The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-14

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forts and batteries on tbs Mississippi river from ~
forts nine miles above tho city. They show the roaa
taken by each division Of while passing the forts
and where General Butler boatsd his TROOPS through thu
bayous and canals Ia the OF Fort ST. Philip In TIA
map OF tho Chalmetts batteries below the city viii b
fourd the location Of the principal public buildings tn
navy yard at AIgiers and the place where the
Mississippi was built, and in fact, every pcRs Of in
tsrest In the approach TO the Crescent City.
The works and raft above New Orleans are also faith
fully delinsa.ed and viii give readers an accurate
brdssys view OF the ground which the vistoriou
feet have raisst the good old dag" The notess
reference will be found fun and comprehensive.
Evncuntton OF Fort Livingston.
SYNOPSIS OF THE REPORT or ACTING MASTER Z
W. PENNINGTON, COMMANDING UNITED sTArEs
SCHOONER HENsY JAMES, OF PORTER's AoRTA
FLEgr, Ero.
The Henry James appeared or Fort Livingston Apt
49, finding there tho United States schoonsrs kttatn
ny and Geo. w. Gingham. Ihs schooner Orvetta ast
up afterwards. Acting Master Pennington was IN
formed that tho rebels in the fort hoisted the secsss
dag every sunday and that day only. On the 25shs
nag Of truce discovered tho fort, and Acting Mas
ter Penning on proceeded thorco in his first cutter
ths shore few minutes in advance hosted the American
nag the ramparts of the fort Six men, four women
and Ave children nearly all o thom residents Of thu
bland, were present. From Of the women, whose
husband among the troops that had occupied the
fort, much information obtained. Sh, stated thA
the Tort in charge OF Colonel Thsouve and three hp
drsd and thirty soldiers In all. chiefly French an
Italians; that they poorly clad, with but little
eat. Fort Lisngsson is about eight mlos from
New Orleans by wtsr The Poo, which carried thu
troops from tho fort, was stu up tho bay, out O
reach Of the vessels. This steamer was partly owned
BY the planters the mainland part Of whom are
Union men also Of the people cn the oppost
SIDE The Temple small battery above Fort Lvinr,
ton. also evacuated, only two guns o. small size
having been left. At Fort Livingston there were found
elcvon 32pounders complete. three r. FOUNDER howit
zsrs, two A-pounders, oightinch cotumbdad, nsW
painted red 80 pound rned cannon, three spare
field carriages, 1000 80 pound shot, seventy conica
| sno!ls, and other articles Of uainor importance.
rha officers apartments wore comfortably furnished
with abundance Of furniture and large quantity 0 pc
per- which they left behind The fort IL in good order
and the ordnance &c. In good condition. II was left ID
charge Of Acting Master Harrison, United States Navy
whose boat the nrst " reach II. Colonel Thsouv6
anticipating attack from the vessels abandoned the
Tort and Get Are to it, and also fred brig loaded with
cotton ready TO attempt TO out One Of the hrst
Of Anglo Janata, whom Acting Master Pennington bad
previously KNOWN and who Of the number found
at the fort, 70 present him with eighty dollars N
Confederate notes. which he stated his six month";
| wages. ~
letter from Assistant Engineer Harris.
! OF the Varuna.
The following letter Is from Of the officers Of the
varuna whose noble was ended glorousy on ths
horA
UMrzD STATES STEAMER PENSACOLA, April 81, 1852.
| CgAR BROTHER-We hoisted anchor In limo Of bAttle
with the steamers Csyuga Pensacola, Oneida MISSISSIPPI
pi. Varuna, and three whose names do not remember
| belonging to the second divsion-ths second dviss1
taking tho east side OF tho river and the nrst Ito which
| the varuna belonged) the west side.
At two O'Clock A. NJ we proceeded quietly and care.
fully up the river, being the intention OF the Comno
dors " take the enemy by surprise possibe We wsrs
all at our posts--the decks cleared for action
We had net been underweigh more than twenty nh
hutes when the rebels opened fire upon Of . very
Their vol served, and would havs done credit
| 70 better calse
The ortars and gunboats opened ore on the forts .
draw their attention from attempted TO pass ~
tho river The fire Of the mortars was terrible. The
heavens we're full OF shot and shell tying in every d.
wo led the fleet in passing the rebel forts a. the sam:
time giving them smell OF sixty ght Founders.
ielt the need OF good commander. And We had one,
one Of tho hst - bravest that trod quarter
dsgk. c,aria osgs gave his orders In cool manner
|
| the tryrE which followed. We passed the forts
| only o. me fight had just commenced. We were
met BY seven rebel gunboats three Of which made for
| our gallant little ship. Our guns were well served the
men fought like tigers TO get OF this tight place. One
Of the ebel boats tried down. and did succeed
! In carrying away flagstaff. Our held on to the
end while the rebels having the other end tho nag was
torn In piecss but thank God, we had mere below just
| like II.
assure you things began 70 look dubious when the
other rebel boat came at But poured into hos
| such well directed FIRE that, while fire shs
went down with all ON board, only TO make room
| for another rebel boat. which, In disabled
condition, proved too much FOR NJ, ship
having sunk and driven ashore six vessels Of the
! enemy. This last vessel stryNk u about amid.
ships, We all tbs time pouring our shot and shell into
them and receiving share Of theirs Although IN dis
pbed condition. our guns too heavy for them they
ran their vessel shore and Ore Of thu
river boats tried TO board US, but driven on with
fearful loss Our good ship down WITH her dag 1y.
ing and the cheering The last gun wal ned as the
/ was covering b9r deck. Nothing was saved 6ny
/ what we had our backs. The wounded were taken
but the dead down with the ship on whose
decks they fell. .Ss~~
The officers and all unite In the oudest praise Of
gallant captain. He worthy 10 every respect
the recipient Of high honors aud have place In history
beside bis gallant uncle, Captain awroncs Don give
UP tho ship" Your aacctonats brother,
GEO. l.. HARRIS,
Assistant Engineer, late OF U. s. Steamer varunx
Sketches Of the Officers Of the New Orr
leans Fleet.