New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-26
GENERAL BUTLER vINDICATRD.

I
The Alleged Unlawful Seizure of the Nas
sau-Sudden Termination of the Trial
Counsel for the Plaintiff Withdraw tia
Action for Damages-GeneraI Bufle
Congratulated. in COurt-An Unexpect
ed Scene.
The suit of Henry A. TildeR against Ben
| iamin F. Butler for damages for the al
| legged unlawful seizure of the steamer Mas
| sau, in 1862, during General Buffers mill
| taFV administration in New Orleans had Z
sudden and somewhat dramatic termina
ton yesterday Though the courtroom i:
most lily ventilated, being almost absolute
| " air-tight there was a compact and swell
| tering mass of curiosity seekers in attend
ance, General Butler being the centre OF
| attraction.
Mr.. Van Weckle, who took the Nassau to
| New Orleans, was recalled by General But
Ter, and went over substantially the same
ground as before in relation to what he did
on his arrival at New Orleans, concluding
by saying that Mr.. Buel was the only per
son at New Orleans with whom he negoti-
ated in relation to transfer of the vessel,
and that Buel was the man to whom the
vessel was transferred.
The object of this testimony was to show
that Buel was the man who owned the
Nassau at New Orleans, and not Hume
we'll and that. therefore Hunnewell was
not the owner when General Butler took
the Nassau, and could not assign a right of
action respecting her to the plaintiff in the
present suit, Tilden.
Lieutenant Wiegel, the main witness for
the plaintiff, had testified that he was con-
tinued as aid-de-camp to General Butler by
Secretary Stanton, Notwithstanding tho
former had caused his arrest, and accepted
his resignation of that position. General
Butler introduced the army regulations,
showing that a General commanding had
exclusive power in the choice Of his aids-de-
camp.
Alexander Fulton, Of Baltimore, General
Erastus B. Tyler, who commanded at Balti-
more at one time during the war, David
Van Dam, photographer of this city. and
John Ashton, of Baltimore, testified that
they would not believe Lieutenant Wiegel
under oath.
GENERAL BUTLER's TESTIMONY.
General Butler then took the stand and
testified:
| went to New Orleans on the first of
Nav, 1862. | commanded the Department
of the Gulf. and remained in command un-
til the sixteenth of December, 1862, and was
succeeded by General Banks. In Septem.
ber, 1862, it was deemed necessary to send
an expedition into the Teche country, to
cut off supplies from Port Hudson. / had
no steamer, except one, that was suited for
the expedition, but subsequently got two
river steamers, which it was necessary
should be accompanied by light-draft, sea-
going steamers, as the expedition had
to go part Of the way through
the Gulf of Mexico. directed
the captain of the port to report
to me the arrival at New Orleans of
suitable steamers. The captain. notified me
of the arrival Of the Nassau. and his Opin-
ion that she would suit my purpose. sent
Major Davis to examine the steamer and
he gave favorable report as to her suita-
bleness. l was informed that Mr.. Hume
well was the person to whom the vessel
was consigned, and l sent him word that
would like to see him, intending to en-
deavOr to purchase the vessel from him, if
he owned it. He came to see me, and told
me he did not own the vessel, but could
procure title to her from persons in New
York who owned her.
NEGOTIATING FOR THE NASSAU.
asked him what he would sell her for if
he could make a title to her, and he said
1000; and he shortly afteFWard left, with
out any definite understanding having come
to, as l told Mr. Hunneweu that the right
to purchase resided in the Guartermaster
general exclusively. The next day / sent
a communication to the qUartermaster gen
eral asking permission to purchase a light
draft sea-gOing steamer suitable for the
Teche expedition and saying that the Mas
sau was just such one as was needed, and
the quartermaster general gave me per-
mission to buy the Nassau at a price not to
exceed $4,000. Being anxious to get off
the expedition, l Immediately named a
board of survey to examine the Nassau and |
report upon her value. The object in order
ng the board Of survey was to protect my
self from running the risk of paying more |
tor the Nassau than her actual value. The |
board reported to nee that they had ex- |
lmined the Nassau and thought she would |
10, and was worth $28,0O0. then sent my
to Mr. HunneWell, telling him |
would like to see him.
THE SALE EFFECTED.
When he came told him of what had |
ranspired. / told him l would like to have |
he boat, and asked him il he could give IL. |
lie to her. A man was present who, sub |
ascertained, was Buel Hume |
veil asked Buel if the title could be made |
rood, and Buel replied in the affirmative. |
was led to believe that Buel was the /
,wner and Hunnewell the broker. told |
hem would give them $4,000 for the Mas
au. They both exclaimed that that was
lot enough. l told them that was all |
Ould be protected in giving, as the board of
urvey had appraised her at that value, and
f they would not receive that must, under
he authority of the government, take pos
ession of the vessel, and give them a certi-
cate OfIndebtedness, leaving them to settle
With the government as to the amount.
They deliberated together for a while, and
aid they could not await such a tedious
rOcess of getting their money, and would
axe the amount offered them, on condition
hat they m no nd |
eft, IN the most friendly manner, to go to
he CustOmhouse for the purpose of perfect
lg and passing the title.
NO HARSH WORDS USED.
Messrs. Hunnewell g. Buel afterward
anne to my Office with a lawyer named
Iupt, and on a statement by HunneweH,
nd report from the CustOmhouse that
IunneWell was the sole owner and could |
Onvey the title TO the vessel, l took the
tile and gave Mr. Hunnewell a check for
be full amount agreed upon, the whole
being of a most friendly and
leasant character, no harsh words being
sed by anybody at any of the interviews
etween Hunnewell and myself Mr. Hun
ewell was never under any duress or re-
traint imposed by me. He came VOlun-
lrily to my Office on the business in cues
on, and the transaction in relation thereto
40 COANuCg6u Ii TIC Us AaA AduuoE luClu6uJ |
} friendly business matters After pur-
hasing the Nassau. alterations were com
fenced to change her into a gunbOat, but
close inspection showed that she was too |
'eak for the service, and a report to that |
feet was made to me. | sent for Mr |
.unnewell, and told him he could have the |
assau back for the amount I paid him,
ith the amount spent on repairs By me
1ded.
A MARINE ELEPHANT.
He said he had no+ c,o+ fIa mona I,u+ |