Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-26
BulIer Deiend, bi. Tnfamore or,I.-.

Butler Defends his Infamous Order.
The following characteristic letter from Gen
Butler, explaining his reasons for issuing tho
celebrated order in regard to the women Of New
Orleans, Es5 been received by q gentleman CT
/ Boston:
! HEADQUARTERS DEPARTHEST OF The GUIF.1
NEW ORLEANS. July 2, Is62.
| Ny DEAR SIR: 1 am as Jealous Of the yooF
/ opinion of my friends as L am careless Or thu
! ISLANDERS Of my enemies, and your kind express
| siOns in regard to Order No. 25 leads ne 10 say
q word to you on the subject.
That it ever could have been so nisc3pcaivsF
as it has been by some portions Of the Northern
press Is wonderful, and would lead one to ex-
claim with the Jew: 20, Father Abraham.
what Christians these are, whose own hard deal
ings teach them to suspect the very thoughts Of
others"
What was the state of things to which the
woman order applied
We were two thousand five hundred men in
city seven miles long by two to four wide, of
hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. al
hostile, bitter, defiant, explosive, standing liter
ally on a magazine a spark only needed for
destruction. The devil had entered the hearts
or the women of this town (you know seven Of
them chose Mary Magdalen for residence) to
stir up strife IN every way possible. Every Op-
probriOus epithet, every insulting gesture was
made by these bejsweled, bocrinOined, and
laced creatures calling themselves ladies, to
ward my soldiers and officers, from the windows
OF houses and in the streets. How long do YOU
suppose our flesh and blood could have stood
this without retOrt That would lead 10 dislur-
bances and riot, from which we must clear ths
streets with aTtilery-snd then a howl that We
had murdered these fine women. had arrest
ed the men who hurTahed for Besuregard.
Could l arrest the wOmen2 No. What was to
be dOns1 No order could be made save 0na
that would execute itself With anxious, care
ful thought, bit upon this p" Women who in
suit my soldiers are a be regarded and irsated
as common women plying their vocation
Pray how do you treat a common woman ply
ing her vocation in the streets You pass her
unheeded. She cannot insult you As a gen
tleman you can and viii take no notice Of her
If she speaks, her words are not Opprobriou5. Il
is only when she becomes continuous and
positive nuisance, that you call 2 Wa.chman
and give her in charge to him.
But some of the Northern editors seem to
think that whenever one meets such a woman,
one must stop her, talk with her, insult her, or
hold dsllance with her, aud SO from their own
conduct they construed my order.
The editor Of the Boston Courier may so deal
with common women, and out Of the abundance
Of the heart his mouth may speak-but so DO
not L
Why, these she adders Of New Orleans them
selves were at once shamed into prOpriety Of
conduct By this order, and from that day no WO-
man has either insUlted or annoyed any live sol
der or officer, and Of a certainty no soldier has
iusulted any woman.
When passed through Baltimore On the
25d OF February last, members Of my stair Wsro
insulted By the gestures Of the ladies Cd theTo.
No so in New Orleans.
One Of the worst possible Of ell these women
showed disrespect % the remains Of gallant
young De Kay, ard you VIII see her punish
ment; copy of the order, which L inci0se, is
at once a vindication and construction Of ny
order.
I can only say that would issue it again un-
der Ike circumstances. Again thanking you
for your kind interest,
l am, truly your friend,
BENZ. i. BUTLER,
Mgi0r-C General COulmsndinv