Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-24

will be a good document for Sec. Seward to
hand over in reply when Lord Pamcrston
makes his remonstrance on that subject;
HEADQUARTERS DEPT OF THE GUILE,
New Orleans, July 2, 1869.
My Dear sir | am as jealous of the good
opinion of my friends as | am careless of the
slander Of my enemies and your kind express
sions in regard to Order No. 2S, lead me to say
word to you on the subject.
That it ever could have been so misconceiy-
ed as it has been by some portions of the North
ern press is wonderful, and would lead one to
exclaim with the Jew, 80, Father Abraham,
what these Christians are whose own hard deal.
ings lead them to suspect the very thoughts Of
others .
What was the state of things to which the
Women Order applied?
We were two thousand and five hundred
men in city seven miles long by two to four
wide, Of hundred and fifty thousand inhabi-
lanis, all hostile, bitterly defiant explosive.
standing literally on a magazine a spark only
needed for destruction. The Devil had entered
the hearts OF the women otthis town, (you know
sever OF them chose Mary Magdalen for a resi-
dence) to stir up strife in every way possible.
Every opprobious epilhet, every insulting rest
ure was mode by these bcjeweled, becrin0lined
and laced creatures calling themselves ladies.
toward my soldiers and officers, from tie wind.
ows OF houses and in the street. How long do
you suppose our flesh and blood could have
stood this without retort ? That would lead to
disturbance and riot, from which we must clear
the streets with artillery--and then howl that
we had murdered these fine women. had ar
rested the men who hurrahed for Beauregard.
Could arrest the women No. What was to
be done No order could be made save one
that would execute itself With anxious. care
ful thought hit upon this Women who in
suit my soldiers are to be regarded and treated
as common women plying their avocation."
Pray how do you treat a common woman plv-
ing her ayocation in streets ? You pass her by
unheeded. Sheclnnot insult YOU. gentle.
man you can and vii. take no notice of her. If
she speaks her words are not opprobrious. Il
is only when she becomes a continuous and posi-
tive nuisance that you call a 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.
and hold dalliance with her, and 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 hear. his mouth may speak
but so do not |.
why, these she-adders of New Orleans them
selves were at once shamed into proprev of
conduct by the order, and from that day no
woman has either insulted or annoyed any live
soldier or officer and of certainty no soldier
has insulted any woman.
When | passed. through Baltimore on the
23d of February last members of my staff were
insulted by the gestures of the ladies (?) there
Not so in New Orleans.
One OF the worst possible of all these women
showed disrespect to the remains of gallant
YONG DeKay, and YOU will see her punish
ment, copy of the order viii n | enclose, is at
once a vindicaton ana construction of nv
Order
can only say that would issue it again un.
der like circumstances Again thanking you
for your kind interest,
l am, truly your friend.
BENZ. +, BUTLER;
Mlj. Gen. Commanding.