CIVIL WAR BROADSIDE “PROCLAMATION” TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS BY THE CAPTURER OF THE CITY GENERAL BENJAMIN “BEAST” BUTLER.

New Orleans: 1 May 1862. Broadside, printed on brown necessity paper. This is one of the broadsides posted in the city of New Orleans just after its capture earlier that week. Signed in print by Benjamin F. Butler. “Beast Butler’s” proclamation on the union occupation of New Orleans. The text of the broadside begins: “The City of New Orleans and its environs, with all its interior and exterior defenses, having been surrendered to the combined naval and land forces of the United States, who have come to restore order, maintain public tranquility, enforce peace and quiet under the Laws and Constitution of the United States, the Major-General commanding the forces of the United States in the Department of the Gulf, hereby makes known and proclaims the object and purposes of the Government of the United States in thus taking possession of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana …” The broadside delineates specific rules for the military governance of the city under his command. These martial laws included the surrender of arms, a ban on flags other than that of the United States, the requirement of oaths of allegiance, the necessity of returns on public property, a suspension on the right to assemble, etc.” Issued on the day that General Butler took possession of New Orleans. He sent the proclamation to the True Delta newspaper office to be printed but the Confederate biased editor refused; the press was promptly seized and army printers recruited to set up the historic document” (Catalog of the American Library of Thomas W. Streeter). The provision concerning flags had an immediate result when William Mumford was executed for lowering the flag that Farragut had raised over the mint prior to Butler’s entering the city. This action, coupled with Butler’s infamous Order No. 28, which allowed New Orleans women who showed contempt for a Union officer to be treated as if a prostitute, resulted in Butler’s nickname as “The Beast.” The broadside is quite rare. We can only locate 7 or 8 institutional copies including Harvard University, Yale University, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Trinity College Library, Northwestern University and New York Historical Society Library. SIZE: 25-1/4″ x 8-3/4″. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: Document was not taken from frame but paper appears yellowed and brittle and glue line along edges can be seen coming through paper where mounted on blue cardboard. Cracks at three horizontal folds with some chipping affecting several letters of text as can be seen in photos. This rare document could be conserved by a paper conservator. 9-93043 (800-1,200) – Lot 2273

Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - August 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2273	$1,066.50	CIVIL WAR BROADSIDE “PROCLAMATION” TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS BY THE CAPTURER OF THE CITY GENERAL BENJAMIN “BEAST” BUTLER. New Orleans: 1 May 1862. Broadside, printed on brown necessity paper. This is one of the broadsides posted in the city of New Orleans just after its capture earlier that week. Signed in print by Benjamin F. Butler. “Beast Butler’s” proclamation on the union occupation of New Orleans. The text of the broadside begins: “The City of New Orleans and its environs, with all its interior and exterior defenses, having been surrendered to the combined naval and land forces of the United States, who have come to restore order, maintain public tranquility, enforce peace and quiet under the Laws and Constitution of the United States, the Major-General commanding the forces of the United States in the Department of the Gulf, hereby makes known and proclaims the object and purposes of the Government of the United States in thus taking possession of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana …” The broadside delineates specific rules for the military governance of the city under his command. These martial laws included the surrender of arms, a ban on flags other than that of the United States, the requirement of oaths of allegiance, the necessity of returns on public property, a suspension on the right to assemble, etc.” Issued on the day that General Butler took possession of New Orleans. He sent the proclamation to the True Delta newspaper office to be printed but the Confederate biased editor refused; the press was promptly seized and army printers recruited to set up the historic document” (Catalog of the American Library of Thomas W. Streeter). The provision concerning flags had an immediate result when William Mumford was executed for lowering the flag that Farragut had raised over the mint prior to Butler’s entering the city. This action, coupled with Butler’s infamous Order No. 28, which allowed New Orleans women who showed contempt for a Union officer to be treated as if a prostitute, resulted in Butler’s nickname as “The Beast.” The broadside is quite rare. We can only locate 7 or 8 institutional copies including Harvard University, Yale University, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Trinity College Library, Northwestern University and New York Historical Society Library. SIZE: 25-1/4″ x 8-3/4″. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: Document was not taken from frame but paper appears yellowed and brittle and glue line along edges can be seen coming through paper where mounted on blue cardboard. Cracks at three horizontal folds with some chipping affecting several letters of text as can be seen in photos. This rare document could be conserved by a paper conservator. 9-93043 (800-1,200) – Lot 2273 Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - August 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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CIVIL WAR BROADSIDE “PROCLAMATION” TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS BY THE CAPTURER OF THE CITY GENERAL BENJAMIN “BEAST” BUTLER.