, 1862-05-13
Tbt Gtibt1tte.
THE OPERATIONS IN THEEULF
OFFICIAL REPORT Of FlAe-OFFlCER
PORTER.
HOW OUR VESSELS RAN THE BAT.
TERlE8,

HOW OUR VESSELS RAN THE BAT.
.TERIEs,
The Navy Department On the sth received
the following dispatch from Commodore Por-
ter, of the mortar feet. No dispatches came
from fag officer Far1agnt:
e. S. STEAMER HARRIET LANE, |
Mrse1ssIPPI RIVER, Friday, April Is, 1861. {
SIR: / have the honor to Inform Jon that
FORTS jackson and st. Phillip OF the morning
Of the 9Th, and should be In New Orleans by
this time, rs he can meet with no obstacles
such aa he has sa a1reaey gassfd, the way being
We commenced the bombardment Of Fort
Jackson on the 18th, and continued it with
out intcrmitsion until the squadron made
preparations to move. The squadron was
formed in three lines to pass the forts. Capt
vessels, leading to the stack Of Fort Ct. Phii-
ip: Cayuga, Pensacola, Mississippi, Oneida,
Verona, Kataden, Kinco and Wissihlcken.
Flag OdlcerEF EFarragut leading the following:
second Iine-Hartford, Brooklyn, Richmond;
ion, composed Of the following vessels:
Sciota, Toquois, Piaola, Wlnona, 1tasca and
Hennebec.
The steamers belonging to the mortar dotil-
Ia were to euflladc the Rater battery command
ag h9 on ana Ms1ae
the jackson towing the Portsmouth. The
vessels we're rather late in getting under
weigh and into line, and did not get fairly
started until $3.50 4. NJ, and the unusual bus
tie apprised the garrison that something was
going on. In an hour and ten minutes after
he vessels had weighed anchor they had
passed ths forts under most terrific tire,
which they returned with interest The NOR
tar fleet ra1ued downed shells on Fort Jackson
to try and keep the men from the guns, while
the steamers OF the mortar fleet poured in
shrapnel 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 WIS made to the
mortars to cease firing, and the Hotilla steam
ers were directed to retire from a contest that
would soon boone uneqcal. 4
It was now daylight aud the fleet having
passed along, the forts began to pay their at
tention to our little squadron Of steamers,
tho Portsmouth, which was being towed up,
and three Of the gpnboats which failed to pass
through. These latter became entang1ed
in come wrecks and chains placed in the river
to obstruct, and which were only par
tally removed. One Of these vessels, the
Winona, got through as far IS Fort st.
Philip, but having all the guns bearing
on her, she sensfbly retired. The Itasca
was fairly riddled and had shot through her
boiler, and the Kennebec escaped unhnrt.
am disposed to think that our squadron re-
eeiyed but little damage, considering the un-
equal contest, 142 guns on board ship opposed
to 100 On shore placed in most commanding
position. For twenty minutes after the ships
| sells that remained outside, SO much so that
| the Portsmouth was enabled to drop with the
| current out Of gun-shot, though the shot fell
pretty freely around her at last. think the
| fire from the ships must have been very de-
| stTuctiye of life.
The last we SAW Of our vessels they were
standing up the river. Some explosion took
| place. which made us feel rather uneasy, but
which may hayc been the rebel gunboats. We
could sec that our squadron had not destroyed
| all the encmy's vessels at the fort, for three
or four Of them were moving about in all di.
| rectione, evidently In state Of excitement.
Before the feet got out of sight it was re;
| ported to me that the celebrated ram Mauas
sas WAS coming out to attack us, and surt
enough there she ,was, apparently steauing
along shore ready to pounce upon the appar
emily defencelcss mortar vessels. Two Of on1
steamers and some OF the mortar vessclf
opened fire on her, but soon discovered that
the Manassas could harm no one again, aud
ordered the vessels to save their shot Sht
WAS beginning to emit smoke from her port
or holes, and was discovered to be on fire ant
sinking. Her pipes were al twisted and rid
died with shot, and her hull Yas also we'll Gu
up. She lad evidently been used up by Ii,
squadion as they passed along. tried It
Eaye her, as curiosity, by getting 4 hawse
around her and securing her to the bank
but just sitter deing SO she iaintly ex
P19Sded. Pie d,.o;tt;h her asniy only gun went of
port, like some huge animal, she gave
plunge and disappeared under the water
Next came steamer on fire, which appeare'
to be vessel Of war belonging to the rebels
and after her two others, all burning and float
ing down tho stream. Fires seemed to b
posed that our squadron were burning and de
stroyiEg the vessels as they passed along. /
appears, however, that the McRae, one OF tw
river boats, ard their celebrated iiosting bat
terry, brought down the night before, Wer
leftunhurt, and we're still flying the Confcder
ato flag.
The matter Of the floating battery become
very serious affair, as they are all hard 1,
work at Fort Jackson, mounting heavy fiic
guns on it, which arc ofno further use to thes
In the Fort. She mounts sixteen guns,
almost as formidable vessel as the Merrimat
perfectly afot-proof, and has four powerful er
giues in her. shall, at all events, take sue
steps as Will prevent her from DESTROYING AM
thing, and we may still hold her in check viii
the steamers, though they arc rather fragil
for such service. This is one ofthe i'll effect
Of leaving an enemy in the rear. suppos
that the ships fred on her a. they passe
through, but that her mail resisted the shol
She had steam on this morning, and Was moy
ing about quite 1iTely. tried to put som
mortar shell through her roof, but withou
effect, Us she moved on.
The torta are nov cut off from all commun
cation with NeT Orleans, az presume tha
Flag officer Farragut has c4t the wires
have sent the Riana around with Gen, Butle
to the back Of Fort ST. Philip, to try to thro,
IN troops at the Quarantine, five miles alon
tne iorts, and at the same time open comm
n1cation that way with Flag Officer Fa.1agu1
. md supply him with ammunition. lam ais
. going to send part Of the mortar fleet to th
back OF Fort jackson, to cut of the escape {
the garrison by that way and stop supplies.
| - deeerter who can be relied on informs q
months, plenty Of ammunition aud plenty {
discomforts. Our shell set the citadel on fr
the first afternoon wo ops ned. It blrne
hercely for seven hours, but thought it
IRE mt behind the fort, as they continual
send them down on u.s.
But lew casualties occurred to vessels O
this side Of the forts. The Harriet Lane los
but one man killed, and one, fear, nortall
wounded The NinouA lost three killed an
three wounded, and the 1tasca, With fouttee
shot through her, had but few men hur'
These forts can hold out still for some tIms
and would suggest that the Monitor and th
Myettc, IL they can be spared, be sent her
{ without moment's delay, to settle the uaes
| tion.
The mortar fleet have been very much ey
. posed and under a heavy fire for six dsTs
during which time they kept the shells goiu
WITHOUT tnterm1ssten. One OF them. tho Ms
Tia l. Carlton, Was sunk By shot passin
| down through her magazine and then thfour
her bottom. The fotiila lost but one ma
killed and six wounded.
The bearing Of the officers and men va
worthy Of the highest praise. They neve
once tagged. during period Of siq days. uey
I er had an accident to one Of the vessels h
firing, and when shell and shot were tlyin
thick above them, showed not the least dt
sire TO have the vessels moved to q place {
I safety, The incidents Of the boubsrdmer
| Tnl be mentioned In: ny detailed report.
merely Wrfte this hurried letter to appris
| the Department of the state Of affairs. an
shall seDd 1t of at once, via Havana
ii The sight Of this night attack Tas:agfn,l
I grand The rivez waa lit up with rats, lille
VITA pine Knots, and the ships seemed to b
aGhtlDg literally amidst smoke and, aame!
Where we were, the fire of the enemy Ya
high and comparatively harmless.
Lam IN hopes that the ahips aboyeffarad 8
veil a. we did. Though amid such = terria
nre, It vas gratifying to eees that not .shi
waSeted. but stood eteady on her cou1se; an
an IN hopes. ana see 20 reason to dout
It. thst they nov have Possession of New o
Leans.
Ladies',
The Nashville correspondent of thoi ..Cfnci,
nati Gus<te tells the following capital story