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

[469] ones here capable of dealing with amicable or unamicable nations, and will see to it that such acts of courtesy or assistance are extended to any armed vessel of the Emperor of France as shall testify the national, traditional, and hereditary feelings of grateful remembrance with which the United States Government and people appreciate the early aid of France, and her many acts of friendly regard, shown upon so many national and fitting occasions.

The action of the city council in this behalf must be reversed.

But another question in this regard troubled me very much: How was I to fire upon the French fleet, without orders, when it came up. I reflected; indeed I examined the French treaties and the law of nations. Finally I hit upon this expedient. The sanitary regulations of a garrisoned place are military regulations, and are such as the commanding general may deem proper to enforce, especially when martial law is declared. They are to be respected and obeyed by friendly nations and its officers, because they are for the safety of all. If disobeyed knowingly, they are to be enforced by all the means and power which it is necessary to use. Now the French fleet would come from Martinique, a port whose condition was wretched, and was a condemned one. It was hot weather and the yellow fever was there, and my orders were that every vessel, whether of our own nation or of any other, must remain below the forts at a point designated until it had been examined by the health officer, and a report made and written instructions received from me to allow it to proceed. The forts were to stop, and, if necessary, to fire upon, any vessel that refused to obey these quarantine regulations. Therefore it was made the duty of the health officer to hail every vessel and to give a copy of these orders to the officer who received him on deck. If the health officer was not received on board to examine a vessel, he was to drop his hospital flag into his boat as a signal, and if the vessel then proceeded up the river, she was, at all hazards, to be stopped before she reached the forts.

I believed I could justify myself in relying upon this course of law in firing upon the French vessels if they attempted to pass the forts without obeying my quarantine regulations. And a shot in return would justify the whole fire of both forts.

Early in June I learned that an attempt was to be made to organize a revolt and insurrection in New Orleans with the intent