The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-23 00:00:00

THE !7SUN, LONDON, FRIDIY EVgNING,

our starboard both, another astern, a third on our
starboard beam; the 9-inch Dahlgren being turned
On this fellow, we fired at a range of 30 yards. The
effect was very destructive. She immediately steered
inshore, ran aground, and sank.
" The Parrot gun on the forecastle drove off one
On the bow, while we prepared to repel boarders,
do close was our remaining enemy. About this time
Eaggs and Lee came dashing in, and made a finish
Of the rebel boats-11 in all.
o In the gray of the morning we discovered a
rebelcamp
" W
flag flying. We opened with
canister
wirt received e4t ipe.me d the sword and flag of Colonel Szy-
manski
h h
and his command of five companies, arms,
and camp equipage. While engaged at this point
we observed the Vurana in conflict with a number
of gunboats. She had been butted by one of them
and sunk, but with her forward guns still above the
water, she was bravely maintaining the fight, driv-
ing off her enemies and saving her crew. In-
forming
Captain Lee of the Oneida, who had also
been engaged with the enemy, of the Vurana's
situation, he instantly steamed up and made a finish
of the rebel boats. The remainder of the fleet now
came up, the Mississippi, that had been de-
tained below, with the Manassas and another iron-
clad. After this everything passed under your
observation.
" The pleasant duty now remains of speaking of
the Cayuga and her brave officers and crew. From
first to last Lieutenant Commanding M. B. Harri-
son displayed a masterly ability in steering his
vessel past the forts under a hurricane of shot and
shell, and afterwards in manoeuvring and fighting
her among the gunboats.
" I cannot say too much for him. He was gal-
lantly sustained by Lieut. George H. Perkins and
Acting-Master Thomas H. Martin. These officers
have my unbounded admiration. I must, in con-
clusion, express the pleasure which I experienced
in witnessing the seamanlike manner in which all
fho 01,Z, --.. 1- TL
-O .1
sional captains will inform you of the particular
part borne by each ship.—Respectfully, your obe-
dient servant,
"J. BAILEY, Captain Commanding
Division of the Red.
" To Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, Commander-
in-Chief, &c., New Orleans."
The following are additional despatches respect-
ing the capture of New Orleans :
‘‘ THE PASSAGE OF THE VESSELS PAST THE FORTS.
" United States Steamer Harriet Lane,
Mississippi River, April 25.
" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that
Flag-officer Farragut, with the fleet, passed Forts
Jackson and St. Philip in the morning of the 24th,
and should be in New Orleans by this time, as he
can meet with no obstacles such as he has already
passed, the way being comparatively open before
him.

" We commenced the bombardment of Fort Jack-
son on the 18th, and continued it without intermis-
sion until the squadron made preparations to move.
The squadron was formed in three lines to pass the
forts. Captain Bailey's division, composed of the
following vessels, leading to the attack of Fort St.

Philip :—Cayuga, Pansacola, Mississippi, Oneida,
Vurana, Katanden, Kineo, Wisahiken ; Flag Officer
Farragut leading the following (second line)—Hart-
ford, Brooklyn, Richmond ; and Commander Bell
leading the third division, composed of the follow-
ing vessels—Sciota, Iroquois, Pinola, Winona,
Itasca, and Kennebec.

" The steamers belonging to the mortar flotilla,
one of them towing the Portsmouth, were to enfilade

the water battery commanding the approaches—
mortar steamers Harriet Lane, Westfield, OVVageo,
Clifton, and Marine, the Jackson towing the Ports-
mouth.

" The vessels were rather late in getting under
way and into line, and did not get fairly started
until 3.30 a.m., and the unusual bustle apprised the
garrison that something was going on.
" In an hour and ten minutes after the vessels had
weighed anchor they had passed the forts under a
most terrific fire, which they returned with interest.

The mortar fleet rained down shells on Fort Jackson
to try and keep the men from the guns, while the
steamers of the mortar fleet poured in shrapnel upon
the water battery commanding the approach, at a
short distance, keeping them comparatively quiet.
" When the last vessel of ours could be seen among
the fire and smoke to pass the battery, signal was
made to the mortars to cease firing, and the flotilla
steamers were directed to retire from a contest that
would soon become unequal.
" It was now daylight, and the fleet having passed
along the forts, began to pay their attention to our
little squadron of steamers, the Portsmouth, which
was being towed up, and three of the gunboats
which failed to pass through.*:
" These latter became entangled in some wrecks
and chains placed in the river to obstruct, and which
were only partially removed.

" One of these vessels (the Winona) got through
as far as Fort St. Philip, but having all the guns
bearing on her she sensibly retired.

" The Itasca was fairly riddled, and had a shot
through her boiler,and theKennebec escaped unhurt.
"I am disposed to think that our squadron re-
ceived but little damage, considering the unequal
contest-142 guns on board ship opposed to 100 on
shore, placed in a most commanding position. For
20 minutes after the ships passed, the forts fired very
feebly on the vessels that remained outside—so
much so that the Portsmouth was enabled to drop
with the current out of gunshot, though the shot
fell pretty freely about her at last. I think the fire
from the ships must have been very destructive of
life.

" The last we saw of our vessels they were stand-
ing the river. Some Explosion took place, which
made us feel rather uneasy, but which may have
been the rebel gunboats. We could see that our
squadron had not destroyed all the enemy's vessels
at the fort, for three or four of them were moving
about in all directions, evidently in a state of ex-
citement.

"Before the fleet got out of sight it was reported
to me that the celebrated ram Manassas was com-

lug out to attack us ; and sure enough there she was,
apparently steaming along shore, ready to pounce
upon the apparently defenceless mortar vessels.
Two of our steamers and some of the mortar vessels
opened fire on her ; but I soon discovered that the
Manassas could harm no one again, and I ordered
the vessels to save their shot. She was beginning to
emit smoke from her ports or holes, and was disco-
vered to be on fire and sinking. Her pipes were all
twisted and riddled with shot, and her hull wes also
well cut up. She had evidently been used up by
the squadron as they passed along.
" I tried to save her as a enringify hp
hawser round her and securing her to the bank; but
just after doing so sho faintly exploded, Her only
gnu went off, and,. emitting flames through her
bow port, like some huge animal, she gave a plunge
and disappeared under the water.
" Next came a steamer on fire, which appeared to
be a vessel of war belonging to the rebels, and after
her two others, all burning, and floating down the
stream. Fires seemed to be raging all along the 'up
river,' and we suppose that our squadron were burn-
ing and destroying the vessels as they passed along.
It appears, however, that the M'Rae, one or two
river boats, and their celebrated floating battery
(brought down the night before) were left unhurt,
and were still flying the Confederate flag.
" The matter of the floating battery becomes a very
serious affair, as they are all hard at work at Fort
Jackson mounting heavy rifled guns on it, which
are of no further use to them in the fort. She
mounts 16 guns, is almost as formidable a vessel as
the Merrimac, perfectly shotproof, and has four
powerful engines in her. I shall, at all events, take
such steps as will prevent her from destroying any-
thing, and we may still hold her in cheek with the
steamers, though they are rather fragile for such a
service.' This is one of the ill effects of having an
enemy in the rear. I suppose the ships fired on her
as they passed through, but that her mail resisted
the shot. She had steam on this morning and was
moving about quite lively. I tried to put some
mortar shell through her roof, but without effect,
as
.68'111'ehenifoorytesd o
are now
now eat eft frorn all communication
with New Orleans, as I presume
Farragut has cut thewireo that Flag-officer
have sent, the Miami
round with General Butler to the back of Fort St.

Philip, to try and throw in troops at the quarantine
five miles above the forts, and at the same time open
communication that way with the Flag-officer, and
supply him with ammunition. lam also going to
send part of the mortar fleet to the back of Fort
Jackson, to cut off the escape of the garrison by
that way and stop supplies. A deserter, who can be
relied on, informs us that they have plenty of pro-
visions for two months, plenty of ammunition, and
plenty of discomforts. Our shell set the citadel on
fire the first afternoon we opened. It burnt fiercely
for seven hours, but I thought it a fire raft behind
the fort, as they continually sent them down on us,
but without any effect.
" But few casualties occurred to vessels on this
side the forts. The Harriet Lane lost but ono man
killed, and ono I fear mortally wounded. The
Winona lost three killed and three wounded, and
the Itasca, with 14 shot through her, had but few
men hurt.

" These forts can still hold out for some time, and
I would suggest that the Monitor and Mystic, if
they can be spared, be sent here without u moment's
delay, to settle the question.

" The mortar fleet have been very much exposed,
and under a heavy fire for six days, during which
time they kept the shells going without intermis-
sion. One of them, the Maria I. Carlton, was sunk
by a shot passing down through her magazine and
then through the bottom. The flotilla lost but one
man killed and six wounded. The bearing of the
officers and men was worthy of the highest praise.
They never once flagged during a period of six
days, never had an accident to one of the vessels by
firing, and, when shell and shot were flying thick
above them, showed not the least desire to have the
vessels moved to a place of safety. The incidents
of the bombardment will be mentioned in my de-
tailed report.

" I merely write this hurried letter to apprise the
Department of the state of affairs, and shall send
it off at once via Havannah.

it TL - va.a. 4,4•55.11, ULLIMIi WLW ttwluily
grand. The river was lighted up with rafts filled
with pine knots, and the ships seemed to be fight-
ing literally amid flames and smoke. Where we
were the fire of the enemy was high, and compara-
tively harmless.

"I am in hopes that the ships above fared as well
as we did, though amid such a terrific fire. It was
gratifying to see that not a ship wavered, but stood
steady on her course; and I am in hopes (and I see
no reason to doubt it) that they now have posses-
sion of New Orleans.

"I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
" DAVID D. PORTER, Commanding Flotilla.
" Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary to the Navy."

" To THE HON. G. WELLES, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
" United States' gunboats Cayuga, at Sea,
May 7, 1862.
"Sir,—Having found it impossible to get the
Colorado over the bars of the Mississippi, I sent up
a large portion of her guns and crew, filling up de-
ficiency of both in the different vessels, and with
my aid Acting Midshipman Higginson, steward,
and boat's crew, followed up myself, hoisting by
authority of the Flsg-officer my red distinguishing
flag as second in command, first on the Oneida,
Commander Lee, and afterwards on the Cayuga.
" That brave, resolute, and indefatigable officer,
Commander D. D. Porter, was at work with his
mortar fleet, throwing shell at and into Fort Jack-
son, while General Butler, with a division of his
army in transports, was waiting a favourable
moment to land. After the mortar feet had been
playing upon the forts for six days and nights
without perceptibly diminishing their fire, and one
or two changes of programme, Flag-officer Farragut
formed the ships into two columns' line ahead,' the
column of the Red under my orders being formed
on the right, and consisting of the Cayuga, Lieu-
tenant Commanding Harrison, bearing my flag and
leading; the Pensacola, Captain Morris; the
Mississippi, Commander Smith; Oneida, Comman-
der Y. P. Lee ; Verona, Commander C. L. Boggs ;
Katandin, Lieutenant Commanding Prebble; Kneo-
dout, Lieutenant Commanding Ransom ; and the
Wissahickon, Lieutenant Commanding A. Smith.
"The column of the Blue was formed on the left
and up the river, and consisted of the flag-ship
Norfolk, Commander A. Wainwright, and bearing
the flag of Commander-in-Chief Farragut; the
Brooklyn, Captain T. T. Craven; the Richmond,
Commander Alden; the Scioto, bearing the
divisional flag of the fleet, Captain H. H. Bell, fol
lowed by the Iroluois, Itasca, Winona, and Ken
nebec.

'At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 24th the
signal to advance was thrown out from the flagship.
The Cayuga immediately weighed anchor and led
on the column. We were discovered at the boom,
and a little beyond both forts opened their fires,
When close up with St. Philip we opened with
grape and canister, still steering on. After passing
their line of fire, we encountered the Montgomery
flotilla, consisting of 18 gunboats, including the
ram Manassas, and iron battery Louisiana, of 20
guns.
"This was a moment of anxiety, as no supporting
ship was in sight. By skilful steering, however, we
avoided their attempts to butt and board, and had
succeeded in forcing the surrender of three, when
the Verona, Captain Boggs, and Oneida, Captain
Lee, were discovered near at hand. The gallant
exploits of these ships will be made known by
their commanders. At early dawn we discovered
a rebel camp on the right bank of the river.
Ordering Lieutenant Commander N. P. Harrison
to anchor close along, I hailed and ordered the
colonel to pile up his arms on the river bank and
come on board. This proved to be the Chalmetto
Regiment, commanded by Colonel I. Zeymauski.
The regimental flag, tents, and camp equipage were
captured.
" On the morning cf the 25th, still leading, and
considerably ahead of the line, the Chalmetto bat-
teries, situated three miles below the city, opened a
cross fire on the Cayuga. To this we responded
with our two guns. At the end of 20 minutes the
flag-ship ranged up ahead and silenced tke enemy's
guns. From this point no other obstacles were en-
countered except burning stores, cotton ships, fire
rafts, and the like. Immediately after anchoring
in front of the city I was ordered on shore by the
Flag-officer to demand the surrender of the city,
and that the flag should be hoisted on the Post-office,
Custom-house, and Mint. What passed at this
interview will be better stated in the Flag-officer's
report. On the 26th I went with the Flag officer
some seven miles above the city, where we found
the defences abandoned, the guns spiked, and gun-
carriages burning. These defences were erected to
or ChAytaiu Foote.
On the 27th a large boom situate above the defences
was destroyed by Captain I. Phillips Leo. On the
28th General Butler landed above Fort St. Philip
under the guns of the Mississippi and the Kineo.
This landing of the army above, together with the
passage of the fleet, appears to have put the finish-
ing touch to the demoralisation of their garrison,
surrendered to Commander Potter, who was near at
300 having mutinied in Fort Jackson. Both forts
hand with the vessels of his flotilla.
"As I left the river General Butler had garrisoned
forts Jackson and St. Philip, and his transports,
with troops
New Orleans.
on board, were on their way to occupy
" I cannot too strongly express my admiration of
the cool and able management of all the vessels of
my line by their respective captains.
"After we had passed the forts it was a contest
between iron hearts in wooden vessels and iron-clad
with iron beaks, and the iron hearts' won.
"On the 29th the Cayuga, Lieut.-Commanding
Harrison, was selected to bring me home a bearer
of despatches to the Government.—l have the
honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient ser-
vant, THEODOIIIJS BAILEY, Captain."
The
gunboat M'Clellan was announced to leave
New York on the 10th inst., with a mail for New
Orleans, and a mail would b© despatched for that
city twice a week. Letters and papers would be
received at the Post•offiee at the usual rates of

postage.
The New Fork :c inies of the 9th says:—
" Secretary Seward has addressed a circular to
the representatives of the foreign Powers at Wash-
ington, which throws the proudest bulletin of vic-
tory into the 4liule, for it is itself the crown and