Contraband of War

Benjamin Franklin Butler was born on November 5, 1818, in Deerfield, New Hampshire. His early life was marked by hardship; his father passed away when he was an infant, leaving the family in dire financial straits. Nevertheless, Butler showed promise from a young age. He went on to graduate from Waterville College in Maine in 1838 and then pursued a career in law.

Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Butler had already carved out a name for himself in Massachusetts politics. He was an active member of the Democratic Party and served in the Massachusetts State Legislature. By 1859, he had risen to the rank of Brigadier General in the state militia.

With the advent of the Civil War, Butler’s initial reluctance to support the conflict changed, and he took on a prominent role. At Fort Monroe in Virginia, Butler made one of the most consequential decisions of his military career. When three escaped slaves sought sanctuary at the fort in 1861, Butler refused to return them to their Confederate owners, classifying them as “contraband of war.” This decision not only granted them a form of asylum but also set a precedent for other Union commanders.

Butler’s next significant assignment was the command of the Union occupation forces in New Orleans in 1862. His tenure was controversial. He was strict and often severe in maintaining order, earning him the moniker “Beast Butler” from the city’s Confederate sympathizers. However, in terms of slavery, Butler’s time in New Orleans was notable for the progressive measures he took to educate former slaves and even recruit black soldiers for the Union Army.

After New Orleans, Butler continued to play a role in the Civil War, though his military prowess was often overshadowed by political considerations and controversies. He notably led the forces in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign and the Battle of Fort Fisher, both of which were not particularly successful. Despite his mixed military record, Butler’s commitment to the Union cause remained unwavering.

After the war, Butler returned to politics with vigor. He served multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was even elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1882. Throughout his political career, he championed workers’ rights, civil rights, and other progressive causes.

Benjamin Butler passed away on January 11, 1893, in Washington, D.C.

Butler’s legacy is a complex one. His “contraband” decision during the Civil War marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Union’s stance on slavery. Yet, his controversial actions in New Orleans and questionable military decisions have also colored perceptions of him. Nonetheless, in both his military and political careers, Butler was consistently at the forefront of championing the rights of the marginalized, making him a significant, if contentious, figure in 19th-century American history.