The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-16

an account OF the reduction OF the forts be-
low New Orleans, aid the passage of Com
Farragut up the river, bringing events down
to April %. The bombardmert of the forts
continued for week, day and night On
Friday, the 25th, the fire of the forts was so
much slackened as to allow of the passage up
the river of a number of Com Farragut's
vessels, including frigates and gunboats,
which succeeded, after some desperate fight
ing with the rebel gunboats, in clearing the
river to New Orleans-sinking and other
wise destroying eleven of the enemy's ves-
sells, and demolishing the famous ram Man
nassas, which was completely rildled by
broadsldes from the steamer Mississippi
The gunboat Verona was especially active in
these operations, disposing of five of the reb-
Ell vessels slnele-handeG. She had desper-
ate encounter with the rebel gunboat Web
ster, which she succeeded in sinking; but
was so much disabled herself that she also
went down, her last guns being fired with
her decks below water. After Com Farra-
gut had passed the forts and succeeded in
clearing the river, he sent dispatch to Com
Porter below, announcing his success, and.
that he had captured at the quarantine
grounds four hundred rebels, whom he had
released on parole not being able to take
care of them. The rebel forts, though cut
OFT entirely from communication with the city,
refused at first to surrender uncondition-
ally, but subsequently concluded to do so.
1he Times correspondent wrote on the
23d :-"To-day-the 23d of April-will
henceforth be remembere red as the date of one
of the most desperate of naval battles. At
3 O'Clock in the morning the greater part of
Commodore Farragut's squadron, consisting
of five sloops-of-war and nine gunboats, sue
cessfully passed up the river, running
through fearful fire, and are now above the
forts. The mortar tiotilla and eight armed
steamers are still below the enemy, who is
thus placed between two fires, with his sup
plies from New Orleans cut off, and render
ing his surrender merely question of time
The burning hulls of three rebel steamers
have passed by US down the river, and that
famous bug bear, the ram Manassas, is de-
stroyed. saw it sinking, burning wreck,
It's two smoke-stacks tottering, its cylindrical
sides pierced with yawning holes made bv
rli'ed shot. There is no doubt that Commo-
dore Farragut, with large squadron, is now
at New Orleans Read the following letter,
a copy of which | was permitted to make
1t was written when the flag officer was
warm from the conflict and the words have
the ring of true metal in them -
Dear Porter We had rough time of it,
as Boggs will tell you, but, thank God the
number of killed and wounded was very
small, considering. This ship had two kill
ed and eight wounded. We DESTROYED the
ram in single combat between her and the
Old Mississippi, but the ram backed out when
he saw the Mississippi coming at him so ram
PANTY, and he lodged her and ran on Shore
whereupoh Smith put two or three broad
sides through him and knocked him all to
pieces. The ram pushed fire raft on to me-
and in trying to avoid it ran the ship on
shore. lie again pushed the fire raft on me,
and got the ship on fire all along one side
thought it was all up with US, but we put
il out and got off again, proceeding up the
river, lighting our way. We have destroy
ed all bat two Of the gunboats. and these
will have to surrender with the forts. | in
tend to follow up my success and push for
tend to the forts, so you hold them in staiu
qno until | come back. think if YOU send
a flag of tr ice and demand their surrender
they will yield, for their intercourse with the
city is cut off. We have cut the wires above
the quarantine and are now again ahead l
took 300 or 400 prisoners at quarantine
They sun rendered and paroled them not to
take mp arms again. | could not stop to
take care of them. If the General will come
up to the bayou ard land few men or as
many as he pleases, he will find two of our
gunboats there to protect him from the gun
l,"at> that are at the forts. wish to get to
the English Turn where they say they have
not placed battery yet. but have two above
nearer New Orleans. They will not be idle
and neither will |. You supported us most
nobly. Very truly yours, d. G. FARRAGUT."