The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-17

THE HANDS OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT-GKS BUT
LER GETS $4,000 OUT OF THE CITY TREASURY
HE BUYS STEAMERS AND CHAPTERS THEM TO The
GOVERNMENT.
The following extract from report on the ad-
mnistration of General Butler in Louisiana, has
heretofore been crowded out of the CRESCENT, IN
consequence Of the extraordinary pressure on our
columns. Nevertheless we cannot refrain from
reproducing it, as 1t confirms much that has been
alleged In regard to the corruption Of the federal
military authority in this city during the war. The
facts relating to Buffers supplying the Confed.
crate forces with munitions are known to many
persons, and they are even more damaging to his
reputation than those elected in this testimony.
The Washington correspondent Of the New
York Herald has had the privilege of inspecting
the report made by Messrs. Badly Smith and Jas.
I. Brady on the administration OF Affairs in the
department Of the gulf while under command Of
q. F. Butler. From this report the correspon-
dent uanscribes and transmits the following ex.
tracts:
Mr.. Jacob Barker, examined February Q, 1866
States that when Genera! Butler arrived in New
Orleans he told witness that he bad no money. or
very little in the militlry chest-about 500 Wit
ness, at bis request, loaned him $1,000 alters
wards paid. About this time he told me (Bar-
ker) be wanted more money, 800 900, on his own
account for his bill in Boston / agreed to let
him have it be took the greater portion, for
which he gave me his exchange on Boston, which
was honoiably paid - "of this money he drew
most Of il on me for gold in favor Of his brother
subsequently he told me that his object 10 this
negotiation was TO get funds to loan his brother"
Mr.. B. F. Smith, examined 27th Of February,
1884 resident of New Orleans for twenty-five
Years: was there when Gan. Batter arrived that
he was Interested with Gel. A. J. Butler brother
of Gen. Butler, in carrying goods across the lake,
consisting of salt, QuiDne, Shoes corn, groceries
and liquors, which went mostly into the hsuds of
the rebels, as Col. Butler well knew; he (wtness)
received one-third Of the profits realized upon
| them. The witness was asked: "Do you believe
| that Gen. Butleri knew about this trader" An
swer-"Yes, sir; told him; he asked me the
| question, and Sl3 coo worth went after that;h
| Gen. Butler had informed hn that no more goods
should go out unless cotton returned went TO the
rebel authOrities-Gen. Lowell returned and told
| bin (Butler) what Gen. Lowell had said had no
difficulty in getting IN or out; had five or six
| schooners chartered; Col. Butler got everything
| fixed up; French, provost marshal general under
Butler, signed the passes that after his interview
| with the rebel general he reported progress to
Gen. Butler, and Col. Butler, and that the cotton
| came in and the goods went out; value OF the
| goods between $4,000 and $4,000: 1876 bales OF
cotton at 45c. q b.. Col. Butler did not give him
s25OO; the rebel party offered the witness $4,000
| for his interest in the thing. States further
| Does not know what his claim was against Butler,
but that he was TO have one-third OF tue net pro-
ceeds paid loo. ~ ID. for cotton, and got 45e.,
amounting to $4,000; made about 200 D cent on
| the goods; salt sold OF $50 a sack; made shout
| IS % cent upon the cotton. Witness further says
| that he was rebel at the time, and did not take
| TIE oath until efter the transactions.
wv. Watson, examined March |, ls65-States
that the witness Smith did great deal of bust.
| ress during Gen. Buffers administration; at the
| time he saw Smith the business was not carried
| OF very well, and Smith told Gen. Butler that he
would retire; says he has no doubt he filed out the
| generals passes in a written form; saw his book
and bis passes that were not signed by the gene
raj, that Gen. Butler filed the passes up. Witness
fErrN wnAN kWua IA frnlN
here New Orleans) TO Mstamoros, among which
was the Mary Davis when Admiral Farragut was
informed of it, he sent gunboat and took the
supercsrgo (Reed), Gen. Buffers brother.inlaw;
Fsrragut took his pass and went uDto the general
with il, and asked him if it was hls handwriting,
| TO which the general replied, "ThRt is A. J.'s
| handwriting" A. J. Butler was then arrested and
paroled, and afterwards taken up By picket and
| brought back to New Orleans, aud having given
| security in thirty thousand dollars bond finally
| ran away; the permits Col. Butler made out con
| tanned great variety Of articles. and lnstanced
ore 10 man named Long, to take vessel OF
about eighty tons to Mobile, laden with provisions,
| etc. He was TO bring back the money belonging
| to the Merchants Bank. Col. Butler and Mr.
| French made out the list Of medicines and as
sisted in getting the medicines to send by tbs
| vessel; says that he has reason to suppose that
> Gen. Butler was interested in these operations
but did not know the fact, but gives'as reason
that they had no money until Gen. Butler go
the city treasury, and that he the first thou
sand dollars couuted ont on the table in Col
| Builers Office. Gen. Batter, Gen. Shepley aud
Duer gave an order to deliver this money TO
| j. Butler and it passed into his hands; did MOI
see the money used, but A. J. Butler asked
| him to pass twenty thousand dollars to
planter cn the coast, which he refused Z
do; states further that A. J. Butler was engaged
In removing CT % from plantations TO the city
the boat used was guarded By from twenty I've t
ffy soldiers; the boat would return TO the cit
with 200 to 500 hogsheads Of sugar, and he under
| stood that tbis sugar was seized and sent to New
, York through the hands of A. ]. Butler, sud th'
| proceeds Of tae cargo passed into the hands 0
A. j. Butler * Co., or their agents; the boats EN-
, | ployed were the lberville, Laurel HUI, the En-
pire Parish and the Lieut.. Morris, which were u
, the employ of the United States government
| the IbeIvile was chartered by Col. Schafier AM
| Mr.. Bloomer, who did the outside business 70
Butler at FIVE thousand dollars per month; thes
: boats paid no freight to the quartermaster's de
| paftment; witness paid the tesmsters and wag
! oners employed in the work the boats all passe
| out Of the port Of New Orleans free OF an.
| charge or tax; says he suggested TO Gen. Butte
that the government transports might De 0siiaste
> | with sugar the general replied that II would no
! be proper, for the port was not open, but final
| said he might do so, provided 1t was sandp II
| stead of sugar did not pay Butler any frelgh
upon this ballast, but commenced gong round :
. | persons who wanted to ship sugar TO New 1orh
! and told them that il would be taken for ten do
lars hogshesd, and to say that il was sand If an
n | inquiries we're made about il; the port was nc
. | opened Until tle mlOQlo Oh Jbu6 LIS sugar va
4 | shipped in May; Gen. Butler said il would brea
the blockade in the eyes Of foreign government
! II we were found shipping from here New Oh
q leans) before the port was opened; whe
. Colonel Butler came here New Orleans) h
. | sent Captain Turner and desired an introducto
: TO me lWatson); went down, aud ne Oh
n colone) stated that he had been infoymed w
e the only person capable or willing to DO business
/. end as there was great deal OF shipping TO
n done that if would do it he would furnish 0
i fees, stationery and clerks and would divide vii
IN | me /; l declined doing so, when he sent for q
~ again and insisted upon my doing 50; heard III
, soy 20 the captains of vessels, When you arri'
~ In New York lay of the harbor, 20 to the quartz
Is master and get your charter Cancelled, then ha
De alongside the pier and discharge your cargo
N the cpnsignses, who will pay yOu two dollars
hogshead; keep your mouths shut."s States IN
he engaged the freight for $40 hOgshesd; do
rot know what became Of the other s., but So
posed the government consigned 10 the quartz
a master and collected the freight IN New YoIl
\, | supposed everything was proper; Col. Schan