Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-01
The Butlcr-TwiggS Affair.


To those familiar with passing events in
New Orleans during the first year Of its occu-
pancy by the Union army, and whilst General
Butler was in command Of the Department
Of the Gulf" some Of the aner-picccs in the
way Of prosecutions Of that officer by wrong
ed rebels, and the serious manner in which
hosc little Grccs are treated by some portions
of the press, are very amusing The latest
sensation is that Of the suit brought against
General Butler by Miss Rowcua Florence,
claimed to be a niece Of General Twigg,
(which we believe to be a mistakc) claiming
many thousand dollars as the value Of silver
plate aud three swords, which she says Gen.
Twiegs gave to her, and which she alleges
Gen. Butler appropriated. The suit has been
brought in New York, and the General has
entered bail to the amount Of $4,000 to
answer.
There are many officers aud ex-oilcers then
on duty in New Orleans, who will remember
the circumstance of the occupancy Of Gen.
Twiggs house as military headquarters, both
by Gen. Butler and Gen Banks. When the
former took possession Of it he caused am I'M
vcutory Of all its effects to be takcn, and when
it was turned over to Gen. Banks the iuycu-
tory was found intact aud so rcccipted by
Col. McLurc, 4. Q. NJ. on Gen. Banks staff
This fact is certified to in card recently
published by Col. j. W. Shafer, Quarter
master on Gen. Butler, staff iu New Or
loans.
Gen Twiggs having left New Orlcan.
hastily on the approach of the Union forces
to that city, leaving behind him the three
swords which had been presented him-onc
by Congress, one by Georgia, hisnatiye State
aud one by Augusta, hisuatiyc city, for mcri.
torious conduct in the Mexican war-theyt
among other things, lyl into the hands OF
Gen. Butler. lie sent them to to the Presi-
dent Of the United States, with the suggcs-
ton that the one presented by Congress should
be given to some officer distinguished in the
war; that the one given by the state ofGeor-
gia be deposited in the Military Academy at
West Point, suitably inscribed, as a warning
to the cadets, and that the third be placed in
the Patent Office as memonto Of such q
foolish invention as secession. The Pres
ident, in forwarding the swords to Congress,
remarked that if either Of them were present.
ed to an officer of the army, Gen. Butler is
entitled to the first consideration The
House approved the suggestions as above, but
the Senate never having coucurred therein,
the swords have to this day, we understand,
remained in the Treasury department whore
they were deposited.
As to Miss Rowena Florence, she first ap-
pearcd upon the stage as claimant Of the
swords and the family plate which had
fallen under the provisions Of the coufscaton
act, not as a niece Of General Twiggs, but
with the plea that General Twiggs had girea
them to her on New Years day, alleging as
a reason for this strange gift the recent death
Of beloved niece, to whom he had previously
Dequeathed them. An investigation which
beloved, elected three important facts First,
hat the articles were brought to the young
adys residence not on New Years day, but
It the moment Of his flight; second, she had
lever mentioned so remarkable a present to
my member of her family and third, that
General Twiggs had left with the articles the
blowing note, hastily written in the carriage
{ the door:
al leare my s~ords 10 Miss Ro,rena Flor
nee, and Dor Of aRoer. d. Il. TwGGs.
New Orleans, April %, 1862"
1t is not surprising that 50 good a lawyer
$ General Butler should have set aside her
lain upon such testimony; it would have
zen bad case before any trial justice in
Iermont.
We do not allude to this matter to defend
II yindcate General Butler, as he requires
10 such aid from us; but for the purpose Of
,laoing before those who may see the state
nent of the case, Miss Rowena Florence rs.
d. f. Butler, and are not familiar with the
connected herewith, the true
history, as known to those cognizant of the
events out of which it has grown, at the time
they transpired.