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Charles:
What follows is part quote, part summation of the Times-Picayune articles mentioned in your computer inlformation about Major General Benjamin F. Butler, also known as "Spoons" and "Beast" Butler.
While nothing complimentary was said of Butler around New Orleans in the early part of the war, I might mention in his defense that he had the city, especially the banks of the river, cleaned up during his brief tenure, thus almost eliminating cholera.
Banks was not a military man, but was a politically appointed
general. His father had been U.S. Attorney General during
Andrew Jackson's administration. Obviously held in high
regard, the elder Butler delivered ai/f?mEraJ. oration at
Jackson's funeral. After the war, "Spoons," as a U.S. Representative,
was the chief prosecutor at the failed impeachment attempt
of President Andrew Johnson. It is said that the defense
tore the prosecution arguments to ribbons
T-P, November 19,	1869, P. 4, col. 2:
This article reports a possible arrest of Butler in New York city. "The account is confused, persons are improperly described, and the sum is greatly exaggerated." It recounts the story that before the fall of New Orleans, Major General David Twiggs had been in command of the city. He had resigned because of age and ill health and had been carried away from the city in failing condition. He died shortly after, leaning an infant son who was legal owner of "a fine, large house." Before leaving, he made disposition of his personal property.
After the death of Twiggs, Butler took over the house as his headquarters, appropriating "^everything" for the use of his retinue of men and women. The place became known for its daily feasts. Also appropriated were the clothes and jewelry of Twiggs-* married daughter, wife of a Confederate off icer.
Butler took into his own service one of Twiggs' servants, who willingly went out with Butler's officers to search likely places where Twiggs had deposited various gifts of furniture and other pieces of property. Together, they got many household articles, including table and bed linens.
It was alleged that, "like the $50,000 of gold of Smith
and Co.," they were not to be found in U.S. Government records.