Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-24

the oath OF allegiance to the country that
had welcomed him, and adopted him.
and hoRored him, as it had no foreign
born citizen since Alexander Hamilton
but SOule still declined. Mr.. Lincoln
finally left the matter with Seward, and
Seward retained Soule as a prisoner.
Nelvil in despair was returning to New
Orleans, where his family were living
under the rule Of the ''federals."
had many conversations with him
during the voyage. He always insisted
that his father was not a confederate, that
he had taken no step allying himself
with the cOnfederacy, and whether Nelvl
meant it it or no, 1 conceived the idea
that father and son might be converted
to a union sentiment. did not express
this view to him, but it was strengthened
at every interview. He was a man OF
rare fascination Of manner and his beauty
and misfOrtunes added to this charm.
Sherman liked him nearly as well as /
did, and listened to him, and allowed me
to invite him to headquarters after our
arrival in New Orleans.
As soon as we landed Sherman, of
course reported to Butler and was as
signed to command the defences OF New
Orleans, with headquarters at CarrOlIton
a suburb OF the city eight or ten miles
out. Here NelVil came and dined with
me in tine mess, and I paid him visits in
return at his house In town. 1t was q
charming southern home, with orange
and banana trees In the courtyard, and
fountains and tropical flowers. I was
presented to his wife, superb creole
beauty Of the Spanish type. Her grand
fathers on both sides were marquesses of
Spain, and her father had been governor
Of TampicO or some other Mexican town
which had fallen into Santa Annals
hands; after the capture his head was cut
of, boiled in oil and set upon the city
walls. a little Pierre, 4 years old, came
up to greet me In the open hall, and I
expect he had been taught his lesson, for
he stammerd:
''You a federal? Won't you let my
father out Of PRISON.
He always called his grandfather
Father" and his own father ''Nelvil. -
I kissed the southern baby, and told
him 1 did not keep his "father" III pris-
on, and We went IN to dinner. 1 was
served on silver, and the wines were de-
hciOus, but the other fare was black
beans and scanty meat; for the SOules
were living In a captured town, and
confederate money-an they had was
worthless. They suffered the hardships
Of war IN their sumptOus home, and al
most starved under the painted ceilings,
surrounded by luxury that Knocked their
want. But the wines had been left in
the cellar since before the troubles, and
the luscious frnits from the garden they
did not need to buy.
Nelvil still talked so as to make ne
believe that he and his father by iudici-
GUS treatment might be won to the Union
cause. Perhaps it was clever in him to
do this, but thought he was in earnest.
Col. Charles G. Halpine was at that
time a member Of Halleck's staff and on
duty at Washington. had known him
we'll as a bright man with sympathies for
sOutherners, though none for rebellion.
He had, indeed, a good deal of the same
feeling that I entertained. We were
both democrats at the beginning OF the
war and 1 had voted for Breckenridge.
would have at once yielded everything
to the south that could have been yielded
hOnOrably rather than see the Union de-
stroyed; and still tenderly loved many
OF my southern friends. Even under
Buffers rule I visited many ladies in
New Orleans whom had known in hap
pier times.
I knew Gen. HaIeek slightly and his
wife's family almost intimately, but
did not feel at liberty to address the
general min chief direct. So L wrote to
Halpine and told him the whole story Of
the Soules, with my belief that they
might be made OF use. I asked him
whether it might not be advisable to re-
lease Pierre SOule on parole and return
him to New Orleans. He was a high
minded man, and the clemency might
have its effect. I thought possibly he
might be induced to form a party among
the French creOles favorable to submits
sion, and that the example Of so power
ful an element might tell elsewhere.
This, it will be remembered, was in 1862,
when others, more important than !, be-
ieved the return Of the south to her al
legiance still possible. At any rate, 1
proposed the plan. Halpine wrote me
that he laid it before Gen. Halleck, who
thought it worth considering; it was
discussed In cabinet meeting, but the
decision was finally adverse, and SOule
remained In Fort Lafayette
But, with good intentions certainly,
yet Just as certainly with lack Of judg-
ment-Halpine gave my letter in full to
the New York Times; and one day at
New Orleans 1 saw myself IN print, with
all my suggestions and devices in re-
gard to the SOules disclosed. I was of
q
once to Nlevil declaring that held my
self fully authorized to make any state
ments I thought proper to my own gov
eminent; that was IN New Orleans IN
time Of war, In my uniform, serving my
country and there could be no doubt
that it was my duty to make known to
my superiors any views or discoveries
that 1 thought might be Of use.
could not apologize for what had writ
ten home. But I also said that 1 did
not think I had any right to compromise
him with his friends, and that to do so
had been further from my mind. I was
willing to explain, although 1 could not
apologize. assured him that my letter
had been intended to be confidential, and
that its publication was without my
sanction and contrary to my expressed
wish. trusted this would be sufficient
to acquit me Of any unhandsome con-
duct toward himself.
He did not reply and supposed he
was dissatisfied. We had been very in
innate, and was entitled to some an
swer, unless he meant to make an open
rupture His silence was a reprOach,
almost an insinuatiOn that had betray-
ed his confidence. I felt this keenly,
and after waiting a few days wrote
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