5qs LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 703 370 7 f t ii» -^ n' LETTER FROM aEISTER^E BUTLER TO HON. DANIEL S. RICHARDSON. Lowell, Feb. 3, 18G2. H^ON. Daniel S. Richardson : — My Dear Sir — I had nearly determined not to write or publish anything upon these most unfor- tunate troubles exposed by the publication of the correspondence upon the subject of recruitment by Governor Andrew. I have not yet written or pub- lished a word ; but your inquiries, Avhen we acci- dentally met in the cars, were made in that kind spirit and evident desire to know the truth so as to act upon it understandingly, that "to supply the ripe wants of a friend I break a custom." W7mt teas the origin of the difficulty ? I profess to you upon my honor I do not know. You shall have all I do know about it. On my return from Hatteras, about the 1st of September, it was said that recruiting was very dull in New England. Massachusetts had not furnished her quota of troops, although the President, through the Secre- tary of War, had made the most urgent call, early in August, for all the troops authorized by the act of Congress even to be sent forward by companies. Senator Wilson had gone home to aid the recruit- ment. Letters came to me saying that a portion of the people in New England, heretofore acting upon the same political ideas that I had done, would be largely induced to follow me and enlist for the war. Believing their representations; trusting that I could aid the Administration in which all our hopes must be centered as the Government of the coun- try, I accepted the labor and trouble of recruiting — which I had before declined, although the au- thority had been generously given me, as you will see by the paper which I enclose, marked A. I saw that Massachusetts and the other New Eng- land States were paying the whole expenses of re- cruiting, and receiving only 40 per cent, back from the General Government, while in the Middle and Western States the General Government were pay- ing the whole expenses of independent recruiting, and the troops so raised were reckoned a part of the- quota of those States. Now as it costs at least an hundred thousand dollars to raise, organize, arm, uniform, equip and transport a regiment to the seat of war, which must be paid by the State if the re- cruitment is done by the State authorities, it seem- ed just that Massachusetts, for instance, should share some part of the benefit of such recruitment, independent of the State authorities, and paid by the United States. The President, however, desiring that I should attempt to recruit, but wishing that there should be no appearance even, of Federal interference with the State Governments before he would approve of the authority given me to recruit, joined the Secre- tary o£ War in a telegram to the Governors of the several New England States to ask their assent to " Gen. Butler's raising in New England six regi- ments, to be recruited and commanded by himself." This was done on the 11th of Septem- ber, and on the 12th, favorable answers having been received from all of the Governors, as was sup- posed, |he President gave his approval on that day. This will explain to you why the authority given me, signed by the Secretary of War on the 10th, was approved by the President on the 12th of Sep- tember. See my General Order No. 2. At the same time, the War Department honored me by placing me in the charge of an expedition along the Eastern shore of Virginia, for the purpose of re-possessing ourselves of that Peninsula. This movement had been planned by me while at For- tress Monroe on the 20th of July, and though partly executed, was broken up by the defeat of Bull Run, which made it a necessity to send more than half of the troops, then at Fortress Monroe, to Washington and Baltimore. The unhappy troubles of Governor Andrew caused that expedition, under my command, to be given up, but my friend, for- tunately for the country, nothing was lost, because the same thing, some three months later, was so splendidly and successfully done by Gen. Dix. With these purposes and with this authority I came to New England ; was most kindly and cor- dially received by every Governor including Gov- ernor Andrew. Explained to each my purposes, and from the Governors of Maine, Vermont, Con- necticut and New Hampshire, from first to last, re- ceived every encouragement ; the kindest conside- ration and the fullest aid and cooperation in re- cruiting troops that I could ask. Having understood that Governor Sprague was fitting out troops from Rhode Island for General Burnside, and that gallant little State having done ^ H ,3f so nobly in the war, I did not call officially on the Governor to aid my recruitment, although he as- sured me personally that he would aid my enter- prise in any possible manner. For the patriotic course of these gentlemen — their prompt susten- ance of the General Government — a debt of grati- tude is due from the country, not easily to be esti- mated — because they did what they conceived their duty to the country, notwithstanding tempta- tions to place themselves in opposition to it, as the Governor of Massachusetts sent copies of parts of the correspondence, against the General Govern- ment, which he has since published, to Governors of New England States, to induce them to refuse me the privilege of raising troops, as he has done. I have wished that correspondence might be pub- lished; but, alas! my friend, I have no legislature to call for it, and if I had, I doubt if the " public interest" would be promoted by the publication, and I have no " private interests" to serve in this matter. • I have told you that Governor Andrew received me cordially, and so lie did. I nnfolded to him my plans, and asked for two regiments to be as- signed to me for the expedition to the Eastern shore, besides General Wilson's, which had been ordered to report to me by the War Department. He assigned me the 26th and 28th. I supposed them full, or nearly so, liut afterwards found that the 2Gth had then scarcely 300 men, and the 28th only existed in name and field offlccrs. I also asked his Excellency's aid in recruiting at least one other regiment and a squadron of mounted men. He desired I would wait a week before I took any steps in organizing another regi- ment, and to this I assented and went to Maine. While I was there the Governor issued his General Order No. 23, forbidding my recruiting, and putting himself in an attitude hostile to myself and enter- prise, which he has ever since maintained. From about the time of my return to this I have never spoken with the Governor, although I have endea- vored so to do for what I deemed the interests ©f the public service, as will be seen from the " corre- spondence." But you ask again : Mliat u-as the origin of the dlfficidty f Have you found out ? I have told all I know about it. I knew nothing of all Governor Andrew's correspondence with the War Depart- ment, and Gen. Sherman, of a prior date, till I saw it in print. Those letters and telegrams may, how- ever, have been a way the Governor has of " help- ing General Butler to the utmost." Perhaps you may derive some assistance in your inquiry after the origin of this difficulty by reading the corre- spondence (copies of which I send you) between the Governor's Military Secretary and my Aides- de-Camp. By looking at the date, Oct. 7, you will see that I had the acting and actual Governor of the Commonwealth upon me at the same time and had fo call in assistance. You will farther observe that this con-espondence brings up the '.'old sore" of the publication of my letter about the suppression of slave insurrections in Maryland, for which I am afraid the Governor has never forgiven me. A clue may possibly also be found by reading the follow- ing paragraph from the Governor's letter of Oct. 5 : " I mean to continue to do just what I have from the first persistently done and that is to hold with an iron hand and an iinsicerving purpose ALL the POWERS, which by the latcs pertain to me officially, in my oiv7i grasp." The country may be ruined, the families of poor soldiers may starve, but the " iron hand" may not be relaxed. But say you, cannot this matter he settled f I hoped so. Nay, I still hope so. I will do anything an honorable man may do to adjust it. I will put it into the hands of any committee the Hon. Senate of Massachusetts may select. The wives and chil- dren of these poor soldiers who have lieen enlisted by the Government, their pittance paid by the Gov- ernment, armed and uniformed by the Govern- ment, and have marched to fight the battles of the country, are suffering even now with cold and hun- ger, vainly waiting for the bounty of the State, to which they were taught they had a right to look. What would I not do to relieve them ? I will tell you what I have done to "settle" this matter. In October, finding the difficulty existing. I asked the Hon. Charles Sumner, as the "personal and politi- cal friend" of the Governor's, and representing Massachusetts in one branch of the Federal Gov- ernment, to call on his Excellency and see if the matter could not be adjusted, and gave \\m\ carte blanche on my side to act in the premises. Mr Sum- ner saw the Governor and reported to me that his mission was unsuccessful. Not content with this I asked another gentleman, a "personal and political friend" of the Governor, who had held as high an office as himself, to call on his Excellency to obtain an interview with him for me, and to aid in adjusting the difficulty, but he too was unsuccessful. What more could I do ? Tell me, in your wisdom, what more now can be done. These poor soldiers are not to blame. I may be. Possibly his Excellency may have misjudged; but, these women and children ought not to be punished because of my sins. Devise some means by which the "iron hand" maybe relaxed towai'd them, even if it fall with its whole crushing force upon me. I am no professed philanthropist. I believe in hanging when there is a case for it ; but neither my heart or hand is sufficiently "iron" to see these faultless people suffer if I can help them. It is asked again, are these troops raised by you ir- regulars ? That is a question for the Federal Government to decide. With it I have nothing to do. I must obey 3 the orders given me. I was told to raise troops. It "^'^ has been done. Under many discouragements and . disadvantages, but it has been done. If it were per- mitted me to reason upon the matter, I might sug- c*gest something in favor of their regularity. In _^this hour of my country's peril, I may not stand '^>- upon points of nice technical law, nor upon due re- V^ >flection will any true lover of the Union and Con- stitution. I see that a gentleman, for whom I have the highest possible respect, has said in his place in the Senate that "no lawyer would contend for the regularity of the proceedings." He may be right, and j^et as good and great as he have erred in their construction of Fedei-al relations to the State Governments. The best la^vyers of the South maintain the riffht of secession. Eminent judges have resigned their ermine on the strength of their opinions. Nay, more, in the war of 1812, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, under the lead of Governor Strong, who thought his dignity as "Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the State" had been trenched upon by the United States, gave an opinion by three Judges, that the power to determine tohen the militia of the United States should be called out to repel invasion or sup- press an insurrection against the United States, was solely in the Governors of the respective States, and not in the President of the United States, and further, that when the militia was called out for those purposes, it could be commanded by no United States officer save the President in person. Still further, John Hancock, patriot as he was, stood aloof three days from receiving as a guest of the State, George Washington, then President of the United States, upon the proposition that the Governor was the higher official of the two. I will take leave respectfully to suggest that no lawyer of this date will venture to maintain either of these propositions. So you see, my dear sir, that it is no new thing for Governors of Massachusetts to insist upon their dignity as against the United States. They have not heretofore taken much profit from it, and the State lost the repayment of her war debt of 1812 for nearly forty years, until it was finally obtained in 1860 from the action of Jefi'erson Davis, Esq., who seems to have a singular coincidence of opin- ion with some Massachusetts Governors upon the doctrines of State Rights. Irregular. Will my learned and astute legal friend show me the legal regularity of arresting and shutting up traitors in Fort Warren by telegi'aph ? Yet the heart of the people and the exigency of the times will justify the act and cause to be revered the actor who thus faithfully serves his country. At the time authority was given me to raise troops, Massachusetts had hardly raised half her quota, less than 16,000 being furnished and 33,000 being her share, although repeatedly called upon by the Secretary of War, as will appear by the "Cor- respondence" and the order of August previous. Had she not them "omitted," not to say "refused," to furnish volunteers called for by the President within the very words of the act of Congress, which empowers the President in that contingency to ac- cept volunteers offering their services from such State, and to commission the proper field, staflTand company officers ? But I will not be drawn into a discussion of the regularity of the proceedings of the Government of the United States. I will leave that to Secessionists. They are doing it, not with "quips and sentences and those paper bullets of the brain," but with bat- teries of cannon and the death dealing rifle ball, and with lilvc arguments, enforced with the bayonet, have my brave soldiers marched to settle all ques- tions of State Rights, leaving their families to the justice of the Commonwealth. If these troops thus raised are iiTcgular and unlawful, so are at least 100,000 others ; the brave sons of Tennessee who fonght at Mill Spring; of Kentucky who hold the Thermopylaj of the "dark and bloody ground" under Buel ; of Missouri where they are now hunt- ing the traitor Price as if a wolf. Their Governors have felt it a " conscientious duty" not to commis- sion officers for these volunteers, and they have re- ceived their officers by order of the President in the same words and figures which have commission- ed officers to command ^Massachusetts volunteers, whose Governor has omitted to give commissions although thrice over called upon so to do. But does the Government stayid by you in this re- cruitmetitf Do you mean to ask — Does the Govern- ment stand by itself f I am but an humble instru- ment. Authority was given, September 12, to "raise, organize, arm and equip." It being sup- posed that the order of Sept. 16 might seem to be in conflict, Oct. 1st, a Department of New Eng- land, under command ot Gen. Butler, was created while "recruiting his division," a New England Division, not while Governor Andrew was recruit- ing it. Oct. 2, The Paymaster General is directed to "pay the troops mustered by Gen. Butler a month's pay in advance." On the 20th of October I forward to Washington a copy of my General Order setting forth that I am recruiting, and that order is approved in every particular. On the 13th of January, these troops so recruited sail in the service of the country, under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. On the 14th of the same month, an order emanates from the Headquarters of the Army, under the hand of the Adjutant- General, announcing the rank and commissions of the officers of my regiments in the ordinary form of many other such documents. Need I say ryiore on this topic ? But, why did you not accept the 28^/t Irish Regi- ment, which the Governor offered you ? You will be surprised to learn that I did accept that regi-i ment — and the correspoyidence relating to thai matter has been suppressed — although the Governor says he has sent to the House all the correspon- dence, and has sent some about the Twenty-eighth Regiment. Permit me here to say in all candor, that I do not think the Governor either did, or meant to do, so foul a wrong. I believe the suppression was rather the work of some "unfaithful servant" who copied out the papers. I wish I felt as certain of an opinion in regard to the non-publication of the telegrams to Mr Sumner and his answers. Now, the whole of the telegi'am to Mr Sumner is not published. Nor is the answer. I will send you copies of the letters about the '28tli Regiment, and also the telegi-ams in substance, and will ask j'ou in the same candid spirit in which I have acquitted His Excellency of the wrong — why has so?)ie one so trifled with the Lec/islattire in defiance of all just and honorable dealinr;? But to the 28tli Regiment. When the Governor offered me the 28th Regiment, about the 16th of September, I was inclined to accept it, but learned that it had hardly began to recruit. On my return from Maine, about the 24th of September, I found another rival Irish Regiment — the 29th — had been started by the Governor, and both were endeavor- ing to recruit- by flaming advertisements in oppo- sition to each other. If I accepted the 28th — I took part against the 29th. Seeing that neither could succeed, I thought it not best to mix in the quar- rel. Now, I had suffered some in 1855 in behalf of the military organizations of my Irish fellow-coun- trymen, at a time when I believe His Excellency was under the " shadow of the dark lantern," but it was in behalf of all Irishmen — not a part. With their disagreements and factions, I never will have anything to do. For the just rights and interests of the naturalized citizens I have a right to say I have ever been in the front rank. After trying the experiment of these rival regiments, till Nov. 7th — His Excellency finding it impossible to recruit them — consolidated the two regiments into the 28th — thereby causing many heart burnings and bickerings. Adjutant General Schoulcr then called upon me and desired to know if I would accept that regiment consolidated into eight companies, fill up its ranks with two of my companies from Camp Chase at Lowell, and agree to the recommendation of Gen. Bullock as its Colonel. To this I assented, but in- formed him that I could not take this regiment as one of those I was raising, because it was already substantially officered, it would be unjust to gen- tlemen who were recruiting for me in expectation of commissions ; but, as a regiment was needed to go to Ship Island immediately, I would take the regiment and fill it up independently of all ques- tions which divided myself and the Governor. We agreed upon all details as you will see by the letter which I directed the Adjutant General of the De- partment of New England to write to General Schouler and his answer. But Gen. Schoulcr farther replied, that if I took the regiment, it must be as one of the six raised by myself. Upon I'e- flection, seeing that here might be an opportunity to settle the whole controversy, and that I could consolidate all my recruits into one other regiment and thus be able to have both march at once and be just to my officers, I caused it to be written, that if the Governor 'would allow me " to organize two regiments and select the officers with a veto power upon my improper selections, I would take the 28th as one of my six regiments." This would have ended the whole difficulty and the troops could have long since marched. The answer by the Governor's direction was, the " proposition is respectfully declined." Read the letters and tell me if I do not there endeavor once again to settle this matter. And this too before I had been provoked into reminding his Excellency of his supposed mistake in appointing a man to a high militaiy office who the Governor says con- fessed to himself " had formed a matrimonial con- nection (quere marriage) with a lady who eloped from her husband," — a crime made felony by the laws of Massachusetts. Why leere these letters sup- pressed f Pardon me, my friend, for this long inflic- tion, but nothing shall induce me to write anything more upon this unhappy, may I say, without of- fence, disgraceful controversy. Before many days I hope to be away from it in a very different sort of strife. But as I leave the State, haply not to return, pcmiit me to say a word upon the charge that in my recruitment and correspondence I have treated with contempt and insulted the State and her people. Never, so help me Heaven ! The Old Common- wealth : my home : her fiime the inheritance of my children : her honor the scale into which I threw my fortune and life last April ! No act of mine has ever yet wittingly tarnished her fair escutcheon, and whosoever says that he values her good name and fame more than I do, let him march with me against her enemies and see if he will follow her flag longer or further. Then, and only then, will I yield to him in love, honor or devotion to Massachusetts. Most truly your friend, B. F. BUTLER. [A] Maj. Gcn'l Butler is empowered to raise a brigade of not exceeding five tliousand men with tlic proper proportions of artiller.v and mounted men, and the same troops to organize and equip and arm, with sucli ser\iceable arms as he may deem tit, provided tlie expense shall not exceed the expense paid by the United States for like equipment and material for like troops, and provided the Secretary of War concurs in this. (Signed) A. LINCOLN. August 1, 18CL [Copy of Telegram.] The part of telegram not published by Governor Andrew is in italics.) Boston, Jant 14th, 1862. Hon. Charles Sumner— The President has my programme written replying to his telegram of last Saturday. My letters should be directly and not indirectly answered by the Presi- dent and Department. The Legislature has called on me for whole correspondence. I hold back lest the public interest may suffer, though my own interest would be promoted by publishing. Telegraph me what you think. (Signed) JOHN A. ANDREW. [Answer to above Telegram.] Washington, D. C, Jant 14, 1862. His Excellency John A. Andrew, Boston, Mass : Do not publish the correspondence. In our opinion tlic public interest will suffer if you do. Let not your private interest overcome your patriotism. (Signed) CHAKLES SUMNEK. HENUY WILSON. [This is not literally a copy, but substantially conveys the answer. If it does tlie Governor any injustice, let him pub- lish the original. He has it.] Correspondence of A. O. Bro'wne, Jr. COMJIONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Executive Depaetment, \ Boston, Oct. 25th, 1861.1 Major Gen'l B. F. Butler, TJ. S. Volunteers : General— On October 14tn last I mailed to your address in this city a letter of which I beg leave now to inclose a dupli- cate. The original seemed to require an answer, and as I have received no reply to it, I am compelled to believe that by jome mischance of the mail it musthave been miscarried, although I am confident that it was properly addressed and deposited in the Post Office. To avoid the possibility of another similar mischance, I have requested Mr Spear, the official Messenger of the Gov- ernor and Council, to do me the kindness to deliver this du- plicate in person, and I have the honor to remain, Your ob't serv't, A. G. BROWNE, JK., Lt. Col. and Military Sec'y. COMMONWEALTH OF JLVSSACHUSETTS. ExErr-TivE Department,) Boston, Oct. 7, 1861. i To Major General Butler, U. S. Volunteers, commanding De- partment New England. General:— 1 beg leave to caU to your attention certftin pas- sages in your official correspondence with the Execxtive De- partment of Massachusetts during the months of April and May of the present year. As you were at tliat time engaged in active military ser- vice in the field, I then under a sense of public duty refrained from addressing you, but since you have been transferred to the Department of New England, a suitable opportunity seems to be aflbrded for such an explanation as I liave anx- iously awaited, and it is desirable that I should seek such an explanation in order that our present necessary intercourse may be conducted with a proper sense of personal respect. On April 25th, 1861, His Excellency the Governor addressed to you an official dispatch in answer to one previously re- ceived from you. In reply to this dispatch you, under date of May 10th, wrote a letter to His Excellency of whicli the following is an extract :— "I have taken the liberty to permit the publication of a dis- patch of April 25th, and my vindication of my action pertain- ing thereto. I am impelled to this because the substance of your dispatch to me has been given to the public from Bos- ton, through the columns of the Tribune with strictures upon my conduct. Tliis could not have been without the sanction of the Executive Department in some of its branches." Accompanying this letter was a bundle of official dis- patches, before the examination of which, I, under His Ex- cellency's direction, replied to you as follows, after quoting your languarge above recited. •'To this His Excellency directs me to reply that neither his dispatch to you of the date mentioned, nor any portion of it, nor the substance of it, has been communicated to the Tribune or to any other newspaper, or been examined or seen by any person whose official business did not neces- sarily make the knowledge of its contents an official duty." In reply thereto you, under date of May 16th, returned to His Excellency a letter trom which the following are ex- tracts :— "I certainly did not suppose that your Excellency commu- nicated any portion of your dispatch or permitted it to be communicated to the public through the newspapers ; but true it is that the contents of that dispatch were made known to the Boston correspondent of the Tribune by some attache- of the Executive Department, who had probably been permit ted to enjoy the dignity of copying it ; and as I most thor- oughly and truly believe that the publication was made with- out your Excellency's knowledge, consent or approval, 1 am only sorry that it should have been made at all." " When such publication has been made on one part tend- ing to injure me, what was left to me but to make public my answer thereto. As I have about me only faithful gentlemen there is no possible way in which the contents of my de- spatches can steal into the newspapers withont my sending them, so that, if published at all, it must be with my fullest sanction." " If any portion of the matter has left the slightest trace upon your Excellency's mind * * it wiU be a source of lasting regret to me and will add another instance to that which has passed into a proverb, of the mischief that an unfaithful servant can make." 1 beg leave to state from my personal knowledge, having myself had personal charge of the only copy of the despatch in question of date of April 25th, that between that day and May 10th, which is the date of your letter asserting the pub- lication of its substance in the Tribune with strictures upon your conduct, no person had access to said copy except His Excellency the Governor, and myself. Inasmuch therefore as you state your belief that the al- leged publication was made without His Excellency's knowledge, consent, or approval, your allegations apply to myself and are the more certainly directed against me by your allusions to the fact, that, the body of the despatch of April 25th, was forwarded to you in my handwriting. In reply to these allegations, I assure you that neither the de- spatch of April 25th, nor the copy of It, nor its "substance," nor any portion of its "contents," nor the fact of its exist- ence, was ever communicated by me to the "Boston corres- pondent of the Tribune," or to any other person ; and after careful examination my friends have been unable to discover that the despatch or any copy of it, or its substance, or any portion of its contents, was ever printed either in the Tri- bune or elsewhere until it was published by yourself. You will then I am sure perceive that it is not unreasonable to request you to produce the paper, or specify its date, in which you allege that such publication was made. Such a specification seems to be necessary in order to effect a com- plete explanation of this matter to your satisfaction as well as to my own. I have the honor to remain. Your ob't servant, A. G. BROWNE, Jk., Lieut. Colonel and Military Secretary to His Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts. Headquarteks Department of Kew England,') i Boston, Oct. 26, 1861. ) Lieut. Col. Brown— I am directed by Major General Butler to acknowledge the receipt of your communications, both original and duplicate. The General will give attention to the matter as soon as he can possess himself of the evidence to show that the censure of his acts therein referred to by Governor Andrew was made public before the 9th of May, 18G1, by some one who knew the fact that a despatch of that character had been sent General Butler. Respectfully your ob't servant, P. HAGGERTY, Ald-de-Camp. Headquarters Department of New England,) Boston, November 8th, 1861. | To A. G. Browne, Jr, Lieut. Colonel and Military Secretary of His Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts, &c., Ac. Sir— I am directed by Major General Butler to enclose to you copies of correspondence, bearing upon the matter of your note to him of October 7th. In his communication to Govcriior Andrew of May 10th, General Butler said that, "the substance of His Excellency's dispatch of April 2.5th, disapproving the offer of Gen. Butler to aid Governor Hicks In suppressing a slave insurrection in a loyal State, had been given to the public through the col- umns of the Tribune with strictures upon his conduct." Now the substance of that dispatch was the "disapproval'' of His Excellency, of which General Butler trusts His Ex- cellency has long since repented. This disapproval was pub- lished in the " New York Tribune " of the 6th or 7th of May. Governor Andrew, both by his letter and by accepting in si- lence the strong belief that the "disapproval" did not see light through himself, expressed by General Butler in the dispatch to which you allude, has tacitly and efficiently de- clared that fact. You say in your note in substance that, no one beside your- self and His Excellency, had any knowledge that such dis- patch was sent before May 10th. The " Tribune " referred to in the note of Mr Robinson and his letter, show that the fact of such dispatch was known in Boston and on May 4th and published in New York. This state of facts seems to raise a question of veracity between His Excellency and liis Military Secretary, upon which General Butler respectfully declines to sit in judgment. General Butler accepts the disclaimer of both, but remains lost in admiration at the manner in wliich the correspondent of the " Tribune " obtained his information. Itespectfully, WJI. H. ■^\^EGEL, 1st Lieut, and Aid-de-Camp. The two letters following were inclosed in the foregoing : — Headquarters Department of New England,) Boston, October 26, 1861. j" Dear Sir— I assume that you were the correspondent of the ' New York Tribune" in May last. In that correspondence under date of 4th May fromBoston, In the remarks upon my offer to aid Govornor Hicks to sup- press a slave insurrection, you use the following language :— "This act of his, if countenanced by the general Govern- ment, (it certainly is not by Governor Andrew) is " &c. Will you have the kindness to inform me whetlier, at the time you wrote the above, you had learned from any source, that Governor Andrew had sent me a dispatch convejingthe disapproval of my acts, as is therein mentioned. Of course I do not ask the name of your Informant— that you may not wish to disclose ; I only desire to ask for the fact. I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. BUTLER. William 8. Robinson, Boston, Mass. Malden, October 28, 1861. My Dear General- Your note dated the 26th was received to-daj-. In reply to the query therein contained, 1 have to say that previous to the 4th of May, the date of the Boston letter to the Tribune from whicli you make an extract, 1 had learned from what I considered good authority, that Gov. Andrew had sent to you a dispatch or letter conveying his disapproval of your offer to aid Gov. Hicks in the suppression of a slave insurrection. Very truly yours, WM. S. ROBINSON. General Butler. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Executive Department, ) Boston, Nov. 20th, 1861.) To M.njor General Butler, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Department of New England. General- Having been absent from Boston during the greater part of the past fortniglit, it was only on Saturday last that I was able to open and examine your letter of the 8th inst., addressed to me over the signature of a member of your Staff. I cannot permit myself to be diverted by the tone of that letter, from the subject matter of the charges you have pre- ferred against me into any controversy concerning the style of language which it suits your taste to employ in corre- spondence. I beg therefore, again to remind you that under date of May loth, you charged that, "the substance" of Governor Andrew's dispatch to you of April 25th, had been given to the public from Boston through the columns of the Tribune with strictures upon (your) official conduct," and that, "this could not have been without tlie sanction of the Executive Department in some of its brandies. Also, that under date of May 16tli, you asserted officially that "the contents of that dispatch were made known to the Boston correspondent of the Tribune Ijy some attaclio of the Executive Department," meaning (as you now admit) my- self; and you added this expression, "When such publication has been made on one part tending to injure me, what was left to me but to make public my answer thereto?" Also,' that you used concerning me in the same connection, the expression, "unfaithful servant." At the first opportunitv offered tome after your return to Massachusetts, I took occasion to deny the truth of these charges and for my own vindication to request you either to withdrew tliem or to support them by proof. By your letter of tlie 8th inst., I am informed furnished as proof of the "publication" alleged by you, with the following singular sentence, which appeared in the N. Y. Tribune of Blay 6th, i. e.,"Tliisactof his if countenanced by the General Government (it certainly is not Ijy Gov. Andrew,) is Ac, Ac." I beg to inquire whether this is the only evidence you are prepared to present to sustain your cliarges that "the sub- stance" of Governor Andrew's despatcli to you of April 25th was " given to the public from Boston tlirough the columns of tlie Tribune, with strictures upon (your) conduct," and that " this could not have been without the sanction of the Executive Department in some of its branches," and tliat " such publication (was) made on our jiurt tending to injure (you)." If this is the sole evidence, I respectfully request you to again review the subject, and to consider impartially, wheth- er that parenthetical sentence can justly be called a "publi- cation" of Gevcrnor Andrew's despatch of April 25th, or of its "substance," and whether it even alludes to or is suffi- cient to justify an inference of the existence of any such despatch. I am further furnished by j-ou in your letter of the 8th inst. as proof of your charge, that I made the contents of the Gov- ernor's despatch known to tlie Boston correspondent of the N. Y. Tribune, with copies of certain letters, between that correspondent and yourself, under dates of Oct.2Gth and 28th last. In that correspondent's letter to you of the 2Sth ult., he states that previously to May 4th, he had learned tliat Gover- nor Andrew had sent to you a despatch or letter conveying his disapproval of your, &c., &c. But neither in your inqui- ries of that correspondent, nor in his reply, is tliere the slightest pretence that he obtained from myself any infor- mation wliich he may have possessed. On the contrary, in your inquiries of him, you expressly said, " I do not ask the name ot your informant or source of information." In this connection, and as a possible solution of this ques- tion, I venture to recall to your memory a popular rumor that, attached to your personal staflT, and enjoying your per- sonal intimacy on the expedition to Washington, were pro- fessional newspaper correspondents. Whether there were any grounds for this rumor, I am entirely ignorant ; I am aware only of the fact that such a rumor prevailed, inas- much as, at the date of May 4th, the original of the Gover- nor's despatcli liad been already in your possession for sev- eral days, and was very shortly afterwards published by you in the Boston Journal, and elsewliere. May you not, among your own surroundings, tind a possible explanation of one method in which its existence may have become Itnown to others beyond the parties whom it immediately concerned. In conclusion, I again respectfully suggest to you the jus- tice of withdrawing your charges againt me, or of support- ing them by proof. I am especially urgent In tliis matter, because to a person holding the confidential official position which I have the honor to occupy, suclx charges are especi- ally injurious. And although if no publication of the Governor's des- patches or its substance ever toolc place before it was pub- lished by yourself, the fact of a knowledge by the Tribune correspondent is of no consequence, except so far as you charge me with having communicated it ; yet to remove all ..possible manner of doubt which may exist by reason of your correspondence with that gentleman, I enclose copies of sub- sequent correspondence between him and myself. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, A. G. BROWNE, Jk., Lieut. Col. and Military Secretarj' to His Excellency the Gov- ernor of Massachusetts. The two following letters were inclosed in the foregoing : — [Copy.] COMMONWEjVLTH GF MASSACHUSETTS. Executive Department, \ Council Chamber, Boston. Nov. 17,1861.) William S. Kobinson, Esq. Dear Sir,— I have received from Major General Butler a copy of a letter addressed by you to him under date of Oct. 28, in which you state that previously to May 4th last you had learned, from what you considered good authority, that Governor Andrew had sent to that officer a letter conveying disappi'oval of his ofler to place Massacliusetts militia at the disposal of Governor Hicks, of Maryland, for the suppression of servile insurrection. I beg to ask you whether you ac- quired this information in any way, directly or indirectly, from myself. Yours respectfully, A. G. BROWNE, Je.. Lieut. Col. and Military Sec. to the Gov. of Mass. [copy.] Boston, Novembee, 20, ISCl. A. G. Browne, Jr., Esq. My Dear Sir— In reply to your note of the 17th, it gives me pleasure to say that the information which I received in rela- tion to the letter of Governor Andrew to General Butler, to which reference is made in my correspondence with the lat ter, was not acquired directly from yourself, and I have no reason to suppose that it came indirectly or in any way whatever from yourself. Very truly yours, Wm. S. Kobinson. [copr.] Headquarters Department of New England, > Boston, Nov. 26, 1861. J A. G. Brown, Jr., Lieut. Colonel and Military Secretary to His Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts. Sir,— General Butler directs me to acknowledge the receipt ot Lieut. Col. Brown, s communication of the 20tli inst., and to say that an absence at Washington must serve as an excuse for delay in the answer. The allusion of tlie Military Secretary to the infelicities In the tone and style of Gen. Butler's letter of Jthe 8th inst, has forced upon the mind of the General the painful conviction that, as with the Moor, so with him, late familiarity witli camps has caused it, that he is rude of speech and little blessed with the set phrase of peace. Oppressed with this conviction, and at tlie risk of again giving offence to a per- haps fastidious taste, having complied with the request of Lieut. Col. Brown that he would consider tlie subject of this correspondence under the light afforded by the communica- tion of the 20th inst.. Gen. Butler hastens to lay before the miUtary Secretaiy the results ot that consideration. So considered, then, the facts present themselves to the mind of Gen. Butler in the following manner:— The Gubernatorial dispatch of April 25 was known only to His Excellency and Lieut. Col. Brown, Military Secretary to the Governor of Massachusetts. It was not made public by Gen. Butler prior to the pubUcation of his letter to Gov. Andrew, of date May 9. But prior to the 4th of May the fact of the dispatcli was known to tne correspondent of the New York Tribune at Boston, and with that knowledge fresh in mind, he upon that date writes to that journal a letter which appears in the issue of the 6th of May, in which, in speaking of the action of Gen. Butler, with strictures upon that action, he says, "this act, if countenanced by the General Govern- ment, (it certainly is not by Gov. Andrew) is," &c., &c. Lieut. Col. Brown desires to know whether, in the opinion ot Gen. Butler, the publication of this phrase can justly be called a publication of the "substance" of Gov. Andrew's dispatch, and Gen. Butler takes pleasure in answering the Military Secretary that in his judgment it can; that phrase, containing, as he believes, not only the "substance" of that dispatch, but also, if he may be allowed the expression, its pith and marrow, may he add, the blood thereof, which Is the life thereof. Trusting that his mmd upon this branch of the subject has been clearly expressed. Gen. Butler would assure Lieut. Col. Brown that he is still unable to account for the exposure of the fact of this dispatch, or of its substance, in any other manner than in that heretofore asserted by him. The delicate insinuation of the Military Secretary that It might have been exposed by members of General Butler's own staff for the time being, compels General Butler to ask Lieut. Col. Brown to remark the impropriety, not to say im- possibility, of a suspicion by General Butler, of the honor of gentlemen with whose character he is acquainted, at the suggestion of a gentleman with whose character he is unac- quainted, save by rumor, and to inquire, whether in the opin- ion of the Military Secretary, he furnishes great claims to additional credit, who is rapid to suggest a breach of honor on the part of others unknown to him, for the purpose of shedding lustre upon his own. General Butler knows that knowledge of the substance or any portion of that despatch did not proceed from his Head /' LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 703 370 7 Qnarters or from any person connected there-nith prior tc May 4th. General Butler cautions Lieut. Col. Bro-mi that he should as little rely upon rumor for his facts in the instance cited as does General lUitler upon the same evidence to convict Lieut.Col. Brown of complicity with tlie death of the mur- dered Batchelder. Lieut. Col. Brown will unite with General Butler in the opinion that it would be an insult to the dignity of the Gov- ernor, to harbor for an instant the thought, that lie had made public the fact or substance of a private dispatch. There seems to be but one other source to look to. General Butler is aware that the statement of the Tribune coiTespondent meets the case of information derived directly from the Mil- itary Secretary, but the statement of (hat correspondent that he " has no reason to suppose that it came indirectly or in any way whatever from yourself," does not seem to him to cover the case. Merely negative testimony upon a subject matter which might easily be a fact or tlie reverse, witliout impugning the credit of the witness, has not the effect of con- viction upon the mind of General Butler. In conclusion. General Buller desires me to say that, judg- ing by the number and length of Lieut. Col. Browns letters upon this subject, he is induced to believe that Lieut. Col. Brown has not given due consideration to the great truth contained in tlie expression "life is short," and to sugj,'e8t that if his otiicial duties leave tlie Military Secretary leisure to expend his energies in personal communications to Gen- eral Butler in tlie hope to draw from him a retraction or an alteration of statements in the truth of which his belief is only the more confirmed by the arguments adduced against them, he. General Butler, in view of the present condition of the country, and his own position with reference to that country, has other and grander objects for contemplation and action, to which he must in future be allowed to apply himself with- out interruption from this source, upon this theme. KespectfuUy, WM. II. WIEGEL, Ist Lieut, and A. D. C. After this answer another letter was received from the Military Secretary which was returned to him unanswered. "Suppressed Lietters." Headquarters Department of New England,) Boston, Nov 11th, 1861. > General Wm. Schouler, Adjutant General of State of Massa- chusett.s : Sir— It will be quite satisfactory to make the arrangement proposed, viz : to make eight companies and to add two from Camp Chase as soon as they are full, with the list of offlccrs accompanying them to be designated liy General Butler. This to be upon the understanding that the 28th Regiment is to be a part of the expeditionary corps soon to sail, and not a portion of the troops to be raised by Gen'l Butler under order of September 10th, 1861, Gen'l Butler desiring to fill up the Regiment destined for this purpose as soon as possible beside those that he is recruiting. Two Regiments and two Batteries will sail In the coming week and Gen'l Butler desires two more ready In fifteen days thereafter. This arrangement in regard to the 28th Regiment is de- signed to be made wholly Indepcndentlj- of the unhappy and unfortunate difference of opinion which has arisen between his Excellency the Governor and Gen'l Butler, which he much regrets, upon the right of recruitment upon the part of the United .States Government in Massacluisetts. Gen'l Butler would be happy to examine the Roster as proposed, and the recommendations of Gen'l Bullock. "With Col. Jlontcith, Gen'l Butler is much pleased, lirom his acquaintance with him. Should the Roster not be perfectly satisfactory, however, Gen'l Butler would be glad to know whether the State will continue its equipment of the 28th. I am, General, very respectfully, y"r ob't serv't, GEO. C. STRONG, A. A. Gcnl. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. ' Adjutant General's Office,) Boston, Nov. Utii, 18C1. S Maj. George C. Strong, Ass't Adj't Gen'l Department of New England : Sir— Yours of d.ite is received in relation to the 28th Regi- ment. The fact which I wish to ascertain is this : " Will General Butler accept of the "i&th Regiment?" In your let- ter he accepts it with the following stipulation : "On the ex- press understanding that the 28th Regiment is to be apart of the expedition corps soon to sail, and not a portion of the troops to be raised by General Butler under order of bept. 10, 1861." This acceptance is not satisfactory. If General Butler accepts the 28th Regiment for his Division, it must be one of the two Regiments raised in Massachusetts as her quota of the six which were to be raised for his Division in New England ; and I wish to be informed as soon as possible whether General Buller will accept the 28th with this under- standing. The other propositions in yours are satisfactory. Respectfully yours, "VVM. SCHOULER, . . Adj't General. Headquarters Department of New England,) Boston, Nov. 11, 18C1. S Adjutant Gen'l Schouler: Sir- If the Governor will authorize two Regiments, 28th and 29th, to be organized by Gen'l Butler, with a veto power upon selection of Improper persons as officers, Gen'l Butler will accept the '28th as one of them;— this in answer to a communication of to-day to the Assistant Adjutant Gen'l, who is absent. ■Very truly and rcsp'y yours. JOSEPH M. BELL, A. A. D. C. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Adjutant Generaf/s Office,) Boston, Nov. 11, 1861. > To Joseph M. Bell, Esq., Acting Aid de Camp to Major Gen'l Butler : Sir— Your letter of this date has been received ; the propo- sition is respectfully declined. Your ob't serv't, WM. SCHOULER, Adj't General.