Georgia formed a part of the district under the command of General Johnston. As soon, therefore, as the news of the surrender could reach that state, hostilities there ceased. On May 3, Governor Brown issued a summons for a meeting of the state legislature to take place on May 22, in order that measures might be taken "to prevent anarchy, restore and preserve order, and save what [could be saved] of liberty and civilization."[2] At a time of general consternation, when military operations had displaced local government and closed the courts in many places, when the whole population was in want[3] through the devastation of the war or through the collapse of the Confederate currency which followed the collapse of the Confederate army,[4] the need of such measures was apparent. The calling of the legislature incurred the disapproval of the federal authorities for two reasons. First, they regarded it as an attempt to prepare for further hostilities, and they accordingly arrested Brown, carried him to Washington, and put him in prison.[5] Second, in any case, as the disavowal of the convention of April 18 had shown, they did not intend to allow the state governments of the South to resume their regular activities at once, and accordingly the commander of the Department of the South issued orders on May 15, declaring void the proclamation of Joseph E. Brown, "styling himself Governor of Georgia," and forbidding obedience thereto.[6] The federal army now took control of the entire state government. Detachments were stationed in all the principal towns and county seats, and the commanders sometimes removed the civil officers and appointed others, sometimes allowed them to remain, subject to their direction. Military orders were issued regarding a wide range of civil affairs, such as school administration, sanitary provisions, the regulation of trade, the fixing of prices at which commodities should be sold, etc.[7] The provost marshal's courts were further useful, to some extent, as substitutes for the state courts, whose operations were largely interrupted.[8] Directions to the officers of the Department admonished them that "the military authority should sustain, not assume the functions of, civil authority," except when the latter course was necessary to preserve the peace.[9] This admonition from headquarters, issued after the President's plan for reinstating Georgia in the Union had been put into operation, reflects his desire for a quick restoration of normal government.