Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-06-29
THE TABLES TURNED.
How Captain Palmer Was Finally Re
venged on General Butler.


venged on General Butler.
Captain John Palmer tells the fol-
lowing good story of the late Gen
eral Benjamin F. Butler:
Il served in the Louisiana cam
paign. Ben Buffers headquarters
were in New Orleans. One day
was told that l had been detailed to
go to New Orleans, some 90 miles
away, and present q report TO But
Ter. l was very young man then,
and to be thus detailed l considered
a tremendous honor. After long de-
liberation l concluded that l would
be expected to make a speech in de-
livering the report. worked over
that speech until it was a master
piece.
"Of course l had an idea that if I
could make an impression upon the
general it would be a good thing for
me. Finally the Gay of my depar-
ture came, and started for the city.
On the way rehearsed my speech.
l had it letter perfect and felt salts
fed that nothing but stage fright
could knock it out of my head. When
1 reached New Orleans, 1 lost no
time in finding headquarters and
getting into the presence of General
Butler.
After had saluted him stepped
back, threw out my chest and start
ed in on the speech. Before 1 had
spoken a dozen words Butler looked
up from his desk. I saw that was
making an impression. \ dozen
words more, and the general began
to move uneasily in his chair. There
could be no doubt of the fact that 1
had caught his fancy. Visions of
promotion began to float before me
as 1 warmed up with the speech.
Suddenly old Ben thumped the desk
savagely with his fist and roared:
Young man, if you have any
thing more to say to me, say it
quick.
IF he had hit me in the head with
an AK, he could not have knocked
me out more completely. The
thought that instead of creating a
favorable impression had incurred
the displeasure of the general made
my head reel. All of my hard work
had been in vain. dropped the re-
port on the desk, saluted and walked
away. My home in Albany was far
ther away that night than it had
ever been since / marched with my
regiment into Louisiana.
Many years after the close of
the war was elected commander
in chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic. 1 was in Washington ar
ranging the details of the great pa
rade of Union veterans. l had a
room in the Ebbitt House. All day
long l had been receiving delega-
tions. Evening was ut hand, when
the door opened, and in walked Gen
eral Butler. Striding TO the middle
of the floor, he struck an attitude
and began a vehement speech in
which he intended TO prove to me
the right of the Massachusetts vet
Grams to the right of line. 1 listened
to him for probably two minutes,
and then, smashing the desk as hard
as could with my fist, l yelled:
General, if you have anything
more to say to me, say it quick
The old warrior fairly gasped
his astonishment. His ponderous
jaw fell. Selling the back of a chair
to steady himself, he asked iii a voice
which showed how keenly l had
hurt him:
Captain Palmer, do you mean
thatl'
General Butler, did you mean
it when YOU said the same thing to
me at New Orleans:' 1 asked.
" What do you meant
Il told him. Butler walked up
and down the room while was tell
ing the story. When l had finished,
he came over and put his hand on
my shoulder.
" Palmer, l had forgotten all
about it. So you are the young fel-
low who wanted to fire a speech at
me: Well, you have had your re
venge.'
And then he sat down, and, hug
ging his right knee in his clasped
hands, he fought over with me the
whole Louisiana campaign. The
Massachusetts veterans had the
right of line in the parade. New
York Mail and Express.