The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-09
OLD BEN BUTLER.
He Rakes Admiral Porter Fore
And Aft.
HE IS AN OLD WASHNGTONIAN.
What They Think of Him at the Capital
Mr.. 0sbOrne's Case-The
Census.

Especial TO THE HERALD Examiner Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, May S.-General Butte
contributed another long interview to tn,
literature Of his contest with Admiral Por
ter. 1t is distinguished by his usual auda
city of mendacity, and his usual colossal
laundering.
Says 1 was drunk, does he!" growle(
the general. well, suppose he does; his
statement to that effect will be satisfactory
testimony to the contrary and to those who
know him.
''That speech was written four or five
days before the day on which it was deliv-
cred, and copies of it were sent to the
various morning papers in Boston.
speech; they set it up from the slips
furnished them. The statements made by
ne were neither new nor unsupported. as
Porter viii find out before he gets through
with this matter. Now, | want to show
YOU the true condition Of affairs which pre-
vailed below New Orleans, Just previous to
and at the time of its capture
The general then traced out On a coast
survey map the various naval and military
movements. When he had concluded an
exhaustive summary, he pushed the map
aside and said:
The difference between Porter and my
selE is easily seen and the public ought to
gAt its mental powers shaken up over the
thought. l say Porter ran away down the
river because he was scared OF that great
hOatlng dock, the Louisiana, a hulk that
had no machinery and was unable to move
OF her own volitioE. l say he warned my
troops to get away as fast as possible, as
the rebels were after them and he set us an
example, which we did not follow, by tax
ing the lead. This charge does not rest on
the unsupported testimony of any man.
Parton, who is credited with being a care
tul historian, says, on page 247 of his book:
General Butler was in New Orleans, Cap
tain Porter's fleet of steamers were coming
down the river, propelled by a report
that the celebrated ram Manassas
was after them. While Porter
himself has never denied that, he
admits 1t by attempting to smooth it over
somewhat. He says he was towing his |
mortar vessels down for a supply of shells |
There was no necessity for it. Four or |
isFe steamers were below ready at any |
Wme to bring him all the shells we had. |
Besides, what did ne want with shells. |
The passage of the forts had been accom-
phshed, and after that morning he never
fired shell. Another excuse he gives for
that hasty trip down the river is that he
was on his way round to the rear of the
do there: The nearest point to which he
could bring his mortar fleet was miles from
the Srts, and the intervening distance was
on5dense forest. Did he propose to shell
the works that he couldn't take by the aid
Oh mortars that had not enough range TO go
much more than third of the distance!
J But, tut, what foolish liar he is
81 see he has called to his aida man named
Higgins, and this worthy, in lS72, writes
etter, every word Of which is false Who ,
5 this Higgins. General Duncan was in
and he testities that the damage =
lone to the forts was insignificant. God
5 protecting US wonderfully he saws in |
me Of his last reports. After | arrived in
New Orleans ] sent Lieutenant Weitzel.
he engineer officer on my staff, to examine
he forts and TO let me know how much it 7
would cost to repair them. He reported.
md the report is on file, that both Forts
Jackson and st. Philip were as defensible i
IS they ever were, the latter fort barely I
icing scratched. c
Il want to give Porter credit for having
lone q great deal He generally obeyed d
riders, but he did run away. He is. un- $
erstand, engaged in preparing full expla- I
atoms OF this matter. l hope he is. When b
e koes, then II will be time enough for me s
D make reply He can't tell the truth n
nyhow. He has attacked me like black
uard, but do not propose to make any o
UGH fight. The matter is going to be set II
ed once for all, and I'm going to settle it. {
laid for him, and I've caught him. He is a
surely murdered as he likes. Either he D
81 be held up to the execration of the 81
eopSe OF these United States and I assure E
gu do not fear the consequences. o,
Admiral Porter was not disposed to add o,
uch last night to what he had already v
Il have said about all want to- he re
arknd al have piH11n1 Capa,,,1
retty thoroughly, and do not see the need
keeping up the controversy. N
I'm regard TO his claim that we We're pro al
lied down the river bv the fear that the c.
IN Louisiana was coming, l can only say
e idea IS absurd. The Louisiana was so
I'd up to dock and could not be got out. ~ -
The orders l issued to each of nv COM ~ ~
anders did not look much like running 81
way. l gave them each a general order W W
inning about like this: One gunboat is to "
on patrol during the night close up to the %
rts. In case there is any movement of the W
ssels above, signals will be made immedi- e.
ely to the tiotilla. If the ram Louisiana ~
ould come down, every vessel is to push -'i
cad and get alongside of her and lash to
T; Let go both anchors as soon as they
elashed fast and b )ard her through every
II hole. The marines are to be stationed no
1ere they can fire into the enemy;s port bo
les and prevent them from manning their ~
MS VI
1T is true, as Butler says, that the forts Gn
'uId nave surrendered to baby with a w
p gun after we went in behind then. NJ
icy had no guns on that side, and after a.
2 fleet had passed and cut off their com u
Inlcauons with New Orleans, they would ~
IN have been compelled to surrender
m lack of provisions. But our move
MT TO the magazine ship was executed :
ii the purpose of sending our vessels in bu
NJ the forts and compelling their sur cos
lder- We might have had ammunition vii
'ught to US in our original position, but the
n we could not have got behind the forts.
i see that Butler claims he was in New
cans before the forts were captured and
listed in taking the city. The fact is the I
{ carrying him and his staff was about a T,
east of our mortar boats when Farragut the
sed up the river to the city, and after 9th
rds he went down the river to look after der
troops. 1 suppose we carried his troops
go Tho RIovanth Hapeue ~