Evening journal., 1912-03-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Enemy That Ben Butler
Transformed Into a
StaunCh Friend
n u~rI.-x
By Holland


military men OF Washington in the
General Joseph Van Vliet His record
as commander in the commissary de-
partment OF the Union Army in the
later years of the Civil War was a
brilliant one He was on terms of in
innate fellowship with all OF the COM
mandlng officers of the Federal side,
and he. was also in most friendly re-
latiOns with a number of COnfeder-
ate officers who, after the war, we're
in Washington either as members Of
the Senate or House Of Representa-
tives or engaged in the practice Of
law
General Van Vliet was very fond Of
good story aud he was even more
fond Of telling one When he did this
his whole body, which was very short
and very stout, would shake with
laughter, and his noble mass of iron
gray hair would respond to his merri-
ment by shaking as though the wind
were playing through IT,
81 remember on one occasion" said
General Van Vliet. at a time when Ae
was speaking OF the peculiarities Of
when General Ben Butler, by Won
derful tact and a good deal of iiattery,
converted General John E. Wool from
an enemy 10 a friend. He was the
man, YOU may recall whose prompt
action saved Fortress Monroe to the
Union at the outbreak of the war. He
succeeded Butler in command of thai
stronghold when Butler was put in
charge of the expedition to New Or
leans. General Wool often spoke in
language which expressed something
like contempt for General Buffers
military ability; he shared the anti
pathy TO Butler which so many West
Point officers entertained from the
very beginning OF the war.
After Butler had been transferred
from New Orleans he went TO 'sw
York, | think upon a leave of absence.
General Wool was there, i'm command
Of the department of which New York
city was the center. was also there,
serving ON General Wool's staff
The citizens of New York desired to
give Butler a grand reception in re-
cOgnition of what he had done at New
Orleans. Butler himself was especial
Nv
tae a conspicuous part in -he recep-
tion He therefore sent an invitation,
with a personal appeal, TO General
Wool who treated both invitation and
appeal with silent contempt Then
Butler sent an officer TO General Wool
with q message, i'm which he said thai
there was no man north Of Washing
ton whom he would regard it as a
greater compliment TO see at his re-
ception than General Wool
General Wool was a splendid man,
but he did have a little streak of van
ity and Butler knew it. This appeal
caused General Wool to soften a it
tie and he decided that he would at
tend the reception He did so and
was placed prominently near Butler.
"In response 10 a vocferous apueal
/ for speech General Butler renlied.
ROUGH often brutal as he could be,
Butler also knew how TO be charm
ingly courteous and polite. After he
had spoken for a few moments he
turned half way toward General Wool
and delivered 4 riost eloquent and
beautiful tribute TO services General
Wool had given the country when a
young officer in the War of 1912.
"This was the last stroke. General
Wool melted comnletely, all his ami
mostly toward Butler vanished And
when The reception was over he took
Buffers hand shaking 1t with great
warmth and he said General But
ler allow me TO eXpress my profound
REGARD and admiration for YOU and IA
say that I am firm believer in al
the policies that you have advocated
From that dav 10 his death in 1890
General Wool was the waYnest de
fender and supporter whom nen Put
Ter bad among all the Union gem
| erals
AS for Rem Putler when he was
told that his little sneech had COM
pletely captured General Wool he
said = knew II would
Copyright 1912, by 2 ' Edwars
All rights reserved.)