In May of 1862, Major General Benjamin F. Butler sent Union soldiers to occupy New Orleans, where they encountered hostility from the local civilians. Both men and women expressed their contempt for the soldiers, resorting to insults and, in some cases, violence. On May 16, 1862, just two weeks after their arrival, Butler issued General Order No. 28, known as the “Woman’s Order.” This directive aimed to regulate interactions between soldiers and civilian women through controversial measures.

The Woman’s Order was highly unconventional. This order stated that any woman who treated a soldier with contempt would be regarded as a woman soliciting prostitution. Although the order was not necessarily intended to have a sexual connotation, it meant that soldiers were permitted to view and treat these women as if they were not “ladies.” If a woman were to spit upon the soldier, the order allowed the soldiers to return the favor. It also stated that if a woman were to engage in these behaviors, they were able to face legal consequences. 

The Woman’s Order was seen as controversial both in the United States and abroad. Many believed that this order effectively legalized rape. Major General Butler faced denunciation from President Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States, and he was generally disliked by civilians in both Union and Confederate territories. There were even reports of portraits of Butler being placed at the bottoms of chamber pots! Although General Butler claimed that the order was effective in reducing harassment in New Orleans, he was removed from his post by December of 1862, and General Order No. 28 effectively ended.