Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-27
BUTLER In NEW ORLEANS.
Part of the stanton.suppressed Re.
port.

extract from the final report of the "Spe.
cial Committee appointed to investigate
and report, for the information of the
President, upon the civil and military
administration in the military depart
ment bordering upon and west of the
Mississippi"
The order creating this Commission
was signed by Abraham Lincoln as Pres
ident, on the 10th of December 1864.
The Commissioners named were Major
General VIM. F. Smith and Hon. Henry
Stanbery, of Ohio. Gen. Smith reached
New Orleans January 2, 1865, but owing
to the non.sppearance of Mr.. Stanbery,
it was not until the 26th of January that
the first testimony was taken. Mr.. Jas.
T. Brady, of New York, arrived in April,
1865, having been appointed by the Pres.
ident in place of Mr.. Stanbery. The re.
port, volume containing nearly four
hundred pages of foolscap, is now on Gle
in the War Office, having been suppressed
by Stanton since the time it was submit
ted, in September, 1865. 1t was signed
by VIM. F. Smith, msjor-general (pro.
perly known as Badly SMITH; James T.
Brady, and Nicholas Bowen, lieutenant
colonel, A. A. G., Jude Advocate. The
Commissioners, in their introduction to
the report, say:
"Much difficulty was experienced in
developing the administration of the va
rious departments, from the fact that the
testimony in most cases was obtained
from unwilling witnesses, and parties
who had themselves been implicated in
the transactions exposed. But even be-
fore the arrival of Mr.. Brady proof had
been taken establishing conclusively that
the greatest want of system and conform.
ity to the acts of Congress and orders of
Government pervaded the entire division,
with few exceptions, and that many of
the officials had been engaged during all
their term of Office in gross misconduct,
some. particulars of which will be de-
tailed in this report"
THE ADMINISTRATION OF GEN. BUTLER IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.
Mr.. Jacob Barker was examined on the
9th of February, 1865, and he says among
other things that when General Butler
arrived in New Orleans he told the wit
ness he had no money, or very little, in
the military chest-about 800. Mr..
Barker, at his request, loaned him $500,
which was afterwards paid. About
this time he told me (the witness con-
tinued) he wanted more meney-$l00,-
900 on his own account for his bill in
Boston. Iagreed to let him have it. He
took the greater portion, for which he
gave me his exchange on Boston, which
was honorably paid. OF this money most
of it he drew on me for gold in favor of
his brother Subsequently he told me
that his object in this negotiation was to
get funds TO loan his brother"
Mr. B. +. Smith testified before the
Commission on the 9th of February,
1865, that he had resided in New Orleans
twenty-five years, and was there when
Gen. Butler arrived; that he was inte.
rested with Col. A. j. Butler, the brother
of Gen. Butler, in carrying goods across
the lake, consisting Of salt, quinine,
shoes, corn, groceries and liquors, which
went mostly into the hands of the rebels,
as Col. Butler well knew. He received
one.third of the profits realized upon
them. The witness was asked
Q. Do you believe that General Butler
knew about this trader A. Yes, sir; /
told him. He asked me the question,
and thirteen thousand dollars worth went
after that.
Q. Did you deal in cotton at all ? A.
We tried to, but got one hundred and
ninety bales.
Q State about the transaction. A. Gen.
Butler informed me that no more goods
should go unless cotton returned. Invent
to the rebel authorities.
Gen. Lowell, the rebel commander in.
chief, endeavored to have the witness
come back with more goods. The wit
ness tcld him what General Butler had
said.
Q You had no difficulty TO get in and
out (ot our lines) when you pleased? A.
No, sir; | had six or seven schooners
chartered. Col Butler got everything |
fixed. French signed the passes
The witness says that when he came |
back to New Orleans after his interview |
with the rebel General about the cotton,
be reported progress to Gen. Butler and |
Col. Butler, and that be got a promise, |
and be saws, "the General told me that |
the rebels would fool me
Q Did the cotton come in2 a. Yes, /
sir. and goods went out.
Q. What was the value Of the cargo
A Between sl2, 900 and $4,000.
Q. What was the value Of the cotton
that came in7 A. One hundred and
nineiy-six bales, at forty-hve cents a
pound.
Q When you came to settle with Col.
Butler be gave you only twenty-five hnn-
dred dollars3 A. He\ did not give me
that The party Who Nrepresented the