The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-05-16

missile is required to reach. We use here
from fifteen to twenty pounds Of powder at
each discharge, and the length Of the fuse
Is forty FIVE seconds. Watch bomb from
the tune IL leaves the mortar until it ex-
pio6es, aud is sooms astCnishingly long on
the passage. They are thrown at great
elevation, and describe the arc Of circle in
their course, tho extreme altitude of which |
is about equal to tho length OF the base. |
The practice was pronounced to be ex-
cellont Evory bomb plunged in and about
tho forts, marking tho place OF its fall by |
throwing up columns of gray earth, which
looked like fountains Of muddy water, or. it
exploding in the air, by tho splashes which
tho scattered fragments made as they
dropped into the river, or sank deep into
the oozy soil of its banks.
The engagement was kept up almost IN.
ceasiugly until Wednesday the 23d whom
Commodore Farragut took his feet past the
forts, although they had not surrendered.
The correspondent writes on that day:
PASSING THE FORTS.
| Al O'Clock in the morning the greater
part of Commodore Farrsgut's squadron,
consisting of five sloops of war aud nine
gunboats, successfully passed up tho river,
running through fearful fire, and arc now
above the forts TIE mortar fo.illa and
eight armed steamers are still below the
enemy, who is thus placed between two
fires, with his supplies from New Orleans
cut off, and rendering his surrender merely
a question of time. OF the damage that has
resulted to either side, l have at present
, little knowledge. From my position with
the mortar vessels can see the masts o
Il Tan ho
i yond the forts, and the flag OF the Uniou il
! flying from the top of every spar.
e As soon as the vessels got under headway
furious fire was thrown in the direction o.
the forts from the whole line of mortar yes
sells. which seemed to shake the very waters
aud at titnes | could count nine bombs a
, onco in their fight as they twinkled thro
the aIr, radiantly rs falling stars. The rebeli
seemed cOguizant of our coming, for th'
!, foremost Of tho feet had scarcely go
e abreast of the line of fro from the fort
r when signal rockets wero made from 81
d Philip, and shot began to fall rapidly upo
, them. For a time there was no reply; bu
= soon we could hear the noise of the broad
r sides, which sounded. in comparison to th
d bombs, like pack of Chinese fire cracker
AZ lot off together.
. The boats got past about P. NJ.
LETTER FROM CON. FARRAeUT.
Y Com. Farragut. after passing tho fort
IN wrote the following letter to Com. Porter I
n, the mortar feet. 1t was written when Il
20 Flag Officer was warm from the conflict, an
~ the words have the ring of true metal
70 them:
W DEAR PORTER: We had rough time
4. H4
or the nun Der of killed and wounded was vol
7, small, considering. This ship had tv
2. killed and eight wounded. We destroye
n. the ram in single combat between h
d. and the old Mississippi but the ram back,
out when she saw the Mississippi coming
him 30 rampan;ly, and he lodged her al
, ran on shore, whereupon Smith put two
au three broads;dos through him and knock
IN him all to pieces. The ram pushed a Fl
Is, raft on to me, and in trying TO avoid il
ic- ran tho ship on shore. He again push
se, the fire raft on me, and got the ship on
IN. all along one side. thought il was all
.is with us, but we put it out and got of aga
NC proceeding up the river, fighting our W
We have destroyed all but two of the q
vi boats, and these will have to surrender W
err the forts. / intend to follow up my 81
ast cess and push for New Orleans and th
ln- come down and attend to the forts, so J
ch hold thom in stdfm quo until come back.
, a think if you send "a flag of truce and
mand their surrender, they will yield,
their intercourse with the city is cut
so We have cut the wires above the Quarant
'ra and are now going ahead. l took 300
OF 400 prisoners at Quarantine. They 5
aw, rendered. and paroled them not to II
and up arms again. could not stop to t
rks care of them, If the General will come
: of to the bayou and land few meu, or
ON, many as he pleases. he will find two of
gunboats that are at the forts. wish
p. get to the English Turn where they say
'"' have not placed battery yet. but have
en- above, nearer New Orleans. They will
ing be idle and neither will l. You supper
srs, us most nobly. Very truly yours,
apa n q EARPAGIII