St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-15

81 was a member Of one Of the regi-
ments of the Western brigade which
landed ON the broad Jevee in New
Orleans on that May morning of '62
when Butler, with his army OF oCcupa-
ton, under cover of Farragut's guns.
took possession Of the city which Mayor
Munroe refused to surrender" said one
Of the ''old boys" as he read the news of
the generals sudden death. IF those
who adversely eriticise the firmness of
BGtler's rule of the city had been among
those who marched up the streets that
morning and heard the ieers, abuse and
threats heaped on US and seen the angry
crowd which lined the banquettes, he
would feel that it needed a strong will
and an iron hand to curb the turbulent
city.
There are some of the incidents of
Buffers rule which fell under my OBJ
Servation which have not gotten into
print and are worthy of it. as character
istic of the mau. Thile we were on Ship
island the cruiser New London captured
and brought in sloop laden with
cotton. but the most attractive part of
her cargo were number of citizens
from over in Dixie, the first rebels
many of us had seen. After Banks had
succeeded Butler | was detailed Ill his
adjutant generals Office and put
to loverhauling the boxes con-
tanning Buffers papers, indeXing
and entering them. Among the let
tiers was one from Secretary Stan
ton to Butler saying that the quar-
termaster of New York had advised
him of the arrival at that port in a
transport from Ship island Of number
Of bales OF cotton consigned by Butler
to banking house, and asking the gem
eral to explain how it came that he was
shipping cotton from the ehemy'S coun-
try on private account. Turning to
Buffers letter-book l found that he eX-
planned the matter by saying that when
his troop rendezvoused at New York
for the expedition they needed many
articles for their health and comfort
which the government refused to supply,
and that he furnished them himself,
paying for them out Of his private funds.
He had taken this cotton and sent 1T
back for sale in order to reimburse him
self for the expenditures made. A let
ter from the secretary informed the gen
eral that such methods could not be
recognized, and that lie had directed the
quartermaster to sell the cotton and
turn the proceeds into the treasury.
Butler adopted other methods later to
successfully and most amply reimburse
himself, but that is another story.
Akin to this, and showing that Butler
was strict constrHctionist when ques-
tons of reimbursement concerned 9TH
erS, however loose he was i'll cUnstruc-
ton when it concerned himself, was bis
disposal OF Gen. Neal BOWS claim.
Ii you are familiar with the story Of the
capture of the city. you will recall the
great cable stretched across the river
between Forts jackson and st. Philip,
supported on floats, and which Farra-
CUTS men cut one night to let
the fleet pass. The floats swung
around to the river banks carry
| ing the severed cable with them. Dow
was placed in command of the forts by
Butler. Among Buffers letters |
found one from Dow, saying that he had
| had his soldiers recover the cable and
| had sent it up to the city Oh transport
and with claim of 500 for salvage
which he wished the general to order
the quartermaster to pay. Boy as |
! was, the audacity of this claim struck
me and turned the letter over TO see
what disposition Butler had made of it.
On the back III Buffers writing was the
| direction to his adjutant general:
"Davis, this is too Id thin. b. f.
| b."
! Butter made very singular his
| torical break in one of his orders.
Among his Eastern troops was the Ninth
! Connecticut infantry, composed eX-
clusively of freshmen, and as gallant a
| lot of fellows as the army had. At the
battle of Baton Rouge they acquitted
themselves handsomely. After that
| sharp and decisive contest. in which a
few fever-stricnen regiments repulSed
! Breckenridge's assault with much
larger force. Butler issued one OF his
| Naroleonc orders OF congratulation to
the troops. The sentences sound turgid
and uonoaslc aJ this distance, bat we
boys thought them classical then.
After reciting our achievement. the
order had this sentence: higan
| stood ny Maine, Massachusetts sup
ported Indiana. Wisconsin, aided Yer
mont, while Connecticut, represented
| by the SONS OF the ever green shamrock.
| fought as our fathers did at Bdyne
! Waters" The boys oil the Ninth were
in doubt whether lE,' general la sent
them bull o. al affront .AFttr 1nrir
wrath cooru They concluded /, Wis the
| lurnCTs