Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-26
THE True STORY OF GENERAL BUTLER
AND THE SPOONS.

heard story unfolding Benjamin +.
Butler a few days ago, with General Car
| field as voucher, which goes to show that
the darkest cloud has ray of silver moth
ing personal intended somewhere. | re-
peat for the benefit of much-enduring
public A lady came to General Garfield
not many months ago, introducing herself
as the daughter of General Twiggs of Con.
federate 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 Con-
gress in recognition of his valuable services
IN the Mexican war, the other was his Con-
federate 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
lion in his den, Douglas In his hall.
Upon further assurances that he was not
as formidable as depicted, the lady con-
sented to advise with the terrible non
ster," with General Garfield as advance
guard. Upon stating the subject of her
visit, after surprisingly polite reception,
General Butler told her the history of the
two swords. "After their capture sent
them to Washington, with the suggestion
that one of them be donated to Annapolis
Academy and the other to West Point, as
exemplars of what base uses may be made
of honorary weapons sometimes" said
Benjamin, unmindful of the lady's slight
wriGhing 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, and one of the duplicate keys
handed over to me-" With few more
words as to how they might be regained,
Mr.. Butler added: But, my dear madam,
you have never asked me about your family
plate, with whose gorgeousness l have been
supposed to decorate my festive board,
and through the agency of which, various
rather uncomplimentary sobriquets have
been bestowed upon me. Now, madam,
almost Immediately upon the evacuation OF
your fathers premises, and my occupation
thereof, one of your family servants came
to me with a load of silver, saying: Ole
massa thought he 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. / used that plate while | occupied
your fathers house as headquarters. but
eventually turned every piece, forks, dishes
and spoons there the General paused en-
phatically), =" TO the QuarteImaster's de-
partmenu, and here are the vouchers for
every article brought to me" said the Mas
sachusetts statesman, lifting the lid of MS
desk, and laying his hand on an orderly pile
of papers. And sure enough there were the
vouchers. all properly signed and credited,
and Benjamin never kept those spoons,
after all. where they subsequently dis
appeared, continued the General, 81 have
no means of knowing, but years ago they
were turned over to the Government" As
tute Ben. He has been waiting all these
years quietly, patiently, serenely, knowing
the time would come when he would be
questioned as to the deeds done in New
Orleans, and everything was discovered
done decently and in order. General But
Ter is the most methodical of men, and his
official papers are models of neatness and
ready reference. Upon the back Of each
epistle is briefed in shorthand its contents,
and reply thereto AS the General under
stands photography perfectly, he has but
to glance at the neatly-folded exterior of
any letter in question to discover its sub
ject matter ana treatment thereof. Wash
ington Correspondence of Chicago Inter
Ocean