Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-02
THE NEW YORK. HERALD ON TILE CAPTURE OF NE
ORLEANS.

THE NEW YoRs HERALD on TILE CAPTURE OF NEW
ORLEANS.
From the New York usrald, April Isl
We have to chronicle to. day ono Of the most
important events in the progress Of tho war
against rebellion. According to statements
received at the War Department yesterday
from Gen. w DOL, at Fortress Monroe, and Gen.
Mcdowell, on the Rappahannock. the rebel
journals at Petersburg and Richmond announce
that New Orleans Is occupied by the Union
army. The particulars of tho capture nro not
given, but the kilograms published in the PEI
tcrsburg Express and Richmond E,r0m tner are
positive anu explicit. According to these &C
counts portion Of the inhabitants Of Now
Orleans destroyed as much property as they
could, upon tho rpproach OF our troops, and
all tho steamboats, they could lay hands upon
except those required to carry ammunition
and coin up thu river into the interior.
This news looks startling at the first blush,
yet it was hardly unexpected. Tbs strosg
Union force al Ship lsland-wih Gen. Butler
commanding tho military, Commodore Farra.
gut at the head Of the naval portion Of the
expedition, and Commodore Porter conducting
the operations Of tho mortar boats-has not
been seen. We know that for several days
past the 0ect WAS lying in great strength III.
rectly under the forts defending New Orleans,
which they wcro bombarding in fashion dc.
scribcd BY tho rebel General Mansfield Lowell
az terrific" Ono Of our gunboats had got
past Fort Jackson, fact which caused
the utmost Consideration in the Crescent
City. But it appears that tho rebels re-
lied upon two iron gunhnats for the final
defence OF the city. One of them, the
Louisiana, commanded by Captain Pcgram,
being said 10 excel the MerrlnIac, in power
and armament If Now Orleans, then, be in
our possession, these two formidable gunboats
uiust have also fallen into cur hands, unless
the rebels succeeded in destroying them with
the other boats which they are said to have
demolished With Forts Jackson and st.
Philip captured, az no doublthey were, by our
fleet, and Pass Christian occupied, as it has
been for some time, tho other defenccs would
not present front TOO formidable for the
force which our gallant officers could bring
against theta.
But there was an element Of disloyalty to
tho rebel Government existing in New. Orleans
which may have operated almost az potently
in favor Of the Union army Us the valor Of
our men or the skill Of our officers. We know
tDht io' iohE l'Hio Paot tlo pioos Vi uouiHE
military despotisln has prevailed there The
prices Of provisions, and the free action OF the
citizens, have been controlled and regulated
by military committee beaded by Pierre
Soulc, and backed up by the bayonets and
general orders Of Major General Lowell. The
condition of this once prosperous and luxu-
eious city had become int0lerable, and it is
not presuming too much upon probability to
assume that many OF the oger-rIjden citizens
were but too glad to hail the prospect OF de-
liveranco which tho sight Of the good old flag
held out to them.
We arc told that in thirty hours after the
capture OF Forts Jackson and ST. Pnilip
''our brave men consummated their victory,
and appeared before the great city Of the
Southwest to receive its submission" We
opine that, despite the wanton destruction Of
property which is said to have followed the
approach Of our troops, the submission was
mads cheerfuily and thankfully by tho mass of
the people.
Thus, while we have been conducting for
miiable and expensive expeditions on the
Mississippi river and on the sea coast, to as
sail the rebel strongholds in the South, and
subdue them, one by one, the greatest cotton
port Of the rebels has fallen into our hands, an
event which must change the whole features
of the war in the South and West, battle the
plans Of Beaurcgard at Corinth and Memphis,
paralyzr tho actions Of Johnston at York.
town, and reduce the ncfuriOus rebellion to a
last feeble struggle.