Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-18

The following characteristics letter from Gen
Butler, explaining his reasons for issuing the
celebrated order in regard to ths women of New
Orleans, has been received by gentleman oil
Boston. The order referred 10 in the letter has
already been published:
| HEADouARrRRs DEPARTMENT OF TUE 0uLF, l
NEw ORLEANS, July 9, 1862,
! My DEAR Sir: ! am as Jealous of the good
| opinion Of my friends rs | am careless of the
ISLANDERS of my enemies, and your kind expires.
sions ia regard to Order 2S lead me TO say a
word TO you on the subject.
That il ever could have been so misconceiyed
as it has been by some portions of The Northern
press is wonderful, and would lead Que to ex-
claim with the Jew, 30, Father Abraham, what
these Christians are, whose own hard dealings
teach them to suspect the thoughts Of others
What was the state of things % which the
woman order applied
We were Two thousand five hundred men in a
city seven miles long by two to four wide, OF Il
hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, all hos
tile, bitter defiant explosive, standing literally
on a magazine u spark only needed for destruc-
ton The Devil had entered the hearts Of the
women of this town, (you know seven OF them
chose Mary Magdaen for q residenoe,) TO stir
up strife in every way possible. Every Oppro-
bious epithet, every insulting gesture, was made
by these brieweled, becrinclined, aud laced
creatures, calling themselves ladies, toward my
soldiers and officers, from the windows ofhouses
and in the streets How long do you suppose
our flesh and blood could have stood this with
out retortf That would lead to disturbances
and riot from which We must clear the streets
with artillery--and then howl that we had
murdered these fine women. | had arrested the
men who had hnrrahed for Deauregard. Could
arrest the women? No. What was to be
done? No order could be made save one, that
would execute itself. With anxious, careful
thought hit upon this Women who insult
my soldiers are to be regarded and treated as
common women plying their vocation"
Pray, how do you treat common woman
plying her vocation in the streets2 You pass
her by Undecided She cannot insult you AS
a gentleman, you can and will take no notice Of
her. Ii she speaks, her words are not Oppro-
bGious 1t is only when she becomes contin-
uous and positive nuisance that you call a watch
man 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, tr
hold dalliance with her, and SO from their own
conduct they construed my order.
The editor Of thu Boston Courier may so deal
with common women, and out OF the abundance
of the heart his mouth may speak-but so do
not /.
Why these she-adders of New Orleans them
selves were at once shamed into propriety of
conduct hy the order, and from that day no wo-
man has either insulted or annoyed any live
soldier or officer, and of II certainty no soldier
has insuted any woman.
When passed through Baltimore on the 23d
of February last, members of my staff were iu-
suited by the gestures of the ladies ~ there.
Not 80 in New Oreans.
One OF the worst possible of all these women
showed iisrepect to the remains of gallant young
Ia w
copy Of the order which | enclose is at once a
yndcation and u construction of my order.
can only say that would issue it again
under like circumstances. Again thanking you
for your kind interest,
nm, truly your friend,
BENZ. F. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.