Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-17
The True Story OF Butler and the
TWIggs Swords. f


quRrtermaster in the Army of the Gulf
during Buffers administration at New Or
leans, makes the following statement in
the New York Tribune:
' 1t was my good fortune and privilege
to be assigned to the staff of Gen. Butler
whom had never met befors-by the
War Department, and am thus enabled
to speak from All official and personal ac-
quaintance with the facts. Gen. Butler
and his staff did take possession of Gen.
Twiggs house, and for brief period
lived in IL, until more convenient quarters
could be obtained. Upon taking posses
sion correct and complete inventory of all
effects and valuables belonging to the alb
sconding traitor Twiggs was taken by or.
der of Gen. Butler, and the property
boxed up to await the action OF the gov
ernmont An inventory of the furniture
OF the house, as well as that OF all other
abandoned houses, was made by the Pro.
vost Marshal, who was held responsible for
its safe keeping. That was the course
pursued toward the property Of all de.
scription abandoned by rebel owners. No
other property of any Kind was ever seized,
10 my knowledge, Which Gen. Butler
was relieved he requested Gen. Banks to
detail an officer to examine and make on
inventory of all the plate which fell into
our hands by taking possession of aban-
doned houses, General Banks promptly
detailed Captain Mcclure, of his personal
staff, to take possession OF and receipt for
this property, and to my knowledge, when
receipted for, every article on the original
inventory was there. Gen. Butler has, and
has always had, this staff officers receipt In
his possessioni certified copy Is fled as
the usual voucher In the proper bureau of
the Treasury Department. Every piece
of plate or other property which fell into
the hands of General Butler, while COM
manding the Army OF the Gulf Is thus
accounted Tor and I have no doubt that
Captain Mcclure rendered d satisfactory
account OF. his stewardship TO his COM
manding officer, or to the Government at
| Washington.
"Now for the swordsG General Butter,
regarding thenias trophies of .Nst euitable
for such aSticrl seht item to Washington.
Congress took charge of them, passed a
resolution consigning one of them TO West
Point, TO be there reservedasa warning TO
the cadets Of the fate of all traitors, and
disposition Was not r,tlaod Icbeliete, by
inent of that boAS) and The swords have
siate senalpcd in the Treasury, General
Butler was solicited by certain parties tc
intercede for their restoration, as they ore
valuable, and promptly rehised---as he has
consistently dohe when Aekea to iavoi
trN'ttrs and rebels. Hence the lawsuit
brought by the woman, Miss Florence
who is not the niece Of General Twiggs
The same Provost Marshal who serye(
oh the staG ef, Qeeersl hnllet cSjndIcseS
the Alfalfa 6f That department under Gen
eral Banks, seizlng and selling abandoned
Rnd confiscated property, and, believe
proved satisfactory TO both commanders
The original statement In tho New Yorl
EOcRing Express that General Bullet haf
been arrested sNd allowed 10 90 ON hi
own hatclo Was a oonspiouously inexac
statement ls...7
81 have made this statement Of the fact
in justice to Gen. Butler When treport
ed To hin, 'or duty hEd never seen him
but his effective and splendid administra
ton Of affairs in the Gulf Department
inhexibly Just TO the rich Rebel, gener
ously indulgent TO the poor Loyelst--at
tached me strongly To him, as IL did ever,
member OF his stan, iiiost OF wRdm ~ef
, regulat army oIhecrs-a class none &
quick in those days 10 affiliate with "vol
} unteer" Generals have been frequent
ly panied at reading the vile and unlusta al
, tacks made upon him by political enemies
and have often felt like rushing into print
. Ito me a npw and strange helG-to dpfen,
( him, but knowing the Generals phiio
F. sophie Indifference to that form OF assault
, and that his was not a nature to be don
70 death by slanderous tongues feare
he would not thank me. have don
this without his knowledge, feeling salts
, fied in my own mind that however oaps
bic he may be OF walking with his hea
= = erect in cloud of slander, an explanatio
is ldue the thousands OF his friend
throughout the country, to whom hi
name has grown 70 be tower of strengf
do II even at tho risk of his displeasur,
: am very truly, your obedient servant
, "Finh Avenue Hotel, New York, No,
2t, 1862 l.,.,. Nm = n. ! -