Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-05-14
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
victory Crowns Our Glorious Flag Everywhere
THE TAKING OF NEW ORLEANS.
Official DISPATCHES.

u nave tne nonor 10 inform you tnat lag
Officer Farragut, with the feet, passed Fort
Jackson and Fort Philip on the morning OF the
24th. We commenced the bombardment OF
Fort jackson on the 18TH and continued 1t
without intermission until the squadron made
preparations to move. The vessels were rath-
er late in getting under way, and into line,
and did not get fairly started until $50 a. M !;
the unusual hustle appIised 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 most terrific
fire, which they returned with interest. The
mortar feet rained down shells on Fort Jack
son to try and keep the men from the guns.
whilst the steamers of the mortar feet poured
in sharpnel upon the water battery commanding
the approach, at 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
fotilla steamers were directed to retire from
contest that would become unequal. 1t 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. aud three OF the
gunboats which failed to pass through. These
latter became entangled in some wreck 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 It.
asca was fairly riddled, and had shot through
her boiler, and the Kennebec escaped unhurt
1 am disposed to think that our squadron re-
ceived but little damage, considering the I'M
equal contest-one hundred and forty-two
guns On board ship opposed to hundred
on shore, placed in most commanding DO
sition. For twenty minutes after the ships
passed the forts fired very feebly on the ves-
sells 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. l think the
fire from the ships must have been very de-
structive of life. Before the feet got out of
sight it was reported to me that the celebrat-
ed ram Manassas was coming out to attack us
and sure enough there she was, apparently
steaming along shore, ready to pounce on the
apparently defenceless mortar vessels Two
OF our. steamers and some Of the mortar yes
sells opened fire on her; but I soon discovered
that the Manassas could harm no one again,
and l ordered the vessels to save their shot,
She was beginning to emit smoke from her
ports or holes, and was discovered to be on fire
and sinking. Her pipes were all twisted and
rddled with shot, and her hull was also well
cut up. She had evidently been used up by
the squadron as they passed along. l tried to
save her as curiosity, by getting hauser
around her and securing her to the bank, but
just after doing so she family exploded. Her
only gun went off, and emetting flames through
her bow port. like some huge animal, she gave
plunge and disappeared under the water.
The forts are now cut off from all communica-
tion with New Orleans, and l presume that
Fag Officer Farragut has cut the wires. The
mortar fleet have been very much exposed,
and under heavy fire for six days, during
which time they kept the she'll going without
intermissioD. One of them, the Maria Gail
ton, was sunk by shot passing down through
her bottom.
The 1otilla lost but one man killed and six
wounded. The bearing of the officers and
men was worthy of the highest praise. They
never once tagged during period of six days;
never had an accident to one of the vessels by
firing. and when she'll and shot were flying
thick above them showed not the least desire
to have the vessels move to a place of safety
The sight of the night attack was awfully
grand. The river was lit up with RATS filled
with pine knots, and the ships seemed to be
fighting literally amidst flames and smoke.
Where we were the fire of the enemy was high
and comparatively harmless.
Com. Farragut, in dispatch to Com. Por-
ter says DEAR PORTER: We had rough
time of it as Boggs will tell you, but thank
God, the number of killed and wounded was
very small, considering. This ship had two
killed and eight wounded, We destroyed the
ram in single combat between her and the
old Mississippi, but the ram backed out when
she saw the Mississippi coming at him so ram
PANTY, and he lodged her and ran on shore
whereupon Smith put two or three bro adsides
through him and Knocked him all 10 pieces.
The ram pushed fire raft on to me, and in
trying to avoid it | ran on shore. He again
pushed the fire raft on me, and got the ship
on fire all along one side. | thought it was
all up with us, but we put it out and got of
again, proceeding up the river, fighting our
way. We have destroyed all but two of the
gunboats, and these Will have to surrender
with the forts. | intend to follow up my sue
cess and push for New Orleans and then come
down and attend to the Iorts; so you hold
them in statU quo until | come back. ] think
if you send flag of truce and demand their
surrender they will yield, for their intercourse
with the city is cut off. We have cut the
wires above the Quarantine and are now going
ahead. l took three to four hundred prison
ers at the Quarantine. They surrendered and
paroled them not to take up arms again. could
not stop to take care of them. 1t the Gener-
al will come up to the bayou and land few
men, or as many as he pleases, he will find
two of our gunboats there to protect him from
the gunboats that are at the forts. | wish to
get TO the English Turn, where they say they
have not placed a battery, yet, but have two
above, near New Orleans. They will not be
idle and neither will l. You supported us
most nobly.
A correspondent says, this dispatch was
brought to Capt. Porter by Capt. Boggs of the
Veruna, whose vessel was sunk in the action
Capt. .Boggs states thai, before theVeruna sunk,
she alone destroyed six of the rebel steamers
AS he passed the forts Capt. Boggs, as we'll as
all the other vessels, received their fire. The
Richmond, and one or two more OF the large
steam sloops slowed down and poured three or
four brOadSideS each iufO fhe epemy ba
Faruna did not wait after delivering two
broadsdes, but pressed directly on into a hor-