Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-06-27
GEN. putler,s ramous Woman Order

To tho Editor Of the Daily Delta.
Seeing some severe structures in some of the
NOrthern papers upon Order No. 2S of Major
General Butler, commanding the Division of
the Gulf, in which the terms of that order arc
very harshy criticised it is perhaps not inap-
propriate for citizen Of New Orleans for more
than a quarter of Il century, to bear witness to
the necessity Of some order of that kind being
made, in order 10 suppress a practice on the
part of some of the women Of New Orleans who
would have felt themselves most highly insulted
at not being considered ladies' which frequently
came to the notice Of the writer himself.
1t is notorious fact that Immediately upon
the landing of the Government forces In this
city, some of the women (noi all by any means)
we're constantly in the habit Of exhibiting their
hatred aud contempt for the officers and soldiers
in such palpable ways as to leave no room for
mistake rs to their intentions, TO wit; When
officers or soldiers entered the street railroad
cars or omnibuses, they were met by curlings OF
the lips and noses on what should have been
modest faces by the pulling In Of skirts, as IT
their wearers were afraid that they wOlld be-
come soiled by coming in contact with the uni
forms of the officers and soldiers Of the United
Slater. Confederate flags would be houted in
| their faces whilst walking the streets, and ii,
perchanoe, they happened to get near such
ladies in the streets, skirts would be drawn up
and aside in euch way as to exhibit more OF
ankles than of good manners. Slaves Of the
Bonnie Blue Flag" and other Secession songs.
would Immediately be sung upon disappearance
of Federal officers in the negheOrhood of certain
| dwellings, otherwise the abode of gentility
In some Of the public schools in the city, the
female pupils were instructed by their lady
teachers to show their contempt for Federal
officers and soldiers, in case they should visit
them, by refusing to offer them any Of the com
mon civilites due visitors to the schools, and by
| o., - q nnn Ea0 - pfa nj
Of which acts are too well known here to admit
Of moments dispute.
After carefully reading the order in question,
it will be at once perceived that by no possible
rule of Interpretation can it be made to apply
to any female, woman or lady, except to such
as by word or deed chooses TO place herself in
the category put by the General.
The effect of the order has been most happy,
in causing the immediate cessation Of all such
annoying practices, which, if persisted in, might
have led to unpleasant results to the real ladies
Of the city, who might otherwise have been
classed with their indiscIeet sisterhoOd, which
was fortunately avoided by the effects of the
order itself; ever since the publication Of which
the real ladies of the city have been able to
walk in all parts Of the city, whether by day or
nieht, with tue most perfect impunity anu iree-
dom from interruption insult from elther
officers or soldiers, and with greater degree OF
personal safety than ever was known IN tue
history of the city for not only has the conduct
of officers been that of the most polished gentle
men. but that of the common soldiery has been
the wonder aud admiration Of all--uo complaints
Of the slightest infraction Of the rnles otpropfi-
civ having been made against any Of them be-
vond occasional cases of iutoxication, although
tbe forcea have occupied the city for more than
six weeks This is the more remarkable when
il is recolected that only a few years since the
imperial city Of Pekin was captured by the al
lied armies Of England aud France, the two
most civilized nations Of Europe, and delivered
over to the soldiers for p'under during two OF
three entire days,