(General orders, no. 6.)
To all United States troops serving in the Department of the Missouri.
The acts of violence committed during the past few days in obstructing the mail-trains and post-roads; the blocking of the interstate commerce; the open defiance and violation of the injunction of the
United States Court; the assaults upon the
Federal forces in the lawful discharge of their duties; the destruction, pillage, and looting of the inland commerce property belonging to citizens of the different States, and other acts of rebellion and lawlessness, have been of such a serious character that the duties of the military authorities are now clearly defined.
The proclamation of the
President, the
commander-in-chief of the land and navy forces and the
State militia when called into service, is understood by the military to be in the interests of humanity and to avoid the useless waste of life, if possible.
It is an executive order for all law-abiding citizens to separate themselves from the law-breakers and those in actual hostility to the action of the United States Court and the laws of the National Government. He has defined the attitude of these law-breakers to be that of enemies of the government, and hence it is the duty of the military forces to aid the
United States marshals to disperse, capture, or destroy all bodies of men obstructing the mail-routes and in actual hostility to the injunction of the
United States Court and the laws of the
United States.
This does not change the relations of the
Federal officials with those of the local authority, as it is expected that the
State and municipal governments will maintain peace and good order within the territory of their jurisdiction.
Should they fail or be overpowered, the military forces will assist them, but not
