GENERAL BUTLER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

"LOWELL, MASS., Cctober 6, 1863.

"Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

"SIR:-I have the honor to inclose a note, received from Brigadier-General M. Jeff. Thompson, whom I knew in command of the forces immediately opposed to me at Pontchatoula, on the northern side of Lake Pontchartrain, when I was in command in the Department of the Gulf. The original I have sent, as requested, to Captain Thornton, on BrigadierGeneral Geo. F. Shepley's staff.

"Captain Thornton, a most valuable, brave, and efficient officer, was grievously wounded, with at least seven .bullet holes through his clothes and various parts of his body, in the attack on Pontchatoula in September of last year, under the command of the late lamented Major-General Strong, then my chief of staff. Captain Thornton was left in the hands of the enemy, and received of General Thompson every care and kindness, and, at my request, was sent to New Orleans upon his parole. This courteous consideration on the part of General Thompson, I have no doubt, enabled us, with the blessing of heaven, to save Captain Thornton's valuable life. General Thompson is now a prisoner at Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio. If not inconsistent with public service, I most earnestly ask that General Thompson may be released upon his parole.

"While I can testify to the uniform urbanity and courtesy with which all the operations of General Thompson were conducted, I am most de cidedly of opinion that the kindness which he showed to Captain Thornton alone should entitle him to every possible consideration. That kindness was not alone given to the officers, but the wounded men spoke of his treatment with the utmost gratitude.

"I found him a troublesome enemy enough, but his humanity, which was in contrast with the conduct of General Taylor, leads me to ask this favor for him at the hands of the government.

"As I am not much in the habit of asking leniency for rebels, I trust the war department will take it as a guaranty that this is a proper case for the extension of every indulgence.

"I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General U. S. Vols."

GENERAL THOMPSON TO GENERAL BUTLER.

"DEPOT OF PRISONERS OF War,

"JOHNSON'S ISLAND, NEAR SANDUSKY, OHIO, "October 12, 1863.

"Major-General B. F. BUTLER, U. S. Vols., Lowell, Mass.:

"GENERAL:-Your kind letter of the 6th inst. was received on the 10th, but a violent headache has prevented me from answering it until now.

"I am very much obliged to you for the interest you take in my welfare, and thank you for your unsolicited and flattering application to the United States war department in my behalf, and I am also grateful for the complimentary manner in which you speak of my conduct as an officer.

"Should the United States war department prefer to 'parole' me, I wil cheerfully accept it, not so much for the restricted liberty that it will give, as for the purpose of showing to the people of both governments that the stories that have been told about my being a guerilla, etc., are false; and that, with all the eccentricities and peculiarities that have been imputed to me, I have not forgotten to be a gentleman; and also that Captain Thornton and various other officers, who are under the impression that they are under obligations to me for similar favors, may feel that their government has shown a disposition to reciprocate for them.

"You say that no one more surely than myself knows that the acts for which my government blames you were untruly reported and unjustly construed. What your intentions were when you issued the 'order' which brought so much censure upon yourself, I, of course, can not tell, but I can testify, and do with pleasure, that nearly all of the many persons who passed through my lines, to and from New Orleans, during the months of August and September, 1862, spoke favorably of the treatment they had received from you, and with all my inquiries, which were constant, I did not hear of one single instance of a lady being insulted by your command. "Thanking you again for your kindness and compliments, and hoping that your government will soon conclude to 'let us alone,'

"I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

"M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Brigadier-General, M. S. G."

The following letter from General Thompson to his sister, recently published in the newspapers, shows that General Butler's efforts in his behalf have not been fruitless.

INTERESTING FROM JEFF. TO HIS SISTER-WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THINGS

GENERALLY.

66

"JOHNSON'S ISLAND, NEAR SANDUSKY, OHIO, SUNDAY, Oct. 11, 1863. "DEAR SISTER-I know you will be astonished at an article which appeared in the St. Louis Republican of the 7th inst. about me, and in which the writer speaks of letters written by me to General Grant about Emma. Of course, everybody in St. Joseph will know how false this report is; but still I feel grieved that any man should exist who is mean enough to write such an article. All know that at the beginning of the war Emma was at the asylum, and that, as soon as I heard that she was well, I sent Colonel Chappell to Cairo, to endeavor to get her sent down to me, and that, as soon as permits were granted to any one, she came down to me. I simply re

mind you of these facts for fear some person who is not acquainted with me may believe the slander, and that you can show them the falsity.

"I am to be offered my parole, in consideration of the courtesy and kindness which I have universally shown to all my enemies, and I may accept it, not that I care about the 'restricted liberty' that it will give, but it will show to my friends and enemies (I mean personal) that the stories that have been told about me are false, and that I have always conducted myself, especially to those who were so unfortunate as to be taken prisoners (and more especially so when wounded), as a soldier and a gentleman. I can assure you, dear sister, that, when the truth shall be told, you will never hear anything of me of which you need be ashamed, although you will probably be often mortified by reports, anecdotes, and stories that may be told upon me. I have hung and shot my own men for disobeying me, and I will do it again; but the citizens where I have commanded have never been troubled by my troops or by my orders, and many Union men were and are in my district who can testify to this fact. You would be very proud to see some letters that I have received from prominent Union men and federal generals since I have been a prisoner. I am writing thus for fear I may not have time to write again before I leave, as, should the parole arrive and I accept it, I will immediately start to Richmond or to Canada.

"I have authority to draw on George D. Prentice, of Louisville, or Major-General Benj. F. Butler, for what money I want; but should I not accept the parole, I will prefer to trust to my old personal friendship for little dribs until I am exchanged.

"You will hear through the newspapers whether I go to Canada or the Confederacy; for I would be fearful to accept the parole for the United States, as I would quarrel with half the men I met.

* * *

“Farewell, dear sister; I may not have time to write again before I may again be on the war path, and then my life is always in danger. "Your affectionate brother,

"M. JEFF. THOMPSON."

27*

INDEX.