The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-12-30
GENERAL BUTLER AND THE NEW
ORLEANS MOB.

The following description OF the style in which
Geseral Butler dealt with "a New Orleans mob
soon after hs occupation Of ths, city Is from
Parion's History OF the Administration OF the
Deputmen, Of the Gulf:
The three officers aud Mr. Glen next proceeded
TO the City Hall in search Of the Mayor. They
found that public functionary, after some delay.
They informed him with an possible courtesy,
that General Butler, commanding the Depart
meut Of the Gull, had established his head
quarters al the st. Charles Hotel, where he
would be happy 10 confer with the Mayor and
Council Of New Orleans al . o'clock on that
day. The reply Of the Mayor was to the effect
that his place OF business Was at the City Hall,
where any gentleman who had business with
him could see him during Office hours. Col
French politely intimated that that was not an
answer likely TO satisfy the commanding General,
and expressed a hope, that the Mayor, on
reflection, would not cOmpicate a state Of
affairs, already embarrassing enough, by rais-
ing questions of etiquette. Gen. Butler was
well disposed toward New Orleans and its au-
thorites he merely desired to come to a clear
understanding with them as to the future gov
ernment OF the city. The officers retired The
Mayor, upon reflection, concluded to wait upon
the General. At O'clock accompanied by Mr.
Soule and considerable party Of friends, highly
respectable gentlemen OF the city, he sat face to
face with General Butler in the ladies' parlor Of
the ST. Charles.
The interview was destined to be interrupted
and abortve. The seizure OF ths st. Charles
Hotel appeared to have rekindled the passions of
the populace, who surrounded the building in q
dense mass, filling al the open space adjacent.
A cannon was posted az each OF the corners Of
the building; a regiment surrounded it, and
the brave General Williams was in command.
But it seemed as if the quiet demeanOr of the
the troops, since the landing of the evening be-
fore, had been misinterpreted by the mob, who
grew fercer, louder, and bolder as the day wore
on. The Mayor and his party had not been long
in the presence of Geaeral Butler, when an
aid-de camp rushed in and said
"Gen Williams orders me to say that he fears
he will not be able TO control the mob"
Gen. Butler, in his serenest manner, replied:
"Give my compliments to Gen. Williams, and
tell him, if he finds he cannot control the mob,
TO open upon them with artillery"
The Mayor and his friends spraDg to to their
feet in CONSERVATION.
Don't do that, General" exclaimed the
Mayor.
"Why not, gentlemen ?" said the General
. The mob must be controlled We can't have
a disturbance in the street"
"Shall l 90 out and speak to the people ?"
asked the Mayor.
Amy thing you please, gentlemen replied
Gen. Butler. ." l only insist that order be main
tanned in the public streets"
The Mayor and other gentlemen addressed
the crowd, and, as their remarks were enforced
by the rumor of Gen. Buffers order, there was
d temporary luu in the storm. The crowd re-
II
The interview having been resumed, the
Mayor was proceeding TO descant, in the high
flown rhetoric of the South, upon General But
ler's former advocacy of the rights of the South.
ern States. The South had looked upon him as
its special friend and champion, etc
stop, Sir" said the General. " Let me set
you right on that point at once. l was always a
friend of Southern rights, but an enemy OF
Southern wrongs"
The conversation was going on in an smicabe
strain when another aid entered the apartment,
Lieut. Kinsman Of Gen. Buffers staff, who re-
quested a word with the General
This officer had been sent TO the feet that
morning in search OF telegraph operators. On
board the Mississippi (the man-of-wsr, not the
transport steamer), he was accOsted by Judge
Summers, who had sought refuge on board the
ship, as We have before related. The unhappy
Judge, anxious TO get to the city, requested
Lieut.. Kinsman 10 take him on shore, and give
him adequate protection against the mob, who
he said would tear him limb from limb, If they
should catch him alone. The Lieutenant, who
had left the city perfectly quiet was disposed &c
make light OF the danger; but said he could &c
on shore with him if he chose, and ne would
endeavor TO get him safe TO the ST. Charles. Or
reaching the levee, Lieut.. Kinsmsn impressed &
/ l..1 L h.,
we're started for the hotel. Unluckily the ex
recorder is a man Of gigantic structure-six fee
FIVE, and of corresponding magnitude; a man o.
such pronounced peculiarity OF appearance, tha
even if he had never sat on the bench and thus
became familiar to the eyes Of scoundrels, hc
must have been known by sight to all who fre
quented the streets ofthe city. He was instant
1 IL recognized. crowd gathered round the
clrrisge, hOotng, yelling, cursing; new hun
/ dreds rushed in from every streets for al ths
men in the city were idle ard abroad. Severa
+ times the carriage came TO a stand but Lieu,
/ Kinsman, pistol in hand, ordered the driver Il
/ 90 on, and kept him TO his work, until they
reached the troops guarding the hotel, Wher.
both succeeded in slighting and entering th'
building unharmed.
Judge Summers was thoroughly unnerved, q.
most men would have been in the same circum
stances. A mob is of all Wild beasts themOs
cOwardly, the most easily managed By maj
that is uuscarabe by phantoms. The mol
that attacked the Tribune office last July, wa
scattered by the report Of one pistol. I saw
done. Never have seen the square in front O
that builiiug 80 bare of people as il was in te
seconds after that solitary pistol was fred. Bu
a mob is at the same time the most terrific thin
to look at, especiallv if its vulgar aud savage ey
S hxe upon y0u. that can be imagined. Nj
Summers felt unsafe, even in the hotel. Civ
me some protection" said be, they'll tear N
all to pieces if they get in here" :" and it locke
at tie time as il the mob would &c: in
HeUce it was, thar Lieut. Kinsnan interrupte
the General, and asked word with him.
Gen Butler came ont, and heard The Lieg
tenantt report. The ex-recorder said there vs.
no place in the S.. Charles be could be safe.