Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-10-28
Butler.
His Brothers Estate.
How They Made Money

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The New Orleans Times un.
doubtedly thinks there is rascality
about Ben Buffers settlement of
his brothers estate, which has just
! been decided bankrupt. 1t draws
this picture of the pair of worthies
as they were in New Orleans:
When General B. T. Butler was
brought to this city in May, 1862,
by Admiral Farragut, and under
the cover Of a powerful squadron
of two hundred guns, was landed
with a large military force, and
proceeded to establish himself in
authority, and command, almost
the first person who made himself
known to our people, as the chief
and highest authority in all busi-
ness and civil affairs, was large,
coarse, vulgar man, previously
known to some of the more know
ing of our citizens, who had been
to California or the Northern cit
les, as a disreputable adventurer.
This man now acquired an i'm
portance he never before enjoyed.
lie was the brother of the General
commanding; was understood to
be his partner in all his business
Operations, and was invested with
enormous privileges. He posses
sed large and valuable contracts,
secured to him through the infu-
euce aud favor of his brother. As
post sutler, he had entire control
Iofall the trade which was permit
| ted to be carried on in the city.
The army and people were sup
piled with substance at his prices.
Foreign vessels were stopped and
compelled 10 lay up for some time
lin quarantine below the city, that
the ships loaded with his goods
and groceries might supply and
monopolize the market. The
transports of the United States
were at his command to bear to
foreign ports the produce brought
by him from our merchants and
planters at such rates as he might
determine. Permits were easily
obtained by him for parties to go
into the Contederacy, and con-
siderable trade was thus carried
on outside Of the lines. He was
the principle buyer OF Confeder-
ate notes after his brother had pro-
hibited their use. He bought
vast amounts of produce at his own
prices, by threatening the holders
Thereof with Imprisonment, ball
and chain. -
In this manner and by those
means, with the countenance and
active aid of the commander of the
United States army occupying
this city, the ex-gambler of Cali
fornia managed during the time
he was here 70 monopolize nearly
the whole commerce, and excuse
an absolute power over the prop
erty of the city. Next, he ex-
tended his operations into the
country, leasing sugar plantations
and cultivating them, with the
aid of the United States soldiers,
and coescing the negroes to work
on their own terms. He owned,
or held under charter parties,
most Of the river steamboats,, and
was permitted to trade up and
down the river and beyond the
Federal lines, when other persons
were prohibited from SO doing
He drew upon the banks for large
sums when he had no deposits,
and compelled them, by the men,
ace of his brothers wrath and vi
olence, TO pay his drafts. To pre-
serve and cultivate his old taste
and art, he opened the largest
gambling house ever established
in this city, and persons having
business with him were frequently
compelled to wait upon him at
his favorite den. Never were
such powers and privileges over o