BROCKET, 11 June, 1862.
MY DEAR SIR, — I cannot refrain from taking the liberty of
saying to you that it is difficult if not impossible to express adequately the
disgust which must be excited in the mind of every honorable man by the
general order of General Butler given in the enclosed extract from
yesterday’s “ Times.” Even when a town is taken by assault it is the practice
of the commander of the conquering army to protect to his utmost the
inhabitants and especially the female part of them, and I will venture to say
that no example can be found in the history of civilized nations, till the
publication of this order, of a general guilty in cold blood of so infamous an
act as deliberately to hand over the female inhabitants of a conquered city to
the unbridled license of an unrestrained soldiery.
If the Federal government chooses to be served by men
capable of such revolting outrages, they must submit to abide by the deserved
opinion which mankind will form of their conduct.
My dear Sir, Yrs
faithfully,
PALMERSTON.
C. F. ADAMS, Esq.
SOURCE: Charles Francis Adams [Jr.], Charles Francis Adams, p. 248-9
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