The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-23
Mr.. WeIIes and Justice to Admiral Farra
gut.

The pen of history is seldom impartial
The records which make it are necessari
ly drawn from cotemporaneous actors o.
observers, who partake more or less o.
prevailing partnership or bias 1t would
not be best to 90 to the extent of Sill
Robert Walpole, who exclaimed, "Any.
thing but history, for history must be
false'-but It is safe to take with many
grains of allowance those portions which
history makers are interested in coloring
Sir Walter SCOTS Life of Napoleon Bona
parte partakes of the authors tinge. who
could see in his subject little bu; evil.
John S. c. Abbot's Life of the same great
man glows with the fcrvid admiration of
a biographer who sees the benetactor of
the time in his hero.
These remarks apply with peculiar
force to the events of our late civil war.
1t called forth the passions which always
accompany intestine strife. in an unusual
degree While rival commanders were
largely engaged in building up them
selves and tearing down others, it would
be idle to suppose that current history,
partaking of these feelings, should be
just. Accordingly it is not surprising that
much which has been set down as histori-
cal record, needs revision, after plodding
truth has overtaken flighty error. 1t has
been said that truthful history cannot be
written until the actors in its events are
dead. This is true to q degree, but still
there is much which those who occupy
prominent positions can set Alright, if in
dustry and righteousness are applied to
the task. 1t is to this matter and in this
manner that Hon. Gideon Wcllcs. who
occupied the responsible position of Secrc-
tary OF the Navy during the war, or the
larger part of it, is applying his knowl-
edge of the events of the conflict. We
have before alluded to the series of pa
pers contributed by him to the Galaxy,
under the title of 'Admiral Farragut and
New Orleans in which he undertakes
the task of writing the true history of the
events which led to the capture of that
important point. In the December num-
Der OF that periodical, now before us, we
have the second paper of the series. which
we are certain every one interested in the
events of the war will peruse with I'M
tagging interest
While giving the true account Of the
conception OF the idea, the perfection of
the plan, and the detail of the operations
which resulted in the fall of New Orleans,
the Secretary's plain, unvarnishcd tale,
while it adds to the lustre of Farragut's
laurels, sadly furnishes the tinsel in which
Butler has been clothed. After quoting
from Greeley's American Conflict the
heading Of one chapter, which deslgnatcs
its contents as ''Butlers Expedition to the
Gulf-Capture of New Orleans" and al
luding to that mess Of nauseous nonsense,
Parton's "Gen. Butler at New Orleans, .
Mr.. Welles proceeds to state the official
| truths in regard to the expedition. He
shows that the idea of the capture origi-
mated in the Navy Department, that il was
carried out there in all its details, and
that Gen. Butler and his command was
detailed in response to 4 requisition upon
the War Department for force to accom-
pany naval expedition and act in subor-
din finY, fO Evoy 4ho,
know his destination, but was allowed to
infer that it was to be Texas
The plan of Farragut for passing the
forts was simple. 1t was boldly to steam
iii front of the forts, drive the gunncrs
from their posts by showers of grape,
canister and musket balls. and to pass
them in the smoke of his own guns. He
was numbered by the mortar fleet of the
| fussy Porter, which made great deal of
noise but did no real harm to the masonry
of the Notifications. How we'll the old
hero succeeded, the country and the world
knows. There is nothing in the career of
Nelson which more truly marks the naval
hero than the conduct of Farragut at lew
Orleans and Mobile. His expedients for
comprising greatest ends with smallest
expenditure of life and property were adj
mirable. The calm desperation with
which two ships were dashed abreast at
Mobile, that the disabled vessel might be
towed out of range by her consort, and
the gallant commander dashed to the
masthead that he might oversee and
direct the fight-are not overreached in
merit and gallantry by anything in naval
history. No wonder that Mr. Welles
feels his blood to boil when such we'll
earned laurels are sought to be stripped
off and placed on the brow OF the criminal
lawyer, Ben. Butler
1t is to be regretted that the facts of the
case Justify the reflections which Mr..
Welles makes at the conclusion of the
article, respecting the sights which were
imposed upon the Admiral in his last days
by the then head of the Naval Depart
ment, inspired by an envious clique. He
says
1t is to be regretted that the last days of this
brave, truthful, amiable, and exemplary man,
for whom his countrYmen had, and always will
retain, a deep and abiding affection and regard
should have been subjected to the petty annoy
ances from few who were envious of his fame
or incapable of doing him justice. Although
honored and loved by his countrymen and at
the head of the navy, he does not appear to
have had the confidence OF those who admins.
tered its affairs for the last eighteen mouths OF
his life, or to have been consulted in matters
which personally and officially interested and
belonged to him as naval chief. Great changes
edge and against his judgment. He was com
PEELED to receive orders which VIGOROUSLY
emanated from one Of inferior rank. The office
Of Admiral, which Congress had created fol
him in acknowledgment of his distinguished