Occupation and pacification Capture of New Orleans

1 occupation , pacification

1.1 rise of political general
1.2 balance between military power , political support
1.3 building political power base in new orleans
1.4 poorer classes key city
1.5 impact of occupation on slaves , slavery
1.6 moment of truth, confederate counterstroke
1.7 reputation vs. results

occupation , pacification

major general benjamin franklin butler, military governor of new orleans under union occupation



statue of andrew jackson in new orleans, louisiana. @ high resolution, butler s inscription can observed.


the rise of political general

on may 1, 1862, maj. gen. benjamin butler, army of 5,000 men, occupied city of new orleans without resistance. butler former democratic party official, lawyer, , state legislator. general butler 1 of first major generals of volunteers of civil war appointed abraham lincoln. had gained glory massachusetts state militia general had anticipated war , prepared 6 militia regiments conflict. @ start of hostilities marched relief of washington, d.c., , despite lack of orders had occupied , restored order baltimore, maryland. reward butler made commander of fortress monroe, on virginia peninsula. there gained further political renown first practice confiscation of fugitive slaves contraband of war. practice made later policy of war congress. due these , other astute political maneuvers, butler had been chosen command army expedition new orleans. because of lack of military experience , military success, many happy see him go.

balance between military power , political support

butler 1 of controversial , volatile personalities of civil war. infamous in new orleans confrontational proclamations , corruption. if these things capable of, never have held city, or prevented confederate forces re-capturing it. impression had been created confederate officials , sympathizers new orleans , louisiana held brute military force , terror. butler in fact political general, awarded position excellent political connections , accomplishments. political expertise made position in new orleans tenable. in no way had military force necessary hold force alone. total military command numbered 15,000 troops. never sent reinforcements during time commanded in louisiana. butler himself put it, 2,500 men in city... of 150,000 inhabitants, hostile, bitter, defiant, explosive, standing literally in magazine, spark needed destruction. methods of preserving order radical , totalitarian, in north , europe, issue of butler s general order no. 28.

the united states war department under edwin m. stanton expected butler hold eastern louisiana , cities of baton rouge , new orleans, maintain communications river vicksburg, , support farragut s forces siege of vicksburg. in addition city of new orleans indefensible union confederates. surrounded fragile network of levees , lower in elevation else around it, new orleans extremely vulnerable flooding, bombardment, , insurrection, , unhealthy , subject devastating epidemics. defense of city against attacks confederate forces depended on extensive outer ring of fortifications requiring garrison of thousands of troops. conquered territory, louisiana had potential becoming serious logistical drain on union forces, , unsustainable front if contested well-organized resistance movements. popularly assumed confederacy launch major counteroffensive retake new orleans. largest population center of confederacy, , commanding formidable industrial , shipping resources, permanent loss politically intolerable confederacy.

building political power base in new orleans

the valuable asset butler commanded in new orleans not army, formidable political heritage. butler jacksonian democrat in senses, , populist , reformer. had great gift identifying issues of broadest levels of voters, , turning them political advantage. here jacksonian political legacy had come full circle in 47 years, defending new orleans british, securing secession. butler s inscription on base of jackson’s statue, “the union must , shall preserved”, symbolic of political identity. inscription echoed andrew jackson s 1830 toast in response speech endorsing nullification , during called nullification crisis. jackson stated, our federal union! must preserved! . statement defined jackson s position against threat union. spoils system created democratic party part of butler’s political heritage. butler believed advantages of political office should used advantage of friends , supporters, , suppress political opponents. in general, butler used these political abilities play various factions , interests in new orleans virtuoso conductor inspire orchestra, insure control , reward union supporters while isolating , marginalizing hostile pro-confederate factions.

the poorer classes key city

butler began rule of martial law in new orleans sentencing calling cheers confederate president jefferson davis , confederate major general p. g. t. beauregard 3 months hard labor @ fort jackson. issued order number 25, distributed captured confederate food supplies of beef , sugar in city poor , starving. union blockade , king cotton embargo had done damage port economy, leaving many without work. value of goods passing through new orleans had gone $500 million $52 million during period 1860 1862. butler raised 3 regiments of infantry, 1st, 2nd , 3rd louisiana native guards, corps d afrique, existing free black militia units supervised gen. daniel ullmann. these black units unusual in having black officers. served both add forces , confront former ruling classes of city bayonets of former slaves. butler used commercial contacts in northeast , washington revive commerce in city, exporting 17,000 bales of cotton northeast , re-establishing international trade. employed many local citizens in logistics support of union military , in cleaning city, including expansion of existing city sewer system , setting pumps empty system river. policy helped free city anticipated summer yellow fever epidemic, possibly saving thousands of lives. extensively taxed wealthy of city set social programs lower classes. these robin hood aspects of programs provided broad base of political support, extensive informal intelligence , counter-espionage organization, , provided law , order.

soldiers of louisiana native guard regiments raised butler in new orleans


the impact of occupation on slaves , slavery

butler had done institution of slavery in confederacy considerable damage instituting “contraband of war” policy while commanding fort monroe on virginia peninsula. policy rationalized retention of slaves fleeing seceding states claiming confederate military using slave labor military use in construction of fortifications, moving military supplies, , constructing roads , railroad grades of use confederate army. slaves within areas of confederate control rapidly spread word union military forces not enforcing fugitive slave laws, , slaves find refuge within union military lines , employment laborers union armies. result, use of slaves in proximity of union forces became extremely difficult , expensive, since these slaves flee @ first opportunity union lines, depriving confederate armies of labor , former masters of regarded valuable property. since confederate government counting on slave labor offset greater numbers of union soldiers, butler’s innovative policy struck confederacy @ strategic level, destroying asset counted on win military struggle independence. flight of slaves in direction of union diverted resources of confederate military , government in defense of plantations , discipline of labor forces. planters of louisiana appealed aid union authorities, quote 1 of them, “our family has owned negroes generations… have no 1 , genls shepley , butler protect against these negroes in state of insurrection.” plantations of jefferson davis, located in state of mississippi on davis bend 20 miles (32 km) downriver vicksburg, disrupted union invasion. after davis older brother joseph fled area of slaves in may 1862, rest revolted, took possession of property, , betrayed location of valuables union forces , resisted efforts confederate forces recapture area. slaves in rebellion armed guns , newspapers, , fought death attempts infringe upon newfound freedom. rebellion within rebellion began erode confederate authority within louisiana instant butler s troops appeared in new orleans, , political fifth column invaluable occupation.

the moment of truth, confederate counterstroke

the expected rebel counteroffensive came on august 5 in form of naval , army assault on baton rouge, led maj. gen. john c. breckinridge, resulting in battle of baton rouge. after hard fought battle, confederate forces driven out of city, , both confederate , union forces withdrew after battle. significant aspect of battle did not result in popular uprising, nor widespread support confederate forces in louisiana. result, rebel forces not able mount sustained campaign retake new orleans or rest of state. can considered tribute union consensus building wrought butler s political manipulation , broad-based political support. chester g. hearn summed bases of support: “the huge, illiterate majority – poorer classes of blacks , whites – have starved had butler not fed , employed them, , thousands may have died had sanitation policies not cleansed city of disease.”

reputation vs. results

butler s abrasive style , heavy handed actions did, however, catch him. many of acts gave great offense, such seizure of $800,000 had been deposited in office of dutch consul , imprisonment of french champagne magnate charles heidsieck. notorious butler s general order no. 28 of may 15, issued after many provocations , displays of contempt women in new orleans. stated if woman should insult or show contempt officer or soldier of united states, shall regarded , shall held liable treated woman of town plying avocation , i.e., prostitute. order provoked protests both in north , south, , abroad, particularly in britain , france, , many considered cause of removal command of department of gulf on december 17, 1862. nicknamed beast butler , , spoons , alleged habit of pilfering silverware of southern homes in stayed. became reviled in city merchants began selling chamber pots likeness @ bottom.

general nathaniel p. banks

on june 7, executed 1 william b. mumford, had torn down united states flag placed farragut on new orleans mint. execution, butler denounced in december 1862 confederate president jefferson davis in general order 111 felon deserving capital punishment, if captured should reserved execution. butler s administration did have benefits city, kept both orderly , healthy. butler occupation best summed admiral farragut, stated, may please general butler, right man in right place in new orleans.