Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-04-02
How GencLuA Butlcr- Administers
.UustSce nd Fortress Monroe.


Justice nt Fortress Monroe.
A Fortress Monroe correspondent of the
Boston Journal gives this sketch of General
Buffers operations;
"With loyal men General Butler Is very
popular. II he is rough, severe and unami-
able, it is only with those who show re-
gard for our government while they are
traitors at heart. He has faculty OF un-
masking these hypocrites, and for them he
has no tavors. lie holds court in primitive
style. The doors of his office stand wide
open. AS in the time of Solomon, all who
have cause bring it directly to his pres.
ence. lie decides 1t at once. The Pool OF
Sloan had not q more variegated patronage
than can be seen around the headquarters of
General Butler. Cases of assault and bat
terry, poor colorcd women wronged by their
landlords, petty broils, parties seeking to be
from arrest, with the higher and the more
important and responsible duties of his
trust, keep him busy from early morn; often,
till midnight. Never wearied-clear, cool
and sharp, with ready wit, clear sense of
Justice q courage equal to any emergency,
with perfect knowledge of human nature,
learned in his practice us criminal lawyer
all enables him to dispatch business with
amazing rapidity and to make n recreation
of what would crush most men. \ speci-
men or two will illustrate this.
"ln the plainest possible attire he sits in
his office, without show or parade, with
genuine courtesy, but with the air of a man
not to be trifed with. lie receives one after
another of the vast throng that come to his
headquarters day by day. First comes in
an old man. His daughter is under arrest
as a spy. He assures the general that his
daughter is innocent of the charge. He has
papers to prove it. 1t is not right that his
daughter should be held on suspicion of
such a crime. General Butter reads careful
ly the attdavits put into his hands. He
says: These papers only show that your
daughter was loyal at q certain time.
have proof that her offence was committed
after the time mentioned in these papers,
| agree with you that the crime is great
one. can't discharge your daughter with
this accusation over her. shall order her
to be tried that her innocence may appear.
Next comes gentleman about his son
who is prisoner at Richmond. lie wants
him exchanged. The General asks: How
long has he been q prisoner p Thirty days,
was the reply. 4 have eigh. hundred olli-
GERS says General Butler, who have been
in Richmond for a year or more. l appeal
| W YOU IL NOuT sun WIS OnC Oi IicSc clSnI
hundred if you would think it right to
leave him still longer in prison, and release
one who had been in confinement only a few
days The father replied You are right,
General Butler, but want my boy
"One other case. A Presbyterian minisr.
er, in the employ of the Christian Commits
sion, called ON the commanding general il
relation to the prisoners at Point Lookout
Rebel prisoners were many of them sick and
dying, and needed spiritual consolation
! He asked that DR.. Junkin, father-in-law o.
Stonewall Jackson, might be appointed to
visit them. Where is the post chaplain ?
the general asked. He is sick was the re
ply, and cannot attend to his duties lie
him resign was the response. lie is toe
faithful a servant Of Christ to allow men to
suffer for spiritual aid which he can't rend
er. When he resigns, l will appoint DR.
Juhkin to his place To this, of course
there could be no reply. The clergyman
bowed himself out with his answer"