Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-16
THEFALL OF NEW ORLEANS.
AOCoUNT-TERRIFGO FlGH
sCENEs AND INCIDENTS.

nst the following version of the sl attack upon the
forts below New 0eans and the advance of the enemys
hoa to the city. Il is impossible that this account go
full of bOmbss and hyperboe, could have been written
by any other creature than Yankee:
TIE GLORIOUS ADVANCE OF TIE FLEEr.
Is MLEs BELOW NAV ORLEANS, April "a, 1882.
closed my letter last evening at seven o'clock, not
knowing that should ever have an opportunity to a.
gain put a pen to pspsr In vain l attempted to OBJ.
tain sleep, Ss 70 be physically prepared for the
contest which to come Ch IN the course oil few
hours All hands seemed cheerful, tu. there was a
marked feeling of ave snd resolution manifest 10 every
countonsnce will not attempt to describe the feel
ipPs Of any one whose face showed the inward work
iugs of their mind We all felt that NEST terrible
battle was before US and how We were to escape being
terribly cut up vas to mystery not easily sSlved
TioI heavy Is9rS mounting ~ the netghboyhood Of too
hi.adrsd pieces, a chain cable, half dozen hwkS,
dsr n or more steamers, WsU aTHed ram too, fire
crafts without ntRbr, Spi current, aud dGsSpsrate
foo were among the number of things against which
| ne knew we were to coneLd An accident TO engines
or serious collision and we must all be lost. You
cannot imagine how formidable each OF these things
were in themselves but combined the odds against
seemed overwhelming But trusting IN our leaders, and
mere than ALL in that wise and overriding Providence
who vors the cause Of right and Justice felt almost
| sure Of winning the contest
| THE CHAIN CLEAR -THE SIGNAL ADVANCE.
At about eleven o'clock the Iasca signal sad that che
chain clear and that could go ahead when ready
Everything quiet srouud the h)et, save the Kissing
| sound Of the steam escaping from the boilers. The
night moderately dark, and gentle souherly wind
made the weather rather haz The mortar vessels kept
up al ncsssant roar and bright globes assembled high
aot TO again descend in fury at the forts The second
DIVISION under Captain Baily of the Colorado formed
on the left bank OF the river, while the third division
in cenire OF the lnes, the fret division lying the
| right bank OF the river.
At one o'clock all hands called, hammocks stow
ed and everything put in readiness to weigh anchor a;
| two o'clock.
1t a solemn time, assure you. The hour seemed
but few moments The memories OF a score Of years
fitted through the mind and all the courage poss
ed was screwed up for the event.
| TIE BATTLE SIGNAL.
At two o'clock two red lights a. our peak announced
the time get under weigh had the honor to moist
the signal with my hands Owing to some unfore.
seen DELAYS the second division did start the sig
nal and as they had the longest road to travel Il
necessary for TO wait until they started At three
| o'clock the moon rose and silvery path marked
out the swirl waters Of the river, 5000 to be the
stage which the greatest naval fight has trans
| pred The moon had lifted itself above the horizon
lust thirty minutes Whca away went for the battle
| ground. In the dim distance could be seen the signal
fires Of the enemy built TO light up the river and reveal
our position 10 him. On We steamed, with hearts big
with expectation.
RIBELs TIRE.
opened fire frcm Fort 81. Philip. At that moment
hoised our largest Star Spanged Baoner at the peak
aud then Fastening forward dscked the fore and main
each with an emblem Of power ard justice. Three Amer
can ensiGns hDsting 10 gentle breeze. Full speed
,s1s giUe 10 The ship the engineers did their dy Ro6iy
aud ,Osni, Il Vsrs, into The jIWi Of death. At
the time the enemy opened fire the vessels
TO work. and the rapidty With which they threw shells
| at the rebels was truly wonderful.
TIE FLAGSHIP JOINS IN THE FIGHT.
At FIVE minutes of four o'clock our bow guu beched
forth fire and smoke, and messenger in the shape of
nine inch SHE'LL sent 10 Fort Jacksonville work, by
| the way which to attend TO. In fsW minutes
| more toe broads.d firing commenced. Both forts
we're replying fast they could. Broadsde after
broadside was being delivered to them in rapid
siou while the vessels were adding TO the dread
fol noise.
| TAX HIGHT BLTTLI.
Shot, she'll grspe aud canister filed thcsiF With deadly
| missiles l. Ike the breaking up o. a thousand
| worl1s-crash-taar-Whz! Such another scene ,cas
Hsrsr trifnesSed BE- mortal Steadily steamed
on, giving them she'll the iOrts firing rife shot and she'll
zen inch colunbiads forty two thiry.two aud twenty
four FOUNDER ball. aud add TO this state Of Attire
thirteen steamers aud the hlang battery louisiana OF
toe enemy were pouring otO and around us hail storm
OF iron perfectly indsscSb babe Nos satfsd with their
| ddng, FIRE raft after fire raft liz and set adIh
t. do their work OF burning The Ram busy work
trying to shove them Tn Ter the bows of our vessel.
TIE BLRBETTs GUNS siLESCID.
As We drew near absam Of the forts, We nterminged
grape with shell, which had the effect TO silence in
measure the barbette guns The shot from the enemy
Whicl for come time had gone over Us, now began 10
! cut US through.
| NARROW ESCAPE or THE FLAG oTTiCER
While IL the port mizzsn rigging the Flag Officer mar
roEly escaped being hit with rifle she'll shell burst
on deck ard the coucussion stunned Lieut. George Hes
Ter, OF Marine corps SO that for time bis life was
despArtd Of started TO go forward TO how things
| 49,. fka ind kp- a. ah.
knocked the cap eli my head. /: MAS time Of terror
our guns firing rapidly possible, and the how
zsfs in the tops were doing excellent execution.
REBEL sHARPsHoorESs.
Tie rebel steamers were crowded with troops, who
fred yoeys OF rifle balls At Us, most OF which did Us
harm One Of them us, aud think am safe
| in ssvy she contained two hundred men. Our hoEit-
zer4 opened on them, and Captain Broome OF the Ma
Marine corps opened into Der with Two nneinCh guIs
A RIuEL yEssIL BLOWN TO PIICss-ALL HANDS LOST.
An e1ploson-terrifc yels--a caresn and that fellow
was done for Their steamers bold and fearless
bu. no sooner did they in sight Of gunners
| than ttey we're sunk The Varuua sunk SIX Of them
| one after another
| THE FLAGSHIP AGROUND AND on FIRE.
In the midst Of this awful scene down came tremen.
dous lire raft, ard the showed her under port
quarter. The flames caught our rigging and side, aud
for moment il seemed must fall prey 10 the ravs
| g,s OF fire. i,e also burning on the berth deck
The FIRE hose on hand, and wo soon subiued the
flames and gave the ram :Oss OF rifle shell She, how
eve came up for again. bu, other vess, tackled
her and hauled of. Daring this stage Of sirs we
qro,mlsd, and our fate seemed sealed; but our men
worked ke beavers and the engineers got the chip
a5tern and aoat IL d, the powers Of my brain to
describe the scene this time. The river and It's bluks
were sheet OF hlme, and the messengers Of death
were moving with lightning swiftness in ali directions
Steadily Piled shell and grape, nterspersed uilh shrs
mel Rsbsisom began to quake hr boats osrs fat bsi"g
rdilsd By csH directed broddsides and they who
able made for the shore to run them o. that they
could save their lives. Some were on FIRE and others
were sinking. Our boys we're cheering with hearty
good viii, aud well they might for Ds had almost UoR
ths Gay and we we're nesrly past the forts Oar ship
had been on FIRE three tines aud she riddled from
stem 10 stern. The cabin was completely guited thu