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

I had issued an order that there should be no meetings or convocations held except by my permission, save of the fire companies and police.

About eleven o'clock one night a good-looking, well-dressed negro servant applied to see me. I was about retiring, but said he might be sent in.

“General,” said he, “I have just come from a party of gentlemen. There were fourteen of them. They have been having a dinner, and they have abused you and the United States, and swore about you and said all manner of hard things about you. I know it, for I was waiting on the table all the evening, and I took notice so as to tell you.”

“Do you know their names?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where their places of business are?”

“Yes, sir.”

The bell was touched for a stenographer, who took down the names and addresses of all the members of the party. A five-dollar gold piece was given to the negro and he was dismissed, his name and address being taken.

In the morning the names of all the persons composing the party were given to an orderly, who was instructed to call on each of them, letting no one of them know that he was going to call upon the other, and give each my compliments and say that I would be glad to see him at my office at four o'clock sharp.

At four o'clock the orderly opened the door, and touching his cap, said:--

“General, the men that you ordered here are in waiting.”

I ordered them shown in, and they arranged themselves around the room. There was an expression of eager curiosity on the face of each.

“Gentlemen,” said I, “I trust I know the habits of good society well enough not to take much notice of what is done and said at a social dinner party, when the wine is in and the wit is supposed to be out. My information is, and you know whether it is correct or not, that you were assembled last night in direct disobedience of ”