Following
the Battle of New Orleans, Union Major General Benjamin Butler became the
military commander of the city on May 1st 1862. Many of people who lived in the city had
strong Confederate sympathy, and the women expressed these feelings by
insulting the Union soldiers stationed in the city. With these actions in mind Butler issued
General Order Number 28 also known as the “Woman’s Order” on May 15th
1862. It stated that any woman insulting
or showing contempt for a Union officer or soldier should treated as a woman
“plying her avocation” or like a prostitute.
Some of the action the “Ladies” of New Orleans took, where to spit on
passing soldiers, and one woman emptied her chamber pot on Union Captain David
C Farragut. It took away the ability of
the women of New Orleans, to hide behind the treatment expected by a lady.
The Order
read; "As the officers and soldiers of the United States have been
subjected to repeated insults from the women (calling themselves ladies) of New
Orleans, in return for the most scrupulous noninterference and courtesy on our
part, it is ordered that hereafter when any female shall, by word, gesture, or
movement, insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United
States, she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the
town plying her avocation."
After Number
28 was posted, most women stopped their actions. The few who continued were arrested and
placed on Ship Island. The most notable
of these women was Eugenia Levy Philips who laughed at a passing Union officer’s
funeral procession. This order was quite
controversial at home and overseas. It
would lead to Butler’s nickname of “Beast” Butler, and to his being removed
from command of New Orleans on December 16th 1862.
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