The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-05

General Bu1IeF and Chaplain Hudson.
If any military humbug thoroughly de-
served to be exposed and exploded, it is
Msjor General B. F. Butler. We have nc
wish to go into the discussion of his militia
~ career, which has been, from beginning
to end, complete and utter failure, but
only desire tocsl1 attention to a most arbi.
trary and oppressive proceeding brought
to light by the Committee on the Conduct
Of the War. It is in reference to his treat
ment of Chaplain H. N. Hudson, we'll
known among literary men as Shake
sperean scholar and commentator, who was
imprisoned by Butler on trivial pretexts,
because the former had written some eriti-
cisms on Buffers Petersburg fsseo. The
case is only specimen instance of Buffers
arbitrary outrsges on personal liberty.
We extract from the testimony given by
General Grant, on the 11th of February,
before the ngressionGl Committee on the
Conduct of the Wsr:
40. Do you know anything about Chap
lain Hudson2
"a l had that case Investigated, but l
cannot give the exact result of the investi-
cation. The man was confined for hftv
odd days in wnst is called the bull pen,
near General Eutler's headquarters, l un-
derstand-put in with deserters and all
strts of prisoners. The Investigation shows
that hs was there that length Of time with.
out charges and without trial, though dur
ing good part of the time he was there
General Butler had courtmartial sitting
at his headquarters, and could have tried
him.
"By the Chairman: '4
20. How long ago was thal7
"a, He was confined there during the !
fall, in the months of September, October
and November. He was released while
General Butler was in New York City, at \
the time OF the election. He was released /
on the 9th of November, think.
70. When did the case come to your
knoWledge2
"a. I received letter from lady here
in this city telling me about the case. I
Immediately ordered Chaplain Hudson to
report TO me, and then 1 had his case in.
vestigsted. The man had. been all this
time in confinement without my knowl-
edge.
Y. without any charges
= IA. Never had any charges be,In pre-.
ferred sgsiDst him until after General
Butler was relieved.
30. What was alleged against him?
IA. Absence without leave, I believe
and there may be other charges. All the
papers in the case are now in this CITY. No
1thcer has right to confine a commits
ioned officer in prison or guard-ho ex-
,ept for mutiny, or for some Offanse where |
t would not be safe to trust the man al
arge. A commissioned officer, for ordins.
y breaches of military dicipline, is put un-
Ter arrest. This was only u case of that |
ort for which he should not have been
at all, except In his own tent, un-
er arrest. When this case came to my
I immediately ordered an ex-
minatlon made of all the prisoners about
'orfolk, Fortress Monroe and Portsmouth,
see if there were any moro such cases. {
"By Mr.. Odell:
20. What was the result of your ex-
mination 1t.lg4
ga The result was to find q great
lapy persons In prison without eharees-
ONE had been there for great length Of
me.
10 In the buIlpen2
IA. "Bnllpen" is merely the name
lven by the men themselves to a -euiAIzl-
ouss or prison. When prisonerf are first ,
.SA-s a. SA'S'y- vsEo F'tit Enere until they
An be sent of 10 other prisons or guard
ouses, or can be disposed of. It is q place
| chargs of the Provost Guard. ,
10 Were ths men placed there By Or
er Of General ButIer2
"a. TAey were placed there by his
roVost Rtsrshals and ofiiefsrs. In many
lstsnces there was nothing st all to show I
= whom they were put there. I have not ,
My ordered sn examination to be made
all the prisoners, but 1 intend sending
lspeetors to make an examination of pris.
ns IN all the other departments, with su- 8
lority to correct all such abuses that they /
lay find.
"By the chairman:
Q. / am glad of that. There are too
any cases OF that kind, not only in the
my down there, but here and elsewhere.
"a. 1t may be 80 without my know
e it or even being able TO correct it en- q
rely. i