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40 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
Ir can not be necessary to apologize for an attempt to relate the history of the most remarkable episode of the war, respecting which opinions so violently contradictory are expressed, both at home and abroad. The vindication of the country itself seems to require that a policy should, at least, be understood, which the country has accepted as just, wise, and humane, and which the enemies of the country, foreign and domestic, denounce as arbitrary, savage, and brutal. It is, however, of the firs
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GENERAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. IL GENERAL BUTLER BEFORE THE WAR.
GENERAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. IL GENERAL BUTLER BEFORE THE WAR.
He came of fighting stock. His father’s father, Captain Zephaniah Butler, of Woodbury, Connecticut, fought under General ‘Wolfe at Quebec, and served in the continental army in the war of the revolution. A large, old-fashioned powder-horn, covered with quaint. carving, done by this old soldier’s own hand and jackImife, which was slung at his side when he climbed the hights of Quebec, and the sword which he wore during the war for independence, now hang in the library of General Butler at Lowell,
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II. IN TOE CHABLESTON CONVENTION.
II. IN TOE CHABLESTON CONVENTION.
GENERAL BUTLER was elected a delegate to the democratic convention, held at Charleston, in April, 1860. He went to Charleston with two strong convictions on his mind. One was, that concessions to the South had gone as far as the northern democracy could ever be induced to sustain. The other * was, that the fair nomination of Mr. Douglas, by a national democratic convention was impossible. When the convention had been organized, by the election of Mr. Cushing, of Massachusetts, to the chair, 2 co
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IIL MASSACHUSETTS READY.
IIL MASSACHUSETTS READY.
Pesuaps the commonest mistake made in commenting upon human actions, is to overrate the understanding, and underrate the moral worth of the actor. We flatter ourselves that we are very great and very bad beings; the humiliating truth seems to be, that we are rather good and extremely little. Mr. Dickens bas a character in one of his novels, who was fond of giving out that he was born in a ditch, and struggled up from that lowly estate to the position of a man whose check was good for any number
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* EIGHTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
* EIGHTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
FIELD AND STAFF, Timothy Munroe, Lynn. Edward W. Hinks, Lynn. Andrew Elwell, Gloucester, Liautenant-Colone! Major... Ben, Perley Poore, Newburyport, Adjutant. eorze Creasey, Newburyport. Quarterm: .E. Alfred Ingalls, Lynn, Paymaster, ..Roland G, Usher, Lynn, Surgeon... Bowman B. Breed, Lynn. Assistant-Surgeon Warren Tapley, Lynn. Chaplain... ,.. Gilbert Haven, Malden. Sergeant-Iajor John Goodwin, jr., Marblehead. Quartermuster_Ilorace E. Monroe, Lynn. Drum-Mujor... Samuel Roads, Marblehead, Tota
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IV. ANNAPOLIS.
IV. ANNAPOLIS.
Ir was a false alarm. There was not an armed enemy at Havre de Grace. The ferry-boat Maryland lay at her moorings in the peaceful possession of her crew; and nothing remained but to get up steam, put on board a supply of coal, water and provisions, embark the troops, and start for Annapolis. Whether the captain and crew were loyal or treasonable—whether they were likely to steer the boat to Annapolis or to Baltimore, or run her ashore on some traitorous coast, were questions much discussed among
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V. BALTIMORE.
V. BALTIMORE.
Wher war breaks out in a country after a long peace, it is natural that the people should look for guidance first to men who won distinction in the wars of the past. The history of wars shows us that this is generally an error, fruitful of disaster. It gave us Washington, it is true; but Washington was but forty-four years of age when he left Philadelphia to take command of the armies of the revolution and he had passed the twenty years which had elapsed since Braddock’s defeat, not in the routi
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VI FORTRESS MONROE.
VI FORTRESS MONROE.
Tag president had no lecture to bestow upon General Butler; but, on the contrary, compliment and congratulation. He urged him to accept the command of Fortress Monroe, and use the same energy in retaking Norfolk as he had displayed at Annapolis and Baltimore. After a day’s consideration, the general said he was willing enough to accept the proffered promotion and the command of the fortress, if he could have the means of being useful there. As a base for active operations, Fortress Monroe was go
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VIL GREAT BETHEL,
VIL GREAT BETHEL,
WaEN this letter reached the fortress, General Butler was immersed in the last details of a movement, the result of which was to show him, and show the country, that sitting in an office arranging a masterly plan of action is one thing, and the successful execution of the same is another. His correspondent read the answer to his letter in the newspapers; first with exultation, then with bewilderment, lastly with dismay. For the news of Great Bethel came to us ag so much of the news of the war ha
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VIL - CONSEQUENCES OF GREAT BETHEL.
VIL - CONSEQUENCES OF GREAT BETHEL.
GrEAT BETHEL Was a trifling skirmish ; but, occurring just when it did, it was a calamity. It was the first shock of arms between the belligerents, and gave the key-note to at least the overture of the war—the first campaign. Splendid fighting has since been done, and a great deal of it. There has, also, been much bad fighting, many ill-concerted movements, much misconduct on the part of " officers, some shameful flights and panies. It does not appear certain that we have yet learned to comply w
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IX. RECALL FROM VIRGINIA.
IX. RECALL FROM VIRGINIA.
Tue visitors attracted to the fortress severely taxed the time and hospitality of the general in command and of the gracious lady whe presided at his table. Senators, representatives, governors, editors, officers, private persons, crowded that table to the number of thirty a day. Some enterprising individuals even projected grand excursions to the fortress, threatening it with steamboat loads of pleasure seekers. An order was issued to prevent such an untimely irruption, and requiring a special
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X. HATTERAS.
X. HATTERAS.
Taz order which relieved General Butler from command in Virginia assigned him to no other duty. He was simply ordered to resign his command to General Wool. Whether he was to remain at the fortress, or repair to head-quarters, or go home, was left to conjecture. What should he do? Where should he go? Friends unanimously advised: Go home. The government plainly intimates that it does not want you! The game'is lost; throw up your hand. “No,” said he, « whatever I do, I can’t go home. That were the
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XI RECRUITING FOR SPECIAL SERVICE.
XI RECRUITING FOR SPECIAL SERVICE.
GENERAL BUTLER now recalled the attention of the government to his scheme for expelling rebel forces from the Virginia peninsula, which had been suspended by the sudden transfer of Colonel Baker and his command from Fortress Monroe. He obtained authority from the war department to recruit troops in Massachusetts for this purpose. Recruiting seemed to be proceeding somewhat languidly in the state, although her quota was yet far from full; and it was supposed, that General Butler could strike a ve
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XIL SHIP ISLAND,
XIL SHIP ISLAND,
Sure Isuanp is a long wave of whitest, finest sand, that glistens in the sun, and drifts before the wind like. New England snow. It is one of four islands that stretch along ten or twelve miles from the gulf coast, forming Mississippi sound. It was to one of these sand islands that the British troops repaired after their failure be- -fore New Orleans in 1815, where they lived for several weeks, amusing themselves with fishing and play-acting. Ship Island, seven miles long and three quarters of a
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XIIL REDUCTION OF THE FORTS.
XIIL REDUCTION OF THE FORTS.
Tue distance from the mouths of the Mississippi to New Orleans is one hundred and five miles. The two forts are situated at a bend in the river, seventy-five miles below the city, and thirty from the place where the river breaks into the passes or mouths. Fort Jackson, on the western bank, is hidden from the view of the ascending voyager by a strip of dense woods, which extends along the bank to a point eight miles below it; but Fort St. Philip, on the eastern shore, lies plainly in sight, becau
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XIV. THE PANIC IN NEW ORLEANS.
XIV. THE PANIC IN NEW ORLEANS.
NEw Ortesns did not rush headlong into secession in the Charleston manner. The doctrine, that itt Mr. Lincoln was elected the nation must be broken up, was not popular there during the canvass of 1860; it was, on the contrary, scouted by the ablest newspapers, and the influential men. In 1856, the city had givena majority of its votes to Mr. Fillmore ; in 1860, Bell and Everett were the favorite candidates. Bell, 5,215 ; Douglas, 2,996 ; Breckinridge, 2,646; Lincoln, 0. The fact was manifest to
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XV. NEW ORLEANS WILL NOT SUERENDER.
XV. NEW ORLEANS WILL NOT SUERENDER.
Carray Farracur’s fleet emerged from the hurly-burly of the fight on the morning of the 24th, into a beautiful and tranquil scene. Soon after leaving quarantine, the sugar plantations, with their villas girdled with pleasant verandas, and surrounded with trees, each with its village of negro huts near by, appeared on both sides of the river. The canes were a foot high, and of the brightest April green, rendered more vivid by the background of forest a mile from the river, Except that a white fla
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XVL LANDING IN NEW ORLEANS.
XVL LANDING IN NEW ORLEANS.
Tur troops had a joyful trip up the river among the verdant sugar-fields, welcomed, as the fleet had been, by eapering negroes. The transport Mississippi, with her old complement of fourteen hundred men, and Mrs. Butler on the quarter-deck, hove in sight of the forts at sunset on the last day of April. The forts were covered all over with blue-coated soldiers, who paused in their investi tures to cheer the arriving vessels, and, especially, the Lady who had borne them company in so many perils.
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XVIII THE WOMAN ORDER.
XVIII THE WOMAN ORDER.
Ir concerns the people of the United States to know that secession, regarded as a spiritual malady, is incurable. Every one knows this who, by serving on “the frontiers of the rebellion,” has been brought in contact with its leaders. General Rosecrans knows it. General Grant knows it. General Burnside knows it. General Batler knows it. True, a large number of Southern men who have been touched with the epidemic, have recovered or are recovering. But the hundred and fifty thousand men who own the
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XIX. EXECUTION OF MUMFORD.
XIX. EXECUTION OF MUMFORD.
Tre crime for which Mumford suffered death has been already related. If in the act of tearing down the flag of his country, he had fallen dead upon the roof of the Mint, from the fire of the howitzers in the maintop of the Pensacola, no one could have charged aught against those who had the honor of that flag in charge. His offense was two-fold : he insulted the flag of his country, and endangered the lives of innocent fellow-citizens by drawing the fire of the fleet. Fis life was justly forfeit
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XX. ‘GENERAL BUTLER AND THE FOREIGN CONSULS.
XX. ‘GENERAL BUTLER AND THE FOREIGN CONSULS.
Consuls were very high indeed during the first few weeks of the occupation of the city. Their position in New Orleans had been one of first-rate importance during the rebellion; for it was chiefly through the foreign capitalists of the city that the Confederacy had been supplied with arms and munitions of war, and it had been the congenial office of the consuls to afford them aid and pro tection in that lucrative business. They forgot that they were only consuls. They forgot the United States. O
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CASI RESPONSIBILITIES. HCtreulation,. viii $2,084,381, “Gold and SIIVeT. eva cveererconsrorareessisssnsorirennes $4,025,952
CASI RESPONSIBILITIES. HCtreulation,. viii $2,084,381, “Gold and SIIVeT. eva cveererconsrorareessisssnsorirennes $4,025,952
SAY ADOUE. oii ire 1,200,000 “Deposits in Confederate notes, and returnable in Confeder- ateson hand....... ci iii ie rier 4,354,755 CTO 1 euranrerrneeariransnenrannn rea, $5,554,755 “The bond-holders you represent’ yet hold bonds of the Citizens’ Bank for $4,430,666.66. Deeply impressed with the danger threatening New Orleans after the fall of the Tennessee forts, and of the disastrous consequences that might follow its capture, with so heavy an amount of gold and silver centering in the vaults
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XXI.
XXI.
To revive the business of New Orleans and cause its stagnant life to flow again in its ordinary channels, was among the first endeavors of General Butler after reducing the city to order and providing for its subsistence. It was necessary, at first, to compel the opening of retail stores, by the threat of a fine of a hundred dollars a day for keeping them closed. Mechanics refused to work for the United States. Certain repairs upon the light steamers, essential fo the supply of the troops, could
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THE BANE TO GENERAL BUTLER.
THE BANE TO GENERAL BUTLER.
In the discharge of their diffieult and delicate duties, knowing and feel ing that their intentions were pure and upright, they have an abiding con- fidence of their exculpation from the influence of all sordid or selfish motives. “If required, I will wait on you and afford every explanation in my power. “1 have the honor, &e., &c., “VW. Newrox Mercer, President pro tem. “Major-General Burier, U. 8. 4., de. “ Nore.—Of the capital stock of the bank—28,000 shares—the directors own
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GENERAL BUTLER TO THE CITIZENS’ BANK,
GENERAL BUTLER TO THE CITIZENS’ BANK,
Confederate States treasury notes are not due till six months after the conclusion of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States. When that time comes it will be’ in season to set off suct claims, Again: The United States being entitled to the credits due the Confederate States in the bank, that amount must be paid in money or valuable property. I can not recognize the Confederate notes us either money or property. The bank having done so by receiving them, issuing th
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XXII
XXII
Tre Union army in the Department of the Gulf consisted of about fourteen thousand men, and the disasters in Virginia, which increased a hundred-fold the difficulty of holding New Orleans, - forbade the re-enforcement of that army. Ship Island, Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, Baton Rouge, posts upon the lakes and elsewhere, required strong garrisons, which reduced the effective men in and near the city to a number inadequate to a successful defense of the place against such an attack as might be e
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XXIII
XXIII
THE SHEEP AND TIE GOATS. Wz may now proceed to consider the iron-handed measures of the commanding general, which were designed to isolate the secessionists, and render them innoxious. Crowds were forbidden to assemble, and public meetings, unless expressly authorized. The police were ordered to disperse all street-gatherings of a greater number of persons than three. In the sixth week of the occupation of the city, General Butler began the long series of measures, by which the sheep were separa
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THE CONSULS TO GENERAL BUTLER.
THE CONSULS TO GENERAL BUTLER.
Tt is true that the ‘Order’ excepts those foreigners who claimed and received the protection of their government more than sixty days previous to its publication; but this exception is merely nominal, because the very great majority of foreigners never had any cause hitherto, in this country, to ask, and therefore to receive, ‘a protection of their government.’ Besides, this exception implies an interference with the interior administration of foreign governments—an act contrary to the laws of n
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MR. COPPELL TO GENERAL BUTLER,
MR. COPPELL TO GENERAL BUTLER,
REPLY FROM HNEAD-QUARTERS. “ HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, “New OrLEans, La., June 14, 1862. . Grr: —I am directed by the major-general commanding to inform you that no answer is to be given to the note of George Coppell, Esq., of this date, until his eredentials and pretensions are recognized by his own government and the government of the United States. All atteropts at official action on Mr. Coppell's part must cease. His credentials have been sought for, but not exhibited. I have th
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XXIV. TIE CONFISCATION ACT.
XXIV. TIE CONFISCATION ACT.
Tre act of Congress confiscating the property of rebellious citizens was approved July 17th. Before the passage of the act, General Butler had taken the liberty to “sequester” the estates of those two notorious traitors, General Twiggs and John Slidell, both of whom possessed large property in New Orleans. These estates he held for the adjudication of the government, and, in the mean time, selected the spacious mansion of General Twiggs for his own residence and that of a portion of his staff. A
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XXV. MORE OF THE IRON HAND.
XXV. MORE OF THE IRON HAND.
CerrATy of the Episcopal clergy of New Orleans felt the rigor of General Butler's rule. The clergy of New Orleans were secessionists, of course. Any Christian minister capable of voluntarily living in the South during the last twenty years, or any one who was permitted to live there, must have been a person prepared to forsake all and follow slavery. This was the condition of their exercising the clerical office in the cotton kingdom, and when the time came they complied with that condition. One
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XXVL THE NEGRO QUESTION—FIRST DIFFICULTIES.
XXVL THE NEGRO QUESTION—FIRST DIFFICULTIES.
Louisiana has a population of about six hundred thousand. Before the war, there was a slight excess of whites over slaves, but when the Union troops landed at New Orleans, there was one slave in the state to every white person. Many of the parishes contain twice as many slaves ag whites; some, three times as many; a few, four times as many; one has nine hundred white inhabitants to nearly nine thousand slaves, The marching of a Union column into one of those sugar parishes, was like thrusting a
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XXVIIL GENERAL BUTLER AND GENERAL PHELPS.
XXVIIL GENERAL BUTLER AND GENERAL PHELPS.
GrxNzrAL Pueres was in command at Carrollton, seven miles above the city, the post of honor in the defensive cordon around New Orleans. “I found myself,” he remarks, “in the midst of a slave region, where the institution existed in all its pride and gloom, and where its victims needed no inducement from me to seek the protection of our flag—that flag, which now, after a long interval, glexmed once more amid the darkling scene, like the ef fusion of morning light. Fugitives began to throng to our
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XXVIII
XXVIII
GENERAL PrErps might have seen the dawn of a brighter day, even before his departure. General Butler himself could wait no longer for the tardy action of the government. Denied re-enforeements from the North, he had determined to * call on Africa” to assist him in defending New Orleans from threatened attack. The spirited assault upon Baton Rouge on the fifth of August, though it was so gallantly repulsed by General Williams and his command, was a warning not to be disregarded. All the summer, G
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XXX. MILITARY OPERATIONS.
XXX. MILITARY OPERATIONS.
GeNErAL McOLrLran’s orders to the commander of the department of the gulf directed him, first, and before all other objects, to hold New Orleans. To that everything was to be sacrificed. Next, he was to seize and hold all the approaches to the city, above and below, on the east and on the west, which included the seizure of all the railroads and railroad property in the vicinity. He was farther directed to co-operate with the navy in an attack upon Mobile, and, if possible, to threaten Pensacola
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XXXI. ROUTINE OF A DAY IN NEW ORLEANS.
XXXI. ROUTINE OF A DAY IN NEW ORLEANS.
A Masor-GexeraL commanding, as modern warfare is conducted, is in danger of becoming the slave of the desk. He carries a sword in obedience to custom, but the instrument that he is most familiar with is that one, which, ‘eminent tragedians’ say, is mightier than the sword. The quantity of writing required for the business of a division stationed in a quiet distriet is very great. But in such a department as that of the Gulf in 1862, a general must manage well, or he will find himself reduced to
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XXXII
XXXII
Trere had been rumors zll the summer that General Butler was about to be recalled from the Department of the Gulf. In August, he alluded to these rumors in one of his letters to General Halleck, and said, that if the government meant to remove him, it was only fair for his successor to come at once, and take part of the yellow fever season. General Halleck replied, September 14, that these rumors were “without foundation.” DMIr. Stanton had written approvingly of his course. Mr. Chase and Mr. Bl
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XXXIII. AT TIOME.
XXXIII. AT TIOME.
Axp why was he recalled from the Department of the Gulf? It was natural that the general himself should feel some curiosity upon this subject. His curiosity has not been gratified. Upon reaching New York, he found a letter from the president, requesting his presence at Washington. He was received by all the members of the government with the cordiality and consideration due to his eminent services. Ie asked the president the reason of his recall, and the president referred him to the secretary o
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XXXV. SUMMARY.
XXXV. SUMMARY.
Tre speciality of General Butler is this: He is a great achiever. He is the victorious kind of man. He is that combination of qualities and powers which is most potent in bringing things to pass. Upon reviewing his life, we find that he has been signally successful in the undertakings which have seriously tasked his powers. A good example of his ready adaptation of means to ends, has just been related to me by one of his legal friends. A wealthy corporation in New England refused to pay for a br
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APPENDIX. GENERAL M. JEFF. THOMPSON.
APPENDIX. GENERAL M. JEFF. THOMPSON.
Tre following correspondence has recently passed between General Butler and General Jeff. Thompson of the Confederate army, now 2 prisoner of war. General Thompson was long General Butler's principal adversary in Louisiana, as he was in command of the largest Confederate force in the vicinity of New Orleans. General Butler having been kind enough to send me the letters, as a matter of curiosity, I have taken the liberty to consider them part of the documents relating to the Department of the Gul
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