is the privilege of a man strong in conscious rectitude. The fact that so able a man is accused of corruption, is itself a kind of proof of his honesty. Humor. The happy word is part of the art of governing. There is apt to be a fund of humor in good victorious men, which enables them to get the laugh of mankind on their side. Would Lord Palmerston ever have been premier of England without his jokes, or Mr. Lincoln president of the United States unless he had first overspread acres of prairie mass-meetings with a grin? The point, humor and vivacity of General Butler's utterances have been an element of his success in the service of his country. Faith. "After our return to the North," says one of the general's staff, "an ex-mayor of Chicago was introduced to the general at the St. Nicholas Hotel in New York. It was just at a time when our cause looked very gloomy. The mayor was evidently much depressed by the indications of national misfortune, and in a tone of great despondency asked the general "Do you believe we shall ever get through this war successfully?' "Yes, sir,' the general answered, very decidedly. "Well, but how?' asked the mayor. "God knows, I don't; but I know He does, so I am satisfied,' the general replied.* I have often heard him reply thus to anxious questioners. "We ought to march through,' he once said; but we shan't; I'm afraid we shall only tumble through. No matter; we shall get through somehow.'" Humanity. The papers relating to our general's military career teem with evidence that he is a kind, considerate man. He governed his soldiers strictly, but always so as to promote their best interests. He was lenient and forgiving toward offenses of inadvertence, or such as betrayed only a weakness or infirmity of nature. He was generous to the poor. He was solicitous to bestow honor where it was due. He was ingenious in devising ways of procuring promotion to deserving officers. He sympathized with the anxiety of parents for their sons in the army, and assuaged many a bleeding heart by the kind thoughtfulness with which ill news was broken to them. Courtesy. The etiquette of his position was most punctiliously * Altantic Monthly, July, 1863. observed; not more so toward admirals and general officers than boy lieutenants and private soldiers. To the enemies of his country he could be a roaring lion or a growling bear. The men of his command and the loyal citizens of his department enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that their general was a gentleman. No littleness toward other commanders; only gratitude and admiration for the Farraguts, the Grants, the Rosecranses, the Meades, and all the other heroes of the war. Consideration, too, for the many able and well-intentioned men who have been less successful. Patriotism. No man should be praised for loving his country, any more than for loving his mother. If the country is lost, we are all lost. If the country is disgraced, we all hang our heads in shame. To love one's country is a part of our natural and proper self-love. But if there is one man who has gone along more entirely than he with his country in this great struggle to preserve its life; if there is one man who has taken the great cause more deeply to heart, or striven with a purer aim to do his part in the mighty and holy work, he must, indeed, be the very model of a pure and burning patriot. Let none of us, however, claim for himself or for another any pre-eminence in patriotism. In this alone we are all agreed, that if it takes as long to restore the country as it took the Spaniards to expel the Moors from Spain (800 years), the work is to be done. If the treasury is bankrupt, no matter, it is to be done. If we have to make twenty truces, still it is to be done. If we pause, it will be only to renew the strife as soon as we have taken breath. Brains without courage may be a delusion and a snare. To have courage without brains is to be a human bull-dog. Brains and valor without experience in human affairs, without knowledge of the world and mankind, will often lead a man far astray. Brains, valor and experience united, still require the honest heart, the lofty aim. And even all these are ineffective in times like these, unless there is also an enormous capacity for labor. But when a man presents himself to view who possesses a fertile genius, courage, knowledge, experience, patriotism and honesty, with a soundness of bodily constitution that gives him the complete use of all his powers, a country must be rich indeed in able men, if it can afford, at a time of public danger, to dispense with his services. APPENDIX. GENERAL M. JEFF. THOMPSON. THE following correspondence has recently passed between General Butler and General Jeff. Thompson of the Confederate army, now a prisoner of war. General Thompson was long General Butler's principal adversary in Louisiana, as he was in command of the largest Confederate force in the vicinity of New Orleans. General Butler having been kind enough to send me the letters, as a matter of curiosity, I have taken the liberty to consider them part of the documents relating to the Department of the Gulf. The correspondence tends to show that, when the war is over, the people of the North and the people of the South will be astonished to find what excellent and cordial friends they are, after thirty years of alienation. GENERAL THOMPSON TO GENERAL BUTLER. "DEPOT OF PRISONERS, "JOHNSON'S ISLAND, NEAR SANDUSKY, OHIO, "Major-General B. F. BUTLER, U. S. A., WASHINGTON, D. C.: "GENERAL:-About this time last year, the fortunes of war placed in my hands a Captain Thornton of your command, wounded and a prisoner of You will remember that I sent Captain Thornton on parole back to New Orleans, in your yacht. I promised Captain Thornton that, if I was ever captured, I would notify him of my whereabouts, that he might return the favors which he thought I extended to him. war. "I do not think that Captain Thornton is under any obligations to me, as I simply acted toward him as I have to all gentlemen who have been so unfortunate as to be captured by me; but, in conformity with my promise, I would like to let him know that I am here; and as I do not know his address, and understanding at the time that he was a personal friend of yours, I hope it will not be presuming to request you to forward him this letter, let me know his address, or otherwise let him know that I am at this prison, as may be most convenient or agreeable to yourself. "Yours most respectfully, "M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Brigadier-General, M. S. G." GENERAL BUTLER TO GENERAL THOMPSON. "LOWELL, MASS., October 6, 1863. "Brigadier-General M. JEFF. THOMPSON: "GENERAL :—Your note addressed to me was received to-day. I will forward it to Captain Thornton, now on Brigadier-General Shepley's staff at New Orleans, as you request. "I retain a lively sense of the courtesy and urbanity with which you conducted operations, when in command, opposed to me in Louisiana, and desire again, as before, to thank you for your kindness to Captain Thornton in sending him home wounded, by which kindness I have no doubt his life was saved. “Although an outlaw, by the proclamation of those whom you serve, for acts which no one knows more surely than yourself were untruly reported and unjustly construed, I will endeavor to have your imprisonment lightened, or commuted, if possible. "I have, therefore, taken the liberty to forward a copy of your communication to the war department, with a note, of which the inclosed shows the contents. "Sympathizing with you that the fortune of war has made you a prisoner, yet you will pardon me when I add, that I am glad the enemies of my eountry are deprived of the services of so effective an officer. "Respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL BUTLER TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING AT JOHNSON'S ISLAND. "LOWELL, Mass., October 6, 1863. "To the Officer Commanding Dépôt of Prisoners, at Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio: "SIR:-Inclosed please find an unsealed note, to General M. Jeff. Thompson, now, as I am informed, a prisoner under your charge. If not inconsistent with the regulations of your dépôt, please deliver it. You will read it, if agreeable to you, and will learn therefrom, that General Thompson showed great kindness to wounded officers and soldiers that fell into his hands; and I beg leave to bespeak for him all the indulgence and liberty which can be shown him consistently with your discipline. "Please inform me if General Thompson is destitute, so that he can not supply himself with any little comforts that would alleviate and accord with his situation. "Most truly yours, "BENJ. F. BUTLER." |