The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-14
Buffers Vouchers for Some Spoons.

n0saJl EGUCEGES lUT SOWC SpOOESs
| heard story upholding Benjamin
F. Butler few days ago, with General
Garfield as voucher, which goes to
show that the darkest cloud has ray
of silver (nothing personal intended)
somewhere. | repeat for the benefit of
the much enduring public: A lady
came to General Garfield not many
months ago, introducing herself as the
daughter of General Twiggs of Confed-
erate-exploit renown. She said her
mission was to obtain the two swords
of her father, captured while General
Butler held the balance of power in
New Orleans. One sword was voted
her father by Congress, in recognition
of his valuable services in tile Mexican
war, the other was his Confederate
weapon, which she priced even more
highly than the first named "Damas-
Gus blade" General Garfield informed
the lady that the best authority as to
their whereabouts would be General
Butler, but she replied she would
sooner ''beard a lion in his den, a
Douglass in his hall.n Upon farther
assurances that he was not as formida-
BILE as depicted, the lady consented to
advise with the "terrible monster
with General Garfield as advance
guard. Upon stating the subject OF
her visit, after surprising polite re-
ception, General Butler told her the
history of the two swords. CATER
their capture l sent them to Washing
ton, with the suggestion that one of
them be donated to the Annapolis
academy and the other to West Point,
as exemplars Of what base uses may be
made of honorary weapons some
times" said Benjamin, unmindful of
the lady's slight writling upon this
application of the thumbscrew. "But
my advice was not taken. They were
subsequently, locked up in one of the
treasury vaults for safe-keeping, anu
one of the duplicate keys handed over
to me-" With a few more words as to
how they might be regained, Mr.. But
Ter added: "But, my dear madam, You
have never asked me about your fam
lily plate, with whose gorgeousness l
have been supposed to decorate my
festive board, and through the agency
of which, various rather uncomplimen-
tary sobriquets have been bestowed
upon ME. Now, madam, almost i'm
mediately upon the evacuation of your
fathers premises, and my occupation
thereof, one OF. your family servants
came to me with load Of silver, say
ing: "O!e M ASA thought lie done hide
this from de Yankees, but desc ole
eyes can see a ting or two yit, and dey
marked de spot whar de SLIDER was
buried, and hyar it all is, sure huff"
1 used that plato while / occupied
your fathers house as headquarters,
but eventually turned over every
piece, forks, dishes and SPOONS" Mere
the General paused emp!atically,) "to
the Qaartermastes's department., ana
here are the vouchers for every article
brought to me-" said tho Massacllu-
setts statesman, lifting the lid of his
desk and laying his hand on an order
~ pile of papers. And SHE enough
there were tho vouchers, all properly
signed and credited, and BENJAMIN
never kept those spoons, after all.
"Where they subsequently disappear
ed" continued the General, ~ have
no means of knowing, but years ago
they were turned over to the govern
ment." Astute Ben. He had been
all these years quietly, pa
tiently, serenely, knowing the time,
would come when he would be ques-
Toned as to the deeds done in New Or
cans, and every thing was discovered
lone decently and in order. General
Butler is the most metllodical of men,
Ind his official papers are models of
,eatness and ready reference. Upon
he back of each epistle is briefed in
hort-hand its contents, and reply
hereto. AS the General understands
'honography perfectly, he has but to
lance at the neatly folded exterior of
ny letter in question to discover it's
ubject matter and treatment thereof.
/ Washington Letter to Detroit Post.