Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-21
BEAUREGARD ON BUTLER.
A Statement That Places the Much.
Abused Governor I'm n
New Light-His Noble Act While i'm
Command at New Orleans.

New YORK, September 19.-Gen. P. G. T.
Beauregard, who is stopping at the Park
Avenue Hotel, was asked by a World re-
porter yesterday how-the candidacy of Gen.
Butler would be received in the South.
Il am not prepared to speak for the
south" said The .:c general, "but think it
""ouid meet with strong opposition in that
quarter, although he 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 COM
planned of."
"How did he treat your family and
friends? ?" was the next question.
"With proper consideration, as 1 was
more particularly informed, on my return
to New Orleans. left home suddenly Feb
ruary %, 1861, having resigned from the
United States Corps of Engineers, on the
call of the acknowledgements OF the
Confederacy, at Montgomery, Ala. L eX-
pected at that time to return in about
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, re-
manning absent from home four years and
three months. When 1 started from New
Orleans, Mrs. Beauregard was in very bad
health, and | was compelled to leave her
with her own family to be taken care of;
hence was extremely anxious to return
to be with her; but i'll war soldier be-
longs first, to his country, and then to his
| family. Shortly after New Orleans was
taken possession of by the Federals, my
wife and family-composed only OF ladies,
| the gentlemen having gone to the war
received an order from Gen. Buffers chief
quartermaster to vacate their house in
| forty-eight hours, as it was to be occupied
hy En1a a nf a
| family, DR.. Mercer, who was well ac-
| quainted with Gen. Butler, went to him to
l demonstrate against such proceeding,
| and to explain the condition of Mrs. Beau
| regards health. Gen. Butler at once coun-
| termanded the order, which he said had
! been given without his approval. More
| over he sent guard to protect the house
| from further intrusion. But the ladies re-
| quested the guard to be withdrawn, which
| was done.
| "The war progressed with variable re-
| suits while Mrs. Beauregard's health be-
| came worse. At last in the early spring
l of 1864, it became evident to her physician
| and her family that she had not long to
live. Our good old friend, DIR. Mercer,
| again went to Gen. Butler to know If there
was no possibility OF my seeing once more
| the tender and loving wife from whom |
| had been so suddenly and long separated
/ u,
with his characteristic promptness, wrote
all unconditional pass which authorized
| me to enter his lines and to come to New
Orleans, where L could remain unmolested
as long as circumstances required my pres
ence there. That was noble act for
which shall ever be grateful. 1t is doubt
full in my mind whether many officers of
the United States service would have been
willing to assume such a responsibility
without first referring the matter to the
War Department at Washington. When
| / received the pass Charleston was threat
ened with another serious attack, and Gen.
Seymour, of the United States army, was
about to leave Jacksonville, Fla, on an
expedition across North Florida, thence
to the Gulf of Mexico, and l was organic
ing force to check his march, which was
done shortly after by Gems. Finnegan and
Colquitt at the battle OF Olustee at Ocean
Pond. was thus placed in the painful
dilemma of selecting between my duty as
a commander and my affection as hus
band. declined the pass so generously
rendered.
1.-TWO weeks after, while with my troops
in front.of Jacksonville, to which Gen. Sey
mour had retreated after his defeat, | re
ceived and read by the dismal light of {
campfire, the news of the death of one
whom / loved dearer than life. We hat
been married less than one year when we
parted and l never saw her again"