Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-11
BEN BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS
How the Swords Of General Twigg We're
Captured, and the Efforts Of the
Family to Recover the Property.
Special to the couricr,JournaI.


AUGUSTA, GA, July ga day or
two since a resolution was introduced
in congress asking that the swords of
the late General Twiggs be returned
to Mrs. Joseph Guedella, of England,
they then being in the treasury de-
partment. There is a history hanging
on these swords. The swords were
presented to General Twiggs for
bravery in the Mexican war-one by
congress through James X. Polk,
President one by the State of
Georgia, and one by the city of Au-
gusta. They are magnificent pieces.
The one presented BY congress is of
Damascus finish, the scabbard of pure
gold, and the hilt of solid gold set
brilliantly with diamonds. 1t is worth
$4,000 in money. The other swords
are probably worth $4,000 more.
When General Butler was about en-
tering New Orleans General Twigps
deposited the swords with a Miss
Florence tor afe-keeping. General
Butler found them, however, seized
them and sent them to President Lin
coin, his purpose being, as he after
wards told General Twiggs' daughter.
to have them kent in the treasury as
reminders of what base uses these
glorious swords have been put" allud-
ing to the fact that General Twiggs
drew them in defense of the Confed-
eracy.
A year ago Mrs. Myers, the mar
ried daughter of General Twiggs, ap-
piled to congress for these swords. To
her surprise, Miss Florence, now Mrs.
Gudella, having married an English
man Of that name, claimed that the
swords were hers and that General
Twiggs had not only presented her
these swords, but also a large amount
Of his family plate. She claimed that
the presentation was bona fide and abb
sOlute. Outraged at this claim, Judge
II. Ill. ID. Twiggs, a nephew of General
Twiggs, a brilliant young lawyer of
Augusta, and a dauntless hot-blosd.
made public the fact that the claim
was a pretense, and that theswords had
been solemnly devised by Gen. Twiggs
to his children and could not have
been given away to a stranger, and
that General Twiggs valued these
swords as his NEST precious posses
siOns. This brought a sharp letter
from Mr.. Ernest l.. Florence, of New
Orleans, who insisted upon his sisters
right to the swords and silver. The
silver plate, it is said, was the prop
erty of Mrs. Myers, the daughter, and
could not have been given away. To
this letter Judge Twiggs replied in a
sharp and singing letter, saying
we are led TO the notifying con-
c%lusion that these swords, around
which cluster the dearest mem
cries Of our hearts, would be
put, if you get them, to a
more substantial purpose, or converted
into baubles for feminine adornment."
Dir. Florence has not been heard from
since. And thus the war over the
swords wages. The friends of Gen.
Twiggs will make every effort to
secure the swords and plate for his
heirs, while it appears equally sure
that Mrs. Gudella will claim that the
articles were given to her absolutely
rather than confded to her for safe
keeping. The stranger claimants have
no scrap of paper to sustain their
claims. They are Jews, and stand
well in New Orleans aud elsewhere.