The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-05-16
Commodore Farre guts Official Report Of
the Capture Of New Orleans.
U. s. FLAG SHIP HARTFORD
OFF NEW ORLEANS. 2bth.

last few days you must not be surprised
II ! leave undone many things which
ought 10 6o--one Of which was 10 write 10
you on th. occasion Of my taking this city;
but thank God il has been done, and in
what conceive handsome style. had
two Union men on board, who bad been
forced into the Confederate service at Fort
jackson as laborers. They informed me
that there were two forts near the city,
and. as we approached the locality, |
tried 10 concentrate the vessels, but we
soon saw that we must take raking fire
for two miles, so we did not mince the
matter, but dashed directly ahead. They
permitted us to approach within mile
and quarter before they opened on US.
Capt. Bailey on the Cayuga, Lieut..
Commanding Harrison, was in advance,
and received the most Of the first FIRE, but
although the shooting was good, they did
not damage his little vessel. The Cay.
uga then fell back and the Hartford took
her place.
We had only two guns, which had
placed on the topgalant forecastle, that
could bear on them ill we got within half
a mile.
We then steered Off and gave them
such FIRE "as they never dreamed Of in
their philosophy" The Pensacola ran
up after while and took the starbosrd
battery off our hands, and in few min
utes the Brooklyn ranged up and took
chance at my friends on the left bank,
but they were silenced, | should say in
twenty minutes or half an hour, but can.
not take note Of time on such OCCASIONS
l only know that halt Of the vessels did
not get chance at them.
The river was too narrow for more
than two or three vessels to act to ad.
vantage, but all were so anxious chat my
greatest fear was that we should fire into
each other. and Capt. Wainright and my
self were hailooing ourselves hoarse at the
men not to fire into our ships.
This last affair is what / call one Of
the little elegancies Of the profession-s
dash and a victory but the passing of
the forts Jackson and St. Phillip was one
Of the most awful sights ever saw. The
smoke was 80 dense that it was only now
and then you could see anything but the
fash uf the guns and the fire-ships or
RATS, one OF which was pushed down upon
us the Harlford) by the ram Manassas,
and in my effort to avoid it ran the ship on
shore, and then the fire raft was pushed
alongside me, and in moment the ship
was one blaze all along the port side half
way up the main ana mizen tops, but, +,
thanks to the good organization OF the
Fire Department by Lieut.. Thornton, The
fllmes were ex inguished, and at the
same time we backed off and got clear OF
the raft. But all this time we were pour
ing shells into the forts and they into us,
and every now and then rebel steamer
would get under our fire and receive our
salutation OF broadside.
AT length the fire slackened. the smoke
cleared off, and we saw to our surprise
that we were above the forts, and here
and there rebel gunbost on fire. AS
we came up to them, trying to make
their escape, they were fred in'o and rio :.
de so that they ran them on shore, and
all who could made their escape on shore.
am told but do not know how truly,
that Gen. Lowell had been down that
evening to make an attack with twelve
gunboats. large ram Of eighteen guns,
and the Manassas.
The Manassas and the Mississippi made
set at each other at !ul speed, and when
they were within 80 or 40 yards the ram
lodged the Mississippi and ran on shore,
when the latter poured her broadside into
her, knocked away, her smoke stack and
then sent on board of her but she was de
serted and ridd!ed.
After a while she drifted down the
stream, full of water. She was the last OF
The eleven destroyed, but the larger ram
was still, at Fort Jackson, but they say
here that she was sent down before she
was ready, and tina. she will have 20 sur.
gender with the forts, which l hope will
be TO day or tomorrow. will give them
my attention as soon as can settle the
affairs Of the city.
demanded the surrender OF the city
yesterday. of the Mayor. through Capt.
Bailey, as the second in command. His
reply was, that the city was under martial
law and he would consult Lowell. His
lordship said he would surrender nothing,
but at the same time he would retire, and
leave ,he Mayor unembarassed.
This morning the Mayor sent his sec.
retary and chief of poiiece to see me. who
said that he would call the city council to.
gether at 10 o'clock and give me an an.
swer, and that the General had retired
and that he had resumed the duties of his
Office as Mayor. and would endeavor to
keep order in the city and prevent the
destruction OF property.
/ sent him a letter demanding the sur.
render OF the city. in conformity with the
demand made by me yesterday through
Captain Bailey.
This morning at 6 A. M. I sent to Cap
tain Morris. whose ship commanded The
Mint. 10 take possession OF it, and hois
the American flag on ii, which was done
and the people cheered il.
AT 10 O'Clock l sent on shore again
and ordered that Lieut.. Gortz Of the Navy
and Brown of the Marines, with Marine
guard, to hoist the flag on the Custom
House, but the excitement of the CROWD
was SO great that the Mayor and Council
men thought it would produce conf1ic
and great loss Of life. ......
\ AT II o'clock signal was made to th'
fleet ior divine service, under general or