13 June 1861

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Winthrop

Following the 10 June 1861 Battle of Big Bethel, General Butler writes a letter of sympathy to Winthrop, informing her of the death of Major Theodore Winthrop, her son. States "After Major Winthrop had delivered the order with which he was charged to the Commander of the Regiment, he took his rifle and while his guide held his horse in the woods in the rear with too daring bravery went to the front; while there stepping upon a log to get a fell view of the foe, he received the fatal shot ..." Informs Mrs. Winthrop that because Theodore was so close to enemy lines, Union troops could not…

GLC03915.01

1 May 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Broadside

Title: Proclamation

Institutes "the administration of Law Martial" in New Orleans, two days after it was surrendered to the Union. Terms include respect for the United States flag, punishment for aiding Confederates, harsh treatment for crimes against Federal, prohibition of public gatherings. "The armies of the United States came here not to destroy but to make good, to restore order out of chaos, and the government of laws in place of the passions of men."

GLC04081

17 September 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to M. Jefferson Thompson

Proposes an exchange of prisoners in response to Confederate General Richard Taylor's threat to execute ten Union prisoners from the 8th Vermont regiment. Refers to the deprivation of some property on Taylor's plantation and remarks that he believes it very unjust of Taylor to allow personal feelings to get involved. Makes no threat of retaliation and informs that he will not harm the prisoners he has captured. Written on stationary from the headquarters of the Department of the Gulf. 1 black and white bust engraving of Benjamin F. Butler.

GLC05025

1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Book

Title: [General orders from department of the Gulf]

One hundred and twenty General orders issued by the commanding officers of the Department of the Gulf, first Butler then Banks, regarding New Orleans. The first fourteen orders range from 20 March 1862 up until the capture of New Orleans and were issued from Ship Island, Mississippi. The remaining orders relate to the Union occupation of New Orleans, going up until the end of 1862. The last order is numbered 121, and order number 112 is not present, though no pages appear to have been removed. Orders were printed separately and bound together. Belonged to Colonel Curtis W. Killborn of…

GLC06086

1 September 1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Cook Conklin

In a working draft of a telegram, General Butler responds to an invitation to a convention of Union supporters in Springfield, Illinois from Conkling, a judge active in state politics. Discussing the Civil War, states "Compromises are impossible save between equals in rights-- Reorganization or reconstruction is alone useful where vicious parts are to be left out. Amnesties are for individuals not for organized communities ... " Marked as a telegram. Contains a handwritten note in faded red ink on the first page labeling the document as copied. This telegram cites Conkling's name as "…

GLC06089

1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Pamphlet

Title: General Orders from headquarters Department of the Gulf

Printed pamphlet containing the text of General Orders issued by Butler between 1 May 1862 to 9 November 1862, regarding the occupation of New Orleans. Includes Butler's infamous order establishing martial law. With orange printed wraps. Penciled note on front cover read "Special page 9," referring to General Order no. 28. Published by E. R. Wagener. Penciled signature on verso of last page reads "James Brewer Esq." dated 19 April 1866. Ends with General Order # 91. Printed by E.R. Wagener, Printer and Stationer, 68 Camp Street, New-Orleans, 1862.

GLC05987.54

1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Pamphlet

Title: Correspondence between the mayor and federal authorities relative to the occupation of New Orleans, together with the proceedings of the common council

Correspondence of Monroe, mayor of New Orleans, with Butler and Farragut, relating to the surrender and early occupation of New Orleans. Accounts of the meetings of the Common Council of New Orleans also included. Printed at the Bulletin Book and Job Office.

GLC06158.10

15 August 1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to William Martin Dickson

Butler, a Union General and Radical Republican, discusses Jacob Dolson Cox's views on creating separate states for former slaves. Informs Dickson, a Republican judge and political figure in Ohio, that "The supposition that the negro can be segregated on a given portion of this country apart from the white man in a separate community occupying a part of our Sea Board, whether as a dependency or an independency, to say nothing of constitutional objections is simply absurd ..." Discusses pride of race, the failings of Native American reservations in Georgia, and the views of Clement Laird…

GLC05872

11 July 1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to F. A. Angell

General Butler writes to Angell in Brooklyn, New York. "A mans right to self government is inherent and inalienable. It does not depend on the degree of his intelligence or on other accident. It is the correlative of self defence. Is the negro a man? But it is said that the negro will vote as his late master directs, and thus increase his master's political power. Be it so... I do not see how he or we are worse off if the negro votes with him [the master]... we gain and can loose nothing by giving the negro the right of suffrage."

GLC06660

1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Major-General Butler

An after dinner speech made in New York after Butler's return from New Orleans during the Civil War.

GLC00267.235

18 September 1864

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Andrew Gregg Curtin

Butler writes to Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, from the field. Recommends John Cassels, Provost Marshal at Fort Monroe, for promotion to Major in the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment. Notes, "I take the liberty to do so, because it has been perhaps, partly my act that he may not be considered within the line of promotion." Attests there is no post which requires more responsibility than that of Provost Marshal. Writes, "After carefully watching Capt Cassel's course, for many months, I am satisfied not only in his efficiency and energy, but also with his integrity and patriotism."…

GLC01910

22 December 1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter

Title: to Charles A. Heckman

Secretarial letter written and signed for Butler by R. C. Davis. Writes to Brigadier General Heckman, commanding forces at Newport News, Virginia. Encloses orders for Captain Belger's Rhode Island battery to report to Point Lookout, Maryland for duty. "The reason for this move is that that country has been added to this Department and an attack by the Rebels is apprehended to release the prisoners now confined there." Written on stationery of Headquarters 18th Army Corps, Department of Virginia & North Carolina.

GLC02297.05

December 6, 1882

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Buel Franklin

Discusses the use of his Washington D.C. office by the National Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers. Tells Franklin that he is changing occupations (he had been elected Governor of Massachusetts) and explains that he will need to redirect the rent money for the use of his Washington D.C. office, which was being used by the Home while Butler was president of its Board of Managers. Explains the financial arrangement he had and how he would like it rearranged so the Home could continue to use the office and the person managing it, Mr. Whitney, could receive a salary.

GLC01545.10

2 March 1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Wheelwright Gooch

General Butler writes to Gooch, United States Representative from Massachusetts (1857-1866 and 1873-1874). Encloses a testimony he gave before a committee on the conduct of war (enclosure not included). Thought he had previously returned the testimony to Gooch's clerk, but was mistaken.

GLC02464.01

1 May 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Broadside

Title: Proclamation

Institutes "the administration of Law Martial" in New Orleans, two days after it was surrendered to the Union. Terms include respect for the United States flag, punishment for aiding Confederates, harsh treatment for crimes against Federal, prohibition of public gatherings. "The armies of the United States came here not to destroy but to make good, to restore order out of chaos, and the government of laws in place of the passions of men." Same text as GLC04081.

GLC00171

October 4, 1864

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to George Dodge

Orders Colonel Dodge, Chief Quartermaster at Bermuda Hundred, to send all available boats that could carry troops to Washington, D.C. Written from Butler's Headquarters of the Army of the James in pencil, docketed in ink.

GLC00468.02

December 30, 1828

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Gales and William Winston Seaton

Letter to the editors of the Intelligencer in Washington, D.C. Informs them that the "wine gallon" has been omitted from federal law. Noticed this when he was compiling "The Revised Statutes of the State of New York." Calls their attention to two articles on the subject by Professor James Renwick of Columbia College, one of which appeared in the Albany Daily Advertiser. Butler (1795–1858) was Attorney General of the United States from 1833 to 1838, and in that role wrote President Jackson's protest against the Senate's censure of him for removing federal funds from the Bank of the United…

GLC00496.136.01

1868

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Pamphlet

Title: Opening argument of Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, one of the managers on the impeachment of the president

Address given before the Senate. Accuses President Andrew Johnson of undermining Congress authority, vetoing laws that promoted peaceful reconstruction of the nation, and not punishing rebels. A resolution for Johnson's impeachment was passed in the House of Representatives February 24, 1868. On March 5, 1868 a court of impeachment was organized in the United States Senate to hear charges against the President. After three months, Johnson was acquitted and retired at the end of his term, in March 1869.

GLC01265.30

1828-1893

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Header Record

Title: [Collection of 2 items regarding Benjamin Butler] [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00496.136

1861-1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Signature

Title: [Signature on a card]

On verso, contains the name of [Dr.?] E. Swift, United States Army. All text on verso has been struck.

GLC02878.04.12

1861-1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Signature

Title: [Autograph of Benjamin F. Butler]

GLC00919.25.11

1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Pamphlet

Title: The Conscription Act: a Series of Articles Communicated to the Journal of Commerce

Published by the Loyal Publication Society of New York. Number 7 in a series. Printed by William C. Bryant & Co. A.F. Warburton reported the text of Butler's speech. Major-General Butler refers to the Confederate States as "alien enemies" who are "carrying on war against us." Suggests the only way to end the war is to re-revolutionize the seceded states and have them ask to come back to the Union. Concludes by stating that citizens should stand by their government regardless of the mistakes that government has made. Speech was given at an honorary reception for Butler, hosted by…

GLC01265.01

14 October 1864

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dorothea Dix

"Will Miss Dix give Gen. Butler any good reason why Mrs. Lottie Galt & other harmless old ladies of Williamsburg should not be loyal women & take the oath of allegiance in return for protection for the United States. A Rebel is never harmless."

GLC08370.01

12 June 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Naval Officers Commanding the Fleet off Mobile

Regarding "Exchanges of salt and provisions between this post and Mobile."

GLC08370.02

February 18, 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah A. Morewood

General Butler writes on Headquarters, Department of New England stationery. States, "Your very truly acceptable present was gratefully received; not for its intrinsic worth for if gold it would not have been more valuable but for the cheering Consideration that I was to be strengthened by the availing prayers of a true hearted patriotic Christian Woman... A stranger yet a friend; a woman yet a strong fellow soldier in the Countrys cause, I have been told of your noble acts of beneficent kindness to my soldiers at 'Camp Seward'.."

GLC01950