The National tribune., 1911-01-05
SILVER SPOON" BUTLER.
How Sen. ButIcr Came TO De Known
as Silver Spoon Butler at New
Orleans.

How Sen. ButIcr Came TO De Known
as Silver Spoon Butler at New
Orleans.
A great mystery has existed for many
wars over the way the late Gen. Ben
jamin T. Butler secured the name of
silver Spoon" Butler. The charge has
been spread broadcast that when Gen.
Butler was in command at New Orleans
during the civil war he confiscated the
silverware of a resident of that city,
and, indeed, the caTtoonists often pic
tured him walking about with silver
spoons sticking ont of his pockets, es-
pecially during the Generals memor-
able political campaigns. But the sug-
gestions always have lacked specifica-
tions. l was mustered into the Sth VT.
in 1862. The regiment was shipped
under sealed orders and landed at Snip
Island. The regiment was under the
command of Gen. Butler, and led from
the Gulf Of Mexico up the Mississippi
River by Admiral Farraguts fleet, and
was engaged in hard lighting at Forts
Jackson and st. Phillip. 1t then en-
gagged in the attack on the city of New
Orleans. which was captured. after
remaining in the city three weeks, my
regiment was ordered to Algers, on
the opposite side of the Mississippi. In
October a detachment from several
companies were ordered to the small
town of Gretna. 1t was there that the
incident that led to the revelation Of
the silver spoons and Gen. Butler be-
gan. One day | decided to have some
oranges. There was a plenty Of them
in the vicinity 1 walked a short dis
tance from camp, and knocked at the
door Of mansion. In answer q
French creole appeared and said she
was mistress Of the mansion. I asked
her If l could have a few oranges. She
said: YES" She brought me a chair
to the porch for me to sit on. A negro
brought pan Of oranges and placed
them on the porch. / helped myself.
After ! had eaten all I wanted the lady,
Nine. Hatch, ordered another pan of
oranges brought, ana told ne 70 come
every day Before l left Nine Hatch
showed me her poultry and lambs, and
said they We're what her husband, VINO
was a Colonel in the Confederate army,
lived on, and that she sent him some
whenever she thought that he was hun
CRY.
I was given charge of a sugar plan
tatiOn some distance from camp, which
the Government had taken. with q
cOmradc, John A. Hamard, Of the 26th
Mass. 1 had to go out TO this plantation
one day 1t was very warm and | de-
cided to stop at Nine. Hatch's and get
some saddle horses. She loaned us the
horses, and when we returned them
she would accept no pay. She spread
the table and got US something 20 'at.
She did such kindness to many Uaiou
soldiers and nursed some who were
sick in her own home.
Gen. Butler passed a decree that all
persons Of IS years Of age should come
TO his headquarters and take the oath
OF allegiance to the United States.
When il came the turn OF Nine.
Hatch, she told him she was Nine.
Hatch, and absolutely refused to take
the oath. declaring she would die first.
Gen. Butler then declared that her sill
verware should be condscatcd. He or
dered Maj Strong, his Chief of Staff,
to see that the order was carried out.
The Major went to the mansion OF
Nine. Hatch and, in response 20 his
command, she brought out her silver
plate and a large quantity Of silver
spoons. He left the rest and took the
spoons.
For her kindness to Union soldiers.
Nine. Hatch had become very popular
among our boys, and when the spoon
affair and the story Of Nine. Hatch's
experience with Gen. Butler became
known, he was called silver spoon"
Butler thruout the army thereafter
Lieut.. L. W. Bissell, 8th Vt, Lynn,
Mass.