The New York herald., 1862-05-08
THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.
Progress Of Operations to the
26th Ult.
Interesting Details Of the BOmbardment
Of FCrtS Jackson and st. Philip.
~~~->o--o~~~>~<4~~~~~>~~~~
TERRIFIC FIRING OF THE MORTAR FLEET.
FORT JACKSON IN FLAMES.
EXPLOSION CT A MAGAZINE.
Final Reduction Of BOth Forts and Passage Of
the Union Gunboats Up heRiver to the City.
Gen. Butler Reported to Have Landed
Below New Orleans with Four
Thousand Troops,
&c., tSc. &c.

=
Thousand Troops,
&c., sc. &c.
The steamship Columbia, from Havana on the Sd inst.
arrived at this port yesterday. BY this arrival
put posscssisn OF additional details or the naval
gagoment below New Orleans, and Of the capture Of
Forts jackson and st. Philip.
The gunboat Daniel Smith arrived at Havana on the
3oth ut with dispatches for tho United States govern
ment
The Havana Herald Of the Sd inst; gives some partIeu
lars Of the bombardmont Of forts Jackson and St. Philip
which had bocn carried with unabated fury for six
days and five nights The Daniel Smith left the scene
Of action on the 26th ult.
Tho chain which placed across the Mississippi
river broken by two Of the gmboats.
Twenty-one mortar boats and three gunboats were
engaged in this attack upon the forts and succeeded
Friday, tho 25th nit in sencng the fortiacatons
and securing tho safe passage up the Of fourteen
steamers, bound for Now Orleans, which is
eighty miles above.
The Hartford set IRE by coming in contact with
Of the freshps but the fire exngushsd before
much damage was done.
The federal forces destroyed eleven Confederate gun
boats.
TIE federal gnnboat Verona and the Confederate
steamer Webster had engagement, and tho Webster
into the Verona, njuring her badly that she
in sinking condition. The Verona, while in this despe-
rate state discharged eight guns into the Webster with
such destructive and crushing effect that they both
down together.
The federal gunboa Maria j. Carlton was sunk BY the
guns Of the forts.
General Butler had landed 900 above the forts.
On the 25th flag Of truce sent board 10 Com.
moore Porter, asking what terms would be demanded
in the surrender. Tho reply OF the Commodore was
snd the arrangements for the surrender
were to bc made on the 27th.
II is said that the contest was very hard one many
Of the the mortar boats falling at their posts
With fatigue, 50 necessarily they kept at work.
The floating battery Manassas sunk by the steam
ship Mississippi.
Feships were sent down the river every night by the
Conrederates; but force detailed with small boats
for the parpose OF towing them of where they could
do no harm.
The the part OF the unoEsts Is said to be l1J
while that OF the Concderates is not Known -Four hun
dred Confederate prisoners have been taken.
Our correspondent in Havana reports the Columbia
takes home great number Of passengers many in
fact than she comfortably accommodate already
nearly every berth is taken for the trip 23d
By that time all the floating population will have loft.
Business continues to improve; but there is change
to note in quotations of merchandise exchange.
Oar Key West Correspondence.
KEY WEST, April %, 1862
Sailing OF ,hs r. r. C,er and WcnderesAyroal Of tae
No,,roreii, ,caa Dates 10 The l9 fna.-No Mdit-Ar.
ricat Of ne tinted Slotes Bari Hctgh'o,-Ne,cs from
the Mississippi EiccrThe Bonba,dment Commenced on
April 20--iio~ Irc9rtsses-Eap,osiom IF a Rebel Ma
go,ine- Nanow Escdre of F,do Offer Fdrogm and
Ccamonder PorT-7he Weifed Trier Her Meot-Hoo
Heoei Gun RsmounteI-toH Jackson ia Flames
f.,L
Nor ms,,is Of the Squadron, Dr., dc.
Yesterday afternoon the unitedestates steamer r. r.
Cuyler aud schooner Wanderer went to cruise.
II great relief 10 the In ter vessel under weigh
bound drty suitable 10 her qualifications. She has
been long here doing guard duty that feared she
would become fixture IN the harbor; but flag
ocer KNOWN her value her to at the earliest
possible moment after his arrival
Although the wandcrer is fine vessel still she is not
a suitable command for oacsr old in the service
Lieutenant j. II. SPOTS. He shoud be given oP the
g,nboats and fair chance with others TO hand
down glorious name 70 poscry.
This morning the schooner Nonpareil arrived from Ia
vana bringing lilies Of he HERALD to the 10th inst which
camo per steamer Roanoke hut mails. Why is this.
We have had no mail since the 4h inst, ana II the Ha-
vana steamers aro TO cease bringing 1t we may not n
future lock for any regular communication with the
North II is 20 be hoped that not 10 depend upon
tho supply steamers Rhode Island, Connecticut aud Mas
sachusets for it would be better by tho majo
rty sailing vessels than upon those steamers stoppng
as they do, every few miles on the way.
This morning the United States bark Houghton arrived
from the Mississippi river, which place she loft Mon
day last, the 21st inst. l am indebted to her com
mandcr, Acting Master n. Graham, U. s NJ, for tho TO-
lowing highly important Information
The mortar nee; having been placed in position behind
point the river about eighteen hundred yards below
tor Jackson opened fire the ort the afternoon of
the Goth nst.. which was continued with OK
ceodns accuracy and rapidy, two thirteen inch shells
minute being thrown, nearly all Of which were
falling within tho fort aud apparently doing much
mage TO the work. From deserter who had escaped
from Fort jackson and reached the feet learn thai
shells had exploded one OF the smaller magazines
the fort, killing and wounding great number and he
also says they tho shels) were tearing everything
nost had rscewed-she.torsd az they are behind ,ne
point which is covered with treeswss the disabling
enc OF the schooners, the Carlton, by shell, which
passed through her magazine without exploding On its
passage u capszed the powder tanks and played the
chief generally slightly woundug the two in the
magazine and passed out through tho schooner huI
below the water limo, which caused hor Oil in q vsry
short time but not sink on account Of her being the
mud at the tme The Carlton belongs TO Lieutenant
Queen DIVISION and will be easily repaired aud pumred
out. Captain Graham further informs me that when he
ef. the scene q action, on Monday, all the buildings in
the interior Of the fort ro, and the place had
the appearance Of being too hot for the garrison Several
fro RATS had bccn sent down BY the enemy but our lit
tie steam gnboas had got hold Of them and towed them
Ashore where they were permitted 10 burn up without
doing any one injury.
I'm Monday night the hcavy chain across the river was
10 he cut and Tuesday or Wednesday tho was
be made by the fleet. The only casualties that had
occurred thus far were ono killed aud ten wounded The
steam gunboats would occasionally up close TO the
chain exchange few shots. In this way the Oneida
lost the above referred 10, shot having passed
through her bows, killing the captain OF her forward
pivot gun and wounding the rest Of the guns
veral interesting incidents have occurred which will
mention separately.
NARROW ESCAPE os orrIcKR AND PORTER.