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VP Beast Butler?
12-02-2014, 08:46 PM
Post: #20
RE: VP Beast Butler?
I'm a Southern Maryland girl (so that makes me stuck on the fence between sides), but my favorite professor in college was a "darn Yankee." Despite that, he did not have much good to say about Beast Butler. I've only read a little bit about the General over the past forty years because I avoid military history like the plague. I should know more about him because, from what I remember, his military career was lackluster and he had no formal training in it. His "training" was as an officer in a peacetime local militia in Massachusetts. I will also admit that historians may have revised their thoughts on Gen. Butler over the years since I exited college.

The few slurs that I remember from that college professor and further readings over the years, however, focused chiefly on Butler's handling of New Orleans. First, his decree against disrespectful women only seemed to please the Union soldiers who were being spat upon and baptized with chamber pot refuse. I thought that order enraged Northerners also as well as England and France? Didn't Butler also get himself in trouble over the way that he treated foreign delegations?

Also, didn't he engage in some highly irregular financial shenanigans while in control of New Orleans? Making money off of dealing with Confederates and also cotton dealing (of course, I think Lincoln engaged in some of that also)? Butler was supposedly worth millions of dollars at the time of his death and someone said they weren't sure how he got it, but that most of it came from New Orleans.

I was also led to believe that Butler was not the champion to runaway slaves that some people suggest. Weren't the first ones ordered returned to their masters because he didn't know what to do with them? When that blew up in his face, he found jobs for them as nurses, cooks, laborers, etc. until there were just too many. They put such a strain on his regime there that he ordered all unemployed people - black and white - out of his lines. Contraband no longer became his concern.

Again, these tactics that I remember are probably examples of poor administrative work, not lack of military skill. As for learning nothing from "slurs" made 150 years ago, I tend to disagree. Slurs are often reflective of the way our ancestors thought and formed opinions from their experiences. I don't think they should be cast aside so easily.
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VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 10-21-2014, 03:14 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 10-22-2014, 05:55 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - LincolnToddFan - 10-22-2014, 09:03 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - J. Beckert - 10-22-2014, 12:34 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 10-22-2014, 02:34 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-02-2014, 12:33 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 10-22-2014, 08:13 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Eva Elisabeth - 10-23-2014, 05:39 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Hess1865 - 10-23-2014, 08:10 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-02-2014, 07:50 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-02-2014, 08:43 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-02-2014, 10:48 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - BettyO - 12-02-2014, 08:50 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-02-2014, 12:23 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-02-2014, 01:04 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-03-2014, 06:04 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - DanielC - 12-27-2014, 04:36 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-02-2014, 01:22 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-02-2014, 01:42 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - BettyO - 12-02-2014, 01:49 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-02-2014, 06:33 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-02-2014 08:46 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-03-2014, 12:44 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-03-2014, 08:10 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-03-2014, 09:54 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-03-2014, 11:12 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rick Smith - 12-03-2014, 12:29 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-03-2014, 11:34 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-03-2014, 12:41 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-03-2014, 03:06 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-03-2014, 02:05 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-03-2014, 03:20 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-03-2014, 05:01 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-03-2014, 07:01 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-03-2014, 07:51 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-03-2014, 08:01 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - DanielC - 12-06-2014, 09:25 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-03-2014, 08:20 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-03-2014, 08:41 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-04-2014, 07:13 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Eva Elisabeth - 12-04-2014, 09:13 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-04-2014, 10:05 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-05-2014, 06:16 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-05-2014, 08:10 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-06-2014, 01:36 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Hess1865 - 12-05-2014, 11:22 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 12-06-2014, 09:35 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - DanielC - 12-10-2014, 09:14 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-12-2014, 09:06 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-15-2014, 11:38 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-15-2014, 09:38 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-12-2014, 11:39 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-13-2014, 09:17 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-15-2014, 11:47 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-15-2014, 12:02 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-15-2014, 12:49 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-15-2014, 01:26 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-15-2014, 01:41 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-15-2014, 02:09 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-15-2014, 03:31 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-15-2014, 03:50 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-15-2014, 04:02 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rick Smith - 12-15-2014, 04:37 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-17-2014, 02:04 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 12-17-2014, 03:09 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Eva Elisabeth - 12-17-2014, 03:52 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rick Smith - 12-17-2014, 03:59 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-15-2014, 05:58 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-16-2014, 07:57 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Linda Anderson - 12-16-2014, 03:31 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-16-2014, 04:39 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-16-2014, 05:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Linda Anderson - 12-16-2014, 06:11 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-16-2014, 07:34 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-16-2014, 08:32 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Linda Anderson - 12-16-2014, 09:23 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rsmyth - 12-17-2014, 02:26 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-17-2014, 02:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-21-2014, 11:34 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-17-2014, 02:52 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-17-2014, 03:30 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-17-2014, 03:55 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-17-2014, 03:33 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-17-2014, 04:32 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-17-2014, 05:08 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Linda Anderson - 12-17-2014, 07:11 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Don1946 - 12-17-2014, 04:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rsmyth - 12-17-2014, 05:02 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-17-2014, 05:37 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-17-2014, 06:34 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-17-2014, 06:52 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-17-2014, 07:32 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-21-2014, 11:42 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-21-2014, 01:35 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-21-2014, 02:38 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-21-2014, 04:23 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-21-2014, 04:32 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-21-2014, 06:15 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-21-2014, 07:06 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-21-2014, 07:39 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-22-2014, 01:32 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 12-22-2014, 06:02 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-22-2014, 08:02 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 12-22-2014, 11:27 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-22-2014, 08:56 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-22-2014, 11:59 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-23-2014, 01:34 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-22-2014, 03:06 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Jim Garrett - 12-23-2014, 10:51 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Houmes - 12-24-2014, 05:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - LincolnToddFan - 12-26-2014, 12:01 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Houmes - 12-26-2014, 03:18 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - LincolnToddFan - 12-23-2014, 11:18 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-24-2014, 07:22 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-24-2014, 07:58 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-26-2014, 05:06 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-27-2014, 12:01 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - J. Beckert - 12-27-2014, 08:54 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-27-2014, 08:13 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-27-2014, 08:16 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-27-2014, 08:29 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-27-2014, 10:18 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-27-2014, 11:06 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-27-2014, 05:49 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - LincolnToddFan - 12-27-2014, 07:12 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-27-2014, 07:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-27-2014, 09:59 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-28-2014, 02:04 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-28-2014, 01:15 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-28-2014, 01:28 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-28-2014, 01:48 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-28-2014, 02:10 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-28-2014, 03:12 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - LincolnToddFan - 12-28-2014, 02:28 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-28-2014, 07:25 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Hess1865 - 12-28-2014, 10:01 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-29-2014, 08:32 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-29-2014, 10:12 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-29-2014, 10:50 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-29-2014, 11:46 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-29-2014, 02:29 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Wild Bill - 12-29-2014, 06:04 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-29-2014, 06:59 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Hess1865 - 12-29-2014, 07:07 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - RJNorton - 12-29-2014, 07:08 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-29-2014, 07:40 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Thomas Thorne - 12-30-2014, 01:26 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 12-30-2014, 07:52 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-30-2014, 10:14 AM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-30-2014, 02:32 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 12-30-2014, 02:50 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Rick Smith - 12-30-2014, 03:13 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - L Verge - 12-30-2014, 07:38 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - Gene C - 01-01-2015, 12:30 PM
RE: VP Beast Butler? - HerbS - 01-01-2015, 03:23 PM

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