The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-13
BUTLER's MILITARY QUALITY.


Gen. Butler as a military executive at
New Orleans was an exceedingly useful
man; as a commander IN the field he was
public calamity; he was in war what he
always was in politics, demagogue and
charIatan. He made the most Of his mill
tary exploits after the war, and the Butler
Club OF Boston once made itself ridiculous
by the celebration of the Goth ami
versary Of the capture of Fort
Hatteras. Fort Hatte-as was an earth.
work which an overpowering naval
force under Commander Stringham bonn
barded into surrender. The Confederates
made gallant defense and surrendered to
the navy. Then Butler, who was in COM
mand of the military part of the expedi-
ton, landed his forces and took possession
just as he did at New Orleans after that
city had surrendered to Farragut. And
that is the whole story of the capture of
Fort Hatteras. which the Butler Club"
with the Characteristic cheek Of its patron
saint, If not soldier, celebrated with so
much drum and trumpet "chin music" in
Boston. The Butler Club in their search
for anniversary occasions that recalled
Gen. Buffers military exploits never dis
covered that about December %, 1864, Gen.
Butler moved with large naval and mil
itary force against Fort Fisher. Fort
Fisher like Fort Hatteras, was on the
North Carolina seacoast, but unfortunately
for the fame Of Gen. Butler. it was a fort
in every respect, complete in a powerful
armament and a strong garrison instead
OF being poor, weak, little battery like
that which our navy pounded TO fragments
at Hatteras. Gen. Butler, who practiced war
as he did criminal law-by the sensation
alism OF a charlatan-had powder boat
towed as close as possible to Fort
Fisher and then exploded it. The purpose
OF this explosion no mortal ever knew.
Its only effect was TO excite the disabilities
of the garrison of Fort Fisher, who, to do
them justice, would not have run away if
Butler had anchored and exploded his
powder boat in the middle Of the fort.
The explosion Of this powder boat was
about as effective in the reduction of Fort
Fisher SIS would have been the sending up
and explosion of toy fire balloon or the
blowing Of soap bubbles on the deck of
Admiral Porter's flagship. Butler seems
to have had in mind the horn-blowing of
the Israelites, at the sound OF which
the walls of Jericho tumbled into
ruin; but there was this important
difference: that God was on the side
OF Joshua, while God seldom, if ever,
appeared 10 be on the side OF Gen. Butler,
even when Butler for the first and only
time in his life was on the right side. Gen.
| Butler was so discouraged by the failure OF
the wind from his exploded powder boat
TO blow the Confederate gunners from
their cannon that he grew sore afraid and
sailed away with his troops, evidently be-
Ueying that Fort Fisher could not be
tskeu by land attack so long as it was gar
risoned by men who could endure the
sight and sound of the explosion of q num-
Der of tons OF powder without leaving their
guns IN panic and hanging out the white
flag OF surrender. So Butler sailed home
and told his story 10 Grant. Now Grant
| happened 10 be a man destitute OF imagi-
nation, and he sent this powder boat hero
! home to Lowell. Mass. and sent Gen.
/ Terry against Fort Fisher % n person who
| expected 10 capture it. If he took il. BY fght-
/ ing rather than by frightening the garrison
! into surrender. Terry did not burn as
! much powder as Butter did in his boat.
/ but he man aged 10 burn il right in faces
! OF the enemy instead OF out at sea for their
! amusement. Butler had cheek without
! limit: his gall was inexhaustibIe, but even
/ his iron impotence WAS not quite equal to
/ celebrating the anniversary Of the expo
/ sion OF the powder boat before Fort Fisher,
! for the rccoil sent him back 10 Fortress
! Monroe ana retired him from active sery-
! ice the rest of the war.
/ Buffers only other military exploits
were performed in May. lSoi. when ne " as
| given the Amy Of the James. 81, coo strong,
| with orders 10 smash Lees commuuica-
! tious, capture For. Darling and occupy
! Petersburg. He did nothing but bottle
/ himself up in Bermuda Hundred, where
! he coa!d nor possibly hart the enemy nor
/ the enemy hurt hj.n; that i. he went 20
/ his hole and pulled the hole in after him. "
/ Grant originally urged the appointment Of
| Gen. William +. Smith u The command Of
/ this movement, bat Butler had 50 much
! fictitious capital and lnauence that liz
! coin ana stanton declined on political
! grounds 10 give Smith Buffers command.
/ hat Grant she.yei aim a tie first oppor-
sanity.
| Butter had soma military virtues; but
/ tie VAS absolutely destitute OF military
! education, experience o. talent. aud outside
A f.