Part 8 (1/2)
”There was a military organization in New Orleans, called the European Brigade, composed of British, French, and Spanish aliens, whose ostensible purpose was to aid the authorities in protecting the citizens from unruly members; but now finding their occupation almost at an end, its English members voted at their armory that, as they would have no further use for their weapons and accoutrements, they should be sent to Beauregard's army at Corinth, as 'a slight token of their affection for the Confederate States.'”
”I should say that was but a poor sort of neutrality,” remarked Rosie.
”So I think,” responded the captain; then went on with his story.
”Only a few hours after Mumford and his mates had pulled down the flag, Butler arrived, joined Farragut on the _Hartford_, and presently made to the Secretary of War the report of which I have already spoken.
”He hurried back to his troops and made arrangements for their immediate advance up the river. On the first of May he appeared before New Orleans with his transports bearing two thousand men; the general with his wife, his staff, and one thousand four hundred troops, was on the _Mississippi_, the vessel in which he had sailed from Hampton Roads sixty-five days before.
”At four o'clock on the afternoon of that day the troops began to land: first, a company of the Thirty-first Ma.s.sachusetts, presently followed by the rest of the regiment, the Fourth Wisconsin, and Everett's battery of heavy field guns.
”They formed in procession, acting as an escort to General Butler and General Williams and his staff, and marched through several streets to the Custom House, their band playing the 'Star-Spangled Banner.' They had been given strict directions not to resent any insults that might be offered by the vast crowd gathered in the streets, unless ordered so to do; if a shot should be fired from any house, they were to halt, arrest the inmates, and destroy the building.
”Their patience was greatly tried during that short march, the crowd constantly growing greater and more boisterous and pouring out upon them volleys of abusive epithets, both vulgar and profane, applying them to the general as well as his troops.”
”I think anybody but an American would have ordered his soldiers to fire upon them for that,” remarked Walter. ”Did they do no fighting at all at the time, sir?”
”No,” replied the captain; ”they were obedient to the orders of their superior officers and brave enough to endure the undeserved abuse in silence.
”At length their destination was reached, Captain Everett posted his cannon around the Custom House, quarters there were given to the Ma.s.sachusetts regiment, and the city was comparatively quiet through the night.
”General Butler pa.s.sed the night on board the _Mississippi_, and at an early hour in the evening sent out a proclamation to the citizens of New Orleans. It was first sent to the office of the _True Delta_ to be printed; but the proprietor flatly refused to use his types in such an act of submission to Federal rule.”
”I hope he wasn't allowed to do as he pleased about it?” growled Walter.
”I think hardly,” returned the captain with an amused smile. ”Some two hours later a file of soldiers were in his office, half a dozen of whom were printers, and in a very short time the proclamation was sent out in printed form.
”Meanwhile the Federal officers had taken possession of their city quarters. General Butler was at the St. Charles Hotel, and invited the city authorities to a conference with him there. That very foolish mayor, Monroe, told the messenger sent to him that his place of business was at the City Hall. He was answered by a suggestion that such a reply was not likely to prove satisfying to the commanding general, and then prudently decided to go and wait on General Butler at the St. Charles.
”Some of his friends accompanied him; among them Pierre Soule, who had been a representative to Congress before the war.
”General Butler and these callers had a talk together in regard to the proper relations existing between the General Government and the city of New Orleans, Butler maintaining that the authority of the Government of the United States was and ought to be supreme; it had a right to demand the allegiance of the people, and that no other authority could be allowed to conflict with it in ruling the city.
”The mayor, Soule, and his friends, on the contrary, insisted that Louisiana was an independent sovereignty and that to her alone the people owed their allegiance. They a.s.serted that the National troops were invaders, the people doing right in treating them with contempt and abhorrence, and that they would be fully justified in driving them away if it were in their power to do so.
”While this hot discussion was going on, a messenger came from General Williams, who had command of the regiment protecting headquarters, saying that he feared he could not control the mob which had collected in the street.
”Butler calmly replied: 'Give my compliments to General Williams, and tell him if he finds he cannot control the mob, to open upon them with artillery.'
”At that the mayor and his friends sprang to their feet, exclaiming excitedly, 'Don't do that, General.' Butler asked, 'Why not?' and went on, 'The mob must be controlled. We can't have a disturbance in the street.'
”At that the mayor stepped out upon the balcony and spoke to the mob, telling them of the general's orders and advising them to disperse.
”At that interview General Butler read to his callers the proclamation he was about to issue. Soule told him it would give great offence, and that the people would never submit to its demands; for they were not conquered and could not be expected to act as a conquered people would.
'Withdraw your troops and leave the city government to manage its own affairs,' he said. 'If the troops remain there will certainly be trouble.'”
”And Butler, of course, did as he was told,” laughed Rosie.
”Not exactly,” returned the captain. ”'I did not expect to hear from Mr.