insisted upon by me will not conflict in any way with the interest, and as Necessity knows no laws, I have taken such steps in this affair as the occasion and the wants of my troops demand. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From A. S. Blake
Office of the Adams Express Company, NEW ORLEANS LA. Jtdy 8, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I hereby protest against the Course proposed by you regarding the funds placed in my hands by the Officers and men of your Command for transmission to their wives & families.
The plan suggested is not at all in accordance with my positive instructions, or our old and excellent method of making our Money Shipments. To wit:
"Instructions: Agents will in each and every Case transmit the same funds as received, the same to be placed in the printed envelope of the Company, properly sealed, with the Com- pany's Stamp."
Sincerely hoping you may be enabled to obtain the amount required without obliging me to take any steps outside of our regular routine, I have the honor to remain,
Yours Respectfully, A. S. BLAKE, Agent Adams Express Co. N. 0.
VOL. II — 3
34 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Ponier & Co.
NEW YORK, July 2, 1862
To Major General BUTLER, Commanding United States Army, NEW ORLEANS
SIR: By the ship "General Butler" from New Orleans, since arrived in Boston, we are consignees of 104 hogsheads sugar. The Bill of Lading was made out in the usual form, and the freight specified — five dollars per hogshead.
On arrival of the ship we placed the sugars in the hands of our brokers in Boston for sale. When they were landed the Quarter Master refused to deliver our sugars unless our agent paid ten dollars per Hogshead freight, — of course, we had to submit, the sugars being in his possession, the vessel being under the Government Charter, and a perishable article, — there was no choice left us but to submit to the wrong. His refusal was based on the ground that some one in New Orleans had collected a portion of the freight in advance, and had not given proper credit for it to the Government; therefore, having the power in his hands, he forced us — an innocent third party — to pay over to him what he thinks some one else has wronged the Government out of.
The name of the party who is charged with collecting these monies in advance in New Orleans has been given to us, but it is so respectable that we refrain from repeating it, thinking that there is a mistake somewhere, and that as soon as expla- nations are made the money will be refunded to us either in New Orleans or Boston — if in New Orleans, Mr. John Geo. Haas, 78 Custom House Street, is authorized to receive and receipt for it. If it is to be repaid in Boston, will you be kind enough to order that proper papers be made out proving that there has been no wrong done to the Government in New Orleans. We have the honor to be,
Your obedient servants, PONIER & Co.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS July 16th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Messrs. PONIER & Co., NEW YORK
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 2nd inst. is received, and in reply will refer you to Richard S. Fay Jr., Esq., of Boston.
Explanations have been sent forward by this mail. If any wrong has been done you, no matter how "respectable" the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 35
source, if within the scope of the Department it will be redressed.
I believe, however, that all has arisen from a mistake of rights, and the matter will be adjusted.
Respectfully Yours
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., July 2, 1862
Mr. J. G. CARNEY, Boston
MY DEAR SIR: Many thanks for your kind note. You will have seen by my last note that I have endeavored to protect my drafts. I assure you that they would be paid at sight if here now. Therefore, do not let them be dishonored. Hildreth and Fay will aid in the matter.
I am as jealous of the good opinion of my friends as I am careless of the slanders of my enemies, and your kind expres- sion in regard to order No. 28, leads me to say a word to you on the subject.
That it ever could have been so misconceived as it has been by some portion of the Northern Press is wonderful, and would lead one to exclaim with the Jew, "O Father Abraham, what these Christians are, whose own hard dealings teach them to suspect the very thoughts of others."
What was the state of things to which the women order applied? We were two thousand five hundred men in a city seven miles long by two to four wide, of a hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, all hostile, bitter, defiant, explosive, standing literally in a magazine, a spark only needed for de- struction. The devil had entered into the hearts of the women of this town to stir up strife in every way possible. Every opprobrious epithet, every insulting question was made by these bejewelled, becrinolined, and laced creatures calling themselves ladies, toward my soldiers and officers, from the windows of houses and in the street. How long do you sup- pose our flesh and blood could have stood this without re- tort? That would lead to disturbance and riot from which we must clear the streets by artillery, and then a howl that we had murdered these fine women. I had arrested the men who hurrahed for Beauregard, — could I arrest the women? No — what was to be done? No order could be made save one that would execute itself. With anxious, careful thought I hit upon this, "Women who insult my soldiers are
36 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to be regarded and treated as common women plying their vocation."
Pray how do you treat a common woman plying her voca- tion in the streets? You pass her by unheeded. She cannot insult you. As a gentleman you can and will take no notice of her. If she speaks, her words are not opprobrious. It is only when she becomes a continuous and positive nuisance that you call a watchman and give her in charge to him.
But some of the Northern Editors seem to think that whenever one meets such a woman one must stop her, talk with her, insult her, or hold dalliance with her. And so from their own conduct they construed my order. The Editor of the Boston Courier may so deal with common women, and out of the abundance of the heart his mouth may speak, but so do not I.
Why, these she-adders of New Orleans themselves were at once shamed into propriety of conduct by the order, and from that day no woman has either insulted or annoyed my line soldiers or officers, and of a certainty no soldier has insulted any woman. When I passed through Baltimore on the 23rd of February last, members of my staff were insulted by the gestures of the ladies there. Not so in New Orleans. One of the worst possible of all these women showed disrespect to the remains of gallant young De Kay, and you will see her punish- ment, a copy of the order for which I enclose is at once a vindication and a construction of my order.
I can only say that I would issue it again under like cir- cumstances. Again thanking you for your kind interest, I am
Truly your friend
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, June 30f/i, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
SPECIAL OEDER No. 150
MRS. PHILIPPS, wife of Philipp Philipps, having been once imprisoned for her traitorous proclivities and acts at Wash- ington, and released by the clemency of the Government, and having been found training her children to spit upon the Officers of the United States at New Orleans, for which act of one of those children both her husband and herself apologized and were again forgiven, is now found on the balcony of her house during the passage of the funeral procession of Lieut.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 37
DeKay, laughing and mocking at his remains, and, upon being inquired of by the Com'd'g General, if this fact were so, contemptuously replies, "I was in good spirits that day."
It is therefore ordered that she be not "regarded and treated as a common woman," of whom no officer or soldier is bound to take notice, but as an uncommon, bad, and dangerous woman, stirring up strife and inciting to riot.
And that therefore she be confined at Ship Island in the State of Mississippi, within proper limits there, till further orders, and that she be allowed one female servant and no more, if she so choose. That one of the houses for Hospital purpose be assigned her as quarters, and a soldier's ration each day be served out to her with the means of cooking the same, and that no verbal or written communication be allowed with her except through this office, and that she be kept in close confinement until removed to Ship Island.
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From J. B. Kinsman
CAMBRIDGE, July 2, 1862
M aj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
MY DEAR GENERAL: I arrived in New York on the eighteenth of June without anything of importance occurring on the pas- sage. Before reaching the city a messenger came on board and handed me a letter, stating that, by direction from Washing- ton, the State prisoners were to go directly to Fort Luforth and not to Warren, also that they must be permitted to com- municate with no one. I went on shore and found telegrams to that effect at the Quarter Master's and the United States Marshal. I then took them to the Marshal's office, together with their baggage, and took his receipt for them as voucher. That occupied my day, and Mrs. Butler not being very well from her seasickness, I proceeded that night with her to Boston, and left her the next morning in the Lowell depot, spending that night in Cambridge. The next day I started for Washington and arrived there sick, and was obliged to take my bed for some time. When I delivered my despatches, from what I could learn from the Secretary of War's talk, and he talked very freely, he is highly pleased with everything you have done. As I left him he said you desired me appointed Captain, and asked me if I would call the next day, which I
38 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
did, when he made an appointment certainly very satisfac- tory, and ordered me to report to you for duty but to come to Washington, when I was ready to return. I told him I would, but for the present I was not fit for duty, and should go North, and when I could work would return. Secretary Chase seems greatly pleased with your policy, but wants to know how you get along with the negroes, and said it was a hard and troublesome question. I told him you had asked instructions with regard to it but had received none as yet. I met him in the evening at Mr. Seward's house, and he told me he had written you after our talk on the subject, though it was not his place to write, but gave you his views in an advi- sory note.
I sent in my card to Mr. Seward and was admitted and met very cordially, and he seemed to know all about me in the Consul matters, and said he was of the opinion that I could not search the Consul's person. I asked him what he would have done with a stout vault and the men with a key in front of it. He said the Consul had no more right with regard to property than anyone else, and that I might have torn down his house and blown his vault to pieces, but he thought I could not touch his person. He hoped we should make him out as good a case as possible to stand on. He looks upon all of the Consul questions as very delicate ones, and spoke of the Trent matter as one we had to back out from. My impression is that he is quite timid about the whole matter touching the Consuls, and I think he will instruct you with regard to them. He had seen in the paper that you require the Consuls to take an oath — he says he does not think you can make them do that. I state these things to give you an idea of what I heard. Sometimes he seemed highly pleased with what you had done for the repression of the rebellion in the South. After I had talked with him a short time he said, "Mr. Kins- man, I want you to dine with me today at seven o'clock." Although I was quite unwell, I thought it would not do to decline, and accepted. Went back to Willard's and went to bed, and at seven went up and found it to be a Diplomatic dinner to the English and French Legation, together with the Colonists Secretaries, making twenty in all. When he took occasion to introduce me as your actor and the officer that picks the foreign Consul's pockets, and that they should have a care for me. As a modest man, you must know my suffering, though I got well over it before rising from the table. We sat
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 39
down at seven and arose at ten, very glad to go back to Wil- lard's to bed again. The next day I went to Georgetown to see Blanche and Florence, and got them ready to start the next day (Thursday last) for home, where we all went on Friday night. I was not well on the way home, and since reaching your house I have been in bed until yesterday. Then I came down here to Cambridge, and as soon as I am good for anything I will return to you. I am Sir,
Very truly, Your obt. servt., J. B. KINSMAN
From the Secretary of the Treasury
Treasury Department, July 2nd, 1862
GEORGE S. DENISON, Esq., Special Agent and Acting Collector SIR: On the 2nd of June you were informed that Messrs. Martin and Woods had shipped liquors per Brig. "E. P. Stewart" to New Orleans, previous to the instructions to Collectors not to clear Ardent Spirits, which were declared contraband of War, and you were instructed to permit the landing of the said liquors, on the condition that they were not to be shipped elsewhere, nor used to give aid or comfort to the insurgents, and to inform the Collector at Philadelphia of the compliance of the consignees with this condition, in order that he might cancel the bond given to that effect by Messrs. Martin and Woods.
They now write to this department, saying that they are advised by their super cargo, under date of June 18th, that the liquors are detained at the Custom House. You will release them and permit their delivery and consumption, under the direction of General Butler, unless there is some good reason known to you and not known to the Department, for their further detention, in which case you will report the facts of the case without delay.
You will adopt the same course in regard to the liquors shipped on board the same vessel by Thomas C. Knight, who informs me that they are also detained at the Custom House, and report to the Collector at Philadelphia, as instructed in the case of Martin and Woods. I am,
Very respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Sec. of the Treasury
40 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 3rd, 1862
Han. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
I SEND enclosed letters brought by the British Steamer "Rinaldo," but sent to me in a sealed Package, which will show how our enemies get their Arms.
I have McLaurin in safe keeping. It will be necessary for the navy department to look after the "Pacific," which was at Nassau on the 28th of June. I fear her arms are getting in through Texas. I have hundreds of such letters implicating every foreigner almost in this city, with this kind of illegal traffic. I have the honor to be
Most truly Your Obt. Servt. B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July llth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
SIR: I have the honor to enclose a Statement from Mr. Archibald McLaurin in relation to the facts contained in the letter addressed to him which I submitted to you by a previous mail. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From Mrs. Sutler
LOWELL, July 3rd, 1862
DEAR MAJOR STRONG: I received your very welcome note four or five days ago, but could not answer it immediately as I wished, for the reason that I have been ill, and my eyes were so much inflamed I did not like to use them. I have rallied for the fourth, and we are preparing a holiday for the children. Mr. Butler wrote me to have the punch bowl filled, and to be sure that all drank to the absent one. Tomorrow the General and Staff were to meet in Lowell, to celebrate the day and to talk over the campaign, which, alas! is not yet finished.
It gives me great pleasure to hear that your health is so much improved. I dreaded the sea voyage for you, but felt that anything was preferable to that climate, yet if I had thought the "Ocean Queen" would have sailed so soon, I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 41
should have urged you to wait a week longer. I desired so much to accompany you that at least you might have what little care and attention I could bestow.
Poor young Clark, thin as a shadow, came on with us. I really think we have saved his life by taking him away and bringing him home to his mother.
I must congratulate Mrs. Strong that she has got you home again (though sadly wasted by the climate), yet without the loss of a limb. You remember at the Revere House, on the night we started, she almost thought she would be willing to compromise with the loss of an arm. I dare not think of the summer for Mr. Butler, but am hoping every hour some lucky chance will send him home. If the news we get today of McClellan's defeat should be true I shall despair on every side.
The paragraph so kindly sent I enclosed in a letter to Mr. Butler. He eannot fail to fully appreciate the nice sense of honor that dictated the article, as well as the very handsome compliment paid him in conclusion.
When you have enjoyed the quiet of your own family for a time, and breathed "the pure air" till you feel strong enough to bear the society of friends, you must take Mrs. Strong and the baby and visit me at Lowell. Suit your convenience as to the time, only send me a line when you feel able to come.
Present my very kindest regards to Mrs. Strong and believe
me Very sincerely and truly yours,
SARAH HILDRETH BUTLER
From the Secretary of War War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C. July 3rd, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I wrote you last under date of the 29th ultimo, and have now to say that your despatch of the 18th ultimo, with the accompanying report of General Phelps concerning certain fugitive negroes that have come to his pickets — has been considered by the President.
He is of opinion that, under the law of Congress, they cannot be sent back to their masters; that in common humanity they must not be permitted to suffer for want of food, shelter, or other necessaries of life: that, to this end, they should be provided for by the Quartermaster's and Commissary's Depart- ments; and that those who are capable of labor should be set to work and paid reasonable wages.
42 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
In directing this to be done, the President does not mean,
at present, to settle any general rule in respect to slaves or
slavery, but simply to provide for the particular case under
the circumstances in which it is now presented. I am General,
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant*
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 3rd, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: Col. Deming informs me that you would listen kindly to suggestions as to some appointments upon my Staff. It is sufficiently humiliating to have to ask that the Staff be appointed for some other Major General and then assigned to me.
Longer and as successful service as any other Major Gen- eral in this war would seem to entitle me to be spared that degradation, while my life is at the hazard of the bayonet, of the enemy, the poinard of the assassin, or the malaria of the fearful climate. But the just claims of gentlemen who by faithful service have fairly earned promotion and position compels me to yield this as well as everything else given up to the country.
Lt. Col. Jonas H. French of Boston, you remember, was appointed Lieut. Col. of the 30th Mass. Regt., and then set aside by Governor Andrew. He is now Provost Marshal of New Orleans and Acting Inspector General. I wish at least his former rank could be given him.
Jos. M. Bell of Boston (late law partner of Mr. Choate) has served the country as my military Secretary and Volun- teer Aid de Camp since October last, without pay or emolu- ment save the love of well-doing for his country. He is now Provost Judge of New Orleans, and is doing most acceptably the work of judges who had an aggregate of salaries more than $20,000 per year, and doing it better than it was done before. I wish that he might have the Commission of Lieut. Colonel.
Robert S. Davis Esq. of Boston, who likewise has served as my Volunteer Aid without pay or emolument, and is now doing the arduous duty of Acting Asst. Adjt. General in the absence of Major Strong who is sick, I would ask to have made Captain and Aid de Camp.
Captain George A. Kensel of Kentucky, who was Captain
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 43
in the Quartermaster Department, promoted from the 5th Artillery and now Chief of Artillery of this Division, should at least be Lieut. Col., so that he may outrank all Commanders of Batteries over which he has charge. He is now doing the double duty of Ordnance Officer as well as Chief of Artillery.
Capt. William O. Fiske of Mass., who has been serving since 17th April 1861, and came out here in command of the finest company in the service, was set aside by Governor Andrew because he was Volunteer Aid to me. He had swam ashore at Hatteras through the surf to carry orders to the land forces when none else would attempt it. He has lost his company, is gallant, courageous, and deserving. He is now employed in the Quartermaster Department, where he is much needed, with an acting appointment. I wish that he might be made a Captain again, and assigned here to relieve Captain Bain- bridge, who finds his position here somewhat unpleasant, as his mother is a resident of the neighborhood and opposed to him; a deserving young man who would do good service were he placed in a proper position.
Godfrey Weitzel of Ohio, 1st Lieut, of Engineers, one of the first scholars of West Point, afterwards instructor there; who commanded the first Company which came to Washing- ton to watch over the life of the President at the inauguration; who fortified Fort Pickens so that it stood a bombardment without the loss of a man; one whom the Country owes as much for our success at New Orleans as any other because of his intimate knowledge of the Forts and the State: for him I beg to press that he may be appointed a Brigadier General.
There will be great need of one in the Division, and there is no abler man for it in the Country. I pray that his case may be considered. He has earned this in the field. A major- ity of his classmates are now Generals, Colonels, and Lieut. Colonels, and he is still a Lieutenant. This is unjust. If not possible to give him to me as Brigadier, at least let him be made Aid de Camp and Colonel. I have spoken of Lieut. Weitzel before in my dispatches.
If in anything we have done we have deserved well of the country, I pray the Secretary to give us these appointments.
All these Staff appointments will be necessary to be made to some Regular Major General and then assigned to me. I am,
Most truly, Your friend, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
44 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From P. R. George to General Butler
CONTOOCOOK, July 9rd, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I write you as a, friend (a looker-on), merely as you would see were you here. It is this, is the use of a friend.
Your shipments are all well save that all the transactions connected with your authority should be officially expressed in some way. For instance, if freight is collected in port by any- one bearing your sanction, or if goods be shipped to any port, your Quartermaster should take cognizance of the fact and communicate it to the Quartermaster, where it is going for his government. All this, by a moment's reflection, you will perceive the need of, particularly if it is going into unfriendly hands.
If you could suggest that McKim be sent to you for opera- tions in the field, and some man sent to Boston by Quarter- master General, as Q. M. it would be better for you. No matter who the Q. M. sent, he would not be an Andrew man. Kinsman was well-received at Washington, by which all this shows how you stand there.
He will write you all the particulars I don't know, have not seen him. I am still of opinion that Seward is the power behind the throne, and a good friend of yours. Have you made of him a confidante sufficiently? He may not be all you want, I think he is all you have.
Fremont is "snuffed out." McClellan has been repulsed not routed. Gloom all over and a little fear is now the condi- tion of public mind. You stand well generally, are well spoken of by the middle class, in the cars, in the barrooms, at the corners, etc., as "the right man in the right place/' This embodies the gist of what is said and how they feel. I have not seen Strong since his return. We have had a line from him, he writes in good spirits and is getting better. His letter in the Tribune was good, full and friendly to you. You must have seen it. The army of the Potomac is the all-engrossing topic just now. General, ask for an expedition to Texas during the summer, and take Bell with you. He and you are both too good to lose. If I knew any points in particular you wanted knowledge concerning, I would try and obtain it. You must write if you want to know anything in particular. Your wife and children are well, your affairs all easy, as I understand from inquiry.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 45
The future is still in great obscurity. No light can I dis- cover. Three hundred thousand more men are called for. Gushing agrees now with me that Seward is the power behind the throne. Until the fight for Richmond all will be in statu quo.
My dear General, remember me to all my acquaintances there that you are on terms to do so with, and believe me, ever your watchful, and unchanged in feeling and in friendship,
P. R. GEORGE
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 4^, 1862
Colonel EDWARD F. JONES
MY DEAR COL.: I seize the occasion to write you what I desired to say, on paper, when you left about your promotion.
No one deserves it more nor in my judgment would fill better the position of Brigadier General than yourself.
You started up at the first sound of the trumpet and brought to the place of rendezvous the first armed Regiment that answered the Country's Call by the President's Proclamation.
I need not speak of your passage through Baltimore with the Sixth Mass. — that has passed into history. Since that day continually in the Service you have filled every post and performed every duty to the entire satisfaction of your Commander.
I selected your Regiment to lead the laborious and perilous landing at Fort St. Philip, and to you the Garrison of Jackson surrendered. I hope the President will reward your gallant conduct by promotion. I have the honor to be
Yours Respt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 4to, 1862
Mr. Mayor HOSFORD, LOWELL
MY DEAR MR. MAYOR : I send by Capt. Haggerty a Map of New Orleans which I hope you will have placed in the City Library.
On this day my heart yearns to be with you and my fellow citizens at home. I am almost sick as I write the word at the thought of loved ones and friends. God bless you all.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
46 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 4th, 1862
MY DEAEEST SARAH: I am well, very well. Working harder and harder. I am in Genl. Twiggs' house, very comfortable.
Tell Fisher he has made a mistake. Flour is here quiet at $25 per barrel.
I hope the punch bowl is full, and you are celebrating the day.
I must not write more on this topic. My heart is too, too full. I send you some extracts from papers you may not have seen. Give my regards to Capt. George. Love to Blanche and the children, and believe me, your heartsick HUSBAND
I send a few trinkets. The ruby ring * is for Nina. From George Coppell
British Consulate, NEW ORLEANS, July 5th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
Sm: Captain Hewett of Her Majesty's Ship "Rinaldo" had informed me that, in conversation with you on the sub- ject of a letter which I had the honor to address to you on the 14th of June, you stated that the letter contained an offensive expression. Whilst under this impression you caused a reply to be made to that letter which threw doubt upon my official position, and temporarily suspended communication between yourself and this Consulate.
I now have the honor to inform you that I had no idea that such a construction as insulting could or would have been placed upon the letter in question, and as there was no such intention, on my part, I willingly withdraw any expressions in that letter which you may consider offensive. I have the honor to be, Sir, yow ^ ML ^^
GEORGE COPPELL, H. B. M. Actg. Consul From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gtdf, NEW ORLEANS, July 7tht 1862
[Not in chronological order]
To GEORGE COPPELL, H. B. M. Acting Consul
SIR: Your note received Saturday removes all difficulty of personal intercourse. The withdrawal of the offensive expres- sion is sufficient, and accepted.
1 See letter from Gen. Butler to Mrs. Butler, July 28, 1862.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 47
Commander Hewitt, of H. B. M. Sloop of War "Rinaldo," now in this harbor, informs me that he is instructed by Lord Lyons to recognize you as Acting Consul of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and that Commander Hewitt does recognize you in that official character. This seems sufficient for the reestablishment of official relations.
I beg leave to correct a seeming misunderstanding that the expression of that note had anything to do with my doubts of your official character. You -will remember that those doubts had been expressed before that time, and no evidence of that character had been furnished, except the superscription upon two letters directed to yourself with the address, "Acting Consul;" that did not seem to me sufficient.
To your inquiry whether all neutrals (British subjects) wishing to go to New York or abroad, furnished with proper passports from their Government, will be required to take the oath prescribed for aliens in General Orders, No. 41 & 42, it is answered, that a pass differs from a passport, as I had the honor to explain in my letter to the Consuls upon this subject, and that as a rule the oath would not be required. Such per- sons will be allowed to pass on board Ships to go abroad or to New York, whom in my judgment it is not necessary to retain here from some act either done or contemplated to be done in favor of the Confederate States, — for example buying arms, forwarding money, or intelligence. I have the honor
' Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General Commdg.
From D. G. Farragut
Flagship HARTFORD, Above VICKSBURG, July 5, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENL. : Your people have accomplished a great work in cutting the ditch. I saw it yesterday, but I fear the water will fall faster than they can dig; still it is a great work and a small rise will accomplish the object. Our land force is too small to do anything with this place — we passed the town on the 28th, and silenced the batteries as we came up with them, but they soon returned to them and fired on us after we had passed. We have met the squadron from above, they arrived here on the 1st., and we have been shelling the town or Forts ever since. There is no telling the force they have here; they tell so many stories about Beauregard's army being here — some say 10 and some
48 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
30,000 men — there may be 10,000 men here, but not more. We hear nothing yet from Genl. Halleck, but expect to tomorrow. Flag Officer Davis' vessels are formidable looking crafts. The reproduction taken in the illustrated papers is very good. I am only waiting to hear from the Dept. to act again upon them. I wish you could give Capt. Morris some assistance to get our supplies up to us, of ammunition and stores of all kinds. We gave them a fine brush on the 28th, but did not do much in the way of reducing them.
Very respectfully and truly your Obt. Servt.
D. G. FARRAGUT, Flag Officer
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 5tk, 1862
The Editors of the Picayune
GENTLEMEN: There is in the City, and you have had in your Office, an Extra which sets right all the news from Rich- mond down to July 2.
Why desire to publish false intelligence as [are] "the reliable man" lies of June 30th. Publish anything but the Richmond dispatches, and you may publish them if you will publish
this note' Respectfully
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
By General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 5th, 1862 In the matter of the Union Bank vs. the Mechanics Bank
IN this case it seems to me that a remedy must reside some- where. The ordinary Civil Courts to whose decision in cases between party and party the proclamation left civil right, have ceased to be efficient. Their Judges have refused to qualify themselves. Here are two quasi-public corporations, whose action in regard to the currency the Commanding General has undertaken to regulate.
If he can regulate in one regard then he can in another, and this case seems to call for his interposition. There seems to be a misunderstanding of the powers of the Provost Court. The Judge of that Court has full power to try all questions, sitting to hear them as the Commanding General might, if time permitted. Let the cause be entertained.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 49
From General Butler
Hd. Qls. Dept. of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS LA., July 6th, 186«
Colonel I. W. McMiLLAN
COLONEL: Whilst you were stationed at Algiers among the houses that were searched for concealed weapons was one occupied by S. H. Harvey, from which quite a number of small articles were taken, a list of which I enclose; they are claimed by Mr. Harvey as belonging to the brother-in-law, and were to be forwarded to France.
Upon inquiry, I am informed that they were taken to Baton Rouge by Lt. Hartley of your Regt. You will inquire into the matter, and return the articles if possible; if not, inform me what disposition has been made of them. I am Very Respectfully Your Obt. Svt.,
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
List referred to in Foregoing Letter
The Residence of Mr. S. H. HARVEY, Parish of JEFFERSON,
June 6th, 1862
Viz. From the effects of Mr. M. A. Destrihan, a resident of Paris, France, left in charge of S. H. Harvey one case contain- ing one revolver with implements, &c., one small do French with Scabbard, one small powder flask, one Morocco Scabbard & Belt for the revolver in the case taken from S. H. Harvey's office, one old Cavalry Sword left by S. H. H/s father-in-law who died in 1847, one small 4inst. Colt Revolver taken from his Table drawer, one small Pistol Rifle Barrel taken from his overseer's house, several Parlour Ornaments & a Chased Paper Folder from his desk. One of the Ornaments from his parlour was a shell presented to his wife by her only brother now dead, with the Lord's Prayer engraved thereon.
From Captain Davis
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS July Zlst, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Provost Marshal, ALGIERS, LA.
SIR: Herewith I send you one Revolver, Implements, &c. in case, 1 Colt Revolver, 1 Pocket Pistol, 2 Parlor Ornaments, which articles together with others were taken from the Resi- dence of S. H. Harvey, Jefferson Parish, by Lt. Hartley of the
VOL. II — 4
50 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
21st Regt. Ind. Vols., at the time that Regt. was stationed at Algiers.
The articles sent, are all that could be recovered, and you are hereby directed to return them to the owner. I am Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.,
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From Captain R. S. Davis
Ed. Qts. Depi. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 6th, 1862 Col. McMlLLAN
SIR: Three or four letters have been received from you in which you ask for reinforcements, particularly cavalry. We have no more mounted men here than are absolutely neces- sary for our service, so that the best we can offer you, is to send you horses and equipments, and let you mount some of your own Regiment, which shall be done as soon as possible. The Quartermaster of your post has told me today that you have already seized some 40 horses and given them to some of your men; this is right, and if you can seize any more, do so and we can furnish you with Saddles, &c. We will also send you another Regiment, the 14th Maine, in a day or two. We hear rumors that an attack might be made on you, but it is to come from Camp Moore. One thing is certain, the General has reliable information that they cannot arm but 3300 Men there, for they have no more weapons than that number. I Sir
9 your Qbt. Servant, R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From Lieutenant Wiegel
Ed. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 7th, 1862
Capt. MORRIS U.S.N., Senior Officer & Comdg. of the U. S. Fleet at N. O.
SIR: I am directed by the Comdg. Gen. to inform you that he has received positive information that the C. S. Steamer "Webb" and other Gunboats are in the Red River near the mouth, awaiting an opportunity to capture U. S. Army & Naval Transports. I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servant,
W. H. WIEGEL, 1st Lt. & A. D. C.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 51
From George W. Child*
PHILADELHIA, July 7th, 1862
M aj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: At the request of Dr. Brownlow I send you by this day's mail an autograph copy of his work, which he pre- sents to you as a token of his high appreciation of you as a man and a soldier.
He often says you are "just his style," and I know you are a man after his own heart. If you should ever be willing that your name should be used in connection with the Presidency, you would not have a more efficient supporter than the famous Parson Brownlow.
I enclose you an announcement of Mr. Lossing's proposed "History of the Great Rebellion/' and if you are sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Lossing's previous works to give an opinion of what may be expected from his pen and pencil on so important a subject, I shall be glad to hear from you. With high respect, ^^ ^ GEO> w. CHILDS
From General Maignan
NEW ORLEANS, July 8th, 1862
To Major General B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: In consequence of your general order No. 40, I issued some time ago, an order to all the Colonels under my command, requesting them to send me a statement of all the arms in the possession of their men. Upon receiving said statement, I had the honor to transmit it to you. Those arms were stored in the arsenal of the "French Legion" on Rampart street. I had thought, General, that they would have been left in our possession, because they are mostly private property, and because, since the war broke out, we have strictly complied with our duties as neutrals.
But such is not the case; for, yesterday at 5 P.M. those arms were seized upon and taken away by an officer and squad of the troops under your command, and I understand that the reason is that the TJ. S. authorities deemed unsafe to leave said arms in the above arsenal, because there was no guard to watch over them either by day or by night.
Now, General, this being the case, I can assure you that, if those arms are returned to us, I will take the proper steps
5* LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to safeguard them, either by placing a guard at the arsenal or by distributing them among reliable men.
Very respectfully Gen. MAIGNAN, Gen. French Brigade
From Jacob Barker
NEW ORLEANS, July Sth, 1862
To Major Genl. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
DEAR SIR: I directed the new book sent you because some of the entries in your old Pass Book were made by your clerk. It is usual for the entries made in Pass Books issued by Banks to be made exclusively by Bank Clerks.
I return to you the old book that you may see that all the items correspond. If you examine your checks, you will per- ceive that you have drawn $7,188.37 in gold, & $252.19 Treas. notes more than is credited, and that you have a credit in Bank Notes of $5,581.75, & $1,360.00 in silver more than you have drawn when your book was last balanced.
The object of the memorandum on the first page of the new book sent you was not to elicit any implied contract or to impose any obligation — a mere memorandum which I thought would be useful to your Clerk in balancing your own books.
The gold has arrived for your bills on Boston, leaving us no profit by the operation.
Very respectfully, Your obt. servt.,
JACOB BARKER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 9, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 48
ALL dividends, interest, coupons, stock certificates, and accrued interest, due any or payable by any incorporated or joint stock company, to any citizen of the United States; and any notes, claims, and accounts of any such citizen, due from any such company or any private person or company within this Department, which have heretofore been retained under any supposed order, authority, act of sequestration, garnishee process, or in any way emanating under the supposed Confed- erate States, or the State of Louisiana since the fraudulent ordinance of secession, are hereby ordered to be paid and
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 53
delivered respectively to the lawful owners thereof, or their duly authorized agents.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From J. N. Victor
Office of the Assistant Quartermaster, PITTSBUBG, Penn. July 9ih, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I wish to tender to you, & through you to the brave officers and soldiers under your command, the sincere thanks of myself & family for the protection and courtesy shown my sisters before and during the recent bombardment of Baton Rouge. Their loyalty subjected them not only to loss of property but to danger of their lives. They write me it is due to the land and naval forces under your command that they were protected. I can assure you, Sir, it is a matter of great pride to see with what implicit confidence loyal people of the South look to our forces for protection, & how secure they feel under that protection. Should occasion require it, & it lay in your power to do so, I pray you to take my sisters under your special protection. Knowing your laborious, trying duties, I must ask pardon for even troubling you, with this short letter; under no other circumstances would I presume to trouble you. I am sir, with great respect,
Yours etc., J. N. VICTOR
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 10th, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
I HAVE the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the des- patches of the department of June 10th & 23rd, received on the 7th of July. Being the first that came, they were vety grateful, and the approval of the department of my acts was most sustaining. I have forwarded the Commission and accompanying papers to Col. Shepley.
Enclosed please find report of Gen. Williams of his opera- tions in conjunction with the fleet up the river, and with the sketches which show what has been done. Everything is quiet here. We have rumors of attempts to be made upon Baton Rouge, and I have strengthened the force there by the addition of a regiment and Battery so that they have now
54 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
their three Regiments, 4 pieces of Artillery, & a Company of Cavalry.
This large force is sent there rather to relieve the anxieties of the Inhabitants than in any belief that it is necessary; be- sides it will be a good point to move from when necessary toward their interior.
One Castles, a planter whose property we destroyed, and whose habitation we rooted out because he was the leader of a band of Guerillas, and which by his command fired into an unarmed boat of Flag Officer Farragut, has come in and vol- untarily given himself up, and asked only amnesty for his life. He is in confinement.
I desire to renew my request for an experienced Brig. Gen., such as Lieut. Weitzel would be if he held that Commission.
1 am Most truly Your Obt. Servt.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 10th, 1862
General ARNOLD, Comdg. U. S. Forces, PENSACOLA
GENERAL: I am now organizing a force of several thousand ^Louisiana Volunteers, and want very much an officer of the regular Service as mustering and disbursing Officer for this Department. You would confer a great favor by ordering an Officer here immediately, and making the Order subject to the Approval of the Secretary of War. I want a regular Officer, as none other can muster Officers in or out of Service.
1 am Very Respt. Yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July ZSrd , 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Brig. Gen. ARNOLD, Comdg. U. S. Forces at PENSACOLA
GENERAL: The u Creole" sails this morning. I am very sorry that you did not feel yourself at liberty to spare me a single Officer. I assure you, one is much needed here. I have no Officers of the Army here save two Gentlemen of my personal Staff, and who are each doing double duty and .sometimes triple. It will be impossible to answer your requi-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 55
sitions, as I suppose my Chiefs of the several Departments have written. I am General
Your Obt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Twiggs* House, July 10, 1862
MY DEAR, DEAR WIFE: Whether this note will ever get to you as it goes by the "Rhode Island," is more than I can tell.
We are now fairly installed in housekeeping. Caroline is housekeeper and seven or eight Blacks. The city is healthy to a degree never known before. I am quite as well as when you were here.
I hope you got your trinkets by Col. Deming, who has gone home for good. He has behaved very well, however. Tell Fisher that Andrew is in [treaty] to sell one half of the "Saxon" for $20,000. Shepley, as you will have learned, has been appointed Military Governor. Haggerty has gone home. Wiegel is sick.
I have received despatches 1 from the War department, approving of all I have done, on the 7th of July.
I see no prospect of getting home, so you must get yourself as lively as possible, have parties, rides, picnics, and all pleas- ures to console yourself for the loss.
I can give you no news here, as the papers tell it all and more too. I send a few slips which will do for the "scrap book."
Kiss the children for me, and Blanche — tell her that her uncle has a new side-saddle for her. Goodbye. I am, Most affectionately, Your HUSBAND
From J. Ad. Rozier
NEW ORLEANS, July Wih, 1862
Maj. General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Gulf Department
SIR: Messrs. S. H. Kennedy & Co. of New Orleans are indebted in the sum of about $9000 to Messrs. A. G. Farwell & Co., of Boston. They wish to pay these northern creditors, and request you, in writing, to pay over the money, in case you have come to the conclusion that they are entitled to have the amount reimbursed to them.
Upon reflection, we think that you will be of the opinion
1 Despatches from War Department, June 10 and June 23, 1862.
56 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
that the Government cannot forfeit the amount — no act of Congress we humbly suggest can authorize the seizure. We should like to have a full hearing of the matter, so as to present our views. In case you should deem it proper to refer the matter to the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, it would meet with our entire satisfaction — we understand that similar difficulties or matters have been referred to him. But independent of this, we pray for an investigation of the claims of Messrs. S. H. Kennedy & Co. We direct your attention to the communi- cation of Messrs. S. H. Kennedy and Co.
Very Respectfully Yours, J. AD. ROZIER, of Counsel for Messrs. A. (j. FARWELL AND Co.
No. 5 Commercial Place
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
Commissioners Office, Custom House,
NEW ORLEANS, July 10, 1862
To Major General BUTLER
SIR: As Commissioner appointed by the President of the United States, to enquire into, and report to the Government, on certain proceedings which have heretofore been had between yourself and the foreign Consuls residing in this City, and particularly such as relate to the Consul of the Netherlands, I hereby have the honor to inform you that I am ready to enter at once on the duty, and will be glad to hear from you, orally or in writing, all the information you may be able to give me, and at your earliest convenience. With high regard,
Your Obedient Servant, REVERDY JOHNSON, Comms. etc.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 26, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
RANDALL HUNT, Esq.
I HAVE a check drawn payable to your clients, S. H. Kennedy & Co., for which I wish you would send me a receipt, with a certificate of the oath of allegiance.
It is the fine refunded by the decision of Hon. Reverdy
0 nson' Respectfully yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 57
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 10, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 179
JOHN H. LARUE, being by his own confession a Vagrant, a person without visible means of Support, and one who gets his living by playing cards, is committed to the Parish Prison, till further orders.
Anne Larue, his wife, having been found in the public Streets wearing a Confederate flag upon her person in order to incite riot, which act has already resulted in breach of the peace and danger to the life of a Soldier of the U. S., is sent to Ship Island till further orders. She is to be kept separate and apart from the other women confined there.
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 3(M, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Mrs. LARUE
IN answer to your application: if you are in a condition of mind to return to New Orleans and so conduct yourself as not to incite riot or attention in the streets, or in any way demean yourself otherwise than properly, upon giving such pledge to the Commandant of the Post at Ship Island you may be discharged. Your Physician has permission to visit Ship Island if you prefer to remain there. I have ordered the discharge of Mr. Larue.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 11, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 181
COL. J. W. SHAFFER, a Quartermaster, will cause to be sold at public auction all such seized confiscated property as may come into his hands, not wanted for use of the United States troops in this department.
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
58 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Moses Bates
BATON ROUGE, LA., July 11, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: I am under the necessity of reporting that the Penitentiary cotton factory will be suspended from and after the present week for want of cotton.
Cotton is being destroyed by the lawless bands of Guerillas, almost within the military lines, but no effort is made by the military authorities here to suppress or punish these increasing depredations, any farther than is deemed necessary to carry on the speculations, legitimate and illegitimate, by officers in the regiments. Respectfully yours,
MOSES BATES, Financial Agent & Supt.
From R. S. Davis
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 14th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Col. McMiLLAN, Commanding Forces at BATON ROUGE
SIR: You will see to it that nothing of Cotton is shipped from Baton Rouge unless the same is at first offered to the use of the Penitentiary at the price for which it is bought.
This is imperative alike upon Civilians and Officers, if any are engaged in buying, and for its due execution you will be held responsible. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. Gen9 1.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 12th, 1862
Messrs. J. N. LEA, CHAS. SUMONVILLE, J. AD. ROZIER, Committee of Administration of Charily Hospital
MESSIEURS : Your note of to-day in behalf of the Charity Hos- pital, showing the state of its funds, calls for immediate action.
You will please find below an order on the Provost Marshal for Five thousand dollars, from the sums collected from licenses, to support the Hospital temporarily.
You will of course apply this amount to the present needs of the institution, so that it may be in working order for the use of our fellow-citizens as may be stricken down by disease in this hot season. Believe me, Vgfy j^spectfully> Yours>
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Comdg.
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 59
From General G. F. Shepley
Head Quarters Military Commandant of NEW ORLEANS, City Hall, 18th day of July 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: Having been commissioned by the President of the United States as Military Governor of Louisiana, I have the honor respectfully to resign the Office of Military Commandant of New Orleans, which I hold under your appointment. This resignation to take effect on the appointment of my successor. I avail myself of this occasion to express to you my most sincere gratitude for the constant and uninterrupted confidence you have reposed in me, and your many and oft repeated acts of kindness and courtesy since I have had the honor to serve under your command.
If in the discharge of the arduous and frequently difficult and intricate duties which you have been pleased to devolve upon me, I have in any degree contributed to the success of your brilliant achievements and your successful, firm, and humane administration of the Department of the Gulf, it will be one of the proudest, as the remembrance of your many kindnesses will be one of the most pleasant memories of my life. With great respect I have the honor to be
Your Obedt. Servant, GEORGE F. SHEPLEY,
Military Governor of Louisiana
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July IS, 1862
Brigadier General NEAL Dow, Commanding Forts Jackson and
St. Phillip
I AM informed that wines and liquors have been distributed between officers and the prisoners in the Forts. I depend on your well-known temperance principles to have a stop put to this most pernicious and criminal practice. I have the honor
to De Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July ISth, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: Will you have the kindness to send me a certified copy of the parole given by Daniel C. Lowber of New Orleans, who
60 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
was released from Fort Warren, with instructions how to dispose of him. He now seems to think that he has been sent down here for the purpose of visiting his wife, and is quite indignant that I did not send him home to his family. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From the Assistant Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON, D.C., July 26*A, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
M aj. General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 13th instant, the Secretary of War directs me to transmit herewith a certified copy of the Parole given by Daniel C. Lowber, when released from Fort Warren, in January last; and to say that he was sent to New Orleans in order that he might be under your surveillance.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
C. P. WOLCOTT, Asst. Secretary of War
Parole referred to in Foregoing Letter
FORT WARREN, Boston Harbor, January IQtk, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
I, D. C. LOWBER, prisoner confined at Fort Warren, do sol- emnly swear that I will leave the United States within the period of fifteen (15) days from this date, and go directly to the Kingdom of Great Britain; that I will remain in that Kingdom until the cessation of the present hostilities between the Government of the United States and the persons in insur- rection against its authority; that I will not correspond with, or be engaged in any correspondence hostile or injurious to the Government of the United States, with persons residing in the insurrectionary States during the present hostilities, without permission from the Secretary of State, and further that I will do no act hostile or injurious to the Government of the United States. So help me God.
D. C. LOWBER
Sworn before me, January 10th, 1862, J. DnncK, Col. 1st Arty, and Bat. Col, Comdg. Fort Warren.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 61
From the Council of Ten
N. ORLEANS, July ISth, 1862
Genl. BUTLER
SIR: You, or one of your Satellites, condemned a New Orleans citizen, a few days since, to six months' imprisonment for having given a pair of shoes to a bare footed Confederate prisoner.
Now, it seems to be a settled purpose with you not only to rob us in the ndme of the poor, but to incarcerate our people on the most frivolous pretext. In fact, committing acts of barbarism that would shame an African or a Hottentot Indian.
I hereby notify you that the first individual of this city condemned hereafter by you or yours, for showing sympathy to the Confederate cause, I, in the name of our association will declare to you the Vendetta.
As you, with your boasted Northern Civilization, are inaugu- rating the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition, we, ever true to our cause, will retaliate with the Corsican Vendetta.
Do not flatter yourself this to be an empty threat. Once your sentence passed by this tribunal, your fate is sealed. My arm can reach you even in your fanatical native State.
Your proclamation demanding the surrender of our arms, we treat with contempt. We have arms, yes thousands of them, but we defy you to find out where until we see fit to show them. And then, villanous coward, let your minions look to themselves, for we shall have ten lives for every act of
* PRESIDENT of the Council of Ten
From E. H. Derby
BOSTON, MASS., July \Uh, 1862
Maj. Genl. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I hasten to inclose a letter this morning received from a friend of Judge Andrews of New Orleans, who I presume is now at Ship Island.
Judge Andrews is a native of Boston, the son of a prominent merchant late of this City. Two of his brothers, graduates of Cambridge, have been my partners. Another brother, our Con- sul at Malta, was for many years a prominent, popular Demo- crat, & is an intimate friend of Secretary Seward. I am acting as trustee of his mother, a lady between eighty and ninety years of age, and have known the Judge for the last 40 years.
62 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
It is due to him to say that I have ever found him a frank, manly, and generous fellow, and have learned from others that in past years, when the yellow fever has prevailed at New Orleans, he has devoted himself to many Northern men regardless of personal exposure, and evinced a self sacrificing spirit.
May I venture to ask you to review his case, to confront him with his accuser. I fear that he may suffer from the malig- nity of some secret foe, for I cannot reconcile the offence with which he is charged with his past life.
If his case cannot be reviewed, may I not ask for him some modification of the sentence. He has not been accustomed to labor, is of Northern constitution, and a Sentence for two years to Ship Island will, I fear, prove a sentence of death.
If he is to be punished, might not his sentence be commuted to imprisonment at New Orleans or Fort Warren? While making this request, you will understand me to have no sym- pathy with secession, and that with our community I heartily endorse your policy at New Orleans, but the past of Judge Andrews I feel warrants some revision of his case, or at least some mitigation of his sentence. I have the honor to be
Very respectfully Yours, E. H. DERBY
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW ORLEANS, July Znd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To E. H. DERBY, Esq., BOSTON
DEAR SIR: Judge John W. Andrews requests me to write you these few lines. He is sentenced to two years' hard labor on Ship Island. The charge against him is that he exhibited in the Louisiana Club in this City a cross which came enclosed to him in a letter from Virginia, and which letter stated that the cross was made from "a bone of a Yankee!"
I am myself a member of the Louisiana Club, and have made diligent enquiries whether any one had ever seen such a thing exhibited there, and there is not a single person con- nected with the Club, including the servants, who has ever seen or heard of this cross.
The Judge says he received the cross, and though the letter stated that the boys in Camp wished the writer to say that it was made of the bone of a Yankee, he considered it was made of Ivory, looked no different. The only way in which he might ever have shown it is, perhaps (according to his memory), that
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 68
some one might have been in his Company as he received the letter at the Post Office, or he might have shown the letter and the cross at his office when they were received, but never did he hawk the cross about the streets, least of all show it with any spirit of exultation. That he is incapable of such fiendish, inhuman joy, you know from his personal character.
The sentence is a very severe one. The Judge's health is quite feeble, and he is physically unable to endure such punish- ment. At the same time, his friends cannot prevail upon Genl. Butler to alter his sentence at this time. Perhaps, after a while, he will be better disposed to reconsider his case. There have been some aggravated cases of this kind before the General lately, he has dealt with them all alike.
If you could, prevail on the War Department or on Genl. Butler, if not to revoke the sentence at least moderate it in view of the Judge's health, as well as in view of his not being guilty in the light in which Genl. Butler received the accusa- tion. He can certainly not live long on Ship Island; if nothing better can be done for him, he will be thankful to you if you will endeavor to have him transferred to Fort Warren.
The Judge would have written to you himself, but he is now a prisoner, & his communications have to pass through General Butler's Department.
Yours respectfully, H. BONZANO
From W. T. Seacock
NEW ORLEANS, July 19, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I have failed to get signature to the letter which I submitted to your inspection. All with whom I have conversed on the subject condemn the unfeeling and revolting remark of Mr. Andrews, but they are unwilling to admit, as that letter expressed, the necessity of punishment, because that remark, however offensive, was made some months before you came hither — a fact of which I was myself ignorant when I wrote the letter, having supposed that it was of recent occurrence.
I must, therefore, leave Mr. Andrews to your clemency, and I hope, General, that the integrity of his character, the feebleness of his health, and the amiability of your own heart, which recognizes punishment only as a preventive of crime, and which has suggested this punishment of Mr. Andrews'
64 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
from the pure motive alone of keeping peace between the Inhabitants and your Soldiers, will procure for him a release, believing that what has already been done is enough to deter others from a paramount offence. I have the honor to remain With great respect Your obedt. Servant,
W. T. SEACOCK
From Colonel Henry Rust, Jr.
Head Quarters, SHIP ISLAND, Miss., July 14th, 1862
Maj. Genl. B. F. BUTLER
SIR: Upon being left in command at this place, I find in my custody thirteen male prisoners, all of them sentenced to hard labor, and there are orders that two of them shall not be allowed communication with any one upon the Island.
Regretting my inability to carry out these orders so strictly as I could wish, I have felt it my duty to inform you of the insecure position of the prisoners, and the difficulty, if not impossibility of having your instructions fully complied with.
The Fort, in its present state of incompleteness, has no accommodation for them whatever. They are at present con- fined, as I found them, all in one small wooden building, away from the main guard. I have been compelled to con- tinue to keep them there, as I have no other more suitable quarters, no men to build them, and not men enough to guard them were they separated.
Of the two Companies left in my Command, only three Commis. Officers, three Sergeants, seven Corporals, & fifty- four privates are reported "present for duty," so that, leaving no margin for increase of sickness, by putting one-half my available men on guard each day, which with their other duties makes as much fatigue and exposure as in this climate and season they can bear, I can have nine posts in all! but two for outpost duty, two for these prisoners, no Camp guard or guard at Head Quarters, and barely sufficient left to guard the stores about the wharf and buildings, and the female prisoners in their separate quarters.
I am aware, Sir, that I am violating the "general rule" in addressing this communication directly to yourself, but I trust that the greater distance of my immediate superior and the difficulty of communication may prove a sufficient excuse.
Should it still be deemed desirable to keep these prisoners upon the Island, I would be glad if some means could be
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 65
suggested to relieve me from my present embarrassment. I have the honor to be, General,
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant HENRY RUST JR., Col. 13th Me. Reg. Comd'g at Ship Island
Answer: "Will send you as soon as possible two Companies of recruits to aid you in your duties." B. F. B.
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BROOKLINE, Friday Evening
MY DEAR MRS. BUTLER: I have been so extremely busy with the business Gen. Butler has sent me from New Orleans that I have been entirely unable to come to see you, and as I do not see my way clear to do so for several days to come, I write to congratulate you on your safe return, and to offer my services if there is anything I can do for you or Genl. Butler. The business confided me by him has been a very complicated and difficult one, and very large in amount, but I believe I have got safely through the worst points of it. Genl. Butler wrote me something about a map, which I sup- pose you have brought. If so, will you be good enough to send it down to the mill, to be forwarded to me.
My brother returned some time since, full of gratitude for your kindness and that of Genl. Butler. I am thankful you are at home, in a healthy climate, and a quiet community again after your wanderings. I was in Washington last week on the General's business, and it would have gratified you very much, I am sure, to have heard Secretary Stanton's high appreciation of Genl. Butler's services and policy in New Orleans. I hope by Thursday next I shall have time to pay my respects in person. Until then, I remain,
Faithfully yours, RICH. S. FAY, JR.
From General Butler
Bead Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., July 15th, 1862
Col. I. W. McMiLLAN, Comdg. forces at
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
SIR: I send you Copies of information furnished us by one of our Scouts.
Our information says, "that 15 miles above Baton Rouge on the Cross State Station, there is transportation going on for the Confederate Army at Vicksburg. Soldiers from the „ VOL. n — 5
66 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
rebel army go to Vicksburg from there through Port Hudson. Soldiers from Camp Moore come down to the crevasse a mile and a half below Baton Rouge, cross the crevasse,* and then go down the River in skiffs to New Orleans, landing at Carrol- ton, and then go back in the same way. Pickets from Baton Rouge could stop this."
The General wishes to call your attention to these facts and have the soldiers stopped if possible. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servant,
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From George S. Denison
Custom House, NEW ORLEANS, Collector's Office, July I5ih, 186fc
Major General B. F. BUTLER
SIR: In a letter from the Treasury Department, dated June 27th, I am requested by the Secretary of the Treasury to express to you his thanks for the important aid which you have rendered me. I have the honor to be,
Yr. Obdt. Servt., GEORGE S. DENISON,
Special Agent and Acting Collector
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 15th, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Sec'y. of War
SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a requisition for one hundred thousand dollars to defray the recruiting expenses for the Five thousand Louisiana Volunteers, which I have been authorized by the Department to recruit. I have made application to Brigadier General Arnold for a regular Officer as disbursing Officer, and in the meantime, as the recruiting has already begun, would request that these funds be sent to me as soon as possible.
The cost of provisions and medicines is so large in this place now that I have ordered my Chief Commissary and Medical Director to supply this force while recruiting. I will then repay these Departments from the above funds. This method will save the Government a large amount of money.
Who pays the recruits the three months' pay in advance on the day of Muster, the Paymaster or the Disbursing Agent? I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 67
From General Ruggles
Head Quarters 1st District Dept. East La. and Miss., TANGIPAHO, LA.
July 15, 1862
To Maj. Genl. BUTLER, Commanding U. S. Forces, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: I have received petitions from Officers of the 1st Regiment La. Partisan Rangers, touching the case of Henry Castle, a private of Co. H. of that regiment, and also an application respecting Thomas C. Pennington, a private of Capt. Wilson Tates Comp. of the same Regmt. and I deem it expedient to request your early consideration of the Subject.
It appears that Private Castle was captured by a detach- ment of Federal Troops in the vicinity of Baton Rouge, on or about the seventh of the present month, and Private Pen- nington on or about the 28th day of June, that they were taken to New Orleans, and are now held either there or at one of the Forts in the vicinity, in close confinement, with the threat that they are to be tried and executed as members of a military organization not sanctioned by the laws of civilized warfare. It is to be observed that the first great law of nature, the right of self-defense, is inherent in communities as well as individuals. No law condemns the individual who slays the robber or assassin, and no just law can condemn a community for using all its power to resist the Invader and drive him from their soil.
The exercise of this right, so universally recognized, becomes an imperative duty when the invader, as has been the case with the Federal Troops in this district, disregards those rules of warfare recognized and respected by all civilized na- tions, and adopts that code which has heretofore been con- fined to the rudest Savages.
The proof of this is unfortunately too abundant in the vicinity of Baton Rouge. It is attested by helpless women and children flying from their burning homes; by desolation of plantations; by the plunder of private property, and the wanton destruction of grbwing crops. Such acts are crimes against Humanity, and justify all men in taking up arms against their perpetrators.
The independence of nations has rarely been achieved by regular armies. Our own revolution; that revolution which successfully established the great principle for which the Confederate States are now contending "that all Govern-
68 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ments derive their just powers from the consent of the gov- erned," was mainly fought out by men who left the plow at the news of the Enemy's approach, and returned to it when he had been driven back. It may be conceded that in Europe, where the Governments mainly rely upon large standing Armies which are, as much as possible, disconnected with the people, and where the policy is to prevent the people from bearing arms under almost any circumstances, some very absurd refinements on this subject have been asserted, and to some extent tolerated. But such doctrines have never been recognized on this continent; the United States especially have repudiated them.
The various Revolutions which have agitated the Central and South American States have been conducted by the people frequently without organization, and without leaders other than those chosen upon the spur of the occasion to direct a single enterprise. And to recur to the Revolution of our Forefathers, the history of that immortal struggle abounds with instances where the hardy yeomen as at Lexington and Bunker Hill were like the clansmen of "Roderick Dhu," called by a concerted signal to some "Limerick Mead" and there selected their officers from the very field of battle.
But whatever difference of opinion may exist on this point, it has never been claimed, even by the most stringent advo- cates of legitimacy, that one Belligerent has any right to complain of the name or form which the other may choose to give to its Military organization. The right to adapt these to the peculiar service required has been universally con- ceded. So far, indeed, has this practise been carried in naval warfare that privateersmen, "The Militia of the Seas," with charters as broad as the ocean's bounds, are recognized as legitimate among Belligerents. And now, indeed, the extraor- dinary spectacle is presented to the contemplation of civi- lized man in this boasted nineteenth century of the Christian world, of a nation claiming to be civilized, in violation of its constitutional obligations, inaugurating deliberately servile war by stimulating the half-civilized African to raise his hand against his master and benefactor, and thus make war upon the Anglo-Saxon race — war on human nature.
This with the Federal Government is legitimate warfare, but the defense of their firesides by Southern Citizens is treason and murder. In military organizations, the Polish Lancers, French Zouaves, and British Corps of Scouts and guides in
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 69
the late East Indian War, are cases in point. The Confed- erate States claim and have exercised this undoubted right. The formation of Companies, Battalions, and Regiments of Partisan Rangers, has been specially authorized by an act of Congress. The Officers of this Corps are commissioned, the men are regularly mustered into Service, receive pay, rations, and equipments from the Government, and are entitled to the same privileges and governed by the same regulations as all other troops in the Confederate Service. It is not perceived, therefore, what pretext can be offered by the Enemy for sub- jecting the members of this Corps to a different treatment from that extended to other prisoners of war. Certainly no such distinction can be recognized or tolerated by us. The Government having called these men into service, is bound by every obligation of good faith to protect them to the extent of its power; and if found necessary for their protection as well as for that of numerous unarmed citizens who have been subjected to outrages unparalleled in civilized warfare, will not hesitate, I feel constrained to declare, to resort to retaliation even to the extent sanctioned by the Jewish Law, "An Eye for an Eye, a tooth for a tooth," and "life for life." I await an answer containing an explicit declaration of the intentions of the United States Government respecting these prisoners. y^ RespectfuUy Your Obedient Servant,
DANIEL RUGGLES, Brig. General Commanding District
From J. F. H. Claiborne
July 9th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Captain BUCK
IN reply to your request for information, I will state that Steal's Guerilla band consists of about 160 men, of two com- panies Commanded by Capt. Mclnnis and Capt. John Porter- vins. It has no more discipline than a mob, and is composed generally of very bad characters. The Officers have no control over the men, and no experience. The men are armed with double-barrelled guns, carrying buckshot and conical balls. The men ride and shoot well, and are accustomed to rough life. They say they were within 30 yds. of Lt. Dick- enson's Pickets, and could have shot them, but preferred making a charge, thinking they would capture the boat. They are even said to have their camp at a place called the Center, 20 miles from Gainsville — east, and are dispersed in small
70 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
parties recruiting their horses, which are very poor. They threaten to arrest all prisoners going to the Fort or New Orleans.
John Portervins (son of Wm. Portervins) has been sent to Johnstown to procure two pieces of cannon for Gainsville, and to induce Maj. Gen. Van Dorn, who has superseded Lovell, to send the 3rd Regt. here — Capt. Wm. Portervins is the most violent and bitter man in his community; but for him and one or two more there would be no trouble here.
Brig. Gen. Ruggles (a Connecticut man) has been assigned to the command of all that part of La. east of the Miss. River, and of the three seaboard counties of this State, Head Quarters somewhere on the Railroad. It is whispered that they expect to try and surprise the Fort by a night expedition.
There is a report that Richmond has been taken. A man came from Mobile yesterday, who says he saw dispatches from Richmond that the U. S. forces were beaten. This man is an agent of the Telegraph Co. He came here to pay James O. Roah for taking up the Telegraph cable, and to remove the apparatus and batteries that belonged to Fort Pickens. It seems that "O. Roah" brought them here to the house his family occupies, and this man has been sent from Mobile for them, and they are to be set up by the Confederate authorities. Great value is attached to them. "O. Roah" must have com- municated with the Telegraph agent at Mobile, through one of the steamers carrying flour, or by letter sent here and mailed by his son. I give this in strict confidence. If O. Roah is apprised of it, when he is discharged I shall lose my property by fire. If you intend to detain him, it is hoped he will be removed from the Fort. Many of us would like to go there — also to trade with the city; but we are afraid of this man's tongue after he may be released.
Very truly, J. F. H. CLAIBORNE
From C. F. Adams l
FurnivaTs Inn, LONDON, 15 July, 1862
B. F. BUTLER, Esq., &c., &c.
GENERAL: Altho' you have been invested with high honors and power, it must not be supposed that you can act as the veriest despot without being judged by the tribunal of the
1 The handwriting of this letter is a modification of English script, and is not that of Charles Francis Adams, United States Ambassador to England in 1862.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 71
Civilized World. It is not the rowdy press of New York that will recognize your actions, neither can a suborned govern- ment, or a Congress impelled as it is by madness, who will assoilize you in what you have done at New Orleans. They are looking at it in Greece, in Turkey, in Austria, in France, in Germany, and in England. The Consuls whom you have treated with so much contumely have rights above those you describe, and their despatches and journals will henceforth be brought forward as witnesses against you; in fact, neutrals have arrived in Europe to prove to their respective Govern- ments that you stole their money from Mr. Smith's Bank and other places, private property in every sense of their case. Have foreign citizens no inalienable rights further than you choose to grant them? Europe must see to this. Your authority will be called in question seriously, and then will follow a system of reprisals, and I need not tell you that friends will be sure to point out your property in New England for adjudication. Take warning in time. Conciliation is your forte instead of the reverse. I have been put to confu- sion and shame on your account, and subscribe myself.
Your Sorrowing Countryman, and quondam friend,
C. F. ADAMS
P.S. I enclose your daguerreotype taken from an English newspaper. I hope you will recognize yourself. C. F. A.
English Newspaper Clipping
IT would appear that the recent acts of the Federal military commandant at New Orleans have met with the very reverse of approbation from the Government at Washington; for it is understood that by this time the Federal General Butler has most probably arrived at New York, and that if he has not been ignominiously recalled, his removal can, at the most, be qualified by the ingenious term invented by continental journalists of a "release" from the functions he has so strangely, and, it would seem, so wantonly and brutally exercised. More- over, according to our advices from the same quarter, the Cabinet of President Lincoln have despatched two well- accredited gentlemen to New Orleans to make sedulous in- quiries into at least the entire civil administration, which has prevailed since the city was occupied by the Northern forces, if not into the remarkable military government of General
72 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Butler. It is time. The rumours and reports of what has been going on in the Crescent City have done more harm and thrown more odium on the Federal cause in Europe than even the shameful stampede at Bull's Run, or the atrocious mission of the stone fleet to Charleston. Moreover, the misguided, ostrich-like policy of the Federal Government, in banishing honest and honourable European journalists from the head- quarters of their army, has opened the door to the admission of malignant reports, while it has hindered the dissemination of authentic intelligence and impartial comments. Instead of being able to depend on the communications of gentlemen who have no interest save in speaking the truth, we are driven to the lucubrations of partisans, whose interest may lie in an exactly contrary direction, or to bald and meagre telegrams, on whose skeleton items of news all kinds of conjectures may be built. An intelligent and unbiased observer in New Orleans might have told us whether the attitude of its population could in any way justify General Butler in issuing the atrocious proclamation which has aroused the indignation of politicians of every clsss in Europe — whether his troops were really in danger of being insulted or annoyed by coarse . . . levelled against ladies who had been guilty of no more violent overt act than that of turning their heads away when their captors passed, of refusing to dance with them, or rising from their seats in church when the deadly foes of their husbands and brothers entered.
Then, again, there is the terrible story of the man Mumford, whose execution for the not very heinous sin of pulling down the United States flag from one of the public buildings, is given with characteristic minuteness, and a sensation gusto, in the Northern journals. An informant on the spot might have enlightened us as to whether the man was in arms against the Government, whether he was one of a band of conspira- tors whose object it was to overturn the Federal occupation, or whether he was suspected of incendiarism. If General Butler, acting according to the licence of the martial law he proclaimed, caused its extreme penalty to be inflicted on a prisoner taken in flagrant delict of rebellion to his authority, his conduct, although certainly harsh and perhaps cruel, is not entirely devoid of warranty. The unhappy Mumford only suffered the same doom which Napoleon inflicted on Palm the bookseller, and in the application of which, during the Irish Rebellion of '98, the English General Beresford
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 73
positively revelled. But if this unfortunate man was con- signed to the gallows simply for a freak which might just as probably be committed by a drunken rowdy as by an inveter- ate rebel, the proceedings of Butler appear to us closely to resemble murder of the most brutal and deliberate character. It is almost, in fact, tantamount to a refusal of quarter to the opponents of the North, and can scarcely fail, we should imagine, to lead to the bloodiest reprisals. Unfortunately the deeds of violence and oppression ascribed to the ruthless military commandant whose supersession is by this time, we believe, an accomplished fact, have followed each other with such rapidity, and have shown such a characteristic originality of savagery, that we can scarcely believe them to have been invented or even exaggerated. We learn by the latest tele- grams that an alderman of the City of New Orleans and the Chairman of the Ladies' Relief Committee have been con- demned to hard labour, with a ball and chain affixed to their legs, in Fort Jackson. That a punishment reserved for felons of the worst description, and which modern humanity has removed from among the hardships undergone by convicts and galley-slaves, should be inflicted on American gentlemen by a fellow-countryman for no crime against the laws, but simply for political causes, seems well-nigh to surpass the bounds of possibility. In protesting against such infringe- ments of the commonest dictates of humanity and courtesy, we may be twitted with the reminder of what we ourselves did during our civil wars; but we may proudly retort that, even two hundred years ago, when the world was far ruder and more barbarous than it now is, no instance is on record of a partisan of the Commonwealth being hanged for pulling down the King's arms, or of a Roundhead being sent to beat hemp in Bridewell for wounding the amour-propre of the Cavaliers.
General Butler appears to have got on no better with the foreign residents in New Orleans than with those South- erners, who, notwithstanding their Confederate sympathies, we suppose, he will condescend to recognize as native-born Americans. He has been continually wrangling with the European representatives. The acting British consul, Mr. Coppell, having sought for information respecting the oaths to be exacted from foreigners sojourning in New Orleans, General Butler is stated to have replied that no answer could be given until Mr. CoppelPs credentials and "pretensions" are recognized by the British Government and the Federal
74 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
executive, a decision which virtually leaves the British resi- dents in New Orleans, for an indefinite period, without any protection whatever. The Washington Government will have reason, we should think to rue the day when the intemperate and seemingly half -crazy soldier, who has been carrying matters with such a high hand in New Orleans, was permitted to exer- cise unbridled authority in their name. What has he not done? He has converted smouldering discontent into fren- zied hatred; he has widened the gulf between North and South. He has — the insensate! — made war against women; he has brought upon the enlightened and civilized United States of America the stigma of being ruled by a Junta of merciless tyrants, whose delight is in wanton and cruel bloodshed. He has forced the soldiers of a Christian nation to do the work of Pagan scalpers and tomahawkers; and it will be fortunate indeed if ere his recall he has not involved his employers in a fresh dispute with England, and set the initiative of a broil with France. For the military as well as the civil govern- ment of a city so peculiar as New Orleans, and possessing as it does so cosmopolitan a population, the services of a tem- perate, forbearing, humane, and eminently discreet officer were essential. As it is, the supreme power, with its frightful lati- tude for doing mischief, has been entrusted to a coarse and ruffianly desperado, who, to judge from his published procla- mations, seems entirely destitute of the thoughts, the feelings, the language, and the manners, not only of a soldier, but of a gentleman.
Extract of Letter from Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams l
MR. STEWART, in a very courteous manner, verbally ex- pressed to me the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, that General Butler's order concerning the females in New Orleans, who gave offence to the Union soldiers, was an improper one, in respect to the expression employed in it.
I answered him that we must ask his Government, in read- ing that proclamation, to adopt a rule of construction which the British nation had elevated to the dignity of a principle, and made the motto of their national arms — "Honi soit qui mal y pense."
1 Seward's LIFE, 1861-1872, p. 139.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 75
Vituperative
COME to England, you dark, wicked Villain. Haynes, the Austrian vagrant, who was driven from London within 48 hours after his arrival by the voice of public indignation, was a mild, generous fellow compared with this Butler. I send you a paragraph from the Times, — the leading Journal of Europe, which has constantly circulated the character of one of the worst of living tyrants. Not a Journal in this Country or in France, or in fact, in Europe, but has made the name of "Butler" felt as one of the worst of Hell's Devils. If there is a place in Hell more hot, more adapted for torture, there will General ! ! But- ler be found. Oh, what a horrid death-bed awaits you, you most inhuman of the human race ! Your name is already asso- ciated with everything that is cruel, wicked, barbarous, and terrible. Land in any part of Europe, and you would be torn to pieces by the people, you wicked wretch. Come to England, and nothing could restrain the vengeance of the mob. The worst of Devils in human shape. Even the President could no longer sanction the awful outrages you have committed.
Monster, Murderer, Plunderer, Confiscator, everything that is bad. How long will God permit such a wretch to tread this earth before he goes to the awful doom which awaits him — Hell with all its combined torments, there to slake his thirst with everlasting fire.
From B. F. Coxe to General Butler
Ascension Parish, LOUISIANA, NEW ORLEANS, July, 1862
DEAR SIR: Permit me to represent that we are in great need of immediate protection from the invasion of lawless bands of men, who seize and carry off our Citizens under the Confederate conscription law, burn cotton, and take possession of the guns of the Citizens. Several persons have been captured as prison- ers of State, and Mr. Doff Denst was killed in his own house after he had surrendered. Fifty men could afford us much assis- tance and prevent the further destruction of cotton and other property. The officers of the Parish are still acting under the authority of the Southern Confederacy. I think by the arrest of a few persons who act as leaders, and by requiring all other persons to give an allegiance, we will be able to feel secure in
our persons and property. Tr .* n T» -n ^
F F ^ j yery respectfully, B. F. COXE
P.S. Please not to let my name be known as it might place me in imminent peril.
76 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 15, 1862
To SARAH
THERE my good wife! What do you think of that? How do you like your Colonel ? 1 Is it not wonderful that such a thing could be made from a wood-cut in "Frank Leslie" last year. I send it so that you may see what can be done at New Orleans.
Two letters in one day, isn't that rather too much. I did think of giving this plate to Blanche, but say I will find her something else. You have the "shadow," so you had better take the substance when you can get him.
BENJ. F.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 15, 1862
MY DEAR DEAR WIFE: Why do you fret yourself and make yourself unhappy as you do in your last two letters? Pray, don't you think I will scold you, not at all, if you weep — I will weep with you if I cannot dry your tears. And you let yourself be vexed with so many things that would not alarm you if you knew all. A vivid imagination, love, while it is your highest gift, is a very dangerous one to your peace. Let me brush away a dew-drop or two. The bells were shipped on board a transport for the government, by the government, and the government is to do just what it pleases with them. Snow has nothing to do with them, can show no order or authority whatever. Snow is the most infernal liar and rascal that lives. He has cheated everybody, lied to everybody, and if he ever comes out here will be sent to the Parish Prison for swindling. He is in no way, shape, or form interested with Andrew in any transaction or ever has been. He has no orders from him — can show none.
As regards funds in the hands of Fay. Not a dollar can be drawn except by my order, even of that which belongs to Andrew. Every bill of lading has been endorsed to me for security. I am sorry that Fay did not choose to accept my draft at once. His letters to me say that he would have done so if he had been at home. I had no doubt that the matter would be all
1 In New Orleans there was a very clever decorator of china, who did such good work in painting General Butler's portrait on a plate that General Butler commissioned him to paint portraits of his family and staff officers.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 77
right. What you say about his claim that my stock is pledged annoys me, for I assure you it is not but for six thousand dollars which I will have paid, and I have sent him ten thou- sand dollars in cash, and he has of my private funds some five thousand dollars. But be not troubled. Have not all affairs private as well as public gone well in fact?
My dear, dear, good wife, you ask me not to scold you. If you knew how my heart is full of kindness and love, yearning to see you, you would not write me so. Anybody else fill your place — that is impossible, another may do everything but that. That will never be done. There is in my heart a sanctum sanctorum, a holy of holies, a niche for you alone, sacred to you, never to be intrenched on by the profane! Would you could fully believe so and never doubt more. That sometimes, in fullness of perfect possession, in the satiety of daily life, I am careless and impetuous in expression, does not show this to be different. You know and feel (acknowledge it, poor heart, and cheer up, be happy) that all is right. I am your baby, but may not the petulant child cry when an awry pin pricks him? "Out of joint." If you would write me it were so I would give my commission for it! Tell me at least that it is possible — it may be so hereafter.
I will write Carney upon the matter of the consignment, and explain the matter to him.
Be not alarmed about my health. This city today is as healthy as any in the Union, — 25 deaths only last week — look to Boston and there are twice as many, 54 falling off in one week.
Caroline is with me as housekeeper, so you need feel no anxiety about her. My health is now precisely as it has been, if anything, rather better. The city is a little uneasy under the rumors of our defeat at Richmond, but I will take care of them.
You see that I have become suddenly famous, or rather, Lord Palmerston thinks infamous, by the No. 28. It is right, it was right. It will be right, and be the most popular act of my life. You said it was right at the time, and therefore I knew it was right. It was done for no hope of popularity, but because it was right, and it is well. I am not sure your idea of "circumspection" in what one does comes to much. Do what is right by "instinct" — that is best. All my well- considered acts pretty much have been failures* My instinct is better than my reason.
78 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
This leads me to say that there is not one wrong thing about those shipments, not one that cannot be shown to be correct. Best for the Government, best for the shipper, and good for everybody, even the Abolitionists, because it gives them something to growl over. I will take care of you, myself, the children, — all. Fear not, love, but be happy. I will scold if I hear of your dropping a tear till I return. Be gay yourself — four days in the house, shame, shame, go out, go out. Breathe the fresh air. Have picnics, rides, frolics — get fat — kiss me when you can get me, or at least get ready to do so. There, I have spent all the morning gossipping with you — that was always the way. I thought my business would not be interrupted when you went home, but see, I have spent all the morning with you — and I can run riot in the gossip too. You don't shake your head at all. Goodbye, dearest, back to
dinner! BENJ.
From General Waller de Peyster
TIVOLI, July 19th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Commanding U. S. Forces at NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: Several years ago, a friend of mine planted a mis- sion, organized a parish, and built an Episcopal Church at Natchitoches, Louisiana. His name was Thomas Scott Bacon, I assisted him to build the edifice and presented him with a bell. The bell bore an inscription of which I had a copy, but is mis- laid, and a verse from the Gospel. The matter was attended to, and bill paid by an agent, and therefore I cannot give particu- lars, but I think the bell was cast by Meneely and Son, of Troy.
Another friend of mine saw by the papers and informed me that you had seized 800 bells at New Orleans, collected in Louisiana and adjacent districts, pursuant to a call of Jeffer- son Davis to be cast into cannon.
As the people of Louisiana do not appear to have sense enough to set a value upon such sacred things, and as I did not intend my money invested in a bell to go towards found- ing cannon to be used in shooting down honest and loyal men, I would like to reclaim the bell for our own church at home, which needs one.
As I suppose that the proceeds of the sales of the bells will be regarded as prize money, I would like to redeem the bell if possible at the same rate the others sell or have been sold for.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 79
Any information you will permit one of your clerks to afford me on this subject will be thankfully received. Please direct your clerk to address a reply to
Gen. DE PEYSTER, Tivoli P.O., Dutchess Co., S. N. Y.
Brig. Gen. Phelps knows me well, and that I am a party worthy this attention. I am the more interested in this matter as a portion of the gifts to the church to which I sent the bell (the Communion Service silver I know) were memo- rials of a dear little daughter, deceased, for whose sake I contributed that her name might live in connection with the church, little dreaming that its founder, Rev. Mr. Bacon, would be driven forth, partially if not wholly ruined, on ac- count of his loyalty; that its consecrator, Leonidas Polk, would turn his crosier into a sword, and become a leader of rebels; and Louisiana, the property of the nation, a nest of traitors which you are so valiantly and thoroughly endeavor- ing to purify. I have the honor to be
Respy. your obedt. servant
WALTER DE PEYSTER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 15, 1862
Master PAUL, BUTLER 1
MY SON: I send you a model of a piece of field artillery, complete with its caisson and equipment, also a model of a mortar for throwing bombs, of which you have heard so much. Also a gun on a Barbette carriage such as is used in fortifica- tion. All these you saw at Fortress Monroe in actual use. I have thought you would like to have the models, and as you are a good little boy, of whom your father is very proud and whom your father loves very much, I have pleased myself very much by sending them, thinking how much they would please you. I hear that you are getting on well with your studies — that you love justice and tell the truth; will not do a mean thing. All this makes me very glad. Nothing delights me so much as to hear of your well-doing. You are now quite a youth, and must be found doing as you will when a man.
Tell Benny that I shall send him something soon — that I
1 Paul was 10 years old at this time. Benny was 7 years old.
80 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
have not forgotten him, that he holds a close place in my heart, and that I long to see him so much. Did you both have a good time on the 4th? Good fireworks? Was any- body hurt? Did you hang up the lanterns? All this good time and I not by. Ah me! But we will have good times my boy — after I get home. I will hear your studies, and we will have some of those famous "tags." ™
From Reverdy Johnson
Commissioners Office, Custom House, NEW ORLEANS, July 15, '62
Maj. Gen'l BUTLER
SIR: In the statement of Amedie Conturie of the 10th May last, communicated to you, with his letter of the 16th of that month, he alleges that besides the 160 kegs containing the $800,000, there was taken from his custody, where they had been placed for safe keeping, the following articles:
1st. One Tin Box to which we give the name of Bank Box, in this City, locked and containing Ten Bonds consolidated Debt of City of New Orleans for $1000 each.
2nd. Eight Bonds of the City of Mobile for $1000 each. The whole Eighteen Bonds being deposited on 12th of the preceding April by Mr. Edmund 1. Forstall as Agent of Messrs. Hope & Co.
3rd. Various papers, titles, and deeds, his Consular Commission, and the Presi- dent's exequatur.
4tk. Six Tin boxes, marked with the Consul's name, containing private Deeds, Silver Ware, etc. belonging to divers persons for whom he was agent, and
5th. Two or more Tin boxes belonging to the Hope Insurance Comp., who occupied a part of the building.
Will you do me the favor to let me know at your earliest convenience if these several articles were taken as alleged, and if so whether all or any part of them, and what part have been returned to Mr. Conturie and at what time. I have the
honor to be with high regard, v L ,, 0
& 6 Your obedt. Servant,
REVERDY JOHNSON, Commis. etc. From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July Wth, 1862
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
SIR: In reply to your note stating the farther claims of the Belgian Consul for Articles taken from him, I reply, it is the first I have heard of such Claims. Several gentlemen called for their tin trinkets, and I ordered them to be given
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 81
up. I will have an immediate investigation of this matter made, and everything that is private property will of course be, if it has not been, returned to him as the owner.
I observe that the Consul does not make claim for a box of Dies for making Bank note plates and a set of plates for printing Confederate States Treasury notes taken from his shop in conjunction with the specie and other property. Why not?
Very Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 16th, 1862
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
SIR: In connection with the silver coin taken from the shop of the Consul of Belgium, I deem it my duty to submit for your investigation the fact of the deposit in the hands of the Consul of France, of about seven hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars in silver coin, about the same time, under the following described state of facts:
At daybreak on Sunday, April 21st, or near that time, this large bulk of coin was transferred from the Citizens' Bank to the vaults of the French Consul. This, together with that sent into the Belgian Consul's Shop, was the entire silver coin of the Bank, so bulky that it could not be easily other- wise secreted.
Upon investigation, it appeared that the commercial house of Dupasseur & Co. of this City, claimed this specie as having purchased it by bills, valued on Paris at five francs the dollar for that amount of about that date, drawn in favor of the Citizen's Bank. The senior member of the firm stated to me that he bought this silver for speculation, that he expected to make Thirty thousand dollars by exporting it to Paris after the blockade was raised. That he did not take it to his own house, and did remove it to the French Consul's at this unusual time of a Sabbath morning, from fear of the mob if he moved it in business hours, and that he desired to place it under the French Flag for protection, because of the excited state of the City. .
I need not remind you, so well-trained in judicial investi- gation, of the improbability of such a transaction, involving three quarters of a million, in such dangerous times, with such hope of profit and the entire uncertainty of ever being
VOL. II — 6
88 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
able to ship the specie to meet the bills, with our cannon at that moment thundering at the Forts, and the City in fear daily of a bombardment.
It will be useful to compare dates of both these transactions, because if the object of the Citizen's Bank was to really pay Hope & Co. their interest, why not have sent forward these bills of Durprasseur, instead of transporting the silver at par in Mexican Dollars, which command a premium, to the Bel- gian Consul? The amounts are nearly equal, but by the two transactions the Bank got away every dollar of its silver. I should be glad to be present at the investigation of this case if public duties will permit.
Very Respectfully, Your friend and Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July IQth, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: After consultation with Mr. Johnson, by whose Official position and past services to the Country I thought I had the right to call for advice, and with the wish of Governor Shepley, I have thought it best that he should go to Washington to represent the needs of this State Government, as well as the condition of affairs in this department.
I look upon the questions to be presented by Gov. Shepley, upon which he is fully advised of my opinions, to be the turning points of the War in the South West. Certain it is that some determination of these questions must be reached, or they will determine themselves in disaster and ruin to the State of Louisi- ana. In the recruiting, I am succeeding very well indeed, and while these troops would be proper to lead elsewhere upon the Southern Coast, it would be a doubtful experiment to rely upon them solely here.
I think the needs of the service are such that I have sent an Order to recall Genl. William from Vicksburg, in expectation of the immediate advance upon that place by Gen. Grant. I have the honor to be
Your Obt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER
LETTEBS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 83
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 16, 1864
Brig. Gen. WILLIAMS, VICKSBURG
GENERAL: From all I can learn of operations at Vicksburg, your force is at present not so much needed there as it is elsewhere.
The enemy are concentrating some forces in the neighbor- hood of Baton Rouge, and it is necessary that something be done on the Red River line. Besides, you are in the geographi- cal department of General Halleck.
Therefore, if the state of affairs will permit without serious detriment to the public service, you will withdraw your force and return as soon as possible to Baton Rouge. I remain BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July Ytth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
DEAR SIR: I would respectfully solicit your advice upon the questions presented by the Mechanics & Traders Bank.
I enclose copy of my note to the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the funds in the hands of the Banks to the credit of the Confederate State Receivers. There will not be enough of these funds to pay all the claims upon them for confiscated Northern property.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 16, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: Andrew has sent home a trunk and a box. I suppose them to contain a side saddle for Blanche and a pair of harnesses for me and you. They were presents to him.
Your husband, BENJ. F. BUTLER
P.S. If they do not come soon, have enquiry made for them of Adams Express Co. Also for two small boxes, one marked to Paul and one to yourself. B.
84 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From George S. Denison
Custom House, NEW ORLEANS, Collector's Office, July 17th, 1862
General BUTLER
SIR: I would suggest that a crew list and list of passengers, if any, be made a part of any permit to be granted by you to vessels going across the lake. This being done, my inspectors can prevent persons leaving the city improperly on such vessels. If this does not meet with your approval, please inform me.
On notification from you that a permit is granted, an in- spector, by my direction, will supervise the loading of the ves- sel and lock up the hatches. At the mouth of the canal another inspector will examine the vessel, crew, and passenger list, and military permit, and if all these are correct, will unlock the hatches and the vessel will proceed out into the lake. If there are articles on board not allowed by your permit, the vessel will be sent back, and if there are improper persons on board, the inspector will report to the nearest military officer.
Very respectfully, GEORGE S. DENISON, Actg. Collector
From J. P. M.1
NEW ORLEANS July 18. 1862
To the Honorable B. F. BUTLER, Commanding General
DEAR AND RESPECTED GENERAL: See the following notice given in the newspapers:
July 17
"Correction of Slaves — The Law of the State of Louisiana for the Correction of Slaves will be enforced as heretofore, and I give notice of the same from the proper authorities.
J. C. ROWELL, Keeper of Police Jail"
Does this order emanate from you? I should suppose not. If I understand the views and wishes of the President, the above does not conform to them. It was generally understood when you came here that all such barbarism would be stopped. By the law of Louisiana any master has only to go to the jail, or send his slave with some one, and paying the sum of twenty five cents, the said slave will receive twenty five or thirty lashes, at the desire of his master.
Now, there are thousands of slave-owners that have turned
1 Note : Colonel Shaffer, July 1862. Whence comes this. B. F. B.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 85
perfectly incensed since you have come here, and think the slaves are the cause of all the trouble, and are willing to lavish their wrath upon the poor slaves. Since you have come here many a master has been keeping his slaves confined in chains and on bread and water to limited quantity. The result of this order will serve only to give those cruel people an oppor- tunity to satiate their thirst of blood, and, at the same time, to exasperate the slaves, for they have been awaiting for changes in a better treatment at least for a long time, and most of them are determined to suffer death before they will live under the old system.
Another thing to have in mind is that such proceedings do not help you or the United States at all; contrarily, they are not in harmony with the views of your friends here. As far as the rebel population is concerned, they hate you and the Government you represent, and cannot be conciliated by any means. They can be subjugated, but not conciliated. The majority of them are not so faithful to the Southern Confed- eracy as they are to their own pockets. They have all been led to believe that under that Government New Orleans would be the greatest place for making money, and long as they will have the Confederate notes they now have, their allegiance will always be to Mammon, called Southern Confederacy.
Unionists are just as scarce here as Christians among Jews. Most of those, to very few exceptions, that have manifested Union sentiments, have done so to save their property from confiscation.
There are but two classes of people here faithful to the United States, they are the German and colored population. It is hoped that you will revoke this order, and that it may not be said that the Federal authorities have been more cruel than the Confederate authorities. Besides, this cruel and un- Christian mode of punishment is condemned by all the civi- lized world. Just think how much greater your name will be by stopping such acts, how many good people that will call the blessings of God Almighty upon you. Do not reject the prayer of those who are asking this favor.
The very one who now writes you this letter was humiliating himself by sacrifices before our God for three weeks previous to your arrival here for your safe coming to this city.
While every shot would be heard here from Camp Chal- mette, and the rebels wished that a thousand Yankees would be killed, this writer was calling Divine protection upon
86 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Farragut and his men. I remain, with the highest Union feelings, Your most devoted friend and servant, J. P. M.
From Daniel Richardson
LOWELL, Jidy ISth, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: Congratulating you on the signal ability with which you are and from the beginning have been main- taining your difficult position, and the respect which the great masses of all classes are zealously paying to you, and which all others are obliged to pay to you, I write at the request of the friends of Chas. C. Colton, corporal 8th Regt. Co. F., Capt. Perkins (brother of Colton of the High School and a connection of Varnums of Dracut), to say they hear he is in poor health. He was a law student in our office, a very clever young fellow, was admitted to our bar, and it was thought if some of your people could ascertain whether he was failing from want of constitution for actual service, and if so could be transferred to other position without detriment, it might save him and would confer great obligation to them.
At Commencement at Cambridge Wednesday, and at Phi Beta Kappa Thursday, your name was everywhere mentioned approvingly (they had forgotten that trial when you talked to the Jury of hanging professors) and very often, too. And at Phi Beta Kappa dinner, the orator, Geo. W. Curtis of N. York, alluded to you very handsomely in this order, Butler — Banks — Devens, and a Kentucky man who sat by my side remarked that your course was as fully and cordially approved of in Kentucky as it seemed to be here.
I have often desired to write you, but, knowing your pres- sure, have refrained, but can't help saying this much. At our house, my home, we are all from the outset approvers of the famous order which so disturbs our puritans and even the English Parliament. And such a treat as you have given by your explanatory letter! It was the best thing you ever did, and has completely silenced the few who were so horrified at the order. With the kindest wishes for your safety and fame, and expecting to see all our houses ornamented with trophies of Secession flags when you get home. I am
Truly yours, DANIEL S. RICHARDSON
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 87
From Carlos Pierce
WASHINGTON, D.C. July 19th, 186*
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf, U.S.A. NEW ORLEANS
SIR: Five weeks have I been trying to obtain my pay from Government for the clothing furnished to your department, by your direct orders and those of your Quarter Master Capt. George, all of which we delivered as directed by him eight and ten months since, and received the customary Government Quarter Master's vouchers, which they issue as evidence of indebtedness when they have not money to pay their bills. We have now waited so long for our pay that the loss of interest to us is more than $6,000, — which is of itself a hardship, but I have been here five weeks a daily attendant upon the Quarter Master General's Department to get my pay, or learn the reasons why I could not, and am informed that you purchased too nice goods, and that I must look to you for my pay. "Sue General Butler and his Quarter Master, we will not pay your bills until you discount about $25,000."
I have explained away most of their objections to the pay- ment of said vouchers, and, having done all I can, I returned home to Boston disheartened, and make this appeal to you, asking your influence (if you think proper to give it) with the President in my behalf. I do this the more confidently because your authority was brought in question by the Quarter Master General, and also because you know whether or not I served the Government faithfully and honestly in delivering to your Department the best quality of goods, and you also remember the assurances I received of payment of my account. The only remaining objections I received of my account are that you ordered from us the same shirts and drawers and blouses that the States of New York, Mass., and Maine, and Col. Grossman, U. S. Qr. Master at Philadelphia, had been having of us, and in ten times greater quantities, yet we gave them to you at the same prices, they have all paid us, and Govern- ment has reimbursed them, therefore it would seem my mis- fortune that I am a citizen creditor of the Government instead of a State or Quarter Master. Why it is, with such facts before them and precedents, they should deny your contracts for same articles and prices, is what I want you to help me ascertain, and also why some of your Quarter Master's Vouchers should be paid by his successor, Capt. McKim, to favorites
88 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
without apparent objection, while he refuses others, and says unqualifiedly that he has paid none. Your soldiers have had our garments now more than six months, certainly long enough to test their quality, we faithfully fulfilled our con- tracts, and ask your assistance in our behalf that the Govern- ment may fulfill theirs, that we may not much longer suffer.
What General Meigs asks is that the all-wool indigo blue mixed shirts and drawers should be discounted in price equal to Government goods of all cotton fabric, and that the cloth coats should be reduced in price to that of their flannel blouses. Any business man can see the absurdity and the injustice of such treatment. I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Servant, CARLOS PIERCE, PIERCE BROS. Co., Boston
P.S. You may rely upon my ability to prove what I have said. From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 19th, 1862
Capt. STAFFORD, Acting Provost Marshal
SIR: The course pursued by certain persons in ordering their slaves "to go to the Yankees" or to join the Federals, described in your note, and like acts, had been brought to my notice from different sources previous to your com- munication, and certainly is a great wrong as well to the Government as to the Negroes. In order to correct this evil, therefore, let it be known that all such declarations by the owners to their slaves will by the authorities here be taken and deemed acts of voluntary emancipation, and slaves sent away by their masters with such declarations as you describe, or equivalent ones, will be regarded and treated as manumitted and emancipated.
You will see to it that this necessary police regulation is
carried into effect. „ ,. „
Kespecijullyy
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg. From R. S. Fay Jr. to General Butler
BROOKLINE, July 19th, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have just returned from New York, where my errand was to inquire about the freights paid vessels bringing mdse. from New Orleans. I found there had been
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 89
but one vessel discharged there under precisely the same cir- cumstances as those whose cargoes are consigned to me. In that case, however, Capt. Stinson, Act. Q. M., delivered the cargo at the rate specified upon the Bills of Lading. I have made the strongest appeal to Genl. Meigs from McKim's decision to claim market rates of freight, regardless of B. of L., and if unsuccessful shall carry it up to the Sec'y- of War, and if necessary to the President.
I am very sorry that you will not have the profit upon the merchandise shipped before the first of June, as it has paid best of all. Your instructions to offer the business to the Govt. were, however, explicit, and had the War Dept. not taken it, Fox would have taken the merchandise, under your letter to him. Everything shipped since the opening of the port I have carried to your account or your brother's (and the profit will be very satisfactory) .
I called at your house on Monday, the 14th, and saw Mrs. Butler, apparently very well. She knew nothing of the map you wrote me about, nor have I heard of it anywhere else.
I am shipping some hay and flour to Mr. A. Montgomery by the brig "Hannah Thornton," which sails from New York today. She is chiefly laden with Govt. stores, and I hope will receive every proper facility in the way of tonnage, etc.
I have been so pressed by the large amount of this business that I have not yet been able to write you so fully as I wish to do. My first thought and effort has been to guard your per- sonal reputation in official transactions intact and unspotted. In this I believe I have been entirely successful, and if in my care in this regard I have not made all the money for you I could have done, you will not think me the less, but more, Your sincere friend, RICH. S. FAY, JR.
From Residents of Vacherie
NEW ORLEANS, July 19</z, 1862
To BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General U. S. Army,
Department of the Gulf
THE petition of the undersigned, citizens of the United States, respectfully represents that they are residents of the Vacherie Settlement, in the Parish of St. James, State of Louisiana, about six miles from the Mississippi River (on its right bank), and about four miles from the Lake des Alle- mands, in which settlement most of them follow the occupa-
90 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLEE
tion of gardeners and growers of vegetables. That they have ever been loyal to the United States government, have never in any manner or form aided or assisted the present rebellion, and have, since their arrival in this city, renewed their alle- giance to their government by a solemn oath.
That the wrongs and abuses they have suffered for their refusal to aid the rebellion, and to take up arms against their government, have been of so gross and cruel a nature, and of such frequent occurrence, that their recital in detail would prove tedious to read. They will content themselves by stat- ing that during the present week all the loyal men, and even women of the neighborhood, have been compelled to leave their homes and crops and to hide themselves, or find their way to the Federal lines as best they could, in order to avoid being pressed into military service by bands of "Partisan Rangers," as they style themselves, of the Confederate States Government. That these bands occasionally rove along the roads of the Parish in numbers of from thirty to a hundred each, and forcibly take with them every person who will not aid or join them, regardless of age or condition.
Should this state of things be permitted for any length of time, the homes and crops of your petitioners will be entirely destroyed, and your petitioners ruined in their worldly affairs.
They therefore call upon you to come to their assistance, and give them that protection which is due to every loyal American citizen. They earnestly hope and pray that you may be able to send a force into that important section of the country to effect this object. Besides conferring a blessing upon that neighborhood, such action will secure advantages towards peace and quiet in this city.
Very respectfully, T. J. SCHNEIDER, ALBERT BAHNE, DICK BAHNE, VINKLE LECHLEITER, KARL SEIDE, JOSEPH LECH- LEITER, A. BRANDT
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 19, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 206
THE Steamer "Empire Parish" has liberty to trade up and down the coast within the limits of our lines, and to carry family supplies, each lot of said supplies to be only in such quantities as should be properly issued to one family or one plantation, and not to be issued for trading purposes, particu-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 91
larly no lot of over ten bags of salt shall be issued to any one consignee. By Qrder Oy MAJ QEN BUTLEB
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G. From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 19th, 1862
Captain GIBSON, Gunboat "Potomac" off SHIP ISLAND
SCHOONERS from Nassau, Key West, &c., are in the habit of coming to this City through the lakes, which cannot be permitted as we have no Quarantine Officer at that Post. I have been informed that they generally pass by you. If you would inform them that no vessels are allowed to come to the City unless they come through the Passes, and report them- selves at the Quarantine Station on the River, you would save them a great deal of trouble. We have already been obliged to order back two. I am, Sir,
Most Respectfully, Your Obt. Servant,
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER ' R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From James G. Carney
Bank of Mutual Redemption, No. 91 State Street, BOSTON, MASS., July 19, 1862
Hon. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
MY DEAR SIR: I have, to thank you for your favor of the 2nd instant, which came duly to hand. The drafts have all been provided for. The government, I understand through Mr. Fay, paying me $60,600 for drafts and commissions. I cashed the drafts so as to pay off Messrs. Hildreth et al, and all interest paid by him on them, and 35 dollars on his money while used, and had something left for negotiating. It came at a fortunate time for making the negotiations; and so all trouble, after the first "hitch," was escaped. The time has been and may be again, probably will be, when the matter would be exceedingly troublesome, and difficult, if possible to manage.
The main part of your letter you will see published in the Journal (Boston), if you see that paper, or in the New York Times, copied from the Journal, if you see that. It will go far to help on a healthy public opinion, that you must deal with "different people differently," "fight fire with fire;" and when you go to war, as you said a year ago last April (I think), you
92 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
must "Go to war to hurt somebody." I hope now that Con- gress has adjourned that that is to be the principle upon which the Government is to go to war until this atrocious and infernal rebellion is ended.
Your friend, JAMES G. CARNEY
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, July ZQtk, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I wrote you June 14th owning receipt of yours and Col. Butler's favors of 1st inst., covering sundry drafts and invoices of shipments to me. I went immediately to Washington, where the transaction made a great deal of discussion, the essential difficulty being with the shipments made before the opening of the Port, June 1st, in view of the jealousy with which the blockade is regarded by foreign pow- ers. The result, however, was that the Govt. assumed the transaction, making me its agent to sell the merchandise, pay the drafts, and hand them the profits. I enclose a copy of the letter of the Secretary of War containing Gen. Meigs' report upon the case. Considering the beautiful opportunities afforded for making difficulty, I think this a very satisfactory settlement, and very complimentary to your judgment. Secretary Stanton spoke in the warmest terms of your admin- istration. Indeed he could hardly have said more in your praise. Although I am very sorry the profit on these opera- tions does not accrue to you, I think Gen. Meigs5 view a just one, and it will be far better to be able to silence the many remarks current here about the business from which your reputation would have suffered if uncontradicted. Returning from Washington only this morning, I find your favors of 10th and llth. I will attend to your wishes about the map. The cheque for $10,000 will be placed to your credit when paid. You will observe that no bond or accountability is required of me by Govt., a handsome compliment, and a hint that they do not want to make too large a record of the business as a precedent.
Genl. McClellan has been largely reinforced. He was not defeated at Fair Oaks, but drove back a sortie in great force, losing 8 guns and 10,000 men in doing it. I came from Nor- folk to Washington with a Norfolk lady. She told me that the capture of New Orleans was the only event of the war
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 93
which had disturbed the smooth current of the Secession con- fidence. It was a terrible blow to them. Fremont was virtu- ally beaten at Woodstock, and Shields at Port Republic, and nothing but the invincible steadiness of my "Beacon St. dandy friends" of the 2nd Mass, saved Banks the loss of every man and wagon of his command at Winchester. I trust it is not wrong to say that I think Jackson the most brilliant officer the war has produced. Stern impartiality compels me to do it. He now has Siegel against him, and I rather think a genius better adapted to cope with him, with equal numbers, than any officer we have.
During my absence, several of Col. Butler's drafts on me, and some of yours on Carney, were noted for non-acceptance. I have accepted them all to-day. I understand Mr. Carney has put Mr. Hildreth to some trouble to secure him. It was unnecessary, as I would have paid his draft "for your honor" (honor commercial). I shall go to see Mrs. Butler as soon as I can leave Boston. I suppose she has the map, as I have not seen it. I am heartily glad she is at home again. I write to Col. Butler with figures, etc.
Very Sincerely Yours, RICH. S. FAY, JR.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 20, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: I got your kind note where you praised me. How sweet to be praised by one we love! It is late, and I do not mean to write you a word but to say good night. Yet a word before you go to sleep. How did you like your saddle, and Blanche's saddle, and my harness?
I sent a little present for Blanche under the seal of this note. Cut it out and give it to her. The City the healthiest of healthys. All well. Nice house, fine furniture, plenty of servants, and loneliness. Keep yourself very happy and get fat. I send all manner of slips enclosed with this. Blanche must not forget the scrap book. BENJ
From General Butler
Head Qts. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 21sf, 1862
Captain MORRIS, Steamship "Pensacola"
SIR: We have received some letters this morning from Col. McMillan at Baton Rouge, in which he states that he has
94 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
received a report that the rebel steamer "Music," armed with 4 or 6 six-pounder guns is lying a few miles down the Bayou at Plaquemine, waiting an opportunity of catching a transport and getting salt and other articles shipped from here. We would call your attention to the fact. I am, Sir,
Most Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt.
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 21, 1862
Hon. RE VERB Y JOHNSON
MY DEAR SIR: Permit me to iterate and reiterate again and again what you knew so well before, but which these deluded people seem determined never to believe, that no merchan- dise, whether cotton or sugar, will in any event be seized or confiscated by the TL S. authorities here.
I will assure safe conduct, open market, and prompt ship- ment of all such property sent to New Orleans, and the owner, were he Slidell himself, should have the pay for his cotton if sent here under this assurance. I am,
Most truly, yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General Commanding
Official Records Series 3, Vol. II, Page 239.
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners Office, Custom House, N. 0. July list, 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I needed not your note of this morning to satisfy me on the subject to which it relates. The public mind should have been put right upon it by your proclamation of the 7th of May. In these times, however, opinion is so sensitive, and misrepresentations so frequent, on all matters touching the unfortunate condition of the country, that I am glad to have your note with the privilege to make it public.
The restoration of commerce in and from this port is a result so important to the interest of this State, the United States, and the Governments of Europe, that it seems strange that an intelligent man should have doubted your wish as the representative of our Government, to do all that you could do to bring it about.
If there be any really existing fear upon the point, your
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 95
note (for which I thank you) cannot fail to remove it. The Confederate Government, as it calls itself, may burn and destroy the Cotton and Sugar of the people whom they claim to represent, and whose right they pretend to be anxious to protect. They may, too, for a time succeed in keeping alive the delusion of their followers, but an intelligent Southern public, and an intelligent European opinion, will soon, if it has not already, discover the shallowness of the pretense, and see, unless soon arrested by the fostering power of the Govern- ment, the certain ruin to which it must lead. With great respect, Yours sincerely, REVERDY JOHNSON, Comms.
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners Office, NEW ORLEANS, July list, 1862
To Maj. Genl. BUTLER
SIR: The examination I have been making into the owner- ship of Eight hundred thousand Dollars ($800,000) in coin, deposited by Mr. E. J. Forstall as Agent of Messrs. Hope & Co. with the Consul of the Netherlands, and taken possession of by your order, has resulted in satisfying me that the ten Bonds for One thousand Dollars each ($1000) of the City of New Orleans, and the eight of the City of Mobile for the like amount each, taken at the same time, are the property of Messrs. Hope & Co., and were in good faith deposited as alleged by their said agent, and that they should be returned to him. His authority of agent appears by an original power of Attorney, properly proved before me, and also by the fact that he has for years acted in that capacity. With high
° Your obedient Servt.,
REVERDY JOHNSON, Commis.> etc.
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners1 Office, Custom House, NEW ORLEANS, July 26, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
T. A. F. PUFFER, Lieut, and A. D. C.
SIR: The box the Maj. General sent me a few days since contained, amongst other things, the 18 Bonds of the City of New Orleans and Mobile. It being locked, and the Consul of Netherlands having the key, I applied to him for it, saying that I desired to deliver the Bonds to Mr. Forstall, who claimed them as the agent of Messrs. Hope & Co. He declined send-
96 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ing the key. I then had the Box opened, delivered the Bonds to that gentleman, taking his receipt (a copy is enclosed), and notified the Consul that I held the Box to be delivered to him, with the remainder of its contents. This he refused also by letter. My answer, a copy of which I send you for the infor- mation of the General, will show him the condition in which the matter now stands. As this copy is the only one I have, the General will oblige me by returning it. I will have another made for him if he should desire one.
Yours with regard, REVERDY JOHNSON, Commis.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
RECEIVED, New Orleans, July 22nd, 1862, from the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Comms., under an order from Major Gen'l Butler, the following Bonds:
10 Consolidated Debt City of New Orleans Bonds for $1000 each 8 Mobile City Bonds for $1000 each
the property of Messrs. Hope and Co. of Amsterdam, placed under the protection of the Consul ("des Paysbas") and seized by Order of the Commander of the Gulf Department. EDM. J. FORSTALL, Agent of HOPE AND Co.
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners Office, Custom House, N. 0., July Wnd, 1862
Maj. Genl. BUTLER
SIR: The question of the propriety of the payment made to you under protest, on the 5th of June last, of $8948.50, Eight thousand Nine hundred and forty-eight 50/100 Dollars, by Messrs. S. H. Kennedy & Co. of this City, the estimated value of a third of Exchange at sixty days after sight, dated Havana, the 30th of the previous April, for $1789.14, One thousand Seven hundred and eighty-nine pounds and fourteen shillings, which you have submitted to this Commission, I have carefully considered. The facts attending the shipment of the cotton to Havana by Messrs. Kennedy & Co., on the proceeds of which the bill was drawn, as well as all the other facts connected with the transaction, are clear. The shipment was in violation of the blockade, and if seized in delicto would have been liable to forfeiture. The proceeds also, if received here on the return voyage, would have been equally liable
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 97
to forfeiture. The vessel would also either on the outer or return voyage have been in like manner liable. But the blockade having been successfully run, and the cotton sold in Havana, and the first and second of Exchange drawn by the shippers' consignees in Havana, and sent to London by ship- pers' orders to be passed to their credit in London, the first question is, whether the third of Exchange is to be esteemed the proceeds of the shipment and liable to seizure? I am of the opinion it cannot. The first and second of Exchange hav- ing been paid by the drawers in London, and the proceeds passed to the credit of the shippers, the third is a mere nul- lity, valueless in the hands of the shippers. It was not then the representatives of the cotton or its proceeds. The first was the property of the buyers in Havana, the second the prop- erty of the shippers, because of the payment of the first or second, and the passing of its proceeds to their credit with their London Bankers.
The offense of running the Blockade is not, under the mod- ern law of nations, a personal offense. It affects only the ship and the cargo. If these are not [retained] physically, or their proceeds on a return voyage, the offense escapes punishment. It never attends the vessel or the cargo further than to the termination of the [return?] voyage, with the exception of the immediate return voyage. The rule is well settled by modern authority, English, Continental, and American, that the offense is purged unless the vessel or cargo is captured in dilecto. The harshness of the ancient doctrine as to breaches of blockade, or of contraband of War, has long since been ameliorated. This has been affected by the silent but sure and effective influence of a more enlightened civilization, and a better sense of the importance to the interest of the nations of the world of an unrestricted Commerce. The rights of war as originally understood have been made to yield to a convic- tion of the greater value of this interest. War — fortunately for the welfare of man — is coming to be more and more occasional and temporary. Peace is the condition on which his happiness most depends. And all the ancient rules, appli- cable to a state of war, for a long period barbarous and preg- nant with evil, have been for years so modified as to take from war many of its former terrible consequences. Second. But there is another fatal objection to the payment exacted of Messrs. Kennedy & Co. When the third of Ex- change was returned here, the blockade no longer existed. It
VOL. II — 7
98 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
had been removed by Order of the President, and the Port declared to be open. Nothing is better settled than that the raising of a blockade, in the interval between the sailing in violation of it, and the capture of the offending Vessel and Cargo, exempts both from penalty. The object of enforcing the penalty is to guard against future violations of the Blockade, not of any that may thereafter be declared. The whole pur- pose is to secure the particular blockade against violation, and no other. When, therefore, that blockade is raised, the reason for forfeiture ceases. In the language of Wheaton, "When the blockade is raised, a veil is thrown over everything that is done, and the vessel is no longer in delicto. The deliction may be completed at one period, but it is by subsequent events done away" (Wh,eaton's Law of Nations, 3rd edt. page 50). The same rule as well as the others I have stated will be found to be well-established by, amongst other authorities, the case of the "Sanders," 2nd Gallican, pg. 210, 1st Rents Commen- taries (6th edition pg. 151), and Carrington and al. versus the Merchants Insurance Comp. 8th Peters Reports, pp. 495-519. My opinion is, therefore, that the sum received from Messrs. Kennedy & Co. should be returned to them. I have the honor to be, With high regard YQW Qm g^
REVERDY JOHNSON, Commis. From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July Wnd, 1862
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
SIR: I have your decision in the matter of the money paid by J. H. Kennedy & Co., and while I shall pay back the money in obedience to it, if the partners of the House take the Oath of Allegiance, I must dissent from the conclusions to which you have come toto animo.
The facts are briefly these. Kennedy & Corvere, mer- chants doing business in New Orleans, the members of which were citizens of the United States. They shipped Cotton bought at Vicksburg and brought it to New Orleans from a Bayou on the Coast, where Steamers were accustomed to run the Blockade to Havana, on board Steamships that were engaged in carrying goods from the neighborhood of New Orleans to Havana in defiance of the laws and the President's Proclamation, and under the further agreement with the Confederate authority here that a given per cent of the value
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 99
of their Cargoes should be returned in arms and Munitions of War for the use of the rebels here.
Without such an agreement, no Cotton could be shipped from New Orleans, and this publicly known, and the fact of Knowledge, that a permit for the vessel to ship cotton could only be got on such terms, was not denied at the hearing.
The Cotton was sold in Havana, and the net proceeds were invested in a draft (first, second, and third of exchange) dated April 30, 1862, payable to the London Agent of the House of Kennedy & Co., and the first and second sent forward to London, and the third, with account sales and vouchers, forwarded to the firm here through an illicit mail on board the Steamer "Fox," likewise engaged in carrying unlawful mer- chandise and an illicit mail between Havana and the Rebel States.
The third of Exchange and papers are captured by the Army of the United States on tenth day of May on board the "Fox" — flagrante delicto, surrounded by the Rebel Arms and Munitions, concealed in a Bayou leading out of Baratana Bay, attempting to land her contraband mails and scarcely less destructive arms and munitions to be sent through the by ways and swamps to the Enemy.
During all this time, J. H. Kennedy & Co. have not accepted the amnesty proffered by the proclamation of the Command- ing Genl. but preferred to remain within its terms Rebels and Enemies.
Upon this state of facts, the Commanding General called upon Kennedy & Co. to pay the amount of net proceeds of the Cotton (the third of Exchange of the draft) which, with the documents relating to this unlawful transaction, he has captured as a proper forfeiture of the Government under the facts above stated, which was done upon the submission to you, whether the forfeiture was a proper one. You have decided that the money should be repaid, because the forfeiture was not proper.
Pardon me if I respectfully examine the grounds of that decision. They are: 1st. That there was no capture of the property or its representative actually running the blockade. 2nd. That there is no personal detection in Kennedy & Co. in the acts done by them, which can render them subject to forfeiture, and 3rd, that the blockade being raised by the proc- lamation of the President before the Capture of the draft and paper, all delection on account of the transaction is purged.
100 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Was not this third of Exchange the very representative of the transaction in connection with the Account Sales? If the first or second has been paid, then of course it becomes value- less, but there was no evidence that either the first or second had been paid, nor could that have been done in 10 days from Havana to London, in which case the third is the sole "pro- ceeds " of the illegal transaction. Is not the third of exchange usually sent by consignee to the principal, where the order is to transfer the fund to a distant House precisely for the purpose of representing the transaction? In the hands of the owners, S. H. Kennedy & Co., were not these several of exchange equal in value? If one holds the 1st & 2nd and third of Exchange, can it be said that one is more valuable than the other to the holder? Kennedy & Co. did hold all these by themselves or their Agents. All of equal value up to the capture.
The hazards of the return voyage was guarded against by a shipment to England of one of the representatives of the Cotton, but the commercial transaction was still in fieri in the transmission of its account sales and vouchers, and represent- ative of value to the company here.
Even if I am right, however, it is unnecessary to elaborate the point further, because it seems to me that the decision turns upon a non-appreciation of the Law, what is the effect of the Blockade? As applied to this transaction, the citations and arguments, derived from elementary writers upon the law of Nations are of no value. This is not the case of a resi- dent subject of a foreign State attempting to elude the vigi- lance of a blockade by a foreign power of a port of a third nation. The rule that a successful running of the Blockade, or a subsequent raising of the blockade, purges the transaction so far as punishment for personal deliction is concerned, is too familiar to need citation, at least by a lawyer to a lawyer. It would be desirable to see some citations to show there was no personal deliction in the transaction under consideration.
A traitorous commercial house, directly engaged in the treasonable work of aiding a Rebellion against the Govern- ment by entering into a trade, the direct effect of which is to furnish the rebels with arms and amunitions. To do this, they intentionally violate the Revenue laws, postal laws, of their Country, as well as the laws prohibiting trade with for- eign countries from this port, and are caught in the act and fined only the Amount of the proceeds of their illegal treason- able transaction.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 101
Their lives by every law were forfeit to the Country of their allegiance. The representative of that Country takes a comparatively small fine from them, and a Commission of that same Country refunds it, because of its impropriety.
Grotius, Puffendorf, Vatel, and Wheaton will be searched, it is believed in vain, for precedent for such action. Why cite international law to govern a transaction between the rebel- lious traitor and his own Government? Around the State of Louisiana the Government had placed the impassable barrier of law covering each and every subject, saying to him, from that State no Cotton should be shipped, and no Arms imported, and there no mails or letters should be delivered. To warn off foreigners, to prevent bad men of our own Citizens violating that law, the Governments had placed ships. Now, whatever may be the law relating to the intruding foreigner, can it be said for a moment that the fact that a traitor has successfully eluded the vigilance of the Government, that very success purges the crime which might never have been criminal but for this success? stare decisis.
The fine will be restored, but the Guilty Party ought to be and will be punished.
A course of treatment of rebels and traitors which should have such results would be not only "rose water" but diluted "rose water." The other reason given for the decision, that the Blockade had been raised, is a mistake in point of fact, both in the date and the place of capture. The capture was not made of a vessel running into the port of New Orleans, nor was the shipment made from the port of New Orleans, when the blockade was raised, but from one of those Lagoons where in former times Lafitte the pirate carried on a hardly more atrocious business.
Something was said at the hearing that this money was intended by Kennedy & Co. for northern creditors. Sending it to England does not seem to be the best evidence of that intention.
But, of course, no such consideration could enter into the decision. I have reviewed this decision at some length because it seems to me that it offers a premium for treasonable acts to traitors in the Confederate States. It says in substance, violate the laws of the United States as well as you can, send abroad all the produce of the Confederate States you can, to be converted into arms for the rebellion, you only take the risk of losing in transitu, and as the profits are four-fold, you
102 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
can afford so to do, but it is solemnly decided that in all this there is no personal deliction for which you can or ought to be punished even by a fine, and if you are, the fine shall be
returned. I have the honor to be v ™ , 0 ^
/ our (Jot. bervt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gw//, NEW ORLEANS, July 23rd, 1862
Brig. Gen. 3. W. PHELPS, Comdg. forces at
CAMP PARAPET, CARROLTON
GENERAL: Is it not best that a boy of thirteen who has not discretion enough, one would suppose, to know how to take care of himself, be allowed to go back to his Mistress. He can hardly be called a "fugitive from labor." This Widow is a loyal Woman, has taken the Oath of Allegiance, and in my judgment should have back her servant in the peculiar cir- cumstances of the case. I am
Very truly Your friend & Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER
From D. W. McMillan to General Butler
PRIVATE. BATON ROUGE, LA., 23 July 1862
DEAR GENERAL: Yours by the hands of Mr. Bates has been received and attentively read. I will most cheerfully do all in my power to gain the end you desire. I have only attempted one Cotton speculation (at Red River), and that failed, being entirely surrounded by water. Since then I have had no share, lot, nor part in any Cotton transaction. I have not been able to do duty since I saw you, and I truly regret that such representations should be made to you by any one as to furnish you satisfactory grounds for threatening me. If any person save Moses Bates or a Jew has complained, I am not aware of it, and I most humbly beseech you not to hold me responsible for any charge based on their statements. If the charge comes from any other Quarter, I hope you will thoroughly investigate it, as I certainly desire at least as greatly to appear a gentleman as a soldier in your estimation. If I had a Boat at my command I could do much more in getting Cotton into market. There are a few points along the River, where the people have too much sense to destroy their Cotton, and would be glad to ship it off to market.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 108
The prospect is getting better here, too, as many of the Citizens have sold for money instead of Confederate Bonds or Certificates. As soon as I can drive all the Rebel Bands of Guerillas beyond reach of the people, they will sell their Cotton. Many are now very desirous of being "forced" to sell, as they get better prices than ever before. If it was pos- sible to get one or two more Companies of Cavalry here it would be of incalculable service. I could then follow the Guerilla Bands and break them up entirely. If I can only get hold of a few of the prominent ones it will die of itself and the hatred of the people. I understand your allusion to "patriotic duty," and appreciate it, and will do all in my power, but being confined to my room with one of those terrible scourges called carbuncles on back of my neck and head, I am very feeble mentally as well as physically. Having no well-organized Staff, I am necessarily compelled to do most of my labor per- sonally. I am amazed greatly by applicants for permits to buy provisions of my Commissariat by all Classes, as many of the substantiate cannot be obtained elsewhere.
As soon as the Boats at Vicksburg get down, I hope Boats will be more plenty, and one can be had at this place, which will facilitate purchases and shipments greatly. With Great Regard, I am Truly YourS9 D. W. McMiLLAN
From G. M. Shipper
NEW ORLEANS, July 23d, 1862
M aj. Genl. BUTLER
I WAS released from prison by order of General Williams for raising the Union Standard of the old red, white and blue from my house, No. 205 Lafayette Street, on the morning of the day the Federal fleet crossed into New Orleans.
Myself and wife were under your protection at the Custom House, two days and nights. I now desire a situation whereby I can gain an honest livelihood. I also desire your influence. I respectfully refer to Capt. J. W. Scott, of 31st Mass. Regi- ment, Capt. A. Comstock, 13th Connecticut, Capt. F. M. H. Kendrick, 55 St. Charles Street, L. F. Glenn, Esq., Clerk in Maj. J. M. Bell's Provost Court. I have other recommenda- tions good and true, from loyal citizens. Were Capt. Josiah Snow in the City, I know full well I could be admitted and gain an audience. As it is now, your Orderly regards my presence only as an intruder.
104 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I enclose a note from my wife. General, if you can do noth- ing for me, will you in God's name give me a free pass to leave the accursed South for my own, my dear Bay State?
Ever true, G. M. SHIPPER
July 23rd, 1862
G. M. SHIPPER, Esq. wished me to send the above for your consideration. ^ respectfuUy Your Obdt. Servt.
A. COMSTOCK, Capt. 13th Regt.
From Mrs. G. M. Shipper
NEW ORLEANS, July 23d. 1862
Major Gen'l. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Allow me to intrude a few moments upon your time.
The bearer of this is my husband, who is in great need of employment. We have seen better days. A few years ago my husband was proprietor of a paper in the State of N. Y. Now he is in the City of New Orleans without a "TICKET" in his pocket, and out of employment, while the "Rebels" here are given good "fat" situations. I am hungry, but too proud to let it be known. We went to bed without supper, and my dear husband is before you without breakfast. Dear General, I wish a favor at your hands. Do not refuse me, I am proud and a refusal will crush me. I have some furniture, and I am willing to give you a mortgage on it if you will be kind enough to let me have twenty-five or thirty Dollars' worth of rations from the Commissaries stores. Mr. Shipper will pay promptly as soon as he gets employment.
Yours Truly, MRS. G. M. SHIPPER
From Honorable Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners Office, NEW ORLEANS, July 23rd, 1862
To Maj. Genl. BUTLER
SIR: In the case of the seizure of the goods in the store of Maull and Hancock in this City, which you have referred to this Commission, I am of the opinion that they should be restored.
Neither of the grounds, though at first view plausible, can be maintained. 1st. The fact that the parties, one or both, had been engaged in running the blockade, constitutes no
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 105
personal legal offense. The penalty for such conduct is but the forfeiture of the vessel and cargo. But this can only be enforced when the property is caught in delicto, and that can only happen on the outward or immediate return voyage, and when at the time of seizure the blockade is in force. Neither of these facts existed in this instance, and, besides that, the goods seized are not the returns of any outward shipment. For authorities on this point, I refer you to those cited in the opinion I had the honor to give you yesterday in the case of Messrs. Kennedy and Co. 2nd. The fact, if true, that Hancock, one of the owners, was engaged in the rebellion or sympathized in it, is no cause of forfeiture of his property by military au- thority. But the fact is denied, and the truth of the denial is established to my satisfaction. 3rd. But if both the preceding views were erroneous, the goods should be returned. It appears that the House of Thaddeus Norris & Co. of Philadelphia, who never violated the Blockade or were privy to its violation by Maull and Hancock, and who are loyal citizens, are largely in- terested in the goods. This appears by an affidavit of Thaddeus Norris, the head of the House, made in Philadelphia on the 27th ultimo, and by an account annexed to the same now before me. By these it appears that while Hancock is a creditor for $1722.20 Seventeen hundred and twenty-two 20/100 Dollars, and Maull for $5028.24 Five thousand twenty-eight 24/100 Dollars, Norris is one for $17,116.73 Seventeen thousand one hundred and sixteen 73/100 Dollars. To condemn the stock as the property of the two former would be to inflict upon Norris a total loss of his interest in the concern, a result evidently unjust. I have the honor to be with high regards
Your Obedient Servant, REVEKDY JOHNSON, Commis.
From General Butler
Head Qte. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July ttoh, 1862
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
SIK: I am informed by Dr. Bonzano, the acting Superin- tendent of the U. S. Mint here, that it would be practicable to coin small coins below the half Dollar at once at the Mint if we had the dies from Philadelphia. That this could be done without any increased expense to the Government. All the small coin had been shipped off by the Confederates, and we are suffering the worst possible swindling by a ticket and shin- plaster system for the want of them.
106 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Will you, therefore, authorize Dr. Bonzano to coin so much silver as may be furnished him into the coins below the half dollar, and order dies for that purpose to be at once sent from Philadelphia.
Mr. John Brooks, who used to fill the Office of Coiner for many years, a loyal Citizen of Massachusetts birth, can be had to fill that Office if the Secretary so chooses. I have the honor etc.
From Moses Bates
BATON ROUGE, LA., July %Uht 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: By direction of Maj. Gen. B. F. Butler, commanding Department of the Gulf, I am employing the convicts of this state, sentenced to imprisonment, in the manufacture of cotton goods. Prior to the occupation of the city by Union troops, the machinery of this institution was employed in the manufacture of cloth for tents and clothing for the Confederate army. I would suggest therefore to the Quartermaster Depart- ment whether the same facilities may not now be employed for the supply of our troops, the institution being sustained as the property of the United States government.
Respectfully Yours, MOSES BATES, Agent Louisiana Penitentiary
From Superintendent Moses Bates
Louisiana State Penitentiary, BATON ROUGE, LA., July %4tth, 1862
Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Since the wheels of the Factory are stopped for want of cotton, while transactions in that staple are daily transpiring between officers of your command and Specula- tors, I respectfully ask for further instructions as to how I shall proceed. Could I be furnished with a military escort and sufficient transportation, including transportation by Steamer, I could furnish a considerable amount of cotton at once, but without such aid my efforts are worse than futile.
There is a Jew here whose dishonest transactions are repre- hensible, who claims to operate under some authority from Dep. Provost Marshal Stafford. I trust such authority may be revoked. His name is Zeighler.
Respectfully Yours, MOSES BATES
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 107
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 9Ath, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to enclose a note from Brig. Gen. Arnold asking to have the district under his Command trans- ferred to the Department of the Gulf from the Dept. of the South.
I trust not to be thought desirous of adding to my depart- ment either in extent of labor or responsibility in asking that this change be made. We can have much more direct com- munication with Pensacola here than is possible with Port Royal. As there must be a Depot of supplies here, Pensacola can be supplied better, more cheaply and expeditiously from this point. I am most Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant, B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
PENSACOLA, FLA., July ZQth, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have long entertained the opinion that the Order placing the Troops at Fort Pickens & vicinity within the Dept. of the South (Hd. Qts. Hilton Head, S.C.) as misjudged, on account of the great difficulty of communicating with the Hd. Qts. of the Dept. I am now after some experi- ence more fully convinced of the fact.
I would be pleased if the troops under my Command were transferred from the Dept. of the South to the Dept. of the
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt., L. G. ARNOLD, Brig. Gen. U.S.A. Comdg.
From the Secretary of the Treasury
Treasury Department, July 24*A, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your in- formation, copies of several letters addressed to the Acting Collector at New Orleans, instructing him to deliver certain goods detained by him at the Custom House, subject to your directions. I am
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant,
S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
108 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Instructions referred to in Foregoing Letter
Treasury Department, July Z4th, 1862
GEORGE S. DENISON, Esq., Special Agent and Acting Collector
SIR: Messrs. S. and J. Schiffer, of New York, represent that on the 23rd of May they shipped to New Orleans, by the Bark "Parmelia Flood," 37 cases matches, 10 bbls. Whiskey, 10 qt. Casks Brandy, 10 bbls. Absinthe, and that these goods are now held by you under instructions from this department. As the above shipment was made previous to the instruc- tions to Collectors with regard to clearances of Articles regarded as contraband of war, you will deliver the goods to the Agent of Messrs. Schiffer at New Orleans, subject to the direction of General Butler, and require of him a suitable bond that none of the Articles shall be used to give aid or comfort to the insur- gents, provided there are no other circumstances known to you, and not known to this department, which render it advis- able for you to retain the goods in your possession, in which case you will report them to this Department without delay.
' Very Respectfully,
S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
Instructions referred to in Foregoing Letter
Treasury Department, July <3&th, 1862
GEORGE S. DENISON, Sp. Agt. & Acting Coll.
SIR: Messrs. G. H. Rogers and Co., of Boston, represent that on the 22nd day of May they shipped on board the Brig "Neveus," for New Orleans, among other articles, 10 Hds. Lucifer Matches, 20 or 30 Coils Cordage, 6 Bbls. Rum, 49 baskets Champagne, 23 Cases Gin, 48 Cases Brandy, and 2 Cases French Vermouth, which articles are detained by you at the Custom House.
Messrs. G. H. Rogers and Co., of Boston, also represent that on the 27th of May they shipped on board the Bark "Smyrniote," a quantity of Liquors and Wines consigned to their agent Samuel Knowles, which are also detained by you.
As the above shipments were made previous to the instruc- tions to the Collector relative to the clearance of articles re- garded as contraband of war, you will deliver them to the several agents of the parties, subject to the direction of General Butler, and require of them suitable bond that none of the articles shall be used to give aid or comfort to the insurgents,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 109
provided there are no circumstances in either case known to you, and not known to this Department, which render it advisable for you to detain the goods, in which case you will report them, without delay. I am,
Respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Sec. of the Treasury
From the Secretary of the Treasury
Treasury Department, July 21, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
BENJ. T. VAN NOSTRAND, Esq., NEW YORK
SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of 19th instant, request- ing the release of fifteen cases of matches shipped by Messrs. Denison and Wyckoff of New York to New Orleans and at the latter port seized as contraband of war.
The shipment from New York having been made on the 22nd of May, and the Proclamation making matches contra- band of war not having been issued till after that time, I feel justified in directing a release of the merchandise.
The Collector at New Orleans has accordingly been directed to release the same on payment of all costs and charges, but to hold them subject to the order of General Butler. I am
Very Respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 25, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: A mail in and no letter from you. I write not because I have anything to write about, but because if you feel the same loneliness that I do when a mail comes and you do not get a letter, I wish you should not feel so badly. Health very good, weather very warm, work very hard. Trouble plenty, and so we go.
The Government have sustained Phelps about the Negroes, and we shall have a negro insurrection here I fancy. If some- thing is not done soon, God help us all. The negroes are getting saucy and troublesome, and who blames them? This people are doomed to destruction, I fully believe. Vicksburg not taken yet, and will not be soon, I fancy. I have ordered Williams home. I trust you will be able to get happily through the summer without me, as I see no hope of getting home this summer. I have sent Shepley home to endeavor to regulate this matter of the negroes.
Remember me to Blanche and the children with every love.
110 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Tell Harriet that I wish she were out here, for it is very pleas- ant now, and I suppose she is fat and strong.
Ask Fisher why he does not write. Tell Clemence if he will come out here I will make him chief of Police, or that there is the finest opening for an auction business ever seen. Hurry up Fisher about the oats. I will give two hundred dollars apiece for 100 cavalry horses of good quality landed here. Here I am at business again. What shall I say to you, dearest, that I love you, pshaw! you know that. That I think of you very, very much, and only don't wish you here because you are not strong. That you are the best of good, dear, kind, thoughtful and affectionate wives, that I ought not to have had at all because you are too kind and good to me. Any or all these I may say, and yet I might not say exactly what I mean. If I were in the vestibule now of our house, and you had come to let me in, and everybody didn't see me, I could tell you what I mean and not say a word.
As ever yours, BENJ.
From General Butler
Ed. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July Z5th, 1862
Mr. JOHN SANBORN
DEAR SIR: Please find enclosed the papers of Mr. Willard's Claim for indemnity for the Higgins Hotel as a Hospital.
The Hotel was taken under my order as is easily shown, but there is one fact that precludes my making any Certificate in his favor. It is this, A Board of Survey, consisting of Gen. Denegree, Dr. Taylor, and one other not now recollected, was convened at "Old Point," and they were empowered at the request of the owners of the Hotel to assess the damages for its use. That Board reported $800 per month, and I refused to approve the proceedings because I thought the price too large, and referred the matter to Gen. Wool, who agreed with me. I cannot therefore agree to certify $2000 per month, or like sum, even to oblige as warm or personal friend as your- self. The papers of that Board of Survey can be procured if they are of any use at Lowell, by calling on my Partner, Mr. Webster. I think they are in a green Chest in the Office. With many thanks for your kind expressions of personal regard, I am Tfuly Ywf^ BENJ R BUTLER
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 111
From General Butler
Head Qh. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July Wth, 1862
Maj. Gen. HALLECK, Comdg. Dept. of the West
GENERAL: I avail myself of the voyage of the " Tennessee " to communicate with you upon the subject of Genl. Williams' Brigade at Vicksburg.
Gen. Williams was sent up at a time when we should have had only local troops to meet at Vicksburg. It was not prop- erly within my Dept., but the exigencies of the public service, as it seemed to me, justified the movement. It is now quite different, as I am informed that a division at least of your Army is moving upon Vicksburg.
I have great need of Genl. Williams' Command to aid me in clearing out the Guerillas from this state, who are doing infinite mischief. I have, therefore, ordered his recall, as his force, since the reinforcement by Van Dorn and Breckinridge of the Enemy, is too small for operations alone, and a junction of Genls. Grant & Curtis must give ample force for the reduc- tion of the place. The dispersal of the Guerilla Bands is easy of accomplishment, but it requires many men to hold the various points, which, if not held, only brings destruction upon our friends here.
If in any thing I can aid your operations, command me. I have sent a duplicate of this under cover to Gen. Grant for information, as well as to Gen. Williams. I have the honor
to be' Your Obt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 26<A, 1862
Col. D. W. MCMILLAN, Comdg. forces at BATON ROUGE
COLONEL: I am much pleased with the successful expedi- tion of Col. Clark. Convey him and his Command my thanks. I have disposed of the prisoners save Burton whom I retain according to request.
I much desire that you should capture horses enough to enable me to mount another Cavalry Company. In the matter of Cotton you will see that the Penitentiary which is being carried on at the Expense of the Government is supplied. I assure Col. McMillan that the thought of threatening him never entered my mind. Nor have I heard aught of complaints
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
against him in the behalf he suggests. I simply conveyed un- officially the instructions I received in the same manner from Washington. I will endeavor as soon as possible to send him a Boat. In the meantime can he not use the Ferry boat. I am Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Hd. Qt3. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 26*A, 1862
To the Honorable Secretary of War
I ENCLOSE the papers relating to the resignation of Captain Merrill, of Co. K, 15 Regt., Maine Vols. The resignation is so extraordinary that I ask for information in regard to my duties. He has incapacitated me from performing my duty, as well as himself, for I know not what to do.
He has now been nearly nine months in Service, and upon the approach of the Yellow Fever season here finds out that he is incapacitated. To accept his resignation would be unjust to others, and to withhold it unjust to the Service.
If there is power, it seems to me his name should be stricken from the rolls. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
CAMP PARAPET, LA. 3d July 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Col. McCLUSKEY, Comdg. 15th Maine Vols.
SIR: I beg leave respectfully to tender my resignation as Capt. in this Regiment, for the reason that "I feel myself incapable to perform the duties of that position."
I request that this tender of Resignation may be forwarded to Head Quarters of the Army through the proper Authority, in case it should not be approved by the Comdg. General of Division. I am, Colonel,
Your Obt. Servt., C. R. MERRILL,
Capt. Co. K, 15th Regt., Maine Vols.
WILL Capt. Merrill favor the Commanding General with a specification of the particulars wherein he finds himself inca- pable to perform the duties of his position?
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 113
us • r\ T* St. James Hospital. NEW ORLEANS, July 26J&, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER
SIR: I beg leave to return to yoji my application for the acceptance of my resignation with, in obedience to your com- mand, a specification of the particulars wherein I find myself incapable of performing the duties of my position.
I entered the service with the best intentions, but I was de- tached from my regiment recruiting until its arrival at Camp Parapet. I had had no experience in military affairs, and upon rejoining my company and attempting to command it I found myself deficient in the theoretical and practical information necessary for one occupying such a position, and with an inapti- tude to acquire such information as is necessary to make a useful Officer.
Besides, I think I have not that peculiar military ability to command men, without which no one can be of much use in my
^ " Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.,
C. R. MERRILL, Capt. Co. K, 15th Regt. Maine Vols.
From Superintendent Moses Bates
Office of La. State Penitentiary, BATON ROUGE, July 27, 1862
General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR : I have just perfected arrangements by which I have hoped to stock the Penitentiary with cotton, and once more set the machinery in motion, when a turn in the military wheel brings Gen. Williams again in command, and I am again left without hope as regards again getting to work. May I not now ask that a steamer and guard of soldiers be placed at my disposal for a single week, with the privilege of taking cotton known to belong to disloyal men.
With such facilities I think I can stock the factory, but not without, and I have no hope of obtaining any service through Gen. Williams. Respectfully yours,
MOSES BATES, Supt. La. Penitentiary
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 2,8th, 1862
Honorable SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of Treasury
SIR: I send you enclosed a Copy from the Records of Mortgages in this City. It speaks more for a Sequestration Act than any Argument. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Svt.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com.
VOL. II 8
114 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
BY act under private signature dated at Paris, June 4th, 1862, duly legalized by M. Le Comte Mejan, Consul of France, at the City of New Orleans, on the 14th of July, 1862, John Slidell mortgaged in favor of Frederic Adolphe Mascuard (no residence) 123 pieces of property in this City, embracing im- proved and unimproved property, Squares of Grounds, &c. The mortgage is granted to secure the payment of 250,000 francs, payable in one year.
This Mortgage is inscribed on the books of the Mortgage Office without signature to the inscription, dated 14 July, 1862.
Another Mortgage by John Slidell, through his attorney, in favor of Citizens' Bank for $100,000, was inscribed on the 2d day of May last.
From Major George C. Strong to General Butler
Watervliet Arsenal, WEST TROY, N.Y., July 28, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: I pen you a single line to say that I should, if circumstances shall warrant it, be very glad to receive instructions from you (by return mail) to proceed to Wash- ington just before going South, and ask for any despatches that the Government may see fit to transmit by my hand to you. I am due in New Orleans Sept. 4th. Mrs. Butler has invited me to visit her before I return, and I shall do so, and also take a run up to see Captain George.
Kinsman writes me that he is about to proceed South. Am sorry his health is not better. I much regret to learn that you are not so well as heretofore, but I hope it is only a temporary indisposition. It would be a poor sequel to your career in the South to be brought home in your coffin.
It is pleasant to me (tho' you don't care so much about these things) to see that everybody here appreciates your labors. We have just learned that you are to be given up to the Confeder- ate Government in accordance with the demands of the Secesh press. I suppose they'll "bind you for their maidens," as Job did with Leviathan. How is Reverdy Johnson?
I'm growing quite stout. Would have gone West, however, had I been sure of getting down the river.
Very respectfully & truly yours,
GEO. C. STRONG
My address will always be "Care Sullivan Randolph & Budd, 30 to 36 Park Place, New York."
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 115
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 28, 1862
DEAR SARAH: Send me Blanche's, Paul's, and Bennie's photographs — the best you can get, by next mail.
Yours, BENJ.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Prybania St., July 28, 1862
DEAR SARAH: Twenty two days and no letter from you. Twenty and no mail from the North, although we hear by the Rebel papers all the substantial news with variations. But they are no substitutes for news from home. Pray write every day you can, and I shall get them when the mails do come. How did you like the china plate with the picture? What do you say to a set with heads of the staff? Now, love, at any rate send me a copy of your Daguerreotype, and let me have your own head done. I have got nothing ready to send you by this boat, but will see what I can do next time.
How did Blanche like her saddle, and how do you like yours? Are not my harnesses elegant? All these were a present from Mr. Magee, whom Jackson helped out of trouble. By the by, when you are dressed, I suppose I can repeat to you the lines from the "Rape of the Lock,"
" Upon her breast a sparkling cross she wore, That Jews might kiss and infidels adore."
Did Nina get her ring? Did Blanche get hers? Why does not Blanche write, she has nothing else to do? I won't love her a bit if she don't write. Has Paul blown himself up with the cannon yet? Are you going to the seashore? Are you gay and happy? You must be now, for if I don't find a gay, fat wife when I get home, I will go right away again, see if I don't.
Ah! but when shall I ever get home? Nothing but doubts rest upon the future. The war seems to me less near its close than it did when I came here.
I am changing my opinions. There is nothing of the people worth saving. I am inclined to give it all up to the blacks. Such lying, meanness, wrong, and wickedness, that I am inclined to think that the story of Sodom & Gomorrah a myth, else why not rain fire and brimstone upon this city? I am
116 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 117
afraid the Lord will do so in the shape of the negroes. But a truce to all this. Let me only think of home and you as some haven of rest which I shall some time attain — and think of me, not war, dearest. BENJ
From John J. Cisco
United States Treasury, NEW YORK, July 28, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I herewith transmit a letter addressed to your- self by the eminent Banking House of Messrs. James G. Kingdeus Co. of this city, and another addressed by them to J. D. Denegre, Esq., President of the Citizens' Bank of Louisiana at New Orleans, both relating to some provision to be made for the interest now past due in New York on the Consolidated debt of the City of New Orleans.
It may be superfluous for me to testify to the very great respectability and high character of the writers of these letters. Their demand appears to be of an unexceptional character, and I trust that you will do everything in your power to facili- tate so proper an object. I remain General,
Yours very respectfully, JOHN J. Cisco
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW YORK, July t&th, 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
DEAR SIR: At the suggestion of John J. Cisco, Esq., who has kindly offered to forward this, we beg leave to enclose to you our letter of this date addressed to J. D. Denegre, Esq. President of the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana, calling upon him to provide funds in the City of New York, as required by law, for the payment of the interest due on the consolidated debt of the city of New Orleans; and we shall feel obliged if you can aid us in procuring a proper settlement of this just claim.
The provision should extend to the amount of all the out- standing past due coupons of the consolidated debt of the city of New Orleans. Our present demand however is for payment of
$3750 — due July 1861 on 125 coupons — with interest to date of payment here
$4650 — due Jan. 1862 on 155 coupons — with interest to date of payment here
$4650 — due July 1862 on 155 coupons — with interest to date of payment here
118 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Thanking you in advance for such good offices as you may be able to render us in this matter. We remain,
Yours respectfully, JAMES G. KINGDEUS
Answer to yours: Mr. Denegre has made the necessary arrange- ments to put the money in New York for the bonds.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 28, 1862
Brig. Gen. Jo. TAYLOR, Commissary General
MY DEAR GENERAL: I send you by the hands of our mutual friend Hon. Reverdy Johnson, the sword presented by the people of the loyal State of Kentucky, in appreciation of his gallant services in the armies of the Union, to your brother Genl. Zachary Taylor, late President of the United States.
With his deep love of the Union in whose battle this sword was victoriously won, who can doubt on which side his patri- otic hand would have been raised if Providence had spared his life, so full of honors, to this hour?
To the keeping of no one so proper as yourself, who has so loyally shown the same devoted love to the country, can the custody of this weapon be conveyed. I have captured it from disloyal hands, and thus to be able to give it to your care is a most agreeable event, as it enables me, in a small degree, to testify the high appreciation I have of the prompt manner in which every call which the necessities of my Command has made upon the Government under your charge has been met and answered. I remain, General,
Your obedient servant and friend, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Hd. Quarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 28, 1862
Brig. Gen. MEIGS
GENERAL: Enclosed please find copies of letter (sent me for information) of the unjust claim of Capt. Crampton, and affidavit showing the actual transaction. You will see by the affidavit, instead of a wrong being done him by loading him home, that a great favor was shown him. He was in no way in the Government Service, and would have had to find his own Ballast in order to get home. At the date of his employ- ment a number of ships were offering at the same rate, I am informed. If the sugar had been on private account not a
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 119
word would have been said, but he would have been thankful for the freight. He thinks he can get something from the Government. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From James G. Carney
Bank of Mutual Redemption, No. 91 State Street, BOSTON, MASS.,
July 28*A, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I have to thank you for your kind favor 15th instant. The business matter we may consider, I suppose, as settled. I suppose, also, that we may consider our Public Servants as, practically, our Private Masters; and "high" privates at that. You express some "wonder" as to whether the matter would have been adopted if the transaction had been a losing one. I think the "wonder" would have come in, in that case, had they done it. The subalterns and sub officials in the army of office-holders are much greater and powerful men in their own estimation, and really so as means of annoy- ance, than the President of these United States, one is com- pelled occasionally, and " semi-occasionally " to believe, e.g. it is for the interest of the Country that U. S. Treasury notes should circulate, "free as air"; to judge from the course pur- sued by the Asst. Treas. here, and his sub-ordinate, you would suppose quite the reverse, and that it was for its interest that such notes should be an annoyance and hindrance to the channels of Circulation. So we go! (as you say about Secessia femina) apropos to which or whom some body has lately said that he is thankful that the "Gentleman" styled by Burns (I think) as "The Muckle horned d — is not a woman! I suppose, again, of that kind. I note your query as to whether Palmerston would blow you from the muzzle of a gun; and it reminds me of an extract taken from the London Metro- politan Police Act, and I must say that one would quite readily believe that, if you had seen that Act, and ever copied from anybody, you had copied your "Woman Order" almost ver- batim from it. The resemblance, if you never saw it, is abso- lutely wonderful. I hope you will be allowed to carry out your plans fully, cautiously, perseveringly, and thoroughly. So far, as a whole, I think the whole North is disposed to side with you to a greater extent than it has or does with any
120 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
General so long in the field. And I trust that if the Politicians, (for whom you know my ancient regard and respect) have suc- ceeded in sending out one of "their own" as adviser with you, that he will turn out to be man enough to apprehend and com- prehend the position, and be an aid instead of a clog and a hin- drance in holding it man-fashion. If not, I can but hope that his Commission does not make him your Military Superior.
We are spunky and hopeful yet, here at the North. Have not quite done our paying though, intend to finish up that, and other odds and ends, and see what the "muss" is, and take hold and settle that. Your doctrine of going to war to hurt somebody is getting to be the prevailing creed, and by the 1st September will count the largest denomination. Knowing that you will be among the "most zealous," and wishing you abundant success. I am as ever
Your friend, J. G. CARNEY
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf. NEW ORLEANS, July 28, 1862
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
MY DEAR SIR: I spoke to you Saturday of a proposition made to me by an English Gentleman engaged in the cotton trade in Mobile.
His proposition is that the Rebels will permit cotton to come out of Mobile in exchange for salt and such merchandise as they need there, not contraband of war, provided the pledge shall be given that the cotton shall be shipped to Eng- land. Of course we do not care where the cotton goes, even if it goes to that portion of the world known as Great Britain where they inhumanly blow Rebels from guns, and such cities that are so unfortunate as to fall into their hands, as witness Pekin and Delhi.
Please give me your opinion, as this is rather a civil than military question. I have the honor to be,
Your obt. servt.
From Reverdy Johnson
City Hotel, July 2Sth, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I would consent to the shipment men- tioned in your note of this evening. I am sure in doing so
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 121
that you will carry out the policy of the Government and subserve the interest of the country. I will write you more fully in the morning. ^ REVERDY JOHNSON
From Reverdy Johnson
U. S. Commissioners Office, NEW ORLEANS, July %9th, 1862
General BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have yours of yesterday. The pro- posal of the English gentleman, I think you should not hesi- tate to accept. The shipment of Cotton, whether to Europe or to the loyal States, from the rebellious States, from such of their ports as are in the possession of our forces, is, I know, much desired by our Government. It was one of the principal advantages they expected to be the immediate result of the capture of this City. So anxious are they to attain the object that I am satisfied they would readily sanction such an arrange- ment as your note mentions.
The question is as you state "rather a civil than a military one," but in either case my opinion is that you answer it affirmatively. With great regard,
Your obedient servant, REVERDY JOHNSON, Commit.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 29^, 1862
To the Commanding Officer of the Forces at MOBILE
GENERAL: I have been informed by Mr. I. Maury, a British subject, that he has cotton within your lines which he is desirous of getting out and bringing here, if the same can be done. That you are willing it should come as the property of a neutral, if the cotton will not be seized by the United States forces and it can be sent to England.
For this purpose he is desirous of shipping to your port salt as an equivalent for the shipment of Cotton. I have pledged, therefore, to him that I will permit to be returned to Mobile a sack of salt for every bale of Cotton that he shall bring here. The Commercial values of the two articles to be regulated by the parties owning them — that the Cotton may be shipped from this point to England, and that no seizure or Confiscation shall be made of the Cotton or salt or any part thereof, and the vessel containing the same shall have safe
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
conduct to return. Other goods, not contraband of War, may be sent to equalize the Commercial values.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, MASS., July 29to, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: Annexed please find memo, of your private accounts, and enclosed as good an acct. current as I can make up in the dark. I have endeavored to explain in an appendix the difficulties under which I labor. The whole business has been agreeable and profitable to me, except for the trouble about freight. I enclose a letter to Col. Butler (fearing he may have left N. O.), which please read, which will explain how the freight question now stands.
I am shipping a few articles of provisions, but sparingly, as I am discouraged by the rush of speculators, and by the exor- bitant freights. Recruiting goes on slowly, and we require a draft at once. General Halleck is established at Washington, and the newspapers are blowing his trumpet, while, even in Boston, General McClellan has scarcely a friend. A secession- ist sympathizer was ducked in the Frog pond yesterday. Blue- ness is very prevalent, and no end is predicted to the war.
Sincerely yours, RICHARD S. FAY, JR.
Private Account Major General B. F. Butler, in account with R. S. Fay, Jr.
1862. Dr. Cr.
Feb. 20th, By Bk. notes 2081 Chq. on Wamesit Bk. 1650. 3,731
Treasury Notes. 100 100
Mar. 27th, " rect. from Capt. P. R. George, 241.
chq. on Bk. of Mut. Redemption. 2,000.
Mar. 12th, " int. from Middlesex Co. on loan. 53.48
16th To yr. dft. Mch. 31st. 3,825.95
21st. By int. from Middlesex Co. on loan 24.94
" Dividends " " 6% on 127| sh. 765. Mar. 21st, Dividends Middlesex Co. 101 sh. by Mass. Hos. L.
Ins. Co. 606.00
May 22nd, To yr. dft. April 1. 448.86
June 10, To New Orleans Coupons collect. 360.00 25th, By Dividends Middlesex Co.
5% on 115 shares. 575.
5% on 25 shares (It. Act) 67.50 642.50
Do on 101 shares by M. H. L. Ins. Co. 505.00
July 26, To bal. to credit cash loan to Middlesex Co. 4,036.11
8,668.92 8,668.92
By balance loaned Middlesex Company, subject to your orders, 4,036.11
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER 123
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., July 29, 1882
Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD
DEAR SIR: This will be handed you by Mr. Roselius, of New Orleans. I need not say to you, who so well remember the events that inaugurated this rebellion, that Mr. Roselius was a member of the Louisiana convention that passed the Secession Ordinance, and one of the five that voted against it. True to the last, he has remained a firm friend to the Union, even to this day.
Representing a large class of opinion here, better acquainted than any other man with the feelings, intentions, and wishes of the people of this State, by his unblemished private life and high professional talent and acquirements, holding the respect of those whose violence would have otherwise rendered his life unsafe because of his steady adherence to the Union, it has seemed to me best that he should be in Washington to repre- sent the true state of the negro question here. I have, there- fore, ventured to send him at the expense of the United States, he giving his own time, that his knowledge of the state of things might be before the government. Please render him all the assistance you may be able, to enable him to give his views to the President.
I am convinced that in no other way could I do so much good to the country as introducing Mr. Roselius to your confidence. Believe me,
Most truly yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf. NEW ORLEANS, July SOth, 1862
The President
SIR: I take leave to present you Mr. Roselius, a gentleman of the Bar, late Attorney General of the State of Louisiana, a member of the Convention who did not vote for the Secession Ordinance. With some others only he was found faithful when all were faithless. Among the earliest to welcome the Union Army to New Orleans, he has assisted me with his ad- vice and counsel. Of the one subject which is to be dealt with here & now he is better informed than any man in the State.
The questions involved as set forth in my correspondence upon the action of Gen. Phelps are of the most vital and criti-
124 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
cal importance. The determination of them cannot be delayed, and it seemed to me of sufficient importance that the Presi- dent should have the benefit of the experience of one who has a most intimate knowledge of the wishes, opinions, feelings, and thoughts of the people of the State of Louisiana, upon the Question of Slavery as interwoven with the integrity of the
Union. I am most truly, v ^, ,. , 0 .
^ i our Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg. From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
July 30th, 6 A.M.
DEAREST SARAH: The "Connecticut" has delayed sailing till this hour. I am just sending my despatches on board, and so I send "two days later" from New Orleans. The Fleet have made a failure of it at Vicksburg, and have come down the river, and are going to Pensacola to recruit and repair. Gen. Williams has come down from Vicksburg unable to make an attack where there were 12000 men against him, and he had only 3000 effective ones, the rest being sick. He wrote to Gens. Grant & Halleck for troops to aid him, and could get not one. The river will not be open till fall — indeed no opera- tions will be had till then except as all troops are withdrawn from the South West. It is possible I may be besieged.
Tell Fisher to write me. By the by, if Fisher will charter a schooner and send down here at once as many thousand hoop poles as he chooses, both hogshead & barrel, he will make a good thing of it. Sugar cannot be shipped for want of hoop poles. They are 12 cents apiece. But this must be done at once.
Pshaw! I only meant to say good morning — I am well — How do you do? — Kiss the children — Whip Blanche for not writing me — Write every day yourself — Love to Harriet — tell her I have a big kiss in reserve to pay for the "elastics."
Yours BENJ.
From James S. Whitney
BOSTON, July 30th, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I do not know that I have even in- formed you that your retention of the Steamer "Saxon," after notice to discharge her from General Meigs, was approved by General Meigs and the Department.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 125
I should have done so. The fact is, that your certificate that you required the services of the "Saxon" was forwarded to General Meigs with my bill — and General Meigs ordered the bill paid — and McKim informed me that no further delay would be had in payments, as your keeping the "Saxon" was there approved. Should you wish to re-charter the "Saxon," your Quartermaster may do so, and this may and shall be my power of Attorney to Capt. Daniel Pepper to sign a charter in the precise terms and in same conditions of former charter. This letter you will understand to be supplemental to one of like date I have this day sent you by mail. With the highest resPect Your obt. sent.,
JAMES S. WHITNEY
From General Phelps
CAMP PARAPET, LA., July 30th, 1862
Capt. R. S. DAVIS, A. A. A. General
SIR: I enclose herewith requisitions for arms, accoutre- ments, clothing, camp and garrison equipage, etc., for three Regiments of Africans which I propose to raise for the defence of this point.
The location is swampy and unhealthy, and our men are dying at the rate of two or three a day. The Southern loyalists are willing, as I understand, to furnish their share of the tax for the support of the war, but they should also furnish their quota of men, which they have not thus far done. An oppor- tunity now offers of supplying the deficiency, and it is not safe to neglect opportunities in war. I think that with the proper facilities I could raise the three Regiments proposed in a short time. Without holding out any inducements, or offering any reward, I have now upward of three hundred Africans organized into five Companies, who are all willing and ready to be put to the test. They are willing to submit to anything rather than slavery.
Society in the South seems to be on the point of dissolution, and the best way of preventing the African from becoming instruments in a general state of anarchy is to enlist him in the cause of the Republic.
If we reject his services, any petty military Chieftain, by offering him freedom can have them for the purpose of rob- bery and plunder. It is for the interest of the South as well as for the North that the African should be permitted to offer
126 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
his block for the Temple of Freedom. Sentiments unworthy of the man who acts on the present day, worthy only of another Cain, would prevent such an offer from being accepted.
I would recommend that the Cadets, graduates of the present year, should be sent to South Carolina, and this point kept to organize and discipline our African levies, and that the more promising non-commissioned Officers and privates of the Army be appointed as Company Officers to command them. Prompt and energetic efforts in this direction would probably accomplish more toward a speedy termination of the War, and an early restoration of peace and amity, than any other course which could be adopted. I have the honor to remain, Sir,
Your obedient servant, J. W. PHELPS, Brig. Gen'l.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 31st, 1862
Brig. Gen. 3. W. PHELPS
GENERAL: The Commanding General wishes you to employ the Contraband in and around your camps in cutting all the trees, etc., between your lines and the Lake, and in forming abatis according to the plan agreed upon between you and Lieut. Weitzel when he visited you some time since. What wood is not used by you is much needed in this City. For the purpose, I have ordered the Quartermaster to furnish you with axes and tents for the Contrabands to be quartered in. I am Very respectfully Your obedient servant,
By order of MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER
From General Phelps
CAMP PARAPET, LA, July 31st, 1862
Capt. R. S. DAVIS, A. A. A. General
SIR: The communications from your office of this date, signed "By order of Major General Butler," directing me to employ the "Contrabands" in and about my camp in cutting down all the trees between my line and the Lake, etc., has just been received.
In reply I must state that while I am willing to prepare African Regiments for the defence of the Government against its assailants, I am not willing to become the mere slave driver which you propose, having no qualifications that way.
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I am therefore under the necessity of tendering the resigna- tion of my Commission as an Officer in the Army of the United States, and respectfully request a leave of absence until it is accepted in accordance with Paragraph "29," page 12, of the Gen'l regulations.
While I am writing at half past 8 o'clock P.M., a colored man was brought in by one of the Pickets who has just been wounded in the side by a charge of shot, which he says was fired at him by one of a party of three slave-hunters, or guerillas, a mile or more from our line of sentinels. As it is some distance from our line from Camp to Lake, the party of woodchoppers which you have directed probably need a considerable force to guard them against similar attack. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obt. Servant,
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. General
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS. July 31, 1862
Count MEJAN, Consul of France, NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I have arrested Charles Heidsick, who smuggled him- self across my lines in the disguise of a Bar Keeper in the "Natchez," a Boat with Flag of truce.
Heidsick has now come back as a supposed bearer of des- patches through my lines once more. He desires that you should be informed of his arrest.
Respectfully Yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From the French Consul to General Butler
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, July SIst, 1862
GENERAL: Mr. Heidsick is a French citizen, very well-known here and in Mobile. He has come, it is true, on the "Natchez" as "Barkeeper/5 to the entire knowledge of the persons who were authorized to ply that Steamer between Mobile and New Orleans, and has never hid himself.
Having been informed that letters addressed to this Consu- late were detained in Jackson, I have caused the Consular Agent of France in Mobile to be informed of, and to cause them to be had and forwarded to me, — only those that should have an official character.
The Vice-Consul, believing the package to contain impor- tant papers for this consulate, has thought fit to forward them
128 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to me, as also the letters coming from the same source and addressed to the Spanish Consul, by a special messenger, and he chose for that mission Mr. Heidsick, a french citizen. I do not believe a single reproach can be made to Mr. Heidsick, who, I am assured has never hid himself. I have, General, thought proper, to recite these facts, which, I think, exonerate Mr. Chas. Heidsick entirely, and I hope you will be willing to take them into consideration.
I am personally acquainted with Mr. Heidsick, and I know that he is absolutely neutral in the actual conflict. Please accept, General, the assurances of my highest regards. The French Consul, COUNT MEJAN
From Charles Heidsick to the French Consul
NEW ORLEANS, July Sl.< 1862
Mr. Consul
GENERAL BUTLER has had me arrested for coming here as "barkeeper" on board Steamer "Natchez," and sent me to Fort Jackson.
I have the honor to ask you to see what you have to do for me in this matter, having come and left this city under flag of truce. I am Ymr humUe Servty CHARLES HEIDSICK
From the French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, August 1st, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
GENERAL: I took the liberty to write to you in favor of Mr. Chas. Heidsick, who has been arrested by your order, and who I am assured is to be sent today to Fort Jackson.
I informed myself yesterday, and anew this morning, concern- ing this French citizen, and the facts I thought proper to submit to you yesterday are fully confirmed. I well knew that Mr. Heidsick came to this City on the Natchez, that he was regis- tered under his own name, which list I have no doubt was sub- mitted to you, and this fact at least strongly proves that he never concealed his name and that he feared no investigation.
Mr. Heidsick came to see me when he reached New Orleans, but he never brought me either letters or newspapers. And never took from me anything but verbal instructions, and, in this manner, at his request for the French Vice- Consul at Mobile.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 129
This appears likewise to be much in his favor. They tell me that one of the principal charges against him is that he sold on his last trip several baskets of Champagne Wine. From information that I have received, and which I have every reason to think correct, this wine had been sold by his Agent, and was part of a lot which has been here nearly three years.
The coming here of Mr. Heidsick yesterday as bearer of despatches sent me by the Vice-Consul at Mobile, would necessarily prove that this Frenchman believed that in no way he could be reproached, for if it is true that he could rely upon the respect that is everywhere shown to bearers of despatches, he would have nevertheless hesitated to come to town if he had any fears for his safety.
Finally, the contents of the packages which Mr. Heidsick brought, cannot be invoked against him, for he must have, been as ignorant of them as I was.
I hope, General, before inflicting upon Mr Heidsick — who has, from the testimony of all his friends, always preserved the strictest neutrality both in words and deeds — a punish- ment which is almost equal, at this season, to an unacclimated man, to death itself, that you will be good enough to examine anew an affair whch presents so many phases that speak favorably towards Mr. Charles Heidsick.
I would add that since Mr. Charles Heidsick came to the U. S. he has been exclusively occupied in the arrangement of his own business, which required his presence in Mobile, as the center of a country where the greatest number of his creditors reside.
Mr. Heidsick belongs to a very highly respectable family in France, and is much esteemed by all who know him. Accept, General, the assurance of my consideration.
The Consul of France, COUNT MEJAN
Mr. Heidsick has with him neither clothing, change of linen, nor money.
Statement of Moses Greenwood
NEW ORLEANS, August 1, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
THIS day personally appeared before the undersigned, a Magistrate legally appointed, Moses Greenwood of this City, who, being duly sworn, states that in May last he was made the Agent of this City under order No. 19 of Major General
VOL. II — 9
ISO LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Butler to transport Flour from Mobile, Ala., to this City under a Flag of Truce, that he at once entered on that duty and chartered Boats for that purpose. He said order No. 19 did not permit passengers to be transported. He employed a Capt. who engaged and shipped his Officers and Crew; in the month of June (as deponent believes) there was entered as Bar Keeper on the Boat the name of Charles Heidsick, to depon- ent personally unknown. He saw him and knew his name was Heidsick, but did not know him as Mr. Charles Heidsick, the French Wine Merchant, till far advanced on the voyage, when Mr. Heidsick stated that he had little or nothing to do in the way of business, and came in that capacity as pastime, and to see some friends if permitted to come to the City. Mr. Heidsick continued in that Capacity, and did come into the City. At no time has the deponent known of his saying or doing anything to advance an injury to either Contending party, that in closing the Mission on which deponent had been appointed, the French Consul at Mobile applied to him for permission to send a messenger with Despatches for the Consul in this City in Company — to which no objection was made. And Mr. Heidsick was made such Messenger, and arrived with him on the morning of 31st July, both reporting to Capt. Thorton at Lake Ponchartrain.
MOSES GREENWOOD
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 5th day of August, 1862 I. A. GRAHAM, Notary Public
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 31, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. £35
The Picayune Newspaper, having published an Editorial article in today's issue directly in violation of the proclama- tion of the Com'd'g General of May 1st, reflecting upon the Officers and tending to influence the public mind against the Government of the United States, the publication of said paper is discontinued until the publishers and editors shall severally exhibit their loyalty by taking the oath of allegiance, and the office with its properties, presses, books, and papers are sequestered until further action of the Government of the United States. By Qrder ^ MAJ GEN BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 131
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 31, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 232
THE Steamer "Iberville" has liberty to trade up and down the Coast within the limits of our lines, and to carry family supplies, each lot of [[same] to be only in such quantities as should be properly issued to one family or one plantation, and not to be issued for trading purposes. Particularly no lot of over ten bags of Salt shall be issued to any one consignee.
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, CapL & A. A. A. G.
From Salmon P. Chase to General Butler
WASHINGTON, July 31, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have the pleasure of thanking you for your very friendly letter, and of acknowledging your note requesting the appointment of young Mr. Nelson in the revenue cutter service.
It would have given me pleasure to designate Mr. Nelson for examination, but he did not appear to be prepared for it without some further study. I contented myself, therefore, with expressions of good will, reserving the decision as to designation to a future time when he may again present him- self. Meanwhile I doubt not he will be very useful to you. I have not seen Col. Shepley since he has been in Washing- ton, which I regret, for I should have been very glad to confer with him fully as to matters in New Orleans. It is too late to seek him now, even if propriety did not require that he should first call on me. I say too late, because it is only within five minutes that I have learned that if I would get this letter to New York in time for the steamer it must be written forth- with. Hence this long sheet and hurried writing.
Nor have I seen the instructions, if any have been prepared, which Gen. Shepley is to take back with him to New Orleans; nor has it so happened that I have talked with either the President or Mr. Stanton on the subject of their instruction. All I know of the President's views is contained in the two letters enclosed herewith, — one for Mr Bullett and the other for Mr. Johnson, which I have heard read, and which the President left with me today to be sent to those gentlemen. All I know positively, I mean; for I have heard intima-
132 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
tions from the President that it may possibly become nec- essary, in order to keep the river open below Memphis, to convert the heavy black population of its banks into defenders.
You will see from what I have written that in what I have to say on the important topic, touched in your letter by way of reply to mine I shall express only my own opinions, — opinions, however, to which I am just as sure that the masses will and politicians must come, as I am sure that both politi- cians and masses have come to opinions expressed by me when they found few concurrents.
I begin with the proposition that we must either abandon the attempt to retain the Gulf States in the Union or we must give freedom to every slave within their limits. We cannot maintain the contest with the disadvantages of unacclimated troops and distant supplies against an enemy enabled to bring one-half the population under arms with the other half held to labor, with no cost except that of bare subsistence for the armed moiety. Still less can we maintain this contest if all we do must necessarily enrage and alienate the military half, while we do nothing to conciliate but very much to disaffect the laboring half.
I have not time to argue this out or even to qualify as might be necessary to avoid captious objection as to the feasibility of my statement. Of its substantial accuracy I am certain.
As to the border states, even including Arkansas, a different rule may be adopted. In these states the President's plan of compensated emancipation may be adequate to the solution of the slavery question; though I confess my apprehensions that the slave-holders of these states will delay the acceptance of the proposition until it will become impossible to induce the Congress to vote the compensation. Should compensated emancipation fail in these states, emancipation will not be the less a necessity, and prompt emancipation as a military measure in the Gulf States will facilitate it by affording a convenient and easy outlet for the freed men.
It will not escape your acute observation that military emancipation in the Gulf States will settle or largely contrib- ute to settle the negro question in the free states. I am not myself afraid of the negroes. If they behave themselves and work industriously and honestly I have not the slightest objec- tion to their contributing their industry to the prosperity of the state of which I am a citizen, or to their being protected in
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 133
their rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness by the same laws which protect me. But I know that many honest men really think that they are not to be permitted to reside permanently in the Northern States, and I believe myself that if left free to choose most of them will prefer warmer climes to ours. Let, therefore, the South be opened to negro emigration by emancipation along the Gulf, and it is easy to see that the blacks of the North will slide southward, and leave behind them no question to quarrel about as far as they are concerned.
This rough statement presents my general view sufficiently.
Now for its practical application to Louisiana. Of course, if some prudential considerations did not forbid, I should at once, if I were in your place, respectfully notify the slave- holders of Louisiana that henceforth they must be content to pay their laborers wages. This measure would settle it in the minds of the working population of the State that the Union General is their friend; would be apt tc* secure him a good deal of devotion among them; and when he wanted faithful friends or scouts he could find them. It is quite true that such an order could not be enforced by military powers beyond military lines; but it would enforce itself by degrees a good way beyond them, and would make the extension of the military lines quite easy comparatively.
It may be said the order would be annulled. I think not. It is plain enough now that the annulling of Hunter's order was a mistake. It will not be repeated.
Do the acts of Congress leave, indeed, much room for choice, if these acts are to be faithfully obeyed? The act of last year declared the slaves of all persons, if employed in aid of the rebellion, free. The acts of this last session declare free the slaves of persons who themselves engage in rebellion or aid and abet it; prohibit the return of fugitives by military commanders; and authorize the employment of slaves in the service of the Union either as laborers, or in arms, or both, at the direction of the President. How these acts can be enacted and slavery maintained, especially where slaves are numerous, I am at a loss to conceive.
I think the President feels this difficulty. Hence, he inti- mates in his letter to Mr. Johnson, while declining to interfere with General Phelps, that it will be well for the Louisianians to make haste back into the Union or worse evils than Gen. Phelps may befall them. Hence the other day, when some con-
134 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
versation occurred about Gen. Hunter, he was very far from expressing the same dissatisfaction with his course that he would have done four or five weeks ago.
The truth is, my dear General, that there has been a great change in the public mind within the last few weeks. The people are resolved not to give up the struggle for territorial integrity. They mean to keep every inch of American soil in the United States. Whatever stands in the way of this deter- mination has got to get out of the way. If state organizations — they must fall; if negro slavery — it must be abolished.
Now, it seems to me that it is just as well to make the short- est possible work of this as the longest possible. Negro slavery should first fall where it has done most mischief, and where its extinction will do most good in weakening rebellion, and incidentally otherwise in the extreme South.
And who better to begin the work than my friend Gen. Butler? Yet I am told that your policemen are now engaged all the time in returning fugitives to masters, provided only they take the oath. Let me beg of you, as one who greatly esteems you and greatly desires your increasing honor and affection among your countrymen, — let me beg you to put a stop to this: simply see that the acts of Congress are carried out in good faith. It would hardly be too much to ask you to call, like Jackson, colored soldiers to the defence of the Union; but you must judge of this. Of one thing be assured — you can hardly go too far to satisfy the exigency of public senti- ment now.
You must determine in the exercise of your own good judg- ment what prudence will permit; but as far as prudence allows you may certainly well go.
I have had a great deal of practical experience. I have observed opinions long and closely. I think myself tolerably cool and practical. At any rate, I have not made any failures thus far. And I give you in this letter hastily, indeed, and roughly, but with substantial accuracy, I think, my deliberate judgments.
Whatever you may think of them, believe me, dear general, with the sincerest esteem and admiration.
Your friend, S. P. CHASE
My daughter Katie tells me to offer to you assurances of her kindest regards, and to say that she wishes you were here to keep the secession women quiet. Her displeasure is particu-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 135
larly excited this morning by the report of her chambermaid, who tells her that last night some "ladies of the second class," as Gassy calls them, going by and looking over at our poor fellows standing or sitting about in front of the hospital for convalescents established in the church just opposite to us, said one to another, "the nasty Yankees/' "they've got what's good for them," "I'm glad of it," etc., etc. I send you a slip from a newspaper which described atrocities which ought to make us blush. For Heaven's sake don't let us show ourselves by faithless treachery, to those who serve us so loyally and faithfully, to be worse than even our English slanderers make us out to be !
Please see that the letters of the President to Messrs. Johnson and Bullett are delivered immediately.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
PRIVATE. Executive Mansion, WASHINGTON, July %6lh, 1862
CNot in chronological order]
Hon. REVERDY JOHNSON
MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 16th by the hand of Governor Shepley is received.
It seems the Union feeling in Louisiana is being crushed out by the course of General Phelps. Please pardon me for believ- ing that it is a false pretence. The people of Louisiana — all intelligent people everywhere — know full well that I never had a wish to touch the foundations of their society, or any right of theirs. With perfect knowledge of this, they forced me to send armies among them, and it is their own fault, not mine, that they are annoyed by the presence of General Phelps. They also know the remedy — know how to be cured of Gen- eral Phelps. Remove the necessity of his presence. And might it not be well for them to consider whether they have not already had time enough to do this? If they can conceive of anything worse than General Phelps within my power, would they not better be looking out for it? They very well know the way to avert all this is simply to take their place in the Union upon the old terms. If they will not do this, should they not receive harder blows rather than lighter ones? You are ready to say I apply to friends what is due to enemies. I distrust the wisdom if not the sincerity of friends who would hold my hands while my enemies stab me. This appeal of professed friends has paralyzed me more in the struggle than any other one thing. You remember telling me, the day after
136 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the Baltimore mob in April, 1861, that it would crush all Union feeling in Maryland for me to attempt bringing troops over Maryland soil to Washington. I brought the troops notwithstanding, and yet there was Union feeling enough left to elect a legislature the next autumn which in turn elected a very excellent Union U. S. Senator.
I am a patient man — always willing to forgive on the Chris- tian terms of repentance, and also to give ample time for re- pentance. Still I must save the Government if possible. What I cannot do of course I will not do; but it may as^well be understood, once for all, that I shall not surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed.
Yours Truly, A. LINCOLN
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
PRIVATE. WASHINGTON, D.C., July «8«fct 1862 [Not in chronological order]
CUTHBERT BULLETT, Esq., NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: The copy of a letter addressed to yourself by Mr. Thomas J. Durant has been shown to me. The writer appears to be an able, a dispassionate, and an entirely sincere man. The first part of the letter is devoted to an effort to show that the secession ordinance of Louisiana was adopted against the will of a majority of the people. This is probably true; and in that fact may be found some instructions. Why did they allow the ordinance to go into effect? Why did they not assert themselves? Why stand passive and allow themselves to be trodden down by a minority? Why did they not hold popular meetings, and have a convention of their own, to express and enforce the true sentiment of the State? If pre-organization was against them, then why not do this now that the United States Army is present to protect them? The paralysis — the dead palsy — of the Government in this whole struggle is that this class of men will do nothing for the government, nothing for themselves, except demanding that the govern- ment shall not strike its open enemies, lest they be struck by accident.
Mr. Durant complains that in various ways the relation of Master and Slave is disturbed by the presence of our Army; and he considers it particularly vexatious that this, in part, is done under cover of an act of Congress, while constitutional guaranties are suspended on the plea of Military necessity.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 137
The truth is, that what is done, and omitted, about slaves, is done and omitted on the same military necessity. It is a Military necessity to have men and money; and we can get neither, in sufficient numbers, or amounts, if we keep from, or drive from our lines Slaves coming to them. Mr. Durant cannot be ignorant of the pressure in this direction, nor of my efforts to hold it within bounds, till he and such as he shall have time to help themselves.
I am not posted to speak understandingly on all the police regulations of which Mr. Durant complains. If experience shows any one of them to be wrong, let them be set right. I think I can perceive, in that freedom of trade which Mr. Durant urges, that he would relieve both friends and enemies from the pressure of blockade. By this he would serve the enemy more effectively than the enemy is able to serve him- self. I do not say or believe that to serve the enemy is the purpose of Mr. Durant, or that he is conscious of any purpose other than National and patriotic ones. Still, if there were a class of men who, having no choice of sides in the contest, were anxious only to have quiet and comfort for themselves while it rages, and to fall in with the victorious side at the end of it, without loss to themselves, their advice as to the mode of conducting the contest would be precisely such as his is. He speaks of no duty — apparently thinks of none — resting upon Union men. He even thinks it injurious to the Union cause that they should be restrained in trade and passage without taking sides. They are to touch neither a sail or a pump, but to be merely passengers — dead heads at that — to be carried snug and dry, throughout the storm, and safely landed right side up. Nay more; even a mutineer is to go untouched lest these sacred passengers receive an additional wound.
Of course the rebellion will never be suppressed in Louisiana if the professed Union men there will neither help to do it, nor permit the government to do it without their help.
Now, I think the true remedy is very different from what is suggested by Mr. Durant. It does not lie in rounding the rough angles of the War, but in removing the necessity for the war.
The people of Louisiana who wish protection to person and property have but to reach forth their hands and take it. Let them, in good faith, reinaugurate the national authority, and set up a State Government conforming thereto under the
188 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER *
Constitution. They know how to do it, and can have the pro- tection of the Army while doing it.
The Army will be withdrawn so soon as such State Govern- ment can dispense with its presence; and the people of the State can then, upon the old Constitutional terms, govern themselves to their own liking. This is very simple and easy.
If they will not do this, if they prefer to hazard all for the sake of destroying the government, it is for them to consider whether it is probable I will surrender the government to save them from losing all. If they decline what I suggest, you scarcely need to ask what I will do. What would you do in my position? Would you drop the war where it is? or would you prosecute it in future with elder stalk squirts, charged with rose water? Would you deal lighter blows than heavier ones? Would you give up the contest, leaving any available means unapplied?
I am in no boastful mood. I shall not do more than I can, and shall do all I can to save the government, which is my sworn duty as well as my personal inclination.
I shall do nothing in malice. What I deal with is too vast for malicious dealing. j^ ^ A LmcoLN
From General Hurly
NEW OBLEANS, August 1st, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Esq.
SIR: The undersigned is a special officer, he has been amongst some of the secessionists and got information that there was private organization in the outskirts of the city, he said he would like to join them on purpose to find out where the Lodge was kept, and was told there was 827 men in the Lodge, and that they would admit an Irish or Dutchman if he was a secessionist; they say they expect to hang Major General Butler and Judge Bell before a month passes by. I am afraid to go round among them without weapons to defend myself, so I hope you will be kind enough to let me have the use of a Colt's revolver, and I will endeavor to find out their Lodge or die in the attempt.
There is several men belonging to the Union Association that I suspect of giving information to the enemy. I am a member of the association myself.
Your Most Obedient, JEREMIAH HURLY
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER 139
From Moses Bates
Louisiana State Penitentiary, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, Aug. I, 1862
General B. P. BUTLER, Comdg. DepL of the Gulf
SIR: Having, by the aid of a military escort, procured some one hundred and seventy-five bales of cotton, I have set the machinery of the Penitentiary in motion, and the prisoners are now at work. Because of the discovery of other cotton which may be obtained, I have applied to Brig. Gen. Williams for a permanent detail and transportation, which, having been refused, I then applied for a special escort and transportation to procure cotton and beef for the penitentiary, but this also is declined. And the Lieut, in charge of my escort is informed by Gen. Williams' A. A. G., Mr. Elliot, that "Gen. Williams has no confidence in Mr. Bates, and will grant him no more
privileges than he can avoid." n ^ lf „
Respectfully Yours,
MOSES BATES, Supt. La. State Penitentiary From Governor Andrew Johnson
State of Tennessee, Executive Department, NASHVILLE, Aug. \st, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. P. BUTLER, Commanding at NEW ORLEANS
DEAR SIR: Fully aware of the many and laborious duties which your position imposes upon you, I do not desire to increase them, but the criminal appropriation, by rebels, of all the resources of the Treasury of Tennessee compels me to make every effort in my power to furnish means for carrying on the civil and military powers of the state. My high regard for your patriotism and ability has induced me to refer to you for collection a list of Notes and Drafts, assets of the Bank of Tennessee, and, of course, the property of the state.
By application to Mr. Geo. A. French, cashier of the Union Bank of New Orleans, you can in all probability obtain the Notes and Drafts mentioned in this list.
I shall by the same mail write to Mr. French to furnish you with all the assets of the Bank. If you can by any means collect these assets, you will confer a favor which will be grate- fully received by the patriotic and loyal people of the state. I shall be happy to hear from you as soon as you have had an opportunity to take the subject into consideration.
I hope that success may continue to crown your patriotism, zeal, and ability in the great cause of our common country and
140 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
constitutional liberty. With sentiments of the highest regard and esteem, Your obedient Servant, ANDREW JOHNSON
From Joseph S. Fowler
State of Tennessee, Comptroller's Office, NASHVILLE, Augst. 1st, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. at NEW ORLEANS
DEAR SIR: You will find in my letter the list of assets of the Bank of Tennessee referred to by Governor Johnson.
If the cashier of the Union Bank should give you a note drawn by R. H. Elam to the order of John Williams and Co., for the sum of $2169.32, dated 26th Dec. 1861, payable in six months from date, I would be pleased to have it forwarded to me in Nashville. yourg ^ respedSully>
Jos. S. FOWLER, Comptroller From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August (2nd), 1862
Flag Officer FARRAGUT, Comdg. Western Gulf Squadron
DEAR SIR: I enclose you Capt. Porter's Letter to me for your information. I will send him a Steam Tug of whose ser- vices he can avail himself.
I would strongly urge that one of the light draft Double- Enders be sent to him, say the "Westfield," "Clifton," or "Miami," to clear out Red River.
As to the suggestion as to fortifying Baton Rouge on the river side, it is simply impossible for want of Guns. If the fleet cannot hold the river against the enemies' rams or other boats, the quicker we abandon Louisiana the better. I have the honor to be, yery j^spectfuUy9 Your Obt. Svt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
SMh July, 1862. U. S. Gun Boat ESSEX, Off BATON ROUGE
[Not in chronological order]
Gen. BUTLER, Head Qts. U. S. Forces, Comdg. NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: I have the honor respectfully to lay before you the following facts.
After running the blockade at Vicksburg, my Orders were to proceed to Baton Rouge, raking in supplies, and then to
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 141
ascend the Mississippi, constantly cruising between this point and Vicksburg.
^ The Gun Boats "Katahdin" and "Kenio," also the Ram "Sumpter," were left with me here as a protecting force — the two former Boats have their machinery so deranged that they are absolutely useless for active service until thoroughly overhauled and repaired. The "Sumpter" has but four men, and the Capt. of her is the only Officer free from sickness.
There are two Rebel Gun Boats upon the Red River which should be seen to, but with my present Force it would be im- practicable to attack them with success without some other light-draught Gun Boats, the low stage of water in the Red River would prevent the "Essex" going up.
The enemy are also fortifying at "Ellis" Cliffs, some below Natchez, and unless speedily seen to will eventually cause much trouble.
A powerful Steam Tug to tow the "Essex" up the Missis- sippi, and also to convey sufficient Coal supply, I respectfully solicit may be sent me as early as practicable. In the immediate neighborhood of this city large bodies of rebel troops are con- centrating, and I would respectfully suggest the immediate fortification of the place, both of the land and river side. The Ram "Arkansas" is still above water, and could without doubt, if the "Essex" were absent, retake the city.
Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt. W. D. PORTER, Comdg. Division of Western Flotilla,
below VICKSBURG
From General Butler
Head Qtrs. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 4>th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Captain PORTER, Comdg. Flotilla, BATON ROUGE
CAPTAIN: By the recent Act of Congress your Flotilla is placed under the charge of Navy Department. It is impossible for me therefore to answer your requisitions as such, but will do everything in my power to advance your desire to aid the public service.
I have therefore directed my Quartermaster to assist your Paymaster in procuring such a Boat as you may need, and will make the same terms we should do if it were our own contract. Flag Officer Farragut tells me he will forward the necessary supplies. I will endeavor to give you the money upon a draft, as explained to your Paymaster. In any other thing I can do
142 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to aid you, please command me. I beg to call your attention to the absolute necessity of having the " Sumpter " or yourself at the mouth of the Red River, would suggest the mouth of the Black River, as the place to be. Baton Rouge will not be at- tacked at the present, in my judgment. I will see to it that your Mails are forwarded to that Post Office. I have the honor to be, yery fancifully 9 Your Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., Aug. 9d, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I beg leave to enclose to you copies of orders and cor- respondence with General Phelps upon the subject of arming and employing the negroes.
Gen. Phelps, without orders and without my knowledge, has organized five companies of Negroes, and the first official information I had of his doings in that behalf was a requisition for arms and equipments there.
It became more necessary, in my judgment, to employ them differently, and I thought by that means I would find employ- ment for all, not raising the question offensively between Gen. Phelps and myself until it was settled at Washington. There- fore I sent the order to employ the negroes without sending an answer to his requisition. But his letter of resignation has left me no choice but insist that my order should be obeyed. I submit the whole matter to the department. I need not dis- cuss it. Gen. Shepley, who has been with you, can do it much better than I can. Mr. Roselius, whom I have sent you by the "Connecticut," can tell you much more fully than it were possible to do in a despatch what has been the effect of the course of Gen. Phelps.
An insurrection broke out amongst the negroes a few miles up the river, which caused the women of that neighborhood to apply to an armed boat belonging to us, passing down, for aid, and the incipient revolt was stopped by informing the negroes that we should repel an attack by them upon the women and children.
All is for the determination of the department, to which I shall give the fullest obedience. I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com'd'g.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 143
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 2, 1862
Brig. Gen. 3. W. PHELPS, Commanding
GENERAL: By the act of Congress, as I understand it, the President of the United States alone has the authority to employ Africans in arms as part of the Military forces of the United States. Every law up to this time, raising volunteer or Militia forces, has been opposed to their employment. The President has not as yet indicated his purpose to employ the Africans in arms.
The arms, clothing, and camp equipage which I have here for Louisiana Volunteers, is, by the letter of the Secretary of War, expressly limited to white soldiers, so that I have no authority to divert them however much I may desire so to do.
I do not think you are empowered to organize into Com- panies Negroes, and drill them as a Military organization, as I am not surprised but unexpectedly informed you have done. I cannot sanction this course of action as at present advised, specially when we have need of the services of the Blacks (who are being sheltered upon the outskirts of your Camp), as you will see by the orders for their employment sent you by the Assistant Acting Adj't Gen'l.
I will send your application to the President, but in the meantime you must desist from the formation of any Negro Military Organization. I am,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 2nd, 1862
Brig. Gen. PHELPS, Comdg. U. S. Forces at CAMP PARAPET
GENERAL: I am somewhat surprised to receive your resigna- tion for the reasons stated.
When you were put in command at Camp Parapet, I sent Lieut. Weitzel, my Chief Engineer, to make a reconnoissance of the lines of Carrolton, and I understand it was agreed between you and the Engineer that a removal of the wood between Lake Ponchartrain and the right of your intrench- ment was a necessary military precaution. The work could not be done at the time because of the stage of water and the want of men. But now both water and men concur. You have
144 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
500 Africans organized into Companies, you write me. This work they are fitted to do. It must either be done by them or my soldiers, now drilled and disciplined.
You have said the location is unhealthy to the soldier. It is not to the negro. Is it not best that these unemployed Africans should do this matter at the present time? — because there are reports of demonstrations to be made on your lines by the rebels, and in my judgment it is a matter of necessary precaution thus to clear the right of your line, so that you can receive the proper aid from the Gunboats on the Lake, besides preventing the enemy from having cover. To do this, the Negroes ought to be employed, and in so employing them I see no evidence of " slave-driving" or employing you as a slave driver.
The soldiers of the Army of the Potomac did this very thing last summer in front of Arlington Heights. Are Negroes any better than they?
Because of an order to do this necessary thing, to protect your front threatened by the enemy, you tender your resigna- tion and ask immediate leave of absence. I assure you I did not expect this either from your courage, your patriotism, or your good sense. To resign in the face of an enemy has not been the highest plaudit to a soldier, specially when the reason assigned is that he is ordered to do that which a recent act of Congress has specially authorized a Commander to do, i.e. employ the Africans to do the necessary work about a Camp or upon fortifications.
General, your resignation will not be accepted by me; leave of absence will not be granted, and you will see to it that any orders, thus necessary for the defence of the City, are faith- fully and diligently executed, upon the responsibility that a soldier in the field owes to his superior.
I will see that all proper requisitions for the food, shelter, and clothing for these negroes at work are at once filled by the proper departments.
You will also send out a proper guard to protect the laborers against the Guerilla force, if any there may be in the neigh- borhood, lam, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 145
From General Phelps
CAMP PARAPET, LA., August 2, '62
Maj. GenL B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. Depart, of the Gulf
SIR: Two communications from you of this date have this moment been received. One of them relates to the raising of Volunteer or Militia forces, stating that "I must desist from the formation of any negro military organization/' and the other declaring in a spirit contrary to all usages of military service, and all the rights and liberties of a citizen of a free Government, that my resignation will not be accepted by you, that a leave of absence until its acceptance by the President will not be granted me, and that I must see to it that your orders which I could not obey without becoming a slave myself are "faithfully and diligently executed."
It can be of but little consequence to me as to what kind of slavery I am to be subjected, whether to African slavery or to that which you thus so offensively propose to me, giving me an order wholly opposed to my convictions of right as well as of the higher scale of public necessities in the case, and insist- ing with my complying with it faithfully and diligently, allow- ing me no room to escape with my convictions or my principles at any sacrifice that I may make. I cannot submit to either kind of slavery, and cannot, therefore, for a double reason, comply with your order of the 31st of July, in complying with which I should submit to both kinds, — both to African slavery and to that (to) which you resort in its defence. Desir- ing to the last of serving the public interest involved, I appeal to your sense of justice to reconsider your decision, and make the most of the cause out of the sacrifice which I offer, by grant- ing the quiet, proper, and customary action upon my resig- nation. By refusing my request you would subject me to great inconvenience, without, as far as I can see, any advan- tage to yourself or the service.
With the view of securing myself a tardy justice in the case, being remote from the Capitol, where the transmission of the mails is remarkably irregular and uncertain, and in order to give you every assurance that my resignation is tendered in strict compliance with paragraph 29 of the reg- ulations, to be unconditional and immediate, — I herewith enclose a Copy for the Adjutant General of the Army which I desire may be forwarded to him, to be laid before the Presi- dent for as early action in the case as his Excellency may be
VOL. II — 10
146 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
pleased to accord. * And as my position, sufficiently unpleasant already, promises to become much more so still by the course of action I am sorry to find you deem it proper to pursue, I urgently request his Excellency, by a speedy acceptance of my commission, to liberate me from that sense of suffocation, from that darkling sense of bondage and enthralment, which, it appears to me, like the snake around the muscles and sinews of Laokoon, is entangling and deadening the energies of the Government and the Country, when a decisive act might cut the evils and liberate us from their baneful and fascinating influence forever.
In conclusion of this communication, and I should also hope of my services in this Department, I deem it my duty to state, lest it otherwise might not come to your notice, that several parties of the free colored men of New Orleans have recently come to consult me on the propriety of raising one or two regiments of Volunteers from their class of the population for the defence of the Government and good order, and that I have recommended them to propose the measure to you, hav- ing no power to act upon it myself. I am
Very respectfully, Your Obt. Svt.,
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. Gen.
Monday, August 4>th, 1862
P.S. The negroes increase rapidly. There are doubtless now six-hundred able-bodied men in Camp. These, added to those who are suffering uselessly in the prisons and jails of New Orleans and vicinity, and feeding from the general stock of provisions, would make a good regiment of one thousand men, who might contribute as much to the preservation of law and good order as a regiment of Caucasians, and probably much more. Now a mere burden, they might become a beneficient element of Government power. — J. W. P.
From General Phelps
CAMP PARAPET, LA., August 2, 1862
General LORENZO THOMAS, Adj. Gen'L,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SIR: Finding it impossible to serve in this department without doing violence to my convictions of right and public necessity, I respectfully tender you the resignation of my com- mission as an Officer of the Army of the United States, and
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 147
request as early an acknowledgment of its acceptance as con- veniently possible. I have the honor to be, Sir,
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. General
From General Shepley
PRIVATE & UNOFFICIAL. PORTLAND, MAINE, August 2, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLEK
GENERAL: Immediately upon my arrival I proceeded to Washington, and there had an interview with the President and Secretaries of State and War. I stated to them fully the condition and wants of Louisiana.
They were impressed with the necessity of sending more troops, and promised to send the fifteen thousand I asked for when they could get them to send. But they said more troops were called for now in every Department, and it would be impossible to send them at present.
In relation to the negro question, they frankly stated the difficulties which surrounded them, and gave me discretion to act as I thought best, which will be to continue the policy pursued by you up to this time. I will explain this more fully to you when I return.
I infer from what was said upon the subject of Brigadier Generals, that they will send out any two you may designate that are available.
I suggested the appointment of Weitzel, and Stanton received it very favorably, and I think if you make a formal request for his appointment he will receive it.
The Secretary of War suggested that I had better return home and wait a few days, and he would send despatches and a messenger to me when his despatches were ready. I reached home Tuesday night (29th) 9 and now (August 2nd), not hav- ing heard from the Secretary, I shall leave Monday morning for Washington direct, and after remaining there one day leave as soon as possible for New Orleans.
You can have no conception how strong and universal, with the people, is the feeling of approbation and appreciation of your course in New Orleans. They all contrast what has been done in New Orleans, with the insufficient force and scanty means of transportation, with the failures in Virginia of such a vast Army, so magnificently supplied with all the appliances of modern warfare. The contrast is so striking in
148 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
your favor that the remark is almost universal that "if Butler had been in command he would have got into Richmond before this time some how."
Mortar fleet Porter has been attacking you in Washington. I found he had been doing this before he arrived, and I pre- sume, as he has been in Washington since, he has repeated his attacks. He has been charging you with employing tug boats and steamers for private speculations, and neglecting to supply him with means to tow his vessels. I told the Secretary it was false, that Porter was a humbug, and explained to him Porter's cowardice about the "Louisiana," and told him how invariably you had rendered to Porter and the Army every possible facility.
When I return to Washington I will find out what new lies Porter has told on his arrival there, and will endeavor to set history right with the President and Secretary of War. I believe Porter and his motives are pretty well appreciated now.
I suggested Gushing as Brigadier General, but found it hopeless to attempt anything in that quarter.
Hoping soon to see you in New Orleans, and that your health is fully restored, I am
Very respectfully, and truly yours, G. F. SHEPLEY, Brig. Gcn'l. U. S. Vols.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. %dt 1862
MY DEAREST WIFE: Four days later from New Orleans. All well so far as health is concerned. The city never healthier — not a single case of yellow fever.
Phelps has gone crazy. He is organizing the negroes into regiments, and wants me to arm them. There has been a slight insurrection up the Coast, as it is called, meaning twenty miles up the river. I told him he must set the negroes to work and not drill them, and he thereupon has resigned. I have sent the whole matter to the President. Reverdy Johnson has gone home, I trust with a flea in his ear. What do you think of the letter about order No. 28? I did not mean Carney should publish it, but he has done so. Perhaps it is well enough. What do you think of the picture? Is not the posi- tion an easy one? Be sure and send me those I wrote for. Farragut has come down the river and given up Vicksburg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 149
So we go, perhaps, over to Mobile. I have so large a force I can go anywhere, of course.
A truce with this business, but don't let Fisher forget to send the oats and the hoop poles by steamer. We send home the "Saxon." She will start the 5th with a freight list worth 10,000 dollars — will take a month to go home. She will go to New York, so let Fisher look out. She will be home about the 20th.
By the by, I want you to look in my "scrap book" and find the speech I made at the John Brown meeting in Lowell some time in the winter of 1859. Let Blanche transcribe it, and put it into the next mail for me. If she will do it I will send her something handsome. Don't fail in this. Now, dearest, how do you get on? Summer more than f gone, and we not together. Are you gay? You must be. Laugh and grow fat. Don't think too much. Don't fret yourself at all. Play with the children. Kiss all for me again and again, and then reserve a kiss for yourself. Keep it warm and happy till I get back.
They have an absurd story here that Banks is to be sent down to take my place. I wish to heaven he would come! Write me every day, never mind, the mails will bring them sometime, although the "Creole" has got aground on the Florida reefs and we have not heard a word by mail since July 6th. Don't bother yourself about furnishing the house. Perhaps I shall aid you from here.
Truly as ever your own BENJ. with the coziest nook in his heart always yours.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 3rd, 1862
Flag Officer D. G. FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf
Blockading Squadron
SIR: I have just been informed by reliable persons that since yesterday morning a great number of field guns have been placed between here and Baton Rouge by the rebels, the avowed object being to sink my transports in the absence of your cruisers. This information, taken in connection with despatches received from Gen'l. Williams, informing me that he expects an attack by a large force, leads me to believe that my information is truthful. I consider it therefore my impera- tive duty to ask you to cause one at least of your Gunboats to cruise between here and Baton Rouge at once, so that I can
ISO LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
keep my communication open with my forces at that point, at least during the time danger is anticipated. I am, Sir Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Augst. Srd, 1862
Brig. Gen. WILLIAMS, Commanding at BATON ROUGE
GENERAL: I received your note by the hand of John Mann, who was in my confidential service. While his information may be relied upon as correct, yet all the inferences may not be which he draws.
The truth is this, as I gather it from various sources. On the 25th of July I sent an expedition of 500 men on an expedi- tion around the Lake at Mandeville and Madisonville. The movement was delayed 48 hours, and in that time word was sent to the enemy that it was to go out. Thereupon Breckin- ridge was telegraphed down to Camp Moore with four Regi- ments to proceed to Madisonville, but it so happened that Col. McMillan on the same day sent out to the Amite River a reconnoitering party of two companies, and they made an attack on a Guerilla Camp there.
News of this came to Camp Moore, and they concluded that the expedition to Madisonville was but a feint while the real attack was to be Camp Moore, immediately counter- marched to get back to repel the expected assault upon the Camp.
This is the cause of the Assembly of the troops at Camp Moore. While I would not have you relax your vigilance, I think you need fear no assault at present. When it does come, I know you will be ready. I should much like to see you, if possible to be absent from your command. There are many things upon which I wish to consult.
The matter of the charges against several Officers will be submitted to a Court Martial. I am
Very Truly Yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
P.S. I have communicated with the Flag Officer concerning the Boat at Red River. B. F. B.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 151
From Colonel Deming to General Butler
HARTFORD, August UK 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I reached the North in the height of the panic caused by McClellan's disaster and the President's order for three hundred thousand additional volunteers. The time was somewhat unfavorable, as you can readily see, for my application for reinforcements, and the only reply which I could extract from the Secretary of War was, "Gen. Butler must recruit in New Orleans."
The other matters contained in your brief, he informed me, had been answered by orders and instructions sent to you by Reverdy Johnson, and by the Confiscation Act which had just passed.
The plates I delivered to Mr. Secretary Chase and the swords to the President. The flags I sent by Adams Express to General Dix. I delivered the draft for $25,000 to the Vice President of Adams Express Company, and took his receipt therefor; Mr. Chase said that though the drafts were irregular, inasmuch as money could not be drawn from the Treasury except by authority of law, he would endeavor to contrive some way to protect them.
Mr. Stanton would not at the present time entertain my proposition to resign, and would only condescend to grant me a furlough of thirty days from July 30th, at the expiration of which I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in New Orleans.
I have been afflicted with an attack of dysentery since my arrival here, but hope that quiet and good nursing will soon restore me to my usual health. I am
Truly your friend and servant, HENRY C. DEMING, Col. 12th Reg. C. V.
From General Butler
TELEGRAM. Head Quarters, August 4/A, 1862
Gen. Dow
Do not let any person or vessel from an infected port, specially from Havana come up.
This order is imperative.
BBNJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g.
152 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 4, 1862
GENBKAL OBDBRS No. 55
IT appears that the need of relief to the destitute poor of the city requires more extended measures and greater outlay than have yet been made.
It becomes a question in justice upon whom should this burden fall. Clearly upon those who have brought this great calamity upon their fellow-citizens.
It should not be borne by taxation of the whole municipality, because the middling and working-men have never been heard at the ballot-box, unawed by threats and unmenaced by "Thugs'* and paid assassins of conspirators against peace and good order. Besides, more than the vote that was claimed for secession have taken the oath of allegiance to the United States.
The United States Government does its share when it pro- tects, defends, and preserves the people in the enjoyment of law, order, and calm quiet. Those who have brought upon the city this stagnation of business, this desolation of the hearth- stone, this starvation of the poor and helpless, should, as far as they may be able, relieve these distresses.
There are two classes whom it would seem peculiarly fit should at first contribute to this end. First, those individuals and corporations who have aided the rebellion with their means; and second, those who have endeavored to destroy the commercial prosperity of the city, upon which the welfare of its inhabitants depend.
It is brought to the knowledge of the Commanding General that a subscription of twelve hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made by the corporate bodies, business firms, and persons whose names are set forth in schedule "A" annexed to this order, and that sum placed in the hands of an illegal body known as the "Committee of Public Safety," for the treasonable purpose of defending the city against the Govern- ment of the United States, under whose humane rule the city of New Orleans had enjoyed such unexampled prosperity that her warehouses were filled with trade of all nations who came to share her freedom, to take part in the benefits of her com- mercial superiority, and thus she was made the representative mart of the world.
The stupidity and wastefulness with which this immense
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 153
sum was spent was only equalled by the folly which led to its being raised at all. The subscribers to this fund, by this very act, betray their treasonable designs and their ability to pay at least a much smaller tax for the relief of their destitute and starving neighbors.
Schedule "B" is a list of Cotton Brokers, who, claiming to control that great interest in New Orleans, to which she is so much indebted for her wealth, published in the newspapers, in October, 1861, a manifesto deliberately advising the planters not to bring their produce to the city, a measure which brought ruin at the same time upon the producer and the city.
This act sufficiently testifies the malignity of these traitors, as well to the Government as their neighbors, and it is to be regretted that their ability to relieve their fellow-citizens is not equal to their facilities for injuring them.
In taxing both these classes to relieve the suffering poor of New Orleans, yea, even though the needy be the starving wives and children of those in arms at Richmond and elsewhere against the United States, it will be impossible to make a mis- take save in having the assessment too easy and the burden too light.
It is therefore Ordered —
1st. That the sums in schedules annexed, marked "A" and "B," set against the names of the several persons, business firms, and corporations herein described, be and hereby are assessed upon each respectively.
3d. That said sums be paid to Lieut. David C. G. Field, Financial Clerk, at his office in the Customhouse, on or before Monday, the llth inst., or that the property of the delinquent be ^forthwith seized and sold at public auction, to pay the amount, with all necessary charges and expenses, or the party imprisoned till paid.
3d. The money raised by this assessment to be a fund for the purpose of providing employment and food for the deserv- ing poor people of New Orleans.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 5th, 1862
MY DEAR, DEAR WIFE: I am only going to write you a word to let you know what you fear may not be so — that I am in
154 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
good health, and trust you are enjoying the same blessing. And also to let you know what you know already — how much I miss you and love you.
Love to all — Kiss the children. Write me every day, grow fat and saucy — and tell me how I can get home to you out of this. We have not heard a word till today. The mail is just in — the first mail since the 6th of July. Thirty days without a mail! I am longing for it to be opened, as I shall get a letter from you, one at least, I hope more. I shall have trouble with Phelps. He is mad as a March Hare on the "nigger question/' He is arming them against all law, and refuses to have them work. My respect for him will lead me to treat him very tenderly but firmly, and I hope involve myself no more than is absolutely necessary for my duty. That I will do in any event. All else is well here. The Rebels threaten Baton Rouge, but I do not believe in an attack. Let them come on, I want a fight. All else is well. Your hmbandi BENJ
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 5th, 1862
To Brig. Gen. PHELPS
GENERAL: Your communication of today has been received. I had forwarded your resignation on the day it was received to the President of the U. S., so that there will be no occasion of forwarding a duplicate. General, not at liberty to accept your resignation, I cannot, consistently with my duty and the orders from the War Department, grant you a leave of absence until it is accepted by the President of the U. S., for want of Officers to supply your place. I see nothing unusual, nor do I intend anything so, in the refusal to accept the resignation of an officer when his place cannot be at the present moment supplied.
I pray you to understand that there was nothing intended to be offensive to you in either the matter or manner of my communication in directing you to cease military Organiza- tions of the negroes. I do only carry out the law of Congress as I understand it, and in doing which I have no choice. I can see neither African nor other slavery in the Commander of a Post clearing from the front of his line, by means of able- bodied men under his control, the trees and underbrush which would afford cover and shelter to his enemies in case of attack, especially when the very measure is a precautionary one advised by yourself, and while in deference to your age and experience
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 155
as a soldier, and the appreciation I have of your many good qualities of heart, I have withdrawn and do withdraw any- thing you may find offensive in my communication, still I must request a categorical answer to this question: Will you or will you not employ a proper portion of the negroes in cutting down the trees which afford cover to the enemy in front and right of your line?
I pray you to observe that if there is anything of wrong in this order, that wrong is mine, for you have sufficiently pro- tested against it. You are not responsible for it more than the hand that executes it — it can offend neither your political nor moral sense. With sentiments of the utmost kindness and respect, I am, y^ obedieni Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler to General Phelps
PRIVATE AND UNOFFICIAL. NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 5, 1862
DEAR GENL. : I send you enclosed herewith the President's order, which came in this morning's mail, before you make your final answer to my official communication.
You will see that I cannot do otherwise than I have done, and I beseech you do not put yourself in an attitude apparently hostile to me, when the only feelings I hold toward you are those of kindness and good will.
I have in this frank manner written to assure you that I only wish to carry out the orders of the Government, and not to embarrass you.
I would like to meet you in personal conversation to see if I might not aid you in avoiding this difficulty. Believe me,
Your friend, BENJ. F.
From General Phelps
CAMP PARAPET, August [6^], 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g. Dept. of the Gulf at NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday, proposing a question for a cate- gorical answer, which came to hand at a quarter before one o'clock P.M. to-day.
To propose a question either specific or abstract of obedience to orders, after I had tendered my resignation immediate and unconditional, seems to me hardly compatible with the "senti-
156 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
merits of kindness'5 that you express. If I am to be detained here against my wishes because at present my place cannot be supplied, then at least I ought not to be troubled with unneces- sary issues between my sense of obedience to orders and my convictions and principles. I am willing to fill a place tempo- rarily and perform the routinary duties of my profession until the acceptance of my resignation; but as I am left wholly des- titute of the proper power and authority to meet the urgent and practical questions that come every day for solution, it would seem to me idle to comply with merely one measure among many, especially when we have work enough already for our negroes to do, and when the Order proposed, if extended to other obstructions as well as trees, would occasion a great amount of unnecessary labor and destruction.
My dear Sir, it is not a question of obedience to Orders between us. I fully appreciate the difficulties of your position, and the varied abilities, patriotism, and untiring diligence which you have shown in meeting them; and it is with great reluctance and regret that I have to trouble you with anything my own; but at a crisis in our national affairs so important as this, I should not be doing my duty either to the Country or to the Government, I should mislead them both, were I to remain quietly at my post with the semblance but without the power of fulfilling the duties incumbent upon it. I should endanger and complicate public interests in this way rather than serve them.
The distance of this Station from the Capitol of the country, the irregularity and studied uncertainty of the mails; the ungenial character of Latin laws and education and slave labor to democratic institutions; the speculating character of the people habituated to conspiratorial associations, idle com- binations, and fraudulent collusions, — all these and many other elements of disorder and opposition to legitimate author- ity, Lilliputian as they are when viewed by themselves, seem threatening to entangle the feeble, hesitating, and undecided action of the Government, and render its great and beneficent power of no avail. As it is, we seem to be in a foreign coun- try rather than in the United States, not so much from the character of the people as from the want of action of the Government upon it.
You ask me whether I will obey a certain Order or not. With perfect respect and deference for yourself and your posi- tion, I beg to be permitted in return to submit the following
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 157
propositions to his Excellency the President of the United States, as those under which I could alone consent to serve.
1st. The people purchased a large region of country called Louisiana, which at the time of purchase embraced a very considerable portion of the South West, and they have a right to this Territory for the purposes designed by their constitu- tion, viz: to secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity.
2nd. The people are temporarily withheld from a full, per- fect, and peaceable possession of this territory by a few ambi- tious leaders and their deluded partisans.
3rd. Every State of the Union is bound to furnish her share of taxes and her quota of men for the suppression of domestic insurrection, and the quota of men of the Slave States should be based upon the total number of whites and three-fifths of all other persons in those States.
4th. Society here is on the verge of dissolution, and it is the true policy of the Government to seize upon the chief elements of disorder and anarchy, and employ them in favor of law and order. The African, ignorant and benighted, yet newly- awakened to liberty, threatens to be a fearful element of ruin and disaster, and the best way to prevent it is to arm and organize him on the side of the Government.
5th. The Slave States have already gone through the chief suffering incident to a state of revolution; and to return them to their former condition would be as impolitic as it would be cruel and impossible.
6th. The system of labor in the South is ripe for and demands a change, and a transition from forced to paid labor is of easy and necessary accomplishment.
7th. Military art and science, the most potent and perhaps the only rudimentary element of civilizing power which has not yet been brought to the African during his bondage in America, is essential for extending the Colony of Liberia and opening up to civilization the cane and cotton lands of Africa.
Enclosing herewith a report of Major Peck which discloses the condition of things on the borders of Lake Ponchartrain, I have the honor to remain, with sentiments of high esteem, Very respectfully, Your Obt. Servt.
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. Genl.
158 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
By General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 6tht 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 844
THE City Surveyor and Street Commissioner are authorized to employ not less than One thousand men (including those now employed) to work on the Streets, wharves, and canals; in the selection of these laborers married men will have the preference. These men to be paid out of the employment and relief fund, raised by General Order No. 55.
While this force was paid by taxation of the property of the City, the Commanding Genl. felt authorized to employ it only in most economical manner, but it now being employed at the expense of their rebellious neighbors, the Commanding General proposes that they shall be paid the same sum that was paid them by the same party for work on the fortifica- tions, to wit: One Dollar and a half for each day's labor. The rations heretofore a gift to the laborers by the United States, will now be discontinued.
This Order is to take effect from and after the first Monday
in August 1862. z> ^ j - ^ „ ^
0 By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G. From General Butler
Head Qts. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 6th, 1862
Lt. WEITZEL, U. S. Engineers, Chief Engineer Dept. of the Gulf THE General wishes me to say to you that, upon careful examination of facts and rumors, he is convinced that the main attack has been made on Baton Rouge, and that it is not a feint to cover any assault on this place. The enemy have 12 Regiments & two Batteries, in all about 6 or 7000 men. With the force you have he thinks you can hold Baton Rouge; at all events, he wishes you to make the utmost efforts to do so, and if you repulse the rebels to follow them and use them up as much as possible. If you are obliged to evacuate the town, though, he wishes to leave much to the discretion of yourself and the Commanding Officer, his own impression is that the place should be burned. Please keep us informed by every opportunity of all that occurs with you. I am
Most respt., Your Obdt. Servt., R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. General
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 159
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 1th, 1862
Col. HALBERT E. PAINE, 4th Regt. Wis. Vols.9 at BATON ROUGE
COLONEL: I have the report of Col. Cahill of the affair at Baton Rouge. From it I am inclined to change the opinion which I had when you left me with Lt. Weitzel. Do not evacu- ate Baton Rouge, at least at present.
Let Lt. Weitzel examine and determine the best positions for holding the town. Take advantage of the Village and buildings for that purpose aided by temporary earthworks and abatis, if necessary in conjunction. The political impor- tance of the place has decided me under the change of appear- ing facts. Breckinridge has 12 regiments, 14 pieces of Cannon, effective strength about 5000 men, and that is the entire force he has anywhere under his Command. Let Lieut. Weitzel report to these Head Quarters as soon as he has done what he can.
Send back most of the transport and all the wounded and prisoners. Let each Officer Comdg. a Regt. make a detailed report of the facts of the day. Let Lt. Col. Cahill make a full report as Commander of the Action of all the facts, events, captures, with the full list of killed, wounded, and missing. I desire this as the proper means of making my own report to the Government. I have the honor to be, Sir,
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt.,
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. Genl.
From Colonel Thomas W. Cahill
Headquarters Second Brigade, BATON ROUGE, August 6th 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Captain R. S. DAVIS, A. A. A. Gen.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that an attack was made early yesterday morning by a Confederate force of about 10 Regiments, under Command of Maj. Gen'l. J. C. Breckin- ridge, and that, after a fight of four hours duration and of great severity, the enemy was repulsed.
I regret to state that Brig. Gen'l. Williams was killed on the field by a rifle ball through the chest.
During the battle, our forces were obliged to retire about a quarter of a mile from our original position, and the enemy
160 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
were thus able to occupy temporarily the Camps of the 21st Indiana, 7th Vermont, and 14th Maine Regiments, and to destroy much of the baggage and Camp Equipage. They were, however, driven out, but, our numbers being much exhausted by fatigue and heat, it was deemed inexpedient to pursue.
* I am unable as yet to give a report of our casualties which, I am sorry to say, are considerable. The enemy has retired several miles, and from all I can learn are still retiring. I am expecting it possible they may receive reinforcements, and am disposing my troops in the strongest positions. Our force engaged numbered less than 2500, the enemy had about 5000 with twelve or fourteen field pieces and some Cavalry.
The Ram "Arkansas" approached with intentions of engag- ing our gunboats, but grounded above the point at a distance of about 6 miles, and to-day was engaged by the iron-clad "Essex" and destroyed.
Enclosed is a copy of a communication received by Flag of Truce from Maj. Gen. Breckinridge, and my reply thereto. You will see by the latter that Brig. Gen. Clark and his Aid de Camp have delivered themselves up as prisoners of War. I have also fully 70 wounded prisoners that were left on the field, also about 30 captured. I would like instructions as to the disposition you wish made of them. Some express a wish to be paroled.
Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant,
THOS. W. CAHILL, Col. Comd'g. Post
From General Breckinridge
Headquarters Confederate forces in the field. Near BATON ROUGE,
August 6th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To the Commanding officer U. S. forces, at BATON ROUGE, LA. I HAVE sent Major De Baur with a flag of truce, with the request that he will be allowed to attend to the burial of our dead who may have been left within your lines. Major Haines accompanying desires to communicate with Brig. Gen. Chas. Clark, that he may supply him with money and clothing, and such articles as may contribute to his comfort.
Respectfully, Sir, Your obedient Servant, JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 161
From Colonel T. W. Cahill
Headquarters U. S. forces, BATON ROUGE, August 6th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
M aj. Gen. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Commanding Confederate
Forces
GENERAL: In reply to your communication of this morning under a flag of truce, I have the honor to say that we are now engaged in the burial of your dead within our lines, and that we shall soon finish the now nearly accomplished work.
Gen'l. Clark and his Aid de Camp, Lieut. Yager, have sur- rendered themselves as prisoners of war, and are being cared for by our Surgeons. A friend of Gen'l. Clark from this City will attend to his pecuniary wants.
Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
THOS. W. CAHILL, Col. Commanding
From General Butler
TELEGRAM. Head Quars. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 7th, 1862
Gen. Dow, FORT ST. PHILIP
GLORIOUS victory at Baton Rouge. Breckinridge attacks with 6000 men, is repulsed with great loss, three Brig. Genl. killed and wounded and prisoners. Gen. Williams killed. The Ram "Arkansas" destroyed. -o -p
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Guff, NEW ORLEANS, August 7, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 56
THE Commanding General announces to the Army of the Gulf the sad event of the death of Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams, commanding Second Brigade, in Camp, at Baton Rouge.
The victorious achievement — the repulse of the division of Major General Breckinridge by the troops led on by Gen. Williams, and the destruction of the mail-clad " Arkansas" by Capt. Porter of the Navy — is made sorrowful by the fall of our brave, gallant, and successful fellow-soldier.
Gen. Williams graduated at West Point in 1837; at once joined the 4th Artillery in Florida, where he served with distinction; was thrice breveted for gallant and meritorious services in Mexico, as a member of Gen. Scott's staff. His life was that of a soldier devoted to his country's service. His
VOL. II — II
162 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
country mourns in sympathy with his wife and children, now that country's care and precious charge.
We, his companions in arms, who had learned to love him, weep the true friend, the gallant gentleman, the brave soldier, the accomplished officer, the pure patriot and victorious hero, and the devoted Christian. All, and more, went out when Williams died. By a singular felicity, the manner of his death illustrated each of these generous qualities.
The chivalric American gentleman, he gave up the vantage of the cover of the houses of the city — forming his lines in the open field — lest the women and children of his enemies should be hurt in the fight!
A good general, he made his dispositions and prepared for battle at the break of day, when he met his foe!
A brave soldier, he received the death-shot leading his men.
A patriot hero, he was fighting the battle of his country, and died as went up the cheer of victory!
A Christian, he sleeps in the hope of a blessed Redeemer!
His virtues we cannot exceed — his example we may emu- late, — and, mourning his death, we pray, "may our last end be like his."
The customary tribute of mourning will be worn by the officers in the Department.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 1th, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 246
A COMMISSION of Relief to take charge of the distributions of the provisions of the Poor, to consist of five members, one from each District, and a President.
The Committee will have the entire management of the business of gratuitous distribution of food.
They will make requisitions upon the Chief Commissary for provisions, and establish the Stores of distribution as necessary in each District as economy and efficiency may need.
They will receive and decide upon all applications for relief, making careful inquiry in all cases into the character and cir- cumstances of the applicants, so managing as to encourage
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 163
loyalty to the Union, but to relieve the deserving women and children, although not loyal.
They will make requisitions upon the financial Clerk for the sums needed to pay expenses and labor of distribution.
They will keep separate accounts of food distributed. 1st. Families of Federal Recruits. 2nd. Widows and friendless destitute. 3d. Families of Confederate Soldiers.
They will carefully keep in a systematic manner all the Books and Records necessary to show in a clear and concise manner all their transactions, ready and subject at all times to the inspection of the Government Officers, who may be ap- pointed or detailed to examine or supervise them.
They will report to the Commanding General weekly the number of families supplied and the quantity of provisions distributed.
They will suspend and abolish the so-called Free Market so soon as they are ready to make distributions.
Messrs. B. F. FLANDERS, Presd., T. B. THORPE, E. HEATH, E. WHITEMORE, J. B. HUBBARD, are appointed as such
Commissioners. n n j ^AT ^ T>
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G. From George Coppell, Acting Consul
PRIVATE. British Consulate, NEW ORLEANS, August 8th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: I much regret that, through unavoidable & unforeseen circumstances, the Flag of this Consulate was not lowered whilst the Funeral of the late Brig. GenL Williams was passing. I may observe in explanation that I had but just arrived at my office, did not know that the Funeral was to take place today — let alone pass the Consulate, and that my porter was absent. I am sorry that the matter should have been noticed by you, for when the orderly came to the office I had sent for a person to lower the Flag. I beg to remain,
General> Your faithful Servant,
GEORGE COPPELL, Acfg Consul
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. Sth, 1862
DEAREST: I have been alone today, no one in the house but myself and servants. Tonight I feel tenderly toward you>
164 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
inexpressibly kind and pitiful. What happiness it would be to see you coming up the avenue, even greater, that there would be none to greet you but me. We should not say much, happy enough to sit down together, and look on one of the loveliest views in nature, satisfied that this is home; and when you are a little more weary of the turmoil of life, and the tempests of feeling have ceased to afflict me, the home, where we shall find peace and content, a deeper, fuller happi- ness than we have yet known, for you will yet believe, time will bring faith, that the love (though it is kindled on earth) that has absorbed the highest and noblest emotions of our nature is yet a spark from heaven, that will glow with finer glory when it has passed the ordeal of earth, and will help to lift us to heaven from whence it came. Do you wish to have me with you again? I will come whenever you wish me. It will not be so fearful as before. I will take a favorable time and escape the storms. Fisher has bought a steamer and will have her freighted by Monday. This letter will go by her. He is trying, too, for a sailing vessel, to purchase it. And has spoken to Thurston about the horses, but is confident they cannot be got there for the price you mention. The steamer is an English vessel that I think he found at New Bedford. I think he is running a great risk, but these are times when men will venture all, the chances are great either to win largely or to lose titterly. Whitney is engaged with him in the pur- chase. Farragut we hear has gone down to New Orleans. Why may not the "Arkansas," when repaired, follow and drive him out of the river and take you all prisoners?
Gen'l. Shepley has not been to see me. I hear from his daughter Nelly he is already on his way back. Emancipation, and arming the negroes is held in check for a little, the border states will not submit to it, soon as there is a plausible hope of success it will be brought forward again. The only man in the Administration who approves is Seward. If you look at Port Royal you will see that Hunter is kept in place, and carries out all that his Proclamation put forth. The President's veto was not decisive. Phelps' policy prevails instead of yours. The abolitionists will have this a war to free the slaves at once if possible, nothing else is thought of. The Administra- tion will assent to it just as fast and as far as the country will sustain it. It has taken a step or two in advance, and been obliged to draw back. But events may give the opportunity. They will be seized on fast as they arise. B^ow strange it is
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 165
to be alone in the house. I thought I should be better pleased with it for a little while. Haggerty is nearly at New Orleans by this time. I thought, when I gave him the letter, I could never while away the time till he reached there, but it is nearly over, — you will comply with my request soon as you have my letter, and that trouble will be done away with. I shall be happier when I think he has reached there. Paul has writ- ten a few lines in pencil, but gave up, thinking it too un- worthy to send. I shall enclose it. With a little help it might have been quite neat. He is very proud of your letter to him, and requests it may be put with the one from Capt. George, about the fox. He desires me to tell you that he won the prizes for the best lessons. Benny was almost in doubt about going away, for fear he might lose the sight of his present when it first comes. What became of the pearls, — that were captured with the plate? I think ladies can never hear of such pretty baubles without a desire to behold them, and it is apt to increase with indulgence. I wonder if you really miss me, or if you only say so because I shall be sorry if you do not. Ah me ! there is such a wide difference between man's thought and woman's. If it is as healthy as you say, why might I not return at any time? Blanche goes back to school in little more than a week after her return. She seems rather languid, and is not quite so straight as she was. I dread another year of confinement for her. If she were through with this year I would take her with me wherever I went. You see I am at the end of my sheet. Only room for o
Tonight I drove to Mrs. Read's. The clouds rolled up for a thunderstorm. The swallows in thousands fluttered over the willows. Do you remember we walked there years ago, and thought it the prettiest spot in the world? Kiss me kindly for the remembrance. Adieu!
From Major George C. Strong to General Butler
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: Don't stop to read this if you are busy, for its almost entirely on two penny subjects.
Have been waiting and waiting, up the river here, for Ryan to come on with my Ordnance papers, but I hear nothing from him.
Health is very good. Am on my way Eastward now. Shall
166 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
return here toward the end of the month, and sail for New Orleans. Met Shepley at the "Astor" this morning, for the first time since he came North. He says he might have got me some promotion if he had asked for it, — viz : a Colonelcy or some "Regular Major General's" Staff, with orders to report to you. Pope and several other Volunteer Major Generals have had it done. I thought of asking Mr. Stanton myself (with what influence I could bring to bear here) to do it, but have concluded that it would be more seemly, were it done at all, that it be done by you.
"Because he was ambitious I slew him." I hope / may not be thus slewed, tho' tis true we have a custom of "Wetting" a new Commission. At present I am ranked by Turner, Shaffer, and Kinsman, and of course it would be pleasant for me (modest as the remark may seem) to have a commission antedating theirs. So much plain speaking on that subject. One more of the same sort, for there's a young gentleman of this city, Frederick Martin, that perhaps will go out with me, for whom I would like to ask you to retain a First Lieutenancy in one of your new Louisiana Regiments.
Dr. Kellogg will go out to New Orleans next week. I hope he will prove, what I predict, a valuable man. He received your order to report, and will go at the earliest possible moment, and much regrets that he couldn't have settled up his affairs earlier than next week. Sent yesterday (it was not published this morning and perhaps will not be) to the Herald a com- munication in answer to that infamous charge of corruption made by Whipple against you (before the Contract Investigat- ing Committee) in the contract for hats.
It is an unmitigated lie to all intents and purposes, and no doubt Whipple knows it; for the remarks that were made in jest in your Office that day never could have been taken in earnest by him. He got angry with Captain George at Lowell, and determined to make a good advertisement by implicat- ing the whole establishment.
Glad to see so much venison ("Dear") in your correspond- ence with Reverdy Johnson! I expected a row.
General Shepley will tell you all the news in this hot climate. Very respectfully & truly yours,
GEORGE C. STRONG
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 167
From F. Bauer
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 9th, 1868 Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Comdg. U.S.A. of the Gulf
SIR: By General Order No. 55,1 "schedule A.," I am to pay $181.25 from an investment of $725 in the Bonds of the City of New York, which money is the money of orphan children, which I have invested as much as I can make out in accordance of the laws of the State of La., "for minor chil- dren," such funds to be invested in the Bonds of the City or State. I have therefore, by investing that money in the City Bonds, not done any more than minding my own business and doing my duty according to my humble knowledge.
I had, at the time, no idea that I should hereafter be looked upon as an offender against laws or order, but solely that I was minding my business and doing my duty in providing the interest of these orphan children, whom I have fed and clothed and sent to school for 8 or 9 years under my humble station and occupation as a Truant Master, adding from year to year the interest to the capital, by which acts it was brought up to the present amount.
General! If it pleases you, let me pray you for a release of that fine, as I am not a man of much means, and the paying of such an amount now would likely bring me to the turning of these children on the public, and allow me, if it pleases you "General!" if it pleases you, a personal appearance before you when I intend of fully satisfying you of all required, — most respectfully soliciting forgivingness should I have in the aforegoing committed any offences, and permit me Sir, to sign
myse as Your most humble servant,
F. BAUER GENERAL!
NOT having been permitted entrance to your office for three days, I beg to send this pr. Post Office, having this evening paid the aforegoing fine, but, should I find favor in the Commanding General for a personal interview, I may be found at 22 Magguire Street.
Answer: Having invested your wards' money in an unusual and improper security, you are personally accountable to them for the amount as you are per this assessment. B F B
1 General Order, No. 55 August 4th 1862.
168 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Sutler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Augst. 9th, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
OWING to the withdrawal of the fleet from before Vicks- burg, it may become necessary to return Williams' Brigade at Baton Rouge.
The services before Vicksburg had weakened very much that force by sickness, the overflow of the river, and the number of dead animals in the swamps, made a fearful malaria, but which, while it caused illness in almost the entire command, did not produce a large mortality. The healthy air and water at Baton Rouge rapidly recruited the troops.
The cessation of operations at Vicksburg allowed the enemy to concentrate a very large part of his available force at Camp Moore, about 60 miles from Baton Rouge. From thence he marched to attack the Post, and on the morning of the 5th instant appeared before our lines.
His force consisted of 2 Louisiana Regts., 2 Miss. Regts., 2 Tennessee Regts., an Alabama, a Texas and a Georgia Regt., 14 pieces of Artillery, and a large force of Guerilla Cavalry. These were under Command of Major General Breckinridge, Brig. Gens. Ruggles, Robert G. Helme, Allen, and Clark. They were supported by the Ram "Arkansas," which inspired them with the greatest hope and the utmost confidence in their attack. To oppose this formidable force, Brig. General Williams had the 14th Maine, 7th Vermont, 9 companies of the 9th Conn., the 21st Indiana, 4th Wisconsin, and 6th Michigan Regts., Nim's, Everett's, Manning's Mass. Batteries, and Magee's Company of Mass. Cavalry, nearly one half of whom were on the sick list.
Leaving two Regiments in the village for a Reserve, with high chivalry Gen'l Williams formed his lines at daybreak nearly a mile beyond the town, in an admirably chosen position.
The enemy made the attack in two divisions on the right and left, and massing his forces endeavored to force our inferior numbers back, by extending his lines to flank us. His first attack was partially successful by the failure of our Regiment to do its duty. The enemy was repulsed, however, thrice over returned to the charge; upon the final repulse, after 6 hours of continuous fighting, retired from the field, and sent a flag of truce for leave to bury their dead (A copy of the Correspondence is annexed).
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 169
The Boat which brought down the despatches to me from Col. Cahill, upon whom the Command developed after the death of General Williams, collided with the Gunboat "Oneida" and sunk, so that I am not able by this mail to give the details, as I hope to do by the next despatch. Our loss was very heavy, say 90 killed and 250 wounded. We mourn the loss of General Williams, Col. Roberts, 7th Vermont, killed, Lt. Col. Keith, 21st Indiana, severely wounded, a large number of lower of- ficers killed and wounded, whose names I am unable to give for the reason above stated, and upon such matter a mistake should not be made.
The casualties of the enemy were very much larger. They have lost Brig. Gen. Clark wounded, probably mortally, and a prisoner with his aid; Brig. Gen'l. Allen killed, Brig. Gen'l. Helme disabled by a fall from his horse; Brig. Gen'l Ruggles is reported dead, and a very large number of field and line officers killed and wounded. We have buried already more then 300 of their dead, and they have left their wounded in every cabin on their line of retreat. Their killed and wounded more than equal one-half of our men actually engaged against them. The enemy's forces were at least 6000 effective men, while we had not over 2000 in the action. The necessities of the ground caused General Williams to form his line of battle in rear of the Camps of the 14th Maine and 21st Indiana Regts., so that the enemy for the hour were permitted to occupy these Camps and destroyed much Camp Equipage.
Upon the first report of the engagement reaching me, I sent up Lieut. Weitzel of my Staff to report the condition of affairs, and to see what further dispositions were necessary to meet a renewed attack if any need be feared. Although sup- ported by the rebel Steamers "Webb" and "Music," the "Arkansas" did not choose to come down and attack our Gunboats, the "Essex," "Sumter," and "Kenio," and so did not cooperate with the land forces.
Flag Officer Farragut went immediately up the river to attack the "Arkansas." But upon the 6th the "Essex" steamed up to the rebel fleet. The "Webb" and "Music" fled, and the "Arkansas," after firing a few shots, was on fire and blew up.
Please find appended the reports of Lieut. Weitzel, as well as the General Orders issued from this Department upon the sad event of General Williams' death and the victory at Baton Rouge.
170 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I trust the actions of my brave men will receive your appro- bation. I have the honor to be *7 L •,. . 0 ,
Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen'l. Comd'g. From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 9th, 1862
Col. H. E. PAINE, 4th Wis. Regt. Vols., BATON ROUGE, LA.
SIR: In throwing up earthworks, digging trenches, or in any labor that is to be performed, you will employ all the contrabands that you can seize, and if necessary you will impress into the service any white secessionists. I send today an Order to Lt. Weitzel to report in person to these Head Quarters. I am Sir,
Most Respectfully, Your Obt. Svt., By order of MAJOR GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. Genl.
From J. O'Brien
BATON ROUGE LA., Augst, 9th, 1862
Maj. Genl. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of Gulf
HONORED SIR: Having read that Alexander, Napoleon, Washington, and others have at times condescended to receive and hear the opinions of and suggestions of private soldiers on important subjects, and hoping this will not give offense or intrude too much on your valuable time, I venture to write my thoughts, which you can take for what they are worth. The intent of the late attack on this place has changed in appearance very much, and from looking like a desire of the Commanders to make a dashing charge in and out again, for the mere purpose of amazing you, harrassing the Garrison, and troubling the fleet, it now shows itself to be a regular movement of a Division of the Army undoubtedly planned at and ordered from Headquarters at Richmond Va. for some important purpose, the intent of which is only known to the Chiefs.
To enable us to judge of their intentions, we must place ourselves in their position, and consider what we would do, and what good policy and all the precedents in this war justify us in supposing they intend to do. They have never yet risked an encounter without having a position to fall back upon, and routes clear of the Enemy by which to reach it. The Chiefs
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 171
of the Rebel army and leaders in the Secession movement know that whatever mercy may be shown to subaltern officers or soldiers, they may expect none, so that, before risking a great Battle between the two grand Armies in and near Rich- mond, where it is possible they might be defeated and pursued, it would be of the greatest importance for them to have a por- tion of the Mississippi clear of the Fleet, that they might cross the Army, collected from different points in their march over into the Red River and Texas country, where they could hold out and trouble the Government for a long time, or at least until they could obtain their terms of surrender, or it may be that they expect men and supplies by way of Mexico and Texas, for the crossing of which it would be equally important. But no matter for what purpose, it is evident they intend to take this place and fortify it, so as to keep the Gulf Fleet be- low here and the upper Fleet above Vicksburg, by doing which they will have Red river and the South West open to them.
Now, Sir, this place can be taken and command of the river obtained in spite of the fleet and the small Garrison here, if the Commander is determined and has the skill and forces to do it with.
If you will look at the map of this place you will see that the principal part of the City is surrounded by a broad and deep hollow on the river side, in which the enemy would be almost secure from the fire of the fleet if the Garrison was driven out, and which would be a good natural base line for a system of approaches to the River. You cannot spare men enough to fight the forces they can bring here, but you have plenty of old 24 and 32 Ib. Guns and carriages in and about New Orleans, which are good enough for defence purposes, which, if properly placed around the City on the edge of that hollow or gully with breastworks and rifle pits in front, and the land for about a half mile around cleared of houses, timber, and old fences, the place could be held with the aid of a few Boats against any Army the enemy can at present spare to send here. This would not cost much labor or expense, the unnecessary negroes around here under a fort man assisted by the troops, could do the labor in a few days, for Genl. Gladden of the Rebel Army with half of his Brigade entrenched a part of the Camp near Corinth one and three (If) quarters miles long with breastworks five feet high, and rifle pits five feet deep, in less than a week. You have plenty of heavy Artillery men here, who learned their business in the Rebel Service.
172 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
There is not a moment to spare, the Enemy is in force all around us, and evidently mean business.
Hoping that this may gain your attention, I remain
Your obedient Servant, Private J. O'BRIEN, Camp "B" 14th Me. Vols.
P.S. Please excuse the style. I have written the same as I would speak to a comrade, and for God's sake don't expose this, or I will be the jest of the Regiment if you do not ap- prove it.
[Endorsed: Thanks for suggestions good and timely. Keep this in remembrance. — B. F. B.J
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 9, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 57 Soldiers of the Army of the Gulf
YOUR successes have heretofore been substantially bloodless. Taking and holding the most important strategic and commer- cial positions with the aid of the gallant Navy, by the wisdom of your combinations and the moral power of your arms, it has been left for the last few days to baptize you in blood.
The Spanish conqueror of Mexico won imperishable renown by landing in that country and burning his transport ships, to cut off all hope of retreat. You, more wise and economical but with equal providence against retreat, sent yours home.
Organized to operate on the sea-coast, you advanced your outposts to Baton Rouge, the capital of the State of Louisi- ana, more than two hundred and fifty miles into the interior.
Attacked there by a division of our rebel enemies, under command of a Major General recreant to loyal Kentucky, whom some of us would have honored before his apostacy, of doubly superior numbers, you have repulsed in the open field his myrmidons, who took advantage of your sickness from the malaria of the marshes of Vicksburg, to make a cowardly attack.
The Brigade at Baton Rouge has routed the enemy.
He has lost three Brigadier Generals, killed, wounded, and prisoners; many Colonels and field officers. He has more than a thousand killed and wounded.
You have captured three pieces of artillery, six caissons, two stand of colors, and a large number of prisoners.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 173
You have buried his dead on the field of battle, and are caring for his wounded. You have convinced him that you are never so sick as not to fight your enemy if he desires the contest.
You have shown him that if he cannot take an outpost after weeks of preparation, what would be his fate with the main body? If your General should say he was proud of you, it would only be to praise himself; but he will say, he is proud to be one of you.
In this battle, the Northeast and the Northwest mingled their blood on the field — as they had long ago joined their hearts — in the support of the Union.
Michigan stood by Maine, Massachusetts supported Indiana, Wisconsin aided Vermont, while Connecticut, represented by the sons of the ever-green shamrock, fought as our fathers did at the Boyne Water.
While we all mourn the loss of many brave comrades, we, who were absent, envy them the privilege of dying upon the battle-field for our country, under the starry folds of her vic- torious flag.
The colors and guidons of the several corps engaged in the contest will have inscribed on them "Baton Rouge."
To complete the victory, the iron-clad steamer "Arkansas," the last naval hope of the rebellion, hardly awaited the gallant attack of the "Essex," but followed the example of her sisters, the "Merrimac," the "Manassas," the "Mississippi," and the "Louisiana," by her own destruction.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt.
From Governor Frederick Holbrook
State of Vermont, Executive Department, BBATTLEBORO, Aug. 10, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: You are doubtless rejoiced, like every patriot in the Country, at the two recent calls of the President for additional troops. You may not know the secret springs of these late movements. They come from the people, the loyal masses, rather than from Washington. It would surprise and please you, could you be back here at this time, and observe the serious earnestness of the people. They are everywhere, even in the most secluded and unfrequented rural districts, ready for any necessary sacrifice, and will never be content
174 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
till they know there are at least a million men under arms, and that the Government is using so much of the vast resources of the Country as may be necessary to succeed in this war. They see clearly that everything they prize is at stake in this struggle, and that utter ruin and destruction must ultimately follow a failure to crush this rebellion.
I hope that out of the 600,000 fresh troops now being organ- ized for the war, the Department will be largely strengthened, that you may be able to sweep around you at will. You ought to number at least 50,000 good troops; and if it were twice that so much the better.
Permit me to express my gratification at your great success, so far, and your admirable management at New Orleans. I suppose you and your forces have been much exposed, but I hope you will soon be so strongly reinforced as to be able to move at pleasure in any direction, and produce new and marked results.
I beg you to feel fully assured that I shall be happy to aid you in all possible ways. Perhaps no man has been more earnest and persistent than myself in urging our National authorities to make the last two calls for fresh troops. They are both in accordance with letters addressed by me to the President and Secretary of War — only that I wished the last 300,000 men could have been called out for a longer period than nine months.
I hope the "Green Mountain Boys" you have with you uphold the honor and credit of Vermont. The climate, I presume, must be very trying to them, and I see by the papers that the 7th Regiment, near Vicksburg, have suffered a good deal by sickness. But I doubt not you will take all the pre- cautions that circumstances will permit to get them safely through the heated season. If more surgeons are needed, please inform me immediately, and I will send them forthwith to both the Vt. Regiments.
My son, Major Holbrook, of the 7th Regt., I hear is getting on well, which of course is gratifying to me. He is a dear boy to me, General, and I believe he is a good soldier, more accom- plished in the military profession than the generality of Volun- teers. At any rate, he has had good advantages of instruction heretofore. Please bear him in mind for my sake, as well as his own, and if you can give him opportunities to grow, and to show what is in him, I have no doubt he will gratify you as well as myself, in the performance of duty in responsible posi-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 175
tions. He always had good judgment, considerably in advance of his years.
With my best wishes for your continued success in your responsible position, and for your health and happiness I am, with high regard, Your friend and Obt. Servant,
FREDERICK HOLBROOK
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
Sunday evening ; LOWELL, Aug. Wth, 1862
DEAREST: I have been to Dracut and given letters to Mr. Read to be carried in the morning to the Capt. of the vessel Fisher has lately bought. She sails tomorrow for New Orleans. Yet you see I begin writing again this evening. I am still alone in the house. The night is so extremely beautiful I cannot forbear telling you of it. I have opened the window of our room that looks on the greenhouse. Such a flood of light and beauty you never gazed on. The moon is full — the wind cool and fragrant, waving the long, pendent willows that float like a woman's hair on the sighing breeze. The long, dark shadows sweep over the lawn and roads. It is not calm and still. The deep sighs and whispering among the trees make it a night of strange, mysterious beauty. The air is alive with spirits, agitated with sudden news, they float tremulously in and out among the trees like phantoms as they are. I feel, in gazing, as though I belonged to them, and could easily pass the space and put my hands up on your shoulders and look you in the face. I wonder if you would start back from me, or naturally fold me in your arms. I shall find out by my dreams tonight. Ah, dearest, I wish, and you would be glad to be here tonight.
I began this on Sunday as you see. On Monday morning two letters from you, one saying you had no letters from me for twenty-two days, and the other desiring the children's pictures by the first mail. The children are all away, but after some hesitation I concluded to take all the originals taken some years ago, including my own, box them up, and send them on board the steamer Fisher is fitting out. Webster took them to Boston this morning. The vessel was expected to go yester- day, and I had given letters to Read on Sunday that were to go by her. She could not be ready until today (Tuesday), and tonight Webster brought back the box, for the vessel in starting burst her escape pipes, and she will not be able to
176 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
leave before Thursday. I shall put this letter into the mail, and have no idea when you will get it, or the others; one in the box with the pictures and another in charge of the Captain. If I lose the pictures it will be a great pity. How sad it is that you do not get my letters. Yours come regularly, and you know what ship you send them by. Ours are put in the mail, and we do not know when they will reach you. If they get on board the "Rhode Island" or "Connecticut" they are three weeks or more on the way. Oh, dear, this is a poor way of communication! But we must be patient. I will write oftener still, and trust you may get them more frequently. We are having another battle now, Banks has the worst of it again. Capt. Abbott was reported killed, now wounded and missing. The family of course, in great trouble. What is to become of us with these defeats? The country here is in a terrible state of gloom. The people are disheartened. We are a little relieved to hear the "Arkansas" is destroyed, and that the fleet have gathered about New Orleans. How slowly these days go by ! You do not write in your letters as if you expected me to return to you. Well, time will bring us together some- where if one can but be content to let things take their course. When you have read my letters I wish you would send them back with yours, then I shall know you have received them, that they are not lost or in somebody's possession who ought not to have them. The children return tomorrow, unless they find it very pleasant. I am writing this hurriedly, as I want it to go out in the morning. The others are delayed, and I want to get something started. Do you spend your time at the Custom House, or at the house you live in? I wonder if you would be glad to have me there again. You write that you love and miss me very much. I shall believe this, because it would hurt me so to think differently, and because you really do, you really do, beyond the strength of words.
Ever affectionately, SARAH
If you get my picture, and the artist thinks it best to paint the figure, let the dress be plain, not stripped, and make it as much prettier as he can.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
August IQth [1862]
MY DEAR SARAH: I am afraid you have been troubled by many reports, but be assured we are all right here. We have
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 177
had a terrible struggle at Baton Rouge and a glorious victory. I think that assures our safety, because the fools were really thinking of an attack on New Orleans. Let them come on. My health is as usual when you were here — good one day, bad the next. We have had no case of the fever here yet. Our troops here are healthy, but they suffered terribly at Vicksburg. I will not write more details — you will see all in the papers.
I wish I were with you now, if I could return, as I must not be away if there is to be trouble, even to be with you.
Kiss the children. Love me as well as you can. Be of good
heart. Get strong and well. ^ ,
6 BENJM.
From William T. Eustis
BOSTON. August l\tht 1862
General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I should feel that it was an unauthorized liberty to intrude on your time and attention with a matter of an exclusively private character, as I am well aware that matters of public duty must occupy all your energies and in reference to the latter, therefore I feel justified in calling your attention to a matter combining public with private interest.
I observe by the papers, and have learned from other sources, that Moses Greenwood has occupied a rather con- spicuous position since you had control of New Orleans, and has seemed to enjoy your confidence as a good Union man. I hope most sincerely that he is in heart what he professes to be, but "consistency is a jewel," and I am not disposed to have him enjoy the confidence of Union men without consist- ent action.
Early in the Spring of 1861, S. S. Kimball of Dardanelle, Ark., sent cotton worth a large sum to Moses Greenwood, with directions to sell and remit to Boston some $11,000 (say eleven thousand dollars) to pay amount due here from him, Kimball, advising parties here to whom he was indebted that he has done so; not hearing from Greenwood, parties here wrote to him making inquiries. He replied that Kimball had sent him Cotton for this purpose, that he had shipped it to England in a British vessel to keep it away from old Abe's pirates, and had ordered the proceeds returned in gold, — if the difficulties were over when it came, he should remit as directed by K., otherwise he should do as he saw fit with the proceeds. This is substantially the tenor of his communication, I may not quote his exact words.
VOL. II — 12
178 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Immediately after your brilliant occupation of New Orleans, Greenwood was written to, calling his attention to the matter, requesting an adjustment of the affair. No reply can be had and no explanation is given. The inference is, that he is resolved to hold on to the funds belonging to Union men here, who are making sacrifices by giving themselves and their money to put down this infamous rebellion, and by so doing he is aiding to the extent of his ability in sustaining this stupendous wickedness.
My desire is that he should be called to account, if my statement is true that he should be compelled to disgorge the amount with interest. I understood the original value of the cotton was about $50,000, but $11,000 was all that was to be remitted here.
I have known Moses Greenwood for more than thirty years, and until this transaction always considered him a man of honor and integrity, and actuated by sincere religious principle. I cannot but hope that he may be ready to do justly without constraint, and be able to explain his conduct satisfactorily. Very respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant,
A WM. T. EUSTIS
Answer
DEAR SIR: If you will put your claim in definite shape, Greenwood shall pay it. He is a secessionist still, and I have only dealt with him as such, and shall be delighted to deal with him again. B R
From Commodore Porter
On U. S. Gun Boat ESSEX, Off BAYOU SARA, LA., August llth, 1862
General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I find in the New Orleans Picayune of the 9th inst. a Copy of your Genl. Orders No. 57 and in it the following clause.
"To complete the victory, the iron clad Steamer 'Arkansas/ the last naval hope of the rebellion, hardly awaited the gallant attack of the 'Essex,' but followed the example of her sisters, the 'Merrimac' the 'Manassas,' the 'Mississippi,' and the 'Louisiana,' by her own destruction."
The facts Sir, are as follows: On the 6th inst. A.M. I steamed up the river to attack the "Arkansas," and on our turning the point of the Bend, four miles above Baton Rouge, she immedi- ately opened fire on this Ship, at about the distance of one
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 179
mile. I stood on until I considered myself near enough for my shot to penetrate her iron-clad sides, when I replied to her fire. We continued the action for nearly half an hour, when a shell from this ship penetrated her side and set her on fire. Your statement in your General Order No. 57 is therefore incorrect.
I wrote you previously to the attack on Baton Rouge, suggesting reinforcements, and in your reply you state, "In my (your) judgment Baton Rouge will not be attacked." You also state to Flag Officer Farragut "that no dependence could be placed on the ' Essex. ' " The letter is in my possession.
I have therefore to request that you will at once correct the above clause in your order No. 57, or I shall certainly believe you have intentionally and maliciously attempted to vilify my character.
I beg to state another fact. It was entirely owing to the presence of the "Essex" and "Sumpter," both under my com- mand, that your army at Baton Rouge was saved from defeat, for I now have convincing information that Genl. Breckin- ridge had a force in connection with the Ram "Arkansas" to accomplish this object.
It is well-known to all who know anything of the attack on Baton Rouge that the left wing of our force gave way — that the Rebels advanced, and at one time had part possession of the Penitentiary, at the head of the town, until the fire from the "Essex," over our own men, drove them from that build- ing and forced them beyond their original lines.
Very respectfully Your obedt. Servant
W. D. PORTER, Comd'g Division of Flotilla on Western Water
P.S. The "Essex" was the only vessel present at the action, and on the "Arkansas" starboard side I counted fourteen shot holes through her new plating, put on at Vicksburg. You, Sir, were one hundred and fifty miles off, and could know nothing of it. I was within 300 yds. of her, and was on deck and traced every shot to her. It is not reasonable to suppose that so brave an Officer as her Commander, H. K. Stephens, formerly of the U. S. Navy, would burn his vessel merely on the "Essex" heaving in sight, when he knew his vessel was of superior force in plating, speed, Guns, and Crew, and when he had on a former occasion encountered her; when he also knew that to set fire to his vessel would be to forfeit his life to the so-called Government of the Confederate States, and I
180 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
have the fact in my possession that he had coaled up a mile above the position of attack, and that it was his intention to attack the Gun Boats at Baton Rouge that evening at 6 o'clock. — W. D. P.
From Captain E. H. Perkins
U. S. Steamer CAYUGA, off MOBILE, September 17th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: I read a letter this morning from Captain Ran- som of the "Kineo" to Captain Fairfax of this vessel.
Captain Ransom writes that he learned through you, that Captain W. D. Porter of the "Essex" said that during the fight between the "Essex" and the Ram "Arkansas" "we ran away."
Not wishing you to retain a wrong impression of Captain Fairfax, I have taken the liberty to address you a few lines.
In the first place, there was no fight between the "Essex" and the "Ram," only a few shots exchanged at the distance of a mile and a half apart, when the "Ram" was set on fire by her officers, and burnt up. During the exchange of these shots, we were in supporting distance of the "Essex," and ready to engage at the first opportunity, and remained so until ordered down the river by Captain Porter.
The character of these two men is too well-known in the Navy for Captain Fairfax to be injured by anything that Captain Porter says of him, and the report you have heard I hope you will not believe, as it is false. Believe me to be,
Yours sincerely, E. H. PERKINS
From Captain D. M. W. Fairfax
U. S. Steam Gun Boat CAYUGA, Sept. 18, 1862. Off MOBILE
[Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Comdg. Gulf Dept.
DEAR SIR: Captain Ransom has recently informed me of Commo. Porter's extraordinary conduct in assailing me in my absence, and that among entire strangers. He asserts that "I did run away" and leave the "Essex" to fight the Ram "Arkansas" alone.
Captain Ransom has done me no more than justice in pro- nouncing this report of Wm. D. Porter's "an infamous false- hood." It can be shown that the "Essex" did not engage the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 181
Ram "Arkansas" at all — unless laying beyond the range of either vessels' guns, and occasionally firing a shot, can be so designated!
The "Arkansas" was destroyed by her own crew, and abandoned before our little fleet then on duty at Baton Rouge, — it was the presence of the "Essex," more than a match for "Arkansas," and our Gun Boats, and the crippled condition of "Ram" that induced Capt. Stevens to destroy her. Com- mander Porter failed to bring his vessel into action as he assured me he would, at the same time asserting that he "knew the 'Arkansas/ and that the 'Essex' could readily whip her." Lt. Perkins had my orders what to do in the event of an attack — to keep within supporting distance of "Essex." My plan was to pass up stream and engage Ram at her vul- nerable point — her stern — while "Essex," fighting upstream, kept her in position favorable to my plan.
It is scarcely worth your time to read a statement of the whole matter, as I have sent one to Capt Ransom and requested him to give you all the particulars. You know Lt. Perkins — he has the reputation of being brave and truthful, in my opinion they are necessary to each other. Do you think it likely that I would run from a fight with such a man at my side? General Butler, I hold such relations to this rebellion that I would die a thousand times rather than give my Southern acquaintances an opportunity to say that the only coward of a brave people deserted his State and hearth-side to fight on the stronger side. But I will not longer detain you, — you will greatly oblige me by showing this to those of your officers who were present when Commodore Porter forgot himself, and assailed one of his profession behind his back — at the same time seeming to be friendly when last we met. Had Porter not assailed me I should never have spoken of the Ram — leaving it to his own conscience entirely whether he destroyed her — or her own officers and crew. As it is, I shall have all possible light thrown upon the whole matter. If you will give Ransom anything to show officially what Porter asserted about me, you will confer a great favor.
Yours very respectfully, D. M. W. FAIRFAX
182 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Flag Officer Farragut
F. S. HARTFORD, NEW ORLEANS, August llth, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. of the Gulf
DEAR GENERAL: I have just returned from an official visit to the Spanish Commander of the Steamer of War. He in- formed me that his Ship was out of provisions, and that his Store vessel with all his Despatches from the Government were below, but that he could not get them. That he could say nothing to the authorities for fear of being refused, — but that in all his intercourse with nations he had never before been deprived of despatches, but that they were usually passed through vinegar and a . . . , and asked me with great timidity as to whether he could not get them by some course or other, and I told him I would mention it to you, and that you would say what was to be done in the premises.
Very respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt.,
D. G. FARRAGUT, Flag Officer
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August llth, 1862
To the Captain of the Spanish War Steamer "BlascodeGary"
I HAVE learned through Rear Admiral Farragut that owing to the arrival and necessary Quarantine of your supply ships from Havana you are embarrassed in the matter of provisions.
Anything in the Commissariat of the United States in the Department is at your service, precisely as we supply our own Navy. In regard to your mail on board the "Cardenas," I will take measures to have the same properly fumigated and passed to you with as little delay as possible.
Any other courtesy or assistance in the power of this Depart- ment, which can be shown or given to a vessel of War of the Spanish Nation, always so friendly to the United States, is fully offered. I have the honor to be with sentiment of high esteem, your obedient Servant,
B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 183
From Flag Officer Farragut
F. S. HARTTORD, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. llth, 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. of the Gulf
DEAR GENERAL: I learned to-day that the Rebels are clearing out Grant's Pass to get out the Gunboats into the Mississippi Sound, where they will annoy us very much, and if you don't have some heavy Guns in the Forts they will come through in Lake Ponchartrain and fire on the City.
I think this was originally part of the Program to make a general attack on Baton Rouge and the City by the various Rams. — so look to the Forts. The great difficulty with me will be vessels of draft to pursue them in the shallow water, but if I once catch them out of Mobile Bay it will trouble them to get back again. y^ ^ ^ r^rf/w%>
D. G. FARRAGUT, Flag Officer From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. llth, 1862
Rear Admiral D. G. FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron
SIR: As you are about to leave the Mississippi River for a new scene of action, and I trust victorious operations, before you go I beg leave to inquire of you whether during the time that the Navy have been cooperating with the army in the Expedition to the Southern Coast, you have found myself and officers willing and prompt to aid the naval operations of the fleet to the extent of our means and ability. If we, or any of us, have been found wanting in this regard, you will do me the favor to state frankly wherein we have been deficient,
Be not surprised at the question to which I pray for a full and specific answer, but allow me to say it arises from nothing on your part in our intercourse with yourself or the Officers in the Squadron, but the inquiry has now become necessary for the purpose of meeting or yielding to an accusation. Believe me,
Most truly, Your obliged friend
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen.
184 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
PRIVATE. Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. llth, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT
MY DEAR SIR: I believe you might well be surprised at my official letter of today. I need not assure you that it was not caused by any act or thought of yours. It became necessary, however, to meet the representations of Capt. Porter of the Mortar Fleet, as to the Operations of the Army. I assure you that never have I failed publicly and privately to acknowledge and add my testimony to the concurrent thought of all my Officers in their appreciation of the gallant acts of the Navy. My despatches everywhere show this, and I only call your attention to the fact in justification of what I certainly deem an unkind thought toward myself. I am not aware that the Navy preserved my Army at Baton Rouge, if so I will acknowl- edge it with pride & pleasure. I assure you, my dear Admiral, that I feel only the most glorious exultation at the exploits of your branch of the service. You need no one to speak of or herald your acts. They speak for themselves.
The Navy need have no jealousy of the Army, specially in this department, and I will acquit you of any intentional or unintentional neglect of the Army of this Department, even in the official despatches of the Navy relating to the Capture of New Orleans as described by Capt. Porter in these words. "I sent General Butler in the ' Miami' round in the rear of the Forts." For this I do not feel at all aggrieved by you or your Officers. On the contrary, I beg to repeat that towards yourself personally and the Officers of the Squadron I have none but the most Cordial Feelings. Believe me truly,
Your friend & Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From F. B. Thorpe
Surveyor's Office, City of NEW ORLEANS, August llth, 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Commandant Dept. Gulf
SIR: The pressure for work, or rather for bread, is so great that I am at a loss to know what to do. I am satisfied that I can obtain willing labor at $1 per day. At this rate I can put on two hundred and fifty more men, and not increase the demand on the fund from which the pay for this labor is taken. You will be so kind as to take the matter in consideration, and give me answer if you deem it necessary.
Most Respectfully, F. B. THORPE, City Surveyor
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 185
From Quarter Master Meigs
Quarter Master QeneraTs Office, WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 12, 1862
Maj. GenL B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: The following information, received from Col. D. D. Tompkins, Asst. Qr. Mst. GenL, U.S.A., New York, is respectfully transmitted for your consideration. The Officer states "that in all cases where shipments of private property have been made on vessels chartered to the United States bound to this port (New York) for a consideration to be paid by its owner, the Government has been greatly the loser, as the time employed by the vessel in finding a berth and dis- charging her Cargo cost the Government a great deal more than the freight amounts to." I am,
Respectfully Your Obdt. Servt.,
M. C. MEIGS, Quarter Master GenL
Endorsement by Colonel Shaffer
Office Chief Quarter Master, DepL of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 21, '62
[_ Not in chronological order]
GENERAL
I HAVE the honor to report that I received from Qr. Mst. GenL a copy of this letter, and replied to it that hereafter I would send no freight north on Government Transports. But at the same time I must be allowed to insist that Col. D. D. Tompkins' argument (that it costs more to discharge vessels than freight amounts to) was, to say the least, a poor recom- mendation in favor of Col. Tompkins' capacity to discharge that kind of business.
Your obedt. Servt., J. W. SHAFFER, Col. Qr. Mst.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 12, 1862
MY DEAR DEAR WIFE: So you see what a constant corre- spondent I am. I will not say an interesting one, but I have a writing desk in my room, and when I get up and have no thought to trouble me, then I love the writing to you. It is the next thing to seeing you.
I am a little bit out of health — I confess to so much lest if I should write I am well all the time you would say that I am not giving you the exact state of my health. Caroline has heard of her mother's death, and thinks she must go home.
186 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Poor girl — I must lose my housekeeper. She has done very well, but is not afflicted with neatness. I shall have to get another. What say you to a young, dashing, black-eyed brunette, with a strong tongue and sharp nose, that will make us all stand around? Do you know of one you can recommend?
Our casualties in that battle are very large. I spent yes- terday and Sunday inspecting the hospitals. We have some 90 killed and two hundred and fifty wounded. One regiment lost every field officer. We are now seeing the strong realities of war. It is wonderful to see how the poor fellows bore up — only anxious to get well to try it again.
Do you think that Breckinridge will try it again? I trust not, for the sake of those who must fall, but he is welcome so far as carrying our lines are concerned. We have danger here of an negro insurrection. I hardly know whether to wish it or fear it most. I shall arm the "free Blacks," I think, for I must have more troops, and I see no way of getting them save by arming the black brigade that the rebels had. I send you Rear Admiral Farragut's picture. When shall I get yours and the children's? I send a large gun and some swords as trophies, also a bell for the table — one of the bells given for cannon. A box of wine is coming, the gift of my friend Mr. Durant, very old and scarce, the vine is dead.
The summer is wearing away. In a month, if I can get force enough, I shall be at Mobile, doing the rest of my work. God bless and keep you, dearest wife and best friend.
BENJ.
From Rear Admiral Farragut
Flag Ship HARTFORD, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. ISth, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: I thank you kindly for your salute, and hope that I may be able to return it at some no distant day with interest. I feel proud of the "title," because we have struggled long and hard for it in the Navy. I feel proud of it because my country seems to think I have won it; and I feel proud of it because the thousands of my brave companions in arms, who shared in the perils of the day, were not forgot- ten in the resolution of Congress which accompanied my Commission.
These things are gratifying, and I only trust that I may continue to enjoy them, and that by our combined movements
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 187
upon Mobile we may be able to add to our Country's obliga- tions to its army and navy. For be assured that no one will be more happy than myself to share with the Army the honors of taking that or any other place. Wishing you continued health and happiness, I remain, ^ ^ FW
D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral C'g. West Gulf B'g Squad. From Colonel D. W. McMillan
UNOFFICIAL. BATON ROUGE, LA., August ISth, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: We are again in the midst of excitement. I saw a very intelligent man just from the enemies' lines, who says that Jeff Thompson is on the way to join Breckinridge, with 500 men and several siege guns. He thinks they must be here in 36 to 48 hours at the furthest. Also that Van Dorn, Ruggles and others, at the head of 15,000 to 20,000 men, are moving on New Orleans, all having left Vicksburg but a mere garrison. Also, that Moore is on the opposite Bank with several hundred troops, with some small field pieces, to annoy the gun post in case of attack. The same information is given by a variety of sources, and I do not hesitate to express my belief of it. This place has been nearly completely sacked by the soldiery. Scarcely a single house has escaped, all the citi- zens having fled. We are getting quite strong "breastworks," but Demoralization weakens more than dirt strengthens us, and it seems officers are indifferent or powerless to stop it. Even officers' tents are filled with furniture from deserted houses. I am no alarmist, but I am terribly exercised by our present condition.
Disobedience of orders is the order of the day, and negro men and women cast a dark shade over our whole camp. The "Essex" is up at Bayou Sara getting sugar. I am dear
enera Very respectfully your obt. servt.,
D. W. MCMILLAN, Col. Vols.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 13th, 1862
Capt. W. D. PORTER, Commanding Mortar fleet
SIR: There is one fact that I desire to set right in letter of
July 15th, which has just come to hand.
The assault on Fort St. Philip, as soon as the vessels had
188 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
passed it so that the Quarantine Station could be occupied, was determined upon months before the landing was made, i.e. on the 23rd of February. Lieut. Weitzel, of the Engineers, who finished the Fort, was with me for that purpose; scaling ladders were prepared — boats procured — and the scheme fully matured, and the ground found practicable from actual experiment.
Please, Captain, do not judge of our profession, yours will furnish you with sufficient scope.
I have directed measures to be taken to guard against the very assault we intend to make upon Fort St. Philip.
Respectfully,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding +
From General Butler
Head Quars. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. I4th, 1862
Count MEJAN, French Consul
SIR: Your official note to Lieut. Weitzel, assistant Military Commandant, has been forwarded to me.
I see no just cause of complaint against the order requiring the arms of private Citizens to be delivered up. It is the usual course pursued in cities similarly situated to this, even without any exterior force in the neighborhood.
You will observe that it will not do to trust to mere pro- fessions of Neutrality. I trust most of your countrymen are in a good faith neutral, but it is unfortunately true that some of the men are not. This causes the good, of necessity, to suffer for the acts of the bad.
I take leave to call your attention to the fact that the United States forces gave every immunity to Mons. Bonne- gass, who claimed to be French Consul at Baton Rouge, allowed him to keep his arms, and relied upon his neutrality, but his son was taken prisoner on the battlefield in arms against us.
You will also do me the favor to remember that very few of the French subjects here have taken the oath of neutrality, which was offered to but not required of them by my Order No. 41, although all the officers of the French legion had with your knowledge and assent taken the oath to support the constitution of the Confederate States. Thus you see I have no guarantee for the good faith of bad men.
I do not understand how it is that arms are altered in their effectiveness by being "personal property," nor do I see how
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 189
arms which will serve for personal defense ("qui ne puivent servir que pour leur defense personelle") cannot be as effec- tively used for offensive warfare.
Of the disquiet which you say there are signs manifesting themselves among the black population, of a desire to break their bonds which bind them to their masters ("certaine dis- positions a rompee les liens qui les attachment a leurs maitres"), I have been a not inattentive observer, without wonder, because it would seem natural, when their masters had set them the example of rebellion against constituted authorities, that the negroes, being an imitative race, should do likewise.
But surely the representative of the Emperor, who does not tolerate slavery in France, does not desire his countrymen to be armed for the purpose of preventing the negroes from breaking their bonds.
Let me assure you that the protection of the United States against violence, either by negroes or white men, whether citizens or foreign, will continue to be as perfect as it has been since our advent here, and by far more manifesting itself at all moments and everywhere ("tous les instants et partout") than any improvised citizen organization can do.
Whenever the inhabitants of this City will, by a public and united act, show both their loyalty and neutrality, I shall be glad of their aid to keep the peace, and indeed to restore the city to them. Till that time, however, I must require the arms of all the inhabitants, white and black, to be under my control.
I have the honor to be v , , . . 0
Y our obedient Servant,
B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g From Kendall Holbrook
Office of the Picayune, NEW ORLEANS, August I4th, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: The order of Lieut. Weitzel, for the surrender of all the arms in possession of the inhabitants of this city, is producing a great deal of uneasiness in the community.
Dr. Mercer has, as we learn, explained to you with some fullness the nature of these fevers, in the excited state of a large portion of the people in the city; and we are gratified to hear that you expressed a willingness to alleviate this appre- hension and obviate this danger as far as consistent with your object of securing your forces from any attempt at violence from within. We feel assured that the great body of our citi-
190 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
zens share in these sentiments with you, and would cheer- fully comply with any conditions which would leave them the means of self-protection, and at the same time satisfy your wishes. It is the opinion of gentlemen with whom we have had consultation on this subject, that regulations which you might prescribe for these joint objects would be hailed with satisfaction, and scrupulously observed by the great mass of the community.
Without undertaking to indicate this mode for effecting this, they ask you to take the subject into your consideration. The shortness of the time allowed for this execution of this order induces us further to suggest that a suspension of the execution for a few days, to give opportunity for a fuller con- ference, if needed, will meet with your approbation. Very respectfully Your Obdt. Servant,
KENDALL HOLBKOOK
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
H'd Q'rs Dep't of the Gulf, N. O., Aug. llth, 1862
MY POOK DEAR WIFE: Was ever a good, kind, loving wife so afflicted with her own sad fancies? And your letter fell upon me like a stone. Why, I have had nothing but the warm- est, most cordial thoughts of you since you left, and the first letter sought for has been yours — a sad feeling whenever the mail did not give one, and a joyous beating of the heart when the little, rose-coloured package made its appearance. To you alone have I ever been a constant correspondent, and because you were sad and because I delighted to write to you. But how sad, how terrible was your last letter. What have I done to deserve it! What strange thoughts, what (letter torn)
business portion of your letter. I will not speak of Andrew, or what he may or may not do. I know your wishes upon this subject, and will be guided by them so far as I may. Of other business matters I will take very good care of myself, but these are trivial to me.
You will remember that in no letter of mine has a thought entered that did not breathe the purest affection and love — not a rose-leaf would have been crushed by the words I have written. All were joyous towards you. Kind, playful, breath- ing home and homelike thoughts. I knew your depressed spirits. I strove to cheer them. I felt your sadness. I en-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 191
deavored to minister unto it. No vessel has left this port to my knowledge without some letter or token of remembrance of home and you. Why recount all this? To show you how one feels when he receives the forked lightning out of a clear sky (letter torn)
From I. F. Taylor to General Butler
WA8HINGTON, Aug. Utk, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge your favor of the 28th ultimo, and also the sword presented to my late brother, General Zachary Taylor, by the Legislature of Kentucky, which was handed to me by our esteemed friend, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson.
Believe me I most highly appreciate the compliment you pay me by placing in my charge so valuable and interesting a token of the recognition of my late brother's services by my native state.
With many thanks for your kind expression of regard and esteem, I remain, my dear General,
Your most obliged and obedient servant.
I. F. TAYLOR, Corny. Genl. Subsistence
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: Since the attack on Baton Rouge, of which I sent you the general description in my last, I have directed that place to be slightly intrenched and put in condition of defence. My judgment has been to hold the point, not for any special military but for political importance. If pressed here, however, I must evacuate it, but shall destroy it before I leave it.
We are now threatened by the whole western division of the southern army under Generals Van Dorn, Breckinridge, and Jeff Thompson, together with whatever troops can be gotten from Texas or on the western bank of the river. The withdrawal of the troops at Vicksburg, and the apparent inactivity or withdrawal of troops from Corinth, has allowed the concentration of all their troops upon me. Vicksburg is essentially bare of troops. We are considerably weakened by disease and discharges of those whom months' service have shown unfit for such. I have largely caused the regiments to be filled up by enlistments here, and I doubt not in all I have
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
enlisted a thousand men in the old regiments, and I have now 1200 being organized as the first regiments of Louisiana Volun- teer National Guards, and two companies of cavalry. I think I shall get two regiments beside, but that is work of time.
I need reinforcements very much; without them I cannot co-operate with the navy against Mobile.
Indeed we are threatened with an attack on the City of New Orleans. I am not specially disturbed at that. If it becomes at all imminent, I shall call on Africa to intervene, and I do not think I shall call in vain. I have determined to use the services of the free colored men who were organized by the rebels into the "Colored Brigade," of which we have heard so much. They are free, they have been used by our enemies, whose mouths are shut, and they will be loyal.
I would like an experienced Brigadier General in place of the lamented Williams, and would again press the appoint- ment of Lt. Weitzel of the Engineers.
If I am to have any troops I would prefer New England Soldiers, not that they are any better than others, but that I know them better. I would not ask more than 5000 of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Quota.
I have need of more cavalry in order to hunt out the gueril- las, a regiment with what I have would do immense service.
May I ask prompt action in regard to the reinforcements. More than four months since my ordnance officer made requi- sition for some ammunition, 54-100 Calibre, and it has not yet come. Our 54 rifles are useless. The invoices have come but no cartridges.
I have the honor to be, ^^ R BuTLER-]
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. I6tk, 1862
Senor Don CALLEJON, Spanish Consul
SIR: I have this moment received the letter with which you have honored me.
I am not aware that I have imposed any different quaran- tine upon Spanish Vessels, sailing from Havana, from any other nations. My orders are imperative the Quarantine officers not to allow any vessel from an infected port to pass without strictest quarantine. Those orders have been obeyed. In one instance, when a vessel did not touch the shore at Havana, I believe they were relaxed.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 193
I beg to assure you, and the Government of her most Catholic Majesty, that personally and officially I entertain, as I have always entertained, feelings of the utmost cordiality toward that Government, and any vessel coming from Spain or any portion of her Majesty's dominions, not infected with "Epi- demic Yellow Fever," which is the bill of health of the "Pinta," will be allowed to pass as the most favored nation. It is only a desire to save the inhabitants of New Orleans, as well Spanish as others, from that deadly scourge, the Epidemic, that makes me rigid in quarantine.
I cannot, therefore, put any weight of tobacco against the lives of those in my charge. With assurances of the utmost respect, I remain
From General Butler
Head Quars. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. Wh, 1862
Colonel H. E. PAINE
COLONEL: Upon the most mature consideration, in view of of the evident preparations to attack the City of New Orleans, which requires a concentration of our forces, I am constrained to come to the conclusion that it is necessary to evacuate Baton Rouge.
We have demonstrated our ability to hold the place, but it is now a question of utility. You will therefore begin the movement quietly and rapidly, get everything off except your men, and then see to it that the town is destroyed.
After mature deliberation, I deem this a military necessity of the highest order, much more than the burning of Hampton by Magruder. That town was burned by its own friends in August, to prevent its shelter to our troops. The shelter of Baton Rouge to them is a necessity in the long winter cam- paign, to say nothing of the advantage as a summer residence.
In regard to the poor prisoners, they will be between two fires. Use in regard to them your best judgment.
I do not know that I can aid you further by any observa- tions. I am, Most Respectfully your obedient servant,
By order of MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. Gen.
P.S. With regard to the prisoners in the penitentiary, what- ever disposition you make of them, do not bring them down here.
R. S. DAVIS
VOL. II — 13
194 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 16th, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: This will be handed you by Joseph M. Bell, Esq., late law partner and son-in-law of our friend the lamented Rufus Choate. Mr. Bell has been serving with me since November last as Volunteer Aid de Camp and Military Secretary, more recently as Provost Judge of the City of New Orleans, wherein he has won golden opinions from all right- minded persons.
Major Bell goes North for a movement of recruitment, as he has good cause to do, and I am pleased to be able through him to communicate so directly with the War Department.
I have but little doubt that I shall be attacked here within the next 20 days or thereabouts. As I predicted some months ago, in my despatch to the War Department, I am in danger from the debris of Beauregard's army at Shiloh. Some 19 or 20 Regiments and several Batteries from it are gathering upon us. I have ordered the evacuation and destruction of Baton Rouge, which will be effected unless an attack is made upon it by Van Dorn before we shall get away. In that case we shall fight. The pendency of a contest there is imminent. It seems to be the tactics of the enemy to attempt to drive us out of New Orleans at all hazards. They agree the town will be destroyed in so doing, but they reason that there is so large a foreign interest here, that the destruction of the town will embroil us with foreign powers.
Whether that be so or not, I do not propose to be driven out, or if I am driven out, there will be no New Orleans. This is clearly a necessity. If we had five Regiments, or 5000 men more in our old Regiments, there would be no attack.
Major Bell, however, understands the whole subject of our difficulties here thoroughly, and will give you the fullest information upon those you may desire.
Ten thousand men could be advantageously employed here, however, and any expedition to Texas could start from here. I am anxious to lead one. I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant, B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 195
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 16, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 60
ORDERED, That after Tuesday, 19th inst., there be paid for information leading to the discovery of weapons not held under a written permit from the United States authorities, but retained and concealed by the keepers thereof, the sums following:
For each serviceable Gun, Musket or Rifle $10
" " Revolver . 7
" Pistol 5
" " Sabre or Officer's Sword . ... 5
" " Dirk, Dagger, Bowie-knife or Sword-Cane . . 3
Said arms to be confiscated, and the keeper so concealing them to be punished by imprisonment.
This crime being an overt act of rebellion against the au- thority of the United States, whether by a citizen or an alien, works a forfeiture of the property of the offender, and, there- fore, every slave giving information that shall discover the concealed arms of his or her master, shall be held to be emancipated.
II. As the United States authorities have disarmed the inhabitants of the Parish of Orleans, and as some fearful citizens seem to think it necessary that they should have arms to protect themselves from violence, it is ordered,
That, hereafter, the offenses of robbery by violence or aggravated assault that ought to be repelled by the use of deadly weapons, burglaries, rapes, and murders, whether com- mitted by blacks or white, will be, on conviction, punished
^ ea By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 1 6th, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 268
COL. JOHN W. TURNER, Chief Commissary of this Depart- ment, will sell at public auction all Sugar taken from rebel owners within the Department, and not wanted for consump- tion by the troops. By Qrder Q/ GEN BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
196 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. 16th, 1862
DEAREST: Your letters of July 30th and Aug. 2nd came on Thursday, Aug. 13th. I write the date, that you may know how long it takes for them to reach here. I wish you would mention when you get my letters, and the dates. I could not tell how many I have written, if they should fall into other hands I should never know you had not received them. Cer- tainly they would read strangely to others. I wish you would return them when read, that I may be sure they reach you. Your pictures came enclosed. You ask me if I do not think the position easy? I do, and like the picture very much. I sat for one the day previous. In the contrast of these two faces, the difference of expression is the history of life that is never written. I have sent you by the steamer Fisher sends out pictures (taken in better times) of myself, Blanche, Paul, and Benny. Paint from these, I can get none better of the children, and for me, I am too weary. I shall sink below the centre, before rest and peace will find and fold me. This is one of the times when hope comes not, and the eye-lids are heavy with unshed tears. It would be better if I should not write now but feeling badly we are apt to grope about for sympathy, even if sure we cannot find it. "Every one can master a grief but he that hath it." "And if he cannot master, let him hide it" saith the world, and wisely is that said too. I must lie down and rest. When I begin again it will be in a pleasanter vein.
Ah me! resting does not refresh me, I must write on as I have begun, or not write at all. If we were together, you might aid me a little by some kindly words, if it were not too much trouble to speak them. How well I understand what Father felt, when he said, "I have such a weight of weariness, the bed cannot bear me up ; I shall sink through it and then sink lower yet." How far away this looks to you with health, hope, and ambition, all your own, satisfied, as your picture shows you, yet eager to win more yet. Long may you wear that look, and you will, too; hope with you is triumphant, if it were darkened or killed, you could easier die than bear the difference. The children have returned from the Beach, with burned faces, noisy and happy. Week after next Blanche goes back again. Goodnight, it is late, they are all asleep but me. And you — I wonder if you are sleeping too! I should like
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 197
to look in, but I feel too timid to take the liberty. Too poor — for aught, but "God be merciful to me a sinner!"
Today we have been to Capt. Abbott's funeral. I wound a wreath of geranium leaves, and a bouquet of flowers. He was buried in Lowell by request of the Authorities of the Town and at the city's expense. The military's four companies followed in procession — the funeral was very large. Being Sunday, Merrimack and Central streets were full of people. The "Saxon" came in last Friday. Whitney went to New York. The vessel with the pictures has not yet left Boston. I hear she will leave tomorrow or Tuesday. This letter I shall send by New York. How poor and unsatisfactory it will read to you. Still the same despondency, you say! Even so; it is killing or driving me to madness, much depended on you. If I could have had the summer, with only the anxiety that I expect to endure, fears for your health, parting with children, I think I could bear it, and while so constantly assured of your health, even have grown stronger, and gained some cheerful- ness. After I left, the change you made shook me with dis- quiet. It was some time before I heard of it, then an age before a letter can reach you, and even then, I feel no assurances you will heed me; the pressure is too heavy for me! You say my views of life are Utopian. To you they seem so. Perhaps they would to others, yet they are true and honorable, I shall never be able to change them. If I could force my thoughts to rest here, and shut out all but care of the children, there would be hope in it. Alas, I cannot do it! You will reproach me for feeling and writing so, and I reproach myself; but I am too unhappy to be angry with. If you can say anything to com- fort me it is better to do that. T7 „ . . A , 0
very affectionately, bARAH
Your mother wants Jackson to send her his picture. I shall feel better in a few days and can write differently. But not
more earnestly. v -. ,. . ™
J Your affectionate WIFE
From Honorable Edward Everett to General Butler
BOSTON, August 16, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I understand that an application has been or will shortly be made to you on behalf of Mrs. J. Oliver Miltemberger, of Chicago, daughter of Mrs. Robb of New Orleans, deceased. Mrs. M. wishes to obtain possession of
198 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
certain bonds of the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern R. R. Co., belonging to her, the proceeds of her share of her late mother's estate, and now held in trust by the Judge of the Second District Court of New Orleans, to the amount of about $32,000.
The requisite papers to substantiate this claim, as well as the similar claims of the other children of Mrs. Robb, have, I understand, been forwarded to New Orleans.
The object of this letter is earnestly to solicit your powerful and friendly aid, if it should be needed, in obtaining possession of these bonds. Mrs. Miltemberger and her husband are among my most valued friends. Mr. M. is of Pittsburgh, but settled in business at Chicago, a loyal and patriotic citizen; and I shall esteem any service you may render to these, my friends, as doubly rendered to myself.
I cannot close this letter without cordially thanking you for your kindness to my nephews, the Messrs. Durivage, espe- cially the deceased. The family and friends of that excellent young man feel themselves under very great obligations to you for your unvarying goodness to him. I remain, my dear General, with very great respect,
Faithfully yours, EDWARD EVERETT
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 17, 1862
MY DEAR SARAH: Maj. Bell will take this home to you. He will inform you as to my health and prospects. I doubt not we shall be attacked here, and he goes home for reinforce- ments. We shall give a good account of ourselves in all events. You shall not be ashamed of me.
Do not fret yourself with vain imaginings. They will do you or me no good. Above all, do not think of coming out here at present. Maj. Bell is to return immediately, but I have given special directions that he shall not take you back with him. A month later, and we shall either be victorious and I shall be coming home, or there will be no occasion for you to come here.
Forget what I have written harshly in my last letter to you. Remember me kindly always, and believe me your loving
husband. ^
BENJ.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 199
P.S. I send by Maj. Bell a pistol case of which you will find the key inside this. Caroline, who goes in the same vessel, has a little token for you. It is of New Orleans manufacture.
B.
P.S, 2nd. Preserve the case of pistols very carefully. They were a present to me. — B.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 18th, 1862
Brig. Gen. ARNOLD, Comdg. at PENSACOLA, FLA.
GENERAL: Major General Butler has to-day received an order from the War Department at Washington, transferring your command from the Department of the South to this Department.
He congratulates himself upon having such an able Officer and such a fine body of troops added to his command, and would like to have you make as early a report as possible of the forces at your disposal. I enclose a copy of the order. By order of MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER
By the Secretary of War
War Department, Adjutant General's Office, WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
GENERAL ORDERS No. 98
WEST Florida is detached from the Department of the South and annexed to the Department of the Gulf. Brigadier Gen- eral L. G. Arnold will report to Major General Butler accordingly. By order ^ ^ SECRETARY OF yyrAR
E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adj. General
From General Dow
Headquarters, Fort Street, PHILADELPHIA, August ISth, 1862
Major General BUTLER
GENERAL: From some Contrabands I learned that a Mr. Lasart, near point La Hache, was actively engaged in raising a Company of Guerillas. On Saturday night, at 10 o'clock, I send a party consisting of forty men, under Lieut. Brainard, in the Steamer "Labarge," to meet him and his Lieut., of whom I also had information. My orders were to seize all arms of every sort, and if full proof were found upon the spot
200 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
against Lasart, the Lieut, was at liberty to take any of his property, useful as necessary to the troops. Lasart is a trader.
Several shot guns were found there, a Confederate Flag, a full uniform and side-arms, and Lasart confessed that he was engaged in raising a Company, having already seventeen men enrolled.
The party arrested several persons who were paroled, but the Capt. and his Lieut, are now in Fort Jackson.
Two mules, a cart, and harness were brought away, also two Milch Cows with their calves, some cases of wine for the hospital, some stout shoes, a fishing net and lines. Nothing was taken from the house. The mules, cows, and fishing-gear were needed here.
The seizures of the Capt. and Lieut, will effectually check all recruiting in that quarter.
Lemonade is much needed by our soldiers, as a preventive and corrective of bilious difficulties, but their sugar ration is not sufficient. There are many large sugar planters near here who are disloyal, with large stock of sugar on hand. I have not done anything about appropriating any for use at the Forts, lest it might not comport with your views, I would like instructions.
Respectfully, NEAL Dow, Brig. Gen. Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August ISth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 278
THE resignation of Joshua L. Sawyer, Capt. Comp. G. 13th Reg. Maine Vols., is hereby accepted, to take effect from this date, and he is hereby dishonorably discharged from the
Service
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
The written resignation of the within-named Capt. Sawyer has been indorsed by the Major General Comdg. as follows, viz.:
Any Officer who makes business affairs a reason for quitting the Service at this Juncture has dishonored himself and should be dishonorably discharged, as is done in the case of Capt.
yer* BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com'd'g.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 201 From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. l&th, 1862,
DEAREST: The news came this morning that the rebels have attacked Baton Rouge and been repulsed, that Gen. Williams had his head blown off by a cannon ball. Who is to take his place? Ah me, who have you left but Phelps, and he so unmanageable. New Orleans, if you can keep the fleet, is invincible; why do they go to Pensacola? I sent you a letter this morning, would I could recall it, written from depression I could not overcome. If it adds to your perplexi- ties I shall never forgive myself. Why did I not stay with you? It would have been better for both of us. If we live to meet again we will remain together. May there not be some mistake about Gen. Williams? I believe he has a wife and children, what heart-aches all over the country! His death I must weep for, a truly noble gentleman, always kind and courteous. What will you do without him? An experienced officer is wanted at Baton Rouge if you still hold it, and you have so few. Is it not wrong you should be left there with so small a force. But yet you can hold it, New Orleans I mean, against the whole south if they have not ironclad vessels to destroy the fleet. And hold it you will, you are more able when pressed with danger and with few resources. Use every precaution, and treat Phelps kindly as possible. Oh, how much I wish I was with you! Dearest, I can go anywhere with you, I am not afraid of danger, but I cannot sit down apart and think; it unfits me for anything. I hope you will not get this morning's letter until you receive this. I would not add a feather's weight by telling you I am troubled. The death of Gen. Williams has nerved me like steel. Would I were a man. I am stronger in the hour of danger, for then I forget myself and woman's cares, and feel all the high enthusi- asm that leads to deeds of fame, and for this reason it is better I should be with you. I could never pull you back from what I thought it your duty to do, but should urge you forward, and help, with all the wit I have. I shall look for any news now. If you are firm as you will be, careful and far-seeing, the rebels cannot reach you. Kiss me, dearest, and believe, me your
Affectionate WIFE
P.S. Weitzel is wise and experienced, you will have every defence complete to the last degree. Fisher's vessel leaves today, but I send this by New York.
202 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Fisher sends out a sailing vessel besides the steamer. The "Saxon" came in on the 15th. Your letter of Aug. 5th came this morning. Would it were possible for you to come home, but you cannot leave in the hour of danger. The rebels will soon make the attempt, if they make it at all, and then it will be quiet again. The fall will come, and you will return or I shall go to you, though, believe me, I do not flatter myself that the last will be the same to you as coming home. But it will be better than nothing, do not you think so? Say yes, and look for me soon. I thought to have written one page, and I have run all over the paper. Once more, kiss me and
believeme Ever yours, SARAH
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. 18th, 1862
DEAREST: We have further news this afternoon of the battle at Baton Rouge. The vessel has arrived with the body of Gen. Williams. The papers are out in large letters, stating the particulars. It was really a gallant fight, and bravely Gen. Williams led them on to battle. Three horses shot under him, before he lost his own brave life. Oh! the pity that he was killed ! The loss of such a man is woeful. There are so few that are so capable, and we are pressed at every point. I am greatly relieved that the "Arkansas" is de- stroyed; there is no chance of the rebels taking New Orleans without iron-clad vessels, yet do not omit your vigilance for a moment. If they wrest it from you, you and the country lose everything. Do you think I could have borne the climate through the summer? I do not know, I was so thin it seemed there would be nothing left of me. I sent you a let- ter this morning, another this afternoon, and yet this evening I am writing again. I have been so unhappy the last week, painfully so, but I will not write again when I feel so badly. These ships that have come in will bring me more letters to- morrow. It is the only pleasure I get. You are kind enough to write often. I would gladly repay you in kind, but fear I may not always be able to do it. Haggerty must be with you nearly a week. The "Ocean Queen" was spoken with by one of these vessels that came today at the mouth of the Mississippi, so that she arrived directly after these left. Good night, dearest, I shall not finish this till I get one from you tomorrow.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER *OS
Dearest, your letter came this morning as I expected. I am so glad not to be disappointed. Your Order No. 54 is capital. The only thing to lament is the great loss of Gen. Williams and those who fell with him. Do not feel too secure that they will not make another attack. I hope things will not come to extremities between you and Gen. Phelps; I thoroughly like and respect him. The Government I trust will decide it. It is evident your health is not reliable from what you write — not as good as I had hoped. I wish it were possible you could come home if only for a short time, but I dare not ask it. We have entered upon this sea of troubles and must meet its perils. Thank Heaven, the summer is almost over, and thus far you have escaped the fever. It is thought to be too late for it now, but enforce the quarantine until the first frost. That has been your safety thus far. I have not yet heard if Kinsman went out with Capt. Haggerty but believe he did. On Thursday I shall go to Boston and try once more for a picture. I think, after all, my picture had better be painted with the figure, the dress can be plain not striped. The vessel did not start till yesterday. The pictures and letters have been on board a week. Do not leave my letters where others can read them — enclose and send them back with your own. Fisher has been telegraphed by Whitney to go on to New York and take his papers with him this morn- ing. But he has no papers. I suppose they will manage some way. Wanting to see you so much, I am
Your affectionate WIFE
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19th, 1862
Col. H. E. PAINE, Commanding at BATON ROUGE
COLONEL: Upon your representations, through Mr. Bates, of the state of the public charitable and penal institutions at Baton Rouge, wherein the orphan, the insane, and the helpless are confined and housed, so that the innocent and helpless must be so greatly the sufferers, I am inclined to countermand my order for burning the town.
You will leave it as whole as you can, unless you are obliged to burn it as a matter of defensive action. I have not changed my opinion of the great military advantage it will be to the enemy to have it, but I am impelled by a sense of just humanity to overlook this advantage. Its importance is not such to
204 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
justify that destruction upon the unoffending. With New Orleans it would be different, which must be held at all hazards or destroyed. It is the key to the River, and the Arsenal and Banking House of the rebellion. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. General Commanding
P.S. You will not delay the movement on account of the Statue of Washington; leave it in safety if you do not bring it away.
From James T. Whitney to Mrs. Butler
St. Nicholas Hotel, Aug. 19, 1862
MADAM: The steamer "Saxon" I have advertised to sail for New Orleans Friday next. The vessel will be most happy to take — free of charge — anything you may wish to forward to the noble General, your husband. The "Saxon" will take on mail and will make speedy return to this Port. With the highest respect, Your QU ^^ JAMES T WHITNEY
From General Butler to the Captain of the "Cardenas9'
Head Qrs. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 1862 SIR: In making you the proposition in my former note, I by no means intended to enter into a correspondence which would add to my official labors. You have "grasped" the opportunity to bring to my notice several matters, wherein you complain of my action toward the Spanish residents and merchants. I cannot take time to reply to these at length, but the respect due to your official character demands that I should at least set you right in regard to some of them. In respect to the Spanish merchant who is consul here, I was informed that he refused to give a bill of health to the American vessel, the "Roanoke," when this city was wholly free from epidemic, and said that he did this because I refused to allow the "Cardenas" to come up. I sent for him, and told him that if he did not give precisely the same bill of health to the "Roanoke" as he would have done and was required to do by the laws, irrespective of "Cardenas," I would send him to the Captain General at Cuba.
To this he replied that he should be glad to go — but that the Captain General would send me no more vessels. To that I replied that he would give my compliments to Captain
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER S05
General, and say that he could do me no so great a favor as to send me no more vessels of any sort (Spanish or others) from Cuba until the sickly season was over. And I submit to yourself, Captain, as a man of honor, if in either case I was wrong, acting upon the information I had received.
Upon the seizure of the house of Puig Brothers, the Spanish Consul addressed me a note in substance saying that he desired to know the cause of the seizure. To that I answered in sub- stance that if he would bring Mr. Puig with him to me, I would be glad to explain the cause of the seizure of his house. To that the Consul replied that such was not his custom.
After the arrest and punishment of a criminal official by me, a clerk of Puig made a reclamation of such character that I have put it under investigation, and I hope to show its falsity and be able to punish the claimant. While this matter is being investigated I have not answered the communication enclosing it. I am not aware of any other letter of the Spanish Consul that seemed to require an answer that has not been replied to. If there is, it is to be attributed to the press of official correspondence and business which has caused it to be overlooked.
As regards the correspondence of the Consul, I can assure you that no letter of his, coming through the regular channels of communication, has been examined, although I reserve to myself the right so to do as the commander of a Military post. I found a large bundle of letters on board a vessel running the blockade directed to the Spanish Consul; these were opened. Again I found a large bundle of letters of the same direction on the person of one whom I have arrested, a spy, being a member of a large mercantile house who had smuggled himself between here and the enemy's lines at Mobile in the disguise of a bar keeper. Finding letters directed to the Spanish Consul in the hands of this spy, I caused them to be examined, as I did letters thus surreptitiously conveyed here directed to the French Consul.
If the Representative of Her Most Catholic Majesty will have his letters come to him through the hands of spies and smugglers when our mails are all freely open to him, I shall be obliged to examine them.
In regard to the Quarantine imposed upon the "Cardenas" and other Spanish vessels, my orders are imperative and dis- tinct to my health officers to subject all vessels coming from infected ports to such a quarantine as shall insure safety from
206 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
disease. You yourself will bear witness with what success this quarantine has been carried out as regards the health of the city.
Whether one day or one hundred is necessary for this pur- pose, it will be done. It will be done if it is necessary to take the vessel to pieces to do it, so long as the United States has the physical power (pouvoir material) to enforce it. I have submitted to the judgment of my very competent surgeon at the Quarantine the question of the length of time and the acts proper to be taken to insure safety. I have by no order interfered with his discretion. If he thinks ten days sufficient in a given case, be it so, if forty in another, be it so, if one hun- dred in another, it shall be so.
I should think, however, that the Surgeon would make a difference in length of quarantine between a vessel which only touched at Havana and one that loaded and shipped her crew there. This may account for the different length of quarantine. Some of the vessels you name came earlier in the season. But with this I have nothing to do except to en- force rigorously such quarantine as my health officers think proper.
In regard to the petty officer and men of your ship, I had not been informed save by your letter.
If you had done me the honor to notify me of their arresta- tion, I would instantly have seen to it that they should have had every advantage upon their trial. Convince me now that injustice has been done and they shall be pardoned. You will remember that I cannot personally superintend every admin- istrative and judicial act. If you have listened to the unrea- sonable complaints of bad men so as not to feel at liberty to approach me with the freedom and promptness which has characterised the intercourse of the Commanders of the French ship "Milan" and the British ship, "Rinaldo," — whenever their country men needed redress, I am sure you will acquit me of all blame so far as official and personal courtesy toward yourself is concerned.
I have to apologise for the delay in this reply. My trans- later was absent, and I do not read your language with suffi- cient accuracy to allow myself to reply to the language of accusation without a translation. With sentiments of respect, I have the honor to be, Ywf Mient ^^
[BENJ. F. BuTLEif]
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER SOT
From J. A. G. Fisher
By Telegraph from Quarantine, August ZQth, 1862
To General BUTLER
IN closely questioning the Capt. of the Bark "Raamen" in quarantine from Key West, I am satisfied that yellow fever exists at Fort Taylor in an epidemic form of a malignant type, death occurring in number of instances the first 24 hours. I would recommend a very strict quarantine on all vessels from
Key West.
J. A. G. FISHER, Quarantine Surgeon
From C. Roselius
WASHINGTON, August 2(M/i, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: I arrived here on the llth instant, and immedi- ately waited upon the President, Mr. Seward, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Stanton, by all of whom I was well received; in the differ- ent interviews I have had with the President and the Secre- taries of State and War it was determined by them to recall Gen. Phelps at once, and when the resignation of that officer was communicated by you, it was at once accepted, as no doubt you have been already informed. As I shall be home almost as soon as this letter reaches you, I prefer communi- cating to you verbally the particulars of my mission. It appears from the papers that you have had stirring times since my departure, and I congratulate you in your success. I am, dear General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. ROSELIUS
From Henry Copeland
NEW ORLEANS, August 20th, 1862
To Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
DEAR SIR: It is a duty that I owe to my country to present the following facts which I know to be true concerning parties in the Gas Works, who are to-day plotting treason against the IT. S. Government, although claiming British protection — have aided and abetted the Rebels in acts as follows, viz :
1st. These parties assisted in raising a Company designated and known as the "Scotch Rifles," and sent them into the Confederate Service.
2nd. They furnished several steamships with Coke to run the Blockade and prey on United States commerce.
208 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
3rd. They had an experimental Fire Raft made for the pur- pose of testing it on the water, it having satisfied them they had from fifty to one hundred Barrels filled with Coal Tar to use on the Fire Rafts on the Mississippi against the United States fleet on its arrival before the city.
4th. Taking away of the Specie from the "Merchant's Bank," hauled away with their Coke Carts to the N. O. & I. R. R.
5th. Taking from the Gas Works a gang of White laborers to the R. R. Shop to remove Machinery and rob it of its contents.
6th. Making a large amount of "Bowie Knives" in the Blacksmith Shop attached to the Gas Works, for use in the Confederacy, and by many other acts too numerous to mention.
The names of the parties in the acts enumerated above are as follows, viz: P. N. Wood, formerly President of the Gas Co., Wm. McCullough, Manager, Robert Silcott, Master Bricklayer, McLoughlin, Gas Go's. Office, 125 Common St., Joseph McCullough, Master Carpenter.
I will hold myself in readiness on behalf of the United States to prove these facts before you any time I am called upon.
Yours respectfully, HENRY COPELAND
No. 109 Howard St. NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 2(M, 1862
Maj. Genl. BUTLER
SIR: Another fact which I wish to bring to your notice is the equipment of a company known as the "Mercier Guards," Capt. Walker, by Dr. Mercier, who gave one hundred dollars to the first colored Company raised in New Orleans for the Confederate Service.
From the Quarter Master General
Quarter Master General's Office, WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. %lst, 1862
Major Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
GENERAL: The enclosed is a copy of a letter received from Moses Bates relative to the employment of the convicts and machinery in Louisiana State Penitentiary, in the manufac- ture of supplies for United States troops.
The Quartermaster General directs me to state that it will,
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 209
in his opinion, be well to employ the machinery and convicts in the manufacture of tents and tent cloth, which is very much needed. The chief Quartermaster of the Department of the Gulf under the approval of the Major General command- ing, can arrange the details.
Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Servant, By Order of the Q. M. G., ALEX. I. PEVIE, Q. M. G.
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August Zlst, 1862
Captain BONFANTI
I HAVE the honor to answer your same official communi- cation, in regard to the exchange of commodities for cotton, by enclosing a Copy of a letter patent to the officer Comdg. Confd. forces at Mobile. I stand by its terms. My Government seeks to do nothing by indirection, and its pledged faith has never been violated.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 22, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 63
WHEREAS, on the 23d day of April, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one, at a public meeting of the free colored population of the city of New Orleans, a military organization, known as the "Native Guards" (colored), had its existence, which military organization was duly and legally enrolled as a part of the militia of the State, its officers being commis- sioned by Thomas O. Moore, Governor and Commander-in- chief of the militia of the State of Louisiana, in the form following, that is to say:
"The State of Louisiana. (Seal of the State).
"By Thomas Overton Moore, Governor of the State of Louisiana, and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia thereof:
"In the name and by the authority of the State of Louisiana:
"Know ye, that , having been duly and legally
elected Captain of the 'Native Guards' (colored), 1st Division of the Militia of Louisiana, to serve for the term of the war,
"I do hereby appoint and commission him Captain as afore-
VOL. II — 14
210 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
said, to take rank as such from the 2d day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.
"He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of his office b'y doing and performing all manner of things thereto belonging. And I do strictly charge and re- quire all officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under his command to be obedient to his orders as Captain; and he is to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future Governor of the State of Louisiana, or other superior officers, according to the Rules and Articles of War, and in conformity to law.
"In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the State to be hereunto annexed.
"Give under my hand, at the city of Baton Rouge, on the second day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. «THQS Q
"By the Governor: P. D. HARDY, Secretary of State (L. S.)
(Endorsed}
"I, Maurice Grivot, Adjutant and Inspector General of the state of Louisiana, do hereby certify that - , named in the within commission, did, on the second day of May, in the year 1861, deposit in my office his written accept- ance of the office to which he is commissioned, and his oath of office taken according to law.
"M. GRIVOT, Adjt. and Insp. Gen. La.'9
And whereas, such military organization elicited praise and respect, and was complimented in General Orders for its patri- otism and loyalty, and was ordered to continue during the war, in the words following:
Headquarters Louisiana Militia, Adjutant General's Office, March 24, 1862
ORDER No. 4%6
"I. The Governor and Commander-in-chief, relying implic- itly upon the loyalty of the free colored population of the City and State, for the protection of their homes, their property, and for Southern rights, from the pollution of a ruthless invader, and believing that the military organization which existed prior to the 15th February, 1862, and elicited praise and respect for the patriotic motives which prompted it, should exist for and during war, calls upon them to maintain their organiza-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
tion, and to hold themselves prepared for such orders as may be transmitted to them.
"II. The Colonel Commanding will report without delay to Major General Lewis, commanding State Militia.
"By order of THOS. O. MOORE, Governor
"M. GRIVOT, Adjutant General"
And whereas, said military organization, by the same order was directed to report to Major General Lewis for service, but did not leave the city of New Orleans when he did:
Now, THEREFORE, the Commanding General, believing that a large portion of this militia force of the State of Louisiana are willing to take service in the Volunteer forces of the United States, and be enrolled and organized to "defend their home from ruthless invaders;" to protect their wives and children and kindred from wrong and outrage; to shield their property from being seized by bad men; and to defend the Flag of their native country, as their fathers did under Jackson at Chal- mette, against Packenham and his myrmidons, carrying the black flag of "beauty and booty."
Appreciating their motives, relying upon their "well-known loyalty and patriotism," and with "praise and respect" for these brave men, it is ordered that all the members of the "Native Guards" aforesaid, and all other free colored citizens recognized by the first and late Governor and Authorities of the State of Louisiana as a portion of the Militia of the State, who shall enlist in the Volunteer Service of the United States, shall be duly organized by the appointment of proper officers, and accepted, paid, equipped, armed, and rationed as are other Volunteer Troops of the United States, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. All such persons are required at once to report themselves at the Touro Charity Building, Front Levee Street, New Orleans, where proper officers will muster them into the service of the United btates. py commanc[ Of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER
R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From Richard S. Fay Jr. to General Butler
BOSTON, August 23rd, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: A fortnight since a draft was presented purporting to be drawn by you for $1200, at sight. It was endorsed by you, but the signature as drawn was not yours.
212 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
It was presented three times by different parties, and refused each time, as none of them could guarantee its genuineness. I ought to have notified you at the time but neglected to do so. It was not advised by you, and Mr. Carney's letters agreed with me that the signature on the face was not yours. I have been ill for nearly a month, so as to be barely able to come to my office for three or four hours every other day. I have therefore not been to Lowell, and have not seen Mrs. Butler again.
Inflation rages under the dogstar and the new levy of men. Fleece wool is worth 65 cents (N.B. we have 700,000 Ibs. at 53 cents, and foreign wool for any goods cost 35 cents against 18 cents a year ago). That and other property are in propor- tion. I ordered, about July 1st, the Times Weekly Courier sent you regularly; I hope it has gone.
Under the influence of your brother's encouraging letters, I am shipping more and more goods to him, although so much has been sent out that I hardly see where the returns are to come from.
August 28*/z,
Mr. Dexter left here to-day, and will probably go in same vessel as this letter. We have plenty of rumors, but nothing reliable, of abundant fighting on the Rappahannock. At any rate, our armies are united, if stock keeps up.
I have fairly broken down, and am going into the country tomorrow for a fortnight to recruit. I wish it were to be recruited. The rumors lately current about transferring you to some other command have all died out. I never believed them, for I could not think so ill of Mr. Stanton as to suppose his very warm expressions of confidence and approval meant
nothing. Sincerely yours, RICHARD S. FAY, JR.
From General H. W. Halleck
Head Quarters of the Army, WASHINGTON, August 23rd, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: You will cause an immediate investigation to be made of the charges against Charles Heidsick, Esq., and report to these Headquarters the causes of his arrest and detention.
If in your opinion the exigences of the public service require his detention, you will have him confined in as healthy a place as may be practicable. But if there be not good cause for his detention, you will immediately discharge him. It is
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 213
expected that you will report on this case with the least pos- si e e ay. Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant,
H. W. HALLECK, Gen. in Chief
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August 23, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. £94
THE Merchants' Bank and Crescent City Bank, having by their own showing not such Cash assets as would under the laws of Louisiana entitle them to continue to be banks of issue and deposit, are hereby ordered to go into liquidation, and to suspend all business save the collecting of their own assets.
The several Boards of direction are respectively made a board of trustees to wind up the affairs of the bank. They will issue no bills, pay no deposits, contract no new obligations, nor cancel any obligation without a full equivalent, in behalf of the bank, and pay no debts without further orders.
They will respectively make report, under oath of a majority of the board, weekly of the exact condition of the bank, and the change from each report.
The directors will send to these Headquarters a written acceptance of the trust.
In order that the public may be assured in their confidence in the final redemption of the liabilities of the Bank, it is furthur ordered that the slightest breach of good faith in the officers of the Bank, or in winding up the affairs of the Bank, will be summarily and exemplarily punished.
The United States and all Billholders will be preferred Creditors, and entitled to be first paid from the assets.
The bills of the Merchants' and Crescent City banks are no longer to be regarded as Currency.
By Order, of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. & A. A. A. G.
From Sister Clara to General Butler
August *5th, 1862
SIR: I have commissioned Mr. Gill to purchase some pro- visions for the female orphan asylum of Donaldsonville, as they are badly off on account of the troubles which have lately occurred in that unfortunate little town. To my great pain and astonishment the asylum, under the care of the sisters of
214 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Charity, was bombarded, and I only attribute our safety to the miraculous intervention of Divine Providence. This bombardment has caused us to lose much, for although I remained with my sisters and orphans during the bombard- ment and the fire which was set, yet I had to leave the place for some time, as the asylum and Church were threatened with entire destruction, should the guerillas fire again on the TL S. transports. The guerillas having continued to fire, I had to seek an asylum at the Sacred Heart Convent until we are either burned or out of danger. Our house is a poor institu- tion without income, as we are there for the poor, destitute children of the village and the orphans. I feel much grieved to think that when our sisters have been nursing the Federal Soldiers since the beginning of the war, and one hundred more who cheerfully started at the first call to nurse your sick and wounded at Fortress Monroe and other points, your command- ing officers should come and bombard my family and innocent orphans, especially when our house was out of the operation of Donaldsonville, though near. Do you think it just, General, that our sisters or any one of our society should be thus treated, when a part of the same society are rendering your soldiers all imaginable care of soul and body? Is it a just and grateful return for the services we render your sick at the risk of our lives?
I trust you are too much of a gentleman and too generous to approve such a conduct, and I rely on your kindness for my orphans, who are without Provisions, and who lost much in the moving I had to undergo. It is in your power to indem- nify them, and to give them provisions, and by sending some to them you will in some manner efface the stain attached to such an inhuman and atrocious deed as the one perpetrated against us. I am sure President Lincoln never intended the Sisters of Charity to be molested in this manner, and surely you do not approve either of such cowardly and base feats. In the name of God I entreat you to take into consideration all our sufferings through your soldiers and officers, and extend to the poor orphans a helping hand. By so doing you will be entitled to our lasting gratitude, and to our prayers for your
we are* Respectfully yours,
S. M. CLARA, Superior and Sister of Charity
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 215
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. %nd, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
SANTA MARIA CLARA, Superior and Sister of Charity
MADAME: I had no information until the reception of your note that so sad a result to the sisters of your command had happened from the bombardment of Donaldsonville.
I am very, very sorry that Rear Admiral Farragut was unaware that he was injuring your establishment by his shells. Any injury must have been entirely accidental. The destruction of that town became a necessity. The inhabitants harbored a gang of cowardly Guerillas, who committed every atrocity, amongst others that of firing upon an unarmed boat crowded with women and children going up the coast, returning to their homes, many of them having been at school at New Orleans.
It is impossible to allow such acts, and I am only sorry that the righteous punishment meted out to them in this instance, as indeed in all others, fell quite as heavily upon the innocent and unoffending as upon the guilty.
No one can appreciate more fully than myself the holy, self-sacrificing labors of the sisters of Charity. To them our soldiers are daily indebted for the kindest offices. Sisters of all mankind, they know no nation, no kindred, neither war nor peace. Their all-pervading Charity is like the boundless love of "Him who died for all," whose servants they are, and whose pure teachings their love illustrates.
I repeat my grief that any harm should have befallen your society of sisters, and I cheerfully repair it as I may in the manner you suggest, by filling the order you have sent to the City for provisions and medicines.
Your sisters in the city will also further testify to you that my officers and soldiers have never failed to do for them all in our power to aid them in their usefulness, and to lighten the burden of their labors. With sentiments of the highest respect, Believe me, Your friend, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Ruggles
Headquarters, C. S. Troops, 1st District, Dept. No. 2, Aug. 25, 1862
To Comdg. Officer Federal Troops, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: Mrs. Charles Clarke, wife of Brig. General Charles Clarke, C.S.A., now a wounded prisoner in your hands, desires
216 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to be allowed to remain with her husband during his convales- cence; for this purpose she accompanies a "Flag of Truce" to your lines, trusting to your kindly consideration. Having every reason to believe you will afford her all necessary facili- ties to accomplish her wishes, I have the honor to remain
Very respectfully, Your obedient servt. DANIEL RUGGLES, Brig. General, C. S. Army
From Lieutenant Colonel Shields
Headquarters, BATON ROUGE, August 26th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To Mrs. CHARLES CLARKE, near BATON ROUGE, LA.
MADAM: I have the honor to enclose herewith communica- tions received from the General Comdg. this Dept., one order- ing an escort to conduct you to the enemies' lines, New Orleans and the other a letter to the Federal Commander, requesting safe conduct to the bedside of your wounded husband.
Hoping, Madam, you may succeed in relieving the suffering of the gallant General, in restoring him to health, I am with great respect,
Your most obedient servant, THOMAS SHIELDS, Lt. Col. La. Vols.y Comdg. BATON ROUGE
From Thomas S. Burbank to General Butler
^ NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 20th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
DEAR SIR: I regret to have to trouble you with my cor- respondence, but out of feelings for my Brother I am compelled to do it. He is now near St. Martinsville, confined in a hog pen without a blanket, and almost without clothes, and covered with vermin. He has been sick for two weeks without any at- tention whatever, and he is now failing quite fast and cannot without some relief last longer. I cannot go to him, and under the circumstances I do not see how I can afford him any relief.
And now, my dear Sir, I would beg that you confine Capt. Deslonde until my brother is either released or paroled. He is an important character, as he is brother-in-law of Slidell and Beauregard, and has influence with the Rebel authorities. He can send a messenger by your consent and have my brother paroled, if nothing more, at any time.
Capt. Deslonde is now about the city and enjoying all the comforts of life, while my brother is suffering for something to sustain life, and has not even a blanket to cover him from the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER £17
night air. I do beg and pray that you would shut this man up at once, as it will have the desired effect. I thank you, General, for the kindness you have shown me, and hope that it may not be long before I can raise the glorious old Flag again over my home, and live in peace as of old.
I am happy to know that you are now dealing with these people as they deserve, for severity is the only thing that will ever bring them to their senses. I remain
Yours with much respect, THOMAS S. BURBANK
Corner of Maggin and Gravin Streets, NEW ORLEANS
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Augst, %5th, 1862
To the Officer Commanding Forces at OPELOUSAS
SIR: I have sent Mr. A. Deslonde to you, a well-known gentleman of this state, who has been captured and held by me under his parole, and as one of the hostages for the safety of Win. Burbank and other peaceable Citizens of the United States who have been taken by your forces. He has been selected as a messenger because he has peculiar and personal interest in the question presented by him, and goes under his solemn parole to return in any event.
Mr. Deslonde bears a copy of a letter from the Brother of Mr. Burbank to me, disclosing a course of treatment toward a citizen of the State of Louisiana that I can hardly conceive to be true.
One purpose I have in sending this note is to ask you to certify to me officially what is the treatment accorded to Mr. Burbank, so that I may relieve the mind of the brother from what I shall believe, until officially informed to the contrary, must be an exaggeration, and I have also desired the official information so that I might be in condition to act under- standingly upon this and like cases.
Mr. Deslonde is farther desired to confer with you whether it is not possible that some arrangement be entered into by which the citizens who are quietly at home may be unmolested.
Of course, this is a matter as regards numbers that may be attested of much more importance to the forces which you command than it can be to me. Yet it should seem to be desirable that some convention upon this subject might be had, which would relieve the war of its pressure upon the non-combatants on both sides.
218 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Mr. Deslonde is informally possessed of my views upon this topic, and he may be able to so far convey to me the views of the authorities upon your behalf as to make a basis of more formal action. I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. 9,5th, 1862, Monday Morn
DEAREST: Your letter of the 12th of Aug. came this morning. I see you have not received my letters, or this matter of house- keepers would not be presented either for blondes or brunettes. But let that pass. Gilman can look that the negroes do not destroy, there should be no other servants in your house. I speak now for your own honor, what might be supposed to affect me is of little moment. None can make me less than I hold myself, as expecting consideration, if I deserve more it will be estimated hereafter. Major Strong and family left this morning after a short visit. I was very glad to see them. He sails next Saturday for New Orleans, and would be pleased to have me go with him but does not like to urge it. On Friday I send Blanche back to school. So that I have but little time to be ready. And I do not know if you wish me to come. You write of returning home, but nothing of my going out, and I do not know if you think it advisable for me to be there. I cannot but think you would be well pleased to see me, but yet it might be better to wait until you have said so. That may be in the next letter. Major Strong looks very well, and is in excellent spirits, but I fear he is going a little too soon; he was so prostrated by the climate before. Mrs. Strong expects to go to New Orleans this Fall — if you find his health failing, send him back if you have occasion to send despatches, and I will go back with them if you would like me to be there. Major Strong has received no promotion. He would like it, of course, as there are two or three now on your staff who rank him. He has shown himself able and courageous, and he likes you thoroughly. These reasons are good enough for me, if it were in my power to aid him. The "Saxon" came in on the fifteenth. Fisher was here but a little while last evening to see Major Strong. I saw him only a few minutes alone. He told me what Whitney said his Captain reported, but said there was nothing I need write to you. He said that he told
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 219
Whitney that he had better write if he was not satisfied, just as he would in any other business transaction. Whitney on reflection decided to let it be for the present. Perhaps I ought to say nothing, but it has been usual for me to write you everything I hear that relates to you. J — n appeared as he usually does, blustering and overbearing, and as though he had made a poor thing of it to Capt. Pepper, when it was understood that he had received seventeen thousand or more. I cannot write this critically because I had not time to under- stand it, and the payment for the vessel is less than that paid by the government. You received Captain Pepper kindly and courteously, he said, and on his statement, ordered J — n to make up his account. How far it is satisfactory to Whitney you can imagine. Government offered him four hundred and fifty a day to run her to Hilton Head as soon as she arrived. But he has taken freight at eight dollars a barrel, and sent her back to New Orleans. Whitney has great esteem for you, and sent me a very handsome note, offering to take anything out in the " Saxon" free of expense for me, and praising you highly. The one who had his vessel, I think, he would not care to deal with. I am writing you a miserable letter, but so many things have crowded along I have no time to think. After the Major left I started Paul and your mother by the cars at twelve to go to old Dr. Richardson's, to stay a week. I wish to send this at four for the night train. I have not written for three or four days, and you asked me to write of tener, but I want to see you so much, so very much, and why could I not start in this vessel? That thought will keep my head throbbing all the week. Would you be glad to see me? ^ ^ ^^ and afiectionateiyy SARAH
P.S. Write me precisely about your health or I shall start without any word from you.
From Baron Fr. Gerolt
Prussian Legation, WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 1862
Hon. WILLIAM F. SEWARD
SIB: I have the honor of informing you that by the enclosed general order No. 55, Aug. 4th, of the Commanding General at New Orleans, Major General Butler, a contribution has been enforced upon several commercial houses and persons at New Orleans as a penalty for having invested in a loan effected by that city on the 3d. of March last.
220 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Among the persons assessed for the said contributions are the partners and heirs of the deceased William Vogel, late Consul of Prussia, at New Orleans, and the firm of Reichard & Co., in liquidation, in whose name the subscription to the forementioned city loan was made, invested the questioned money in their capacity as agents for account of the foresaid heirs and partners of Vogel & Co.
I beg to enclose a true statement of the case in a letter of the 7th inst., addressed to General Butler by the Acting Consul of Prussia, J. Kruttschnidt, who is liquidator of the firm of Reichard & Co., and in another letter from the Testa- mentary Executor of the late William Vogel, Mr. F. Grima, to General Butler on the same subject.
In presenting to you these documents, with a copy of the peremptory answer given by Gen. Butler on the 12th inst., I respectfully express the hope that the explanations contained in these letters will relieve you from any doubt in regard to the injustice done to the parties concerned, in the proceeding of General Butler, and that orders will be given for the redress of their grievances.
I have the honor to be Sir, with great respect
Your obdt. Servt., BARON FR. GERQLT
From the Acting Consul of Prussia
NEW ORLEANS 1th August 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: By your general order No. 55 I perceive that, amongst others, the firm of Reichard and Co. is assessed in the sum of $2500 as a contribution to relieve the poor of the city, and as an offset for having contributed $10,000 to the city loan, effected under the city ordnance No. 5949, approved 3rd March last.
I, the undersigned, as liquidator of Reichard and Co., would respectfully represent that the subscription, although made in the name of Reichard and Co., in liquidation, was made in their capacity as agents chiefly, for account of third parties for whom they had money in hand waiting for investments.
The amount $5000 was thus taken for account of Mr. Vogel, and subsequently I took for the same and in his name direct $20,000 more of the loan in question, and out of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
amount originally subscribed by the Citizen's Bank (in schedule A, Widow Vogel is mentioned, which is an error).
The letter, which I addressed under date of 10th March, a.c. to Mrs. Vogel, residing in Paris, shows sufficiently well the reasons which prompted me in subscribing to the question, moreover, as far as Mr. or Mrs. Vogel is concerned, my actions were subordinated to the advice of Mr. C. Roselius, who is the legal advisor of Mrs. Vogel. I wrote to Mrs. Vogel as follows, which is a translation copy,
"NEW ORLEANS IQth March 1862
The difficulty which exists today in investing money with security is exceedingly great, it is impossible to find mortgage paper even @ 6% or 5%. By authorization of Mr. Roselius, I agreed to take $5000 of the new city loan, the details of which will be forthcoming in my next. This sum will reduce by about one-half the funds which I now hold for account of Mr. Vogel, and if hereafter I can lay my hands on anything like good securities, you may rest assured that I shall not let the opportunity slip by."
Uth March 1862
P.S. "Dubois and Mish have paid, day before yesterday, by anticipation their notes of together $28,000, due 18th instant, and in view of the difficulty, not to say the impossibility, to invest money at present, I thought I could do no better than to take $20,000 more of the new city loan, of which mention is made above, for account of Mr. Vogel, making in all $25,000 invested for that account."
Mr. Vogel has been an absentee for several years, and has been recently declared dead at the beginning of June last by the second District Court, his succession has been opened, Mr. F. Grima has been named testamentary Executor, and I have delivered to him all the assets pertaining to Mr. Vogel's Estate.
Mr. Grima, who is also addressing you in this matter, acknowledges that the succession of Mr. Vogel is interested in said loan to the extent of $25,000, and I would therefore respect- fully request you to have the assessment entered against Reichard and Co. diminished accordingly.
In the remaining balance, Mr. F. W. Schmidt, of Hamburg, Germany, is interested to the extent of $2500, — and as a foreign resident, I may perhaps ask in his favor a total exemp- tion from the effects of the assessment.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I submit this explanation to you with a full belief that your sense of justice will prompt you to grant relief in the premises, and remain, General, with much respect,
Your very obdt. servant, V. KRUTTSCHNIDT
Endorsed: — Kruttschnidt was a brother-in-law of Benjamin, and business partner with Reichard, late Prussian Consul, but now a rebel Colonel. Kruttschnidt is his successor.
General Butler's Reply to Foregoing Letter
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 12, 1862
[ Not in chronological order]
J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Esq., NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I am directed by the Commanding Genl. to inform you that you must pay the amount. If there are others also inter- ested, will issue orders to have them pay. I have the honor
9 Very Respectfully -, Your Obedt. Servant,
WM. H. WIEGEL, 1st. Lieut. & A.D.C.
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., August Wth, 1862
[[Not in chronological order]
SIR: The enclosed copy of a communication from the Department of State is herewith transmitted to you by direc- tion of the Secretary of War, for your information and in order that Mr. Kruttschnidt may be duly recognized by the military authorities of New Orleans as Acting Consul of the Republic of Bremen at that city. With much respect,
Your obedient Servant, P. H. WATSON, Asst. Secretary of War
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 28*A, August, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: Information has been communicated to this Depart- ment by Mr. Rosing, Charge d'Affaires of Bremen, of the appointment of Mr. J. Kruttschnidt as Acting Consul of that Republic, at New Orleans, vice Mr. Rudolf I. Keus. Mr. Kruttschnidt, who is a German by birth and not a citizen of the United States, is also the Acting Consul of Prussia at New Orleans.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I will thank you to acquaint the military authorities of that City with appointment of Mr. Kruttschnidt, in order that his official acts as Consul of Bremen may be duly recognized. I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant, F. W. SEWABD, Acting Secretary
From General Halleck
Head Quarters of the Army, WASHINGTON, Aug. %6th, 1862
Major Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. etc. NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: Reinforcements will be sent to you as early as possible, the new levies are only just beginning to come in and are still unorganized.
I cannot think that there can be a very large force under Van Dorn, as the main army that retreated from Corinth is now operating against Buell and Morgan in Tenn. and Ken- tucky. They estimate Bragg's forces at over eighty thousand, and it is known that very considerable detachments of Beau- regard's army are now in Arkansas and Miss.
It is deemed of the greatest possible importance to hold New Orleans, and reinforcements will be sent as early as possible. yery Respectfuiiy9 your obdt. Servant,
H. W. HALLECK, Gen. in Chief
From George B. Loring to General Butler
SALEM, August Z6th, 1862
MY DEAR BUTLER: I take advantage of the return of Lieut. Allen to New Orleans, to remind you that I still live, and watch each step of your progress with the deepest interest. It is not extraordinary that I should desire now and then to be near you, when I see the complications which surround you; but I am able to subdue every anxiety when I remember the patience, and skill, and prudence, which characterized your career while you were arranging your Expedition here. How- ever much others may have distinguished themselves as gen- erals in this war, no man has carried into the contest any ability as a lawyer, and statesman, and diplomatist, to com- pare with what you have displayed. I say this not by way of flattery, but for the sake of that encouragement which one friend owes to another, and in order to remind you that in proportion to the magnitude of your active powers, and of your sphere of operations, should be your possession of all
224 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
your highest and best faculties. My sermon is ended, and I doubt not you are very glad of it.
The complications of the war, as seen from this point, are amazing. While naval plans have been proposed, and naval enterprizes undertaken by naval Generals; while the minds of our political leaders have been anxiously endeavoring to dis- cover the most profitable use to be made of the negro ques- tion, until a sort of popular impatience of confusion has been created at the North, the South have pursued their course with the concentration of the early Christians who were of one mind and one heart. We have been compelled to listen to lunatics when we should have been guided by generals and statesmen. The President has given respectful audience to every mad agitator, whose presumption has been increased by the patience of the administration. Instead of pursuing, the plain and simple course laid down by you more than a year ago, on the subject of slavery and the treatment of the negroes, a course which, if adopted manfully, would have silenced all agitation long ago, and would have disarmed hundreds in the South, and strengthened the border states, and given encouragement to the Union men of the North, every foolish and exasperating expedient has been adopted for the sake of preserving that cursed Chicago platform and the Party which made it. The consequences are just what you might expect.
The opposition to all this is rapidly increasing among the laboring men of the North. They desire an honorable peace based on victories for the Union. And when the tide is fully turned that will be the issue. I think anxiety for the Country has at last outstripped anxiety for the negro; and men are looking for and fighting for the blessings which we have en- joyed under the Constitution. Whenever I speak in public now it is for this end, and I always find an enthusiastic audience.
But we must have a victory soon or we are gone, lost. Unless Richmond is occupied before winter by the federal Army Mr. Lincoln cannot complete his term of office. If the question of division does come, God only knows how it will end.
For myself, I farm much, deliver an oration now and then, and wait with patience. Ignoble business, I know, in this crisis. But it is all I can do. And don't discourage me by saying that the day of the civilian is over. I hope you military gentlemen will not entirely usurp all our duties.
I am having an odd difficulty about the charter of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 225
" Parliament. " Frazer, who agreed to pay me 5 per cent on the charter as compensation for my services, and who, after the charter was taken, endeavored to reduce the rate of my commission, now objects to paying anything, on the ground that my influence had nothing to do with securing the charter. I propose to fight him on this, and beat him too. Did you not understand that George chartered the "Parliament" at my solicitation?
God bless you and bring you honorably and gloriously through your task. Remember me to Shepley, if you think
Truly your friend, GEO. B. LOBING P.S. Lieut. Allen is a most worthy gentleman.
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, August 26<A, 1862
Major General BUTLEB, Comdg. Dept.
DEAB GENERAL: This will be handed you by my friend, Mr. T. C. A. Dexter, who goes out in charge of some mer- chandise purchased on J/a with me, and with a view to estab- lish connection for future business. I have made Mr. Dexter my agent for any business with which I am connected in New Orleans as fully as it is in my power to do so, by power of atty.
I should like also to transfer to him, for the time being, the kind protection and assistance with which you would favor me, were I out there. I have explained to Mr. Dexter very fully the position of the business in which you are interested, and have shown him my correspondence with the War Depart- ment and the Quarter Master. He is fully authorized to under- take any new business for me, and to use my credit in doing so. I remain as ever,
Sincerely Yours, RICHABD S. FAY, JR.
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. 26tfc, '62
DEAREST: I wrote you a letter yesterday, but forgot some things I wished to say. The vessel Fisher sends out has been delayed for almost a fortnight. After bursting her escape pipes in Boston, and stopping a week to repair, she was obliged to put into New Bedford from some other damage. I believe she is now off. She has all our pictures cased up in the same
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226 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
box you sent the plate in with your picture painted on it. If they are lost they can never be replaced. I sent the originals taken years ago of myself and the children. Also the speech copied by Blanche that you sent for. I am very sorry they were not sent by the "Saxon," but we did not know she would be here when they were sent aboard. I trust they will reach you in safety, but fear it will be a long time before you get them. I do not know the name of the vessel. You write of going to Mobile in a month (that would be a fortnight from now) if you can get force enough. Major Strong thinks the Government will send you reinforcements. But it is not likely at so early a period. Nor are you expected to make a move by any person at the north. Indeed there is great fear you will not be able to sustain yourself in New Orleans. Do not think of making a premature start and risk losing what you have gained, that would be fatal; wait till you are fairly reinforced, and the weather cooler. If New Orleans should be taken from
us we might as well go into Canada. George has applied
to Judge for information of your life, and he has referred
him to Fisher. What is there to say that has not already been written? I could write a life that would interest the reader, but the public can have but a bald outline, and that is rarely correct. The public life of one man will answer well enough for another. The surface of life, if it glitters, is enough for the public. Do you think of anything to suggest that has not been said? I could write you a brilliant history not altogether perfect, that is beyond nature, nor do we expect or wish to find it in any character; it would show but a dead level. It is the opposing elements in a man's nature, strongly developed, but the good triumphing, that excites admiration. These I could picture better than most historians. The gentleman wha now offers to sketch your life is an elegant writer, I wish he knew you intimately.
Aug. <Ttih
Oh, Dearest, your letter of Aug. 14th is here. Have I hurt you so badly, or is the last page written to rouse me, and show the folly I have been guilty of in writing to you as I did? If I have shown to you that my thoughts went beyond the bounds of sense or reason, forgive me! Do not say you do not wish me to come to you! Or that I need write no more, but to say I am well. I know you do not feel so now, and that you would be glad to have me there, as I should be to be with you. Say so, dearest, in your next letter, and let me join you
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 227
again. If that good time ever comes for us to meet, we will return together, or stay away together. I will not come back alone. I am ready "to tread the weary path" with you, wherever it leads, and can find no pleasure in any other. If you are to move, I shall find no trouble in moving with you. Bear with my infirmities of feeling as well as you can, I shall improve, believe me. The sad complaining that annoys will wear away. I shall yet walk with " cheerfulness," that "nymph of healthiest hue" and "hope" will sing again her "delighted measure!" Even "sport" shall "leap up, and seize his beechen spear." So, do not say I must not come, but tell me when to start. You did not feel when you began the letter so bitterly as when you closed. Do not think me entirely wrong in what I wrote. If no meaning were given but the one I ought to have shown, that is, how it looked to others, you would not have cause to be angry with me. For in that I wrote truly. You would be subject to comments. But be subject, now, to tenderness, dearest, forget your anger, kiss me, and tell me to come, and make happy
From James T. Whitney to General Butler
NEW YORK, August 26, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: Did I not know that with all the mighty cares of your position, your heart has not grown cold toward your friends, I should not venture to again address you upon business matters of my own. As it is I think I shall be pardoned.
The Steamer "Saxon" I have ordered back to New Orleans with freight on account of Shippers here. She was offered $450, per day by the U. S. Quarter Master here, to go to Hilton Head, which I refused, as she pays much more by taking freight there, her freight and passage money, both paying as much as 30 days, Government Charter.
I wish to bespeak for the "Saxon" your kind indulgence when in New Orleans. She will return immediately to New York, and wishes to bring back passengers and freight. I have sent Mr. Richardson out as Supercargo of "Saxon," who will call upon you. Mr. F. A. Hildreth wrote you yesterday in relation to the "Saxon" and "Relief." A few moments before the cars left, he received a telegram that the "Relief" has stopped at New Bedford, would be detained four days for repairs of her machinery, so that the "Saxon" will be in New
228 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Orleans before the "Relief." Mr. HildretJh therefore requested me to write you that he desires the "Saxon" to take the mails and whatever else you may desire to forward. I hope to for- ward with Major Giddings a box to your Quarters.
Mr. Hildreth left for New Bedford last night, not having time to write you after receiving telegram in relation to "Relief."
And now, General, let me say, your position in your Phelps Correspondence is right, and the Country sustains it, and will sustain and ultimately applaud you. You are the only Gen- eral in the field whose correspondence will live in History. Pointing to an impregnable necessity in your Phelps letters, you cannot be shaken, and the conservative General is the one that ultimately receives the gratitude of succeeding gen- erations, and the plaudits of the present.
May God keep you still in the path that will (if anything can) lead to a settlement of this unholy war! With the highest
' Your obedient servant, JAMES S. WHITNEY
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26, 1862 l
DEAR Sm: The troops at Baton Rouge have evacuated the place without destroying it, and are now joined to Gen. Phelps' command at Carrolton. His effective force is now about six thousand men and many guns, and is sufficient for the defence of the place. The fortifications are strong, and Gen. Phelps has the entire confidence of his men. An attack on the City was feared, and therefore the troops were brought down from Baton Rouge. The secessionists confidently expect the city to be taken soon, and had they succeeded at Baton Rouge, an attack on the City would have followed immediately. I do not believe it will now be made, but if attempted will certainly be unsuccessful. They expected aid in the City, but Gen. Butler has disarmed all citizens. About 25,000 arms of various kinds have been given up.
The first Louisiana Reg't. is full and ready for service, and nearly enough men enlisted to form a second Reg't. The men are generally foreigners — many Germans — and will do good service.
A free Colored Regt., formerly in Rebel service, is being
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 310.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 229
organized. Probably this Regiment will be increased to a Brigade. I urged this matter upon Gen. Butler, but he had already decided upon it favorably. The free negroes of Louisi- ana, are certainly superior, as a class, to the Creoles (descend- ants of French and Spanish settlers). They are intelligent, energetic, and industrious, as is evident from the fact (as stated to me) that they own one-seventh of the real estate in this city. This is their own work, for they commenced with nothing, of course.
These men will be good soldiers. Gen. Phelps has at his camp 1,500 men — escaped slaves. Enough to make a full regiment are drilled (without arms) and go through all the movements well. I do not know whether Gen. Butler intends them to have arms. They are good-looking men, and I believe will be good soldiers.
The health of the troops is good, except those lately at Vicksburg, among whom, however, deaths have been few. The City is quite healthy, and there is no longer much danger from Yellow Fever. This is owing to Gen. Butler's severe quarantine regulations. A few more days of health will render us perfectly secure.
The Union sentiment is developing itself satisfactorily. The laboring classes are our friends. When the great Southern armies are broken up, they will no longer be afraid, and all will be well.
Provisions are high, and there is much suffering in the City. It is much to be regretted that the River was not opened, so that provisions might be cheap. The condition of the people now is scarcely better than under rebel rule — as to food, I mean. For other reasons, the opening of the River is of the utmost consequence.
Much complaint is made by Union men, and justly, that those who have been secessionists are frequently given em- ployment by the authorities to the exclusion of Union men. Concerning the Custom House, there have been no such complaints, I believe, for I have been particularly careful in selecting officers, but I regret to say that other departments have not exercised the same care.
Col. Butler is a brother of Gen'l. Butler and came out with the army, and immediately commenced doing business. He is not in government employ. He is here for the sole purpose of making money, and it is stated by secessionists — and by some Union men — that he has made half a million dollars, or
280 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
more. I regret his being here at all, for it is not proper that the brother of the commanding General should devote himself to such an object. It leads to the belief that the General himself is interested with him, and such is the belief of our enemies and of some of our friends. The effect is bad. Gen- eral Butler seems entirely devoted to the interests of the Government. I have observed closely his brother's course. I do not believe the General is interested in his speculations. I have delayed mentioning this matter until now, hoping to be better informed. Hon. Reverdy Johnson can give you as much information as I can. I believe Gen. Butler is disinter- ested, and that he is a most able officer, though in a difficult position. Should I learn anything further, you will be informed. (GEOKGE S. DENISON)
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 27th, 1862
Brig. Gen. AKNOLD, Comd'g Dist. of West Florida
GENERAL: I send with the "Ocean Queen," Capt Kensel, Chief of Artillery, to confer with you upon matters of moment. Capt. Kensel is fully possessed of my views.
It would give me the sincerest pleasure to have you here in person to aid me in defence of a threatened attack on the City. I am so ignorant of the condition of your district that I can give no order. I wish you would send me at least one regiment and as many of your regulars as can be spared, by the "Ocean Queen." Come yourself, if possible, if only for a few days, for the purpose of consultation.
If you have a good map of your district please send or bring it, as I have none. Perhaps, in any event, an exchange of troops might be beneficial. But this is matter of arrange- ment upon consultation.
It is needful that I should have early dispatch with the "Ocean Queen," with whatever reinforcements you can spare. I sent a quantity of political prisoners from Forts Jackson and St. Philip so as to put the forts in fighting trim. You will have them confined in Fort Pickens or outside on the Island, as you prefer. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 231
From Thomas S. Burbank
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. %lth, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: A messenger came through yesterday from Lafourche with the unwelcome intelligence that my brother was very sick and not like to recover. This, Sir, is all from the inhuman treatment he receives. They are murdering him slowly to get rid of him, so that it will not be said that they hung or shot him for fun, that you might retaliate on those that you hold here. My brother is confined in a filthy place without bed or blanket, and not even a change of clothes. He is not even allowed to go outside of his prison, and is treated to all the vile epithets that can be heaped upon him. My brother, E. W. Burbank, who was taken at about the same time, and afterwards paroled, has after importuning a long time been allowed to go and see him, and is now on the way there, and will do all that he is allowed to for his comfort. I do now beg of you to retaliate on those you hold, as it will certainly procure his release if alive. As long as they are permitted to go at large and enjoy all the comforts of City life, my brother must remain in captivity and be tortured to death by those vile creatures that broke up this glorious Union.
There is a few men on the Coast above the City, if it was convenient, would be well to arrest. One is Capt. Joseph La Bourgeois, who fed and entertained the Rebels the night that they arrested my brother. He had about one month ago a full set of Cavalry equipments that were stolen from the arsenal at Baton Rouge, but I presume are now in the use of the Guerillas. Also, James Godbury and Doct Haidel, who joined the Company in the arrest, and pointed out the place where my brother slept. If these important characters were sent to Fort Jackson it would have a good effect.
I am instructed to ask you to send a gunboat to Berwick's Bay, if it is possible, in order to cut off the supplies of the Rebels near the City. There is now only four Companies this side of Lafourche, but they are expecting reinforcements amounting to three thousand Militia and eight hundred Cav- alry. They have now but a very little ammunition and but one or two small pieces of Artillery, and if a gunboat could only be got into Berwick's Bay they could not obtain supplies of any kind.
There is now eight hundred Guerillas at Bonnet Carre,
23S LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
thirty six miles above the City, and it is also reported that they are building bridges across the streams from Manchac to the Mississippi, and have got them nearly completed.
Gov. Moore has arrested Gen. Robert Martin, of Confed- erate notoriety, for forbidding any further depredations by the Guerillas on the U. S. transports on the River. The lesson that was taught them at Donaldsonville had a good effect, and I can assure you, Sir, that severity is the only thing that will bring this people to their senses.
There is a great amount of sugar on the coast belonging to the Confederate Gov. Would it not be well to confiscate it before it is all sent to market? It was subscribed to the produce loan of the Confederate Gov. about one year ago.
I presume you know that the Confederates are pressing all into the ranks at the point of the bayonet, and that within a short distance of New Orleans, but they can only arm them with shot guns. I remain
Yours most respectfully, THO. S. BURBANK
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Aug. 27, '62
DEAREST: You see I cannot heed the request to write no more, but must even go on as if I had not heard it. And that is what you wish me to do. Blanche left home for Georgetown this afternoon. I went with her to the cars. Fisher goes on with them, but thinks he may be obliged to bring them back. All news of the army has been suppressed for the last week. Today we hear that Pope is broken up and the rebels occupy Manassas once more. Their next move must be for Wash- ington, and if our army can do nothing but retreat why may they not take it? Fisher will go from Washington to Fortress Monroe. The steamer he has bought and freighted has sprung a leak, and the Captain has telegraphed for him to come on and see what can be done. The Captain put in at Fortress Monroe. My box of pictures, letters from me and Blanche to you, a copy of the speech you wrote for, a letter from me to Mr. Chubbuck, — all these were on board. I despair of your ever getting them. I told Fisher to get the box and put it on board another vessel. It is now three weeks on Monday since the letters were sent aboard. The house is more lonely to- night than ever, we miss Blanche so much. I sent the picture of the Crucifixion to the Directress. Caroline came this morn-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 283
ing, and brought a box of lovely flowers, for the hair. They will look sweetly on Blanche for her first ball. I never saw anything more exquisite. They were sent to me, let me thank you a thousand times, kiss me, and say your annoyance and bitterness is over, and that you look for my coming as the one pleasant thing to expect. Not so pleasant as to return home, but the next best thing to it. Major Bell will be here tomorrow, or on Monday. From him I shall learn more of what you are doing and when you expect me to go. I will write no more tonight. I hope you are well and happy, and feel kindly to me.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, Aug. 27, 1862
MY DEAREST SARAH: Your note of August 10th, finished on the 12th, reached me on the 26th. It was a dear, kind, loving letter — such a one as gives me new life to receive. I read it over twice. Do write me such letters or none. I cannot live if you write others like those you have written. They are causeless, useless, hurtful. The boat has not yet come with the Daguerreotypes.
Your letters were not lost. They sometimes come two or three at a time. Having written me to burn them, which I have done save the last, I cannot very well send them back. I have been very well except two days when I was a little under the weather.
I am preparing for the defense of New Orleans, and I shall hold it too. Baton Rouge has been evacuated by us without haste, without loss, without trouble of any sort. I could have held it till doomsday so far as the enemy were concerned, and am holding it now with a couple of gunboats, but the whole rebel army of the Southwest are concentrating to move upon me, and I am not in condition to cut my force in halves.
I have brought off the State library and the Statue of Washington by order, beside pretty much all the plunder of the town without order. I have put a stop to that, however. We are fast coming, however, to the point where devastation is a necessity. We have kept out the yellow fever so far, and shall hardly have it to any extent. I believe not at all. They have it fearfully at Key West.
As you will see, the Government have added Pensacola and General Arnold to my command. I will send for him. They have sent me Genl. Sherman, of Port Royal fame, as
234 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Brigadier. You will see my action in regard to Phelps, and also my raising the free colored regiment. Write me what you think of it. I am succeeding admirably with my Louisiana Volunteers.
Andrew is shipping Fisher some thousand hogsheads of sugar. It will be of prime quality and will pay, he thinks. I do not understand Mr. Fay quite, but I think that it is well enough to have the change made. It would hardly do to make it earlier.
Love to the children and Blanche. Tell her that she must write me every week. I can't write her so often as I wish. If she does not write, I won't call her little Buntie any more, but Great Blanche. A thousand kisses for you. Was the wreath
pretty? It is of New Orleans make. Y>
BENJ.
From the Adjutant General
War Department Adjutant General's Office, WASHINGTON, July 23r<2, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Maj. General B. F. BUTLER, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding
Dept. of the Gulf, N. O., LA.
SIR: It would appear from documents submitted by the Governor of Massachusetts that Lieutenant James B. Prince, Jr., of the 30th Regiment of Mass. Volunteers, appointed by His Excellency and duly commissioned, has not or had not up to a late date, been allowed by you to go on duty with his regiment. The Secretary of War thinks there is possibly some mistake in the matter, but he desires you to inform him of the state of the case; and, at any rate, to recognize the com- mission of Lieutenant Prince, and permit him, without opposi- tion, to enter immediately upon his duties, if it has not already been done. I am, Sir,
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant,
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 28/fc, 1862
General L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 23rd ult. relating to Lt. J. B. Prince.
This Gentleman came to this department with a commission from the governor of Massachusetts, having been examined by a board of officers under act of Congress while I was in com-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 235
mand of the Department of New England, and rejected be- cause found deficient, — I thought it my duty before placing him in command to have him again examined.
With pleasure I learned that he had applied himself dili- gently to the study of his profession, and passed a very satis- factory examination, and he was at once ordered to duty, and I learn behaved very well in the battle of Baton Rouge.
I do not think I need a direct order from the War Depart- ment to do my duty. I shall respect Gov. Andrew's com- missions when they are respectable, not otherwise.
He has sent down here commissions to annoy me to almost every person whose application for official position I had rejected while recruiting my troops. I have given them their positions when they were qualified, and shall continue to do what I think ought to be done until I am retired from the command of the Department. I have the honor to be,
Your obdt. Servt. B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler to the Mayor of New York
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug, 28, 1862
MR. MAYOR: Upon the withdrawal of the troops from Baton Rouge, to leave the town under the care of the Gun boats, it seemed probable, in case it was stripped to prevent the erection of works there by the enemy, that the State House with its contents would be destroyed. The bricks and mortar could easily be replaced, but not so the works of art which once lost are gone forever. I therefore ordered Powers' Statue of Washington in marble to be removed for safety, and~I believe it has been done without injury.
There is in New Orleans no suitable public building wherein the Statue be placed. Besides, in the present temper of mind of the governing class in Louisiana, I do not see what need they have of a Statue of Washington. They are striving to undo his work, to overthrow the Government which was set up more by his agency than all else human. If, indeed, the sight of his calm, noble features would recall them to a sense of duty, loyalty, and submission to that government of which he was the first President, then it would be well to retain the marble here. But alas! Madness rules the hour. The good people are already loyal, and the bad will require sterner and less sentimental arguments for conviction of their folly.
236 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I have taken leave, therefore, to send the Statue to the city of New York, asking the city through the chief executive officer to hold it in trust for the people of the State of Louisiana until such time as they shall return to their senses. When loyalty to the Union and Constitution is restored as the ruling sentiment of Louisiana, and the Government of Washington is recognized by the elected authorities of the State there, let the Statue be sent back to a State fitted to receive it and appreciate it.
The City of New York will accept this trust. With senti- ments of respect and esteem, I am,
Most truly yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Genl. Comdg.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
H'd Q'rs. Dept of the Gulf, BOSTON, Aug. 28, 1862
MY DEAREST WIFE: The boat is delayed sailing a day, so that I can give you one day later from New Orleans. I was out to review Brigade at Carrollton yesterday where we are getting ready, so you will conclude I am quite well.
I have sent to Pensacola and hope to get a regiment from thence. Fisher's vessel has not yet arrived here. The delay is not fortunate. Andrew is shipping much larger amounts of sugar to Fisher than I supposed. He will tell you about it.
You ask if I spend my time at the Custom House or at the house? Shall I give you a day's work? Get up at six, write an hour or more in my room . . . then breakfast, then calls for an hour, then go to the office and business till 4 o'clock, then dinner at 5, then opening mail and answering letters and calls till eight, then tea; sometimes a walk of half an hour in the evening, then a chat or writing till twelve, and then to bed. And sometimes not to sleep. There you have a day, as like another as two peas, save a review, inspection of a hospital, or something of that sort — or telegrams of trouble or any little diversification.
You see I am writing in my room, having just finished my despatches to the Government, and Williams is waiting to dress. There now, isn't it real good of me to think of you and write you now. Don't you think it deserves a kiss?
BENJ.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 237
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, August ZSth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 326
IT is made to appear to the Commanding General that Marcelin Licard, an old soldier of the war of 1815, under Jackson, did not give his arms under the General Order No. 60, and has been sentenced by the Provost Court to imprison- ment for 30 days therefor.
Knowing the love an old soldier has for his arms, and believ- ing that something is to be pardoned to that fond feeling, the
sentence is remitted. T> r\ j **\/r r* T>
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER
W. H. WIEGEL, 1st Lieut. & A. A. A. G. From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. ZQth, 1862
Brig. General L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
GENERAL: I herewith enclose a Roster of the Officers for Commission of the 1st Regt. La. Vols. Also a form of Provi- sional Commission which I have issued to them.
They being now on the lines at Carrollton in presence of the enemy, I thought it necessary for their protection that the Officers should have some authorization in case of being taken prisoner.
Perhaps it is a very considerable labor to issue new Com- missions. A simple order of the War Department confirming the Provisional Commission issued would be sufficient.
This Regiment is one of the finest in its material in the ser- vice, both as regards Officers and men.
The Recruiting Fund not having arrived yet, from the necessity of the case I have borrowed ($50,488.00), fifty thousand four hundred and eighty-eight Dollars from my City Relief Fund, to pay the Advance Pay and Bounty, which I shall ask the disbursing and Recruiting Officer to repay when he arrives. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Comdg.
£38 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Richard S. Fay
BOSTON, August 29, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
MY DEAR GENERAL: Your favor of August 17th is received. My son left yesterday for a fortnight's absence, being ordered off by his physician, and being completely used up.
I have looked over the accounts to see if I could answer your question about the $10,000. It stands rightfully to your credit, as well as the shipment of Sugar on Government account, no account having been made with the Government, and no money will be paid over to it until your return and authoriza- tion. As I understand the matter, Richard insisted on the sale of the Sugar and the control of the business, acting as your agent, and in order to protect your interest. Rely upon it, my dear friend, that everything shall be done properly and in order, and that your wife and family whom may you live long to be their honor and support, will be cared for. God grant you a good deliverance, for none of them now in the field deserves it more than yourself. I have forwarded your letter to Richard, but as he will not receive it in season to answer it by the "Roanoke," I have written this.
Very truly yours, RICHARD S. FAY
From Commodore Henry W. Morris
U. S. Sloop PENSACOLA, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 29, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: The U. S. Steamer "Tennessee" from Pensacola found it absolutely necessary to come up to the city last night. She had broken her delivery valve, which is below the water's edge, and the water flowed into her in a very large stream through it. She was only able to keep herself free by means of her steam pumps, when her engines were working; therefore whilst at anchor she was in very great danger of sinking, as her hand pumps were not sufficient to keep her free.
In accordance with the permission sent me last night by you — "that if it were an urgent necessity to prevent her from sinking, she could remain," I directed her to haul along side the "Fearnot" store ship, and discharge as much of her cargo as necessary to lighten her, to prevent her leaking any more, — and she is now employed doing so.
I had written thus far when your orderly brought me your despatch in relation to the "Tennessee's" coming up. I im-
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER S39
mediately sent to Capt. Johnson to make a written report of the causes which induced him to break his quarantine. That report I now send you a copy of. You will perceive by it that, in his opinion, the vessel would have sunk at her anchors in a few hours had she remained at the quarantine station. I sent an Officer to you last night to explain these facts to you, which he did correctly.
If the "Tennessee" is compelled to return to the quarantine station, she will be compelled to run upon the bank and lie there. If you require her to do so, I will send her down. I am,
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant, HENRY W. MORRIS, Commodore and Senior 0/r.
From General Butler
Hd. Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Augst. 29*/i, 1862
Commodore MORRIS
SIR: The Steamer "Tennessee" ran past the Quarantine Station without permission. She was reported to me by an Officer, purporting to come from you, as having done so be- cause she was in a sinking condition. I am now informed that it is not the fact. I assented to her action upon the ground only that it was a matter of necessity.
The "Tennessee" must therefore at once leave her Anchor- age and proceed below the Quarantine Station. I am grieved and alarmed at this instance of insubordination in the Navy. I am now engaged in a very delicate & troublesome Corre- spondence with the Spanish Authorities upon the alleged com- plaint that I treat their vessels different from ours.
This action of the "Tennessee" gives color to the complaint and may involve us in a National Difficulty. I shall require the amplest apology from the Officer Comdg. the "Tennessee." as well as from the Officer who made the false report to me that she was in a sinking condition, or I shall feel it my duty to report them to the Department, and take such other measures as shall prevent all communication between the fleet and shore while an unquarantined Vessel is suffered to have communication with the fleet.
I have successfully thus far kept the Epidemic from the City, and I shall be sorry to report to the Govt. that I have not the aid of the Navy in the vital necessary precaution for the Health
of the City and my troops. rr D .* n
J J * Very Respectfully,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
240 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Commodore Henry W. Morris
U. S. Sloop PENSACOLA, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 30, 1862
Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER, Commdg. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: I sent you yesterday, by your Orderly, a letter in relation to the "Tennessee's" breaking her quarantine, together with a copy of Capt. Johnson's report to me, giving his reasons for so doing.
Will you please inform me, by the bearer, what decision you have come to, as to whether she is to be permitted to dis- charge her cargo into the "Fearnot," for the purpose of making her repairs; or whether she is to go down to the quarantine station, to lay on the bank there to prevent her from sinking. I am,
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant, HENRY W. MORRIS, Comdr. and Senior Officer
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. SOth, 1862
Commodore MORRIS, Commdg. Naval Forces at NEW ORLEANS
DEAR SIR: Upon the assurance of the Captain that the "Tennessee" is in a sinking condition, and must be beached if she is to go, I must make a virtue of necessity and allow her to remain here to discharge the Cargo. It is a matter I, a landsman, cannot understand. The "Tennessee" still lays in the stream, has lain there for thirty-six hours, and yet does not sink. It shows well for the quality of the water at New Orleans. I am now so far relieved that I can officially assure the Spanish authorities that the "Tennessee" was only allowed to come up to save her from sinking. I am,
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER
From Moses Bates
Office of the La. State Penitentiary, BATON ROUGE, August 19th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Maj. General B. F. BUTLER, Commdg. Dept. of the Gulf
MY DEAR SIR: There are in this institution several children, born in the prison of female convicts, between the ages of one and ten years. By the laws of the State of Louisiana these children are State property, and the custom has been to sell them into slavery at the age of ten years, and appropriate the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 241
proceeds to purposes of State expenditure. In view of the evacuation of the city, and possibly the abandonment of this institution, it has become a serious matter. What shall be done with these children? Knowing your sentiments too well to believe you will order these prisoners, who have never yet gone beyond the confines of the Penitentiary, sent into slavery, and not caring to take a responsibility which you would so willingly assume, I ask to be directed with regard to these children of incarcerated parents.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
MOSES BATES, Supt. La. State Penitentiary
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, Aug. SQth, 1862
MOSES BATES, Esq., Superintendent State Penitentiary
SIR: I certainly cannot sanction any law of the State of
Louisiana which enslaves any children of female convicts born
in the State Prison.
Their place of birth is certainly not their fault. You are
therefore to take such care of them as would be done with
other destitute children.
If these children were born of female convict slaves, pos- sibly the master might have some claim, but I do not see how
the State should have any. I am,
Very Respectfully Your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M. G. C.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 1st, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: This will be handed you by Mr. Bonfanti, who is about visiting your city en route to Europe.
If he is not fortunate enough to have Mr. Fay with him when he calls, will you get Mr. Webster or Hildreth to show him the city, and especially the mills which he much desires to see.
Mr. Bonfanti has been of some service to me; you will find him a pleasant gentleman, and he has been kind enough to desire to be presented to you.
Truly your HUSBAND
VOL. II 1 6
LETTERS OF GEN, BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From J. George Brown
PARISH PRISON, September 1st, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. Gulf
GENERAL: Do you know that measures are being taken to involve your brother, Col. Butler, to say nothing of yourself, with the cabinet at Washington, on the most serious charges backed with no light force? Rumor says you are about to leave — you have treated my letters to you with contempt, thinking I am influenced by selfish motives, had I have been, you would never have received this. Enough, I shall not trouble again, but remember the Mouse and the Lion, and that to the last I wished to serve you.
Do not show this to any of your officers, — why should I have a powerful enemy by writing you this. Send for me. With respect, I have the honor to be,
Ever your well-wisher, J. GEORGE BROWN
It is important I should see you before the Northern mail leaves.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 1st, 1862
Major General HENRY W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief Armies of the United States
GENERAL: Nothing of interest has occurred to the troops of this Department since the last despatch.
Our disposition being made for defence, the forts which the enemy expected to surprise strengthened, I am inclined to the opinion that he has for the present abandoned his plan of attack. My informers also confirm this view by their intelligence.
Since the plan of attack was abandoned, Breckinridge has gone with a portion of his Division to Mobile, and is said to be en route for Virginia.
The condition of the people here is a very alarming one. They literally come down to starvation. Not only in the city but in the country. Planters, who in peaceful times would have spent the summer at Saratoga, are now on their planta- tions, essentially without food.
Hundreds weekly by stealth are coming across the Lake to the City, reporting starvation on the Lake shore. I am dis- tributing in various ways about $50,000 per month in food, and more is needed. This is to the whites. My commissary
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 248
is issuing rations to the amount of nearly double the amount required by the troops. This is to the blacks.
They are now coming in by hundreds, nay thousands almost daily. Many of the plantations are deserted along the "coast," which in this country's phrase means the River, from the City to Natchez. Crops of sugar-cane are left standing to waste. Guerillas interfere with all white labor, which would be peaceable, and impress it into the Rebel army.
The act of Congress which allows no proper punishment to these marauders renders it impossible to restrain them. It is useless to tell me to try them, send the Record to Washington, and then to shoot them if the Record is approved. Events travel altogether too rapidly for that. In the meantime, they hang every Union man they catch, and by their proclamation (see Governor Moore's on file in the War Department) they threaten to hang every man who has my pass. All this, while they are prating in their papers and by the message of Davis about carrying on a civilized warfare.
We have with us a great many Negro women and children, barefoot and half naked. May I ask in what way, in view of the coming winter, these are to be clothed? I can house them. There are houses of rebel Officers enough to cover them. I learn by the Secession Newspapers that I am to be relieved of this Command. If that be so, might I ask that my successor be sent as early as possible, as my own health is not the strong- est, and it would seem but fair that he should take some part of the yellow fever season. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 1st, 1802
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I send enclosed General Order No. 62 of this depart- ment, wherein honorable mention is made of several non- commissioned Officers of this Division for gallant conduct at Baton Rouge. I would suggest that the medals for meritorious services, provided by the act of Congress for soldiers in such case, be forwarded to these brave men.
Since I wrote the Commanding General, I am more and more satisfied that the immediate attack upon this City is put off. My information confirms that from every source.
244 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
The delay is in part owing to the fact that the enemy is building and altering two Gunboats in the Yazoo River, with which he hopes to embarrass the fleet. A movement from above might destroy those boats, which are only guarded by small militia force. We cannot reach them from below, as we must pass Vicksburg to do it.
I take leave to send, for the use of your Office and that of the Commdg. Genl., photographs of our position at Carroll- ton, and the surrounding Country, reduced from a survey that I have thought it necessary to make. The health of the City continues admirable, and the troops are fast recovering from their sickness and fatigue of the Campaign at Vicksburg.
I have succeeded wonderfully in my enlistments of Volun- teers here. A full regiment, three companies of Cavalry — Six hundred to form a new regiment, and more than 1200 men enlisted in the old regiments to fill up the ranks. I shall also have within ten days a Regiment 1000 strong of Native Guards (Colored), the darkest of whom will be about the complexion of the late Mr. Webster.
I shall have the honor to have increased my Division by at least three thousand men. One-fifth of the whole after a Nine Months' Campaign in the unhealthy South. I have the honor to be,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. From Colonel S. Thomas
Head Quarters 8th Regt. Vt. Vols., ALGIERS, LA., Sept. 3rd, 1862 ^f . ~ -o T« T» [Not in chronological order]
May. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: The report of a want of protection for the Negroes is correct, and I have been trying to-day to secure suitable shelter for them, but they have come in upon me so fast I have found it very difficult. Be assured I will spare no pains to care for them, for they are reliable friends. I am
Truly Your obdt. Servant, S. THOMAS, Col 8th Regt. Vt. Vols.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Znd, 1862 ~ , .~ [Not in chronological order]
General PHELPS
GENERAL: I am informed that some of the negro women and children who have sought protection within your lines, are
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 245
not sufficiently provided with shelter from the inclemency of the weather.
You will direct your Division Quartermaster to take pos- session of such houses in your neighborhood as belonged to well-known and ascertained rebels, as will be sufficient to cover those you have and provide for those coming in. I am,
Respectfully Yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. A. F. PUFFER, Capt. & A. D. C.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 1st, 1862
Brig. GenL THOMAS, Adjutant General
GENERAL: A press of much more important business engage- ments have prevented my reporting upon the letter of Captain Porter.
With the Commodore, now Admiral, Farragut, there has been ever the utmost reciprocity of aid and the warmest sympathy.
I was very anxious that the expedition should get off to Vicksburg as early as possible, and I did everything I could do to speed it. Captain Porter in his letter to me expressly so states. The steamer "Empire Parish," which was a boat belonging to a private party here, that had come to the City relying upon the safeguard, was as much within his control as mine. Nay, at the very time Capt. Porter complains, as will be seen by the affidavits herewith submitted, the "Empire Parish" was seized by him and wholly under his control. It will be seen also that at the very time Captain Porter com- plains to the Department of the delays of the Steamer "Fox," she was under the order of Commodore Morris, his senior officer, and in his employ. I enclose the original order which I desire preserved. It is true that the Master of that steamer got drunk and behaved badly at the Passes. That truth Com- modore Porter states, but he omits to state that the Master was punished by instant Discharge.
Why suppress the fact which was known to Capt. Porter? If there is a Naval Officer on the station that will not bear the fullest testimony to the exertions of myself and command, to aid the Navy everywhere and at all times with the exception of Captain Porter, they certainly will do very differently from what they have personally stated to me.
S46 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
My Chief Quartermaster, Col. Shaffer, knows the facts relating to this transaction, and I desire the fullest inquiry should be made of him. I have the honor to be
Your obedient Servant BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Commodore David Porter
U. S. Steamer OCTORARA, off VICKBBURG, July 5th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commdg. U. S. Army
SIR: I was very much surprised to hear through Lt. Commdg Breese that my letter to you of the 12th of June had been severely commented on by you, also that you had accused me of making misstatements. I wrote to you at that time for the purpose of informing you that your orders had been disregarded. As far as related to supplying the mortar vessels with towage, I made no statements whatever other than what I received from Capt. Brady himself, who informed me "that the Capt. of the 'Fox' got drunk, brought up two merchant vessels by private arrangements with the Captains, and had neglected entirely the business on which he was sent." As regards Mr. Eddy, I said he was either not sincere in his efforts to carry out your orders, or else he was not invested with the proper authority to make his subordinates obey him. I see no reason to change the opinion I then ex- pressed. I am much surprised that a gentleman holding your high position should have thought it necessary to have affi- davits taken to prove that I had made misstatements, or that he had been zealous in the performance of an important public duty. As regards the latter, I will add my testimony, and unhesitatingly say that you were prompt in acceding to all my requests, and desirous to promote the interests of the expedition and from the anxiety you displayed to get it off I was induced to appeal to you again, when I found your orders were not obeyed, presuming you would be obliged to me. I never supposed it was a high offense to inform a general that the public duty was neglected, nor did I expect my expressions to be misconstrued into misstatements.
Misstatement is a word I am unused to, and an expression that I will permit no one to apply to me. I have made the above explanation to give you an opportunity of recalling the very offensive language used toward me. Your own sense of
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 247
propriety will tell you that no gentleman would rest quiet under such an imputation. I have the honor to remain, Very respectfully, Your obdt. servant,
DAVID D. PORTER, Commdg. Flotilla
From the Secretary of War
War Department, Adjutant General's Office, WASHINGTON, Oct. 2nd, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER, U. S. Volunteers^ Comdg. Dept.
of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: Your report of September 1st, upon the letter of Commander D. D. Porter, has been submitted to the Secre- tary of War, and is satisfactory. I have the honor to be, Sir, Very respectfully, your obdt. Servant,
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
Monday morning, Sept. 1st [1862]
YESTERDAY there came a telegram from Pope that he was victorious, had driven the rebels, taken a thousand prisoners, lost on our side eight thousand men killed; that the rebels after retreating had made a stand, and the battle would be renewed as soon as reinforcements came up on our side. Later in the day came word that Stonewall Jackson was taken, this is not confirmed. Last evening rumours were afloat that Pope was cut up and forces scattered. I have sent down this morning for the news, and trust we shall hear the last report
is false. Tim and George Pearsons were both here last
night. Tim will send you a speech of Ward Beecher's
wherein you are commented on and praised, he says. Harriet has returned with the news. The rebels have the advantage. Pope is driven back to Centreville. He is reinforced, and will make a stand there. Fisher on his return from Fortress Monroe will be likely to bring the children back. Fifty sur- geons have gone to Washington from Boston. During Sun- day the churches were dismissed, and the ladies in great numbers spent the day in scraping lint, rolling bandages, and packing luxuries to be forwarded to the sick and wounded. Tomorrow may bring us better accounts. I expected a letter from you today. You have not written the two last mails. Am I to conclude you have adopted what you proposed to me, to send only a bulletin of health? In your case, the news-
248 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
papers would make the announcement. In those sent to Mr. Webster there is no mention of your health, so I trust you are well, and every day the danger is growing less. When you receive this letter I wish you to answer it, and tell me truly whether I am to go or not; write just as you desire it. With earnest love and tenderest regard,
Your affectionate WIFE
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
September 1st, 1862
MY DEAHEST SARAH: The "Secesh" newspapers say that I am to be relieved from my command. Be it so. I shall be very glad to get home to you and the children. No better thing can happen to me personally, but God help Genl. Dix if he is to manage this people for the next six months — and especially without previous experience.
Get Home! is it possible there is any such good hope for me. I trust so. I do not feel aggrieved at this order — it is all for the best for me personally, and I am in condition to be relieved, having borne all the burden and heat of summer. It is right, of course, that another should come here when it is healthy. Now, then, to count the days until I see you and home. I send you by bearer a little package which will speak of repose. When I come I shall bring you the nicest washer, mender, ironer, and chamber girl you ever saw, that takes the best possible care of my clothes, — has no possible fault but a devil of a temper, and is much attached to your humble ser- vant. She is not quite as black as the ace of spades, but about the color of "maple molasses." I say attached) for she quarrels with all the servants for stealing my cigars, and insists upon my wearing a fresh pair of white pantaloons every day. If that isn't proof of attachment, as she has to wash them, I should like to know what is. She has no master; he has run away, so I shall be interfering with nobody's rights. I have had no letter yet since the tenth of August — we are expecting a mail every day.
Now, dearest, get fat, saucy, and lively, and we will throw away all care and have such a good time. I mean to do noth- ing but stay at home all through the Indian summer, and ride out on horseback with you. Don't you want to ride? Kiss Paul and Bennie for me — tell them I am coming home and that we will play "tag." Say to them that I am not so
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 249
fat as I was last fall, so I can run better and have better sport.
Goodbye, dearest, for a while. ^ „
Your HUSBAND
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. &£, 1862
Senor JUAN CALLEJON, Spanish Consul
SIR: I enclose to you for information a copy of a report of the Quarantine Physician. I have directed the two Spanish vessels to be allowed to come up at once in accordance with the recommendation of the Health Officer.
The "Cardenas" will be up as soon as her Cargo is loaded.
You will see the wretched state of health of the Italian Bark, showing the necessity of the strictest Quarantine. With senti- ments of regard and esteem, I am
Your Obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From Joseph Elliott
NEW ORLEANS, September 2, 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: From some Military authority I was told that you was going to leave New Orleans, for some other quarter; I am really sorry to learn that news. If you would confer a favor to me, I will ask you to let me send you my fine car- riage and driver every day until you leave us; I shall be proud if you satisfy my wishes, for all your kindness to me in several occasions. Please send word to me by Gilbert. I
Very respectfully Yours, JOSEPH ELLIOTT
Endorsed: Thank Mr. Elliott for his consideration.
BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. td, 1862
The Quartermaster General
SIR: I am desired to give Messrs. Stanton & Palmer Cer- tificates of the use of their boats, the "St. Charles" & the "Anglo American." The one was taken possession of on the first of May by the Army, and the second on the 12th of May, and been used till the 28th of July.
I give this Certificate because there is nowhere any Quarter- master whose knowledge covers the whole time as mine does.
250 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
There are large repairs done on the "Anglo American" before she was fit for use. The "St. Charles " was at least one-quarter owned by admitted rebels.
Having agreed that Messrs. Stanton & Palmer should have their bpats, having been recovered from the rebels — one of them captured in rebel military employ, I think the Govt. has done its full duty to these Gentlemen, specially as the Agent of their firm was kept in existence here all through rebel rule here, and the firm actually subscribed $500 to the Two Million defence Loan of the City of New Orleans. In other words, I believe the Government has done its duty to them quite as well as they have to the Government, and if the matter was within my discretion I should not allow the Claim for use of the Boats. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLEK, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From K S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, MASS., September Znd, 1862
Major General BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 20th instant has come to hand. I note your draft on me for $25,000 in gold, and as it is rising I have telegraphed to New York for the purchase of it, by the advice of my father. Shall write you fully when the purchase is complete and the draft paid. Yesterday, gold was quoted in New York at say 117 to 117£.
Very truly yours, R. S. FAY, JR.
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, September 2d, 1862
To Major General BUTLER, Commanding, &c.,
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: I enclose herewith for your information copies of several communications addressed by the Department of State to the diplomatic representatives of Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands in this city, growing out of the conflict between the military authorities and the consuls of those Countries at New Orleans. y r rruiu
EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec. of War
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 251
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of Stale, WASHINGTON, ZQth Aug., 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Honorable WILLIAM STUART
SIR: In the matter of the seizure in New Orleans of certain sugars, made by the order of Major General Butler, and claimed by certain Greek, English, and other foreign mer- chants, I have the honor to state that the same, under the authority of the President, was investigated by the Honorable Reverdy Johnson, during his recent mission to New Orleans, and that he has reported to this Department that the sugars should be returned. This report having been approved by the President, directions will be given to the Major General, or the commanding officer of the United States at New Orleans, to release the sugars to the claimants. A copy of so much of Mr. Johnson's report as relates to the transaction is herewith enclosed for your information.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Department of State, WASHINGTON, ZQth August, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Viscount TREILHARD
SIR: You have already been informed that the complaint made by your Legation to this Department, concerning a request or requirement made by Major General Butler, com- manding at New Orleans, upon Count Mejan, the French Consul there, that he would retain ($716,196) seven hundred and sixteen thousand, one hundred and ninety-six dollars which he said was deposited with him by Messrs. Dupasseur & Co., was by me referred to the examination of the Honorable Reverdy Johnson, who had been appointed by the President as a Commissioner for this Department.
I have now the honor to inform you that Mr. Johnson has performed the duty confided to him, and has submitted his report thereupon. I think it proper to furnish you with so much of Mr. Johnson's general report as relates to that trans- action, and I have further to state that it has been approved by the President.
In accordance with the conclusions of the report, I have the honor to advise you that instructions will at once be given to Major General Butler, or the actual military authority at
352 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
New Orleans, to relinquish all claim on behalf of the United States upon the fund in question, so that Count Mejan will be at liberty to pay it to whomsoever may be entitled to receive the same.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, Sir, the assurances of my high consideration.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 2(MA August, 1862 £Not in chronological order]
Mr. ROEST VAN LlMBTJRG, &C.9 &C.9 &C.
SIR: The Honorable Reverdy Johnson, who, as you have heretofore been informed, was appointed by this Depart- ment as Commissioner to proceed to New Orleans and investi- gate, among other affairs, transactions which occurred there affecting the Consul of the Netherlands and certain subjects of the King of the Netherlands, under the direction of Major General Butler, has performed that duty, has submitted his reports concerning the same, and they have been approved by the President.
I have thought it not improper to furnish you, for the infor- mation of your Government, a complete copy of so much of those reports as relates to the transaction herein above mentioned.
As a result of the approval of Mr. Johnson's proceeding in the premises, I have now the honor to inform you that the eight hundred thousand dollars in coin which was taken by Colonel Shepley, under direction of Major General Butler, from the possession of Amedie Conturie, the Consul of the Netherlands at New Orleans, and which was claimed to have been deposited with him to the use of Messrs. Hope and Com- pany of Amsterdam, and which is more particularly described in the correspondence which has heretofore taken place between yourself and this Department, will be restored by the Major General, or other United States officer commanding at New Orleans, to either Mr. Conturie, the Consul of the Netherlands, or to Mr. Forstall, as the agent of Messrs. Hope and Company, or to the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana, whichsoever of them you may designate. I refer the designation to yourself, because your Government has intervened in regard to the transaction, whereby its consent to the designation has become necessary, and it will of course be conclusive.
Secondly, I proceed to speak of the articles of property
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 253
other than coin, described specifically by part Number Two, in a statement of the said Consul, Mr. Conturie, dated May 13th, 1862, and which was submitted to this Department by you, — as follows :
"One tin box, to which we give the name of a Bank box in this city locked, containing 1st. Ten bonds of the consolidated debt of the city of New Orleans for (1000) One thousand dollars each, making the nominal value of Ten thousand dollars. 2nd. Eight bonds of the city of Mobile of the value of (1000) One thousand dollars each, the nominal value of which is (8000) Eight thousand dollars, claimed by Mr. Conturie to have been deposited with him on the 12th day of April last by Edmund J. Forstall, Esq., in the capacity of Agent, and as the property of Messrs. Hope and Company. 3rd. Divers papers, being titles and deeds, the Consular Commission of Mr. Conturie and his Executor;
"No. 3. Six other tin boxes, marked with the name of Amedie Conturie, containing private deeds, silverware, &c., which boxes are claimed to be the property of divers persons for whom he was acting as agent.
"No. 4- Two or more tin boxes, the property of the Hope Insurance Company of the City of New Orleans, which occu- pied a portion of the premises in which the Consulate is located."
The extracts from Mr. Johnson's report will show you that under his direction all this property would have been delivered to Mr. Conturie if he had not declined to accept it, for reasons specified by him in a letter to Mr. Johnson. Upon his thus declining, the eighteen bonds were delivered by Major General Butler, under Mr. Johnson's direction, to Mr. Forstall as agent for Messrs. Hope and Company; a copy of his receipt for the same is herewith transmitted to you, and the original will be handed to you or given to whomsoever you may indi- cate. The other articles named in said statement No. Two, will be delivered by Major General Butler, or other officer commanding at New Orleans, to Mr. Conturie, unless you shall designate some other person to receive them.
In your note of the 28th of July last, you informed me that your government shared the satisfaction which you had experienced when, on a previous occasion, I announced to you that the President and Government of the United States viewed the conduct of the military authorities of New Orleans, in regard to the transactions in which Mr. Conturie, the Con-
254 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
sul of the Netherlands, was concerned, as a violation of the Law of Nations, and that they disapproved of it and disap- proved the sanction which had been given to it by Major Genl. Butler. You added, however, that your Government flattered itself that the United States would go farther, and that in the view of the government of the Netherlands the gravity and publicity of the outrage (as you are pleased to call these transactions) demand that the Government of the United States give public evidence of its regret, for example by manifesting by some public act its dissatisfaction with Major General Butler.
You further add that the Government of the Netherlands, considering, until proof is received to the contrary, that Mr. Conturie, its Consul, has acted in good faith, expects that the Government of the United States will not refuse to do like- wise, and that it will please, consequently, to invite the Consul, who on the avowal of the American Government itself has been very ill-used, to resume his Consular functions.
I cannot avoid thinking that these requests are made by your Government under a mistaken idea that the United States for some reason desire in some way to cover or conceal from the World the proceedings which they have taken in regard to these questions. If this be true, your Government has fallen into a serious error. The whole of the proceedings have been direct, frank, and unreserved. The United States, as you are aware, did not only express their regret for the transaction and their dissatisfaction with General Butler in the premises in the language you have quoted, but they also sent an Agent to ascertain the extent of the injuries which were complained of, to the end that they might promptly be redressed and that restitution might be made.
That redress has now been made, and that restitution ordered immediately upon the facts on which it depended having been established. Moreover, you were advised in my former com- munication that, simultaneously with the appointment of Mr. Johnson as Commissioner, Major General Butler was relieved of his functions as Military Governor of New Orleans, and Brigadier General Shepley was appointed military Gov- ernor of that city. The Military authorities were at the same time directed to invite Mr. Conturie to resume his Consular functions. These proceedings fully appear in the official cor- respondence which has taken place between yourself and this department. This correspondence is not a private but a public
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 255
one, which your government is at entire liberty to promul- gate without reserve whenever it shall please to do so; and, whether your government shall think proper to so promulgate it or not, it will, according to our national habit, be communi- cated without any reservation to Congress on their assembling here on the first Monday of December next. Nor is it at all a matter of reserve on the part of this Government that the dis- satisfaction with Major General Butler's precipitancy and harshness in the transactions concerned were among the causes for transferring the administration of public affairs at New Orleans to General Shepley. It is very true, Sir, as you remark, that Mr. Conturie has been very ill-used, and upon that ground General Shepley will be directed to invite him to resume his consular functions at New Orleans, if indeed he has not done so already under previous instructions. But I must nevertheless accompany this invitation with the declaration that, in the judgment of this Government, Mr. Conturie has acted through- out the transactions which have been reviewed, and even throughout the investigation of them which has taken place, in a manner that was very indiscreet, and calculated, though I presume not intended, to embarrass the relations between your country and our own, and that unless his conduct hence- forth shall exhibit more of consideration for the authority of the United States, it must not be expected that the President will be content with his remaining in the Consulate at New Orleans.
I trust, Sir, that your government will be satisfied that the United States have resolved the questions which have been discussed in a spirit not only of good faith, but also of friend- ship and good will towards their ancient and esteemed friend, the Netherlands.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, Sir, the assurance of my very high consideration.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Department of State, WASHINGTON, Z5th Aug., 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to acquaint you that this Depart- ment has been informed by the Minister of the Netherlands, accredited to this Government, that since the 10th day of May last Mr. Amedie Conturie has not exercised the func- tions of Consul of the Netherlands at New Orleans, and that
256 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the Count de Mejan, the Consul of France at the same port, is charged ad interim with these functions. The Count de Mejan has consequently been recognised as the temporary Consul of the Netherlands for that port. I am sir
Your obedient Servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
Wednesday evening, LOWELL, Sept. Sd, '62
DEAREST: Major and Mrs. Bell came today. He brought me your note and the pistol case. They come up on Friday next to spend the day. I was very glad to get your note, and so thankful your annoyance, perhaps I should say your anger, is passed in part. But you are grave, and do not wish me to join you. From anything that I know, I see no likelihood or very little of your returning home this winter. If you are to remain, I should be very sorry to pass the winter here. After the month of October is past, I should have more fear of en- countering storms on the coast. I had decided to start the fairest time in the month. I do not think you will be recalled; if someone else is sent to New Orleans, you may still be kept somewhere about the Gulf. If you are to change from point to point, fighting your way, remember I do not trouble you in times of danger; indeed, I hope not to do so at any time, but rather to encourage and sustain so far as my slight ability will permit. Think then, again, if the chances are that you remain, as I think they must be, if you still consider it better to stay there for the next six months without me. If you have a reluctance lest I should embarrass your movements, or any reason why you do not wish me to go, I must cease to urge it. That I would rather go is very clear. In truth, I know not very well how I can stay. Major Strong is on the way to join you, give him my regards and the other gentlemen whom I knew best. Say to Mr. Chubbuck that he has a letter from me, three weeks on the road, and I hear it is now no further advanced than Fortress Monroe. Fisher has not yet returned from Washington. The news is of the most doleful kind. The rebels are within twelve miles of Washington, and Jackson is reported to be advancing on Baltimore by Leesburg with forty thousand men. McClellan commands the defences about Washington. The hospitals, hotels, the college at Georgetown, and even the White House, if I am not mistaken, all are filled with the wounded and dying. The newspapers pour forth ex-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 257
clamations, and urge the new regiments to hurry forward. The women are packing delicacies and scraping lint. Cincinnati is threatened. The Gov. has proclaimed martial law, stopped business, and ordered the citizens to prepare for defence. The excitement has never been greater or the danger more alarm- ing. I think Fisher will not return without the children. The coming week will have a fearful story for one side or the other; in fact, for both. The rebels are attacking at all points, and you expect them at New Orleans. But if you have the Fleet there I cannot think they will venture it. Yet, they seem desperate, so it is well to expect them. Believe me, I am proud enough of you already, and do not want a danger to enhance that feeling. My "affections do not that way tend," nor will I disturb you hereafter with vain imaginings, but write to you all I can gather that I think will interest. I am glad you think your last letter a little too severe. Nothing can exceed the kindliness, the tenderness, I feel toward you, the sympathy and pity, obliged to stay in that hot town while the summer lasts. I have but one regret, that I did not stay with you, yet I believe I should have died if I had tried it. And you could not spare me very well, trouble as I am. The children are very well, and talk much of what you are doing. I shall be all ready when you send for me.
Most affectionately, Your WIFE
I wish you would destroy all my letters or send them back, lest they should be read, or even published if they fell into the wrong hands. The news today is no better. Heaven, keep, save and bless you! SARAH
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS. Sept. 4th, 1862
To the Treasurer of the City of NEW ORLEANS
SIR: Enclosed herewith please find Three thousand and one hundred and eighty-two 50/100 Dollars, ($3182.50), being the amount recovered by my order from Mr. Pelie, late City Surveyor, which was taken from the Treasury unjustifiably under the following circumstances.
Messrs. Pelie, father and son, have held the office of City
Surveyors for forty years or thereabouts. Of course, in the
execution of that Office, it was their duty without other
reward than their salaries to have put upon the City books all
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258 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the real property of the City which had come to their knowl- edge, and this they did do, — but Pelie, the younger, being about to resign his Office on the 1st of June last, because he would not take the oath of allegiance, claimed of the City five per cent Commission for property to which he had ascer- tained the title of the City and put upon his books. This claim covered the time from 1846 to the present.
The finance committee of the Government, themselves about to retire for the same reason, being the same men who had wrongfully invested almost one-third of a million of the Charity fund of the City entrusted to them, approved that bill by means whereof these Three thousand Dollars were taken out of the City without the knowledge of the acting Mayor.
This seemed to be part of the last desperate plunge of the hands of unprincipled men in the City Treasury, and this amount, as soon as it came to my knowledge, I caused to be disgorged and now return it to you. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. 5, '62
DEAREST: Major Bell came today and took dinner with us. Mrs. Bell was sick, she will come up with him next week to pass the day. Of course, I had time to ask a great many questions, and from what he tells me I see no reason why you should not come home. When Gen. Shepley is fairly estab- lished nothing could give me so much pleasure, and I know well enough how you would rejoice to come. But for a man holding a position like yours a change requires consideration. What can the Government do with you? It would be easier for them to send you reinforcements to attack in the Gulf, than find a place for you here, unless there is an opening ready for you. They cannot allow a man like you to rest quietly at home. You have shown such efficiency there would be clamour if you were not employed in these disastrous times. You might leave for a time, and try your own powers of persuasion for reinforcements at Washington, but I cannot see how you can be withdrawn from the Gulf until you can be transferred to another place. If Gen. Shepley takes the full authority of a Military Gov., it is clear there is nothing left for you to do in that one town. If he has the ability and energy to hold it
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 259
with the force you have there, then it is equally clear that you want a force to do service elsewhere. But I think you will have to come north to get it. And then, if you go back I will return with you. Fisher and George have gone to Baltimore to put their freight on a sailing vessel, the steamer is to be returned to New York and put on the stocks for repairs. I advise them to sell the freight and start new. I shall know when they return. I have told Fisher to bring back the pic- tures. If ever I get them they will not be sent again, but I will forward copies as soon as I can get them taken, by mail. Blanche and Florence have returned. Our army is driven clear back to their old entrenchments. Two days ago there was a report that Jackson with forty thousand men was in Baltimore, etc. Fisher did not dare to leave them. I shall send them back as soon as there is a feeling of confidence. Mr. Maginnis called, I carried him over to Dracut to see Mrs. Parker at Milton's request, and showed him all necessary attentions. He told me a Mr. Baldwin, to whom you entrusted a letter to me, desired him to say to me that the letter was blown overboard with some letters of credit of his own, by care- lessly pulling them out of his pocket while he was on deck. I hope the letter contained nothing of importance. I think it safer always to send by mail unless an intimate friend is coming to the same town you wish to send it. Now I must tell you something funny. You sent me the key to the pistol case, and asked me to be careful of it as you valued it highly as a present. I took one glance and felt no further curiosity until today, nearly a week from the time it came. I must say on examination they are the finest possible. I do not wonder you desired me to take care of them. They are the prettiest gems of pistols, — if ever I fight a duel it shall be with these, and you shall figure as second. What do you think, dearest, the summer is over with us, almost with you, how I have wished it away; one month more and the danger of climate is over. I am less oppressed with anxiety and restlessness, and am really getting flesh, and spirits to move with life and pleas- ure. Would you like to see me gay, saucy, and a little boister- ous when you return? If you are thin, the voyage home will bring you up, and after a week at home the whole expedition with all its attendant dangers will seem like a romance read of another's life. You will be welcomed by all, but by none so dearly as I shall welcome you.
Ever most affectionately, SARAH
260 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Gen. George F. Shepley
State of Louisiana, Executive Department, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 5th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of letter from the Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, in relation to the case of Mr. McLaurin, a British subject, whose release is requested as a favor by Earl Russell, as you will see by the papers which accompanied the letter of the Secretary of State, and which are herewith submitted for your examination.
If McLaurin is not already released, I have the honor to request that you will discharge him, if, in your opinion, con- sistent with the public interest. With great respect, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
G. F. SHEPLEY, Military Governor of Louisiana
(After perusal, please return the documents other than the letter of the Secy, of State.)
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of State, WASHINGTON, ISth August 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To General GEORGE F. SHEPLEY, Military Governor of
NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I enclose a copy of an instruction from Earl Russell to the British Charge d'Affairs here, and of the papers by which it was accompanied, asking for the release of a Mr. McLaurin, a countryman of his, who, it appears, has been imprisoned on a charge of being concerned in the importation of rifles at New Orleans for the use of the insurgents. As the release is asked for as a favor, on account of the age of the prisoner, and of his having a dependent family, it would be advisable to grant it under the circumstances, unless there should be objec- tions of which we are not aware. The case is accordingly com- mended to your favorable consideration by
Your obedient Servant , WILLIAM H. SEWARD
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 261
Foreign Office, August 2nd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
The Honorable WILLIAM STUART, &c., &c.9 &c.
SIB: I enclose a letter from Mr. Scholefield, the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, forwarding a Declaration sworn to by Mr. Goodman, the Chairman of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade, relating to Mr. McLaurin, a native of Scotland, established in business at New Orleans, who is reported to have been placed under arrest on suspicion of being implicated in the purchase and importation of Rifles for the Confederate Army.
I have to instruct you to take an early opportunity of plac- ing these papers unofficially in Mr. Seward's hands, and sug- gesting to him that as I am informed Mr. McLaurin is advanced in years, and has a family entirely depending upon him, and entire credence may be given to any statement supported by Mr. Scholefield, it would be an act of kindness on Mr. Seward's part if he were to use his good offices in procuring Mr. McLaurin's immediate release. I am with great truth, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, RUSSELL
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6tkt 1862
Hon. Geo. F. SHEPLEY, Military Governor of Louisiana
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 5th, with enclosure of Hon. W. H. Seward and Earl Russell in regard to Archibald McLaurin.
Mr. McLaurin was arrested upon information that arms were consigned to him, and that he was engaged in selling them to the Confederates, — being a breach of our laws and the Proclamation of Her Majesty the Queen.
After his arrest, Mr. McLaurin made a full apparently frank statement under oath of the facts in relation to the arms and his connection therewith, which statement exculpates him and inculpates the President of the Birmingham Arms Co. This affair I have already had the honor to forward to the State Department. Mr. McLaurin was therefore discharged upon his parole to appear as a witness when wanted. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com.
262 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Richard S. Fay, Jr., to General Butler
NIAGARA FALLS, Sept. 6, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: My father has forwarded to me yours of 17th with his answer, which I confirm as precisely correct. Your misapprehension arises from my having opened two accounts with you on my books, one for the money and divi- dends you left with me, and the other for our business transac- tions since your departure. So far from crediting the Govt. the Naval Paymasters' draft $10,000.00, I have credited the Govt. nothing. Everything shipped by you, or its proceeds, stands to your individual credit, and is subject to your draft or order, with the exception of the profits upon your first four shipments. These amounts I cannot pay to any one until it is decided between you and the Dept. to whom it belongs. I am joint agent of yourself and the Govt., and I mean to do my duty equally to both. It is only since Col. Butler has sent me corrected invoices of these shipments that I have known what these profits were. From your present letter I presume that 12% exchange for prem. on gold is to be added to the cost of the goods, and I shall so add it. Please remark that this is the first time that I have had the materials for making up this account correctly furnished to me.
On my return to Boston, I shall have the pleasure of send- ing you account sales of these cargoes, having already sent Col. Butler sales of all subsequent ones. I shall also enclose you a copy of your letter accompanying the first invoices, containing distinct instructions to offer this mdse. to the Govt., and enclosing a letter to the Sec'y. of War offering them your- self. In my opinion the letter is capable of but one construc- tion, that upon which I acted. You say in the letter I have just received, "I wish to know that I am not wronged in the account.'* If you alluded to my account, or to my acts for your account, I shall feel obliged if you will name some one versed in business to whom I may turn over your affairs, after satisfying him that my stewardship has been honest if not able. I do not think, however, you have any such mean- ing, but are annoyed through the misapprehension I have already alluded to. I am very sorry to learn that you are in trouble at New Orleans through the neglect of the Dept. No one has deserved its cordial support so well, and if through their fault you lose the splendid position you have gained, they will deserve and obtain the unbounded execration of every
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 263
decent man at the North. The administration has forfeited all confidence, it is unsuccessful in everything, in choice of men and planning of measures, it has proved utterly weak, vacillating, and cowardly. I believe as fully as I believe any- thing that there are impending such disasters as will compel a change not only of our rulers but of our form of Government, and that we shall be purified by fire to a better order of things,
If matters in New Orleans take the course you apprehend. I suppose any shipments there will be nearly a total loss. It will take pretty nearly all I am worth, but I should care little for that compared to the injury to the cause that the loss of the city would prove.
The story of the recent fighting before Richmond is as usual, defeat and disaster to our forces. If the enemy does not take Baltimore, it will be because he does not want it. I am here for my health, which is very much impaired by my hard sum- mer's work. I return to Boston in about a week
Very truly yours, RICH. S. FAY, JR.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6th, 1862
Rev. J. T. CHAMPLIN, President of Waterville College
MY DEAR SIR: Your note informing me of the very kind and complimentary action of the board of Trustees of Water- ville College has reached me here.
Deeply affected by the remembrance of my Alma Mater, cheering me in the path of duty, for the performance of which her solid teachings were an appropriate fitting, I shall cherish her smiles as the highest reward I can receive for any effort.
Please carry to the Trustees individually my regards and thanks for the degree conferred upon me. I am
Most truly your friend, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From Sidney S. Norton
Custom House, NEW YORK, 4th Division, Collector's Office, Sept. 6, 1862
Hon. WILLIAM BARNEY, Collector of Customs, N.Y.
SIR: Since the first day of June last, the date of the Presi- dent's Proclamation declaring the ports of New Orleans, Port Royal, and Beauport open to the Commerce of the World, one hundred and sixty-two vessels, many of them large Steam- ers, have been cleared at this port with Cargoes for the port
264 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
of New Orleans alone. On opening these ports, it was deemed prudent by the Treasury Department to declare certain goods contraband of War, a list of which has been furnished this office, and by which we have been governed.
This list, it will be perceived, left a wide margin for ship- ments, and our merchants have availed themselves very largely of the privilege of shipping such goods as are not in- cluded in this Schedule, on which, in some instances, fortunes have been made by a single venture.
Steamers have been chartered, at the round sum of one thousand dollars per day, for a voyage out and back, usually occupying at least three weeks, and the charterers have in some instances paid the entire amount of the charter by the sale of the single article of flour on arrival out. Immense quantities of almost every variety of goods, among which may be mentioned the item of ninety thousand barrels of flour, have been sent from this port: more than sufficient, it would seem, to supply the wants of the city, and it is believed that a large portion of the goods thus hurried into New Orleans will find its way into the hands of those who favor the interest of the rebels.
The high prices ruling in rebeldom on certain articles offer great inducements to men of "easy loyalty" to supply the wants and necessities of the rebels, and when trade is so brisk and so varied as it necessarily must be, at the present time, it cannot reasonably be expected that the rules be confined to loyal persons.
Take, for example, the article of Sulphate of Quinine, which is not included in the list of articles declared contraband by the Secretary of the Treasury, and we can see at once the extraordinary inducements offered to smuggle it into the rebel army. It is estimated that at least twenty-five thousand ounces of this, to them indispensable medicine, have been shipped at this port alone for New Orleans since the first day of June; an amount which no one for a moment believes is required or needed for the use of our army, or the loyal people at that port. While the prices here have varied from two to two and a half dollars per ounce, the rebels have paid as high as sixty dollars per ounce for it. Other articles of a similar character, such as morphine, chloroform, surgical instruments, and many other articles sadly needed in the rebel army, it is believed, have found their way into rebel hands by reason of the enormous prices ruling there, and if so, the opening of
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER £65
these ports may be considered of doubtful benefit and may perhaps be the means of prolonging the War.
Respectfully submitted, SIDNEY S. NORTON
From Major General R. Taylor
Head Quarters Dist. Westn. La., THIBODEAUXVILLE, Sept. 8, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding U. S. Forces at NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I send the Hon. R. C. Wickliffe, a distinguished citizen and a former Governor of the state of Louisiana, as the bearer of this communication to you.
My object in making it is, in the first place, to inform you that by appointment of my Government I am in command of all that portion of Louisiana which lies west of the Mississippi river, and farther to state that the troops with which I have hitherto conducted and shall continue to conduct military operations in this District, are men only as have been regularly enrolled in the service of the Confederate States, together with the State forces which have been turned over to me by the Governor of Louisiana under the laws of the State and of the Confederate States.
My main object, however, is to address you as the Senior officer of the United States Government in charge of its forces waging war in this portion of the Confederate States, with respect to some recent occurrence in this state by troops under your command.
Marauding expeditions, started either from the city of New Orleans or from some point on the Opelomay Rail Road, have fallen upon the line of coast on both banks of the Mississippi River for a space of at least thirty miles above the city. Their track has been marked with devastation and ruin. The dwell- ings of its peaceable and unoffending inhabitants have been entered and pillaged by a ruthless soldiery. Every movable ob- ject upon their plantation and in their homes has been either car- ried off or destroyed — nor has there been any distinction of person or of sex. The rich and the poor made to suffer alike, women and children have been exposed to indecent search, and articles of apparel or of ornament taken from their person.
I do not derive the knowledge of this condition of things from the sufferers alone — letters written and diaries kept by officers and men, some of the very parties engaged in these lawless and inhuman acts, whom the fortune of war has placed
266 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
in my hands, discloses a scene the horrors of which no language can exaggerate.
I hesitate to believe that these excesses can have been sanc- tioned by the authorities of the United States, who are respon- sible for the proper conduct of their troops in the localities they occupy; or that the well-known perpetrators of them will be permitted to go unpunished. I need not say that this is not civilized warfare, and that the sanction or tolerance of it by your Government will lead to the most summary reprisals by my own.
I have in my possession one hundred and thirty-six of your officers and men, the survivors of one of these predatory bands. Many of them when taken were found with objects of more or less value which they had plundered from our help- less citizens. I have determined to suspend the operation of the General cartel with respect to these men, until I can com- municate with and receive instructions from my Government. But in order to protect for the future the non-combatants residing within my district from the repetition of their acts of lawless violence, I shall be compelled to work the most strin- gent measures I have it in my power to adopt.
I have accordingly to notify you that upon a repetition of them, I shall select by lot from among the prisoners in my hands ten officers and men for immediate execution; leaving the responsibility for inaugurating this sytem of warfare to act upon your Government, to which for its toleration of this conduct of its troops it will properly belong. I am, General,
Your obt. servt., R. TAYLOR, M aj. Gen. Comdg. Dist. Western, La.
By General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qidf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. IQth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
General RICHARD TAYLOR, Commanding
GENERAL: I received your letter by the Hon. R. C. Wick- liffe, in whom I at once recognized a gentleman of the highest respectability, but I take leave to suggest that a flag of truce, bearing communications from one military officer to another, is usually in charge of an officer of the Command of the party sending it.
I am pleased to be informed as to the Command of the Confederate forces on the Western side of the Mississippi.
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 267
No information has reached these Headquarters, save by your note, of the occurrences of which you write. The troops at the Bayou des Allemands were an advance post guarding a Railroad bridge, and not an expedition at all, nor were they allowed to go on any expedition up the coast or elsewhere, so that upon this topic I am constrained to believe you were misinformed.
I need not say that acts such as you describe are neither ordered nor tolerated by the Government or by myself. I enclose a copy of my General Orders and also the Orders of the War Department upon this subject.
That unlicensed acts are committed by troops on march- ing service is the well-known fact of all civilized warfare.
If any deeds such as you describe have been committed, and you will send me the written evidence which you may have, together with the parties, my acts heretofore should convince you that they will be properly punished. Therefore, if you have the guilty parties you will do well to allow them to be exchanged, as it will be impossible for me to ascertain their guilt if you retain them.
I could have wished that this answer to your communica- tion could have ended here, and that you could have contented yourself not to threaten.
It is true you have 136 men duly enlisted in the 8th Ver- mont Regiment, including their officers. But how captured? In part by ambush of a supply train. This savors rather of Indian than of civilized warfare. "But the worst remains behind." I am informed that the Guerilla force which made the capture of the Post at Bayou des Allemands raised a flag of truce, that it was answered by another flag from my men, the bearers of which were seized and detained. That a second flag was sent out to request the return of the first, that this also was seized, and the bearers of both were placed at the head of the advancing column so that my men could fire only upon their friends. Is this civilized or savage warfare? It reads precisely like the history of similar strategy by Tous- saint POuverture toward the French forces in San Domingo, and would seem therefore to be not even original.
I say most unhesitatingly, General, that I do not suspect even that this act was in any way known to or sanctioned by yourself, educated in the United States and the son of one who led the United States Army to victory, and died the recipient of his whole country's highest honors.
268 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
The mischief arises from the employment of a Guerilla force of undisciplined and lawless men, brought from a neigh- boring state into ,a community where they have neither inter- est nor restraint. Now, I am aware that your authorities have called this force "Partisan Rangers," but that neither alters their conditions, their habits, their disposition, or acts. Lawless violence has been and will ever be the distinguishing character of such force. Organized originally in Spain and Mexico, from a part which these men came, it is known what they will do, nay what they must do. Now, although I have some thirty of the very men who so abused a flag of truce, I shall make no threats of reprisal.
I take leave to call your attention to the fact that I sub- mitted through Mr. Deslonde a proposition to you that some arrangement may be made by which non-combatants might have some protection from the severities and hardships of war. You are reported to me by Thos. O. Moore, who assumed to be the Commander of the forces at Opelousas, and took upon himself to answer my communication to that officer, through some supposed Adjutant General, to have declined any arrangement for the protection of non-combatants, because they would need none if the war was conducted on our side as the Confederate Government has always conducted it, according to the rules of civilized warfare.
I am at a loss to distinguish between the conduct of the State and the Confederate Governments.
If the proclamation of the late Governor Moore, which promises short shrift to those who may even buy provisions to keep them from starving in New Orleans, which threatens each person leaving my lines with my pass with imprison- ment; if, in its intent, its meaning, and scope that Proclama- tion is according to any rules or usage of either civilized or uncivilized warfare, I have failed to have been informed of them.
That burning cotton of peaceable planters, rolling their sugar into the river, and destroying their sugar houses, as has been done all along the river by "Partisan Rangers," and that too to their very friends and sympathizers for the crime of only desiring to sell their crop and getting something to buy provisions for themselves and their negroes, is not civil- ized, I certainly need not remind a late soldier of the United States Army.
Firing upon an unarmed boat filled with women and female
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 269
school children, and almost with those only, is neither civilized nor brave.
As an example of the unacquaintance [with] the rules of civilized warfare of a portion of the forces under your com- mand, please take the firing of thirty men, protected by a village, with double-barrel shot-guns, upon a United States Steam Sloop of War passing quietly down the river.
I shall only fatigue you by enumeration. I have within my lines and my power five times one hundred and thirty officers and men of the Confederate Service as prisoners of war, from a Brigadier General to the inconsiderate lad of six- teen. I shall treat these with every courtesy due their posi- tion. No hair on the head of one of my captured soldiers ought to be touched upon any pretext of reprisal or retalia- tion. I trust you will reconsider your determination to do so in any event.
That I punish the guilty marauders with promptness, the women and children of New Orleans who sleep in calm undis- turbed quiet under our flag will tell you. That I deal gener- ously with my enemies, a thousand and nineteen families of Confederate soldiers, now being fed from my rations will testify. That I will take care of, protect, and avenge the wrongs and lives of my fellow-soldiers, confided to my care, you, as a soldier, can judge. I have the honor to be,
Your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Comd'g
P.S. Since writing this note, I have received a letter from Commander Porter. If true it only adds another example of the infelicity of employing such Partisan forces. If false, it shows the danger of reprisals and retaliation upon any report
whatever- Respectfully, B. F. B.
From Commodore W. D. Porter
On board U. S. Gunboat Essex, of NEW ORLEANS
Major General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I understand you have this day captured some Guerillas.
On the 15th August my fourth Master, Mr. Spencer Kellogg, with four of my seamen from the "Essex," were made prison- ers by some Guerillas at Port Hudson, when engaged in cutting adrift some flatboats used by the Rebels for conveyance of
270 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
supplies from West Bank to the East Bank of the Mississippi; the next day they were hanged. So I understand from a citizen of Bayou Sara, in whom I have much confidence.
I would ask you under the circumstances that retribution be carried out, and would respectfully suggest that for each seaman of mine hanged, one Guerilla be shot and for my
Very respectfully, Your obdt. Servant, W. D. PORTER, Commodore U. S. Navy.
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase
NEW ORLEANS, September 9th, 1862 *
DEAR SIR: The newspapers which I send, will give you most of the local news.
One Regiment of the Free Colored Brigade is full, and about 500 more are already enlisted. Surgeons and officers speak highly of the physical qualities of the men. Most of them are a very light color, and, I believe, will make good soldiers. I admire the characteristic shrewdness with which Gen. Butler has managed this affair. By accepting a regiment which had already been in Confederate Service, he left no room for com- plaint (by the Rebels) that the Government were arming the negroes. But, in enlisting, nobody inquires whether the recruit is (or has been) a slave. As a consequence, the boldest and finest fugitives have enlisted, while the whole organization is known as the "Free Colored Brigade." Without doubt it will be a success.
It is understood here that Gen. Phelps' resignation has been accepted. The controversy between Generals Butler and Phelps is much regretted by the best Union men. Gen. Phelps is beloved by his soldiers, and no man has suspected his integrity and disinterestedness. This is not strictly true of Gen. Butler, for while all admire his great ability, many of his soldiers think him selfish and cold-hearted, and many soldiers and citizens — Union and Secessionists — think he is inter- ested in the speculations of his brother (Col. Butler) and others.
Sometimes circumstances look very suspicious, but if I happen to hear his explanation of the same circumstances, suspicion almost entirely disappears. I have never been able to discover any good proof that Gen. Butler has improperly done, or permitted, anything for his own pecuniary advan-
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 312.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 271
tage. He is such a smart man, that it would, in any case, be difficult to discover what he wished to conceal.
But it is the general impression here that money will accom- plish anything with the authorities. It seems probable that this impression would not exist without some foundation. It is much to be regretted, but Gen. B.'s abilities, shrewdness, and just severity toward secessionists — and proper appre- ciation of the whole rebellion, cause him to be respected and admired even by his enemies. I believe Gen. Butler's opposi- tion to the enlistment of negroes by Gen. Phelps was not a matter of principle. Gen. Phelps had the start of him, while Gen. B. wanted the credit of doing the thing himself, and in his own way. And he is doing it, shrewdly and completely, as he does everything.
Notwithstanding the impression above mentioned, it would be difficult to find a man capable of filling Gen. Butler's place, and who would give the same satisfaction to Union men.
The City is very healthy, and the coming of Yellow Fever is no longer feared.
The Iron Clad Gunboat "Essex" is here from up the River.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 9th, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: I enclose your two last letters according to request, and farther give you an account of my health in full as you request. I cannot write at length as my right hand is quite stiff from the effects of a large boil on the back of it. I have one or two more on various parts of the arm which are quite troublesome. Otherwise my constitutional health is good. We are all troubled here with what is known as "prickly heat," i.e., eruptions on various parts of the body, like the rash. This I have had to some extent on the arms and legs. It seems to be nothing more or less than this. The skin kept in a high state of perspiration, and thus moist, becomes at last inflamed, and thus endeavors to restore itself, but the eruptions being over so large a surface cannot allow the skin to clear itself of all the secretions, and therefore they are discharged through larger eruptions known as boils. I learn that all this people are afflicted with boils, and some of them to a fearful extent. My surgeon, Dr. McCormick, tells
272 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
me that when he formerly practised here he knew one lady that had three thousand, land another five thousand boils, but the last died of them. All this disappears when the weather becomes cooler. We have all had it, especially the fleshy ones — Andrew and French, although I hardly reckon myself amongst that number.
The city still continues healthy. My command is saved wonderfully in health. Many of the officers have been fright- ened home by fear of yellow fever, which, although they have managed to get it in the fleet over at Pensacola, and I have [it 3 down at the Quarantine here, yet we have kept out of the city.
You did me great wrong in your letter, and I replied to it as I felt — pity, anger, sorrow, indignation, all were, as they rose, penned down. Why do you take such foolish notions? I can take care of my own honor among women or men.
We are in receipt here of very terrible news from the Poto- mac, nothing less than the rout of McClellan's entire army. If true, I shall have trouble enough here, but fear not. We shall hold New Orleans. Indeed I think they had better move the Capital here as the safest place. Do not doubt that I would be glad to see you and have you here. It is not time now to come. No need to expose yourself either to fever on land or the hurricane at sea. I will write you when I think you can come. Another difficulty is if you come we shall have every soldier in the division asking to bring his wife; they are begin- ning to do it now. The "Relief" (Fisher's Boat) has not yet made her appearance. I know not what her cargo is, no invoice having been sent forward, but this delay will make it an un- profitable one. Fisher need not come out here, indeed he must not.
But why do I talk of this. If the news is true, we are all required to look a sterner reality in the face than has yet been done. This war must then be carried on as one of extermina- tion until any white man not a United States soldier, or openly and fully acting with the Government, is exterminated. Indeed, I don't see but we must fight for our own existence. It is coming — a "Military Dictator." God grant the man may be one of power and administrative capacity. Let it come — the man has not developed himself yet — but he will — in the field too, before long. The day of small expedi- ents and small men is getting by. Well, an empire is the repose as it is the ripeness of nations.
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 273
I only wish they would recall me from this place — impor- tant enough no doubt — but only Lieutenancy, something too much of this. Ymmt B F BuTLER
P.S. You will see, dearest, by the signature how much the mind wandered away from the thought of writing you. I do kiss you and love you, but let me do so without wounding me. BENJ.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 9//i, 1862
Rear Admiral D. G. FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron
MY DEAR ADMIRAL: A week or two since there were immi- nent threats of attack upon New Orleans. I believe now that has been put off till about the middle of October, when the iron- clad fleet in the Yazoo will be finished. This my information gives as the settled plan. The Government should give us one of the new iron-clads to end these hopes of the rebels.
I have now an expedition up river under convoy of the " Mississippi." The "Essex" is here, not at the mouth of Red River where she is needed.
I will be able, I think, to aid you at Mobile; at any rate I will see you within the next ten days. It would be impossible to spare the "New London" on the Lake. I am causing a crew to be enlisted for the "Calhoun." We shall need her also to be just as we would be in event of an attack.
My advices are such that I shall quarantine "Pensacola" no longer, although it was fortunate I stopped the "Rhode Island." The health of the City is improving. You will hear fearful news from Washington, but I hope it is not so bad as it looks.
You will be pleased to hear of the promotion of Lieut. Weitzel to Brigadier General. My ^ ^^
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. C. From General Butler
Head Quars. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 9th, 1862
ORDERED
THE Provost Marshal General will proceed to Carrollton and take possession of any and all captured property, espe- cially horses and mules, and turn over the same to the Chief
VOL. II — 1 8
274 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Quarter Master at New Orleans. He will take the horses of any Officer or soldier not entitled thereto by regulations as captured property.
Any Officer throwing any obstacle in the way of the prompt execution of this order, or not disclosing, when called upon, the existence of such property, will be reported for investiga- tion, and if found guilty will be dismissed from the Service. Any enlisted man so acting will be arrested by the Provost Guard and brought to New Orleans for punishment.
The Provost Marshal General will cause this order to be read to each corps which may be called into line for that purpose.
From the Assistant Secretary of War to General Butler
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, September Wth, 1862
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit herewith a copy of a letter dated the 9th instant, received from the Department of State, together with a copy of the translation of the Spanish Minister's communication, to which reference is therein made.
In view of the complaints alleged by the Minister from Spain against the administration of the quarantine laws at New Orleans, the Secretary of War requests that you will, as early as practicable, submit to this Department full explana- tion of the questions involved, and at the same time, as sug- gested by the Secretary of State, consider "the expediency of allowing the Spanish tobacco ships mentioned by Mr. Tassara their clearances as soon as may be compatible with the public
Very Respectfully, Your obedt. Servant, P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of State, WASHINGTON, September 9, 1862 [ Not in chronological order]
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to transmit a translation of a com- munication which has been received at this Department from His Excellency, Mr. Tarsara, the Minister from Spain, pre- ferring complaints alleged by Spanish subjects against Major General Butler's administration of the quarantine laws at New Orleans, and to call your attention to allegations in effect of a capricious discrimination to the prejudice of Spanish
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 275
vessels trading at New Orleans. This Department does not doubt that Major General Butler is acting with perfect justice and impartiality; but it is bound to acknowledge that the Spanish Government seems to be acting in a very conciliatory and liberal spirit towards the United States. I will thank you, therefore, to transmit a copy of Mr. Tassara's communi- cation, together with a copy of this letter, to Major General Butler, and to ask him for such detailed explanations of the subject as will enable me to give a full and satisfactory answer to the Spanish Minister.
I would submit also, for General Butler's or General Shep-
ley's consideration, the expediency of allowing the Spanish
tobacco ships mentioned by Mr. Tarsara their clearances, as
soon as may be compatible with the public health. I am, sir,
Your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWAKD
From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Sept. IQth, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
SIR: I do my duty in addressing you in behalf of Mr. Dubos, one of the editors of the Compilateur and a French citizen. Mr Dubos has written me a letter in which he excuses himself for the wrong he may have done you or your government, saying that he had no idea that you would take in such a serious manner some articles written in the style of the "Vanity's Fair" in New York, and that he never had the intention to attack the politics of the U. S. Government.
I do not mean to defend the right Mr. Dubos may or may not have to publish these articles, but I come to solicit your generosity in behalf of a Frenchman who is more imprudent than culpable, and would be seriously punished if he was to lose his liberty on account of his imprudence.
Most Respectfully, Your Obedt. Servt.,
FAUCONNET, Acting French Consul
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 14th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
lion. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
SIR: I have the honor to enclose to the State Department, in obedience to orders, copies of newspapers with translations of objectional articles marked, and to certify to the Depart-
276 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ment that I have caused the paper to be suppressed and the writer of the articles to be imprisoned, one Francis Dubos.
He is a French citizen who has come into this country within two years, and feels himself competent to instruct us in our political and national relations. I have judged other- wise, and have put him out of harm's way for the present. If any representations are sent to your Department, the facts are all before you. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Merchants of New Orleans
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 10, 1862
To Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
THE undersigned, merchants residing in New Orleans, being informed of the arrest of Mr. Chas. Heidsick by your order, respectfully beg leave to bring to your knowledge how sorry and grieved they are to see this gentleman in so painful a position.
They take the liberty, General, of informing you that they have always known Mr. Heidsick, who for many years is doing business in the United States, as an honorable man, deserving in every respect the sympathy and esteem of all persons acquainted with him.
Mr. Heidsick is a Frenchman by birth, belonging to one of the most respectable families of France, his reputation of integrity and honor is well appreciated by our whole community.
In the opinion of the undersigned, Mr. Heidsick is incapable of committing intentionally an indelicate action, and he would be the last man to infringe or violate the obligations of neutral- ity imposed upon strangers towards the Great American Republic at this critical moment of its political troubles, when said strangers are so liberally tolerated in this country.
Under these considerations, General, permit us to ask of you respectfully to extend your clemency on the fate of Mr. Chas. Heidsick. We know, General, that when sincere none aPply IB vain to your clemency. Pardon, General, Mr. Heid- sick. History will record with your glory the numerous acts of your generosity you have so often bestowed on so many per- sons during your passage in this great but unfortunate city.
S. PLAYSON, T. BAILEY BLANCHARD, JR., P. A. SIVANLER, A. CARNERE, PAUL JUGE, fils, PAUL JUGE & TARRY
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 277
Answer: Write Mr. Playson that H. will be released on his getting a first boat, and not returning until the close of the war. B. F. B.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Wth, 1862
MY DEAR SARAH : I wrote you a long letter yesterday by the "Ocean Queen," but as she goes by Pensacola this may reach you first. My health continues good save that I am afflicted as was Job with sore boils, which are the plague of the Country, while the annoyance of the Country is "red ants." You saw none of them to speak of.
The "Relief" has not yet made her appearance. Nor the " Saxon." There need be no different course about the " Saxon " than in any other business. She was retained in the Govern- ment service so long as she was serviceable. Then a suitable number of days were allowed her to return home. Those were used in indispensable repairs, and she was run up the coast until a change of military operations rendered it no longer profitable. If there is any reason to believe that an untrue account has been rendered, send the facts on which the belief is based and I will investigate it. If the Government pro- posed to give four hundred and fifty dollars a day fee to go anywhere, I think the owners were not wise in not accepting the proposal. It is more than she is worth any where.
I am very glad to get your letter by Strong's vessel. He has arrived here in good health and spirits. Your letter gave me some life about the future. It breathed more of hope and cheerfulness. Our future may be cheerful, but Oh, my country, what for thee. It seems as if the devil has entered into strategy of all of us.
Washington again besieged. Our work all to do over again. Let it be well done this time. I'm anxiously waiting the news. Why will not the Administration send for the Army of the Gulf, and let us whip out those Rebels in Virginia?
I suppose you will get frightened about sending Blanche, I do not know what to advise. Will do so when I can hear the news. I do kiss and embrace you dearly. Adieu.
HUSBAND
278 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 10, 1862
Dr. W. N. MERCER, Pres. Bank of Louisiana
SIR: I have carefully examined the memoranda of resolu- tions passed by your board of Directors and submitted to me, on the subject of drawing against the specie of your Bank now not in its vaults.
The proposed arrangement, if carried out in good faith, would re-assure the standing of the Bank, save its stock- holders from loss, and benefit the currency of New Orleans. With these views I consent to it on behalf of the United States Government. I have the honor to be
Your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 10, 1862
Major General HALLECK, Commanding Armies of the U. S.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on Saturday, the 7th, a regiment of Partisan Texas Rangers, under the command of Major Walles, ambushed a detachment of the advanced Pickets of the 8th Vermont Volunteers at the Bayou Des Allemands, 32 miles from Algiers, on the railroad when they were coming down to Algiers for provisions, and wounded a number of them. The Guerillas then proceeded to the Bayou, and by means of abuse of a Flag of truce to which they induced an answer, and then seized the bearers and put them in front of their column of attack, caused a surrender of the remainder before the supporting force could reach them.
These supports were detained by the unfortunate accident of running an ox upon the track, which broke up the train and wounded several of the troops. Still, I cannot approve of the conduct of the pickets in not holding out and making a contest, as they would have been immediately supported. Emboldened by this success, this Cavalry force made their appearance on the West River Bank, some thirty miles above the city. I im- mediately ordered Col. McMillan to take a portion of the 21st Indiana Regiment and 9th Conn, and land below them, and asked Commodore Morris to send a gunboat up the Mississippi to cover the landing in case the enemy should be supported by artillery, which request was promptly complied with.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 279
The movement was admirably executed, and resulted in hemming in between the river and the swamp the entire body of Guerillas.
Upon being called upon to surrender, they fled from their horses into the swamp, and were then pursued by our men, who succeeded in capturing some forty prisoners, including several officers, 250 horses with their equipment, which could not be taken into the swamps.
The enemy lost 8 killed and wounded. This Guerilla force, which has been the terror of all that part of the country, has been thus thoroughly disposed, dismounted, and disorganized.
I will endeavor as soon as I get reinforcements to organize an expedition which shall relieve the Western part of Louisiana from the presence of any force of enemy.
I am convinced that all attempts upon New Orleans are abandoned for the present, and that the enemy await the finishing of the iron-clad boats which they are making near the mouth of the Yazoo River. These they expect to finish by the middle of October. I am
Very truly Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., September llth, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding at
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit to you the enclosed copies of a correspondence which has taken place between the Minister of Spain and the State Department, touching your action in regard to the house of Messrs Aven- dano Brothers, at New Orleans, and to request such explana- tions as will enable the Secretary of State to answer the complaint in question.
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
P. H. WATSON Assistant Secretary of War
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
TRANSLATION. Legation of Spain, WASHINGTON, 26 August, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State of the U. S.
THE undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of H. Catholic Majesty, has the honor to call the attention of the Honorable Secretary of State of the United States to the facts which are related in continuation.
£80 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
A Confederate steamer being captured in Berwick Bay, coming from the Havana, there were found on board of her some letters addressed to the Spanish house of Avendano Brothers at New Orleans, one of them containing invoices of goods sent in consignment, but not for account of said house, by different vessels, and a bill to their order for some hundred dollars.
A few days after this event above cited occurred, Messrs. Avendano received a note from General Butler saying that he wished to see them. One of the individuals of the house went to him, and General Butler showed him the letter of which mention has been made, the bill and two others — sec- onds — for value of 1900 sterling pounds, on London, requir- ing payment of the amount.
The representative of Avendano's house assured him that it had nothing to do with those bills, because they did not know, even by name, the persons, by whom they were drawn, but his protestations served no purpose unless to enrage the General, who insisted on his pretentions under penalty of imprisonment in Fort Jackson, &c., directing at once that he should be kept under arrest, and next ordering an officer to take possession of the correspondence which should be found in the counting house.
In this state of things, Messrs. Avendano instructed a lawyer to see General Butler, and cause him to understand the injus- tice he had done against them. The General admitted that the bills and even the goods pointed out by the invoices were not in fact the property of these gentlemen, but — added he — the gains they must have made by the exportation of cotton and importation of arms must have been so much augmented that they may consider themselves very fortunate if they are not compelled to pay a larger sum.
In face of this violence, there was no remedy but to yield, and Messrs. Avendano, fearing to become the victims of an outrage, signed a bill of exchange to the order of General Butler for the value of 1900 pounds or $9000 dollars. Then, and then only, was the arrested partner, who had meantime been at large on bail, set completely at liberty. It should still be added that the head of the house, Don Peregrim Aven- dano, not yet knowing to what he might not be exposed, judg- ing from the past oppressions, resolved to go to the Island of Cuba, as in fact he has, abandoning his business.
The undersigned deplores the necessity under which he is
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 281
placed of complaining so repeatedly of the proceedings of the Military Authority at New Orleans in regard to the subjects of her Catholic Majesty. The exaction of which Messrs. Avendano have been the subjects is a new and odious arbitrari- ness, and the charge informally specified against them cannot be anything else but a pretext to cover it up.
The Spanish Government has no need to repeat that it withdraws its protection from those of its subjects who break the laws of neutrality in the contests in this country. But besides, vague asseverations are not sufficient to prove an offence, especially in particulars such as the violation of a blockade, which frequently bears its punishment with it, and which, even when established, cannot yet palliate such down- right injustice as that mentioned.
The Government of the United States is therefore under obligation to make restitution of the sum of $9000, extorted by violence from Messrs. Avendano no less than of the cor- respondence, which the said house was also compelled to deliver, being in addition responsible for the damages and indemnities which the case requires.
The undersigned does not question the proper disposition of the Government of the United States to give effect to its protection of Spanish subjects residing in this country, but in the presence of facts of the nature of those which are tak- ing place at New Orleans, such protection seems to be null or insufficient, and such abuses demand urgent remedy.
The undersigned avails of this occasion to reiterate to the Hon. W. H. Seward the assurance of his highest consideration.
GABRIEL G. TARSARA
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 9th, 1862
Senor Don GABRIEL GARCIA TARSARA
SIR: The note which your Excellency addressed to me on the 26th of August, during my absence from this city, has only just now been received. It prefers a complaint by your Gov- ernment made in behalf of the Spanish House of Messrs. Avendano Brothers, at New Orleans, for severities and exac- tions alleged to have been committed there by Major General Butler while in the military command of that city. More especially it alleges that, without sufficient cause or grounds, General Butler exacted of the aforesaid house, under threats of violence, a bill of exchange for £1900, equal to nine thousand six hundred dollars.
282 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
This complaint is a very grave one. The President, of course, is not prepared to believe that it is justly made. You may, however, without hesitation, assure your Government that an investigation of it will be made with the least possible delay, and that ample redress will be promptly given if Major General Butler shall fail to justify his proceedings in the transaction.
The Government is above all things desirous to direct its proceedings in suppressing the present insurrection in such a manner as to do no wrong to individuals, and especially to the subjects of friendly nations. The present seems to be a proper occasion for me to inform you that Brigadier General Shepley, who some time ago was appointed Military Governor of Louisi- ana, has now assumed that office and is charged with the con- duct of civil affairs in that State.
It may some time happen that difference of opinion may arise between this Government and of Spain upon the merits of complaint made by the subjects of Spain against the American authorities, or complaints made by citizens of the United States against the authorities of Spain. In view of such a possibility, I beg leave to suggest the expediency of establish- ing a joint commission for their settlement, to be composed of Commissioners mutually agreed upon by the two Govern- ments. A similar proposition has been made by the United States to Great Britain, and it is understood that there is a probability of its acceptance.
I avail myself of this occasion to offer to you renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
From Mrs. Butler to F. A. Hildreth
LOWELL, Sept. llth, 1862
DEAR FISHER: I wish you would write me a line if you are to be away some time. I wish to know if you have my box of pictures, and also if you have forwarded my letters that were aboard your ship, as I wrote you to do in a note sent to the St. Nicholas. The box I wish brought home. Major Ladd called yesterday, and offered to take the children on to George- town. If he could have waited a day longer I should have sent them with him.
There is a letter here to you from Mr. Butler. He writes of being recalled and Dix sent in his place. He writes confi- dently as though he felt sure of it from the information he
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 283
has got, but he has received no order, and I think he is mis- taken in his conclusion. I do not think he will be recalled while there is danger of an attack. When that is over, the chances are that he will be. He sends regards to Capt. George, and is very desirous to see and have a long talk with him. I wish you would write me how long you are likely to be in New York. The danger is over, and the children ought to be at school. I could join you there and send them forward if
you think it advisable. 4 - , . . 7 ri
J Affectionately yours, SARAH
From Major Bell to General Butler
NEW YORK, Sept. llth, 1862
GENERAL: In the present distracted state of affairs here at the North, there seems very little chance for immediate assistance for those of you at the South. Indeed, you can get no one to listen to you at Washington on account of the terror. A very few days will undoubtedly set matters to running in the other direction, and so soon as that is done you will have no want of troops. In the meantime, you must do as you always have heretofore done, take care of yourself and of those who ought to assist you. There have been nonsensical rumors that General Dix, and General Cadwallader, were to super- cede you. There is nothing whatever in this that a reason- able man can discover. They are mere newspaper rumors. The entire people here are with you, great and small and of all complexions. I believe that they would be glad to see you at home to take general command, but for that and for no less a purpose. So said Mr. Chief Justice Bigelow, speaking from his heart. The condition of the country is lamentable beyond expression, party feeling quite as bitter as ever, and a general distrust of everybody and everything the rule. Defeats only seem to make this distrust more fearful. If a change does not speedily come over us the result will be fearful. Nothing can be done for you here, you have already done everything for yourself. If any fool shall remove you it will be your gain every way, but there is no danger of that.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Butler twice since my return, and found her well and happy though a little anxious. Your place looks to-day like Paradise. Personally I was never so well as at the South, for I have had a miserable time since I got home with each particular bowel and inward, but am pulling up and hope soon to start on my return.
284 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I found here Capt. Clark and old Shaffer, who are full of good news. Please to present my regards to the staff and believe me, General,
Your obliged friend and obdt. servt., Jos. M. BELL
From Dwight Foster to General Butler
Sept. 11, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have wished for some time to send you a line to congratulate you upon the success you are meet- ing with, and the constantly augmentative fame you are winning in your military department. All classes of men and all shades of opinion unite in your commendation, and the very attacks made upon some of your orders by the enemies of the Union greatly promote you in the affections of your country -men.
I have watched your entire course and read all your printed orders and proclamations with the greatest satisfaction, and I think you have been equally felicitous in disposing of the she adders and the rich rebels, who have by their money sustained the rebellion and the negro militia of Louisiana.
I do not know what trials or even reverses may be in store for you, as enough of calamities just now are falling upon us in every direction, but the past is secure, and the record of your military and political administration as Dictator in New Orleans, for such in fact you have been, will be one that you and your children must always read with pride and unalloyed satisfaction.
It won't do you any good to know that these are my senti- ments, but it is a pleasure to me to express them and to sub- scribe myself,
Very respectfully, and Faithfully your friend,
DWIGHT FOSTER
P.S. You are fortunate indeed to be out of the atmosphere of suspicion, recrimination, and mortification which has for some time enveloped every General commanding in Virginia.
General Butler's Reply to Foregoing Letter
MY DEAR FOSTER: I see in your note the same kind hand that shook mine so warmly when we parted at the "Beloy House," and left your cloak to cover me from the cold rains of spring. Believe me, I never forget a friend or an enemy,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 285
and if the exigencies of public service in the apparent dis- crepancies of politics may keep our paths apart, yet the r^mem- brance and love for your kindness is among the warmest and purest thoughts of my life. Your promise is most valuable, and with it I know I must have the good opinion of the patri-
otic and just. ir . . 1 - . ,
Most truly your friend
From John Clark to General Butler
NEW YORK, Sept. llth, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: We arrived yesterday. We found public affairs in the saddest condition; Pope beaten and banished, and the people following leaders whom they fear. But you will know all this from so many sources, it is not worth while for me to trouble.
We telegraphed for Major Bell last night, and he is with us this morning. His advice was needed. He tells me — as I had learned the fact from another source — that Johnson and Bullett were working for the negro men and for the negro men alone.
Andrew was re-nominated yesterday. He will be re-elected. Sumner will try hard for the Senatorship, but he will find opponents in his own party.
Maine has elected a Democrat to Congress.
I find, among those I talk with, little of what we call pa- triotism. The leaders of "the Party" are selfish.
I shall be in Boston in a day or two, and shall from direct observation strive to learn something of our political condi- tion in Baltimore.
Major Bell and Col. Shaffer have written fully on the chief matter in hand.
Fletcher Webster has been killed and buried.
It is a gratifying thing to hear sensible men of all parties discuss you. You are greatly praised. I shall ask Mrs. Butler to request that you be not vain. Youn ^ JQHN
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 13, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 11
As in the course of ten days it may become necessary to distinguish the disloyal from the loyal citizens and honest neutral foreigners residing in this Department:
286 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
It is ordered, that each neutral foreigner, resident in this Department, shall present himself, with the evidence of his nationality, to the nearest Provost Marshal for registration of himself and his family.
This registration shall include the following particulars:
The country of birth; the length of time the person has resided within the United States; the names of his family; the present place of residence, by street, number or other description; the occupation; the date of protection or certif- icate of nationality, which shall be indorsed by the Pass- port Clerk, " Registered/' with date of register.
All false or simulated claims of foreign allegiance, by native or naturalized citizens, will be severely punished.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G., Chief of Staff
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 13, 1862
MY DEAREST WIFE: Again, you see, I am writing you. You will say what a constant correspondent. My health, of which you will make the first inquiry, is quite good. Were it not for the boils and "prickly heat," described to you in my last, I should say very good.
We have no news from home directly since the 30th. Your last was dated the 27th. We have daily telegrams that Wash- ington and Cincinnati are taken through secession. What can be doing up there unless all their telegrams are false. We can hardly tell what to think. We have Pope's despatch claiming a victory on the 30th. We have Davis appointing a day of thanksgiving for victory on the same thirtieth. "It's a muddle." Indeed, I think the only safe place is New Orleans. They have given up all hopes of attack here for the present. Have withdrawn their forces, substantially, and left us to ourselves. I am growing very uneasy, and shall soon follow them and ship all that remains of them out of the state.
I have heard nothing of the Steamer "Relief" yet. She must be now out 20 days. Nor of the "Saxon."
I am sure you had better not come out here till the first of October, and then I shall be glad to see you if you are in good flesh. Not otherwise, as you will run down even during the Winter. Seriously, lovingly, with every kind thought, hope, and wish, I would be very happy; very, very pleased;
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 287
very, very content; very very much solaced to have you come if you are only happy, contented, pleased, solaced. I cannot endure to see you unhappy, that operates on me, and from its effect I make you more and more unhappy.
I would indeed I were at home at once, if only this war was going well. I hope for the best for my country. But these reverses are hard to bear.
Phelps goes home by the Steamer. He has given his horse, epaulettes, sash, and spurs to Weitzel.
Strong starts on a little expedition tonight. I hope for his sake it will be successful. He hopes to win his spurs.
Kiss the children — ride on horseback. My rides are not to be at home. I wish they had recalled me. Be happy, do not muse on unpleasant topics. Goodbye, dearest wife, with a thousand kisses by HUSBAND
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. I3tkf 1862
Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of Navy
SIR: I send enclosed herewith the communication referred to me by Commodore Morris.
I need not tell you that I do all in my power to prevent either pillage or plunder. The boats were sent to obtain sugar for the Commissaries of this Department, a matter not sub- ject of criticism by Lieut. Roy.
The tenor of the whole communication is so remarkable that I forward it to the Navy Department with the indorsement made by me at the time of its receipt. I have the honor to be
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
U. S. Gunboat KATAHDIN, Miss. River, Sept. llth, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Commodore H. W. MORRIS, Commanding Naval Forces
SIR: I was overhauled yesterday by Lieut. Commd'g Lowery of the "Scotia" while at Bonne Carre' Point, and directed by him to follow on as convoy of their transports of the U. S. Army.
Upon arriving at Donaldsonville this day, the transports landed at the upper part of this town, landed a party of troops and commenced receiving on board sugar and other merchan-
288 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
disc. A few hours later I received positive information that a company of these troops had entered a large mansion situ- ated near the landing of the Steamer "St. Maurice," had pil- laged it in a brutal manner, and carried off wines, liquors, silver plate, and clothing belonging to ladies. I am informed that several of the soldiers were drunk from the use of the liquor and wine thus appropriated. This house was inhabited in the morning. During this time the "Katahdin" was at anchor with her4)ig guns trained upon the shore over the "St. Matahda," and to be used for protection.
I respectfully request instruction if the guns of the "Katah- din" are to be used for the protection of the soldiers upon a marauding expedition, and if I am to use them in the protec- tion of drunken, undisciplined, and licentious troops in the wanton pillage of a private mansion, of wines, plates, silk dresses, the misses' and female apparel, to say nothing of the confiscation of sugar, which I believe to be without proper and lawful reasons therefore.
I confess, Sir, that I blush to report that while the troops of the "St. Maurice" were thus engaged in this unsoldierly and ungallant, not to say disgraceful operation, I opened my fire upon Guerillas hovering in the rear, apparently occupied in preventing such acts of the U. S. troops.
I feel quite ready to place the "Katahdin" and her guns under the fire of an enemy. I am desirous of encountering enemies and of injuring them in every manly way, but I cannot further prostitute the dignity of my profession, as I conceive I have done to-day, without an earnest and respect- ful appeal to your authority. It is disgraceful and humiliat- ing to me to be ordered on guard duty of soldiers employed in pillaging ladies' dresses and petticoats, and I respectfully request that I may be relieved from such service.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
T. A. ROY, Lieut. Comd'g.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 13th, 1862
Lieut. ROY, Comdg. U. S. Gunboat "Katahdin"
LIEUTENANT: The Commanding General directs me to say that he had referred to him the paper sent by you to Commodore Morris. Upon that paper the General made the following endorsements :
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 289
"The acts of the troops in pillaging (if true) are without palliation or excuse. Certainly no more to be justified than this improper bombastic and ridiculous rhodomontade of a Sub. Lieut, of the Navy.
"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com."
Sept. 13th, 1862
and caused the same to be sent to the Secy, of the Navy with a letter of which the enclosed copy is sent you for information.
9 ' Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Svt.9
WM. H. WIEGEL, 1st Lieut. & A. D. C.
From Richard S. Fay, Jr. to General Butler
BOSTON, Sept. 14, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: I returned yesterday from an absence of a fortnight and find your letters of 20th and 1st., introducing Mr. Bonfanti and advising drafts, also a letter from Col. Butler advising your draft for $50,000, and requesting me to transfer his balance in my hands to your credit, which I have done in conformity to the amount of $20,174.32. I charge your drafts: —
Sight 1,200.00
5% Specie and premium 29,212.50 Sights 25,000.00
50,000.00 Mr. Bonfanti 8,470.00
$113,882.50
If you can do so without much difference, it would be much more comfortable to me if you will draw (large sums) at 10 days or even 3 days sight. My return yesterday was fortunate, as it taxed my credit pretty sharply to raise $75,000 in a morning, my money being lent at 7 to 10 days notice.
My father had lain down under the load and noted one draft for non-acceptance. I enclose to Col. Butler to look over and hand to you a memo of your acct. to date. You will observe that I have consolidated your two accts. by paying into your business acct. the dividends, etc., I had collected. Bal. to your Dr. $63,716.72. You have, as you will see by referring to this and my previous accts., been credited with cash and charges of every description, including 12% prem. on $60,000, gold, on the merchandise assumed by Government. The profits on this merchandise, after paying these various charges, at present stand in my hands as agent for the Govern-
VOL. II 19
290 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ment, and I should be glad to be relieved of its custody. The dept. is, however, in no apparent hurry for a settlement, and I shall not propose making one until you are ready. I enclose you a copy of your letter to me of June 1st, which I think will convince you of the injustice of the tone taken in your letter
Of m Unless words are to be used to conceal wishes, I can
not conceive any other interpretation than the one I acted upon when I went to Washington, and simply asked Mr. Stanton and Genl. Meigs to take their choice. Furthermore, I can assure you, it required all my efforts and the strongest assurances of Fox and Mr. Hooper as to my character and position, to prevent your shipments being served as those by the "Black Prince" from Ship Island were. Your drafts would have had to take care of themselves but for my urgent and peremptory insisting that I would accept neither Q. M. receipts nor vouchers for the merchandise, and nothing but the fullest agency in the disposal of the property.
The prices of mdse. seem very low today; they were enor- mous at the time, and pay a very large profit on the cash. You will observe the auctioneer's commission charged at 2j%, this is the rate always charged the U. S. Should the business be decided within reasonable time to belong to you, the charge will be 1%, and the difference will be refunded. The auction- eers, H. Harris & Co., are the best and wealthiest auction house in Boston, and their skill and character is quite sufficient assurance (when backed by their acct. sales) that you have not been "wronged" in the disposition of the mdse. You see I rather harp on that word, though I do not believe you meant to apply it to me.
I must tell you a good story of Lunt, though a long one. My uncle, I. S. Fay, my father, and myself have supported the Courier through the summer for the sake of having a paper professing our principles kept afloat. It has cost us about $500.00 apiece. A few days since, my uncle sent Lunt an article calling for the most energetic support for you at New Orleans, which Lunt refused to print. A day or two after he copied from a New York paper a paragraph rather ridiculing you, upon which my father wrote a remonstrance (for publication) squashing the paragraph and appealing to Lunt not to publish and lend sanction to such stuff. Lunt answered very shortly and impertinently in the third person, declining to publish the article, or to be dictated to in his choice of matter for his paper. I cannot do better than give
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 291
my father's answer verbatim: "The Editor of the Boston Courier's note is rec'd. Mr. Fay has filed it with some other documents in his handwriting, and docketted it 'a new way to pay old debts.'"
We are waiting with intense interest for news from Mary- land. Newspaper correspondents have been driven away, and there has been no definite news from either army for three days. How I wish we were back at the old place. By every rule of strategy the enemy has made a very bad move, and ought never to get back into Virginia. But in this war no rules hold, and their dash and celerity may be too much for
us agam' Sincerely yours, RICH. S. FAY, JR.
By the way, you signed your draft for $50,000, Maj. Genl. etc. I have no funds of yours in that capacity. Please con- firm it as "individual" by letter.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. \±th> 1862
Brig. Genl. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster General
GENERAL: It will be absolutely essential for the operation of this Department this Autumn and for the safety of the city, if we are to be attacked through the Lake, that we have two or three light-draught steamers fitted out to go outside in the sea if necessary, and sufficiently shallow to run up the Bayous. Besides their capability for carrying troops, they should carry some guns as a protection, with canister, against the ambush of Guerillas in the canebreak, and to protect landing. If you will cast your eye upon the map of the part of Louisiana west of the river, and so down the coast, you will see the perfect network of bayous, lakes, rivers, and inlets which cover the country and render every part accessible by water, indeed in no other way. Now, all these bayous have this remarkable condition in common; at the mouth of each is a bar, leaving but 4 or 5 feet deep of water, while inside there will be ten to thirty feet.
To meet this state of facts (the Navy has no boat that draws less than 7 feet when loaded, so that they are useless for service), I have taken two steamers (river), and am so altering and strengthening them for service desired. They will draw when loaded about 4 feet of water, and I shall come then with power enough to resist any Guerilla attack. The
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
expense with new boilers for one will be in the neighborhood of twelve thousand dollars.
There is another difficulty under which we labor; these are high pressure boats, which advertise their approach three miles, so that it is impossible to capture anybody or to get any supplies that can be moved or got out of the way.
I desire, therefore, a light-draught, low pressure boat that can burn hard coal. Such a one I find here in the "Nassau," and if she is suitable in other respects I desire authority to purchase her. I shall take her until I get a return from this note, and endeavor to do so with privilege of buying, deducting her use.
The exigencies of public service in my judgment clearly call for the expenditure. She will cost in the neighborhood of $40,000, less, perhaps. Any delay with the necessary altera- tions will embarrass it much. An early answer is requested. I have the honor to be Y(mr ^^ Sm,a^
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding By General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sep. 14, 1862
ORDERED
THAT the Commanding General having learned that the farther imprisonment of Mrs. Phillips may result in injury to the wholly innocent, directs her to be released if she chooses to give her parole that in nothing she will give aid, comfort, or information to the enemies of the United States.
By command of GENERAL BUTLER
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Uth, 1862
D. T. WALDEN, NEW YORK
SIR: There is referred to me from Genl. Shepley your letter in regard to Philip E. Walden, with the enclosure of a letter from M. Mudget.
It is painful to address a brother on a brother's wrongful acts. I felt it my duty to make a pretty severe example of Philip Walden. He was the head and front of the robbery of the U. S. at the New Orleans Custom House. He furnished both brains and knowledge to guide the acts of imbeciles. Born a northern man, in the employment of our Government,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 893
he betrayed his birth, his education, his country, exhibited ingratitude, and plundered her property at the same time, and when called on by me he refused to give information by which the country might recover some portion of the plunder, apparently relying in his northern relation for protection. I have sent him to Fort Jackson at hard labor, because I see no reason why his country shall support his idleness. I feel that if I have erred at all towards him it has been in leniency.
The Collector of the Port will give you in detail, if you will apply to him, the mischief he has caused.
While I sympathize with your feelings as a brother, I know your justice as a man will applaud my course. I have the
honor to be, ^ ™ . 0 .
Your Got. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Hth, 1862
Brig. General L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
GENERAL: I enclose the somewhat anomalous application of Major Holbrook, Commanding the 7th Regiment Ver- mont Volunteers, with a copy of the General Order complained of. It will be seen that I only give the result of official re- ports, so that I do not feel personally touched by the matter or manner of the communication.
Of the conduct of Major Holbrook there is no complaint; being Field Officer of the day of the Post, he was not in the action.
If consistent with the rules of the service to inquire into the resume of the Commanding General of the events of the action, I should be glad to have it done, for if the Regt. has been unjustly treated it could give no one more pleasure than myself to see it righted.
As there has been some rivalry of feeling, I do not think that it would be best to detail a Court from the Officers of the Regiment at Baton Rouge. I may further say that I suggested to Major Holbrook that he might select his court of Inquiry from any of the officers here, not of that Brigade. I have the honor to be yery Respedfuuy Your obdt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
294 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
CAMP WILLIAMS, LA.
General LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant General, WASHINGTON
GENERAL: In justice to the regiment which I have the honor to command, the 7th Vermont Vols., I find myself under necessity of calling for an examination into the statement made by the Major General Commanding the Department in Orders No. 62, dated Aug. 15th, 1862, which is calculated in my opinion to bring unmerited disgrace upon the regiment and the State from which it comes.
I respectfully request that a court of inquiry may be assembled as soon as convenient to investigate and report upon the battle of Baton Rouge, and the part taken in that engagement by my regiment, with the view that justice may be done to it and the service.
Regretting exceedingly to find myself compelled to ask for the scrutiny of a victory which should fill all generous hearts only with gratitude and pride, I have the honor to be, Sir,
Very Respectfully Your obdt. Sevt. W. C. HOLBROOK, Major Comd'g 7th Regs. Vt. Vols.
Endorsements to Major Holbrookes Letter
Hd. Quars. 5th Brigade Dept. of the Gulf, CAMP WILLIAMS, LA., Sept. 2, '62 [Not in chronological order]
Received Sept. 1st 1862, and respectfully forwarded to Adjutant General's Department, Washington, B.C.
N. A. M. DUDLEY, Act. Brig. General
CAMP PARAPET, LA., Sept. 2nd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
It is much to be regretted that a regiment in this quarter should be compelled to defend itself against unmerited dis- honor from its Commanding General, as well as against the enemy and extraordinary exposure and disease. But I con- cur with Major Holbrook in the necessity of an investigation into the facts connected with the battle of Baton Rouge by a Court of Inquiry, with a view of doing justice to the 7th Vermont Vols., and to the service.
J. W. PHELPS, Brig. General The General Orders No. 62
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 295
From Governor Holbrook
State of Vermont, Executive Department BRATTLEBOKO, Sept. 12, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: I have your note of the 25th ultimo in which you remark that you "Have had occasion to treat the 7th Vermont with great severity."
I have to say in reply, that, as at present informed, I fear that you have also treated that regiment with great injustice, and the State of Vermont with at least marked disrespect.
I feel obliged, therefore, to demand of the War Depart- ment an immediate Court of Inquiry, to investigate and report upon the part taken by the 7th Vermont Regt. in the recent engagement at Baton Rouge, and your charges against the Regt. made in your General Order No. 62 of August 15th, 1862.
I am sorry, General, to be obliged to write this letter, but I hope that I may not find that my former confidence in you
has been misplaced. D ** n
^ Respectfully yours,
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, Governor of Vermont
Endorsement:
GOVERNOR: I shall be most happy to have any Court of Inquiry upon the conduct of the 7th Vermont Regiment. My General Order was made up from official sources, and I believe to be correct. I have no disrespect for the State of Vermont, and can have shown her none. I must, moreover, do what I conceive my duty, and if in so doing I have for- feited or shall forfeit your esteem it will be a source of lasting regret. The Vermont 7th did break, did fire into the 21st Indiana, and did not go to their succor. It pains no one more than myself to write this, and I have now joined them to a fighting brigade to give them an opportunity of redeem- ing themselves. If they do, no one sooner than myself will give them their due. I call attention to the tone of your note. Would it have been worse had the Court reported against me?
Respectfully Your obt. Servt., B. F. B.
296 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 15th, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
SIR: I have to inform you of some acts of violence, and I may add pillage, committed by U. S. Soldiers at the domicile of two Frenchmen in the Parish Plaquemines.
I enclose you hereby copies of letters which have been addressed to me, in the hope that you will order inquiries to be made on these facts, and to do justice to the complaints of these Frenchmen. Accept, General, the assurance of my high
consideration ^ 4 .. „ L ~ ,
FAUCONNET, Acting French Consul
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 15th, 1862
M. FAUCONNET, Actg. Consul of France at NEW ORLEANS, LA. SIR: I have sent your letter to Col. Mafford in command at the Turo Building, with the following endorsement:
"Let the persons guilty of this outrage be at once arrested and the affair investigated. If found guilty report them to me for exemplary punishment." I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From Adjutant Colonel Charles Paine
NEW ORLEANS BARRACKS, Sept. 15th, 1862
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: I send with a Corporal and guard three of the slaves who escaped from a plantation down the river last night among the party fired on by Dr. Knapp's patrol when eight were wounded. One of the negroes had a double barrelled shot gun, the only one in the party on their arrival here. The party also had three cane knives. Neither barrel of the gun has been fired for several days, both being covered inside with unblackened rust of some thickness. One barrel is not loaded, the other is loaded.
I also send Dr. Knapp and those of the patrol whom he selects. Considerable time has been occupied in sending for the patrol men. I remain, General,
Respectfully Your Obdt. Servant,
CHAS. J. PAINE, Adj. Col. Comd'g.
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 297 From F. H. Knapp
U. S. Barracks, Monday, Sept. 14<A, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
General WEITZEL
DEAR SIR: Last night 28 negroes, armed with guns and knives, clubs, etc., tried to pass the guard which was com- missioned under your orders. Some of these negroes were wounded, and have been taken into barracks, and Col. Paine has had one arrested as a prisoner as I was passing up this morning. He has now detained me here while he goes up to see Gen. Butler for further orders. May I beg you, for God's sake, to repair at once to see General Butler while he is there, and if I have done wrong have me paroled until I can get a hearing. I feel conscious of being innocent of any wrong.
I am already under many obligations to you, and your atten- tion will much oblige,
Your obedient Servant, F. H. KNAPP
Endorsement on Foregoing Letter Maj. General BUTLER
WHAT shall I do in this case? By your permission and authority this armed police was organized. What shall be done with the negroes? Shall they be turned out to the patrol?
Very respectfully Your obdt. Servt., G. WEITZEL, Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols. and AssL Mily. Com.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 15, 1862
MY DEAREST WIFE: How can you say I have not written the two last mails. No steamer (with one exception, and then I sent the letter but the stupid orderly neglected going to the boat to meet her before she left) has gone from here without a letter.
I have already written on the subject of your coming out very fully. If you come, bring Nina with you. No, that would bring Read, and I have no desire for him. You do not say a word about your own health. I trust it is improving.
Goodbye, I must write two letters more before steamer
salls' BENJ. F. BUTLER
298 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From the Secretary of War to General Butler
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, September 15, 1862
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to inform you that he has been advised by the Secretary of State that the Dutch Minister has invited Mr. Amedie Conturie to receive the articles, other than the $800,000 in coin, seized at his house by the military authorities of New Orleans; and to request that you will accordingly, cause the same to be delivered to Mr. Conturie.
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Asst. Secretary of War
From General Butler
Head Qts. DepL of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Ztoth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Eon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: In reply to your favor of the 15th inst. I have the honor to state that all the matters have been delivered to Mr. Conturie except those that have been delivered to their owners and the matter adjusted, I believe, to their satisfac- tion. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 16th, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding DepL of the Gulf
SIR: I do not intend to make any claim against your Gen- eral Orders No. 71, concerning foreign subjects; it is evident that order is one of those authorized by the public safety and the present circumstances. However, allow me to tell you that it seems to me not practical, on account of the short time you grant and the enormous number of French residents here; for my part it would be impossible for me to deliver to the thousands of French citizens here the required certificates in the time allowed. The French law does not require of French subjects in foreign countries to have their names registered on the books of the French Consulates, — they may be away any length of time, still they remain French subjects unless there is proof to the contrary; the protection of France covers them everywhere and always, and that protection can never
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 299
be refused as long as they retain their citizenship. Especially in this country of liberty and justice, where the foreigner had so seldom occasion to make use of his nationality, the French in the South as well as in the North of the United States never thought it necessary to be inscribed on the Consular books; before this impious war, the register of the Consulate had 50 names, now it contains from 300 to 400. Now, from this number there is a great distance to 15000, and I must repeat it is impossible for me to do my part of the duty you call for in Order No. 71.
Neither do I understand at all the reason why the time to comply with this order runs out on the day when the Con- fiscation Act begins, although the latter concerns only the American & adopted citizens, and you can without trouble find out the names of those on the public registers.
If, therefore, General, you think it necessary to have your order carried out, I wish you would give me more time, that I may be able to satisfy all the French subjects in this city, and for those who have yet papers in their possession, as pass- ports, certificates of birth, etc., to take those papers as certif- icates of their nationality.
Allow me in the same time to call your attention on the oath of allegiance forced upon the foreigner who may be obliged to claim of the authorities, either a right or some favor. Although the forms of the two oaths have been sufficiently established in your orders No. 40 & 41, still I believe you will understand, as I do, the moral impossibility of the first and the legal impossibility of the second, although at some other time the latter has been accepted by certain officers of the militia in order to let them remain neutrals, and to serve only in such capacity as you have seen yourself at the time of your entrance into this city. I should be happy, GenL, if taking notice of my remarks, you would consent to abolish any kind of oath from foreigners, or to modify it in such a manner that it will really be one of honest neutral foreigners. I remain, Most respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt.,
FAUCONNET, Acfg French Consul
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oidf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 16th, 1862
A. FAUCONNET, Acting Consul of France
SIB: The Commanding General directs me to reply to your favor of the 15th inst. that the matter therein contained has
SOO LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
been referred to Gov. Shepley, with a request for an investiga- tion of the matter.
In reply to your favor of this date, the Commanding Gen- eral directs me to say that the United States Government never compels impossibilities, and that such time as is neces- sary for the delivery of the certificates will be allowed. I
have the honor to be v * 7 • . c *
Y our obedient servant,
A. F. PUFFER Lieut. A. D. C. From General Butler
Headquarters of Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 16th, 1862
M. W. BENACHI, Greek Consul
SIR: In accordance with instructions contained in a letter dated August 22nd from the State Department, and the exhibit connected therewith, sugars which were the property of Messrs. Covas and Megroponte are released from all claims of the United States, so far as this Department is concerned.
As the sugar during the detention has risen from 3 to 9 cents a pound, I am happy that the detention has caused great gain instead of loss. I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully, Your obdt. Servt., BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Walter G. Robinson
Mechanics and Traders Bank, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. I6tht 1862
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: The 23rd of Sept. is rapidly approaching. My posi- tion, and that of the directory of this Bank, is one of very great embarrassment, representing as we do large interests both North and South (the former you will have seen by the list of New York Stockholders furnished you), and fear that any voluntary act would jeopardize the coin and securities now within the Confederate lines.
The Mechanics and Traders Bank have, as you are aware, $250,000 in coin in the Confederate lines, $511,000 City Bonds in the hands of the State Auditor, deposited in conformity with law, to secure the redemption of its circulation. The Bank holds $237,720 in bonds or notes of the Confederate States, $336,833 in bonds of the State of Louisiana, and bills or Notes discounted amounting to upwards of $700,000, the payment of which is mainly dependent on parties now in
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER 301
and adhering to the Confederacy. It is impossible for me to determine what action will be taken by the Confederate authorities, and it would be peculiarly hard that by any act of mine the interest of parties in the United States and Europe, holding stock in this institution, should be rendered liable to seizure and confiscation.
I gave my parole on the 23rd of June in obedience to order No. 13. The oath then administered was of serious import. It has been respected, and will continue to be observed by me, as has every Order emanating from authority since the occupation of the city save the one to which your attention is now called, and which under the circumstances of the case it is hoped will not be enforced. An early answer with your views
Very respectfully Your most Obedt. Svt.,
WALTER G. ROBINSON, Prest.
From General Butler
NEW ORLEANS. Sept. 17, 1862
(Brig. Gen. M. JEFF THOMPSON)
GENERAL: Lt. Wiegel of my personal staff is accredited to you with a flag of truce, for the purposes indicated in my letter to you of this date. Please speed his return as early as con- sistent with public duty. I have the honor etc.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 17th, 1862
Brig. Genl. M. JEFF THOMPSON, Commanding, etc.
GENERAL: Your flag of truce, accrediting Capt. Shaw with a letter and enclosures relating to an exchange of prisoners, was duly entertained yesterday. Your authorities are wholly misinformed upon the subject of those enclosures.
I have never refused the exchange of prisoners paroled or otherwise held. Enclosed find a copy of my Genl. Orders upon this topic, and the orders issuing from the proper officers of my command.
On the contrary, my action has been taken without waiting for an official copy of the General Cartel, which I have not yet received. I have, indeed, applied informally to a bearer of the flag of truce with Mrs. Clark upon the subject.
It would be exceedingly inconvenient and expensive to both parties to transport the prisoners held here and by you
802 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
for exchange to Vicksburg. If there is no objection to it, I would propose that the prisoners be delivered at a more con- venient point. If an exchange is effected, I would propose to place the prisoners at any point on the lake or river after ten days from date, on a day designated that would be most convenient.
The prisoners held by Gen. Taylor on the West bank can be sent to Donaldsonville or Bonne Carre, or such other point as he may prefer, or Vicksburg. Will you please name a day and place for the exchange as soon as other arrangements are perfected?
May I ask you the favor to send back with my yacht some wounded men which the want or possibility of transportation rendered it indispensable to leave upon the occasion of the late visit of a reconnoitering party to Pontchatoula.
I have sent Lt. Wiegel of my personal staff to receive them, and have allowed Capt. Blount, of the late Actg. Brig. Genl. Allen's Staff, now a prisoner of war here, to go over with your flag in exchange for Capt. Thornton, who is of the same rank and wounded. The other wounded men will be considered in exchange. I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 17th, 1862
Brig. Gen. M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Commdg.
GENERAL: In another communication of this date I have proposed to you arrangements of an exchange of prisoners in courteous answer to your note, which I take leave to call attention was written me by your Adjutant General, without the apology of your absence, which I afterwards learned by the captured correspondence between you.
There is, however, a grave difficulty in the way of a general exchange of prisoners so far as this department is concerned. Genl. Taylor, in a letter received this date, of which, from accident, I regret I am not able to give you a copy, has in- formed me that having captured a hundred and thirty-six of the 8th Vermont Regiment he purposes, upon various pre- tences set forth in his letter, to except them from the cartel of exchange, and farther threatens, in certain contingencies therein set forth, to take the lives of ten of them by lot. I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 803
send you a copy of my reply to this extraordinary communication .
You will see, General, at once that, consistently with my duty to the men entrusted to my care, I must see to it that not a hair of their heads is touched unjustly or wrongly, while I hope and trust that General Taylor will reconsider his, as it seems to me, ill-judged determination. I shall be under the necessity of holding the prisoners (while) I have to await Genl. Taylor's action in the premises.
That Genl. Taylor may have some personal feeling because of the deprivation of some property upon his plantation, taken by my men, and for the loss of his father's sword, which was found buried for safety under a barn in the city, I can readily understand. But that his "private griefs" should incite him to forget his duty as a soldier, and do so great a wrong after full reflection, I shall not believe unless constrained by the fact. Meanwhile I make no threats of retaliation, but deem it my duty to remain in position to protect the lives of my men and the honor of the United States.
When I can be officially assured that all, every one of the men, belonging to the Army of the Gulf, held by Genl. Taylor, or who have been captured from this Army, will be returned in exchange, I will send forward every prisoner of war I hold who desires to be exchanged in accordance with the propo- sitions contained in my communications of this date. I have the honor to be,
Your Obt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 17, 1862
Brig. Gen. M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Commanding General
GENERAL: More than a year and four months ago a de- tachment of the U. S. Army was in some manner captured in Texas, and are now held as prisoners of war there at a place called "Camp Verde." Of this fact I have information, but of their numbers and regiment I have not the precise information, but I believe about 300 men.
As these prisoners are a part of the troops in this Depart- ment of the Gulf, I conceive it my duty to request that the prisoners of war may be forwarded to some convenient point for exchange.
If this matter is within your province, General, will you
304 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
communicate this note to the proper parties, so that some early action may be taken in the premises. I have the honor
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. 17, '62
DEAREST: I must write a little, for a week has passed without sending a letter, and I believe you wish one from home as often as that, if I can write pleasantly; otherwise none at all. I will do the best I can, write when, I, alas, when! I can cease to speak of myself, that is the best and all I can do. Major Bell talks as though he should not go back. Your letter by him says he will return immediately, and that I I must on no consideration think of returning with him. No one here believes that you will be recalled at present. Major Bell thinks there is nothing to keep you there. True, as it is now, but with reinforcements that Department is the most important in the country. If you are recalled, the chances are you will have less power than when you started for Ship Island. What is the reason that Major Bell does not intend to return? Is there no other but that he thinks you will come home?
Judge Abbott met Webster the other day, and asked him if it were possible that you had sent for Griffin to take the place of a man like Bell. He thought you could not have a worse man about you, reckless and unprincipled, with just ability enough to be dangerous. He wondered that Hildreth was not with you, a man true as steel to his friends, and whose judgment and truth were undoubted. I wrote you this to show you the opinion of one man, though you do not think him your friend, of Mr. Griffin. You may have reasons for wanting him, as he belongs to the Abolition party, that others have not thought of, but no such man as he is to be compared to Bell. I write what he said about Fisher only to finish his conversation. I have learned well enough how repugnant he is to you, and that he can only be of use through other per- sons. One other reason why I write of Griffin is that there are several other men who report that you have sent for them, and are on the point of starting. Dean has gone, Farrington, Eastman, Clemence, etc. The first one was never your friend. The others are auctioneers. Good for their business, but just
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 305
as well if somebody else had sent for them. Clemence sent word this morning that he should go in a fortnight, and would like me to go with him. But I have strict orders not to go. I could not take that voyage if you do not want me to go. As I have no expectation you are coming home, I wait with doubt and impatience for your next letter. I have seen Capt. George but three times I think since my return. Fisher, too, has been away most of the time. I sent for Fisher yesterday to come and see me; he has just returned from New York and will take the children back to Washington tomorrow. Blanche is not well today, or they would have started this afternoon. I told Fisher I would like to see Capt. George and hear what he had to say these days. He said it was not much use. He thought George had no heart to think and plan, that he, George, said no matter what was done, there would always be Jackson raised just above you, a spectacle for public comment ready to topple you down as fast as others could build; that you did not see it, and if you did you were reckless about it, and would always have him with you or ready to spring for- ward and grasp the power that others had helped to raise to the disgust of all who felt any interest. I know how vexed he would be if he knew I wrote this. But no one will tell you anything of this kind but me, and I know it will do no good, and had better be silent and write nothing.
Affectionately yours, SARAH
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 18, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 73
I. ALL transfers of property, or rights of property, real, mixed, personal, or incorporeal, except necessary food, medi- cine, and clothing, either by way of sale, gift, pledge, payment, lease, or loan, by an inhabitant of this Department who has not returned to his or her allegiance to the United States (having once been a citizen thereof), are forbidden and void, and the person transferring and the person receiving shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both.
II. All registers of the transfer of certificates of stock or shares in any incorporated or joint-stock company or asso- ciation, in which any inhabitant of this Department, who has not returned to his or her allegiance to the United States (having once been a citizen thereof) has any interest, are for-
VOL. II — 2O
S06 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
bidden, and the clerk or other officer making or recording the transfer will be held equally guilty with the transferrer. By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Gen.
From General Shepley
State of Louisiana, Executive Department, NEW ORLEANS, LA.,
September 19th, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of September 2, inclosing copies of several communications addressed by the Department of State to the diplomatic representatives of Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands, growing out of the relations between the military authorities and the consuls of those countries at New Orleans. I have advised M. Conturie, the consul of the Neth- erlands, that the $800,000 in coin taken from his possession by General Butler, would be restored to him or to the agent of Messrs. Hope & Co., or to the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana, whichsoever of them he might designate. Copy of my letter to M. Conturi6 is herewith transmitted. As the diplomatic correspondence transmitted to me contains a statement that I should be directed to invite M. Conturie to resume his con- sular functions, and also that I should be directed to cause to be restored the $800,000 seized by General Butler, I have taken the liberty to act upon these communications without awaiting any more specific instructions from you or from the Department of State on this subject. I shall endeavor in my intercourse with the foreign consuls in New Orleans, as far as possible, to avoid any causes of irritation tending to embarrass the Government in its relations to foreign powers. With great respect, I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, G. F. SHEPLEY, Military Governor of Louisiana
Official Records, Series 3, Vol. II, Page 623.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 19th, 1862
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
Sm: I have the honor to report to you the following facts: C. McDonald Fago, a British subject, resident many years
in New Orleans, is about to make claim to the property of
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 807
Wright & Allen in New Orleans, which has been taken posses- sion of by the U. S. authorities here under the following state of facts.
Wright & Allen are Cotton brokers who claim to have prop- erty outside of New Orleans of two millions of dollars. They are most rabid rebels, and were of those who published a card advising the planters not to send forward their crops of cotton for the purpose of inducing foreign intervention.
Soon after we came here, they mortgaged their real Estate here, consisting of a house, for $60,000, to planters in the state of Arkansas, and there sold the equity, together with their furniture for, $5,000 to Mr. Fago, paying about four thousand five hundred dollars per annum interest on the property and to receive nothing. His only payment, however, was by his own note in twelve months, which was sent to their friend the planter in Arkansas.
Wright & Allen were then openly boasting that they would not take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and were encouraging others to refuse and stand by Secession. In order to divest themselves of the last vestige of visible property upon which the confiscation act could take effect, having given to the widow of their deceased partner, an Irish woman, a note or notes for three thousand dollars, they then sell her their plate for that amount, and then have it shipped under another name to Liverpool.
A large number of others are following their examples, and, indeed, all the property of New Orleans is changing hands into foreigners and women, to avoid the consequences of the con- fiscation acts.
Believing all this to be intolerable, I have resolved to make this a test case, and have seized this property, and intend to hold it where it is until the matter can be submitted to the Courts.
Mr. Fago has sent to Washington to have this property given up as a test case. If the course of authority here is interfered with in this case, it will be next to impossible to maintain order in this city. This Mr. Fago has first had a large amount of sugar belonging to his brother, an aid to Governor Moore, given up to him by the decision of Reverdy Johnson. Emboldened by this experiment, he proposes to try once more. If successful, I should prefer that the Govern- ment would get some one else to hold New Orleans instead of myself. Indeed, Sir, I beg leave to add that another such
308 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Commissioner as Mr. Johnson sent here would render the city untenable. The town got itself into such a state, while Mr. Johnson was here, that he confessed to me that he could hardly sleep from nervousness from fear of a rising, and hurried away, hardly completing his work, as soon as he heard Baton Rouge was about to be attacked.
The result of his mission here has caused it to be under- stood that I am not supported by the Government, that I am soon to be relieved, that all my acts are to be overhauled, and that a rebel may do anything he pleases in the city, as the worst may be a few days' imprisonment, when my succes- sor will come and he will be released.
To such an extent has this thing gone that inmates of the Parish prison, sent there for grand larceny, robbery, etc., in humble imitation of the foreign consuls have agreed together to send an agent to Washington to ask for a Government Commission to investigate charges made by these thieves against the Provost Marshal, by whose vigilance they were detected.
Alexander the Coppersmith, by his cry "Great is Diana of the Ephesians, the institution of slavery is in danger," did me much harm in Louisiana, from the effects of which I am just recovering, and the only fear I now have is that, if the last accounts are true, Mr. Johnson will have so much more nervous apprehension for his personal safety in Baltimore than he had in New Orleans, that he will want to come back here, now the yellow fever season is over, as to a place of security.
I have done myself the honor to make this detail of the case at length to the State Department, so that all the facts are before it upon which I act. The inferences from those facts must, from the nature of testimony, be left to my judg- ment until the Courts can act authoritatively in the matter.
Another reason why I have detailed these facts with such minuteness is that in the reports of Mr. Johnson furnished to the Consuls to be read here, every fact is suppressed which would form a shadow of justification for my acts, and ex parte affidavits, (by those) accused by me of a fraudulent transfer of large amounts of property, are the sole basis of the report.
True, by that report more than three-quarters of a million of specie is placed in the hands of one Forstall, a rebel, a leading member of the "Southern Independent Association," a league wherein each member bound himself by a horrid arid impious
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 809
oath "to resist unto death itself all attempts to restore the Union." A confrere of Soul6 in the Committee of the City which destroyed more than ten millions of property by fire, to prevent its coming into the hands of the United States authorities, when the fleet passed the forts.
I beg of you, Sir, to consider that I mention the character of this report, not in any tone of complaint of the State Depart- ment. If it is necessary to suppress facts, to impugn the motives and disown the acts of a Commanding Officer of the Army in the field, or to publish to those plotting the destruc- tion of the Republic, that he has had all control of public affairs in New Orleans taken from him and transferred to a subordinate, because of the harshness of his administration, as was done in the despatch to the Minister of the Nether- lands, even if the facts is not true, I bow to the mandate of "State Necessity" without a murmur. I have made larger sacrifices than this for my country, and am prepared for still greater if need be, but I only wish to make them when they will be useful, and therefore have pointed the effect of the Com- mission Report and despatch upon a turbulent, rebellious, uneasy, excitable, vindictive, brutalised, half-foreign popula- tion, made mad by exaggerated reports of the victories of their fellows, the fall of the National Capitol, the invasion of the North, and excited to insubordination by the double hope that either by the success of the arms of their brethren, or the interference of the National Executive in their behalf, they shall soon be released from the Government which has ever held the city in quiet order or unplundering peace. Awaiting instructions, I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From the Acfg Consul of Prussia
Consulate of Prussia, NEW ORLEANS, 19th Sept., 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the
Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have made two attempts to see you at your office, yesterday and the day before yesterday. I was over three hours in attendance without being able to obtain admit- tance. My object was to see you in behalf of the Prussian ship "Essex," and I have now the honor to address you on the same subject.
310 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
On the 16th inst. the master of the " Essex " applied at the Custom House for a clearance, which was refused him, at first without assigning any reason; but subsequently, on my addressing a note to the Collector, Captain Klatt of the above- named vessel was informed that his vessel was detained on account of several packages of plate and specie which were shipped on board of her.
The "Essex" took in cargo on a general permit, and I do not see that by her receiving on board said plate and specie the revenue laws of the United States, nor the more recent regulations governing the intercourse of foreign vessels with this port, nor any of your own orders, issued, up to the 16th inst., have been infringed, but nevertheless the "Essex" has now been detained three days at a considerable expense.
I take the liberty now, General, to request you to allow the "Essex" to obtain her clearance without further delay, or otherwise to inform me of the cause of the difficulty, so that I may take steps to aid in removing it if possible. I remain,
General, With much respect, T7 . , JA
Your most obdt. servt.,
J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Acting Consul for Prussia From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Wh, 1862
The Prussian Consul
SIR: Your note in relation to the ship "Essex" was received by me this evening. I regret that the necessary press of busi- ness, a part of which an endeavor to speed the "Essex," prevented my seeing you.
It is perhaps not the fault but the misfortune of the "Essex" that contraband articles have found their way on board her. She has been necessarily detained while these are sifted out.
I shall be able to dispatch her as soon as she has landed certain parts of her freight, which I will designate. I do not think that the master of the ship has intended any wrong. He will get the list of goods to be landed in the course of the day.
Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 311
From General Sutler
UNOFFICIAL. Headquarters Department of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS,
Sept. 19. 1862
General THOMPSON
GENERAL: An unfortunate and untoward occurrence took place on board the yacht wherein your officers and mine were sailing across the lake, which I deeply regret.
Major Shaw, who was assaulted in an insane somnambulic fit by one of my officers, according to the report of my aid, Lt. Puffer, conducted himself with the utmost propriety, cool courage, and as a high-toned gentleman. For this allow me through you, General, as I have done personally, to thank him, and assure you that the affair instead of slightest fault to Maj. Shaw reflected on him the greatest credit.
Lt. Wiegel, the young officer who was the unhappy cause of the affair, declares it unwittingly done, has made the most ample apology, and feels the deepest contrition.
I need not say how much I regret that anything should have accidently happened to make more unpleasant than necessary the trip across the lake.
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen.
From General M. Jeff. Thompson
PONTCHATOULA, LA., Sept. t\8l, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER, U.S.A., Commanding U. S. Forces, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: Your note of the 18th inst. by Lieut. Puffer, U.S.A., marked "unofficial," was promptly delivered. I am sorry that you should have thought the incident important enough to claim your attention, and at the same time I thank you for your actions in the matter. I know so well how young gentlemen will act when turned loose by their superiors, that I should have laughed at the parties had it been reported, first, to me.
I will simply ask you to caution Lieutenant Wiegel that if he has not a good "whiskey head" he had better beware of the "critter," for in these war times it is dangerous to be off one's guard. Lieut. Wiegel's apology was perfectly satisfactory to Major Shaw, and your explanation is more than satisfactory to me.
SIS LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I must also thank you for your excuse of my "thoughtless- ness" (through my nephew's inexperience) in the style of the letter by the Flag of Truce under Major Shaw.
Respectfully, Your obt. servant, M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Brig. Gen. Comdg.
General Butler's Testimony on Sugar "Speculations" 1
THERE is one subject which it is due to myself I should say something about. I have heard something about "sugar speculations by the commanding general." I desire to make a statement upon that subject. On the 16th of May, or about that time, I was in New Orleans, and had twelve or fifteen transport ships which were under charter at so much a day, or so much a month — the United States to find them in ballast to get home again. Now, be it known, that there is not a stone in all that part of Louisiana which we occupied to throw at a dog; and it will not do to put mud into a transport vessel for ballast, because the earth would settle to the bottom, and the water come to the top, and wash about and make trouble. The only way to ballast these vessels was to send them to Ship Island, where there was no wharf for a ship of any draft of water to load at when it got there; and the only means of giving her ballast was to wheel white sand into boats, take the boats alongside of a vessel, and then hoist the sand on board; and it became a question of importance to me how these vessels were to be ballasted.
In the meantime, the guerillas were going about all through the country advising the planters to destroy all their cotton and sugar, telling them it would be confiscated by the United States if they did not destroy it. To put a stop to that, I issued a general order saying that all such stories were lies; that if the people would bring their cotton and sugar into New Orleans it would have safeguard and be bought. But there was another misfortune. I had in all $75, and that would not go a great ways in buying cotton and sugar. I had no quartermaster at that time, — he had not got down, and no quartermaster's funds, and the entire funds of the expedition, so far as I know, were the aforesaid $75. I went to a banker, who had known of me in happier times, and agreed to borrow of him $100,000, giving him drafts therefor, as I used it, on
1 From Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Part III, Pages 360-362, 37th Congress, 3rd Session, Senate Report No. 108.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 313
my private banker; and with that money I caused to be bought sugar, rosin, turpentine, etc., enough to ballast these vessels, and for a large vessel 200 tons of ballast would be required. To illustrate the advantage of this: take the steamer "Mis- sissippi," for instance; I had her there with a swept hold; if I had sent her to Ship Island for sand, it would have taken her thirty hours to get there, — call it a day, — which would be $1,500; then it would take ten days to put 250 tons of sand on board of her; that would be $15,000 more. It would have taken four days to have got the sand out of her after she had got at the wharf in New York, besides the expense of carting it away from the wharf, which would have cost a great deal. So that it would have cost at least the sum of $20,000 to get her home in ballast. Now, I gave five dollars a hogshead for the sugar; the quartermaster at New York complained that it took two days to unload that sugar, and that it cost more to unload it than they could get for it. He did not think that by not putting in sand I had saved some $1,200 freight, in addition to saving $20,000, which I would have had to pay.
By Mr. ODELL
Question. "You chartered the vessels to deliver them back in New York?"
Answer. "Yes, sir; at so much a day or month, to be deliv- ered in ballast in New York. I bought $60,000 worth of sugar, and tar, and turpentine. At the same time I wrote to the War Department, stating exactly what I had done, — stating that I had no right to use the money of the United States to make these purchases, and even if I had the right, I had no United States money to use. I wrote that I had used my own money, but that the government could take the property I had bought, and sell it for the benefit of the United States, if they chose, provided they would answer my drafts here. If they did not choose to cover my drafts, and would inform my agent of that fact, he would take care of the property for myself and pay the drafts; for I had bought the sugar at two cents and half per pound, when it was selling in New York at six cents; and tar at three dollars a barrel, when it was selling in New York at thirty-eight dollars. One would therefore sup- pose that I would be willing to take the property if the gov- ernment did not want it. Being the agent of the government, however, and paid for my time, I had no right to do that.
314 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
"The government let my drafts go to protest for non- acceptance, while the matter was getting settled, but finally concluded to assume the business and paid my drafts. They took the tar and turpentine for their own use; they had no occasion to sell that. The shipments of sugar that went to Boston alone paid to the government, after all expenses, the sum of $17,550.16, and the freight upon it was $12,436.32. So it paid a net profit to the government.
"As this matter may be brought up some time hereafter, when things are not as fresh in the mind as they are now, I make this statement with your leave, for the purpose of placing these facts upon the record. I can say that I would have given, if I had been allowed the chance for the speculation, $100,000 for the profits."
Question. "Did you consign this property to your private banker in Boston?"
Answer. "Yes, sir, of course, for I had nobody else to con- sign it to. I consigned it to my agent so that he could have the property to pay the drafts. The government, so far as they were concerned, let the drafts go to protest, and my friends had to raise the money to pay them."
Question. "Was all the property bought and shipped through your agency not shipped on your account, and sold on account of the government? "
Answer. "All the property bought and shipped by me, or through my agency, was shipped not on my account, but for the government, if they chose to take it."
Question. "And the government did take it?"
Answer. "Yes, sir. I had two views in purchasing it. One was to ballast the government transports; and the other was to let the people there know that if they brought their cotton and sugar to New Orleans they could sell it."
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, Sept. 19, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: I send you herewith a complete statement of the operations as ordered shipped by you before June 1st., also a memo account with the U. S. which I have not entered in my books, the net sum $17,550.16 standing to credit of "Sales."
You will observe that I have charged the account with cost, commissions to A. J. B. for buying, premium on gold, and every other possible item of cost, all of which are credited to
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 315
your account. The profits, $17,550.16, 1 hold as Agt. for both parties in the transaction, and do not propose to pay it to either without their mutual consent.
Truly yours, etc., RICH. S. FAY, JR.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Oulft NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 19th, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to forward the enclosed report to the State Department for information as an exposition of some of the difficulties with which I have contended here. The city is in a very excited condition and sufficiently uneasy, but I think I shall have no trouble.
As the day on which the Confiscation Act goes into opera- tion, approaches, the uneasiness and disquiet is more apparent, but all will be held firmly, calmly. I believe all danger of outward attack has for the present disappeared, and as soon as the weather is less oppressive I propose to take the offensive.
I have the honor to be, ^ 7 7- , 0 ,
Y our obedient o ervant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 19, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 74
I. IT having been made to appear to the Commanding Gen- eral that upon marches and expeditions soldiers of the United States Army have entered houses and taken therefrom private property, and appropriated the same to their own use:
It is therefore ordered, that a copy of General Orders No. 107, current series, from the War Department, be distributed to every commissioned officer of this command, and that the same be read, together with this order, to each company in this Department, three several times at different company rolls.
II. It is further ordered, that all complaints that private property has been taken from peaceable citizens in contra- vention of said General Orders No. 107, be submitted to a Board of Survey, and that the amount of damage determined shall be deducted from the pay of the officers commanding the troops committing the outrage — in proportion to their rank.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G.
316 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Commodore Henry W. Morris
U. S. Sloop PBNSACOLA, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 20, 1862
Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have just received the Telegraph from Col. Dow to you, which you have sent me, and I herewith return it.
I had not heard the report of nine rams having left "Mobile," and I place but very little faith in it.
I have directed all the coal vessels below to move up and anchor above the Forts. My reason for this was that some of the rebel vessels, which had been fitted out at Nassau (N. P.), had made their appearance off Havana and other parts of the coast of Cuba, and I apprehended that some of them might come in at the S. W. Pass and capture or destroy the coal vessels, as they were unprotected there.
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant, HENRY W. MORRIS, Commodore and Senior Officer
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 20, 1862
MY DEAR SARAH: I write by the "Matanzas" which sails this morning. There is on board of her a box containing photographs, which I trust will arrive safe. The "Saxon" came yesterday. Her cargo is not worth the freight. Every- thing remains quiet here save the excitement about the Con- fiscation Act, which goes into effect in three days. The " ladies " of New Orleans are in great trouble now about their property, and taking the oath. They literally swarm upon me. The health of the city remains admirable. We have had one case of yellow fever about two weeks ago, a passenger that slipped by the quarantine. Such sanitary measures were taken, how- ever, as to check its spread. We have had no other. Every- body well that you know, and all the command getting well.
I have raised two regiments of the "chosen people of colour," as Genl. Jackson terms them. Genl. Sherman is here, and has taken Phelps' place. General Arnold is here also from Pen- sacola, Gen. Weitzel, Shepley, and Dow, so you see I have Brig. Generals enough.
Tell Fisher to write me how he has received sugar, and if in funds. I may want to draw on him for 150 thousand dollars.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 317
Fisher must not think of coming out here at present. There is too much for him to do at home. The oats are not worth the freight. They have been too long on the way. However, I should keep them awhile.
Your letter containing photographs was received. I re- enclose it, and will wait for the pictures. You seem to take pride in the fact that yours is the saddest face ever seen. Why do so? Why not the gayest — the happiest? It is a poor compliment to a live husband and a family of lovely children that a wife has a sadder face than a specimen widow. From that face one would think that I treated you like a brute, that your children were ungrateful, your home cheerless and gloomy, your relatives had deserted you, and that even peace of conscience was denied you. Why then express the very contrary of all the facts which surround you? It does not add to your own happiness, because I never supposed you were a person who made a luxury of woe. Why then so sad? You have much if not everything to make you happy. Come now, put on a cheerful face, smile and come down here, and make me happy with the merriest face that ever was seen. Why does not that "little puss" Blanche write me?
How shockingly everything has gone on in Virginia. How it is going on, I know not now. The Government don't seem to have the energy and determination of mice. However, I must criticize only to you. Seward has played me a scurvy trick by writing to the Consuls that Genl. Shepley was ap- pointed Military Governor here because of displeasure of my "harshness" here. It is not true, because I asked Shepley to be appointed, as you know. I have written Mr. Seward a letter which if he desires I will publish.
Yours, Adieu, BENJ. F.
From the Acting Consul of Prussia
Consulate of Prussia, NEW ORLEANS, 23d Sept., 1862
Major Genl. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf GENERAL: Captain Klatt of the Prussian ship "Essex" handed to me yesterday the order issued under your authority by the Collector of this Port, asking for the delivery of certain specified packages laden on board his vessel, and informed me at the same time that he refused compliance.
You are no doubt aware that the Bills of Lading for the packages in question, signed respectively on the 9th and 15th
318 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
inst., are in possession of the shippers, and in order to hold the vessel harmless and to avoid complication in Liverpool, her port of destination, it will either be necessary that the Bills of Lading be returned to the Captain, on delivery here of the packages, or that the same be taken from his vessel by force.
In your note addressed to me on the 19th inst., receipt of which I have the honor to acknowledge herewith, the said pack- ages are declared to be contraband, and pn] this connection I would beg leave to observe that by the sixth section of the Con- fiscation Act, they would only become such after the 23d, or per- haps have become such after the 18th, by the operation of your general order No. 73. [There] existed, therefore, on the 15th inst., no cause for the detention of the "Essex."
I have now herewith to hand you the protest entered by Captain Klatt against the detention of his vessel, and of which I shall also forward a copy to the Prussian Minister at Washington.
The "Essex" is at great daily expense. She claims damages to the extent of $500 in gold per diem, and it is therefore of importance to bring this question to an issue either in one way or another, and begging that you will give it your early con- sideration, I remain, General,
Very respectfully, Your obdt. servt., J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Acting Consul of Prussia
P.S. Captain Klatt requests me to state that he wishes it to be distinctly understood that the non-compliance on his part with your order should only be attributed to his desire to guard himself against difficulties in Liverpool, and to no other motive.
J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Act. Consul
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23d, 1862
To the Prussian Consul, NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I have received yours of the 23rd, containing protest.
The ship "Essex" has been at liberty to depart since the date of the Collector's letter to you. If the Captain choose to lay here longer, he does it at his own risk and expense.
I suppose it is within the province of a military Com- mander to determine for himself, and upon his own respon- sibility, what he may judge the necessity of his position will allow to be shipped from the port under his command. I have
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 819
exercised that discretion, and I do not require any interpre- tation of my orders from the Acting Prussian Consul to govern my action.
I take leave to call your attention that the only Prussian Consul accredited here is in command of rebel forces in the field, while his wife remains in this jurisdiction.
While I have endeavored and shall endeavor to interfere as little as possible with any acts, either of commerce of your countrymen or official acts of yourself, as I have endeavored to extend to you every courtesy, I am not a little surprised at your action in regard to ship "Essex." I shall not use force to take the obnoxious packages out of the "Essex" because I believe that very force would be made a subject of complaint, but I repeat what I have already said, until the master of the "Essex" deliver these packages to the Customhouse officer, the ship cannot sail, and if she remains, as he is now doing, it must be at his own risk and peril. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Lieutenant Colonel Shields
Headquarters, BATON ROUGE, LA., September 23rd, 1862
To the Commanding Officer , U. S. Forces,
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
SIR: I am instructed by the Commanding Officer, C.S.A. of this district to send, with a, flag of truce, the son and daughter of General Clarke, now a wounded prisoner in your hands, and to request safe conduct through your lines, and permission to visit their father in New Orleans. Mr. Farrar, a nephew of the General's, accompanies the children. I am, Sir, Very respectfully, Your obedient Servt.,
THOMAS SHIELDS, Lt. Col. Commdg. Post.
From Mrs. Sutler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. '62
DEAREST: I received your letters yesterday by Mr. Bon- fanti. He called in the afternoon to deliver them, and came again to pass the evening. Mr. Webster and his wife happened to be here, and Mr. Morse had met the gentleman in the cars, and called to see him in the evening. I gave them coffee and fruits, brandy, and cigars; while they were at the latter left them alone. During this time Mr. Bonfanti said some things
320 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to Mr. Webster that I will write you, though I had thought to leave this subject alone. In your letter to me you write of being recalled; this I expected, but not yet. While there is danger of an attack, as it is believed there is, you will be retained. When that danger is over, I think you will be super- seded. There are several reasons why I have expected this, some of them I have written to you during the summer, they were not likely to make a change while the climate was obnox- ious. There may be some difficulty in the way even now that will prevent it, for you are much thought of; but the chances are you will be recalled and sent somewhere else. This gentle- man said to Webster and Morse that there was something he would like to say to Mrs. Butler, or have said to her, that she might write it to the Gen'l. He would like to have spoken to you about it, but as he was situated did not feel at liberty to do so while he was with you. He says that Col. Butler has done, and is doing you vast injury, that he is utterly hated, and all his deeds are reflected on you. He is willing his name should be used in the communication, as he greatly likes you, and does not like to see you injured from such a cause, without at least your being made aware of it. All these things I have heard here, from Boston men and merchants through the summer, of the fact I was well assured before I left New Orleans, that he is of vital injury to you. And that you cannot stand under that burden there, though it overwhelms you in a differ- ent form, any better than you could at Fortress Monroe. A more obnoxious person to invest with power could not be found. The Government will never leave him there, to deal with the Confiscation Act. I know you will say this is prejudice and ill-feeling on my part. I cannot help it. I write my own con- victions and the words of others. You think you control him and know his acts. On the contrary, though subservient to your face, he controls where he wishes, insults and overbears everywhere. This subject does not trouble me personally as it has done, and if you now concluded to live together here- after, I think I should not much mind it. All that I can suffer these two years have exhausted. It is only a question how far you are willing to suffer in estimation and position for his advancement. If you are satisfied, let others wince, — it is no great matter. I would not have you now alter one thing from mere regard to my wishes.
Your coming home will give me so much pleasure we shall never think of quarreling with the reasons, be they ever so
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 321
unjust. Mr. Bonfanti says you are looking very well and in excellent spirits. He thinks there will be no attack made on the city. Is it not rather imprudent to go out alone after dark? I think I would not run that risk; a man stabbed in the night is but a sorry object. I felt compelled to write what this man said, but I am in no mood for writing, but in any mood I am
Always affectionately, yours, SARAH
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. '62
DEAREST: I must write a little this afternoon, though I sent you a letter this morning. Capt. George has just called on his way to New York to look after the unfortunate vessel with Fisher, who is now there, that was freighted for New Orleans. He is full of suggestion as usual, but only a minute of time. He thinks you had better not come north without asking leave of the President, that there is no place so impor- tant as the one you now hold in the estimation of the country, hardly second to Washington, and on no account to make any move that will risk your withdrawal from that Depart- ment, there are enough ready to spring into it. Yet if you could come to Washington and plead your own cause for reinforcements, you would have great influence. But that you cannot do while the town is threatened. Halleck, as you know, is appointed Secretary of War. McClellan is reinstated as Commander-in-Chief on the Potomac. You know how friendly they are likely to be to you. George has not altered his mind, and says there is but one man who has the power and will to aid you, and the last he fears you have lost by neglect. I do not think so, for the person he means is troubled, and would like an ally, if he could find one on whom he could firmly rely. And he likes you. Pope goes to the North West. Washington is panic-stricken, and is so afflicted, every few months, the only man who has steadily pursued one course is the one I speak of. George says this is a crisis, and you ought not to move much until it is over. Be content and glad to be still. Hundreds among the middling people about Washington say if you were leader we should not be in the condition we are now. But see you not, you want a firm friend, who is in power. The regulars are holding most of the power, but they prefer their own. You must look for aid elsewhere. Your Depart- ment is second only to McClellan's. I should prefer your
VOL. II — 21
SS2 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
position. You may partly succeed in getting reinforcements through the influence of the regular officers in your command. George says it would be very well to cultivate Gen'l. Sherman thoroughly, that he is an able officer, very able, whether suc- cessful or not heretofore, and that you will find him all you desire. About your arming the free blacks there is a little question. A few who are disposed to find fault say you are doing the same thing for which Phelps was withdrawn. George Pearson says you will find them treacherous. Major Bell informs me they are as white as any person, and that he has a great mind to write a little article to that effect. But it would be better it should be editorial, if it's done at all. I will tell him so when I see him. George says the country is in too terrible a struggle to mind anything about it. Clemence, I hear, is going out to you. He has said some ill-natured things. I am sorry you asked him to go, but no matter; he will serve you while it answers his interest. Treat him well, but do not trust him deeply. He is selfish and envious. As soon as this vessel is repaired, she will be sent to New Orleans. She was built for a tug-boat, and perhaps is just what you want. (I shall never remember to ask the name!) If so you will be glad of her arrival. George says you ought to have the " Saxon " with two or three guns mounted ready for your own use; that nothing would tempt him to stay in such a town without a vessel of that sort. I am writing you what he says, because you have sometimes thought his suggestions good. He further says the wisest thing a man can do, who has any means afloat, is to convert it into gold, and never let go of it till this war is over. I have written part of this letter almost in the dark. I write very rapidly of late, and no longer think how it looks. By the time this is sent away I shall think, ah! I forgot to write so and so, and have to begin again. In this letter I have not so far said one word of home, children, of what we are doing or thinking. But I think of you always, and write this today that you may get the views of others to compare with your own, and work them into use if they are worth it. The children are well. Everything looks fresh — the peaches and pears are ripe. If you were here to eat them I should be happy. But I shall see you soon either here or there.
Yours, SARAH
The pineapple plants arrived today, looking very well. The gardener says they require seventy degrees of heat in winter.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 323
Do you love me any these days, I wonder or have you too
much to think of? Tr ~ ,. . , 0
Very affectionately yours, OAR AH
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23rd, 1862
MY DEAR WIFE: Who shall say I do not take pains to write you; here I have tumbled out of bed at reveille to send this note by the mail to say I am in good health, except the before mentioned "sore boils and prickly heat."
The "Saxon" has got here after a 26 days passage. We are expecting a new mail in this morning. We are without news since the 6th. We have instead the most extravagant rumors, but we are used to them. Bell has not got back yet, and Kins- man, who took his place as Provost Judge, has worked himself quite sick. Strong is well. I have not got the pictures yet.
Today is the last day before the Confiscation Act goes into effect. The oath of allegiance has been taken by almost every- body in the city — they have taken it to save their property, but with very wry faces. The women have all had to "come up to the scratch." Elegant phrase, that last, isn't it? I am called — time is up. The mail must go, so a thousand kisses, a hundred embraces, one hug like a bear to you.
Adieu, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From Hon. S. P. Chase to General Butler
Treasury Department, Sept, 23, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I am delighted by your great success at New Orleans. You know, of course, that all I can do to promote it will be most gladly done. Happily you are less oppressive in your demands on the Treasury than any other of our Generals in important positions. I wish you could have men enough to move up the Mississippi and clear it out. What a crown to your achievements that would be!
When General Halleck came here the President requested him to call on me about the financial measures necessary to the prosecution of the War. I told him that the most impor- tant in my judgment were, 1st, the substitution of an active, energetic, fearless general for McClellan in the command of the Army of the Potomac, then stranded on James River, and 2nd, the opening of the Mississippi. Another, less vitally important financially, seemed to me equally important polit-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ically and militarily, — that was the prompt advance of BuePs Army into East Tennessee. The first was not done; the second was not done; the third was not done; and today the Treasury is almost thirty-six millions behind, and almost with- out resources, except Treasury notes of which the faculty to issue only fifty-six millions remains, and customs which supply about $200,000 per day. The bonds on which our chief reliance must necessarily be placed the 5-20 sixes cannot be negotiated.
But we have something else — defeat before Washington poorly compensated by the expulsion of the rebels from Mary- land; Ohio and Indiana menaced; military stagnation through- out the South, with danger of expulsion from the points gained on the Atlantic Coast; Tennessee nearly lost and Kentucky nearly over run. Was there ever anything like it?
Mr. Denison writes me in your praise. He says your ad- ministration is eminently successful, and that you are getting on admirably with your free colored regiments; enlisting with- out much enquiry into the status prior to enlistment. This is well. You must anticipate a little the operation of the Proc- lamation in New Orleans and Louisiana. The law frees all slaves of rebels in any city occupied by our troops and pre- viously occupied by rebels. This is the condition of New Orleans. Is it not clear, then, that the presumption of freedom is in favor of every man only to be set aside in case of some by clear proof of continuous loyalty?
Yours faithfully, S. P. CHASE
From Jonas H. French to General Butler
Provost Marshal's Office, NEW ORLEANS, LA. Sept tlth, 1862
GENERAL: This morning two Spanish Transports attempted to go to sea — as is customary, my River Police went on board to examine their passports. They refused to allow them to examine the passports — saying the passengers had been passed by the Spanish Consul — and that was sufficient. They claim, both of them, to be men-of-war, and that my police had no right on board.
The Spanish Vice-Consul has just left me in a very excited state of mind because I told him his vessels could not go to sea until the passports had been examined by my officers, as is the rule of the office — I thought it was proper you should
know the facts. J7 ,/• 77
Very respectfully,
JONAS H. FRENCH, Provost Marshal Genl. La.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 325
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 2M, 1862
To Captain Commanding Spanish War Steamer 'Blasco de Gar ay"
SIR: Having reason to believe that some escaped prisoners are attempting to leave on board Spanish Transport, the names of two have already been found on the list, and knowing it was without the knowledge of the Spanish Consul and of yours, upon consultation with your Consul I desire to ask that you will per- mit one of my detective officers, in company with one of the officers of your ship, to examine the passengers on board the transport, so as to detect the escape of unworthy prisoners.
I ask the supervision of one of your officers in order that I may not interfere with or infringe the Spanish jurisdiction over your national vessel, or, if this would seem to you objection- able, any other means be taken by which the same object be accomplished. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Jos6 Manuel Dias de Herrera
NEW ORLEANS, September 24/fc, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: Having taken notice of the contents of your kind letter of this date, I do not object in the least that the person by you appointed be without character of police, but only to identify the parties that you manifest, will go on board of the Spanish transports, accompanied by one of my officers, who will order the delivery of criminals on board found.
I renew, General, my thanks for your kind and courteous letter, and beg to assure you that the Spanish flag will never protect but those parties to which the civilized nations, by the right of abetting, afford protection.
The person named by you may call on board the "Blasco de Garay" this afternoon at 4 o'clock, to be accompanied on board of the transports by one of my officers, in one of my boats, for the above mentioned purpose. With the highest sentiments of regard, I am, Genl.,
Your most obedient Servant
JOSE MANUEL DIAS DE HERRERA, Capt. of Frigate, com'g Spanish War Steamer "Blasco de Garay"
S26 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Z4th, 1862
Major General H. W. HALLECK, Commander in Chief, Armies of the U. S.
GENERAL: Having been informed that a small force of the enemy were repairing Manchac Pass, and that the troops had been withdrawn from Pontchatoula, 48 miles north of the city, the Headquarters of Jefferson Thompson, I directed Major Strong, my Chief of Staff, to take five companies of men to complete the destruction of the bridge and the repairs, if any, and by a division of his forces endeavor to secure the person of General Thompson and to destroy his supplies.
Owing to the heavy draught of water of our boast, as set forth in Major Strong's report herewith enclosed, it was found impossible to carry the plan as originally proposed.
But Major Strong, not to be baffled, determined upon an attack, and in open day at the head of 112 men made a march of ten miles upon the Headquarters of a General who was collecting forces to attack New Orleans, drove away a light battery of artillery supported by 300 infantry, took and occupied the town, destroyed the telegraph and Post Office, captured the despatches, possessed himself of the General's presentation sword, spurs, and bridle as trophies (our officers do not plunder Generals' Quarters of shirts and stockings), burned his supply train of twenty cars, and returned at his leisure, inflicting treble loss upon the enemy in killed and wounded.
I beg to commend this to the Commanding General as one of the most daring and successful exploits of the war, equal in dash, spirit, and cool courage to anything attempted on any side. Major Strong and his officers and men deserve great credit. It may have been a little daring, perhaps rash, but that has not been an epidemic fault with our Officers. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. [24], 1862
DEAREST: Major Bell came today with his wife and Capt. Clark. They sail for New Orleans on Saturday. Major Bell must have said he would not return because he expected you
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 327
home. There is now no thought of removing you. I think you will get reinforcements and finish your work in the Gulf. Their call today was very pleasant. They could not stay for dinner, but I gave them a very nice lunch. I wrote you a long letter yesterday that I intended to send by Major Bell, but I feared that what I wrote might trouble you, and I shall not send it. I felt a little hurt because you did not seem to care much about my coming. Write me again, and tell me you would not like to be there through the winter without me on your own account; and then I shall feel that you want me. Do not leave me in doubt about this, because the voyage will be so hard, if I think you are a little indifferent about my going. Remember this, and pray attend to it kindly. Blanche left me yesterday for Georgetown again. Fisher waited four days for her though in great haste to get to New York and Baltimore. His vessel is at the last place. She will have to be repaired, and will not be sent to New Orleans. The pictures are all brought back. I shall go to Boston tomorrow to get copies, and will forward them as soon as complete. Blanche was sick for several days. Do not paint the picture of myself that I sent you. It was taken soon after I came back, — I am not so thin now. I am sorry I sent it, so sad looking as it is, you will not like to see it. Do you not think Blanche's are pretty, the last three I sent you? I have your letters of August 7th, 10th, and 15th, with mine enclosed. Dr. Martin will write you to send for him. Do not do it unless you have already. I am not pleased with him altogether.
The President has issued a Proclamation of Emancipation to take effect next January. There will be some growling, but the people will bear it now. Fisher thinks your course just right, neither too fast or too slow. He was very anxious to see Major Bell before he started, but could not find the time. He thinks Major Bell the most reliable and honorable man you have with you. I hope while you remain in the War he will be
with you. Would it not be well to give W another place
if you could make one for him; for he gives but little help or strength to you, and make an opening for Major Bell. He does not aspire to military fame, but of course would like a regular place on your staff, and a truer friend or better coun- sellor you can hardly find. Fisher has been to see Carney that if your drafts arrive before the sugar he may be ready to meet them. He asked me how you came to write about his going to N. O., as he had never written to you of doing so. I
3S8 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
told him I had spoken of his going with Peirce. Bonfanti drew on Fay by your order for a hundred thousand more or less. I suppose there can be no mistake about it. Pray write me as often as you can. We cannot but feel dreadfully dis- appointed that you are not to come home, though it would be disapproval if the Government removed you. I would have gone with Major Bell but for your prohibition. Now I must wait till the equinoctial storm is over. That may be the middle of October, or even later.
Write me often, and pleasantly as you can. You see I am improving, as I would not send you what I wrote yesterday for fear it should grieve you. I hope we may both forbear, till we are of one mind in everything. As we are, I will believe in thinking much of each other. With great desire to see you, Most affectionately your OWN WIFE
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase
PRIVATE AND UNOFFICIAL. NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Z4th, 1862 1
DEAR SIR: Your kind letter of the 8th inst. reached me yesterday. I showed it to Gen. Butler, as you gave me per- mission to do. The General requests me to present to you his kindest regards. He is satisfied that Slavery must be abol- ished, and he will do his part at such time as he thinks proper. He humorously remarked that his colored Brigade was of about the complexion (upon the average) of the Vice-Presi- dent. He says that after properly organizing and drilling them, he believes they can march triumphantly from here to Kentucky. To-morrow the first Regt. receives arms and joins the army. The second is fully enlisted, and is being drilled. A third will be organized, but the General has arms for no more. His order says none are to be received but those who have received freedom through some recognized legal channel, — but these are of three classes, viz: those who have received freedom from their owners. 2nd. Those who are made free by the present military courts, 3rd. all who come in from the enemy's lines. You see this includes almost all colored people. Gen. Butler will manage this matter wisely and well.
Gen. Butler does more work than any other man in Louisi- ana. Every thought seems to be given to the interest of the Government, and his powers of endurance are remarkable.
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 815.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 3*9
No other man could fill his place here. His popularity among Union men is great and increasing. As I told you in a former letter, it is to be regretted that his brother does business here, but I do not think the General is interested in his speculations. He learns everything and forgets nothing. He comes in con- tact with the best minds in the State, and is equal, or superior, to them all.
During the week ending last night the number of people who have taken oath of allegiance is very great. Every place where the oath was administered was thronged. Secessionists can be tamed, and Gen. Butler can do it. I should say three- fourths, at least, of the citizens have taken the oath, and yet not a threat was made against such as should not take it. I have reason to believe the General will be very severe toward those who persist in calling themselves loyal to the Southern Confederacy. I think he will confiscate their property and remove them beyond the lines.
Notwithstanding Federal reverses, the Union feeling develops itself satisfactorily, and many have really ceased to be secessionists.
The Prussian ship "Essex" has on board many cases of plate and bullion shipped by rebels. Gen. Butler directed me to grant no clearance to the ship until the cases were landed. The ship has been waiting for a clearance three days, but will (probably) land the cases soon, when there will be no more trouble.
Since I have been here, two small vessels have cleared for Pensacola with Gen. B's permit. Admiral Farragut may perhaps complain of these vessels, for one or both ran into rebel ports, or were captured by the enemy. At any rate, they did not reach Pensacola. The Navy seized the Prize Schooner "Emma" at Ship Island, sent by me to New York. I had put iron on her to complete cargo. She was released and continued her voyage.
The business of the Custom House goes on very satisfac- torily. The Mr. Flanders I spoke of is not the one you know, but his brother, and is not perhaps a proper person for Sur- veyor. He is a proper person for Clerk to perform the duties of Deputy Surveyor, and for this office I have nominated him, the office of Surveyor, being included, I suppose, in my posi- tion as Special Agent and Acting Collector.
[GEORGE S. DENISON]
330 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
• Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Wth, 1862
Capt. JANUARY & Lieut. PERKINS
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 25th inst. to Capt. Davis has been handed to the Genl. Comdg. for consideration, and he directs me to say that the reason for keeping you in close con- finement is that he has received a communication from Genl. Taylor, of Confederate service, saying that he will not exchange the prisoners he has belonging to the Eighth (8) Vermont Vol- unteers. It therefore rests with your own officers when you shall be released. By ^ of MAJ QEN BUTLER
FRED MARTIN, Lieut. & A. D. C. From Rear Admiral Farragut
Flag Ship HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Sept. 26, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: I wrote you by the "Clifton," and sent word to you by General Arnold about Fort Gaines, but we appear to be as much out of the way here as in Yucatan.
I hear nothing from you, and until the arrival of the "Ten- nessee" yesterday we had heard nothing since the "Clifton."
I wish to establish a mail twice a week between New Orleans, Ship Island, and Pensacola. I will send, on any stated days that you may establish with the Postmaster, to Ship Island for our mails for this place. I know we have a large mail at New Orleans for the vessels here as well as my official mail, as I have only received two or three letters from the Department. I sent some powder to Ship Island for the use of the Army and Navy: it went in the "Rhode Island" to New Orleans, but as she had the fever on board, it had to be left at Ship Island.
Do let me know your intentions towards Fort Gaines. Have you the troops to spare to attack it in the rear, landing in the Sound?
I see by my letters that the Department rather throws cold water on the attack, but I think now is the time to create a diversion in their forces at the North, where they appear to be managing about as badly as could be expected from the worst instead of the best Generals in the country.
Do let me hear from you, for I will be ready in five or six days for anything as far as my force goes.
Your most truly, D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral, Comd'g. W. G. BVg. Sqdn.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 331
From Juan Callejon
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Septbre. Vttk, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I have seen this day your endorsement on one of my certificates, and see by it that you consider that a person born from Spanish parents loses the right of nationality as Spanish subject, after residing here 30 years.
After Riquelme, the accident of being born in a foreign country does not force a person to renounce to the nationality of his or her parents, the common right considers the nation- ality transmitted from parents to children.
I hope, General, that you will consider this, and give the orders which will be right and just, and will be generous towards number of old ladies and unhappy people who never mixed in the politics of this country.
Most Respectfully, Your obedt. Servt.,
JUAN CALLEJON
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. mh, 1862
Senor Don JUAN CALLEJON, Consul of Spain
SIR: The Commanding General directs me to reply to your favor of this date that he finds it impossible to agree with you on the question of nationality therein contained, and for this reason, that if the children born here of Spanish subjects are not citizens of the United States, then the continued issue for generations are not such citizens, and consequently the United States would never be able to claim the progeny of foreigners as citizens of this Country. I have the honor to be,
Your Obt. Servt., A. F. PUFFER, Lieut. & A. D. C.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. Wth, 1862
General T. W. SHERMAN, Commanding Division, &c.
GENERAL: If the slaves spoken of in your communication of the 25th came away voluntarily with the troops from Baton Rouge, I do not see how they can be returned. Certainly not Mr. Walker's, who is not a loyal citizen, but is confined, on his parole, to his plantation, having just been released from Ship Island, where he was sent for having used seditious Ian-
332 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
guage. Mr. Walker was the Editor of the Delta, the leading secession newspaper of the south.
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER,
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Genl.
From W. Newton Mercer
No. 1U Caned Street, Sept 26^, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding
SIR: You have probably inferred from our various conver- sations that I have not taken an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States, or have been a member of any society or public body in New Orleans or elsewhere in the Confederacy, and that since your arrival here I have maintained a strict neutrality.
In pursuance of your order No. 76 I will make a faithful return substantially if not minutely correct of all my prop- erty here except about $3,000, the greater part of which is in gold, that I have reserved for an emergency. I mention this to you now to avoid misapprehension.
Your order referred to exempts those only who have taken the oath of allegiance, but I cannot think you intended to include those in my situation, as claiming to be enemies of the United States.
Such an interpretation is in my opinion at variance with the act of Congress as well as with the Proclamation of Presi- dent Lincoln. I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, W. NEWTON MERCER
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 27, 1862
Dr. W. N. MERCER, N. ORLEANS
SIR: I have your note of the 26th Sept. In my judgment there can be no such thing as neutrality by a citizen of the United States in this contest for the life of the Government — as an officer I certainly cannot recognize such neutrality. "He that is not for us is against us."
All good citizens are called upon to lend their influence to the United States — all that do not do so are the enemies of the United States. The line is to be distinctly and broadly drawn. Every citizen must find himself on the one side or
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 333
the other of that line, and can claim no other position than that of friend or enemy of the United States.
While I am sorry to be obliged to differ from you in your constructions of the act of Congress, and the Proclamation of the President, yet I cannot permit any reservation of property from the list or exception of persons from the requirement of Order No. 76. It may be and I trust is quite true that by no act of yours have you rendered yourself liable to the confisca- tion of your property under the Act and Proclamation, but that is for the military or other Courts to decide. You, how- ever, will advise yourself with your usual care and caution what may be the effect, now that you are solemnly called upon to declare yourself in favor of the Government by contuma- ciously refusing to renew your allegiance to it, thereby indu- cing from your example others of your fellow-citizens to remain in the same opposition.
I am glad to acknowledge your long and upright life as a man, your former services as an officer of the Government, and the high respect I entertain for your personal character and moral worth; but I am dealing with your duty as a citizen of the United States.
All these noble qualities, as well as your high social position, render your example all the more influential and pernicious, and, I grieve to add, in my opinion more dangerous to the interest of the United States than if, as a younger man, you had shouldered your musket and marched to the field in the Army of the Rebellion.
From Mrs, Butler to General Butler
LOWELL, Sept. 28th, '62, Sunday
DEAREST: I have been on the sofa nearly all day; not feel- ing well at all. Yesterday we took the children to Boston to get their pictures and show them the Aquarial Garden. It was very fatiguing, that and the bad smell in the rooms at the Aquarial has made me nearly sick. The children were delighted with the monkeys, fishes, and Commodore Nutt. Major Bell and Capt. Clark are on their way to New Orleans. I ought to be with them. I hope your next letter will show a little more interest about it. It leaves a soreness of feeling when you make but little account of passing the winter with- out me. But let that pass, you will be glad to see me sometime.
Your friend, that you wrote to Fisher you would like to
334 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
have a long chat with, was here on Friday. I will endeavor to give you the conversation and his views of your present posi- tion and prospects. I think your position satisfactory, and would not venture dangerous experiments. The Secretary of War pushed it to an issue. Halleck refused to obey the order, and the President decided he must not be interfered with. Stanton submitted and kept his place. McClellan has been deposed only to be reinstated with stronger power, and propped securely with Halleck. The President was obliged to yield this or the rebels might have taken Washington. Pope was defeated, if his report is true, because other Generals neglected to reinforce him where he had full right to expect it. He is driven into exile, and disgraced, while McClellan is reinstated. It is said privately that some of the Generals of the Potomac waited on the President, and informed him there could be no safety for Washington unless McClellan was restored to the command. The President yielded to the pressure. As soon as the rebels were driven out of Maryland, the President issued the Proclamation for Emancipation. (Can anyone tell why they were not broken to pieces, scattered, and captured?) There was but one's day's fighting of any note, and that simply to show how the two opposing leaders could handle their men ; it was tolerably warm work for a while, but each was afraid to stake all on the issue; if they had it is more than likely Lee would have pressed us to defeat. Night came on, and Lee with his force recrossed into Virginia. The President's Proc- lamation of Emancipation was made directly on the heels of this as a concession to the Abolitionists, after restoring McClellan. So far there has been no great demonstration made about it. Those who desire it are in doubt it may prove but a dead letter. All may be quiet on the Potomac for another year for aught that can be done to move them if this Proclamation does not please the Generals, so that the odium is incurred, if there is any attached to it, without the chance of any benefit to arise from it. This has shook Seward's power; the President now leans on Chase. He is the man serenaded. But in spite of this, Seward is so wiry and capable, so much of a statesman, that if anything goes wrong he will get the power again, and be all the stronger for a momentary defeat. McClellan, as you will see, is the military man for the Democratic party. Seymour of New York runs in opposi- tion to Wadsworth for Governor. There is much expectation that he will win. He is also thought of by civilians as a check
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 335
to McClellan, in the Democratic party. That would be better for you, as he is a friend of yours. By this you will see that both rings there are filled. In the Republican party, Fremont is the man. A move was made to give him fifty thousand men (He would be in condition then to enforce a great deal) . But they were not successful in getting their wants carried out. There is one opening for you, if you would think it advis- able to venture on such dangerous ground. I think you have thought something of it, though not perhaps to work through the same avenues it has been suggested to me would be the best. You could write to the President, offering in your Department to carry out his Proclamation according to his wish. His Proclamation incites to insurrection which will lead to fearful horrors. You can offer to organize insurrection, arm the negroes, use them as infantry, and of our soldiers make flying artillery and cavalry, to make a distinction between them and the blacks. To do this you want reinforce- ments, more staff officers, such as they have perfect confidence in, a Flag Officer who is ready to cooperate with the Fleet, so that if they pour their whole army upon you you may have transportation for your men and assistance from their guns. The Rebels could hardly remain quiet at Richmond if such work was progressing in the South West. The armies both North and South might be obliged to move. If you wish to offer your services to the President to carry out his Proclama- tion, there are two channels through which it could be done. Pierce is an intimate friend of Charles Sumner. Write what would seem best to you to Sumner and Chase, and a line of endorsement of Pierce as the man who has your confidence. If you are willing to hold by Seward, who will yet get the power again, the man who thinks so highly of him is ready to be your messenger to him, and you could not have a better one. This would give Seward the chance to carry out the President's views, and give him once more the ascendency. Your friend thinks he would assent, and carry it through to the satisfac- tion of those engaged with him. You know how much your friend admires him, and would rather work with that party than the other. But not unless there is a feeling of perfect confidence and good will between you and Seward, as nothing short of that would answer. Your friend looks upon this as an almost desperate chance, but the only one beyond your present position. If you carry out the abolition views, and build up a power that way, it would place you at the head of
336 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
a party, though the powers whose orders you execute might not anticipate or desire such a result. At present you are outside of all parties. And perhaps that is the best and most honorable place you could be in, in a crisis like this when the bitterness of party seems likely to destroy the country. But if you wish to sway or direct the movements of a party, these hints are offered for your deliberation. You can think over what effect a letter from you to the President of the kind sug- gested would have, and do what you think best when you have well deliberated. For it is a fearful thing to arm these negroes and put them in their master's houses. Nor can there be any certainty they will prove effective as soldiers, or that our people will fight with them. I have received your letter wherein you speak of Mr. Seward and the letter you have sent him. I hope you will not find hereafter that you have acted unwisely. But that closes that side of the question. Your friend will be sorry you are in open opposition, for there is a powerful conservative party in New York that will give him great strength, and he has served you well in times gone by. Is the breach too great to be repaired? Do not widen it more than you can help. But let that go, every man must judge for himself. There may be a natural antagonism on your part, and if so you could never work well together. If you could have held together at this hour, you and he acting in concert could wield immense power. Sumner and Chase, I believe, are agreeable to you. It is not certain the abolition party can prevail. The Democratic party, and all the Mili- tary with McClellan at their head, offer a very formidable opposition. If you volunteer in this and fail you lose utterly, and make yourself an object of odium, now and perhaps in time to come. If it should prove successful, you might be regarded as the redeemer of down-trodden humanity. There is but a step sometimes between a crown and a gibbet, and in days like these one cannot tell to which his labours will lead. The papers report the Commissioners of Peace are on their way from the South. Would it were possible. This life of anxiety is wearisome. I do not like to send this until I have seen your friend again, as I cannot be sure I have rightly expressed what was desired. But you will see and easily comprehend what would be of use to you if not clearly expressed, and will act as you judge best after careful deliberation. If you write to the President, ask for an officer to be sent down for the confisca- tion work in whom they have perfect confidence.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 837 From Mrs. Butler to General Butler
Monday morning, LOWELL, Sept 29, '62
DEAREST: Your letters of Sept. 15th and 20th came this morning. How can you write such letters in answer to those I send you! Cold, half -defiant, and leaving a feeling of depres- sion that overpowers me no matter how much I strive against it. If you do not want me, for mercy's sake say so, and do not wound me further. You may not be aware how much the tone of your letters has changed. In every letter I have asked, begged, to know if you wished me to come, and when! After telling me three times not to come, the only permission I have received is this. "// you can appear so and so I shall be glad to see you." I shall be as God wills, and circumstances compel, subject to the same feelings as other people. But these are not reasons for or against seeing me, whether I am more or less merry. Be willing to make some effort on your own part to lift the weight that oppresses me, and see if I do not appreciate it. If life looks more inviting in that fair clime without me, say so; your letters have hurt me, I cannot bear it, nor the manner in which you have asked me to come.
I have a long letter, two-thirds written, suggested by your friend George, of what he thinks would be your best, and as he says your only opening for you now to gain a place in the future. He was unwilling to write himself — it involves such serious consequences. My business is to write you what I hear and leave it to your own discretion how to use it. Soon as I have seen him to know if I have written what he desires, I will send it, or what would give me greater pleasure, take it to you if I felt assured I was truly welcome. I am as always,
Affectionately yours, SARAH
From Jacob Barker
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 29, 1862
Major Genl. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: The Bank of Commerce has paid, under the last arrangement with Gen. Butler, $26,000.00 in Treasury Notes. It has on hand the further sum of about $20,000.00, and expects in the course of the day to have a sufficiency to pay the balance due for the $50,000.00 in gold purchased. Therefore, Genl. Butler can draw as fast as he has occasion, for the amount on hand.
A check for $5,000.00 in gold has been received. The Bank
VOL. II — 22
338 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
would like to have a farther amount of gold, also information of what is to be done with the three boxes of silver marked "Saml. Smith & Co.," received on Saturday, 27th inst. Very respectfully your obt. servt.,
JACOB BARKER, Cashier
From Jacob Barker
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 30^, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Some days since you mentioned to me your intention of informing me by letter when and to whom you had sent the report of the commission in relation to the $50,000 in gold detained from Messrs. Sam'l Smith and Co. I shall be very much obliged by your doing it at your earliest con- venience, as I am particularly anxious to close my agency in
Very respectfully your obt. servt., JACOB BARKER From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, September 30, 1862
MY DEAR SARAH: I enclose your three letters received to- day since I wrote you this morning, also one from Blanche, enclosing the sweetest picture of Bennie and some very good ones of herself, which I will have embalmed in procelain. How can you think Hildreth is repugnant to me? I have never felt so or thought so. I have turned all Andrew's business into his hands, and I have not the smallest trouble with Fay either on that account. How can you say Bell is not going back? I never heard or dreamed that he would not return. On the contrary, I am expecting him hourly.
How long is it that Abbott has been such a friend of mine that his advice is to be taken in my affairs. Griffin in place of Bell has'never entered my brain or his. Griffin asked me if I could serve him, and I told him I would if I could.
Dean returns on the next boat — he is only here to collect some claims, and goes home. I hope you will write me more hopefully next time, if indeed this does not pass you on the
road home. 17 T> T?
Yours, BENJ. F.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 339
Bill from Rudolph T. Lux
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. Wth, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Hon. Major General B. F. BUTLER debtor to
RUDOLPH T. Lux, Painter on porcelain9 etc., Cor. of Customhouse and Johnson St. N. O.
DELIVERED on the 22nd of Dec., '62, following likenesses painted on cups of porcelain, and saucers decorated, etc. as:
1. Miss Blanche, Mrs. Butler
2. " do " do. S. Gen. Shepley
4. " Weitzel $250.00
5. Major Bell Rec'd on acct. 100.00
6. " Strong do. from Mr. But-
7. Col. Stafford ler, Esq., on the
8. Capt. Haggerty 23rd of Dec. 40.00
9. " Puffer Balance 110.00
10. Little Benny Deduct 25.00 twenty five dollars each 85.00
P.S. For a little redress on the pictures of Mrs. Butler respect- fully required. L.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 1st, 1862
Brig. Genl. T. W. SHERMAN, Comdg. forces at
CARROLLTON, LA.
GEN. : Your communication with regard to the 65 Negroes, more or less, belonging to the estate of Mr. Walker, said to have been taken at Baton Rouge for purpose of digging in the trenches, and then to be returned to their owner, has been received, and the Com. General wishes me to say that though the Messrs. Walker or neither of them are loyal citizens, yet those negroes who desire to return may be sent back to the plantation. B order MAJ GEN BuTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 1st, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: In obedience to requirement of the Despatch of the Department of the 10th and 18th ultimo, which reached me by the same mail, enclosing communications from Spanish legation (in translation) dated the 28th of June, the 7th and 26th of August, respectively, directing me to report fully to
340 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the department all the facts and circumstances connected with the arrival and departure of the Spanish ship "Cardenas" and the U. S. ship "Roanoke" at the port of New Orleans in June last, "and also full explanations of the complaints involved in the communications of the Spanish Consul and others of the administration of the Quarantine laws of this department," I beg leave to submit the history of such administration, and especially in regard to the "Cardenas" and "Roanoke," "Pinta" and "Marie Galante."
Let me premise, however, that the question so far as these vessels or any others are concerned, except for the purpose of reclamation and complaint, have long ceased to be of practical importance, as the "Cardenas" has made one trip to Cuba and back since the occurrence complained of, and the "Pinta" and "Marie Galante," Spanish transports for tobacco, have loaded and gone home, I had supposed entirely satisfied with their treatment at this point.
When New Orleans was captured it was found in the utmost possible filthy condition, because of the troublesome times. The contractors upon all the streets and canals had utterly neglected to comply with their contracts for cleaning and puri- fying the streets, and the filth was indescribable.
In view of this most alarming sanitary condition of the city and the approach of the epidemic season, after consultation with the most eminent local physicians, who would give their advice, some refusing to give an opinion with an apparent hope "that the pestilence would do what their rebel arms would not do — drive us out," and acting with the advice of my medical staff, I took the most energetic measures to purify the city itself from all possibility of engendering disease. Believing at the same time that the yellow fever was no more indigenous to New Orleans than the sugar cane, but must be imported or propagated as that is by cuttings, and that a firmly administered Quarantine, guided by science and honesty of purpose, discriminating as regards cargoes and cleanliness of ships, would effectually keep out the scourge of the city prayed for as Ally of the rebellion, I ordered Quarantine to be enforced with these discriminations — not a "procrustean period of Quarantine to all" — a vessel loaded with hides and wool, the absorbents of the malaria with a filthy hold, reeking with dead and putrid organic matter, loaded at an infected port, infected hands, sown thick with the seeds of disease, only waiting for time and the warm sun to develop
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 341
them into a plague, was not put on equality as to time with a steamer for passengers, kept clean and sweet as a mercantile necessity to procure business, laden with flour, tight casks of salted provisions and round shot and shell which would not be likely either to absorb or generate contagion.
Again, the length of time which a ship and cargo had been exposed to the danger of the contagion had much to do with the Quarantine. A ship belonging in an infected port, loaded there, her cargo either the product or the manufacture of that port, her crew acclimated and therefore indifferent to sanitary regulations and appliances, required to be kept under Quarantine longer to watch the probable development of the disease and to await the operation of purification, than a vessel loaded at a northern port, where the frost insured health in this regard, and which had merely touched at a port inflicted with yellow fever, and held communication with the shore under the restriction imposed by fears of unaccli- mated Officers and crew.
These and kindred considerations, which will readily suggest themselves to your mind, were the controlling guide to the very intelligent medical officers who were in charge at Quaran- tine, as they were to report upon the necessity and length of detention of vessels. We, however, always determined to err, if at all, upon the safe side, holding ever the far greater importance of the lives of a great city and an army committed to our charge, than the possible danger of any commercial adventure from detention.
I need not assure you, Sir, that the questions of "National- ity" never entered into our thought in the exercise of our judgment and power except in one possible relation.
We could not help looking with a little less care to and holding under advisement a little less time a vessel of a Nation proverbial for the neatness of their ships and goods as com- pared with one who enjoys an unenviable reputation the other way. With these and upon these bases have the Quarantine and health laws been administered at New Orleans up to the first day of October.
I can point with a reasonably justified pride to the result as an explanation and a vindication of my acts and adminis- tration in this particular. Pardon me if I add that I claim for this triumph of science, integrity, firmness, and skill of my medical staff, by which thousands of lives have been saved, and by far the most dreaded foe driven from the city of New
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Orleans, as much credit as if by the disposition of my troops we had won a victory over the less deadly but hardly less implacable enemy in a conflict of arms.
Up to this date there have been no malignant or epidemic or virulent fevers or disease in New Orleans, and its mortality returns show it to be the most healthy city in the United States. In one regiment, the 13th Conn., a thousand strong, quartered in the Custom House since the 15th of May, but one man was lost during the months July and August.
His Excellency, Mr. Tarsara, the Spanish Minister, is most grievously misinformed when he says to the Secretary of State that the salubrity of New Orleans is no better than that of the Island of Cuba. Our Quarantine has been more per- fect than Blockade. We have had serious cases of fever at the Quarantine only 75 miles from us, and but a single one at New Orleans, and this one at once justifies and illustrates our sanitary regulations.
The U. S. Steamship "Ida," having touched at Nassau only, and no disease having been reported as existing there at the time of her departure, she was permitted to pass up by the health officers after fumigation and other precautions. The day after her arrival in the city one of her passengers on shore was taken sick and on the sixth day died, an unmistak- able case of malignant yellow fever. The most stringent measures were taken to isolate the disease. Everything that touched or was about the deceased was buried, acclimated persons only were allowed to do the sad offices. The house in which he died was most thoroughly purified, and by the blessing of "Him who holdeth all in the hollow of his hand" the pestilence was stayed.
The steamer was ordered at once below where she is under- going Quarantine. Even while I write this the English Consul reports the British Brig "Volunteer" to me at the mouth of the river out of provisions, her officer on board with medical supplies and other aid.
I have thus given to the Department a full explanation of the "complaint" involved in my administration of the Quar- antine laws. Upon the other branches of the inquiry relative to Spanish steamer "Cardenas," I am most happy to report.
As to the Spanish "Cardenas," let me observe that she did not come to me in such a manner as to command the highest degree of courtesy or respect. The "Cardenas" left Havana on the 31st of May, after epidemic yellow fever had
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 343
made its appearance there, bringing many passengers, a large portion of whom were rebels who had been in Havana buying arms and munitions of war for the Confederates, having on board to bring her up the river two pilots who had success- fully conducted vessels through the blockade.
She ran past the Forts without stopping, which was per- mitted, for she was mistaken for the United States Steamer "Connecticut" then hourly expected, which mistake caused the "Connecticut" to be fired at when she made her appear- ance and attempted to go by without reporting.
The "Cardenas" then loitered up the river till near night and, without coming up to the usual place of landing or report- ing to the harbor-master, came along side a wharf some three miles below the usual places of steamboat landing, and put on shore her passengers without passports being examined, or any report to any person, so that many obnoxious persons escaped into the city, and the Provost Marshal has never been able to ascertain the character of all the passengers.
Will it be pretended that any captain of a Spanish steamer is so ignorant as not to know that such conduct is in the highest degree improper in landing passengers at a military Post?
Mr. Tarsara says well "that no difficulty was made about the landing of the passengers from the Steamer." True, be- cause they and their luggage were surreptitiously landed miles below the usual landing place without the knowledge of any person friendly with the United States, but evidently with the knowledge of the Secessionists, because the Captain says in his protest that "crowds invaded the vessel as soon as she made the wharf."
She was ordered back to Quarantine, but many frivolous excuses and delays were interposed by her officers until a most peremptory order accompanied by a threat was given, which she obeyed.
After a proper Quarantine the "Cardenas" came up — not thirty days, but one precisely such as was thought sufficient. I do not understand Mr. Tarsara's notions about reciprocity in Quarantine. He seems to insist that if we require a long Quarantine at New Orleans, the Governor General of Cuba will require an equally long Quarantine at Havana. But what need of a Quarantine at all against epidemic yellow fever in a port where it is already raging in its most virulent form? What possible reciprocity of Quarantine could there be between
344 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Iceland and Vera Cruz? I have endeavored to make Quaran- tine a sensible not a senseless regulation.
It is complained, however, that the U. S. Steamer "Roan- oake" suffered a shorter detention at Quarantine than the "Cardenas/' and that she sailed from Havana on the day after. This is an uncandid way of stating the fact. The "Roanoke" sailed from New York, went into the harbor at Havana, stayed there less than 24 hours, and held little or no communication with the shore. Her Captain reported her at the Quarantine station as direct from New York. Was there any reason for so long a Quarantine for her as for a vessel loaded in Havana?
When the "Roanoke" was about to sail for New York on her return trip from New Orleans, a large number of Spanish persons were desirous of taking passage in her for Havana, and engaged passage accordingly. Upon application to the Span- ish Consul for a bill of health, as the purser of the "Roanoke" informed me, the Consul or Vice Consul told him that as "I had quarantined the 'Cardenas/ the Consul would not give the * Roanoke' a bill of health, but would report that New Orleans was afflicted with epidemic fever unless I would permit the 'Cardenas' to come up, and if so, a clean bill of health would be given."
The effect of, and motive for, this conduct was obvious. If the "Roanoke" went to Havana and carried her passengers, she would take away this business from the "Cardenas." If she carried such a bill of health as to put her in Quarantine at Havana, no New York passengers would sail in her, so that she must lose one or the other lot of passengers. This seemed to me so unjust that I sent for the Consul for an explanation. I understood his explanations to be exactly what the purser of the "Roanoke" had informed me had been told him.
It is proper here to remark that I have been since assured by the Spanish Consul, for whom I really entertain a high respect, that his conversation was misunderstood by all parties, neither understanding the other's language.
I told the Consul at that time that any retaliation upon the "Roanoke" for any supposed wrong done by me to the "Car- denas" ought not to be permitted. That if he slandered the health of the City of New Orleans, by giving any report that epidemic yellow fever existed here when he knew it not to be the fact, preventing trade and commerce coming to this port by such false reports, that I would certainly send him out of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 345
city to Havana, and report his conduct to the Captain Gen- eral, as the nearest Spanish Authority. And in that event, this I most assuredly would have done. That the bill of health of the "Roanoke" must be such as required by the laws and his instructions, precisely as if nothing had been done to the "Cardenas."
To this (as he was interpreted to me to say) the Consul replied that he would not give a clean bill of health to the "Roanoke" because it was now past the first of June, and whatever might be the health of the city, in fact he must re- port it unhealthy. Further, that if I still held the "Cardenas" under Quarantine, he would write to the Captain General of Cuba not to send any more vessels here.
To that I replied that he would give my compliments to the Captain General, and say that until the yellow fever season was over he could do me and the city no greater favor than to prevent vessels from coming here. I then put in writing and gave the Consul my claim that he should give a bill of health to the "Roanoke," required by the laws and regula- tions of his government, regardless of my treatment of the "Cardenas." The interview here ended.
The bill of health, however, which was given to the "Roan- oke" was such (although the city was perfectly healthy) that her officers did not dare to sail to Havana, lest they should be held to Quarantine there, in a city where the small -pox and yellow fever were both raging, and was in consequence obliged to discharge her Havana passengers and pay back the passage money.
I take leave to observe upon a remark of Mr. Tarsara, the Spanish Minister, that I had not the authority to send out of my lines the Spanish Consul for so gross a dereliction of duty that in the first place I should have done it if the occasion had called, and that secondly I knew of no law, National or municipal, that requires the Commander of a captured city, occupied as a military Post, to keep any person in it, Consul or others, who are deliberately working to render the place untenable, by keeping away supplies or provisions from it through false reports.
I wish, however, again to say, the subsequent conversation through a more intelligent interpreter in his understanding of English has convinced me that Mr. Callejon, the Consul's, remarks were misinterpreted and mistaken by me as mine were by him. These subsequent explanations have, I believe,
346 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
established the most cordial relation between us. I have also learned that I have done Mr. Callejon an injustice in another respect, in supposing him, as I was informed, to be a Spanish merchant. Such I am now assured is not the case, but he is a soldier who has won honorable distinction in the wars of his own country.
In Mr. Tarsara's letter of complaint it is alleged that I have permitted the French brigantine "Maria Felicia'' and English schooner " Virginia Antoinette," and other vessels, to come up without the same length of quarantine as the "Car- denas." These facts it is said will convict me of "capricious discrimination against Spain in favor of other European Nations." There is no reason given why I should be possessed of feeling which would lead me thus to discriminate. Indeed, if I permitted my indignation and sense of wrong as regards the manner in which my Government has been treated by other Nations to influence my official action, I assure you, Spain would not be the Nation toward which those feelings would find most active operations. On the contrary, I have felt that the conduct of Spain has been most friendly, espe- cially taking into view the wrong done her by some of the citi- zens of the United States in the invasion of Cuba. No Rebel privateers have fitted out from her ports. I have not known that any of her islands have been made Arsenals or Naval depots for the Confederacy, and I have yet to be informed of any discrimination made by her between our armed vessels and those of our enemy. I have ventured to say this much because in weighing one's acts motives are specially to be looked at.
I beg to refer you to the reports of my Medical Director, Dr. McCormick, for the history of the objected cases taken from the Quarantine Records, which I believe will in every case justify the action taken.
Perhaps, however, the two cases of the "Marie Felicia" and the "Virginia Antoinette" deserve a word of comment, as they illustrate the animus with which our Quarantine has been conducted. The "Marie," having an acclimated crew, had been loaded at Havre and only touched at Havana with- out landing, was detained only long [enough] to examine her present condition as to health, presuming that she contained no latent disease or malaria, which would lose its virus or develop itself by time. The "Virginia," having only touched at Havana, was without passengers, and laden wholly with
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 347
loose salt, a powerful disinfectant in itself, one might as well quarantine a barrel of chloride of lime. And yet permitting of this schooner to come up after 20 days absence from this port, is brought forward as evidence of "capricious discrimina- tion against the Spanish Government."
I have also appended the letter from the Captain of the Spanish war vessel, the "Pinta," which will show the manner in which our Quarantine has been conducted, and that his only complaint is that I have not obeyed some law of Louisiana regulating time of Quarantine.
Mr. Tarsara, in his communication of the 28th of June, wishes the Secretary of State to require me "to treat the Consuls of foreign nations with more consideration, and that I must refrain from expressions which are not suited to give security to trade or maintain friendly relations between the authorities of the Island and those of the United States."
It will be seen by examination of the letter of the Com- mander of the "'Blasco de Garay," hereto annexed under date of August 13th, that there is the complaint that my acts do not come up to the profession of friendship and the courtesies of my language. I have therefore appended all of the more important of my correspondence with the Spanish authorities here, so that the Department may see whether either in the manner or matter of that correspondence there is anything which should be a casus belli between two otherwise friendly nations.
That I answered somewhat sharply the letter of the captain of the "Blasco de Garay," who seized the occasion in replying to a note wherein I offered him assistance and courtesy to read me a lecture on my duties, I admit I thought and still think I was justified in so doing.
A nation may be friendly and its Consul quite the reverse, as witness the late Prussian Consul, who is now a General in the Rebel Army, for which he recruited a battalion of his countrymen.
When, therefore, I find a Consul aiding the rebels, I must treat him as a rebel, and the exceptions are very few indeed among the Consuls here. Bound up with the rebels by mar- riage, commercial and social relations, most of the Consular offices are only asylums where rebels are harbored and rebel- lion fostered.
Before I close this report, which pressure of public duties has delayed till the departure of the mail on the 6th October,
S48 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
allow me to repeat that with the blessing of God, to whom our most devout thanks are daily due for His Goodness, the fell scourge, the Yellow Fever, has been kept from my Command and the City of New Orleans till now, when all danger is past by firm administration of sanitary and Quarantine regulations, in spite of complaints and difficulties, and if any acts need jus- tification I point to the results as an unanswerable vindication.
I have the honor to be Tr 7 j- . o *
Your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 2nd, 1862
Capt. G. V. Fox, Asst. Sec. of the Navy
MY DEAR CAPTAIN: I think the enclosed application could be granted with advantage to the interests of the United States.
I have in one or two instances allowed wrecking to go on to prevent irreparable mischief.
I wish you would put the matter in competent hands, so that the whole might be controlled. There is an immense amount of property belonging to the United States which might be saved if promptly attended to during the present
low stage of water. I am, T7 . 1 ^ - . , 0 Very truly, Your friend,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg. From the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
PRIVATE. Navy Department, November 17th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have your letter of October 2nd, and its enclosure for Mrs. F. of the carte de visite of the General, commanding the department of the Gulf. She thanks you for the remembrance which will be more valuable than the purchased one occupying a place in her album. I also received your letter about raising the wrecks in the lower Mississippi, and delayed answering it to ascertain if certain parties who contracted to raise the "Varuna" were going to comply with their contract. I am satisfied that they are not, and there- fore the question of raising that vessel is open unless the Father of waters has closed it.
With regard to some of the other vessels, there are two owners. Take for example, the ram "Manassas," owned
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 349
mostly by parties in Boston, seized, enlarged, fitted, and mailed by the Rebels, and sunk by Smith. If she is raised, who takes her? I know of no person in the country so compe- tent to handle these questions as the General in whose Depart- ment they lie buried, and therefore advise you to contract on the spot for the saving of this property. If, after raising, any, especially the " Varuna," can be used for Naval purposes, the Government ought to have the right to take them by open sale or some other fair, reasonable methods.
The Secretary of the Navy is of the opinion that you ought to take measures to save as much as possible of this property to the Government. It cannot be done by contract here as parties competent to undertake it are entirely ignorant of the surroundings.
I am very glad to find that the complaints against your administration have been dissipated by the vigor and success of your Government, civil and military. Lee fought your battles frankly and manfully, commencing at a dinner at Fort Monroe, given by General Dix to Reverdy Johnson and his New Orleans friends.
Lee, being a Southern man, gave weight to his opinions. I hear not a word now, except "looting," as the English call it, an amusement that all soldiers indulge in. The Rebels in Mary- land and Kentucky took everything they wanted, and in return, — oh, refinement of abstinence, — offered Confederate scrip in payment, besides all kinds of brown paper shin-plasters.
I think McClernand will be down your way near the last of December, and if you and Farragut can open the Mississippi as far as the Red River, and block that leaky place, we shall be able with our Mississippi squadron to keep that big river open to commerce, and New Orleans will rise from its lethargy. My opinion is that neither you or Farragut have a sufficient force to attack Mobile, and I have written so to him. We shall be along that way with iron-clads during the winter, and then make short work of it. You ought to have and will shortly have more troops, as the occupation of Texas, and most par- ticularly the Rio Grande, is imperative. Every vessel we seize there is released by the courts, and the enormous trade carried on can only be turned into legitimate channels by military occupa- tions up the river. I have begged for troops for this object.
In military matters here, we are quiet but expectant. The luxurious army of the Potomac, petted to bursting, is no match in celerity of movements to the famished, freezing, soldiers of
350 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Lee. Legs win more battles than fighting. At Bull Run one of our soldiers was found dead with seventeen pounds of Congressional documents and a History of Ireland in his knapsack.
Whence did you surmise that Farragut was to be relieved? We never heard the rumor here. The hero of that unequalled dash, despising the great obstacles, gave us victory, glory, and New Orleans, and is not to be forgotten or removed except at his own pleasure, and probably not even then. If he is with you, I beg that you will assure him that we never heard of any such rumor this way. Wishing you every success, my dear General, in your arduous position, I remain,
Truly your friend, G. V. Fox
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dcpt. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 2d, 1862
J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Esq., Prussian Consul
SIR: I enclose to you a letter showing that a portion of the freight shipped on board the "Essex" will not be allowed to be taken off by the owner, by the Capt. of the ship. From the acts of the Captain, it would seem as if he desired not to go to sea, but to put himself in opposition to authorities here.
I have now removed all obstacles to his going to sea except such as he gets in his own path.
Please return me the enclosed letter which I want as a voucher, and state to me what now prevents the "Essex"
sailing. I have the honor to be, v ^, ,. 0 . e Your Obdt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 3rd, 1862
W. C. GRAY, Esq., Dy. Collector, Custom House
SIR: Your communication of 2nd inst., desiring us to take from the ship "Essex" three cases of plate marked Rankin Gilmour & Co., and deliver same to you immediately, is to hand this morning, and in reply we beg to state that the Capt. refuses to deliver the same up to us without the production of the Bills of Lading, and two of the set having long since been mailed to England, we are unable to comply. We are, Sir,
Your most Obt. Svt., HAYTON RANKIN, JNO. G. ROBINSON
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 351 From J. Kruttschnidt
Prussian Consulate, NEW ORLEANS, 3d. Oct., 1862
Maj. General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note under yesterday's date, enclosing a letter addressed to you by three passengers of the Prussian Ship "Essex," viz: Charles Witz, Honore Mason, Hambling asking for return of the passage money paid by them.
Mr. Kahl, supercargo of the "Essex," requests me to state that in view of the particular circumstances his vessel is placed in, he is ready to refund f of the passage money paid by the said three persons who wish to relinquish their voyage in his vessel.
Mr. Kahl informs me, however, at the same time that Cap- tain Klatt of said vessel has received an order from Provost Marshal General Jonas H. French to refund the total amount of the passage money to several persons who engaged passage by the "Essex," but he is not able to say if they be the same as those mentioned above. The Captain of the "Essex" has not complied with that order.
I return herewith the letter referred to me and remain
vTenei*rLi
' Very respectfully, Your obdt. Servt.,
J. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Acting Consul From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 8, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: Some new facts of violence, by negroes in the service of the United States, committed on a Frenchman, have just come to my knowledge,
Mr. Justin Coulon lives at the plantation Hopkins, Gentilly road. Last Wednesday evening, October 1st, about 20 negroes belonging to the camp near that place broke through his fence, to steal fruits of his orange garden, when Mr. Coulon presented himself to make them leave, but found himself assaulted from all sides, especially by three of these men, his life being in great danger, the negroes being armed with bayonets.
It was very lucky for him that he could use a stick of wood to defend himself, still he got hurt on his face and hand.
352 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
This is, General, the second time that one of my country- men received such treatment. It is the more serious on account of the attempt of robbery, with armed hands.
I am sorry that I have to request their punishment accord- ing to your Order No. 60, but a terrible example seems to me necessary; I am sure it is the only remedy to save the popula- tion from such assaults. Accept, General, the assurance of
y eem. FAUCONNET, Acting French Consul
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. ±tht 1862
To M. THE CONSUL OF FRANCE, Representing his Majesty the Emperor NAPOLEON
SIR: Your complaint that certain negroes have stolen oranges of Justin Coulon, a French subject, the stealing of the oranges shall be carefully inquired into, and I will so far exercise my authority as to pay for the oranges on being pre- sented with the bill at the market price.
In the meantime the matter shall be carefully inquired into. I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Svt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. llh, 1862
MY DEAR SARAH: The "Saxon" goes home tonight, so that I will write you, although the slow coach will not get home so soon probably as the next mail.
I am well as a man can hope to be here. All are well. Wiegel has "gone to the bad," and I have taken his resignation. Haggerty will go if he drinks any more. I have told him, and shall not let up again.
I am getting ready for offensive operations, and so are the enemy. Beauregard has gone to Charlestown. My negro regiments are getting on finely. So are my white regiments. The city still continues healthy to a marvel.
I send by today's boat a little present for Mother. I bought it at a discount for the price of old silver from a Jew. I shall close up all business arrangements in which I have interest as soon as possible. What do you think, Shepley has made Weitzel pay him one-half of his salary for his .(Shepley's) assistance as major, even while he was in Wash-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 353
ington. Weitzel, you know, is poor, and has a mother to support.
My dear Sarah, don't write me any more of those sad letters such as the three last, — write hopeful, loving, joyous letters that come to me like a blessing. You will not regret it. Per- haps, however, you are already on the road here. I expect you daily — if so, this letter will be lost. Bring with you, if you get this, four pairs of drawers, merino (39 inches), 4 merino shirts, and my dressing gown and cap. I am having
some shirts made here. Goodby. Tr ^
97 Yours, BENJ.
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS l
Commodore MORRIS, Commdg. Naval Forces at
NEW ORLEANS
SIR: Is there any objection to my chartering the ferry boat "Frank Muinford" until she is needed by Government? To be put and kept in repair until called for.
If you have no objection on the part of the Navy, I will make a charter without prejudice to the claims of either Department.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 4, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 79
IN accordance with the terms of the cartel recently negotiated between the Major General Commanding this Department and Brig. Gen. Tilghman, of the Confederate Army, all prisoners of war, registered at these Headquarters for exchange, will be sent by steamer to Baton Rouge, La., on the 8th October instant, leaving New Orleans at 10 o'clock, A.M., of that day.
Those officers, the terms of whose surrender permitted the retention of their side arms, will be allowed to take with them their swords only, but in no case will permission be granted to purchase arms of any description to carry beyond the lines; nor will any supplies be taken, further than the apparel actually worn at the time of their departure.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G.9 Chief of Staff
1 Placed in the Letter Book between letters of October 6, 1862, and October 11, 1862. VOL. ii — 23
354 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
BOSTON, October 6th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: I credit you with Middlesex extra divi- dends collected from the Life Office $1,010. I have yours of 25th, and feel amply reassured by your expressions of confi- dence on my care of your business interests. I have sent you since the letter you acknowledge — on the 14th, — a complete statement of your own account, and on the 19th a detailed account of operations under the order of the Secretary of War. I wish you would write me an order to pay Col. Butler's over-drafts out of your funds. By his orders I turn his balance over to your account whenever it amounts to any considerable sum. The next day, the chances are, he draws heavily, and in case of his or my death I should have a very poor account to show. I shall write you more fully from my own house to-night. Faithfully yours, RICHARD S. FAY, JR.
October Sth
I HAVE some hay in New Orleans on my own account, some with Col. Butler, and some with A. Montgomery. I hope if your horses eat it, you will allow me a fair price for it. Other- wise I shall have to declare another extra dividend at the Middlesex to pay my debts.
Governor Andrew says no more Mass, troops shall go to you, but I hear, though, Tho. Chickering's Regiment is to go as soon as it is filled.
I hope the late victory at Corinth will open the way up the river to you as soon as you are reinforced.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 6th, 1862
Wm. DILLON, Esq.
SIR: I extended to you every facility for recovering your property so long as you showed yourself an honorable man, but after you had denounced a man as having defrauded you and sold you, and afterwards, when I was dealing with him, certi- fied to his character as an honest man, I decline any further interference in your matters. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, B. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 355
From J. Kruttschnidt
Prussian Consulate, NEW ORLEANS, 9th Oct., 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have had the honor to address you on the 4th inst. in reference to the "Essex." On the afternoon of that day 2 packages, marked "Geo. Green, Son & Co., Liverpool," shipped by Robt. Clark of this city, were by your orders taken away by force from on board said vessel, and on Monday following, the 6th inst. Captain Klatt was informed that the other obnoxious packages could remain on board, and that no further obstacles were in the way of his obtaining a clearance : the "Essex" was cleared accordingly at about noon on the 6th inst.
I now beg leave to hand you the protest of the "Essex" (supplementary to the one under date of 22nd ult.) against her detention and the forcible taking away of the 2 packages mentioned above.
I regret this occurrence, but hope that the Prussian Minister at Washington, to whom I have forwarded all the papers relating to the "Essex," will have no difficulty to effect a satis- factory settlement of this question with the Government at Washington. I remain, General,
Very respectfully, Your obdt. servt.,
3. KRUTTSCHNIDT, Acting Consul
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
PRIVATE AND UNOFFICIAL. NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 10th, 1862
DEAR SIR: I have received your official letter of Sept. 22nd., enclosing letters of Mr. Barney and Mr. Norton,2 and asking information whether any portion of shipments to this port reach the enemy. My official reply, dated yesterday, is correct so far as it goes, but additional facts exist, proper to be stated only in a private letter.
Ever since the capture of this city a brisk trade has been carried on with the rebels by a few persons under military permits, frequently with military assistance, and, as I believe, much to the pecuniary benefit of some of the principal mili-
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 320. * Possible reference to letter of Sept. 6, 1862, Sidney S. Norton to Hon. William Barney.
356 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
tary officers of this Department. I have suspected it for a long time, and spoke of it in my private letters to you of Aug. 26th and Sept. 9th. On the 5th October, your regulations of Aug. 28th reached me. I immediately stopped all trade with the enemy, and as this brought me in contact with the per- sons who have been conducting the trade, I acquired much information. Almost all the information to be given in this letter, has been collected this week.
A brother of Gen. Butler is here, who is called Col. Butler, though he occupies no position in the army. Government officers, citizens, and rebels, generally believe him to be the partner or agent of Gen'l. Butler. He does a heavy business, and by various practices has made between one and two million dollars since the capture of the city. Gov. Shepley, and especially Col. French (Provost Marshal), are supposed to be interested, but these officers I believe to be entirely under control of Gen'l. Butler, who knows everything, controls everything, and should be held responsible for everything.
There are two channels of trade with the rebels — the River and Lake Pontchartrain. River trade must be conducted by steamboats. There are eight or nine river boats here, all seized and now in the hands of the military authorities. Col. Butler has used these boats as he pleased for carrying up and bringing down freight. I had no control over them, and could not know what was transpiring, for the military authori- ties controlled them, with whom I had no authority to inter- fere. Troops were at Baton Rouge and below Vicksburg, and it was to be supposed the boats were used for public, not private purposes. Of late, frequently, one or two infantry companies would accompany a boat taking up cargo and bringing back produce. This service was unpopular with officers and men, who enlisted for the benefit of the country and not of speculators. I say no more concerning the river trade, except that it has been constant and sometimes active.
Of the trade across the lake, I have more accurate and more information, because there are no government vessels there, and it was conducted with schooners. Shortly after arriving here, I learned that large quantities of salt had crossed the lake to the rebels, and supposing it to be smuggled, took measures to stop it thenceforth. Two weeks later, a schooner loaded with 1,000 sacks salt [jstarted^ to cross the lake. I directed the inspector to seize the vessel, and immediately called upon Gen. Butler, and requested a guard to be put on
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 357
board. This was about 9 o'clock at night. He appeared indig- nant at the attempt to take salt to the enemy — ordered a guard on board the vessel — and ordered the immediate arrest of the Captain and shippers. The next day I had an interview with Provost Marshal French, who told me it was all a misunderstanding. The shipper had a permit for 500, but not for 1,000; that the shipper and captain were released — the ves- sel unladen and released also. I told him he had no authority to release my seizures, but it was now too late to help it.
After this but little trade was done until six or eight weeks ago, when Gen. Butler gave a permit to a rebel to ship four large cargoes, much of which was contraband, across the lake. I immediately called upon the General, who said that it was the policy of the Gov't. to get cotton shipped from this port, and for that purpose to trade with the enemy. In the conversa- tion he left upon my mind the impression that this course was approved at Washington. I then had entire confidence in Gen'l Butler, and my letter of instructions had directed me to consult with him frequently. For the last two months trade has been active across the lake, nor had I any authority to stop it, until the arrival of your regulations on the 5th Oct., as above mentioned.
The following statements are made to me by various persons :
One man says that he took over 600 sacks salt just before I arrived, and was gone six weeks. Gen'l Butler gave permit. Two dollars per sack was paid for permission to take from New Orleans. He sold 400 sacks to Confederate army at $25. per sack, and was permitted to sell the other 200 to citizens at $36. per sack. He did not own the cargo, but received one- fourth of net profits. He cleared $2,000. The owners cleared $6,000 — good money.
Dr. Avery, Surgeon 9th. Reg't. Conn. Vol., states that he accompanied an expedition to Pontichoula, just north of Lake Pontchartrain, about three weeks ago. A skirmish ensued — he was taken prisoner and taken to Camp Moore. He saw a large quantity of salt in sacks there, lying by the railroad. A rebel officer said to him, "We bought that salt from Col. Butler. We paid $5. per sack for the privilege of shipment from New Orleans. To-day that salt goes to Richmond for the army. To-morrow or next day another cargo will arrive. The army get their salt from New Orleans. The Yankees, "will do anything for money." Dr. A. was subsequently released, and is now in this city. 4
358 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Capt. Cornwall, Co. A. 13th Conn. Reg't., was stationed with his company at the mouth of New Canal for about three weeks, ending last Saturday. He states that the first schooner going out was laden with large am't. of contraband articles — some medicines, including 80 gals, castor oil. It had Shepley's permit. He sent his 2nd. Lieut. (Kinney) to Gen. Butler who said, "Go to Gov. Shepley, and ask him if he does not know that these articles will go right into the hands of the enemy." Gov. Shepley said, "Return to Gen. Butler and say that I consulted him before giving this permit." Whereupon Gen. B. said, "Well, let it go, since Gov. S. has granted a permit." The same thing happened two or three days afterward, when Gen. B. received the messenger, and at once wrote on the back of the permit, "Gov. Shepley's passes must be respected." Capt. Cornwell now wants to go home.
The inspector of Customs at the New Canal is very sick, and therefore I cannot get his statement at present.
Mr. Clark applies for permission to trade with the enemy on large scale, and states that he made the arrangement by Gen. Butler's consent. I let his vessel leave in ballast, taking bond in double the value of the vessel that she would be returned into my custody within 20 days. He had a letter from Gen. B. which I caused to be privately copied, and also a letter from Col. Butler. Both are enclosed here- with, marked "A."
Don D. Goicouria (of the firm of D. D. Goicouria and Co., New St., N. Y.) has been here four months and has made about $200,000. He asks to continue trade with the enemy, authorized by Gen'l. Butler. He has taken two thousand sacks salt to the confederate army. He made an arrangement with Gen. Butler and Benjamin (Rebel Secretary of War) to take salt to the enemy, bringing back cotton in exchange at the rate of ten sacks in one bale of cotton. He goes North next steamer, and will apply to Secretary of Treasury for per- mit to continue the trade. He has rec'd here 200 bales cotton. His salt goes to the Confederate Army. He says Col. Butler told him that he (Col. B.) had sent North 8,000 hogs, sugar of his own, worth in N. Y. $800,000 or $900,000. Besides salt, he has taken to the enemy large amount of other goods. In his interview with you he will be able to tell you everything about trade with the Rebels if disposed to do so.
A Roman Catholic Priest, from Bay St. Louis, told me yesterday that in his vicinity Salt was selling for $3.50 per
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 859
gallon — or $25. per bushel, and Flour at $55. per barrel (A Sack of salt contains about 4 bushels).
Mr. Lloyd1 applies for permit to trade. He states that Gen. B. granted him permit, to take effect whenever he pleased, and offered him gunboats and soldiers. He declined such aid, preferring to make arrangements with Confederate authorities, which are now completed. That he promised to bring hither 5,000 bales cotton and sell them to Gen. Butler, at the market price. He insinuates that there is a further understanding between himself and Gen. Butler, but declines stating what it is. His agent's name is Burden, and his application (with list of cargo) is enclosed herewith, marked "B."
Another application comes from Wm. Perkins, and is en- closed herewith marked "C."
R. H. Montgomery's vessels were stopped by me in New Canal on the 5th October. His permit from Gov. Shepley and list of cargo is enclosed herewith marked "D."
All the vessels crossing the lake since Sept. 2Srd. have had Gen. Shepley's pass. The inspector has furnished a list of them with their cargoes, which list is enclosed herewith, marked "E."
After receiving copy of your regulations, I told Gen. Butler that this trade gave aid and comfort to the enemy without benefit to the Gov't. — that it demoralized the army — dis- gusted loyal citizens — and degraded the character of the Gov't. He smilingly assented — said it ought to be stopped — that he didn't see why Shepley granted such permits — and that he was going to visit Ship Island, and when he returned would see me about it again!
The stringent blockade enhances prices in the Rebel States, and is a great thing for the military speculators of this Depart- ment — and their friends. I know of 5,000 sacks being sent to the eneniy, and I think more than 10,000 have been sent.
I suppose your regulations (28th. Aug.) equally apply to the portion of the State within our lines — as well as to that under insurrectionary control. That supplies can be sent anywhere to a loyal citizen for his own use, but not to sell to rebels, and that I am to control the whole matter. If I mistake, please inform me.
Most of this trade can be stopped, but I believe the present military authorities are so corrupt that they will take all means
1 Possibly the Richard Lloyd who wrote to Gen. Butler June 6th and June 17th, 1862 (filed June 17th, 1862).
360 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to make money. The amount of goqds smuggled from this point to the enemy has been trifling. Gen. Butler has always been kind to me, and our personal relations are upon the most pleasant footing. He has great ability, great energy, shrewd- ness and activity, and industry, but he can never acquire a character here for disinterestedness. Many officers and soldiers want to go home, not wishing to risk their lives to make fortunes for others. (GEQRGE g DENISON)
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October Hth, 1862
M. FAUCONNET, Acting Consul of France. Representing H. M. THE EMPEROR OF FRANCE
SIR: I had the pleasure to find on my return to this city the report of Col. Stafford of the 1st Regt. of Native Guard (free colored), which with the accompanying evidence in relation to Abadie I have the honor to inclose with the request, they being original documents, that they shall be returned to me after your perusal.
If the evidence is correct, it would seem that the outrage was on the part of Abadie on my colored soldiers, who are to be protected from the insults of all persons, whether neutrals or others.
If you choose, you will submit the evidence to Mr. Abadie, and if then he or you desires, I will order the parties before a Military Commission to be tried for such offences as may be found against them, and will mete out such punishment as may be due to the party found by such Commission to be in the wrong.
Meanwhile, may I ask you to warn your countrymen against the prejudices which they may have imbibed, the same as were lately mine, against my colored soldiers, because their color and race is of the same hue and blood as those of your celebrated compatriot and author, Alexander Dumas, who, I believe is treated with the utmost respect in Paris, so that their prejudices may not lead them to interfere and provoke con- tests, which may be the subject, perhaps justly, of complaint from yourself to me. I have the honor to be
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 361
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the QuLf, NEW ORLEANS, October 12, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to report the facts and circumstances of my General Orders No. 55 in answer to the complaints of the Prussian and French legations, as to the enforcement of that order upon certain inhabitants of New Orleans, claimed to be the subjects of these respective Governments.
Before discussing the special and personal relations of the several complaints, it will be necessary in a general way to give an account of the state of things which I found had existed, and was then existing, at New Orleans upon its capture by the Federal Troops, to show the status of the several classes upon which General Orders No. 55 takes effect.
In October, 1861, about the time Mason and Slid ell left the city upon their mission to Europe to obtain the intervention of the foreign powers, great hopes were entertained by the rebels that the European Governments would be induced to inter- fere from the want of a supply of cotton. This supply was being had to a degree through the agency of the small vessels shooting out by the numerous Bayous, Lagoons, and creeks with which the southern part of Louisiana is penetrated, eluded the blockade, and conveyed very considerable amounts of cotton to Havana and other foreign ports, where rams and munitions of war were largely imported through the same channels in exchange. Indeed, as I have before had the honor to inform the Department of State, it was made a con- dition of the very passes given by Governor Moore that a quantity of arms and powder should be returned in proportion to the cotton shipped.
The very high prices of the outward as well as the inward cargoes made these ventures profitable, although but one in three got through in safety.
Nor does the fact that so considerable quantities of cotton escaped the blockading force at all impugn the efficiency of the blockading squadron, when it is taken into consideration that without using either of the principal water communica- tions with the city through the "Rigolets" or the "Passes" at the Delta of the river, there are at least 53 distinct outlets to the Gulf from New Orleans by water communication by light-draught vessels. Of course, not a pound of the cotton that went through these channels found its way North unless
362 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
it was purchased at a foreign port. To prevent even this supply of the European manufactures, became an object of the greatest interest of the rebels, and prior to October 1861 all the principal cotton factors of New Orleans, to the number of about a hundred, united in an address, signed with their names, to the planters, advising them not to send their cotton to New Orleans, for the avowed reason that if it was sent the cotton will find its way to foreign ports and furnish the in- terest of Europe and the United States with the product of which they are most in need . . . and thus contribute to the maintainance of that quasi neutrality, which European Nations have thought proper to avow.
"This address proving ineffectual to maintain the policy we had determined upon, and which not only received the sanction of public opinion here, but which has been so promptly and cheerfully followed by the planters and factors of the other States of the Confederacy," the same cotton factors made a petition to Governor Moore and General Twiggs to "devise means to prevent any shipment of Cotton to New Orleans whatever."
For answer to the petition, Governor Moore issued a proc- lamation forbidding the bringing of cotton within the city limits under the penalties therein prescribed. This action was concurred in by General Twiggs, then in command of the Confederate forces, and enforced by newspaper articles pub- lished in the leading Journals.
I have appended the exhibits of proclamation of the Gov- ernor, the order of General Twiggs, the petition of the Cotton Factors, and an article on the subject by one of the most widely circulated Journals, in papers marked "A" & "B," wherein the whole matter is fully set forth.
This was one of the series of offensive measures which was undertaken by the mercantile community of New Orleans, of which a large portion were foreigners, and of which the complaint of Order 55 formed a part in aid of the rebellion.
The only cotton allowed to be shipped during the autumn and winter of 1861 & 1862 was by permits of Governor Moore, granted upon express condition that at least one-half in value should be returned in arms and munitions of war. In this traffic, almost the entire mercantile houses of New Orleans were engaged. Joint stock companies were formed, shares issued, vessels bought, cargoes shipped, arms returned, immense profits realized, and the speculative and trading energy of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 363
whole community was turned in this direction. It will be borne in mind that quite two-thirds of the trading community were foreign-born, and now claim exemption from all duties as citizens and exemption from liabilities for all their acts because of being " foreign neutrals."
When the expedition, which I had the high honor to be intrusted to command, landed at Ship Island, and seemed to threaten New Orleans, the most energetic efforts were made by the State and Confederate authorities for the defence of the city. Nearly the entire foreign population of the city enrolled itself in Companies, Battalions and Brigades, representing different Nationalities. They were armed, uniformed, and equipped, drilled and manoeuvered, reported for service to the Confederate Generals. Many of the foreign officers took the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States. The Brigadier General in command of the European Brigade, Paul Juge a naturalized citizen of the United States but born in France, renounced his citizenship and applied to the French Govern- ment to be restored to his former citizenship as a native of that country at the very time he held his command in the foreign legion.
The Prussian Consul, now General Reichard of the Confed- erate army, of whom we shall [say] more in the course of this report, raised a Battalion of his countrymen and went to Vir- ginia, where he has been promoted for his gallantry in the rebel service, leaving his commercial partner, Mr. Krutt- schnidt, now acting Prussian Consul, who has married the sister of the rebel Secretary of War, to embarrass as much as possible the United States officers here by subscriptions to "city defense funds," and groundless complaints to the Prussian Minister.
I have thus endeavored to give a faithful and exact account of the state of the foreign population of New Orleans of the fifteenth day of Feb., 1862.
In October, 1861, the city had voted to erect a battery out of this " defence fund," as will appear by exhibit extract of the Delta Newspaper marked "C." On the 19th of February, 1862, the City Council by vote published and commented upon in the newspapers, placed in the hands of the Confed- erate General Lovell fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000), to be expended by him in the defence of the city. This resolution is appended from a published newspaper copy marked "D."
It will therefore clearly appear that all inhabitants of the
364 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
city knew that the City Council were raising and expending large sums for war purposes.
On the 20th of the same February, the City Council raised an extraordinary "Committee on Public Safety" from the body of inhabitants at large, consisting of sixty members, for the "purpose of cooperating with the Confederate and State authorities in devising means for the defence of the city and its approaches." This will appear from exhibit marked "E," a published newspaper copy of the resolution raising such committee.
On the 27th of the same February, the City Council adopted a series of resolutions: 1st. recommending the issue of One Million Dollars of the City Bonds for the purpose of purchas- ing arms and munitions of war, and to provide for the success- ful defence of the city and its approaches.
%nd. To appropriate Twenty-five thousand Dollars for the purpose of uniforming and equipping soldiers mustered into the service of the country.
3rd. Pledging the Council "to support the families of all soldiers who shall volunteer for the war."
This will appear more at large in the published newspaper copy on the resolutions, marked "F."
On the 3rd of March, 1862, the City Council authorized the Mayor to issue bonds of the city for a million of Dollars, and provided that the Chairman of the Finance Committee might pay over the said bonds to the Committee of Public Safety appointed by the Common Council of the City of New Orleans, as per resolution No. 8930, approved 20th of February, 1862, in such sums as they may require for the pur- chase of arms and munitions of war, provisions, or to provide any means for the successful defence of the city and its approaches. And at the same time authorized the Chairman of the Finance Committee "to pay over $25,000 to troops mustered into the State service, who should go to fight at Columbus or elsewhere under General Beauregard." This will appear by Exhibit marked "G," of the published news- paper copy of the doings of the City Council.
It was to this fund, in the hands of this extraordinary Committee, so published with its objects and purposes, that the complainants subscribed their money, and now claim exemption upon the ground of neutrality, and want of knowl- edge of the purpose of the funds.
It will be remembered that all the steps of the raising of
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 365
the Committee to dispose of this fund were published, and matters of great public notoriety. That the fact that the bonds were in the hands of such an extraordinary Committee should have put any prudent person on their guard.
That all the leading Secessionists of the City were sub- scribers to the same fund.
Will it be pretended for a moment that these persons — Bankers, Merchants, Brokers — who are making this com- plaint, did not know what this fund was, and its purposes to which they were subscribing by thousands of dollars?
[Had] Mr. Rochereau, for instance, who had taken an oath to support the Confederate States, a banker, and then a Colonel commanding a body of troops in the service of the Confed- erates, never heard for what purposes the city was raising a million and a quarter in bonds?
Take the Prussian Consul, who complains for himself and the Mrs. Vogel whom he represents, as an example. Did he know about this fund? He, a trader, a Jew famed for a bar- gain, married the sister of the rebel Secretary of War, the partner of General Reichard, late Prussian Consul, then in command of the Confederate army, who subscribed for him- self, his partner, and Mrs. Vogel, the wife of his former part- ner, thirty thousand Dollars, did he not know what he was doing when he bought the bonds of this " Committee of Public Safety"?
On the contrary, it was done to aid the rebellion to which he was bound by his sympathies, his social relations, his business connections, and marriage ties! But it is said that this subscription was made to the fund for the sake of the in- vestment. It will appear, however, by a careful examination, that Mr. Kruttschnidt collected for his principal a note secured by mortgage in anticipation of its being due, in order to purchase twenty-five thousand dollars of this loan. See his letter to Mrs. Vogel. Without, however, descending into the particulars, is the profitableness of the investment to be permitted to be alleged as a sufficient apology for aiding the rebellion by money and arms? If so, all their army contract- ors, principally Jews, should be held blameless, for they have made immense fortunes by the war. Indeed, I suppose another jew — one Judas — thought his investment in the thirty pieces of silver was a profitable one, until the penalty of treachery reached him.
When I took possession of New Orleans I found the city
866 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
nearly on the verge of starvation, but thirty days' provisions in it, and the poor utterly without the means of procuring what food there was to be had.
I endeavored to aid the City Government in the work of feeding the poor, but I soon found that the very contribution of food was a means faithlessly used to encourage the rebel- lion. I was obliged, therefore, to take the whole matter into my own hands. It became a subject of alarming importance and gravity. It became necessary to provide from some source the funds to procure the food. They could not be raised by city taxation in the ordinary form. These taxes were in arrears to more than a million of dollars. Besides, it would be unjust to tax the loyal citizens and honestly neutral for- eigners to provide for a state of things brought about by the rebels and disloyal foreigners related to them by ties of blood, marriage, and social relation, who had conspired and labored together to overthrow the authority of the United States, and establish the very result which was to be met. Further, in order to have a contribution effective, it must be upon those who had wealth to answer it.
There seems to me no such fit subjects for such taxation as the Cotton Brokers, who had brought the distress upon the city by thus paralysing commerce, and the subscribers to this loan who had money to invest for purposes of war, so adver- tised and known as above described.
With these conditions, I issued General Orders No. 55, which will explain itself, and is annexed marked "H," and have raised nearly the amount of the tax therein set forth.
But for what purpose? Not a dollar has gone in any way to the use of the United States. I am now employing 1,000 poor laborers as matter of charity upon the streets and wharves of the city from this fund. I am distributing food to preserve from starvation 9707 families, containing "Thirty-Two Thou- sand and Four Hundred and Fifty souls" daily, and this done at an expense of more than Seventy Thousand Dollars per month. I am sustaining, at the expense of Two Thousand Dollars per month, five asylums for widows and orphans. I am aiding the Charity Hospital to the extent of Five Thousand Dollars per month.
I beg leave to call your attention to the exhibits marked, "I and K," attached hereto. These are synopses of the weekly returns of my Relief Committee that distributes the food.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 367
Before their Excellencies the French and Prussian Ministers complain of my actions upon foreigners at New Orleans, I desire they would look at these exhibits, and consider for a few moments the facts and figures set forth in these returns and in this report. They will find that out of 10,490 families who have been fed from the fund, with the raising of which they find fault, less than one tenth (One thousand and ten) are Americans, nine thousand four hundred and eighty, foreign- ers. Of the thirty-two thousand souls but three thousand are natives. Besides, the Charities at the Asylums and hospitals are distributed in about the same proportions as to foreigners and native born, so that of an expenditure of near $80,000 per month to employ and feed the starving poor of New Orleans, seventy-two thousand goes to the foreigners, whose compatriots loudly complain, and offensively thrust forward their neutrality when ever they are called upon to aid their suffering countrymen.
I should need no extraordinary taxation to feed the poor of New Orleans if the bellies of the foreigners were as active with the rebels as are the heads of those who claim exemption thus far of this taxation, made and used for purposes above set forth upon the grounds of their neutrality. I find Mr. Roch- ereau & Co., the senior partner of which took an oath of alle- giance to support the Constitution of the Confederate States. I find also the house of Reichard & Co., the senior partner of which, General Reichard, is in the rebel army, the junior partner Mr. Kruttschnidt, the brother in law of Benjamin, the rebel Secretary of War, using all funds in his hands to purchase arms, and collecting the securities of his correspond- ent before they are due to get funds to loan to rebel authori- ties, and now acting Prussian Consul here, doing quite as effective service to the rebels as his partner in the field. Mr. Vogel, late partner in the same house of Reichard & Co., now absent, whose funds are managed by that house. Mr. Paesher & Co. Bankers, whose clerks and employees formed a part of the French Legion, organized to fight the United States, and who contributed largely to arm and equip that corps. And a Mr. Lewis, whose antecedents I have not had time to investi- gate. — And these are fair specimens of the neutrality of the foreigners for whom the Government is called upon to inter- fere, to prevent their paying anything toward the Relief Fund for their starving countrymen.
If the representatives of the Foreign Governments will feed
368 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
their own starving people, over whom the only protection they extend, so far as I see, is to tax them all, poor and rich, a dollar and a half each for certificates of nationality, I will release these foreigners from all the exactions, fines, and imposts whatever. I have the honor to be
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 12, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: In obedience to the request of the Department by letter of Sept. 18th, that I would report "all the facts and cir- cumstances which are the subject of the complaint of Mr. Tarsara, Spanish Minister at Washington, concerning the action of the United States Authorities in relation to the house of Puig Brothers, Spanish trader of this city, I beg leave to submit the following:
My police and detective officers received information from the most reliable sources that the house of Puig Bros, had been and still was carrying on the nefarious traffic of supply- ing the rebels with arms and munitions of War from Havana, and for that purpose one of the partners was a resident of Havana, to ship the contraband articles which the other received and distributed here.
Acting upon this information, a seizure of the House was ordered, together with their books and papers, for the purpose of obtaining at the same time evidence of the facts and secu- rity for the appearance of the parties, one of whom had ab- sconded at the moment. The books and papers show the most conclusive evidence of the criminal complicity of the House in breaking the neutrality laws in every possible form.
The resident partner here had just taken refuge on board the Spanish vessel of War, "Blasco De Garay," and upon inquiry for him there, his presence was denied. I beg leave in this connection to call the attention of the War Department, and ask that the attention of the Secretary of State, and through him the Spanish Minister, may be informed of the fact that a Spanish man-of-war lying in this harbor, is made the fraudulent asylum of criminals, protecting them from justice and trial.
How far such conduct can be justified by the Comity of
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Nations I have a very decided opinion, and certainly, if not otherwise authoritatively advised by the War Department, upon the repetition of such conduct, I shall order and enforce the absence of the offending vessel from the harbor.
Being made aware of these facts, and of the place of refuge of the criminal, as will appear by the affidavits of the Messrs. Cabezas and Calleja (copies of which are hereto annexed), I did not choose to pursue the investigation of the case of an absconding criminal in his absence, when he was putting me at defiance on board of a man-of-war of a friendly power.
Therefore, when the Spanish Consul made application for an explanation of the causes of the seizure of the House of Puig Bros., as soon as I was ready to go on with the trial, I replied that "I would continue the investigation if he would bring Mr Puig before me."
This I did because I was assured that the Spanish Consul knew of and connived at the place of concealment of Puig, and I did not wish to involve myself with the Spanish Authori- ties in attempting to take Puig from his place of refuge on board of the man-of-war by force, but rather if he thought him- self innocent that he should come forward. I believe that if Puig desired in good faith to have an investigation which would establish his innocence, that he would come forward, and I did not believe that it would be decent to my own self- respect, to try the question of Puig's guilt with the Spanish authorities by correspondence, while they concealed the crimi- nal, so that if found guilty, he would be beyond my reach.
I observe that Mr. Tarsara makes it a matter of complaint that my note to the Spanish Consul was by the hand of one of my Adjutants. I am not aware of any exaltation of rank in a Spanish commercial agent which obliges a Major General of the U. S. Army to answer his communications by his own hand; besides, there being some ten Consular agents here, who are continually writing letters upon the most frivolous subjects, as well as those of graver importance to me, answers in person have become a physical impossibility, specially taken in connection with the voluminous correspondence entailed upon me by the complaints of their several ministers which I am obliged by courtesy to answer with my own hand.
To estabish beyond cavil or doubt the deep-dyed criminality of the "most respectable House of Puig Bros./' I enclose herewith a certified copy of a receipt given as lately as Novem- ber last to a rebel Custom house officer by that House, for the VOL. n — 24
370 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
delivery of many arms and many pounds of powder and lead, imported by that "most respectable House of neutral Spanish subjects," but in fact army contractors of the Confederate States.
Unless the United States are to lose their manhood alto- gether, I trust I shall not be called upon to allow to pass unchecked this nefarious traffic under the high-sounding plea of "Highly respectable House of Neutrals."
As to the insinuated charge in Mr. Tarsara's communica- tion, that anyone in this Department has interfered with the official correspondence of the Spanish Legation with the Spanish Consul at New Orleans, "all the facts or circum- stances" I have to report on such complaint are that it has not the slightest foundation of fact.
After many weeks of delay it happened that one of my detective officers, having had his integrity overcome by the atmosphere of fraud and iniquity with which the rebels and their agents, such as Puig Bros., had surrounded New Orleans, was detected in the act of criminal embezzlement, for which prompt punishment was meted to him. This seemed to give favorable occasion to one of Puig's clerks to make a claim for loss, which I had reason to believe fraudulent, and I so char- acterized it in a communication to the Spanish Consul, which he has not forwarded to his Minister, or which, if he has so sent, has not been sent to the Secretary of State.
I will remark, from that time I have heard nothing of that claim. Certain it is, if the claim was a just one, the Clerk had more valuables in his principal's house than had the mer- chants themselves.
Perhaps it may not be in opportune to remark further that through his Consul Mr. Puig has subsequently asked leave to come on shore from his self-imposed imprisonment on board the man-of-war, and at the last I knew of him he was at liberty on his parole awaiting trial. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
UNITED STATES vs. PUIG BROTHERS
EDWARD CABEZAS, being duly sworn, deposes and says: that he has resided in New Orleans for the period of one year, and that he is acquainted with one of the members of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 371
above-named firm, to wit: Majin Puig, and the other member of the firm is now absent in Havana. That during the time a blockade was established and existing over the port of New Orleans by authority of the United States, the said firm were engaged in violating said blockade to wit: In loading and de- spatching from the port of New Orleans the schooner "Major Farewell," which said schooner made three voyages, and upon her return brought arms and munitions of war. Deponent further states that he has heard the aforesaid Puig say that he had a contract with the Confederate Government to bring in arms and powder for the use of said Government.
Deponent also states that said Puig is now on board the Spanish man-of-war now at anchor in the Mississippi River.
Further, deponent says not.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the 5th day of July, A.D . 1862. EDWARD
M. CALLEZA being sworn, says: that he has examined the correspondence seized in the office of Puig Brothers, and that the greater portion of the same is in Spanish, and that one bank and one ship, besides those mentioned in the affidavits, were engaged in violating the blockade.
In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand the 5th day of July, A.D. 1862.
Sworn to before me, this fifth day of July, A.D. 1862.
JONAS H. FRENCH, Provost Marshal District N. 0.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18th, 1861 [Not in chronological order]
Delivered to Messrs. Puig Brothers & Co. as follows viz.
430 Pineapples 408 Kegs Powder 59 Bun. Bananas 5 Casks "
250 " Plantains 3 Cases
49 Cases Muskets 6 Muskets
3 Kegs Nitre 184 Bars Lead
8 Swords 40 Sacks Coffee
Received from Inspector J. O. Brien the above articles.
PUIG BROTHERS
110 Boxes tin 453 Bars Lead
PUIG BROTHERS per F. ELOISQUE
37S LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From J. L. Pinot
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. Vlth, 1862
To Major General BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
GENERAL: Yesterday morning, when I had the honor to present you my humble respects, you asked me if I remembered the circumstances under which I presented myself before you in August last to ask the pardon of Mr. Chas. Heidsick, who was arrested and sent to prison for infringing the laws of the United States in crossing from the enemy side your military lines, to come to New Orleans in violation of your military orders, and what is become of the order of pardon and release you then granted?
The facts and circumstances of that affair, General, are too solemnly graved in my memory to be ever forgotten. My friend, Mr. S. Plussan, a merchant of this city, well-known by you, having been informed that Chas. Heidsick, his friend, had been arrested and sent to prison by the military authori- ties of the United States, prayed me to approach you in order to ascertain what could be the offence committed by his friend, and in the same time to inquire if he could be released under a security to be furnished by Mr. Plussan?
You received my demand, General, with your accustomed urbanity and kindness, and you immediately called Mr. Moses Greenwood of this city, who had been conjointly, with ten other persons, permitted to proceed with a steamer under a flag of truce to Mobile to bring back to New Orleans a cer- tain quantity of barrels of flour, for the population there much in need of.
This gentleman stated in my presence that Chas. Heidsick, disguised as a Bar-keeper on board of said vessel, came from Mobile to New Orleans. You also asked of Mr. Greenwood if he knew the social position of Mr. Heidsick and what it was? His answer was that Mr. Heidsick was a Frenchman and a rich dealer in wines.
The proof adduced to me was that as bearer of letters from a Mr. Porte of Mobile, acting there as Vice Consul, Mr. Heid- sick had crossed again your military lines in coming from Mo- bile to New Orleans on board of a schooner, in order to bring, as he stated, letters to the French Consul in New Orleans.
All these facts [jwere^ also stated to me by the French Con- sul here, and the friends of Mr. Heidsick have told me that he
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 873
does not deny these facts, but that he contends that he is innocent of all offences whatsoever, and he never injured or caused prejudice to the Government of the United States in any manner whatsoever.
In presence of such evidence I remained confused, and I had nothing to say but to implore your clemency, General, in favor of Mr. Plussan's friend.
I then returned in painful thoughts and apprehensions of Mr. Heidsick's ultimate state, knowing well that under such circumstances, according to the usages of war and the laws of nations, the prisoner's life was at your mercy, but knowing also that your generosity and clemency has been so largely extended in New Orleans to so many unfortunate persons in grave circumstances, the hope that you would pardon Mr. Heidsick never abandoned me; and that very day I took the liberty to write to you in favor of the prisoner. The next day I went to see you; you promised to take my demand in consideration, and a few days afterwards Mr. Plussan received from you an order which released Mr. Heidsick from prison under the condition that he should leave the country for France. This order, together with a letter received from the French Consul who had it from France to the address of Mr. Heid- sick, was sent him by Mr. Plussan.
It appears that Mr. Heidsick, instead of availing himself of your generous pardon, thought proper to remain in prison. What is his purpose and his intentions I desire not to know them, but I am certain that the unfortunate man is uncon- scious of his position. If, however, in the name of humanity, General, please not to revoke your kind order. The day is not far when Mr. Heidsick will be happy to avail himself of it in recognizing the fallacy of his pretensions. I remain, General, with a profound respect and great consideration,
Your most obedient servant) J. L. PINOT
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 13, 1862
J. CALLEJON, Esq. Consul of Spain
SIR: I enclose this anonymous communication, believing it due the representative of a friendly Government.
Will you return it to me with a report as to the truth of the information contained. I am,
Your Most obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
374 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
New Orleans, October 5th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
DEAK SIR: As you have done me some good I will return good to you.
Are you aware that the "Blasco De Garay" is violating the Neutrality laws? The steamer is crowded with rebel passen- gers who have gone on board without permission, without having taken the oath of allegiance.
I will call your attention to M. M. Delain Eustis, brother of George Eustis. He is bearer of important despatches; and a gentleman by the name of Mr. Grailhe, a gentleman of high standing, very rich, he leaves behind his wife, who resides corner Royal and Main Streets. He is a rabid Confederate, and both have been concealing themselves for the last three days on board the ship. Mr. Eustis has received those des- patches by a young man who crossed the lines four days ago. He is with his wife and children.
There are besides twenty families making altogether 60 passengers. VERITAS
From Juan de Callejon
TRANSLATION
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: Although it is not customary to pay the slightest attention to the anonymous communications, I wish to inform you that I have seen on the "Blasco de Garay" some persons, well acquainted with her commander, and who left for Havana with a passport from the authority of this City & also from my office; if those you have mentioned were amongst them, I did not know it, but it is not strange if they have asked the Commander of the said ship for protection, as no man-of-war in the world would refuse protection to a man in political trouble, although you may think different it cannot offend the neutrality of the Government.
It is different with common criminals, and the noble and charitable anonymous correspondent might have informed you also that a police officer came at night to my residence to tell me that a murderer was secreted on board the "Blasco de Garay," and that I got out of bed and gave the necessary order, and the officers of the steamer gave all the assistance required.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 375
The social manners of the Captain and officers of the "Blasco de Garay " have made them many friends in this city, but whose feelings have no relation to political affairs, but it is not strange that this anonymous correspondent is mistaken in seeing only criminals in the numerous families who wish to leave, and will do so at the last extremity. God may grant you many years. JUAN DE CALLEJON, Consul of her Spanish Majesty
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 13th, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I am grieved to be obliged to bring before the notice of the War Department the conduct of the several Spanish Vessels of War lately in this Port, to wit, the "Pinta," "Marie Galanti" and "Blasco de Garay."
I am informed and believe that each of these vessels took on board for Cuba passengers, not only Spanish born but citizens of the United States who had been concerned in the rebellion, and who, against the orders of the Commanding General, conveyed themselves and their effects away from the Department on board of these national Vessels of War.
I have claimed the right to search them for criminals other than rebels, and after much difficulty the privilege was ac- corded on board the first two ships. My police found there many passengers without passes — who were not Spaniards.
The decks of the "Blasco de Garay" were literally covered with passengers selected with so little discrimination that my detective officers found on board as a passenger an escaped convict of the Penitentiary, who was in full flight from a most brutal murder, with his booty robbed from his victim with him on board this Vessel of War.
Now, if the Spanish Government are going into the passen- ger carrying business by their National War Vessels, which I cannot believe, as it would be unjust to private speculative enterprise in this branch of trade, I desire to be informed of the fact officially through His Excellency the Spanish Minister, so that I may subject these Vessels to the same regulations as other passenger carriers, otherwise I would desire the Com- manders of such Vessels checked in this practice. I have the honor to be, Your Obdt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
376 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 13, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I received your favor of the llth with the enclosed papers, and return them hereby, after having taken copies. The letter of Col. Stafford makes me think of certain fables of the good Lafontaine, and appears to me as a most precious piece, worth keeping. In noticing the manner in which he made the inquiries by your order, I am surprised to find that he only questioned the accused, and that the plaintiff has not even been called to make his deposition. It may be that Mr. Abadie. is, as Col. Stafford calls him, "a low Frenchman," but it appears to me that he might be heard & believed as well as Sergeants Mandeville and Bondreux; the testimony of the Doctor who examined him, as also of the Irishman who was present, might have been taken. Besides, if Abadie takes my advice, he will accept the decision of a regular court, on condition that Col. Stafford, whom I except for reasons which you will appreciate, be not a member thereof. I see not what relation there can be between this affair and Mr. Alexander Dumas. What you call prejudice of race and color certainly does not exist in France, but they respect and treat equally those who have enjoyed the benefit of liberty and education, but it does not follow that one can see without fear and submit to assaults which are and will be committed by poor beings, who were slaves, and are now at once elevated to the rank of free men and citizens, and will abuse their freedom. Relating to my countrymen, it may be that they are sometimes too prompt in their impressions, true or false, but you will concur with me that they ought to be excused if they fear the social revolution which is going on now and of which a terrible example has been seen on the plantation Millandon. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my high consideration.
FAUCONNET, Acfg French Consul
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. ISth, 1862
M. FAUCONNET, Acting Consul of France^ at
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
SIR: The Comdg. Genl. directs me to inform you that he has laid the case of M. Abadie before the Military commission,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 377 of which Col. Stafford is not a member. I have the honor
4"O |"\o
* Your Obdt. Servant,
A. F. PUFFER, Capt. & A.D.C.
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 14th, 1862
Col. PAINE, Comdg. 2nd Regt. La. Vols., U. S Barracks
COLONEL: The French Consul complains that two horses
belonging to Mr. Martial Crottes have been seized from a
pasture near Chalmette.
The Comdg. Genl. desires you to see to it that a proper
receipt for the horses be given to Mr. Crottes. I have the
honor to be, ^ m j. o *
i our Obdt. servant,
A. F. PUFFER, Capt. & A. D. C. From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C , Oct Uth, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding at NEW ORLEANS GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a note from the Legation of France, addressed to the State Department, with copies of the papers which accompanied it relative to two lots of printing paper belonging to Charles Harisse, seized by our orders, and also in regard to certain acts which are represented to have been committed by orders of Federal authorities on a plantation belonging to French citizens, about thirty-three miles above New Orleans.
The Secretary further instructs me to request that reports be made to this Department in each of these cases.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War
From General Butler
Head Quarters, November 21, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Honorable WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
SIR: In the case of the complaint of Messrs. Castillo and Harisse of the 16th of September, to the French Consulate, and referred to me from the State Department, I have the honor to report that as soon as the necessary vouchers could
378 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
be obtained the paper taken was paid for, to the satisfaction of the owners, and the enclosed receipt given in duplicate. It could not then be done because it was not until by the mail which brought the complaint that the evidence arrived by which it could be determined whether the papers were dutiable or not. The complaint was unnecessarily and groundlessly made by one of the partners, while negotiations were going on with the other. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully your obt. servt., B. F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18th, 1862
REC'D. of E. M. Brown, Lt. Col. 8th Vt., four thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents (4,752.37), as payment in full for five hundred reams of print- ing paper for the use of the Daily Delta office, it being the same lot of paper taken from the Custom House in the 13th day of Sept. by order of Maj. Gen. Butler.
CASTILLO AND HARISSE
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
PRIVATE AND UNOFFICIAL. NEW ORLEANS, October \Qih, 1862
DEAR SIR: My last letter was in reference to trade with the enemy.
After Gen. Butler's return from Pensacola for the purpose of discussing the matter, Gen. B. asked me to his house, where I met also Gov. Shepley. In a long conversation I stated to them fully my own views, and it was understood that there should be no more trade with the enemy — that no supplies of any kind or in any quantity should pass into the insurrec- tionary districts, not even supplies for loyal residents of such locality, because Guerillas would in most cases take away such supplies for their own use.
Gen. Butler and Gen. Shepley each said, however, that he had given one permit to cross the lake, not yet carried into effect. The goods were bought and vessels loaded, but that I had stopped them. It was insisted that these vessels should be allowed to proceed. I said that the permission of the Sec- retary ought first to be obtained.
The next morning Gen. Butler sent me the list of cargo for
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 326.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 379
the vessel, on the second leaf of which was endorsed his request that she be allowed to proceed. Gen. Shepley sent me a note to the same effect in regard to the other. A copy of the list of cargo, with Gen. Butler's original endorsement on second leaf, is herewith enclosed, marked "A." A copy of the list of cargo of second vessel, with Gen. Shepley 's note, is herewith enclosed, marked "B."
It is inexpedient that I should have a controversy with the military authorities, and I let these two vessels go, with the dis- tinct understanding, however, that nothing more was to go out.
Gen. Butler's permit was to Judge Morgan, a good Union man, who has lost much by the Rebellion.
Gen. Shepley 's was to one Montgomery, who has previously taken over, among other things, 1,200 sacks salt. Gen. S. says he granted this permit at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Bouligny, — formerly in Congress from this state, but now in Washington, — and that Montgomery told him Bouligny was part owner of the cargo with him (Montgomery).
I think there will be no more of this trade. Gen. B. has always carried out (so far as I know) the wishes of the Gov't. when distinctly made known, and I believe he will fully carry out (in future) your views respecting this matter.
Gen. B. has more brains and energy than any other three men in New Orleans. He does an immense amount of work, and does it well. He knows and controls everything in this Department. I regret that it was necessary to write my last letter — or rather, that the statements therein made were facts. Besides, no other officer appreciates, like Gen. Butler, the importance of freeing and arming the colored people — and he is not afraid to do it. All the pro-slavery influence in this State cannot change him in this matter.
When Weitzel's expedition (spoken of in a late letter) goes out, Gen. B. will send the 1st Colored Regiment right into the heart of the section of the country to be taken. They will move nearly west from here, on the line of the Opelousas Rail- road. I think they will do a great work. The expedition is expected to start in about two weeks. Late New York papers indicate the adoption of some plan for getting out cotton from Rebeldom. I hope it will not be done by means of trade with the enemy, which is objectionable for many reasons.
It will benefit the enemy ten times as much as the Govern- ment— it demoralizes the army, who imagine themselves fighting for speculators — offices will be interested, directly or
380 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
indirectly in the trade, and they and other speculators will wish the war prolonged for the sake of great profits — the Rebels will not keep their engagements nine cases out of ten
— the rebels are terribly in want, and now is the time to deprive them of supplies. There are other objections besides those enumerated.
The greatest distress prevails in insurrectionary districts all around us. The Guerilla system injures Rebels more than the Government, and the people are becoming heartily tired of it.
[GEORGE S. DENISON] i
From General Butler to Mrs. Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 16, 1862
MY DEAREST WIFE: What a dear, petted, spoiled child it is! Never contented unless fed with bon bons and kisses ! Why, I wrote as plainly as I could that I was lonely, sad without you, and you must come, come, come. You may send me that letter if you please as an example of my foolish fondness. You ungrateful girl, you. I will have it framed as a warning to all fond husbands. True, I said I wanted you to lay aside all care and be fat and rollicking as possible, and poor little wife said I didn't want to see her unless she was fat. Now, then, I have sent a steamboat for you, one of the best in the service, The "McClellan," armed, so there is no fear of capture, a most experienced captain, a crew, and most neat and safe ship. Will that do? Ah! give me a kiss and be quiet.
The "Dean" brings this to you, and you will get ready to come by the "McClellan" from New York. She can be heard of at the Quartermaster's office. Maj. Strong has written for the madam to come by the same boat. Be sure to come now. Bring me from Burbanks and Chase's some embroidery that I have there, which I have paid for, also a piece of cloth, blue
— for a coat, and some blue-black velvet for trimmings, silk for lining, and buttons. I will have the coat made here. Also bring me linen enough for a dozen shirts, and fine linen cambric enough for some wrought bosoms. I have a dozen here starv- ing for the work, so be sure and bring them — the material. You may add something of the kind for yourself. I rather like linen chem — Ahem! Send to Bent and Bush to make me a nice cap. They can do it with blue-black band. I want four pairs fine merino drawers, and six fine merino undershirts
— 39 inches will do for the waist.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 881
Where is my speech and the rest of the pictures? Bring yourself at once. Mind that now! Bring me some pears and some grapes. There never was such a God-forsaken country for fruit. Bring anyone with you you like to do — Mrs. Read or anybody else. Read has sold out his sutler's interest here, so I suppose he will not want to come. Won't George come. I should be glad to have him, and we will make a week or two here very pleasant for him. I would give more to see Fisher than anyone I know if he can possibly leave. I have drawn on him very heavily, but he has funds to meet it. He may get his sugar so that he can come out in one boat and go back in the next. Wiegel has resigned and gone home. He has been worthless since he came out, from homesickness. Maj. Bell got here yesterday, and I got your political letter — very well indeed, but requires more time to be carried out. I am happy if I am thought outside of both parties. It's easy enough to get into a party but hard to get out honorably.
You will come, won't you? Then, dearest, dearest, we won't plague each other any more! You know you love me very much. I know it too — you can't cheat me. You know that I love you too much for a man of forty to love a wife, so have done with all badinage and truly sincerely do come to
Your BENJ.
From John T. Ryan
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 10, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
SIR: I received information that Alexander Brothers, a merchant of this city, and President of the Home Mutual Insurance Company, left here previous to the occupation of the city by the United States troops, and concealed his silver, etc., in the vault of the Home Mutual Insurance Company, situated at the corner of Natchez alley and Camp Street.
I have information that in his residence on Camp Street near Julice remains all of his furniture, etc., and without an agent to take charge of the same, that the furniture of Thomas Hunton, a lawyer of this city, who has left the city for the Rebel lines, is stored in the residence of said Brothers. My informants, Hetty and Charles Scott, slaves of said Brothers, also state that their master declared that he would forfeit all of his property before he would take the oath of allegiance to
382 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the United States, and was in the habit of using incendiary and seditious language against the government and disre- spectful to the Major General Commanding, and has been in the city subsequent to his departure but returned to the enemy on the 25th of July. I remain,
Your honor's most obedient humble servant,
JOHN T. RYAN, Special Officer
From G. W. Killborn
Provost Marshal's Office, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 17, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I have taken action in regard to the enclosed matter, and have the honor to make the following report.
I found the box of silver plate belonging to Mr. Alexander Brothers in the vault of the Home Mutual Insurance Co., which I took away and placed under guard. I have also seized his house and furniture, and stored the furniture said to belong to Mr. Thomas Hunton, and stand in said house, and have placed the same under guard. The negroes also remain at the house.
The information I gain from the negroes is as follows: That about two days before the U. S. Fleet came up, this Mr. Hunton left with his Regiment, and that Mr. Brothers accom- panied them some miles out on the Jackson R. R. and came back in about three days. About the middle of May he again went into the Confederacy and remained some six weeks, and then returned.
On the 25th of July he sailed on the "St. Matanzas" for New York on a pass which he stated (as the negroes say) that he paid $500. for. All of which is respectfully submitted. I
have the honor to be, Sir, v , , . . ,
Your obedient servant,
G. W. KILLBORN, Dep. Pro. Marshal From Admiral Farragut to General Butler
Flag Ship HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Oct. 17, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: I have received your note and the requi- sition for Ordnance, etc. The light thirty-twos I have taken from the "Potomac," and send you by the "St. Mary's," and there are three howitzers in New Orleans.
I enjoy excellent health, and so does the Squadron gen- erally. I shall be ready to go ahead at Gaines the moment
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 383
you can furnish the troops. Do you think you can send any down to Galveston or any other port on the coast of Texas? I had a Gun Boat out yesterday from the North, the "Aroos- took," but she brings no news.
Major Strong has sent two gentlemen over to see me in reference to the cattle captured by the Gun Boats, by which capture we lost a valuable officer and a sailor. I can see no use of our vessels up the river, if we are to permit passes from both Rebel and Federal authorities to stand good. The only way I see for these people to do is to make known their busi- ness before hand.
The cattle are passed over the river, and no one knows where they are going, but as soon as they are caught by either party they are intended for the party that catches them. This may be a very honest transaction, but it is one that will cause great difficulty if permitted.
My orders are very stringent, "to allow no trade with the blockaded country'9 I am told that large droves of cattle are passing the river for the Rebels, and told to look after them; when I catch them, I am told that it is all wrong, they are for us or for New Orleans. I wish you had a Prize Court at New Orleans to decide these cases and the validity of these claims.
As the officers in the "Mississippi" made the capture, I shall leave it to Capts. Smith and Ransom to accept a ransom and release them or not; but in future, unless the convoy is made known and asked for, they will be considered "bona
Pr e* Very truly and respectfully yours,
D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral, Comdg. W. G. B9g. Squad.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Ocibr. 19th, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of de- spatches from the Department enclosing communication from Lord Lyons to the State Department relating to the case of Dacres.
James Dacres had applied for a passport to pass the military lines of this Department into the Confederacy. That had been refused him. He made no claim that he was a British or other subject. He was known to be in active sympathy with the rebels.
884 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
His present claim, of that he could not get a passport be- cause of the oath which he supposes to be required of for- eigners, is an afterthought, precisely as he admits his claim of British protection to be. Upon refusal, he expressed his determination to go at all hazards, and in company with two or three other persons attempted to escape across the lines. He was arrested in the attempt. His pockets contained many communications from the rebels here to their friends, which he was taking out in direct violation of orders.
After his arrest, he showed his guilty knowledge and pur- pose by stealthily putting his hand in his pockets and throw- ing these communications into the mud, from whence they were taken by the officer of the Guard. After a full hearing of the matter in person, I have ordered him into confinement until further orders. This I feel to be within my power and duty, and I have seen in his letters no statement why I should alter these orders.
In relation to Mr. D acres' complaints of his place of con- finement and the shelter afforded him, permit me to say that he has the same shelter, the same food, the same climate, and the same exposure to disease, and no more, as the troops that guard him.
I believe him to be a dangerous man at large, but I will release him and put him on board an English Ship of War if he can be carried to that country whose protection he claims. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant,
MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER, Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. I9th, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I had the honor to receive the communication of the Department enclosing a letter from Lord Lyons in the case of Martin Fallon.
Fallon was an overseer of a plantation near Baton Rouge, was arrested as he says, and released upon his parole by the officer commanding the expedition, he, Fallon, claiming to be a British subject. He then went out, as I am informed by evidence, into the field, and despatched a negro to give infor- mation to a neighboring Guerilla Camp, which it was our purpose to surprise, of the approach of my troops. He admits,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 385
in his communication to Lord Lyons, that he conversed with the negroes in the field upon the subject, and cer- tain it is that one of them went. Fallon claims that he did not send him. But how long is it since British subjects, overseers of plantations, have been so familiar with the ne- groes under their charge? General Williams examined his case at Baton Rouge, was satisfied of his guilt, and referred it to me.
On examination, and upon Fallon's own story, I was satis- fied, and sent him to Fort St. Philip for safe keeping, where he enjoys the same treatment, the same climate, the same shelter, and the same food that the Union Troops do. I have
the honor to be, ^ m. j* * a ^
Y our Obedient Servant
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. ZQth, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
DEAR SIR: I enclose the report of Capt. Haggerty, of my Staff, of the execution of the order of the State Department for the delivery of the property seized by my order from the Consul of the Netherlands. Enclosed find the Consul's receipt on the back of the Communication from War Department, and a list of the articles counted in tin box, together with certificate of the state of the tin box at the time it was taken. The Consul confesses himself satisfied, as I am informed, that he has received back all that belongs to him. I have the honor
' Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW ORLEANS, October 1st, 1862 [[Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. BUTLER
GENERAL: In compliance with your order to me of Sept. 22nd, based upon a communication from the War Depart- ment dated Sept. 4th, 1862, to you, which I hereto transmit, I have the honor to report: that on the morning of Sept. 23rd, 1862, I delivered to Amadie Conturie of New Orleans, Consul of the Netherlands at the Master's office in the Custom- house, one hundred and sixty kegs marked "H & C," said to
VOL. II — 25
886 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
contain five thousand Mexican Silver Dollars each, making the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Also one tin box sealed, marked "Prean & Conturie," con- taining valuable papers, an inventory of which was taken there and then by said Conturie, taking at the same time his acknowledgment for the coin, endorsed on said com- munication, and his receipt for the contents, which I herewith transmit.
On the following day, Sept. 24th, 1862, by your order I received from said Conturie a keg, supposed to be one of said one hundred and sixty, and weighing two hundred and eighty- nine pounds (289), and gave him in exchange therefor an open keg containing Mexican Silver dollars which weighed Three Hundred Twelve and one half (S12J) pounds. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
P. HAGGERTY Capt. & A. D. C.
From Amadie Conturie
RECEIVED, New Orleans, Sept. 23rd, 1862, of Capt. P. Haggerty, A. D. C. to Major General Butler, and by direction of Brig. Gen. G. F. Shepley, Military Governor of Louisiana, One Hundred and Sixty kegs marked "H & C," and said to contain each Five Thousand Mexican Silver Dollars, making in all Eight Hundred Thousand Mexican Dollars, and one tin box containing valuable papers, sealed.
AMADIE COUTURI£
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, July 30, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
I CERTIFY that I found a tin box (such as used by bank- ers) unlocked with only two common strings around it. The box was marked No. 91 on each end, and on front was printed, " Prean & Conturie." The above described box was on the Commanding General's Table without any note of explanation. WM H ^^ lst Lieut. & A. D. C.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 387
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23rd, 1862
INVENTORY of articles in tin box marked "Prean & Conturte."
1 package marked K. & K. $ 1640 "
1 " " " " " "1660 "
1 " Banknotes " 28.50"
1 " Insurance policy " 208.00"
$3536.50" 1 Package Seals 1 " Deeds & Papers 1 " Consular Commission & Exequator 1 " Portfolio
AMADIE
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 21, 1862
To the Hon. E. M. STANTON, See'y of War
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge a despatch from the Department dated Sept. 11, enclosing copies of correspond- ence between His Excellency, the Minister of Spain, and the State Department, touching my action in regard to the House of Avendano Bros.
I seek by return mail to give such statements of facts as will enable the Secretary of State to answer fully upon this point His Excellency the Minister of Spain.
The house of Avendano Bros, has been established in New Orleans so long that its members have become an integral part of the population, in interest, in feeling, and in social ties. Before the breaking out of this rebellion, its members never thought of seeking the protection of Spain. But since this rebellion all has changed, and now the Spanish Consul claims that persons thirty years of age, born of Spanish parents, who have lived here from their birth, and their ancestors before them, are still Spanish subjects, and is issuing certificates of nationality accordingly, so that this city has become almost entirely depopulated as to citizens, except of free persons of color, who singularly claim the protection of our Government where so little has been heretofore done for them.
The house of Avendano Bros, has been largely engaged in running cotton through the blockade, and importing arms and munitions of war.
As I have had the honor to inform the State Department in a communication in relation to the complaints of the Prus- sian Minister, and to which I beg leave to refer the Hon.
388 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Secretary for a full development of the condition of things here in this behalf, no cotton was allowed by the Confederates to be shipped unless arms and munitions of war were returned in the proportion of one-half. Avendaiio Bros, shipped largely under this permission, and have been engaged in breaking every law of neutrality and national hospitality that can be well conceived.
Somewhere about the 10th of May, I captured the Confed- erate steamer "Fox," which had been seized by the Confed- erates from her Union owners, and turned into the service employed in running the blockade (She made three trips thus). She had on board a cargo of arms, powder, lead, quick- silver, acids for telegraphic purposes, chloroform and morphine for medical stores, to the amount of $300,000 or thereabouts — all of the greatest necessity to the rebels, and had run into the Bayou La Fairche on the west bank of the Mississippi, from which bayou she might, if she thought proper, run to Vicksburg. She had, besides, the invoices, letters of ad- vice, bills of lading, bills of exchange, and other evidence of the transactions of many of the mercantile houses of New Orleans.
The letters of advice, bills of lading, and invoices, show the nature of the transaction between these parties and their correspondents at Havana. The bills of exchange were the product of the shipment of cotton, less the proportion invested in contraband goods. Among them were the bills of exchange payable to the house of Avendaiio, the first having been for- warded by some other conveyance, but still unpaid, and these bills of exchange were for one-half the proceeds of the cargo shipped, the other half being invested in munitions of war.
This vessel also carried a mail containing, among other things, the official correspondence between the Rebel Com- missioner Rost, which I forwarded to the State Department, and the Rebel Ordnance officer in Europe, relating to his movements there, which I forwarded to the State Department as well as other important letters which developed the nature of the business carried on between this port and the mis- called neutral ports Havana and Nassau. Upon personal examination, I had no doubt that the house of Avendaiio was largely interested in, or the consignors of, the major part of the cargo of the "Fox," and in order to put a stop to this traffic, which could still be carried on through the fifty-three openings into the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana, I called upon
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 389
the house of Avendafto, and upon personal examination they did not deny the part they had taken in the traffic.
I required them therefore, having captured in bulk one- half the fruits of this illegal traffic, and having captured the other half thereof in the shape of a bill of exchange, to pay over the other half, being the bills of exchange. This they did, and received the bills of exchange and papers showing the nature of their business, regarding that as a light punish- ment for their crimes.
Because of other like transactions which have since come to my knowledge, the senior partner has escaped to Havana, but the house is still carrying on business here, and are the consignees of the steamer "Cardenas," which has been the cause of so many breaches of our Quarantine laws and so many complaints of the Spanish Minister.
Avendano sent a rebel lawyer, who had refused to renew his oath of allegiance to the United States, to me to make some representations of the matter, and to argue certain legal questions. In answer to some suggestions as to the amount of fine, I told him that Avendano might think himself well off if he lost no more of the profits of his infernal trade.
This, it will be observed, was about the 19th of May, and no complaints are made of it for three months, until embold- ened by the success of the complaints of the Commissioner here, which has done more to strengthen the hand of secession than any other occurrence of the South West since my advent in New Orleans, and the Commissioner of which Commission now, as I am ready to prove, acted as the paid attorney of rebels in making claims against the United States, from re- tainers taken because of his acting here in his official capacity.
This Commission, I say, emboldened these new complaints of my action by mercantile pirates and maurauders, who supplied arms and powder to traitors, and are only saved from consequence of treason because they have not given their allegiance to the country that had given them protection, and enabled them to accumulate fortunes, advantages they believed their own governments could not give them, and so preferred to live under ours, but not to assume their proper obligations.
They should have been hanged, they were only fined.
His Excellency, the Spanish Minister, seems to think that running the blockade carries its own punishment with it; but this is not a case of running a blockade merely, but is the case of an importer of arms, of an army contractor for the
390 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
rebel Government, and this draft which the House of Aven- dano has paid, and the money been used for the support of the troops of the United States in this Department, is only one half of the proceeds of a single adventure of the House of Avendano in breaking the laws and aiding the rebellion, — the other half being returned to the Confederates in arms and munitions of war.
I aver to the Secretary of War, upon my official respon- sibility, that without the aid furnished by foreign mercantile houses in New Orleans, Mobile, Savannah, and Charleston, as I am convinced by the most irrefragible evidence, this rebellion would have wholly failed to arm and supply itself, and the most active agents and the most efficient supporters have been these same quasi foreign houses, mostly Jews, and their correspondents, principally in Havana and Nassau, who all deserve to receive at the hand of the Government as much reprobation as the Jew, Benjamin Slidell, Mallony, or Fleyd, and only the strong repressing measures which have been fearlessly and energetically taken in this Department have prevented the supply from still going on here, as it is in Charleston, South Carolina.
Tempted by the immense profits, urging the war on in order to realize these profits, these foreign adventurers have done everything they could to sustain the war and to inflame the passions of the people against the United States; and then reiterated complaints of my actions, and the howl in Europe and elsewhere set up by them at my every act have simply been the result of the disappointment of those who desire that some action may be taken by the Government which will reopen to them a most profitable trade, which I have closed by means, against the measures of which complaint has been made, and as to which the Hon. Sec't of State has been pleased to say, redress will be made if I fail to justify my acts.
I have stated my grounds upon which my actions proceeded, and the purpose for which it was taken. Of course, to do this work could be of no personal (benefit) to myself, and only entailed great and severe labor.
It was dictated by a sense of duty and upon full and thorough examination I have failed to see any reason why it (should) not be persevered in. But I respectfully submit that it adds not a little to the already everlasting labor of this Depart- ment to be continually called upon, months afterwards, to investigate and report upon acts which were within the scope
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 891
of my jurisdiction in the fair exercise of the discretion of a Military Commander, and for which I should be called to account not by letter of a Foreign Consular agent on the ex-parte statement of a Spanish smuggler, but by the Comman- der in Chief of the Army, or the President of the United States, to whom I am as ready to account for my every action as I am to my Country and my God. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, October 21, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
SIR: I have the honor to hand you enclosed a copy of a complaint addressed to me by an old French resident, Mr. Francis Bougere, who has in one day been deprived of every thing he possessed.
As Mr. Bougere has already, in pursuance of my advice and assisted by my official intervention, taken some steps before the Military Governor, without any result, I take the liberty to bring this complaint of a French subject officially to your notice, informing you in the same time that a copy of these documents will be sent to the Minister of the Emperor in Washington. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my high
consideration, T-, A ,, „ , „ ,
FAUCONNET, Act g French Consul
From the Acting French Consul
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, October 21, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
SIR: One of my countrymen, Lucien Duclos, has been arrested for passing the lines without a pass, and has been brought to the prison of the Custom house, where he has been confined for the last 12 days. According to the informa- tion which I have received, I find that this young man has not been guilty of any bad intentions, but is ignorant. I therefore ask you to make inquiries on his account, and, if possible, to give him his liberty. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my high consideration. FAUCONNET, Acting French Consul
392 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, October 3rd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a communication addressed by Sam. G. Ward, Attorney, of Boston, to the Secretary of State, and by him referred to this Department, complaining of the recent seizure of certain Rail Road iron, which was held by his agent in New Orleans as security for Messrs. Baring Bros. & Co. of London.
The Secretary desires that you will institute such investiga- tion as the case seems to require, and report to this Depart- ment at your earliest convenience.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Asst. Sec. of State
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. Zlst, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to report to the Department, in answer to the communication of the 3rd instant, that the railroad iron pledged to Messrs. Baring & Bros, was taken for the repairing of the Opelousas Railroad. I am informed by my Quarantine Master, by his report endorsed on the back of the letter of the Department, that we shall be able to get along without it, and that it has been released. If necessary to take any, it will be taken and a receipt given in the usual course of Business. I
have the honor to be, ^ , 7- . 0 *
Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding Endorsement referred to in Foregoing Letter
Office, Chief Quartermaster DepL of the Oulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. llth, 1862
chronological order]
I HAVE the honor to report that in my absence Col. Turner, Acting Quartermaster, thinking that the Government might need the iron, served a notice on the parties not to dispose of it, but to hold it subject to his orders. We have been enabled to repair the Rail Road without using any of this Iron, and the parties have been notified that they are at liberty to dispose of it in any manner they see fit.
J. W. SHAFFER, Col. & Chief Quartermaster
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 393
From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
(NEW ORLEANS), Oct. 21, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: We are here safe and comfortable, sick five days out of eight. Mr. Butler was rejoiced to see me, and says it is the first time we have been so long apart since we were married, and it shall be the last. He feels more helped and sustained by me than anyone else, though he will not always hear to me. He is not so thin now as he was a month ago, but the climate has told upon him. He does not look so alive as he has before, but the cold weather may bring back the old fiery look. I have written a very long letter to Fisher, which I should like him to read to you, as have not time to go through it again, and it will tell you the appearance of things here. Mr. Butler has sent to his mother a service of silver, four pieces, he bought it by weight. There has been so much talk, I would not say much about it if I were her, for envy makes people bitter. Read this to her, and leave it to her own discretion. There is nothing to conceal, but envious minds will not believe so. You need not read her all the letter. In fact, I do not know if it is worth speaking of it at all. Mr. Butler has also sent by the "Saxon" a cup and saucer and plate with his picture painted on them — no doubt you have them before now. One of these days I shall find something handsome for you. There will be a great many things sold at auction before long. Re-inclose and send back my letters from Mr. Butler that you have received since I left. He says he sent for linen for shirts. Send out a piece and enough for bosoms of a finer quality. He wants the nuns to work them. Put them in some old trunk or buy a cheap one, and two or three pretty looking calico dress-patterns, also his dressing gown. If you happen to be in Boston, buy enough black silk like my dress for a sash. Fisher I think will come out. Perhaps you might find a sash ready made. I am so tired writing eight pages to Fisher that there is nothing in this letter, and now I must write to Blanche. Dear love to the children, and relatives.
Most affectionately, SARAH
From Admiral Farragut to General Butler
Flag Ship HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Oct. 21, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: I received your communication by the "Sykes," and am delighted to see such a boat. She is the very
394 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
thing we ought to have for the sound, only we would want several of them.
You are asking a great deal, General, when you ask for the "Calhoun" to go with your expedition, for she is the only Gun Boat we have that can run up the Sound to Grant's Pass; but I will send her in hopes that thereby we will get the force to attack Fort Gaines the sooner. As to Lieut. Cook, I do not see how I can spare an officer. I have nothing but youths now for officers in all the vessels. They are diminish- ing daily, sometimes by my sending them home for cause, and sometimes they take them away from me.
The Senior Lieutenants of the vessels are now all in com- mand, and the young men as 1st. Lieutenants are just pro- moted, and scarcely one of them 21 years of age, with but little experience. I have, however, ordered the two officers, Cook and King, to report to you for temporary duty on the steamers you are fitting out.
I do not know what detains the "St. Mary's." We put the guns into her in an hour on Sunday, when she called for them.
I hope you will soon be ready for the attack on Fort Gaines.
Yours truly, D. G. FAREAGUT
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. Wd, 1862
To Major General H. W. HALLECK, Comdg. in Chief, U.S.A.
GENERAL: I enclose herewith copies of a correspondence between myself & the Confederate authorities upon the sub- ject of exchanging prisoners. I am informed that the Con- federates claim that the men which I received back are not exchanged, and cannot return to duty until a published list is made by the respective Genls.
Is that the construction of the Cartel agreed upon by Genl. Dix & D. H. Hill? I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. SvL, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. Wnd, 1862
Hon. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
SIR: I have taken the liberty to address you directly upon this matter which seems to be more appropriate to the Treas- ury than to the War Department. As you are aware, from
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 395
the time that I came here I have endeavored in every possible way to open trade in cotton through the rebel lines. I have supposed that this was consonant with the wish of the Govern- ment. Owing to the peculiar action of the Confederate au- thorities, I have not been able as yet much to succeed. The difficulty has been, as I believe, not so much with the Confed- erate authorities as in the peculiar relation they find them- selves with their own people. They instructed and advised their people to burn their cotton, and those who did do so will not now permit their more prudent neighbors to ship that which had not been destroyed, at an enormous profit. These difficulties are gradually being smoothed over. I think now that the trade can be opened, but am in doubt as to the inter- pretation of your Treasury Circular.
As early as the 29th of July I forwarded a communication to the Commanding officer at Mobile, a copy of which is en- closed. That communication has since been forwarded to Richmond, and formally sanctioned by the appointment of Commissioners by the Confederate Government. Shall I get out the cotton on the basis proposed? Of course, I shall let all cotton come out under the arrangement which may offer before I hear from the government.
I desire a reply, therefore, by return mail. While this letter is being copied, I have received from Admiral Farragut the enclosed instructions of the Secretary of the Navy. Whether these have been had upon full consideration of the subject set forth above, I do not know. If literally carried out, they would starve the neighboring country, and would greatly embarrass us here for supplies of lumber, wood, naval stores, and fresh provisions. We have to get these through the rivers and over the lakes in exchange for provisions. I do not mean to make this a matter of favoritism; that is not the way the war is carried on here. I desire but to carry out the policy as I supposed of the Government, and administer to our neces- sities. I have no personal wish on the subject. It becomes, therefore, of the utmost importance to know exactly what the Government desires, and I need not assure you that I shall govern myself with strictness by its directions.
Acting under this same policy, I allowed the "West Florida'' to go out to Sabine Pass, having cleared for Matamoras with a cargo not contraband of war for the purpose of bringing cotton from Texas. She belonged to a loyal citizen, and in order that there might be no mistake, I gave the permit, a
396 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
copy of which is enclosed. The "West Florida" has been detained and sent to Pensacola. You will remember that I published a correspondence with the Hon. Reverdy Johnson upon this subject of cotton, and I learned that it had been approved by the State Department through a letter to General Shepley, Military Governor. May I ask your intervention to have the "West Florida" released, whatever may be the decision of the Government as to her proceeding on her voyage.
You will see that by the form of the letter it was to go to the Admiral for the purpose of preventing all misunderstandings. It is impossible to overrate the importance of this question of obtaining a supply of cotton to the Northern manufacturers, to say nothing of the effect on European powers; infinitely of more importance to get the cotton for sails and tents than whether A or B loses or gains in the exchange of commodities.
Being purchased in this manner prevents the Jews from gathering up all the gold in the country to exchange it with the Confederates for cotton. The day of cotton-burning is past. I have the honor to be, Most truly Yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosure referred to Foregoing Letter
Navy Department, Sept, 21, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Rear Admiral D. G. FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf Blockade
SIR: Hereafter you will allow no vessel to import or export merchandise at any port of the blockaded country. New Orleans is the only port open for general traffic within the limits of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.
You will not regard what are called "permits" from any officer except the Secretaries of the Treasury, War, or Navy as authorizing the ingress or egress of any vessel in violation of the blockade.
There must be no favoritism or license given to any one or more of our countrymen to traffic within the blockaded region, or to import or export merchandise. That would be justly considered as evasive of the blockade and in bad faith.
No officer of the Army or Navy is authorized to grant per- mits, and you will seize all vessels engaged in illegal traffic.
Such vessels as under the authority of the War or Navy Departments may be engaged to carry supplies to the Army or Navy will take no return cargo.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 397
The blockade is intended to interdict all trade whatever with the country blockaded during its continuance, and should be rigidly enforced. I am,
Respectfully, Your obt. servt.,
G. WELLES, Secy, of the Navy
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 22nd, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: The much-mooted question whether white men can be found able, competent, and willing to do the work heretofore supposed to be peculiarly and solely adapted to negroes, is being practically answered in this department. Since the exodus of many of the slaves from the plantations, the planters are hiring white labor from this city to get their sugar crops, at such prices as to stop the recruiting of any regiments almost entirely, as will be seen by the official report of Col. Paine of the Second Louisiana, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. I have the honor, etc.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 441
IT appearing to the Commanding General that the sugar plantations of Brown & McMamms have been abandoned by the late owners, who are in the rebellion, are now running to waste, and the valuable crops will be lost as well to the late owner as to the United States if they are not wrought, — and as large numbers of negroes have come and are coming within the lines of the Army who need employment, it is ordered: That Chas. A. Weed, Esq., take charge of said plantations, and such others as may be abandoned along the River between the city and Fort Jackson, and gather and make these crops for the benefit of the United States, keeping an exact and accurate account of the expenses of each.
That Mr. Weed's requisitions for labor be answered by the several Commanders of Camps for laborers, or in scarcity of Contrabands that Mr. Weed may employ white laborers at $1.00 per day for each ten hours labor.
That for any stores or necessaries for such work the Quarter- master or Commissary Department will answer Mr. Weed's approved requisitions.
That said Weed shall be paid such rate of compensation
398 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
as may be agreed on, and that all receipts of whatever nature from said plantation be accurately accounted for by him, and that for this purpose Mr. Weed shall be considered in the Military Service of the United States.
By Command of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Gen.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 23, 1862
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury
SIR: I forgot to report to you at the time that of the $50,000 in gold which you forwarded me so kindly to replace that which I borrowed of the banks to pay the troops, I was only obliged to use $25,000. And I have forwarded to New York, to the order of Pay Master, Maj. Locke, $25,000 in coin. This was put to his credit, and may be returned to the Treasury. This matter is of some importance with gold at its present premium.
I have thus far managed the financial affairs of my Depart- ment so that the United States have not paid one dollar for the support and relief of the 32,000 people I am now feeding. For an exhibit of their numbers, condition and nationality, please examine the slip enclosed. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, (BENJ. F. BUTLER)
From General Butler
Head Qte. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 23rf, 1862
Mr. FAUCONNET, Acting Consul of France
SIR: I am in receipt of your letter enclosing the complaint of Francis Bougere, and as without waiting for my decision or action the Acting Consul of France has seen fit to forward the papers to Washington, I shall forward my reply to the Dept. of State direct. I have the honor to be,
Your Obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. <iAih, 1862
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
SIR: I forward herewith a letter from the Acting French Consul enclosing a memorial from one Francis Bougere, mak-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 899
ing large claims against the United States for negroes and other property. Upon the receipt of the memorial, as you will see by the endorsement upon it, I ordered an immediate report to be made by Col. Thomas, who commanded the expedition complained of, of all the facts and circumstances. It will be seen by his report, which I doubt not is correct, that there is no claim against the United States from Mr. Bougere for anything, and that his assumed neutrality, like most of the neutrality in this Department, is simply a cover for most bitter hostility.
I was somewhat surprised to find a claim made for negro slaves as property, by a French citizen, for I had believed that the Code Civile forbids the acquisition of such property. The statement made by Bougere that he acquired all these negroes since 1848 is not true. The French Consul did not call on me except in the manner which you see, and I enclose to you my answer.
I trust this report will enable the State Department to meet any claim that may be presented. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From the Secretary of State
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 1th Nov., 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To Major General B. F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have received your latter of the 24 ult., with the accompanying papers, relative to the complaint of Francis Bougere, claiming to be a Frenchman. No representation upon the subject has been received from the Legation of France here. If any should be addressed to the Depart- ment your communication will, it is believed, probably afford the means effectually to meet it. I am, General,
Your very obedient servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 24, 1862
To the Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Judge Advocate Genl. of the Army
SIR: I have the honor to enclose the record of the trial of Gonzales before a Military Commission for murder. The testimony discloses ample grounds for conviction, and it
400 LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
seems to me a proper case for prompt punishment, but I understand I must have the sanction of the President before I proceed to execution, which otherwise I should do at once.
Besides, a point is taken against the jurisdiction of the Military Commission because the offense was committed before I arrived in this Department, but I do not see how that fact outsets the jurisdiction. Here is a crime, here is the criminal, and here is the power present to punish the crime. Why should not that power be exercised?
I was assigned to the Department of the Gulf, including the State of Louisiana, months before I got here, and theoretically the Department was under my command as it was actually within the limits of the United States. I have approved the proceedings, findings, and sentence of the Ctfurt, to be carried into effect hereafter awaiting instructions. I have the honor
to i)f*
' Very Respectfully Your obdt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 24th, 1862
Maj. Gen'L H. W. HALLECK, Commander in Chief
GENERAL: While I have the honor to report a reasonable degree of health on the part of my troops through the summer, and an entire absence of epidemic here, I think it would be well, in view of the coming summer, to change the regiments for the coming season, and for that purpose it will be necessary to begin now, to prevent disarranging the service. I find those necessarily left on the lines at Carrollton suffering greatly from the malarious swamp fever to which the debilitating effect of summer predisposes them. To my astonishment, and against all theory, the regiment of acclimated Louisianans, which I have recruited here, and one of the most healthy I had when in Barracks, sent there, supposing them able to resist the effect of the malaria because of their acclimatization, have suffered from the swamp fever the most considerable of any, much more than the fresh troops — the seventy-fifth New York, which I brought from the healthy lands of Pensa- cola and placed in the same locality.
I have the honor to report two regiments of native Guards (colored) organized and mustered into the service, and one takes the field to-morrow.
I have organized an expedition consisting of a Brigade,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 401
five regiments of infantry, two Batteries of Artillery, and four Comp. of Cavalry, under the Command of Brig. Gen'l. Weitzel, to move upon the Western Bank of the Mississippi through Western Louisiana for the purpose of dispersing the forces assembled there under Gen'l. Rich'd. Taylor.
I propose at the same time to send round some light-draught steamers which I have been fitting for the service by protect- ing their boilers and engines with iron coverings, so as to pre- vent possibly the recurrence of the dreadful accident which occurred on the "Mound City" steamer by the penetration of her boilers by shot, and mounting them by light guns, to attack some Batteries on Berwicks Bay, to penetrate the waters of the Bay and tributaries, and cut off the supplies of cattle for the Rebel Army from Texas via Opelousas and New Iberia, and to act in conjunction with Brig. Gen'l. Weitzel. At the same time, I push forward columns from Algiers, consisting of the 8th Vermont Vols. and the first regiment Native Guards (colored), along the Opelousas Rail Road to Thibodeau and Brashier City, upon the Railway, for the purpose of forward- ing supplies to Gen'l. WeitzeFs expedition, and to give the loyal planters an opportunity to forward their sugar and cotton to this city. I can easily hold this portion of Louisiana, by far the richest, and extend the movement so far as sub- stantially to cut off all supplies from Texas to the country this coming winter by this route, if I can receive only rein- forcements. Please therefore send me New England troops. The newspapers assure me that there are thousands waiting in Massachusetts. Letters from their Officers are received by me begging that they may come to this Department. Of course, I have a preference for Massachusetts troops. Those that I have here behaved very well. I trust that they may be sent to me. I should be glad if General Weitzel should be able to move upon Texas, and would suggest that an appropriate base of operation would be through Galveston, which I have just learned has surrendered to the Naval force of the Union. But I have hardly got a regiment which I can spare, to hold it, although I propose to send one. Not that I anticipate an immediate attack upon New Orleans, nor that I fear it unless I am forced to receive the debris of the South Western wing, after the defeat of Bragg, by General Buell, when, if I weaken myself here, I may invite attack from such sources.
Rear Admiral Farragut is very desirous that we should make a demonstration on Mobile, or at least Fort Morgan,
VOL. II — 26
402 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to save the necessity of the large blockading force of! that port. I think 3000 men more would do it successfully, but again I have not the men to spare, and to do those things which I think of more immediate necessity.
I have as yet received, with the exception of sixty men, no recruits from* the North for any of my old Regiments, some of which have been eighteen (18) months in service, so that my regiments appear much larger in number than they are in effective strength. I am sorry to report the very sudden and serious illness of Brig. Gen'l. Arnold, who was stricken with paralysis while attending a review on Saturday, from which I think he will not recover sufficiently to resume his duties for some months.
I was happy to receive the commendations of the General- in-Chief of the action of Maj. Strong at Pontchatoula. The illness of General Arnold and the wide-spread districts over which my troops are disposed makes it necessary that I should have another Brig. Gen'l. Allow me to recommend for promotion Maj. Strong, my Asst. Adjt. Gen'l., Lieut, in the Ordnance Corps, who graduated the second in his class at West Point in 1857, and also has been in the service ever since. I know no one more competent, and certainly none has shown better conduct and gallantry.
I have been obliged to lose his services a part of the summer through his illness brought on by over-exertion, in preparing this expedition to New Orleans, but I think he has manfully recovered and reestablished his health. May I ask your kind offices to recommend to the President the appointment as one eminently fit to be made. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25, 1862
To the Hon. EDWIN E. STANTON, Sec'y of War
I HAVE received the enclosure of the acting French Minister in regard to the capture of the "Tennessee."
The "Tennessee" was a steamer belonging to the house of Chas. Morgan & Co., of New York, actually in the possession of one Harris here, a rebel, was used, as I am informed, in attempting to run the blockade, was captured by the Navy under the French Flag, and I am not certain but an English
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 408
one. At least, it had pretended French and English owners. It was sold after the city was actually invested, and while we were preparing an attack upon the forts, the cotton which had been placed on board to run the blockade having been landed before the fleet arrived off the city.
English and French flags have been used very liberally here to cover all manner of property, and generally most used by them who have the least right to them. I at once forwarded the communication from the Acting French Minister to Rear Admiral Farragut, and I enclose his report. The Steamer is now in the service of the fleet as a tender to the squadron. The Army never had any and now claims no interest in her. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully, Your obdt. servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Flag Skip HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Oct. 17, 1862 [[Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Comg Dept. of NEW ORLEANS
SIR : In reply to your letter desiring to learn all I know of the capture of the "Tennessee," I have to state that perhaps no vessel is better known to the blockading force before New Orleans than the " Tennessee."
She has been blockaded and watched for many months, during which time she has been frequently down to the 6 'passes" loaded with cotton, and ready to run the blockade, and has been as frequently compelled to return.
When I captured New Orleans I found the "Tennessee" lying at the wharf with a French Flag hoisted somewhere on the vessel, indicating that she belonged to a French subject, but her antecedents were too well-known to me to regard any such evidence of ownership, as I knew that if any such trans- fer had been made it had been done within a very short period of time, and during the blockade, which, according to my under- standing, is contrary to all law.
There is scarcely a vessel or piece of property belonging to the rebels that has not been so transferred since the capture of New Orleans.
Very respectfully, Your obdt. servant, D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral Com'g
Western Blk'g. Squadron
404 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25^, 1862
Brig. General NEAL Dow, Commanding PENSACOLA
GENERAL: I was very much surprised and grieved, and the public service was considerably interfered with, by your detention of the "St. Mary's." Indeed, it would have been better for the service to have lost the "Creole" than to have suffered the delay. The steamer was sent to Pensacola for special service, with written orders under my own hand, for the utmost despatch, and in such case the boat must never be interfered with. It has been informally reported to me that your expedition was sent for furniture up the Blackwater. If that was necessary for the comfortable occupation of your quarters, of course I should not seriously object, but the fewer of such expeditions the better.
I cannot permit the shipping of furniture or other articles North by any officer for his own use. Such taking of private property, whether belonging to rebels or others, comes under the order of the War Department, No. 107, a copy of which I send you, and is there denominated "plundering." If in your judgment any property should belong, or does belong, to the United States, and can be better disposed of North than here, and should be properly shipped and sold, you will take the same course I did with the bells captured at New Orleans, — send it to the United States Quarter Master at Boston or New York, to be disposed of on account of the Government, but upon no consideration, and under no pretence, upon the private account of an officer. I must of course submit these matters with these instructions to the discretion of an officer as high in command as yourself, not doubting that it will be properly used.
I have put the "Sykes" as a despatch and mail-boat to run between Pensacola and here in order that there may be fre- quent and regular communications between Pensacola, Ship Island, Fort Pike, and this point. You will see to it that she is used for no other purpose. Her regular days of sailing from here will be Wednesdays and Saturdays. Her time should regularly be thirty hours. You will appoint such hours for leaving Pensacola as will best enable her to make her return trip, and that hour must not be interfered with after being appointed except to save life, or from the necessity of the public service in case of attack.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 405
I am informed that a quantity of pitch was taken under my permission from Pensacola and brought here. It was necessary for the use of the Navy. This is claimed by one Harrison, who was engineer or employee of the Rosin Oil Works at Pensa- cola. He has two hundred barrels of pitch there secreted somewhere in the woods. You will find him at once, and cause the pitch he has to be delivered at the Navy Yard, turning it over to Rear Admiral Farragut, asking his receipt therefor. Please inform by return of the "Sykes" if this can be done, because otherwise I must send pitch for the use of the Navy on the next trip of the "Sykes."
Lt. Col. Dyer has forwarded me, without your approval, an application for the resignation of the Adjutant of his Regiment, accompanied by charges as a reason for his resig- nation, that he was drunk on duty. An honorable discharge of an officer, consequent upon acceptance of a resignation, is the adjudication of the Commanding General that he has faithfully and properly served his country, and is entitled to her thanks, her honor, and her rewards. How could Col. Dyer believe that such discharge could be granted to a man who deserved dismissal from the service? I have therefore ordered Adjutant Nowland to be dropped from the rolls, assuming the statement of Col. Dyer to be true, as it seems to be made in a friendly spirit, and as no other reasons for the resignation are forwarded by him.
I wish you to make me a full report in detail of the transac- tions which led to the detention of the "St. Mary's," the cause of the detention, and of the orders that caused it. I have the
5 Very respy., Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Colonel J. W. Shaffer to General Butler
Office Chief Quarter Master, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sunday, Oct. 26, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
GENERAL: I have the honor to report "St. Mary's" off. I detained her about one hour. The cause of this inexcusable blunder I will call and explain. The individual making it will never make another for me. I had flattered myself that everything that had been entrusted to me connected with the expedition had been promptly done. Consequently I feel deeply this infernal blunder.
J. W. SHAFFER, Colonel & Quarter Master
406 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, LA., October Z5th, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT, Commanding Gulf Blockading
Squadron
SIR: I had the pleasure to receive your despatch announcing the great favor you have done me in detailing Officers King & Cook to the command of my boats. They go off to-morrow morning, and I trust will be in Berwicks Bay on Monday. The expedition to Donaldsonville started to-day. As soon as we get through with this little job I will send over the same troops and light-draught steamer to cooperate with you. I think I will spare a Regiment & some pieces of Artillery to hold Galveston if that will be sufficient. I have not sufficient information as to the number of troops required for that pur- pose. I never was more astonished in my life than on receiving your letter about the pitch. The history of the transaction is this. Some person came to me and asked for a permit to bring over his property on shore. It never occurred to me that it was pitch or anything that you would want; and the permit was a general one. There are, however, two hundred Bbls. more pitch left in Pensacola which I will order seized and brought to you at the Navy Yard, and if it is reported to me by General Dow that this cannot be done, I will see that suffi- cient for your use is sent from here. Please indicate how much pitch and how much rosin you want by the return of the "Sykes." When, by any act of mine, I paralyze the operation of the Navy, I paralyze my own right arm, and it has been a source of grief to me that you should even think for the days you are waiting this reply that I knew anything of this trans- action. I send you by the "Sykes" 20 Bbls of rosin which I seized at Fort Pike. I can forward you tar and pitch from here if you do not get the pitch I have mentioned. I have ordered the "Sykes" to act as a despatch boat between this Post, Ship Island & Pensacola. She runs about fourteen miles an hour, and as she was fired into three times by the Blockading Squadron, and dodged the shells, and the Capt. does not like to repeat the experiment, if you will give her a number that she may carry at night and distribute it among your Squadron we shall save accidents. I don't blame the Officers for shoot- ing. After the fate of Preble I would not let anything pass me if I were they. You know I believe in shooting when any- body attempts to run past. As she is a Despatch Boat, may I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 407
ask that your Officers shall not detain her, because I wish for all our sakes that she should make regular trips. She will leave here every Saturday and Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock, and on corresponding days from Pensacola at such hour as may give her the best despatch. I think if you will give her your mail I can manage with the Postmaster so as to give you more frequent communication with the North than in any other way.
Mrs. Butler, who has come out, sends her best regards. She has a right lively recollection of many kindnesses from your- self & Officers of your command.
Very truly, Your Friend, BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Neal Dow
Head Quarters, District of West Florida, PENSACOLA, Oct. 31st, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Major General B. P. BUTLER
GENERAL: I immediately, on the receipt of your order of the 25th, relating to pitch, caused explanations to be made, and the result is that a quantity has been found in a hole in the sand. It was run in, warm, and is very much mixed with dirt. I have communicated with the Admiral on the subject, and shall have it melted and dipped off into barrels, free from foreign matters.
The quantity is not yet ascertained, nor do I know the quality — but shall probably be informed of that to-morrow. I hope there will be as much as the Admiral will need.
Very respectfully, NEAL Dow, Brig. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25, 1862
To the Hon. E. M. STANTON
I HAVE the honor to report that I have forwarded on the Steamer "Catawba," under the charge of Capt. Puffer, certain discharged soldiers, three insane men, and three clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church. I have directed the three clergymen to be turned over to the care of the United States Marshal at New York, subject to the order of the War Department.
The insane men Capt. Puffer will take with him to Wash- ington, and deliver to the "Soldiers Insane Asylum."
One of the clergymen, the Rev. Dr. Leacock, preached a
408 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
sermon on the 29th of Nov. 1860, which was afterwards published and run through four editions of about 30,000 copies. I enclose the vital extracts. You will see that it was highly incendiary in its nature. He is an Englishman born, but I believe has been naturalized in this country; at any rate I have his written admission that he does not claim British protection. He has been in New Orleans about six years, and I think has been an emissary of the British Gov- ernment. And the Rev. Mr. Fulton is a clergyman who was for a considerable time a private in the Rebel army. And the Rev. Mr. Goodrich has been an active and violent secessionist.
All these men refused to take the oath of allegiance, and though the Military Governor of Louisiana, Genl. Shepley, ordered that they should read the service adopted by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, including the prayer for the President of the United States, they have neglected to obey the order, and though warned of the conse- quences of disobeying the order, they have still contumaciously refused to obey it. I think them much more mischievous in this city than they would be as soldiers in arms in the Confed- erate Service. And I send them to Fort Lafayette, so that they will at least be out of mischief during the remainder of the war.
The only excuse they have to make to me in personal exami- nation is that the Diocesan Bishop, I believe the Right Rev. Warrior Bishop Gen. Polk, has prescribed a different form of service, and that they are therefore canonically obliged to dis- obey the orders of the authorities here.
Any other information about this, if desired by the Depart- ment, will be forwarded if directed. I have the honor to be,
Very respy., Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 25, 1862
To the United States Marshal in NEW YORK
CAPTAIN PUFFER of my staff is directed to deliver into your hands three clergymen, Rev. Dr. Leacock, Rev. Mr. Fulton, and Rev. Mr. Goodrich, secessionists, rebels, and enemies of the United States.
I have reported these cases to the Secretary of War, and
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 409
you will retain them subject to orders of the War Department. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Your obedient servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commanding
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 25, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 85
THE Commanding General has examined the doings of the Court Martial whereof Major Peck was President, with care. While there seems to have been a good degree of discrimination in weighing the evidence, and the proceedings are reasonably regular, yet it is apparent that the Court, in the sentences and punishments, were entirely regardless of their duty. Offenses that should have been punished with death, or the severest prison discipline for life, have been given the farcical punish- ment of two or three months' confinement and a small fine. Sleeping on post by a sentinel in face of an enemy, an offense justly punishable with death, as the safety of a whole army may depend on his vigilance, is punished by "three weeks' confinement in a guard tent." Going to sleep in his quarters by an officer of the guard is punished by loss of one month's pay and a reprimand from the Commander of the post, and this officer recommended to the mercy of the Commanding General because of his ignorance. Striking and violent abuse of an officer by a soldier has had a short term of imprisonment and a small fine, less than would have been given by a civil court for an ordinary assault and battery. Perhaps this may be accounted for by the fact that the members of the Court knew exactly how much a man ought to be punished if he abused one of them. Other officers, of a different and proper appreciation of their own position and merit, would have come to a different conclusion.
The sentences of the Court, as a rule, are a disgrace to every officer composing it. The Court Martial of which Major Frank H. Peck is President, is dissolved.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. %6th, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: A vessel goes out this afternoon; no more for a week. The weather is quite cold; we have fires all over
410 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the house. Yesterday Mr. Butler and I dined with four of the Staff who are keeping Bachelors' Hall. They gave us a very nice dinner, and on the whole it was quite pleasant. We expect Fisher soon as he receives news that he is to come. The articles sent home, including Mrs. Read's ring, were bought of a Jew Broker, and cost twelve hundred dollars, bought just as you would buy them of a broker in Boston, Mrs. Butler's silver at the same place. This I write only be- cause we had spoken of it, and I thought you might like to know. Of course, you would make it no subject of conversa- tion to anyone else. Maria has gone into a very fine house, Harry has left us and gone to her. The things that Mr. Butler sent for in his letter to me, get together if you can and send by Fisher. If there is room in the trunk, put in the box that contains my muff and mufties. It will be cold enough for furs. I should like well enough a few yards of bright ribbon to give to the servants, or a gay handkerchief to tie over their heads, but you need not trouble much about it. I cannot write you much to interest today, for I seem to have my head more than full about matters, that I will write to you of when I get them arranged. You have the steam on by this time. I hope you are all well, and that you will manage to make it cheerful and pleasant. I shall be glad to hear how Lote's affairs progress. Fisher was better pleased with it than he would have been with the other, of the same name, though he says he knows nothing about this man. But he is a pleasant person, and I hope for Lote's sake it will be all right. I hope you have already written, and that I shall get a letter in the
course of a week. v „ ,. . c
1 our affectionate DISTER
From General Butler
Head Qrs. Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 27, 1862
Maj. Gen. HALLECK, Going in Chief
GENERAL: In my despatch of — inst., I have the honor to report to the Commanding Genl. the departure of an expedi- tion under Brig. Genl. Weitzel into that part of Louisiana which lies west of the Mississippi river. I enclose Genl. Weitzel's despatch, showing his operation so far.
This is sent by hand of Capt. Puffer, of my staff, by whom I also forward a map of that part of Louisiana, which, though not strictly accurate, will give you a very good idea of the country through which operations are being made. I have
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 411
explained to him verbally the proposed action of the expedi- tion, and, if you desire, by the aid of the map he may make it clearer than I can by writing. I trust you may find him a gentleman of such intelligence as to make clear the difficulty to be encountered, and the necessity [to] the expedition for light-draught steamers for the numerous bayous.
I hope that on Tuesday morning, the 28th inst., some of these steamers, two of them iron-clad as far as boilers are con- cerned, will be in Brashier City. We have opened the railroad as far as the point marked Bouttee station. The enemy have a force at this point where the Bayou Des Allemands is crossed by the railroad. I have the honor to be,
Very respy., Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Head Qrs. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 27, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. ST ANTON, Sec'y of War
SIR: While Brig. Gen. Neal Dow was in command at Fort St. Philip he took great pains and evinced much zeal in rais- ing the chain, which was used by the Confederates to prevent our passing the forts.
He succeeded in raising a number of fathoms, of the value of $4,000 or $5,000, which has been received by the Quarter Master here. For this he makes a claim for salvage as appears by his letter, a copy of which is enclosed.
I incline to the opinion that salvage cannot be allowed in such case, as the services of the officer belongs to the United States. But not wishing to prejudice the case of an officer so high in command, so earnestly made, I have forwarded it to the War Department that it may be passed upon there. I have the honor to be,
Very respy., Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
Enclosures referred to Foregoing Letter
Head Qrs. District of PENSACOLA, Oct. 10&, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Geo. C. Strong, A. A. G.
MAJOR: While I was in command at Fort St. Philip, I took a good deal of pains and devoted personal attention to recov- ering the great chain with which the rebels obstructed the
412 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
river. I succeeded in recovering about forty tons, worth some $4,000 or $5,000. I sent them to New Orleans, where they are now. Will you be so kind as to call Gen'l Butler's attention to the matter. I thought I should be justly entitled to salvage, and I leave the matter entirely to him, promising to be con- tented with whatever he shall think right about it. But I hope that he may give order that I shall have salvage, of such a percentage as he may think proper.
Very respy., NEAL Dow
Head Qrs. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 10, 1862 £Not in chronological order]
Brig. Gen. NEAL Dow, Commanding U. S. Forces at
PENSACOLA, FLA.
GENERAL: I am directed by the Major Genl. Commanding to acknowledge the recpt. of your letter of Oct. 10th, in rela- tion to the recovery of a chain cable at Fort St. Philip, and to acknowledge that the part recovered has been received at New Orleans. The Genl. acknowledges your personal atten- tion and zeal in recovering, but is inclined to the opinion that no allowance for salvage can be made, as the recovery was but your duty to the United States. However, not wishing to prejudge your claim, he has forwarded it to Washington with a copy of this note. I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully Your obdt. servt.,
FRED MARTIN, Lt. & A. D. C.
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase 1
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, October 27th, 1862
DEAR SIR: Gen. Weitzel left here three days ago, with five Regiments Infantry, four companies cavalry, and two batteries. Their destination was Donaldsonville, about seventy miles up the River, where the Rebels were posted in force. I have just learned from a Captain of a transport, who has returned from there, that the landing was effected successfully. Considerable skirmishing took place, when the Rebels retreated, leaving a few killed and wounded, and also leaving two hundred prisoners in our hands, who were paroled and released. The rebels retreated to Napoleon ville — (south of Donaldsonville), where it is supposed they will make a stand. The 1st (colored) Regiment and 8th Vermont left here yesterday, marching in
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 327.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 413
a direction nearly due west. Two days ago, gunboats started for Berwick's Bay, to take possession there. All these move- ments are parts of one and the same plan. I informed you many days ago of the departure of a portion of the fleet to attack and capture Galveston. They accomplished the object without loss. Gen. Butler will soon send a Regiment to occupy the town and Island.
Seventy-three refugees from Texas have just arrived here from Matamoras, about one-third of whom are Germans — the remainder Americans. At my request, Gen. Butler is organizing them into a company for Govt. military service. Judge Davis, from Texas, is now here, and will receive author- ity to enlist and organize a full Texas Regiment. There will be no difficulty about this, as besides the company here three or four companies can be raised in Galveston. There are hundreds of refugees in the vicinity of Matamoras anxious to join the army, for whom Gen. Butler will send a steamer. You saw Judge Davis in Washington. He is well and favor- ably known in Texas.
Everything appears to be going on well.
Your regulations of Aug. 28th throw upon me great labor and responsibility. I have informed you of my action and opinions in the matter, and would like to know if I have made any mistake.
I know of but one fault to be found with Gen. Butler. He has (in my opinion) been altogether too willing to permit his friends to make fortunes.
I hope you have completely recovered from your illness, of which mention was made in the New York papers.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 28//1, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Blockade
Squadron
MY DEAR SIR: I am always disinclined to make complaint of the action of any officer, especially one of your squadron, but I think I must submit to you the enclosed report and correspondence, because it is right that the Quarter Master at Ship Island, Lt. Ring, should have some voucher so that he may not be at the personal loss of the value of the cattle mentioned.
414 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Upon request, Captain Guest should have had the cattle; but I don't think that upon reflection Capt. Guest would desire that the Qr. Master should be at the personal loss, as he must be if no receipt is furnished. I have the honor to be,
Your respl. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
Office Chief Commissary of Subsistence, DepL of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
To Major Gen. BUTLER, Com'g Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose herewith the cer- tificate of Lt. Aaron Ring, 13th Me. Vols., setting forth the facts of the seizure of six beef cattle, for which he was respon- sible, by Capt. Guest, U.S.N., of the U.S.S. "Owasco," and a letter of Capt. Guest in reply when called upon for receipt of the cattle.
These cattle were sent to Ship Island by my direction, being obtained at considerable expense, and sent over there with much trouble and labor for the use of troops stationed in that island.
The extenuation offered by Capt. Guest, that he thought them wild cattle, appears ridiculous in the face of the fact that some 13,000 troops occupied the Island for three or four months, and were for most of the time suffering for the want of fresh beef; moreover, it is not likely that expeditions would have been sent off, as was done, to visit neighboring islands for the very purpose of procuring cattle for the troops, not wild cattle but animals left there to graze, when beef cattle were roaming around on Ship Island. That the cattle were not in the lines of the command is very probable. The grazing on Ship Island at best is very scarce, and to have kept them within the limited lines of the two companies would have been to have kept them to starve; and what dangers were there to appre- hend when our own naval vessels were in the vicinity for the protection of public property?
It is a fact that we are feeding negroes and vagabond males and females who misbehave in New Orleans ; why we are doing so is not for me, a subordinate officer, to question. It is done, though, with a due accountability for every thing so expended, and I do not understand why this is a warrant for the forcible seizure of public property by Capt. Guest to hand over to persons in no manner connected with either Army or Navy. A
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 415
distressed condition of his own case might justify him in the taking of public property in this, manner, but to be accounted for afterwards to the responsible officer.
It appears to be a wanton act when Capt. Guest admits that his own crew did not want it, nor get any of it, and when called upon for the proper receipts tells the public officer who is responsible to his Government for that property, that he may charge it to "profit and loss."
I submit this to you, seeking redress for Lt. Ring and exemp- tion if possible from having stores, gathered at no small pains and labor for the use of your army, thus forcibly taken and used for no purpose connected with the operations of this
command. I am, rr Tr L JA .
Very respy., i our obdt. servant,
JNO. W. TURNER, Col. & Chief Commissioner, Dept. of the Gulf
U.S.S. OWASCO, SHIP ISLAND, Ytth Sept , 1862 [Not in chronological order]
HENRY RUST, Col. Comg. Post at Ship Island
DEAR SIR: I have just received your letter of this day making an inquiry of me in reference to some beef cattle killed by my crew on the eastern end of this island. It is true that a boat's-crew from this vessel did kill six beef cattle on the upper end of Ship Island one day last week.
I am not sure they killed cattle belonging to the Army, as I have been told there are or were a number of wild cattle on the island, and if they did belong to the Army, my men did not know it. The facts in the case are these: Capt. Wood- worth of the "Jackson" brought some sheep here from Pen- sacola for the use of our vessels. The sheep escaped from the pen, and when my men went in quest of them, were stopped by your pickets.
I was therefore obliged to get under-way and to land my men outside of your lines. I told them to look for the sheep, and kill as many as they could, as I considered them lost. They saw the sheep but could shoot none. They saw cattle and killed six.
You will permit me to observe that if all the cattle of the island belong to your Qr. Master's Dept. he has no security for them whatever, as any one may land and take them away without his knowledge, and being so far beyond your lines and control my men very naturally concluded them to be wild, especially as they were seen with the lost sheep.
416 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
As the Supply Steamer was here at the time, my people did not require the beef, so I distributed it among the mer- chant ships whose crews have no chance to get fresh beef.
I had the pleasure, dear Col., of sending you a quarter of beef, little thinking I might be giving you your own. I hope, however, you found it very tender. As the United States is now feeding every negro that chooses to come to us, and all the vagabonds male and female who misbehave in New Orleans, you perhaps agree with me that the lucky accident which gave a hearty meal to the loyal crews of our merchantmen is not to be regretted.
The Quarter Master will have to charge the beef to "profit & loss," especially the latter. In future I shall confine my riflemen to mutton, when they land on Ship Island, lest they might by chance find an Army beef amongst the wild cattle.
I am, dear sir, rr ^7 7 7j
V ery respy., Your obdt. servant,
JOHN GUEST, Comdr. 9 U. S. N. From Rear Admiral Farragut
Flag Ship HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Nov. 6, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER
SIR: Your communication in relation to the Beeves killed at Ship Island by order of Lieut. Comdr. Guest was received, and I called on that Officer for an explanation of the same, but his letter to me is nothing but a repetition of the one to the Comd'g officer at Ship Island, viz: that he did not know that they belonged to the Army, and therefore directed the pay- master not to receipt for them. But he has gone home under orders of the Dept., and as he acknowledges to have killed the Beeves, and given the Beef away, I will give the Quarter- master a certificate of the same.
Very respectfully, Your obt. Servt.,
D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, October 28, 1862
lion. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
StR: I have the honor to enclose to you a translation of a letter from one Labitat. I think it is one requiring some investigation. It is evident to me, these Arms being in Havana, that if we do not get them the Rebels will.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 417
Therefore I have written the enclosed answer, which will at least give me time to hear from the War Department. I will either undertake to have the matter investigated and a contract made, if authorized, or I will afford every facility to any gentleman of the Ordnance Department who may be sent here for that purpose. I can communicate almost weekly with Havana. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Your Obedt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
TRANSLATION. HAVANA, Oct. %lst, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
I HAVE by mistake put a letter in the mail of the steamer "Roanoke," for New York, to your address, in which I made you a certain proposition, therefore to repair my error I hereby address you this letter. I suppose you will receive the other some time later.
I informed you, General, that I can furnish you with ammu- nition of war. I have $80,000 in muskets, also rifles, with sword bayonets. If you wish anything, you may give me an order which will be filled at once. I shall require a credit on London or France for the amount. Those muskets will come to $23, to be delivered at any port in the United States you may direct. I should prefer if you answer my letter in the French language.
I understand the business, having been an officer in the French army, and have furnished the French army with arms also. I am a nephew of Gen'l. Labitat. Hoping to hear from
you soon, I remain, T. ^, . 0 , T T
J Your Obt. Svt., JNO. LABITAT
Cotton will do as well as specie in exchange. From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 28, 1862
M. LABITAT, HAVANA
SIR: I would be glad of your muskets and rifles provided they are of such quality as would suit my soldiers. The price seems quite high, but I suppose that would not be so material an objection as want of good quality. Will you have the kindness to send me by the first steamer from Havana a sample of each gun, and a contract saying what number of each you
VOL. II — 27
418 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
will deliver at this port, and the price, the arms to be in per- fect order and equal to sample. I shall then have a basis upon which I may close the contract.
It would be preferable to pay for the arms in exchange on
Paris. I am, Sir, ^ , j. 0 ^
Y our obdt. servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From R. W. Shufeldt
U.S Consulate General, HAVANA, October 28^, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding 17. S. Forces Gulf Dept, &c.
SIR: It has been the subject of complaint on the part of parties interested in vessels visiting the Port of New Orleans — under the Spanish flag — that they have been submitted to quarantine & other restrictions not placed upon vessels — coming from the port of Cuba — under the Am. flag.
I am indisposed to believe that any such partiality has been shown, altho' it has frequently been here made the theme of the press, and the topic of conversation, — at the instance, therefore, of a highly-respectable merchant of this city, the owner of the steamer "Pajaro del Oceano," about to be dis- patched to N. O., I take the liberty of calling your attention to the subject, remarking, as I can from personal knowledge, that our steam packets have always been received in the ports of Cuba with uniform liberality, and that even during the past years our men-of-war and our merchant vessels have received a courtesy and a protection for which we have looked in vain from other nations than Spain, from whom we thought we had a better right to expect it.
Believing that you are as anxious as I am to cultivate the little friendly feeling we find abroad in our present crisis, I am sure that any cause of complaint which may reach you from the Master of the above steamer or any other Spanish vessel will receive your favorable consideration.
In view of the great importance of maintaining the health of N. O., I do not venture to make any suggestions in regard to the quarantine regulations of that Port. I can only say that the Health authorities of Havana are now issuing clean bills of health, about which they are exceedingly careful, & I believe Havana to be as free from epidemic as it ever is in any season of the year. I have the honor to be with great respect, Your Obedt. Servant, R. W. SHUFELDT, Consul Genl.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 419
From General Butler
Headquarters DepL, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 28, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the enclosed extracts translated from the Diario of Havana, in confirmation of my reports in regard to Spanish vessels of war transporting passengers; also the fact that the Spanish War Steamer "Blasco de Garay" has taken from this port over a million dollars in specie. It will be seen that while I am forbidding their leaving the city without passes, the Spanish men-of-war are taking away both. I desire instructions whether this is a breach of national courtesy and hospitality; and I should allow no Spanish vessel of war to come above the Forts until I receive instructions from the Department. I have the honor
e' Very respectfully, Your obt. servt.
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
THE Prensa of the 15th announces the arrival of the "Mari- galanti" from New Orleans, with over 200 passengers (refugees) and Government tobacco.
The Diario of the 16th, noticing the arrival of the refugees in the "Marigalanti," remarks, "It is a satisfaction to us to think that circumstances have made the Spanish Flag the first to give aid and shelter to the citizens of Louisiana, while they have been suffering from the calamities which accompany civil war."
The Diario closes by the remark that the emigration from New Orleans, which it hopes will augment, will doubtless be very beneficial to the interior of the "ever faithful Isle," and that the authorities of the island seem to so regard it, as they afford all needful protection to those that seek their aid.
The Prensa of the 17th announces that the Spanish Frigate "Cortes" has left St. lago de Cuba for Porte au Prince, where it was reported that she would remain fifteen days. The Prensa has no knowledge of the object of her visit.
The Prensa, mentioning the arrival of the Spanish War Steamship "Blasco de Garay" from New Orleans, says she had on board over a million of dollars in gold, entrusted to her Commander, and that the money has been deposited in the various banks of Havana. The Prensa understands that the Command, of the "Blasco de Garay" declined to receive the
420 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
usual percentage allowed for the transportation of specie in war vessels, and that the emigrants from this city by that vessel, in testimony of their gratitude to Don Manuel Herera, the Comd., for his generous conduct, have tendered him a public dinner.
From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 29, 1862
Hon. E. M. STANTON Secy of War
SIR: I have the honor to enclose the report of my Medical Director and the Surgeon of the Quarantine Station in regard to the action of Mr. Pierce, Consul at Matamoras, who it would seem needs some instructions in the way of his duty. He gives clean bills of health when epidemic is raging.
We have thus far succeeded, in the Providence of God, by the most strenuous exertions in keeping all pestilence away from the city, and the enclosed communications will give some idea of the difficulties under which we labor. I have
the honor to be, T/ ^ 7 7 , .
Very respy. Your obdt. servant
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. General Commanding Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
Consulate of the U S. of America at MATAMORAS, Oct. 3, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
I, CONSUL of the United States of America for the port of Matamoras, Mexico, do hereby certify that the schooner called the "Planet/' of Nassau, N.P., of the registered burden of seventy-six tons, whereof J, Chander is master, navigated by six men and having on board twenty -five passengers, being in all thirty-two are persons on board cleared this day from this port for New Orleans. I hereby further certify that in this port and vicinity and among the shipping thereof good health prevails without suspicion of plague, yellow fever, or any con- tagious or pestilential disease whatever, in either an epidemic or sporadic form, and that no disease has existed either in the place or among the shipping for the past . . . weeks or months.
Given under my hand and seal of this Consular office, the day and year above written.
L. PIERCE, JR., U. S. Consul
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 421
Medical Director's Office, Head Qls. Dept of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25<A, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, U. S. Army, Comdg. Dept. of Gulf
GENERAL: I herewith enclose to you the bill of health for the schooner "Planet" from Matamoras, Mexico, and a copy of the letter of Dr. J. A. G. Fisher, the Quarantine physician at the station below New Orleans, dated October 20th, 1862, giving statements of some of the passengers of the schooner "Planet."
On the 16th September, 1862, the Mexican schooner "lical- tipec" arrived from Matamoras, Mexico, having a clean bill of health from the U. S. Consul at that port. The schooner had on board six U.S. soldiers — escaped prisoners from the rebels. On the 21st of September, Dr. Fisher reported that Pat C. Spark of the 8th Infy., who came as a passenger on the "licaltipec," was taken sick with yellow fever, and on the 27th September Dr. Fisher reports that this man had died the previous day (the 26th Sept.), black vomit having set in, thus proving to be an unmistakable case of yellow fever, — still this vessel had a clean bill of health.
Again, on the 16th October, 1862, the schooner "Planet" arrived here from Matamoras, having enclosed a clean bill of health from Mr. L. Pierce, Jr., the U. S. Consul at that port, although this vessel had 93 passengers on board from Texas, who stated to Dr. Fisher that yellow fever in an epidemic form existed at Brownsville at the time of their departure.
This has been the second case of a vessel arriving from Matamoras with a clean bill of health from Mr. L. Pierce, Jr., the U. S. Consul, while it is a well-known fact that a severe epidemic of yellow fever existed during this season along the whole coast of Texas and Mexico.
Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant,
CHARLES McCoRMiCK, Medical Director, Dept. of the Gulf
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, October 29*/i, 1862
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit to you the enclosed Copy of a communication addressed to this Department by the Consul General of Switzerland, with the request that you will report the facts in relation to the alleged sequestration of 22 Hogsheads of Sugar, claimed to be the
422 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
property of Messrs. Steiner & Marioni, citizens of Switzerland, resident at New Orleans.
Very respectfully, Your obedt. Servant,
P. H. WATSON, AssL Secretary of War
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Wo?;. Z5th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: The sugar mentioned in your communication of October 29th, having been found in one of the bonded ware- houses of the supposed Confederate Government, was held by the Custom House Officers until investigation could be made, as will be seen by the enclosed report. It was long since returned. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
November 26th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
General BUTLER
GENERAL: The Collector reports to me this sugar was returned to this firm some time since, it having been in one of the bonded warehouses, and for a time held by the Custom House authorities. It was never sequestered.
Respectfully, J. H. FRENCH, Provost Marshal General
From Honorable S. P. Chase
Treasury Department, Oct. 29^, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: The sincerest interest in you prompts this letter. You have done so much and so well, and have been personally so just in your action and expressions towards myself, that I cannot endure the thoughts of your suffering in the present poor opinion as well as in the esteem of the govern- ment through the imputed faults of others.
So many and seemingly such well-founded charges against your brother, Col. Butler, have reached me and other mem- bers of the administration, as well as the President, that I feel bound to say to you that in my judgment you owe it to your- self riot to be responsible, even by toleration, for what he does. Many do not scruple to express their conviction that
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 428
you and some other of your officers are concerned in his specu- lations. Mr. Denison alone of all who have written from New Orleans has repelled the idea of your participation, and even his faith, though he expresses the greatest admiration and regard for you, seems to be shaken in this respect.
I do not presume to suggest any line of action to you. Your own good sense will advise you better than I can.
It is said that Col. Butler's gains amount to between one and two millions of dollars.
Mr. Denison's last letter transmits two permits, one from yourself and one from Gov. Shepley, for trade with the enemy, or rather within the rebel lines. This is expressly forbidden by act of Congress as well as by Regulation. I am glad to have his assurance that no more such permits will be granted. All intercourse across the lines should be confined to military purposes.
I shall look anxiously and hopefully to the result of your expedition up the river. I hope it may add a new laurel to your crown, as well as prove of essential service to our cause. Mr. Denison gives the most interesting and promising accounts of your colored regiment experiment. The only error is that the experiment is begun too late. Long ago we should have received every recruit willing to take arms for the Union in the rebel states, whether black or white, putting them in proper organization, and save as far as possible our labor in the loyal states. The drain in consequence of the neglect of this simple device of prudence upon our labor, and especially our unskilled labor, is frightful. This alone will account for augmented prices of all articles produced by labor.
Yours cordially and faithfully, S. P. CHASE
From General Butler to Salmon P. Chase
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November \±tht 1862
[Not in chronological order]
MY DEAR SIR: Your kind and welcome note was received with mingled emotions of pleasure and pain — pleasure from the friendship which so conspicuously shows through every line, and pain that you, a friend, should think I would permit the wrongs which you sketch to be done not only with my knowledge, but with my sanction. My brother has been in- deed engaged in commercial adventure in New Orleans, and has been successful. I know and cannot be mistaken that he
424 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
has been no more successful than many others. I believe that every transaction has been legitimate mercantile opera- tions. I have aided him in no way officially. On the con- trary, I have avoided it, and have aided him far less than I have strangers, so far as all matters of official action were concerned. I have aided him to capital and credit by the use of my name at the North, and drawing on my bankers where I had some means before this war, but very little now. I have aided him in no other way. I believe this is a legitimate course toward a brother. I have not heard, nor do I believe, that he has done anything which in any way interferes with the Army of the Gulf or with the department. Certain it is that he has supplied the army with nothing or bought anything from it that was not sold at public auction.
That his acts have been misrepresented is most true, and in nothing more than in the extent of his transactions, — you say you have heard his profits were two millions !!. Why he shew me his balance sheet the 1st of October, and his entire transactions were only rising eight hundred thousand dollars, a large portion of which was in buying sugar here at nearly the same price it sold for in New York, sometimes higher, and depending upon the difference of exchange 12 or 15 per cent for his profits.
How much he has been able to gain you will conjecture. I have not asked him, nor do I believe he knows. That he most carefully bought for the Government, to send home under my direction, some sixty thousand dollars worth of sugar and naval stores, upon which the Government doubled the money, and in payment of which my drafts were suffered to go to pro- test, is most true, but for that he has never yet received one cent. I asked him to ballast some Government transports, which would otherwise have to go to Ship Island for sand, and the Quartermaster at Boston repudiated his contracts, although thousands of dollars were saved to the Government. A loss was thrown on him by the repudiation, and his name brought into disrepute by the action of Quartermaster's Department.
These are all the acts he has ever done for the Government, and these are the results. I have determined, however, that no appearance of evil shall exist to rob me of the fair earnings of a devotion of life and fortune to the service of my country. I have therefore asked Col. Butler to close up his business and go away from New Orleans, so as to leave me entirely untram- melled to deal with the infernal brood of slandering speculators
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 425
who have maligned me because I will not allow them to plunder the Government.
I would desire that every high officer of my command, every quartermaster, commissary, Gov. Shepley, General Weitzel, Sherman, or other officers, might be interrogated as to any act of Col. Butler in his business, and I am willing he should abide the result of the answer.
I have managed the affairs of this department as I would have done my own, and that I have been successful before I entered the service of the country in accumulating a compe- tency for myself is the best guarantee that I know how to manage my own affairs, and I point with a just pride to the records of the commissary, quartermaster's, and treasury for the justification of my administration — less by more than ten dollars to one as compared with the Port Royal expedition, which was just about the same size. And much less than any other expedition of the equal size.
Besides, I have fed more than thirty thousand whites and ten thousand blacks for more than five months, and have put into the Treasury of the United States more than three quarters of a million of dollars.
I have a right to say this to a friend, and take the privilege to do so. As to the matter of the passes of merchandise to get cotton, I have fully informed the department upon that subject. It was brought to the notice of the State Department and approved, and submitted to Hon. Reverdy Johnson at the time, and approved by him, and this was the only evidence I had it was wrong until I got your note.
Certain it is that by allowing some provisions to go across the lake to the starving people there, we have caused an insur- rection at Jackson, Mississippi, against the Confederate Gov- ernment, because they would not allow the cotton to go out to pay for them. Upon examination of the " regulations of the Treasury," however, the most stringent rules in conformity therewith were adopted.
My experiment of arming the free negroes is succeeding admirably. Two regiments are already doing service in the field in guarding the Opelousas Railroad, and are doing it as well as any soldiers can. That they will fight I do not doubt. I am much in need of reinforcements — not to hold this place, but to do anything with service to the country. I can take Mobile if I have 10,000 men to do it with, aye, I will try with seven. I have now scarcely 10 thousand effective
426 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
men in the department, and I could not have moved as I have were it not for my negro recruits.
You will find enclosed the order, No. 91, that I have issued in regard to the property in the Lafourche county. I will get a million of dollars worth of property, at least, for the Government, if some commissioner is not sent down here to give it up. Mr. Johnson's visit here cost the Government $405,000 in gold, which has been since sent out to pay for army clothing for the Rebels. It is all told in my despatches to the War Department. Do pray send me some men. I will take Texas if you will send any men. I have not 2000 now in the city of New Orleans, nor five within striking distance.
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. \Mh, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
DEAR SIR: Four days ago General Butler showed me the letter he had just received from you, concerning the specula- tions of Col. Butler, and trade with the enemy. In my opin- ion it was the right method of effecting a desirable object. The General pleased to talk to me confidentially. He says that his brother's gains have been less than Two Hundred Thousand — that he has done only a legitimate business — that without being interested he assisted his brother at first with his (the GenTs) credit — and that Col. Butler will close his business as quickly as possible and go home. He also said that some of his officers had engaged in speculations, but only in a proper manner.
For one thing Col. Butler deserves credit. Many sugar plantations were abandoned. Col. B. bought the standing crop of a large plantation for $25,000, hired negroes at a fair rate per day — and will make a thousand hogsheads of sugar this year from this one plantation. I say he deserves credit, as being the first man bold and enterprising enough to under- take the raising of a large crop of sugar by free labor — which, a little while ago, was slave labor — in opposition to the South- ern idea, long established, that Sugar and Cotton can be suc- cessfully raised only by compulsory labor. I lately visited this plantation, which is a few miles below the city, and never saw negroes work with more energy and industry. This single experiment refutes theories which Southern leaders have labored, for years, to establish. The crops of four or five
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 329.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 427
other plantations down the river, and some above the city, were subsequently purchased by other persons, and are con- ducted with the same success. The abolition of Slavery, by whatever means accomplished, instead of destroying will increase and invigorate labor.
I think there will not again be any ground of complaint against Gen. Butler for his toleration of speculators. Nothing objectionable has been permitted since the receipt of your regulations of August 28th. He is a man not to be spared from the country's service. I suppose he was a pro-slavery man before the war, but he has since become the opposite. And nearly all real Union men from the South are Anti-Slavery, of whom Hon. A. J. Hamilton is a good representative.
The expedition to the Lafourche has been entirely successful. The whole country from here to Berwick's Bay, and up as far as Donaldsonville, is in our possession. There was a short, sharp fight, and the undertaking was accomplished. Gen. Butler's gun-boats did not reach Berwick in time to cut off the retreat, — having got aground on the bar, — and so the greater part of the enemy escaped.
These gunboats are four. Gen. Butler made three of them out of old river boats — iron plated them with plating designed for rebel gunboats, and, drawing but little water, they are of great service.
The inhabitants of Lafourche are thoroughly subjugated, and express a desire for peace on any terms. They take the oath of allegiance voluntarily. The negroes everywhere flocked to the army, as to their deliverers, and many of the plantations were entirely deserted. Gen. Butler says they are free forever, but he has ordered them (I understand) back to their planta- tions to work there for proper compensation. This is the only method of providing for them at present. The situation of this country (Lafourche) is such that it is not probable the rebels will ever regain it. It is much to be regretted that Gen. B. has not more troops here. With 25,000 more, he could accomplish great things. If the enemy is attacked from the South, he will no longer think of invading Kentucky and Missouri, but turn southward to protect the Gulf states.
The two colored regiments guard the railroad from here to Berwick. They have done well, and accomplished all that has been given them to do. About one year ago, the colored Regt. was ordered out to escort the Yankee prisoners through the city, though the order was subsequently countermanded.
428 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
A few days ago, a company of the same Reg't. marched into the city, having under guard about twenty guerillas, whom they had captured. It seemed a just retribution.
The company officers of this first Reg't. are educated men, and each speaks at least two languages. Gen. B. will soon give his colored troops a chance to show themselves. He designs attacking Port Hudson, a strong position on the river.
The third colored Reg't. is full, and will soon be in the field. I urged upon General B. the propriety of arming all the able- bodied negroes in Lafourche, for they would willingly consent to it. He is undoubtedly in favor of it, but has not arms. He has collected in the city smooth-bore muskets enough for three more Reg'ts., but his supply will then be exhausted. This will be six colored Regiments. I fear the Government will not act decidedly, as to the army of negroes, until the rebels take the wind out of our sails by arming them for the Rebel side.
The Rebels have found a new supply of salt. It is on an Island formed by a bayou, half way between Vermilion Bay and New Iberia, which island is called Petit Anse on the map I sent you. It is forty or fifty miles west of Berwick, and about ten miles inland, but the Bayou is navigable for Gun- boats. The supply of salt is large, and wagons are hauling it to Mississippi and Alabama. Gen. Bulter will take measures to destroy the works at once — or as soon as possible.
Texas refugees have, at different times, reached this city. I proposed to Gen. Butler that a Texas Reg't. of mounted rifles be organized, at the same time suggesting the method of doing it. He adopted the plan. Judge Davis, of Corpus Christi, is selected as Col., and Mr. Stancel (Inspector in this Custom House) as Lieut. Col. The first company is mustered in, — composed entirely of refugees, — and two more are started. They will go to Galveston, where many persons will join — and a steamship will be sent to Rio Grande, to bring off the refugees who are at, or near, Matamoras. A full regi- ment can easily be raised. Perhaps the news rec'd. here of the expedition to Texas under Gen. Banks, will interfere with the plan, but I hope not.
The whole country west of the Mississippi can be subjugated in one campaign. Should this be accomplished, the Southern Confederacy would never be formidable, in case of its inde- pendence being established by foreign interference, or by other means. (GEORGE S. DENISON)
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 429
By General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. SOffc, 1862
Col. THOMAS
SIR: You will take every means to open communication between Bouttee Station, Thibodeaux, & Bayou des Alle- mands by telegraph. Lieut. Smith goes out for this purpose. Be sure and get communication between yourself and me at once, and report frequently, push on with all vigor to make a junction with Gen'L Weitzel, leaving a sufficient working party at the bridge with Col. Stafford . I shall send forward the Companies of his regiment now employed in guarding the road, and supply their places with the 2nd Regt. Native Guards (colored). I have no report from you as to the condition of the bridge at Des Allemands. Send to me for whatever you want, but send a report how long you are to be in repairing the bridge. What is the condition of the road between Des Allemands and Lafourche? General Weitzel will desire you to hold Thibodeaux, and therefore I am pressing forward Col. Stafford. I desire to impress upon you once more the necessity of the most energetic measures in repairing that bridge, and the thing that will do most for it will be in opening the telegraphic communication with me, so that I can send forward workmen and supplies if necessary. Every- thing is quiet here, and no news from the North. I have
the honor to be T7 ,- 7J TZ , ,. ,
very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
By command of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 30, 1862
Brig. Gen. WEITZEL, Com'g Reserve Corps, THIBODEAUX, LA.
GENERAL: I have received your report of the 28 & 29th inst., the last enclosing a list of killed and wounded. I cannot speak too highly of the admirable conduct of your troops, and your own brilliant success in the expedition.
I have pushed forward the opening of the road as vigor- ously as possible. Col. Stafford left Wednesday afternoon, with timber sufficient, as he said, to repair the bridge at Bayou des Allemands, and he assured me that he would be able to do it in two days or three at the outside. I have directed Col. Thomas by the same messenger to push forward the bulk of
430 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
his regiment as fast as he can repair the track, and to join you at Thibodeaux. Your requisition shall be filled and for- warded at the earliest possible moment.
Buchanan was to have made his attack on Tuesday at Berwicks, with what success of course I cannot say as yet. We were delayed three days by a most terrific storm which disabled the "Diana," but I have got her in working order, and she has gone round.
I have ordered over the Second Native Guards (colored), who will hold the road while Stafford pushes on to Thibodeaux. I sympathize with you in the matter of the negroes. By the Act of Congress they are clearly free, still you must not encumber yourself with them. Make them stop at Thibo- deaux, from whence, when we get cars running, we can transport them to Algiers if necessary. If they pillage, of course we cannot help it. It is one of the necessary evils fol- lowing this system of labor, and the rebellion, as far as I can see.
Everything is quiet here. We have had no arrivals from the north. Through secret channels we learn that Bragg has evacuated Kentucky. The elections in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana have been in favor of the Democracy, so secesh reports; but with this we have nothing to do, as I suppose it will not affect the prosecution of the war.
Push in to Brashier City as soon as possible, to be able to act in conjunction with Buchanan. I have a despatch from Col. Holcomb at Donaldsonville. He reports everything quiet there. The "Essex" has gone up there.
Very respy. Your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding By WM. S. G. GREENE, Lt. Q. A. D. C.
From Rear-Admiral Reynaud
TRANSLATION. Naval Division of the Gulf and North America. Office of the Admiral.
NEW ORLEANS, October 31st, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding at NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge reception of the passes which you sent me, and am obliged to you.
I have received also your gracious letter which enclosed them, and I regret much that I have to decline your amia- ble proposition, as I cannot accept the invitation of Mr. Butler until I have the honor to receive the visit of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 431
General Commanding. I have the honor, General, to be with
' Your most obedt. Servant, REYNAUD
The Contre Admiral, commanding in chief the naval division of the Gulf and North America
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. oj the Oidf, NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 31, 1862
The ADMIRAL Commanding the French Naval Division of the Seas of the Antilles and of South America
MONSIEUR: Will the Admiral honor General Butler by indicating at what hour and at what place it will be his pleasure to receive an official visit from the Major General Command- ing, and allow the General to present to the Admiral the mem- bers of his Staff.
General Butler takes liberty to make his regretful apologies to the Admiral, that the pressure of official business connected with the movements of his troops now in progress has rendered the performance of the duty and pleasure of paying his respects to the Admiral impossible until this moment.
From Rear-Admiral Reynaud,
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, October Slst, 1862
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: In reply to your letter of yesterday evening, and which I received this morning, I shall have the honor, if convenient to you, to receive the General Command'g. on board the "Catinat" this afternoon at 3 o'clock. I am with respect, General, ^ ^ ^^ REYNAUD
The Contre Admiral Commanding Naval Div. of Gulf9 &c. From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 1862
To the Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secy of War
SIR: I have the honor to enclose a copy of correspondence between the French Consul and myself in relation to certain blankets which the necessities of my command require me to have.
The tone of the letter of Count Mejan is insufferable; but I have taken no further notice of it than that shown in my letter. I suppose the matter will be made a subject of cor-
432 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
respondence with the State Department, and I have forwarded this correspondence for information. I have the honor to be,
Very Respy. Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Oct. Slst, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Com'g Army of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I have just been informed that by virtue of an order issued by the Provost Marshal General, Col. French, and approved by you, ten bales of blankets belonging to Messrs. Barriere Bros., French merchants, residing in this city, have been taken away from the custom house, where these goods were stored, without even informing the owners thereof.
This arbitrary act is more than an attempt against the prop- erty of the French citizen, it is flagrant violation of a trust confided to the good faith of the United States under the flag floating over the Custom House, and placed under the pro- tection of the Head of the Custom House Administration.
In the midst of your important occupations the gravity of this fact was without doubt not presented to your mind, and I hope these remarks will be sufficient to induce you to order the restitution of the goods thus illegally seized.
If a violation of a trust is by itself not justifiable, it is the more so by the fact that Messrs. Barriere Bros, have not been advised of what was intended and accomplished.
All the important importers are interested in this question. The commerce cannot exist without security, and how can business in New Orleans, already so dull, take a rise, which was formerly characteristic of this city, if one is exposed to see his goods, confided to the Custom House, seized without notice, without reason, or right. Already Messrs. Barriere have been victims of a seizure in their stores in Canal St., a seizure executed under a promise of early payment, which has been delayed until the time when the war should be over, which delay is admissible, as it might be only the result of a contract between both parties, and Messrs. Barriere are not willing to submit to this.
I beg you therefore, General, to order the restitution of the goods seized from the Depot of the Custom House, and belong- ing to Messrs. Barriere Bros., as well as the immediate pay-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 433
ment of those which have been taken from their store by order, if I am right, of the Surgeon General of the Army. Please accept the assurance of my high consideration.
Count MEJAN, Consul of France
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 1862
Count MEJTAN, Consul of France
SIK: I have your letter of Oct. 31 in regard to the taking by the United States authorities of the blankets of Mr. Barriere & Co. Mr. Barriere has misinformed and misled you by the statement that they were taken without information to him. The Medical Director of the Department had need of the blankets for the sick in Hospital. The sudden appearance of cold weather and the delay of steamers from the North had rendered the supply insufficient.
It became, then, a necessity that blankets should be pro- cured. Mr. Barriere had almost the only blankets of which we knew. The Medical Director called upon him and desired to purchase the blankets. He refused to sell them unless he could be paid money in hand at an exorbitant price. He was informed that the money would soon be paid at fair price. He then peremptorily refused to sell. Therefore, yielding to the inexorable law of necessity, I directed the blankets to be taken for the purpose indicated for military purposes, and should have done the same thing had they belonged to the most loyal citizen of the United States.
I know of no treaty or obligation of national courtesy that requires the French citizen to be put, in time of war at least, upon any better or different footing than the citizen of the Government in which he finds himself, in regard to matters of trade, commerce, and property. I do not now advert to rules which may govern military service. A receipt was given Messrs. Barriere & Bros, for the blankets as soon as an account of them could be taken, in form given to loyal citizens of the United States, as a voucher by the Gov't. and in the usual course of business. I would have directed a payment to be made to him at the earliest possible moment. But I am now hindered from so doing from the tone and demands of your letter. You do not demand payment — you demand restitu- tion of the article. This last will not be acceded to. The blankets are now covering sick and wounded soldiers, whose interest I must care for before those of commerce, which of course lie more near the heart of a commercial agent.
VOL. II — 28
434 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I beg leave to suggest to the French Consul that words of characterization of my acts, such as "arbitrary and flagrant violation of trusts," are not worthy a place in a correspond- ence between himself and the Chief of this Department. The act was not arbitrary, otherwise than all acts necessary for military purposes are so. The taking of the blankets for military purposes was no violation of trust. The United States Government was responsible for them before they were taken; the same Government is responsible for them now.
I trust and believe that these objectionable expressions in the note of the French Consul were inadvertent, and I need not say they will not be repeated in official /correspondence with me.
The authorities of the United States have endeavored to forward the interests of commerce almost to the exclusion of other matters, and that the commerce of Louisiana has not been fully opened to the world is not the fault of the Federal Government. Their safeguard has been given it, their pro- tection afforded, and that safeguard and that protection has in no just sense of the term ever been violated. I am grieved that the French Consul has chosen to take this course upon this matter, as now the necessary correspondence with the authorities at Washington will delay Barriere Bros, in getting their pay for the blankets, which I should have been glad to have given them had I felt at liberty to do so after the French Consul's communication. I beg leave to say to the French consul, as an evidence of the necessity which compelled me to take the blankets, that they were of so poor a quality that had I any choice left me I would neither take them or purchase them. Brought to Havana for the purpose of being imported into the rebel states through the blockade, as I am informed and think I am able to prove, they were only saved by the vigilance of our cruisers from being now in the rebel cause, toward which the proclivities of the Messrs. Barriere Bros. are as well-known as in their former trade with the rebels.
Still, having been brought here since the opening of the port, I should have overlooked the purpose for which they were originally taken to Havana, and pay for them if the French Consul had left me at liberty to do so. I have the honor to be,
Very respy, Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 435
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 5, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Count MEJAN, Consul of France
SIR: I enclose you the report of Dr. McCormick, my Medi- cal Director, upon the subject of the blankets of Messrs. Barriere and Bros, for your information. It will be seen that the Messrs. Barriere might have had their pay if they desired it. I have the honor to be,
Your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Medical Director's Office, Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS,
November 4£/i, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I report that on Tuesday, 28th of October ult., I called on Messrs. Barriere Brothers to purchase some blankets for the Medical Depart- ment of the Army, most urgently necessary for the health, and in some cases even the lives of the soldiers of your Army and although I had frequently made purchases for the Army in years past from these same gentlemen, and always hereto- fore received from them most cheerfully what I might need, and paid them subsequently after a longer or shorter credit, to my great surprise they positively refused to let me have the blankets I so urgently needed except upon paying cash before delivery, and not having the money on hand and not having been able to find the requisite number of blankets elsewhere, I was compelled to seek the advice of Col. French, Provost Marshal General, and yourself, or else to permit the sick confided to my charge to suffer greatly, many of them even unto death, by failing to procure these blankets.
In a conversation with Mr. Barriere since, in my office and in the presence of my steward, he, Mr. Barriere, admitted his knowledge of me as a government agent and our former transactions, and his entire satisfaction with me in all our previous business affairs.
The collector sent Messrs. Barriere Brothers a verbal instead of written notice in reference to the seizure of his blankets. Before and since taking these blankets, in the most emphatic manner I reminded Mr. Barriere that the Govern- ment did not want his goods without paying for them.
In conclusion, I beg leave to say that I gave him a certifi-
436 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
cate in accordance with orders of War Department dated July 22nd, 1862, upon which he will receive payment.
Very respectfully, Your obt. Servt., CHARLES McCoRMiCK, Medical Director and Purveyor
Department of the Gulf
From M. Mithojfas
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, Nov. 1st, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commdg. Gulf Dept.
SIR: The importance of the subject must be the excuse for my addressing you.
Meeting Mr. Theo. Soniat yesterday, he requested me to ascertain whether the authorities would allow him to take his crop off with hired labor. He admitted not having taken the oath. It would be impossible for him to get pecuniary assist- ance or even labor without your permission, and nearly all the other plantations in my neighborhood are in the same situation, even if having taken the oath. I do not know what your policy in regard to this state of affairs is, or what the government intends to do, but wish to save as much as possible to the government, and the time to do so with the sugar crops has arrived. In South Carolina, the crops were saved for govt. account at very heavy expenses. I would propose to do so at a certain percentage-account, of which all the expense for labor, feeding, managing, should be paid, and the clear surplus might be subject to a future decision of the Government, if the owner is disloyal, and to a loyal owner at once. The amount of percentage would depend on the facili- ties granted by you to employ the contrabands, to be paid for their labor, and fed out of the above percentage, which, in such an instance, I would be willing to do for 25%. This would relieve the government of supporting the contrabands, would teach them that hereafter they must support themselves, induce men to try to raise their crops with hired labor, and be beneficial all around. Not knowing whether anything of this kind of arrangement would receive your approbation, I have not tried to ascertain whether the planters would consent, but doubt not that the loyal ones would. The disloyal ones, if not agreeing, a provisional seizure might be necessary.
Being lately engaged in superintending the building the new levee between Carrollton and the Parapet, under the super- vision of Capt. Bailey of 4th Wisconsin V. Regt., a force of
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 437
about 300 contrabands have been organized and employee!, and the levee will be finished in about one week. It strikes me that this force might be profitably and usefully employed for the object of saving sugar crops to the amount of 800 to 1000 Hhds., and 1500 bbls. of molasses, on some such terms as above mentioned, before the 1st January. If anything can be saved out of the percentage it should go to the benefit of the manager. In securing the sugar crops, female contrabands can be employed to nearly half the force.
Submitting the above to your consideration, I have the
* Your obedient Servant, M. MITHOFFAS
From General Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1, 1862
W. N. MERCER, J. W. LAFEYE, J. D. DWYER
GENTLEMEN: The Merchants Bank has $8,000 in gold and some $6,000 in local bank notes, with a small note circulation of $10,678.75. Those notes are presumed to be in the hands of the poorer classes, and their redemption in city notes or other current funds would greatly benefit the holders with- out damage to the bank.
The U. S. hold in the hands of Lieut. Field $5,705 of the notes of the Merchants Bank, of denominations above $5, — and are consequently entitled to a privilege on the assets of the Bank.
Now, in order to pay off both the above specified claims, you are here authorized and requested to dispose of the $8,000 in gold, and use that and the local bank notes in liquidation of the said circulation.
The manner of withdrawing the small notes is left to your own good judgment.
Very respectfully, Your obt. servt.,
B. F. BUTLER
By General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November 1, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 88
I. No person will be arrested as a slave, by any Policeman or other person, and put in confinement for safe keeping, unless the person arresting knows that such person is owned by a loyal citizen of the United States.
II. The Inspector and Superintendent of Prisons is author-
488 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ized to discharge from confinement all slaves not known to be the slaves of loyal owners.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G.
From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 2nd, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: I have only ten minutes to write you a line, as we did not intend to write by this vessel, as she usually stops at all the blockaded Ports. This time the Captain sends me word she will go direct to New York. Therefore I must write to say we are well, but I shall not be able to think of anything further I may wish to say till after the mail has gone. As you know, I am always obliged to call back the servants after they have got to the foot of the stairs. Yes- terday was All Souls' Day. The custom here is to dress graves with flower images, and lighted candles. We drove to several cemeteries. One could hardly judge what the effect might be apart from the crowd, but it looked a gay scene for a grave- yard. Tomorrow there will be services, and I suppose the same adornments will still be there. Mr. Butler bought yes- terday three oil paintings, and a bronze clock. I thought he paid high for them, for this place where so much will soon be sold at auction. Three hundred dollars for all. I do not know if they will be sent home directly or not. Before this reaches you Fisher will have started. The pistol -case was a mystery till I explained it. No wonder my letter read oddly to Mr. Butler. I could think of a dozen things if I had more time, but must wait for next mail. Tell the children I want to
kiss them ever so much. 4 „ ~
Affec. SISTER
From J. M. Fortenberry
COLUMBIA, Miss., Nov. 2, 1862
To Mr. D. C. STANLEY
DEAR SIR : I wish to inform you that if you could make any arrangements with the authorities in N. O. or any person to barter salt and provisions for cotton, myself and neighbors will deliver the cotton at any point named. We are in a tight place, and something must be done, as the military authorities have entirely overlooked the wants of a starving country.
Please give me a decisive answer by return mail, and oblige,
Yours etc., J. M. FORTENBERRY
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 439
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 2, 1862
To Brig. Gen. WEITZEL, Commdg. Dist. of the Teche
GENERAL: Your despatch of November first is received. As I informed you in my last, I have sent forward both Regi- ments of Native Guards (colored) to guard the road. I have no doubt that before this reaches you Col. Thomas and Col. Stafford will have reported to you. They will receive your orders. We had already taken measures about the organiza- tions of the management of the Opelousas R.Road. Of course there will be no more difficult subject for you to deal with than the negroes. By the Act of Congress, independent of the President's proclamation, having come from rebel masters into our lines, in occupation of rebel territory since the passage of that act, they are free. But the question recurs. What shall we do with them? While we have no right to return them to their masters, as such, it is our duty to take care of them, and that can include employment. Put them as far as pos- sible upon plantations, use every energy to have the sugar crop made and preserved for the owners that are loyal, and for the United States when the owners are disloyal. I am working the plantations along the river below on this plan. Let the loyal planters make arrangements to pay their negroes $10. a month for able-bodied men, $3. to be expended in clothing, and so in proportion. Disembarrass your Army of them as much as possible. Especially will this be necessary in the case of Col. Stafford's Command.
I have information more or less reliable that there were about 8000 troops at Port Hudson, Pontchatoula and Camp Moore, about equally divided among the three, on the 27th of October. My impression is that they have gone North. Bragg is undoubtedly badly beaten, and is in full retreat. There has been no battle since the 9th at Perry ville, up to the 16th. We have Northern dates to the 16th. Nothing new on the Potomac. I enclose you some of the latest newspapers with this despatch. In regard to disarming the people, every disloyal person must be disarmed. And I do not mean by loyalty "lip service." And we must leave force enough to take care of any rising of the negroes. I think you had better see the more intelligent of the negroes in person, and assure them that all acts of Congress and laws in their favor will be carried out to them with the same effect if they remain on the
440 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
plantations and the work, as if they came into camp. And caution them that there must be no violence to unarmed and quiet persons.
You had better send back a train of extra Artillery and Cavalry horses and mule wagons to Algiers on a march, without waiting for the Rail Road. A small guard will be sufficient. They will probably have to strike the river road at Bonne Carre, but of that your knowledge of the topography of the country will give you the best direction. I need not assure you that I am taking every measure to open railroad and telegraphic communication. Capt. Kensel, who is pres- ent as this despatch is written, is only awaiting transportation to forward the Ammunitions. I think the gunboats had better press up to Franklin, and capture or destroy some boats that are building there. Of that you can tell better when you go forward. I wish to disengage McMillan's Regiment as early as it can be dispensed with, if at all, to hold Galveston. It is under advisement to build a Fort at Donaldsonville, at the junction of the Bayou and the river. We have thirty two- pounders here with which we can arm it. That will make a station easily held on the coast half way between here and Baton Rouge. I think a work about on the plan of Fort Macomb, with casemates only to flank the drawbridge, would be the better plan. Please advise me on the subject.
We have flaming reports of salt works at New Iberia. If practicable, will it not be better to reach them and destroy them? But that I leave entirely at your discretion. That por- tion of Louisiana lying West of the Mississippi River will be constituted a military district under your command, to be called the district of Lafourche. Headquarters wherever you may be. Col. Thomas writes me that the cars will pass to Lafourche to-day. Report to me early what rolling stock you find at Brashier or along the road. I think the iron howitzers at Raceland had better be sent here unless you have need of them. Your attention is directed to the practicability of so fortifying Brashier as to hold it with the aid of a gunboat, with a small force. Please report upon this subject. Is any fortification practicable at Thibodeaux or Terrebonne? Noth- ing else occurs to me of interest to communicate.
By Order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER, GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Gen., Chief of Sta/
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 441
From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3rd, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT, Comdg. Western Gulf Blockdg.
Squadron
SIR: I enclose to you a communication from L. Garrison. It would appear that the matter should be investigated, but I have not the means to do so. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comdg.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
NEW ORLEANS, October 30£/i, 1862 £Not in chronological order]
Major G. C. STRONG
DEAR SIR: On the 15th instant, Mr. Cosma Morgan, a loyal citizen of the U. S., obtained from General Butler, by you, an order for the release of his lugger, called "Liberty/' which had been captured a short time previous at Ship Island by the gunboat " Jackson." He presented the order to the com- manding officer of the frigate "Vincent," who placed him in possession of the lugger, but on the arrival, just at the time of the gunboat "Jackson" from Pensacola. The officer in command objected to it — stating that the said order was not a proper one, and advised Mr. Morgan to return to New Orleans and get from the commanding General a letter or order addressed to Admiral D. G. Farragut to that effect. Antici- pating that you will grant him the necessary order and protec- tion in the premise, please to accept my thanks for this and
^ " Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt.,
L. GARRISON
From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Srd, 1862
Rear Admiral Farragut9 Com'g. Westrn. Gulf Squadron
I HAVE information more or less reliable that the "Orieto," which ran the blockade, is now being fitted up as a privateer, and is about to run out from Mobile. For God's sake do not let this be done. I have the honor to be,
Very respy. Your obt. sevt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding
442 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From the Assistant Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON, D.C., November 4th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding at
NEW ORLEANS
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a communication received from the State Department, on the subject of the arrest and imprison- ment by your order of J. J. Burrowes, a British subject, to- gether with a copy of the letter of Burrowes to the British Consul at New Orleans which accompanied it, and to invite your attention to the suggestion made by the Secretary of State in the premises.
Very Respectfully, Your obedt. Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secy of War
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Department of State, WASHINGTON, 30^ Oct., 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To the Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter from J. J. Burrowes, a British subject at New Orleans, to M. Coppell, the Consul there, relative to the arrest and imprisonment of Burrowes by order of Major General Butler. The case has been submitted to me by Mr. Stuart, Her Britannic Majesty's Charge d'Affaires, who desires that as much clemency may be shown in the matter as the public interests may allow. If satisfactory assurances shall be received from the prisoner that he will not violate the obligations existing upon all per- sons, by committing fresh offences, it may be deemed expedi- ent to release him from custody. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. %5th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
To Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a com- munication from the War Department, dated November 4th, 1862, in relation to the arrest and imprisonment of J. J. Bur- rowes, a British subject, with enclosure.
J. J. Burrowes was Captain of the "British Guards" and presided at the meeting at which the Company voted to send
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 443
its arms and uniforms to Beauregard, and he was thereupon ordered to leave the city. He returned, however, and I found him in expression of rebel sentiments, and aiding in shipping plates from New Orleans in contravention of orders. For these reasons I ordered him into confinement. I have read his letter. Portions of the statement in which he says I called him a coward and a rebel are a mistake. What did happen was this. I asked him if he was a man that had borne arms against the United States. He replied that he was. I told him that I should send him to confinement. He then said he was a British subject. I told him it was cowardly to act as a rebel and then claim British protection.
Desirous to yield to any intimation of the Hon. Secretary of State, I have forwarded to Mr. Burrowes a parole, a copy of which is enclosed, ijpon signing which he will be released finally as he has already been temporarily, and for certain purposes connected with the health of his family, upon the intercession of a British Consul. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully Your Obt. servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comrndg.
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 5th, 1862
Count MEJAN, Consul of France
SIR: I return you enclosed some letters apparently from your consulate, which were captured, being surreptitiously passed through our lines. This mode of communication need not be taken by the representative of a nation toward which I desire to exercise every courtesy.
If the French Consul has occasion to send into the lines of the enemy any proper communications, relating to the business of his consulate, if forwarded to these Head Quarters they will be sent at the earliest opportunity. This will prevent all miscarriages and examinations. I have the honor to be,
Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding
From Hon. Reverdy Johnson
WASHINGTON, November 5th, 1862
Governor SHEPLEY
MY DEAR GOVERNOR: I am much obliged to you for yours of the 23rd October, just received.
444 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I shall now foe able to find who the officer was, referred to in the Tribune article, and will then write to the General. It is possible (I hope the fact is so) that no such statement was made by either of his staff. That it was not made by Maj. Bell, I am satisfied. He called to see me, and I aided all that I was able in effecting what he said was important, an increase of the General's force. I think I have reason to complain that the General should give credit at all to representations of others, in regard to my feelings towards him. He saw enough of me, I had supposed, in Ne>v Orleans, if he had not known me before, to be satisfied that I would never directly or in- directly assail a person in his absence. If I had had cause of grievance with him he would have been apprised of it by myself. I am glad that I had not; on the contrary, as I said to him in a parting note, I felt obliged by the courtesy he showed me during my stay in the city.
Truly Your Friend, REVERDY JOHNSON
From Colonel J. W. McMillan
BRASHIER CITY, Nov 5th, 1862
Gen. GEO. C. STRONG
SIR: After innumerable difficulties we arrived here two days too late — last Saturday night. But as the Northern element of the Rebel army is most valuable to them, so it seems is the Northern wind, for we found the Bar so com- pletely stripped as to show only about six feet water, while all of our vessels drew more. Genl. Weitzel frightened the Rebels terribly, and they will scarcely make a stand this side of Franklin, and I do not think they will there unless reinforced, as they say they will be, from Vicksburg, which I greatly doubt. Day before yesterday the gun-boats went up the Teche to Pattersonville, and drove away the " Cotton'* and shore batteries. The "Kinsman" fought splendidly, and came out with 54 shot holes in her — one through her magazine. I lost three killed — Navy none — one died since. She will be in fighting order tomorrow. Lt. Wiggins deserves big promo- tion. No man in the Navy has fought more determinedly while suffering such damage to ship or boat. All did well, but as the "Commodore's" report will show, Wiggins was conspicuously brave among the gallant, Fard accompanying him. Col. of the 8th N. H. will be at the burned bridge over the boat today. I will have boats in readiness to cross Weitzel
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 445
as soon as he arrives. I have some Rebel sugar in R.R. Depot. Have not heard of any cotton burnt or unburnt. The Teche is obstructed but can be easily cleared I think. It is said there are from four to fourteen steamboats in it. Capt. Fuller com- mands the "Cotton" and fights her well, but she is so badly used up she will hardly fight again.
The Rebel planters would be glad to be loyal citizens if they were not deterred by the political vagabonds in the Rebel army. All begin to think slavery must go if Jan. 1st finds them in rebellion.
The gun-boats at 4 o'clock P.M. have just returned from the obstructions on the Teche, where the Rebels are building a dirt fort, and seem determined to make a stand for a fight. The "Calhoun" lost three seamen. No other casualties, I believe. Their works can be easily turned or passed entirely, and Franklin reached without passing near their forts. The iron-clad of the "Kinsman" is splendid, turning a 324b. shot fired at a less distance than 1000 yards. The Rebels have added to their stock of artillery. They have 20 pieces of Field Artillery of all classes. They will sink the "Hart" and "Cotton" after mounting their guns in the Fort. Health good. I have the honor to be,
Your very obt. servt., J. W. MCMILLAN, Col. Com. Vols.
From the Assistant Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. Qth, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding &c.> at N. O.
GENERAL: The Secretary of War instructs me to forward a translation of a communication from the Minister of France, relative to a claim of Messrs. Gautherin, of New Orleans, grow- ing out of your prohibiting them from exporting lumber, and to request that you will report to this Department the reasons for your action in the premises.
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Asst. Secretary of War
446 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 25th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War, WASHINGTON, D.C.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication from the War Department of Nov. the 6th, enclosing a translation of the communication of the French Minister relating to some lumber not permitted to be shipped to Havana by the House of Gautherin and Co. Owing to the blockade of the river above, and the interdiction of traffic across the Lake by the Treasury regulations, lumber has become very dear and scarce in New Orleans. Large quantities being needed for roofing the Custom House, to render it hab- itable as the citadel of New Orleans, as well as to protect the United States from many thousands of dollars' loss, and also for replanking the wharfs and levees, which had been burnt by the rebels as a military necessity, I forbade the exportation of lumber to Havana without permission from these Headquar- ters. I was specially induced to this because the materials of a rebel gunboat, all sawed and fitted, which was uncom- pleted at the time of our coming here, had been secretly shipped, as I afterwards learned, for the purpose of being constructed elsewhere. This was done through the agency of a foreign house, the Agent of which had gone to Havana. I therefore ordered no more lumber to be shipped from New Orleans without permission from these Headquarters. The necessity of which Orders I trust will be seen.
M. Gautherin & Co.'s lumber came under that General Order. I forbear entering into the question of their title, although I believe the lumber which they had bought belonged to the Confederate Government, because when it becomes necessary to the U. S. to use it that question can be examined.
I am led, however, to remark upon one phrase of the Hon. Minister of France's communication, that Messrs. Gautherin & Co. were highly respectable French citizens of New Orleans. . . . Gautherin has run away, and the other two partners have [been] confined, awaiting trial for supplying the rebel army with half a million worth of cloth in a transaction closed on the 22nd day of June last, while they were enjoying the pro- tection of the United States.
The particulars of that transaction will be found in my
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 447
despatch of the 13th of Nov. to the Hon. Secretary of State, relative to the $405,000 spirited away from the Bank of New Orleans. I have the honor to be very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
From President Lincoln
Executive Mansion, WASHINGTON, Nov. 6th, '62
Maj. Genl. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: This morning the Secretary of the Treasury read to me a letter of yours to him. He read to me at the same time one from Mr. Denison (I think), at New Orleans. I was much interested by the information in one of them that some of the planters were making arrangements with their negroes to pay them wages. Please write to me to what extent, so far as you know, this is being done. Also what, if anything, is being done by Mr. Bouligny, or others, about electing members of Congress. I am anxious to hear on both
these points. ,r . 7 A T
^ } ours truly, A. LINCOLN
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 28£&, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
To the PRESIDENT of the U.S.A.
DEAR SIR: I am exceedingly obliged for your kind note inquiring for the success of our experiment in attempting the cultivation of sugar by free labor, and am happy to report it is succeeding admirably. I am informed by the Government Agent who has charge that upon one of the plantations, where sugar is being made by the negroes who had escaped there- from into our lines, and have been sent back under wages with the same negroes and the same machinery by free labor, a hogshead & a half more of sugar has been made in a day than was ever before made in the same time on the planta- tion under slave labor.
Your friend, Col. Shaffer, has had put up to be forwarded to you a Bbl. of the first sugar ever made by free black labor in Louisiana, and the fact that it will have no flavor of the degrading whip will not, I know, render it less sweet to your taste. The planters seem to have been struck with a sort of judicial blindness, and some of them so deluded have aban- doned their crops rather than work them with free labor. I
448 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
offered them as a basis a contract, the copy of which is enclosed for your information. It was rejected by many of them because they would not relinquish the right to use the whip, although I had provided a punishment for the refractory by means of the Provost Marshal, as you will see, preferably imprisonment in darkness on bread and water. I did not feel that I had a right, by the military power of the United States, to send back to be scourged, at the will of their former and in some cases infuriated masters, those black men who had fled to me for protection, while I had no doubt of my right to employ them, under the charge of whomsoever I might choose, to work for the benefit of themselves and the Government. I have, therefore, caused the negroes to be informed that they should have the same rights as to freedom, if so the law was, on the plantation as if they were in camp. And they have in a great majority of instances gone willingly to work, and work with a will. They were at first a little averse to going back lest they should lose some rights which would come to them in camp, but upon our assurances are quite content.
I think this scheme can be carried out without loss to the Government, and I hope with profit enough to enable us to support for six months longer the starving Whites & Blacks here, a somewhat herculean task.
We are feeding now daily in the City of New Orleans more than 32,000 Whites, 17,000 of which are British-born subjects, and mostly claiming British protection, and only about two thousand of whom are American citizens, the rest being of the several Nationalities who are represented here from all parts of the Globe.
Besides this, we have some ten thousand negroes to feed, besides those at work on the plantations, principally women & children. All this has thus far been done without any draft upon the treasury, although how much longer we can go on is a problem of which I am now anxiously seeking the solution.
I take the liberty to enclose to you a synopsis of our reports of the Relief Commission, published weekly, which may be interesting upon this topic (the synopsis only shows the free colored before the war). Of course, our operations are mostly yet unorganized, and without that completeness necessary to insure success, but I hope to get them in such form that they will work. The operations of Gen'l. Weitzel in the Lafourche Country, the richest sugar-planting part of Louisiana, have opened to us a very large number of slaves all of whom under
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER 449
the act -are free, and large crops of sugar, as well those already made as those in process of being made. I do myself the honor to enclose to you the Order that I have made to meet this state of things (Order No. 91), to protect the rights of the United States and of all concerned from the rapacity of swindlers & speculators, and the effects of disloyalty. All this portion of the country are rapidly returning to their Allegiance, and the elections are being organized for Wednes- day next, and I doubt not a large vote will be thrown.
I found Dr. Cottman to be one of the candidates in the field, but he had voluntarily signed the Ordinance of Secession as one of the Convention which passed it, and had sat for his portrait in the Cartoon which was intended to render those signers immortal, which was published and exhibited here in the shop windows, in imitation of the picture of our Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and as the Doctor had never by any public act testified his abnegation of that act of sign- ing, I thought it would be best that the Government should not be put to the scandal of having a person so situated elected, although the Doctor may be a good Union man now. So I very strongly advised him against the candidature. It looked too much like Aaron Burr's attempt to run for a seat in parlia- ment, after he went to England to avoid his complication in the Mexican affairs and his combat with Hamilton. It is but fair to say that Doctor Cottman, after some urging, concluded to withdraw his name from the canvass. Two good uncondi- tional Union men will be elected. I fear, however, we shall lose Mr. Bouligny. He was imprudent enough to run for the office of Justice of Peace under the Secessionists, and although I believe him always to have been a good Union man, and to have sought that office for personal reasons only, yet that fact tells against him. However, Mr. Flanders will be elected in his District and a more reliable or better Union man can not be found.
But to return to our negroes. I find this difficulty in pros- pect — many of the planters here, while professing loyalty, and I doubt not feeling it if the "Institution" can be spared to them, have agreed together not to make any provision this autumn for another crop of sugar next season, hoping thereby to throw upon us this winter an immense number of blacks without employment and without any means of support for the future, the planters themselves living upon what they make from this crop. Thus no provision being made for the
VOL. II — 29
450 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
crop, either of corn, potatoes, or cereal, the Government will be obliged to come to their terms for the future employment of the negroes or to be at enormous expenses to support them.
We shall have to meet this as best we may. Of course, we are not responsible for what may be done outside of our lines, but here I shall make what provisions I can for the future, as well the cereal and root crop as the cane. We shall endeavor to get a stock of cane laid down on all the plantations worked by Government, and to preserve seed-corn and potatoes to meet this contingency. I shall send out my third Regt. of Native Guards (colored), and set them to work preserving the cane and roots for a crop next year. It cannot be supposed that this great change in a social and political system can be made without shock, and I am only surprised that possibility opens up to me that it can be made at all. Certain it is I speak the almost universal sentiment and opinion of my Officers that Slavery is doomed. I have no doubt of it, and with every prejudice and early teaching against the result to which my mind had been irresistibly brought by my experience here, I am now convinced:
1st. That labor can be done in this State by Whites more economically than by Blacks and Slaves;
2nd. That Black labor can be as well governed, used, and made as profitable in a state of freedom as in slavery;
3rd. That while it would have been better could this eman- cipation of the slaves be gradual, yet it is quite feasible even under this great change as a governmental proposition to organize, control, and work the negro with profit and safety to the white, but that this can be best done when under mili- tary supervision. Of which, allow me to say, I do not desire the charge.
I must close by apologizing for this very long and discursive letter, but I am consoled by the thought that it is entirely at your option to read as much of it as it pleases you to do. I am, Very truly, Your friend & Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Head Quarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 6, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT, Com'g Wesfn Gulf BVk'g Squadron SIR: I am pleased to return to you a copy of Lt. Comg. Buchanan's report of his operations at Berwick Bay. I am
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 451
sorry to say that, owing to the storms and delays necessary and unnecessary in moving our fleets, we were not able to get there three days sooner, where we should have infallibly bagged the whole Rebel party. Now as it is we must do the best we can.
We are proposing to go further, and may yet be employed some days upon this matter. I will keep you informed of all further operations. I have the honor to be,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
U.S.S. CALHOUN, of BRASHIEB CITY, Nov. 4, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major Gen. BUTLER, Com'g Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I have the honor to report that we arrived off here on the night of the first, but unfortunately too late to stop the rebels from crossing. We had a great deal of difficulty in getting over the Bay, and felt the want of our light-draught vessels very much. The day the "Kinsman" arrived I crossed in her and tried to get the "Estrella" over, but she grounded. I came up to the south of the "Hart," which we chased but could not catch, and got the "Estrella" and "St. Mary's" over the next day, and the following day the "Calhoun" came up with the "Diana."
The night of our arrival here we chased the Rebel gunboat "Cotton," but she got away from us by her superior speed. The same night we captured the Rebel steamer "A. B. Seger." She is a small boat about the size of the "Fancy Natchez," and is very useful. Yesterday I went with all the gunboats up Bayou Teche, and found the enemy about fourteen miles from here posted above the obstructions they had sunk in the Teche.
We engaged them for two hours and drove them off as we also did the "Cotton." The "Kinsman" bore the brunt of it, and received fifty-four shells in her upper works and hull, and had one man killed, a soldier of the 21st Indiana, and five wounded. The pilot, John Bellino, had his leg badly shattered, and died to-day from the effect of amputation. Capt. Cook in the "Estrella" received three shots, and had two soldiers of the 21st Indiana killed whilst working the guns, and one badly wounded. The "Diana" received three shots, but had on person hurt. She will have to be hauled out, as her stern
452 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
is shot away. I received eight in the "Calhoun," but fortu- nately received no material damage.
Capt. Wiggins fought his ship nobly. He was in such a position that he received the fire from all the artillery on shore, and at the same time had the "Cotton" playing upon him. He, however, drove the artillery away, and put several shots into the "Cotton." The whole Rebel force was there, num- bering between three and four thousand men, with seventy field pieces.
We hear to-day we did them a great deal of damage, and that the "Cotton" is sunk. They had thrown up a mud fort this side, but evacuated on our arrival. We tried to remove the obstructions, but could not succeed. But I think that when General Weitzel arrives, so as to protect us from the sharpshooters on the banks, we can do so. I keep running up and down all the time so as to keep the river clear of the obstructions.
We can make all our repairs here, and I will have the "Kins- man" ready for service to-morrow. The "Diana" is getting timber out for Col. Thomas to repair the bridge at Bayou Boeuf . The enemy destroyed about a thousand hhds. of sugar, a lot of molasses, and also burnt 98 cars and three engines.
I send requisitions for ammunition for the three gunboats which we want very badly, as we fired away a good deal yes- terday, and I expect to have a good deal more firing to do, and also for some blouses and shoes for the men who have been shipped. It is absolutely necessary that they should have some clothing, and I hope that you will order the Quarter Master to furnish it. We have got all the steamers above us, but I am afraid they will burn them.
The officers and men behaved splendidly. The "Cotton" is iron-cased, and did some splendid shooting. She mounts one long 32 pdr. 4-24 pdrs. and 2-6 pdrs. rifled guns. The iron- casing on the "Kinsman" and the "Diana" turned the shot beautifully. Capt. McLaughlin, who was on board the "Cal- houn" with his company, went on shore with his men, and tried to get opposite the "Cotton," but before he got up to her she had left. If she has not been sunk we will get her yet.
I shall send the coal schooner back as we do not want her, there being plenty of coal here.
Nov. 5, 1862
I HAVE just returned from another trip up the Teche with the "Estrella." I had three men killed by a shot. The
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 453
"Cotton" was there. They had a battery on each bank, but we succeeded in driving them all off. I can do nothing until Gen. Weitzel arrives. They are now strongly posted at the obstructions, and although I can drive them off, I cannot work at them. We want some more ammunition now badly. I think the "Cotton" is casemated, as our shell glanced off. We had him on fire once. We could plainly see our shot strike him; but he fights bow on. I am,
Very respy, Your obdt. Servant, THOS. McKEAN BUCHANAN. Lieut Commanding
From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 6, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: Your letter enclosing one from Mr. Butler came by the "Potomac" three days ago. She goes out again tomorrow and takes the mail. You did not open Mr. Butler's letter as I told you to do. I hope you will the next one, as he has written for various things to be sent to him. He sent out the "McClellan" almost exclusively for me, by this time she is on her way back, with Mrs. Strong and Mrs. French as passengers. But I am not sorry that I did not wait. I would not like to be in New York to make the passage again. I was out this morning for half an hour's drive. The weather has changed suddenly from summer heat to not extreme cold, but so chilly that my fingers tingle through the gloves. I wish you were here and the children too for three months, but that cannot be; I should never dare to have them make the passage, nor could they bear the heat of spring. Poor Benny, when will he get his present? I will hunt for him one of these days. I really seem to have no time, and yet I have nothing to do. Is Paul helping you to take care of the other two, and setting them an example how to behave at table. I wish he would learn to write, and send me a letter sometimes. Would it be too much trouble for you to give them lessons in spelling some- times after tea when the evenings are long? They learn more rapidly in this way than in any other. If you can do this, and give Paul a rubbing twice a week with the wash with less of the soda, — I should like it very much. If there is anything you wish to cut up or change in the house that we did not speak of, do it as you think best in any way you like, either of mine or Blanche's. Mr. Butler would be glad to go home; I think he is tired and half homesick, yet he would struggle for his
454 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
place if any attempt was made unfairly to dispossess him. The rumour is again afloat that Fremont is to be sent to Texas, that is in Mr. Butler's Department. Gen. Weitzel has made a successful move about sixty miles out from New Orleans. It is opening further into the cotton and sugar countries. I hope Fisher has my letters to come out, and is already on the way. The articles Mr. Butler wrote for were embroidered cuffs and collar and a cap which he had ordered at Burbank & Chase, and he will perhaps need the new shirts that were left at home. But if Fisher has started and you have not opened the letter I shall write about it again. Several of the ladies and gentle- men belonging here have called, and all of our own officers. Headquarters is a place where you see much company and get great attention, but one gets very weary talking to strangers, who almost always have some interest they wish your influence to advance. Dr. Edson's charity would find ample scope in this town, but I think he would be shocked at the wickedness, not of one people, but of both north and south. Our people are prompt to imitate their vices. Give the family, Dr. Edson's, my regards. Dearest love to the children and yourself.
Your affectionate SISTER
I wrote Fisher eight pages giving reasons for his coming when I first arrived. Of course he has got it and is on his way.
From General Butler
Head Quarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 6, 1862
M . SHUFJELDT, Consul Gen. U. S. at HAVANA
SIR: I have received your note, and am obliged to you for its kindly suggestions, and the interest you take in the affairs of this Department. I can best inform you of my whole action in regard to the Quarantine laws, which have been relaxed because the frosts have settled all the questions of epidemic, by enclosing a report made to the Secretary of War upon the same subject, with the accompanying exhibits. You can make use of such portions of the report as you please among our Spanish friends at Havana.
I believe the entente cordiale now exists between myself and the Spanish authorities except upon one subject — that of carrying passengers upon National vessels. I shall not permit this to be done hereafter. I have the honor to be,
Very respy., Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 455
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 6th, 1862
Brig. Gen'l. WEITZEL, Commanding District of the Teche
GENERAL: Your despatches of the 5th of November have been received, as also your telegram of this evening. I am directed by the Maj. Gen'l. Commdg. to reply.
These suggestions as to the field works at Donaldsonville will receive consideration. It will be necessary to make a Battery at Martin City, Berwick's Bay, or perhaps a field work; upon this subject he will confer with you.
In establishing the Military District of the Teche, he was aware that at the moment you did not occupy it except by your boats, and he gave the name in compliment to your skill and gallantry as it was undoubted you would soon be in occu- pation, and in putting the very large forces under the command of so young a General, he designed to show a mark of confi- dence in your discrimination and judgment. If it would be more desirable to yourself, he will change the name to the District of Lafourche.
That you should have declined the Command is the occasion of regret, arising most of all from the reasons given for so doing. As they are comprehended, they resolve themselves into two — First, that under your command are put two Regiments of Native Guards (colored). And you say that in these organi- zations you have no confidence. As your reading must have made you aware, General Jackson entertained a different opinion upon that subject. It was arranged between the Commanding General and yourself that the colored regiments should be employed in guarding the Railroad. You do not complain in your report that they either failed in this duty in that respect, or that they have acted otherwise than correctly and obediently to the commands of their Officers, or that they have committed any outrage or pillage upon the inhabitants. The General was aware of your opinion that colored men will not fight. You have failed to show, by the conduct of these free men so far, anything to sustain that opinion — and the General cannot see why you should decline the command, especially as you express a willingness to go forward to meet the only organized enemy with your own Brigade alone, without further support. The Commanding General cannot see how the fact that they are guarding your lines of communi- cation by Rail Road can weaken your defense. He must there-
456 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
fore look to the other reason, stated by you for an explanation of your declining the Command.
You say you cannot command these negro Regiments. Why not? The reason must be found in these sentences of your
report :
<( "
You say that since the arrival of the negro regiments at that place you have seen symptoms of a servile insurrection. But as the only regiment, that has arrived there, got there as as soon as the rest of your command, of course the appearance of such symptoms is since their arrival. Have you not mistaken the cause? Is it the arrival of a negro regiment or is it the arrival of United States troops, carrying by the Act of Congress freedom to this servile race? Did you expect to march into that country, drained as you say it is by conscription of all its able-bodied white men, without leaving the negroes free to show symptoms of servile insurrection? Does not this state of things arise from the very fact of war itself? You are in a country where now the negroes outnumber the whites two to one, and these whites are in rebellion against the Government, or in terror seeking its protection.
Upon reflection, can you doubt that the same state of things would have arisen without the presence of a colored regiment? Did you not see symptoms of the same thing upon the plantations here upon our arrival, although under much less favorable circumstances for a revolt?
You say that the prospect of such an insurrection is heart- rending, and that you cannot be responsible for it. You are in no degree responsible for it. This responsibility rests upon those who have begun & carried out this war, and who have stopped at no barbarity, at no act of outrage upon the citi- zens & soldiers of the U. S. You have forwarded me records of a pretended court-martial, showing that seven men of one of your regiments, who enlisted here in the Eighth Vermont, who had surrendered themselves prisoners of war, were in cold blood murdered, and, as certain information shows, were required to dig their own graves. You are asked if this is not an occurrence equally as heartrending as a prospective servile insurrection.
The question is now to be met, whether, in a hostile, rebel- lious part of the State, where this very murder has been com- mitted by the militia, you are to stop in the operations of the field to put down servile insurrection, because the men & women
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 457
are terror-stricken. Whenever was it heard before that a victorious Gen'l. in an unsurrendered province stopped in his course for the purpose of preventing the rebellious inhabitants of that province from destroying each other, or refused to take command of a conquered province lest he should be made responsible for their self-destruction? As a military question, perhaps, the more terror-stricken the inhabitants are that are left in your rear, the more safe will be your lines of communication.
You say there have appeared before your eyes the very facts, in terror-stricken women & children and men, which you had before contemplated in theory. Grant it; but is not the remedy to be found in the surrender of the neighbors and fathers, brothers & sons of the terror-stricken women and children, who are now in arms against the Government, within twenty miles of you? And when that is done, and you have no longer to fear from these organized forces, and they have returned peaceably to their homes, you will be able to use the full power of your troops to ensure your safety from the so-much-feared — by them but not by us — servile insurrection.
If you desire, you can send a flag of truce to the Commander of these forces, embracing these views and placing upon him the responsibility which belongs to him. Even that course will not remove it from you, for upon you it has never rested. Say to them that if all armed opposition to the authority of the United States shall cease in Louisiana, on the West Bank of the river, you are authorized by the Commanding General to say that the same protection against negro or other violence will be afforded that part of Louisiana that has been in the part already in the possession of the troops of the United States. If that is refused, whatever may ensue is upon them and not upon you or upon the United States. You will have done all that is required of a brave, humane man to avert from these deluded people the horrible consequences of their insane war upon the Government.
With or without such a message, the Commdg. Gen'l. can see in your reasons nothing which should justly cause you to decline a high and honorable command. Nor does he see how the remedy which you propose will aid the matter. And that remedy is that either he or some one of his officers shall take command of the negro regiments, and relieve you of them. Do you think that change will be less likely to incite a servile insurrection under his command or that of any of his officers
458 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
than under your own? Will the horror be less if they are under the command of an officer not present on the scene to check and allay these horrors, any less than if commanded by an officer present and ready to adopt proper measures? If your negro or other regiments commit any outrage upon un- offending and unarmed people, quietly attending to their own business, let them be most severely punished. But, while operations in the field are going on, I do not see how you can turn aside from the armed enemy before you to protect or defend the wives and children of these armed enemies from the consequences of their own rebellious wickedness.
Consider this case. General Bragg is at liberty to ravage the homes of our brethren of Kentucky because the Union Army of Louisiana are protecting his wife and his home against his negroes. Without that protection, he would have to come back to take care of his wife, his home, and his negroes. It is understood that Mrs. Bragg is one of those terrified women of whom you speak in your report.
This subject is not for the first time under the considera- tion of the Commdg. General. When in command of the Dept. of Annapolis, in May, 1861, he was asked to protect a community against the consequences of a servile insurrection. He replied that when that community laid down its arms and called upon him for protection, he would give it, because from that moment between them and him war would cease. The same principles initiated there will govern his and your action now; and you will afford such protection as soon as the community, through its organized rules, shall ask it. Your reports and this reply, I am instructed to say, will be forwarded by to-morrow's mail to the Commanding General of the Army.
In the meantime, these colored regiments of free men, raised by the authority of the President and approved by him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, must be commanded by the Officers of the Army of the United States, like any other Regiment.
The Commdg. General does not doubt that everything that prudence, sagacity, skill, and courage can do will be done by you, General, to prosecute the campaign you have so success-
fully begun" (BEN,. F. BUTLER)
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 459
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November 7th, 1862
Maj. General H. W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the U. S.
GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose copies of Gen'l. WeitzePs reports of his operations on the west bank of the river, and of my instructions to him. I propose today to visit him in person, to advise whether we will cross Berwick's Bay without waiting the reconstruction of the bridge at Bayou Boeuf. It will be apparent that Gen'l. Weitzel brings up the interesting question of the war. I trust that my instructions on it will meet your approbation. The President and your- self are aware that I am wholly without guide in this matter. I take occasion to call to the attention of the General Com- mander-in-Chief that more than 70 days since I called the attention of the War Department to the organization of three (3) colored regiments by my General Order No. 63, of date of August 22nd, subject to the approval of the President, and though I have had many communications directly from the War Dept. and the General Comm'd'r-in-Chief, no communi- cation approving of that organization has been received. I must therefore take it to be approved, but would prefer dis- tinct orders on this subject.
Awaiting further instructions from the General Commander- in-Chief, I have the honor to be,
Your Obedient Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen'l. Commanding
From Count Mejan
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. ltht 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
SIR: A new attempt of violence has been committed upon Mr. Coulon, proprietor of the orange garden, plantation Hop- kins, yesterday morning. Since the facts brought to your notice by Mr, Fauconnet, in his letter of October 3d last, those negroes occupying the camp opposite of his place have never stopped to invade his place every night to take away his fruits, the produce of his crop, and even his household utensils. The passion of this Frenchman, who saw himself ruined in such a way, was naturally great, when yesterday morning he was informed that a troop of about thirty negroes
460 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
invaded his yard. He thought proper to arm himself, and then presented himself before this troop in order to request them to leave the premises, but he was told in an insolent manner that they had to receive no orders from him, that they were the masters and would do as they liked. It appears, then, that he threatened to make use of his arms, when one of the negroes fired a shot at him, upon his full breast, and one of the barrels of Coulon's gun was discharged while Coulon fell; the same negro then wounded him badly on his face with his musket, wounding his face again cruelly. The assistant of Mr. Coulon (Jules Mongenot, also a French subject) seeing his employer treated in such a manner and his own life in danger, took up Coulon's gun and made use of it against the negro, who would have murdered him but, it appears, did not hit him. This Frenchman is now in prison.
Informed of these facts, I sent at once the Chancellor of the Consulate with Dr. Mange, principal Surgeon of the Im- perial Navy, to inquire into the case. This assault upon the person of Mr. Coulon has made a great sensation in the city, and has revived all the fears which resulted from the disarm- ing of the white people and the arming of the negroes. The attacks upon Mr. Abadie, a few weeks ago, by the negroes in the Touro barracks, and upon Mr. Coulon in his own place, have not been punished, notwithstanding the solicitations of Mr. Fauconnet, and I cannot help thinking that if they had been punished severely this new crime would not have hap- pened. Dr. Mange and several other physicians have declared Mr. Coulon's wounds very serious and probably mortal.
I hope, General, that you will have these aggressors arrested at once. It appears that they left the camp immediately after the crime, leaving this last remembrance of their presence in that locality.
An exemplary punishment can alone calm the general fear of my countrymen, of which many live in the neighborhood of the camps of these armed negroes, & are daily exposed to these dangers. Respectfully,
The Consul of France, COUNT MEJAN
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 461
By the Secretary of War1
War Department, Adj. General's Office, WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, '62
GENERAL ORDER No. 184
BY direction of the President of the United States, Major General N. P. Banks is assigned to the command of the Depart- ment of the Gulf, including the State of Texas.
By order of the SECRETARY OF WAR
From Mrs. Laura Pugh
FRANKFORT, KY., Aug. 30, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of War
DEAR SIR: . . . that you will write to Gen. Butler, giving me your moral aid, and that you will read and forward the two enclosed letters. My only acquaintance with Gen. Butler is through two very unflattering sources, — newspapers and his photograph. I am not ashamed to confess to quite a robust
little fear of him. ... TT/^L * * T T>
With great respect, LAURA JTUGH
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS. Nov. 11, 1862
Mrs. LAURA PUGH, FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY
MADAM: Your letter of Aug. 30, 1862, addressed to the Secretary of War, with two enclosures addressed to Major Gen. Butler, has been received by the Commanding General.
Upon investigation it does not appear whether the words "Surgeon La. Vols.," used in crediting the deposit of the late Dr. A. C. Hensley in the Bank of Louisiana, were intended to denote a deposit of public funds, or were merely descriptive of the person. The Com'g General decided to give the claimants the benefit of the doubt. He therefore directed payment to be made, and by his direction I have the honor to enclose you a check on New York for 576 & 6/100 dollars, being the amount standing to the credit of Dr. Hensley, less twelve (12%) per cent., current rate of exchange this day, as per en- closed memorandum.
I have the honor to enclose a photograph of the Commanding
1 General Butler had no official information of this order until General Banks presented it in person on Dec. 12th.
462 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
General, which he trusts will hereafter find more favor in your eyes. I have the honor to be,
Very respy, Your obdt. servant, WM. L. G. GREEN, Lt. & A. D. C.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November 11, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS Wo. 93
I. ANY Commissioned Officer who is found drinking intoxi- cating liquors in any public drinking place or other public house within this Department will be recommended to the President for dismissal from the service.
II. All Police Officers are ordered to report, in writing, to these Headquarters all instances of the violation of this order which may come under their notice.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER R. S. DAVIS, Capt. and A. A. A. G.
From Major J. F. Girault
On Board Flag of Truce Boat, Louis D*0n, Miss. River, opposite CARROLLTON,
Nov. IZtk, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commdg. U. S. Forces, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: I have the honor to announce the arrival at this point of the Flag of Truce Boat, "L. d'Or" from Vicksburg, under my charge, with one hundred and thirty-two Federal prisoners, taken at or near Labadieville, to be exchanged.
These are the same whose delivery at New Orleans was promised by Major H. G. Watts, agent of the Confederate government, about 9th Oct. ult. Major Watts accompanies me to effect the exchange, and to receive a receipt for any prisoners of the Confederate Government in your hands that you may desire to return.
I have also the honor to be the bearer of a sealed communi- cation from Lt. General Pemberton, C.S.A., Commdg. Dept. of Mississippi and East La., which I am directed to deliver to you and to receive from you a reply if there be any. I have the honor to be, General,
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant, J. F. GIRAULT, Major C.S.A., Commdg. Flag of Truce
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 463
From Captain T. K. Fuller
Provost Marshal's Office, THIBODEAUX, Nov. 12, 1862
Major General BUTLER
GENERAL: I am informed that many of the poorer class in this district depend upon their shotguns for support during the winter season. They shoot wild ducks, geese, etc. for market. Shall I disarm everybody, or grant permission to certain per- sons to keep their arms? — those who take the Oath of Allegiance?
Shin-plasters current when we took possession are now refused to the distress of the poorer classes. What shall be done, if anything, in reference to this matter? Grocers refuse everything except specie and current New Orleans money — whole bills. I am, General, with great respect,
Your obedient Servant, T. K. FULLER, Capt. 75th N. Y. Vols., Provost Marshal, etc.
From General Butler
Head quarters DepL oj the Gu/f, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 12, 1862
Mr. PIERCE, U. S. Consul at MATAMORAS
SIR: I propose to send down the first regiment Texas Vols. with some other troops to Galveston. I will arrange with Col. Davis of that command, and with Rear Admiral Farragut that refugees who may desire may be sent to Galveston from Texas and Mexico. Some of them will enlist doubtless in the service of the United States. The preference in granting passage, as a rule, will be given to those who are physically able.
Of course it will be improper to enlist even Americans as soldiers in Mexican soil, but there can be no impropriety in sending Americans to do their duty to their country. The letters of Col. Davis, commanding the Texas Regiment, and the instructions to the Commander of the blockading vessel, will explain what is desired. Any other aid that I can furnish, if suggested by you, will be promptly attended to. I am,
Very respy., Your obdt» servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
464 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Fisher A . Hildreth to General Butler
LOWELL, Nov. 12, 1862
MY DEAR BUTLER: You wish to know what consignments have been made to me and what drafts have been made on me. There have been some 4900 hgds. sugar and some 80 bbls. molasses, and a few loads scrap iron, of which I have received bills of lading. All had arrived in New York except the sugar on the "Charles Kean," and the little lot of metal on the "John Griffin." Those may have arrived since I left New York last Friday.
I have not sold so much sugar as I have paid in freights and insurances. I met your drafts of $50,000 and $9,409.00, and the Colonel's for $10995.00, by raising the money at the Railroad Bank, Lowell, for note of $71,151.08.
The Col. has notified me of a draft in favor of II. M. Jose of $25,000.00. Also in favor of C. S. Whittier or Read for $20,000, which I suppose will not be presented, as he does not recognize the sale to the Col., and Mr. Whittier and as you have countermanded the trade.
I stored the sugars for better prices, as they would not pay invoices on their arrival, and I, as well as the Col., thought they would rise.
I got notice of your drafts in New York last Thursday with acceptance waived, which gave me Friday and Saturday to raise the amount of rising seventy thousand dollars. I could not raise it in New York, as no one would take the sugar as collateral, as I was not the owner nor had written authority to hypothecate them. Nor, if I had, I would not have done it for less than one per ct. brokerage or Commission — besides the interest; so I returned to Boston, found Carney dry, then came to Lowell and got the money on Carney's recommenda- tion in my name, Webster's, Read's and George's, at regular interest.
I think I shall accept your favor and come to New Orleans in a few days.
If you have occasion to draw further before I see you, do not waive acceptance, and draw on as long time as convenient. Your drafts frightened me when I found I could not raise a dollar on the sugar in New York, and that Carney's loan was up so that I could not get it of him. But we got it through after much tribulation.
McClellan is again superseded, and it looks as if the Gov-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 465
ernment were determined on pressing the war to an emanci- pation end if not for emancipation purposes.
Have a great deal to say if I shall have the good fortune to
see you* Truly yours, FISHER
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 12, 1864
Hon. HENRY WILSON, WASHINGTON, D.C.
MY DEAR SIR: Somewhat irregularly, perhaps, but impelled by what seems to me a grave necessity, I venture to address you upon the state of affairs in this department. We want more men. We have now about 10,000 effective white soldiers, of which two regiments were raised here. We have two regi- ments of native guards (colored), in good condition and doing good service in the field; another of the same sort has nearly completed its organization; and we are now raising a regi- ment of Texas cavalry. From the North we get no recruits to fill up the ranks of our old regiments, but for this have to depend entirely upon enlistments here. With this little force we have to hold this city against Rebels within as well as without; to keep our lines north of the city always in readi- ness to receive anything which may drop from above — and something may come after any battle between the Rebels and the Army of the West, and we have succeeded during the past three weeks in acquiring a foothold in Western Louisi- ana, which opens the richest part of the State to our control, and seriously threatens the Rebel communications with their Beef Barrel Texas, and we are now casting about for a regi- ment to send to Galveston — which the Navy has opened to us.
Rear Admiral Farragut is rather catching it for not having taken Mobile before this. That he has not done so is no fault of his. With ten thousand — even with 7,000 troops we can take it and hold it. Without the cooperation of the Army, it is manifestly quite useless for the Navy to attempt to operate against the place.
We want to extend our lines of men so as to complete the cutting off of Rebel communication with the West. Up to date, we have been victorious wherever we have met the enemy. We only want more men to keep it up. Re-enforcements have been promised us, but they have not come. Troops want to come here — New England troops especially, I know. Officers write me to get their command ordered here, and I
VOL. II — 30
466 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
hear the same thing from my officers who have come back from the North.
At this moment — while writing this — I learn that Sterling Price is crossing the Mississippi at Port Hudson, and is work- ing for the salt mines, against which Gen. Weitzel is operating. He hopes to hold the mines, which are of incalculable impor- tance to the Rebels, and he hopes to keep open communica- tion with the "Beef barrel" above mentioned. He has 10,000 men. I can spare not over 7,000 to oppose him. Well, there's 10,000 less for Grant to fight, and if I had 5,000 more men the enemy before Grant would be 20,000 less.
Believe me, when the rains descend and the mud conies, the army of the Potomac can't move, the Rebels will move down this way to get at the supplies. With 5,000 more men I will cut them off from Texas. With yet 7,000 men, I will take and hold Mobile.
I beg you, as chairman of the Military Committee, to use your influence to have more troops sent here — Mass, troops especially. The Rebels are near starvation. Send us troops enough and we will bring them quite to that point.
I write to you because I have written to all manner of official personages and get nothing except promises in return, and because I know that if you are convinced of the necessity of my call for more troops you will leave no means untried to have it answered. Although we differ in politics we are both bent upon doing the best for the country, and I have no hesitation therefore in asking your aid.
(BENJ. F. BUTLER)
From Surgeon Chartant
On Board ST. Louis D'OR, November 13th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commdg. U. S. Forces,
NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in addressing you to make a request, which if granted will be regarded in the proper manner, and for which I will be greatly obliged. I am very anxious to see Madame Beauregard, my first cousin, and sister, who are both in the city; I wish to see them solely on family matters. I also desire with your permission to purchase, for the use of the sick, a small lot of medicines, which are actually necessary in case any of the prisoners to be returned by our boat should need any medical attention. This is made
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 467
necessary from the fact that I had only arrived at Vicksburg just previous to our departure, and being ordered on this expedition as Surgeon, I had no time to get a proper supply there. As a matter of course, if the above request is granted, I will consider myself on " parole d'honneur," and consider the privilege as sacred and inviolable.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
A. CHARTANT, Surgeon Flag of Truce
I submit at foot for your inspection the list of medicines needed.
Adhesive Plaster . 2 Yards.
Perchlorate of Iron lig. . 1 oz.
Collodion 2 oz.
Chloroform . 4 oz.
Ether sulph 1 oz.
Laudanum Sydenham 1 oz.
Tinct opir Camph 4 oz.
Sub. nitrate Bismuth. 1 oz.
Bi-carb Soda i oz.
Spt. Camph 2 Bottles
Brandy 5 Gals.
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14, 1862
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secy of State
SIR: I beg leave to enclose to you a digest of the Laws of France upon the subject of slavery, which an eminent French lawyer has prepared for me.
As every owner of slaves loses his nationality by owning them (entrainera la perte de la qualite de citoyen franqais), it becomes a most vital question here, where every man of any property is an owner of slaves and every other man claims to be a French citizen, what is the slave-owner's status.
The French Consul claims that losing a quality of a French citizen only means that he loses his right to vote in France, I claim, on the contrary, that the loss is of nationality.
In support of this proposition, I find that a subject of France who takes an oath of allegiance to a foreign power and becomes a citizen thereof suffers (la perte de la qualite de citoyenfranqais), the civil code using the same word in both cases. Is it to be said that the code, in the case of the abjuration by the French citizen of his Government, means only that he loses his right to vote in France, or does he lose his French nationality?
I am in much need of the instruction of the State Depart-
468 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ment upon the topic, and await with impatience an authorita- tive exposition of it. I have the honor to be,
Very respy, Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Fauconnet
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
THE Consul of France has the honor to present his compli- ments to the Major General, and to call again his attention to the imprisonment on board one of the men-of-war of Elie Lion, Bertrand Lacaze, and Charles F. Pelot, French subjects, brought here as prisoners from Donaldsonville.
The first of these Frenchmen, it appears, is suffering with fever, and a longer confinement may endanger his life. The Consul of France also desires to call the General's attention to another Frenchman, Vr. Fonin, who was arrested at La- fourche the 5th of this month, and who is confined in the prison of the Custom-house.
By Order of the CONSUL, The Chancellor, FAUCONNET
Endorsements on Foregoing Letter
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, Nov. 15th, 1862
RESPECTFULLY referred to Col. French, Pro: Marsh: Genl. for careful inquiry & report.
By order of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER W. L. G. GREEN, A.D.C.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that Elie Lion & Bertrand Lacaze say they were forced into a Militia Co. which had been disbanded previous to their arrest. Chas. F. Pelot escaped on the night of Nov. 15th, 1862. E. Lion has recovered from his illness. They were all arrested at Donald- sonville and sent here as prisoners.
Respectfully, &c., &c., J. H. FRENCH, Pro. Marsh. GenL La.
From Salmon P. Chase to General Butler
UNOFFICIAL. WASHINGTON, D.C., November 14, 1862
MY DEAR GENERAL: I have been waiting, in order to reply satisfactorily to your letter stating fully your action in rela-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 469
tion to trade with persons in rebel lines, for some decision by the Government in the premises, and the Government has been waiting for the return of Lord Lyons in order that its decision may not conflict with assurances given by the Secretary of State to the representatives of foreign states. Lord Lyons has now returned, and the Secretary of State had an interview with him yesterday, which I under- stand was satisfactory. The subject of cotton, rice, to- bacco, and sugar will come up in the Cabinet, perhaps, today — at any rate, shortly — and we shall get on to some defi- nite plan, I hope. Meantime, I write that you may not think I have neglected a matter in which you necessarily feel so deep an interest.
Gen. Banks goes to New Orleans, not, as I understood, to supersede you; but to conduct an expedition to Texas while you are engaged nearer to your present Headquarters. Most earnestly do I hope for his success.
Your own success has been very great. Except the com- plaints to which I called your attention in my last, I have heard of none except from men whose loyalty is either doubt- ful, or at any rate not very self-sacrificing. I hope you will not misconstrue that letter. It was prompted solely by a true regard and friendship mixed with sincere conviction of public duty. I do not believe that you yourself desire more earnestly your distinguished success in the most important sphere you have occupied and must yet occupy, and in the even larger scope which will I trust soon be given to your powers, and I am sure that few men could have fulfilled your difficult task so well as you have — no man better.
The removal of McClellan will not take you by surprise. His course made it indispensable. The President postponed it long — too long — as long as he could; but at length felt driven to it by McClellan's persistency in disregard of his wishes and directions, and by his manifest purpose to keep his army practically inactive, as it was kept last winter.
For General of the Army in his place I preferred Hooker. The President and Gen. Halleck preferred Burnside. I hope their preference will be justified by the event. Burnside has some excellent qualities, and I hope too he may prove to pos- sess all that he needs for his trying post. He shall have my most cordial support, and will, I am sure, have that of the whole administration.
I shall write you as soon as possible again. Meantime, let
470 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
trade within rebel lines cease, and the Regulation of August be strictly observed as directed by the Secretary of War.
Yours truly, S. P. CHASE
From Rear Admiral Farragut to General Butler
F. S. HARTFORD, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Uth, 1862
DEAR GENERAL: We take away the licenses for general coasting trade, as the law and orders prohibit them, except by the Dept., but I tell these fishermen that if you will let them go a-fishing I will sign their pass for that purpose only, or for vessels coming to New Orleans. I wrote on this man's license, "Fishing and oystering, but not allowed to carry merchandise," I think day before yesterday, before I learned from you that you had a company of them — but he produced his license to show that he had the privilege of the City
Very respectfully, D. G. FARRAGUT From Captain W. M. Wainwright to General Butler
U.S. Steamer HARRIET LANE, GALVESTON, TEXAS, Nov. 14, 1862
GENERAL: I have given a permit to the sloop boat "Ven- geur," Wm. II. Bailey, master, to proceed to New Orleans, with eight passengers, refugees from Confederate persecution in this town. The master of the boat has also permission to bring back such provisions as he can carry. The poor people who have remained behind are in a sad state of destitution, and in a short time will be on the verge of absolute starvation. The Confederate force, who hold the bridge connecting Gal- veston Island with the main land, will not allow an ounce of provisions to cross, besides which their cavalry squads have driven off and killed all the cattle they could get at, shooting in their tracks those that they were unable to drive. Some little beef is still left on the Island, which, together with some hogs, chickens, and such fish as the people are able to catch, is all that they have to eat. Groceries there are none, very little corn-meal is left, and that is selling at $5.00 a bushel. What flour there is, is held at $50.00 the sack of 100 Ibs. in gold, the holder refusing to take Confederate money for it. In fact, I am told this morning that neither flour nor corn- meal is to be bought at any price, and I have been applied to by one or two persons, who state that their families have not a mouthful to eat.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. 3UTLER 471
If you can, General, with your well-known benevolence, forward the sending of some provisions to this port, it will be the means of rescuing many innocent people from great suffering. Our own supplies are too short to enable us to afford them any relief. I am now holding this harbor with this vessel, the gun-boat "Owasco," and one of the mortar schooners, Commander Renshaw having gone into Matagonda Bay with the "Westfield" and "Clifton" a fortnight ago. I am looking for his return daily. Though the town is under our guns, we have no force to occupy it, and feel the want of some troops sadly. The place can easily be held by a regiment with the aid of one or two vessels in the harbor, and the people remaining here are looking anxiously for the arrival of our troops. Most of them are citizens of foreign birth, who have no sympathy with the Confederate cause, and I am assured that large numbers would gladly enlist in our service, and had I arms to give them they would undertake to organize them- selves, and hold the town under cover of the night. Patrols of the enemy come in from the other side, pick up conscripts wherever they can catch them, and harass the people in every possible way, which we are powerless to prevent, and which renders our occupation hitherto anything but a fortu- nate event to the well-disposed inhabitants. We have now some thirty refugees living on the end of a dock near our vessels, as their only asylum from seizure by the Rebels. This town is well-built, containing many fine stores and dwell- ing-houses, together with other structures which could be con- verted into quite formidable strong-holds, and easily held against anything less than artillery, from which the guns of our vessels would prove an ample protection. There are two fine foundries here, one of which I understand to be in com- plete running order; the machinery of the other I have taken down, but it can readily be replaced. In conclusion, permit me to say that if you can spare a detachment from the force under your command to hold this city, I am sure the good of the public service will be vastly benefited. I am, with great respect, yOur most obt. servt.,
W. M. WAINWRIGHT, Com. U.S.N.
472 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Nov. 14th, 1862
Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Judge Advocate
ENCLOSED are copies of records of Military Commission in two cases against William Wilson, otherwise called Red Bill, and Frederico Abellando. The sentences, being death, may re- quire the approval of the President. Red Bill has been the ter- ror of this country for many years, and has committed many murders. Abel, made one of the most unprovoked and brutal murders on record. For the sake of the peace of the commun- ity I request that an early approval of the sentences be re- turned to me.
From General Sutler
Head Quarters DepL of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, AW. 14, 1862
Major General HALLECK, Commanding Armies of the UNITED STATES
GENERAL: I beg leave to enclose to you my communica- tion to Lt. Gen. Pemberton of the Confederate forces upon the subject of the murder of seven of my soldiers when two companies of my Eighth Vermont Regiment surrendered at Bayou des Allemands. There were enlisted in those com- panies and surrendered as prisoners of war, with them, seven Germans, residents of Louisiana, who owed no farther alle- giance to the state of Louisiana than we all owe to our states by being inhabitants thereof.
Because of their enlistment with us, they were tried for desertion in the militia in which they never acted, and for treason to the state of Louisiana to which they never owed allegiance — because they were naturalized citizens of the United States, were found guilty of their supposed offences only, and were executed in obedience to the orders of a Militia Court Martial, acting by order of Major Gen. Lewis of the Militia of the State.
I have treated of the subjects in my letter to Gen. Pember- ton, to which I beg leave to refer you. I send also a partial copy of the proceedings of that Court Martial, which I have captured, and from which you will learn the facts.
I beg specific instructions upon this matter. I hope and trust those instructions will be to shoot twice as many more of the Confederate prisoners of war in retaliation. I have
the honor to be, v *», ,
Your oodt. servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major Gen. Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 473
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Lieut. Gen. PEMBERTON, Com'g at VICKSBURG
GENERAL: I have received your communication by the flag of truce, with prisoners which have been duly receipted for. I am excessively grieved at the mistake in regard to Peming- ton. I had supposed that he was confined at Fort Jackson, and sent an order there for his release; but, not being confined there, by some unaccountable blunder the matter was not reported to me, he remaining without being paroled till Oct. 18th., I supposing up to that time Pemington had been released. I have ordered his unconditional release in consideration of the unintentional injustice which has been done him, and will send him up with the other prisoners if you desire.
It did not need the retaliation of the detention of two privates, I assure you, to cause this act of justice to be done. I beg to call your attention to the fact that two lieutenants of the Indiana Regiment, for whose exchange I sent Capt. Murphy of the Confederate Navy, have not been released, and Capt. Murphy has not returned and reported to the Head Quarters. May I ask that you will see that they are released.
I have some two hundred prisoners whom I will send to you as soon as transportation can be spared. With this exception, I will retain fourteen of the most considerable of them, includ- ing Brig. Gen. Clark, until I receive instructions from my Government as to the course to be taken in relation to the proceedings of a pretended Court Martial, held on the pre- tended authority of Maj. Gen. Lewis, by which seven United States soldiers had been executed for no crime. The charge alleges "desertion and treason/' but that desertion is only supported by the fact that as residents of Louisiana they formed a part of the supposed militia of Louisiana. There is no pretence that they had ever been in the field. They had duly enlisted in the service of the United States, were surrendered prisoners of war, were made to dig their own graves, and then wantonly murdered. You will be pleased to inform me whether this act is assumed by the Confederate Government.
I have enlisted a number of thousand of the inhabitants of the State of Louisiana into the army of the United States, and I am naturally desirous to know whether this course is to be taken towards them when they surrender prisoners of war. I need not say to you that I know how to protect my- self and my soldiers from such acts.
474 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
To you, formerly a soldier of the United States Army, knowing the laws and rules of war, I need not further enlarge upon the probable consequence of allowing the proceedings of such a court to go on unrevised. The copy of the proceedings in my hands is not complete, but is sufficiently so to show the nature of the transaction. I have desired, and still desire, in all cases to conduct the war according to its uses among civil- ized nations; but this transaction cannot be tolerated. I have the honor to be,
Very respy., your obdt. Servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From General Butler
Head Quarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14. 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secy of War
SIR: I have addressed you directly in this despatch because the subject relates to other matters than the movement of troops in the field.
As you may have learned from the despatches to Gen. Halleck, I have moved Brig. Gen. Weitzel into the Lafourche country, and have taken possession of the richest portion of Louisiana. Thousands of hhds. of sugar, at the value of at least a million of dollars, ought at once to pass into the hands of the United States, together with much other property. I have therefore organized a Commission to take charge of the whole business, so as, if possible, to save this property to the United States, and have put the oldest and most honest men I have at the head of it.
I annex the copy of the Order No. 91, and the memo- randum of contract, which will explain themselves. The ex- periment of free labor which I am trying is succeeding admirably, and I hope large results, not so much in profit to the United States as in example.
Will you allow me to avail myself of this note to ask of you re-enforcements? I have had none save my free native guards (colored), and while they are doing good service, still I find trouble, because they are not formally recognized by the Department. I have the honor to be,
Very respy. Your obdt. servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 475
Subject Matter of "Memorandum" referred to
OWING to the necessity of employing the negroes who have left plantations, and of securing the present crop of cane and other cereals, repairing the levee, &c., the United States will employ them under the direction of loyal planters and over- seers, to be paid by them $10 per month for males (the price for females and minors was not mentioned in the memoran- dum), $3 of which may be expended for necessary clothing, the United States to protect them, the planters, and their plantations. The planters to furnish proper food and medi- cine, and to take care of those incapacitated by sickness or age. No cruel or corporal punishment to be inflicted, but any refusal to do labor to be reported to the Provost Marshal of the district, and to be punished under his orders. If any planter refuses to enter into this arrangement, his slaves may hire themselves to any other loyal planter, or any person whom the United States may elect. This arrangement is not to affect the legal rights of either master or slave.
The question of freedom to be determined by considera- tions wholly outside the provisions of this contract.
From General Butler
Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Uth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 513
THE Daily Advocate, having after warning published the following article,
" The Ballot Box
"This palladium of our liberties, this charter of our rights, this emblem of Democracy, has been speaking in a voice of thunder, as we knew it would if the people could be aroused from their slumber. It has been our unceasing endeavor to awake them throughout the nation. We were the first to tell our readers of its success in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, and now we have gratifying reports from Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, if these reports be confirmed, an armistice will soon follow.
"Negotiations once commenced, there will not be any more fighting. Whether an armistice results from the Democratic success or from foreign intervention, we shall hail it as a peace measure to be welcomed by all parties/'
476 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
The publication of that Journal will be discontinued from
18 a e' By command of MAJ. GEN. BUTLER,
GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G.
From the Assistant Secretary of War to General Butler
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, November Hth, 1862
SIR: The Secretary of War directs me to enclose a com- munication from the Secretary of State, relative to your action in the case of John George Lingham, an alleged British mer- chant, and to request that you will report the facts of the case to this Department at your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully, Your obdt. Servant,
P. H. WATSON, Asst. Secretary of War
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
WASHINGTON, November 6th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
SIR: I do myself the honor to transmit to you the accom- panying extracts from a letter and statement, which have been received by Earl Russell from Professor Donaldson and Mr. Lingham, the Rector of Lambeth, complaining of the arbitrary conduct of General Butler towards their relative, Mr. John George Lingham, a British merchant at New Orleans.
You will perceive that Mr. Lingham appears to have been sentenced by General Butler to no less than three years' im- prisonment in Fort Pickens, for an offence which bears no proportion to so heavy a sentence, and I have, under the circumstances, been instructed to apply to you for his immedi- ate release, unless some plot or conspiracy has been proved against him.
Earl Russell has observed that the statements submitted to him contained no mention of Mr. Lingham having been put upon his trial, but that it is scarcely possible to suppose that the punishment which has been inflicted upon him should not have been preceded by a trial of some sort.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you the assurance of my highest consideration.
W. STUART
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 477
Extract from Letter of Mr. Thomas C. Donaldson and John Lingham, Rector of Lambeth, to Earl Russell
BOLTON GARDENS, Russell Square, Oct. I5lk, 18C2 [Not in chronological order]
I HAVE this day received from Mr. W. H. Haynes, mer- chant at Liverpool, a letter stating that my brother-in-law, Mr. John George Lingham, an English merchant at New Or- leans, has been seized by order of the Federal General Butler, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Fort Pickens, and, being in indifferent health, this is very serious. As far as Mr. Haynes can understand, three gentlemen, among whom he was one, fearing an outbreak during this reign of terror, had proposed to send away their plate and valuables by the British ship "Essex," now lying in New Orleans, and it is supposed that General Butler was resolved to confiscate the property under some pretence of disloyalty. The names of the other two were Mr. Allen and Mr. Mount; the sen- tence of the latter is one year, with ball and chain round his legs.
Mr. Lingham has on various occasions acted as Acting Consul at New Orleans, in Mr. Mure's absence, although not so at this period.
I beg to assure your Lordship that Mr. Lingham has ever expressed a firm determination never to seek naturalization in America, as he never forsook the character of an English- man; and he has throughout the present contest between the North and the South maintained a perfect neutrality, never in any of his letters to his family alluding to political matters. He married a Creole lady of New Orleans, by whom he has a son about 15 years old.
On the part of his family and of his brother, the Revd. J. Lingham, Rector of Lambeth, whose signature is hereunto appended with my own, I beg to entreat your Lordship to take such steps with the Federal Government of America that immediate inquiry be made into the circumstances, in order that Mr. G. Lingham may, as a British subject, be restored to liberty, and his life and property secured from further aggression. I beg permission to assure your Lordship of the deep affliction into which the family are plunged by these cruel circumstances; and we throw ourselves on your Lord- ship's sympathy to obtain redress for this outrage upon our brother.
478 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Statement forwarded by Mr. Donaldson
Oct. Wh, 1862
A party some time ago made a deposit in the Merchants' Bank, of some Confederate notes, and recently (about 18 September) presented a check for the amount, which the Cash- ier paid, as of course, in the Confederate notes. Upon learning which (and it seems very like a plot) Butler imprisoned the Cashier and your brother-in-law (Mr. Lingham) and two other Directors.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec'y of War
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the despatch of the Department, of date of Nov. 14th, inclosing copy of a letter of complaint from "W. Stewart" to the State Department, bearing the statements of one Donaldson and the Rev. Mr. Lingham in regard to my action in the case of his brother, John George Lingham, with the request that I would report the facts of the case.
This is impossible, as there is not one fact in the case. The whole statement is an unmitigated falsehood from beginning to end, and in testimony I enclose the statement of Mr. Ling- ham himself.
Whenever Mr. Lingham has a fancy to complain of what did happen to him, I shall be most happy to exhibit facts and circumstances. I have the honor to be,
Your obdt. servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9th, 1862
[Not m chronological order]
I, JOHN GEO. LINGHAM, was asked to come before Gen'L Butler today, and was shown a copy of a letter dated Oct. 16th, 1862, headed "statement, forwarded by Mr. Donaldson to Earl Russell." So far as it relates to any charge ever made against me on account of the Cashier of the Merchants Bank paying out any Confederate notes, I never heard of it until called upon by Gen'L Butler today.
I have also read an extract from the letter dated Bolfcon Gardens, Russell Square, London, Oct. 15th, 1862, contain-
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 479
ing the statement that I was sentenced by Gen'l. Butler be- cause I had sent away my plate on board the British ship "Essex." I never heard of that until I was called here to-day. My plate is now and always has been under my con- trol, and not disturbed by anybody. I had sent a portion of it for safety to the Bank, and take it away when I choose. But I never attempted to send any away, nor was I accused of sending away any of it on board any vessel.
J. G. LlNGHAM
Witness: H. C. CLARK, Lt. and A. D. C.
NEW ORLEANS, November I5tht 1862
GEORGE COPPELL, Esq.
DEAR SIR: I should be happy to grant any request of yours for a pass, especially as you trouble me so seldom and generally with a deserving application, but Mr. Chapman offered a bribe to the officer having charge of the passports to obtain one, and was turned out of the office. On this ac- count I can hear no application for him. He should be glad to escape being imprisoned. His note has not escaped my
attention. /T, « ^ .
(BENJ. F. BUTLER)
An Anonymous Communication
TRANSLATION
GENERAL: There are strange things going on in this City. The Consuls give certificates to anybody who asks for one.
Mr. Lanata, Consul of Italy, himself an American citizen, has given certificates to some people who have been citizens for 10 years.
A certain "Bossu," well-known in the 2nd District as a citizen for the last 15 years at least, has his papers as a French subject. Mr. Fauconnet, Act'g French Consul, gives certif- icates as French subjects to Creoles born here, who have been on the Police & other public offices, who have been mem- bers of Military companies, and have shown their rights as citizens at the election polls with knives and revolvers in hand.
The Vice Consul of Italy has been a private in the Garibaldi
ANONYMOUS
480 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Jacob Barker
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15th, 1862
M aj. Gen. BUTLER, Comd'g Department of the Gulf
GENL.: I take pleasure in stating to you in this note what I have explained to you personally, that the purport of the objectionable article, which is the basis of your Order for the suppression of the Advocate, has been understood entirely different from the intention of the writer. The design of the article was to express the ardent desire of the Editor for peace. My habits of life, my religious professions, have always been for peace, and nothing of course can be more ardently sought by every well-wisher to the Country. Armed inter- vention was inadvertently mentioned as one of the means through which peace might be obtained, and the article would certainly bear the interpretation that I desired such inter- vention as the means of obtaining peace. This I regret. I have never been in favor of armed intervention by a foreign power in this war; my whole thought has been opposed to it. I can point to many articles in my paper expressing that thought. I am entirely opposed to any interference by for- eigners with the affairs of this Country, and if permitted the paper will most fully show that opposition.
JACOB BARKER, Esq.
From General Butler
Headquarters, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15th, 1862
JACOB BARKER, Esq.
SIR: Your note upon the subject of the article in the Advo- cate is satisfactory, and its publication is permitted. I can have no objection to any proper advocacy of peace. To ob- tain it, the United States are making war. But peace can never be obtained by armed intervention of a foreign power. That would be an act of war, and its possible effect would only be to put away the day of peace.
No more delusively treasonable idea can be entertained than the advocacy of foreign intervention, which can never be permitted either directly or covertly in this department. Whoever desires foreign aid to Rebellion, and expresses that desire, is a traitor and an enemy to the Government, and will
Respectfully, B. F. BUTLER
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 481
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15th, 1862
Major General H. W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief, U.S.A.
GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose the proceedings of the Board of Inquiry in the case of the Seventh Vermont, with nay own indorsement thereon. I have endeavored to treat that regiment justly, and I think they have no cause for complaint. But of that you are to judge. I have the
honor to be, r7 ±f 7, 7 7.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15, 1862
His Excellency, Gov. HOLBROOK, MONTPELIER, VT.
GOVERNOR: I have the pleasure of inclosing you a copy of the proceedings of a Court of Inquiry in the case of the Seventh Vermont Reg. Volunteers. When the request for such a board was made, I informed Major Holbrook, then commanding, that I would order the Court, and he might choose any offi- cers of my command who were not engaged in the battle to compose the board. * For reasons which he judged sufficient, he declined the offer, and requested that I would forward the papers to Washington, which I did.
The Major General Commanding was kind enough to approve my action, but informed me that no officers could be detailed from Washington to compose the Court. I then renewed my offer to the commander of the 7th Vermont, and he solicited the officers who composed the Board. I added a recorder, a gentleman of considerable legal experience, who was not even present in the Department at the time of the matter.
The result is before you. I trust that when you read the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry you will see that no in- justice has been done to the Regiment which has not been repaired — in the single particular of its colors.
I shall rely upon you to see that justice is done to me in the premises, knowing your high sense of justice. I have, dear Governor, the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant
VOL. ii — 31
482 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letters
Headquarters Dept. of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 6, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
THE Commanding General has examined with care the findings, proceedings, and testimony of the Court of Inquiry, whereof Col. Henry Deming is president, in the matter of the 7th regt. Vermont Volunteers, and approves the proceeding and finding. It is apparent that every conclusion arrived at by the Court is supported by the testimony of the witnesses called on behalf of the Regiment. The General is constrained to find that the charge against the Regiment of breaking in disorder before the enemy is fully proved. Two-fifths of the Regiment never returned to the line of battle after they broke and fled.
That the Regiment did fire upon the Indiana Regiment, and that that was the only firing done by the Regiment that day, although they held the centre of the line which was mostly hotly pressed.
The General is glad to find that most of the line officers behaved well, and that the official reports which led him to believe that the Regimental colors were lost by the Regi- ment were mistakes, and therefore he has pleasure in ordering the colors of the Regiment to be restored to the Regiment, with privilege to carry them. But he cannot order them to be in- scribed with the name of the glorious battle of Baton Rouge.
The General doubts not that, now having an officer as commander who will not force them out of sight for shelter in a ravine during an action as did their late Lt. Col., the Regiment will in its next action retrieve its position and earn a proud name for itself and State.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Qulf, NEW ORLEANS, November 20, 1862
|_Not in chronological order]
GENERAL ORDERS No. 98
THE Commanding General, upon the finding of the Board of Inquiry upon the conduct of the 7th Regiment Vermont Volunteers at the battle of Baton Rouge, learns that he was led into a mistake by the official reports of that action as to the loss by that regiment of its colors; it proving to have been the camp color left in camp, and not the regimental color, that was brought off the field by the Massachusetts Battery.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 483
He therefore has pleasure in ordering the regimental colors to be restored to the regiment, not doubting that it will, in its next action, earn for itself a position and name which will be a credit to itself, its State, and country.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G. and Chief of Staff
From Colonel J. W. Shaffer to General Butler
Office Chief Quarter Master, Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17, 1862
GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose you copy of pro- ceedings of Board of Survey on horses at Pensacola, and Cap- tain A. N. Shipley's protest, etc., I also send you Shipley's report of sale of Rebel steamer "Neafic" by General Dow. I would most respectfully request that you annul both the proceedings of board and sale of steamer, and order no more horses sold to officers, nor property of any kind or description to anybody at Pensacola until we have time to get matters arranged.
I would call to see you, but do not feel able to leave my
Respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. W. SHAFFER, Quarter Master
P.S. The "Syke" leaves this afternoon, and I send man on her to look after Quarter Master matters.
Yours, J. W. S.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
PENSACOLA, FLA., November 15, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
DEAR COLONEL: I enclose you a statement of "as far as I can learn" the selling of the steamboat. Do by all means send an order by return Steamer either to send to you, or sell at public auction, the steamboat "Neafic," now lying at the wharf at Pensacola. The sale made by General Dow is cer- tainly unauthorized and illegal. He is in a perfect stew about that, and the proceedings of a board which apprised a lot of horses, a copy of which I herewith send you so that you may be posted on what is going on here. Candidly speaking, the whole is a complete swindle of Government property, — this is a little the d — st command I ever saw. Everybody here is complaining of General Dow. My God, is there no way to stay this? Letters from good and loyal citizens representing gross injustice done them by General Dow, I am told, have
484 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
been sent to General Butler, no reply received to any one of them. They say they fear that these letters never reached the Commanding General of the Department.
But about our own Department, do all, everything you can to have the proceedings of the Board on the horses and mules made null and void. Look carefully at my letter marked "A," and at the proceedings of the "B," and my endorsement thereon. Have also an order published forbidding the sale of any more horses to Officers, on the grounds that they are absolutely necessary for service in the Quarter Master's Department, also for Cavalry and Light Artillery Service.
I commenced today to turn over the Quarter Master Stores. A quarter master is much needed here, some one who will take an interest in the Government, setting General Dow to one side. If you can possibly send one, please do so. It is all important for the public interest. Also have orders sent here that no timber or lumber will be shipped from this place without orders from Hd Qr Dept. I shall go over on the next trip of the boat and see you.
My kindest regards to Turner, Peters, and all my friends. I will keep you posted as to the doings here. I have, when I get there, something to tell you about money turned in to me by General Dow.
Trusting that you will destroy the sale of the "Neafic," and upset the proceedings of the Bd on the horses, and pre- vent the further sale of them, and shipping of timber, the latter has not been done but they are preparing to do so. I
' Yours faithfully, A. N. SHIPLEY
P.S. I am sorry that the Red Fish and Trout I sent you by last steamer spoiled. When it gets cooler I will have some sent you. A. N. S.
Endorsed: PRIVATE
GENERAL: You will see that this is a private letter, but I send it to you thinking it contains information you should
now' Yours truly, 3. W. SHAFFER
Please keep this that I may get it again. J. W. S.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 485
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, Nov. 17th, 1862
Brig. General NEAL Dow, Commanding Forces at
PENSACOLA %
GENERAL: Major General Butler disapproves the proceed- ings of the board of survey convened by Special Orders No. 136, current series, from your headquarters, and refers you to General Orders No. 36 from A. G. O., June 24, 1861.
He directs that no horse of those submitted to that board (or other horse not condemned) be sold for less than ($110) one hundred and ten dollars, — the lowest price horses have been purchased for in this department. I am, General, Very respectfully Your obliging servant,
GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G.
From Count Mejan
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. ISth, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf
THE Consul of France in New Orleans has the honor to call the attention of the General Commanding to the imprison- ment in the Custom house prison of a Frenchman named Gustave Lasalle, a blacksmith, who has been arrested some days ago, in order to be a witness in a case of contraband of quinine, of which a certain Mr. Fassman is accused. It is so much harder for Lasalle to be in prison, as he knows nothing about Passman's affair and because his health is very poor. The undersigned takes the liberty to ask the General to re- lease Lasalle, or at least to hurry the investigation in which Lasalle is a witness.
He profits of this opportunity to renew the assurance of his high consideration. CQUNT
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gvlf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18, 1862
Count MEJAN, Consul of France
SIR: Mr. Gustave Lasalle, who now claims to be a French citizen, has been Provost Marshal of the Confederates at Pass Christian. He has imprisoned and destroyed the prop- erty of Union citizens. The proof against him is ample, and
486 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
he will be tried and punished at my earliest convenience. I
have the honor to be, TZ ,,. .
Your obliging servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding From General Butler
Head Quars. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November ISth, 1862
JOHN C. HAMILTON, Esq., NEW YORK CITY
MY DEAR SIR: In the harbor of Annapolis, in April of last year, before I had landed at that place, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Schuyler Hamilton, then private in the New York Seventh — now by right of brilliant service Major General. He immediately joined my Staff, and remained with me until his services were claimed by Gen. Scott. Upon his judgment and skill I was accustomed to rely with entire con- fidence. His success since that time has increased that con- fidence, if that were possible. I believe that here he would be very useful to the public service.
I have written to Gen. Halleck setting forth these facts, and asking that, if consistent with his views of the public necessities, he may be assigned to a command in this Depart- ment. I take the liberty to write this to you, in order to solicit your influence to procure a favorable answer to my petition.
I need more men — and with them I need the presence of Maj. Gen. Hamilton. May I count upon your assistance? Yours very truly, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Comd'g.
From John C. Hamilton to General Butler
NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
General BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: Your very kind and complimentary letter as to my son, Schuyler, I, immediately on its receipt, communi- cated to Gen. Halleck. What course he may pursue I am un- able to judge. It is a fact that the Secretary of War requested Schuyler to remain at Washington to confer with him from time to time as to army arrangements. This may possibly have been prompted by his knowledge, in the staff of General Scott, of the administrative part of the service on a large scale.
Schuyler declined the honor, preferring to serve at the west, where he was known and where the field of honor would be a wide one. He is now near Nashville. I take for granted no person can better appreciate the very important services you have been rendering to the nation, in your present scene.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 487
I may say to you, without compliment and with entire truth, that in the minds of intelligent men you have established yourself in an estimation few public servants have had the good fortune to reach at any time in any country. Great and hazardous as have been the difficulties of your position, you have, with a wonderful perspicacity, directness, and energy, surmounted them all. The attacks upon you I have noticed. Not one seems to me to have the least force. I presume from your letter you have an incursion in view. Whether the War Department can supply the force you need is a question at this moment. The expedition of Gen. Banks numbers 38,000 men, and unless new bodies come in I presume it absorbs all the troops now at command. I, of course, speak without any authority or precise knowledge on this subject. But so strong is my impression that, were I situated as you are, I think my efforts would be to embody the slaves in corps under white officers, give them the preparatory drilling, and to hold them ready for events. 'Tis certain that a great change has taken place in thinking minds on this subject. I am aware of your former views — mine were similar. The magnitude of the rebellion demands a change of policy, and this is the change most obvious.
A recent publication by Mass. Historical Society contains all that I am aware has been written in relation to the negro as a soldier and a citizen. It is pregnant with valuable facts. I will write to Boston and urge a copy may be sent you.
You will pardon this long note, and accept my thanks for your kind remembrance of my son, and much more for your invaluable services.
Yours very respectfully, JOHN C. HAMILTON
P.S. Since I wrote, I find published in the Herald a note of Mr. Seward's, proving the true temper of the cabinet. Noth- ing has transpired to indicate any change, and I am well informed that General Banks declared while here that the President would carry into effect his proclamation. I expect to go to General Halleck in a few days, and will have an inter- view with the President myself, as he has thought proper to communicate to me previously matters of high importance. In my opinion, the early employment of negroes as soldiers, under white officers, is the measure the loyal portion of this country will, with few exceptions, most warmly approve. The statements as to the conduct of those already employed
488 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
justify confidence. I think it certain that it must come to this at last, and the man who earliest meets the great neces- sity will be the object of most approval. You will see a great clamor is being raised as to General Halleck's report. I am happy to be able to state that the impression it has made is extending; and that General McClellan's friends are pursuing their object with a heated indiscretion that must ere long powerfully react. General Scott deems the report of General H. unanswerable. Please consider what I write confidential, and if I can serve by any politeness, please apprise me.
J. C. H.
From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: A steamer goes out tomorrow, and you must have a letter. You would not think it possible I could be hurried, yet it is a truth that every moment is taken up with something. This morning I went out to look at the house again that we are to move into, and gave some orders about the cleaning of it, etc. I rode a little way after that, and returned in haste to dress to receive some relations of Mr. Soule, who went North with me last summer as a pris- oner. His friends say he is suffering from ill-health, and are very desirous Mr. Butler should write, asking his release on parole. One was an old lady, a French woman and sister-in- law of Soule 's; the other rather a fine looking woman who acted as interpreter. The interview was not long, and by no means unpleasant. Both were ladies, and this town swarms with such a set of worthless women coming about on any pretence they can pick up, that to meet with a refined and elegant woman is a pleasure. The old lady was satisfied that I would further her petition if I could, and went away quite cheerful. The house would be crowded with petitioners, ur- ging me to use my influence, if the guard allowed them to enter. Mr. Butler refuses to have them come to the house; and insists that the office shall be the only place, yet a great many present themselves and are received at the house. The Sisters of Charity come to see me almost every day. Yes- terday we steamed down the river fifteen miles, to see sugar making on a large Plantation, twenty gentlemen perhaps, the French Admiral, and our Admiral Farragut. Mr. Butler invited them. We dined at the plantation, — fortunately, a
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 489
very excellent dinner. No lady but myself, yet it was not in the least embarrassing. I declined to go at first, but Mr. Butler insisted, and I found it quite delightful. I wish you could see the splendid roses the younger gentlemen gathered for me. The dinner was partly provided by our servants. The plantation is owned by an old bachelor, who would have found it difficult to provide for such a party if we had not car- ried the material with us. Plantation life would never please me. A strip of land bordering the river, running back a mile to an impassable swamp. Houses three-quarters of a mile apart, more or less. The land a dead level, lower than the river. The negroes a miserable, ragged, degraded-looking people, far behind the city negro. On Saturday evening a great Union meeting, the theater was crammed, thousands outside. Mr. Durant, a citizen, and Col. Deming were the speakers. Both were excellent. Mr. Durant's was a finished, classical speech. Col. Deming's contrasted well, full of fun. and warmly applauded. I look for Fisher by the next boat. You need not be afraid your letters will be uninteresting. The smallest thing you do, or the children say, is of much more interest than what chances in N. O., so write a few lines every day, and that will bring the week round. Loty, I trust, is quite content. I have not yet made up my box, nor written much to interest. Love to the children and all.
Most affectionately, SARAH
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. \4tth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have been asked by the members of the family of Mr. Pierre Soule, now in confinement at Fort Lafayette, to suggest the propriety of having him released on his parole, because of his age. It is represented that his health is suffer- ing from the confinement. I am convinced that Mr. Soule might with safety be given his parole to reside in the city of Boston, and not to communicate with the enemies of the United States, until such time that he might be brought to trial. I believe he would keep that parole, and hope you will grant him that indulgence, if not inconsistent with your views of public duties. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commd'g.
490 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18, 1862
Maj. Gen 1. H. W. HALLECK, Commander '-in-Chief U. S. Army
GENERAL: I have the honor to recount a very successful expedition under General Weitzel, of the preparations for the march of which I have previously informed the Commanding General.
General Weitzel landed at Donaldsonville, and took up his line of march on Sunday the 26th inst. About nine miles beyond Donaldsonville he met the enemy in force. A sharp engagement ensued, in which he lost 18 killed and 68 wounded. Full list of casualties has been recorded and published. The Comm'd'g. Officer of the enemy, Col. McPheeters, was killed, and the enemy lost quite a large number in killed and wounded. Two hundred and sixty-eight prisoners were captured, and also one piece of Artillery. Since then he has met with no opposition, and the whole of the country is now open to him.
The enemy has evacuated Brashier City, having by means of the Railroad got away before our gunboats could cut off their retreat, the Naval force having been delayed by a very severe storm. I send you General Weitzel's report received to-day.
Sending off so large a proportion of our effective force has necessarily left me very weak here, and I beg leave to urge upon the Commanding General the necessity of reinforce- ments, with which I can operate on Mobile or Texas or up the river. I am organizing some companies of Texas Volunteers of Cavalry, which I hope will grow into a Regiment.
I will forward by the next mail my letter of instructions to General Weitzel, in answer to his despatch herewith sent. I am just informed that our Railroad communications with General Weitzel are open, and his messenger has come in bring- ing a despatch while I write, which I enclose. I cannot too much commend the energy of Col. Thomas with his Regt., the 8th Vermont, who have in six days opened 5| miles of Rail Road with 9 Culverts, and rebuilt a bridge burned by the enemy, 435 feet long, besides hauling up iron from the track, which entirely impeded locomotives the whole way. In this work they were assisted by the first Native Guards (colored), under the command of Col. Stafford. I have the honor to be,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 491
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19, 1862
The Count MEJAN, Consul of France
SIR: Your note of Nov. 7th 1862, calling my attention to the imprisonment of Chas. Pelot and others has been received.
I take leave to invite your attention to the enclosed copy of a communication received by me from the consulate, in which Pelot is claimed as a resident of Switzerland, and to beg that the French and Swiss consuls will decide upon the nationality of the man, as I intend to proceed against him for fraudulently seeking the protection of a foreign power.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosure to Foregoing Letter
TRANSLATION. Swiss Consulate, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10 , 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
SIR: A Swiss citizen, Chas. F. Pelot, resident of Thibo- deaux, had been pressed into the Confederate militia, and was in the camp near Lafourche, when the General Weitzel dis- persed them.
He presented himself to Captain Fuller, Provost Marshal, who made him take the oath of neutrality, and gave him the enclosed pass, authorizing him to come to this city. When he arrived at Donaldsonville he was put aboard of a steamboat and brought here to the prison-ship, opposite Lafayette St., where he is confined, although the other foreigners have been released. I take the liberty to ask for his release, being sure that his case is of serious consequence.
Most respectfully, A. PIAGET, Swiss Consul
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19, 1862
A. PIAGET, Consul of Switzerland
SIR: Yours of Nov. 10th, calling attention to the detention of Chas. F. Pelot on board a prison-ship, has been received.
I take leave to invite your attention to the inclosed commu- nication from the French Consulate, in which Pelot is claimed as a subject of France, and beg that the French and Swiss Consuls will decide and report upon the nationality of the
492 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
man, as I intend to proceed against him for fraudulently seek- ing the protection of a foreign power.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 7th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Army of the Gulf SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the incar- ceration, on board of one of the United States ships, of three French gentlemen, viz., Elie Leon, Bertrand Lecaze, Chas. F. Pelot, inhabitants of Donaldsonville, having been arrested by the U. S. Troops there and sent to this city as prisoners of war. These Frenchmen declare to have never lost their nationality, and to have done no act except to obey the local militia laws. I should be very much obliged to you for the order to release them, and give them a pass to return to their homes. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant, COUNT MEJAN
From Count Mejan
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19th 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: Mr. Chas. F. Pelot has not personally claimed the pro- tection of the Consulate of France, and may perhaps not know the steps I have taken in his behalf. His name has been given to me by a third person, who thought him with- out doubt to be a Frenchman, and for that reason addressed himself to my Consulate.
I wanted only to call your attention to a fact, but not to discuss it, and I should regret if you make Mr. Pelot respon- sible for an error which is not his own. Accept, Sir, the assur- ance of my high consideration.
The Consul of France, COUNT MEJAN
From A. Piaget
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 22nd, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major Genl. BUTLER, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I have the honor to reply to your note of the 19th, that Mr, Chas. F. Pelot is really a Swiss citizen.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 493
The Consul of France has called your attention to him in consequence of a third person, having been induced by his fellow-prisoners to request his protection.
Pelot himself has never requested his protection. Accept, sir, the assurance of my consideration.
The Swiss Consul, A. PIAGET
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: I have the honor to forward to you the enclosed state- ment of the Captain of Co. "C," 13th Maine Volunteers, with the indorsement of Major Usher, senior paymaster, thereon. I fully agree that the allotment system as at present conducted is a great hindrance to the service. Many men have allotted their whole pay, or all but a dollar or two a month. That money does not reach the families without very consid- erable delay. It leaves the men nothing for their own neces- sities, dispirits them, causes them to be discontented and uneasy, and many are trying to be transferred to the regular service, or to other regiments, to get rid of their allotments, and in some cases even deserting. If any remedy can be found, I wish it might be adopted by the War Department.
I have the honor to be Tr L 7- ,
1 our obedient servant^
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
Enclosures referred to in Foregoing Letter
To Major R. G. USHER, Paymaster U.S.A.
WE the undersigned, members of the Co. "C," 13th Maine Volunteers, do respectfully represent that upon the solicita- tion of our Field and Company officers at the organization of our regiment, we were induced to take advantage of the allotment system as a safe method to send money to our friends, and one that would facilitate its transmission. But that since the workings of the system has been just the reverse of what was expected, and since no allotted money has been paid for the nine months the system has been in operation, we for these reasons respectfully request that the allotment rolls of Co. "C" be given up to our Co. Commander, to insure us hereafter a full payment of our money as U. S. soldiers. AUGUSTUS C. MYRICK, and Itf others of Co. "C"
494 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
MAJOR
THE above statement was drawn up at an organized meet- ing of Co. "C," 13th Me. Vols., Oct. 19th, 1862, at which we, commanding officers of the company, were present. The as- signors by the allotment were present and unanimously voted and signed the above.
Believing the request therein proper, and one that might be complied with in justice to the men, we heartily endorse and present it.
Most respectfully and truly, your obedient servants, A. E. BUCK, Capt. Co. C, 13th Maine, AUGUSTUS MYRICK, 2nd Lt., Co. C., 13th Maine.
Paymaster's Office, NEW ORLEANS Nov. 15, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Endorsement: MOST respectfully referred to Major General Butler. The allotments for the months of May, June, July, and August have been forwarded to the assignees, but will always be attended by considerable delay, which is unavoid- able, and in my judgment the whole thing is most decidedly impracticable, notwithstanding it is a Law of Congress.
R. G. USHER, Sen. Paymaster, Dept. of the Gulf
From Juan Callejon
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, November, 1862
Senor General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SEI^OR GENERAL: On the 13th inst. thirty-three Spanish subjects have been released from the public prison where they had been since the 5th inst. One of them has informed me of the manner in which that arrest had been made, and the cir- cumstances which followed, and I beg to bring it to your knowledge, that in future abuses of this character may be avoided.
When, on the 4th inst., they returned from fishing on Lake Borgne and had hardly anchored, they were taken prisoners by some eight soldiers belonging to the U. S. Service at that post. The fishermen showed their certificates of nationality of Spain, issued by this Consulate, but the troop insisted and they obeyed. They were then conducted to the military prison at the Custom-house, and from there to the public prison. Once there, one of the employees, supposed to be the Chief of the Prison, made the offer to the fishermen that if they would
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 495
enlist in theU. S. Service they would be released immediately. The prisoners refused, and this was the cause, that they were rudely treated and worse fed, until on the 13th inst. they were released.
Under like circumstances are now confined in the same prison the following Spanish subjects: Basilio Jufante, Juan Antonio, Ambrosio de Luis, Marcelino Saudego, Severo Alez, Juan Mariano, Pedro Pascual, Hilario Villanueva, Lorenzo Francisco, Ignacio de la Cruz, and, as I am told, several more are in the Custom-house prison.
The above-mentioned individuals are peaceable fishermen, who live on the borders of Lake Borgne, where they exercise their industry. To none of them has been reproached any criminal offence, nor has there been taken any declaration, nor do they know by whose order they have been arrested. I suppose that you have no knowledge of these facts. I bring them therefore to your notice, that you may take measures to stop those abuses of your subordinates. I am confident that you will not permit such acts to be repeated, and that you will give orders that hereafter the certificates of national- ity, issued by this Consulate, shall be sufficient guaranty of respect for the Spaniards, who keep strict neutrality and observe the laws of the country and obey the constituted authorities. God guard you many years,
The Consul of H. C. M., JUAN CALLEJON
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. ZSth, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
The Honorable JUAN CALLEJON, Her Catholic Majesty's
Consulate, NEW ORLEANS
SIR: I am directed by Maj. Gen'l. Butler, in reply to your communication addressed to these headquarters, to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a report from Col. T. W. Cahill, Commdg. United States Forces in this city, in relation to the alleged improper detention of Spanish subjects.
It will be observed that the Officer denies that Spanish papers were exhibited to him. Spanish protection will be respected. I have the honor to be,
Very Resp'y. Y. 0. Servt.,
W. L. G. GREEN, A. D. C.
496 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
Headquarters United States Forces in NEW ORLEANS, LA. Nov. 24^, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen'l. BUTLER, Commdg. Department of the Gulf
GENERAL: On the 20th of November was sent to these Headquarters a document from the Consulate of Spain in this city, bearing your endorsement with directions to see Capt. Sawyer and report.
In obedience to which I have the honor to report that the parties alluded to were not sent in by Capt. Sawyer. That they were arrested by Serg't. Joseph McQuestion, Co. C., 26th Mass. Vols., then in charge of the Guard at Proctorville, whose statement I have heard. They were arrested in obedi- ence to your Order to respect no passes without your personal signature. None showed any Spanish papers, some had passes from General Shepley, some from Gen. Weitzel. In my opin- ion it would be impossible to prevent these fishermen from carrying on a contraband traffic to some extent if they are allowed to hover along the coast.
Still, Capt. Sawyer and the man Knox, who seems a man of judgment, thinks some of them might be trusted under a strict surveillance. If they are compelled to quit their fishing it would probably leave them destitute, but we have nothing but their word to depend on for their being faithful.
The man Knox says he has known some of them for many years. I am inclined to trust his judgment to some extent, as he has proved himself very active and faithful so far, and is well acquainted with the coast and people. All of which is respectfully submitted.
THOS. W. CAHILL, Col. Commdg. Brigade
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19, 1862
PEPIN vs. BANK OF AMERICA
Appeal from Provost Court
HAVING heard the appeal in the case of J. F. Pepin vs. Bank of America, upon the arguments both written and oral of the counsel for the several parties, and having given it the best consideration possible, I am of opinion that the claim of the plaintiff, to be paid in the currency of the bank and not in Confederate notes, is valid.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 497
This claim is resisted by the bank upon two grounds, 1st. That the Commercial Water Works Co. made their deposit in Confederate notes, and that they being a quasi banking company themselves, the order of the Department relating to currency did not apply, it not being intended to control transactions between banks or banking companies. 2nd. That Pepin, being the drawer of the check made by the company in their deposit in the bank, cannot bring suit in his own name, because of the familiar principle that the creditor or depositor cannot divide his debt or deposit, and make the creditor or depositor liable to several parties without his own consent.
That is true; but not in the case of a bank deposit which is taken under the well-known commercial usage that is to be paid out in checks, so that the promise of the bank upon the receipt of the money is in law a promise to pay any portion of his deposit to whomsoever the depositor shall nominate by his check in the usual form. The authorities cited at the hear- ing will be found upon examination to be applicable only to an ordinary debt between individuals, or an ordinary deposit, and not applicable to deposits in Banks which are subject to well known commercial laws.
The first objection would require more consideration did it not appear that Pepin was a stockholder in the Commercial Water Works Co., and took the check in the usual course of business for his dividend, and of course is not subject to any of the equity existing between the company and the bank. It is clearly admitted by the pleadings that the bank owes the Water Works Co. more than the amount of Pepin 's draft, whether we reckon that indebtment in Confederate notes or in bank notes. The Co. has drawn its check, and if the bank has sufficient funds it is bound to pay, and if there are any equities existing between the company and the bank in Con- federate notes, and the bank is obliged to pay Pepin in bank notes, it would have a right to charge the difference, if any, between their notes and Confederate notes, in the amount paid to Pepin, in its account current with the Water Works.
An attempt was made in the argument to draw into this case the supposed equities between the company and the bank, and the case was treated, in argument, in both sides, and their equities were raised by the pleadings. But the decision is not based upon those grounds. It was urged in argument that the Gen'l. Order did not contemplate that any
VOL. II 32
498 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
bank or banking company which had deposited large sums in Confederate notes in any other bank, and had thus aided to put this illegal currency in circulation, should be allowed to turn round and claim in good currency the amount of its deposit from the deposit bank.
This may be true and may require consideration.
Again it was urged that if the Water Works Co. could draw checks in favor of third parties, they might evade the sup- posed equities existing between them and the bank by sub- stituting these third parties, as in the case of Pepin, as creditors, in place of themselves. Their considerations were urged as against the plaintiff. If any collusion between the plaintiff and the Water Works Co. had been claimed, the argument would at least have had foundation. But the good faith is not impugned. It is not for the Commanding Gen- eral to suggest to the learned counsel having the rights of the bank in charge, how the supposed wrong may be remedied, as the counsel will readily see that the bank cannot be made the depositor of the Water Works Co. unless the bank chooses. And if therefore the bank chooses to tender to the Water Works Co. the amount of its deposit, and if the Water Works Co. are bound under Gen'l. Orders, and by the equities exist- ing between the parties, to take that amount in Confederate notes, the tender of such notes would put an end to all the right of the Water Works to draw further checks upon the bank. And then the bank and Water Works Co. would be in condition, if they choose, to raise any questions before the civil, or other tribunals, which may exist between them. But with this the plaintiff has nothing to do.
The appeal is dismissed, and the judgment of the Provost
Court is affirmed. T, -n T» ™ • ^ ^ ^
BENJ. F. BUTLER, May. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Ed. Quars. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, November 2(M, 1862
Hon. H. A. RATHBURN, President Canal Bank
SIR: I am informed that the notes of your Bank command a premium in the market, and that you are selling Sterling Exchange payable with the same. This is a speculation upon your circulation, which is withdrawing from the community where it is needed for the purposes of business.
You will therefore make no further purchases of Exchange without orders, and you will show cause why the foreign
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 499
exchange of your Bank should not be sold, and your Bank resume the payment of its notes in specie.
You will report in detail the condition of your Bank to these Head Quarters tomorrow.
Very respectfully, Your obt. servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Comd'g.
From Paul R. George to General Butler
NEW YORK, Nov. Z5th, (1862)
MY BEAR GENL.: Your wife's letter compels me to write plain, simple facts, just as they appear to me. Of all duties ever put upon me, the most disagreeable is to state to a friend, not his three-fourths of nearly perfection, his glorious prospects, his consummate ability, his resolute purposes, all these are agreeable to recapitulate, to use by designing men for selfish purposes, to drown his necessary judgment to success; mine is the task to be plain, to tread the narrow path of the quarter track, to note to my friends the brambles, the thistles, the quick-sands, and the rocks that seem to me to obstruct the easy progress of his hopes that look so green in the dis- tance. I hinted in rny former letter the necessity for great care in all commercial enterprises. I find no fact afloat to your prejudice. Still, my dear Genl., the atmosphere is rife with change, with intrigue, with passion, with avarice, coupled with ambition, and you are aimed at among its victims. Al- ways remember, my dear Genl., that the blow aimed at Danton killed Robespierre too. You may still be considered the Dan- ton of the present crisis. Be warned by Danton's or McClel- lan's death. Imbecility, malignity, and courage surround authority at headquarters. I have industriously explored, since I have been in N. Y., all these attacks. Upon the whole, have come to the conclusion that there is just at present no danger. Now for example:
Chase says: — Why will Genl. Butler allow his friends to be so loaded, so embarrassed with his commercial connexions. Garrison : — George, I tell you (because you are a friend of Butler's) I am afraid he will be removed, indeed I have been afraid of it before now. I tell you there is hell to pay among the merchants. The talk is awful and it has its effect. Col. Jones: — I am just from Washington. I tell you before Banks is done he will have Butler's place, etc. Governor Andrew I see about the Astor House, I think for no good.
500 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Seward: I am afraid of the consular affairs; if Butler is changed he will have an important command etc. etc.
Very many lesser lights I could name for examples but the above will suffice for the dark side of the question for condi- tion and discussion in the public mind. Now, then, all this is met by three-fourths of all those who speak of you at all with, "By God, if they remove Butler I hope the country will sink;" "They dare not do it;" "Butler is the only live General we have got;" "Butler is the right man in the right place;" "Butler has the ring of a good General;" "Butler is the only Genl. that has done anything," etc; "I have carefully read all of Butler's despatches — show me any other Genl.'s writ- ing that has the same ring in it, or that begins to; 'By God, gentlemen, don't talk to me,'" etc. etc.
Now, my dear Genl. my opinion and advice is you want a friend at court, entire disconnexion of all commercial enter- prises. Pursue on, as you have, as a Genl. and I have great hopes. Fisher's and Pierce's visit will accomplish much in allaying, both here and at Washington and at New Orleans, difficulties and surroundings that now lay in the pathway of the future. You now stand high, so high that to fall would crush you. Heed, I beg you, what Fisher may say upon com- mercial matters. McClellan is out and will die with Burn- side's success. Banks' destination was Texas — his plan to make two free states, etc. He goes now to reinforce Burnside, in my judgment much against his will. All this is well for you. Such is war. Seymour is Gov. of N. Y., and may bring on a collision with the U. S. authorities — will certainly if writ of Habeas Corpus is denied citizens of N. Y. Such a calamity would change all the future. I have pressed so hard the necessity of Fisher's and Pierce's visit that finally they have concluded to go. I sincerely hope good will grow out of it. So frank, so plain, I know you will believe me an unchanged
friend. T> T> ^
r. K. GEORGE
To Mrs. Genl. BUTLER
IF the General will allow you to read this letter so that you can make out its meaning I would be glad. I write and spell so badly and oftentimes mean so much more than I say that it often takes the keen eye of a lady to work out its full mean- ing. It always takes time for male or female to work out any sense or to connect ideas in my bad writing. It is to save the General valuable time that I make this request, and to make
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 501
this letter answer to yours, which I felt both honored and instructed by. Please remember me to each and every mem- ber of the staff. p R GEORGE
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Z5th, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf Squadron ADMIRAL: I have the honor to enclose you a letter from the War Department, ordering restitution of the "West Florida/' seized as a prize, and to request that you will order her to be returned to her owners in accordance with said Order. I
have the honor to be, T7 Tr ^L, 0
Very respy. Your Obt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen'l. Commdg. Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. \\tht 1862 [Not in chronological order]
May. Gen'l. B. F. BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
GENERAL: The Secretary of the Navy has brought to the notice of the President the pass issued by you to the United States Vessel "West Florida," to proceed from New Orleans to Matamoras, etc. The pass was not respected by the Block- ading Squadron in that quarter and the vessel was seized as a prize. As it is presumed, however, that the document was given in good faith, the restitution of the vessel will in this instance be ordered, but it is expected that you will not in future issue similar passes without further instructions from this Department. I am, General,
Your very Obedient Servt., EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec'y. of War
From Rear Admiral Farragut
F. S. HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Oct. 20, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENL. : I herewith send you the copy of a letter sent me by the commander of one of my vessels that captured the "West Florida" at Sabine Pass. The Commander believes it to be a forgery, and therefore sent the vessel up to me. He landed the passengers at Matamoras, from which place he took passage, and appeared much surprised at finding himself
5m LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
at Sabine Pass. If such is the intention of the Govt., why send me such stringent regulations, "not to permit passes from any officer of the army or navy to parts not in the pos- session of our Forces." In fact, N. O. is the only post they allow any trade with — but I send you copies of all my latest instructions, which I think very clearly show that they do not recognize the right to trade with any Post but New Orleans. I sent copies of all this vessel's papers to Dept. when she was captured before, and shall now advise them of the capture again, and forward Capt. Crocker's report. The vessel is detained here in quarantine.
Very respectfully and truly, D. G. FARRAGUT
From Rear Admiral Farragut
Flag Ship HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY, Oct. 28, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: I enclose herewith a copy of a letter handed to one of Blockading Officers as a pass for the schooner "West Florida," captured in the act of running the blockade at Sabine Pass.
Very truly yours, D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral
From General Butler
CONFIDENTIAL. Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 24, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
To the Officers of the Blockading Squadron
THE "West Florida" schooner has been loaded with her present cargo and cleared for Matamoras, for the purpose of bringing out cotton from Texas. She proposes to make Sabine Pass, exchange her cargo for cotton, and then make a port in Cuba or New Orleans, as may be best.
The owner, a loyal citizen, has property here to insure his good faith. You will therefore aid what I understand to be the policy of my Government in getting cotton to foreign ports, by passing this vessel. This course of trade should be secret, of course, to be successful. You will not, therefore, allow any information of this pass of this vessel to be made public, but report the matter with a copy of this letter to Admiral Farragut or your superior officer.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Genl
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 503
From M. F. Bonzano
U. S. Branch Mint, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Wtht 1862
Major Gen'l. B. F. BUTLER, Comd'g Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: It affords me much pleasure to be able, herewith, to return to you the sum of Two Thousand One Hundred Dollars, which you so kindly advanced me for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mint and L. N. establishment. But for your timely aid, the work under my charge could not have been so successfully carried on, and I beg leave to assure you of my grateful appreciation of the favor you have ex- tended to v L , ,
Your humble servt.,
M. F. BONZANO, Special agent, Treasury Dept. From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, November 28, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: Your letter enclosing Mr. Butler's long one came this week. I am glad to hear you have everything ready to send. They are started before now, of course. We thought they might be on board the "McClellan," but nothing is reported. Yesterday I called to see Maria, and was amazed to hear that she expected Nina next week You said nothing about it in your letter, and I could hardly believe it possible that the two would venture on such a voyage. Hope they will reach here all safe and that she will find some pleasure when she gets here for the winter. But there is a doubt expressed about Fisher's coming, yet I shall expect to see him with them. If they have started you must have had a dull Thanksgiving. Blanche writes me she is dull and studies too hard, having no time for recreation. I have written her to take the full time for play, etc.
The London Times is out on Mr. Butler in the ugliest form, calling Jackson a negro stealer, and saying he is a partner of his brother, and that great iniquity has been done in New Orleans, and so forth, taking up two columns and more on the subject. Mr. Butler feels all this, and would not allow his brother about in the same way again. But is this any consolation to me, who knew what the result must be from the first, and have nearly died because I could not prevent it? It is rather terrible that your own government must inter- fere, and a foreign one comment, before the acts of an indi- vidual like that could be stopped. Is it not enough to make
504 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
one mad that two years of agony which I have borne, and after I had proved to him that Jackson was the cause of his failure at Fortress Monroe, yet again that he should bestow all power and give all confidence once more, to have his repu- tation assailed, and the power he has and might yet gain, slip from his grasp and crumble to nothing? Banks we hear is already on his way with reinforcements to do the very work we had planned for Mr. Butler. Chase writes to Mr. Butler that Banks will come, but not he thinks to supersede him. And this is all he gets for applying in that quarter. Chase will never help him. This is Major Bell's opinion too, after seeing him last summer. So he has lost one who could and would have served him, and gained, nothing. Has not every word that I have said proved true, and more? My imagina- tion has not cheated me. There is one comfort out of it, only one. This pest has played through and will at last be obliged to go, not soon, I think, to regain his hold; so that there is a chance, if Mr. Butler is again successful, that he will not be at hand to pull him down. But there is yet more that I dread. This man has plunged into everything, and what the final result may be I do not believe he knows. I wish you would suggest to Fisher to have a care, I think he should not answer drafts unless they are Mr. Butler's, but yet I may be wrong. I know Mr. Butler said one day it was not likely that he would answer any but his. But Fisher may be nearly here, and then it will be understood. I shall feel relieved when this man has gone and no more to be dreaded from him.
You wrote that Benny and Hattie were not well. But they must be over it by this. What a dull Thanksgiving for all. Try and make yourselves happy as possible. I have several things to send home, not much value. But nothing yet for Benny. There are some splendid things will be sold, but I do not know how I can buy. The house we are now in is gorgeous with pictures, and statues, and bronzes. However, it is not worth while to talk about it. I may have a chance to send you something. M^ SARAH
From G. S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase 1
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, November ZSth, 1862
DEAR SIR: I have frequently conversed with Gen'l. Butler about an expedition to Texas, and since it was known here
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 332.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 505
that Gen. Banks was to command the expedition, I have had two or three conversations with him. The General evidently expected that this expedition would be under his command, and now thinks that Gen. Banks should report to him and act under his orders — for the following reasons.
1st. Because Ship Island is an inconvenient and, for ship- ping, a dangerous rendezvous. Most of the steam vessels from New York would be unable to enter the Texas harbors. Gen. Butler would put the troops on board his own light- draught steamers, and wait just in the mouth of the river until fair weather permitted him to run to Galveston in 48 hours. The troops from the sailing vessels could be landed here and the vessels return home, thus saving expense, while a few trips of the General's steamer would convey all the troops to the Texas coast.
2nd. Gen. Butler's troops are acclimated — well disci- plined — have all been under fire, and the weak and sickly have all been weeded out. Gen. Banks' troops will be new and undisciplined, etc. Gen. Butler would retain the new troops here, and send to Texas an equal number of his veterans, who would form a far more effective force than new troops, and not liable to be weakened by sickness.
3d. A large army could be accommodated in the City with greater ease and comfort than upon Ship Island.
4th. This point is the most convenient depot for supplying Quartermaster and Commissary's stores to Gen. Banks in Texas, and beef and other supplies to be obtained in Texas are most needed here.
5th. When the rebel army retreats from Vicksburg and Port Hudson, they may go west to Texas and crush Gen. Banks' force. This can be prevented by cooperating from this point, and cutting them off by taking Shreveport (on Red River) — and this cooperation can be efficient only by unity of counsel and command.
6th. The General has prepared four or five iron-clad gun- boats, — the only strong boats on the Gulf coast, capable of operating advantageously in the shallow bays and bayous of Texas.
Such are the reasons I have collected why Gen. Butler should have command, or rather, why Gen. Banks should report to him. These reasons come from Gen. Butler himself. Perhaps others could be given, and perhaps these already stated are not weighty. I thought it proper, at any rate, to state them
506 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
to you. Gen. Butler says the above plan would advance the expedition thirty days. Of course, I am ignorant of Gen. Banks' plan of operations. Intelligent Texans now here think the capture of the town of Houston should be the first object. This is the center of railroads and (they say) the controlling position (in military sense) of the state. The slave population is large in that part of the state, and, if properly employed, would prove a source of great weakness to the Rebels.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
P.S. I do not know whether Gen. Butler or Gen. Banks is the ranking officer. I have written this letter only that you might be informed of Gen. Butler's opinions. He will soon send troops to Galveston.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 28th, 1862
Hon. JOSEPH HOLT, Judge Advocate General, U.S.A.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from your Office of Nov. 21st, relating to the forwarding of copies of the record of a Military Commission. These copies went forward through inadvertence, and I now have the pleas- ure to enclose the originals.
I trust you will find the proceedings substantially regular. We cannot in the field expect the minute technicality which characterizes the proceedings of Civil Courts, but I believe a substantial justice and right is maintained in the Military Courts.
I observe, in looking at Gen'l. Orders No. 170 current series, that it is said that a Military Commission has not jurisdiction in the case of a spy. I had supposed that a Military Com- mission, appointed by the Commander of a Department, had jurisdiction of life and death, and I came to this conclusion after an examination of the usage of the service and from his- torical recollection. It will be remembered that Major Andre was tried in our service by a Board of Officers. The proceed- ings by Court Martial are so slow, requiring questions and answers to be in writing, that it is impossible to punish crime so rife in a large city with such a population as ours. I trust your Department has not come to a final determination against the jurisdiction of a Military Commission in that respect.
We are very much embarrassed here because of the want of promptness of punishment. The prompt punishment which I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 507
accorded to offenders when I came here had the most salutary effect, but that has now worn away. It has come to be under- stood by the villains of New Orleans that no capital punish- ment can be inflicted even upon them, without the sanction of the President of the United States, and further that he is opposed to capital punishment, and that delays will intervene sufficient to give them the chances of escape which existed under the laws and administration of the Civil Government, so that of sixty-nine murders committed in the State of Louisi- ana in a single year there was no capital punishment.
I will enclose you a copy of a translation of a cypher letter whereby we have just detected a conspiracy against our elec- tions, to be executed by force, a favorite amusement, by the by, with these people. I believe that I am not usually blood- thirsty, but I am convinced that nothing but the promptest and severest punishment can govern the Carbonari of Italy, the Brigands of Sicily, and the secret Bands of other Nation- alities, as well as our own citizens, descendants and comrades of the Pirate Lafitte, — all congregated here.
Another question of jurisdiction is raised which it is quite important to settle. We have convicted of murder a man who was indicted last March by authority of seceded State of Louisiana, but the Court ran away before his trial, which was set down for the 19th of May. I have addressed your Depart- ment upon this question but have as yet received no reply, owing probably to the original record not being sent forward. We have no means of confining such desperate villains. We found them at large a terror to the community. The United States can hardly be responsible for the protection of life and property if we have not this power of punishment.
In one case, which is now pending, a man was tarred and feathered to be driven from the city a few days before we landed. He is now here, and the "Thug Association" which did this deed are many of them here, some under an arrest, and those at large are threatening the life of the complainant, in order to drive him away again. Can it be possible that we are powerless to punish such crimes? Awaiting your early reply. I have the honor to be,
Most truly Your obdt. Servt., Maj. Gen. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
508 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. ZSth, 1862
Capt. NIMS, Commdg. 2nd Mass. Vol. Battery
CAPTAIN: I am directed by the Maj. General to call your attention to certain portions of the report of Col. N. H. M. Dudley, Act'g. Inspector General of this Department, upon the condition of the 2nd Mass. Vol. Battery. Viz: "Not a Knapsack or valise properly packed, discipline not good, Clothing Book improperly kept, Adjt. Office too far from camp and in dirty condition, stables not clean, yard dirty and in fact filthy, Kitchens very dirty and badly managed, Colts- revolvers, some rusty and nearly all in bad condition, horse, drawing Government forage, yet is not branded."
Capt. Nims' attention is also called to the remarks in same report upon the subjects of company and weight of bread.
The Commanding General directs that the foregoing receive the instant attention of Capt. Nims.
Respectfully, Your Obdl. Servt.,
GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Genl.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. %9th, 1862
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secy, of State
SIR: I have the honor to enclose for the information of the Department of State copies and translations of a correspond- ence between Admiral Reynaud and myself upon the subject of the imprisonment of Alfred and Jules Lemore. As these will form a part of the papers relating to the case of the French Consul and the "New Orleans Bank," I have transmitted them directly to the Department of State.
It will be observed, in his reply, that the Admiral does not deny or remark upon the claim of Alfred Lemore, that his papers were concealed on board the "Catinat" a French Ship
Most respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
Enclosure referred to in Foregoing Letter TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17 th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: After the interview which I had the honor to have with you last Friday 14th inst., and in which you had
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 509
the complaisance to communicate to me the different papers relating to the affair "Gautherin & Co.," and in consequence of remarks which it was my duty to make to you, I had left you with the conviction that Messrs. Lemore would be de- tained only provisionally until a regular Court would decide upon the offence with which they were charged, namely, to be engaged in an unlawful commerce with the government of the Confederate States; it is in this sense that I have rendered an account to my government by the mail which left last Saturday.
I have just learned that Mr. Alfred Lemore is confined in Fort Pickens, not to suffer a provisional imprisonment, but with the order of close confinement at hard labor, with ball and chain, and that Mr. Jules Lemore is to leave today for Fort Jackson, in the same conditions.
These measures are so serious that I must doubt the veracity of the assertion. But not having the means to verify it, I should be much obliged to you, General, if you would let me know the present position of these gentlemen, and the nature of the orders which you thought proper to give in their regard. However, if against my expectation, Mr. Alfred Lemore has been submitted to such treatment without that legal forms have been respected, without that the Consul of France has been informed, I should see myself with regret in the necessity to support near you the official protest which in this case Mr. Mejan would have to address to you, against an order which would be outside of all regular legislation. Please accept, General, the assurance of my high consideration.
REYNATJD,
The Contre Admiral commanding in chief the naval division of the Gulf and North America.
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Admiral REYNAUD, French Marine Service
ADMIRAL: You were quite correct in your understanding of the conversation upon the subject of the disposition made of Alfred and Jules Lemore, with which you did me the honor to favor me. I have at present detained them for trial, which I propose will take place immediately after the affair upon the Conlon plantation can be investigated, which you desired should have the preference, as soon as the case now before
510 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the military Commission is finished. In the meantime, I have ordered Jules Lemore to Fort Jackson for safe keeping till further orders, and as I don't think the United States is bound to clothe and feed anybody without an equivalent, I have directed him to be put to work.
The case of Alfred Lemore stands differently in this, that he treated my authority with contempt, refused to answer all proper questions put to him in regard to the matter of the bank, and contumaciously, contemptuously, and utterly re- fused to produce certain papers which were within his con- trol, necessary to my investigation of the affairs of the Bank of New Orleans.
For this contempt of all authority on the part of a confessed criminal, I directed that until Lemore would produce the papers he should be confined closely, and as we are quite unprepared at Fort Pickens for means of certain confine- ment, I added the ball and chain.
This portion of his confinement Lemore can at any time alleviate by producing the papers as required. He intimated in the presence of the Directors of the Bank that these papers were on board your ship, the "Catinat," an idea I at once repelled as it was not possible that a French ship-of-war could be the willing custodian of the evidence of guilt of any person.
The form of the order of confinement of the Lemores, "till further orders," will show you that the imprisonment is merely provisional. I can't look upon the crime of the Lemores in the light you seem to do. While living in this city in June last under the protection of the United States they were en- gaged in delivering clothing to the Rebel army to the amount of more than two million francs.
There can be no doubt as to the heinousness of the crime of those foreigners who, living here, aid in the rebellion. The native rebel has the palliation that his association, his train- ing, his education, his sympathies, and perhaps almost neces- sities have led him into acts of treason. Not so the alien of the rebellion. He has been warned of the heinousness of his offence against a sovereign proclamation, he has no ties or asso- ciations, he has no state rights doctrines, imbibed from child- hood's teachings, to mislead him, he has no country here to save or ruin. He is merely the voluntary guest of a nation which protects him, and grants him more commercial advan- tages than he believes his own country affords him, — and this nation he aids to destroy. His acts, if done by a citizen, are
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 511
treason. His have all the moral guilt of treason. He breaks the laws of hospitality of the country whose subject he is, and the laws of the country whose protection and home he enjoys. His only excuse is greed and gain — the love of the thirty pieces of silver which Judas got for betraying his master from the same motive.
You may be sure, Admiral, that the imprisonment of the Lemores is not definitive punishment, for if the military tribu- nal before whom their case shall be brought take the same view of the heinousness of their offence that I do, and if the proof is undoubted, their punishment is likely to be much more suited to the depth of their guilt.
While, however, I claim, and in a proper case should exer- cise, the right and power to try and judge, and if found guilty to sentence these men myself, as the highest authority here, I repeat that at the earliest possible moment these men shall be tried by an impartial commission of officers of rank, ap- pointed before they were arrested.
Meanwhile, I claim the right to protect myself and my Gov- ernment from the contumacious acts of those who are engaged in an attempt to overthrow it, whether alien or native-born.
I have the honor to assure you, Admiral, of my most sincere respect and personal esteem.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major General Commanding
From Admiral Reynaud
TRANSLATION. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge reception of the letter which you had the favor to address me yesterday, 18th inst. You do me the honor to inform me that Messrs. Lemore will be, as I requested, tried by a regular court, and confined provisionally until their case can be called up for trial.
You inform me also of the nature of the orders which you have given in their regard, and of the motives which dictated them.
I shall not discuss these motives; in relation to the ques- tions of principle & right mentioned in your letter, I shall submit them to my Government, and shall ask Mr. Mercier, Minister of H. M. the Emperor, in Washington, to do the same near yours.
512 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I beg, General, to accept the assurance of my high con- si era ion. J£EYNAUD, the Contre Admiral commanding, &c.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 29*A, 1862
Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Sec'y. of State
SIR: I send enclosed two affidavits, a letter, and answer of the Commander of the Spanish Ship-of-War, "Blasco de Garay," and also a note from a private party tending to per- petuate the evidence of the fact that that vessel was engaged in the employment of carrying away passengers and political refugees. It will be seen that the fact is not denied by the Spanish Commander.
On the fifth of October I also forwarded to the Spanish Consul an anonymous communication which I had received, and which I herewith transmit together with the Consuls' answer. It will be seen that the facts alleged are not denied but affirmed. I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Your obdt. servt.,
Maj. Gen. BENJ. F. BUTLER
From General Sutler
PRIVATE. Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 29, 1862
To the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES
MY DEAR SIR: I take the liberty of addressing you, not as Chief Magistrate and Commander-in-Chief, but as a friend and a kind and just man.
I think I have a right to give you the exact state of facts personally to myself. I see by the papers that Gen'l. Banks is about being sent into this Department with troops upon an independent expedition and command. This seems to imply a want of confidence in the Commander of this Depart- ment, perhaps deserved, but still painful to me. In my judg- ment it will be prejudicial to the public service to attempt any expedition into Texas without making New Orleans a base of supplies and co-operation, to do this there must be but one head, and one Department. I do not propose to argue the question here — still further is it from my purpose to suggest even that there may not be a better head than the one now in the Department. I beg leave to call your attention that since I came into the field, the day after your first proclamation,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 513
that I have ever been in the frontier line of the rebellion — Annapolis when Washington was threatened, Relay House when Harper's Ferry was being evacuated, Baltimore, Fort Monroe, Newport News, Hatteras, Ship Island, New Orleans. It is not for me to say with what meed of success. But I have a right to say that I have lived at this station exposed at once to the pestilence and the assassin for eight months, awaiting reinforcements which the needs of the Government could not give me until now. And now they are to be given to another. I have never complained. I do not now complain. I have done as well as I could everything which the Government asked me to do. I have eaten that which was set before me asking no questions.
It is safe now for any person to come to New Orleans and stay. It has been demonstrated that the Quarantine can keep away the fever. The assassins are overawed or punished.
Why, then, am I left here when another is sent into the field in this Department? If it is because of my disqualification for the service, in which I have as long an experience as any General in the United States Army now in the service (being the Senior in rank), I pray you say so, and so far from being even aggrieved, I will return to my home, consoled by the reflection that I have at least done my duty as far as endeavor and application goes. I am only desirous of not being kept where I am not needed or desired. And I will relieve the Administration of all embarrassment. Pray do me the favor to reflect that I am not asking for the command of any other person, but simply that, unless the Government service require it, my own, which I have a right to say has not been the least successful of the War, shall not be taken from me in such a manner as to leave me all the burden without any of the results.
Permit me also to say that towards General Banks, who is selected to be the leader of the Texas expedition, I have none but the kindest feelings, he having been my personal friend for years, and still being so.
Writing about my personal affairs, which I have never done before, I hardly know how to express myself, but what I mean is this: If the Commander-in-chief find me incompetent (un- faithful I know he cannot), let me be removed and be allowed to meet the issue before him and my country, but as I never do anything by indirection myself, all I ask of the President, as a just man, is that the same course may be taken toward me.
VOL.- ii — 33
514 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I have told you before, what you well know, that I have not acted with you politically, but I defy all and any to show a political act of mine since I left my hearth-stone for my country's service l . . . whenever and wherever a friend would be influenced by me. Allow me to repeat again, Sir, what I have before said, although the determination may cause my recall, put the Department which includes Louisiana and Texas under one head9 and it will be best for the service. I pray you, Sir, not to misunderstand me. I have given up something for my country, can give up more. And this command is a small matter in comparison, in my mind, to my own self-respect, or to the good of the service.
I do not seek to embarrass the Government by any action of mine, or in regard to myself. Far from it. I would even take myself away rather than to do anything which would weaken by one ounce the strength with which the adminis- tration should strangle this rebellion.
I have written, therefore, this present note to the President, so that if no action should be had upon it, there need be no official embarrassment. With sentiments of esteem and re- spect, I am, Most iruly^ yourfriend) BENJ F BUTLER
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Nov. Z9th, 1862
Maj. Gen. HALLECK, Commanding in Chief, U.S. Army
GENERAL: The enemy has concentrated a large force — not less probably than ten thousand men, some excellent authorities stating the number as high as fifteen thousand — at Fort Hudson. The position is naturally a strong one — stronger even it is believed than Vicksburg. The design of the enemy is to fight the great battle for the possession of the Mississippi at that point. For the want of a sufficient land force — the Navy say they must have ten thousand men at least — I have been compelled to postpone a projected attack upon the position. It might have been taken by five regiments five weeks since had I had troops sufficient to hold it.
As the case stands now, it will be easy, with a force as large as that of the enemy, to compel him to give battle elsewhere, if, in no other way, certainly by drowning him out by destroy-
1 Writing illegible.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 515
ing the Levee above him. Brig. General Sherman is now en- gaged in exploring the country above here, on the left bank of the river, with a view to movement which may take place hereafter. He has reached a point within six miles of Baton Rouge, meeting no force of the enemy.
It is believed that before the middle of January we shall be compelled to withdraw General Weitzel's force to the other side of the Bayou Lafourche, as by that time the lower Teche Country and the country from Lafourche to Brashier City will be flooded from the Red River neighborhood. The levees being much out of repair, no means are in our power to ward off the impending danger.
The levees on the right bank far above are in the hands of the enemy, and totally neglected by him, and the conforma- tion of the country such that the overflow will extend hundreds of miles. This will be a serious blow to the people of that country, already great sufferers from the effects of the war, and most of whom are ready and most heartily anxious to return to their allegiance. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg.
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase 1
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, November Z9th, 1862
DEAR SIR: I thank you for your kind letter of the 14th inst. Whenever it is deemed expedient to put another in the place now occupied by me, I should like to be made Surveyor, as you suggest.
Naturally it will be a little painful to occupy the second place in this Custom House where I have so long been first — which I cannot help regarding as, in some sort, created by myself in the midst of great difficulties and in the face of many obstacles — now that the great labor is done and the road is becoming smooth and easy. But that is of little moment, and the President and yourself are the only proper judges of what is desirable and expedient.
I cannot recompense your constant kindness to me, except by endeavoring to deserve its continuence. . . .
The expedition to the salt works (spoken of in my last) failed. The gunboats could not get up the Bayou, and the
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 333.
516 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
troops could not pass through the swamps. They will have to be taken from New Iberia.
The affairs of the Dep't. of the Gulf, are managed with entire honesty, so far as I can perceive. At any rate no trade of any kind with the enemy is permitted. The pressure for permission to renew the trade has been very great. One man offered me $50,000 cash for permission to take salt across the lake. A sack of salt was worth here $1.25 — across the lake, $60 to $100. A thousand sacks would be worth $60,000, with which cotton could be bought for 10 cts. per pound and brought here and sold for 60 cts. So that one cargo would be a great fortune. Another man wanted to bring here several thousand bales cotton, but must take back stores. He would give me one-fourth of all the cotton brought hither, and there were many other cases — but they make these offers with such skill that it is impossible to get any legal hold on them. I don't know how many offers would have been made if I had been suspected to be of easy virtue. People here think, if a man has a chance to make money, however dishon- orably, that he will avail himself of it, of course. I again express the hope that no trade of any kind with the enemy will be authorized from Washington.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
From Honorable Henry Wilson
Senate Chamber, Dec. Ind, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: Your note was placed in my hand to-day, and I at once called upon the Secretary of War and pressed the importance of increasing your forces. He agreed with me and promised to do what he could to aid you. He expressed his confidence in you and his approval of your vigor and ability. This was gratifying to me, but I should have been more pleased to have had him order an addition to your force so that you might have a larger field of action. I will
press the matter all I can. T7 m 1 TT T,r
^ Very Truly, H. WILSON
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 3rd, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: A bounty having been offered by the Federal Govern- ment for soldiers that should be recruited under the provision
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 517
of the offer, there were enlisted in this Department, and before the order discontinuing the bounty reached us, a large portion of a regiment, being the Second Louisiana Vols. There was no other State Regt. in which these recruits could be consoli- dated, there was nothing left for me but to continue the recruit- ing. The regiment was afterwards filled. It is but justice to these men, and sustaining the faith of the Government, as they were promised this bounty, that they should be paid. It can be done, however, by the Superintendent of recruiting only by the Order of the War Department. Such Order is respect- fully asked.
Another class of cases arises — that of men enlisted here into the old regiment under the same promises and before the Order discontinuing the bounty reached us.
Another class still — a large number recruited after the Order was issued and before it came here.
Are these to be paid? They claim it, and by the letter their claim must be allowed. But it is not so just as theirs who enlisted under its inducements between the time when the Order was issued and when it reached this Department. I
have the honor to be, 77 r> v n e
Very Respy. Y. 0. S.
BENJ. F. BUTLEK, M aj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW OKLEANB, December 4t 1862
Hon. E. M. ST ANTON, Secretary of War
SIR: You will remember that the banks of this city sent away about four millions of their specie upon the advent of our troops in the city. They have made application to the Confederate authorities to bring it back, but have been refused.
The banks now desire that I would permit their specie in the Confederacy to be put upon a war vessel of some foreign power and sent either to France or England, or to be kept there safely till after the termination of the war, the money to be under the care of two agents, one appointed by the banks and the other by the Confederate Government. All this to be done, of course, only if the Richmond people consent. To effect this arrangement, I informed the agent of the banks I could not consent to apply to the department, because of the great need that the Confederacy have of gold in Europe. The agent of the banks might be corrupted by the Confederate Agent, and the money when there applied to Confederate
518 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
uses. But that if the representative of the foreign Govern- ment near Washington, upon whose vessel that coin might be placed, would pledge his Government that the money should be kept intact, unpledged, and undrawn upon during the war, to be then returned to the banks in specie after peace, I thought the Department might entertain the proposition.
I have in pursuance of this idea been requested to put this matter before the War Department. This I have done await- ing instructions. I have the honor to be
Very truly, Your Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, May. Gen. Com.
From the Secretary of War
War Department, WASHINGTON CITY, December 16th 1862 |~ Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: The Secretary of War has received your letter of the 4th instant, submitting the proposition of the banks of New Orleans to send their specie, at present within the lines of the Southern Confederacy, on board of some war vessel to England or France, to be kept there safely, and returned at the termination of the war, and asking instructions as to the course to be pursued in the matter.
In reply , I am instructed to inform you that the Depart- ment, after due consideration of the arrangement thus pro- posed by the Banks of New Orleans, feels compelled to withhold its sanction therefrom.
Very Respectfully, Your obedient servant,
C. P. WOLCOTT, Asst. Secretary of War
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
PRIVATE. BOSTON, December 4, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: Dexter has exceeded my authority in drawing upon me for very large sums at short sight, to such an extent that I have found myself obliged in self defence to protest a large draft of his for non-acceptance. If he sends forward Bills of Lading of merchandise in time to cover his bill before its maturity, I shall probably pay it. If not, it must go back, and he must take care of it as best he may. I shall be very sorry to have his credit in New Orleans injured, but he has brought it on himself by such recklessness in the use of my money and credit that there was no alternative.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 519
So far as I can see there is no possible combination of cir- cumstances which, even under these trials, can affect my sol- vency, but I may be very much embarrassed for a time, and I do not intend you should have a moment's uneasiness or risk, and I have therefore made you a remittance (as advised in a business letter of this date) of a cargo of merchandise which will cover your balance on my hands, about $33,000.
I have ordered Mr. Dexter to turn over to Colonel Butler (or in his absence to you) all the interests I have in New Or- leans, which, with other arrangements I am making here, will in like manner secure him. I have cancelled Mr. Dexter's authority to act for me on any further business, and ask as a favor that if he hesitates in acceding to my instructions you will advertise my revocation of his power of attorney, and take my interests under your own protection.
I cannot imagine anything short of mania which can have induced Dexter to go so wild. I have known him for years as a merchant of large experience, and as an honorable, warm- hearted man, to whom I would trust anything I possessed. It was in a strong feeling of personal regard that I sent him to New Orleans, to give him the opportunity to make a fresh start, and repair the loss of fortune caused by a dishonest associate. I still have the fullest confidence in his integrity, and it is with the deepest regret I now find myself obliged to act so peremptorily, but I cannot, in my unwillingness to hurt his feelings, allow myself to be involved any deeper in speculation.
Everything goes well with the Middlesex. We shall divide 10%. You are on the whole the popular favorite just now (no great honor), but, what is better worth having, I do not hear a dissenting voice from the opinion among my own best acquaint- ances that you have done more real service and shown greater ability in separate command than any other of our own Com- manders. Long may your success continue, as ever,
Faithfully yours, RICHARD S. FAY, JR.
If you like, I have no objection to Colonel Butler and Mr. Dexter seeing this letter. Of course you will not have time to manage the "Emblem" merchandise yourself. Select your own agent, and let him render his accounts to me through you. You may know of circumstances which may render Dexter's conduct excusable. If so, I would be happy to have him manage this stuff, unless the Colonel prefers to do so.
520 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
Dec. 4, 1862
I MUST add a little more. There are some things about Banks' coming that I think are well. If he comes with an independent command into Mr. Butler's department, for Texas is a part of it, Mr. Butler can ask to be recalled — and by that means we can return early in the spring. Otherwise, if the reinforcements were sent to him, he might from neces- sity be obliged to stay another summer. I had rather Banks came than accept that alternative. Seward wrote by the last mail more conciliatory. Say this to Capt. G., if Fisher has started. Now I think Mr. B. might be ready to look in that direction. The other parties have failed him. But I will write to the Capt. as soon, tell him, as the next mail comes in. I shall urge Mr. B. to meet promptly any kindly over- tures from S. I think I may send a box not by this vessel but the next. Dear love to the children. Do not read this to the
^' Affectionately, SARAH
From Honorable Charles Sumner to General Butler
Senate Chamber, 5th Dec., '62
DEAR GENERAL: "The President says that you shall not be forgotten." Those were his words to me. General Halleck and Mr. Stanton say substantially the same thing, although the former adds "all generals call for more troops," but I shall follow it up. Do not fail to call on me.
I understand that the French government has forbidden the papers to mention your name. The name of Marlboro was once used in France to frighten children, — more than a century ago. You have taken his place. Believe me, my dear Sir,
Faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 5th, 1862
General (P.) G. (T.) BEAUREGARD
GENERAL: This note will be handed you by your relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Proctor, who go to meet you under a pass from me. They will inform you of the dangerous, and it is feared soon to be fatal, illness of your wife. You have every sym- pathy with your affliction.
If you desire to visit Mrs. Beauregard, this will be a safe-
LETTERS OP GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 521
guard, pass, and protection to come to New Orleans and return. All officers and soldiers of the United States will respect this
pass. I have the honor to be, Tr 7 •,. 0 ^
^ Your obdt. Servt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg. From Lieutenant Commander Buchanan
U. S. Gunboat CALHOUN, off BRASHIER CITY, December 6th, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Dept. of the Gulf
SIR: I have the honor to report that the "Diana" has arrived from Petit Ause Bayou, and that the " Kinsman" is still aground on the bar. Captain Weeks has been relieved from the "Diana" to be tried by a Court Martial, and Act. Master Goodwin from the "Hartford" has been ordered in his place. Captain Wiggins writes me word that he cannot get off until he gets a high tide, and that he is perfectly safe and has plenty of coal and provisions. His boilers are in a very bad condition, however. The boats all require some repairs. I have sent the "Diana" up Grand Lake, and when she comes back I will lay her up for repairs.
Captain McMillan wished me to make a statement to you in regard to some store which was ransacked upon our arrival here. Captain Wiggins reported to me that the store had been broken open by the soldiers and sailors, and that there was a great deal of paint and rope laying about, some of it outside, and that it would be of use to us. I ordered him to get it on board, and to find out to whom it belonged and give a receipt for it. The paint we wanted, as also we did the rope for our guns. We had broken most all our back lanyards, and this stuff suited exactly. Captain Wiggins said he could find no person to give a receipt to, and I told him to keep it ready. The store was broken open two or three times, and a great many things were taken out by the citizens of this place. I caught some of my men with plates and canned meats, which I sent back and had the men punished. There was no person to look out for it, and therefore every person I presume helped themselves.
I would respectfully call your attention to the following case of mine, which if not inconsistent with your duty I would request it to be allowed. On the 6th of November, five days after our arrival here, I sent the "Diana" up the lake to bring away 255 bales of cotton, which Mr. Lod, the owner, had re- quested me to seize to prevent the Confederates from burning
522 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
it. Mr. Lod went with the boat and showed where it was, and came down here the next day and offered to sell the cotton. He represented himself as a loyal citizen, and said he wished to take the oath. As I thought I could make some money, and not thinking that under the circumstances I would be doing anything wrong, I bought the cotton. I was not then aware of your General Order No. 91, and as soon as I saw it I sent it in to Col. J. W. Shaffer. Mr. Lod has taken the Oath of Allegiance, and has looked to us for protection ever since our arrival here although he lives outside of our lines.
I bought the cotton in good faith, and this is the first time I have ever had an opportunity of making anything outside of my pay, and if you can consistently let me have it I would be greatly obliged to you. I have written to the Commission, and have appointed Col. A. J. Butler my agent to receive it, if you will let me have it. I am,
Very Respectfully, Your obdt. Servt., THOS. McKEAN BUCHANAN, Lieut. Commander, U.S.N.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 6tht 1862
Rear Admiral FAKRAGUT, Commdg. Western Gulf Squadron
ADMIRAL: From information received I deem it of the last importance that the "Essex" should be ordered to remain within sight of Port Hudson, so as to continually observe the rebel force there. The other boats might ply between there and Donaldsonville. I wish you would issue such orders, if
this meets your approbation. T7 , f
J ^ Very truly yours,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW OBLEANS, Dec. 6th, 1862
Col. JOSEPH HOLT, Judge Advocate General, U.S.A.
COL.: Your letter of Nov. 17th, concerning the steamer "Morning Light," has been received. The steamboat was long-since delivered to William Dillon, who seems to be an honest owner, and to have been defrauded by his agent in whose care he entrusted her, and who sold her to the Confederates.
That sale raised the only doubt in my mind as to restoring her. But upon personal examination I found the sale had
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 523
been made with an intent to defraud Dillon, and thereupon, although she was captured from Rebel owners, I ordered her restoration. I have never claimed salvage where property has been seized by the Confederates, being at the time of the seizure the property of loyal owners, and I am glad that my determination coincides with that of the Sec'y- of War upon this point.
I think the administration of this department is as little liable to censure as that of any other in treating the Rebels otherwise than as Rebels. My belief has been that we were a little in advance on that subject, and I beg leave to assure you that I shall be the last to recognize the Confederates as belligerents.
Upon this matter of captured steamboats, however, the truth is that most of the boats were left by their Northern owners in the hands of agents who sold them to the Rebels, and they were used in that service and Confederate registers were taken out for them. In such cases I deem the property fit to be confiscated to the United States, and I have refused to return the boats. But when I have returned a boat I have never made a claim for salvage, than this may be considered such a claim, I have refused to pay for the use of boats between the time of recapture and the time of delivery to the claimant.
I think it enough for the Government to recapture, pre- serve, and restore the property to owners, generally deprived of it, by the act of their own agents, without paying for its intermediate use, or, to use the illustration given in your letter, the rebel being considered in the light of a robber who has taken an honest man's purse, and the officer of the Gov't. when they rescue it, being bound to restore it, I think the party robbed could with no good grace make a claim for interest on the money while it was in the hands of the officer. I have the honor to be, yery Respy ? Youf om Servt^
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. From General Butler
Head Qts. Dept. of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 8th, 1862
Messrs. DURANT & HORNER, Attorneys at Law
GENTLEMEN: Your communication of 6th instant, relating to the Phoenix Iron Co., is received. I am informed and believe, and you will correct me if I am wrong, that the Phoe- nix Iron Co.'s works were leased to Mr. Busac, and with the
524 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
knowledge and consent of the company were used by him as a foundry for the Rebels, making shot, shell, and ordnance, and that there are now on the premises such machinery and partly-finished ordnance, Mr. Busac having run away, leaving these evidences of his rebellious trade behind him. It may be true that your clients instituted in the rebel court, when pre- sided over by a rebel judge under authority of a rebel state, a suit for the division of spoils between rebels, which had been acquired by working for the rebel government. I am now called upon to confirm the Provisional Seizure of the Court of this Rebel property, in favor of Rebels, and to allow the present Courts established by the United States to sit in judgment upon this claim. If I am not mistaken in the above- recited facts, the Court will not prostitute itself to such work. Lord Mansfield said, in deciding a case where the plain tiff was before him with much cleaner hands than your clients seem to have, that the Court of Kings Bench would not sit to divide spoils between the highwaymen. I trust that Courts established under the authority of the United States will not sit to divide profits or adjudicate rents between the owners and occupants of rebel foundries. Unless, therefore, it can be shown to me that I am wholly misinformed in the above state of facts, I shall direct my Quartermaster not only to retain the iron he has taken, but to seize the rest for the use of the United States, and shall ask your clients to show cause why they should not be tried for treason, in aiding the Rebellion by furnishing a place for the manufacture of arms for traitors. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfuuy^ your Obdt. Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, M aj. Gen. Commdg.
From General Butler
Headquarters DepL of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 8, 1862
MOSES BATES
IT having been represented to me by the report of Com- mander Renshaw of the Navy, and in conversation with Rear Admiral Farragut, that those well-disposed to the Union in Galveston are in a state of starvation, I am therefore endeavoring to furnish them with supplies.
Moses Bates has permission to ship supplies aboard the Brig. "Adams" and schooner "West Florida" to Galveston, on the pledge that they shall go for the use of loyal people. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Genl. Comd'g.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 5<£5
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, December 9th, 1862
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 560
I. IN consequence of a military necessity, and from the fact of having to furnish the Charity Hospital monthly with money and needful supplies, it is ordered that hereafter it be conducted upon the economical plan of a General Military Hospital.
II. That hereafter as heretofore the Sister Regina and the other sisters of Charity resident therein shall have especial charge of everything relating to the internal police and economy of the establishment, of the storeroom, kitchen and laundry, and all needful control over nurses, attendants, &c. All this, however, under the direction of the Surgeon in charge.
III. The medical arrangements to be as heretofore under the charge of the Resident Surgeon and the visiting physicians selected for this purpose.
IV. This arrangement is made to secure necessary aid to the military, but shall in no manner interfere with the succor, shelter, and comfort of the poor who shall always find a refuge within its walls when sick.
By command MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER
GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. General
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9, 1862
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec'y. of War
SIR: The 1st Texas Cavalry has been recruited with[out] bounty or expense to the Government to the number of about 150 men. I am about sending it to Galveston, where it is expected to fill up its ranks from the same class of people who have enlisted in it here. I have therefore had to find it officers and an organization. These officers most of them are Texas Refugees, and deserving non-commissioned officers of my command, and in either case sadly in need of their pay to meet their increased expense.
Under General Orders No. 61, series of 1861, 1 am not allowed to muster them into the service, although I have given them provisional commissions under the authority of the Depart- ment. I think that a special order, giving them their pay from their actually acting, which is the date of their commis-
526 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
sions, will be just, and I desire authority so to do. Awaiting instructions, I have the honor to be,
Very Respy., Your obdt. Servt., BENJ. F. BUTLER, May. Gen. Commanding
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9, 1862
Brig. Gen. MEIGS, Quarter Master General, U.S.A.
GENERAL: I have the honor to enclose to you specifications, drawing, and model of a roof for the Custom House at New Orleans. It is a building which has already cost the United States millions of dollars. It is left without a roof, and is crumbling away under the effects of the weather.
To leave it uncovered during the winter and spring will be exceedingly disastrous and expensive. Besides, it is the citadel of New Orleans, and we have found it necessary to have it roofed, and we have devised a plan which you will understand from the drawings. I think the work can be done within the estimates. I am now changing the plan so far as to adopt the fitting composition roof, instead of shingling, by which we shall save the cost of the gutters.
If this were not a matter of prime necessity I should not believe the expense justifiable. The whole matter I had put in charge of Gen. Arnold, the Military Commandant of the city; but his being struck by paralysis caused delay until this time. We shall have all that is necessary done in much less time than three months. We hope to have it nearly completed by the time we receive the answer to this. I shall be able to employ upon it many laborers whom I am now feeding. I have the honor to be,
rr r> ^ /-w 7,
Very ttespy. Your Ubdt.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg. From Rear Admiral Farragut
Flag Ship HARTFORD off NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 10, 1862
Major GENERAL B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: While no one appreciates more highly than myself the energetic, persevering, and skilful merchant, I must confess that no one has a greater abhorrence and detes- tation of the unscrupulous speculator who takes advantage of every necessity of his fellow-beings, and, regardless of conse- quences, by bribery and corruption forces his trade into the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 527
enemy's country, drawing down dishonor upon the cause as well as the country we serve, and upon us who are exerting every nerve to sustain our honor among nations, and even claim the respect of our enemies, however unwilling they may be to yield it. I have therefore determined to call to your attention the case of the Schooner "L. L. Davis," whose cargo is owned by one Mr. Wyer of New Orleans.
Lieut. Comdr. Read reported to me, sometime since, that this vessel was fitting out avowedly for Matamoras, but it was intimated to him that she was intended to run the block- ade by going into some intermediate port he might find unguarded. I directed him to watch her closely, and as soon as she left the precincts of the Civil and Military jurisdiction of New Orleans to examine his papers carefully, and see that all was right. He did so, and reported her papers all signed by the proper authorities. She sailed — and it now appears that instead of going through the Rigolets, she changed her course and ran over to Pontchatoula, the well-known depot of the Confederates. On calling upon Mr. Denison, the Col- lector, for information of this vessel, he informed me that he had been unwilling to give clearances to vessels for Matamoras, and that he had stated to Mr. Wyer (in the case of the "L. L. Davis") that his cargo was unsuited to the place; to which he replied "never mind," and appeared indifferent as to the Collector's opinion; which now, as the result is seen, leaves but little doubt in my mind that she was originally intended by Mr. Wyer to go precisely where she did, and I call your attention to the facts, General, in order that the affair may be properly investigated, and Mr. Wyer dealt with according to law. This and similar things are the theme of public dis- cussion, and bring discredit upon the whole of us, for it is said publicly that it could not be done without the con- nivance of the authorities, a charge which I am sure we all desire to avoid by a fair investigation. All of which is respectfully submitted by
Your obt. servt., D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral
From General Butler
Headquarters, Department of the Gvlf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 10, 1862
Rear Admiral FARRAGUT
MY DEAR ADMIRAL: I agree most fully to your feelings of indignation in the matter of the "L. L. Davis." I have already
528 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
begun the inquiry, and propose to investigate the matter to- morrow morning at 10-30 o'clock. In connection with me and Collector Denison, you are respectfully and earnestly desired to be present and aid the examination. Whoever is guilty shall be punished if within the power of the Department.
Most truly yours, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commanding
From General Butler to G. S. Denison
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS Dec. 10, 1862
MY DEAR SIR : Will you come yourself and bring Mr. Grey, and any papers you may have, or witnesses from your Depart- ment, that will throw any light upon the matter of "L. L. Davis." I propose to investigate that transaction, with the aid of the Rear Admiral Farragut, to-morrow morning at half past ten o'clock.
Yours truly, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Commdg.
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
UNOFFICIAL NEW ORLEANS, December Wth, 1862
DEAR SIR: I send this letter by Mr. Flanders, who leaves to-day for Washington, and suggest that you talk fully with him concerning affairs here. I mean military and political affairs, with which he is quite familiar. You can rely per- fectly on the integrity of Mr. F. An occurrence has just taken place which causes me to feel much indignation and some chagrin.
Col. Butler has three or four men in his employ who manage his business for him. The principal one is Mr. Wyer. Some days ago Wyer loaded a vessel for Matamoras. She was loaded in the New Basin, and when she got into the lake, ran into Pontchatoula.
This information reached me two days ago, and since then I have been investigating the matter, and am satisfied that it was a pre-determined plan to take the cargo to Pontchatoula for the rebels, instead of going to Matamoras. I am also satisfied that Col. Butler was the sole owner of the cargo.
The vessel was the Schooner "L. L. Davis," 95 tons burden, and 500 sacks salt was the greater portion of her cargo. This is worth in Rebeldom the astonishing price of
1 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 338.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 529
$150. per sack. Cotton could be bought there at not more than 15 cts. per pound, and delivered at some point on the Mississippi whence it could be brought hither. Near Mata- moras salt is abundant and cheap. I expressed astonishment to Wyer when he cleared the vessel, that he should send salt to that port, but he pretended to have information that he could get a good price for it.
I have just been to see Gen. Butler, and laid the whole matter before him, with statement of proof that the "Davis" was loaded with intention to run the blockade. I cannot give this statement in one letter, but it is sufficient to say that Gen. Butler expressed himself perfectly satisfied that such was the intention. I then told him I believed Col. Butler was the owner of the cargo — & gave my reasons.
Gen. Butler assures me he will immediately investigate the matter thoroughly, & if Col. Butler, or those associated with him, are interested in the operation, he & they shall instantly leave the Department of the Gulf. He manifested great indignation which I cannot believe feigned, judging from his appearance. I am confident I can bring forward sufficient proof to convince any honest jury that the vessel is Col. But- ler's, and that he intended to take the cargo to Rebels. This statement I intend to make to Gen. Butler to-morrow morning, so that, if he please, he can permit me to collect and present the evidence.
Yesterday I had a long conversation with Admiral Farragut, who holds the same opinion regarding this matter as myself.
The gunboat at the mouth of New Canal is the "New Lon- don," commanded by Capt. Read (Lieut. Commanding). I am afraid he will be made to suffer — but it would be very unjust, for he was not deficient in vigilance, and is an honest and faithful officer. I am more in fault than he is, for I allowed myself to be deceived — though any man, however vigilant, would have been deceived in the same manner.
I shall report to you promptly this progress and result of the investigation. Please excuse the hasty manner in which
I am obliged to write. ^ ^ ^
& GEORGE S. DENISON
P.S. Pontchatoula is in the northern part of Lake Pontchart- rain — somewhat inland.
VOL. ii — 34
530 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 10, '62
DEAR HARRIET: The time runs by, and two months have gone since I left home. A fortnight ago and I thought it likely enough we should be home at Christmas. But I do not feel so sure of it now, yet I think the chances are we return this winter. We look for the next mail with considerable eager- ness, as that may settle it one way or another. It is far better to go now than run the risk of another summer. You would be amazed to know how closely my time is occupied, and yet I do nothing. Other people with their calls, wants, and troubles, take up my time. This, with observing and gather- ing up the thread of things that run wild, is all I can attend to. I usually have a budget for Mr. Butler when evening comes, which I try to make as little distasteful as possible.
Last night I told him of a story I had heard during the day. That J — n was engaged in one of the largest gambling houses here — that two sporting men from California carried it on ostensibly, but one of them is his partner in other things, and he is secretly himself a partner in the gambling house. We are not through with results from this creature yet. Mr. B. says he goes from here in ten days, but where? To Havana, where he intends to take blood horses taken here from the finest stud in America. So with gambling and horse-racing he will still manage to have his name ahead of the Gen'L Mr. B. has great energy, and has found ways to rise however great the pressure, but this fellow has gone as near to blast him as he can and miss it, of that I am quite sure. Nor do I feel at all certain that he has missed it. There may be a stigma left that cannot be wiped out.
I have packed a box with the bronze clock I wrote you Mr. B. bought and some books to keep it in place, and in the crevices I have dropped pecan nuts for the children. An old torn volume of "Robinson Crusoe" for Paul to read. You must tell him the beginning of the story. I think he has never read it. I want to send you something, and could do so, but I am afraid of the conveyance. The clock you can put on the mantel in my room. I do not much fancy it, but it is bought and must be sent along. The other books you can put aside. There is a picture book, square with a blue cover and rather worn, that will please the children, "A Foreign Tour" I think it is called. The little book of heraldry do not give them.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 531
Poor Benny and Hatty, are they never to get anything? We were at a dinner party last Sunday at Mr. Durant's, a lawyer here. Among other things they gave us for dessert delicious candy made of roasted almonds pounded, and sugar. If I could send a box of that, how the children would like it. I begin to doubt if Fisher or Read will come, things have such an uncertain look. However, if they are coming they have already started. I hope you are not greatly troubled about domestic affairs. If Timothy goes with Gen. Banks I may possibly see him here. Love to all.
Affectionately., SAKAH
Do not leave my letters lying about. I wished very much to put a little package for you in the box, but I send the box by the "Catawba."
From F. W. Bird to General Butler
BOSTON, Dec. 11, (1862)
DEAK GENERAL: You will pardon the liberty I take in enclosing these papers to you, asking you to put them in the hands of some suitable person. We shall memorialize Congress in favor of a Bureau of Emancipation, and we want all the facts we can get. God keep you in your fight with wild beasts.
Faithfully yrs., F. W. BIRD
From Committee of the Democratic League
NEW YORK, December llth, 1862
Major General BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS
DEAR GENERAL: You will allow us, as individuals, to ex- press our commendation of your course, and to congratulate you upon its effectiveness in the public service. You have discriminated truly on the question as to what could be turned into an element of national assistance, and what could not. You have taken into favor and encouraged the naturally demo- cratic element, whilst you have treated with becoming firmness those aristocratic forces which are now in league with the despotisms of Europe to overthrow free government. Allow us to say to you, General, that you have gone to work in a sen- sible way, thinking in the right direction and fighting in the right direction, which accounts for the results of your wise and discriminate action.
Of course, General, the leading rebels are against you; so
532 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
are our vitiated enemies in Europe; so are the traitors and rebel sympathizers in the North. But, General, the great bulk of the heart of the North is with you. The great demo- cratic heart of the South, we trust will soon be with you; but the anti-democratic element that inaugurated the rebellion will never be with you. Some of this element may be alarmed into a seeming decency by threatened peril, but nothing more. It started off years ago with the idea that "Slavery and democracy were incompatible," and hence the antipathy to our form of government. It has the seeds of disloyalty mixed with its principles, and those seeds are ineradicable. If any other course of treatment can be adopted in order to prevent those seeds from germinating into overshadowing growth, than by encouraging and bringing into the ascendency the natural free government element in Southern population, then indeed are we mistaken. The hope, the delusive, lingering hope of conciliating the conspirators, and of bringing back this hopelessly-vitiated element of national weakness, has greatly hazarded the Union cause. We much fear that we shall not only be obliged to fight them, but also their allies in Europe.
There is a great democratic family in these states composed of the free labor element of the Union. The welfare of this great family is now periled by treason at home, and the alli- ance of this treason with the free government-haters in Europe. This great democratic family must be brought into unity. If every man like you had power to discriminate as to the proper course to be pursued, there could be little difficulty. Whether the great free government, free labor democracy of the Union, shall be brought into political affiliation through foresight and judgment, or whether it will indulge in distractions that will make unendurable calamity the basis of unity, is a prac- tical question now to be solved.
With many assurances of high regard, we are,
Very truly yours,
LORENZO SHERWOOD, HENRY C. GARDINER, CHARLES P. KIRKLAND, GEORGE P. NELSON, HENRY O'RIELLY, JOHN J. SPEED, THOMAS EWBANK, Corresponding Committee of the Democratic League.
P.S. We sent a copy of the above letter through the columns of the Evening Post of the 12th instant.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 533
From Charles S. Bartles
PRIVATE. Custom House, NEW YORK, Sat. Afternoon, Dec. 13th, 1862
Major General BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
DEAR SIR: This morning I wrote to you somewhat at length, and in concluding stated I would again write to you to-day; and having some leisure I take the opportunity of ful- filling this promise.
The removal of General McClellan from the command of the army of the Potomac occasioned great surprise at the North. By the Democrats — that is I mean by the democratic politicians and editors — it was considered not only a blunder, but crime; by the republicans it was deemed an act of justice, and to the outcries of their opponents they maliciously referred to the removal of General Fremont some twelve months ago. But by the great body of the people the measure was looked upon as being made by the Executive with the best inten- tions — namely, to insure a vigorous prosecution of the War, as well as to promote harmony between the War Department and the generals in the field. As to Gen. Burnside, all com- mended his appointment — the removal of General McClellan having previously been made. Had General Banks or Fre- mont received the command, the administration would have been liable to the charge of partisanship, so recklessly made against it by men who, lacking patriotism themselves, believe our rulers to lack it likewise.
Some of the friends of General McClellan confidently affirm that he will be made General-in-Chief vice Halleck Jan. 1st. This appears so grossly improbable that I almost fear I do wrong in mentioning it. I have pretty good authority for asserting that Mr. Lincoln intends to decline a re-nomination for the Presidency in 1864, and that it is well understood in official circles that General Banks, should he continue as popular as he is now, is to be the Republican candidate for that position. Should this be the case, it is highly probable that a Democrat will be named for Vice-President, to give the ticket additional influence with the people. Whether this be so or not, it is certain that the wind sets in the quarter I have indicated.
When is Mobile to be captured by our forces? It is pos- sible that General Banks' expedition may have sailed for that quarter? — but I have always imagined that the honor of reducing the Metropolis of Alabama would fall to yourself;
534 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
and that having redeemed New Orleans you would in like manner redeem Mobile from Secession rule.
The election of Messrs. Flanders and Hahn as representa- tives in Congress from New Orleans is variously commented upon by the northern newspapers according to their political proclivities. For instance, the Democratic press assume that the election is an attempt on the part of the Administration to secure for themselves a majority in the next Congress, which otherwise would be democratic; that it is, in fine, an odious conspiracy to over-ride public opinion. This assumption can only be maintained on the ground first that there are no loyal citizens in New Orleans to be represented in Congress — or second that the National troops stationed in that city exercised the right of suffrage, and thus nullified the will of the people. As these premises are wanting, the election is of course valid, and must be respected accordingly.
The bill for the admission of West Virginia as a state into the Union has passed the House of Representatives, and now only needs the President's signature to become a law. This proposed enactment also excites the ire of the opponents of the Administration, who indignantly exclaim that Mr. Lincoln violates the Constitution for partisan purposes. Here again are they mistaken. Mr. Lincoln being a practical man, looks at the subject in all its lights and shadows. He knows it is possible we may not be able to subdue all the revolted states; although believing, as I also believe, that it will be done.
Hence, to secure ourselves every possible safeguard against ill-fortune, ought we not to detach from the rebellious states every foot of ground we can obtain during the progress of hostilities? In my opinion clearly so. And every inch of territory so obtained must never be yielded. By pursuing this course we shall conquer the South by piecemeal — leaving to our main armies the work of destroying those of the Rebels.
It is much to be regretted that at a time like this there should be two parties in the North. The influence of the President's Emancipation Proclamation was the signal for partisan men to range themselves either on one side or the other. I had hoped that your wise counsels to your friends in Massachusetts in 1861 to support Governor Andrew, differ- ing from him widely as you did in his anti-slavery opinions, would have been productive of lasting results. The adminis- tration has been defeated in New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, and Ohio, in the first-named as well as in the latter
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 535
two states by majorities which would probably have been overcome had the Volunteers therefrom been allowed to vote. For my own part, I think that during the continuance of this war, and so long as the Administration does not wilfully vio- late the Constitution, it is the duty of every voter remaining at home to sustain the government in its great work of sup- pressing the rebellion.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury discloses an amount of expenditure hardly covered by a thousand million of dollars. Of this sum, enormous as it is, the major part has, I presume, been expended upon the Army; contractors and sub-contractors, commissaries and assistant commissaries have doubtless reaped extraordinary profits — profits altogether disproportioned to their service. While the war lasts these things continue, nay, must increase. And the unhappy man who has the vast responsibilities of the Treasury Department resting upon him can do no more than endeavor to detect fraud, and vigilantly guard the public deposits when the attempt in a majority of cases is, after all, doomed to failure.
Galveston having been occupied by our forces, it becomes a question whether they will attempt to penetrate any distance in the interior. Houston, the capital of, I think, Harris county, ought to be seized and occupied at the earliest possible moment. This is the great cotton mart of Texas, and surpasses in impor- tance even Galveston itself. I hope this matter will receive early attention. Business at the Custom House of New York has greatly decreased of late owing to the heavy duties imposed by the new tariffs. Secretary Chase estimates that $70,000,000 receipts from customs will be made during the present fiscal year; but he is too sanguine. Between $50,000,000 and $60,000,000 will be nearer the amount.
It now seems probable that the system of so-called "arbi- trary arrests" up to but recently pursued by the War Depart- ment will be soon entirely abandoned, as a portion of our truly loyal people have taken umbrage at the measure, which they foolishly believe to be destructive of their rights, forgetting that it is only the disloyal who really suffer in the majority of cases, and that by their own act.
Absurd statements relating to "Overtures for Peace," said to have come from Jeff Davis, are afloat; but generally dis- credited by the press. There is no truth in them; and they are brought forth only by the near approach of the 1st of January.
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General McDowell's court martial will beyond question result in his honorable acquittal of all charges preferred either against his honor as a soldier or his ability as a commander of a corps. Public opinion, which in this case is undoubtedly correct, declares General McDowell to have been simply un- fortunate. In the course of the trial (which will soon be ter- minated) General McClellan was called to the witness stand, and deposed or rather gave it as his opinion that had he at any time during the Peninsular campaign been re-enforced by the 35,000 men commanded by McDowell, he could have taken Richmond! This statement is now going the rounds of the press, and as might be expected creates a sensation. It appears from the evidence (documentary) given that McDowell was by the express orders of the President and the Secretary of War prohibited from effecting a junction with McClellan during the continuance of Jackson's raid in the Shenandoah Valley (in whose pursuit General McDowell ineffectually par- ticipated), and for some time thereafter, notwithstanding, as an ex parte statement has it, more than 40,000 troops remained to guard Washington with a large reserve at Baltimore. Now the question comes up, who was responsible for McClellan's failure on the peninsula?
Now, a week or ten days ago there was published an official statement from General Halleck with regard to this very subject. General Halleck states in brief that after the seven days' battles before Richmond, he called upon General McClel- lan, and a discussion took place as to the (future) plans of the war department. In the evening, General McClellan stated that with 50,000 fresh troops he could take Richmond; being assured that not more than £0,000 could be furnished, he took the night to reflect upon the subject. In the morning he stated that with 20,000 men he would make an attempt, and stood "some chance" of success. It was then understood that this number (all that could be spared, including Mc- Dowell's Corps) should be given General McClellan, provided the concurrence of the President thereto should be obtained. But just prior to or upon General Halleck's arrival at Wash- ington, he received a telegram from General McClellan to the effect that he (McClellan) could not or would not make the attempt without being reinforced by 35,000 troops, 15,000 more than the number agreed upon. Thereupon General Halleck telegraphed in reply to commence the evacuation of the peninsula — which movement was commenced fourteen
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 537
days thereafter, General McClellan having in the interim strongly remonstrated against it, to which remonstrance General Halleck replied at length, and in defense of his order.
I confess that the testimony given before the McDowell court martial materially disagrees with the statement of General Halleck, who stated that he could not give McClellan more than 20,000 troops (including McDowell's corps), while McClellan or some other General affirms that nearly 70,000 men were left in northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, and Fortress Monroe, when the peninsular cam- paign was undertaken, and that at the time of Jackson's raid McDowell had 35,000 men. It is clear that somebody was mistaken, but who, it is hard to say.
The Emperor Napoleon has recently seen fit to endeavor to obtain England's rulers to concur with him in offering media- tion in the affairs of this country, preliminary to an armistice taking place between the contending parties. Earl Russell, who, whatever his shortcomings in other respects, is certainly a clear-headed and practical Statesman, perceiving that such an offer would be at once rejected, and do no good whatever, rejects the proposition. I have no idea that armed interven- tion is likely to occur for many months, if ever; and if it does come, it will do more to promote a restoration of the Union than otherwise. Such at least is my opinion.
I have written at much greater length than I intended when I commenced, and will therefore close with the remark that I hope you will not find this communication either tedious or unprofitable.
Very Truly Your obdt. Servt., CHARLES S. BARTLES
From Richard S. Fay, Jr.
PRIVATE. BOSTON, December 14fA, 1862
General BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: By the " Marion" and "Creole" I am in receipt of invoices and bills from Mr. Dexter, which will enable me without inconvenience to take up his draft for $60,000, about which I wrote you in my last. His letters, while they confirm my opinion of his good faith, also confirm me in my intention to cancel all authority to act for me in any way. He has taken risks for me to an amount and of a kind entirely unjustified by my authority or instructions, and the chances now are that I shall sustain a considerable loss by them. I shall be sustained by law and right in repudiating
538 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
his acts to a very large extent, but I shall carry them out so far as I can, partly out of a personal regard for him and partly on account of the strength of my recommendation to you and your brother.
I have recovered from my fears of any inconvenience even temporary from the weight of the business, though it taxes my resources very heavily, but I shall prefer that, while I am so largely in debt to you and Col. Butler, you should hold whatever property I have in New Orleans. I hope you will draw as lightly as possible until I have had time to turn Mr. Dexter's shipments into money. Of this Col. Butler will keep the run.
I now enclose your invoices and duplicate bills of mdse. per "Emblem," consigned to you for sale on my account, the proceeds to be placed to my credit in account as a remittance. I should like this cargo closed out promptly if your market will permit without too much loss. I expect no profit, and only wish my business with New Orleans closed up, so that I can see where I stand. This of course does not apply to any business you or Col. Butler may send me, which I shall always gladly attend to. The "Emblem" invoices do not amount to quite so much as I had expected, but the amount will very nearly offset your present balance.
I have given you a letter to give to my friend, Mr. Brooks, whose house at Medford you will remember. He is one of my best friends, and a sterling fellow in every respect. His family has a large property in New Orleans, and he goes to ascertain its condition.
The Middlesex has made $200,000, and divides 10%. The Washington Mills make $200,000 on its woolen and $100,000 on its cotton business.
We are having news of great fighting at Fredericksburg. I trust we may win, but even if we do, it is, I fear, too late in the season to do anything on that line of operations.
Sincerely yours, RICHARD S. FAY JR.,
From Charles S. Bartles
PRIVATE. Custom House, NEW YORK, Monday, Dec, I5th, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Comdg. U. S. Forces
DEAR SIR: I should not have troubled you with this com- munication to-day had I not seen in the Washington corre- spondence of the World of this morning a recapitulation of the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 539
charges alleged against you by your enemies, and said to have been submitted to the President. I enclose you the paper in question, or rather send it by mail.
Now, why a democratic newspaper like the World should pur- sue you with such vindictiveness as it does is hard to determine, except on the assumption that believing you to be an active supporter of the administration it prefers to strike at it through you. Heretofore the World was republican in its politics, but differing from the government on the subject of so-called "ar- bitrary arrests," it finally went over to the democracy, and is now their recognized organ in this city. Its chief editor is a gentleman of high-standing, and one of the most efficient busi- ness men I know of; why he should allow the column of his Journal to be used against you is a question beyond my com- prehension to solve, unless the above hypotheses be correct.
Your rigid performance of the duties appertaining to the station you hold has of course excited the utmost animosity of those who are secessionists per se, or sympathize with them to an extent hard to define, but none-the-less tangible on that account. That these two representatives of opposition to the administration should form an alliance to effect your removal cannot excite surprise. But that they should be joined in this attempt by others whose loyalty is unquestioned, appears strange. In these days, however, it is party ties that bring about such curious combinations.
I have not the slightest idea that you will be removed or interfered with at all; on the contrary, I believe that hereafter as heretofore your conduct will be approved of by the execu- tive. Secure in his support, General, and of the approbation of the great body of our loyal citizens as well, go on in your career adding laurels to your wreath, and promoting the public welfare. Your reputation rests upon too firm a basis to be shaken by the breath of your enemies, who are impotent to wreak that vengeance they so long to inflict.
Gen. Burnside having affected a lodgement in the ruined city of Fredericksburg, finds out, to his surprise, the rebel army strongly entrenched, and prepared to dispute his advance on Richmond. Severe fighting has taken place without those decisive results so confidently looked for by the public. But he will triumph, or I am deceived in my estimation of his character. Our brave troops have had enough of repulses; henceforth they propose to celebrate victories. The papers of this morning will give you full particulars of the engagement.
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I will inform you in confidence of an interesting fact, Gen. Cameron has, as you are probably aware, returned home from his Russian mission on leave of absence. Should Mr. Wilmot decline to be a candidate for re-election to the Senate, Mr. Cameron will be the administration nominee for that position, with every prospect of success notwithstanding the democracy have a small majority on joint ballot. From the fact of their candidate, Frank Hughes, being strongly tinctured with secession proclivities, judging from his effusions in the press and on the stump, Mr. Cameron will probably receive a suffi- cient support from the democratic members to insure his re- turn. Whatever others may say, I firmly believe General Cameron to be one of the best and purest of our public men. A true patriot, he accepted the position of Secretary of War against his own inclination and at the urgent solicitations of the Executive. Finding the duties of the post too arduous for him, he resigned in February, 1862, at a time when our forces were victorious both on land and on sea. He was, as I believe, a warm friend of yourself, and appreciated your talents as they deserved. I sincerely hope he will be successful; for it is morally certain that if he is not, an opponent of the admin- istration will succeed Mr. Wilmot.
The Delta is your recognized organ in New Orleans, and a better conducted Journal, considering its limited space, does not exist. I well remember its disunion tendencies before the commencement of the rebellion, and that for ten years pre- vious to that time it divided with the Charleston Mercury the honor of extreme pestilential opinions in behalf of secession, the reopening of the slave trade, etc. A staunch Union Jour- nal now, it supports with the greatest vigor the policy of the Government, although taking due care to avoid needlessly offending public sentiment in New Orleans with regard to the abolition of slavery there and in the adjoining parishes. The True Delta is also an excellent journal, true, I believe, to the Union and the Constitution, and, like the Richmond Whig, having yielded to secession only when resistance was impos- sible. The True Delta I think supported Douglas for Presi- dent in 1860, the Delta, Breckinridge, and Picayune and Bee, John Bell. The Picayune, I am sorry to see, still clings under its present management to its former sympathy with traitors, although careful to observe what it is facetiously pleased to term "neutrality." Were George W. Kendall of Texas in control of its columns there would be no neutrality exhibited,
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 541
but in lieu thereof a warm espousal of the cause of the Union.
In nay letters of Saturday I expressed belief that General Banks would not disembark his expeditionary force in the Virginia coast, but would doubtless proceed to some important Southern city, either Charleston, Savannah, or Mobile. It appears from the papers of to-day more than probable that I was mistaken in this assumption; and that the corps have been or will be landed at some point on the North Carolina coast, whence they can proceed first to cut off railroad communications between the South and Richmond, say at Weldon, and then march on the Confederate Capitol while Burnside's army is proceeding southward by the Fredericks- burg route. I earnestly hope that this belief be not ill- founded; as, if it is not we shall (Providence permitting) be in possession of Richmond by January 1st.
Your Sincere Friend, CHARLES S. BARTLES
From Honorable Salmon P. Chase
WASHINGTON D.C., December 14th, 1862
Major General BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: Your letter was handed by me per- sonally to the President, and he read it all through in my presence, and, as he did so, acknowledged fully the capacity for service you have exhibited, and the past services you have actually performed. Beyond this he said nothing, except that he had written you some days since. He had promised this to me, and I was glad to learn that he had not forgotten to do so.
It was only since I received the letter to the President (with one to myself) that I learned from Mr. Stanton the real des- tination and instructions of Gen. Banks. I now understand that he is actually to take charge of the Department of the Gulf, to which Texas is annexed; and that he goes to New Orleans to direct operations on the river until it is opened, and on Texas, and I suppose on Mobile. I do not remember, however, that Mobile was mentioned. Of course, this com- mission supersedes yours. Before this conversation, I had supposed that General Banks was simply intrusted with the command of the expedition to Texas, and that though his command might lead to some conflict, if there were a disposi- tion to make or have trouble, that your great work on the river
542 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
in Louisiana and Mississippi and at Mobile would not neces- sarily be interfered with. I need hardly say to you that I regret profoundly to find myself mistaken. My respect for General Banks and confidence in his ability is entirely sincere; but I must frankly say to you (and I really hope you will not take what I say as a mere compliment but as what it is — my honest conviction) that in my judgment you have done more work and more important work and have done it better than any General whom the President has commissioned; and I believe this is the judgment of the country. Of course, I cannot think it for the good of the country that you should be superseded even by General Banks. We have not a great many men of first-rate ability, and I think there is work for them all, and room enough to do it in, without bringing one over another in this fashion.
And this brings me to what I want most particularly to say. You intimate a purpose of resigning. I most earnestly hope you will dismiss this thought. It is no discredit to serve under a prior officer. General Banks is your friend and you are his. Each can greatly help the other, and there is room enough in the honor and gratitude of the country for both. It would grieve many if you should retire, and the country, I am sure, would suffer immensely. Don't think that the appointment of General Banks will really harm you. It will not. Your retirement would, for it would be ascribed to wounded self-love. If you remain, doing your duty as here- tofore, everyone will feel that you are governed by a gen- erous patriotism, and your present enviable position will be enhanced.
I wish I could repeat to you all I have said. Our friends in Congress are unanimous in your praise. Nobody finds fault except some honest people who really believe what has been said about your connection with trade, and some designing people who circulate their stories probably without much regard to their truth or falsehood.
The election of Mr. Flanders gratifies me much. I know nothing of Mr. Hahn. I hope he is as good a man. I should like to have a talk with you about our political future. There must be a new organization of parties. The party which now opposes the National Government is not in any just sense the Democratic party, and ought not to be so called. It is simply the opposition, in which old Whigs, Know-nothings, and Democrats unite to expel the Republican from power. A new
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 543
party, really Democratic and really Republican, must arise, of which you ought to be an honored and able leader.
But at present let us give all our thoughts to the salvation of our country. A very considerable battle was fought yes- terday. Today, Sunday, there is a sort of truce. Tomorrow we expect decisive work. May God give us the victory.
Your friend, S. P. CHASE
David Glasgow Farragut's Comments on Gen. B. F. Butler l
ONE bright day in December (the 16th), some excitement was created on the levee by the appearance of several large steamers coming up the river, loaded with soldiers, their bands playing and the men cheering as they passed the city. It was the army of the new commander of the Department, Gen. N. P. Banks, now sent to supersede General Butler. The change was a surprise to many, and to none more than to Far- ragut. His relations with General Butler had always been friendly, and in the various military operations in the Gulf, Butler had lent his hearty cooperation. His administration of affairs as military governor has been seriously criticised; but it is only justice to say that in every instance when com- plaint was made of apparent irregularities, Gen. Butler showed a desire to have matters thoroughly investigated.
His policy in allowing vessels to clear from New Orleans with merchandise, and his efforts generally to restore traffic, caused many adventurers to flock thither, and, under the semblance of loyalty, abuse these privileges.
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase 2
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, December 17th, 1862 l [Not in chronological order]
DEAR SIR: Gen. Banks and staff arrived here on the even- ing of Sunday, the 14th, and he assumed command of the Department of the Gulf yesterday. Enclosed is Gen. Butler's final order, and Gen. Banks' order on assuming command.
I endeavor to ascertain how this change is received here, and the result of my inquiries and observations is very satis- factory. Probably those most intimately connected with Gen. Butler regret the change, and many of the loyal citizens express a fear that the new administration of affairs will lack
1 From "Life and Letters of Admiral D. G. Farragut," pages 300-301.
2 American Historical Association Report 1902, Vol. II, p. 339.
544 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
the vigor and ability of the former. Some, also, think that injustice has been done Gen. Butler in removing him from a command where he has succeeded so admirably. But the general expression is one of satisfaction. The fact is, that the extensive commercial proceedings which were tolerated (to say the least) by the former Commanding General have created a general disgust. The public opinion was fixed that these transactions were for Gen. Butler's own benefit, and the dissatisfaction on this account was intense. Gen. Butler has always been very kind to me, and assisted me whenever asked, & I feel very grateful to him. But yet I believe the change is a good one. I was intending to write to you by this mail, giving considerable information about speculations here, but it is now unnecessary — & I suppose all such evils will be speedily corrected.
I have seen Gen. Banks but once, but by his invitation am to meet him to-day or to-morrow, for the purpose of giving him all the information in my possession. I shall endeavor to keep you promptly informed of everything transpiring here. Gen. Banks' troops have arrived in large numbers. I do not know whether all have come. It is not certainly known why Gen. Butler was removed. Some say it is on account of demands of France — others that it is on account of specu- lations — others that it is owing to representations of Admiral Farragut.
I have learned little more in regard to the Schooner "L. L. Davis" which run into Pontchatoula. Gen. Butler believes that I am satisfied that Col. Butler had nothing to do with it. I am not so satisfied. Gen. Butler says he has ascertained that a prominent officer (I suspect he refers to Col. French, Pro. Marshal) loaded the vessel in good faith for Matamoras, and that the captain ran away from him. I do not know whether the evidence taken down will be sent to Washington. I think I shall lay the whole matter before General Banks.
I want some money. Three hundred dollars in gold, which I brought with me, and a few hundred dollars since received by your order, have been sufficient to pay my expenses, but is now consumed. I transmit to-day an official receipt for $25,000 legal tender notes, which have just arrived to pay expenses of the office. About my own pay, I wrote to you Oct. 10th. I shall not pay myself out of the $25,000 for the fact is I never really understood what my compensation is.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 545
From General N. P. Banks
Head Quarters, Banks' Expedition, NEW ORLEANS, December 16, 1862
[Not in chronological order]
Major General BUTLER, Commanding Department of the Gulf
GENERAL: I have the honor to request that you will direct the officers of the Staff Departments attached to your Head Quarters to remain here for the present, and report to me for
Very respectfully, Your obedient Servant,
N. P. BANKS, Major General
From General Butler
Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 16, 1862 \ £Not in chronological order]
Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf
GENERAL: In compliance with your request I have directed all my Staff who are heads of departments to remain such time as will enable them to turn over the property in their hands, and fully instruct the corresponding officers of your Staff, so that there may be the least possible embarrassment from the change.
Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Genl. U.S.V.
From General Butler
Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, December 15, 1862
GENERAL ORDERS No. 106 Soldiers of the Army of the Gulf
RELIEVED from further duties in this Department by direc- tion of the President, under the date of November 9, 1862, I lake leave of you by this final order, it being impossible to visit your scattered out-posts, covering hundreds of miles of the frontier of a larger territory than some of the kingdoms of Europe.
I greet you, my brave comrades, and say farewell!
This word, endeared as you are by a community of priva- tions, hardships, dangers, victories, successes, military and civil, is the only sorrowful thought I have.
You have deserved well of your country. Without a mur- mur you sustained an encampment on a sand-bar, so desolate that banishment to it, with every care and comfort possible, has been the most dreaded punishment inflicted upon your bitterest and most insulting enemies. VOL. ii — 35
546 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
You had so little transportation that but a handful could advance to compel submission by the Queen City of the Re- bellion, whilst others waded breast-deep in the marshes which surround St. Philip, and forced the surrender of a fort, deemed impregnable to land attack by the most skilful engineers of your country and her enemy.
At your occupation, order, law, quiet and peace sprang to this city, filled with the bravos of all nations, where for a score of years, during the profoundest peace, human life was scarcely safe at noonday.
By your discipline you illustrated the best traits of the American soldier, and enchained the admiration of those that come to scoff.
Landing with a military chest containing but seventy-five dollars, from the hoards of a rebel government you have given to your country's treasury nearly a half million of dollars, and so supplied yourselves with the needs of your service that your expedition has cost your Government less by four-fifths than any other.
You have fed the starving poor, the wives and children of your enemies, so converting enemies into friends that they have sent their representatives to your Congress by a vote greater than your entire numbers, from districts in which, when you entered, you were tauntingly told that there was "no one to raise your flag."
By your practical philanthropy you have won the confidence of the "oppressed race" and the slave. Hailing you as deliv- erers, they are ready to aid you as willing servants, faithful laborers, or, using the tactics taught them by your enemies, to fight with you in the field.
By steady attention to the laws of health, you have stayed the pestilence, and, humble instruments in the hands of God, you have demonstrated the necessity that His creatures should obey His laws, and, reaping His blessing in the most unhealthy climate, you have preserved your ranks fuller than those of any other Battalions of the same length of service.
You have met double numbers of the enemy, and defeated him in the open field ; but I need no further enlarge upon this topic. You were sent here to do that.
I commend you to your Commander. You are worthy of his love.
Farewell, my comrades! again farewell!
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General Commanding
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 547 From Mrs. Butler to Mrs. Heard
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. mh, 1862
DEAR HARRIET: All is over for the present. The Depart- ment of the Gulf has passed into other hands. We leave next Monday. I cannot say by what vessel. Mrs. Read may or may not come us with. The rest of the family will stay longer. Get another servant if you can. I shall bring the hair dresser with me. It will be rather pell mell, but never mind it. We may go to Washington before returning home.
I shall soon see the children; that is a comfort amid the trouble. Dear love to all. Affectionately, SARAH
From General Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. ISth, 1862
Hon. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President
ON the 14th instant, Sunday, at night, I received from the hand of Maj. Gen. Banks, General Orders No. 184, attested by Major Gen'l. Halleck, directing Maj. Gen. Banks to assume the command of this Department. At 12 o'clock at noon, on the 16th, the command was turned over to him.
Having received no further orders, either to report to him or otherwise, I have taken the liberty to suppose that I was permitted to return home, my services being no longer needed here. I have given Major Gen'l. Banks all the information in my power, and more than he has asked in relation to the affairs of this Department.
I have the honor to enclose for the information of the Presi- dent a copy of my last general order, as commander of the Department of the Gulf.
I have the honor to inform you that, until further orders, my address will be Lowell, Massachusetts. I have the honor
to be> Very Respt., Yr. Obed. Ser.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. Com.
From Captain John F. Appleton
LAKEPOKT, Dec. I5iht 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Major General B. F. BUTLER
SIR: Last summer you had occasion to reprimand an officer for an unintentional neglect of duty. Your manner and your words sunk deep into his memory; and he always wished some
548 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
opportunity might present itself when he could evidence by his actions his full appreciation of your delicate reproval. I am that officer, and in part the wished-for opportunity came when I was ordered here. I have tried to do my duty, and feel that I have done it, because my General for whose command I raised my company, who never forgets to censure or to reward, has not reproved me. For your kindness to the soldiers you will ever be held in loving remembrance and your past services will be remembered by the country and be rewarded.
Now that you are to leave us there can be no want of deli- cacy in my thus expressing my feelings.
May good fortune attend you. Goodbye, General! God bless you. I remain, with great regard,
Yours ever to command, JOHN F. APPLETON, Capt. Comdg. at LAKEPORT
From Colonel S. H. Stafford
Head Quarters 1st Reg. La.t National Guards, Dec. 18, '62
Major General B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: The Regiment has instructed me to speak for it its words of farewell.
As men and soldiers they look upon you as their Creator and their Father, — they regret the parting, obeying the "orders of the President and the officers appointed over them," and they will, when opportunity offers, seek to prove themselves worthy of you, who made them what they are.
Wherever you go there will their hearts be also, and their pride will grow on whatever honors you may win.
Relying upon the facts of the past, they look with hope to your future, and pray that God may be with you and the country.
For myself I beg to avail of this occasion to thank you for the many acts of kindness and consideration which you have extended to me, and have the honor to remain,
Respectfully and truly, Your obedient servant,
S. H. STAFFORD, Col. Comg.
From a " She Adder"
NEW ORLEANS, December 22nd, 1862
General BUTLER
SINCE your arrival in our city I have addressed you upon several occasions, through the press and in private; and I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 549
would do so once more before you leave our city — the scene of your Herculean labors for the past seven months. I thought of calling on you, and while bidding you a loving (?) farewell, informing you of the true light with which your departure is viewed by us. Self-respect, however, prevented me from doing so, as I feared contamination by even breathing the polluted air with which you are surrounded. Ever since you came among us, we have felt for you hatred so violent that no words can express it. We have always regarded you as a monster in whose composition the lowest of traits were con- centrated; and "Butler the brute" will be handed down to posterity as a by-word, by which all true Southerners will "re- member ihee monster, thou vilest of scum." When you came here, it was in your power to make friends instead of enemies, by marking your course with gentlemanly conduct, but that was foreign to your nature, and instead of treating the citi- zens of New Orleans with that respect and consideration which a civilized and refined people were entitled to, you heaped every indignity upon us that your brutal nature was capable of conceiving. Not content with thieving and stealing from all sorts and conditions of men, you insulted our best citizens, and used language to our gentlemen such as they never heard, and such as you only are capable of uttering. Even the ladies were not free from your vile imprecations. You have ren- dered yourself famous (as well as infamous) for your 28th order, and in all coming time your name will be linked with all that is loathsome and detestable. May you return to Lowell (the Yankee hole that gave you birth), and when your miserable wife decks herself off in her stolen finery, and appears with you in public, may every eye be turned, and every finger pointed to the "pair of Yankee thieves." You may possibly reach Yankeedom in safety — but remember, vile old coward, that the day will come when you will be hunted down like a fox in your den, and retribution will surely fall upon you. There are noble, dauntless hearts in our Confederate army who will surely avenge the insults which you have heaped upon us.
Farewell, and may your conscience (if you have any left) cause your life to be one torment by day, and may the spirit of the glorious Mumford haunt you by night.
One of your SHE ADDERS
550 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, December Z5th, 1862
DEAR SIR: The mail has just arrived, and I see that, among other charges, Gen. Butler is accused of interfering in various ways with the Custom House, to the great injury of commerce. Gen. Butler has interfered with the Custom House in four instances, but not more.
1st. He ordered me not to permit the shipment of specie and plate without his written consent to each shipment. His object was to prevent property liable to confiscation [from] being re- moved from the country. The Prussian bark, "Essex," had re- ceived on board several large cases of silver, and by Gen. Butler's orders, I refused a clearance until these cases were delivered up. They were delivered up, and clearance was then granted.
2nd. Gen. B. took possession of about $2000. worth of printer's paper in the warehouse, for his official newspaper, The Delta — on the ground that it was a military necessity.
3d. He took possession of forty barrels of brandy (imported two or three years ago) for hospital purposes — as a military necessity.
4th. He took possession of ten bales of blankets for hospi- tal purposes — as a military necessity.
In each of the last three instances I have his written order to deliver up the articles to the officer presenting the order — and in each he settled, I suppose, with the owners of the articles. Except in the above instances, Gen. Butler has not interfered with the Custom House business. I make this statement for your information.
I send you a paper containing Gen. Butler's farewell address, and Gen. Banks' proclamation concerning the Emancipation Proclamation. Each article explains itself. From appear- ances, I judge that Gen. Butler intends to join the extreme radicals, as the Democratic papers term the only party which (as it seems to me) appreciates the position. The Texan men are bitterly disappointed that they cannot invade Texas at once, and think great injustice has been done them. It seems to me that the thorough opening of the river is of most con- sequence just now — after which the whole Southwest falls easily. Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas are pretty well drained of men, but full of corn and cattle. The Rebels would like to retreat thither, but if the river is opened at once, they will
1 American Historical Association Report, 1902, Vol. II, p. 342.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 551
be forced back toward, or into, Alabama. With the loss of the three Southwestern states, the rebels lose one-half their material resources. They could not break through the line of defence (Mississippi River) to recover it. In no other way can the Confederate cause be so much injured, with so little expenditure on the part of the Gov't. of men, time, and money. The Arkansas, White, and Red Rivers, and, in Louisiana, various bayous, enable gunboats to penetrate in all directions to the heart of the country. Fifty thousand men, together with the Union forces now in Arkansas and at El Paso (Texas), would be fully able to accomplish this in two or three months after the opening of the river — and provided Emancipation attended the march, success would be absolutely certain. Lou- isiana is virtually subdued already, and wishes herself back in the Union. I hope Gen. Banks will adopt some such plan as the above, and have told him so. Lest he might mistake my political position, I took the first opportunity to tell him also what my opinions were, particularly in regard to Slavery.
According to the best information I can get, the rebels have at Vicksburg 12,000 men, at Jackson (and Grenada) 40,000, & at Port Hudson, 20,000. The men are said to be deserting very fast. Port Hudson is twenty miles above Baton Rouge, and is said to be much stronger than Vicksburg. Many believe that to be the point (instead of Vicksburg) where the great fight will be.
Our troops are moving up to Baton Rouge, where perhaps 20,000 have already arrived. All the old (Butler's) regiments will probably be sent up. I should judge that the attack on Port Hudson would take place in about ten days. Gen. Banks is expected to command in person.
Mobile is not fortified with such strength as is represented by Southern accounts. The Rebel gunboats there are of very little account. I have just seen a reliable (white) man who escaped from there five weeks ago. Admiral Farragut can take the place whenever he chooses.
Please do not authorize more officers for the Appraiser's Department to be sent here from New York. One, Mr. Paulson, appointed by your order, has just arrived. He is one too much. I understand still another is to come. I want to keep down expenses, and this expense is entirely unneces- sary. Mr. Sarjeant did wrong in making such representations as he did to you concerning the want of Examiners here.
(GEORGE S. DENISON)
552 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From Charles S. Parties
NEW YORK, Friday Dec. 26^, 1862
M aj. General BUTLER, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
DEAR SIR: Christmas day passed off pleasantly here as I trust it did everywhere.
Before you receive this communication you will of course have been informed of the recent Cabinet fiasco. It appears that a majority of the Republican Senators, headed by Mr. Sumner, believing that the time had arrived when the Presi- dent should have a united Cabinet, called a caucus, and decided to send a committee to wait upon the President and ask for a reconstruction of the Cabinet. This was done. When Secretary Seward heard of the action of the caucus, he promptly tendered his resignation. Mr. Chase, desirous of convincing Mr. Seward, with whom he had always been on the most friendly terms, that he had no part in the move- ment, and that he disapproved of it, also resigned. The President after due consideration declined to accept either resignation.
This decision ought to convince the most skeptical that hereafter we shall have a united cabinet.
A rumor was lately in circulation that you were to be re- lieved of your command by Gen. Banks, he having [been] appointed your successor. I have no confidence in this story. It may be true that Gen. Banks has gone to New Orleans, and that his forces will rendezvous at Ship Island, for the purpose of cooperating with your own command in the capture of Mobile, now believed to be imminent.
The report of Hon. Reverdy Johnson on the result of his mission to New Orleans has been submitted to the Senate, but has not yet, I believe, been published. When it is I will try and forward you a copy.
Gen. Burnside's army, which now ought to number 150,000 men, is still encamped on the hills of Stafford County, Va. It is not possible he will again move on Richmond before January 1st.
From an estimate just made it appears that upward of $12,000 will be collected as internal revenue in this city during the present fiscal year.
Attorney General Bates recently decided that the negroes are citizens. I enclose a copy of his opinion, which, if sus- tained by the Supreme Court of the United States, completely
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 553
reverses the Dred Scott decision. Business in the city is * Respectfully Yours, CHARLES S. BARTLES
From President Lincoln
Executive Mansion, WASHINGTON, Dec. QQth, 1862
Major General B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I believe you have a family, and I dislike to deprive you of an early visit to them. But I really wish to see you at the earliest moment. I am contemplating a peculiar and important service for you, which I think, and hope you will think, is as honorable as it is important. I wish to confer with you upon it. Please come immediately upon your arrival at New York.
Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN
Estimate by Horace Greeley l
"General Butler had taken 13,700 soldiers from the North for the capture of New Orleans. He had received no re-inforce- ments since; and he now turned over to his successor 17,800 drilled and disciplined men, including three regiments and two batteries of negroes. He sent home to the treasury the sum of $345,000; expended $525,000 in feeding the poor of New Orleans; and turned over about $200,000 to the Com- missary and Quartermaster of his successor. He had collected by taxation, assessments, fines, forfeitures, and confiscations an aggregate of $1,088,000, which he had faithfully applied to the public service. He had, of course, made himself very unpopular with the wealthy Rebels, whom he had, in propor- tion to their several volunteer contributions of money in aid of the Rebel cause, assessed for the support of the New Orleans poor, deprived of employment by the war; and he had been especially detested by that larger body of influential foreign- ers, who, having freely devoted their efforts and their means to the support of the Rebellion, were neither regarded nor treated by him as though they had been honestly neutral in the contest."
"The American Conflict," Vol. II, page 106.
554 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Farewell Address by General Butler
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 24, 1862 £ Not in chronological order]
Citizens of NEW ORLEANS
IT may not be inappropriate, as it is not inopportune in occasion, that there should be addressed to you a few words at parting, by one whose name is to be hereafter indissolubly connected with your city.
I shall speak in no bitterness, because I am not conscious of a single personal animosity. Commanding the Army of the Gulf, I found you captured, but not surrendered; conquered, but not orderly; relieved from the presence of an army, but incapable of taking care of yourselves. I restored order, pun- ished crime, opened commerce, brought provisions to your starving people, reformed your currency, and gave you quiet protection, such as you had not enjoyed for many years. While doing this, my soldiers were subjected to obloquy, reproach, and insult.
And now, speaking to you who know the truth, I here declare that whoever has quietly remained about his business, affording neither aid nor comfort to the enemies of the United States, has never been interfered with by the soldiers of the United States.
The men who had assumed to govern you and to defend your city in arms having fled, some of your women flouted at the presence of those who came to protect them. By a simple order (No. 28), I called upon every soldier of this army to treat the women of New Orleans as gentlemen should deal with the sex, with such effect that I now call upon the just-minded ladies of New Orleans to say whether they have ever enjoyed so complete protection and calm quiet for themselves and their families as since the advent of the United States troops.
The enemies of my country, unrepentant and implacable, I have treated with merited severity. I hold that rebellion is treason, and that treason, persisted in, is death, and any punishment short of that due a traitor gives so much clear gain to him from the clemency of the government. Upon this thesis have I administered the authority of the United States, because of which I am not unconscious of complaint. I do not feel that I have erred in too much harshness, for that harshness has ever been exhibited to disloyal enemies to my country, and not to loyal friends. To be sure, I might have regaled you with the amenities of British civilization, and yet
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 555
been within the supposed rules of civilized warfare. You might have been smoked to death in caverns, as were the Cove- nanters of Scotland by the command of a general of the royal house of England; or roasted, like the inhabitants of Algiers during the French campaign; your wives and daughters might have been given over to the ravisher, as were the unfor- tunate dames of Spain in the Peninsular War; or you might have been scalped and tomahawked, as our mothers were at Wyoming by the savage allies of Great Britain in our own Revolution; your property could have been turned over to indiscriminate "loot," like the palace of the Emperor of China; works of art which adorned your buildings might have been sent away, like paintings of the Vatican; your sons might have been blown from the mouths of cannon, like the Sepoys at Delhi; and yet all this would have been within the rules of civilized warfare as practised by the most polished and the most hypocritical nations of Europe. For such acts the records of the doings of some of the inhabitants of your city toward the friends of the Union, before my coming, were a sufficient provocative and justification.
But I have not so conducted. On the contrary, the worst punishment inflicted, except for criminal acts punishable by every law, has been banishment with labor to a barren island, where I encamped my own soldiers before marching here.
It is true, I have levied upon the wealthy rebels and paid out nearly half a million of dollars to feed forty thousand of the starv- ing poor of all nations assembled here, made so by this war.
I saw that this Rebellion was a war of the aristocrats against the middling men, of the rich against the poor; a war of the land-owner against the laborer; that it was a struggle for the retention of power in the hands of the few against the many; and I found no conclusion to it, save in the subjugation of the few and the disenthrallment of the many. I therefore felt no hesitation in taking the substance of the wealthy, who had caused the war, to feed the innocent poor, who had suffered by the war. And I shall now leave you with the proud con- sciousness that I carry with me the blessings of the humble and loyal, under the roof of the cottage and in the cabin of the slave, and so am quite content to incur the sneers of the salon, or the curses of the rich.
I have found you trembling at the terrors of servile insur- rection. All danger of this I have prevented by so treating the slave that he had no cause to rebel.
556 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I found the dungeon, the chain, and the lash your only means of enforcing obedience in your servants. I leave them peaceful, laborious, controlled by the laws of kindness and justice.
I have demonstrated that the pestilence can be kept from your borders.
I have added a million of dollars to your wealth in the form of new land from the batture of the Mississippi.
I have cleansed and improved your streets, canals, and pub- lic squares, and opened new avenues to unoccupied land.
I have given you freedom of elections greater than you have ever enjoyed before.
I have caused justice to be administered so impartially that your own advocates have unanimously complimented the judges of my appointment.
You have seen, therefore, the benefit of the laws and justice of the government against which you have rebelled.
Why, then, will you not all return to your allegiance to that government, — not with lip-service, but with the heart?
I conjure you, if you desire ever to see renewed prosperity, giving business to your streets and wharves — if you hope to see your city become again the mart of the western world, fed by its rivers for more than three thousand miles, draining the commerce of a country greater than the mind of man hath ever conceived — return to your allegiance.
If you desire to leave to your children the inheritance you received from your fathers — a stable constitutional govern- ment; if you desire that they should be in the future a portion of the greatest empire the sun ever shone upon — return to your allegiance.
There is but one thing that stands in the way.
There is but one thing that at this hour stands between you and your government — and that is slavery.
The institution, cursed of God, which has taken its last refuge here, in His providence will be rooted out as the tares from the wheat, although the wheat be torn up with it.
I have given much thought to this subject.
I came among you, by teachings, by habit of mind, by polit- ical position, by social affinity, inclined to sustain your domes- tic laws, if by possibility they might be with safety to the Union.
Months of experience and of observation have forced the conviction that the existence of slavery is incompatible with
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 557
the safety either of yourselves or of the Union. As the system has gradually grown to its present huge dimensions, it were best if it could be gradually removed ; but it is better, far better, that it should be taken out at once, than that it should longer vitiate the social, political, and family relations of your country. I am speaking with no philanthropic views as regards the slave, but simply of the effect of slavery on the master. See for yourselves. Look around you and say whether this sad- dening, deadening influence has not all but destroyed the very framework of your society?
I am speaking the farewell words of one who has shown his devotion to his country at the peril of his life and fortune, who in these words can have neither hope nor interest, save the good of those whom he addresses; and let me here repeat, with all the solemnity of an appeal to heaven to bear me witness, that such are the views forced upon me by experience.
Come, then, to the unconditional support of the govern- ment. Take into your own hands your own institutions; re- model them according to the laws of nations and of God, and thus attain that great prosperity assured to you by geo- graphical position, only a portion of which was heretofore
yours' BENJ. F. BUTLER
By Jefferson Davis A Proclamation by the President of the Confederate States
"WHEREAS, a communication was addressed on the 6th day of July last, 1862, by General Robert E. Lee, acting under the instructions of the secretary of war of the Confederate States of America, to General H. W. Halleck, commander-in- chief of the United States Army, informing the latter that a report had reached this government that Wm. B. Mumford, a citizen of the Confederate States, had been executed by the United States authorities at New Orleans for having pulled down the United States flag in that city before its occupation by the United States forces, and calling for a statement of the facts, with a view of retaliation if such an outrage had really been committed under the sanction of the authorities of the United States;
"And whereas (no answer having been received to said letter), another letter was, on the 2nd of August last, 1862, addressed by General Lee, under my instructions, to General
558 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Halleck, renewing the inquiries in relation to the execution of the said Mumford, with the information that, in the event of not receiving a reply within fifteen days, it would be assumed that the fact was true, and was sanctioned by the government of the United States;
"And whereas, an answer, dated on the 7th of August last, 1862, was addressed to General Lee by General H. W. Halleck, the said general-in -chief of the armies of the United States, alleging sufficient cause for failure to make early reply to said letter of the 6th of July, asserting that 'no authentic informa- tion had been received in relation to the execution of Mum- ford; but measures will be immediately taken to ascertain the facts of the alleged execution,' and promising that General Lee should be duly informed thereof;
"And whereas, on the 26th of November last, 1862, another letter was addressed, under my instructions, by Robert Ould, Confederate agent for the exchange of prisoners, under the cartel between the two governments, to Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Ludlow, agent of the United States under said cartel, informing him that the explanation promised in the said letter of General Halleck, of 7th of August last, had not yet been received, and that if no answer was sent to the government within fifteen days from the delivery of this last communica- tion, it would be considered that an answer is declined;
"And whereas, by a letter dated on the 3rd day of the pres- ent month of December, the said Lieutenant-Colonel Ludlow apprised the said Robert Ould that the above recited com- munication of the 19th of November had been received and forwarded to the secretary of war of the United States; and whereas, this last delay of fifteen days allowed for answer has elapsed, and no answer has been received;
"And whereas, in addition to the tacit admission resulting from the above refusal to answer, I have received evidence fully establishing the truth of the fact that the said William B. Mumford, a citizen of the Confederacy, was actually and publicly executed, in cold blood, by hanging, after the occu- pation of the city of New Orleans by the forces under General Benjamin F. Butler, when said Mumford was an unresisting and non-combatant captive, and for no offense even alleged to have been committed by him subsequent to the date of the capture of the said city;
"And whereas, the silence of the government of the United States, and its maintaining of said Butler in high office under
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 559
its authority for many months after his commission of an act that can be viewed in no other light than as a deliberate murder, as well as of numerous other outrages and atrocities hereafter to be mentioned, afford evidence too conclusive that the said government sanctions the conduct of the said Butler, and is determined that he shall remain unpunished for these crimes;
"Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Con- federate States of America, and in their name, do pronounce and declare the said Benjamin F. Butler to be a felon, deserv- ing of capital punishment. I do order that he shall no longer be considered or treated simply as a public enemy of the Con- federate States of America, but as an outlaw and common enemy of mankind, and that, in the event of his capture, the officer in command of the capturing force do cause him to be immediately executed by hanging.
"And I do farther order that no commissioned officer of the United States, taken captive, shall be released on parole, be- fore exchanged, until the said Butler shall have met with due punishment for his crimes.
"And whereas, the hostilities waged against this Confed- eracy by the forces of the United States, under the command of said Benjamin F. Butler, have borne no resemblance to such warfare as is alone permissible by the rules of international law or the usages of civilization, but have been characterized by repeated atrocities and outrages, among the large number of which the following may be cited as examples:
"Peaceful and aged citizens, unresisting captives and non- combatants, have been confined at hard labor, with iron chains attached to their limbs, and are still so held, in dungeons and fortresses.
"Others have been submitted to a like degrading punish- ment for selling medicines to the sick soldiers of the Confederacy.
"The soldiers of the United States have been invited and encouraged in general orders to insult and outrage the wives, the mothers, and the sisters of our citizens.
"Helpless women have been torn from their homes, and subjected to solitary confinement, some in fortresses and pris- ons, and one especially on an island of barren sand, under a tropical sun; have been fed with loathsome rations that have been condemned as unfit for soldiers, and have been exposed to the vilest insults.
"Prisoners of war, who surrendered to the naval forces of
560 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
the United States, on agreement that they should be released on parole, have been seized and kept in close confinement.
"Repeated pretexts have been sought or invented for plun- dering the inhabitants of a captured city, by fines levied and collected under threats of imprisoning recusants at hard labor with ball and chain. The entire population of New Orleans have been forced to elect between starvation by the confisca- tion of all property and taking an oath against conscience to bear allegiance to the invader of their country.
"Egress from the city has been refused to those whose forti- tude withstood the test, and even to lone and aged women, and to helpless children; and, after being ejected from their homes and robbed of their property, they have been left to starve in the streets or subsist on charity.
"The slaves have been driven from the plantations in the neighborhood of New Orleans until their owners would con- sent to share their crops with the commanding general, his brother, Andrew J. Butler, and other officers; and when such consent had been extorted, the slaves have been restored to the plantations, and there compelled to work under the bayo- nets of the guards of United States soldiers. Where that part- nership was refused, armed expeditions have been sent to the plantations to rob them of everything that was susceptible of removal.
"And even slaves, too aged or infirm to work, have, in spite of their entreaties, been forced from the homes provided by their owners, and driven to wander helpless on the highway.
"By a recent General Order No. 91, the entire property in that part of Louisiana west of the Mississippi river has been sequestrated for confiscation, and officers have been assigned to duty, with orders to gather up and collect the personal property, and turn over to the proper officers, upon their receipts, such of said property as may be required for the use of the United States army; to collect together all the personal property and bring the same to New Orleans, and cause it to be sold at public auction to highest bidders — an order which, if executed, condemns to punishment, by starvation, at least a quarter of a million of human beings, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, and of which the execution, although forbidden to military officers by the orders of President Lincoln, is in accordance with the confiscation law of our enemies, which he has effected to be enforced through the agency of civil officials.
"And, finally, the African slaves have not only been incited
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 561
to insurection by every license and encouragement, but num- bers of them have actually been armed for a servile war — a war in its nature far exceeding the horrors and most merci- less atrocities of savages.
"And whereas, the officers under command of the said Butler have been, in many instances, active and zealous agents in the commission of these crimes, and no instance is known of the refusal of any one of them to participate in the outrages above narrated;
"And whereas, the president of the United States has, by public and official declarations, signified not only his approval of the effort to excite servile war within the Confederacy, but his intention to give aid and encouragement thereto, if these independent states shall continue to refuse submission to a foreign power after the 1st day of January next, and has thus made known that all appeal to the law of nations, the dictates of reason, and the instincts of humanity would be addressed in vain to our enemies, and that they can be deterred from the commission of these crimes only by the terrors of just retributions;
"Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, president of the Con- federate States of America, and acting by their authority, appealing to the Divine Judge in attestation that their conduct is not guided by the passion of revenge, but that they reluc- tantly yield to the solemn duty of redressing, by necessary severity, crimes of which their citizens are the victims, do issue this my proclamation, and, by virtue of my authority as com- mander-in-chief of the armies of the Confederate States, do order —
"First — That all commissioned officers in the command of said Benjamin F. Butler be declared not entitled to be con- sidered as soldiers engaged in honorable warfare, but as rob- bers and criminals, deserving death; and each of them be, whenever captured, reserved for execution.
"Second — That the private soldiers and non-commissioned officers in the army of said Butler be considered as only the instruments used for the commission of crimes perpetrated by his orders, and not as free agents; that they, therefore, be treated when captured as prisoners of war, with kindness and humanity, and be sent home on the usual parole that they will in no manner aid or serve the United States in any capac- ity during the continuance of this war, unless duly exchanged.
" Third — That all negro slaves captured in arms be at once
VOL. II — 36
563 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
delivered over to the executive authorities of the respective states to which they belong, to be dealt with according to the law of said states.
"Fourth — That the like orders be issued in all cases with respect to the commissioned officers of the United States when found serving in company with said slaves in insurrec- tion against the authorities of the different states of this Confederacy.
"In testimony whereof, I have signed these presents, and caused the seal of the Confederate States of America to be affixed thereto, at the city of Richmond, on the 23d day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and sixty-two. '< JEFFERSON DAVIS
"By the President, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State"
By Richard Yeadon
CHARLESTON, S.C., January 1 [Not in chronological order]
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD! — $10,000!
PRESIDENT DAVIS having proclaimed Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, to be a felon, deserving of capital punish- ment, for the deliberate murder of Win. B. Mumford, a citi- zen of the Confederate States at New Orleans; and having ordered that the said Benjamin F. Butler be considered or treated as an outlaw and common enemy of mankind, and that, in the event of his capture, the officer in command of the capturing force do cause him to be immediately executed by hanging, the undersigned hereby offers a reward of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the capture and delivery of the said Benjamin F. Butler, dead or alive, to any proper Confederate authority. RICHARD YEADON
From William Tyler
RECD. WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1863 [Not in chronological order]
Major Gen. B. F. BUTLER
GENERAL: With this I send you the Providence Evening Press of the 27th, containing extracts from Jeff. Davis' Procla- mation against you and Emancipation, along with strictures on your administration as military governor at New Orleans — an administration which to my judgment has been eminently just, able, and efficient. The Press is understood to be Gov.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 568
Sprague's organ, if not his property in whole or in part. It has, of late, discovered more than heretofore a proclivity to politics of the Valendingham and Judge B. T. Thomas type. But it is rumored that Gov. Sprague is inclining to the policy of the national administration. How the Press and the Gov- ernor will come out hereafter remains to be seen.
I am sure that the strictures of the Press on your admin- istration will pass by you as the idle wind, and that you will treat the fulmination of the bogus rebel President as Martin Luther did the Pope's bull of excommunication. That you will be intimidated by the malignant sentence of outlawing, those who know you do not believe. Doubtless the proclama- tion is chiefly designed to anticipate the forthcoming one of President Lincoln, and to counteract its influence. You are singled out for special vengeance because of your superior vigilance, boldness, and efficiency in curbing the insolence and suppressing the machinations of the rebels.
Quos Deus vult perdere, etc. is true of these rebels. Infatu- ated they are, and when the "peculiar institution" shall be overthrown, as it will be, it will be patent to the world that the initiation of the event will be credited to them. But I tax your attention too much by expatiating on matters better understood by you.
Perhaps the only thing I can mention worth your notice is the fact that in the small circle of my intercourse, you are winning golden opinions from all sorts of people, excepting only a few political bigots. I am, Dear Sir,
Very truly yours, WILLIAM TYLER
From P. H. Morgan
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. Ind, 1863
General BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: The day I sailed from New York I was authoritatively informed that you had been superseded; I was therefore prepared to find you deprived of your command. I was disappointed, however, in not finding you here, as I hoped to have seen you before your departure.
Very shortly after reaching Washington I became convinced that the authorities were working, or had already worked, against you, although they professed to be your friends. The day I arrived it was impossible for me to see the Secretary of State; I however saw the Secretary of War, and explained to him what your despatches to the State Department were. He
564 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
promised to have them delivered immediately. They were not received for several days, and had not been read the day after the Secretary got them. When I expressed my surprise to Mr. Seward at this, he said it made no difference, as he had had no time to read them, even if they had been received. The Secretary of the Treasury positively refused to grant me the permission which you had sanctioned, and not only that, even returned a letter to me, written by the collector at N. Y., with the seal unbroken. All these things forced upon me the suspicion that a new government had been determined upon for this section, notwithstanding their protestations of friend- ship, and the facts that the Secretary of War had reported most favorably of your conduct here, and the President was then recommending to Congress that you should be presented with a sword. In my opinion several things conspired against you.
1. The Secretary of War knew that there was a clamor against him, and a large share of public attention was directed towards Gen. Banks as his successor. He was therefore not opposed to have him out of the way.
2. Seward was always opposed to you, and he was constantly in a state of alarm lest you should bring about what he termed some complications with European Powers. You out of the way, and he considered such a contigency as a very remote one. He was therefore in favor of your removal.
In the third place, you will have discovered that so far this war has been nothing but a political campaign : the ques- tion with the present incumbents being how they can best keep where they are; and with the opposition, which Gen- eral can fight himself into the Presidency.
Now, the people in the North and West are divided into two classes: those who are your friends and those who are opposed to you; and a very large party there are already in your favor for that position. The Government, then, was all in fear of you, and thus determined upon breaking you down if they could, just as they attempted to do it when they sent you here.
I make these suggestions to you thinking that they may possibly throw some light upon what would seem their inex- plicable conduct. But, General, this is not the object of my troubling you with this already long letter. Your own pene- tration will no doubt have discovered to you long ago the reasons for your treatment you have received.
My purpose in addressing you now is to attempt to express
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 565
to you the gratitude I feel for the very many services which you rendered me while you were in this city. You were truly and disinterestedly my friend, and, come what come may, I can never fail to think of you with anything but the strongest feelings.
The machinations of designing men may seemingly have triumphed over you for the present, and it pains me to think that you are in some trouble. The pretended belief in slanders on the part of the Government may make some action on your part necessary, and I had thought that it might be possible that I might have an opportunity to serve you. If so, I claim it as a right that you call upon me. You would not, I know, ask anything of any man which is not bounded by the largest horizon of honor; anywhere within that circle, in any manner, or at any risk, you can command, and, believe me, confide in me.
Again thanking you for all you have done and have tried to do for my advantage, I remain,
Yours Most Truly, P. H. MORGAN
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase l
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, January Znd, 1863
DEAR SIR: Everything remains nearly as when I last wrote. Troops have been moving up to Baton Rouge, and the whole army and navy here are occupied in preparations for advancing on Port Hudson. It will certainly be captured when attacked, and, according to the best information I can collect, the attack will be made in about twelve days. Gen. Banks seems disposed to occupy himself more with military and less with civil and commercial affairs than Gen. Butler did. He does not yet communicate his intentions to me so freely as Gen. Butler did.
Two regiments of infantry and a battery have gone to Gal- veston, to occupy that Island. I have laid before Gen. Banks a plan for the capture of Brownsville, opposite Matamoras on the Rio Grande. The occupation of this place is becoming of great consequence, on account of the great trade at that point with the Rebel states. Gen. Hamilton urges the proj- ect, and Gen. Banks seems to regard it favorable.
Gen. Hamilton asks for five thousand men. The 1st. Texas regiment (only 200 or 300 in number) accompanied the other
1 American Historical Association Report, 1902, Vol. II, p. 344.
566 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
two regiments to Galveston. Gen. Hamilton is still here, and will probably remain until the expedition goes to Brownsville. I suppose great complaints will be made of Gen. Butler when he gets North. You may be sure that Gen. Butler deserves well of the country and Government, and I believe he did no bad thing, except permitting his brother and other friends to make large sums of money — dishonorably, as I think. All the other accusations against him, which I have seen, are not true.
I do not think Gen. Butler sent to Washington the evidence respecting the schooner which run into Pontchitoula. He said the testimony would be presented to the witnesses for signa- ture, but this has not been done.
Statements are in circulation here that you and Mr. Seward have resigned. In respect to yourself, I can truly say that the report is received by all with regret. When I say by all, I mean the public generally.
I have sent to you to-day a bill of lading for $195,000.00, shipped to John J. Cisco in accordance with your instructions.
(GEO. S. DENISON)
From Count Adam Gurowski
WASHINGTON, January 3rd, 1863
Major General BUTLER
GENERAL: Only after I had the honor and the pleasure to shake hands with you, I read your parting word to the people of New Orleans. I master not my feelings, my rapture, and bring to you my homage.
You speak deeds not words; deeds of eternal honor of a noble and true patriot and citizen, a lofty-minded and genuine
Q-l- Q i"p>CTY"| f\ T|
Your very devoted and very respectful, GUROWSKI From Edward L. Pierce
BOSTON, January Srd, 1863, 26 Old State House
General BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: I wish I could see you and thank you for your services at New Orleans, where you have done so nobly and well. But as distance separates us, I want you to see my friend, Rev. James Freeman Clarke, of West Roxbury, who takes a great interest in public affairs, and who exerts a wide moral and political influence in this community. You ought to know him, and on your account as well as on his, I
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 567
have handed him this note, and you can talk freely with him of your position and labors.
I would like now to publish your private letter to me on Aug. (15) 1861 — in relation to slavery and the necessity of destroying it. It shows you as foreseeing and anticipating events. A personal allusion to an officer of a Mass, regiment would of course be suppressed. You speak of Cameron's answer to your letter as "evasive, unsatisfactory, and incon- clusive." This might be omitted if you desired, though I see no impropriety in retaining it. What do you say?
Be not afraid of the calumniators. God never deserts, the American people never desert, a man determined to do his duty. At this hour no General in the army has so much the respect of the people as yourself, and your administration of New Orleans has now the admiration of all who are in earnest in suppressing the rebellion.
Hoping on Mr. Blake's return to learn fully about you
am' Yours truly, EDWARD L. PIERCE
From Citizens of New York
NEW YORK, January 6th, 1863
Major General BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, United States Army
DEAR SIR: At a meeting of citizens of this city, held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on the evening of the 5th instant for the purpose of expressing the sense of this community in refer- ence to the public services rendered by you to the country, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
"Resolved: That the loyal patriotism, indomitable energy, and great administrative ability shown by Major General Benjamin F. Butler in the various commands held by him in the service of the country, and especially in his civil and military admin- istration of the duties pertaining to his command of the De- partment of the Gulf, eminently entitle him to an expression of approbation on the part of the citizens of New York."
In furtherance of the views thus expressed, it was also resolved that in addition to such action as may be taken by our mu- nicipal authorities in extending to you the hospitalities of this city, a public dinner be tendered to you by the citizens, and the undersigned were appointed a committee to communi- cate with you upon the subject.
We have now the honor to apprise you of the action thus
568 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
taken, and to ask that you will meet with our citizens at a public dinner at such time, to be appointed by you, as may be consistent with your official duties and your personal convenience.
In conveying to you this invitation, intended as a tribute of personal respect and esteem, we are well-assured that it will not be the less acceptable to you as marked by a still higher significance. The citizens of New York, watching the events of the war with a degree of vigilance and anxiety proportioned to the vast interests and influences which converge towards and radiate from, this great commercial centre, have recog- nized in the course pursued by you, in the service and support of the Government, the principles which they deem most essential and indispensable to its triumph. They share with you in the conviction that there is no middle or neutral ground between loyalty and treason; that traitors against the Gov- ernment forfeit all rights of protection and of property; that those who persist in armed rebellion, or aid it less openly, but not less effectively, must be put down, and kept down by the strong hand of power and by the use of all rightful means, and that, so far as may be, the sufferings of the poor and the misguided, caused by the rebellion, should be visited upon the authors of their calamities. We have seen with appro- bation that in applying these principles amidst the peculiar difficulties and embarrassments incident to your adminis- tration in your recent command, you have had the sagacity to devise, the will to execute, and the courage to enforce the measures they demanded, and we rejoice at the success which has vindicated the wisdom and the justice of your official course. In thus congratulating you upon these results, we believe that we express the feeling of all those who most earnestly desire the speedy restoration of the Union in its full integrity and power, and we trust that you will be able to afford us the opportunity of interchanging with you, in the manner proposed, the patriotic sympathies and hopes which belong to this sacred cause. We are, General,
With high respect, Your friends and obedt. servants,
E. E. MORGAN, RICH. GRANT WHITE, CHARLES GOULD, GEO. BLUNT, WM. ALLEN BUTLER, JOHN BLUNT, of Brooklyn* FRANK GEO. SHAW, R. J. THOME, PETER COOPER, C. W. MARSHALL, CHARLES KING, R. H. McCuRDY, HIRAM BARNEY, SETH B. HUNT, E. NYE, JOHN WADSWORTH, CHARLES BUTLER, EDWARD MINTURN, RUSSELL STURGIS, HAMLIN BLAKE
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 569
From "New Yorker"
NEW YORK, January 9th> 1863
To BUTLER the Boast
BEFORE you attend that dinner which is gotten up on your behalf by a few truckling scoundrels, who, like yourself, have taken part in public demonstrations with the purpose of promoting your own interest, it may be as well for you to know that this is no compliment from the citizens of New York. The leading members of the Chamber of Commerce refused to allow their rooms to be desecrated by any meeting to do honor to a man whose private character was so well- known before he had the opportunity to disgrace our country by his public acts. You are well-known in the little town of Boston, also many a wretched strumpet arid gambler can testify to your private character, and don't think that you have so easily gone to New Orleans and robbed with the aid of your relatives everywhere you had a chance, and that you will not be exposed. No; you are to answer to the people of the North for your thieving; an account is coming out which may take down your bombastic vanity a degree, and another little account for which you try on all public occasions to excuse yourself, is the murder of Mumford, whom you call a drunken gambler, — the idea of a drunken sot like you calling another a "drunken gambler." But make your peace with God, for the arrangements are all made to despatch you. Thousands thirst for your blood, and are determined to have it. You cannot avert it; you will be despatched when least you think. You are fully as much detested here in the North as in the South, and your day of reckoning is at hand, although you may look two ways. It is something like your official administration in the South, when you looked to your own pocket while professing to serve the good.
Your rotten-hearted carcass must be deprived of vitality, your thieving soul of life, so prepare to meet your cohort, the Devil, who wants you more than this country does.
NEW YORKER
From President Lincoln to Congress
Dec. 16th, 1862 [Not in chronological order]
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives
I HAVE in my possession three valuable swords, formerly the property of General David E. Twiggs, which I now place at the
570 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
disposal of Congress. They were forwarded to me from New Orleans by Major General Benjamin F. Butler. If they, or any of them, shall be by Congress disposed of, in reward or compli- ment of military service, I think General Butler is entitled to the first consideration. A copy of the General's letter to me, accompanying the swords, is herewith transmitted.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
In the Senate of the United States
January 7th, 1863
MR. WILSON, of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, reported the following joint resolution, which was read and passed to a second reading.1
Joint Resolution
making disposition of three swords, formerly the property of David E. Twiggs, late brevet brigadier general in the army of the United States.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled — That the three presentation swords, seized by Major General Benjamin F. Butler after the capture of New Orleans, Louisi- ana, as the property of David E. Twiggs, late brevet major general in the army of the United States, and abandoned by him in his flight from that city on the twenty-fifth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, be disposed of by the Presi- dent of the United States in the following manner, to wit: The sword voted by Congress on the second March, 1847, to be presented to Major General Benjamin F. Butler, as a reward for his distinguished military services during the pres- ent rebellion; the sword presented by the State of Georgia to be deposited in the library of the Military Academy at West Point, New York; and the sword given him by Augusta, his native city, to be preserved in the Patent Office, at Wash- ington, as a trophy of the present rebellion.
From Honorable Charles Sumner to General Butler
WASHINGTON, D.C. Senate Chamber, Jan. 8, 1863
DEAR GENERAL: Mr. Stan ton assured me last evening that had he known your real position with regard to the Proclamation, he would have cut off his right hand before
1 This bill was pigeon-holed in Committee, and no further action taken in regard to General Butler.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 571
he would have allowed anybody to take your place. That his fixed purpose was that on the 1st. Jan. a General should be in command at New Orleans to whom the Proclamation would be a living letter, and that in this respect it was natural, after the recent elections in Pa. and N. Y., that he should look to a Republican rather than to an old Democrat.
I mention these things frankly, that you may see the precise motive of the recent change.
I afterwards saw the President, who said that he hoped very soon to return you to New Orleans. He added that he was anxious to keep you in the public service to gratify you, as you had deserved well of the country.
I do not know that you will care to hear these things, but I trust that you will appreciate the sympathy and friendly interests which dictate their communication. Believe me,
' Very faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER
From T. D. Eliot to General Butler
WASHINGTON, January Sth, 1863
MY DEAR SIR: I had prepared a vote of thanks to you, but the state of Ohio was first called, and Mr. Hutchins offered a resolution to the same effect, which after some opposition (not by speech, but by motions to defeat) we have now passed by a vote of 83 to 28.
The 8th of January is a good day to pass it, and it is an act in all respects fit to be done.
Sincerely your friend, T. D. ELIOT
From George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase 1
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, January Sth, 1863
DEAR SIR: A disaster has occurred at Galveston, similar to that near Fortress Monroe, when the "Cumberland" and "Congress" were destroyed.
The rebels, under Magruder, came down from Houston with four boats (steam) protected by cotton bales. At the same time, a land force, estimated from 3,000 to 7,000, crossed the bridge to the Island and occupied Galveston. This occurred about one or two o'clock on the morning of Jan 1st. About 3 o'clock, an attack was made by land and water on the gun- boats — which were in the narrow channel within musket shot of the shore. The "Harriet Lane" run into a rebel
1 American Historical Association Report, 1902, Vol. II, p. 345.
572 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
boat and sunk her, but became entangled in the wreck and could not get off. She was carried by boarding and captured. Less than twenty of her men are supposed to survive (out of 130). The "Westfield" (Flag Ship) was aground. Commo- dore Renshaw sent off to the other vessels all the men and officers except eight or ten, and then blew up the vessel and himself with her. He did not intend to destroy himself, but the magazine took fire unexpectedly, just as he was escaping. Two hundred and fifty men of a Massachusetts regiment (infantry only) were posted in the town, and were all captured or killed. The gunboats had previous notice of the attack, and there must have been negligence on the part of the officers. Our loss is — "Harriet Lane" captured, but believed to be too much injured to be fit for sea for some time. The "West- field" blown up. Two sailing vessels loaded with coal for the navy. About 400 men killed or taken prisoners.
All the other vessels (two were gunboats) escaped. The fight lasted from three o'clock until 10 A.M.
Admiral Farragut, on receipt of the news, immediately despatched several vessels to Galveston, which will set things right again, I hope. The 1st. Texas Regt., Col. Davis, arrived, after the capture on the S. Ship "Cumbria," and narrowly escaped capture. The reg't. numbers about 200 men, who tiave all returned here.
The condition of things here does not seem to me to be very satisfactory — but Gen. Banks has not been here long enough to determine the prospect of improvement.
I think Gen. Banks lacks decision. With one or two excep- tions, his staff are not men of ability. He seems to favor the policy of conciliation — which policy is weak and will always be unsuccessful. I can hardly get him to express an opinion — or if he does, it does not seem to be an earnest conviction. Secessionists grow more defiant, and Union men despondent. This, I hope, and think, will be changed. I believe he is thoroughly honest, and he already has effected much good by putting down swindlers and army speculators. Gen. Butler's military commission (Gen. orders No. 91) did an immense amount of mischief and injustice. Gen. Butler is an extraor- dinary man, but did very wrong in all things connected with internal trade. I have frequently heard Union men say they wished he was President, for though he would make mil- lions for himself during the first three months, he would finish the war in three months more.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 573
Gen. Banks has a very difficult position, for he comes here a stranger, and four weeks at least are necessary for him to become informed of the situation.
The Government can finish this war in twelve months — in one way and in only one. Arm the negroes. I am per- fectly satisfied it must be done. Why delay it? It can be done here without throwing the border states into a fever. Here and in S. Carolina and not well elsewhere. I called upon Gen. Banks this morning and urged the matter on his attention, as I have often done before. He agreed with me that the war could be finished in that way, but seems afraid of taking the responsibility. I wish I could assume the respon- sibility for him. I would suggest that you write me a letter to be shown to Gen. Banks, giving your opinion of the expedi- ency of raising negro troops, and stating how such a step will be regarded by the Administration. If he is assured in this manner that the Government will approve, perhaps he will en- list the negroes. There at least 20,000 black men within our lines who will make good and willing soldiers, 50,000 more can be raised west of the Mississippi as our army advances.
The three colored regiments already organized have peti- tioned Gen. Banks to be put in the front rank at Port Hudson, that they may have a chance of removing the stigma of alleged cowardice from their race, and vindicate their rights and abilities as soldiers. I urge him to grant their request, but do not know what he will do about it. The negroes all say they can finish the war if the Gov't. will give them a chance. By no other means is success certain. Why delay it?
If it had not been for speculations in the sugar crops, Gen. Butler would have raised more regiments, but the men were wanted on the plantations to take off the crops.
Our last dates from the North are of the 20th December. It is rumored that Gen. Butler may go into the Cabinet. I almost wish he would. He is a man of wonderful energy, will, and ability, and will always be admired by the Union men of New Orleans, even though he is believed by some to have ac- quired great wealth here.
Military affairs remain in the same condition as when I last wrote. Port Hudson has not been attacked, and I don't know when it will be. The rebels are said to be receiving re- inforcements there. (QEOBGE S. DENISON)
P.S. Gen. Hamilton is still here.
574 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From W. W. Murphy
Consulate General of the United States of America, FRANKFORT, M., January 8th, 1863
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: I was obliged to you for the denial of the nu- merous falsehoods published in the London papers. To-day I cut another article from the London Herald, a Tory paper which is as much worse than the other in falsehoods as you can well imagine. No sensible man believes the stories here, but I thought as a matter of amusement I concluded to send it to you. We know your efforts for the Union cause, and every good Union man appreciates them. I observe that my letter is written on the glorious 8th of January, the anniversary of the celebration of the victory of General Jackson. I hope that noble motto of his, "The Union must and shall be pre- served/' will soon be realized.
Yours truly, W. W. MURPHY
From Emerson Etheridge
House of Representatives, January Sth, 1863
Major General B. F. BUTLER, City of NEW YORK
SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of the resolution this day adopted by the House of Represen- tatives, expressive of its appreciation of your able, energetic, and humane administration of the Department of the Gulf. I have the honor to be, Your obedient Servant, EM. ETHERIDGE, Clerk House of Rep.
From General Butler
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, Jan. 17th, 1863. [Not in chronological order]
Hon. EMERSON ETHERIDGE, Clerk of the House of
Representatives, U. S. Congress
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an engrossed copy of the vote of the House of Representatives. For your promptness in forwarding I am truly grateful. I have the honor to be,
Most respy. Your Obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. U.S.V.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 575
From H. M. Fuller to Paul R. George
NEW ORLEANS, January 9th, 1863
MY DEAR FRIEND, CAPT. GEORGE: As there is a mail going from here for New York to-morrow, I will try and give you some idea of New Orleans as I see it now. I was somewhat prepared to find the change in this Department of the Gulf, remembering what you told me in New York, and then pass- ing some of Banks' expedition near Key West, I began to think that General Banks was to relieve General Butler, which we found was true when we arrived at the Passes. We arrived in the city the 24th of Dec. about 9 o'clock in the evening. The next day, being Christmas, was a holiday, and of course a good deal of liquor drank, which, with General Banks' flatter- ing proclamations and mild treatment with them here, brought out their true feelings into words, and in many places quite loud. The health of Jeff Davis was drank often by crowds in bar-rooms so as to be heard in the streets by those passing.
I found, what I always told you was true, that there was no Union feeling in New Orleans. They dared do nothing but obey when General Butler was here, but, now he is gone, they curse him, and tell all sorts of stories about him, and speak in high terms of Banks. I saw, the day after I came here, in a window in Camp Street, the portrait of Beauregard with forty tickets at 50 cents each for sale, and when all sold to be raffled for. The portrait never would have been exhibited, neither the health of Jeff Davis drank, had Gen. Butler been in command here. I dont think Banks is "big" enough for the place.
I have been out to the Texas line to bring sugar, but it has all been bought up. I saw the Confederate soldiers across the Rio. We have about fifteen hundred men stationed there with three gun boats, and it is said they have three thousand men and three or four boats, such as they are, a short distance up the Rio. I think Banks had better look out or they will recapture the Opelousas R. R., and all the territory south and west of the Miss, that Gen. Butler captured.
Trade is very dull here, as Gen. Banks will not give any one permit to trade out of the city. 'Tis well that we did not get a permit to go to Galveston, as we tried, for had we got it I should be there with the " Franklin." The "Franklin" arrived here on the first of January, just commenced dis- charging her with the crew as there is no hurry. Freights
576 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
are very low, they have got nothing yet to freight the "Frank- lin" home. Read feels very blue; Fisher says he should feel well enough if he had you here. The " Saxon" started last night for New York. I wanted to go in her, but Fisher said I must stay till the " Relief " came; he might want me. We have not heard a word from the" Relief " yet, save by the paper that she was to leave New York the 25th Dec. The transports are all leaving for N. York. The "Quincy" is repairing her fur- nace or something about the boiler, and will be ready to leave the first of the week. I am stopping on the "Franklin," live better than at any hotel in this city. I presume I shall go home in the "Franklin," she beats most all the clippers, coming out here in seventeen days. I am anxious to hear from home. We have had no mail for nearly two weeks. Where is the Rio, Rio?
Your friend, H. M. FULLER
From Richard Grant White
186 Tenth Street, NEW YORK, Jan. 10th, 1863
Major General BUTLER
SIR: I beg your acceptance of the accompanying volume with the assurance of my respect. It is a book to which in October last I added some notes, in one of which (on page 107) I expressed, briefly and imperfectly, an appreciation of your rule and your writing in New Orleans, which since then has only been confirmed and heightened. Indeed, though neither a military man nor a politician, I venture to say, after narrowly watching the course of events, during the last year and a half, that you, Sir, have exhibited during the whole of that time those qualities the lack of which in others has brought us to the present pass in our national affairs.
Trusting that the order which relieved you of your ardu- ous duties at New Orleans will prove to have been justified by the necessity of assigning you to a wider, though it can be hardly a more important field of labor, I am, Sir,
Very respectfully, Your obdt. Servant,
RICHARD GRANT WHITE
Will you pardon me, for adding that I know how many and how various must be the demands upon your time and atten- tion, and that should these prevent you from acknowledging the receipt of this note, I should still be unwilling to dissent from Count Mejan's gracious admission that "General Butler knows how to be polite" on proper occasions. R. G. W.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 577
From William Alexander
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, LA., Jan. 13th, 1863
Hon. M. BLAIR, P. M. Gen'l. of the U. S.9 WASHINGTON
DEAR SIR: As I believe that you sincerely desire to crush the rebellion by military force and not to palter with treason by compromises, I again trouble you with a line. Can't Texas be taken out of Gen. Banks' military department? If so, I do most earnestly urge you to use your influence to accom- plish that end. Since he came here I have not called upon him (and have been but very little about Gen. Hamilton; my contempt for their contented inefficiency was too great to permit me to waste my personal attentions upon them), but from what has come before the public I have seen that he is wholly unequal to his position. With but small adminis- trative intent, and without military capacity or even confi- dence in his own views and energy to carry them out, he has done nothing arid can and will do nothing — he is a complete failure. Even his sycophants will have to acknowledge that the well-known quotation, "Signus imperio nisi imperasset," would form a motto peculiarly appropriate to his case. Thus far his administration has served no purpose save to afford a foil to Butler's.
For Heaven's sake don't let Banks go to Texas! He won't suit the job. He has not sense and does not possses the pluck to do any good there, and is surrounded by a staff that would paralyze the genius of the 1st Napoleon. Give this some earnest and energetic man that does not in the meantime appear too plainly to be the compromise of Seward candidate for the presidency of the United States, and let him commence his attack on or near the Rio Grande, and success will certainly cover his efforts.
It appears that inasmuch as five railroads converge to Houston, and a trunk road goes from thence to Galveston, making Galveston the only point on the entire coast of Texas out of which all the rebel forces within 150 miles could be massed within a few hours, it was selected by Admiral Farra- gut as a point to be taken and by Gen. Banks as a point to be occupied. The result is already before you. Now, if Napo- leon 1st were at the head of our Government, he would dis- grace Farragut for taking a place without military value to us, and for attacking at a point where our enemies wish us to attempt to make an entrance into the state, and leaving the
VOL. ii — 37
578 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN P. BUTLER
railroad bridge from the mainland to the island unbroken; and he would at least have removed Banks for suffering a small force to be landed where so long as the bridge stood they would be entirely at the mercy of the enemy. These officers, through neglect or ignorance of facts they could have easily have mustered, have caused defeat and loss. I suppose that some petty naval officer will be made the scape-goat, and that Farragut and Banks will escape even an inquiry.
I know something about Texas, having spent some 16 years of my life there, and I now assure you that if any move be made to recover that State by way of Red River, or the Sa- bine, or Galveston, it will cause a wanton and useless sacrifice of treasure and of blood. Indianola is the point at which an adequate force ought to enter. A smaller force could main- tain itself and do much good if landed at Point Isabel.
In the meantime, my loyal friends in Texas were sacrificed by useless delay on the part of the Government. Can't a few men, provided with arms and ammunition and authority to recruit be sent to Point Isabel, and protected by a light- draft gunboat? If so, thousands can be saved. The rebel trade with and through Mexico would be broken up, and you little dream how important it has become.
Gen. Banks contemplates sending a steamer there to bring off the Union men to this place. I can scarce conceive of greater folly. Such action would cause our Government to be looked upon in Mexico as the most cowardly and inefficient on earth.
I forgot to say that Fort Brown has long since been evacu- ated by the Rebels, and the heavy guns removed to Ringgold
arrac s* Very respectfully, WM. ALEXANDER
From Estwick Evans
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 13th, 1863
To Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Allow me to congratulate you for your suc- cesses. I thank you for the line to me, and your order from New Orleans. We must make a Midas of misfortune and sorrow. The affair of Vicksburg and Galveston must produce a strong sway back in the other direction. The nature of things is God.
It won't be so easy for a mole-hill to overtop a mountain as for the South to overcome the great Union cause. But our sacrifices and sorrows are awful, and our efforts gigantic.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 579
The effects should be more so. We must have even greater enterprises and move with greater velocity — together with powerful preparation, prudence, and strategy. I like your grand idea of a cross-cut near Vicksburg. May it not be practicable? We must, if need be, burn out or drown out the rascals, and is it not most time? Shall we first sacrifice a hundred thousand more of our noble children?
Adieu, General, accept my best consideration and great
' ESTWICK EVANS
From General Butler
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, Jan. 17 'th, 1863
Hon. Jos. HOLT, Judge Advocate General, U.S.A.
DEAR SIR: If such occurrences can take place in our army as is shown by written copy of order and statement, is it pos- sible to maintain discipline?
A more gross case than Capt. Bidwell's is rarely met, and yet he is re-commissioned.
The matter is submitted to your judgment. I have the
honor to be, T- t> v i j* o
V ery Kespy., i our obat. bervt.,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. U.S.V. Exhibits referred to in Foregoing Letter
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf. Sept. Uth, 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 374
IN which Capt. Bidwell was dishonorably discharged from the service for retaining the money of discharged private soldiers, under pretences of altering the pay-rolls, and while under arrest for previous misdemeanor.
Statement of E. II. Brie
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, Jan. llth, 1863
ON the llth inst. I saw the above-named Capt. Bidwell, whom I personally know, in New York City, and then con- versed with him. He was in full uniform, and wore his sash as Officer of the Day. He informed me then that he was a Captain in the 176 Reg. New York Vols., and expected to leave for New Orleans soon. R
580 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER From J. 0. A. Griffin to General Butler
CHARLESTOWN, Sunday Evening, Jan. 18th, 1863
MY DEAR SIR: Miracles are occurring in our time, if never before. I have just come from Tremont Temple where, to an immense audience, Wendell Phillips has delivered an eulogy (to appropriate a phrase applicable to dead men) on yourself, and his commendations were not because of your views on slavery, but by reason of the fact that you have done some- thing and know how to do more. He spoke of you as the only man who "had organized victory/' He rebuked the govern- ment for recalling you and filling your place by a man who could organize nothing more formidable than a caucus. And he went on, at great length, in a strain of highly eulogistic remarks. The audience received what he said with en- thusiastic applause, Sunday night "to the contrary notwithstanding . ' '
Phillips, in these winter months, manufactures a vast amount of popular opinion. No man will speak oftener or to larger audiences in America for the next few months. He is really a statesman though not recognized as such "by the general." A mention of this fact I make, because I think now the only hope of America rests in keeping up a healthy state of senti- ment both as to measures and men in the great masses. These masses in New England and New York and Ohio are reached by men like Phillips who have the public ear in Lyceum Halls.
Besides, considering your antecedents and his, I think it something that you wrung from the lips of this Modern Cicero such words as he spoke tonight.
Yours truly, J. O. A. GRIFFIN
From Moses Bates
BATON ROUGE, LA., Jan. I8th, 1863
Major Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR SIR: I am arraigned before Gen. C. Grover, Brig. Gen. Comdg. at this Post, and prohibited from trading here, having been tried, condemned, and sentenced without a hear- ing, for a paper which one Zeigler signed here last summer agreeing not to purchase cotton above the maximum price fixed for me to purchase to stock the Penitentiary. Having been advised by Col. McMillan that this affidavit of Zeigler had been acted upon by a board of enquiry, who had decided that I was simply discharging my duty as an officer, I had
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 581
contented myself in regard to the matter, but now I find — and this is not the first instance I have had of the same spirit — that I am to be pursued by Gen. Banks' subordinates until I am driven from the Department.
The circumstances connected with this subject are briefly these: When the factory of the Penitentiary was stopped for want of cotton, and the prisoners were being fed from the Commissary Department, this Ziegler shipped a quantity of cotton to New Orleans in violation of your order to first offer it to the Penitentiary. This cotton was by your order returned to this city, where I was waited upon by Lt. S. W. Peree, A. Q. M. of the Post, in company with Zeigler, and I was urged by this officer to allow the cotton to be returned, Zeigler at the same time expressing a determination not to buy any more cotton at this place, and asking the privilege of express- ing that determination in writing, — his previous relations with my clerk having convinced me that his word was not to be taken, a fact which he very well knew. Having procured several weeks' supply between the shipment and the return of Zeigler's cotton, I complied with the Quartermaster's re- quest, and released this cotton, at the same time complying with Zeigler's request to allow him to sign the paper for which I am now outlawed by Gen. Grover.
The transaction had no other object than a compliance with the necessity for providing the Penitentiary with stock to keep the prisoners employed profitably, and was in har- mony with your order and those of Gen. Williams, the paper itself having been written at the request of the Quartermaster in charge, and since at no time during my charge of the Peni- tentiary factory did I buy or sell a bale of cotton except for the Government, of which I have rendered a just and full account to the military Governor of the State, in compliance with your commands, I have no alternative but through you, to demand of the war department not only full restitution for being deprived of my rights as a citizen of the United States, but a reasonable compensation for the loss to which I am subjected by the Military authorities here, — upon the unsupported affidavit of an individual who left this State as it is believed to avoid being convicted of felony.
With renewed assurances of my regards, and my sincere congratulations for your reception on arriving among your friends. I have the honor to remain,
Your Obdt. Servant, MOSES BATES
582 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From James Parton to General Butler
NEW YORK, Mason Brothers, 5 & 7 Mercer St., Jan. 19, 1863
SIR: I wish to write the history of your administration in New Orleans. This I would do for the vindication of the country as well as to do honor to one who, in this most diffi- cult of all wars, has shown a capacity equal to the occasion.
The work which I propose ought not to be done without your sanction, and cannot be well done without your coop- eration. I now ask your sanction and cooperation.
I shall require of you: 1st, one or two long conversations; 2nd, occasional short interviews or notes; 3d, some introduc- tions to your friends, here and in New Orleans; 4th, perhaps, copies of a few unpublished papers.
I propose a volume duodecimo of four or five hundred pages, suitable for universal circulation, to be issued in about eight months from this time — sooner if possible. In about three weeks I shall be ready to begin, and in three more to start for New Orleans.
I have no right to suppose that you have heard my name. Yet you may have done so. I have written a life of Aaron Burr, and one of Andrew Jackson, besides some smaller things.
I beg that you will take this matter into consideration, and favor me with an answer within a week or two. Perhaps I should inform you in addition that I am a slavery loathing democrat, and that you are my candidate for President.
With the highest respect, JAS. PARTON
From General Butler
LOWELL, Jan. 21, 1863 [Not in chronological order]
JAMES PARTON, Esq.
DEAR SIR: You are by far too modest in your supposition that I might not have heard of your name. One of the con- solations permitted me at New Orleans was reading your chap- ters of the life of Jackson, and finding that he had the same and worse difficulties than those which beset me.
I am, too, much flattered by your request, and will endeavor to give you every assistance in the directions you mention. My letter and order books shall be at your disposal, as well as the official and unofficial correspondence directed to me. If I can by personal conversation elucidate many matters wherein otherwise history might be a perversion of the truth, I will be at your service.
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 583
One thing I beg shall be understood between us, however (as I have no doubt it would have been without this paragraph), that while I will furnish you with every possible facility to learn everything done by me in New Orleans and elsewhere, it will be upon the express condition that you shall report it in precisely the manner you may choose — without the slight- est sense of obligation "aught to extenuate" because of the source from which you derive the materials of your work, and farther, that no sense of delicacy of position in relation to myself shall interfere with the closest investigation of every act alleged to have been done or permitted by me. I will only ask that upon all matter I may have the privilege of presenting to your mind the documentary and other evidence of the fact. I should be happy to confer with you personally at such time as may be convenient.
Respectfully, B. F. BUTLER
From James Parton to General Butler
NEW YORK, Mason Brothers, 5 and 7 Mercer St., Jan. 24^, 1863
[Not in chronological order]
DEAR SIR: I received yesterday your letter of the 21st, and read it with perfect satisfaction. To the honorable con- dition which you impose I most cordially assent. It is the truth, and the truth only, that I desire to relate.
This morning I was about to ask you whether I could depend on finding you at home during the latter half of next month, and to say that if I could I would spend that time at Lowell. But I see in the Tribune of this morning a statement that you are about to return to New Orleans, and re-assume command of the Southwestern department. If this is true (and I hope, for the country's sake, it is), it may necessitate a delay in the execution of my task, but only, I trust, to make it more worthy the doing.
I wait for information of your movements. Meanwhile, I shall hasten to wind up my present occupation, or rather, get myself in readiness to do so, and collect the printed matter that has already appeared relating to the subject before me.
With the highest respect, JAS. PARTON
584 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
From R. C. Hale
Ed. Quars. Pennsylvania Militia, Qr. M. General's Office, HARRIBBURG,
January 20, 1863
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, LOWELL, MASS.
GENERAL: I have read with great interest your remarks to your neighbors at Lowell. Like yourself, this foul rebellion found me a democrat. I was appointed to the office I now hold by a Republican Governor and unanimously confirmed by a Republican Senate; but the Governor said to me, "I appoint you because you are a Democrat, and if I knew a better Democrat I would appoint him/5 I claim still to be a Democrat, but, like you, if I have not changed my principles, I have changed some of my ideas. No man of ordinary intel- ligence can have peeped through the scenes of the past two years without being fully convinced that slavery is the cause and foundation stone of the rebellion, and the latter cannot be crushed out till slavery is swept away.
I trust, on some new and ample field you will finish the work so nobly begun, and that the grateful thanks of a united country may be yours.
Yours respectfully, R. C. HALE, Q. M. Genl.
From Salmon P. Chase to General Butler
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1863
MY DEAR GENERAL: I could not come to Boston, and very sorry was I that it was not possible. You are appreciated as you merit. How prompt the people are to recognize real ser- vice when they see it! My duties confine me too closely to allow much knowledge of anything outside of my Department, but the President says you are to go back to N. 0. It can hardly be too soon. Mr. Flanders, elected for one of the Dis- tricts there, is a valuable support to you; very intelligent, and, as far as can be judged on short acquaintance, altogether reliable.
You see the intercepted diplomacy. The use the Confed- erates would make of permission to take out cotton is now clear enough. g p
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 585
From General Butler
LOWELL, MASS., January %%nd, 1863
Brig. Genl. L. THOMAS, Adjutant General
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication of Fred. Camden to the Secretary of War — referred to me from your office for information.
It will be seen by reference to my despatch to the Secre- retary of the Treasury, under date of June 19th, 1862, that I received of the Citizens' Bank certain sums standing to the credit of the Confederate States receivers, amounting to about a quarter of a million dollars, which were sent to the Treasury of the United States — to be disposed of by the Government.
This amount, together with much more, was collected from property of loyal citizens confiscated by the rebels and depos- ited to their credit in gross. Many drafts were drawn against this fund, and the balance only was got by me.
There are very many claims upon this fund by loyal citi- zens whose property was thus taken. It is not sufficient to pay all. It cannot be shown that any given citizen's property is in it, as his amount may have been drawn out by the re- ceivers and his neighbor's left behind.
Therefore I have suggested that a commission be estab- lished to adjudicate on all their claims, and divide the amount pro rata amongst the just claimants.
But this is for the wisdom of the Government. I know of nothing further upon the topic that would be for the advan- tage of your office to communicate. I have the honor to be, Very Respect. Your obedient Servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj. Gen. U.S.V.
From J. M. Bell to General Butler
BOSTON, January 22nd, 1863
GENERAL: I do not think that any transplanted cabbage ever wilted faster than I have done since I was shaken out of your company. But "one blast upon your battle-horn is worth a thousand" pills, as I believe that Scott did not write, and I live in hope to hear your summons to work again as my restor- ative. I will be ready at any time, any where, every where, in any capacity, to do what in me lies, for you and your inter- ests, and write this only to assure you that nothing but sick- ness superinduced by laziness has prevented my coming up to inquire if there was anything that I could do.
586 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
I suppose from what Shaffer writes that there is prospect of a return to N. O. I should prefer to see your abilities at Washington. The country needs this, and should demand it, but the country rarely gets what it needs.
Mrs. Bell wishes to tender her respects to you, and both join in kind regards to Mrs. Butler. With the highest respect,
Your friend and servant, J. M. BELL
From Oliver Warner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Secretary's Office, BOSTON, Jan, %Srd, 1863
Major General BUTLER, LOWELL, MASS.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a "Resolve, presenting the thanks of the Legislature to Major General Butler."
Allow me personally to congratulate you upon the successful administration of affairs in your late department, and to express my cordial wish for your continuous prosperity. Very respectfully, Your obdt. Servant,
OLIVER WARNER
Resolve — presenting the thanks of the Legislature to General Butler
RESOLVED, That the thanks of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives are hereby tendered to Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, for the energy, ability, and success characterizing his late administration and command of the Department of the Gulf.
House of Representatives, January %Qth, 1863
Passed, ALEX. H. BULLOCK, Speaker
In Senate, January 20^, 1863
Passed, JONA. E. FIELD, President January 20th, 1863, Approved, JOHN A. ANDREW
Secretary's Department, BOSTON, January list, 1863
I HEREBY certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the origi- nal resolve. Witness the Seal of the Commonwealth here- unto affixed at the date above written.
OLIVER WARNER, Secretary of the Commonwealth
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 587
From President Lincoln l
Executive Mansion, WASHINGTON, Jan. 23rrf, 1863
Hon. Secretary of War
SIR: I think General Butler should go to New Orleans again. He is unwilling to go unless he is restored to the command of the department. He should start by the 1st of February, and should take some force with him. The whole must be so managed as to not wrong or wound the feelings of General Banks. His original wish was to go to Texas; and it must be arranged for him to do this now with a substantial force; and yet he must not go to the endangering the opening of the Mississippi. I hope this may be done by the time General Butler shall arrive there; but whether or not, I think we can- not longer dispense with General Butler's services.
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN
From Salmon P. Chase to General Butler
WASHINGTON, Jany. 23, 1863
MY DEAR GENERAL: Mr. Bullitt is appointed acting Col- lector at New Orleans, as I told you he would be when you were here.
I am very sure you misapprehend his personal disposition towards yourself and your administration there; as I have said to him that I would like to have him satisfy you that such is the fact. He proposes either to write or see you; and, as the frankness of a personal explanation is most likely to produce a clear and good understanding, I think well of the idea of his making you a visit.
Please give him such a reception as you would give me; let no insurmountable obstacle prevent the establishment of friendly and cordial relations.
You must go back to New Orleans, and I want cordial cooperation for you and with you from all officers connected with my Department. j^ sincerdy> ^ p CHASE
From Isaac Ironside to General Butler
Foreign Affairs Committee, SHEFFIELD, January ZMh, 1863
SIR: This Committee have had under consideration your letter to the Citizens of New Orleans of Dec. 24th, 1862, and
1 "Lincoln's Complete Works," Vol. II, pp. 305-306.
588 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
they request me to do an impossibility in reference thereto, which is to convey to you their high sense of admiration and satisfaction at the value of your words, and at your clear and convincing statement.
Before and since the rebellion, the Committee lost no proper opportunity of raising their humble voice in support of the United States, and against the rebellion and its objects and real promoters.
When Lord Russell granted belligerent rights to the rebels, the Committee sent him a protest against the act as being unlawful and unprecedented; when he declared that the blockading of the Southern ports was "unjustifiable," the Committee exposed his hypocrisy by comparing the conduct of England in suppressing the Indian insurrection — a lawful one — with that of the United States, and asked him if it would be justifiable in them to blow the rebels from guns instead of stopping their supplies, which he said was unjusti- fiable. When the affair of the Trent happened, the Committee petitioned the Queen praying that her officers who had vio- lated her proclamation might be punished according to law. These are but a few of the acts of the Committee in the same direction, and they have had the satisfaction of seeing in some degree the fruit of their labours. All the newspapers in this town support the rebels. Over and over again have they falsely declared that the inhabitants w^ere favorable to the rebels. A large public meeting was recently held on this sub- ject, at which the supporters of the rebels fought with much tenacity. The meeting lasted four hours. They moved two amendents upon the original resolutions, and displayed a zeal worthy of a better cause. However, the original resolu- tions in favor of law and order and the abolition of slavery were carried by an overwhelming majority, not more than a dozen voting for the two amendments.
Your letter fully explains the reason of the virulent hatred of you displayed by the rebels and their supporters. You are terribly in earnest, and before that earnestness slavery is doomed, and with its doom the cause of the poor and the labourer in every land will receive an infinite support, which nothing can take away. The Committee trust you will per- severe in your high and holy course whatever may be the con- sequences. You are no doubt aware that Russia is the real promoter of the rebellion. Many years ago Sir John MacNeill wrote in the Quarterly Review, "The Cabinets and statesmen
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 589
of Europe are the tools with which Russia works. " Those tools have been worked by fyer in every way relative to the rebel- lion. Mr. Buchanan is one of her tools. Russia seeks univer- sal dominion in order to permanently establish the aristocrats, the rich, the landowners, against the poor, the laborer. By the publication of your letter, if not before, you placed the filet on your brow, designating you for her victim. She will use every means to crush you, but the Committee trust you will escape her machinations.
Your obedient servant, ISAAC IRONSIDE, Chairman
From T. B. Thorpe to General Butler
NEW ORLEANS, January 24J/1, 1863
DEAR SIR: I have been intending to write you ever since you left, but a variety of duties have constantly interfered, but nevertheless I have daily thought of you, as ten times a day I have been made to feel how much the city and the Union have lost by your absence. I assure you that there is a deep under-current of indignation and regret at your removal, that you can scarcely realize many of your former opponents, among the respectable people, now admit that you of all others was the man for the place. Your departure has paralyzed business, destroyed hope, and sent things to the backwards generally. I have watched your progress north with pleasure, your reception was no more than I expected. I say in the bottom of my heart, God bless you for your thorough Union practices. As a sign of the times here and the heart of public opinion I send you the account of a Union meeting held last evening. This is the record of a spontaneous movement, I had nothing to do with it. The feeling here of the Union men is deep indignation, fear, and a hopelessness of the future.
In haste, Your friend and admirer, T. B. THORPE
From Colonel Shaffer to General Butler
PRIVATE. Metropolitan Hotel, WASHINGTON, January %5th, 1863
DEAR GENERAL: I arrived here Wednesday morning, and have been confined to my room ever since. I have, however, seen a great many persons who have called to see me. The present plan no doubt is to send you back to New Orleans, but there is a strong party desirous of putting you in the War Department. I prevailed on the Republican members from
590 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Illinois to call in a body on Mr. Lincoln and warn him of the dangers of continuing Stanton and Halleck in their present positions, but the interview was not satisfactory. Blair came in and interrupted them. They think that Mr. Lincoln is past doing anything with, he pays no attention to what his friends say. General Cameron called on me this morning and agreed to see Mr. Lincoln to-morrow and protest against your being sent South. He says Washington is your place, he will let me know the result of his interview with Mr. Lincoln, and I will write you. The truth is, that the President is about played out, and acts like a child. I am discouraged and out of all patience with him. Cameron says that you must be put where you can make yourself strong with the people, that you are the only man for next President. He wants me to go to Philadelphia, where he says I can be of more use in shap- ing matters for you than in any other place. I told him that I intended first to get well, and then I would be willing to go any place or do anything that was thought best. I will not get from here for several days, and would like to hear from you.
Truly Your Friend, J. W. SHAFFER
From 0. C. Gardiner
NEW YORK, January 15th, 1863
MY DEAR BUTLER: In 1845 and 6, the year of my connec- tion with O'Sullivan in the Demo. Hevieu\ he was in Europe, and Caleb Gushing, Alex. Everett, Prof. Tucker of Va., Atty. Gen. Gilpin (H. D.), Dudley Field, B. F. Butler of N. Y., E. P. Whipple, Hawthorne, Whittier, etc., some twenty were contributors. After it was sold I penned a series of articles for Cotton's Whig Ileview on "Foreign Immigration," one of which was a history of the Irish famine, as an inducing agency, and another, a resume of the public and private charities of this city — their necessity as related to the influx of foreign popu- lation. This connection with the press (afterwards with the Daily), which continued down to 1851, brought me into the centre of both the secret and open influences which shape and form public opinion in this central metropolis. In 1848, I wrote the pamphlet called the "Great Issue," 200 pages, going briefly over the National Legislation on slavery from the Congress of 1774 down to that date. Gen. Dix and John Van Buren read my Mss., and the Gen. wrote for me two pages — the history of the stormy session when he made two noted
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 591
speeches in the Senate. These and other associations have given me some knowledge of the real strength and influence of the men who are now actively prominent here.
And from the day of your first march through this city on your way to Annapolis, I have endeavored quietly among the press, and the strong loyal men here, — those who give body to public opinion, — to strengthen your good name whenever and wherever covertly attacked. I have done it not for any selfish ends, but both in memory of past pleasant scenes, and to aid the cause of our imperiled country. With an intimacy and warm attachment with the best men of the press here a sensible man can do a good work.
But I write to tell you how matters are shaping in regard to your proposed reception in New York. I met, day before yesterday, Mr. Prosper M. Wetmore, one of the most active of the committee. He says, and I know, there is a great desire to have you make a speech in the Academy of Music. They have circulated a petition to this effect, and it has already there been signed by over two hundred of the best men in New York, — three ex-Governors, Morgan, King and Hamilton Fish, the Mayor of the city, Opdyke, and the Presidents of three colleges, President of Chamber of Commerce, and some of the first clergymen — old Dr. Spring and Prof. Hitchcock, etc. After the speech, they propose a private banquet. Such a speech would go broadcast through thousands of presses over the country, and over all Europe. I hope you will make one of an hour at least, with all the simplicity, earnestness, and force, which can be condensed into the great and solemn truths of this crisis.
I was exceedingly gratified with the simplicity and direct- ness of your remarks at Lowell and Boston.
President Lincoln was elected to discharge the ordinary duties of President of the United States. But thickening events brought responsibilities unforeseen and unheard of in the his- tory of the world. He has no great lights of past experience to guide him. Forbearance was therefore a great virtue, until in every aspect of the crisis it ceased to avail. You were his agent at N. O. with delegated power, to act on the instant, when the struggle was one of life or death. You were far removed from the source of your power, with no past experi- ences in history, and only reason and constitutional or mili- tary law to guide. It is not strange if some errors were made, and you deserve all honor for having done so bravely and well.
592 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
It would be, it seems to me, a fit moment to receive in New York the cunning devices of our foe in New Orleans, and his abettors abroad "to whip the devil round the stump " and to prevent at all hazards the resumption of the Federal authori- ties in this chief city of the South. And in so doing to show without bitterness, and with that dignity which rises above it, incidentally the malignity of the charges made against you both at home and abroad.
This is what I would desire. You of course, see the whole horizon of your position, and can judge best. You have out- lived in the events of this rebellion all motives for anything but the good of your country and a lasting fame, one founded in just, heroic, and good deeds. You have had and still have my fervent prayers. If God, in his Providence, has placed you as a marked agent in the path of his great events, to work in and for their accomplishment, may you have the courage to work calmly and fearlessly, trusting in Him unto the end. My kind regards to Mrs. Butler, and believe me, as ever,
Yours sincerely, O. C. GARDINER
From Edwin J. Davis
PRIVATE. NEW ORLEANS, LA., Jan. 27th, 1863
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, WASHINGTON, D.C.
MY DEAR SIR: I suppose that you will have seen Gen. Hamilton before this reaches you. Matters have arrived at such a pass in this department as rendered our Texas affairs hopeless, under the present Military head. It is much to be regretted that Gen. Hamilton did not return to Washington a month sooner — we could have been so far advanced towards a decision of some sort.
I have furnished Gen. Hamilton some late information from Western Texas, brought by a schooner last Saturday. To cut off the immense trade of the Rebel Government, being put under way by that, I submitted a plan to Gen. Banks, but he will not act upon it. I have sent a statement of the plan to Gen. Hamilton, who will show it to you if you desire it. From your knowledge of the country where that trade is car- ried on, I am satisfied that you will agree with me that the plan is feasible.
General Banks seems to have a complete disgust of every- thing relating to Texas. The Galveston disaster had com- pletely upset him. The worst of the matter for us lies in the
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 593
queer idea he seems to have adopted, that all his troubles are in some way mixed up with Texas and Texans. Consequently he slights us in every possible way.
As it is probable the force intended to act in Texas will be largely made up of nine months' men already in this depart- ment, I have a suggestion to make which I think will obviate the objection to their use, on account of the shortness of the term they have still to serve. I find that the most of these men will agree to extend their term of service for six or nine months longer, on condition that they are immediately sent to Texas. An offer could also be made, conditioned on success, that each man should receive from the public lands of Texas from three to five hundred acres of land if he was willing to remain as a settler in the State. I believe all Unionists in Texas would willingly see our public lands disposed of in this way. At any rate, we must have some arrangement made by which the term of service of the men composing the expedi- tion shall be at least nine months after landing in Texas. With this arrangement, and say fifteen thousand men, the re-estab- lishment of lawful authority in Texas is sure. Of course this class of men is not requisite for such a raid as I proposed to General Banks.
I trouble you with these particulars because I believe you are well-posted concerning our State, and take a sincere interest in our success; besides, it is not impossible that you may yet take an active part with us.
Truly yours, EDWIN J. DAVIS
From President Lincoln
TELEGRAM. WASHINGTON, Jan. 28/A
Maj. Gen. BUTLER
PLEASE come here immediately. Telegraph me about what
time you will arrive. A T
A. LINCOLN
From J. W. Turner
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, January 29<A, 1863
Major General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR GENERAL: Though the New York Tribune persist- ently has it that you are going back to New Orleans, not having heard from you I have given it no credence. Without any positive knowledge, I have felt at no time that this ad- ministration would send you back. Should a change occur
VOL. II — 38
594 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
in it, which has been, and is, probable from the aspect of affairs, should you not be called to fill a higher place, I have no doubt but what you would be offered the command of the Dept. of the Gulf, with probably a much larger field of action. I doubt not though by that time, if not already by this, it has become in your estimation no longer desirable. It woulci depend I presume somewhat upon the field they gave you, and the disposition of other Generals.
You have completely satisfied the public mind in this part of the country in your administration of affairs at New Orleans — both Republicans and Democrats too; and then a cavil can always be traced to a no well-wisher of the Union.
Your original and summary method of dealing with rebels brings a smile to lighten the face of every one, in striking con- trast to the lank, cadaverous countenance with which they view the prospect of affairs elsewhere.
It is as true that the West desire to see these rebels pum- melled, as it is that there is a rapidly gaining genuine feeling of opposition to the radicalism of the administration, which will vent itself unless heeded, in confusion to our unhappy country.
I have been confined to my room by illness during the last five days. I shall leave for the East about the 7th if I get no orders in the meantime. I would like to see you or hear from you before I went on to Washington. On my arrival in New York, should you still be in Lowell, I will come on. I will go direct to New York. I have done almost as much heavy sit- ting around as I am capable of doing. I am, respectfully,
Yours sincerely, J. W. TURNER
From General Daniel Butterfield
Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, Jan.' 30th, 1863
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER
MY DEAR GENERAL: Gen. Hooker has called me to the position of Chief of his staff. In entering upon the duties, I find no system, organized or otherwise, of espionage for col- lecting information of the enemies' movements. We are almost as much in the dark in this respect as if the Chinese wall sur- rounded us, and we could neither get inside, outside, nor on top of it.
I cannot find that any method or system has been organized
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 595
in this army of late for any such purpose. Of course, the necessity of this thing must be apparent to you, and I feel that I am not mistaken when I judge that your experience in this line will prove valuable. Can you give me advice as to your plans and operations in securing information of the ene- mies' movements; or the names of any persons, white or black, or any other color, who can undertake this duty to per- form it properly with the certainty of reward commensurate with their services. Please consider this confidential.
Yours truly, DANIEL BUTTERFIELD, Maj. Gen. Ch. of Staff
From Stephen M. Allen
BOSTON, May %6th, 1890 [Not in chronological order]
Maj. General BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: In regard to the interviews of January, 1863, for the committee on the conduct of the war, I will say from memory without consulting papers, that in February, 1862, all was, as you know, confusion in Washington. Being there for a few weeks, and having a large acquaintance among members of Congress, I was asked by some members of the Committee on "The Conduct of the War," to aid them.
The meetings were generally held at the rooms of John Cavode, at the Avenue Hotel, who took a leading interest in all war matters, and generally acted as Chairman of the Com- mittee. A large proportion of the business was hearing re- ports of "Scouts," and giving orders for investigation. In fact there was a large corps of informers, or employees of the Committee, not under pay of course, whose business led them into all sorts of examinations of men and things, at their sug- gestion. Their books, if extant, would show a strange record. Some in high places (including the Adjutant General himself) were set down as traitors. Of course, character was much handled, and the fidelity of the officers in the army was a constant topic of discussion. I had every opportunity to see, hear, and read of these matters, which lasted some few weeks, by an every day meeting with the Committee. You were much spoken of, as one that could be thoroughly relied on for what- ever you took to accomplish. It was thought, too, that you were more free from jealousy of the regular army officers than any other of the new Generals. The decided stand you took against treason at the Charlestown Convention, your memor-
596 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
able words, "I will not sit in a Convention where the African Slave trade, which is Piracy by the laws of my country, is approvingly advocated," which rang like a "Fiery Cross" through the press North and South, were remembered and cherished by Pres. Lincoln, as well as the important fact that you have been among the first to arouse the military valor of Massachusetts, and that your services at Annapolis, Balti- more, and in Virginia were of the first magnitude — Negro Slaves became "contraband of war" under your rule.
I returned to Boston before the summer of 1862, and did not go back to Washington until after New Year's in 1863, when Cavode again requested my services with the Committee, and I was constantly with him and them, as before, until about the 17th of February. There was terrible confusion all round, and most everybody, including the President, was very much discouraged.
Many of the members of the House and Senate of Congress had become very strongly opinionated in regard to measures, and there was doubt and distrust on every side. Some were for overriding the President and giving the management of the war to their favorite generals. Few were liberal and practical in their views, and there was insubordination all round. Many changes in the army were made on purely political grounds, or as matters of strategic policy. This was the case in regard to your recall from New Orleans. During all the discussions of the Committee when I was present, or in conversation with any of them, or with other members of Congress at this period, I never heard a word against your ability, integrity, or fidelity to the great cause in which you are engaged, but on the contrary a full expression of con- fidence in your whole motive and action was often made. This speaks a great deal when you consider the amount of public abuse you were getting from your jealous and selfish enemies outside, who spared no pains, nor the use of any means, to ruin your character before the world.
When the question of interviewing you came up I told the Committee I did not know you personally, but of course knew of you. "So much the better," says Cavode, "you know what we think personally, and can the better negotiate for us."
He then stated to me frankly and fully that the Committee had the highest opinion of your loyalty, character, and ability, and felt that the government was under great obligations to
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 597
you already and hoped to be more so. He desired me First, to ask your own explanation of your commercial transactions in New Orleans, which had been so foully misrepresented in the papers, taking notes to be sent to the Committee. Second, if they seemed satisfactory to me, as he said no doubt they would be, to make you the following offer, Viz : — You to take 50,000 men from McClellan's army in Virginia, march to the Ohio River, and go down and take Port Hudson (I think it was Port Hudson). After you made the statements before referred to, and feeling perfectly satisfied myself, I did state to you their offer. You answered very promptly, and as I thought rather tartly, that you would not do it. First, you said it was no way to take any place on the Mississippi by a fleet going down from above, where, if crippled, they would drift into the lion's jaws and be destroyed at once. A fleet to be safe should come up the river, instead of down, that unless you started from New Orleans you would not under- take it, and I might so report. After a moment's reflection you remarked that you would be happy to do any thing proper and practical for the government, but you would not undertake that project as it was impractical. After a few moments more you said, "Besides all this, before such a thing could be done Port Hudson will be taken, and the cost of the effort would be lost." You then went into a detailed account of how long it would take to move that body of men to the Ohio, how many cars it would take, how much equipment, how many steamers, with such an armament, etc., and how long to get down, proving what you had said as to time. "No, I will not undertake it, and it is impractical."
You then opened upon Mexico, Maximilian, Louis Napo- leon, England, etc., and gave a very long and detailed account of what they were up to in regard to Texas, etc., etc., also what England was waiting for, and what she would do if she could, etc., also that you would like to pay off the Mason and Slidell affair by landing 5000 men on the west coast of Ire- land, to keep their attention at home. All of which informa- tion I sent to the Committee. On renewing a cigar, and sitting back in your chair, you reminded me of Ike Marvel in his "Reveries of A Bachelor," and soon began to talk again. "Now, I will make the government a proposition," said you, "and will carry it out too if they will aid me. I will take the 50,000 men proposed and get them to tide water as soon as practicable, land above Charleston, and in connection with
598 LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
Farragut in the Bay will take the city. I will then march back into the interior, and spend the hot weather in the pineries of the West, and in the early fall, if the government will send me a recruit from Rosecrans' army in We^t Tennessee or some other, I will march to the coast (by the Tombigby River, I think), and thus cut the confederacy in two, which will prac- tically end the war." You then were called to Washington, and changes prevented your carrying out your plans pro- posed, 19 months sooner than Sherman did.
If there is anything else I can do for you please inform me.
STEPHEN M. ALLEN
Surviving Presiding Officer of the Worcester Convention, July 20, 1854) which formed and gave name to the Republican party in Massachusetts.
From J. E. Bouligny
American Telegraph Company, WASHINGTON, Jan. SQth, 1863
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, LOWELL, MASS.
SIR: I was informed yesterday only of your despatch to Flanders. My testimony as published in the Times does not contain one word of truth.
Respectfully, J. E. Bouligny.
From Hannah K. Lovering
BOSTON, February 1st, 1863
General B. F. BUTLER
DEAR SIR: Excuse the liberty which I a stranger thus take in writing you a letter, but I have heard of you so often, and have so frequently read your speeches, that I feel I am not entirely unknown.
Your many and noble deeds performed in the service of your country, have endeared your name to all who love their country and their common cause, and in accordance with my husband's request, a soldier who formerly served under you, I have this day named my young son "Benjamin Butler Lov- ering" in honor of yourself, and that he may become as great and good a man as his namesake is my fervent wish and prayer.
Trusting my choice of name will not displease you and wishing you all success, I am,
Yours very truly, HANNAH K. LOVERING
LETTERS OF GEN. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER 599
Feb. 6th
Answer. I am very much obliged to you for the supposed compliment. I only pity the boy that he should bear so unfortunate (a) name. B. F. B.
From Governor Tod
The State of Ohwt Executive Department, COLUMBUS, February 4th, 1863
Major General BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C.
DEAR GENERAL: The general assembly of the state of Ohio have devolved upon me a most pleasant and agreeable duty, in directing that I send you the enclosed resolution. The assembly have but expressed the sentiment of all the loyal people of Ohio.
Hoping that you may soon have an opportunity to win new laurels for our country and yourself. I am
Truly yours, DAVID TOD, Governor
Ohio House Joint Resolution
RESOLVED. By the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that Major General Benjamin F. Butler, by reason of his dis- tinguished service to his country during the present rebellion, is entitled to the grateful acknowledgments and thanks of the loyal people of the country.
RESOLVED. That the Governor communicate copies of these resolutions to Major General Butler. JAMES R. HUBBELL, Speaker of the House of Representatives B. STANTON, President of the Senate
Office of the Secretary of State, January SQth, 1863 [Not in chronological order]
I CERTIFY the foregoing to be correctly copied from the original Roll on file in this office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the Great Seal of the State of Ohio, at Columbus, the 31st day of January A.D. 1863.
W. W. ARMSTRONG, Secretary of State
INDEX
"A. B. SEGER," the, 451
Abadie, Mr., 360, 376, 460
Abbott, Capt., 176, 197
Abbott, Judge, 304, 338
Abellando, Frederico, 472
Abolitionists, the, 78
Academy of Music, the, 591
"Adams," the, 524
Adams Express Co., Agent for. See Blake, Asa S.; B. makes draft for payment of troops in favor of, 32, 33; President of. See Daismore, W. B.; 83; draft de- livered to Vice President of, 151
Adams, Charles Francis, letter to B. fictitiously alleged from, 70; extract of letter from Seward to, 74
Africans, Regiments of. See Phelps, Brig. Gen. J. W.
Alabama, 168, 428, 533, 551
Alexander the Coppersmith, 308
Alexander, William, letter to Blair from, 577
Alez, Severo, 495
Algiers, 49; letters from Davis to Provost Marshal of, 49, 50, 278, 401, 430, 440
Allen, Brig. Gen., 168, 169, 302
Allen, Lieut., 223, 225
Allen, Mr., 477, 478
Allen, Stephen M., letter to B. from, 595; Presiding officer of Worcester Conven- tion, 598
"American Conflict," the, 553
American Historical Association Report, 1902, 228, 270, 328, 355, 378, 412, 426, 504, 515, 528, 543, 550, 565, 571
Amiti River, 150
Andre, Maj., 506
Andrew, Gov. John A., 42, 43; Commis- sions of, 234, 235; re-nominated, 285; 354, 499
Andrews, Judge John W., sentenced to Ship Island, 15, 25, 61, 62; B. asked to review sentence of, 62, 63
"Anglo American," the, 249, 250
"Anna Pervette," the, 8
Annapolis, 486, 513
Anonymous, letter to B., 479
Antonio, Juan, 495
Appleton, Capt. John F., letter to B.
from, 547
Arkansas, 132, 223, 550 "Arkansas/* the, 141, 160, 161, 164, 168,
169, 176, 178, 179, 180, 181, 202, 307 Arlington Heights, 144 Armstrong, W. W., 599 Army of the Gulf, the, B. commends the
soldiers of, 172-173 Arnold, Brig. Gen. L. G., letters from B.
to 54, 230; B. asks for officer from, 54;
request for transfer of district under
command of, 107; transferred to Dept.
of the Gulf, 199, 233, 316; illness of,
402; 526
"Aroostook," the, 382 Assistant Secretary of War. See Wol-
cott, C. P. Assistant Treasurer of the U. S., the,
32,33
Astor Hotel, 166 Astor House, the, 499 Atchafalaya, 8 Augusta, Ga., sword presented to Twiggs
by, 5, 6, 570 Austria, 71
Avendaflo, Don Peregrim, 280 Avendafto Brothers, 279, 280, 281, 887,
388, 389, 390 Avenue Hotel, the, 595 Avery, Dr., 357
B
BACON, THOMAS SCOTT, 78, 79
Bahne, Albert, 90
Bahne, Dick, 90
Bailey, Captain, 436
Bailey,U. S. N., Captain, 7
Bailey, Wm. H., 470
Bainbridge, Captain, 43
Baldwin, Mr., 259
Ballot Box, the, 475
Baltimore, 36, 45, 236, 256, 259, 285,
308, 5 IS
Bank of America, the, 21, 496 Bank of Commerce, the, 337
601
INDEX
603
Bonnegass, Monsieur, 188
Bonnet Carre, 231
Bonzano, H., asks that the sentence of Judge Andrews be reviewed, 62; 105, 106
Bonzano, M. F., letter to B. from, 503
Borgne, Lake, 494, 495
Borrowes, J. J., 442, 443
"Bossu," 479
Boston, 7, 34, 87, 42, 61, 77, 247, 314, 569
Bougere, Francis, complaint of, 391, 398, 399
Bouligny, Mr., 379, 447, 449, 598
Bouttee station, 411, 429
Brady, Capt., 246
Bragg, Gen., 223, 401, 430, 439, 458
Bragg, Mrs., 458
Brainard, Lieut., 199
Brandt, A., 90
Brashier City, 401, 411, 430, 440, 490, 515
Breckinridge, Maj. Gen. J. C., Ill, 150; at Baton Rouge, 159, 160, 161; letter to Col. Cahill from, 160; letter from Col. Cahill to, 161; attacks Vicksburg, 168, 179, 186, 187, 191; goes to Mobile, 242; 540
Breese, Lieut. Commanding, 246
Bremen, Republic of, 222
Brie, E. H., statement of, 579
Brien, J. O., 371
British Corps of Scouts, the, 68
British Government, the, 73
British Guards, the, 442
British Legation, the, 11
Brooklyn, 568
Brooks, John, 106
Brooks, Mr., 538
Brothers, Alexander, accused of dis- loyalty, 381; furniture, etc. taken from, 382
Brown, J. George, B. warned by, 242
Brown £ McMamms, 397
Brownlow, Dr., 51
Brownsville, 421; occupation of, 565
Buchanan, Mr., 589
Buchanan, Lieut. Comg. Thomas McKean, 430; letters to B. from, 450, 451, 521; asks permission to buy cotton, 522
Buck, Capt. A. E., 69, 70, 494
Buell, Gen., 223, 401
Bullitt, Cuthbert, 9, 131, 136, 285, 587
Bullitt, Cuthbert. See Bullet*,, Cuthbert
Bull's Run, 72, 350
Bullock, Alexander H., speaker House of Representatives, 586
Burbank and Chase, 380, 454
Burbank, E. W., 231
Burbank, Thomas S., asks B. for relief for brother, 216, 231
Burbank, William, treatment by Con- federates of, 216, 217
Burden, Mr., 359
Bureau of Emancipation, the, 531
Burnside, Gen., 469, 500, 533; at Fred- ericksburg, 539, 541; 552
Burr, Aaron, 582
Burton, Mr., Ill
Busac, Mr., 523, 524
Butler, Col. Andrew Jackson, letter from Palfrey to, 2; in treaty to sell one half of "Saxon," 55; not interested with Snow, 76; business relations with B., 76, 83, 92, 93, 122, 197; 229, 338, 354, 356, 357, 358, 423, 424, 425, 426, 528, 529; business with Fay Jr., 234, 236, 262; charges against, 242, 422, 503, 530, 560; menace to B., 320, 503; asked to leave New Orleans, 424, 464, 519, 522, 538
Butler, Gen. Benjamin F., sequesters Gen. Twiggs' house, 1, 2, 3, 7; Special Orders by, No. 138, 2, No. 146, 9. No. 150, 36, No. 151, 24, No. 152, 25, No. 156, 26, No. 166, 30, No. 179, 57, No. 181, 57, No. 206, 90, No. 232, 131, No. 235, 130, No. 244, 158, No. 246, 162, No. 268, 195, No. 278, 200, No. 294, 213, No. 326, 237, No. 374, 579, No. 441, 397, No. 513, 475, No. 560, 525; pistols given to, 3; plates for printing C. S. Treas. notes sent to Sec. of Treas. by, 3, 151; presents flags to Gen. Dix, 4, 151; Gen. Twiggs' swords, 5, 151, 570; feeling of people at home for, 7, 44, 86, 114, 119, 283, 284, 285, 500, 519, 532, 563; informa- tion concerning Gov. Moore received by, 8; "qualified amnesty," 9; re- quires oath of allegiance from for- eigners in New Orleans, 9, 11, 38, 47, 73, 299; State Dept. approves action in Mexican Consulate case, 9; difficulty with Phelps on negro question, 10, 41, 109, 123, 125, 126, 127, 142, 143, 144, 145, 148, 154, 158, 207; relations with Coppell, 12, 46, 47; conflict between Foreign Consuls and, 12, 26. 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 298; conditions at Baton Rouge reported by, 13; se- questers funds in banks of Louisiana, 14; payment of troops, 14, 31, 32, 33, 66, 398, 525; treatment of traitors.
INDEX
605
See also Native Guards, the; orders arms of citizens of New Orleans to be delivered up, 188, 189, 190, 228; attitude toward Spanish government, 193, 346, 454; orders selling of sugar, 195; sends pistols home, 199; Gen. Arnold ordered to New Orleans by, 199; Sawyer dishonorably discharged by, 200; concerning correspondence of Spanish Consul, 204-206; treason plots in Gas Works reported to, 207; equipment of Mercier Guards brought to notice of, 208; concerning exchange of commodities for cotton, 209; rumors of transfer of, 212, 242, 243, 248, 249, 256, 262, 273, 282, 283, 304, 308, 320, 327, 539; orders banks to go into liquidation, 213; on the bombardment of Donaldsonville, 214, 215; reply to Kruttschnidt, 222; recognition of Kruttschnidt as Acting Consul of Republic of Bremen, 222; reinforce- ments promised to, 223, 226, 349; friendliness of Loring for, 223; asked to protect and assist Mr. Dexter, 225; tribute from James T. Whitney to, 228; suspected of interest in specula- tions of Col Butler, 230, 242, 270, 329, 356, 357, 358, 422, 426, 503, 544; appeals to Gen. Arnold for consulta- tion and reinforcements, 230; Burbank reports on movements of the Con- federates, 231-232; Gen. Arnold added to command of, 233; Gen. Sherman sent to, 233; in connection with case of Lieut. Prince, 234, 235; at Carrol- ton, 236; program of a day's work of, 236; Licard pardoned by, 237; sends Gen. Thomas roster of officers for commission in 1st Regt. La. Vols., 237; borrows from City Relief Fund, 237; in the case of the "Tennessee," 238, 239, 240; concerning children of incarcerated women, 240, 241; reports good condition of men, 244, 400; report upon letter of Com. Porter, 245, 247; praised by Beecher, 247; on the prospect of going home, 248; in the case of Messrs. Pelie, 257, 258; on the release of McLaurin, 260, 261 ; busi- ness transactions with Richard Fay, Jr., 262, 289, 290, 519, 538; degree con- ferred upon, 263; Taylor accuses and threatens troops of, 265-266; answers Taylor, 266-269; attitude of soldiers toward, 270; tribute of Denison to 270, 324, 328, 360, 379, 413, 566;
health of, 271, 277, 286; order con- cerning captured property, 273; sup- presses CompilateuTy 276; Spanish government complains of action taken by, 279, 387; friendliness of Chief Justice Bigelow toward, 283; registra- tion of neutral foreigners ordered by,
286, 299, 331; muddled by conflicting reports from the North, 286; effect of wife upon, 287; longs to be home, 287; on the pillage or plunder by soldiers,
287, 288, 289, 315; the Lunt episode told to, 290-291; calls for steamers, 291, 292; orders release of Mrs. Phillipps, 292; on complaint of Maj. Holbrook, 293, 294 Gov. Holbrook asks for Court of Inquiry, 295; replies to Gov. Holbrook, 295; attitude toward acts of violence committed by U. S. soldiers, 296, 360; in case of Dr. Knapp, 296, 297; releases sugars, property of Covas and Megropont, 300; General Orders by, No. 13, 301, No. 19, 130, No. 28, 15, 35, 72, 74, 77, 86, 119, 148, 549, 554, No. 30, 27, No. 36, 485, No. 40, 51, 299, No. 41, 9, 47, No. 42, 47, No. 46, 3, No. 48, 52, No. 54, 203, No. 55, 152, 158, 167, 219, 220, 221, 222, 361, 362, 366, No. 56, 161, No. 57, 172, No. 60, 195, 237, 352, No. 62, 243, 294, 295, No. 63, 209, 459, No. 71, 285, 298, No. 73, 305, 318, No. 74, 315, No. 76, 332, 333, No. 79, 353, No. 85, 409, No. 88, 437, No. 91, 426, 449, 522, 560, 572, No. 93, 462, No. 98, 482, No. 106, 545; ex- change of prisoners, 301, 302, 303, 353, 394, 462, 473; asks return of wounded men, 302; Confiscation Act, 305, 307, 315, 316, 318, 323, 333; makes test case of the Fago affair, 307; feelings toward Reverdy Johnson, 308; in connection with "Essex" affair, 309, 310, 318-319, 329, 350, 351, 355; thanks Major Shaw, 311; Gen. Thompson accepts apology of, 311; testimony on sugar "Speculations," 312-314; urges Mrs. B. to join him, 317; criticises government, 317; Col. Butler a menace to, 320; advice from Mrs. B. and Capt. George, 321, 322, 335, 336, 337, 499; in matter of Spanish transports, 324, 325, 340; commends action of Major Strong, 326; Mrs. B. suggests a place be made on his staff for Major Bell by, 827; tribute to Dr. Mercer by, 333; attitude
606
INDEX
toward Hildreth, 338; bill for paintings from Lux, 339; reports on complaints of Spanish legation, 339, 368; cordial relations established between Callejon and, 346; with regard to wrecking, 348, 349; complaints against ad- ministration of, 349; sends gift to his mother, 352, 393; expecting Mrs. B., 353; charters the "Frank Mumford," 853; declines further dealings with Dillon, 354; with reference to trading with enemy, 357, 358, 359, 378, 379, 390, 395, 396, 425, 469; gives state- ment of foreign population of New Orleans, 363, 364, 365, 367; in con- nection with violation of neutrality laws by Spanish vessels, 374, 375, 419; answers complaint of Castillo and Harrisse, 378; sends ship for Mrs. B., 380, 453; reports on case of Dacres, 383; return of property of Consul of the Netherlands, 385; statement of facts concerning case of Avendafio Brothers, 387; release of railroad iron, 392; on white labor, 397; management of financial affairs of Dept. by, 398, 425; recommends promotion to Brig. Gen. for Strong, 402; reports on "Tennessee" affair, 402; sends Dow instructions concerning use of vessels, 404; in the "pitch*' transaction, 406; sends home disloyal clergymen, 408; orders Court Martial to dissolve, 409; in the matter of salvage claimed by Dow, 411, 412; raising forces in Texas, 413, 428, 465; on buying of arms, 416; 417; reports facts concerning com- plaint of Consul General of Switzerland, 422; orders sent to Col. Thomas by, 429; pays his respects to Admiral Reynaud, 431; controversy with French consul over seizure of blankets, 431-436; use of contraband labor suggested by Mithoffas to, 436; au- thorizes Merchants Bank to meet claims, 437; disarming of the people, 439, 463; on employment of negroes, 439, 447, 449, 474, 475; forwards parole to Borrowes, 443; returns letters to Count Mejan, 443; reports on matter of Gautherin & Co., 446; sends photograph to Mrs. Pugh, 461; Gen. Banks replaces B., 461, 541, 542, 543, 544, 547, 596; Hildreth reports on consignments and drafts, 464; asks aid of Henry Wilson, 465-466; asks Sec. of State for instruction concerning
French citizenship, 467; Wainwright asks help for people of Galveston, 471; refers case of murder of soldiers to Halleck, 472; organizes Commission to take charge of merchandise, 474; in connection with Lingham case, 476, 477, 478; on subject of foreign aid to Rebellion, 480, 510; restores colors to 7th Vermont Volunteers, 481, 482, 483; in case of Lasalle, 485; asks for Maj. Gen. Hamilton, 486; tribute from J. C. Hamilton, 487; asks parole for Soule, 489; disapproves of allotment system, 493; on the detention of Spanish subjects, 495; in case of Pepin vs. Bank of America, 496-498; forbids Canal Bank to purchase ex- change, 498; in the matter of the "West Florida" pass, 501, 502; aids Bonzano, 503; criticised by London Times, 503; in connection with Texan Expedition, 504-506, 512, 541, 550; on the punishment of crime, 506; in the Lemore case, 509-511; friendliness toward Banks of, 513, 542; obliged to postpone attack at Fort Hudson, 514; on payment of bounty, 517; submits proposition of the banks to War Dept., 517; friendliness of Sumner for, 520, 571 ; on matter of captured steamboats, 522; in case of Phoenix Iron Co., 524; permits supplies to be shipped to Galveston, 524; plan for roof on Custom House, 526; in "L. L. Davis" case, 527, 529, 544; political news from home, 584, 540, 542, 552; publica- tion in World against, 539; tribute from Bartles, 539; Congress in praise of, 542; Farragut comments on, 543; final order of, 543, 545, 547; tribute from Appleton to, 548; tribute from Stafford to, 548; accused of inter- fering with Custom House, 550; rumored intention of joining extreme radicals, 550; Greeley's estimate of, 553; farewell address of, 550, 554-557, 587; called to Washington by Lincoln, 553, 593; declared a felon by Jefferson Davis, 559; reward offered for, 562; tribute from Tyler to, 562; authorities in Washington work against, 563-564; friendliness of Morgan for, 565; tribute from Gurowski to, 566; friend- liness of E. L. Pierce toward, 567; tribute from citizens of New York to, 567-568; threatened, 569; attitude of Lincoln toward, 571 ; vote of thanks to,
INDEX
607
571; Banks compared with, 572, 575, 577; rumored candidate for Cabinet, 573; denial of falsehoods in London Herald, 574; resolutions adopted by House of Representatives, 574; tribute from White to, 576; congratulations from Evans, 578; incensed by Bidwell case, 579; Wendell Phillips on, 580; Bates appeals for help to, 580; Parton wishes to write history of administra- tion in New Orleans of, 582, 583; return to New Orleans rumored, 583, 584, 586, 587, 589, 593; friendliness of Maj. Bell toward, 585; thanks of the Mass. Legislature presented to, 586; tribute of Warner to, 586; Bullitt to call on, 587; tribute from Thorpe to, 589; suggested for War Dept., 589; suggested as Pres., 590; contribution to Democratic Review, 590; invited to speak in New York, 591; respect of Gardiner for, 591, 592; praise from Turner, 594; Butterfield asks advice of, 595; at the Charlestown Conven- tion, 595; attitude of Congress toward, 596; Allen's interview with, 596, 597; B. B. Levering named for, 598, 599; Ohio House Joint Resolutions, 599.
LETTERS FROM B. TO
Arnold, General, 54, 230
Banks, Gen. N. P., 545
Barker, Jacob, 480
Bates, Moses, 241, 524
Beaurcgard, Gen. P. G. T., 520
Benachi, M. W., 300
Blake, Asa S., 32
Blockading Squadron, the officers of the, 502
Bonfanti, Capt 209
Butler, Paul, 79
Butler, Mrs. Sarah, 46, 55, 76, 83, 93, 109, 110, 115, 124, 148, 153, 176, 177, 185, 190, 198, 233, 236, 241, 248, 271, 277, 286, 297, 316, 323, 338, 380
Callejon, Juan de, 192, 249, 331, 373, 495
"Cardenas," Captain of the, 204
Carney, J. G., 35
Champlin, J. T., 263
Charity Hospital, Committee of Administra- tion of, 58
Chase, S. P., 3, 26, 31, 105, 113, 394, 398, 423
Clara, Superior S. M., 215
Coppell, George, 46, 479
Daismore, W. B., 33
Denison, G. S., 528 Dillon, William, 354 Dix, General, 4
Dow, Brig. Gen. Neal, 59, 404, 485 Durant & Earner, 523 Dwyer, J. D., 437 Etheridge, Emerson, 574 Fauconnet, 299
Farragut, Adm. D. G., 140, 149, 183, 184, 273, 406, 413, 441, 450, 501, 522, 527 Foster, Dwight, 248 Fowler, Joseph S., 140 Fox, Capt. G. V., 348 Halleck, Maj. Gen. H. W., Ill, 242, 278, 326, 394, 400, 410, 459, 472, 481, 490, 514
Hamilton, J. C., 486 Herrera, Jose Manuel Dias de, 182, 325 Holbrook, Gov. Frederick, 295, 481 Holt, Joseph, 399, 472, 506, 522, 579 Hosford, Mayor, 45 January, Capt., 330
Johnson,Reverdy, 80, 81, 83, 94, 98-102,120 Jones, Col. E. F., 45 Kruttschnidt, J.f 310, 318, 350 Labitat, Jonathan, 417 Lafeye, J. W., 437 Lamed, Col. B. F.t 31 Larue, Mrs., 57
Lincoln, President, 5, 123, 447, 512, 547
Marshal in New York, the U. S., 408
Meigs, General, 118, 291, 526
Mejan, Count, 25, 127, 188, 433, 435, 443, 485, 491
Mercer, W. N., 278, 332, 437
Mobile, Commanding Officer of Forces at, 121
Morris, Com. H. W., 26, 239, 240, 353
New Orleans, Treasurer of City of, 257
New York, the Mayor of, 235
Nims, Capt., 508
Opelousas, Officer Commanding Forces at, 217
Paine, Col. C. J., 377
Paine, Col. H. E., 159, 170, 193, 203
Parton, James, 582 r
Pemberton, General, 473
Perkins, Lieutenant, 330
Phelps, Brig. Gen. J. W., 102, 126, 143. 154, 155, 244
Piaget, A., 491
Picayune, Editors of the, 48
Pierce, L., Jr., 463
Ponier & Co., 34
Porter, Capt. W. D., 141, 187
Pugh, Mrs., 461
Quartermaster General, the, 249
608
INDEX
Rathburn, H. A., 498
Reynaud, Admired, 431, 509
Roy, Lieut. T. A., 288
Rozier, J. Ad., 55
Sanborn, John, 110
Seward, Wm. H., 40, 123, 275, 306, 377, 398, 467, 508, 512
Shepley, Gen., 261, 277
Sherman, Gen. T. W., 331, 339
Shufeldt, M., 454
Slocumb and Urquhart, Mesdames, 1
Stafford, Capt., 88
Stanton, E. M., 6, 13, 40, 42, 53, 59, 66, 82, 107, 112, 142, 168, 191, 194, 243, 298, 315, 339, 361, 368, 375, 383, 384, 385, 387, 392, 397, 402, 407, 411, 416, 419, 420, 422, 431, 442, 446, 474, 478, 489, 493, 516, 517, 525
Taylor, Gen. Jo., 118
Taylor, Maj. R., 266
Thomas, Gen., 234, 237, 245, 293, 585
Thompson, Gen. M. J., 302, 303, 311
Walden, D. T., 292
Weitzel, Gen. Godfrey, 158, 429, 439, 455
Welles, Gideon, 287
Williams, Gen., 83, 150
Wilson, Henry, 465
LETTERS TO B. FROM
Adams, C. F.9 70
Allen, S. M., 595
Anonymous, 479
Appleton, Capt. J. F., 547
Arnold, Gen. L. G., 107
Banks, General, 545
Barker, Jacob, 52, 337, 338, 480
Bartles, Charles, 533, 538, 552
Bates. Moses, 58, 106, 113, 139, 240,
580
Bauer, F., 167 Bell, Major, 283, 585 Benachi, M. W., 300 Bird, F. W., 531 Blake, Mrs. A. S., 33 Bonzano, M. F., 503 Bouligny, J. E., 598 Brown, J. G., 242
Buchanan, Lieut. T. M., 450, 451, 521 Burbank, Thomas, 216, 231 Butler, Mrs. Sarah, 163, 175, 196, 201,
218, 225, 232, 247, 256, 258, 304, 305,
319, 321, 326, 333 Butterfield, Gen. Daniel, 594 Callejon, Juan, 331, 374, 494 Carney, J. G., 91, 119 Chartant, A., 466
Chase, S. P., 107, 131, 323, 422, 468, 541,
584, 587
Childs, G. W., 51 Cisco, J. J., 117 Clara, Superior S. M.9 213 Clark, John, 285 Copeland, Henry, 207 Coppell, George, 46, 163 Council of Ten, the, 61 Coxe, B. F., 75 Davis, Edwin, 592 Deming, Col. H. C., 150 Democratic League, the Committee of the,
531
Denison, G. S., 66, 84 Derby, E. H., 61 Dow, Gen. Neal, 199 Eliot, T. D., 571 Elliott, Joseph, 249 Etheridge, Emerson, 574 Eustis, W. T., 177 Evans, Estwick, 578 Everett, Edward, 198 Fairfax, Capt. D. M. W., 180 Farragut, Adm. D. G., 47, 182, 183, 186,
330, 382, 393, 403, 416, 470, 501, 502,
526
Farwell & Co., Messrs. A. G., 56 Fauconnet, 275, 296, 298, 351, 376, 391,
468 Fay, R. S., Jr., 88, 92, 122, 211, 225, 250,
262, 289, 314, 354, 518, 537 Fay, R. S., ST., 238 Fisher, J. A. G., 207 Foster, Dwight, 284 French, J. H., 324 Fuller, T. K., 463 Gardiner, 0. C., 590 George, P. R., 44, 499 Girault, J. F., 462 Griffin, J. 0. A.,5SO Gurowski, Count, 566 Hale, R. C., 584 Halleck, General, 212, 223 Hamilton, J. C., 486 Herrera, Jose Manuel Dias de, 325 HUdreth, F. A., 464 Holbrook, Governor, 173. 295 Holbrook, Kendall, 189 Hunt, Randall, 56 Hurley, Jeremiah, 138 Ironside, Isaac, 587 J. P. M.9 84
Johnson, Gov. Andrew, 139 Johnson, Reverdy, 56, 80, 94, 95, 96, 98,
102, 104, 120, 121 Killborn, G. W., 382
INDEX
609
Kinsman, J. B., 37
Krultschnidt, J., 220, 309, 317. 351, 355
Labitat, Jonathan, 417
Lincoln, President, 447, 553
Lingham, J. G., 478
Loring, George, 223
Lovering, H. K. 598
McCormick, Charles, 421, 435
McMillan, Col. D. W.t 102, 187
Maignan, General, 51
Meigs, Gen. M. C., 185
Mejan, Count, 25, 127. 128, 432, 459, 485,
492
Mercer, W. N., 332 Merrill, Capt. C. JR., 113 Mithoffas, M.t 436 Morgan, P. H., 563 Morris, Com. H. W., 238, 240, 316 Murphy, W. W., 574 Myers, J. B.,7
New Orleans, Merchants of, 276 New York, Citizens of, 567 "New Yorker" 569 O'Brien, J., 170 Parton, James, 582, 583 Perkins, Capt. E. H., 180 Pevie, General, 208 Peyster, Gen. Walter de, 78 Phelps, Gen. J. W., 145, 155
Piaget, A., 491, 492
Pierce, Carlos, 87
Pierce, E. L., 566
Pinot, J. L., 372
Ponier & Co., 34
Porter, Com. D. D., 246
Porter, Com. W. D., 140, 269
Reynaud, Admiral, 430, 431, 508, 511
Richardson, D. S., 86
Robinson, W. G., 300
Roselius, C., 207
Ruggles, Gen. Daniel, 67. 215
/fr^, Henry, Jr., 64
Jtyan, J. 2\, 381
Seacock, W. T., 63
Seward, W. H., 399
S/*af er, Col. J. W., 405, 483. 589
" She Adder," A, 548
s/, 0. F., 59, 147, 260 *, Colonel, 319
Shipper, G. M., 103
Stopper, Mr*. G. M., 104
Shufeldt, R. W., 418
Stafford, Col. S. H., 548
Stanton, E. M., 9, 41, 222, 250, 298, 377, 392, 421, 501, 518
Strong, Maj. G. C.. 114, 165
Sumner, Charles, 520. 570 VOL. n — 39
Taylor, Maj. R., 265
Taylor, I. T., 191
Tod, Governor, 599
Thomas, Gen. Lorenzo, 234, 247
Thomas, Col. S., 242
Thompson, General, 311
Thorpe, F. B.f 184
Thorpe, T. B., 589
Turner, Col. J. W., 414, 593
Tyler, William, 562
Union Man, A, 3
Vacherie, Residents of, 89
Veritas, 374
Fictor, J. M, 53
Wainwright, Capt. W. M., 470
Warner, Oliver, 586
JFafcon, P. H., 274, 279, 298, 442, 445, 476
White, R. G., 576
Whitney, J. T., 124, 227
Wilson, Henry, 516
Wolcott, C. P., 60
TELEGRAMS TO B. FROM
Z)oi0, Gen. Neal, 316 Lincoln, President, 593
TELEGRAMS FROM B. TO Dow;, Gen. Neal, 151, 161
Butler, Mrs. Sarah H. F., 37, 114; letter to Major Strong from, 40; letters from B. to, 46, 55, 76, 83, 93, 109, 115, 124, 148, 153, 176, 185, 190, 198, 233, 236, 241, 248, 271, 277, 286, 297, 316, 323, 338, 380; letters to B. from, 163, 175, 196, 201, 218, 225, 232, 247, 256, 258, 304, 319, 321, 326, 333; letter from Whitney to, 204; letter to Hildreth from, 282; 339; letters to Mrs. Heard from, 393, 410, 438, 453, 488, 503, 520, 530, 547; at New Orleans, 393, 407, 488; letters from George to, 500; feeling against Col. B. of, 504, 530; sends gifts home, 530; plans for returning home, 547
Butler, Benjamin Israel, 79, 80, 115, 165, 196, 248, 338, 339, 453, 504
Butler, Blanche, 89, 46, 55, 75, 83, 93, 109, 115, 124, 149, 165, 196, 218, 226, 232, 233, 234, 259, 277, 317, 327, 338, 339, 393, 453, 503
Butler, Charles, 568
Butler, Mrs. Charlotte Ellison, 219, 393, 410
610
INDEX
Butler, Paul, letter from B. to, 79; age of.
79; gifts to, 83, 530; 115, 165, 196,
219, 249, 453
Butler, William Allen, 568 Butterfield, Gen. Daniel, letter to B.
from, 594; called to staff of Hooker,
594; asks advice of B., 595 By am, Mr., Mayor of Baton Rouge, 13
CABEZAS, EDWARD, 369; deposition of,
370
Cadwallader, General, rumored as suc- cessor to B., 283
Cahill, Col. Thomas W., affair at Baton Rouge reported by, 159, 160; letter from Breckinridge to, 160; letter to Breckinridge from, 161; in command at Vicksburg, 169; letter to B. from, 495, 496 "Calhoun," the, 273, 394, 445, 451, 452
Calleja, Mr., 369, 371
Callejon, Juan de, correspondence of, 128, 205; letters from B. to, 192, 249, 331, $73, 495, 325; letters to B. from, 331, 374, 494; in the "Roanoke" case, 340, 344, 345; cordial relations estab- lished between B. and. 346; asked to bring Puig before B., 369; complains of detention of Spanish subjects, 494; 512
Calleza, M. See Calleja, Mr.
Cambridge, 37, 39, 62, 86
Camden, Frederick, 585
Cameron, General, 540, 590
Camp Chalmette, 85
Camp Moore, 21, 50, 66, 150, 167, 349, 357
Camp Parapet, 102, 113, 143
Camp Verde, 803
Canal Bank, the, 498
"Cardenas," the, 182, 205; letter from B. to Capt. of, 204; 249, 340, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 389
Carnere, A., 276
Carney, J. G., letter from B. to, 35; B's consignment to be explained to, 77; letters to B. from, 91, 119; pay- ment of drafts of, 91, 93, 212; 148, 326, 464
Caroline, 55, 77, 232
Carrington, Mr., 98
Carrolton, 66, 102, 143, 228, 236, 237, 244, 273, 400, 436
Castillo, Mr. 377, 378
Castle, Henry, 54, 67
"Catawba," the, 407, 531
"Catinat," the, 431, 508, 510
Cavode, John, 595, 596
Center, the, 69
Centreville, 247
Cerro Gorde, 5
Chamber of Commerce, the N. Y., 569,
591 Champlin, Rev. J. T., letter from B. to,
263
Chander, J., 420 Chapman, Mr., 479 Chapultepec, 5
Charity Hospital of New Orleans, the, resignation of trustees of, 15; state of funds of, 58; 525 "Charles Kean," the, 464 Charleston, 72, 390, 597 Charlestown, 352
Charlestown Convention, the, 595, 596 Chartant, Surgeon A., 466 Chase, Kate, 134
Chase, Salmon P., Secretary of the Treasury, 3; letters from B. to 3, 26, 31, 105, 113, 394, 398, 423; friendliness toward B. of, 38, 66, 134; release of liquor ordered by, 39, 107, 108; funds transmitted by B. to, 83; B. asks permission to coin small coin from, 105, letters to B. from, 107, 131, 323, 422, 468, 541, 584, 587; release of matches ordered by, 109; B. sends copy of Records of Mortgages to, 113, 114; on the negro question, 132-135; plates delivered to, 151; letters from Denison to, 228, 269, 328, 355, 378, 412, 426, 504, 515, 528, 543, 550, 565; in favor with Lincoln, 334; 335, 358, 499, 504, 535; resignation of, 552, 566, 585
Chicago, 197 " Chickahominy," 24 Chickering, Thomas, Regt. of, 354 Childs, George W., letter to B. from, 51 Choate, Rufus, 42, 194 Chubbuck, Mr., 232, 256 Cincinnati, 257, 286
Cisco, John J., letters to B. from, 117, 566 Citizen's Bank of New Orleans, the, 221,
585 Citizens of New York, letter to B. from,
567 Claiborne, J. F. H., information given to
Captain Buck by, 69-70 Clara, Superior S. M., letter to B. from,
213; letter from B. to, 215 Clark, Captain, 284, 326, 333
INDEX
611
Clark, Colonel, 111
Clark, H. C., 479
Clark, John, reports to B. on conditions
in North, 285 Clark, Mr., 358 Clark, Robert, 355 Clarke, Brig. Gen. Charles, prisoner of
war, 160, 161, 168, 169, 215; visited
by his children, 319; 473 Clarke, Mrs. Charles, allowed to visit
her husband, 216; 301 Clarke, James Freeman, 566 Clemence, Major, 110, 304, 305, 322 "Clifton," the, 140, 330, 471 "Colored Brigade," the. See Native
Guards, the
Colton, Charles C., 86 Columbus, 364 Commercial Water Works Co., the,
497, 498 Commissary of Subsistence, the Chief.
See Turner. Col. John W. Commissioners of Peace, 336 "Committee of Public Safety," 152, 364 Compilateur, the, 275 Comstock, Capt. A , 103, 104 "Conduct of the War," the, Committee
on, 595
Confederacy, the, 17, 19, 329, 332, 346 Confederate Army, the, 26, 65, 66, 261,
343, 353, 357, 358 Confederate Government, the, 17, 19,
90, 95, 268, 371, 395, 422, 425, 446,
462, 473
Confederate money, 3, 8 Confederate officers, 21, 23 Confederate States, the, Treasury notes
of, 3, 14, 20, 81; Secretary of the
Treasury of. See Memminger, C. G.;
Myers, Quartermaster of, 6, 17; una- nimity of the people of, 19, 52, 67, 69;
Receivers of, 83; 101, 179, 265, 300,
332, 363, 365, 370, 509 Confederate States Treasury, the, B.
sends to Sec. of the Treas. certificates
of deposits in, 26
Confiscation Act, the, 151, 315, 316 "Congress," the, 571 Congress, sword presented to Twiggs by
act of, 5
"Connecticut," the, 124, 142, 176, 343 Connecticut Volunteer Militia, the, 168;
9th Regt. of, 278, 357; 13th Regt. of,
342, 358
Conscription Act, 14 Consul, Acting British. See Coppell,
George
Consul General of Havana. See Shufeldt, R.W.
Consul of Bremen, Acting. See Krutt- schnidt, J.; Rudolf I. Keus vice, 222
Consul of France. See Mejan, Count; Acting. See Fauconnet, Monsieur
Consul of Greece. See Benacki, M. W.
Consul of Italy, the. See Lanata, Mr.
Consul at Malta, 61
Consul at Matamoras. See Pierce, Mr.
Consul of Mexico, the, 24
Consul of the Netherlands, the. See Conturie, Amedee. See also, Mejan, Count
Consul of Prussia. See Vogel, William; Acting. See Kruttschmdt, V.; Rei- chart, late, 222
Consul of Spain, the. See Callejon, Juan de
Contraband of War, 39, 109, 264, 310, 357, 368, 558
Contrabands, the, 126, 127, 436, 437
Conturie, Amedee, conflict with military authorities of New Orleans and, 80, 81, 82, 95, 96, 252, 253, 254, 255, 306; failure to exercise functions of Consul by, 255; invited by Dutch minister to receive articles seized at his house, 298; return of property of, 385, 386. 387
Cook, Captain, 394, 406, 451
Cooper, Peter, 568
Copeland, Henry, 207
Coppell, George, in connection with oath of allegiance, 9, 73; duly appointed Acting British Consul, 11; in connec- tion with the sugar transaction, 12; letters to B. from, 46, 163; letters from B. to, 46, 479; re-establishment of official relations between B. and, 47; in connection with arrest of Borrowes, 442
Corinth, 191, 223, 354
Cornwell, Captain, 358
Corpus Christi, 428
Correction of Slaves, 84
"Cortes," the, 419
Cottman, Mr., 449
"Cotton," the, 444, 445, 451, 452, 453
Cotton Factors, the, 362
Coulon, Justin, 351, 459, 460
Council of Ten, the, letter to B. from, 61
Courier, the Boston, 36, 290, 291
Court Martial, 150
Court of King's Bench, the, 524
Covas and Megroponte, Messrs., 300
Coxe, B. F., appeals to B. for protection, 75
612
INDEX
Crampton, Captain, 118 "Creole," the, 54, 149, 404, 537 Crescent City, the. See New Orleans Crescent City Bank of New Orleans, the,
213
Crocker, Captain, 502 Crossman, Colonel, 87 Cross State Station, the, 65 Crottes, Martial, 377 Cruz, Ignacia de la, 495 Cuba, 204, 205, 280, 316, 340, 342, 343,
345, 346, 418 "Cumberland," the, 571 "Cumbria," the, 572 Curtis, General, with Grant at Vicksburg,
111
Curtis, George W., 86 Gushing, Mr., 148 Cushing, Caleb, 590 Custom House, the, 526
D
DACRES, JAMES, claim of, 383 Daily Advocate, the, 475, 480 Daismore, W. B., letter from B. to, 33 Davis, Capt. R S., gives orders to Palfrey concerning Twiggs' house, 2; Special Orders issued by, No. 138, 2, No. 146, 9, No. 150, 36, No. 151, 24, No. 152, 25, No. 156, 26, No 166, 30, No. 179, 57, No. 181, 57, No. 206, 90, No. 232, 130, No. 235, 130, No. 244, 158, No. 246, 162, No. 268, 195, No. 278, 200, No. 294, 213; General Orders issued by, No 46, 3, No 48, 52, No 55, 152, No. 56, 161, No. 57, 173, No. 60, 195, No. 63, 209, No. 85, 409, No. 93, 462; B. asks promotion for, 42; letters to Col. McMillan from, 49, 50, 58; return of stolen articles to Provost Marshal of Algiers La., by, 49; copies of information furnished by scouts sent to Col. McMillan by, 65; orders concerning quarantine issued by, 91; letters from Gen. Phelps to, 125, 126; letter to Lieut. Weitzel from, 158; letters to Col. Paine from, 159, 170, 193; letter from Col. Cahiil to 159; 330
Davis, Colonel, 413, 428, 463, 572 Davis, Commander, 15, 48, 286 Davis, Edwin J., letter to B. from, 592 Davis, Jefferson, 3, 78, 535; Proclama- tion by, 557-562, 563; 562 Davis, Judge. See Davis, Colonel "Dean," the, 380
Dean, Mr., 304, 338
De Bauer, Major, 160
De Kay, Lieutenant, 36, 37
Delta, the, 332, 363, 540, 550
Deming, Col. Henry C., 16, 42, 55; letter to B. from, 151; 482,489
Democratic League, the Corresponding Committee of the, letter to B. from, 532
Democratic party, the, 334, 335, 336
Democratic Review, the, 590
Denegre, J. D., 117, 118
Denegree, General, on Board of Survey, 110
Denison, George S., Sec. of the Treas. gives instructions regarding ardent spirits to, 39, 107, 108; letters to B. from, 66, 84; concerning permits granted by B. to, 84, 423; instruc- tions concerning matches given to, 109; letters to Chase from, 228, 270, 324, 328, 355, 378, 412, 426, 504, 515, 528, 543, 550, 565, 571; suspects B., 357, 423; statements made to, 357, 358; letter to Lincoln from, 447; in the "L. L. Davis" case, 527, 528, 529, 544; re- commends thorough opening of river, 550; estimate of Banks, 572, 573; on arming the negroes, 573
Denison and Wyckoff, Messrs., 109
Department of the Gulf, the, 59, 107, 199, 303, 516, 541, 547, 567, 575, 594
Department of the Mississippi, the, Van Dorn in command of, 13, 462
Department of the Navy, the, 287
Department of New England, the, 235
Department of Ordnance, the, 417
Department of State, the, 9, 10, 12, 250, 274, 275, 279, 300, 306, 308, 309, 315, 361, 387, 396, 398, 399, 432, 442
Department of the South, the, 107, 199
Department of the Treasury, the, 39, 264; condition of, 324
Department of the West, the, 111
Department of War, the, 9, 16; despatch from, 55; 63, 89, 154, 199, 237, 295, 313, 339; General Orders from, No. 107, 315, 404, No. 184, 461; 368, 369, 375, 409, 411, 417, 426, 436, 442, 446, 459, 533, 535; party desirous of putting B. in, 589
Derby, E. H., review of case of Andrews requested by, 61; letter from Bonzano to, 62
Deslonde, Capt. A., 216, 217, 218, 268
Destrihan, M. A., list of articles belonging to, 49
INDEX
613
Dexter, T. C. A., 212, 225, 518, 519, 537, 538
"Diana," the, 430, 451, 452, 521
Diario, the, 419
Dickenson, Lieutenant, 69
Dillon, William, 354, 522, 523
Dimick, Col. J., 60
Dix, General, letter from B. to, 4; B. presents flags to, 4; 248; rumored as successor to B., 282, 283; dinner to Johnson given by, 349; 394, 590
Donaldson, Thomas C., 476, 477, 478
Donaldsonville, bombardment of orphan asylum of, 214, 215; 232, 287, 302; expedition to, 406, 412, 427, 430, 490; 440, 455, 468, 491, 492, 522
Douglas, Mr., 540
Dow, Brig. Gen. Neal, B. orders dis- tribution of wines and liquors stopped by, 59; telegrams from B. to, 151, 161; quarantine order to, 151; letter to B. from, 200; at New Orleans, 316; letters from B. to, 404, 485; B. gives instructions on use of vessels to, 404; orders relating to pitch, 405, 406, 407; in relation to recovery of a chain cable, 411, 412; letter to Strong from, 411; letter from Martin to, 412; sale of "Neafic"by,483; 484; Special Orders No. 136 by, 485
Dow, Colonel, 316
Dracut, 259
Dred Scott decision, the, 553
Dubois and Mish, 221
Dubos, Francis, 275
Duclos, Lucien, 391
Dudley, Act. Brig. Gen. N. A. M., 294
Dudley, Col. N. H. M., 508
Dumas, Alexander, 360
Dupasseur and Co., 81, 251
Durand, A., case against officers of the Bank of Louisiana and, 27—30
Durant & Homer, letter from B. to, 523
Durant, Mr., 186, 489, 531
Durant, Thomas J., 136
Durivage, Messrs., 198
Dwyer, J. D., letter from B. to, 437
Dyer, Lieutenant Colonel, 405
E
EAST INDIAN WAR, the, 69 Eastman, 304 Eddy. Mr., 246 Edson, Dr., 454 Elam, R. H. ,140 Eliot. T. D., 571
Elliott, Joseph, friendliness toward B. of,
249
"Ellis" Cliffs, 141 "Elmira," the, 8 Eloisque, F., 871 El Paso, 551
"Emblem," the, 519, 538 "Emma," the, 329 "Empire Parish," the, 90, 245 England, 71, 74, 75, 101, 120, 177 English Legation, the, 38 English Parliament, the, 86 "E. P. Stewart," the, 39 "Essex," the, 141, 160, 169, 173, 178, 179,
180, 181, 187, 269, 271, 273, 309, 310,
817, 318, 319, 329, 350, 351, 355, 430,
477, 478, 550, 552 "Estrella," the, 451, 452 Etheridge, Emerson, 574 Eustis, George, 374 Eustis, M. M. Delain, 374 Eustis, William T., claim of, 177-178 Evans, Estwick, letter to B. from, 578 Evening Post, the N. Y., 532 Evening Press, the Providence, 562, 563 Everett, Alexander, 590 Everett, Edward, letter to B. from, 198 Ewbank, Thomas, 532
FAGO, C. MCDONALD, 306, 307
Fairfax, Capt. D. M. W., assailed by Captain Porter, 179, 180
Fair Oaks, 92
Fallon, Martin, case of, 383
"Fancy Natchez," the, 451
Fard, Mr., 444
Farragut, Rear Adm. D. G., letters to B. from, 47, 182, 183, 186, 330, 382, 393, 403, 416, 470, 501, 502, 526; shelling of Vicksburg by, 47; guerillas fire upon, 54, 85; letters from B. to, 140, 141, 149, 183, 184, 273, 406, 413, 441, 450, 501, 522, 527; gives up Vicksburg, 148; 164, 169, 179; about to leave Mississippi River, 183, 350; on co- operation of army and navy, 183, 187, 245; praised by B., 184; 186; proud of title of Rear Admiral, 186; 215, 329, 349; tribute paid by Fox to, 350; in connection with trading permits, 383, 395, 396; 401; in connection with "Tennessee" affair, 403; in connection with "pitch transaction," 405, 406, 407; asked to investigate case of Garrison, 441; asked to stop "Oreto,"
614
INDEX
441; 46S; in the "L. L. Davis" case, 527, 528, 529; comments on B., 543; quotation from "Life & Letters" of, 543, 544, 551; arrives at Galveston, 572; criticism of, 577
Farrar, Mr., 319
Farrington, 304
Farwell & Co , Messrs. A. G., letter to B. from, 56
Fassman, Mr., 485
Fauconnet, Monsieur, addresses B. in behalf of Dubos, 275; reports acts of violence committed by U. S. soldiers, 296, 351; letters from B. to, 296, 352, 360, 376, 398; concerning complying with General Orders Nos. 40, 41 and 71, 298, 299, 300; letters to B. from, 376, 391, 468; 399, 402, 403, 459; gives certificates, 479
Fay, I. S , 290
Fay, Richard S., Jr., 7; and shipment of merchandise, 34, 89, 92; 35, 238, 290, 314; letter to Mrs. Butler from, 65; letters to B from, 88, 92, 122, 211, 225, 250, 262, 289, 314, 354, 518, 537; 91; sends private account of B., 122; refuses false draft, 211; 234; purchases draft for B., 250; business transactions with B , 262, 289, 290, 338, 354, 538, administration criticised by, 263; supports the Courier, 290; Bonfanti draws on, 328; with regard to hay in New Orleans, 354
Fay, Richard S., Sr., letter to B. from, 238; 289, 290, 291
" Fearnot," the, 238, 240
Federal Government, the, 12, 68, 72
Federal Troops, 67
Field, Lieut. C. G., 153, 437
Field, Dudley, 590
Field, Jonathan E., Pres. of the Senate, 586
Fifth Ave. Hotel, the, 567
Fish, Hamilton, 591
Fisher, J. A. G., 207, 421
Fiske, Capt. Wm. O., 43
Flanders, B. P., 163, 329, 449, 528, 534, 542, 584, 598
Fleyd, Mr., 390
Florence, Miss Rowena, Twiggs leaves swords and silver to, 5, 6
Florida, 161
Fonin, Vr., 468
Foretell, Edmund I., 80, 95, 96, 252, 253, 308
Fortenberry, J. M., letter to Stanley from, 438
Fort Gaines, 330, 382, 394
Fort Hudson, 514
Fort Jackson, 73, 128, 200, 230, 231,
293, 473, 509, 510 Fort Lafayette, 408, 489 Fort Luforth, 37 Fort Macomb, 440 Fort Monroe, 513 Fort Morgan, 401 Fort Pickens, 43, 70, 107, 230, 476, 477,
509, 510 Fort Pike, 406
Fortress Monroe, 232, 247, 349, 504 Fort St. Philip, 45, 161, 187, 188, 230,
385, 411, 412 Fort Taylor, 207 Fort Warren, 37, 60, 62, 63 Foster, Dwight, expression of regard for
B. made by, 284; B. replies to, 284 Fowler, Joseph S., 140 "Fox," the, 99, 245, 246, 388 Fox, Capt. G. V., 89, 290; letter from
B. to, 348; letter to B. from, 348-350 Fox, Mrs., 348 France, 71, 74, 75, 250; minister of, 445,
446; laws of, 467 Francisco, Lorenzo, 495 Franklin, 440, 444, 445 "Franklin," the, 575, 576 "Frank Mumford," the, 353 Frazer, 225
Fredericksburg, 538, 539 "Free Colored Brigade," the. See Na- tive Guards, the
Fremont, General, 44, 93, 335, 454, 533 French, George A., 139 French, Mrs., 453 French, Gen. Jonas H., 42; letter to B.
from, 324; 351; suspected of interest
in speculations of Col. Butler, 356;
seizures released by, 357; 371, 432, 435,
468
French Legation, the, 38, 367 "French Legion," the, the storing of
arms of, 51
French, Zouaves, the, 68 Fuller, H. M., letter to George from, 575 Fuller, Capt. T. K., 445, 463, 491 Fulton, Reverend Wm., 408
GAINSVILLE, 69, 70
Galveston, 382, 401, 406, 413, 428, 440,
463, 465, 506, 524, 525, 535, 565, 566;
disaster at, 571, 592; 575, 577 Galveston Island, 470
INDEX
615
Gardiner, Henry C., 532
Gardiner, O. C., letter to B. from, 590;
"Foreign Immigration" by, 590; the
"Great Issue'* by, 590 Garibaldi Company, the, 479 Garrison, L., 441, 499 Gautherin, & Co., M., 445, 446, 509 "General Butler," the, 34 George, Capt. Paul R., letters to B.
from, 44, 499; 46, 87, 114, 122, 166,
259, 283, 305, 321, 322, 337, 381, 464;
warns B., 499-500; letter from Fuller
to, 575
Georgetown, 39, 232, 256, 282, 327 Georgia, sword presented to Twiggs by,
5, 6; 168, 570 Germany, 71 Gerolt, Baron Fr., letter to Seward from,
219 Gibson, Captain, ordered to stop boats
approaching New Orleans via lakes, 91 Giddings, Major, 228 Gill, Mr., 213 Gilpin, H. D., 590
Girault, Maj. J. F , letter to B, from, 462 Gladden, General, 171 Glenn, L. F., 103 Godbury, James, 231 Goicouria and Co., D.D., 358 Goicouria, Don G., 358 Gonzales, convicted for murder, 399 Goodman, Mr., 261 Goodrich, Reverend Mr., 408 Goodwin, Acting Master, 521 Gould, Charles, 568 Graham, I. A., 130 Grailhe, Mr., 374 Grand Lake, 521
Grant, Gen. U. S , advance upon Vicks- - burg by, 82, 111; 124 Grant's Pass, 183, 394 Gray, W. C., 350 Great Britain, 250, 305 Greece, 71
Greeley, Horace, estimate of B. by, 553 Green, Son & Co., George, 355 "Green Mountain Boys," the, 174 Green, Lieut. Wm. L G., 462. 468, 495 Greenwood, Moses, 129; the cotton deal
of, 177; in connection with case of
Heidrick, 372 Grenada, 551 Griffin, Mr., 304, 338 Griffin, J, O. A., letter to B. from, 580 Grima, F., 220, 221 Grivot, Adjutant and Inspector General,
210, 211
Grover, Brig. Gen. C., outlaws Bates,
580, 581 Guerillas, Farragut fired on by band of,
54; cotton destroyed by bands of,
58; Steal's band of, 69; 103, 111, 144;
attack on, 150; 199, 215, 281, 232, 243,
267, 268, 269, 270, 278, 279, 288, 291,
312, 378, 428 Guerilla warfare, 13, 15 Guest, Capt. John, in connection with
cattle shipped to Ship Island, 414, 415,
416
Gulf of Mexico, the, 388 Gurowski, Count Adam, 566
H
HAAS, JOHN GEO., 34
Haggerty, Captain, 45, 55, 165, 202, 203, 339, 352; report of delivery of property to Consul of the Netherlands, 885
Hahn, Mr., 534, 542
Haidel, Doct., 231
Haines, Major, 160
Hale, R. C., letter to B. from, 584
Halieck, Maj. Gen. Henry W., 48, 83; letters from B. to, 111, 242, 278, 326, 394, 400, 410, 459, 472, 481, 490, 514; established in Washington, 122; 124; letters to B. from, 212; appointed Sec- retary of War, 321, 223; calls on Chase, 323; 334; Weitzel's report sent to, 459; 469; B. refers case of murder of soldiers to, 472; 486, 487, 488, 520, 533; statement concerning re-enforce- ment of McClellan, 536, 537; General Orders by, No. 184, 547; in connection with Mumford case, 557, 558; 590
Rambling, Mr., 351
Hamburg, 221
Hamilton, A. J., 427
Hamilton, John C., letter -from B. to, 486; letter to B. from, 486; on em- ployment of negroes, 487
Hamilton, Maj. Gen. Schuyler, 486; favors occupation of Brownsville, 565; 566, 573, 577, 592
"Hanna Thornton," the, 89
Hardy, P. D., 210
Harper's Ferry, 518
" Harriet Lane," the, 571, 572
Harris & Co., H,, 290
Harris, Mr., 402
Harrison, Mr., 405
Harrisse, Charles, 377, 378
Harry, 410
"Hart," the, 445, 451
616
INDEX
"Hartford," the, 521
Hartley, Lieutenant, 49
Harvey, S. H., articles taken from house of, 49, 50
Hatteras, 43, 513
Havana, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 151, 192, 280, 316, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 361, 368, 388, 390, 416, 417, 434, 530
Havre, 346
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 590
Haynes, W. H., 477
Heard, Mrs. Harriet, 110, 124, 247: letters from Mrs. B. to, 393, 410, 438, 453, 488, 503, 520, 530, 547
Heath, E., 163
Heidsick, Charles, 127, 128, 129, 130, 212; merchants of New Orleans ask clemency for, 276, 277, 372, 373
Helme, Brig. Gen. Robert G., at Vicks- burg, 168, 169
Hensley, Dr. A. C., 461
Herald, The London, 574
Herald, the N. Y., 166, 487
Herrera, Jose Manuel Dias de, letter to B. from, 325; 420, 512
Hewett, Captain, 46
Higgins Hotel, the, 110
Hildreth et al., Messrs., 91
Hildreth, Fisher A., 35, 46, 55, 93, 110, 124, 149, 164, 175, 196, 201, 202, 203, 218, 225, 226, 227, 228, 232, 234, 236, 241, 247, 256, 257, 259, 272; letters from Mrs. B. to, 282, 393; 304, 305, 316, 317, 821, 327, 338, 381, 410, 454; letter to B. from, 464; 489, 500, 503, 531, 576
Hildreth, Laura Wright, 410, 489
Hill, D. H., 394
Hilton Head, 107, 219, 227
History of Ireland, the, 350
" History of the Great Rebellion," by Lossing, 51
Hitchcock, Professor, 591
Holbrook, Gov. Frederick, offers support to B., 174; asks B for advancement of son, 174; asks for court of inquiry, 295; letters from B. to, 295, 481
Holbrook, Kendall, 189
Holbrook, Maj W. C., 174; complaint of, 293; calls for court of inquiry, 294, 481
Holcomb, Colonel, 430
Holt, Joseph, letters from B. to, 399, 472, 506, 522, 579
Hooker, General, 469; Butterfield called to staff of, 594
Hooper, Mr.. 290
Hope and Co., Messrs., 80, 82, 95, 96,
252, 253, 306
Hope Insurance Co., the 80, 253 Hopkins, the plantation, 351, 459 Hosford, Mr., letter from B. to, 45 House Mutual Insurance Company, the,
381, 382 House of Representatives, the, 569, 570;
resolutions adopted by, 574 Houston, 506, 535, 571, 577 Hubbard, J. B., 163 Hubbell, James R., 599 Hughes, Frank, 540 Hunt, Randall, letter from B. to, 56 Hunt, Seth B., 568 Hunter, General, 133, 134, 164 Hunton, Thomas, 381, 382 Hurly, Jeremiah, 138 Hutchins, Mr., 571
I
"IBERVILLE," the, 131
"Ida," the, 342
" licaltipec," the, 421
Indiana, 324
Indiana Volunteer Militia, the, 21st Regt.
of, 13, 50, 160, 168, 169, 278, 295, 451,
473
Indianola, 578 Irish Rebellion, the, 72 Ironside, Isaac, letter to B. from, 587
JACKSON, 127, 425, 551
Jackson, Gen. Andrew, 93, 247, 256, 259, 305, 574, 582
Jackson, garrison of, 45
Jackson, R. R., the, 382
Jackson, Stonewall. See Jackson, Gen. A ndrew
"Jackson," the, 415, 441
James River, the, 10, 323
January, Captain, 330
Jefferson, Texas, 8, 26
"John Griffin," the, 464
Johnson, Gov. Andrew, letter to B. from, 139-140
Johnson, Captain, 239, 240
Johnson, Reverdy, appointed by President as Commissioner to inquire into proceed- ings between B. and foreign Consuls, 9, 12, 56, 95, 96, 251, 252, 253, 254, 307; letter from Seward to, 12; letters to, B. from, 56, 80, 94, 95, 96, 98, 102, 104, 120, 121; letters from B. to, 80,
INDEX
617
81, 83, 94, 98-102, 120; asked by B. to
investigate Citizen's Bank transactions, 81; B. asks advice of, 83; letter to Puffer from, 95; decision on claims of Kennedy & Co., 96, 98, 98-102; judgment in case of Maull and Han- cock, 104; 114, 118, letters from Pres. Lincoln to, 131, 133; goes home, 148; 151, 166, 191, 230; reports of, 308, 309, 552; dinner for, 349; 396, 425, 426; letter to Shepley from, 448; atti- tude toward B. of, 444
Johnstown, 70
Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, the, report of, 312
Jones, Col. Edward F , letter from B. to, 45; promotion of, 45; 499
Jose, H. M., 464
Journal, the, Boston, 91
J. P. M., letter to B. from, 84
Jufante, Basilio, 495
Juge, Paul, 363
Juge, Paul, fib, 276
Juge & Tarry, Paul, 276
K KAHL, MR., 351
"Katahdin," the, 141, 288
Keith, Lieutenant Colonel, 169
Keller, Fidel, 15, 24
Kellogg, Dr , 166
Kellogg, Spencer, 269
Kendall, George W., 540
Kendrick, Capt. R M. H., 108
"Kemo," the, 141, 169, 180
Kennedy and Corvere, 98
Kennedy and Co., S. H., claims of, 55,
56, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 105 Kensel, Capt. George A., 42, 230, 440 Kentucky, 42, 86, 118, 223, 324, 349,
427, 430
Keus, Rudolf 1 , 222 Key West, 91, 207, 233, 575 Killborn, G. W., letter to B. from, 382 Kimball, Lieutenant Colonel, 10 Kimball, S S , 177 King, Charles, 568 King, ex-Governor, 591 King, Lieutenant, 394, 406 Kingdeus, James G., 118 Kingdeus Co , James G., 117 Kingdom of Great Britain, the, 60 Kinney, Lieutenant, 358 "Kinsman," the, 444, 445, 451, 452, 521 Kinsman, Capt. J. B., letter to B. from,
87; in Washington, 38, 44; 114, 203, 323 Kirkland, Charles P., 532
Klatt, Captain, S10f 317, 318, 351, 355
Knapp, P. H., patrol of, 296
Knight, Thomas C., 39
Knowles, Samuel, 108
Knox, Mr., 496
Kruttschnidt, J., 220; letters to B. from, 220, 309, 317, 351, 355; reply of B. to, 222 ; recognized as Acting Consul of Re- public of Bremen 222, 223; the "Essex" case, 309, 317, 318, 319, 350, 855; letters from B. to, 310, 318, 850; subscriber to " city defense fund," 363, 365; 367
Kruttschnidt, V. See Kruttschnidt, J.
LABADIEVILLE, 462
"Labarge," the, 199
Labitat, General, 417
Labitat, Jonathan, letter to B. from, 416, 417; letter from B. to, 417
La Bourgeois, Capt. Joseph, 281
Lacaze, Bertrand, 468
Ladd, Major, 282
"L. d'Or," the, 462
Lafeye, J. W., letter from B. to, 437
Lafourche, 231, 426, 427, 428, 429; district of, 440, 448, 455; 468, 491
La Hache, 199
Lake des Allemands, the, 89
Lake Ponchartrain, 130, 143, 157, 183, 356, 357, 529
Lambeth, the Rector of. See Lingham, John
Lanata, Mr., 479
Lamed, U. S. A , Paymaster Gen. Ben- jamin F , letter from B. to, 31
Larue, Anne, 57
Lame, John H , 57
Lasalle, Gustave, 485
Lasart, Mr., 199, 200
Lea, J. N., letter from B. to, 58
Leacock, Reverend Doctor, 407, 408
Lecaze, Bertrand, 492
Lechleiter, Joseph, 90
Lee, Gen. Robert E., 334, 349, 557
Leesburg, 256
Lemore. Alfred, 508, 509, 510, 511
Lemore, Jules, 508, 509, 510, 511
Leon, Elie, 492
Letter Book, the, 353
Lewis, Major General, 211, 472, 473
Lewis, Mr., 367
"Liberty," 441
Licard, Marcelin, 287
Limburg, Mr. Roest van, letter from Seward to, 252-255
618
INDEX
Lincoln, President Abraham; letters from B. to, 5, 123, 447, 512, 541, 547; B. sends Twiggs* swords to, 5, 151, 570; a "qualified amnesty" brought to attention of, 9; General Order No. 41 brought to attention of, 9; on Gen. Phelps and negro question, 10, 41, 131, 133, 135, 136, 143, 145, 146, 148, 155, 157; Oath of Allegiance required by B. from the foreign residents of New Orleans objected to by, 11; requests B. to remove impression of injury from Mr. Coppell, 12; Johnson appointed commissioner to examine into pro- ceedings between B. and foreign consuls by, 9, 12, 56, 251, 252; Cabinet of, 71; 75; blockade removed by Proclamation of, 98, 99, 263; 119; Roselius sent to give his views of negro question to, 123, 124, 207; plan of compensated emancipation, 132; 133; letter to Johnson from, 135; letter to Bullett from, 136; answers Durant, 135-138; interview with Gen. Shepley, 147; 148, orders volunteers, 151; resignation of Gen. Phelps sent to, 154, 207; 164; call for more troops by, 173; criticism of, 224, 533, 534, 590, 591, 594; view of conflict between Foreign Consuls and military author- ities in New Orleans, 253, 255; rela- tions with Spanish government, 282; does not act on advice of Sec. Chase, 323, 324; Proclamation of Emancipa- tion of, 327, 334, 534, 550; re-instates McClellan, 334; leans on Chase, 334; 335, 336, 422; letters to B. from, 447, 553; barrel of sugar sent to, 447; 459; directs Gen. Banks to take command of Dept. of the Gulf, 461, 469; removes McClellan, 469, 533; appoints Burn- side, 469, 533; 487; on capital punish- ment, 507; 520; re-nomination of, 533, 536, declines resignation of Chase and Seward, 552; calls B. to Washington, 553, 593; 563; disposition of Twiggs' swords by, 570; attitude toward B. of, 571; letter to Stanton from, 587; protest against B. being sent South to, 590, 596
"Lincoln's Complete Works," 587
Ling ham, John, Rector of Lambeth, 476, 477, 478
Lingham, John George, 476, 477, 478, 479
Lion, Elie, 468
Liverpool, 307, 318, 355
"L. L. Davis," the, 527, 528, 544
Lloyd, Richard, 359
Locke, Major, 14, 31, 398
Lod, Mr., 521, 522
London, 97, 99, 100, 417
Loring, George B., letter to B. from, 223- 225
Lossing, Mr., 51
Lote. See Hildreth, Laura Wright
Louisiana, B. sequesters funds in banks of, 14; Shepley made military Gov. of, 16, 55; address by Moore to People of, 16-24; case of Bank of, 27, 278; 52; a nest of traitors, 79; questions with regard to, 82; law for Correction of Slaves in, 84; 89, 101; Secession Ordinance of, 123, 136; convention of, 123; 124; the negro question in, 133; rebellion in, 137; 147; purchase of, 157; 168; library of, 233; 235, 236; law for children of imprisoned parents in, 240, 241; Citizen's Bank of, 252, 306; former Gov. of, 265, bonds of state of, 300, 388, 410, 419, 472, 507, 542, 550
"Louisiana," the, 148, 173, 179
Louisiana, the Bank of, President of. See Mercer, W. N.; cashier of. See Montr evil, Auguste\ case of Durand against, 27-30
Louisiana Club, the, 25, 62
Louisiana Volunteers, the, B. organizing, 54, 82; B. on the payment of, 66; 143; 1st Regt. of, 192, 228, 234, 237; 2nd Regt. of, 517
Lovell, General, removed from command of Department of the Mississippi, 18, 70; 363
Lovering, Hannah K., letter to B. from, 598
Lowber, Daniel C., parole of, 60
Lowell, 37, 40, 149; Mayor of. See Hosford, Mr.; Railroad Bank of, 464
Lowery, Lieutenant Commanding, 287
Ludlow, Lieut. Col. W. H., 558
Luis, Ambrosio de, 495
Lunt, Mr., 290
Lux, Rudolph T., bill from, 339
Lyons, Lord, 47, 383, 384, 385, 469
M
MCCLELLAN, GEN. GEORGE, at Richmond, 10, 41, 44, 92, 151, 536, 537; not defeated at Fair Oaks, 92; 122; 256; rout of, 272; re-instated Commander- in-Chief on the Potomac, 321, 334;
INDEX
619
Sec. Chase advocates substitute for, 823; the military man for the Demo- cratic party, 334, 335, 330, removal of, 464, 469, 500, 533; rumored successor to Halleck, 533
"McClellan," the, 4, 31, 380, 453, 503
McCIernand, Mr., 349
McCluskey. Colonel, 112
McCormick, Charles, 271, 346; letters to B. from, 421, 435
McCuliough, Joseph, 208
McCullough, William, 208
McCurdy, R. H., 568
McDowell, General, honorable acquittal of, 536, 537
Mclnnis, Captain, 69
McKim, Quarter Master, 44, 87, 89, 125
McLaughlm, Captain, 452
McLaurin, Archibald, 40, 260, 261
McLoughlm, Mr., 208
McMillan, Captain, 521
McMillan, Col. J. W., asked to recover articles stolen from house in Algiers, 49; a call for re-enforcements from, 50, 103; orders concerning selling of cotton sent to, 58, 102, 111; B. sends information concerning movements of the Confederate army to, 65; 93, 150, disturbed by conditions at Baton Rouge, 187, 278, 440; letter to Strong from, 444; 580
MacNeill, Sir John, 588
McPheeters, Colonel, 490
McQuestion, Serg't. Joseph, 496
Madisonville, 150
Mafford, Colonel, 296
Magee, Mr., 115
Maginnis, Mr , 259
Magruder, Col J Bankhead, 571
Maignan, Gen, of French Brigade, 51; letter to B. from, 51; the safeguarding of arms in arsenal of French Legion promised by, 51
Maine, 87, 285
Maine Volunteer Militia, the, 12th Regt. of, 10; 14th Regt. of, 50, 160, 168, 169; 13th Regt. of, 65, 200, 414, 493, 494, 15th Regt. of, 112, 113
"Major Farewell," the, 371
Mallony, Mr., 390
Manassas, 232
"Manassas," the, 173, 178, 348
Manchac, 232
Manchac Pass, 10, 326
Mandeville, Sergeant, 150, 376
Mange, Dr., 460
Mann, John, 150
Mansfield, Lord, 524
Maria, 410, 503
"Maria Felicia," the, 346
Mariano, Juan, 495
"Marie Galante," the, 340, 375, 419
"Marion/' the, 537
Marshall, C. W., 568
Martin City, 455
Martin, Dr. 327
Martin, Lieut. Frederick, 166, 330, 412
Martin, Gen Robert, arrest of, 232
Martin and Wood, shipment of liquors, 39
Marvel, Ike, 597
Maryland, 324, 334, 349
Mascuard, Frederic Adolphe, 114
Mason, Honore, 351
Mason, M., 361
Massachusetts, 87, Governor of. See Andrew, Gov John; Republican party formed in, 598
Massachusetts Historical Society, the, 487
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, the, Everett's Battery, 13, 168, 30th Regt. of, 42, 234, 6th Regt. of, 45, 2nd Regt. of, 3, Nim's Battery of, 168, 508, Manning's Battery of, 168, Magee's Cavalry of, 168, 26th Regt. of, 496
Matagonda Bay, 471
Matamoras, 395, 413; Consul at See Pierce, Mr. L., 421, 428, 501, 502, 527, 528, 529, 565
"Matanzas," the, 316
Maull and Hancock, 104, 105
Maury, 1 , 121
Mayor of New York, the, letter from B. to, 235
Mechanics and Traders Bank of New Orleans, the, 300
Mechanics Bank of New Orleans, the, 45, 300
Medford, 538
Meigs, Gen. M. C., 88, 89, 92; letters from B. to, 118-119, 291, 526; reten- tion by B. of the "Saxon" approved by, 124; letter to B. from, 185; 290
Mejan, Count, letters to B. from, 25, 127, 128, 432f 459, 485, 492; letters from B. to, 25, 127, 188, 433, 435, 443, 485, 491; conflict between military authorities at New Orleans and, 81, 188,250,251,306; the Slidell mortgage legalized by, 114; letter from Heidsick to, 128, 205; appointed temporary Consul of the Netherlands, 256; 372;
620
INDEX
blanket controversy with B., 431-436; complains of negro violence, 459; 467; asks return of prisoners, 468; 508, 509, 576 Memminger, C. G., C. S. Treasurer, 3;
letters from, 3, 4 Memphis, 132 Meneely and Son, 78 Mercer, Dr. W. Newton, 27, 189; letters
from B. to, 278, 332, 437 Merchants Bank of New Orleans, the,
213, 437, 478
Merchants Insurance Co., the, 98 Mercier, Doctor, 208 Mercier Guards, the, 208 Mercier, Mr., Minister of H. M. the
Emperor, 511
Mercury, the Charleston, 540 Merrill, Capt. C. R , 112, 113 "Merrimac," the, 173, 178 Mexican Consulate, the, 9 Mexico, 5, 161, 268, 420, 421, 463 M. H. L Insurance Co., 122 "Miami," the, 140, 184 Michigan Volunteer Militia, the, 6th
Regt. of, 13, 168
Middlesex Co., 122, 354, 519, 538 "Milan," the, 206 Military Academy, the, 570 Military Commandant of New Orleans.
See, Shcpley, Acting Brig. Gen. "Militia of the Seas," the, 68 Millandon, the Plantation, 376 Miltemberger, J. Oliver, 198 Miltemberger, Mrs. J. Oliver, 197 Minturn, Edward, 568 Mississippi, 37, 168, 223, 428, 542 "Mississippi," the, 173, 178, 273, 313,
383
Mississippi River, the, 8, 12, 20, 22, 26, 70, 89, 141, 232, 265, 278, 323, 348, 349, 356
Mississippi Sound, 183 Missouri, 427
Mithoffas, M., letter to B. from, 436 Mobile, 16, 70, 80, 95, 96, 120, 121, 127, 28, 129, 149, 186, 187, 192, 205, 209. 226, 242, 253, 273, 316, 349, 372, 390, 395, 401, 425, 441, 466, 490, 533, 541, 542, 551, 552 Mobile Bay, 183 Mobile, the Commanding Officer of Forces
at, letter from B. to, 121 Molino del Rey, 5 Mongenot, Jules, 460 Monterey, 5 Montgomery, A., shipments of, 89, 379
Montgomery, R. H., 359 Montreuil, Auguste, 27 Moore, Mr., 187
Moore, Gov. Thomas Overton, informa- tion received by B. relating to, 8; Proclamation of, 8, 15, 243, 268, 362; at Washington, 8; address by, 13, 16- 24; rules laid down by, 23; letter from Count Mejan to, 25; commissions officers of Native Guards, 209-211; orders arrest of Gen. Martin, 232; 268, 307; conditions of passes given by, 361; petitioned to prevent ship- ments of cotton to New Orleans, 362; permits given by, 362
Morgan, 223
Morgan & Co., Charles, 402
Morgan, Cosma, 441
Morgan, E. E., 568
Morgan, ex-Governor, 591
Morgan, Judge, 379
Morgan, P. H., letter to B. from, 563
"Morning Light," the, 522
Morris, Captain. See Morris, Com. Henry W.
Morris, Com. Henry W., letters from B. to, 26, 239, 240, 353; 48; warned of C. S. boats in Red River, 50; ordered to look out for steamer "Music," 93; letters to B. from, 238, 240, 316; 245, 278; communication referred to B. by, 287-288
Morse, Mr., 319, 320
"Mound City," the, 401
Mount, Mr., 477, 478
Mudget, Mr., 292
Mumford, Wm. B., 22, 72, 557, 558, 562, 569
Mure, Mr., 477
Murphy, Captain, 473 »
Murphy, W. W., letter to B. from, 574
"Music," the, 94, 169
Myers, Colonel, Quartermaster General of C. S. Government, 6
Myers, J. Bailey, letter to B. from, 7; friendliness for B. of, 7
Myrick, Augustus C., 493, 494
N
NAPOLEON, EMPEROR, proposition of, 537
Napoleonville, 412
Nashville, 140, 486
Nassau, 40, 91, 316, 342, 390, 420
"Nassau," the, 292
Natchez, 141, 243
"Natchez," the, 127
INDEX
621
Natchitoches, La., 78
Native Guards, the, 192, 209, 211, 270, 328, 860, 400, 401, 412, 427, 428, 429, 430, 439, 450, 455, 456, 458, 465, 474, 490
"Neafic," the, 483, 484
Nelson, George P., 532
Nelson, Mr., 131
Netherlands, the, 250, 254
"Nevens," the, 107
New Basin, the, 528
New Bedford, 164, 225, 228
New Canal, the, 358, 359, 529
New Hampshire Volunteer Militia, the, 8th Regt. of, 444
New Iberia, 401, 428, 440, 516
"New London," the, 273, 529
New Orleans, B sequesters property of Twiggs in, 3; Banks of, 3, 4, 81, 82, 83, 114, 117, 139, 140; flight of Twiggs from. See Twiggs, Brig. Gen. David E ; 9, 10; Johnson in, 12, 25, 252, 307, 308, 352; the Commercial Depot of the State, 16; occupied by enemy, 16; 17, 18; supplies of provisions for, 21, 23; tearing down of flag on Mint at, 22, 72, 557; loss of, 21, 23; B.'s plan of relief of distress in, 30, 152, 153, 158, 184, 553; 34, 36; liquors shipped to, 39, 43; Pruvost Marshal of See French, Lieut. Col. Jonas H.; Provost Judge of. See Bell, Jos. M.; City Library of, 45; judgment of B. in matter of Union Bank vs. Mechanics Bank of, 48; Office of Military Com- mandant of. See Shepley, Acting Brig. Gen.; 57, 59, 60; B. condemns to imprisonment citizen of, 61; 62, 65; Castle and Pennington taken to, 67; 69, 71; criticism of treatment by B. of citizens of, 73; 74, 76; bonds of, 80, 95, 96; treatment of negroes in, 85; Acting Provost Marshal of. See Stafford, Captain; 88; approach of boats to, 91; capture of, 92; restoring of commerce at, 94; 95, 98, 99, 101, 103, 109; Acting Collector at. See Dennison, George S.; copy of Records of Mortgages in, 113, 114; Major Strong due in, 114; consolidated debt of the City of, 117, 253; 123, 124, 127, 131, 146, 147, 151, 152; Commission of Relief appointed at, 162; 164, 166, 176, 177, 178; danger of negro insurrection in, 186; threatened attack on, 187, 192, 193, 194, 198, 230, 233, 243, 257, 273, 279, 286, 315, 320, 321, 326, 401; disarming
of citizens of, 189, 195, 228; 197, 198, 201, 204; treason in the gas works at, 207-208; Merchants Bank of, 213, 437, 478; Crescent City Bank of, 213; 218,219; city ordinance No. 5949, 220; Citizen's Bank of, 221, 585; 222; holding of, 223, 226, 228, 238, 272; conditions in, 229, 242, 243, 271; employment of secessionists in, 229; B. borrows from City Relief Fund of, 237; defence loan of the city of, 250, 863; conflict between Foreign Consuls and military authorities at, 250, 251, 253, 254, 306; letter from B. to Treas. of City of, 257; plunge of unprincipled men in City Treasury, 257, 258; 260; opening of port of, 263, 264; 265, 274; clemency for Heidsick asked by merchants of, 276; robbery at Custom House at, 292; Mechanics and Traders Bank of, 300; bonds of city of, 300; transfer of property in, 307; 309, 312, 313, 314; excitement over Confiscation Act in, 315, 316; mails at, 330; case of yellow fever in, 342; trade at, 356, 357; outlets to Gulf from, 361; ship- ping of cotton at, 361, 362; foreign population of, 363; City Council of, 363, 364; Common Council of the city of, 364; 371, 390, 411, 412, 418; Spanish vessels take refugees from, 419; the barter of salt for cotton at, 438; exportation of lumber from, 446; the Bank of, 447, 508, 510, 512, 513; many being fed in, 448; Chartant asks to enter, 466; Acting Consul at. 477; War Dept. withholds sanction to proposition of Banks of, 518, 526, 534; Gen. Banks goes to, 541, 543; B. leaves, 547; B.'s farewell address to citizens of, 554-557, 587; conditions under Banks in, 575; B.'s rumored return to, 583, 584, 586, 587, 589, 593; Acting Collector at, 587
New Orleans Coupons, 122
New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern R. R. Co., 198
New York, 32, 33, 87, 47, 71, 109, 117, 236, 313, 567; Mayor of. See Op- dyke, Mayor
New York, the State of, 87; Gov. of. See Seymour, Governor
New York Volunteers, the, 176th Regt. of, 579
"New Yorker," letter to B. from, 569
Newport News, 513
Nims, Captain, letter from B. to, 508
INDEX
Nina [Mrs. Henry Read], 115, 297, 503
"Nina Simms," the, 8
N. O. & I. R. R., the, 208
Norfolk, 92
Norton, Sidney S., letter to Barney from,
263; 355 Nowland, Adjutant, dropped from roll,
405 Nutt, Commodore, 333
O
O'BRIEN, J., 170
"Ocean Queen," the, 40, 202, 230, 277
Odell, Mr., 313
Official Record*, 94, 306
Ohio, 324; Gov. of. See Tod, Gov.
David
"Old Point," 110 Old Red River, 8 "Oneida," the, 169 Opdyke, Mayor 591 Opelomay Rail Road, the, 265 Opelous, the, 8 Opelousas, 217, 268, 401 Opelousas Railroad, the, 379, 392, 401,
425, 427, 439, 575 Ordinance of Secession, the, 449 O'Rielly, Henry, 532 "Orieto," the, *441 O'Sullivan, Mr., 590 Ould, Robert, 558 "Owasco," the, 414, 471
"PACIFIC," the, 40
Paeohar & Co., Mr., 367
Paine, Col. Charles J , letter to B. from,
296; 297; letter from B. to, 377; 397 Paine, Col. H. E., at Baton Rouge, 159;
ordered to employ contrabands and
secessionists, 170; ordered to evacuate
Baton Rouge, 193, 203 "Pajaro del Oceano," the, 418 Palfrey, H W., orders concerning Twiggs*
house given to, 2; letter to A. J. Butler from, 2
Palmers ton, Lord, 77 Palo Alto, 5 Parapet, 436
Paris, France, 49, 81, 114, 418 Parish of Jefferson, 49 Parish of St. James, the, 89 Parish Prison, 57 Parker, Mrs. J. M. G., 259 "Parliament," the, 225
"Parmelia," the, 108
Partisan Rangers, the, 13, 22, 67, 69, 90, 268, 278
Parton, James, asks to write history of B.'s administration in New Orleans, 582, 583
Pascual, Pedro, 495
Pass Christian, 485
Passes, the, 91, 361
Patent Office, the, 6, 570
Pattersonville, 444
Paulson, Mr., 551
Pearson, George, 247, 322
Peck, Maj. Frank H., 157; Pres. of Court Martial, 409
Pelie, Messrs., 257, 258
Pelot, Charles F., 468, 491, 492, 493
Pemberton, C. S. A., Lieutenant General, Commanding Dept. of Mississippi, 462; letter from B. to, 473
Pemington, 473
Penitentiary, the, factory of, 57, 106, 111, 113, 139, 208; 179, 193, 580, 581
Pennington, Thomas C., 67
Pensacola, 54, 107, 124, 201, 233, 236, 238, 272, 277, 329, 330, 396, 404, 405 , 406, 407, 415, 441, 483
"Pensacola," the, 93,273
Pepin, J. F., vs. Bank of America, 496, 497, 498
Pepper, Cdpt Daniel, 125, 219
Peree, Lieut S W., 581
Perkins, Lieutenant, 181, 330
Perkins, Capt. E. H , 86, 180
Perkins, William, 359
Perryville, 439
Peters Reports, 98
Petit Anse, 428, 521
Pevie, Quarter Master General Alexander I , employment of convicts approved by, 209
Peyster, Gen. Walter de, letter to B. from, 78; asks to redeem bells, 78
Phelps, Brig. Gen. J. W., B.'s report of, 10; Gen de Peyster known by, 79; letters from B. to, 102, 126, 143, 154, 155, 244; sustained in negro question, 109, letters to Davis from, 125, 126; proposes to raise African Regiments, 125, 142, 143, 145, 146, 148, 154, 157, 271; employment of "Contrabands" by, 126, 127, 142, 143, 144, 145, 148, 154, 155; resignation of, 127, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 154, 155, 156, 207, 270; 138; letters to B. from, 145; 155; B's feelings toward, 155, 156,164, 201, 203, at Carrolton, 228, 229; 234,
INDEX
623
goes home, 287; gives horse, etc., to Weitzel, 287; Sherman takes place of, 316
Phi Beta Kappa, the, 86
Philadelphia, 39, 87
Phillipps, Mrs. Philipp, 15, 24, 36, 292
Phillips, Wendell, eulogizes B., 580
Phoenix Iron Co., the, 523
Piaget, A., letters to B. from, 491, 492, letter from B. to, 491
Picayune, the New Orleans, letter from B. to editors of, 48; " the reliable man" lies published in, 48; B. discontinues publication of, 130; copy of General Orders No. 57 published in, 178; 540
Pierce, Mr., 835, 500
Pierce Bros. Co., 88
Pierce, Carlos, letter to B. from, 87
Pierce, Edward L., letter to B. from, 566
Pierce, L., Jr., 420, 421; letter from B. to, 463
Pinot, J. L., 372
"Pinta," the, 193, 340, 347, 375
Pittsburgh, 198
Plaquemine, 94
"Planet," the, 420, 421
Playson, S , 276, 277
Plussan, S., 372, 373
Point Isabel, 578
Polish Lancers, the, 68
Polk, Leonidas, 79
Polk, Right Rev. Warrior Bishop Gen., 408
Ponier & Co, letter to B. from, 34; sugar consigned to, 34; letter from B. to, 34
Pontchatoula, 302, 326, 357, 402, 439, 527, 528, 529, 544, 566
Pope, General, 232, 247, 285, 286, 321, 334
Porte, Mr., Vice Consul at Mobile, 372
Porte au Prince, 419
Porter, Commander David D., letter to B. from, 246
Porter, Commodore Wrm. D , 140, 141, 148, 161; attack on the "Arkansas" reported by, 178, 180; Capt. Fairfax denies charge of, 181; accusations of, 184; letter from B. to, 187; B/s report on letter of, 245; letter to B. from, 269
Portervins, Capt. John, 69, 70
Portervins, Capt. Wm., 70
Port Hudson, 66, 269, 428, 439, 466, 505, 522, 551, 565, 573, 597
Port Republic, 93
Port Royal, 107, 164, 233, 263, 425
Post Master General. See Blair, Mont- gomery
Potomac, 272, 321, 334, 439
"Potomac," the, 382, 453
Potomac, the Army of the, 44, 144, 349,
466, 533
"Prean & ConturieV' 386, 387 Prensa, the, 419 Price, Sterling, 466 Prince, Lieut. James B., Jr., 234, 235 Proctor, Mr., 520 Proctor, Mrs., 520 Proctorville, 496 Protestant Episcopal Church, the, 407,
408
Provisional Commission, the, 237 "Provisional General." See Twiggs,
Brig. Gen. David E. Provost Court, the, 27, 28, 29, 48 Provost Marshal, of New Orleans. See
French, Lieut. Col. Jonas H.; 274, 275 Prussia, Minister from, 318, 355, 387 Puffer, Lieut. T A. F., letter from
Johnson to, 95; 245, 300, 311, 331,
339, 377, 407, 408, 410 Pugh, Mrs. Laura, 461; letter from B.
to, 461 Puig Brothers, 205 ; complaint of Spanish
Minister in connection with house of,
368, 369, 370; United States vs., 370, 371 Puig, Majin, 205, 371
Q
QUARANTINE RECORDS, the, 346 Quarterly Review, the, 588 Quartermaster General, the, letter from
B. to, 249 "Quincy," the, 576
R
"RAAMEN," the, 207
Raceland, 440
Rafel, Joseph, 116
Rankin, Gilmour & Co., 350
Rankin, Ilayton, 350
Ransom, Captain, 180, 181, 383
Rappahannock, the, 212
Rathburn, H. A., from B. to, 498
Read, Lieut. Commander, 527, 529
Read, Mr., 297, 381, 464, 531, 576
Read, Mrs. Henry, 381, 410, 547. See
also Nina
Red Bill. See Wilson, William Red River, the, 8, 26, 50, 83, 102, 140,
141, 142, 150, 171, 273, 349, 505, 515,
578 Red River County, 15
624
INDEX
Regina, Sister, 525
Reichard, General, 319, 347; subscribes
to "city defense funds," 363, 365, 367 Reichard & Co., 220, 221, 367 Relay House, the, 513 "Relief," the, 227, 228, 272, 277, 286,
576
Renshaw, Commander, 471, 524, 572 Rents Commentaries, 98 Republican party, the, 335, 598 Resaca de la Palma, 5 Revere House, the, 41 "Reveries of A Bachelor,*' the, 597 Reynaud, Rear Admiral, letters to B.
from, 430, 431, 508, 511; declines
invitation from B., 430; letters from
B. to, 431, 509; 508; protests to B.,
509 Rhode Island, Gov. of. See Sprague,
Governor
"Rhode Island," the, 55, 176, 273, 330 Richardson, Daniel S., letter to B. from,
86
Richardson, Dr., 219 Richardson, Mr., 227 Richmond, reverses of McClellan at,
10,70,77; 21; the Picayune publishes
news of, 48; 148, 170, 171, 224, 263,
335, 357, 395, 536, 539, 541 Rigolets, the, 361, 527 "Rinaldo," 40, 46, 47, 206 Ring, Lieut. Aaron, 413, 415 Rio Grande, 349, 428, 565 Ritchie, David, flags rescued from the
"McClellan" by, 4 Roah, Jfimes O., 70 "Roanoke," the, 204, 238, 340, 344, 345,
417
Robb, Mrs , 197 Roberts, Colonel, 169 Robinson, Jno. G., 350 Robinson, Walter G., letter to B. from,
300
Rochereau & Co., 367 Rochereau, Mr., 365 Rogers and Co., G. H., 108 Roman Catholic Priest, a, 358 Roselius, C., sent to Washington, 123,
142, 207; legal advisor of Mrs. Vogel,
221
Rosin Oil Works, the, 405 Rosing, Mr., Charge d'affaires of Bremen,
222
Rost, Commissioner, 388 Rowell, J. C., 84 Roy, Lieut. T. A., letter to Morris from,
287; letter from Wiegel, 289
Rozier, J. Ad., letter to B. from, 55; letter from B. to, 58
Ruggles, Brig. Gen. Daniel, letters to B. from, 67, 215; existence of Partisan Rangers championed by, 67-69; in command of Louisiana East of Missis- sippi, 70; 168, 169, 187
Russell, Earl, 260, 261, 476, 477, 478, 537, 588
Russia, real promoter of rebellion, 588
Rust, Col. Henry, Jr., letter to B. from, 64; letter from Captain Guest to, 415
Ryan, John T., letter to B. from, 381
SABINE, the, 578
Sabine Pass, 395, 501, 502
Sacred Heart Convent, the, 214
"St. Charles," the, 249, 250
St. lago de Cuba, 419
St. Martinsville, 216
"St. Mary's," the, 382, 394, 404, 405,
406, 451
"St. Matahda," the, 288 "St. Matanzas," the, 382 "St Maurice," the, 288 St. Nicholas, the, 282 Sanborn, John, letter from B. to, 110 "Sanders," the, 98 Sarjeant, Mr., 551 Saudego, Marcelino, 495 Savannah, 390
Sawyer, Capt. Joshua L., 200, 496 "Saxon," the, 55, 125, 149, 197, 202, 204,
218, 219, 226, 227, 277, 286, 316, 322,
323, 352, 576
Schiffer, Messrs. S. and J., 108 Schmidt, F. W., 221 Schneider, T. J., 90 Scholefield, Mr-, 261 Scotch Rifles, the, 207 "Scotia," the, 287 Scotland, 261
Scott, General, 161, 486, 488 Scott, Charles, 381 Scott, Capt. J. W., 103 Scott, Hetty, 381 Seacock, W. T., asks B. for clemency
toward Andrews, 63 Secession Governor. See Moore , Gov.
Thomas 0. Secession Ordinance, the. See Louisiana,
the State of
Secessionists, the, 15, 843, 365, 408 Secretary of State. See Seward. Wm. H.
INDEX
625
Secretary of the Navy, the. See Welles, Gideon, 349
Secretary of the Treasury. See Chase, Salmon P.
Secretary of War. See Stanton, Edwin M.
Seide, Karl, 90
Senate, the, 569, 570
Sequestration Act, 113
Seward, F. W., 223
Seward, William H., letters to Stanton from, 10, 256, 274, 442; views on the Consular questions, 38, 251, 252, 255; attitude toward B. of, 38, 564; diplo- matic dinner given by, 38; letters from B. to, 40, 123, 275, 306, 377, 398, 467, 508, 512; case of McLaurin, 40, 260; the power behind the throne, 44, 45; 61; extract from letter to Adams from, 74. Life of, 74; interview with Gen. Shepley, 147; views on negro question, 164; receives Roselius, 207; letter from Gerolt to, 219; letter to Stuart from, 251; letter to Treilhard from, 251; letter to van Limburg from, 252-255; letter to Shepley from, 260; in connection with complaints of Spanish Minister, 274, 279-283, 347; suggests establishment of joint com- mission, 282; 298; and the appoint- ment of Shepley as Military Governor of New Orleans, 317; losing power, 334; 335, 336, 368; letter to B. from, 399; 487, 499, 520; resignation of, 552, 566
Seymour, Governor, 334, 500
Shaffer, Col. J. W., confiscated property ordered to be sold at auction by, 57; 84; endorses Gen. Meigs' statement about discharging of freight, 185; B. desires inquiry made of, 246; 284, 285, 392; letters to B. from, 405, 483; 447, 589; letter from Shepley to, 483; 522
Shaw, Captain, 301
Shaw, Major, 311, 312
Shaw, Frank George, 568
"She Adder," a, letter to B. from, 548
Shenandoah Valley, the, 536
Shepley, Nelly, 164
Shepley, Brig. Gen. George F., made Military Governor of Louisiana, 16, 55, 59; 53; letters to B. from, 59, 147, 260; resignation of Office of Military Commandant of New Orleans by, 59; goes to Washington, 82, 131, 147; sent home, 109; interview with Presi- VOL. H — 40
dent and Secretaries of State and War, 147; 164, 166; coin taken from Con- turi£ by, 252; Military Governor of New Orleans, 254, 255, 258, 282, 317; letter from Seward to, 260; letter from B. to, 261; 275, 292, 300; letter to Stanton from, 306; with B. at New Orleans, 316, 339; exacts pay from Weitzel, 352; suspected of interest in speculations of Col. Butler, 356; grants trading permits, 358, 359, 378, 379, 423; 396, 408; letter from Johnson to, 443; 496
Sherman, Gen. T. W., added to B/s command, 233, 316; B. advised to cultivate, 322; letters from B. to, 331, 339, orders regarding negroes, 339; 515
Sherwood, Lorenzo, 532
Shields, Lieutenant Colonel, 216; letter to B. from, 319
Shields, Mr., 93
Shiloh, 194
Ship Island, 24, 25, 37, 57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 290, 304, 312, 313, 329, 330, 331, 359, 363, 413, 414, 415, 416, 424, 441, 505, 513, 552
Shipley, Capt. A. N., letter to Colonel Shaffer from, 483
Shipper, G. M., 103, 104
Shipper, Mrs. G. M., 104
Shreveport, 505
Shufeldt, R. W., letter to B. from, 418; letter from B. to, 454
Siegel, Mr., 93
Silcott, Robert, 208
Sivanler, P. A., 276
Slidell, Benjamin, 390
Slidell, John, 114
Slocumb, Mrs., B. promises protection to, 1
Smith, 349
Smith, Captain, 383
Smith, Lieutenant, 429
Smith & Co., Samuel, the seizure of specie of, 31, 71, 338
"Smyrniote," the, 108
Snow, Mr., 76
Snow, Capt. Josiah, 103
Soldiers Insane Asylum, the, 407
Somonville, Charles, letter from B. to, 58
Soniat, Theodore, 436
Soule, Pierre, 309, 488, 489
South Carolina, 436
Southern Confederacy, the, 85
Southern Independent Association, the, 308
626
INDEX
Spain, 268; Vice-Consul of, 324; Min- ister from. See Taraara, Gabriel G.; B/s friendliness toward, 346
Spanish Nation, the, 182
Spanish Transports, 324, 325
Spark, Pat C., 421
Speed, John J., 532
Sprague, Governor, of Rhode Island, 563
Spring, Dr., 59
Stafford, Captain, order from B. concern- ing negroes, 88; 106
Stafford, Col. S. H., 339, 360, 376, 377, 429, 430, 439, 490, 548
Stafford County, Va., 552
Stancel, Lieutenant Colonel, 428
Stanley, D. C., letter from Fortenberry to, 438
Stanton and Palmer, claim of, 249, 250
Stanton, B., 599
Stanton, Edwin M., letters from B. to, 6, 13, 40, 42, 58, 59, 66, 82, 107, 112, 142, 168, 191, 194, 243, 298, 315, 339, 361, 368, 375, 383, 384, 385, 387, 392, 397, 402, 407, 411, 416, 419, 420, 422, 431, 442, 446, 474, 478, 489, 493, 516, 517, 525; letters to B. from, 9, 41, 222, 247, 250, 298, 377, 392, 421, 501, 518; letters from Seward to, 10, 256, 274, 442, friendliness for B. of, 37, 212, 516, 520, 564; appoints Kinsman Capt., 37-38; 54; certified copy of parole of Lowber sent to B. by, 60; manufacture of clothing at Peniten- tiary suggested to, 106; Gen. Arnold requests change from, 107; on the negro question, 131; B. refers case of Gen. Phelps to, 142, 207; interview with Gen. Shepley, 147; refuses recruits, 151; 147,148; refuses resigna- tion of Col. Deming, 151; 166; General Orders by, No. 98, 199, No. 184, 461; communication from Dept. of State, 222; orders B. to recognize commission of Lieut. Prince, 234, 235; in connec- tion with complaints of Spanish Minister, 274, 279; 290; letter from Shepley to, 306; 334, 354; letter from Mrs. Pugh to, 461; withholds sanction from Banks of New Orleans, 518; letter from Lincoln to, 587; 590
Steiner & Marioni, Messrs., 422
Stephens, Commander H. K., 179, 181
Stewart, W. See Stuart, William
Stinson, Captain, 89
Strong, Mrs., 41, 218, 380, 453
Strong, Maj. George C., letter from Mrs. Butler to, 40; 44; letters to B. from,
114, 165; asks B. for instructions, 114; promotion of, 166, 218; asks B. for commission for Martin, 166; answer to Whipple sent to "Herald" by, 166; goes to New Orleans, 218; 226, 256; General Orders issued by, No. 36, 485, No. 71, 285, No. 73, 305, No. 74, 315, No. 79, 353, No. 88, 437, No. 98, 482; Special Orders issued by, No. 441, 397, No. 513, 475, No. 560, 525; starts on expedition, 287; 323; successful attack upon Gen. Thompson of, 326, 339; commended by Gen.-in-Chief, 402; recommended for Brig. Gen. by B., 402, letter from Dow to, 411; letter from Garrison to, 441; letter from McMillan, 444; letter to Nims from, 508
Stuart, William, Her Britannic Majesty's Charge d' Affaires, 11, 74; settlement in matter of seizure of sugar, 251; asks for release of McLaurin, 260; letter from Russell to, 261; submits affair of Borrowes to Sec. of State, 442; complains of treatment of Lingham, 476, 478
Sturgis, Russell, 568
Sullivan Randall and Budd, 114
Sumner, Charles, 285, 335, 336; letters to B. from, 520, 570
"Sumter," the, 141, 169, 179
S. W. Pass, 316
Switzerland, complaint of Consul General of, 421; 422, 491
"Sykes," the, 393, 404, 405, 406, 483
TABSABA, GABBIEL G., communications concerning quarantine laws, 274, 275, 339, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347; prefers complaint in behalf of house of Messrs. Avendafto Brothers, 279, 387; com- plaint concerning house of Puig Bros, of, 368, 369; B. asks that information concerning Spanish man-of-war be given to, 368, 389 Tate, Capt. Wilson, 67 Taylor, Dr., on Board of Survey, 110 Taylor, I. F., letter to B. from, 191 Taylor, Brig. Gen. Jo.. B. sends sword to,
118
Taylor, Maj. Gen. Richard, commander District of Western Louisiana, 265; notifies B. of unlicensed acts on part of soldiers, 265; B.'s reply to, 265; threats of, 302, 303; refuses to ex-
INDEX
627
change prisoners, 330; expedition
against, 401
Taylor, Gen. Zachary, sword of, 118, 191 Teche, the, 444, 445, 451, 452; Military
District of, 455 Tennessee, Governor of. See Johnson,
Gov. Andrew; 168, 223; Buel's Army
in East, 324 "Tennessee," the, 111, 238, 239, 240, 330,
402, 403 Terrebonne, 440 Texas, 5, 6, 8, 16, 40, 44, 168, 191, 194,
303, 349, 382, 395, 401, 413, 421, 454,
461, 463, 466; expedition to, 504, 505,
512; 490, 500, 502, 535, 541, 550, 575,
587, 592, 593 Texas Volunteer Militia, the, 1st Regt.
of, 463, 572; 1st Cavalry of, 525 Thaddeus Norris and Co., 105 Thibodeaux, 401, 429, 430, 440, 491 Thomas, Judge, B. T., 563 Thomas, Brig. Gen. Lorenzo, letter from
Gen. Phelps to, 146; letters to B. from,
234, 247; letters from B. to, 234, 237,
245, 293, 585; letter from Maj.
Holbrook to, 294 Thomas, Col. S., letter to B. from, 244,
399; command from B. to, 429; 439,
440, 452, 490 Thome, R. J., 568 Thompson, Gen. M. Jefferson, 187, 191;
letters from B to, 301, 302, 303, 311;
letter to B. from, 311; attack upon,
326
Thornton, Captain, 130, 302 Thorpe, F. B., letter to B. from, 184 Thorpe, T. B., 163; letter to B. from,
589
"Thug Association," the, 507 Tilghman, Brigadier General, 353 Times, the, leading Journal in Europe,
75; 503
Times, the, N. Y., 91, 598 Times Weekly Courier, the, 212 Tod, Gov. David, letter to B. from, 599 Tompkins, Col. D.D., on discharging of
freight, 185
Touro Charity Building, the, 211 Townsend, Gen. E. D., 199 Treilhard, the Viscount, letter from Sec.
Seward to, 251 Tremont Temple, 580 Tribune, the N. Y., 44. 444, 583, 593 Troy, N. Y., 78 True Delta, the, 540 Tucker, Professor, 590 Turkey, 71
Turkey Point, 10
Turner, Col. John W., 15, 195, 392; cattle sent to Ship Island by, 414; letter to B. from, 593
Turo Building, the, 296
Twiggs, Brig. Gen. David E., B. sequesters house of, 1, 2, 3, 7; swords of, 5, 6; flight from New Orleans of, 5, 6; letters addressed to, 6; treason of, 7; appointment as "Provisional General" of, 7; decimation of position of Major General by, 7; petitioned to prevent shipments of cotton to New Orleans, 362; concerning disposition of swords of, 570
Tyler, William, letter to B. from, 562
U
UNION ASSOCIATION, the, 138 Union Bank of New Orleans, the, 48 United States, the, vs. Puig Bros., 370 United States Ambassador. See Adams,
Charles Francis United States Troops, the, 22 Urqhart, Mrs., B. promises protection
to, 1 Usher, Maj. R. G., 493, 494
VACHERIE, letter to B. from residents of, 89
Van Buren, John, 590
Van Dorn, Major General, in command of Department of the Mississippi, 13, 70; General Order No. 1 issued by, 13; 111, 187, 191, 194, 223
Vanity s Fair, the N. Y., 275
Van Nostrand, Benj. T., 109
"Varuna," the, 348, 349
Vendetta, the, 61
"Vengeur," the, 470
Vera Cruz, 5
Veritas, letter to B. from, 374
Vermilion Bay, 428
Vermont, Gov. of. See Holbrook, Gov. Frederick, 295
Vermont Volunteer Militia, the, 7th Regt. of, 160, 168, 169, 174, 293, 294, 295, 481, 482, 483; 8th Regt. of, 267, 278, 302, 330, 401, 412, 456, 472, 490
Vicksburg, attack upon, 15, 47, 109, 140, 168; transportation of Confederate Army at, 65, 66; Gen. Williams re- called from, 82, 83, 111; advance of Gen. Grant upon, 82, 111; 98, 103; fail-
628
INDEX
ureof fleet at, 124, 148; withdrawal of fleet from, 168; upper fleet above, 171; rebels leave, 187, 191; 229, 244; ex- pedition to, 245 ; exchange of prisoners at, 302; 356, 388, 444, 462, 467, 505, 514, 551
Victor, J. N., letter to B. from, 53; protection asked for sisters by, 53
Villanueva, 495
"Vincent," 441
Virginia, 62, 242, 277, 291, 317, 334
"Virginia Antoinette," the 346
Vogel, Mrs., 221, 319, 365
Vogel & Co , 220
Vogel, William, late Consul of Prussia, 220, 221; subscriber to "City defense funds," 367
"Volunteer," the, 342
W
WADSWORTH, JOHN, 334, 568 Wainwright, Capt. W. N., letter to B.
from, 470
Walden, D. T., B.'s reply to, 292 Walden, Philip E., 292 Walker, Captain, 208 Walker, Mr., 331, 332, 339 Walles, Major, 278 Wamesit Bank, 122 Ward, Samuel G., complains of seizure
of iron by B., 392
WTarner, Oliver, letter to B. from, 586 Washington, Power's statue of, 233, 235,
236 Washington, D. C., 37, 38, 43, 44, 65,
71, 82, 92, 123, 131, 142, 147, 148, 232,
247, 256, 273, 277, 286, 290, 307, 309,
321, 324, 334, 355, 513 Washington Mills the, 538 Waters, D., 24 Waterville College, 263 WTatson, P. H., 222, 274, 279, 298, 377,
392, 421, 442, 445, 476 Watts, Maj. H. G., 462 "WTebb," the, 50, 169 Webster, Mr., 110, 241, 248, 304, 319,
320, 464
WTebster, Fletcher, 285 Weed, Charles A., given charge of,
plantations, 397 Weeks, Captain, 521 Weitzel, Brig. Gen. Godfrey, promotion
to Brig. Gen. of, 43, 54, 147, 192, 273;
126; sent to Camp Parapet, 143;
letters from B. to, 158, 429, 439, 455;
at Baton Rouge, 158, 159, sent to
Vicksburg, 169; 170; at Fort St. Philip, 188; surrender of arms ordered by, 189; Phelps gives horse, etc., to, 287; letter from Knapp, 297; at New Orleans, 316; 339; made to pay Shepley, 352; expedition of, 379, 401, 410, 412, 429, 439, 444, 448, 452, 454, 459, 466, 490; in command of district of Lafourche, 440, 455, 474, 491, 515; 496
Welles, Gideon, letter from B. to, 287; matter of pillage by soldiers referred to, 289; instructions concerning trad- ing from, 395, 396
Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, the, 396, 406
"Westfield," the, 140, 471, 572
West Florida, 199; the District of, 230
"West Florida," the, 395, 396, 501, 502, 524
West Point, 6, 43, 161, 570
West River Bank, the, 278
West Roxbury, 566
West Tennessee, 598
West Virginia, 534
Wetmore, Prosper M., 591
Wheaton's Law of Nations, 98, 101
Whig, the Richmond, 540
Whig Review, Cotton's, 590
WTiipple, E. P., 166, 590
White, Richard Grant, letters to B. from, 568, 576
Whitney, J. S. See Whitney, James T.
Whitney, James T., letters to B. from, 124, 227; 164, 197, 203, 204, 218
WThittemore, E., 163
Whittier, C. S., 464
Whittier, J. G., 590
Wickliffe, R. C., 265, 266
Wiegel, Lieut. W. H., Morris warned of C. S. boats in Red River by, 50; 222; Special Orders issued by, No. 326, 237; 301, 302; cause of trouble on yacht, 311; advice to, 311; resignation of, 352, 381; certifies finding of box marked "Prean & Conturie," 386
Wiggins, Captain, 452, 521
Wiggins, Lieutenant, 444
Willard, Mr., 110
Williams, John, and Co., 140
Williams, Brig. Gen. Thomas at Vicks- burg, 15, 53; recalled from Vicksburg, 82, 83, 111; Shipper released from prison by, 103; ordered home 109; 113; unable to make attack at Vicks- burg, 124; refuses privileges to Bates, 139; at Baton Rouge, 149, 161, 202;
INDEX
letter from B. to, 150; death of, 159,
161, 162, 169, 201, 202; 168, 385 Wilmot, Mr., 540 Wilson, Mr., 570 Wilson, Henry, letter from B. to, 465;
letter to B. from, 516 Wilson, William, 472 Winchester, 93 Wisconsin Volunteer Militia, the, 4th
Regt. of, 159, 168, 436 Witz, Charles, 351 Wolcott, C. P., letter to B. from, 60 "Women Order," the. See Butler,
Benjamin F.t General Orders No. 28 Wood and Brothers, Messrs., letter from
Memminger to, 4
Wood, P. N., 208 Woodstock, 93 Woodworth, Captain, 415 Wool, Brevet Major General, 110 World, the, N. Y., 538 Wright & Allen, 307 Wyer, Mr., 527, 528, 529 Yager, Lieutenant, 160, 161 Yazoo River, the, 244, 273, 279 "Yeadon, Richard," 562
ZEIGLER, 580, 581 Zeighler, 106
Date Due
Demco 293-5
138451
;**
38451