To Benjamin F. Butler1Jump to section
Fort-Monroe, Va. Washington, March 9. 1864.
What are the facts about the imprisonment of Joseph A. Bilisoly? A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. General Butler replied on the same day that the causes of imprisonment of Bilisoly were ``first he is a Secessionist, has had eleven children and grandchildren in the confederate army, said he was sorry he hadn't more & has taken the oath of allegiance but says his sympathies are with the South and not with the north. Third---Over two hundred thousand (200 000) dollars of the assets of the Saving Bank of Portsmouth have been traced into his hands & he refuses to give any account of it & lies when he is examined about it. Fourth. He had a secret box made under his daughter's bedroom floor in which he concealed arms & the plate of another secessionist & when called to account for it lied about it. Fifth. He is only committed until he will tell the truth as to the secretion of the Bank property. When he does this he will be brought up for examination. It is the common case of confinement of a witness for contempt.'' (DLC-RTL).
In the Butler Papers (DLC) is a letter from Bilisoly's daughter, Mrs. George R. Boush, addressed to President Lincoln, March 1, 1864, which states the circumstances of her father's imprisonment somewhat differently: ``He is charged with knowing, where some of the most important papers of the Portsmouth Saving's Bank, are concealed. Notwithstanding, he positively denied the charge[,] was taken to prison, and early in the morning, hurried to Fortress Monroe, without breakfast, and not one penny in his pocket. Report says confined in a cell, with nothing to lie down on. My husband Geo. Richard Boush (Master Builder of the Gosport Yard) is now in Alexandria, attending the Convention; therefore I have to act for myself.''