The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-10-10

tion. 'qf0 q
with proper consideration, as
was more particularly informed, OF
my return to New Orleans. ! 5lefl
home suddenly February %, 1861
having resigned from the United
States Corps of Engineers, on the
call of the provisional government
of the Confederacy, at Montgomery,
Ala. / expected at that time to re-
turn in about a fortnight to my
command, in Louisiana, where /
had been stationed for many years.
Instead, / was ordered to Charles
ton, thence to Manassas, thence to
West Tennessee, etc, to the end OF
the war, remaining absent from
home four years and three months.
When 1 started from New Orleans.
Mrs. Beauregard was in very bad
health, and / was compiled to leave
her with her own family to be taken
care of; hence | was extremely anx-
ious to return to be with her; but
in war a soldier belongs first, 10 his
country, and then to his family.
Shortly after New Orleans was tax
en- possession Of by the Federals,
my wife and family-composed only
of ladies, the gentlemen having
gone to the war received an Or
der from Gen. Buffers chief quarter
master TO vacate their house in for
ty-eight hours, as it was to be Oc-
cupied by Federal soldiers. An old
friend of the family, DIR. Mercer,
who was well acquainted with Gen.
Butler, went to him to demonstrate
against such a proceeding, and to
explain the condition Of Mr.. Beaure-
CARDS health. Gen. Butler at once
countermanded the order, which he |
said had been given without his APP
proval. Moreover he sent a guard
to protect the house from further in
trusion. But the ladies requested |
the guard to be withdrawn, which
was done.
"The war progressed -Mith -xaria=
bic results while Mrs. BeauFegard's
health became worse, AT last inzl
the early spring of 1864, it became |
evident to her physician and her
family that she had not longto live.
Our good old friend, DR.. Mercer,
again went to Gen Butler to Know
if there was no possibility o. my see-i
ing once more the tender and loving
wife from whom L had been so spd-
denly and leng separated? ? lie inn 1
turned to his desk, and, |
with his characteristic promptness,
wrote an unconditional pass which /
me to enter his lines and
70 come to Aew Orleans, where l |
,ould remain unmolested as long as
required my presence
here. That was a noble act for
which / shall ever be grateful. 1t
S doubtful in my mind whether
many officers of the United States
ervice would have been willing to
Issume such a responsibility with1sI
'ut first referring the matter to the
Var Department at Washington.
When / received the pass Charles
ON was threatened with another
erious attack, and Gen. Seymour,
f the United States army, was alb
'ut to leave Jacksonville, Fla, on
lRexpedition across North Florida,
hence to the -Gnlf of Mexico and II
vas organizing a force to check his
march, which was done shortly af-
er by Gems. Finnegan and Col
Iuitt at the battle of 0lustee at
ocean Pond. was thus placed in
he painful dilemma of selecting be-
ween my duty as commander and
ny affection as a husband. L de-
lined The pass SO generously ten
ieredN IlilliTt l1IltIiIIUtG |
1.-Two weeks after, while with my
roops in front of Jacksonville, to
Ahich Gen Seymour had retreated
lfter his defeat, l received and read
~ the dismal light of a p-fire,
he news of the death of one whom
loved dearer than life. We had
1een married less than one year
when we parted and L never saw
ler again. -sa .r