Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

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You say it is a “godsend” that it was without conflict of arms. That was what I came here for, as I understood it, and I was very anxious to have a conflict of arms in Baltimore in order to punish any mob that might turn out against me, for the murder of my fellow-townsmen and fellow-soldiers; and the only thing that disturbed me about the expedition was that I was not likely to have a chance for a fight with the murderous “plug uglies” of that city. The whole thing was distressingly quiet.

You say you heard I “sent a detachment to Frederick, but that is impossible.” I learned that there was no force in Frederick to oppose a platoon, and I sent a company and captured the chief traitor, Ross Winans, who made pikes of the John Brown pattern for the mob to kill my soldiers with, and who made them after that pattern so that the rebels might say when they had the head of one of my townsmen on a pike, “We have made you take your own medicine,” for John Brown's pikes were made in Massachusetts.

I agree that I had not reported to you, and my apology is that there I had not a moment to spare, and I retired after forty hours sleeplessness to get a little rest, only to be wakened to get this insulting despatch. What was the use of my reporting to you? I had been before you several times before, and I doubt whether you would keep awake long enough to listen to it. As you have no further command over me,--good morning, General,

I did not call upon him again until he sent for me. I am not ashamed to confess I was so wrought up that upon my return to my quarters I threw myself on my lounge, and burst into a flood of tears. But while I was before Scott, I did not even wink.

Directly after this, I saw Mr. Cameron, the Secretary of War, and informed him that if I was no longer needed I intended to report home. He very kindly begged me not to do so. He said I would regret it if I did; that I had come into the service a leading Democrat, and others who were prominent Democrats had followed my example, and my action might tend to make the war a partisan one. I gave some little account of the scene that had taken place between Scott and myself. He said that being young I was capable of forgiving the outbursts of temper of a disappointed old man; and, further, that General Scott could not, because of his infirmities, long remain in command of the army.