Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-13
THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS,
Graphic Report of Com. Porter

Graphic Report Of Com. Porter
4. 5. STEAMER HARRIEr LANE, Mississippi
River, April %, 1862. Sir: have the
honor to inform you that Flag Officer Far
ragut, with the fleet, passed Forts Jackson
and Phillip on the morning of the 2lth and
should he in New Orleans by this time, as
he can meet with no obstacles such as he
has already passed, the way being compara-
lively open before him.
We commenced the bombardment of Fort
jackson on the 18th, and continued il with
out iuterlnission until the squadron made
preparations to move. The squadron was
formed in three lines to pass the forts.
Capt. Bailey's division, composed of the
following vessels, leading to the attack of
Fort ST. Phillip; Cayuga, Pensacola. Mis-
sissippi Oneida, Verona, kPtasden, kinep
Wissahickon Flag Officer Farragut Lead
ing the following: Second line,) Hartford
Brooklyn, Richmond and Commander Bell
leading the third division, composed of the
following vessels: Sciota. lroquois Pinoa
Winona, ltasCa and kennebec.
The steamers belonging to the mortar
fotilla one of them towing the Portsmouth,
we're to eniade the water battery command
ing the approaches. Mortar steamers llar-
riet Lane, Westheld, Owasco, Clifton and
| Marine-the jackson towing the Ports
mouth
The vessels were rather late in getting
under weigh and into line, and did not get
fairly started until 3.3O Il. M, aud the un.-
usual hustle apprised the garrison that
something was going ON.
In an hour and ten minutes after the YES
sells had weighed anchor they had passed the
forts under 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, while the
steamers of the mortar fleet poured in
schrapnel upon the water battery command
ing the approach, at short distance, keep
ing them comparatively quiet
When the last vessel OF ours could be seel
among the fire and smoke to pass the hat
terry, signal was made to the mortar boats I,
cease firing, and the ilOtila steamers wer
directed TO retire from a contest that wOul
/ soon become unequal.
II was now daylight and the fleet havinl
} passed along, the forts began TO pay thei
attention TO onr little line of steamers, tn
Portsmouth which was being towed mp, an
three of the gunboats which failed TO pas
through.
Q These latter became entangled in som
wrecks and chains placed in the river TO oil
struct and which were only partially re
, moved.
one of these vessels (lhe Winona) "a
=. through as far as Fort 81. Phillip hut havn
q all the guns bearing on her she sensibly r,
tired
p The Itasca was fairly riddled, and had
shot through her boiler, and the kcnnebo
escaped unhurt.
! am disposed to think that our squadro
a received but little damage, considering th
unequal contest-l42 guns on board shi
. opposed 10 100 on shore, placed in Il mo.
commanding position. For twenty minut,
after the ships passed, the forts fired yer
a feebly on the vessels that remained outsid,
50 much so, that the Portsmouth was EN-
, bled 10 drop with the current out of gunshC
though the shot fell pretty ieebly about he
. at last. think the fire from the ships mus
r have been very destructive Of life
The last we saw of our vessels they wer
I standing up the river. Some explosion too
. place, which made us feel rather uneasy br
b.. which may have been the rebel gunboats.- -
We could see that our squadron had not d,
if strOyed all the enemys vessels at the fort
. for three or four of them were moving abor
: in all directions evidently in state of grea
d, excitement.
q Before the fleet got out of sight, il wa
reported to me that the celebrated ram
4 Manassas--was coming out 10 attack us, an
q sure enough, there she was apparent
= steaming along shore, ready to pOunce upo
a the apparently deienceless mortar vessel
n Two Of our steamers and some of the morris
o vessels opened fire on her; but / soon d
If covered that the Manassas could harm II
q one again, and ordered the vessels to sa,
h their Shot. She was beginning to en-
smoke from her ports, or holes, and was di
% covered to be on fire, and sinking. II,
II pipes were all twisted aud riddled and h,
4 hull was also well cut up She had eviden
If ly been used up by the squadron as the
= passed along.
v | tried to save her as Il curiosity, by ge
= ting hawser around her ard securing h,
D. to the bank, but just after doing so, 81
v iaintly exploded. Her only gun went o
# and emitting flames through her bow POI
like some huge animal, she gave IL plnnq
and disappeared under the water.
Next came steamer on fire, which n
peared to be vessel of war belonging
Y the rebels aud after her two others. a
burning and floating down the stream.
Fires seemed to be raging all along the Il
river" and we supposed that our squadro
were burning and destroying the vessels {
o they passed along. Ii appears, howeve
that the McRae, one or two river boats an
their celebrated floating battery tbrougl
down the night belore) were left unhurt, an
were still flying the Confederate flag.
The matter Of the floating battery becom,
a serious affair, as they are all hard at wol
y: at Fort Jackson mounting heavy riaed gui
g. on it, which are of no further use to them
is the Fort. She mounts lG guns; is amo
as formidable a vessel as the Merrmac pc
m iectly shot-prooi, and has -four powerful e
~ gines in her. l shall al all events take sue
steps us will prevent her from destroyt
ie anything, aud we may still hold her in cheC
lie with the steamers, though they are rath,
" fragile for such service. This is one of Il
i'll effects Of leaving an enemy in the rea
l. | suppose that the ships fred on her as til,
= passed through, but that her mail resisted Il
x shot. She had steam on this morning, aI
was moving about quite lively. ] tried
r. put some mortar shell through her roof, b
is without effect, as she moved of.
re The forts are now cut of from all comm
h nicaiion with New Orleans, as ! presun
that Flag Officer Farrngut has cut the wire
,e ! have sent the Miami around with Gener
Butler 10 the back of Fort st. Phillip,
try and throw in troops at the quarantin
o. FIVE miles along the forts, and at the san
time open communication that way with Il