Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-26
BEAU sEGARD AND BUTLER
an Interesting War Bemiuis-
cenee.

The St. Louis POST Dispatch has
the following from New York, Sep
tember 18th:
General ?. G. T. Beauregard, who
is stopping at tue Park Avenue Hotel
was asked by Post Dispatch reporter
yesterday how the candidacy Of Gen,
eral Butler would be received 10 the
South.
am not prepared TO speak for the
South, said the General; but Think
It would meet with strong opposition
in that quarter, although be may not
be guilty Of all the charges brought
against him while in command there
His subordinates may be responsible
for many of the acts complained Of"
How did he treat your family and
friends was the next question.
With proper consideration, as |
was more particularly informed on my
return to New Orleans. | left home
suddenly, February %, 1861, having
resigned from the United States CORPS
OF Engineers on the call of the Pro-
yislonal government Of the Confeder-
aoy, at Montgomery, Ala. Expected
at that time TO return in about a fort
night TO take command in Louisiana.
where | had been stationed for many
years. Instead, | vas ordered 10
Charleston, thence to Manassas thence
to West Tennessee, ETC., to the end Of
the war, remaining absent from home
four years and three months When
started from New Orleans, Mrs.
Beauregard was in very bad health.
aud l was compelled to leave her with
her own family to be taken care of.
hence | was anxious TO return to be
with her. Butin war a soldier belongs
first TO his country and then to his lam
lily. Shortly after New Orleans Wa
taken by the Federals, my wife and
tamily-oomposed only OF ladies, the
gentlemen having gone to the wsr-
received an order from General But
ler's chief quartermaster to vaeate
their house in forty eight hours
as 1t was to be occupied by
Federal officers. An old friend
Of the family, DR.. Mercer, who wa
we'll acquainted with General Butler
went to him TO demonstrate against
such a proceeding and TO explain the
condition of Mrs. Bsauregard's health
General Butler at once eountermand.
cd the order, which, he said, had been
given without his approval. More
over, he sent a guard to protect the
house from further intrusion. but the
ladies requested the guard TO be with
drawn, which was done. The war
progressed with variable results. while
Mrs. Beauregard's health became
worse. At last, in the early spriog of
1861, it became evident to her pbysi.
clan and her fsmily that she had not
long to live. Our good old friend DR..
Mercer again went TO General Butler
TO know if there was any possibility OF
my seeing once mere the tender and
owing wife from whom | had been SO
suddenly and long separated Hahn.
mediately turned to his desk. and
with bis Characteristic promptness
wrote an unconditional pass. which
authorized me to enter his lines and
to come to New Orleans where /
could remain unmolested as long a.
circumstances required my presence
there. That was a noble act for
which | shall ever be grateful Its
doubtful, IN my mind, whether many
officers OF the United States service
would have been willing to assume
such a responsibility without first re
ierring the matter to the War De.
partment at Washington When I
received the pass Charleston was
threatened with another serious a.
tack, and General Seymour. Of The
United States army, wss abolt 70
leave Jacksonville, Fla on an expe.
dition across North Florida. thence 10
me Gull OF Mexico, and / was organ.
. ng q force to check his march. which
Was done shortly alter BY General
tinnigan and Colonel Guilt. AZ The
battle OF Olustee or Ocean Pond
was thus placed in the painful diem
ma OF selecting between my duty as a
commander and my affection as a hus
band l declined the pass SO gener.
ously rendered.