BUTLER AND THE SHE-REBELS. 99 next day, its publication was re- the latter-that is, by those of the sumed; and on the 6th the proclama- ruling caste-as their patent of notion duly appeared in its columns. bility; and they clung to it, and stood ready to sacrifice and dare for it, as aristocrats are always ready to The great St. Charles Hotel having been suddenly closed, Gen. Butler reopened and made it his head-stand by their order.' They talked quarters, summoning the Mayor and Council to meet him there at 2 P. M. next day, which they did; and, after considerable debate, were satisfied, first, that Gen. Butler was master of the situation; secondly, that he intended to remain so; thirdly, that any who should undertake to dispute or defy his authority would certainly get into trouble; and fourthly, that the mob, though it might hoot and howl with impunity, must stop short of actual violence and mutiny, or their streets would be swept by grape and their gutters run red with blood. It took some time to impress these truths clearly on the average Rebel mind; but the work was effectively done; and New Orleans ultimately confessed that she had not before in a generation been nearly so clean, so quiet, so orderly, so free from robbery, violence, outrage, and murder, as she was under the rule of 'Beast Butler' in the year of grace 1862. Two conspicuous instances out of many must here serve as examples of his dealings with the spirit of treason. The women of New Orleans-that portion of them who arrogated to themselves the designation of ladies, with a large majority of their sisters throughout the Confederacy-had ere this become most impassioned Rebels. The aristocratic instinct being stronger in women than in men, Slavery, though it debauched the men and degraded the women of the South, had come to be regarded by The loudly of shedding their blood, if brious and venomous language, they | security of its inhabitants; and all that need be added in explanation or in defense of the hated order is this: that no soldier under Gen. Butler's command ever acted upon the vile construction of that order which his enemies set up; and no woman in New Orleans ever pretended that she was anywise abused or insulted because thereof; while its success in arresting the scandalous behavior at which it aimed was immediate and complete. passed the limits of any indulgence which may properly be accorded to even feminine malignity. In New Orleans, the climax of these cowardly insults was only reached when something dressed like a lady saw fit to spit in the faces of two officers quietly passing along the street. It was this experiment on his forbearance which decided Gen. Butler to issue his famous Order No. 28. It reads as follows: "GENERAL ORDER No. 28: The other case, wherein Gen. Butler especially displeased his enemies "HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, NEW ORLEANS, May 15, 1862. "As the officers and soldiers of the Uni-and those of his country, was that of ted States have been subjected to repeated Wm. B. Mumford, a New Orleans insults from the women (calling themselves gambler, who had led the Rebel mob ladies) of New Orleans, in return for the who tore down our National flag most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered that hereaf- from the roof of the Mint, where it ter, when any female shall, by word, ges- had been hoisted by our sailors deture, or movement, insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United tailed for that duty by Capt. Morris, States, she shall be regarded and held liable of the Pensacola, on the 27th, after to be treated as a woman of the town ply- Lovell had evacuated the city, and its ing her avocation. Mayor and Common Council had officially declared themselves incapable of making any resistance, and that, yielding to physical force alone, they would make none, to the forces of the United States. The outrage thus committed by Mumford and his 66 By command of Maj. Gen. BUTLER. "GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. G., Chief of Staff." This order was subjected to the worst possible construction, first by Mayor Monroe and his secret prompters; next by the Rebel Governor of Louisiana and the Secessionists generally; and so on, until Lord Palmer-backers, furtive and riotous as it was, ston, in the British House of Com- drew a shot from the howitzers in the mons, took occasion to be astonished, main-top of the Pensacola, and might to blush, and to proclaim his "deep-have provoked and justified the deest indignation" at the tenor of that order; Punch eagerly echoing his perversions. Gen. Butler was finally constrained, after too long enduring his palterings and equivocations, to send Mayor Monroe to prison, abolish his municipality, banish Pierre Soulé, and appoint Col. G. F. Shepley military commandant, to the signal improvement of the government of New Orleans and the peace and struction of the city by our fleet; since the authorities did not disclaim, while the mob vociferously applauded and adopted it. So The Picayune of next morning eulogized its gallantry and patriotism, and proclaimed it an act of the city, and a proof of her "unflinching determination to sustain to the uttermost the righteous cause for which she has done so much and made such sacri FARRAGUT BEFORE VICKSBURG. fices." The city having been completely occupied, and the National authority rëestablished, Gen. Butler caused Mumford to be arrested, tried, and, he being convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, that sentence was duly executed," in the face of all New Orleans anxiously looking on, and in defiance of the confident prediction of the Rebels that Butler would not dare to do it. They did not dare; he did. And his hold on the city was firmer and safer from that moment. About the same time," he pardoned and set at liberty six humbler Rebels, who, having been captured and paroled at the surrender of the forts, had been induced secretly to rëenlist in the Rebel service, conspiring to force or evade our pickets and hasten to join Beauregard's army in Mississippi. Their guilt was undoubted; their crime one that military law sternly punishes with death. 101 but, as the Confederates had not occupied it as a military post, it was left unmolested. The advance of our squadron, under Commander S. P. Lee, encountered no opposition until it reached Vicksburg 28 whence a summons to surrender was answered with defiance. Our force was inadequate. to attack until the arrival, a few days later, of Capt. Farragut, accompanied by 4,000 soldiers under Gen. Thomas Williams. Vicksburg is naturally so strong, and was so firmly held, that it was not until after still further rëenforcements had come up, including Commander Porter's mortar fleet, that a bombardment was opened." Not much impression was made on the elevated and formidable Rebel batteries by our fire; but, at 3 A. M. of the 28th, Capt. Farragut, in the Hartford, with six more of his vessels, passed Vicksburg triumphantly, with a total loss of 15 killed and 30 wounded, and exchanged cheers above with Capt. Davis's fleet of mortar and gun-boats, which had fought their way down from Cairo. Still, our forces were not strong enough for assault, and the bombardment remained ineffective; while Gen. Williams, who, on his way up from Baton Rouge, had been fired on from Grand Gulf, and had burned that village in retaliation, was losing men daily by sickness, which ultimately reduced his effective force by more than half. He had undertaken to cut a canal, or water-course, across the peninsula opposite Vicksburg, and had gathered some 1,200 negroes from the adjacent plantations to assist in the work; but it did not succeed. The soil to be ex27 May 12. May 18. 20 Night of June 26. The occupation of New Orleans, its defenses and approaches, having been completed and assured, Commander Porter, with a part of our fleet, returned to Ship Island; a part was stationed near New Orleans to assist in its defense; and the residue, under Capt. Craven, steamed up the river to extend our sway in that direction. Baton Rouge, the State capital, was captured without resistance. The Mayor refusing to surrender, Commander Palmer, of the Iroquois, landed and took possession of the U. S. Arsenal. Capt. Farragut arrived soon afterward, and took measures to render our possession permanent. Natchez was in like manner given up to the Iroquois;" May 31. 26 May 7. 26 24 June 7. 25 28 the afternoon" prior to its occurrence, warned his subordinates to be ready and watchful, so as not to be surprised next morning. The Rebels had been assured by their spies that our men were mostly sick in hospital, which was measurably true; but regiments that numbered but 150 on parade, counted 500 on the battlefield. cavated was an exceedingly tenacious clay, in good part covered with large trees. The strong current obstinately kept to the old channel, and could not be attracted to the right bank. An expedition, started 30 to go up the Yazoo, having unexpectedly encountered, near the mouth of that river, and been worsted by, the Rebel ram Arkansas," Capt. Farragut, having no prospect of further The Rebel force had been organusefulness above, determined to re-ized for this effort at Tangipahoa, 60 pass the frowning batteries, cutting miles north-eastward, and 78 N. N.W. out and destroying the Arkansas by of New Orleans. It consisted of 13 the way. He succeeded in running regiments, and must have consideraby Vicksburg with little loss; but bly outnumbered ours, which was his designs upon the Arkansas were composed of nine thinned regiments baffled by darkness. A few days in all. Each side, in its account of later, Commander Porter, with the the action, made its own force 2,500, iron-clad Essex, and Lt.-Col. Ellet, and that of its adversary twice or with the ram Queen of the West, thrice as great. The Rebels were made" another attempt to cut out commanded in chief by Maj.-Gen. the Arkansas, which was likewise John C. Breckinridge, with Brig.defeated, Gen. Daniel Ruggles" leading their left wing, and Brig.-Gen. Charles Clarke their right. The attack was made at daylight," simultaneously and vigorously, by the entire Rebel force, on the two roads which lead from the south-west into Baton The village of Donaldsonville, which had the bad habit of firing upon our weaker steamers, as they passed up or down the river, was bombarded therefor by Capt. Farragut, and partially destroyed. As the river was now falling fast, threaten-Rouge; and, as but three of our ing to greatly impair the efficiency of our fleet, the siege of Vicksburg was abandoned, under instructions from Washington, and Capt. Farragut dropped down the river, reaching New Orleans on the 28th, with the greater part of his fleet. regiments-the 14th Maine, 21st Indiana, and 6th Wisconsin—were immediately engaged, these were soon compelled to fall back, barely saving their batteries, whereof two were for a few moments in the hands of the Rebels. A dense fog precluded a clear comprehension on our side of the position, and caused the 7th Vermont to fire into the 21st Indiana, mistaking it for a Rebel regiment. Our lines were formed nearly two miles back from the river, where our 34 From Massachusetts; formerly Lt.-Col. of the 5th Regular Infantry. * Aug. 5. 35 BRECKINRIDGE ATTACKS BATON ROUGE. 103 gunboats could give them little sup- | Vicksburg," she had steamed leisurely port; but, as the famous Rebel ram Arkansas, hitherto so successful, was counted on as a part of the attacking force, supported by two improvised gunboats, and as our front was wooded, with a cross-road and open fields just beyond it, Gen. Williams may fairly be supposed to have understood his business. The battle raged fiercely for two hours, during which the Rebel right was advanced across the lateral road, driving back the 14th Maine, pillaging and burning its camp; and, while four successive assaults were unsuccessfully made on our front, Gen. Clarke made a resolute effort to flank our left and establish himself in its rear. Gen. Williams, anticipating this movement, had placed a battery, supported by two regiments, to resist it; and the Rebels were repulsed with considerable loss. Meanwhile, the 21st Indiana, posted at the crossing of the roads--whose Colonel, suffering from wounds previously received, had twice essayed to join it, and each time fallen from his horse-had lost its Lt.-Col., Keith, Maj. Hayes, and Adj. Latham -the two former severely wounded, the latter killed-when Gen. Williams, seeing Latham fall, exclaimed, "Indianians! your field-officers are all killed: I will lead you!" and was that moment shot through the breast and fell dead; the command devolving on Col. T. W. Cahill, 9th Connecticut. down the river until within 15 miles of Baton Rouge, where her starboard engine broke down; and it had been but partially repaired when the sound of his guns announced to her the opening of Breckinridge's attack. Coming down to within five miles of the city, she was cleared for action; when her engine again broke down, and she drifted ashore on the right bank of the river. Her tenders, the Music and the Webb, were of no account without her; and now her strong armament of six 8-inch and four 50-pound guns, with 180 men, could not be brought into action; and our gunboats, the Kineo and Katahdin below, and Essex, Cayuga, and Sumter above Baton Rouge, were enabled to devote their attention to the Rebels on land; firing over the heads of our soldiers at the enemy, nearly two miles distant. It is not probable that their shells did any great harm to the Rebels, and they certainly annoyed and imperiled our own men; but they served Breckinridge as an excuse for ordering a retreat, which a part of his men had already begun. By 10 A. M., his forces were all on the back track, having lost some 300 to 400 men, including Gen. Clarke, mortally wounded and left a prisoner; Cols. Allen, Boyd, and Jones, of Louisiana; Cols. A. P. Thompson and T. H. Hunt, of Kentucky; Col. J. W. Robertson, of Alabama, and other valuable officers. On our side, beside Gen. Williams, and the entire staff of the 21st Indiana, we lost Col. Roberts, of the 7th Vermont; Maj. Bickmore and Adj. Metcalfe, of the 14th Maine; Capt. Eugene Kelty, 30th Massachusetts, 30 At 2 A. M., Aug. 3. But the battle was already won. The Rebel attack had exhausted its vitality without achieving any decided success; while the Arkansas, from which so much had been expected, had failed to come to time. Leaving |