No. 25.

New Orleans, May 9, 1862.

The deplorable state of destitution and hunger of the mechanics and working classes of this city has been brought to the knowledge of the Commanding General.

He has yielded to every suggestion made by the city Government, and ordered every method of furnishing food to the people of New Orleans that Government desired. No relief by those officials has yet yet been afforded. This hunger does not pinch the wealthy and influential, the leaders of the rebellion, who have gotten up this war, and are now endeavoring to prosecute it, without regard to the starving poor, the working man, his wife and child. Unmindful of their suffering fellowcitizens at home, they have caused or suffered provisions to be carried out of the city for Confederate service since the occupation by the United States forces.

Lafayette Square, their home of affluence, was made the depot of stores and munitions of war for the rebel armies, and not of provisions for their poor neighbors. Striking hands with the vile, the gambler, the idler and the ruffian, they have destroyed the sugar and cotton which might have been exchanged for food for the industrious and good, and regrated the price of that which is left, by discrediting the very currency they had furnished, while they eloped with the specie; as well that stolen from the United States, as from the banks, the property of the good people of New Orleans, thus leaving them to ruin and starvation.

Fugitives from justice many of them, and others, their associates, staying because too puerile and insignificant to be objects of punishment by the clement Government of the United States.

They have betrayed their country :

They have been false to every trust :

They have shown themselves incapable of defending the State they had seized upon, although they have forced every poor man's child into their service as sol diers for that purpose, while they have made their sons and nephews officers :

They cannot protect those whom they have ruined, but have left them to the mercies and assassinations of a chronic mob:

They will not feed those whom they are starving:

Mostly without property themselves, they have plundered, stolen and destroyed the means of those who had property, leaving children penniless and old age hopeless.

MEN OF LOUISIANA, WORKINGMEN, PROPERTY-HOLDERS, MERCHANTS AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, of whatever nation you may have had birth, how long will

you uphold these flagrant wrongs, and, by inaction, suffer yourselves to be made the

serfs of these leaders?

The United States have sent land and naval forces here to fight and subdue rebellious armies in array against her authority. We find, substantially, only fugitive masses, runaway property burners, a whisky-drinking mob, and starving citizens with their wives and children. It is our duty to call back the first, to punish the second, root out the third, feed and protect the last.

Ready only for war, we had not prepared ourselves to feed the hungry and re. lieve the distressed with provisions. But to the extent possible, within the power

of the Commanding General, it shall be done.

He has captured a quantity of beef and sugar intended for the rebels in the field. A thousand barrels of these stores will be distributed among the deserving poor of this city, from whom the rebels had plundered it; even although some of the food will go to supply the craving wants of the wives and children of those now herding at "Camp Moore" and elsewhere, in arms against the United States.

Capt. John Clark, Acting Chief Commissary of Subsistence, will be charged with the execution of this order, and will give public notice of the place and manner of distribution, which will be arranged, as far as possible, so that the unworthy and dissolute will not share its benefits.

BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER :

GEO. C. STRONG,

Assistant Adjutant General, Chief of Staff.

New Orleans, May 10, 1862.

No. 26.

At the General Court Martial, which convened at Ship Island, Miss., pursuant to General Orders No. 12, of April 15th, 1862, from these Headquarters, and of which Col. HENRY W. BIRGE, 13th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and tried :

Col. JOHN MCCLUSKEY, 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, on the following charges and specifications, viz:

CHARGE FIRST.

"Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman."

SPECIFICATION 1st-In this: that Col. John McClusky, 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, while on board the transport ship Great Republic, on her passage from Portland, Me., to Ship Island, Miss., and when Capt. John B. Wilson and Second Lieut. H. A. Shorey, of the 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, were remonstrating with officers of said regiment for gambling among themselves and with privates of said regiment, did use the following language with regard to said officers: "If any brat of a boy attempts to teach me morals, I will slap his face." This on or about Sunday, March 23d, 1862.

SPECIFICATION 2d-In this: that he, Col. John McCluskey, 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, while on board the transport ship Great Republic, and on the passage from Portland, Me., to Ship Island, Miss., and while in command of the 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, was drunk or intoxicated. This on or about the night of the 2d of April, 1862.

SPECIFICATION 3d-In this: that he, Col. John McCluskey, while on board the transport ship Great Republic, on her passage from Portland, Me., to Ship Island. Miss., did wantonly destroy the regimental flag presented to the 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers by the ladies of Aroostook county, Maine. This on or about the 2d day of April, 1862.

SPECIFICATION 1st-In this: that he, Col. John McCluskey, 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers, while on board the transport ship Great Republic, on the passage from Portland, Me., to Ship Island, Miss., did use threatening language and gestures towards Lieut. Col. Isaac Dyer, 15th Regiment Maine Volunteers. This on or about the night of April 2d, 1862.

HOSPITAL.

6. Issues to hospitals, except regimental, will be made by the Brigade Commissaries, on returns signed by the medical officer in charge, and by the immediate commander of the troops to which the hospital pertains. The returns will be for such provisions only as are actually required for the sick and the attendants.

7. Brigade Commissaries will make out separate Hospital Abstracts for each hospital pertaining to their respective brigades-articles not of the regular issue, and not authorized to be otherwise furnished-required by a medical officer in charge of a hospital for the subsistence or comfort of the sick, will be purchased by the Brigade or Regimental Commissary, provided the money required for the purchase does not exceed the amount due such hospital.

8. The Hospital Fund is a credit simply with the Government, to be drawn against from time to time as circumstances may make necessary, but always in the manner prescribed by, and for the objects contemplated in, the Army Regulations.

9. Money cannot be transferred by a commissary to a medical officer, as Hospital Fund, unless the War Department so directs.

10. Vouchers for purchases for the hospital must either be certified by the medical officer in charge, or accompanied by his requisition.

11. The general character of articles which may be purchased from Hospital Fund for the comfort of the sick, is indicated in paragraph 1306, Revised Army Regulations, 1861. Articles such as medicines, regular supplies of the Quartermaster's Department, etc., etc., must not be obtained from the Hospital Fund.

12.

SALES TO OFFICERS.

Officers are authorized to purchase subsistence stores, paying cash for them, at contract or cost prices, on their certificate that they are for their own use, and the use of their families. Rations will not be issued to officers for their servants, unless such servants are enlisted men, and are so reported on the officers' pay-roll.

SAVINGS OF THE RATION.

13. The Subsistence Department will purchase, at cost prices, all sound articles of subsistence saved by the troops or employees, by an economical use or managemeut of the rations. All other sales of provisions issued by the Government, to any person whomsoever, are strictly forbidden. This regulation is intended to embrace savings from bakeries, as well as all other savings from the army rations.

14. All such savings must be left in the hands of the issuing commissary. Payment for them will be made only to the commanders of companies, and officers