The National tribune., 1893-01-19
GEN. B. F. BUTLER DEAD.

|
GEN. B. F. BUTLER DEAD.
No Premonition of a Sudden and Fatal At
tack of Heart Disease.
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, who commanded
the Army of the James in 1864. died at 1:3(
! o'clock on Wedn esday morning, Jan. II, at hi:
residence on Capitol Hill, in Washington, after
! an hours illness. His death was entirely un
| expected, rs he was in his usual health and
| good spirits when he retired the night previou:
| at IL o'clock. About half an hour after mid
night the Generals valet, who has been in the
habit of sleeping in the same room, was
awakened by the labored breathing of the Gen.
eral. and went Immediately to his side. The
General told him that short time before he
had been seized with lit of coughing. after
which he had hcmorrhage. The Generals
niece and her husband, Mr.. Dunn, were sum-
moned, and a physician sent for. When DR..
Luce arrived he found. the General was dying.
While his valet was arranging the pillows the
General, as If realizing that his hour had come,
said: " No need to do anything more for me,
West" which were the last words spoken, for a
minute later, and before the doctor could make
an examination, Gen. Butler breathcd his last.
On Tuesday Gen. Butler was in attendance
upon the Supreme Court of tho District for the
purpose of having the famous Strong case ad-
vanced on the docket, but in this he was not
successful. He then went to the War Depart
ment, where he transacted some business, after
which he was driven home, where he dincd
heartily, going to bed at II o'clock in apparent
good health.
His son, who lives in Lowell, M ass, and his
daughter, the wife of Gen. Adelbert Ames,
who resides at Highlands, N. j., were at once
notified Of the Generals death. Though 70
years old, Gen. Butler was remarkably strong
both in mind and body up to the hour of his
T.. LII >: r
late, however, and was not as busy man as he
had formerly been. He took no part in the
late Presidential election, and announced that
he had retired from politics
Gen. Bntler was born at Deerfield, N. H.,
Nov. 5, 1918. His father. Capt. John Butler
served under Jackson at New Orleans. He
graduated at Waterville College, Me-. in 1888
and three years later began his brilliant and
successful career rs lawyer Politics proved
an attraction. and he soon became prominent
in the Democratic party of Massachusetts,. hav-
ing located at Lowell soon after being admitted
to the bar. In 1853 he was elected TO the Mas
sachusetts Legislature and six years later TO
the Senate of the State. In 1860, just before
the breaking ont of the war. Butler OBJ
tanned National prominence. He was a dele
gate to the Charleston Democratic National
Convention tina. year. With portion of the
delegates he attended the subsequent conven-
ton at Baltimore, taking an active part in the
opening debates. AT last he and majority OF
the Massachusetts, delgates withdrew because
there had been a withdrawal in part of the ma
iority of the States, and further, he added,
upon the ground that would not sit in a
convention where the African trade,
which is piracy by the law of my country. is
approvingly advocated"
When Lincoln called for troops in April,
1861, Butler held the commission of Brigadier-
General of Militia. On the 18th of that month
he marched to Annapolis with the 9Th Mass,
and was placed in command of the District of
Annapolis which included Baltimore. On May
13 Inc entered Baltimore at the head of 900 men,
and pied the city without opposition.
lie was then made Major General, and as.
signed TO the command of Fort Monroe and the
Department of Eastern Virginia. 1t was then,
it is said, he gave the origin to that term Of the
war. "contraband." as applied to slaves Some
slaves had come within his lines and were de-
manded by their masters. He refused to deliver
them up, on the ground that they were econ
traband Of war"
Two months later he captured Forts Hatteras
and Clark, on the coast of North Carolina. He
then returned to Massachusetts, organized an
expedition for the Gulf Of Mexico and the Mis-.
sissippi, and in March, 1862 the expedition
reached Ship Island. By April "a Farragut
had virtually captured New Orleans, and on
May ! Butler took possession of the city.
the city was one of the unique features of the
war and of history. 1t was marked with un.
usual viger, and at times his measures fairly
aroused the world.
He instituted strict sanitary regulations,
armed the free negroes and compelled rich
Secessionists 10 contribute toward the support
of the poor of the city.
One day William Mumford hauled down the
United States flag from the Mint. For that
Butler had him hanged. He issued Order
No. 2S," to prevent women insulting his SOL
ders, and for that Jefferson Davis proclaimed
him an outlaw.
Butler ordered seized about $500, 000 which
had been deposited in the office of the Dutch
Consul. claiming that arms for the Confederates
were to be bought with it. All the foreign
Consuls protested against this. and the Govern
ment ordered the return of the money.
On Dec l6. 1862, Butler was recalled, as he
declared, at the instigation Of Louis Napoleon,
who supposed the General to be hostile to
Mexican schemes. He was given command the
next year of the Department of Virginia and
North Carolina his force being designated
afterward as the Army of the James.
In 1864 Butler was sent to New York with
force to insure quiet, there being apprehensions
Of trouble In the Winter of that year he led
au unsuccessful expedition against Fort Fisher,
near Wilmington, N. c.. and soon afterward was
removed from command by Gen. Grant.
Alter the war zen. ButIer re'entered politics,
and in 1866 was elected to Congress by the Re-
publicans and kept there until 1879. with the
exception of the term of 1S75'77. He was the
most active of the managers appointed by the
House in 1868 to conduct the Impeachment of
President Johnson.
The Republicans nominated him for Governor
in 1871, but he was defeated. He was again
defeated in 1873 aud 1879 for the Governorship
Of Massachusetts,, while running on the Green.
back ticket. In 1882 he was the candidate of
the Democrats, and was elected Governor. In
1884 he was the candidate of the Greenback
and Anti-Monopolist party for President, and
received 1873, S25 votes. He has since practiced
law, aud divided his time between Boston, New
York, and Washington. having offices in all
three cities. He was buried at Lowell, Mass,
on Monday, Jan. l6.