OPERATIONS OF 1861 ABOUT FORT MONROE.
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Among other prominent soldiers at Fort Monroe, at this time, was GeneralJ. W. Phelps, then colonel of a Vermont regiment. Brave, cool, and capable, hewas thoroughly liked by his men and by his superior officers. He spoke witha long, drawling “Yankee” accent, and his piquant sayings were very enter-taining. Hating display and egotism, he invariably showed his displeasurewhen in the presence of men who were guilty of either. A dapper younglieutenant attached to one of the regiments at Newport News had showngreat fondness for his dress uniform, supplemented by a scarlet-lined cloak,and dislike for ranking his personality below the chief-officer. Struttinginto General Phelps’s tent on one occasion, he said, without salute or pref-ace, “ I am going down to the fort, sir.” “Are you ? ” said General Phelps, ashe took in at a glance the gorgeous uniform scarlet-lined cloak and super-abundant self-esteem of the young man. “Are you ? Neow, I guess not,young man. Go to your colonel, get his permission, and then, if you can getmine, you may go down to the fort. Not otherwise. Go, now.” On anotheroccasion when the camp was all commotion and excitement owing to firing inthe direction of our pickets, General Phelps, not excited in the least degree,walked into the writer’s tent, and said, “ Carr, that’s not picket shooting. Itis your men shooting p-e-e-g-s.” His surmise proved correct.
Entering General Butler’s quarters the colonel “Do you dare tell me that I lie - ?” roared the gen-saluted, and said, “You sent for me, General ? ” eral. “ I tell you or any man uttering the charges,“Sit down, sir,” roared the exasperated chief; that he lies,” was the reply. General Butler staredthen, wheeling in his chair, the general recited the at the colonel for a few seconds, then, taking acrimes charged, and, concluding, said, “ I’ll send cigar from his pocket, tendered it to the colonel,your whole regiment to the Rip-Raps; what have saying, “Smoke, Colonel , we will talk of thisyou to say, sir, in your defense?” The colonel, matter later.” General Butler showed no furthernow as angry as his chief, rose, and said, “I resentment, but thereafter favored the colonel,have this to say: Any man who says that my men Events proved that the regiment was innocent ofare guilty of the crimes you enumerate, lies, sir !” the crimes charged.— J. B. C.
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