Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-05-16
War News.
rnE sEloE OF s.w onLrANs.


had reporter. a, New Orleans. Prom the
letter Of the former. We condeuss tho fol.
lowing facts relating to the bombardment Of
New Orleans:
Tho mortar Heet, each vessel disguised
with a coat Of mud paint. commenced to
move up the river On tho 18th ult. The
rsndrrvous was about nine miles below Fort
Jackson. The war vessels followed during
the Two succeeding days. Tbs latter had
their sides protected by huge cables. fa''eo-
ID. and some Of the sunboa,s u''d bale' OF
hay to keep "a tho rebel shots. The enei.
neers had cpmpleted the necessary surveys
10 obtain the distances and range, % that
FIRE was opened on the 18Th. the mortar ases
getting into operation on the 10th.
II MAS found un rcconnoi'ancc that the
famou. barrier Of the river consisted Of seven
hulk.. anchored across the river. and stout.
iy connected by large cables. one with the
other. An unsuccessful effort Vas made IA
blow up these vessels. but they wsre finally
removed by one Of orr sunboa,s, which cue
cceded IN unia',ening the cable.
Each night huge Ere rats came down.
loaded with pitch. inrpen'ine. and light
wood. A FIRE detachment WAS Organized.
which succeeded in protecting oil the vessels
frnm dAma,, from thi. cause
The hon barjnent continued sir days and
6se nights the men, az relieved. dropped
down on the deck. and 'lep, 'jandiy IN the
mid., OF the din and r.
April 81. the barrier 10 the river being
removed. Com. Yirsgut determined To run
the blockade of the fort. and the heet. CON
.i.tinc Of - vessels. STARTED for New Orleans.
The forts lighted their IRE .hip. and com
mepcci q ,remeniou. Gre. but our vessels
bore nobly on. only three Of the gunboa's
being injured 80 az to male IL n~ce.-ary to
ia!l back. The varuna. Captain Boss'.
took the lead, and pu'ting on all steam, VAS
sOon In the midst Of ol the rebel feet HIS
guns were handled With kill aud eaee,
They came upon brr With ,hr"c iron pro~s.
.,avrng holes in her .ide.. which -oon filled
her with water. but before sinking che bad
cent 10 the bottom six 81 the rebel sunhoa,'.
Her last gun. were fired alter the dechs
wers under water. Other boats coming up.
run on shore and destroyed five morr. msk'
ins eleven gunboa,. destroyed 10y our force.
The famous ram Manassas ws .onk by the
Mississippi,
Cen Bail,r. with fvc thousand Of his
troops. not including ant Maine men, pass
ed up the river immediately. and rreIareJ
20 attack For, ST Phillip 10 the rear.
+ Alter taking possession Of New Orleans,
the commander ~ Fort jackson sent a pro-
po..l OF surrender 10 Com. farasut, and
article. Of eap,,uh,ion were at once signed.
Il Is subsequently, reported that the men in
fort. after learning Of the surrender OF New
Orleans. ,urh,d the gun. Of the fort on the
oGcer.. compelling them to take this step.
4 later despatch informs u' tina, New
Orleans. forts jackson. ST. Phillip. Pike
and Lr,,nston. with the ba,,erie. below the
city and IN the river a. far ~ Baton Rouge
were in our possession. The same r"pors
say. IL was understood there were no iuriher
imrcdimsnts bclo~ Memphis.
/ Our loo. ~as - killed and l.3 wounded.
The enemy To-, from 1000 to 1900. be'lie'
prisoners. They burnt very large amount
Of cotton. amounting 10 one or two millions
dollar, worth.
The Memphis Avalanche Of the 9Th has
advice, Iron New Orleans up to Saturday
A. NJ.
. Four gunboats and one tran.por, started
for Ba'on Rouge SATURDAY morning.
/ Sven federal regiments had been landed
q, New Orleans.
/ \ proclamation Of Gen Butler was hand
cd into oil the NEWSPAPER Office. and refused
publication. When the guard came to the
True Delta Office and were refused. they took
possession. cent Cor Northern printers, set II
up and worked IL OF in III. edition.