The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-13
correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
RTTLER.


New ORLEANS, LA, Oct. 3.-Whlle
the Confederate army of the West was
at Tupelo, Mississippi, General Butler
was in New Orleans, and fer months
this noble, patriotic, unselfish man
supplied them with boots, shoes, salt,
gunpowder, percussion caps, &C., &c
Does any man doubt this assertion? III
so, let that man go to Jackson, Mlssls-
sippi, or to any point on the New Or
leans Railroad below Jackson, and ask
anybody living upon the railroad II
supplies of all kinds were not regularly
sent over the road from New Orleans.
Let the unbeliever enquire for Ger
tain Captain Colby formerly known IN
Cincinnati, Ohio who was commls-
sary in the Confederate army, and sta-
toned at Jackson, Mississippi, whether
he did not receive constantly large sup
plies of coffee, salt, &C., for period ex-
tending over eighteen months. Inc
writer of this article, when in jackson,
Mississippi, in 1862, had occasion to visit
the chief clerk of Captain Colby, a Mr..
Bliss, formerly Governor OF Colorado
Territory, and while there heard a con,
versation take place between Colonel
Jones, of General Bragg's staff, and
confidential agent Of General Butler.
in which it was agreed on the part of
General Butler to furnish the Contede-
rate army of the West with shoes, blan-
kets, salt. &C., and that 5000 sack of salt
should be delivered-if I remember
right-in three weeks. Bliss and myself
were separated from the speakers by a
board partition, not we'll made, and
could hear the entire conversation. AS
we listened we became much interested,
and exchanged frequent significant
winks, both being good Confederates.
Bliss afterWard "slOped" to avoid the
conscript law; he was fine fellow for
all that, however. Buffers agent want
ed bale of cotton for sack of salt, and
the parties came near splitting on the
point. Don't know how it was settled,
but know that supplies came in regular.
Upon the evening of the same day
that the conversation above reported
took place l visited the headquarters of
General Van Dorm, and while talking to
two OF my old acquaintances-Col. Ned
Dillon, Chief Commissary, and Colonel
LomaX, both graduates Of West Point
General Van Dorm himself came in
laughing" WE'LL" said he to Colonel
Lomax, ]" I have just had a proposition
from General Butler, and he proposes to
supply our army with all we want pro-
viding [ will send him cotton" "What
an internal scoundrel he isl said Van
Dorm. To this we all unhesitatingly
agreed What a spectacle of de
pravity is here presented-a man fur
nishing gunpowder to Stay his comrades,
and clothes and food to supply their
enemies.n
| have been a Confederate soldier Of
the fighting department, and have met
on many fields the noble soldiers Of the
Northwest, and l have thought when |
have seen them dead and lying around
me, that they had probably fallen, killed
by ammunition furnished by General
Butler. Now, this beast, this "shape
infernal,a presents himself before the
people Of the North, and has been hail
ed with applause by thousands.
Some months ago Iwrote to Secretary
Stanton, giving him the points against
Butler, and the names Of the witnesses,
but nothing has been done. / wrote a
private letter to Secretary Stanton in
regard to this matter, but not "a move
has ever been made against him.
JOHN q. WATSON.