Posted on 05/24/2019 6:51:36 AM PDT by Bull Snipe
At Fort Monroe, in Virginia, Major General Benjamin Butler refuses to turn over three escaped slaves to Confederate Major John B. Cary, declaring them “Contraband of War.” The slaves, property of Colonel Charles K. Mallory, had escaped from a Confederate installation at Sewell’s Point, across Hampton Roads from Fort Monroe. The Colonel Mallory had leased these slaves to the Confederate Army to help construct an artillery battery at Sewell’s Point
“Beast Butler”, tyrant of New Orleans, even too much for Lincoln, who had him removed.
A low life move.
in January 1865
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
New Orleans, May 15, 1862.
As the officers and soldiers of the United States have been subject to repeated insults from the women (calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans in return for the most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered that hereafter when any female shall by word, gesture, or movement insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United States she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation.
By command of Major-General Butler:
His color photo does nothing to help his looks.
from Wikipedia:
“Although Butler’s governance of New Orleans was popular in the North (where it was seen as a successful stand against recalcitrant secessionists), some of his actions, notably those against the foreign consuls, concerned President Lincoln, who authorized his recall in December 1862.”
Yes, but Butler remained an incompetent field general whom Lincoln could not remove until after his re-election for fear that Butler might run for president and win himself. Even Grant’s entreaties to get rid of Butler failed because Butler was a “political general”. In early 1865, his sorry ass was finally dismissed.
Dennis Franz never did anything to deserve that insult!
He may have been marginal as a general in the field, but Butlers heart was in the cause. He would not tolerate such insolence from the citizens of a conquered city. His calling escaped slave “Contraband of War” was a masterful call, which allowed Union Officers to deny the return of slaves that would be used against the United States.
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