The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-05
The Story Of Dutch Gap, as Related BY
Rem Rntler

The Story Of Dutch Gap, as Related b,
Ben Butler.
At the recent meeting of the Society of tn
James, Mr.. Butler was the orator. He Grated
and true or false, the United States navy vii
not soon forget his Grafton, Of which wha
follows here is the substance. The RICH
flank Of the Federal army rested at Bermuda
Hundreds on the peninsula, and it was found
impossible for the navy to proceed higher W
the James than that point, from want OF sufti
Gent depth of water around Trent's Reach
The Confederate gunboats were troublesome
above Trent's Reach, and there was reckless
Confederate States battery at Howlett's house.
The distance around Trent's Reach was seven
miles, and the cut across the Reach was
lust 400 feet. To utilize the navy it was
| determined to dig a channel across sixty
feet wide, 500 feet long and sixteen fee,
deep, through which the United States vessels
might pass and make short work of the rebel
punboats. The cut was made, three feet OF
water was running through; forty-eight hours
Of dredging would have swept through and
engaged the Confederate gunboats as high up
as the guns Of Fort Darling, and then to have
shelled the fort letter was received. 1t
was from the commander Of the navy Of the
James-Farragut had been relieved to the
officer commanding the works Of Dutch Gap
asking him not to open the passage, because
he would thereby afford an avenue to the
enemy to come down and attack the United
States feet stationed below 1t. "When the
door," said the facetious member from Essex
| 'was about to be opened for the dog to eat
the volt, the dog feared that the wolf would
come down and eat him." The United States
navy absolutely refused to take Advantage
Of the work which had been done for it, and
p,+1a
without reason, for few weeks after the re-
ceipt Of that letter requesting us not to open
the canal, the enemy's gunboats-only three
of them-came down around Trent's Reach,
and although one got aground, the other two
made an attack on our vessels, which fled in
gloriously down the river and if the enemy
had only known their strength and made pur
suit, they would have cut in two the army
operating in that vicinity, and been able to
command its base of supplies at City Point. :"
This is Gen. Buffers interesting little story
about Dutch Gap Canal and the United States
feet in the james, that couldn't be induced to
90 through it, and that atterward ran away
from two gun boats. 1t reads strangely, but
Benjamin, the beloved, generally has facts and
figures for what he says, and now the gentle
men who wear the emblems of hope are entitled
to the floor ST. Louis Repulica,a.
Some Of the traditionaIy customs of the
English Church Establishment are peculiarly
Chinese in their mysteries. In three cities il
England London, York and Exeter-the
Church can levy upon the property Of any
person living in the parish for non-payment Of
''Dominicals. These Dominicals are moth
ing more or less than sacrament money. The
unfortunate dweller in London, York. OF
Exeter has to pay for this sacrament
,xba tbar-fil-a the trnpp'S pporhar in,
the nursery rbyme-he is willing OF no.
Ii most affairs n man is not obliged
to pay for what he does not get, but in the
matter Of sacrament and Dominicals in Lon
don, York and Exeter, he is obliged to pay
first, and then make his choice whether he
will take the equivalent. 1t seems a heavy
tax on ones creiulty to believe that there is
actually clergyman Of the Church Of Eng
land capable Of exercising this absolute
authority to pay for his port wine and
Havanas, but the Pail Hal Gazette reports
a case in Exeter The victim of this
outrage was poor shoemaker - a
to submit to the arrant injustice of paying for
witt "1 aiiy IiIIGe. Inc pubic, auc,,,,..,-as
arrived at his house to sell his furniture. but
the people OF Exeter mobbed him in such a
manner that he was unable to proceed He
lett the mouse ana returned later in the day. |
but the popular excitement was so intense !
that, after selling one lot, he was compelled |
to desi@t again. Next day d similar eff
fort was made to sell out the personal |
property Of another Dsseuter for the
same reason. but the uproar threatened to cul-
inmate in bloody not, and to preserve the
peace the auctioneer was removed The case
Tas carried ~ the man Of God through TIE
'gency OF a saloon-keper, who on the plea that
le vast "strong churchman, bought the prop
rty OF both offenders at Il valuation. A party
VI roughs invaded the house of the shoemaker
nd carried his chairs into the church whose
rector their owner refused to support. Sub
criptions were Immediately made for the VIC
inns Of this relic of ecclesiastical tyranny.
eaded by another clergyman of the Estab-
shinent. The name Of the divine who
aused the uproar should not remain secret.
lie IS the Rev. j. b. Strother rector of Mary
teps. This charitable clergyman has fur
lshed the advocates OF establishment with
weapon which can be welded with i'm ,
immense force. The enforcement Of the rates +,
m be regarded as nothing but religious ,
ackmail .