The National tribune., 1893-01-19

brought inexpressible relief to those who
were fighting for the Union. Ii added
much that this decision came from Gen.
eral who had formerly been q leading Demo-
cratic politician of the ultra type, who had
voted over 80 times in the Charleston Con-
vention for jeff Davis for the Democratic
nominee for President.
Buffers third achievement was his ad-
ministration of the Government of New
Orleans. That city always had been partic-
ulariy lawless and turbulent. Before Lou
isiana became part>of the United States,
New Orleans was the home and the rendez-
vous of the pirates and buccaneers who
swarmed on the Gulf of Mexico, and preyed
upon the rich Spanish galleons, and other
commerce there. Annexation had brought
in new element, but the city remained the
worst governed and most turbulent OF any
in the United States. The spirit of old
Lafitte, and his horde of outlaws, lived and
ruled. New Orleans went into the rebellion
with the savage earnestness with which they
had waged war upon the rich merchantmen
of the Gulf
When the city fell before Farraguts guns
the rage of the people knew no bounds.
They were going to massacre all the Union
soldiers who dared enter the city, and repeat
horrors which history relates had occurred
in other captured cities. They had cunning
with their fury. They insisted on their
rights under the Constitution, as American
citizens, while still waging war upon the
Government. They had to represent them
in this particular no less person than
Pierre Soule, formerly United States Sena-
tor from Louisiana and Minister to Spain.
Butler took possession Of the city and at
once enforced the most complete order,
and with astonishingly little employment
of force. He met Pierre SouIe's sophis-
tries with legal acumen superior to
that Of the willy Frenchman, and not
only beat him in argument, but took the
decisive step of arresting and sending him
to Fort Lafayette whence he was only re-
leased upon condition that he remain away
from Louisiana during the war. Every
where and at all times Butler met the swag-
gering, insolent people, whether singly or in
mobs, with courage, GOODNESS, and consum-
mate address, which invariably defeated
them. Rarely resorting to force, he con-
stantly showed that he was quite ready to
use it remorselessly to secure obedience, and
New Orleans has never been governed so
mand. The representatives of the foreign
particularly those of Great
Britain and France-were in sympathy with
the rebels, and Buffers acts were made the
frequent subjects Of diplomatic COM
munications. But he never failed to
maintain himself, and advance the
interests of his Government. As last
resort the rebels hoped for visitation of
the yellow fever to sweep away the Yam
kee vandals who were depressing them,"
but Butler cleaned up the city thoroughly
giving employment to the poor laboring
men by doing so-and for the first time in
her history New Orleans was spared the
plague. Not only did he make his flag re-
spected, but every soldier of his army could
walk the streets of New Orleans in perfect
security, and with freedom from insult.
There are few more brilliant chapters in
the history of any man than those which
tell the story of Butler in New Orleans.
The second of the great soldiers to die
was Gen. Rufus ingalls,, lately Quarter
master General, United States Army. Gen.
Ingalls,, had he been in moro conspicuous
line Of work than the sDepart-
ment, would have made a great fame, for he
was man of phenomenal ability. He was
much larger than any position he was ever
called upon to ell, and he filled many that
required the highest genius. 1t was much
easier to command an army in the field,
than it was to keep it supplied with food,
clothing and ammunition. This Gen.
Ingalls, did with brilliant success No
army was ever better supplied than
was the Army of the Potomac while
he was its Quartermaster-G General 1t
is generally believed that if Gen. Meade
had been killed or removed from the COM
mand of the Army of the Potomac, Gen.
Grant would have appointed Gen. Ingalls, to
succeed him, and the appointment would
have met the approval Of the entire army
Gen. Ingalls, is a fine illustration of that high
type of men who do their duty with zeal
and ability wherever placed. Had he had
ambition proportionate to his ability, he
would have sought positions where he would
have won National fame. But he WIS con-
tent with doing his duty to his country