▁of ▁the ▁coast ▁of ▁the ▁G ulf ▁of ▁Mexico ▁west ▁of ▁P ens ac ola ▁har bor , ▁and ▁so ▁much ▁of ▁the ▁G ulf ▁States ▁as ▁may ▁be ▁occupied ▁by ▁the ▁forces ▁under ▁Major ▁General ▁B . F . ▁Butler ." ▁On ▁March ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 , ▁Butler ▁activ ated ▁his ▁command ▁at ▁Sh ip ▁Island , ▁Mississippi ▁by ▁issu ing ▁General ▁Or ders ▁No . ▁ 1 ▁( Dep art ment ▁of ▁the ▁G ulf ) ▁assuming ▁his ▁new ▁command . ▁ ▁Activ ities ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ' s ▁West ▁G ulf ▁Block ading ▁Squadron ▁captured ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁Louisiana ▁on ▁April ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 , ▁Butler ▁moved ▁his ▁headquarters ▁to ▁New ▁Orleans ▁on ▁ 1 ▁May . ▁The ▁department , ▁sometimes ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁the ▁Army ▁of ▁the ▁G ulf , ▁became ▁a ▁union ▁occup ying ▁force ▁in ▁the ▁region . ▁ ▁Command ers ▁Major ▁General ▁B . ▁F . ▁Butler , ▁March ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 ▁– ▁December ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 ▁Major ▁General ▁N . ▁P . ▁B anks , ▁December ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 ▁– ▁September ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 8 6 4 ▁Major ▁General ▁S . ▁G . ▁H url but , ▁September ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 8 6 4 ▁– ▁to ▁April ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 ▁Major ▁General ▁N