The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-27
BUTLER VS.. PORTER.
The General Goes for the Admiral Again

The Boston Herald on Sunday printed lot
ter from Gen. Butler, ia which he produces
facts and official records for the purpose of
proving his charges Of cowardiee against Ad-
miral Porter during the siege Of New Orleans,
which charges were made In public speech In
this city last May, and have been the subject
OF long controversy between the two pIinci-
pals. Gen. Butler says: Tho sole question
between myself and Porter Is, did BIO or his
flagship and the rest OF the mortar fleet sail
away from the Beighborhood of the forts where
they were stationed by Farragut down TO the
head OF the passes, or out 10 sea. and remain
there for considerable time, till Porter boz
lieyed 1t safe TO return to the forts2 Admiral
Porter has been quoted AS saying that one on
Ger did run away, but that he would not give
his name. There was no officer who ran away
save Porter, or those under his orders +
charged high officer and there was no such
one there who could run away other than Por-
ter himself, so he well knew whom meant"
10 Porters statement that he had q letter
from Gideon Welles thanking him for his Of.
forts and saying that but for his tPorters1 ex-
ertions Farragut could not have captured New
Orleans, Gen. Butler says: ITO make Welles's
letter an answer 70 the charge OF your running
down to the passes seems a very lame excuse.
First Because Welles was not there and
did not know anything about the matter, ex-
ccpt what you wrote him.
oecohu. bccaube tHht Icttef was only drawn
out by and founded upon your own false and
bombastic report written and dispatched while
you were at Pilot Town on the 25th of ApriI"
Gen. Butler asks why the fact that this re-
port was written % miles down the river
away from the forts was concealed from
the Secretary, and he quotes from official re-
ports to prove that this was the fact. 1.-THE
fact is" says the General, :" that instead of aid
ing in the capture of the city, you were the
only obstacle in the way of the capture of New
Orleans as it was captured"
After commenting In his caustic manner upon
matters Of personal nature brought in in
interviews between Admiral Porter and Wash
ington reporters, Gen. Bntlersays: ~ fear that
j have done you what you could not do for
yourself-immortalized you for have given
your name TO a Boosting yainglori0us, calum-
niatory lie. Hereafter forever 10 shall be
called porter"
He says In conclusion 81 shall never refer
TO these matters in any future newspaper arti-
Gle, but you have another incident in your
career, which, IL my good health and pleasure
still exist, ] may feel it my duty to bring TO
the attention of the country in order that the
people may learn another phase of your charac.
ter more deeply dyed with cowardice and false
hood than the two which ! have now con-
sidered."
Admiral Porter was asked by reporter Sum
day evening what he would say in reply to
Gen. Buffers last attack.
Not word" said the Admiral" not
single word"
''shall you write any replyf"
Certainly not. The thing that will hurt
old Ben most Is TO pay no attention to him, and
that's what shall do"