New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-23
fsGi.: sal Butler.

The slanderers OF benjamin +. Butler
have never been able to establish the truth
fulness of any of their allegations against
him. The foolish charge that he robbed the
colorcd troops in his command is another
added to the long list Of lies furnished by his
enviQus enemies. We hear not a little of
"Butlerism," but just what it is we cannot
ulake out, unless it means that Butlerism is
the truth which proves to be falsifiers all
rebels and rebel sympathzers, few Repub-
leans and Harvard University aristocrats,
who are constantly attempting to blacken
the character of man entitled to the respect
of all lovers Of their country.
Below is the answer to the last invention
against Gen. Butler, and another Butlerism
for his enemies:
Boston, July Is, 1874.
To tie Editor fMe Ne0 York Herald:
see going the rounds Of the newspapers
extracts from statement Of which General
Hooker is alleged to be the author, bat of
which have not seen the whole, that when
Butler was in command of the Army OF the
James he required the colorcd troops to de-
quarters for safe-keepinC - and The further
statement that "whcn oao OF these poor
devils got Knocked over and put under
ground, do you SUPPOSE" asks Fighting
Joe" "the money he had left at Butle S
headquarters was ever heard from again ?
Not a cent of it. 1t all went to the credit
and account of Butler, who made at least
s. ,0O0, 900 in this way out of the poor negro
regiments on the James. | was with the
army in Virginia, and learned the facts
about that business, which ought to be
told"
l do not think that any intelligent man
Dug mt to require me to state even thai there
is not one word of truth in all this. Nobody
once knew better than General Hooker that
an order issued by a commanding general OF
duplicate at the War Department, published
TO the troops, and would be as well known
and as thoroughly understood by the country
at the time of its issue even as was the battle
of Charlottesville.
There were $4,000 colored troops in the
Army Of the James under my command, with
4 full complement of sagacious and vigilant
officers, each one of whom must have seen
and known of the existence of this order and
the facts of the deposit of the money and
valuablcs of their soldiers. Let those officers
speak. General Hooker never was with the
Army of Virginia after he was relieved from
Charlottesville, long before General Butler
took command Of the Army of the James,
and, therefore, could not have learned ''the
facts about that business there.
Poor General Hooker! If he made this
insane statement attributed to him there is
an apology in the impaired condition of his
mind arising from the paralyzed state of his
body. His friends would do him kindness
to take him in careful charge, as the country
would regret to see one OF its heroes so tar
nish his well-earned fame.
To the exact contrary of this Islander, q
savings bank was established at Norfolk fol
the benefit of the colored troops, so that they
might have Il place to deposit their money
under the charge of a quarternaster of the
army, which was transferred to the Freed.
mems Bureau at the close of the war, and
the accounts duly settled and vOuchcd foi
| long after General Butler was relieved of the
| command Of the Army of the James.
The apparent responsibility of the source
of this SANDER leads me to break a custom
which is, not to reply to newspaper SANDERS
but to SO order my life that it shall be an an.
swer to all. From this one, however, learn
all.
| here aver, after ten years. careful espi-
Onage into my affairs by every enemy OF
mine, with equal fearlessness, that every ac-
cusation touching my acts during the war i'll
civil administration is equally untrue, and |
defy proof or probable evidence to the con-
trary. BENJAMIN +. BUTLER.