VII.

BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.

I

I.

AM asked to give some reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln. I have so many and pleasant ones that I do not know where to begin unless at the beginning.

I first saw Lincoln in 1840, making a speech in that memorable campaign, in the City Hall at Lowell; and not again till I was more than twenty-one years older, when I called on him at the White House to make acknowledgments for my appointment as major-general. When he handed me the commission, with some kindly words of compliment, I replied: "I do not know whether I ought to accept this. I received my orders to prepare my brigade to march to Washington while trying a cause to a jury. I stated the fact to the court and asked that the case might be continued, which was at once consented to, and I left to come here the second morning after, my business in utter confusion." He said: "I He said: "I guess we both wish we were back trying look upon his countenance.

cases," with a quizzical I said: "Besides, Mr.

President, you may not be aware that I was the Breckinridge candidate for Governor in my State in the last campaign, and did all I could to prevent your election." "All the better," said he; "I hope your example will bring many of the same sort with you.” "But," I answered, "I do not know that I can support the measures of your administration, Mr. President." I do not care whether you do or not," was his reply, "if you will fight for the country." "I will take the commission and loyally serve while I may, and bring it back to you when I can go with you no further." "That is frank; but tell me wherein you think my administration wrong before you resign," said he. Report to General Scott."

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I was assigned to the command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, and didn't see Mr. Lincoln again until after the capture of Hatteras, about the first of September, the news of which I was able to bring him in person, and he gave me leave to come home and look after my private business, as I had been relieved from command at Fortress Monroe by Brevet Lieutenant-General Wool.

When I returned to Washington, Lincoln sent for me, and after greetings said: “General, you are out of a job; now, if we only had the troops, I would like to have an expedition either against Mobile, New Orleans, or Galveston. Filling up regiments is going on very slowly." I said: "Mr. President, you gave

me permission to tell you when I differed from the action of the administration." He said hastily: "You think we are wrong, do you?" I said: "Yes, in this: You are making this too much a party war. That perhaps is not the fault of the administration but the result of political conditions. All the northern Governors are Republicans, and they of course appoint only their Republican friends as officers of regiments, and then the officers only recruit Republicans. Now this war cannot go on as a party war. You must get the Democrats in it, and there are thousands of patriotic Democrats who would go into it if they could see any opportunity on equal terms with Republicans. Besides, it is not good politics. An election is coming on for Congressmen next year, and if you get all the Republicans sent out as soldiers and the Democrats not interested, I do not see but you will be beaten." He said: "There is meat in that, General," a favorite expression of his; "what is your suggestion?" I said: "Empower me to raise volunteers for the United States and select the officers, and I will go to New England and raise a division of 6,000 men in sixty days. If you will give me power to select the officers I shall choose all Democrats. And if you put epaulets on their soldiers they will be as true to the country as I hope I am." He said: "Draw such an order as you want, but don't get me into any scrape with the Governors about the appointments of the

officers if you can help it." The order was signed, the necessary funds were furnished the next day, and I started for New England; in ninety days I had 6,000 men enlisted, and was ordered to make preparations for an expedition to Ship Island, and the last portion of that expedition sailed on the 25th of February, 1862.

All the New England Governors appointed Democratic officers of my selection save one.

And this

plan was followed by Governors of the Northern and Western States, which had not been done before in cases of civilians who had not been educated at West Point. Before I left Washington I called upon the President to take leave of him. He received me very cordially, and said: "Good-by, Genral; get into New Orleans if you can, and the backbone of the rebellion will be broken. It is of more importance than anything else that can now be done; but don't interfere with the slavery question, as Fremont has done at St. Louis, and as your man Phelps has been doing on Ship Island." I said: "May I not arm the negroes?" He said: "Not yet; not yet." I said: "Jackson did." He answered: "But not to fight against their masters, but with them." I replied: "I will wait for the word or the necessity, Mr. President." "That's right; God be with you."

On my return from New Orleans the first of January, 1863, I received from an officer of a revenue