The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-02-27
4 STORY OF BUTLER.
ILLUSTRATES HIS PRoMPTNEss IN
EMERGENCIES.

perienoe With the Doughty Man of War
Nobody Was Shot.
General Daniel Butterfleld says: cannot
Justly give an estimate of General Butler
as soldier, because have not studied his
military career and did not serve with
him. However, l can tell you Of an in
stance where he showed his promptness Of
decision and his lack of any personal fear
When we left New York in April, 1861,
with the regiments, going by sea by way OF
Fortress Monroe to Washington, we Ind
with us General Keyes, who was then a
lieutenant colonel and aid-de-camp to Gen
eral Scott. Reyes was under instructions
from General Scott TO place troops at
Fortress Monroe, Annapolis and Fort Nc
Henry. On cur arrival at Fortress Monroe
we found that Massachusetts, troops had
been placed there by General Butler. At
Annapolis we found General Butler him
self in command. l had never heard of
General Butler ms u military officer
| OF course had heard of the famous Ben
Butler the great Democratic politician
The steamer on which my regiment was
carried was the Baltic Of the famous Col
Inns line. She drew too much water to go
alongside of the dock at Annapolis. Gen
eral Burnside's Rhode Island regiment was
in the Coatz Coalcos, steamer Of the
Niearaguan line, of lighter draft. 1t had
been agreed between General Burnside and
myself that after landing his troops his
] steamer should come alonside of the Baltic
to lighter my regiment and land my men
at Annnpolis-all being en- route for Wash
ington. While waiting over night for this
facility to land, Mt midnight heard the
challenge of the sentinel: who comes
there? Haiti Who comes there?"
! The answer came, Lieutenant Schuyler
Hamilton of the Seventh New York reg-
ment, national guard, aid-de-camp to Gen
cral Butler, who desires to communicate
with Colonel Buttertcld." He was per
mitted To come on board. He had orders
from General Butler that should land my
troops Immediately and report in person.
Having already accepted the orders and di-
reetions Of General Chen Colonel Keyes as
representing General Scott, waited to re
c2ive kcyes' directions as to whether ]
should report To General Butler General
kcyc5 did not go ashore until morning
While General keyes was on shore n per
lemptury message came again from General
4, Butler directing me to report in person
without delay and to land my command,
which could not do until got the lighter.
4 went ashore and found General Keyes in
consultation with Butler in his office.
\ | waited until General Reyes had finished
his interview, when asked him if should
report to General Butler. He said he
thought | had better do so, and entered
the headquarters and found General Butler,
whom | had never seen before, sitting in
his shirt sleeves with no vestige of n uni
. form. lie demanded in very sharp, gruff
, tone why | had not reported before. re
piled that had never heard Of any General
Butler and did not know by what author
lily he was in command, aud had reported
(! ito keycs of General SCOTS staff, ana had
, been waiting for lis instructions us to
? whether l should report to General Butler,
and he had just decided should.
I How soon will you land your troops,
: Isir?" was the very sharp demand
AS soon us General Burnsde's vessel eln
Tighter them. Ny steamer cannot come to
i, the wharf" answered. ....
Y How soon will you he ready to leave for
. Washington"
"As soon as get ashore" was my answer.
well, you re tie first man ready to move
Immediately without demanding some.
thing"
l said General, have no Transports
ton. My men have ammunition, ruskrts
and bayonets and cantcens. but nothing to
carry any supplies, should like couple
of wagons to carry rations. Those ought
/ to have"
major Miller!' shouted tho general to
9 an officer of the quartprmaster's depart,
3 ment, furnish this officer with wagons to
carry rations for his troops imncdiatclyg
!. But cannot do it," said the olilcel adj.
y dressed. ~ have none What am to doy
There's only enc wagon in the town. Iiere
is the sergeant just come and reported about
: it. You'll hear what he has to say"
The old regular sergeant Of the quarter
masters department salutcd and said that
1.-THE gentleman that owns the wagon says
/ he will shoot the man that takes it, -
He does, does hei" said Butler, pulling
on his coat aud drawing SLOUGH hat over
his eyes. Come, we Will see about thi5."
Naturally 1 went along. We went oat.
side of the naval academy grounds ard
came to n rather nice looking Residence,
Il with family carriage house aAd n barn of
I the old style adjoining There was u very
respectable looking gentleman standiGf,
outside. The sergeant pointed to the barn
= and said, The horses arc there, sir and
: the doors Of the place were upeIcd and we
saw a very fair team harnes-ed to Il good
=, farm wagon, evidently ready to depart out
u ui the reach II seizure The sergeant point,
p cd to the gentleman standing ne;.r By ard
said, There is the gentleman who owns
them"
Butler walked close up to him, leaving
! not six inches of space between, aud said
l. 81 understand, sir, that you will shoot III,
man that takes these horses. Shoot me
. sir am the man who takes thcsa hnisC,
), for the government of the United 5t.tcs!'