Lot 1179

(UNION NAVY) USS KINEO SURGEON DESCRIBES HANGINGS UNDER BUTLER’S RULE IN NEW ORLEANS

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(UNION NAVY) USS KINEO SURGEON DESCRIBES HANGINGS UNDER BUTLER’S RULE IN NEW ORLEANS

Estimate: $300 - $400

Starting Bid: $160

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

(UNION NAVY) USS KINEO SURGEON DESCRIBES HANGINGS UNDER BUTLER'S RULE IN NEW ORLEANS
A fine content, lengthy war-date letter, 4pp. 4to., New Orleans, June 14, 1862, from U.S. Navy assistant surgeon Aaron S. Oberly of the gunboat USS KINEO to a female friend in Connecticut. Written from aboard his ship, which had participated in the run past Forts Jackson and St. Philip and helped capture the city, Oberly's letter provides a fine description of New Orleans under occupation, in small part: ‘… While ashore this afternoon I took a look at the customs house and Post office, which fills one whole square… The 13 Conn[ecticut] Volunteers rendezvous in the building and have good quarters though by no means gaudy. At evening I watched the dress parade of the aforementioned regiment. I was well pleased in the exercise and gratified to see & learn that they were the finest dressed of the regiments stationed here… The Conn. 12th is stationed in Carrolton some ten miles above, and the Conn 9th at Baton Rouge… During the past few days I have been afflicted with neuralgia… what added to my misery at the time was my allowing the surgeon's steward liberty ashore, who forgot himself and got nice and drunk so that police officers gave him a room in the lockup… Today he called on board again and our Captain [Lt. George M. Ransom] called me on deck and informed me that he was suspended from duty, and that he should receive a court martial and perhaps he would be thereby discharged. The captain saw that I did not appreciate the punishment and on making a few remarks he grew quite wrathy. I took it cooly and endeavored to post myself on naval law & plead for my client. As I was sitting in the wardroom some time afterwards the Captain sent a boy requesting me to come & see him. I went & found he had a long rigmarole to tell me about law &c. I allowed him to finish his story after which I commenced, and the result was that the steward was sent for and ordered to duty again, but that he should have no permission hereafter to go ashore… To be sure I do not like to have a drunkard around me, but then no person possessing his qualifications would hardly go to sea in his capacity unless he had some weak point…' He continues: ‘...While here I have spent considerable of my time ashore in the St Charles [Hotel] where Butler & his staff have their quarters… Every evening the band plays some beautiful tunes on the piazza. The building is large and beautifully constructed… The streets throughout the city are paved and as the site of the place is level & the Mississippi some six feet higher than the surrounding country the effluvia arising from stagnant filth is by no means grateful to the sense of smell. Though with everything opposed to the sanitary conditions of the place I must say that they keep the city cleaner than could be expected…' He continues, describing some of the actions taken under martial law: ‘… General Butler commanding the forces here is just the man for this place, as I think his legal knowledge comes into play. He has no scruples to hang those deserving, nor does he fail to punish those to twhom punishment is due. One man was hung a few days ago for tearing the Stars & Stripes from the mint after our fleet had raised it. There are a few more sentenced to be hung soon – one for forging & swindling and several others for conspiringto take the Generals life. I have no doubt the southerners will think before they act if the consequences turn out so unfavorably. General [Thomas] Williams I understand is going to hang one of the officers of a guerilla party which he captured at Baton Rouge… There is considerable secession feeling in New Orleans though there is beginning to show itself as large Union sentiment. The poorer classes are in a wretched condition – provisions about double in price than in the North.. There is a free market open ashore and hundreds of women with infants in their armys come for a mite. It is truly pitiful to observe. Their husbands from poverty were obliged to enter the ranks and since our occupation of the city are they unable to learn of their condition. They seem to feel inquisitive how long the war is going to last, & hope that it may end soon. Tomorrow is Sunday and I have under consideration of going to church and listen to some pastor who no doubt a short time ago prayed for the success of the South…' He signs at the conclusion in black ink. The letter is accompanied by its original transmittal envelope, and shows original mailing folds, otherwise in fine condition.

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