The Victims at New Orleans — some interesting Statements--"Order no. 28."
‘"A returned prisoner"’ is writing some very interesting sketches for the Jackson
Mississippian which give many new developments of
Butler's conduct at New Orleans which have never yet been in print.
The case of
Mayor Monroe is peculiarly painful.
His arrest and imprisonment were occasioned by a strong remonstrance against the infamous ‘"
Order No. 23."’ and the following correct history of that brutal order, directing Southern ladies to be treated ‘"as women of the town, plying their occupations as such,"’ is the first yet in print.
The writer says:
‘
The "Order 28,"-which has stigmatized its brutal author throughout Christendom, was at first refused publication by all the newspapers in New Orleans.
It was then copied on sheets of paper and surreptitiously posted on many of the principal corners of the streets in the immediate neighborhood of the
St. Charles Hotel.
The next day all of the newspaper offices were ordered to be closed for disobedience of orders.
On this becoming known, the
True Delta paper published the order, and the other newspapers timidly submitted to the
force of circumstances, and published it also.
The natural excitement and indignation that followed throughout the community is indescribable.
To their credit, be it said, nearly all of
Butler's officers expressed themselves
ashamed of the indecent order, and even now they would rather not have the subject brought up. Several lady subscribers sent to the newspaper office and indignantly and positively forbid that such papers should no longer be left at their dwellings.
His Honor,
Mayor Monroe, with a party of influential citizens, at once called on the Boast and endeavored to obtain some qualification of the order; but they could get no satisfaction, and were rudely dismissed.
Mayor Monroe then wrote an indignant and reproachful communication to
Butler, and again pressed him for a modification of the hateful order.
Butler then sent for the
Mayor. --
Mayor Monroe replied.
‘"Tell
Gen. Butler my office is at the
City Hotel, where he can see me, if desirable."’
Butler retorted, that unless the
Mayor came at once to his headquarters he would send an armed force to arrest and bring him there.
Further opposition being useless, the
Mayor,
chief of police, and several friends, then went to the
St. Charles Hotel, where they found the Brute in a towering rage.
Butler claimed to be much insulted at the conduct of the
Mayor, and without ceremony or delay sent
Mr. Monroe and those who accompanied him into prison.
In a few days they were all shipped down to
Fort Jackson.
Mr. Monroe's and several other families were thus thrown into great distress by this act of modern tyranny, and all claims or petitions for their relief were unavailing.
About the first of October
Mrs. Monroe feelingly requested that her husband might be permitted to come home briefly to see their dying child.
The tcted wife had better have addressed her tearful appeal to a statue of stone, for the hard-hearted Brute turned a deaf ear to her prayer.
The poor child died soon afterwards.
The conduct of the negroes in New Orleans is intolerable to their owners, who can exercise little or no control over them.
The Abolitionists have utterly demoralized them.
They are fed, clothed, and quartered by the
Yankees, who fraternize with them generally in a shameful manner, while they laugh and talk and walk together on the streets, in the most disgusting style, showing very little inclination to make way on the banquet for ladies and gentlemen.
The likely mulattoes are employed, or take up with the officers as body servants, while the common class are engaged to cook and wash for the men; but their characteristic indolence prevails, and their Yankee brothers, who of course have no idea how to manage the darkies, get but little service out of them.
A child of
Mr. Thomas, a citizen of New Orleans, was walking the streets in charge of a negress, when a negro boy stepped up and impudently took off a red
white and
red ‘"secesh"’ ribbon that was tied around the child's waist.
On learning this outrage,
Mr. Thomas hunted up the nigger and very properly gave him a severe thrashing.
The darkey threatened vengeance and the next day
Mr. Thomas was arrested and sent to the parish prison for thirty days for whipping the negro.
Mr. A. Lathrop, of
Mobile, had a very likely mulatto boy who ran off and took up with a Yankee officer; his owner meeting the boy soon afterwards about the suburbs of the city, took him in charge, chastised him, and ordered him home.
Mr. Lathrop was arrested and cast into the parish prison for six months for
daring to claim his slave, after he had been in possession of an officer of the army of the United States--
i. e., an abolition thief.
Very few families in the city have been able to retain their negro servants — nearly all have been enticed away, openly or by stealth.
On a demand being made by the owner the negroes would sometimes be given up, but in a day or two they would be missing again.
A gentleman riding in one of the city railroad cars with his sister recently, the latter was rudely pushed by a negro who just entered.
The brother knocked him down immediately; the negro got up and drew a revolver on the gentleman, who beat him soundly.
The gentleman was of course arrested, on complaint of the negro.
When the case came on, in a day or two,
Provost Marshal Kilborn said he was not acquainted with either of the
gentlemen, and insultingly added, that as he could not tell the white man from the negro, he would thank the white man to stand up and answer the charge.
The gentleman was sent to jail for one week for striking the negro, and the nigger was fined five dollars for drawing a weapon!
The Abolitionists boast that they have 20,000 negroes in and around New Orleans.
The number is certainly very large; but a more idle filthy, lazy, degraded looking set of wretches never were seen; they can hardly be made to cook and wash for themselves, and the Abolitionists are greatly perplexed in trying to manage them.
All the world knows old
Dr. Warren Stone.--He is celebrated for his great surgical skill, as well as for his greatness of heart, independence of character, and devotion to the
South.
This truly great man was selected by Brute
Butler as a ‘"shining mark,"’ upon which to cast his venom.
He was accordingly arrested and brought into the presence of the tyrant.
The
Doctor walked up to
Butler without waiting to be asked, and said in an abrupt, curt manner; ‘"Here I am, General, and I want to know what I was arrested for." ’
Butler looked at the
Doctor from head to foot, and said contemptuously: ‘"I had you arrested because you are a great rebel, and the influence of such a man as you are in dangerous to the community.
I shall send you to
Fort Jackson to get you out of my way." ’ The old
Doctor looked steadily into the repulsive crooked eyes of his wicked enemy, as he indignantly replied: ‘"Great rebel, hey?--You'll send me to
Fort Jackson, hey?
I glory in being a great rebel; you can send me to
Fort Jackson, and be damned."’ When about to be sent on board the boat that was to convey him to the fort,
Dr. Stone was informed that if he would pay a
fine of five hundred dollars he could avoid going down; but the old patriot scornfully retorted: ‘"Tell
General Butler that it seems to be a matter of
dollars with him, but it is a matter of
principle with me, and I would not give him five cents! "’ No man in the community is more beloved and admired than
Dr. Stone, and, as soon as it became known to his friends that he could be relieved on paying a fine, they sent the amount to Thief
Butler, and the noble old man was released.
’
