f- 
 
 LETTER 
 
 or 
 
 GOYEKNOE PEIRPOINT, 
 
 TO HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 THiE :f:r.esii3E]i^t 
 
 AND i HE 
 
 HONORABLE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 ABUSE OF MILITAHA^ POAYER IN THE COM- 
 MAND OF GENTEEAL EUTLER IN VIRGINIA 
 AND NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D . C . : 
 McGILL & ^VITIIErvOW, TRINTERS AND STEREOTYPERS. 
 
 18G4.
 
 1
 
 ? f6/X 
 
 
 To IIis Excellency the President 
 
 AND THE Hon. Congress of the U. S. : 
 
 Gentlemen : It is a mostpainfal necessity which has made 
 it imperative on me to call your attention to the ahuses of 
 military power in Virginia. I have exhausted all the means 
 known to me without success, to redress these wrongs. 
 Your time is so much occupied that it isimpossible for me 
 to go to you individually and relate the contents of the fol- 
 lowing pages. Having so many other duties to perform, to 
 economize time I have adopted this method as most con- 
 venient to myself, with a desire also to consult your 
 convenience, hoping that you may find a leisure hour to 
 look into the subject here presented. 
 
 In addition to what is herein stated in regard to General 
 Butler's department in Virginia, I assigned to myself the 
 task of stating some fiicts in regard to the military adminis- 
 tration of General Slough in this city of Alexandria during 
 the last eighteen months; but as General Slough's case has 
 has been referred to the Committee on the Conduct of the 
 AVar, it may be considered premature for me to present the 
 facts until that committee has had an 02")portunity to fully 
 investigate the subject. I have only presented a few of the 
 cases at Korfolk, and could only do so of those in Alexan- 
 dria, without swelling this pamphlet to too large proportions. 
 In Alexandria arbitrary power has taken a less range than 
 at Norfolk, but in some of its exercise it has been more
 
 cTamr.gii]g to tlie principles of our orgauic la^y. "What I 
 mean by arbitrary exercise of power, is a ccqmcious exercise 
 ■of power outside of the rules of icar in a manner to justly 
 render the military authority obnoxious to the friends of the 
 Government and the Union cause. 
 
 "With a most ardent desire for the welfare and safety of 
 our common country, and the discharge of a most solemn 
 duty I owe to those whom I represent, I submit this subject 
 to your enlightened and patriotic consideration. 
 
 F. H. PEIRPOIXT. 
 
 Alexandria, Ya., 
 
 Jjyril 18, 18e4.
 
 LETTER. 
 
 On the loth day of April, 18G1, the Virojinia convention 
 went into secret session. lion. W. T. Willey, now United 
 States Senator, wrote to his friends at Morgan town to pre- 
 pare for war — the State wouhl secede. They must look for 
 tlie worst. On the 22d of the same month a mass meetins: 
 was held at that place; that being court day, it was expected 
 that speakers on both sides would be present, to address the 
 people. A delegation of four hundred Union men came 
 from the east end of the county. Before they came into 
 town they halted, and passed a resolution with GeneralJack- 
 son's oath, that no secessionist should speak in town that 
 da3\ The}^ kept their oath. At one o'clock, with drum and 
 fife, and national flags carried by different delegations, flags 
 displayed from almost every house, ladies and children wel- 
 coming, the procession was formed, which paraded the 
 streets for an hour. A stand in the public square was 
 erected, the masses gathered around, appropriate resolutions 
 were adopted, two speeches were made denouncing seces- 
 sion and the conspirators. The crowd refused to disperse, and 
 called one of the speakers back to the stand. Several old 
 soldiers of 1812 were there. One of them in great earnest- 
 ness, said: '*You must tell us what to do." "Do!" said 
 the speaker. " Don't in your wrath kill any of these seces- 
 sionists, who, like spaniels, are slinking around town. They 
 want to be martyrs in a small way, to make capital for their 
 cause, and get an opportunity to punish you, or incarcerate 
 3"0U in a dungeon. VVc can't spare 3'ou in that wa3^ Go 
 home, call your children around you. If any are married, 
 call them and 3^our grand-children. Tell them that with 
 your strong arms, you and they have cleared out 3'our farms, 
 built 3'our houses, and filled them with the conveniences of 
 life. Point them to your barns and your stock ; say to them 
 that this is the product of tlie hard earnings of white men
 
 6 
 
 W'lio never owned a slave; that now the slavehoklers of the 
 east, with the traitors in the west, are seeking to appropri- 
 ate it all for the greater security, as they say, of their slaves. 
 Say to your children, no; their ohject is to enslave thelahor- 
 ing white man, and to use your strong arms and all our 
 substance to accomplish their wicked purpose. Then tell 
 them to get their guns in order, and then in reunion let all, 
 meekly kneeling around the family altar, promise before 
 God to stand by the flag and Constitution of our fathers, 
 and to defend it as long as life lasts. Then ask God, for the 
 sake of his Son, to seal your covenant in heaven, and give 
 you grace and courage to defend your section and country 
 from the prey of the uegro-ocrac}^ of the south. That's wdiat 
 
 DO." 
 
 Upon this charge being received, the teeth of old men and 
 young men chattered with rage, and they shouted, "we will 
 
 DO IT." 
 
 In this spirit similar advice was given all over ISTorth- 
 western Virginia. The people rallied, a great meeting 
 was called by both parties at Fairmont, the center of 
 secessionists, on the first Monday in May. I^oth parties 
 were there in their strens^th; both flao-s were flvins:; fist 
 fights commenced before nine o'clock. By two, both parties 
 had speakers on the stand ; secesh in the court house. Union 
 out of doors. Before four, the secesh attempted to break 
 lip the Union crowd, and the Union men whipped them in 
 a fair fist fight of not less than eighty on a side. This broke 
 the spirit of secession in West Virginia. 
 
 The first Wheeling convention was called under the aus- 
 pices of the Hon. John S. Carlisle. The second was called, 
 the State government reorganized and recognized by the 
 Government of the United States as the government of 
 Virginia, I think wisely and rightly. The restored govern- 
 ment put upward of eighteen thousand Union soldiers into 
 the field during the first two years of the war. West Vir- 
 ginia has put in some three thousand since, in addition to 
 which, a large number of the old troops have re-enlisted. 
 These troops were as brave and as true as any who ever 
 drew a trio-^er. The bones of manv of them are now bleach- 
 ing on almost every battle field, from the Peninsula to 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 The State was divided by the consent of the Legislature 
 and Congress. The ofiicers and people indorsed the Presi- 
 dent's proclamation of emancipation, the policy of enlisting
 
 negroes in the Army, and the cnrroncy and the five-twenties. 
 AVhile West Virginia has put the troops above named into 
 the field, her people have subscribed for a greater amount of 
 the five-twenty loan than the State of lihode Island, though 
 one fourth of the territory is yet overrun by guerrillas ; and 
 Norfolk has established a national bank, with a capital of 
 §100,000, and the amount all paid in. 
 
 After the division of the State, I consented to be elected 
 Governor of the State, with the distinct understanding that 
 I would govern it as a free State. The General Assembly 
 was called together; it passed a bill providing for a consti- 
 tutional convention ; the members of the convention were 
 elected by the people. The convention met on the 13th of 
 February, 1864, in the city of Alexandria, and on the 10th 
 day of March, with but one dissenting voice, adopt ed an 
 amendment to the constitution abolishing slavery and in- 
 voluntary servitude in the State forever. 
 
 The mode of organization of the State is complete, and 
 as soon as the rebels are driven out, I expect to organize 
 ever}" county with loyal otficers, under the old flag and a 
 free constitution, without one cent of charge to the Fed- 
 eral Government. 
 
 I had the honor of actinsf as Governor of Yirfrinia for two 
 years, with the seat of government at the city of Wheeling. 
 Troops were assembled there, mustered into the service of 
 the United States, and sent to the field. Troops from other 
 States passed through the city. The police regulations were, 
 I think, about as good as they are in i^orfolk and Alexan- 
 dria. I had a small military force of two companies, with 
 Major Darr for commander of the post and provost marshal. 
 The military patroled the citj", and wdien disorderly soldiers 
 were found, tliey were arrested and sent to the guard house. 
 When disorderly citizens were found, they were arrested and 
 handed over to the civil authoritv. When soldiers were 
 passing through or stopping in the city, the places where 
 liquor was sold were ordered to be closed. When the exi- 
 gency passed the prohibition was removed. I had inter- 
 course constantly with General McClellan, while he was 
 there ; with General Rosecrans, who succeeded him ; then 
 with General Fremont; then General Schenck, and General 
 Cox, General Scammon, and all the time with General Kel- 
 ley. This intercourse was of the kindest nature, always on 
 their part showing every disposition to assist in building up 
 the civil government, and establishing the authority of law. 
 A question was started as to where the military authority
 
 8 
 
 stopped and the civil began. The first case that occurred 
 was the shooting of one soldier by another, at Parkersburg. 
 The case was referred to me. I answered, the military 
 could try by court-martial, or the oiiender could be handed 
 over to the civil court. The latter course was adopted. 
 The jury did not hang him, but awarded him ten years in 
 the penitentiary. He is now expiating his crime. All simi- 
 lar cases took the same direction. Harmony has always 
 existed between the civil and military authorities in West 
 Virginia. The result is a prosperous people, where the\^ 
 are safe, and the great majority truly loyal, feeling that the 
 government is a blessing. 
 
 I make these prefatory- remarks to you, gentlemen, merely 
 to impress upon your mind the fact that I am not a late ad- 
 venturer in this rebellion, and a stranger to civil and military 
 rule working together ; but to remind you that I have been 
 right in the midst of the rebellion since the commencement, 
 and know of what I am writing, thereby hoping to call your 
 serious consideration to the condition of things on the Poto- 
 mac, Chesapeake, and Albemarle Sound. I now promise you 
 that the information I give you, I do not expect to be pleas- 
 ant, but it is no less true and painful to me. I do it in the 
 discharge of high official duty, believing that 3'ou do not 
 understand the extent to which military power is abused. 
 
 In connection with the movement in Western Virginia, I 
 desire to make a single remark. In the border counties of 
 Pennsylvania and Ohio, now represented by the Hon. Messrs. 
 Dawson, Lazeer, AVhite, and Morris, there was and still is 
 a powerful secession element, ready to join the army of Jeft'. 
 Davis had they an opportunity. In the fall of 1862, they 
 gloried in wearing butternut breast-pins, and at their 
 public meetings indulged in the refined exercise of lapping 
 out their tongues in imitation of copper snakes. So bitter 
 v/ere they in their denunciation of the movement of the 
 restored government of Virginia, both in Pennsylvania and 
 Ohio, that I gave orders if certain leaders en me into Virginia 
 to arrest them and send them out of the State, as not safe 
 to circulate there. If Western Virginia had gone into the 
 rebellion with spirit, she would have involved the whole 
 border of western Pennsylvania and southern Ohio, and 
 God only knows what the result v/ould have been. The 
 masses of a great and time-honored party had been taugh 
 by their leaders that pro-slavery, secession, and democracy j^. 
 were all the same, and the highest duty they owed thei 
 country was to oppose Abraham Lincoln, abolition, and the
 
 9 
 
 Uinon. But fortunately for the country, many patriotic 
 democrats came forward with a large number of the rank and 
 lile, and declared to the world that democracy, as they un- 
 derstood it, had a far different meaning, and have demon- 
 strated the sincerity of their pretensions on many a hard 
 fought battle-lield, and are now shoulder to shoulder with 
 the sincere Union men of all parties. Future generations 
 will admire them for their courage in recognizing country 
 before party. 
 
 By the act of the General Assembly, I was authorized to 
 establish the seat of government in the bounds of the old 
 State when West Virs^inia was or2:anized. I fixed it at Al- 
 exandria. The county and municipal laws of Norfolk and 
 Portsmouth and K'orfolk county w^ere put into operation 
 about the 1st of June, 1863, by the election and qualification 
 of proper officers, under the restored government of Virginia. 
 Each officer, before entering on his duty, was sworn to sup- 
 port the Constitution of the United States as the supreme 
 huv of the land, and the laws of the restored government 
 of Virginia — anything in the ordinance of the convention 
 which assembled at Kichmond on the 13th of February, 
 1851, to the contrary, notwithstanding. Lawyers, doctors, 
 merchants, and every person doing business under a license, 
 and clerks in stores, were required to take the same oath. 
 Accomac and Northampton, Alexandria and Fairfax had 
 been organized before that time. General Dix, with Gen- 
 eral Viele, commanded at N^orfolk. I saw but little of them. 
 General Foster succeeded. I found him to be a soldier, 
 every inch, and after we got acquainted, were strong friends, 
 as far as I know. General Kaglee I pass over. General 
 Lockwood commanded in Accomac and ^Northampton. I 
 found him as true as steel, working faithfully to restore 
 law and order, ready on all occasions to do his dut}^ in as- 
 sisting the civil government to establish its ascendancy, for 
 which I commend him. In November, General Butler 
 was appointed to the command of the eastern district of 
 Virginia and North Carolina. I sighed wdien I heard it — I 
 remembered New Orleans. There was short rejoicing at 
 Norfolk among the ultra Union men; but in a short time 
 the wail of woe came up. I was satisfied he was going to 
 abrogate civil government if he could ; that Unionism 
 availed nothing if it hiy between him and liis object. That 
 he was the seventh vial poured out to try the faith of the 
 saints. 
 
 I visited Norfolk about the last of December, and fully
 
 10 
 
 realized my apprehensions. Among the first orders General 
 Butler issued, when he went to Norfolk in November last, w\a3 
 one threatening punishment to any person who used any 
 disrespectful language to any officer or soldier in the Union 
 army, ^ext was an order directing all permits granted by 
 his predecessors to be returned to him. Then came an order 
 charging one per cent, on all goods shipped into his military 
 district, to go to the support of the jwovost marshaVs fund. 
 All vessels clearing from his district pay from five to fifteen 
 dollars according: to size, to the same fund. Ovster men 
 were taxed from fifty cento to one dollar per month for the 
 privilege of taking oysters ; if in one field, fifty cents, if in 
 two, one dollar. The provost marshal's court was fully es- 
 tablished, trying causes in controversy, from one dollar to 
 writs of ejectment; judgments rendered in land cases, and 
 writs of possession given in five and ten days from date of 
 judgment. One man, unable to pay a large judgment ren- 
 dered against him, was placed in a felon's cell in jail and a 
 guard put over his house. Costs, on about the scale of a civil 
 suit in court, with a percentage for collection were charged, 
 bringing money into the 2^^^orost marshaVs fund in a stream. 
 Eebels, whom he had forced to take the oath to support the 
 Constitution of the United States, but who would not take the 
 oath to support the restored government of Virginia, would 
 go to this provost court to have their judgments against 
 their neighbors, and for the further reason that they paid no 
 internal revenue if they went to the provost court. But if 
 thejMvent to the civil court before bringing their suit they 
 had to take an oath to support the restored government of 
 Virginia and pay for an internal revenue stamp, which went 
 into the United States treasury. The provost court saved 
 all this, wdiich was distasteful to rebels. This same pro- 
 vost court was issuing prohibitions forbidding tax collectors 
 to sell rebel property levied on for State and city taxes. 
 AVhile I was there the provost marshal turned two men out 
 of jail wdio had been committed by a justice for a misde- 
 meanor or a felony, and were awaiting their trial before a 
 court of competent criminal jurisdiction. 
 
 I left ]^orfolk about the 30th of December, sick, mentally 
 and physically, and came to this city; some time afterwards 
 I wrote General Butler a letter, calling his attention partic- 
 ularly to the abuses above alluded to, asking'his co-operation 
 in establishing the civil government, stating the opposition 
 of the secessionists, and their desire to break up the civil 
 rule. I also called his attention to military interferences
 
 11 
 
 with the city regulations of the markets, and reminded him 
 that his provost court could make no sale of real or personal 
 estate on its judgments and executions that would pass any 
 title to the property sold. That a provost marshal's court 
 was not the kind of a court contemplated in the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States in which a party could be de- 
 prived of his property hy due course of law. 
 
 The General replied to my letter, expressing a desire to 
 sustain the civil government ; and in regard to his provost 
 court, said "that no debts shall be collected save against 
 those who are in rebellion against the United States in favor 
 of loyal citizens, and when the property might escape from 
 the honest creditor by reason of coiijiscation." In regard to 
 the civil laws, he remarked: " The difhculty I find is that 
 there are all the civil officers there known to the law, and 
 none of the Government." Ke further said, " in regard to 
 the stalls in the market, I have only directed an interference 
 to prevent a collection by the city government of a year's 
 rent in advance, which would virtually close the market and 
 stop supplies to my troops." 
 
 As I shall hereafter refer to this provost court and the 
 markets, I shall not comment further on these extracts here. 
 In regard to the officers of the civil government, without 
 the government, it is easy to be seen that the best men 
 'in the w^orld would be discournged in the execution 
 of the civil laws when there was a provost marshal in 
 the city releasing criminals, forbidding sales, assuming con- 
 currentjurisdiction in everything, and threateningto imprison 
 the civil officers ; and as to securing debts of honest creditors 
 against debtors in rebellion, I informed the General that there 
 ^vas the Court of Hustings of the two cities, the Circuit 
 Court, and the District Court of the United States, all open 
 with full jurisdiction in all cases, and by the laws of the 
 State any person in rebellion was a non-resident for purposes 
 of attachment, and that the attachment was a lien on real 
 estate from the date of issue, so there could have been no 
 reason for his provost court. 
 
 The next tliino- 1 heard was that Tazwel Tavlor, of the 
 city of Norfolk, was summoned to the council of the Gen- 
 eral to consult about the civil afl'airs of iTorfolk. The Mayor 
 was summoned also. When the Mayor went, who is a true 
 and loyal man, he found, to his surprise, Tazwel in the room 
 with the General. The General indccentl}' catechized the 
 Mayor for about one hour on tlie affiiirs of the civil govern- 
 ment of the city in the presence of Tazwel Taylor, and
 
 12 
 
 tlirongh his promptings, much to the chagrin of the Mayor. 
 Tazwel Taylor was the worst rehel in [N'orfolk, the agent for 
 taking the confederate loan there; took §15,000 of it him- 
 self, and hullied others to take, until he raised ahout 
 §75,000 ; was an aid on Magruder's staff while the rehels 
 occupied i^orfolk, and the most offensive rebel in the citj^ to 
 Union men, because he was the chief adviser of the rebels. 
 Xow, he becomes General Butler's adviser as to the restored 
 government in the city. This may seem strange when you 
 take General Butler's ultra views into consideration, but it 
 is true. The General's letter was dated 10th of January, 
 and his provost court is still in operation. The last civil 
 case I heard of was the trial of a habeas corpus case, deter- 
 mining the custody of two children between husband and 
 wife. 
 
 But to show the hollow pretense of taking care of Union 
 men's rights : Harrington and Boyle, loyal merchants of 
 Baltimore, brought suit and obtained judgment, in the Cir- 
 cuit Court of ]^orfolk city, against a rebel in arms against the 
 United States. He had real estate in Norfolk city, and there 
 was an order of sale, under an attachment duly issued. The 
 order of sale, was directed to the city sergeant; and that 
 those of you who are lawyers may see how easily a provost 
 marshal issues a writ of prohibition, I will here insert the 
 writ in full : 
 
 XoRFOLK, Ya., March 1, 1863. 
 
 Sir: You will not sell at auction the house and lot on 
 corner of Cumberland and Wolf streets, belonging to James 
 Campbell, and now occupied by Wm. Barrett, on Tuesday, 
 the 3d of March, at 12 o'clock, to satisfy an execution in 
 your hands, as you have advertised to do for a few days 
 past. 
 
 By order of 
 
 Lieut. Col. ^YHELDOX, 
 
 Provost Marshal. 
 George P. Egax, Ca.pt. ^ A. D. C. 
 Deputy Provost Marshal. 
 To AY. li. JoxES, Sergeant^ 
 
 Corporation Court, Norfolk, Virgmia. 
 
 On the tliird of March he issued another in the same 
 case, commanding him to respect the order of the 1st. 
 Can there be a more flagrant usurpation of power than this? 
 The man Barratt, who was living on the property, was a
 
 13 
 
 rebel ; the owner was in rebellion, and tins is the court that 
 is to secure protection to loyal men of the I^orth, lest the 
 Government of the United States should cheat them out of 
 their just debts. And this is only a sample of others. Im- 
 mediately on the issuing of this order, Judge Sneed, of the 
 Circuit Court, wrote a letter to General Butler protesting 
 against interference with the processes and orders of his 
 court. On the 23d of this month Judge Sneed had no replj- ; 
 so this is the act and order of General Butler. This provost 
 court takes cosTnizance of all cases of drunkenness, or other 
 violation of city ordinances, lias the party arrested, brought 
 to his court, fines inflicted and paid into the inoi'ost mar- 
 shal' s fund. 
 
 I was informed in December that the sale of liquor by 
 importers into I^^orfolk was going to be made a monopol\^, 
 and only a few were going to be allowed to sell. I heard 
 more, but it was so incredible and discreditable that I could 
 not believe it. I propose now to give you a few cases, 
 though incredible as they may appear, truth requires their 
 publication. 
 
 DAXIELS & ZAiS'TZmCER'S CASE. 
 
 This firm was one of the laro^est in J^orfolk en^-ao^ed in 
 selling groceries and liquors and wood. About the first of 
 January an ofticer called at their store and asked tliem how 
 much liquor they had in the store. They replied about 
 fifteen barrels. He examined the loft and cellar and found 
 their statement correct. lie then asked them how much 
 they had in the shed. They told him he could go and see, 
 and directed their clerk to go and show it to him. He went 
 and found thirty-eight barrels there. He reported. They. 
 were immediately summoned before the provost court on a 
 charge of fraudulently concealing from the ofiicers of the 
 . United States the amount of whisky on hand ; and it 
 was mentioned in the charge, by way of recital, that the 
 whisky was passed into the department, and being fraudu- 
 lentl}^ retained, to the prejudice of good order and military 
 discipline in the department. I here give the charge and 
 evidence before the provost court.
 
 '!>■ 
 
 14 
 
 United States "i 
 
 vs. yin the Provost Court. 
 
 Zaxtzixger & Daniels, j 
 
 Charge. 
 
 FranduleDtlj concealing from the officer of tlie United 
 States Government an amount of whisky consisting of fifty- 
 three harrels, being an amount over and above the invoice 
 given, upon due demand, to the lieutenant of the provost 
 guard of the city of ]^orfolk. The said whisky being fraud- 
 ulently passed into the department, and being fraudulently 
 retained to the prejudice of good order and military disci- 
 pline in the department. This at IsTorfolk, on or about the 
 1st of Januarv, 1864. 
 
 Testimony. 
 
 Lieutenant Wood being duly sworn, says : About the 1st 
 of January last I was commanding provost guard ; was 
 ordered to go and get an inventory of the liquor of Messrs. 
 Zantzinger & Co. ; asked them for a list of liquors on hand, 
 and they gave me the one now in court. There are some 
 fourteen or fifteen barrels of liquor on that list which were 
 in the store. I asked Mr. Daniels if there was any liquor 
 iu that shed which was on the premises near the house; 
 he told me I might go in and look for myself; went in with 
 one of their clerks and examined ; found fifty-three barrels 
 of whisky, and other barrels of pork, fish, &c. ; the whisky 
 was covered over with hay and loose hay ; Daniels told me 
 he did not intend I should find any whisky, as he did not 
 want any one to know that they had such a large supply on 
 hand ; if it was known they had so much on hand they 
 could not get their price for it ; also, said the whisky had 
 been moved from the store house and put into the shed 
 because the foundation of the store was weak and liable to 
 give away under so great a pressure in the second story, 
 where the whisky was : he said it was covered over with 
 hay because the negroes were about there constantly at 
 work, and they wished to conceal it from them ; this shed 
 seemed to be a place where hay, barrels of pork, fish, and 
 many other things were kept. 
 
 Sergeant Holcombe, being duly sworn, says : "Was one of
 
 15 
 
 tliG provost guard on or about the IjI clay of January last 
 past ; searched tlie shed on the premises near the store of 
 Zantzinger & Daniels for whisky ; found a large number of 
 barrels of whisky in the shed covered over with loose hay 
 and hay in bales ; it seemed to be a place where hay, barrels 
 of whisky, pork, and lish, and many other articles were 
 kept. 
 
 'George P. Kncller, being duly sworn for the defense, says: 
 I have lived in ISTorfolk many years; am a State officer, 
 inspector of provisions ; have been acquainted with the bus- 
 iness of Zantzinger & Co. for a number of years ; they have 
 always been large dealers in liquors, groceries, lumber, &c. ; 
 they had a very large supplj^of liquor at the time the rebels 
 were here, and about the time they left; I know they had 
 several hundred barrels of whisky on their premises; a short 
 time before General Viele left this department I saw four 
 four-horse Government wagons haul two loads each of bar- 
 rels of whisky from the custom house to their store, pro- 
 tected by a Government guard ; this liquor was some that 
 was confiscated and purchased of the Government by Zant- 
 zinger & Daniels. 
 
 WlUiam Knlghl, he'mg du]y s^YOYn for the defense, says: 
 for a little more than than six months last past I have been 
 a clerk for Zantzinger k Co. When I came there they had 
 a large quantity of whisky on hand. They have received 
 no whisky from any source since I have been living with 
 them. If they had received any since I have been with them 
 I should certainly have known it, as I am cognizant of all 
 their business matters. I have not been employed there ex- 
 cept in the day time; my duties have not kept me there at 
 night, but I know that all the liquor on their premises was 
 there when I came there to act as clerk. They built the 
 shed to relieve the foundation of the store of too much 
 weight, and put the whisky in the sbed with other goods, 
 as soon as it was finished. 
 
 Frank Smith, being duly sworn for the defense, says : I 
 have been in the employ of Messrs. Zantzinger & Co., as 
 night watchman, for nearly a year last past ; I was employed 
 in that capacity on the 18th of February last, and have been 
 so engaged ever since ; my habit has been to go on duty 
 when they close business for the da^-, and to stay all night ; 
 I am not there during the day ; ray instructions from Mr. 
 Zantzinger were not to allow any one to laud liquor at their 
 wharf while I was there on duty ; no article of any kind 
 ever came to their premises at night while I acted as watch-
 
 IG 
 
 man — liquor or anytliing else, except npou one occasion. 
 One niofht some sailors from a schooner Ivinoj in the stream, 
 came ashore there with a lot of whisky, as they said, in 
 bottles. They got ashore there before I saw them, and were 
 passing throngh the yard towards Wide Water street, when 
 I hailed them : they begged me to let them pass throngh. I 
 told them to get away from the store as soon as possible, 
 which they did ; neither Zantzinger or Daniels knew any- 
 thing of the matter; Zantzinger told me if I allowed any 
 one to land liqnor there he would shoot me. They paid me 
 forty-five dollars per month which I was anxious to receive 
 for the support of my family, and I obeyed their instructions 
 very strictly so as to keep my place. 
 
 Lieutenant SeicalL beino; dulv sworn, savs : I am in the 
 revenue service. ^Tv dutv for a Ions: time has been to ex- 
 amine vessels and cargoes bound to Xorfolk. I have been 
 very strict and as active as possible in searching vessels for 
 contraband goods. I have suspected vessels consigned to 
 Zantzin£:er & Co., with havinsr contraband o-oods concealed 
 on board, but upon diligent search and inquiry have always 
 found myself mistaken. Some ten months ago, Mr. Dan- 
 iels remarked to me, in speaking upon the subject of smug- 
 gling whisky, they had no motive for being engaged in 
 such practices, inasmuch as they had more whisky then on 
 hand than they could dispose of. At his request, I went up 
 stairs to look at what they had. I saw a very large quantity, 
 in barrels, marked "cider vinegar," at least those I saw were 
 so marked. I think at the lowest calculation, there was one 
 hundred barrels, and I should not be surprised if what Mr. 
 Daniels stated at the time was correct, they had three hun- 
 dren barrels then on hand. I have examined the barrels of 
 whiskv found in Zantzinofer & Go's shed covered with hav. 
 It is my deliberate opinion, founded upon strict inquiry, 
 that the whisky found there is no part of that brought to 
 Xorfolk by the brigantine "Judge Hathaway," concealed 
 under the coal, supposing the" Judge Hathaway" did actu- 
 ally bring any to Norfolk. I felt quite certain at one time 
 that the b'lngantine had brought smuggled liquor to Xorfolk, 
 and that Zantzinger & Co. received it; but I have had rea- 
 sons to change niy mind on that subject. Col. Whelden, 
 the provost mar^shal, aided me m making inquiries into the 
 matter, and we both came to the conclusion that Zantzin- 
 ger <fc Daniels were not implicated in the matter of any 
 tiquor brought in the "Judge Hathaway," if any was 
 brouf>'ht, which seems doubtful. I want it understood, that
 
 17 
 
 in all the action I have taken in this investioratiou, mv feel- 
 iugs have been enlisted in behalf of the Government, bv 
 whom I am employed, and that I have not been and am not 
 influenced in the least by any friendship for Zantzinger k 
 Co. On the other hand, I have not sought to injure them 
 any more than my duty might require me to do so. 
 
 TV. 17. TT7??(/, being dul}^ sworn, says : I am the post- 
 master at ISTorfolk. Have known Zantziu2:er & Daniels 
 many years. Some two or three months a2:o, the time not 
 very certain, I was at their store. Daniels remarked to me 
 that he had been very busy all the morning removing 
 whisk}^ from up stairs. lie said that it was too heavy to be 
 on the second floor, which was weak, and he had removed 
 it to the shed. I saw them moving quite a number of 
 barrels into the shed. I told Daniels that some one would 
 steal all the whisky out of the shed, as all that was neces- 
 sary was to take ofl" a few boards and go in. lie said he 
 reckoned there was no danger, as it would be covered over 
 with the hay, and there was a watchman about the premises 
 all night. I know that Zantzinger k Co. have had a good 
 deal of liquor on hand for a long time. At the time of, and 
 since the evacuation of the city bj- the confederates, they had 
 quite a large quantity on hand. 
 
 — Clark, being duly sworn, says : I have been 
 
 one of the wharf guards ever since the troops came to Xor- 
 folk. A large part of the time I have been on guard at 
 Zantzinger's wharf. Nothing was ever brought there at 
 nio^ht to mv knowledo^e, nor have I ever heard of anvthins: 
 beinc: brou2:ht there at ni^'ht. I do not think any contra- 
 band goods could have been landed there at night without 
 my hearing or seeing something of it. Such matters have 
 alwaj's been mentioned by the members of the guard to each 
 other, and I should probably have known in some way that 
 contraband goods had been landed there, if such had really 
 been the case. 
 
 Mr. Dunn : 1 am U. S. Collector ; the license shown me 
 is one issued from mv ofiice to Messrs. Zantzinsrer k Co.; it 
 was issued the 21st of August, 18G3; the}- told me at the 
 time they had a large supply of liquor on hand ; they were 
 open and candid in regard to their having large quantities 
 of lic[uor; they made no eftbrt at concealment. 
 
 Col. Dulaiwj: I have bought a good deal of liquor of 
 Messrs. Zantzinger k Co. within the last four or five months ; 
 they have always stated to me that they had large quanti- 
 
 ^ 2P
 
 18 
 
 ties on hand; they sold it publicly, and apparently did not 
 care who knew they had it. [Col. JDulaney is in the regular 
 army of the United States.] 
 
 Oqyt. Croft: Have talked with Messrs. Zantzinger & Co. 
 about their having liquor for sale; asked them if they sold 
 to soldiers; they said they never did; said they had a large 
 amount on hand; there was no sign of concealment. 
 
 Mr. Allatt: This January one year ago, was in the store of 
 Zantziuger k Co., saw a great mauy barrels marked " cider 
 vinegar." Daniels drew whisky from barrels among the 
 lot and handed me a drink; there must have been some 
 seventy or eighty barrels, marked "cider vinegar," which I 
 understood to be filled with whisky. 
 
 Captain Drummond : At the time of the evacuation of 
 Norfolk I remember that Zantzinger k Daniels had quite a 
 large quantity of liquor on hand; I think I saw some two 
 hundred barrels in their store, some up stairs, some down. 
 
 Lieutenant Wood (recalled): When I called at Messrs. 
 Zantzinger k Co.'s store, I asked them, as I remember, what 
 liquors they had in their store. They gave me an inventory 
 which I think is correct. I then asked them what they had 
 in the shed. Daniels replied, "go in there and see for your- 
 self." They sent a clerk in with me. They did not say 
 they had no liquor in the shed; they said nothing about the 
 licjuors in the shed till I found it, except "go in and exam- 
 ine for yourself." The first barrel I found under the hay I 
 asked the clerk what it was; he said it was whisky. 
 
 The testimony closed here. One hour was required for 
 consultation; verdict at the end of the hour: Fine one 
 thousand dollars, whisky confiscated. It was sold at auction 
 on the public streets of Norfolk, about the 20tli of January, 
 for upwards of §14,000. Yes, Isaj-, fourteen thousand dollars. 
 l!S^ow, I ask the impartial judgment of any man living, on 
 that testimou}^, after they had paid their city, State, and 
 United States license, what is there in the case toinfiict this 
 punishment ? AYhat military order was pretended to be vio- 
 lated ? But, you will mark, it was publicly known they 
 had liquor in the shed; the oflicer knew it. He seems to 
 be playing sharp; asks them "how much they had in the 
 store?'' They answered correctly. "How much in the 
 shed?" " Go and see; clerk, go with them." AYere they 
 criminal in having it to the predjudice of good order and 
 
 /
 
 19 
 
 military discipline? Was it smuggled? Look to the record. 
 With the verdict the following order was issued: 
 
 Headquarters Provost Marshal's Office, 
 District of Virginia, Norfolk, Va., January 16, 18G4. 
 
 Messrs. Zantzinger & Co. : 
 
 I am ordered to instruct 3'ou that you will he allowed to 
 sell your stock of goods now^ on hand, hut you will not he 
 allowed to increase your stock hy purchase or otherwise, hut 
 will sell out with a view to closing husiness. 
 
 Signed, CIIAS. M. WHELDEN", 
 
 IJ. Col. and Provost Marshal, Dist. Va, 
 
 Bnt the animus of General Butler can only he seen hy 
 connecting this case with 
 
 HODGmS'S CASE. 
 
 In ]^ovemher, 1863, Ilodgins bought a stock of hardware 
 of a man hy the name of Hartshorn, who was trustee for an 
 old firm which failed hefore the rebellion. The hardware 
 was in a storehouse belonging to William E. Taylor, who 
 was in the rebel army. Mrs. Ta^dor, his w^ife, resided iu 
 Norfolk. Hartshorn had rented the house from her. Hod- 
 gins continued to occupy the house at fifty dollars per month, 
 and paid her that sum for the month of December. Some- 
 time in December Major Moss, the agent of the Treasury 
 Department to collect and take care of abandoned propert}", 
 called on Hodgins and told him he would probably have to 
 pay the rent to the United States Government. Hodgins 
 replied that he w^as willing to pay anybody that was entitled; 
 that he had paid that month to Mrs. Taylor in advance, as 
 she was needy. Major Moss took Ilodgins's name and left. 
 Between the 15th and 20th of January, Major Moss called 
 on Hodgins and told him he had received instructions from 
 headquarters that the house he occupied was needed for mil- 
 itary purposes, and he would have to leave. Hodgins used 
 all the argnment he could against leaving; that he had put 
 repairs on the storehouse, that he was not able to move, and 
 that it would cost a large amount to fit up another house. 
 Major Moss called a second time, and the order was peremp- 
 tory. The young man left; had to pa^^ a Jew $300 for the 
 key of another house ; to fix shelving at a cost of $180, and 
 remove ten thousand dollars' worth of small hardware. The
 
 20 
 
 Lonsc Hodgins was ordered to leave was the best and most 
 elia'ible business Lonse in the citv, on Main, at tbe bead of 
 Market street. Hodgins got into bis new bouse about tbe 
 9tli of February. The day lie left, tbe Taylor bouse com- 
 menced being litted up for a liquor store, and in a few days 
 it was occupied by a firm from Boston, witb some §25,000 
 wortb of liquors of all kinds, and groceries. About the 
 same time anotber iirm from Boston and another from Low- 
 ell, Massachusetts, came in witb large assortments of liquors, 
 so that I am safe in savins: that in thirtv davs from tbe time 
 Zantzinger & Daniels's whiskey was sold, there were §75,000 
 worth of liquor in Xorfolk, in the bands of Bostonians, when 
 a native of Virginia, or any other State, could not get a 
 ]Dermit for one gallon. 
 
 Put the charo'c aic^^iinst Zantzino-er & Daniels with the 
 order to remove Hodsrins out of the bouse too^ether, and it 
 only proves a fixed determination to close tliem up, break 
 them up, put §15,000 into the provost marshal's fund, 
 and make a clear track for these Boston men to monopolize 
 tbe whole business ; and Major Moss says be talked with 
 General Butler about requiring Hodgins to remove, and tne 
 General pressed bis removal, but did not give an actual order. 
 Hodgins went to the provost marshal and tried to get him 
 to interfere. He asked Hod^rins if he had a written contract 
 Avith Major Moss for the house; he said, no. He then said 
 be could do nothing. 
 
 Zantzinger is the brother-in-law of Commodore Farragut 
 and a member of the loyal Legislature of Virginia. Daniels 
 is a \oy'd\ business man. Hodgins was in the confederate 
 army, but left it at an early day, came home, took the oath, 
 and has behaved himself and claims to be a loyal man. 
 
 G. ^y. SIXGLETOX'S CASE. 
 
 G. AV. Singleton was a resident of Xansemond county; 
 v»^as made postmaster on the 16th day of April, 1801, when 
 no other man would take the place under Mr. Lincoln ; had 
 two stores, a farm, and seven slaves. AVhen the Union army 
 took Suiiolk, he was the first man in the countv who went 
 forward immediately and took the oath ; moved both stores 
 together into Sufiblk; bad bis dwelling, storehouse, and 
 t\A-elve other small bouses on the bank of tbe river. When 
 Longstreet attacked Suiiblk last spring, the Union batteries 
 were erected in Town Square, back of Singleton's houses. 
 His storehouse was blown up and his dwelling and other
 
 21 
 
 houses were torn down lest tliey should take fire][ and pre- 
 vent the workino; of the batteries. Sins^leton was sent to 
 the mouth of the river, and piloted the magazine boat 
 from the James river to Suffolk. He went back as^ain and 
 piloted up a gun boat. When the gun boat got opposite his 
 farm they were attacked by the rebels, who occupied the 
 farm. Singleton told the Union men to spare nothing; he 
 liad there 500 bushels of corn in the crib, 8000 pounds of 
 bacon smoked in his smoke house, with all the other articles 
 a thrifty farmer would have around him. It was all destroyed ; 
 not a dollar's worth of buildings, fences, corn, bacon, house, 
 or anything else was left. After the rebels vs^ere repulsed he 
 took his wife and children, and 83,500 in money, which was 
 all he had left out of an estate of $40,000, and went to Xorfolk. 
 His money was runnino; down, his eldest daus^hter readv to 
 2:0 to school, and somethins: must be done. When he saw 
 Daniels & Zantzinger's liquor was to be sold in ^Norfolk, it 
 was natural to suppose the purchasers would be permitted 
 to resell, so he purchased ten barrels, for which he paid 
 §3,325, bought some groceries, and in the course of eight 
 or ten days, opened a store, having paid State, city, and 
 United States license. About seven days after he com- 
 menced selling' General Butler's famous order Xo. 19 came 
 out, requiring all grocery and liquor dealers to obtain a per- 
 mit therefor at his headquarters. Singleton immediatel}' 
 went to Fort ^Monroe -svith Governor Cowper. Cowper 
 stated Singleton's case to Colonel Shafer, chief-of-staff. 
 Colonel Shafer immediately gave an order to Captain Cassell, 
 provost marshal, to grant Singleton a permit to sell groceries 
 and liquors. Singleton returned to Xorfolk, and in a few 
 days, as his stock was running down, he made out a requisi- 
 tion for permission to bring from Baltimore liquors and 
 groceries. General Wild signed it. He took it to Captain 
 Cassell at Fort Monroe to get it approved ; handed it to Cas- 
 sel, who pitched it into a pigeon hole. Singleton requested 
 him to sic^n it; Cassel refused, savins^ that Sins^leton had no 
 permit. Singleton assured him that he had. Cassell asked 
 to see it; Singleton handed it to him. He said it was a mis- 
 take; it was intended for a permit to keep an eating house. 
 Singleton asked him to look at Colonel Shafer's order; Cap- 
 tain Cassell said he did not know anvthinsr about Shafer's 
 order; he would have to wait until Colonel Shafer came 
 home; he would be back perhaps next week, or the week 
 after, or ma}- be not at all. So Singleton went to General 
 Butler and stated his case. General Butler said he would
 
 22 
 
 have to \Yait until Capfaln Cassell reported the case to him. 
 But Singleton attempted to urge the matter, and General 
 Butler replied, "you want to force me, do you. ISTow, the 
 less you say the better." So poor Singleton had to leave, 
 his permit taken from him, and there he is, with the residue 
 of his whisky on hand — no permit to sell. 
 
 ATM. R. JOXES'S CASE. 
 
 Mr. Jones has resided in jSTorfolk for twenty years; was a 
 prosperous man, engaged in grocery and liquor business. 
 At connnencement of the rebellion was worth perhaps 
 §40,000, partly invested in State and bank stocks, and other- 
 wise where it is mostly unproductive; is a truly loyal man. 
 He made application for a permit to bring in liquors, and 
 W'as informed by Provost Marshal Whelden that applications 
 must be made directly to General Butler by letter. He 
 went in a few days to see about it, and was informed by 
 Capt. Cassell that the permit was not granted. He went on 
 to Baltimore and called on his return and inquired again. 
 He was informed by same party that no more permits would 
 be granted. Jones asked reason. The reply was General 
 Butler would take the responsibility, and that was the end 
 of it. 
 
 A NAMELESS CASE. 
 
 A sedate, quiet, honest gentleman, resident in a cit}^ lam 
 not permitted to name, was informed that by going to 
 another city I am not permitted to name, and inquire at a 
 certain place, he would find a man, and by paying him he 
 could get a permit to sell liquor and groceries in ]^orfolk. 
 He went, found the man, and asked for a permit. The 
 reply was, "How much can you pay?" Answered, "ISTot 
 one dollar." "You can't have the permit." He left, got 
 letters of o'ood standinfr as to character and lovaltv, and 
 took them to General Butler. The General asked him 
 
 where he lived. "In ." " But," says the General, 
 
 "lam giving these permits to natives in i^orfolk, to en- 
 courage them." "Well," says my friend, "I am a native 
 of iTorfolk: only left there a few years ago, and want to go 
 back again." "Well," said the General, "Colonel Shafer, 
 m}^ chief- of-stafF, who attends to this business, is absent at 
 present, and when he returns your case shall receive first 
 consideration." The poor man waited ten days, saw three
 
 23 
 
 new liquor and grocery firms open up after he made his 
 application, and called on General Butler again, who very 
 politely informed him that Colonel Shafer, his chief-of- staff 
 had not yet returned. 
 
 One man in Norfolk, who has been there two or three 
 years has a permit,, and says he got it in such a disgrace- 
 ful way that he is ashamed to tell how he got it. Another 
 who was known to have money, was accosted one day very 
 politely, I believe, by a gent in uniform, and asked how 
 much he would give to be shown parties who had one of 
 those exclusive permits from whom he could get one third 
 interest in the firm. He replied, "I w^illgive two thousand 
 five hundred dollars to the party showing me the men, and 
 put ten thousand dollars capital into the concern." The 
 middleman replied, "I will see you to-morrow." So on the 
 morrow the papers were all signed, and the two thousand 
 five hundred dollars given. 
 
 The liquor business now stands thus in Norfolk. A few 
 men from Boston and Lowell, Mass., have the exclusive 
 monopoly of importing it into the city. All the hotels and 
 restaurants are open to retail, but not at the bars. They 
 have shelves in a room and tables set around. You must 
 take a seat at the table as if eating ; the liquor is furnished ; 
 you pay twentj'-tive cents per drink — two dollars for a bottle 
 holding tliree half pints of common whisky, and three dol- 
 lars for a bottle of good. The restaurant keepers pa}^ these 
 Boston men three dollars per gallon for whisky that costs in 
 Baltimore from ninety-five to one hundred and five cents, 
 and nine dollars per gallon for whisky that costs two dollars 
 and a half to three dollars per gallon. The poor oyster men 
 must have whisky, they think ; some citizens must have, and 
 all the ofiicers and many soldiers will have, let the cost be 
 what it will. 
 
 THE GAS .WORKS. 
 
 I think all the holders of gas stock in Norfolk were dis- 
 loyal. About the first of July last they stopped making 
 gas ; coal run out, and the officers would not take the oath 
 of allegiance in order to get permits to ship more. They 
 continued closed until December, when General Butler 
 issued his order that all the residents in his district should 
 take the oath prescribed in the President's amnesty procla- 
 mation. In the order it was stated that every person " to 
 have his rights in any way protected must take and subscribe
 
 24 
 
 the oath," &c. The proposition is here plainly inferrahle 
 that if they do take and subscribe this oath, their rights of 
 property shall be protected. On the issuing of the order 
 the president and directors, and all the stockholders (except 
 those in rebellion) went forward and took and subscribed 
 the oath, and made immediate preparation to start the gas 
 works, but they were stopped. General Butler seized the 
 whole concern and put them into operation himself, al- 
 though the president of the company assured him that he 
 could start them in a few daj's, and would supply all the gas 
 needed. Yet General Butler sent to Lowell for a man and 
 fixtures to repair at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and has 
 now the works in operation, furnishing gas to the city on 
 account of somebody, I don't know whom. I suppose the 
 profits go into the provost marshal's fund. He sells the gas 
 at nearly double the price paid in Washington. 
 
 In the safe there were upwards of thirteen hundred dol- 
 lars, which Dr. Cook, the president, desired to take out, 
 but was prohibited and asked to leave it there a few days, 
 and assured that he should have it. But he has not been 
 able to get one cent of it. 
 
 ^ow, I grant all these people owning the gas works were 
 dislo3'al. Yet they were in effect assured by this order that 
 if they took the oath prescribed they should be protected in 
 their rights. They took the oath, and desired to manufac- 
 ture their gas. What possible plausibility had Gen. Butler 
 for seizing their gas works and their money and appropriat- 
 ing them ? Is the making of gas a part of the suppressing 
 of the rebellion ? The fact is, a large amount of the stock- 
 holders are widows, old maids, and orphans — all their sub- 
 sistence is taken from them in one way and another. Many 
 of them were slave owners; their slaves are all gone, and in 
 the language of Dr. Cook, one of their own number, they 
 are only respectable vagabonds, and must, many of them who 
 once were wealthy, soon becolne objects of charity. Then 
 why not live up to the bond we made with them — take the 
 oath and your rights shall be respected? They took the 
 oath; their gas works and money were immediatelj' taken 
 from them. This, I say, with all due deference, is not the 
 way to put down the rebellion. 
 
 MRS. TATEM'S CASE. 
 
 Sometime in January, Gen. Butler issued an order ap- 
 pointing three commissioners to examine into the condition 
 
 i
 
 25 
 
 of tlie savings banks of !^orfolk and Portsmouth, under the 
 plea that the money of the poor of the city had been depos- 
 ited tliere, and tliat the officers had used it and would not 
 pay the depositors. It was believed by those who had some 
 opportunity to know, that the money had been sent to Rich- 
 mond Ions: ao'O. So it turned out. But Mrs. Tatem, a 
 'widow lady, had two silver cake baskets and some other 
 pieces of silver, belonging to her daugliter in Europe, and 
 when the rebel army first came there in 1861, one of her 
 daughters took the silver, placed some napkins around it, 
 and put it in a box and placed it in the vault of the savings 
 bank in Portsmouth. It remained there until Gen. Butler's 
 commissioners went there. Mrs. Tatem called on them 
 and asked them for the silver, but she could not get it. They 
 treated her politely. She called on the provost marshal. 
 He referred her to somebody else, who referred her back 
 to the commissioners, who still refuse to give up the silver. 
 So the silver baskets are gone; she has not been able to get 
 them. I heard the story in I^orfolk; it looked impossible. 
 I went to Portsmouth and called at Mrs. Tatem's. Slie was 
 not at home, but her daughter, a modest young lady of per- 
 haps seventeen or eighteen years, politely asked me into the 
 parlor, and said perhaps she could answer for her mamma. 
 I told her my business ; she told me that she placed the silver 
 in the safe herself, and gave the facts substantially as above. 
 She remarked : " We have all taken the oath to the United 
 States, I have three brothers, none of them went into the 
 rebel army, and we are trying to be good citizens," and she 
 added, " but, sir, we have not written to sister what has 
 become of her silver, we are ashamed to let il be known in 
 Europe that our Government is treating us so badly." Gen- 
 tlemen, upon hearing this, my heart filled. I had a new 
 hope for my country and the Bepublic. Pure woman, God 
 bless her, she governs the world, and when she makes her 
 allegiance, whether to her husband or her country, she will 
 die before she will expose the shame of her liege. 
 
 MR. BILISOLLY 
 
 Resided in Portsmouth. Some of the neij2:hborine: women 
 took some silver to his house, and put it in the possession 
 of the female members of his family, without his knowl- 
 edge. The old man is about seventy years of age, and was 
 a director of the savings bank. He was summoned before 
 General Butler, and interrogated as to this silver. The old
 
 26 
 
 man knew nothing; of it, and so replied. General Butler 
 told him he was a liar, and he would put him in Fort Xor- 
 folk on bread and water until he learned to tell the truth. 
 The old man replied, " Sir, I am your prisoner, or you should 
 not address me thus." The old man was put into the fort 
 without a blanket, on the cold floor, and is still there. I 
 received a letter from one of his daughters, a good Union 
 woman, in which she says : '^ M3' dear mother sent to Fort 
 Monroe a nice new cotton mattress, a pair of blankets, one 
 comforter, one pair of sheets, and one pillow, which were never 
 delivered to father." At the time Bilisolly was arrested, 
 they found in his house, deposited as above stated, in one 
 bundle, a large soup ladle, two silver mugs, two pairs of su- 
 gar tongs, half a dozen old fashioned table spoons, with 
 other table spoons and tea spoons; and one other bundle, 
 somewhat larger, consisting of twenty-seven pieces, from 
 soup ladle to salt spoon. 
 
 Bilisolh' is an eccentric man ; he laid in liquors at the 
 birth of his children, as well as at their wedding. When 
 his youngest daughter was born, now twenty years ago, he 
 had a surplus of one dozen bottles of wine and eight bottles 
 of brandy, which he corked up and laid aside, to break when 
 she married. But the wine and brandy went with the 
 silver, and, I suppose, if not since separated, have gone into 
 the provost marshaVs fund together. 
 
 I desire to call attention to the fact that the public have 
 been fully informed of General Butler's prompt and even 
 severe dealing with the officers of the savings bank, and 
 the sending of them to Fort Hatteras and Xorfolk ; of the 
 seizure of the gas works and running it on his own account, 
 but they have never heard one word about what became of 
 the silver in Bilisolly's house, Mrs. Tatem's silver baskets, 
 or the thirteen hundred dollars in the safe in the gas works. 
 
 NEWSPAPERS AXD MAGAZINES. 
 
 In Februarv, General Butler issued an order askins: for 
 bids until the lirst of March, for the privilege of furnishing 
 newspapers and periodicals in his district, by the month, 
 promising to award the monopoly to the " successful bidder, 
 not to the highest. An old Jew by the name of Bohn was 
 the successful bidder, at the price of $600 per month. All 
 other dealers were closed up, among whom were Mahew & 
 Brother, who had a news store in Norfolk, had paid a license 
 to the city, State, and United States Governments, and were
 
 27 
 
 doing a fuir business. They supposed tlie order did not re- 
 fer to ]N"orfolk, and as they had paid their internal revenue 
 license, they continued their business. Soon, however, 
 they were summoned to Old Point before Captain Cassell. 
 When they got there, Cassell asked them if they took the 
 papers. They replied, "We do." Said he, "Do you read 
 them ? " Eeply, " We do." "Then," said he, "do you un- 
 derstand what you read? " Answer, "We do, or suppose we 
 do." Said he, " Do yon live in IS^rfolk ? " " Yes." " Did 
 you see the order awarding the privilege of supplying this 
 district with papers and magazines to Mr. Bohn ? " They 
 answered, "We did." "Well," said he, "that order was 
 issued b}^ command of General Butler, and if you persist 
 in bringing papers into this department, I will use all my 
 influence to have you punished." Thus, American citizens 
 from Pennsylvania, who have resided in Norfolk near two 
 years, are cut off from business. They paid the United 
 States Government $18 45 for internal revenue license alone, 
 with a solemn undertaking on the part of the Government 
 to protect them in their business. And this in addition to 
 what they would pay on income; but the income lias gone 
 into the inovost marked' s fund. 
 
 THE DOGS. 
 
 It was supposed that all the sources whence money could 
 be derived were exhausted. But a happy thought occurred 
 as deep contemplation occupied the mind of the soldier; 
 not like that which absorbed Alexander wdien he wept be- 
 cause there was not another world to conquer, but " where 
 was more money ? " The Dogs ! happy thought-; dogs occupy 
 a tender place in the affections of the old and young and 
 middle aged, and there is a good supply in the two cities 
 from the poodle to the butcher's bull dog. So the follow- 
 ing order was issued, verbatim: 
 
 Headquarters, N'orfolk and Portsmouth, 
 
 Norfolk, Va., Jlarch 7, 18G4. 
 General Order, No. 6. 
 
 Let every fourth dog in the district be killed. The Pro- 
 vost Marshals of Norfolk and Portsmouth will see this order 
 executed. By command of Brigadier General E. A. Wild. 
 
 GEORGE H. JOHNSON, 
 Capt. and Assistant Adjutant GencraL 
 Charles E. Whelden, 
 
 Lieut. Col. and Provost Ilarshal.
 
 28 
 
 This decree was verv sfeneral, not like that of Herod's in 
 regard to children. But every fourth dog, generally, with- 
 out reference to age, sex, or condition. Tins order produced 
 great sensation ; it was so general. How would they ascer- 
 tain the fourth dog? At last my friend Peter AVhitehurst 
 declared that all the dogs in the department would have to 
 be killed but three, then there would be no fourth dog left. 
 This produced great consternation among the old maids and 
 the 3'oung sportsmen for their poodles and pointers, so they 
 rushed to the headquarters and inquired for an interpreta- 
 tion of the order, when they were very politely informed 
 by the following answer : " Ladies and gentlemen, we do not 
 desire to hurt a hair on your dog's back. It is only to in- 
 crease the j;roi'05/ marshaVs fund that the order is made. All 
 of you wdio will pay two dollars to the provost marshal, get 
 a license for j'our dog, and a collar and put on his neck, can 
 keep him, to comfort 3'our declining years and youthful 
 sports." On the 23d of March near ^1,500 had been paid 
 in. I did not learn whether a Boston friend had the mo- 
 nopoly of selling dog collars. But the order must be carried 
 out by way of paying the money. The veteran soldiers — 
 white soldiers — were detailed to hunt them up and bring 
 them in for redemption. 
 
 When I landed in Norfolk tlie other day, I went up Main 
 street to the hotel. After I passed the provost marshal's 
 office, I met a veteran soldier leading w^itli a rope a fine, 
 noble countenanced pointer dog. The poor fellow^ looked 
 restive. He seemed to recognize a friend in me, and ran 
 around me bringing the rope around mj limbs. I extricated 
 myself and told him I was only a civilian. A little further 
 on I met another soldier w^ith a medium-sized cur, with his 
 head and tail down, showing his teeth a little, looked surly 
 and as much as to say, ''Idid'nt know that this war was 
 about dogs; I don't care a — which side w^hips," orsucli 
 sentiment as might be expected from a mean cur. A little 
 further on I met another soldier with a line around a little 
 dog'^ neck; he was between the spaniel and the poodle — 
 white wool — but dirty; his chin w^as close on the ground, 
 his eyes upturned meekly, and wagging his tail gently as 
 he went along. A juvenile freedman, who was standing on 
 the pavement, said, "little doggie, if you don't get two 
 dollars, Massa Butler will take de w\ag out ob your tail." 
 
 HOWAPvD ASSOCIATIOIsr. 
 
 When the yellow fever raged in Xorfolk and Portsmouth, 
 in 1855, the good people of'the neighboring cities sent in a
 
 29 
 
 large amount of money to some gentlemen who formed a 
 society, under the name of the Howard Association. Tliere 
 was $60,000 left after the fever had abated. They were 
 chartered by the Legislature of Virginia for tlie purpose of 
 taking care of and supporting the orplians made by the 
 yellow fever, and for other benevolent objects, when that was 
 accomplished. The members of the Board have faithfully 
 preserved the fund, using the interest for the purpose. There 
 are some twelve or fifteen of the orphans which are still a charge 
 upon them. Last year they had a small surplus of interest 
 which they devoted to the poor. The monej- is all invested 
 in loans, secured b}^ mortgages on real estate and bonds 
 with personal securit3^ Some of the directors are disloyal, 
 but the evidences of the debt are on record, and they are 
 faithfully discharging their duty. On the 22d of March, 
 General Butler issued an order, directing a committee of 
 three, two of them officers on his staff, one a civilian of re- 
 cent settlement in the city, to take possession of the assets 
 of the association. On the 22d, Captain Edgar called on 
 the secretary of the association, and demanded of him and 
 obtained all the assets of the association ; and on the 23d 
 ordered all the board to meet him at the provost marshal's 
 office. 
 
 General Butler, v/ith the same propriety and more, might 
 seize the assets of Girard College, or that of any professor- 
 ship in Harvard University, for taking care of the poor in 
 jS^orfolk and Princess Anne counties. 
 
 I will here make a remark in regard to the great clamor 
 throua'h the J^ortli about General Butler takimj; char2;e of 
 the poor. He has a preacher going around trying to 
 convince the people that General Butler is a very proper 
 man ; he is so liberal to the poor, thus using Ileaven's 
 liveried missionaries to make his conduct palatable. But 
 General Butler can never get the co-operation of the Union 
 people of Norfolk in any enterpris.e, however benevolent, 
 while it is under the management of members of his staff 
 and associates^ simpl}- because they have no confidence in 
 them. 
 
 I desire to put to rest this clamor about the Government 
 taking care of the poor in Norfolk and Princess Anne coun- 
 ties, and the two cities. Ever since the Union troops occu- 
 pied the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, the military have 
 had possession of the ferry and boats between the two cities, 
 using them for its own profit and benefit, collecting tolls 
 from all civilians, and transporting Government troops and
 
 ao 
 
 property. This ferry belongs to the two cities; tbey liave 
 not received one dollar from it. The niilitarj^ has got it all. 
 The receipts of the ferry before the war, amounted to from 
 §15,000 to §18,000 per annum. Since the military has had it 
 I am satistied that if the Government had paid for its use at 
 the same rate that an^- similar service is paid for in the 
 Korth, it would yield at least forty thousand dollars per an- 
 num, which is twice the sum appropriated for taking care of 
 the poor. But this committee for taking care of the poor 
 are holding meetings, are abusing the Union men for not 
 rallying around them, and trying to get up the idea that 
 there are no Union men in Xorfolk. The Union men won't 
 rally under such leadership. The poor are from the oyster 
 men, who are so taxed and fined that they can't make a 
 living. The poor in the county are, many of them, made 
 so by the destruction and plunder of the helpless, in military 
 raids. A highly intelligent gentleman, and now a loyal 
 member of the Virginia State Convention, told me that for 
 three weeks after General Wild made his celebrated raid in 
 Princess Anne, he could stand on the portico of his house 
 and trace the track of the raid for ten miles by the turkey 
 buzzards, feeding on the carrion made by destruction of ani- 
 mal life. Union men and widows shared the same fate; all 
 the}^ had was taken or destroj-ed, and thus many of the poor 
 are made. I forbear facts and incidents. Many of the poor 
 are the wives and children of rebels, either killed or now 
 serving in the rebel arm3\ The Union men have urged 
 that the rich rebels left behind should take care of them. It 
 was urged as a distinct proposition, that the rents of the 
 property of rebels who were in rebellion, and at home, 
 should go to their support. It was urged that Tazwell 
 Taylor, the commissioner to procure a rebel loan in J^orfolk, 
 and who was a member of Mao-ruder's staff while the rebels 
 were there, and who took §15,000 of the rebel loan, should 
 be taxed or compelled to contribute §15,000 to take care of 
 the rebel poor. But strange to sa}-, this same Tazwell re- 
 mained a bitter rebel to the last, was General Xaglee's 
 closest companion, and was called in by General Butler to 
 consult about the civil government of Norfolk. 
 
 Tazwell left the city and removed to Baltimore, without 
 ever contributing one cent, as far as General Butler is con- 
 cerned, for support of rebel poor; and now the support of 
 the poor is made a scapegoat in the estimation of ail Gen- 
 eral Butler's admirers, and a salvo for seizing and taxing 
 everything ; and because the Union men who have liberally
 
 31 
 
 drained their pockets to support the poor, will not come for- 
 ward and follow the dictates of Captain Edgar, in whom 
 they have no confidence, they are stigmatized as rehels, and 
 forsooth, there is no loyalty in the city. 
 
 It is now too late to lay any contribution on rebel property 
 holders in the cities to support the poor. General Butler 
 has required them all to take the oath of allegiance, with 
 promise of protection, and the promise ought to be kept. 
 The Union poor can be supported by the Union people, if 
 the avenues of industry and enterprise are left open for them 
 to work ; but if part are taxed to till the coffers of the p"o- 
 vosi marshaVs fund, and others prohibited from following 
 their avocations because they are in the way of Boston 
 favorites, they will all soon be paupers and vagabonds. The 
 rebel poor, wbose friends and protectors are in the rebel 
 army, must be cared for, either by cutting oft' their heads, 
 sending them across the lines to their protectors, selling rich 
 rebels' propertj^ who are in rebellion, and supporting them 
 out of the proceeds, or the United States Government must 
 support them. These are simple propositions. 
 
 The policy of supporting the poor out of rebel property 
 was partially introduced. But when General Butler came 
 it was all broken u[). The houses were needed for his offi- 
 cers and Boston friends, who are occupying them free of 
 rent. 
 
 THE WOOD BUSI^S^ESS. 
 
 Shipping fire wood is an extensive and profitable business 
 in Norfolk and tliat section. After General Butler went 
 there the natives found it diflicult to get permits — Bostoni- 
 ans got them. I will give a case. 
 
 CAPTAi:^' CROWEL AXB B. & J. BAKER 
 
 Had a wrecking vessel which had been sunk. They raised 
 it, parti}' refitted it, and loaded it with wood, with a view 
 to send the vessel to i^ew York to complete some part 
 of the rigging. They went to General AVild for a permit, 
 lie is the military governor of the city. Upon their first 
 call they were refused a permit. They called a second 
 time, in a week after the first. Tbey had one hundred and 
 seventy-five cords of wood loaded, and urged their case; 
 their boat being a wrecking vessel, they stated that if 
 they met a vessel on the way in distress, they would throw
 
 ^0 
 
 their wood overboard and go to lier relief, &c. They made 
 a strong case, but the General, however, refused ; said he 
 had granted all the permits he thought it prudent to grant, 
 but perhaps if they would go to some of the gentlemen who 
 had permits, they would get permission to ship on their per- 
 mit. They went to a Boston man by the name of Bishop, 
 who had a permit to ship four thousand six hundred cords. 
 The}' asked him for a permit, and he consented. One hun- 
 dred and seventy-five cords at §3 50 per cord at one per 
 cent would be §6 12. They asked Mr. Bishop what they 
 must pay. He replied, " You know I have to pay one per 
 cent." They handed him §25 00, and asked them if that 
 would be satisfactory. lie replied it would. Crowel is an 
 old man, and a true Union man. B. & J. Baker are north- 
 ern men and have been there for many years, engaged as 
 wreckers. I don't know their politics, if they have any. 
 
 SALE OF C0R:N". 
 
 It is difficult to get a permit to send corn out of the de- 
 partment. I find no fault with the rule, but some do get 
 permits. There were some twelve to fifteen thousand bushels 
 of corn to be sold for the benefit of the freed men, being 
 their share of a lot raised last year. The money was going 
 to them. A native by the name of Patterson had a contract 
 for delivering corn to the Government, at §1 25 per bushel, 
 at [N'orfolk. Some man from the ^orth said he had a per- 
 mit to ship, so he was ready to buy. Patterson and the 
 ^STorthern man (I don't know where he was from) were com- 
 petitors at the sale. The corn was run up to §1 12 per 
 bushel, and bought by Patterson, much to the chagrin of 
 the stranger, who remarked that he "did not know why Pat- 
 terson bid so much, he had no permit to ship." I merely 
 mention this to teach gentlemen who express so much sym- 
 pathy for the poor freedman how they might have given 
 liim bread and raiment, and done no injustice to any person. 
 The Government wanted corn, and General Wild gave Pat- 
 terson the contract. Patterson turned the corn over to the 
 Government, perhaps without handling, at $1 25 per bushel. 
 Why could nottlie party superintending the sale have had it 
 turned over to the Government at §1 25? The profits of 
 Patterson wonid have gotten many, many comforts for the 
 little freedman. But tlien there would have been no hope 
 of speculation to the gentleman with the permit.
 
 33 
 
 BUCK & CO. 
 
 Tills company is composed of Joseph A. Bock, Isaac M. 
 Dennison, Peter II. AVhiteburst, and Charles Whiteliurst. 
 This firm did a large business in dry goods and groceries, 
 old iron, pewter, lead, brass, copper, old rope, sails, and 
 grain. Tbey were engaged in it before the rebellion. 
 The vessel E. C. Knight, loaded with lumber, stranded on 
 the beach of Princess AniiC county, about the first of Janu- 
 ary last. The underwriters sold the cargo to the highest 
 bidder. Quartermaster Godwin became the purchaser, and 
 employed a Captain Caffee, a resident near the lumber, to 
 haul it over the beach to a landing on Currituck Sound, 
 where it could be loaded and brought to Korfolk. Great 
 expedition was required, lest b}^ rise of wind and tide the 
 lumber should be lost. Caffee employed above one hundred 
 hands, and got over one hundred and fifty-nine thousand 
 feet of lumber, for which he was to get twelve dollars per 
 thousand feet. He knew it would be some time before he 
 could get his money, and they desired to have some gro- 
 ceries and salt to salt their pork. He called on Buck & Co., 
 who had engaged to take two vessels and bring down the 
 lumber, to furnish these articles to pay the hands for their 
 labor, and wait with him until he got his money from the 
 Government. Thereby he would be accommodated and 
 they would make a profit. So Buck & Co. called on Quar- 
 termaster Godwin for permission, and he referred them to 
 the provost marshal. The application was in these words: 
 
 " Gen. Wild : Sir — We respectfully ask permission to 
 ship to Knott's Island, per schooner Georgia, to be sold to 
 men that have been working to save Government property 
 on the sea-beach, the following articles : one hundred sacks 
 salt, ten barrels flour, five barrels syrup, two barrels sugar, 
 one box tobacco, and two bags of coffee." 
 
 They were going to take two schooners and another cargo 
 of same quantity on a similar permit. 
 
 They went to Provost Marsiial Whelden, presented their 
 permit to his clerk, Tilden, who was sitting by the side of 
 the provost marshal, showed him that they had taken the 
 oath, and had paid their license. He endorsed it and handed 
 it to the provost marshal, who signed it. Buck then asked 
 him to whom they should take it next. The clerk replied, 
 
 3P
 
 34 
 
 " Tliat is all right; every officer in tlie department would 
 respect that." Buck, to be sure, repeated iu substance the 
 same remark, and received the same answer. They started 
 on their journey and were arrested some fifteen or twenty 
 miles from the city, and brought back by order of the pro- 
 vost marshal, who ordered thorn before the provost judge, 
 to try them and confiscate their property for attempting to 
 run the blockade. They waited ten days before a trial 
 could be obtained, their vessels lying there. They had their 
 trial, the facts turned out as above stated, and they were 
 released, and went immediatelj/ to the vessels. Before they 
 reached the store they were arrested again for having old brass 
 and copper on hand belonging to the Government. They 
 immediately appeared before the provost judge. lie was 
 on another case and they could get no trial for some seven 
 days. They were finall}^ tried and acquitted. 
 
 They were thus detained about seventeen days with their 
 vessels, at a cost of about twenty dollars per day, and had to 
 give up their adventure. Since that time they have made 
 live dilFerent applications for shipping the produce on hand, 
 consisting of rags, cotton, old iron, copper, brass, lead, 
 pewter, bees- wax, old grease, bristles, old rope, sails, i\nd 
 wood, of which they have about ten thousand dollars worth 
 on hand, all of which have been refused. Finally, Buck 
 ■wrote a statement to General Butler of himself and his con- 
 nection with AVhitehurst, alleging his loyalty, the purity of 
 his intentions, that General Wild had stated tliere was a 
 cloud hanging over his character, and ofiering to prove as 
 loyal and upright a character as any man in the department, 
 civil or military, and asking that he might be placed on an 
 equal footing with other men. General Butler referred the 
 letter to General Wild, and General Wild made on the letter 
 the following endorsements : 
 
 " Headquarters, Departmext of Ya. and X. C., 
 
 " February 24, 1804. 
 
 "Respectfully referred to General AVild, to know Avhat is 
 the objection to Mr. Buck. 
 
 "By command of Major General Butler. 
 
 "II. C. CLARK, 
 
 '•''Cai)tam and A. D. C
 
 35 
 
 "Headquarters, ^STorfolk and Portsmouth, Va., 
 
 IlToRFOLK, Va., February 28, 1864 
 
 Respectfully return, with a reference to page 2d, part 11. 
 These goods were ostensibly sent for the use only of a gang 
 of workmen and their families enf>:a2:ed on the ocean shore 
 where there ought to be salt enough for their limited pur- 
 poses. In eilect, they were to go beyond our lines to a 
 neighborhood noted for disloyalty of the worst fame, "guer- 
 rillas," between which point and Richmond there would be" 
 no obstacle to the transportation of every pound, and these 
 invoices would pay richly for the trouble. Also, with a 
 reference to page 3d, line 8d. Buck knew well enough the 
 character of Caffee, a guerrilla himself, and brother, and 
 brother-in-law, uncle, and cousin to several other guerrillas. 
 Buck could very easy surmise what sort of a gang of work- 
 men Caffee would get together. Yet he was ready to place 
 in his hands such invoices of goods as these. Also, with 
 reference to page 2d, line 99, &c., &c. Buck has done busi- 
 ness enouo'h here to know that he could not travel all over 
 -the department on the word of a provost marshal's clerk, 
 nor on a mere certificate that he had taken the oath ; 
 that the permission from the commanding officer, which he 
 had to obtain for every one of his imports and exports, was 
 vastly more necessary for trading over the lines. Also, 
 with reference to page 2d, line 3d, Judge Stackpole — ver- 
 dict, released vessels and goods from conliscation, but did 
 not let them resume the voyage. Buck then, for the first 
 time, came in to ask me for that permit. It was disapproved 
 at once. Also, with a reference to page 3d, line 3d. This 
 relates to large quantities of old junk that Buck tried to 
 export, containing brass, copper, &c., stolen from ISTavy Yards, 
 &c. Also with reference to page 1st, line 2-Uli ; Buck here 
 admits a fact which Whitehurst denied and confessed ai2[ain 
 half a dozen times in so many minutes, when questioned 
 b}' me. Buck had a large quantity of old junk, rags, cot- 
 ton, and stoves to export. Finding all his permits re- 
 tained until the question of theft was settled he brought 
 Whitehurst to his aid, who in three different applications 
 tried to ship Buck's goods. These were identitied by the 
 harbor police in spite of Whitehurst's repeated assertions 
 and angry protestations. Shifting of imports and permits 
 from one partj^ to another is inadmissible in these trouble- 
 some times, and should subject both parties to a stoppage of 
 all further privileges. This Buck case grew worse with
 
 36 
 
 "Whitehurst's help. I made np my mind that Buck's acquisi- 
 tiveness was much larger than his loyalty and rectitude. 
 Moreover, I learned his partner in Baltimore, Denison, has 
 been from the first a known secessionist, active in word if 
 not in deed. This I slathered from Whitehurst himself, I 
 therefore enclosed all the papers in the case, February 12th, 
 and forwarded them to Major R. L. Davis, Acting Adjutant 
 General. They were returned with his letter of transmittal. 
 
 ^Provost Marshal's Office, Headquarters, 
 
 Fort Moxroe, Va., Febnianj IG, 1864. 
 Brig. G-en. Wild, Norfolk, Ya. : 
 
 I am directed by the Major General commanding to re- 
 turn to you the enclosed application of Buck k Co., and to 
 state that the disposition of them is left to your discretion. 
 "Your decision in the matter will be final. 
 
 I am, General, very respectfully, vour obedient servant, 
 
 joii:n' cassells, 
 
 Ccqotain and A. D. CV 
 
 '^T at once decided to disapprove all of Buck's permits for 
 the future, that he is too slippery for this department. That 
 he be at liberty to sell out at his leisure, and should have 
 permission to return to Baltimore and indulge his trading 
 propensities in a safe field. I shall follow the same course 
 with Peter Whitehurst. 
 
 Respectfullv submitted, 
 
 ED^yARD A. WILD, 
 
 Brig. Gen. Commanding, 
 '' General "Wild's action approved. 
 
 (Signed,) BEi^TJ. F. BUTLER.'^ 
 
 This is a paper of grave import, and contains grave 
 charges. 
 
 After all these endorsements were made, the paper was 
 sent to Buck by General Butler. There is evidently a bad 
 feeling in General Wild's mind towards Buck and White- 
 hurst. They know of no reason for it, except it grew out of 
 a transaction connected with General AYild's celebrated raid 
 into IS^orth Carolina and Princess Anne count}'. It was this : 
 "While near where Captain Cafiee lives. General Wild came 
 to the house owned by a man by the name of White, who 
 was a captain in the confederate service. General Wild ar- 
 rested Mrs. W^hite, the wife, as a hostage for something, I 
 don't know what. She was in a delicate situation. Her
 
 37 
 
 clanghter, a young girl of about nineteen years of age, 
 stepped forward and said, " General, you cannot take my 
 mother, take me." lie took the daughter and set fire to the 
 house, and burnt everything in it, with all the nick nacks of 
 an expectant mother. In two days afterward Mrs. White 
 was confined, the daughter was taken a prisoner. They 
 had not proceeded far until they came to Colonel Mix, of 
 ]S"ew York, with his regiment. The Colonel and his men, 
 seeing the young girl in possession of the colored troops, in- 
 terfered, and dechired they were sent to protect persons and 
 property, and were going to rescue the girl. The men and 
 ofiicers in both commands became highly excited, and were 
 about coming into conflict, when the girl stepped forward 
 and said: "Men, don't shed blood on my account; they 
 have not mistreated me; ray honor is untarnished; I am 
 here in place of my mother." The angry blood cooled, the 
 girl was carried to N'orfolk, and kept there in the second 
 story of General Wild's headquarters some three weeks, her 
 mother, in the meantime, lying at the point of death ; and 
 by the efibrts of Captain Cafiee, aided by Buck and White- 
 hurst, the girl was released, I think through General Butler. 
 This interference may have been their sin, which cast them 
 from favor. Captain Cafiee is an old sea captain, resides in 
 Princess Anne county, is a man of substance and energ}^, and 
 has relations by blood and marriage in the confederate army, 
 but who has not? I cannot learn that Cafiee is a guerrilla, 
 or ever has been one. He is back and forw^ard frequentl}^ 
 I understand, at Norfolk, and if Cafiee is a guerrilla, as de- 
 clared by General Wild, he, having the command, certainly 
 ought to arrest him and try him as such. 
 
 General AVild declares in this endorsement that these goods 
 (in the schooner) "in eftect were to go beyond our lines." 
 IIow does he know this? He broadly asserts it; yet he 
 kept them for ten days before he tried the parties, and they 
 were acquitted in his own court, by his own judge, on the 
 testimony of the clerk in the provost marshal's oflice. Cafiee 
 and his men Avere good enough to trust by the quartermas- 
 ter to bring a large amount of lumber across the bar, when 
 great dispatch was required to prevent loss. If sufiiciently 
 faithful to work for the Government where, if they did not 
 work, it would incur great loss, why object to their having a 
 little salt, sugar, and cofiee ? 
 
 These same men, headed by Cafiee, have saved for the 
 Government, since that time, about half a million dollars' 
 worth of property from vessels wrecked on the same coast
 
 38 
 
 where these goods were destined. Aud yet this Caffee and 
 liis men are denounced as guerrillas. 
 
 General Wild charges that "in page third, line third, this 
 relates to large quantities of junk that Buck had to export, 
 containing hrass, copper, &c., stolen from Xavj, kc." He 
 says he retained all these things until the question of 
 ihefl was settled. Is not that question settled ? Were not 
 they summoned before Judge Stackpole, and kept there 
 seven days, and General "Wild notified of the fact that they 
 were not guilt}^, but proved themselves innocent? But 
 Peter AVhitehurst denied and confessed a half dozen times 
 the same thing in that many minutes. lie learned that 
 Buck's acquisitiveness was larger than his loyalty, and his 
 partner in Baltimore was a rebel ; and finally, in his last 
 endorsement, he gives him the privilege to sell out at his 
 leisure and return to Baltimore, and made same order as to 
 Peter Whitehurst. 
 
 ]S'ow, gentlemen, without repetition, I refer you to the 
 record. General Wild savs shiftins: permits is inadmissible. 
 Yet he advises it in the case of the wood permit, where a 
 Boston friend profited four hundred per cent, by it. Com- 
 ment is unnecessarv. 
 
 Peter H. Whitehurst is a native of Virginia, a man 
 of high character, and as loj^al a man as lives. The 
 firm to which he belonirs has paid more than three 
 thousand dollars for the support of the poor and the 
 Union cause, since our troops occupied Xorfolk. Charles 
 Whitehurst is a member of the loyal Virginia Senate, 
 a Christian gentleman, and as pure a man, I think, as 
 I ever met. Buck stands as high, I am informed, as an 
 honorable merchant, as anv in Baltimore; his lovalty un- 
 doubted. Denison, Buck's partner in Baltimore, was a 
 secessionist in April, 1861. In June he joined one of the 
 Union aid associations in Baltimore. In July, 1863, when 
 Lee invaded Maryland, six months' volunteers were called 
 for. Young Creamer was a clerk in some institution in 
 which Denison was a director. After Creamer left, Den- 
 ison moved that his company vote him fifty dollars bounty, 
 and keep his place open for him until his return. * 
 
 This is the class of men stricken down and all the 
 avenues of trade shut up to them, charged with theft, 
 after the General knew they had been acquitted, notified 
 to sell their o^oods to some other person who would 
 make the speculation by transportation, I suppose. Is this 
 right; is it just, that these men, two of them living
 
 39 
 
 in 'N'orfolk, with large families to support, ancT wlio have 
 lost largely b}' the rebellion, should thus be blasted by the 
 caprice of a commanding general ? Peter Whitehurst had 
 a slave named Charles, worth fifteen hundred dollars before 
 the war. Charles remained with him until the order came 
 to enlist colored men. AVliitehurst went to Charles, al- 
 though he was not free, and told him, " Charles, you 
 now have a chance to fio:ht for the freedom of vour race. 
 Go and join a colored regiment and show yourself a man." 
 Charles said : "Master, I want to stay with you." "ITo," 
 said Peter, "your country needs you more than I do, go." 
 He went, and is now a soldier, and Peter has never made 
 any demand for service or bounty. This is a Virginia 
 Union man. 
 
 YELLOW PmE AISTD SHIP KIN'EES. 
 
 It is reported that one party from Boston has a permit 
 from General Butler to cut all the yellow pine and ship knees 
 in his district. This is a large operation and may amount 
 to millions. They have commenced cutting all the timber 
 from some farms below Norfolk on the Bay, sawing it into 
 lumber and wood. These farms belons^ to resident secession- 
 ists who reside on their land, who have not taken up arms, 
 nor are their lands liable to confiscation ; and the}^ have 
 taken the oath under General Butler's order with the promise 
 of protection. The timber is all cut down, landmarks des- 
 troyed, and the farms rendered valueless, to a great extent, 
 for want of timber. I have no o1)jection, where the Gov- 
 ernment needs lumber, and timber is on land liable to 
 confiscation, to its being cut and used. Nor would it have 
 been ver}^ objectionable that when a man owns timber, and 
 is a rebel, and has not taken the oath, to take his timber for 
 Government purposes. But when a man has taken the oath 
 with a promise of protection, the Government is bound to 
 protect him. 
 
 THE NEW EEGIME. 
 
 This is the title of a new^ daily newspaper, published in 
 Norfolk under the auspices of General Butler. New Regime 
 means new government, or order of things. Newspaper 
 enterprises generally depend on private capital and enter- 
 prise. But the Kciv .Regime had two printing establishments, 
 engines, presses, and type seized, belonging to men who
 
 40 
 
 had taken tne oath. A restaurant keeper was turned out of 
 the house he occupied because it was needed for military 
 purposes — the quartermaster was required to detail hands 
 from Government shops to repair engines and do carpenters' 
 work to the amount of seven hundred and seventeen dollars 
 and fortv-live cents, which was charo;ed to the United States 
 Government, and Mr. Cliase will have the money to provide 
 to pay, to repair the engines and do carpenter work, to get 
 ready for editing the Kew Eegime. Then Captain Clark, 
 one of General Butler's staff, was detailed with a civilian 
 from Boston to edit the paper. Sixty printers — soldiers 
 from the army — were detailed and sent to the office, thirty 
 of them were chosen and now are acting as type setters, 
 printers, and engaged in various ways in getting out the 
 paper, and receiving their pay and rations from the United 
 States Goverment; one of the editors paid as an officer. 
 Suppose these printers to be all veterans, and if they are not 
 veterans will have to take their place in the held. The Gov- 
 ernment, State and Federal, are piiying now, seven hundred 
 dollars bounty, besides clothing. 
 
 The ^ew Regime stands as to cost to the country per an- 
 num, about thus : 
 
 For bounty to 30 sokliers, at §700 $21,000 00 
 
 Pa3^, clothing, and subsistence of 30 soldiers, 
 
 at §30 per month 10,800 00 
 
 Cost of repairs to engines and carpenter work-- 717 46 
 Pay of Captain Clarke, about 1,800 00 
 
 34,317 46 
 
 Captain Clark is on detached duty, and is entitled to 
 commutation for rent, fuel, light, and rooms. 
 
 The editor's business notice is as follows : '' The job print- 
 ing department of this office is the most complete in Virginia, 
 and as all our presses are run by steam power, we can afford 
 to execute all kinds of work at the lowest possible price. 
 Send orders to Xo. 33 Market street, corner of Commerce." 
 Kept up as the New Regime is by the Federal Government, 
 at the tune of §34,000 per annum, wearing out the engines, 
 press, and type of men who had taken the oath under 
 promise of protection, it would be supposed that the}' could 
 do work cheaply. "But there is no need of these soldiers 
 now." For that I cannot say. On the night of the 21st of 
 March, the rebels came within eight miles of Xorfolk and 
 destroyed a considerable amount of Government property,
 
 41 
 
 and on tlie night of the 23d, they were within four miles of 
 Norfolk. Rebels are running the lines almost daWy. The 
 printer soldier cannot attend to keeping guard or protecting 
 property, were they to do so, this Boston gentleman could 
 not do his work so cheaply. 
 
 The object of tliis newspaper is to create a sink to absorb 
 as much as possible of the provost mar shaV s fund by way of 
 advertisements. Nearly three fourths of it is tilled with 
 military orders as advertisements. Also, to prove that the 
 civil ^-overnment of Yiro-inia should be abolished in General 
 
 -r-v • 
 
 Butler's department and militarj^ rule substituted. I called 
 the attention of the Secretary of War to some of the usur- 
 pations at Norfolk. Among other things, to the one per 
 cent, on merchandise that was shipped into the department. 
 The New Regime takes up the gauntlet, and in his issue of 
 the 7tli of March, he devotes nearly three columns to prove 
 that the civil government ought to be abolished and military 
 substituted in General Butler's department. Defending the 
 one per cent, charge, he denounces the opposition to it as 
 the " hold from a semi-loyal government.''' It is exceedingly 
 offensive to those who have imperiled all, and are still doing 
 all in their power to advance the great cause of the country, 
 to be denounced by a mere parasite as semi-loyal. No 
 man's name appears as editor of the paper. 
 
 There are two daily newspapers in Norfolk and Ports- 
 mouth with a capacity to do all the printing required by the 
 department. 
 
 THE MAKKETS. 
 
 They have undertaken to regulate the price of articles 
 sold in market. I here give the military order containing 
 the bill of prices : 
 
 " IIeadquarteks Norfolk and Portsmoutii, 
 
 Norfolk, Va., February 11, 18G4. 
 Special Order, No. 30. 
 
 The following are established as the maximmn prices at which the articles 
 enumerated below may be sold in the markets, shops, stalls, or other places at 
 Norfolk or Portsmouth. 
 
 Any person who shall be convicted of selling at higher rates will be pun- 
 ished according to the discretion of the provost marshal, and his produce 
 shall be forfeited. 
 
 The only currency will be that permitted by the Government of the United 
 States.
 
 42 
 
 First quality bacon, per lb So IG 
 
 Second quality bacon I2h 
 
 Hams per lb 17 
 
 Sbouklerp, per lb 12i 
 
 Fresb beef, per lb 
 
 Fresb sirloin steak, per lb 15 
 
 Fresh round steak, per lb Ic 
 
 Fresh roasting pieces, per lb , 15 
 
 Fresh coarse pieces, per lb 8 
 
 Lard, per lb 18 
 
 Butter, per lb 35 to 45 
 
 Eggs, per dozen , 30 
 
 For all kinds of poultry dressed 13 
 
 Meal, per lb 2} 
 
 Sweet potatoes, per peck 30 
 
 Beans, per quart , 15 
 
 Spots, live, per dozen 30 
 
 Spots, salt, per dozen 15 
 
 Turkeys and geese, apiece, alive 1 00 
 
 Oysters, per quart 15 
 
 Oysters, shell, per bushel 50 
 
 Lynn Haven, per bushel 75 
 
 Cabbage, large, per head , 15 
 
 Cabbage, small, per head 3 to 8 
 
 Roast pigs 50cts. to 1 00 
 
 First quality mutton, per lb ■ 15 
 
 Second quality mutton per lb 12j 
 
 Bread, four ounces per loaf 5 
 
 Croakers and drum-head fish, per lb 5 
 
 Blue and drum fish, per lb 10 
 
 Sheepshead fish, per lb 10 
 
 Spanish mackerel, per lb 10 
 
 Wood, pine, per cord 3 50 
 
 Wood, hard, per cord 4 50 
 
 Coal, per ton U 00 
 
 -ilpples, per barrel 5 00 
 
 All groceries not mentioned above, ten per cent, above Baltimore prices. 
 The above prices will be altered from time to time as the change of season 
 and state cf market may require. 
 
 By command of Brig. Gen. E. A. Wild : 
 
 GEOBGE H. JOHNSON, 
 
 Caj>t. and Asst. Adj. Gen. 
 
 All conversant witli the prices paid in the Eastern mar- 
 kets for similar articles will at once observe that the prices 
 here established are far below the price of any other market. 
 Groceries ten per cent, on Baltimore prices — tbey paid, when 
 this bill was established, live per cent, to United States 
 Government, one per cent, to General Butler, and at least 
 two and one half per cent, freight, cooperage, &c., making- 
 eight and one half percent. — one and one half per cent, is 
 left for profit.
 
 43 
 
 I herewith give a letter from a Princess Anne county 
 farmer as the best commentary on the market prices: 
 
 ^'Princess Anne County. Yirginia, 
 
 31arch 22, 1864. 
 
 Sir: We think the formers in the vicinity of N"orfolk are 
 \Qvy unjustly imposed upon by having the prices fixed upon 
 our market produce by tlie military authorities. 
 
 In the first place, we have to pay higher for our seeds and 
 fertilizers than ever before, say thirty-three percent., and in 
 addition to that we have to pay five per cent, in Baltimore 
 and one per cent, at Old Point on all the seeds and imple- 
 ments we bring from Baltimore. Labor is higher, and we 
 have suffered from depredations committed by a class of 
 roving whites and bhacks, who have stolen our fowl, pota- 
 toes, and even some of the horses. Kow, to be compelled to 
 take such prices as some military men may dictate, and 
 those prices not more than one half of what is paid in Balti- 
 more, it cannot be claimed as a military necessity. We have 
 to pay the grocers and dry goods men such prices as they 
 may see fit to ask us. Now^, why select the farmers and 
 compel them to sell at fixed prices ? If the pay of the mili- 
 tar}' who have brought their fimiilies here w-ill not support 
 them, let them ask the Government for increase of pay, and 
 not rob the poor farmer. 
 
 An ever loyal farmer, 
 
 JXO. XEWTOIS^. 
 To Gov. PiERPoiNT, Alexandria, Va." 
 
 I do not know Mr. K'ewton, but this is only one of 
 numerous letters I have received on this and similar sub- 
 jects. 
 
 This all proves one of two things, either the incapacity of 
 the officers who undertake to regulate this subject, or a de- 
 termination to have the articles produced in market for less 
 tlian their value. It is immaterial to me to which cause it 
 is attributable. 
 
 CASE OF CIIAS. W. BUTTS. 
 
 Mr. Butts is a lawyer in the cit}^ of N'orfolk. Gen. Wild 
 made an order coniiscatinc: the estate of a man in Ports- 
 mouth b}' the name of Williams. AVilliams was a rebel, but 
 toolv the oath under the promise of protection. lie heard
 
 44 
 
 before be took tbe oatli tbat tbe military, witb some Boston 
 friends, coveted bis dwelling bouse and handsome furni- 
 'ture. Shortly after taking the oath, an order was made 
 confiscating his propertj-. Williams then (being in delicate 
 health) sent bis certificate of liaving taken the oath pre- 
 scribed by Gen. Butler, claiming his protection, to General 
 Wild, who kept the certificate and endorsed on tbe back of 
 it "oath revoked," and ordered the ofiicers in whose pos- 
 session tbe books kept for the purpose of recording names, 
 dates, and residence of persons taking the oath, and in which 
 Williams's name was recorded, to erase from tliem all evi- 
 dence of Williams's having taken the oath, which was done. 
 Williams, with his wife and children, were turned out of 
 their own bouse into tbe streets of Portsmouth, on the 22d 
 of March last, during the prevalence of one of tbe most ter- 
 rible snow storms I ever witnessed. 
 
 Butts, not in a professional capacit}', but as an act of mere 
 justice, wrote the following letter to Attorney General 
 Bates at Washington, accompanied by a copy of Gen. Wild's 
 order of confiscation : 
 
 " IsToilFOLK, YlRGINIA. 
 
 "Hon. Edayard Bates, 
 
 Aitornei/ General, ^VasMngton, D. C. : 
 
 Sir: I have felt it my duty on several occasions to com- 
 municate certain facts to you, but have desisted from writ- 
 ing, knowing that your present duties are so onerous that 
 yon have but little time to look after such matters. But 
 wben a brigadier general of tbe army takes tbe civil law in 
 bis own bands, and orders real estate to be confiscated 
 without legal cause, totally disregarding tbe laws of tbe 
 country as this man Wild has, I feel constrained to write. 
 General Wild, as you are aware, is the military commander 
 of the respective cities of E'orfolk and Portsmouth, who, in 
 my opinion, (and I have bad considerable military experience,) 
 is not a fit and proper person to be provost marshal over 
 white people. What I wish to complain of is tbe following 
 order: 
 
 [Copy.] Provost Marshal's Office, 
 
 Portsmouth, Virginia, March 9, 1864. 
 
 " Mr. John Williams, 
 
 Portsmouth, Virginia : 
 
 "By order of Brigadier General Wild, your entire estate 
 is confiscated to the use of the United States Government.
 
 45 
 
 You will furnish tlir bearer, Corporal Prime, of this office, 
 a list of houses and tenements now in your possession, and 
 vacate the premises 3^ou now occupy on or before the 19th 
 of March. 
 
 DAK MESSINGEIi, 
 
 Provost MarshaL 
 
 Mr. Williams resides in Portsmouth with his fixmil}^ and 
 has taken tlie oath of allegiance under the President's proc- 
 lamation. If consistent with your views or duties you will 
 greatly oblige by giving this letter your attention as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 Very respectfully, 3'our obedient servant, 
 
 G. W. BUTTS." 
 
 Jud2:e Bates endorsed the letter and sent it to the Secre- 
 tary of War. He endorsed it and sent it to General Butler. 
 General Butler endorsed it and sent it to General Wild. 
 Wild sent for Butts, asked him if he wrote the letter. Butts 
 said he did ; handed Butts a cop}^ to read ; and after read- 
 ing asked him if it was a correct cop}^ Butts told him it 
 was. Then Butts was shortly afterwards handed an order 
 banishing him from the department. He went to General 
 Butler and complained ; asked Butler to rescind it. Among 
 other things Butler told him he was iu trouble with him, 
 (General Butler,) and took from a pigeon hole a letter which 
 Butts had written to the President, informing him of the 
 dollar charge on persons going in and out of General Butler's 
 department, which the President had referred to General 
 Butler, and told Butts he was a dangerous man ; he would 
 not interfere with General Wild's order. So Butts had to 
 leave, and at this vvritino^ is an exile from the home of his 
 adoption and professional business, sitting in my office. 
 
 Who is Butts? He is a native of JN^ew Jersey, a republi- 
 can in politics; the first political speech he ever made was 
 advocatino^ Mr. Lincoln's election. He was the second man 
 volunteered in his county in the three months' service; was 
 amonof the first who crossed from WashinLcton to Alexandria 
 Avhen the lamented Ellsworth fell in that city. He served 
 as a private ; was in the ISTew Jersey reserve corps, com- 
 manded by General Punyon at the time of the battle of Bull 
 Pun. When his term was out lie returned home. He raised 
 thirty men at once and joined Colonel Harlan's independent 
 regiment, now the lltli Pennsylvania cavalry, and was com- 
 missioned 1st lieutenant, and served with distinction on the
 
 46 
 
 Peninsula, between James and York rivers. Butts lias 
 many certificates of which any young man ought to be 
 proud, fur acts of daring and gahantry on the field. I will 
 quote the endorsement of Colonel Spear, the gallant com- 
 mander of his regiment, on his request to resign : 
 
 "Headquarters 11th Pexxsylyaxia Cavalry, 
 (Near Portsmouth, Virginia,) OctoUr 4, ISt^S. 
 ''Approved and recommendecl. I am fully aware of the 
 reasons which compel this applicant to ofl'er his resignation. 
 I have known him to take the field when he was more fitted 
 to be in bed, and was prompted to do so by pure energetic 
 motives. He has on many occasions distinguished himself 
 in action ; brave, cool, and determined as an oflicer, urbane, 
 polite and gentlemanl}' as a citizen. I shall deeply deplore 
 his loss to m}^ regiment. 
 
 (Signed,) SAMUEL P. SPEAP, 
 
 Colonel l^th Pmnsykania Caudrij.''' 
 
 Major General Peck and Brigadier General E. S. Foster, 
 both crave him hiirh testimonials for acts of bravery and 
 personal daring in the execution of orders under their im- 
 mediate commands. Butts resigned on account of ill health ; 
 had contracted as^ue and fever in the low lands of Virci^inia. 
 He commenced the practice of law in Xorfolk. With his 
 young and chivalrous spirit he saw what he knew was wrong. 
 He represented it as a citizen to his Government. For that 
 he was exiled. 
 
 GEXEPv AL BUTLER'S MILITARY ADMIXISTRATIOX 
 
 IX THE FIELD. 
 
 Since General Butler has been so vigilant in trving 
 to impress the public mind that the civil government 
 was inefiicient at Xorfolk, it may not be amiss to advert 
 to his administration of militarv afi:airs in the fieid in 
 that vicinity. The first movement was to send about 
 one hundred men to Smith field, on the James river, in the 
 face of the enemv, with no mode of retreat, and onlv to be 
 supported by gunboats going up a creek that is little more 
 than a quagmire at low tide. The result was the loss of the 
 whole command, and the destruction of a gunboat, which 
 got aground. 
 
 The next was General Wild's notable raid into Xortli 
 Carolina and Princess Anne countv. I never want to see the
 
 47 
 
 history of that raid until tlie war is over. The takins: of 
 Miss White a prisoner is only one ot* the occurrences. 
 
 The next was the projected raid on Richmond, for the lib- 
 eration of the Union prisoners. The failure was much re- 
 gretted. It was attributed to the desertion of a Union sol- 
 dier, who carried the news to Kichmond, and gave them 
 time to rallj^ and defeat the project. And the public have 
 been amused and satisfied with this story, and Genei'al But- 
 ler lauded to the heavens for the conception of the noble 
 idea. He insulted the ^avy hy attributing to the officers 
 unfaithfulness, and imprisoned a lad3' thirteen days, keeping 
 her on bread and water, to force her to tell what naval otiicer 
 had told her of the contemplated expedition to Richmond, 
 when she knew nothing about it. Of all of this the public 
 was duly notified through the press. But is it not strange 
 how the soldier who deserted knew anything about the ob- 
 jects of the army, so as to give the information so long be- 
 forehand ? It is said of General Harrison, when he com- 
 manded at Fort Meigs, in the winter of 1812, that there was 
 a report of the approaching enemy, and some young man 
 asked him what he was going to do, in case the enemy were 
 at a certain point. The General replied that if he thought 
 his shirt knew his thoughts, he would burn it. I lieard this 
 when I was vQvy j^oung, and it impressed me. I was im- 
 pressed when I heard the story of the deserter. I asked the 
 first four or five men I met from Norfolk if it was known 
 there publicly before the expedition started that it was going. 
 Every one of them replied that they knew it from six to 
 ten days before it started. The troops that were going, the 
 object, route, and all about it. It was told hy Lis own ofli- 
 cers. General Butler knew to whom he had confided his 
 plans. Why did he not strike there for the person who re- 
 vealed the secret ? I think it very likely that the news of 
 the raid was communicated from Jforfolk to Richmond, and 
 it was suggested in the letter, "publish that you got this 
 news from a Union soldier who deserted." But it was 
 known at Williamsburg, and talked of among the soldiers 
 for at least six days before the expedition started. Yet cen- 
 sure is lieaped on everyl)ody, to keep observation from Gen- 
 eral Butler and his confidential advisers. 
 
 The last military exploit I heard of, was a raid into ISTorth 
 Carolina and the capture of two lighter loads of corn and 
 meal, with some contrabands, and the selling of the corn at 
 public auction, and the proceeds of sale went into the j9ro- 
 vosi marshaVs faniL
 
 48 
 
 With all the ridicule of General Butler, and the sneers of 
 his New Regime, at the civil government of Norfolk and 
 Portsmouth, it will standout in bold relief as effective, when 
 compared with General Butler's military operations in the 
 field in that section. 
 
 The last I heard from the provost court, they were very 
 desirous of trying a case of habeas corpus to determine the 
 custody of two children, between a husband and wife who 
 had separated. 
 
 WHAT BECOMES OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S 
 
 FUND. 
 
 I might answer this question by repeating the question, 
 what does become of it ? Perhaps this is about as satisfac- 
 tor}' an answer as the country will ever get. 
 
 It does not go into the Treasury of the United States, nor 
 do I suppose it relieves it of any of its burdens. It is esti- 
 mated by those who have pretty good opportunity of know- 
 inof. that there has been collected since General Butler went 
 to Old Point last fall, from two to three hundred thousand 
 dollars into this fund. There has been a system of excess- 
 ive lines introduced for one supposed offense and another, 
 varying from fifty to five thousand dollars. In addition to 
 this mode, property, captured and confiscated, all goes into 
 iho: 'provost marshals fund, w^ith tax on goods shipped into 
 and out of "the district, tax on oysters and dogs, clearances 
 of vessels, &:c., &c. 
 
 Some repairs are being made on the streets. This is done 
 by convicts, soldiers and citizens in penitentiary uniform, 
 with Government teams to do the hauling, superintended by 
 a contractor. He may be paid for all that is done. Adver- 
 tisements in the JSew Regime, and it is said there are about 
 forty detectives there, all under pay, perhaps, to keep down 
 the fund. But as to its disposition, all is conjecture. One 
 thing is certain, there is great interest taken in enlarging the 
 fund. One man got a permit to bring in three thousand 
 dollars' worth of goods, and paid thirty dollars. His wife 
 was taken ill, and remained sick for some time. He could 
 not leave home, and when slie got well he had to decline his 
 enterprise. He called to get his money back, but was re- 
 fused. Buck & Whitehnrst got a permit last fall to bring in 
 thirty thousand dollars* worth of some kind of goods, but 
 the permit was delayed S) long that the season passed for 
 the sale of the article ; they only brought in ten thousand
 
 49 
 
 dollars' worth. They called for their two hundred dollars 
 paid on the permit they did not use, and were also prohib- 
 ited from shipping anything more ; but they could not get 
 back their two hundred dollars. The Government would 
 refund under such circumstances. 
 
 In this succinct statement I have only given a few cases. 
 I don't know that they are the worst cases. An elaborate 
 history might be written of the acts there, all interesting in 
 detail, and tendins: to illustrate more fullv the existence of 
 systematic abuse of military power. I am informed that 
 the same system prevails perhaps to a greater extent in 
 North Carolina than in Virginia, because there is less re- 
 straint there. Civil government seems to check it a little — 
 hence the anxiety to break it up, in order that they may 
 have a clear field. 
 
 It is strange to me that such a system should have grown up 
 whereby military commanders collect tens and hundreds of 
 thousands of dollars into this post or provost marshal's fund 
 which is held by men who give no bonds. None of it goes 
 into the United States Treasury, but little of it to relieve 
 the Treasury of its burdens, and much of it expended for 
 objects in no way connected with the suppression of the 
 rebellion. This, to my mind, is a subject which needs 
 attention. 
 
 THE EFFECT OF ALL THIS OIST THE PUBLIC MIND. 
 
 On going to Norfolk about the 20th of March last, I was 
 humiliated. At Old Point and Norfolk, I met men, who, 
 six months ago, stood erect and talked like freemen, who 
 were proud of their country, and that they were American 
 citizens. But now the hand of oppression is upon them, 
 they look dejected and disheartened. When they spoke to 
 me of their troubles, it was far from the presence of any one, 
 and then in an undertone. When they came into my room 
 to talk with me, they would look around the room to assure 
 themselves that there was no spy concealed, and see that 
 the doors were closely shut. The Union papers have been 
 regretting that the Union cause for some time past has been 
 on the decline in North Carolina. It is true. The wail ot 
 the oppressed there under General Butler's rule has gone 
 outtlirough the old North State and hushed the clamor ot 
 her liberty-loving people for the blessings of freedom they 
 expected to enjoy under the old stars and stripes. And 
 these oppressions now form the principal staple for the rebel 
 4 P
 
 50 
 
 Governor Yance in his canvass for re-election, to persuade 
 the people to be reconciled to JefF. Davis's despotism. 
 
 In October last I felt hopeful and buoyant at the prospect 
 of returning loyalty, and the disposition of the people to 
 sustain the restored government. General Foster was in 
 command of the department. I found him a gentleman 
 and a soldier, earnest in his profession and desire to do right. 
 General Barnes was placed in command of the two cities. 
 He was from Massachusetts, an educated, earnest soldier, 
 and all you would expect in a Massachusetts gentleman. 
 Massachusetts, God bless her ! I love her people. In Vir- 
 ginia's darkest day, in 1861, while the committee of safety 
 was guiding, to a certain extent, the destiny of the loyal 
 people of the State, the lightning of heaven brought us 
 the happy dispatch from Governor Andrews that Massachu- 
 setts would let the loyal men of Virginia have two thousand 
 muskets to be used in the defense of liberty in the State. 
 A messenger was immediately dispatched for the arms. 
 They came, and immediately on the reorganization of the 
 State, I placed them in the hands of the men, where tliey 
 did good service. The sending of the arms gave great 
 moral strength to the Union cause and to Union hearts, 
 and I say again, I love Massachusetts. It is an old adage, 
 " that there are few mothers with many children but there 
 are some black sheep among them." Massachusetts has 
 hers, and I am after them. But I was speaking ot Gen- 
 eral Barnes. He took great interest in the civil affairs 
 of this section. General Lockwood was doing the same in 
 Accomac and ^Northampton. The civil officers began to 
 feel assured that they were going to be sustained, were 
 taking courage, and civil affairs began to move off smoothly. 
 But General Lockwood and General Barnes did not suit Gen- 
 eral Butler, and they were removed from his department. 
 Before General Butler went there, the Union men were 
 buoyant with the hope of seeing their section settled and 
 repopulated by people from the l!Torth. They welcomed 
 Northern men among them. But now dejection, despond- 
 ency and bitterness is seen where hope then existed, and deep 
 sectional hostility is beginning to manifest itself. Oh ! it is a 
 bitter, hitter contemplation, to see so glorious a cause as the 
 Union cause thus stricken and w^ounded in the house of 
 its friends. My heart is sick, sick at the contemplation. But 
 there is consolation in knowing that the abuses only exist 
 in this city and the district of Virginia and IN'orth Carolina, 
 and that you, gentlemen, form a tribunal to w^hom we can
 
 51 
 
 appeal, which is too high and too pure to refuse adequate 
 relief. 
 
 THE REMEDY. 
 
 I am asked is it too late to remedy the evil and restore 
 the cause ? I answer, no. The remedy is indicated by the 
 inspired prophet in his declaration that " righteousness ex- 
 alteth the nation, and sin is a reproach to any people." 
 Then the remedy is in doing right. This is the easiest mat- 
 ter in the world. Sin is a reproach, that is, doing wrong, 
 and it always brings trouble. Rebels will never be fully 
 punished in this world. Many universalists have abandoned 
 their favorite dogma of a universal heaven since this war 
 commenced. They see plainly that there can be no ade- 
 quate punishment on earth for those who have brought the 
 calamities of this terrible war on the country. If fifty men 
 in Virginia had done six years ago what lifty thousand have 
 done in the last three years, they all would have been hung. 
 But the Government thinks it not wise to undertake to kill 
 everybody who has turned traitor. I think that is right. 
 When Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred 
 and lifty princes rebelled against Moses, the earth opened 
 and they were swallowed up ; a consuming flame came out 
 and killed the two hundred and fifty princes, and the people 
 wdio were led away by them fled to the side of Moses and 
 were not hurt. Perhaps we have an example in this, that it 
 is right to extend amnesty to all but the leaders in rebellion. 
 It is certainly the prerogative of the Government to fix the 
 terms of amnesty to rebels. If the Government liad de- 
 clared they should all be killed, and had killed as fast 
 as we got to them, it would be diflicult to prove that it w^as 
 not a just act. Slavery was the root of the rebellion. Per- 
 haps its abolishment, with confiscation, will be punish- 
 ishment enough. But the President, for wise purposes, de- 
 termined that all wdio would return to allegiance, from the 
 grade of colonel and under, and take the oath he prescribed, 
 should he pensioned and restored to all their rights of prop- 
 erty, unless it had been sold under the laws punishing 
 traitors. But if confiscations had commenced and not pros- 
 ecuted to sale, the proceedings are to be dismissed upon the 
 rebels taking the oath. The fullest and amplest protection 
 is oflered. General Butler has ordered all in his military 
 district to take the oath with the solemn pledge of protec- 
 tion ; the nation is bound to guarantee it. It is right to
 
 52 
 
 guarantee it alter it is Diacle. The Government, through 
 the President, has prescrihed the terms by which the 
 rebel is to be protected. He conforms to the requisi- 
 tion, the terms must be kept on our part. A great Gov- 
 ernment like the United States cannot afford to do wrong. 
 iSTow, it is right to redress all the wrongs General Butler 
 has committed in his district as far as possible. It is 
 right to return the gas works to the proper owners, with 
 a fair charge for the repairs, and an account for the profits 
 and especiall}' to return the thirteen hundred dollars which 
 were in the safe. It is right to return to Mrs. Tatem 
 her silver cake baskets ; to return to the proper owners the 
 silver taken from the house of Mr. Bilisolly, and also the 
 wine and brandy taken from his house, and if it cannot be 
 returned to punish those who have put it out of the power 
 uf the Government to do right. It is right to return to 
 Daniels & Zantzins^er the lifteen thousand dollars taken from 
 them, and to reimburse Hodgins for violently turning him 
 out of his house, and those who occupy the house should 
 pay the money ; and to require the speculators to reimburse 
 the farmers whose land they have stripped of timber, if these 
 farmers have taken the oath and have not violated it. Wil- 
 liams and all the other parties that have been turned out of 
 their houses should have their property restored to them, 
 where they have taken the oath and not violated it. This 
 done, and there is no fair man living but will say it is right 
 that it should be done ; this would be that kind of righteous- 
 ness which exalteth a nation. The news of its being 
 ordered would thrill the hearts of the Union men in reb- 
 eldom. It would be grateful to every loyal heart in the na- 
 tion, and would create a little jubilee in those desponding 
 hearts in this section. Loyalty would prevail, and blessings 
 would he poured out of grateful hearts upon the Govern- 
 ment, where secret curses and imprecations are now being 
 indulged in ; and as General Grant goes south this spring, 
 hundreds of thousands will flock around his banner and 
 kiss the old flag, conscious that no wrong will be sufl'ered 
 where it floats. It will disarm hundreds of thousands of 
 their stubbornness, and save the lives of thousands of Union 
 soldiers. I am satistied that these oppressions have done 
 more to unite the rebels in the south and retard Union sen- 
 timent there, though conflned to a narrow compass as they 
 are, than any thing that has occurred since the rebellion has 
 commenced, and it not corrected their warning voice will 
 go into the south, and General Grant as he goes forward this
 
 53 
 
 Slimmer, with his noble comrades, will have a hard road to 
 travel. 
 
 The natural condition of men is under civil government. 
 The military is an organized artificial force to aid the civil 
 law to assert its power when resisted by force. It is right 
 that the civil discharge all the duties assigned it by society; 
 if resisted, the military removes the resistance; when that 
 is done it has performed its function. Whenever it attempts 
 to discharge civil duties it is ivrong, and begets discord. It 
 is right for the officers to attend to the duties assigned them 
 by the rules of war; to drill and discipline the soldier; to 
 prepare him for effective duty; to look after his health, and, 
 as far as possible, to preserve his morals; to lead him in 
 battle, and in all things to set him a good example. War 
 is expensive, both in money and life, hence it should be short. 
 I think there can be no controversy about these propositions 
 being right in theorj^; and their practicable application is 
 this. If the military wdll drive all the rebel army out of the 
 State I will reorganize every county in the State in less than 
 six months, with loyal officers to execute the civil laws. 
 If they will remove all the soldiers from the limits of the 
 city of Alexandria, I^Torfolk and Portsmouth, except what 
 may be necessary to guard the public stores, and pick up 
 straggling soldiers that come into the cities, I will ensure the 
 good government of all three of the cities through the civil 
 government, and save the Federal Government at least thirty 
 thousand dollars per annum by way of pay to military 
 brigadiers and their staffs, and superfluous bands of music, 
 for which the civil 2:overnment will not charo:e one cent. I 
 submit, in all earnestness, that the city of Korfolk, for in- 
 stance, with fifteen hundred women con ijrecrated there "who 
 are no better than they ought to be," is not the place for 
 soldiers or officers, who are expected to do efficient work in 
 the field. In the city is not the place for the officer or sol- 
 dier to defend tlie city. Philadelphia and Washington are 
 defended and protected by the Army of the Potomac. Nor- 
 folk and Alexandria should be protected by the army out- 
 side of the cities, and there is no sort of military necessity 
 for a military governor being in either city — a battalion with 
 a field officer as commandant of the post is all that is neces- 
 sary. 
 
 It will greatly relieve the complication of matters at Nor- 
 folk to open the port, and appoint an honest collector. He 
 could attend to the business with half the cost to the Govern- 
 ment and much more benefit to all concerned. This would
 
 54 
 
 greatly diminish the stock of goods kept on hand in those 
 cities. This must he evident to any person who has oh- 
 served the practical workings of the present system. A 
 merchant now applies at JS'orfolk for a permit to ship goods 
 into the city; he gets it signed there; he then sends it to 
 Washington for approval ; it is then sent to the custom house 
 at Baltimore. This is done in a week; sometimes two or 
 three weeks transpire; hence, a merchant to avoid trouble 
 of permit, gets large supplies; and lest he should run out, 
 replenishes soon; keeping on hand a large surplus; but 
 open the ports, dispense with the permits, and he can send 
 to Baltimore and get a return in 48 hours at furthest. 
 Their cargoes with their invoices would be subject to in- 
 spection by custom house officers. The same regulations 
 would still have to be kept up as to blockade runners. But 
 I would dispense with much of that force b}^ hanging or 
 shootins: all the blockade runners caus-ht. These rascals 
 have no claim upon their lives when tliej^ put the country 
 to millions of expense to watch them, besides a large num- 
 ber of soldiers exposed to premature disease. In all such 
 cases, when fairly detected, they should be hung. I think 
 they are worse than spies. They combine the spy and the 
 thief. 
 
 The loyal people of IN'orfolk and Portsmouth paid nearly 
 $25,000 of internal revenue last year; I do not know how 
 much this. Many of them, however, have paid large amounts 
 of internal revenue for licenses that have not been permitted 
 to use them ; others commenced using and were closed up 
 by the caprice of military commanders, and to make way 
 for those who are in the same trade as monopolists. This 
 is a reproach. 
 
 I submit these su£:£restions with ^veat deference. But 
 the subjects I have embraced are so deeply interesting to 
 the people I represent, that did I not call them to j^our at- 
 tention I should be grossly criminal. 
 
 I have been just as close to this war, ever since it com- 
 menced, as I could without much danger of being luirt, and 
 have observed as closely as I could all the time. I think I 
 understand the subject about which I am writing, and I am 
 satisfied that if the militarjM'ule had been practiced in West 
 Virginia as it was in Alexandria for the last eighteen months, 
 and in Xorfolk for the last five months, that instead of the vast 
 majority of loyal Union men that are there now sustaining 
 the Government with men and money, and with happiness 
 and prosperity around them, there would have been a vast
 
 55 
 
 majority of copperheads and secessionists, and civil govern- 
 ment could not have been sustained. Regiments that now 
 fill the Union army would have been in the secession army. 
 I mean precisely Avhat I say. 
 
 The question has been asked me, I am satisfied, a thousand 
 times, " Do the President and Congress know of the op- 
 pression practiced on us ?" The people say, ^' We have 
 great confidence in the President's honesty and the purity 
 of Congress, and they will redress our wrongs." . I have 
 an abiding confidence, gentlemen, in your justice. 
 
 I was born in Virginia. I desire to live in Virginia when 
 this rebellion is subdued. I hope to see the old flag shortly 
 unfurled in every county in the State, and the people ac- 
 knowledging its majesty, and acknowledging with uplifted 
 hands, the Constitution it represents to be the supreme law 
 of the land. I never expect to have the love and syyiijpaihij 
 of the rebels ; but by the grace of God, by doing right^ I 
 intend to command their respect. My ardent desire and 
 sincere prayer is, that this rebellion may be speedily crushed, 
 that freedom may be enjoyed, not only in the State, but in 
 all the broad limits of the nation, and that when the impar- 
 tial historian comes to make up the record, he may be able 
 truthfully to publish, that in accomplishing this great result 
 the Government never sanctioned a wrong that was done to 
 any man, however humble.
 
 A P r E N 1) I X . 
 
 The following letter from General Batler appeared in the 
 New Regime, his own organ, published in Korfolk, and has 
 been copied into some of the papers in the countr3\ Lest 
 it may mislead the public, I propose to expose the state- 
 ments therein made. I publish the letter in full : 
 
 He^dquakters 18th Army Corps, 
 
 Department of Va. and N. C, 
 
 Fortress Monroe, May 4, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I have received your note saying that you are assessing for State licenses for 1864, and 
 further that " the regulations giving the privilege of bringmg spirituous liquors into the city to a 
 few persons only is giving dissatisfaction to many persons, and will reduce the number of licenses, 
 and conscqiiently the revenues from this source." 
 
 You then furtiier give me your opinion that restricting the sale of liquors to a few persons will 
 not reduce the consumption, and that you think that all merchants of good standing should have 
 the privilege, and that you are satisfied that I did not make the regulation in the interest of the 
 few. 
 
 I have given licenses to twelve persons to sell liquor in Norfolk, they keeping accurate books to 
 whom they sell, and they are held responsible for the purposes to which it goes, to the extent of 
 their licenses. If the license is a valuable thing to them, that makes a check upon their actions. 
 I was informed before the order issued, that the soi disant Governor of Virginia, Peirpoint, had 
 complained that the non-granting of liquor licenses in Alexandria by Gen. Slough had nearly 
 bankrupted the Treasury of Virginia. I think a State which cannot exist without deriving its 
 jirinciple revenue from the unrestricted sale of poisonous liquors to its inhabitants, had better get 
 itself out of existence. 
 
 If my regulations in this regard should have that effect upon such a State as I have described, it 
 would be a source of congratulation. Twelve (12) persons selling liquor at retail, and all res- 
 pectable hotels selling it to their guests, would seem to be enough, in a city of ten thousand 
 whites and five thousand blacks, to engender pauperism and crime, and prevent monopoly, and 
 as you and I agree that the less sold the better, the more restriction thrown around the sale the 
 less will be sold, is the universal law of trade. 
 
 I have the persona; acquainUmce, and prior to the granting of their licences have never spoken 
 to or seen but two of the twelve persons to whom this permit was given. After the twelve were 
 filled up, one of my warmest and oldest personal friends in trade in Xorfolk, I was obliged to re- 
 fus% because I had fixed the number at twelve. Because of this, I have been abused by the 
 supposed Governor of the State of Virginia, in a scurrilous pamphlet, which is the only aid I have 
 received from him since taxing charge of this Department, towards suppressing the rebellion or 
 in governing a disarranged community. 
 
 1 have done what I believe to be right in this regard, and neither the opinions of the asatssor — 
 for whom I entertain a high respect — nor the abuse of the Governor will be very likely to move 
 nie from my position. 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 BenJ . r. BUTLEE. 
 
 To John F. Dunn, Assessor, 4th District of Virginia, Norfolk, Va. 
 
 I desire to call particular attention to the first paragraph. 
 He commenced by saying " I have received your note saying 
 that you are collecting State license for 1864, and further 
 that," &c. 
 
 Observe the residue of the paragraph is in quotation 
 marks. jSTo man can read this letter without coming to the 
 .5P ^
 
 58 
 
 conclusion that Mr. Dunn is the assessor of State revenue. 
 When the f^ct is he has nothing to do with State revenue, 
 but is the assessor of United States internal revenue for 
 the fourth district of Virginia. 
 
 He further savs : '' I have given licenses to twelve persons 
 to sell liquor in l^orfolk. =*= * * Twelve persons selling 
 at retail, and all respectable hotel keepers selling to their 
 guests," &c. 
 
 This is a singular statement ; when it is known that hotel 
 keepers and restaurant keepers both sell to theirguests to be 
 drank where sold, and also retail it to be carried away in 
 bottles. There must be more than twelve who sell bv retail, 
 accordino;to the General's own statement, ^et "after the 
 twelve were filled up he denied his old personal friend a 
 license^'" because he had fixed the number at twelve. This 
 needs explanation. The facts are these : when General 
 Butler wrote this letter on the 4th of May and up to the 
 14th of May, and up to this date, there were only eight (8) 
 persons or firms permitted by General Butler to bring liquors 
 into the city of N"orfolk, and there were thirty-six (36) hotel 
 and restaurant keepers selling by retail, but not one of these 
 thirty-six were permitted to buy any of their liquors in Bal- 
 timore, or any other city, outside of the city of JSTorfolk but 
 the thirty-six had to buy of these eight monopolists at ex- 
 tortionate prices — never at less than one hundred and fre- 
 quently at two hundred per cent, profit on the cost at 
 Baltimore or !N'ew York. Of these favored monopolists four 
 came from Massachusetts, after General Butler came there, 
 three fromXew York, and one from Pennsylvania. This is 
 a somewhat singular selection if it happened by chance. 
 What sensible man in the United States does not understand 
 this whole transaction in regard to the monopoly ? If it is 
 to restrain the use why not limit them to small profits — that 
 luaa not in the license. 
 
 The General thinks these are enough ^Ho engender pawper- 
 ism and crime'' in a population of fifteen thousand. I think 
 so too, and neither advised or counseled it, and if anybody 
 is responsible for it, it is the veritable General Butler. There 
 was but one firm, Zantzinger & Co., that were selling in 
 very moderate quantities, under strict military orders, when 
 he went there. He closed them up to make way for the 
 monopolists, appropriating fifteen thousand dollars of their 
 money to the provost marshals Jund, when, if it were right 
 to take it, it should have gone into the Treasury of the
 
 59 
 
 United States, according to the act of Congress in such case 
 made and provided. 
 
 He " was informed," * '^ * " that the 50Z <:/fsan^ Gov- 
 ernor of Virginia, Peirpoint, had complained that the non- 
 granting of liquor licenses in Alexandria by General Slough 
 had nearly bankrupted the treasury of Virginia." 
 
 The committee of Congress on the Conduct of the "War 
 in a report made public, state "That the State authorities 
 urged that if they were deprived of the revenue which might 
 be derived from licensing the traffic in liquor, the salaries of 
 the State officers and other expenses could not be paid." 
 Both General Butler and the committee have been imposed 
 on in regard to this statement. I know its origin, and it 
 has no more foundation than if they had stated that the 
 salary of the President and members of Congress could not 
 be paid unless the traffic in liquor was licensed in Virginia. 
 Peirpoint and the State authorities never urged any such 
 thing. The State treasury Jias not had in it, at any time 
 for the last eight months, less than fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 " Because of this," says the General, "I have been abused 
 b}^ the supposed Governor of Virginia in a scurrilous pam- 
 phlet." This is one of Butler's sharp "turns," as his ad- 
 mirers would term it ; but it is a piece of much that proceeds 
 from him — has more of the low cunning than anything 
 else. He seeks to make the impression that it was because 
 of an honest effort on his part to restrict the sale of liquors 
 in Norfolk, that I had " abused" him in a " scurrilous" pam- 
 phlet. This is not the first time since this war commenced 
 that I have seen the maladministration of military officers 
 sought to be covered up by the sweeping charge that the 
 general was only trying to restrict the sale of liquor. When 
 that object is honestly sought after it is a virtue. I desire 
 now to say, once for all, in regard to the traffic in liquor, 
 in my opinion it is the w^orst evil in the United States 
 Army, and if any general having authority, will suppress 
 its use in Virginia, I will be the last man to object ; but 
 where I see its general sale attempted to be suppressed, and 
 at the same time a number of men permitted to carry on 
 the business through favoritism for purposes of speculation 
 and monopoly, and the use of the evil is not diminished 
 thereby, I shall continue to denounce the practice as odious, 
 demoralizing to the citizen and soldier. However pure the 
 general may be who practices it, the belief will exist in the 
 community and among the soldiers that he is a part}^ in 
 some way to the speculation ; and it has the worst efiect
 
 60 
 
 on the public mind, weakening respect for public authority. 
 But General Butler knew when he penned that sentence that 
 I had not said one word in my pamphlet about the restriction 
 of the sale of liquors where the object was to diminish the 
 amount used ; but it was the 7nono2)ol>/ to strangers, withhold- 
 ing all privileges from citizens, which was odious, and I de- 
 nounced it. But that was only a single charge among many 
 abuses of military power that I made public. If a state- 
 ment of facts, which are abuses of military power constitute 
 abase and scurrilitu, then I am liable to the charge. The 
 General sent the silver home as soon as he received my 
 pamphlet, but the wine and brandy were retained. This 
 is an acknowledgment of the justice of ray charge. 
 
 " This," says he, "is the only aid I have received from 
 him since taking charge of this department towards sup- 
 pressing the rebellion or in governing this disarranged com- 
 munity." 
 
 I kindly profi'ered m}^ aid and counsel to General Butler 
 to assist in governing that "disarranged community;" but 
 instead of taking counsel from me, he preferred calling in 
 Tazwell Ta^'lor to his counsel, the most noted secessionist 
 in Xorfolk, to counsel how he might overthrow the civil 
 government. Taylor had taken a prominent part in over- 
 throwing the United States Government in a large part of 
 Virginia. He was deemed fit counsel for General Butler, 
 who desired to overthrow the restored government of the 
 State. I prescribed to myself a rule in the outset of this 
 rebellion not to call into my confidence and counsel rebels 
 as^ainst mv Government, who were seekins; its overthrow, 
 nor to consult with generals who did; and when I found 
 General Butler had called Tazwell Tavlor to his counsel I 
 resolved to not offer him mine, and I now inform him that 
 he has done more to disarrange .t\\^t community than any 
 man living except Jeff". Davis and his followers. 
 
 *' I have done what I believe to be right in this regard," 
 says the General, "and neither the opinion of the assessor 
 nor the abuse of the Governor will be very likely to move 
 me from my position." I presume neither will be likely to 
 move him from his position ; but there is a very prevalent 
 opinion that his blunders, if nothing else, in the command 
 of his military department, will be verj' likely to "move" 
 him from his "position." 
 
 F. H. PEIRPOIXT.
 
 V