The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-11
An Episode i'm Gen. Buffers Ad.
ministratiOn at New Orleans.


The July number of the atlantic Monthly
contains a very interesting review of Gen.
Buffers administration of the Depart
ment of Louisiana. Among the many per-
sonal anecdotes are the following, which
are almost too horrible to be published, but
for the impressive lesson they convey. One
of the incidents was related more briefly
by the General himself, when in New York
in January last. We quote from the writer
in the Atlantic:
Just previous to the arrival Of General
Banks at New Orleans, l was appointed
Deputy Provost Marshal of the city, and
held the office for some days after he had
assumed command. One day during the
last week of our stay in the South, a young
woman of about twenty years, called upon
me to complain that her landlord had or
bered her out of her house, because she was
unable longer to pay the rent, and she
wished me to authorize her to take possess
sion of one of her fathers houses that had
deem confiscated, he being wealthy rebel
then in the Confederacy, and actively en-
gagged in the rebelliod.
The girl was d perfect blonde in complex
ion; her hair was OF very pretty, light
shade of brown, and perfectly straight; her
eyes clear, honest gray, and her skin as
delicate and fair as child's. Her manner
was modest and ingenious, and her Ian
guaged indicated much intelligence.
was justified in wheeling around in my
chair and indulging in an unequivocal
stare of incredulous amaZement, when in
the course of conversation she dropped
remark about having been born slave.
DO you mean to tell me- said I, 'that
you have negro blood in your veins?" And
was conscious of feeling of emharrass-
ment at asking u que stion SO apparently
preposterous.
YES she replied, and then related tbs
history of her life, which l shall repeat as
briefly as possible:
my father" she continued, sis Mr..
Cox, formerly judge of one of the courts
in this city. He was very rich, and owned
agreat many houses here. There is one of
them over there" she remarked, naively,
pointing to q handsome residence opposite
my office in Canal street. my mother
was one of his slaves. When was suffi-
GENTLY grown he placed me at school at the
Mechanics Institute Seminary on Broad
way, New York. l remained there until l
was about fifteen years of age, when Mr..
Cox came on to New York and took me
from the school to hotel where he obliged
me to live with him as his mistress; and
to-day, at the age of twenty-One, l am the
mother Of a boy five years old, who is my
fathers son.
after remaining some time in New
York, he took me tC Cincinnati and other
tnued to live with him as before. During
this soourn i'll the Free States, induced
nm 10 give me deed OF manumisSiou;
but on our return to New Orleans he OBJ
tanned 1t from me and destroyed it. At
this time tried to break off the unnatural
connection, whereupon he caused me to be
publicly whipped in the streets of the
city, and then obliged me TO marrya color
ed man; and now he has run off, leaving
lie without the least provision against
want or actual starvation, and | ask you
10 give me one ot@his houses, that I may
J nave home for myself and three little
Children
Strange and improbable as this story APP
peared, L remembered, as it progressed,
that had heard it from Governor Shepley,
Who, as well as General Butler, had inyes-
Igated it, and learned that it was not ONLY
true in every particular, but was perfectly
familiar to the citizens of New Orleans. by
whom Judge Cox had been elected to adj
minister justice.
were old residents Of the city, were well in
FORMED in the facts of the case and attested
the truth of the girls story.
n was exceedingly perplexed, and knew
not what to do in the matter, but after
some thought answered her thus:
This Department has changed rulers,
ana | know nothing of the policy of the
new commander. If Gen. Butler We're
sun IN authority, / should not hesitate a
J moment to grant your request, for, even if
should commit an error of Judgment: I
am perfectly certain he would overlook it,
ana applaud the humane impulse that
prompted the act; but General Banks
Ss.ght be less indulgent, and make very
Sseflous trouble with me for taking a step
ble.n Pi'ps 90 ~" "a "
nj still hesitated, undecided how to act,
n maen suddenly a. happy thought struck
-leI and turning to the gil, / added
!, Today is Thursday; next Tuesday I
n ,esVe this city with Gen. Butler for land
c %nere, thank God such wrongs as yours
e eaLhot exist; and, as Gen. Banks is deeply
Snsrossed in the immediate business at
s.esdquarters, he will hardly hear of my
seioh before the ship leaves-so am go
Ig TO give you this house,
a. am sure the kind-hearted people will
IIua no fault with me that took particu-
S 81, PAINS to select one of the largest of her
"'aef $ houses, lit contained forty rooms.)