Miscellaneous Musings on Ben Butler

TO GENERAL BUTLER

By Bay State

Ben Butler, my boy,

It gives me such joy,

Of your brave words and acts to hear.

So prompt and so quick,

You are truly a "brick,"

Knowing not the meaning of fear.

As a lawyer bold

We know you of old,

In many a "hard knotty case."

But now on the field,

Convinced you'll not yield:

You are just the man for the place.

Be true to your trust,

And bring to the dust

The rebels where'er they are found.

Inform them, dear Ben,

They've mistaken the men

If they think the North is not sound.

We know you are right,

Whenever you fight,

In upholding the Stripes and Stars.

ABOU BEN BUTLER

ABOU BEN BUTLER (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night down by the old Balize,

And saw, outside the comfort of his room,

Making it warmer for the gathering gloom,

A black man shivering in the winter's cold.

Exceeding courage made Ben Butler bold,

And to the presence in the dark he said:

"What wantest thou?"  The figure raised its head,

And with a look made of all sad accord,

Answered -- "The men who'll serve the purpose of the Lord."

"And am I one?" said Butler.  "Nay, not so,"

Replied the black man.  Butler spoke more low,

But cheerly still; and said: "As I am Ben,

You'll not have cause to tell me that again!"

The figure bowed and vanished.  The next night

It came once more, environed strong in light,

And showed the names whom love of Freedom blessed,

And lo! Ben Butler's name led all the rest.

OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

That burly, heavy man, waddling across the hall, with his hands full of papers, and his head slightly bent forward, is

BEN BUTLER,

of Massachussetts, the best abused, best hated, man in the House.  He is a man of unquestioned ability, and would be a leader in any cause to which he might give his efforts.  As a commander during the late war, he succeeded in the administrative duties of his position, but failed signally in the field.  He conducted the prosecution of the President during the impeachment trial with a vigor and ability, and a spice of personal hostility, which won him much praise from the friends of the measure.  The late Count Gurowski, in his diary (for January 28th, 1864) thus speaks of him:  "Ben Butler would make an excellent President.  He has all the capacities of a statesman.  Butler can destroy and build up, organize and administer.  He is bold, with keen insight, and with prompt, unerring decision.**  Butler's capacities as a civilian are superior, are all that are wanted to save the cause.  If President, Butler would easily select good generals."

The Democratic party and the people of the South hate him with a bitter and intense hatred, so that, taking the whole country, it is hard to say which are more numerous, his friends or his foes.

BEN BUTLER IN COUNCIL WITH THE SESSION CONSPIRATORS

In December, 1860, after the election of Mr. Lincoln, General Butler, who had supported Breckinridge for President, in preference to either Douglas, Bell, or Lincoln, went to Washington, where he had many and serious conversations with his Southern brethren.  According to the interesting account of these interviews given by Parton, those Southern brethren were determined on secession, and asked Butler to go with them.  There was room in the South, they said, for such as he.  He told them the North would fight against secession, and they laughed at him.  He told them, "if the South fights, there is an end of slavery," and they laughed again.  They asked him, "if he would fight in such a cause," and he replied, "Most certainly."

When the South Carolina 'ambassadors' came to Washington, Butler proposed to the Attorney-General to try them for treason.  "You say," said he to the Attorney, "that the Government cannot use its army and navy to coerce South Carolina.  Very well.  I do not agree with you; but let the proposition be granted.  Now, secession is either a right, or it is treason.  If it is a right, the sooner we know it the better.  If it is treason, then the presenting of the ordinance of secession is an overt act of treason.  These men are coming to the White House to present the ordinance to the President.  Admit them.  Let them present the ordinance.  Let the president say to them -- 'Gentlemen, you go hence in the custody of a Marshal of the United States, as prisoners of state, charged with treason against your country.'  Summon a grand jury here in Washington.  Indict the commissioners.  If any of your officers are backward in acting, you have the appointing power -- replace them with men who feel as men should at a time like this.  Try the commissioners before the Supreme Court, with all the imposing forms and stately ceremonials which marked the trial of Aaron Burr.  I have some reputation at home as a criminal lawyer, and I will stay here to help the District Attorney through the trial without fee or reward.  If they are acquitted, you will have done something toward leaving a clear path for the incoming administration.  Time will have been gained; but the great advantage will be, that both sides will pause to watch this high and dignified proceeding; the passions of men will cool; the great point at issue will become clear to all parties; the mind of the country will be active, while passion and prejudice are allayed.  Meanwhile, if you cannot use our army or navy in Charleston harbor, you can certainly employ them in keeping order here."

This advice was not heeded.  The 'commissioners' or 'ambassadors' heard of it.

"Why you would not hang us?"  said Mr. Orr, one of them, to Butler.

"Oh, no," was the reply, "not unless you were found guilty."

He had one last, long interview with the Southern leaders, at which the whole subject was gone over.  For three hours he reasoned with them, demonstrating the folly of their course, and warning them of final and disastrous failure.  The conversation was friendly, though warm and earnest on both sides.  Again he was invited to join them, and was offered a share in their enterprise, and a place in that 'sound and homogeneous government' which they meant to establish.  he left no room to doubt that he took sides with his country, and that all he had and all he was should be freely risked in that country's cause.  Late at night they separated, to know one another no more except as mortal foes.

EPIGRAM ON BEN BUTLER

Who, during three years of war, has never been in but one battle, and ran away from that.

How kind has nature unto Butler been,

Who gave him dreadful looks and thievish mien;

Gave him tongue to swagger -- eyes that look which-way,

And kinder still, gave legs -- to run away.

SECESH TAMING

War, like nearly every other sort of human experience, has its comical side.  'Old Ben Butler's' management of New Orleans was "as good as a play," -- a spice of humor in it, a certain apt felicitousness in turning the tables, calculated to make even the victim smile while he yet winced.

It was the New Orleanaise who gave the General his soubriquet of 'Picayune Butler' -- that being the well known appellative of the colored barber in the basement of the St. Charles.  The fourpence ha'penny epithet of course implied how very cheap they held the commander at Ship Island.  The Yankee General fetched up at the St. Charles.  "Twas empty and barred.  Where was the landlord? Off.  The house must be opened.  Impossible.  It shall be forced.  Well, here are the keys.  So, the first thing was to show he could keep a hotel.

Next he sends word to the Mayor that he must see him at his parlor.  Back comes word that His Honor does business at the City Hall.  Straight goes a peremptory message by an orderly, and Mayor Monroe and a whole bevy of dignitaries make their appearance, hats in hand.  The hotel-keeper is induced to draw it mild, and arranges that the civil government of the city shall remain in their hands on the condition that all the police and sanitary duties shall be faithfully performed.

For a little while matters go on smoothly.  But it soon became apparent that the streets were neglected, as if on purpose to invite Yellow Jack to come and make short work of the "Hessians."  A sharp word goes from the St. Charles to the City Hall to start the hoes, and, at a jump, the hoes were started.  But it went against the grain.  The alderman could not sleep o'nights.  Yellow Jack out of the question, they thought they would try la belle France.  So they passed a resolution tendering the officers of the French frigate Catinet the freedom and hospitalities of the city.  Up comes word from the St. Charles that this sort of thing don't answer -- that 'the freedom of a captured city by the captives would merit letters patent for its novelty, were there not doubts of its usefulness as an invention, and that the tender of hospitalities by a government to which police duties and sanitary regulations only are intrusted is simply an invitation to the calaboose or the sewer.'

The women next bridle up.  They are not content with leaving our quiet soldiers to themselves, but must needs insult and abuse them.  The General determines that this unfeminine practice, so provocative of ill blood, shall stop.  He proclaims that all women guilty of it shall be treated as disorderly women.  Thereupon Mayor monroe steps again upon the scene, and as 'chief magistrate of this city, chargeable with its peace and dignity,' protests against an order 'so extraordinary and astonishing.'  The immediate reply is that 'John T. Monroe, late Mayor of the city of New Orleans, is relieved from all responsibility for the peace of the city and is committed to Fort Jackson until further orders.'  Straightway the Mayor hurries down to the St. Charles, and makes a written retraction to wit: 'This communication having been sent under a mistake of fact, and being improper in language, I desire to apologize for the same, and to withdraw it.'  The retraction is accepted, and the Mayor retires; but on the next day, having been taken to task by his clique, he again presents himself, with several backers, to get a modification of the 'women order,' or to take back his apology.  He receives for reply, that a modification is impossible, and with it an argument from the good-natured General showing its propriety and necessity.  The mayor bows, convinced, and leaves.  Two days afterwards again he comes down with his friends and insists upon having back his apology.  The General, being of a yielding nature, politely hands it back, and, at the same moment, gives an order committing the whole set to Fort jackson, and there they ruminated.

Application of the Term "Contraband" by General Butler

The rebel Colonel Mallory had the misfortune to lose some of his 'servants.' who used their legs to convey themselves from the custody of their master.  Though a traitor to his country, Col. M. had the audacity to go with a flag of truce to Fortress Monroe and demand of his old political friend, Butler, the delivering up of said escaped servants, under the Fugitive Slave Law.

"You hold, Colonel Mallory, do you not," said General Butler, "that negro slaves are property; and that Virginia is no longer a part of the United States."

"I do, Sir."

"You are a lawyer, Sir," Gen. Butler replied, "and I ask you, if you claim that the Fugitive Slave Act of the United States is binding in a foreign nation?  And if a foreign nation uses this kind of property to destroy the lives and property of the United States, if that species of property ought not be regarded as contraband?"

Such was the origin to the term contraband, as applied to fugitive slaves, and its acceptance became at once universal.

A Maine paper calls Ben. Butler "a cut-throat."  Yes, and is he not a cut-purse as well?  When Banks was appointed to succeed him, he declared that he would find New Orleans "a squeezed lemon."  If in nothing else, he is bold in one thing -- he does not blush to boast of his crimes.

Gov. Pierrpont again charges Gen. Butler with theft.  This time the "beast" stole a dozen bottles of brandy from a private sideboard, and a silver tea-caddy from an old lady, and appropriated to himself the orphans' fund of the city of Norfolk.  Butler answers all these charges of theft by calling Gov. Pierrpont "disloyal."

A malicious Yankee editor says, he "wants to live to see Ben. Butler in the operation of biting the file."  Would it not be better to see him bite the dust?

No Wonder

The Baltimore correspondent of the Times says:

"Gen. Butler is roundly hated by the secessionists here."

We are not in the least surprised to hear that these fort-stealing persons hate the worthy General roundly.  It is perfectly impossible for them to do anything at all On the Square.

The story is told of Ben Butler's earlier days that a Yankee obtained his legal opinion how to recover the value of a ham, which a neighbor's dog came along and ate.  He was advised to prosecute and recover for damages.  "But the dog was your'n," said the sharp Yankee.  Butler opened his eyes a little, asked him what the ham was worth, was told five dollars, paid the money, and then demanded a ten-dollar fee of the astonished native for legal advice.