Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-29
rHEArracK on NEW oRLEANs.

THE ATTACK ON NEW ORLEANS.
Operations Of the Gulf Fleet-Entering the
Mississippi River-PsrteP's Msrtar Fleet
and Other Vessels Assigned for the Attack.
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Evening Postl
GvNRoAT CONNECTICUT, OFT SHIP ISLAND.
Sunday morning. April 10 After cruise Of
several We eks in the waters Of the Gulf, we are
agsin IN our way TO the Mechanically for
many OF Us who wish 10 stay to see the fun and
witness the DOWNFALL Of New Orleans. Probably
have flashed over the land the intelligence Of the
downfall OF the greatest rebel city. The great
Gulf fleet has already passed the bar OF the Mis-
sissippi, and Is now before Forts jackson and
Phillip, the grinning Cefberi which guard the
entrance to the Hades Of Secessia.
The feet il a splendid one, and during nv
cruise In the Connecticut ] have enjoyed ample
opportunities Of examining It. The flag ship
ragut.
After the Hartford came thssloops of war PEN
sacola, Richmond and Brooklyn, and the old YES
sci Mississippi-a verltaole old war sea horse
armed with heavier guns, borrowed from the Co.
dorado. These vessels constitute a most formida-
BILE arm Of assault. They are probably provided
with guns as no vessels were before; besides the
usual complement of twenty SIX guns, hotcitzsrs
the mast-Eds Besides these there are the
frog uois, Oneida, Verona, (of twelve guns,) MI
ami, and the sailing sloop-ofw Portsmouth,
which 10 towed by the Mississippi, who has ia
gunboas Wissahickon, Winona, 0waska ,ltasco,
Pinola, Kennebec, Sciota, Cayuga, Katahd n, and
another whose name at this minute l cannot re-
call.
Porter's Mortar feet is little Armada of It..
SELF The Spanish Armada, II remember Alright
consisted Of somewhere about one hundred and
thirty vessels, and Porter has less than twenty
one bomb schooners laden with death dealing
mortars-implements Of war. for one Of which
the leaders of the old Spanish would have bar.
tered any dozen OF their best vessels. These
mortar schooners would, however, be very much
Ike an umbrella without a handle. or how
without string, were II not for the three ferry
boats Clifton, Wesi6 ed and Jackson, which are
doing the state more service down here than ever
they did on the staten Island route. They tow
the sluggish schoOners about, acceleratng their
motion to a degree which quite amazes the heavy
laden craft, If they be sensible Of amazement
One of these ferry-bOats can tow two or three OF
the mortar vessels at once.
The mortar feet Is divided into three divis-
ions, known respectively as the Red, White and
Blue The Harriet Lane 10 Commodore Porter's
flagship.
Before I arrived in these waters the fleet had
begun the great work Of entering the Mississippi.
Those only familiar with the Hudson know little
OF the difficulties Of the task. The Mississippi
rver consents to leave Secessia for the Gulf only
with an ungrateful compromise, and in-the shape
OF huge deposit Of sand-the famous bar which
shipmasters shower % many impfecations on.
The feet entered the river by the Southwest Pass
There had been some intention Of trying to reach
NC" Oitcaus W way VI Like fOncndfHaln, Dut
the enemy became prematurely advised Of the
plan, and so 1t was abandoned and the Southwest
Pass essaved. The water was so shallow that the
larger vessels could not pass and the cannon, an
chors, and almost every movable article On board
the Hartford, Pensacola, Richmond and BROOKLYN
were transferred to light schooners The heavy
war vessels thus lighteDed sailed triumphantly
over tie bar and reshipped their armament hig her
up. The Colorado, being too heavy, was left out
side. The passing Of the bar occupied some three
weeks, the last vessel crossing only the day before
the Connecticut sailed from the mouth Of the
Passes
The frst vessels which passed the bar took DOS,
session Of the deserted village Of Pilot Town,
which In the flush days of Louisiana was a ia.
Orleans. The place was deserted and the spa
cious hotel was at enee occupied by our surgeons,
and fitted up az a hospital.
As the fleet lay In the river waiting for coal
the want Of which delayed the expedition some
tme-picket vessels were sent two miles ahead 10
notify US IL the rebels should send down burning
RATS, or other unpleasant messengers One day
the pickets reported rebel fleet OF seven vessels
coming down. few federal vessels gave chase
and the rebel steamers took to their heels. or
rather to their lpaddleI wheels Five were soon
out OF sight beyond the forts, and the other lust
escaped. The last however, was not so lucky
seeing our yessels gaining on them, the lage ard
was a good sized steamer.
II we take Forts Phillip and jackson there is
little to prevent our aeet from going directly up
to the city, as Fort Leon is of no account tlbe
rebels have stretched chain across the river lust
below the forts. 1t IL supported by four banks
laden with cotton to avoid destruction This
chain is nuisance; but we hope that we can ST.
Leisure,
I'M.