Benjamin Butler

From Turtledove

Benjamin Butler
Historical Figure
Timeline:	OTL
Nationality:	United States
Date of Birth:	1818
Date of Death:	1893
Cause of Death:	Myocardial infarction
Occupation:	Soldier, Politician, General
Spouse:	Sarah Hildreth
Affiliations:	Democratic Party; Republican Party; Greenback Party
Timeline:	"Must and Shall" (postumous mention)
Timeline:	The Guns of the South
Timeline:	Southern Victory
Appearance(s):	How Few Remain

Benjamin Franklin Butler (1818–1893) was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives (1867-1875, 1877-1879) and later served as governor of Massachusetts (1883-1884). He was the presidential nominee of the Greenback and Anti-Monopoly parties in 1884.

During the American Civil War, Butler's administration of occupied New Orleans, his policies regarding slaves as contraband, his ineffectual leadership in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign, and the fiasco of Fort Fisher rank him as one of the most controversial political generals of the war. He was widely reviled for years after the war by Southern whites, who gave him the nickname "Beast Butler."

[edit] Benjamin Butler in "Must and Shall"

A bronze statue of Benjamin Butler stood in New Orleans. Neil Michaels thought Butler an unlikely choice for such an honor.

[edit] Benjamin Butler in The Guns of the South

Bejamin Butler had risen to prominence early in the Second American Revolution when he commanded a garrison at New Orleans. After an armistice was negotiated in 1864, United States President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis agreed to a peace conference with three Peace Commissioners appointed by each side. Lincoln appointed Butler as one of the three U.S. commissioners. Given his conduct during his time as the Commander of the Department of the Gulf and Davis's General Order 111, Confederates considered his appointment as a Commissioner an affront and insult, and barely concealed their hatred for the man during the negotiations. Nevertheless, they were required to extend Butler diplomatic immunity and provided him a strong guard.

A peace treaty was negotiated whereby the Confederacy abandoned claims to West Virginia and Maryland, while the United States ceded the Indian Territory. Also, state-wide referendum were to be held to determine the status of Kentucky and Missouri. Kentucky elected to join the C.S. while Missouri voted to remain with the U.S.

[edit] Benjamin Butler in Southern Victory

Benjamin Butler served as a general in the United States Army during the War of Secession. He is best known for commanding the occupation garrison of New Orleans, Louisiana, a post in which he was most thoroughly despised by the locals. When the Union was defeated, Butler was forced to flee New Orleans for his life; the Confederate authorities had promised to hang him for war crimes without a trial.

In 1882, Butler (a former Democrat who once advocated electing Jefferson Davis President of the United States) was one of several prominent leaders of the Republican Party to attend a convention called by Abraham Lincoln in Chicago. He resisted Lincoln's proposal to replace hostility toward the Confederate States with workers' rights as the central plank of the party's platform. The rejection of this proposal led to Lincoln's defection to the Socialist Party and the end of the Republican Party as an effective force in American politics.

Office
Preceded by John D. Long	Governor of Massachusetts 1883-1884	Succeeded by George D. Robinson

Office
Preceded by John B. Alley	U.S. Representative from the 5th District of Massachusetts 1867-1873	Succeeded by Daniel Gooch

Office
Preceded by Nathaniel P. Banks	U.S. Representative from the 6th District of Massachusetts 1873-1875	Succeeded by Charles Thompson

Office
Preceded by John Tarbox	U.S. Representative from the 7th District of Massachusetts 1877-1879	Succeeded by William Russell