Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-06
LINCOLN KNEW BUTLER.
THE PRESIDENT EXERCISED
HIS PATIENCE.
An OLD Soldier Tells a story That Welt
Illustrates the Character of Both
Men-How Joe Hawley
Put Butler Down.

Those who served in tho union
army from 1861 to 1864 heard much
OF General Butler. Once mot he was
man never to be forgotten. Through
soldier friend was constrained
TO participate in certain matters
which illustrate in a marked degree
General Buffers well-known obsti-
macy and natural independence. and
now recall the incidents as part
OF my experience while in the SER
vice, writes J. A. II. in the Philadel-
phla Times. One day in 1868 Colo
mel Martin came to me where | was
on duty in one Of the bureaus Of tho
war department at Washington and
told me he was in trouble. He
7 told me he had been on duty
under Butler in Virginia and the
\ general had peremptorily dismissed
MIN upon false charge OF drunken.
ness when upon duty. OF course
Y everyone knew that an officer could
not be dismissed ia such way as
that and ! suggested an appeal TO the
president. Through my superior of.
neer | was able 20 procure an audi
ence with President Lincoln, who vas
evidently impressed with Martins
story, and wrote note 10 Secretary
stanton. who issued an order to But
Ter 10 retnstate Colonel Martin In his
command or Tile proper charge,
against him. This pleased a. much
ana we thought the colonel was soon
20 Pc all right. But inside u a week
ne was back again Ia Washington.
declaring that Butler hal refused IL
obey the order and, after abusing
him afrcsh, had torn the pangr up
and stamped II under Ria fest.
Vow the matter had become ssri.
ous and my chief and myself felt SUR.
the president would do .0nethlng
awful % Butler for his insubordina.
tiOn. On the following day prr,idenf
Lincoln gave as an interview. ana
after hearing Colonel Martins .tory
appeared aOmcwhat annoyed. Final.
~ he himself wrote an order M III.
own hand and over his own signature
directing General Butler ID rein.tat,
colonel Martin Ia his command ttpon
receiving the paper. Now. surefy
the matter was settled an right aud
80 felt happy. Ten days afterwnrda
Colonel Martin came buck ana ~.
ported that Butler had fatty refused
TO reinstate him, declaring that IN
knew the facts In the case better tina,
the president did, and that he wouid I.
not obey the order, as he had alrcad, \
put another officer IN command Of the .
regiment. When this was rnpo,r,,l .
to the president he smiled a littlc .
and at last spoke; "NOW. cnIonsI 4
you see yourself how / am plac.d
Ol course, could deprive Butler N
ms command, but would that Dc the
nest thing for the country? Under
all the circumstances feel like M.
ting the matter drop; but I will give
You another place, that will perhan.
suit you as we'll. The pre.idnnt
kept his promise and Colonel Martin
did not leave the service under
cloud.
Those who delight to hear how
headstrong and unreasonable man
may at times be brought TO taate ~
some OF his own ill-manners will be
pleased to learn that in General
Joseph Hawley. the DISTINGUISHED
senator from Connecticut. General
butler found man his equal In forci.
Die language as we'll as ingenuity n
eXpedieuts At the time Butler ,yas
his canal in Virginia HawIcv
was under his command. and opo da,,
received from Butler an order 10 ~
something di5tagteful Turning ~
the aid who brought the order ~ -.
marked; You tell General Butler
that ! shan't obey his order He isa
Id old fool. and If he wants this
thing done he had better come and M
It himself : The aid departed and
that was the last Of IT,
But General Butler was a s,nccro
patriot, a friend Of tho poor and on.
pressed always and pleaded many n
clients cause without hope Of reward
He sprang from the common poont.
and was proud Of it. and their wants
their aspirations. their endless toll
their unnumbered hardships found n
him an ardent sympathizer He was ,
liberal and kind, and under his some. ,
what brusquc exterior carried a heart
that could be touched by any tale OF
pity. Like all such men, he aroused
he fiercest opposition OF his enemies.
There were many who denied him
very virtue, believing him almost a
lemon. But he was a man OF tho
inest sensibilities. though his best !
riends could never quite call him ,
gentleman.
A
Costly shirts.
fTbnt.a traa ., ts,s.a