(12-15-2014 10:38 AM)Don1946 Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 08:06 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  A couple of quick thoughts.....Norfolk was an occupied city, same as New Orleans. While the occupying forces were stringent, they were nothing like Butler. One thing the US Government did to antagonize the citizens of Norfolk was the use of US Colored Troops as part of their occupying forces. This caused an altercation between a leading citizen, Dr. David Minton Wright and the occupying forces. The result was the death of a Union officer and Dr. Wright being hanged.

The James Gang chose to rob one particular bank, partly because Butler and his son-in-law had large deposits there.

Ben Butler had a home in Rockport Massachusetts that is still in the family. The descendants are not well liked by many in the Rockport community.

The account I read on this, by UNC historian William Powell, indicates that Dr. Wright was shouting insults to black Union soldiers patrolling the streets in 1863, and then shot and killed a white Union officer who demanded that he desist. http://ncpedia.org/biography/wright-david-minton Martial law had been imposed, and Wright seemed to resent black soldiers enforcing it. Sounds like he earned his punishment.

Back to Butler, shall Jesse James be our moral standard bearer here?
Regarding Rockport, do today's residents not like the descendants of Ben Butler because of something they are currently doing to annoy their neighbors, or because of some kind of bigotry against their ancestry?
I'm reminded that Ben Butler was elected time and again from his Massachusetts district, was elected governor of Mass (1883-84), was nominated by the Greenback Party for president, and by all accounts was admired as an advocate of progressive policies affecting blacks, women, and civil liberty for all. Isn't that why he is/was unpopular among white Southerners or those sympathetic with their cause?

(12-16-2014 02:31 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  I don't know what your source about the Rockport Butlers is, Jim, but I wonder what their reaction would be if, say, one of their kids does some research on the forum and reads your comment.

I know that there are strong points of views on this forum but can we stick to the historical figures when expressing these views?

(12-16-2014 04:48 PM)HerbS Wrote:  My source is my grand-father's diary and he feels that Butler and Banks were poor leaders of the troops.So no offense here Linda!

(12-16-2014 07:32 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  Linda is absolutely correct and I forward my apologies for my post.

(12-15-2014 03:37 PM)Rick Smith Wrote:  Robert James, father of Frank & Jesse, died in California around 1850 and Gene is correct, he was a highly educated Baptist minister.

The white supremacist tag is an easy one to assign to Southerners when feelings run high, but there was plenty to go around from Northerners and Union people as well. Some of Mr. Lincoln's comments regarding blacks could be tagged as racist or supremacist.

A little thoughtfulness is called for, I think, on the issue.