Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

So he commenced giving me General Order No. 1, General Order No. 2, and I think he got up to about No. 4. I consulted with Colonel Hamilton about them, and he said:--

“Don't obey them; he has no right to give aly such orders.”

“Oh, well,” I said, “I will take care of him.”

Meantime I gathered them up, and as soon as I heard that the way was open between Annapolis and Washington, I put Hamilton on board the very first train to go to General Scott and explain Mr. Keyes' performances, and show him the orders. It took some time for Hamilton to get through, for he had other business, and meantime General Scott laid his hand upon him for his own private secretary after he had reported to me, so that I lost his services during the war, which would have been invaluable to me. But our friendship ever remains as bright as a chain of new molten gold.

While I was waiting for Hamilton to return, Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, who didn't seem to have much to do except to issue a series of general orders which tended to show that he was at the helm, used to come into my office and give me instructions in the art of war, telling me how this thing ought to be clone, and how that thing ought to be clone, what I ought to do so, and what I ought not to do that way. He spent considerable time with me in such performances, and was not always careful to give me those instructions when I was alone, so that I appeared before visitors at headquarters to be receiving daily and minute tuition in my duties from this person, who took care to do much of that in the presence of any distinguished man who called upon me. As everybody who came from the North and East to Washington, had to pass through Annapolis, and had to come to my headquarters to get passes to go on the railroad, I seemed always in Keyes' keeping.

Late at night Colonel Hamilton reported from General Scott what he had been sent to ascertain. When Scott heard of Keyes' proceedings, he said:--

“What! Has Keyes been appointed Field Marshal? I had not heard of it. Why, nobody but a Field Marshal could have issued such orders as these, while I am Lieutenant-General, commanding the United States armies. Tell General Butler to order Field Marshal Keyes to report to me forthwith, and I will take care of him.”