Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-05-09
Flag Officer western Gulf squadrol
THE REPLY.
MAYORS OFFICE, CRY OF NEw ORLEANS, !

Flag Officer D. G. FAnRAeur, U S. RAG Ship
Hartford:
Sir:-In pursuance of resolution which we
thought proper to take out of regard for the
lives of the women and children, who still crowd
the metropolis, Gen. Lowell has evacuated it
with his troops, and restored back to me the
administration ofits government and the Gus
tody of its power
have in council with the City Fathers con-
sidered the demand you made of me yesterday
of unconditional surrender of the city
coupled with a requisition TO hoist the flag of
the United States on the public edifces, and
haul down the flag that still floats upon the
breeze from the dome of this Hall. 1t Becomes
my duty to transmit to you answer which
the universal sentiment of my constituents, no
less than the prompting of my own heart, die
tates TO me on this sad and solemn occasion.--
The city is without the means OF defense and
is utterly destitute of the force and material
that might enable it to resist an overpowering
armament displayed in sight of it.
am no military man, and possess no author
ity beyond that of executing the municipal laws
of the City of New Orleaus, it would be pre-
sumptous in me TO attempt to lead an army to
the field, IL had one at command; and | know
still less how to surrender an undcfended place,
held as this is, at the mercy of your gunners,
and your mortars. To surrender such place
were an idle and unmeaning ceremony.
The city is yours by the power of brutal
force, not by my choice or the consent of its in
habitants. 1t is for you to determine what will
be the fate that awaits her. As to hoisting any
flag not of our own adoption and allegiance let
me say to you that the man lives not in our
midst whose hand and heart would not be par
alyzed at the mere thought of such an act. Nor
could find in my entire constituency so des-
perate and wretched a renegade as would dare
to profane with his hand the sacred emblem of
our aspirations.
Iau Al - L. Il
would become one engaged in better cause
than that to which you have devoted your
sword. doubt not but they spring from no.
BILE though deluded nature, and know how to
appreciate the emotion which inspired them
You have gallant people to admnistrate dur
ing your occupancy of this city-a people SEN
sitve to all that in the least affect their dig
nifty and self respect. Pray, Sir, do not fail to
regard their susceptibilities. The obligations
which shall assume in their name shall be
religiously complied with. You may trust
their honor though you may not count on their
snbmission TO unmerrited wrong.
In conclusion, beg you to understand that
the people of New Orleans, while unable to re-
sist your force; do not allow themselves TO be
insulted by the interference of such as have rem
dered themselves odious and contemplate by
their dastardly desertion of our cause in the
mighty struggle in which we are engaged, or
such might remind them too forcibly that they
are the conquered, and yours the conquerors. :
Peace and order may be preserved without re-
sort to measures which | coul d not at this mo-
ment prevent. Your occupying the city does
not transfer allegiance from the Government of
their choice to one which they have deliberate
ly repudiated, and that they yield the obedience
which the cOnqueror is entitled to extort from
the conquered. Respectfully,
JOHN F. MONROE, Mayor.
New YORK, May THE steamer
: lNnlurkia hoo .r;yod f.o,,, uo,,ono NJ. o
The gunboat Daniel Smith, arrived at
Havana on the 9oth, ut., from Ft jackson
26th. The attack on the rebel Forts com.
menced on the 18th. On the 23d, Com
modore FaTagut in the Hartford and thir-
teen steamers passed the Forts, and Gener-
al Butler landed 1000 men above.
The rebels lost Eleven gunboats, and the
Hollins turtle Manassas" Our forces
took four hundred prisoners. We lost $50
men, and our gunboat Verona was sunk.
On the oath, a flag Of truce was sent to
Commodore Porter, asking his conditions
for surrender, to which Porter replied, no
conditions.
Our flag now waves over the Custom
House.
An American war steamer reports cap
: turing three rebel steamers and sent them
TO Key West, aud chased another into Ba-
hia, Honduras.
Twenty mortars and three gunboats were
engaged against the forts, silencing them
after six days incessant firing. The chains
across the river were removed by our gun
boats. The rebels sent fire RATS down the
river, but tboy did little damage. One set
, fire to the Hartford, but she was extin-
guished.
The Verona and rebel steamer (iron
clad) Webster, had splendid engagement,
the Webster running into the Verona and
sinking her, bnt before going under the
Verona's crew poured in volley Of guns
so destructive and crushing that both the
Webster and Verona went down together.
Arrangements for the surrender were to be
made on tho 27th. The ram Manassas
was sunk by tho steamship Mississippi
Our forces sent email boat TO the Are RATS
and toWed them out Of the way before they
could do any harm. Rebel loss unknown