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Browsing named entities in a specific section of Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler. Search the whole document.

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October 20th (search for this): chapter 15
work, the first time they are mustered for labor, in order that they may know why it is that they do not receive that kind and courteous treatment they have heretofore from the United States, as prisoners of war. Upon any attempt to escape by any of these prisoners so kept at work, they will be instantly shot. By command of Major-General Butler. [Official.] Ed. W. Smith, Assistant Adjutant-General. The succeeding day the order was exactly executed. The experiment was a success. October 20 General Lee officially notified General Grant that the negro prisoners had been withdrawn from the trenches and would be treated as prisoners of war, and thereupon an order See Appendix No. 8. was issued and they were released. This experiment was a success in another point of view, showing how readily the rebels under pressure can be converted to loyalty, as nearly, if not quite, all of them, being citizens of Richmond, offered to take the oath of allegiance if they could be release
November 15th (search for this): chapter 15
ndix No. 9. Having before that procured the assent of the Secretary of War to the lease of the steamers Atlantic and Baltic for this humane enterprise, I answered in the most imperative manner that he should not yield to subordinate interference at Washington,--a thing of which I had seen something too much,--and that he should hold his transportation at all hazards. See Appendix No. 10. In compliance with the order Colonel Mulford got off, and arrived in Savannah River about the 15th of November and reported his success in arranging for the delivery of all the sick and wounded. See Appendix No. 11 He was also enabled to effect an arrangement for feeding and clothing our prisoners, whom he found in a most filthy and destitute condition. The further exchange had to be transferred to Charleston because of the operations of General Sherman, but Colonel Mulford succeeded in getting about twelve thousand men. In pursuance of the negotiations concluded by Colonel Mulford, an ord
December 16th (search for this): chapter 15
so held, except colored soldiers, I proposed to the Secretary of War the plan of so exchanging until we had exhausted all our prisoners held by the rebels, and as we should then have a surplus of some ten thousand, to hold these as hostages for our colored troops, of whom the rebels held only hundreds, and to retaliate upon this surplus such wrongs as the rebels might perpetrate upon our soldiers. This was set out in a letter to the Secretary of War. See Appendix No. 2. About the 16th of December the business of exchange was confided to me. In pursuance of my plan I sent Major Mulford, assistant agent of exchange (to whose faithfulness to his duties, and unvarying kindness to the unfortunates under his charge of both armies, I bear most cheerful witness), with some five hundred Confederates up to City Point with a proposal to deliver them for a like number of our men. It seemed to me quite certain that the Confederate authorities could never withstand the pressure of the friends
December 27th (search for this): chapter 15
e rebel cabinet on the subject, with a decided division of opinion. It was finally decided that the United States Government should be notified that as General Butler had been outlawed by Mr. Davis' proclamation, in company with all officers who should command negro troops, they would not treat with him as agent of exchange. In this way it was supposed the issue presented by the United States commissioner might be avoided. A letter to this effect was forwarded by Mr. Ould under date of December 27. This letter was promptly returned, with the information that the government did not recognize the right of the rebel authorities to outlaw its officers, and that neither General Butler nor his officers could be intimidated from the performance of their duties by any such threats, and that the government knew how to protect itself and retaliate outrages upon their persons. The Virginia legislature, as I was informed, passed a resolution asking Mr. Davis to reverse the outlawry and rec
1800 AD (search for this): chapter 15
negro soldiers captured by them from the armies of the United States, because of the former owner-ship of them by their citizens or subjects, and only claim such as result, under the laws of war, from their captor merely. Do the Confederate authorities claim the right to reduce to a state of slavery freemen, prisoners of war captured by them? This claim our fathers fought against under Bainbridge and Decatur, when set up by the Barbary powers on the northern shore of Africa about the year 1800, and in 1864 their children will hardly yield it upon their own soil! This point I will not pursue further, because I understood you to repudiate the idea that you will reduce free men to slaves because of capture in war, and that you base the claim of the Confederate authorities to re-enslave our negro soldiers, when captured by you, upon the jus post limini, or that principle of the law of nations which rehabilitates the former owner with his property taken by an enemy, when such propert
1804 AD (search for this): chapter 15
ccordance with this recommendation. Now, while it may be conceded as a usage of civilized warfare, that prisoners of war necessarily supported by the capturing government may be employed by that government to labor upon public work, yet it has never been among nations making professions of Christianity, held that captives of war, either by land or sea, could be made slaves. And it will also be remembered, that the United States Government went to war with Tripoli and other Barbary powers in 1804, to force them at the cannon's mouth to repudiate this doctrine. It will be seen that the Confederate commissioner, however, has so far modified his claim, that officers in command of colored troops and free negroes, although both may be serving in company with slaves as soldiers in the army of the United States, are to be treated as prisoners of war, so that the question of difference between us now is not one of color, because it is admitted now that free black men of the loyal States are
1861 AD (search for this): chapter 15
ly tardy in all his movements. Was there ever such dog-day madness? As he [Scott] threw down the glove and I took it up, I presume war is declared. Be it so. I have one strong point, that I do not care one iota for my present position. McClellan's letter, Sept. 27, 1861. His story, page 91. I enclose a card just received from A. Lincoln. It shows too much deference to be seen outside. McClellan's letter, September, 1861. His story, page 91. At one time during the autumn of 1861, Secretary Cameron made quite an abolition speech to some newly arrived regiment. Next day Mr. Stanton urged me to arrest him for inciting insubordination. He often advocated the propriety of my seizing the government and taking affairs into my own hands. McClellan's letter. His story, page 152. Mr. Stanton's card came up, and as soon as possible I went down to see him. He told me that he had been appointed Secretary of War, and that his name had been sent to the Senate for confi
July 10th, 1861 AD (search for this): chapter 15
ined. Incredible as it is, 'tis true and pity 'tis, 'tis true. A dictatorship could have been established only by subduing the people of the country by the armies of the United States. At the time McClellan was summoned to take charge of our greatest army, his only military achievement had been in a short campaign with a few regiments, a battery, two companies of cavalry and three detached companies. McClellan's letter, July 2. His story, page 59. His first action was on the 10th of July, 1861, and was fought without the loss of an officer on his side. His second battle was fought on the 13th of July and resulted in the surrender of the enemy, consisting of one brigade officer, two colonels twenty-five officers, and five hundred and sixty men. The entire results of the campaign he himself sums up in these words: Nine guns taken, twelve colors, lots of prisoners, and all this was done with so little loss on our side, ten killed, thirty-five wounded. McClellan's letter, Ju
July 27th, 1861 AD (search for this): chapter 15
. McClellan, the second day afterwards,was sent for from Washington, and on the sixth day after that was put in command of all the forces which could be brought to defend the capital. Let McClellan from his own book tell his own story of how he was received:-- . . . I find myself in a new and strange position here: President, Cabinet, General Scott, and all deferring to me. By some strange operation of magic I seem to have become the power of the whole land. McClellan's letter, July 27, 1861. His story, page 82. They give me my way in everything, full swing and unbounded confidence. All tell me that I am held responsible for the fate of the nation, and that all its resources shall be placed at my disposal. It is an immense task that I have on my hands, but I believe I can accomplish it. . . . Who would have thought, when we were married, that I should so soon be called upon to save my country? McClellan's letter, July 30, 1861. His story, page 83. He had been in
July 30th, 1861 AD (search for this): chapter 15
the whole land. McClellan's letter, July 27, 1861. His story, page 82. They give me my way in everything, full swing and unbounded confidence. All tell me that I am held responsible for the fate of the nation, and that all its resources shall be placed at my disposal. It is an immense task that I have on my hands, but I believe I can accomplish it. . . . Who would have thought, when we were married, that I should so soon be called upon to save my country? McClellan's letter, July 30, 1861. His story, page 83. He had been in Washington four days. Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he is grown so great? Came back and had a long interview with Seward about my pronunciamento against General Scott's policy. . . . But the old general always comes in the way. He understands nothing, appreciates nothing. McClellan's letter, Aug. 8, 1861. His story, page 84. . . .General Scott is the greatest obstacle. I have to fight my way against him. To-morrow the que
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