FROM NEW-ORLEANS: Gen. Butler Stirring up the Rebels; How he Treats the “Registered Enemies of the United States” (12/19/1862)

Our city, just at this time, presents a scene of no little excitement. It has been a matter of intense curiosity for nearly ten weeks to hear what Gen. BUTLER would do with the "registered enemies" in our midst, some two thousand or less. So long a time had elapsed since the memorable 23d of September, that a sort of notion prevailed that friends stood no better chance than enemies, but the delusion was dissipated a few days since by the following rather sugtive "Order":

By direction of the Commanding General, all the registered enemies of the United States, both men and women, with their families, who desire to go within the rebel lines, and not to return, will report themselves by letter to the Provost-Marshal General, on or before the 10th day of December, when conveyance will be found them. They will be allowed to take personal clothing only, not exceeding $50 in value for each adult.

All persons desiring to go within the rebel lines and not to return, because they prefer to live there, will report in the same manner, for the same purposes. JONAS H. FRENCH,
Provost-Marshal General Louisiana.

All this is exceedingly provoking to the parties interested, for the order is directed to those who desire to go, and now comes up the inquiry, "what is Gen. BUTLER going to do with those who do not desire to go?" and I have no doubt we shall learn all about it in due time. The position of these registered enemies, however, is getting, under any circumstances, rather unpleasant. In the first place, they are to leave for the "happy land over Jordan" with only fifty dollars worth

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

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Old Ben Butler was not well liked. Vide this barn-burner of an obituary from the old Nashville "American" -

January 12, 1893

------------------ Old Ben Butler is dead! Early yesterday morning the angel of death acting under the devil's orders took him from earth and landed him in hell. In all this Southern country there are no tears, no sighs, and no regrets. He lived only too long. We are glad he has at last been removed from earth and even pity the devil the possession he has secured.
When Grant died, it was with the respect and esteem of the Southern people. When Sheridan died, all the harm he did our cause during the bloody contest of more than a quarter of a century ago was forgotten and his seeming cruelty had grown to be held as love of country and his terrific assaults as great generalship. When old Tecumseh Sherman passed away, the people whom he devastated and robbed of property and precious lives were pleased to forget the bonfires he made of our cities, and the path of death he cut to the sea, and now they hold him up as one who loved well his country and was cruel only to be true.
But with Ben Butler it is different. His stay in the South was a curse to our people and his dead body cannot shake the estimate formed of his character when he sat in New Orleans as a military satrap upon the lives and property of defenseless men and women.
We have no love for him, and praise of any kind solely because he is at last dead, would be the veriest hypocrisy from Southern people.
There is nothing in his entire life to excite our admiration. When it is said that he was possessed of great intelligence and undaunted energy all that is to his credit has been said.
He was a truckling demagogue whose selfishness amounts to pollution; he was an autocrat who used power to wreak personal revenge; he was mean and malignant, a hangman from prejudice, the insulter of women, a braggadocio, a trickster and a scoundrel, whose heart was as black as the smoke from the coals that are now scorching his soul.
If there be a future of peace in store for Ben Butler after his entrance upon eternity, then there is no hell and the Bible is a lie. If hell be only as black as the Good Book describes it, then there are not the degrees of punishment in which some Christians so firmly believe.
He has gone, and from the sentence which has already been passed upon him there is no appeal. He is already so deep down in the pit of everlasting doom that he couldn't get the most powerful ear trumpet conceivable to scientists and hear the echoes of old Gabriel's trumpet, or fly a million kites and get a message to St. Peter who stands guard at heaven's gate.
In our statute books many holidays are decreed. It was an egregious oversight that one on the occasion of the death of Ben Butler was not foreordained. It should be a day of merrymaking. The "Beast" is dead. The cymbals should beat and the tin horn should get to its exultant work. Butler has gone where he can issue no more orders making the rape of Southern women a gala pastime. He has gone where there are no more spoons to be stolen. He has gone where it is not in his power to order hanged Southern gentlemen for alleged treason against Butlerism.
Good bye Ben! You strutted through a few temporal triumphs; now rest if you can in the brimstone glare of hell fire. You laughed twenty five years ago, when you branded your offensive personality upon the memories of your superiors; now smile if you can when powerless and sunk so low as to be beyond the sympathy of even Christian men and women.

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