Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

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The armies of the United States came here not to destroy but to make good, to restore order out of chaos and the government of laws in place of the passions of men; to this end, therefore, the efforts of all well-disposed persons are invited to have every species of disorder quelled, and if any soldier of the United States should so far forget his duty or his flag as to commit any outrage upon any person or property, the commanding general requests that his name be instantly reported to the provost guard, so that he may be punished and his wrongful act redressed.

The municipal authority, so far as the police of the city and crimes are concerned to the extent before indicated, is hereby suspended.

All assemblages of persons in the streets, either by day or by night, tend to disorder, and are forbidden.

The various companies composing the fire department in New Orleans will be permitted to retain their organizations, and are to report to the office of the provost marshal, so that they may be known and not interfered with in their duties.

And, finally, it may be sufficient to add, without further enumeration, that all the requirements of martial law will be imposed so long as, in the judgment of the United States authorities, it may be necessary. And while it is the desire of these authorities to exercise this government mildly, and after the usages of the past, it must not be supposed that it will not be vigorously and firmly administered as occasion calls.

By command of

Major-General Butler. Geo. C. strong, A. A. Gen., Chief of Staff.

When Farragut came up the river to be followed by my troops, Lovell deserted the city with some eight or nine thousand men, some under arms and some otherwise. He encamped at Pontchatoula, about eighty miles from the city, to which he was taken by cars.

When the government became established, the men who were forced to go with Lovell returned, so that his command dwindled down quite one half. The men came back to New Orleans, put on citizens' clothes, and went about their business.

In the interval between the evacuation by Lovell and Farragut's arrival, a panic had seized the city, exhibiting itself in the destruction of property. Cotton, sugar, tar, rosin, timber, and coal were set on lire, and all the ships and vessels that could not be taken away with a few exceptions were burned. There was even some