Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-05-16
TO Flag Officer D. c. Farragut.
REPORT OF FLAG oFFIoER FARRAeUT
U. S. FLAG SHIP HARTFoRD,}
Orn Nm ON r..,.a OSth


Orr NEW ORLEANS 25th..
DRAR SfR:--In the excitement of the last few
days you must not be surprised If leave undone
many things which ought TO do-one of which
was 10 write to you on the occasion of my TAX
ing this city but thank God it has been done, and
IN what conceive handsome style. / had
two Union men on board who had been forced
iato the Confederate service at Fort Jackson as
laborors. They informed me that there were
two forts near the city, and, as we approached
the locality, tried to concentrate the vessels,
but we soon saw that we must take a -raking
fire for two miles, SO we did not miDce the mat
ter but dashed directly ahead. They permitted
US to approach within a mile and a quarter be-
fore they opened on us.
Capt. Bailey on the Cayuga, Lieut. Command
ing Harrison, was in the advance, and received
the most of the first FIRE, but although the shoot
ing was good they did not damage his little ves-
sell The Cayuga then fell back and the Hart
ford took her place. UeIT
BE had only two guns which had placed on
the topgallaDt fOrecastle, that could bear on
them till We got within half mile.
We then steered off and gave themsuch fire
'as they never dreamed of ih their philosophy
The Pensacola ran up after a while and took
the starboard battery of our hands, and in a few
minutes the Brooklyn ranged up and took a
chance at my friends on the left bank, but they
were sileneed, should say in twenty minutes
or half an hour, but / cannot take note Of time
on such occasions. / only know that half oi
the vessels did not get chance at them
The riverwas to narrow for more than two OF
three vessels to act to advantage but all were so
anxious that my greatest fear was that we should
fire into each other, and Capt. Wainright and
myself were hallooing ourselves hoarse at the
men not to fire into our ships.
This last affair is what call one Of the little
Ielegancies of the pTOfessioR---a dash and vic-
fnrU hnt flKa mas Of .,.l
st Philip was one ofthe most awful sights
ever saw. The smoke was so dense that it il
vas only now and then you could see anything
but the fash of the guns and the 6re-slIips or
Eafts, one of which was pushed dow n upon us
(the Hastforl) by the ram Manassas, and in M y
effort to avoid 1t ran the ship on shore, aud then
\ the FIRE raft was pushed alongside me, and in q
| moment the ship was one blaze all along ths
port side halfway up the main and mizen top
but thanks TO the good organization of the Fir,
Department by Lieut. Thornton, the flames wer,
extinguished, and at the same time we backed
tof and got clear Of the faft-l But all this time
we were pouring shells into the forts and they
into US, and every nov and then rebel steamer
wonld get under our fire md receive our saluta-
ton Of broadside.
At length the ERE slackened, the smoke clear.
ed of, and we saw to our surprise that we were
above the forts, and here and there rebel gun
boat on Ere. Aswe came up 10 them trying Il
make their escape they were fEed into and rid
died. 80 that uley ran them on aheFe, and al
who eOald made their escape on ahore.
am told, but DO net know how truly, tina
Gen. Lowell had been down that evening I
make an attack with twelve Runboats, a larq
IraFs of eighteen guna, and the Aanassas.
4 The Manassas and the Mississippi madea Sc
at each at fnll spsed, and Ehsn they wer
within 30 or 40 yards the ram lodged the Mis-
lsiaslppi and ran cn shore, when the latter pour
a..
lenails stack and Then sent on board Of her. bu
sic Was deserted and riddled.
4 Alter awhlls she drifled downfhe stream, ful
Z 81 water. She was the last Of the eleven des
itr0yed but the lafgef ram was still at Fort Jack
SOD, butlhsy say hele that she was sent dow
before she was ready aud that she viii have /
lsu4endeTwith the Forls which hope VIII
lteniion as soon a. can settle che affairs ef N
! { demnndea Che surrender Of the city ysster
day % Che Mayor through Capt Bailey, as tn
lAseoAd ID command. HIS reply was that tn
city was undsr martial law, aud he would con
. suit lRFen, HIS laEdahip said hO =wesld suf
fenaef gqtkiHg bot a the same tWe, he w0ufI
setlEe. and leeEe Tie Mayer unepRbarrsased.
4 This morning The Mayor sant his Hecretar
and The lehief u police toase me Who sag ia
he Eqrld can The eit8 esupcii t0eether st 1
7 9'clock and giye me Al aneEeF, asI,ls that d
4 General had retired, spd that he had resume
'I1he duties II bis elliee a. Mayer and would esl
deaFqr to keep order IN the city and prevent n
desirpclion q property ~ Z litfa siss.s
A yeenf him = letter Demanding the aurrende
tQf the city, DeonforinitY with thedemand mad
~ ne Yesterday lhrsngh Captain Bailey.
= This nQfnlag at 6AsA.bl seat 70 CAPITAL
Aonis Vhqee ship cowmanded the Mint /
take peeeeaaioR II IS and hoist the Americs
neg 90 Y Ebaeh was dePe und the people cheer
j At 10 a'eloei ssat d slove .eai... ana .,
dsssd tl'Pi 1ifgt. ee'lg q lhs EesT aud ppow