Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-01-23
BEAUREGARD AND BUTLER.
a Sad ec0ance In the Life or tho
QONftn8nYnfn dsarnnal


Confederate General.
Interview with Bsauregad in N. Y. World
IL left home suddenly February %, 1861,
having resigned from the United States corps
of engineers, on tho call of the provisional
government OF the Confederacy, at Mont
geometry, Ala. I expected at that time to
return in about fortnight to command in
Louisiana, where I had been stationed for
many years Instead, I was ordered to
Charleston, S. c., thence to Man
assas, thence to west Tennessee, ETC., to
the end of the war, remaining absent
from homo four years and three
months. Whom started from New Orleans
Mrs. Rcauregard was in very bad health, and
was compelled to leave her with her own
family to he taken care of; hence I was OK
tremcy anxious To return to be with her; but
in war soldier belongs first to his country
and then to his family Shortly after New
Orleans was taken possession of by the Fed
erals, my wife and famly--composed only of
ladies, the gentlemen having gone to the
war-receivetl an order from Gen. Buffers
chief quartermaster to vacate their
houses in forty eight hours, as it was
to be occupied by Federal officers. An
old friend of the family, DR.. Mercer, who
to him to demonstrate against such proceed
ing and 10 explain the condition Of Mrs.
Bcauregards health. Gen. Butler ct once
countermanded 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guard to bo Withdrawn, which was done.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,
~. hoo
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-
tlitiona1 pass, which authorized ME to enter
his lines and to come to New Orleans, where
I could remain unmolested as long as circum-
stances required my presence there. That
was noble act, for which 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 tho 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 l was organizing
force to check his march, which was done
shortly after by Gems. Finnigan and Colquitt,
et tho h, tile Of 0luStea Or Ocenn Pond /
was thus placed in the painful dilemma of
selecting between my duty as a commander
and my affection as husband. declined
the pass so generously rendered.
''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 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.