New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-05

Mr. Wickham Hoffman was officer IN the Ohiteu
States army and after its close was appointed as
sistant secretary OF the American legauoh AZ I'S'
where he remained throughout the reign OF terror
tuhseouent 10 the downfall OF the Empire. He relates
the cxperiences OF those cvCnt periods in orisi ana
unpretending narrative which commands the lH'ee' "i
the reader both by the simplicity OF It's style az" '0
frankness Of It's comments. In the month o. fehiN,
IsG2 Mr. Hoffman attached 10 the stan OF D''e'"l
Thomas Williams who at THAI time was stationed az
IIotteyas Early in March, The command was ordered 10
FORTRESS Monroe aud after joined the cSeitoA 10
NevOrleans under General b. T. Butler SeNela personal
incidents relating 10 the capture OF NeWor"@nS WIZ"
rpdr the observation OF the writer afford materials
for anecdotes which have hitherto not appeared IN phI
Here Is ono describing exploit that is set down to TIE
credit of n Wisconsin regiment" Arrived at the Gus
tomhouse late in the evening found the doors closed
and locked. Williams said to ne, What would yoO do
Break the doors Open, replied. The general VINO
could not easily get rid Of his old rcgulaFagmy habits
ordered sappers and TO the 'front.' No douht
the sappers aud miners thus invoked would have
speedily appeared had we had any, hat two Voi"i
teer regiments and n battery % light artillery were
the extent OF force that night turned 10 INC
adiutant OF the 4th Wisconsin and asked II he had
any axes in his regiment He at once ordered up TWO
or three men. We found the weakest looking door
and attacked it. As We hattcring II III the mayor
OF the 3st came up and took from one OF the men
Inserting the edge in the crack near the lock- re 1 u
gently and the door lcw open. said. MAJOR sou seem
isn't the first door broken open, by long shot
I was once foreman Of fire c0nplny in Bafclo.'
Another Wisconsin story is as follows 80 On the "a OF
May Butler landed and took quarters al the ST. Charles
There has much idle gossip about attempts 20 as
sassnate hun and his fears Of H. In regard to the at6ef
he landed New-Oroans and drove mile 20 DIS MOTEL
with one stat officer, and armed orderly ony o" tho
box When bis wife arrived in the city, he rode with one
orderly to the eyee and there surrounded by tho crowd
awaited hcT landing. As regards the for1e we never
heard OF any weauthcntieated attempt 10 assasnate
him and doubt IL any ever made That afternoon
Butler summoned the municipal authorities before him
10 treat Of the formal surrender Of the city They came
10 the St Charles accompanied Ivy Pierre soue as iher
counsel mob collected about the hotel. and became
turbulent Bnter was unprotected aud sent TO the O'a
toni-ouse fer company OF Massachusetts, troops Inc
only Massachusetts troops there were TIC 5lS''
newly raised regiment. They aiterward became excel
lent soldiers but AT that time they very young ana
very green II so happened too that the only company
available was cmiosed OF the youngest men o. te rcs
ment. They were ordered out. The officer IN charge
did not know the way to The st. Charles NJ guide
was at hand, so / volunteered 10 accompany
Them We drew the troops up on CCmmou-st,
md / entered the hotel u report them to biuef
found hfn engaged in q NEST animated discussion Win
soule Both able and eloquent men, but Bulcr u
doubtodly COT the better of the argum Mt Pcrha TIE
fact at he had - 600 bayoncts to back bis opinions
gave point to his remarks. Inteuuptng his discourse
for n moment only lac said. Draw the men up round
the hotel Sir aud II the mob make the sghest disturb
ance fire on them the spot and went On WITH The
discussion. Returning TO the street found the moo
apostrophizing my youthful soldiers WITH Does your
mother know you're out 2 and Ike popular Wit 1t
struck me that the inquiry well addressed. l felt
disposed 80 ask question. reported the mat
Ter TO Williams, and he thought that 1t would he well 10
couuteract the effect That evening he sent the band OF
the An Wisconsin 10 play front OF the St. Charles Win
The whole Fesuent.sta, salwart fellows. as an escort
tho ruo had al
heard one qamiH say another, These are Western
mon aud they say they do fieht lc II one 81 the
officers told me that lis meu'6 fingers itchod to tc'
Here IS little Incident that illustrates Gen Shctc3ns
nods operoad, in the field "tlink thatit was the 2ii
of May when We closed IN upon Port Hudson. ShrGaus
command held Tie left He had front of tire miles,
entirely too much for one division. The country wes
terra ino2itta NJ. and We had to icel Our way OF
course there much accommodating 10 Dc 1onecNcii-
ing and interesting workout not particularly s1" oF
comfortable Sherman did much of hislimselE Hehad
pleasant way OF riding up ia full sight OF the cnenyi
batteries accompanied by lis staM Here he hcd Us
while he criticised the manner in which tue enemy g't
lis guns ready to open us. Presently shell would
whiz over our heads followed by another somewhat
nearer. sherman would then quietly remark They are
getting the range You rad better scatter As
rule We did not wait for second order remember his
sending out a party one day rcconnOiter to our cx-
tremc LETT and connect with the fleet. which lay below
Port Hudson We knew il was somewhere there; but
how farCN Jay or what was the character OF lr country
between Us. We did not know. company Of cavalry
accommodating the morning had been driven in sher-
man determined % mako reconnaissance IN force He
sent ont the cavalry again, ami supported with regi
meut Of infantry. / asked permission to accompany
them. lie gave il, and added BY the way, captain,
when you are there just ride M and draw their
fire. and see where their Tney won't biz You
rode up and drew their fire aud they did not t ne.
but don't recommend the experiment TO any Of my
friends"
Major Hoffman. after q temporary absence FUR
Tough, finally LEFT Louisiana in June. 1866, and at his
own request mustered out OF service and n h'
following October appointed to occ in the Amcr,-
can legation at Paris He entered upon its duties upon
the arrival OF General Dix who succeeded Nj B.selow
as Minister France and after pr'selt'3 az
court This occasion of great solcmuity, before
te diplomatic costume had been superseded bv swallow
tail coats The Emperor always happy ln his re-
eeptiOn Of the dipOmates accredited to him. Tue Gus
tom was send in advance TO The Minister ~ Foreign
Affairs copy Of the address to be delivered That the
Enperor's reply might be prepared. THESE speeches,
under ordinary circumstances, might Dc stcreOtyped
change the nance and one viii answer for anoiher.
After the formal addresses informal conversation
followed General Dix then presented the secretaries
The Emperor spoke English well, and liked 70 vcnti
late IT, Jc DID speak IL perfectly, however as was
claimed by his enthusiastic admirers. lie Translated
French into English, We SO zen translate English
into French. He said for instance TO Colonel Hay,
You have made &c war iu United statesF G Tons
are Clst ia guerre - meaning, Did You scryet Hay
was strongly tempted TO tell rim that u not hc u
was JcG Davis. Alter The presentation 10 the Emperor
We paid orr respects 20 the EHpras, That charming
md beautiful woman Was taen in TIE zenith or her
beauty aud grace. sae received us her bonnet anl
walkngdrcss she had come from mass; for n Catholic
countries diplomatic presentations generally take place
on sunday" In May, 1869, Mr. Wasaburne took the
s.. had .r.l.f fIn .r-s gf