Morris tribune., 1884-01-23
BEAUREGARD AND BUTLER.
A Sad RcMnncc In the Life or tho
G.Onfederate General.

A Sad Rotunncc In the Life or tho
COnfederate General.
Interview with Beauregard in N. Y. World. I
Il left homo suddenly February %, 1861,
having resigned from the United States corps
of engineers, On tho call of the provisional
government Of the Confederacy, at Mont
gumcry, Ala expected at that time to
retlirllin about fortnight to command in
Louisiana, where I had been stationed for
many years. Instead, was ordered to
Charleston, s. c., thence to Man
assas thence to west Tennessee, ETC., to
the end of the war, remaining absent
from home four years and three
months Whom started from New Orleans
Mrs. Beaurcgard was in very bad health. and
was compelled to leave her with her own
family to be taken care of; hence was ex-
tremcly anxious To return to be with her; but
in war q soldier belongs first TO his country
and then TO his family. Shortly after New
Orloans was taken possession OF by the Fed
erals, my wife and family--composed only Of
ladies', the gentlemen having gone to the
war received an order from Gen. Buffers
chief quartermaster to vacats their
houses in forty-eight hours, as 1t was
TO be occupied by Federal officers An
old friend of the family, Dr. Mercer, who
was well acquainted with Gen. Butler, went
to him to demonstrate against such proceed
ing and To explain the condition Of Mrs.
Bcauregard's health. Gen. Butler at once
countermallded the order, which, he said, had
been given without his approval. Moreover,
he sent n guard to protect the house from
further intrusion, but the ladies requested the
guard to bo Withdrawn, which was done
1.-The war progressed with variable results,
while Mrs. Beauregard's health became worse
and worse. At last, in the early spring of
1861 it became evident to her physician and
her family that she had not long to
live. Our good old friend, DR.. Mercer,
again went to Gen. Butler to know If there
were no possibility of my seeing once more
the tender and loving wife from whom had
been so suddenly and long separated. He
immediately turned to his desk, and with his
characteristic promptness wrote an uncon-
litional pass, which authorized me to enter
his lines and to come to New Orleans, where
could remain unmolestcd as long as circum-
stances required my presence there. That
was a noble act, for which l shall ever be
grateful 1t is doubtful, in my mind,
whether many officers of the United States
service would have been willing to assume
such responsibility without first referring
the matter to the war department at Wash
ington.
When received the pass Charleston was
threatened with another serious attack, and
Gen. Seymour, of the United States army,
was about to leave Jacksonville, Ala, on an
expedition across north Florida, thence to
the gulf of Mexico, and was organizing
force to check his march, which was done
shortly after by Gems. Finnigan and Colquitt,
at the battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond
was thus placed in the painful dilemma OF
selecting between my duty as commander
and my affection as husband. declined
the pass so generously rendered.
s'Two weeks after while with my troops In
front of Jacksonville, in which Gen. Seymour
had retreated after his defeat, received, and
read by the dismal light of a campfire, the
news of the death of one whom loved dearer
than life. We had been married less than
one year when we parted, and never saw
her again.