Wichita eagle., 1889-05-07
BUTLER VS.. PORTER.

Boston, May The Herald today prints
an interview with General Butler in which
he says Admiral Porter is the naval officer
to whom he referred in his speech Wednes
day night as running away at the battle
of New Orleans. The general says: AT
the time the forts were passed by Farragut
was following him where l could see the
whole proceeding. was well up the river
on my headquarters boat. the Saxon,
watching the progress of the fight Por-
ter was in command of the mortar fotilla
and was ordered to lombard the
water batteries below Fort Jackson,
after Farragut had passed up.
Farragut got well by the forts about sun
rise and it was about O'clock or after,
perhaps, when the incident connected with
Porter took place. My army was nearly
thirty miles down stream on transports
which were anchored at the head of the
passes About the time l have mentioned
my men on the transports saw Porter's
whole fleet rushing down river peil nell
and out to sea. When Porter rushed by
my troops he cried out: The rebels are
coming down the river. Get out OF here
as fast as you can He came back the
next day. did not know of the occurrence
until several days afterward-at the
time when Captain Boggs, sent by Far
rpgut. met me at the quarantine sta
tion.''
Were the rebels coming down the river,
as Porter statedr'
They couldn't come. The only thing
they had was the ponderous dry deck,
Louisiana, and the two steamers to tow
her. The Louisiana never had machin-
cry IN her, and couldn't even be used as
water battery"
Why did he run them"
Il can't tell except that it was reported
that the enemy WAS transferring heavy
guns from the fort to the Louislna, aud
was coming down stream after him
The III feeling between Butler and Por-
ter dates from 1864, when Porter accused
Butler of not supporting with his land
force Porter's naval operations against
Fletcher.
WASHINGTON. May 5.-Admiral Porter
IS inclined TO look upon General Buffers
utterances, as sent out by the United Press
tonight. as huge joke. He was told the
contents OF the United Press dispatch.
And so General Butler has been saying
things about me-" he said. We'll, what
II he has; shall not take any notice OF it.
He knows what / think Of him. / have
said time and again that he is coward
and worse Now l suppose he wants TO
get even with me in his old age. Let him
talk, nobody believes him"
put he says you ran away.
Does he's Well, let him say So have
IN my possession letter written 70 me BIZ
Gideon Weiles, after the capture OF the |
forts, thanking me for my efforts. and
saying that but for my exertions Admiral |
Farragut could not have captured New |
Orleans. do not want any stronger |
praise than Secretary Weiles gave me in /
that letter; People who run away don't /
get to the head OF the navy. There were /
three officers who were censured By Earra- /
Zat, two OF them unjusrly. The other one /
mas never, 70 my knowledge. satisfactorily /
explained his conduct. / suppose Bntler 4
meant him, but you say he referred TO me. 1
W ell, Well We'll, il does no trouble me one /
bit. People who believe what Butler saws |
must set history aside, and have not the I
slightest regard for their opinion.
NEW YORK. May 5.-General ". T. /
Sherman declined 60 express an opinion
today IN regard 20 the Porter-Butler con-
trorersy, but said: II Was net at New Or
leans and don't feel qualified 10 say any