Spharv2 wrote:Butler was not a good general, he was however, the best possible choice to occupy New Orleans. He was definitely hated, but he pacified that city very well. No matter the price placed on his head, once he took over the city, and issued Order # 28, the city definitely calmed down and was not really a problem again. The reason you want to keep him active is to garrison recently taken cities so you can pacify them as quickly as possible.
I agree 100%. He was a terrible field general, but as a politician and an occupier he shaped the Union war effort. Both in New Orleans as you said, but also when he passed his order regarding runaway slaves as "contraband of war," allowing US troops to not have to return them to their masters. This move certainly hampered the southern war effort, as well as set the tone for later policy towards emacipation. Butler certainly deserves the terrible combat values, but he should be the most effective US general at managing conquered southern cities. Also, would anyone consider a trait, something like a recruiting officer, where he gets manpower for "colored" regiments, to represent the runaway slaves that flocked to his troops at Fort Monroe and New Orleans. I know that it was only after the Emancipation Proclaimation that Black troops were officially recruited, but it could provide some sort of manpower bonus until then (perhaps representing the soldiers freed up from manual labor, that would be done by contrabands instead). Just an idea.
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
-Thomas Paine