The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-04

got broad-justly or uniustly, will not say
that Buffers ideas, intentions, ana methous,
so far as he gave evidence of any, did not har-
monize with those of the trained military men
with whom he was brought in contact. Con-
seouentlv. trained military men became not as
much in love with Butler as they were al hrst
or as they actually wished TO be. Among the
Regular officers of the garrison were some VINO
had served in the Mexican war.
ALL WEST POINTERS.
who were supposed to know nearly everything
worth knowing regarding the ways and means
Bu;ler would have any occasion to employ
Rutler thoucht-at least he acted as though he
thought-that he aud the volunteers could do
all that was needful to be done while the
Regulars did post duty, as formerly, and very
little else.
Gen. Butlcr in his " Book claims the credit
ofiuyenting the phrase of 'contrabands ofwar,"
as applied TO fugitive slaves coming into Fort
ress Monroe and he has proclaimed 1T TO the
world; whereas the phrase or title was in use
there before he was ordered TO Fortress Monroe
or knew of the peculiar state OF things out OF
which it grew. On May %, when dealing with
q flag of truce Butler, as he says il his " Book,
laid down the principle of "contrabands OF
war" as he gave the title to fugitive slaves,
and a Nirginian, who was on the side oi the re-
bellion during the war, in statement made
only short time ago, says he heard Butler 40
it; but there is no other proof, nor would III
matter ii there WAS any amount OF IL, because
no other fact is better established than that
when Butler reached Fortress Monroe the
phrase "coutraband of war WAS in common use
there, applied to numbers of negroes who were
being fed and employed by Quartermaster Tai
madge on his own motion. Butler (lt he dld
use it them only adopted the idea and title, as
be found both ready-made. Both grew out oil
state of things existing Independent OF Butter
before he knew be was TO be sent to Fortress
Monroe Capt Grier Tailmadge, Quarter
master of the post, Regular otfcer-a man OF
brains, education and xperience-ifany single
individual is TO be specially honored Tor 1t
is entitled to the distinction of the authorship
"CoNTRABANDs OF WAR"
I reached Fortress Monroe one day after But
Ter. i was there some two weeks before. on
my return i found, as did Butler, the phrase
in common use In a letter to the New York
Tribune, dated May 24 i used the phrase and
defended the idea. So far as l have been able
to find this was the first time and place CON
traband of war" was embalmed in cold type.
1t is due 10 Gen. Butler to repeat that, nearly
30 wears after Nirginian has been found TO
say be heard Butter the phrase and apply
the principle on the 23d day of May, 1861. If
Butler SO used it he doubtless did it for the
same reason 1 did-because both were COM
mon there many days before either OF us came.
If Butler employed the phrase, or If he applied
the principle, on May %, 1851, there certainly
ought to he some proof of it nearer than 80
years after. Even were proof of such early use
of the phrase TO be produced, it would not suf-
fee to establish priority with him, for nothing
was ever better settled than that he and only
used phrase that was common at the time.
Gen. Butler remained at Fortress Monroe
for the period of about four months During
that time the so-called battle of Big Bethel was
L. at.tg.t,. lxT
defeated by greatly-inferior force. Butler
was not there. He was at least nine miles
away. He is careful to say so in his Book,
thus leaving the inference that had he been
there there would have been a different result
There might have been. Gen. Pierce. a Mas
eachusetts man, was in command. He after
ward resigned OH account of alleged Persecu-
tion from some quarter, growing out OF the
Big Bethel affair. Entering the service again
as private he came out of the war with his
rank of Brigadier-General, won by meritorious
services. lie did not serve under Butler after
his resignation and enlistment.
DURING THE AFFAIR OF BIG BETHEL
was with Gen. Butler most of the day, near
Hampton. nine miles distant from the scene of
action. During some part of this time was
occupied in writing history of the affair as
itwas TO have been. and an explanation of its in
tended results. Primarily the destruction of
force was commanded by Colonel afterwards
the somewhat celebrated General) Hill a West
Pointer, who held Butler in contempt. Though
the destruction of this force was the avowed
object OF Buffers movement. the opening of
the way for somebody, and why not Butler?
to Richmond, was more than hinted at. 1t was
TO have been glorious movement but II was
a disastrous failure saying nothing of the
collision in the dawn of the morning of two
columns OF Buffers troops, IN consequence OF
unmlitary orders that sent them marching in
adirection whereby a collision in the dark
would be the almost necessary consequence.
This bnnder cost in killed and wounded
nearly score.
That evening. when all was over. an artillery
Sergeant Of the post applied to a Regular ofi-
Ger for 300 or 400 Of the Regulars to proceed TO
Big Bethel and wipe out
THE DISGRACE OF THE DAY
by capturing the rebel force. There were
6c5re of Regular officers, any one of whom
would have led Buffers forces that day to
certain victory; bat not only did be not sum-
mon them, or any one OF them, but be kept
from them even the slightest hint that any
movement was intended 1t was asserted that
Butler intended to show the Regulars what he
could do and the Regulars ever after freely
admitted that be did SHOW them.
Butler had not been at Fortress Monroe five
days when this spirit began TO crop out, and it
continued to grow every day after. Nor was
the General on much better terms with his
superiors at Washington. He vainly and wise
u tried TO get from them something definite
about the status Of the fugitive slaves within
the lines Of his command, and what was his
duty in the premises. Scott evaded the ques-
tiOn. SO did Secretary of War Cameron. With
Lincolu he had no better luck. All seemed
not TO think well OF the pcrssteney OF Butler,
who. as they thought was continually trying
to corner them. Nor is il probable they were
far wrong.
1t was late in June hat the General succeed
ed in drawing forth an answer 10 the question.
II was about that time he addressed a vigorous
communication to Washington, giving his own
views OF what the status OF the negroes
and what should be his own powers. Having
given his views, he demanded to be Informed
what thonght of them. Butler believed
lie bad fired shot that wonli draw out
brosdside from Washington. But Secretary
Czmeron's reply was Of the briefest description.
II simply was that the Generals views had
been read with interest, and the Government
would expect him TO put them in practice
/ thought at the time, and have not felt dis.
p0sed to change my mind since, that the au-
fborlties al Washington in many respects were
none too well disposed toward Butler-none
too willing
TO DO HII FULL JUSTICE
nufler yvae unouesfionahlv IN aety