Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-05-22
The Battle Below New Orleans.
OFFICIAL. REPORT OF CON. PORTER.
UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE,
MisStsc;pp; pfvnr pr;i D, rSpn

UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE.
Mississippi River, April 25, 1862.
Sir II have the honor to inform
you that Flag Officer Farragut, will
the feet, passed Forts Jackson and
st. Philip on the morning of the Gath
and should be in New Orleans by this
time, as he can meet with no obstacles
such as he has already passed, the
way being comparatively open before
him.
We commenced the bombardmcni
Of Fort Jackson on the 18th, and con
tinucd it without intcrmission until
the squadron made preparations tc
move. .. .0....
The squadron was formed in three
lines to pass the forts, Captain Bailey's
division. composed of following YES
sells. leading to the attack of Fort St
Phillip; Cayuga, Pensacola, Mississip.
pi, Oneida, Varuna, Katardin, Kinco
Wissahickon. Flag Officer Farragut
leading the following (sccond line)
Hartford, Brooklyn, Richmond and
Commander Bell, leading the third di.
vision, composed of the following YES.
sells 4: Sciota, lrroquois, Pinola, Vino
ma, ltasca, and kennebec.
The steamers belonging to the NOR
tar flotilla, one of them towing the
Portsmouth, were to cnfiladc the wa
ter battery commanding the approach,
es. Mortar steamers Harriet Lane,
Westlicld, ,Owasco, Clifton, and Marine
the Jackson towing the Portsmouth
The vessels were rather late in get,
ting under way and into line, and did
not get fairly started until $3.50 \. NJ.
and the unusual hustle apprized the
war garrison Of something going on.
In an honr and ten minutes after the
vessels had weighed anchor they had
passed the forts under a most terrific
fire which they returned with interest
The mortar fleet rained down shells
on Fort Jackson to try and keep the
men from the guns, whilst the steam.
ers of the mortar fleet poured in shrap-
nell upon the water batteries com,
mahding the approach, at a short dis
tance, keeping them comparatively
quiet.
When the last vessel of ours could
DC seen among the fire and smoke to
pass the battery, signal was made to
the mortars to cease firing, aud the
tlotilla steamers were directed to re
tire from contest that would soor
become unequal.
1t was now daylight. and the flee
having passed along, the forts begar
to pay their attentions to our littl,
squadron of steamers, the Portsmouth
which was being towed up and thre,
of the gunboats which failed to pas:
through. These latter became cntang
led in some wrecks and chains placeC
in the river to obstruct, and whicl
were only partially removed. One o
these vessels (the Winona) got through
as far as Fort ST. Philips, but having
all the guns bearing on her she sensi
bly, retired. The ltasca was fairly
riddlcd, and shot through her boiler
and the Kenncbcck escaped unhurt.
am disposed to think that our
squadron received but little damage
considering the unequal contcst-on,
hundred and forty-two guns on boar'
ship opposed to one hundred on shore
placed in most commanding posi-
ton. For twenty minutes after tn
ships passed, the forts fred very fec
bly, on the vessels that remaine'
outside so much so, that that tn
Portsmouth was enabled to drop wit
the current out of gun-shot though tn,
shot fell pretty freely about her at last
| think the fire from the ships mus
have been very destructive of life.
The last we saw Of our vessels the
were standing up the river. Some e,
plosion took place, which made us fee
rather uneasy, but which may hav
been the rebel gunboats. We coul
see that our squadron had not d.
stroyed all the enemy's vessels at tn
fort !; for three or four of them wer
moving about in all directions, ev
dently in state or excitement.
Before the fleet got out of sight
. was reported to me that the celebr;
ted ram Manassas was coming out
attack us and sure enough there 81
, was, apparently steaming along shor
. ready TO pounce upon the apparent
| defenceless mortar vessels. Two
4 our steamers and some of the mort;
t vessels opened fire on her but | SOC
: discovered that the Manassas cou
i harm no one again, and ordered Il
I vessels to save their shot She WI
c beginning to emit smoke from herp