The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-19
Beast Butler and the Spoons.
TO GEN. GREENE.

Gen. Buffers alleged conversion of tho
silver spoons of rebels to his own use has
often been explained, but is none the less
likely to survive as joke in the North,
and as ground OF hatred in tho South.
On this account detailed narrative of
the affair from his own pen is interesting.
In reply TO letter ct inquiry from =
New Jersey minister, he SAYS that when
in Now Orleans he dug up the swords
belonging to the rebel General Twiggs.
one Of which had been presented by the
United States, and the other two by
Georgia and the city Of Augusta in that
State. He sent them to the President,
and they were afterward deposited in the
Treasury Department. Gen. Twiggs'
daughter, wife Of United States Officer,
finally claimed them, and Gen. Butler
told her thnt he would recommend the
government to hand them over. He then
remarked to her: "You do not ask
me about the box of family silver got
at the same time with the swords.
understand the reason, think, and an.
preciate the delicacy which prompts your
course" He proceeded TO explain that
he uued the silver until he left the De.
partment of Louisiana, when he handed
It over with ali other similar property
that had come into his possession 10 tho
Q,lartermaster of his successor, whose re.
ceipts he took. He closes his letter by
assuring his correspondent tha. he had
never taken pains to deny or explain tho
many ISLANDERS leveled against him,
adding:
perhaps it might not be uninteresting
to you to know that Immediately after
the war, suits were brought against me
aggregating in claims Of damages, quite
million OF dollars, in the courts of New
York and Baltimore, upon every matter
where the pursuers thought had either
exceeded my authority or acted wrong.
fully. Three of those suits have been
tried, and have been sustained in each
case by the courts, and all the Others
have been either discontinued or left
silently to slumber more than fifteen
years. No judgment for dollar has ever
been recovered against me in them, nor
ever will be.
"My acts in New Orleans and elsewhere
where had command have been brought
in question in collateral suita between
other parties, which have gone up to tho
Supreme Court of the United States, and
never have heard of single instance
where what had done has not been con.
| firmed by that court. With this record I
am content to leave such matters to the
fair judgment of all honest men, espe.
cially when supplemented by another
consideration that during ten years of
| pretty prominent action in Congress.
when party passions and prejudices were
at their height, no act Of mine as mem.
ber Of Congress has ever been investiga.
ted by any committee. Before I went TO
Congress bitter charge vas made
against me in the House Of Representa-.
tives. and an investigation asked, which
was fully met and answered in the House
by triumphant vote against even ell
investigation.
"As chief executive officer ofthe Board
of Managers of the Home for Disabled
Soldiers, some eight or ten millions OF the
United States passed through my hands,
and some years ago ON investigation
being demanded of my action j. was had
before the Military Committee of the
House of Representatives, and unani-
nous report of that committee, Of men Of
both ps.t;ss, exonerated me from all
blame, and even from having made any
errors ofjudgment. Again, when sur.
rendered my trust, after fourteen years Of
service, the Board of managers, composed
in majority of men of the highest char
hcter, and Indifferent politics. nAssed a
resolution of appreciation of my action
and Of personal confidence and regard of
which l am reasonably proud"