Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-05-21
Capture Of New Orleans.
INTERESTING PARTICULARS.
OFFICIAL REPORT

The following deeply interesting detail
of the fall of New Orleans have been re
ceived at the Navy Department:
REPORT OF COMMANDER PORTER
U. S. SHIP HARRIET LANE.
April %.
Sir:-The morning after the ships pass
ed the forts, sent a demand to Col. Hig
gins for a surrender of the forts, which
was declined.
On the 9th sent Lieut.. Col. Higgins a
communication, herewith enclosed, ask.
ing again for the surrender, His answer
is enclosed. On the 2Sth 1 received com.
munication from him stating that he
would surrender the forts, and came up
and took possession, drew up articles OF
capitulation and hoisted the American
flag over the fort. These men have de
Tended these forts with the bravery worthy
of better cause. l treated them with
all the consideration that circumstances
would permit. The three steamers re-
manning were under Com. ]. K. Mitchell.
The officer of the fort acknowledged no
connection with them, and wished IN no
way to be considered responsible for their
acts. While | had flag of truce up,
they were employed in towing their iron
floating battery of sixteen guns-a most
formidable affair, to place above the
forts; and while drawing up the articles
of capitulation, it was reported to me they
had set fire to the battery, and turned it
adrift upon US.
l asked the General if it had powder
on board or guns loaded. He replied that
he would not undertake to say what the
,ffs ,,-o,,ll IL Il eaov,aI g.
have great contempt for them. l told
him we could stand the fire and blow up
if he could, and went on with the confer
ence, after directing the officers to look
out for their ships.
While drifting down on us, the guns
getting heated, exploded, throwing the
shot above the river. A few minutes af-
ter, the floating battery exploded with a
terrific noise, throwing the fragments all
over the river, and wounding one of their
own men in Fort st. Phillip, and immedi-
ately disappeared under water. Had she
blown up near the vessels, she would have
destroyed all of them.
When had finished taking possession
of the forts, got under way in the Har-
riet Lane, and started for the steamers,
one of which was still flying the Confeder-
ate flag. / fired shot over her, and they
surrendered.
There were on board of them a number
of naval officers, and two companies of
marine artillery. made them surrender
and for their Infamous
conduct in trying to blow us up while un-
der flag of truce, | condemned them to
close confinement as prisoners of war,
and think they should be sent to the
North and kept in close confinement
there until the war is over, or they should
be tried for their infamous conduct.
| turned over the forts to General
Phelps. Fort jackson is perfect ruin.
l am told that over 800 shells fell in and
burst over the centre fort. The practice
was beautiful.
The next fort we go at we will settle
sooner, as this has been hard to get at
The Naval officers sunk one gunboat while
the capitulation was going on, but have
one of the others steamer-at work,
and hope soon to have the other.
find that we are to lie hewers of wood
and drawers of water, but as the soldiers
have nothing here in the shape of mo-
tive power, we will do all we can.
/ should have demanded unconditional
but with such force in your
rear, it was desirable to get possession of
the forts as soon as possible.
The officers turned over everything in
good order except the walls which are
terribly shattered by the mortars.
Very respectfully,