Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-05-03
From the n Y Evening Posts Special.
Defenses OF fNew-Orleans--Gulf Squadron.
GrSneAT CONNECTICUT OFF SUR ISLAND,
Sunday Morning, April -, 1o62.

Grsno4y CoSyEcrrcrr, OFF SUR IslASD,
Sunday Morning, April - lS62
Probably before this letter reaches you |
the telegraph will have flashed over the |
land the intelligence of the downfall Of the |
greatest rebel city. The Great Gulf feet
has already passed the bar Of the MiSSiSsip-
ri, and is now before Forts jackson aud
Phillip, the grinning Cerberi which guard
the entrance TO the Hades Of SeceSsia.
TnEGREAT GULF ELEET.
The fleet is splendid one. The flag
ship Hartford is the ocean home Of Com
modore Farrugut. After the Hartford
came The sioops ofwar Pensacola, Richmond
and Brooklyn, and the old vessel MisSissip
pi-a verilible old war sea horse-armed
with heavier guns, borrowed from the Col
orado. These vessels constitute a most
formidable arm of assault. They are prob
ably provided with guns as no vessels were
before besides the usual complement OF
26 guns, hOcitzerS are placed IN the tops.
Besides these there are the Iroquois, Oneida,
Verona, (of twelve guus), Miami, and the
sailing sloop-ofwar PortsmoEtb; which is
towed by lhe Mississippi. Then came the
gunboats Wssalichon, Wnona, OwaskN,
Itasco, Pinoa, Kennebec, Scioto, Cayuga,
,Katahdn, and another wh ose name at this
minute cannot recall.
poRTER's MORTAR ELEEF.
Porter has no less than g boom schooners
Ia len with death-dealng mortars-impe
mcnts of war, for one of which the leaders
of the old Spanish would have bartered any
dozen of their best vessels These mortar
scbooners would, however be very much
like an umbrella without o handle, or bow
without string, were ii not FOR the three
ferry boats Clifton Westfeld and Jackson, !
which are doing the state more service down
here than ever they did on the Staten Is.
land rou'e They tow the sluggish schoon
res about, accelerating their motion to de-
gree which quite amazeS the heavy leaden
craft, if they be sensible of amazement.
One of these ferry boats eau tow two or three
of the mortar vessels at time.
The mortar feet is divided into three di
visions, known respectively as the Red,
White and and Blue. The Harriet Lane
is Commodore POrter'S Gag ship.
PASSING THE BAR.
The feet entered the river by the South
west Pass. There had been some intention
of trying 20 reach New Orleans by way Of
Lake Ponehsrtrain,. but the enemy became
premature advised of the plan and so it was
abandoned and the Southwest Pass essayed
The water was so shallow that the larger
vessels could not pass, and the cannon,
anchors and almost every movable article
on board the Hartford, Pensacola, Rich
mond and Brooklyn were transferred TO
light schooners. The heavy war vessels
thus lightened sailed triumphantly over the
bar and reshipped their armament higher
up. The Colorado, being too heavy, was
left outside. The passing Of the bar occu-
pied some three weeks, the last vessel cross
ing only the day before the Connecticut
sailed from the mouth Of the Passes.
In towing the Pensacola over the bar Q
sad accident occurred. A hawser parted
and 10 the recoi killed two men.
The Ferry boats here again won all ouI
hearts. They towed almost all the vessels
over the bar, and proved themselves quite
as useful as they are ugly and ungaInly
They were defended so far as to be muskel
; ball proof.
CAPTURE OF PILOT TOWN.
, The FIRST vessels which passed the ba
took possession of the deserted village o
Pilot Town. The place was deserted, ant
the spacious hotel was at once occupied oy
our surgeons, and fitted up as q hospital
UP THE RIVER.
As the feet lay 10 the river waiting 10
coal-the want of which delayed the eG
pedition some time-picket vessels wer
! sent two miles ahead 10 notify sif the rebel
. should send down burning RATS, or othe
. unpleasant messengers. One day tn
B pickets reported a rebel feet Of seven vessel
= comingt down. A few Federal vessel
4 gave chase, and the rebel steamers took T.
q their heels or rather TO their (paddle
!. wheels. Five were soon out OF sigh
\ beyond the forts, and the other just escaI
n ed The last, however, was not SO lucky
J. Seeing our vessels gaining on them' ID
}. laggard ran to shore, was set on hre an
d deserted. She was good sized steamer
= TUE DISTRACTIONS
d II we take Forts Phillip and Jackso
)f there is little TO prevent oar feet froI
= going directly up to the city, as Fort Leo
iy is Of no aceoHnt. The rebels have stretehe
d chain across the river below the fort
d 1t is supported by four barks laden wit
cotton to avoid destruction. This chain
nuisance !: but we hope that we ca
10 silence the forts 6rst, aud then cut the chei
y at our leisure Our men are all ready f
the conflict.
II ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
The rebel defense blow the city, nccor'