Chapter 9: taking command of a Southern City.
- Entering New Orleans -- the City untamed -- meeting the City authorities at the St. Charles Hotel -- Howling mob surrounds the building -- “tell General Williams to clear the streets with artillery” -- proclamation to the citizens -- buying sugar to ballast vessels -- property burned at instigation of Confederate leaders -- alone responsible for conduct at New Orleans -- utterly destitute condition of people -- providing provisions and employment -- approach of yellow fever season -- alarm of troops -- disease investigated, with theory as to cause -- how the City was cleaned and kept clean -- just two cases of fever that summer -- further consideration of yellow fever subject -- how it was fought at Norfolk and New Berne two years later -- one thing West Point needs
On the morning of the first day of May, having determined to disembark my troops, or as many of them as had then arrived, and take possession of the city at sundown, I issued the following order:--
It may be asked why we waited until near sundown. When troops are taking possession of a city where there is possibility of assault by a mob, it is always best that it should be done in the dark. The general then always knows where his troops are, and how many of them there are, while the mob can have no concerted action, and are not able to organize any in the dark. If your column is fired upon from houses, the flash will show every window from which the missiles come, and those windows can instantly be
