een hundred and eighty dollars, a gold watch, and a breastpin. Another sum of over eight thousand dollars they had overlooked.

There was but one clue to the discovery of these men. They had ridden to the house in cab No. 50, which had remained before the door during the search, and in which the searchers had departed. The driver of cab No. 50, who was immediately brought before the general, was required to relate the history of his doings during the previous night. In the course of the afternoon, the coffee-house to which he had last conveyed his passengers, was surrounded, and every man in it was brought before the general. There were four of them. General Butler never forgets a face that he has once After looking at the men a moment, he asked one of them: "Where have I seen you?"

seen.

"In Boston."

"Where in Boston ?"

"In the Municipal Court."

"For what offense were you tried before that court ?” "Burglary."

"Did you join any regiment ?"

"Well, you ought to be hanged any how, for you have robbed before, and been convicted."

"Don't do it, general, and I'll tell you all about it."

Well, make a clean breast of it, then."

The man confessed. He said that he was one of an organized gang, who had been entering houses for several nights and plundering. The particular offense committed in Toulouse street was brought home, on the spot, to two others of the arrested men, who confessed their guilt. A considerable part of the stolen money was recovered and restored. Three more of the gang were arrested by Colonel Stafford's detectives on the following day. General Butler disposed of these flagrant cases in the two special orders following:

"NEW ORLEANS, June 13, 1862.

"William M. Clary, late second officer of the United States steam transport Saxon, and Stanislaus Roy, of New Orleans, on the night of the 11th of June inst., having forged a pretended authority of the major-general commanding, being armed, in company with other evil disposed persons, under false names, and in a pretended uniform of the soldiers of the United States, entered the house of a peaceable citizen, No. 93 Toulouse street, about the hour of eleven o'clock in the night time, and there, in a pretended search for arms and treasonable correspondence, by virtue of such forged authority, plundered said house and stole therefrom eighteen hundred and eighty-five dollars in current bank-notes, one gold watch and chain, and one bosom pin.

This outrage was reported to the commanding general at twelve o'clock A. M. on the 12th of June instant, and by his order Clary and Roy were detected and arrested on the same day, and brought before the commanding general at one o'clock of this day, and where it appeared by incontrovertible evidence that the facts above stated were true, and all material parts thereof were voluntarily confessed by Clary and Roy.

"It farther appeared that Clary and Roy had before this occasion visited other houses of peaceable citizens in the night time, for like purposes and under like false pretenses.

“Brass knuckles,' burglars' keys, and a portion of the stolen property and other property stolen from other parties, were found upon the person of Roy, and in his lodgings.

Whereupon, after a full hearing of the defense of said Clary and Roy, and due consideration of the evidence, it was ordered by the commanding general that Wm. M. Clary and Stanislaus Roy, for their offenses, be punished by being hanged by the neck until they are dead, and this sentence be executed upon them and each of them, between the hours of eight o'clock A. M. and twelve м. on Monday, the 16th of June inst., at or near the parish prison, in the city of New Orleans.

"The provost-marshal will cause said sentence to be executed, and for so doing this order will be sufficient warrant."

'NEW ORLEANS, June 15, 1862. 'Theodore Lieb, of New Orleans, George William Crage, late first officer of the ship City of New York, and Frank Newton, late private of the Thirteenth regiment Connecticut volunteers, having, upon their own confession and clear proof, after a full hearing, been convicted of being members of a gang of thieves, consisting of seven or more, of which William M. Clary and Stanislaus Roy, mentioned in Special Order No. 98, and now under sentence of death, were principals, bound together by an oath or obligation, engaged by means of a forged authority and false uniforms, in

robbing the houses of divers peaceable citizens of their moneys, watches, jewelry and valuables, under pretense of searching for arms and articles of war, must suffer the proper penalty.

“At least eight houses, as appears by their confession, were plundered by three or more of the gang, while others were watching without, at various times, and a large amount of property carried off, a large portion of which has since been recovered.

"The heinousness of this offense, heightened by the contempt and disgrace brought upon the uniform, authority and flag of the United States by their fraudulent acts, in making it cover their nefarious practices, renders them peculiarly the subjects of prompt and condign punishment.

"It is therefore ordered that George William Crage and Frank Newton (for the offenses aforesaid) be hanged by the neck until they and each of them be dead, and that this sentence be executed upon them at or near the parish prison, in the city of New Orleans, on Monday, the 16th day of June instant, between the hours of six A. M. and twelve m., under the direction of the provost-marshal; and for so doing this shall be sufficient warrant.

"Theodore Lieb, being a youth of eighteen years only, in consideration of his tender years, has his punishment commuted to confinement at hard labor on the fortifications at Ship Island, or the nearest military post, during the pleasure of the president of the United States."

Thus, the crime was committed on the 11th, detected on the 12th, two of the criminals were tried on the 13th, two more on the 15th, and the whole ordered to be executed on the 16th. The man whose confession led to the conviction of the offenders was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at hard labor. Two or three other less guilty participants were sentenced to six months at Ship Island with ball and chain.

Those who observed the mingled nonchalance and severity of General Butler's demeanor during those four days, may naturally have concluded that it cost him no great exertion of will to hang these criminals. In reality, it caused him the severest internal conflict of his whole life. During the excitement of the detection and trial, there was, indeed, no room for any emotions but disgust at the crime and exultation at his success in discovering the perpetrators. It was far different on the Sunday preceding the day of execution, when the men lay at his mercy in prison, when the wives of two of them came imploring for mercy, when the distant families of the other two were brought to his knowledge, and when the

mer.

softer hearted of his own military family pleaded for a commutation of the sentence. Mrs. Butler was at the North for the sumAlone that night, the general paced his room, considering and reconsidering the case. He could not find a door of escape for these men. He had executed a citizen of New Orleans for an offense against the flag of his country; how could he pardon a crime committed by Union men against the citizens of New Orleans, a crime involving several distinct offenses of the deepest dye? His duty was clear, but he could not sleep. He paced his room till the dawn of day.

The men were executed in the morning; all but one of them confessing their guilt. To one of the families thus left destitute, the general gave a sewing-machine, by which they were enabled to earn a subsistence.

The effect of this prompt and rigorous justice was most salutary upon the minds of both parties in New Orleans; and its effect would have been as manifest as it was real, but for the disturbing influence of the terrible tidings from Virginia; in the presence of which the wisdom of an archangel would have failed to give confidence to the loyal people of Louisiana, or win to the Union cause any considerable number of the party for secession.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.

WE may now proceed to consider the iron-handed measures of the commanding general, which were designed to isolate the secessionists, and render them innoxious.

Crowds were forbidden to assemble, and public meetings, unless expressly authorized. The police were ordered to disperse all street-gatherings of a greater number of persons than three.

In the sixth week of the occupation of the city, General Butler began the long series of measures, by which the sheep were separated from the goats; by which the attitude of every inhabitant of

New Orleans toward the government of the United States was ascertained and recorded. The people might be politically divided thus: Union men; rebels; foreigners friendly to the United States; foreigners sympathizing with the Confederates; soldiers from Beauregard's army inclined to submission; soldiers from Beauregard's army not inclined to submission. These soldiers, who numbered several thousands, were required to come forward and define their position, and either take the oath of allegiance, or surrender themselves prisoners of war; in which latter case, they would be admitted to parole until regularly exchanged, or if they preferred it, remain in confinement. In this way, the name, standing, residence, and political sympathies of this concourse of men were placed on record, and the general was enabled to know where they were to be found, and what he had to expect from them in time of danger.

His next step was to decree, that no authority of any kind should be exercised in New Orleans by traitors, and that no favors should be granted to traitors by the United States, except the mere protection from personal violence secured by the police. The following general order was designed to secure these objects :

"GENERAL ORDER No. 41.

"NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 1862.

"The constitution and laws of the United States require that all military, civil, judicial, executive and legislative officers of the United States, and of the several states, shall take an oath to support the constitution and laws. If a person desires to serve the United States, or to receive special profit from a protection from the United States, he should take upon himself the corresponding obligations. This oath will not be, as it has never been, forced upon any. It is too sacred an obligation, too exalted in its tenure, and brings with it too many benefits and privileges, to be profaned by unwilling lip service. It enables its recipient to say, 'I am an American citizen,' the highest title known, save that of him who can say with St. Paul, 'I was free born,' and have never renounced that freedom.

Judges, justices, sheriffs, attorneys, notaries, and all officers of the law whatever, and all persons who have ever been, or who have ever claimed to be, citizens of the United States in this department, who therefore exercise any office, hold any place of trust or calling whatever which calls for the doing of any legal act whatever, or for the doing of any act, judicial or administrative, which shall or may affect any other person than the actor, must take and subscribe the following oath: 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and will support the constitution thereof.' All acts, doings, deeds,