Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[473]

The general is sure that no foreign subject can object to this oath, as it is in the very words of the oath taken by every officer of the European Brigade, prescribed more than a year ago in “Les reglements de la Legion Francaise, formee à la Nouvelle Orleans, le 26d'avril, 1861,” as will be seen by the extract below, and claimed as an act of the strictest neutrality by the officers taking it, and, for more than a year, has passed by all the foreign consuls — so far as he is informed — without protest:--

Serment que doivent preter tous les officiers de la Legion Francaise.

State of Louisiana, parish of Orleans.

I,. . . . . . . . . . . ., do solemnly swear that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties of . . . . . . . . . . of the French Legion, and that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the State and of the Confederate States. So help me God!

Sworn to and subscribed before me.

[Traduction.]

Etat De La Louisiane, Paroisse D'Orleans.

Je, . . . . . . . . . . . ., jure solennellement de remplir, autant qu'il sera en moi, les devoirs de . . . . . . . . . . . ., de la Legion Francaise, et je promets de soutenir, de maintenir, et de defendre la constitution de l'etat et celle des Etats Confederes. Que Dieu me soit en aide!

Assermente et signe devant moi.

By command of

Major-General Butler. R. S. Davis, Capt. and A. A. A. G.

On the 7th of August, it was reported that the oath prescribed to the citizens had been taken by 11,723 persons, and foreign neutrals' oath by 2,499, and that 4,933 privates and 211 officers of the Confederate army had given the required parole. The women generally refused to take the oath.

Meanwhile, it became necessary to take another precaution, and that was to require all the arms in the city to be delivered up and put in my possession.

To this, the French consul of course objected in a letter to Lieutenant Weitzel, who was the assistant military commandant. This letter was as follows:--