The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-16
RUTLER'S REIGN IN NEW Or
LEANS.
Buffers War on the Women Of
New Orleans.
from the New Orleans Democrat

most fragrant and Infamous. 1hls lat
had but recently come to the city; n
husband, at the commencement OF 81
war, was q distinguished lawyer OF Il
Washington bar. He had been EN-
nent at the bar of Mobile, which eli
he had represented ia the United Stat
Congress. Permanently and most con
fortsbly located with bis family
Washington, he had earnestly oppose
secession at the beginning of the az
tation, and sought. in every possle
wsy. to induce bis Southern frlenc
to compromise and avoid extreme II
sorts. Few men could be more ser
ously damaged in fortune, comfort
and prospects by a war than MIR. Pm
lips. When, however, the wal brok
out be had no other alternatIv
but to give his sympathles to the caus
of his native South. Remaining
Washington for some time TO settle u
his affairs, Mr.. Phillips not only Oh
served himself but impressed upon b;
family the d1ty of observing the mos
prudent demeanor toward the Federals
who, in their excited condition, wsr'
constantly su.pscting all persons II
Washington of Southern nativity ant
tendency of some traitorous design
Notwithstanding their caution anc
prudence, the family OF MIR. Phlllip'
did not escape persecution: Ills "ife
and daughter were arrested and com
mitted to prison as dangerous sple:
and enemies. To thi. general charge
was added the specification that one OF
Mrs. Phillips children bad spat at
Federal soldiers who were passing by
her house. On these charges Mrs.
Phillips was imprisoned in q oarret
with her large family, with a guard u
soldiers to whose rude remarks she
wa, compelled to listen. After some
weeks of imprisonment, her husband
and friends all the while seeking to OBJ
tain a hearing and trial, and even to
know the specific complaint and 10y
whom made against her, Mrs. Phillips
and her young children were released
On condition of their leaving and going
South. Thus driven from a comfor-
table and luxurious home Mr.. Phillips
came to the city of New Orleans with
his family and settled here with a view
of prosecution his profession and Sc
curing a safe home for his family. He
had resided here but a few months
when the city was captured by the
United States squadron and occupied
by Federal troops.
Though q spirited and ~vivacious lady
the experience which Mrs. Phillips had
had of the brutality of upstart military
commanders, and the counsel and dig
nihsd prudence of her husband, Undue
Cd the practice of the strictest pro-
priety and discretion on her part and
on that of her children in regard to
Federal officers and soldiers. This
course wa. rendered the more neces-
sary by the vicinity of her residence
to the headquarters and one of the
principal camps of the Federals, her
house being opposite the Lafayette
suuare. and within a few doors of the
City Hall. Entirely absorbed in fami-
" cares and duties, Mrs. Phillips had
nearly forgotten the presence Of the
troops in her neiehborhood
one afternoon, during a festival
in the next house, she vas standing on
the balcony talking with one of her
nsighbors who was relating some
incident of the festival or
the festivity, when suddenly looking
INTO the street, she perceived a fune-
-al procession, very commo Incl
dent on this principal t~horoughfare of
Ill public professions. There was
nothing unusual in this cortege, and
The only Circumstance which excited
,ny special remark by Mrs. Phillips
was the intent and curious .lances
with which she was regarded by same
Of the officers who were riding in the
carriage. This proved to be the
cortegs Of young Lieut.. De
Kay, who had been mortally wounded
by some boys on the Teche during one
me of the Federal raids. As a mem
per Of one of the ''di:tinguished fami-
lies" of the North, and not with refer
.nce TO any special merit or glory in
,he manner of his death, Lieut.. DeKay
regarded as a proper subject for a
grand and ostentatious funeral. Many
officers of superior rank and service,
Who had lost their lives in the service.
lad been hurried off to the Potter's
isld in the most unceremenious man
Ter, with DO other following but squad
If infantry, and without a single ear
or as much consideration and
aspect as are paid to our slavesin their
ceremonies. But young De-
Kay was too s'highly connected for
10 simple and u~npretending a style of
nterment, and some pretentious off
GERS thought it a good occasion to dis
play a little pomp, as much from vanity
as from a desire to exhibit their def
and scorn of a people who could
net sincerely deplore the fate which
lad overtaken the rash and reckless
young man, who had left his comfor-
liable home, hurried to a distant coun-
Try to lay waste the homes of those
The had never wronged him, and had
ALLEN IN an ignoble marauding e1pedi-
ion. There was another circumstance
which forbade all pity and sympathy
for the misguided youth who had so
ln~gloriously fallen.
During his illness DeKay was atten-.
led by a negro slave whom he had en-
iced from his mistress, and whom he
styled his "own boy" and servant. The
hi~ghly-colored description of his funeral
the Delta contained a very touching
a%llusion to the fidelity of his slave"
Nelson, who led the charger of the
deceased officer in the funeral cortege."
This Nelson was the house servant and
slave of a citizen, who had been de-
,oyed from his comfortable home and
his lawful owner by Lieut.. DeKay and
his companion in arms. To give eclat
10 the funeral of this young officer, the
of New Orleans were honored
With an invitation to attend at Christ
church and join in the ceremonies.
Such an invitation could only have pro-
,seded from a desire to mortify and in
'ult the people, or from an opinion the