The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-26
LErrEN. FROM EHAL DUFLEA's
UMEF 0UARTRRMAHTER.
Tho EruO story of tnC Swords ana
silver,

The fTuO story of the Swords and
silver.
7ohs E,'tor Of ne Tribune.
SIR.-Tho quantity and variety OF
inc abuse which has been heaped upon
General Butler during the past ak
years. ny certain class of newspR-
pers,. questionable In character and
standing, would seem 10 make tho
denial OF my charge ut this late day
needless, except that, az has been
observed by nm experienced writer In
o recent magazine article, IL be possl.
BILE to make some people believe two
and two are i've by constant relleratlon,
For that reason I am led 10 mako tho
following statement In explanation and
contradiction OF the iavorite form Of
Islander With which General Butler has
been assaulted. II was my good fortune
and privilege 10 be assigned to the stan
Of Gen. Butler-whom 1 had never mel
peIore-Dy the War Department, and I
am thus enabled to speak from an offs
elal and personal acquaintance with the
facts. Gen. Butler and a part OF bis staff
did take possession Of Gen. TWiggs's
house, and for brief period lived In It,
until more convenient quarters could
be obtained. Upon taking posses.
sion a correct and complete In
yentory OF all effects and valua-
bles belonging 10 the abscondIng
traitor Twiggs was taken by order OF
General Butler, and the property boxed
up to await the action OF the Govern
ment. An inventory Of the furniture
OF the house, as we'll as that OF all other
abandoned houses, was made BY the
Provost Marshal, who was held rec
sponslbIe for ItS safe keeping. That
was the course pursued toward prop-
erlyot MI description abandoned by
rebel owners. No other property Of
any kind was ever seized, to my knoWl.
edge. When General Butler was re-
lieved he requested General Banks to
detail an officer to examine and make
an inventory OF all the plate which fell
into our hands by taking possession Of
abandoned houses. General Banks
promptly detailed Captain Mcclure, Of
his personal stall, 10 take possession OF
and receipt for this property, and to
my certain knowledge, when racel pied
for, every article on the original In
Yentory was there. General Butler
has, and has always had, this staff offi.
CGr's receipt In his possession, certi~
fed copy IL fted as u usual voucher In
the proper bureau OF the Treasury De-
partment. Every piece Of Plate or other
property which fell into the hands Of
General Butler while commanding the
Army OF the Cuffs thus accounted for,
and l have no doubt Captain Mcclure
rendered IA satisfactory account of his
stewardship to his commanding officer,
or TO the Government At Washington.
Now for the swords: General Butler,
regarding them as trophies Of war suit.
able for such action, sent them to
Washington. Congress took charge Of
them, passed "A resolution Consigning
one Of them to West Point, 10 be there
preserved as warning to the cadets Of
the fate OF all traitors, and voted the
other to General Butler. This dIsposI.
lion was not ratified, l believe, by the
Senate, owing to the early adjourn.
ment OF that body,and the swords have
since remained in the Treasury. Gen.
eral Butler WAS solicited by certain
parties 10 interCede for their restoration,
rs they are valuable, and promptly re-
fused --As he has consistently done when
asked 10 favor traitors and rebels.
Hence the lawsuit brought by the wo-
man Miss Florence, who Ia not the niece
OF General. TWiGEs. The same Provost
Marshal who served on the staff OF
General Butler conducted the affairs Of
that department under General Banks,
selling and selling abandoned aud con-
hsCated property, aud believe proved
satisfactory 10 both commanders. The
original statement In the New York
Evening Express that General Butler
had been arrested and allowed to 20 on
his own parole was conspicuously In.
exact statement.
have made this statement of tho
facts n Justice to General Butler.
When reported to him for duty, had
never seen him, but his effective and
splendid administration o! affairs In
the GulfDepartment-inlleXibly Just 10
Il rich rebel, generously indulSent to
the poor loyalist-attached me strongly
10 him, "a It did every member Of his
stat, most OF whom were regular army
otiicers-R class none too quick In those
days TO affiliate with volunteer gene
rails. l have been frequently panied at
reading the vile and unjust attacks
made upon him by political enemies,
and have often felt like rushing Into
print'-to mo new and strange field
TO defend him, but knowing the Gene
rails philosOphic Indifference to that
form OF assault, and that his was not q
nature 10 be done to death by SANDER
GUS tongues l feared that he would
not thank me. have donO this with
out bis knowledge, feeling satisfied In
my own mind that however capable he
may be OF walking with his head erect
In II cloud oil slander, an explanation Ia
due tho thousands Of his friends
throughout the country, to whom his
name haa grown to be a tower Of
strength. I do 1t even at the risk OF his
dtspleasure. nm very truly, your
o0edient servant,
Then Colonel and Chief Quartermas-
ter OF the Army OF tho Cult.
FyM AvcaHc Hotel, N. Y, Nov. 81,
1863.
Hop CnItWre.