50% of the Louisiana and Mississippi population were slaves, uneducated and terrorized from birth. What a sight that must have been for northern men (especially New Englanders) who never saw such a large population of enslaved people, and all of them black Americans. And they showed up with chains, irons, and bleeding from bird shot and whippings. Even today, the desperate poverty we see in 3rd world countries is shocking the first time you witness it – the smell, the visual, the desperation – and knowing that there is little you can do to help. That was probably their experience.

New Englanders like Butler and Phelps may not have had the life experiences needed to manage the horror of 1862 Louisiana and Mississippi. Southern culture betrayed black Americans. Moderate New England abolitionists like Butler didn’t. Fault him for not doing enough – that may be fair.