Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-15
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The Occupation of New orleans.

The Occupation OF Now Orleans.
Having given report Of the ascent Of our
feet up the Mississippi river from It's mouth TO
Forts Jackson and Philip, we proceed to complete
the record with sketches Of the passage Of The
forts and the advance upon New Orleans: l
The bombardment of the forts was commepc.
60 on Friday April 18th, and continued through
SIX days and nights. 1t was determined to run
past the forts on the night of Wednesday the
Soo. Two heavy works mounting In the neigh
pofaood OF two hundred pieces, chain cable,
haII dozen or more steamers, we'll armed, o
ram or two, hre RATS without number, swift
current, and desperate foe, were among the
difficulties TO be overcome. AtlIP M one of
the boats detailed to cut the chain cable report
ed 1t clear. The feet sailed in three divisions.
the tirst under Flag officer Farrsgut, comprising
the Hartford, Brooklyn aud Richmond; the sec.
ond under Captain Bailey, the Cayuga, Pensa-
cola, mississippi, Oneida, Varuna, Katahdin,
Kineo, Wissahickon and Portsmouth: and The
third under Captain Bell, the Scioto, Iroouois,
Finola' ltasca, Winona and Kennebeo. AT 9
O'Clock the signal was given to start. At 90
minutes before a, the fire was opened from Fort
81 Philip Tne flagship was pu. under full
speed' and the rest followed, either TO victory
or into the jaws Of death. The correspondent
OF tne N; HeTaId-from which we take these
detAils--here ssys: ~
THE FLAGSHIP JOINS IN THE FIaHT.
AT five minutes to four o'clock our bow gun
belched forth FIRE and smoke, and a mes.
seDger, In the shape of nine.inch shell, was
sent to Fort Jackson-the works, by the way,
which we were to attend to. In few minutes
more the broadside firing was commenced. Both
forts we're replying as fast as they could. Broad
side after broadside was being delivered to them
III rapla succession, while the mortar vessels
were adding to the DIRE adful noise.
THE HEIGHT OF THE BATTLE.
Shot, shell, grape and canister filled the air
with deadly missiles. Il was like the breaking
up OF thousand worlds crash--tear-whi !!
Sucn another scene was never witnessed by NOR
tsi man. Steadily we steamed on, giving them
shell, the forts firing rifle shot and shell, ten
inch columoiads, forty.two, thirty-tWo and twen-
ty'iour pounder balls; and to add to this state
OF affairs, thirteen steamers and the floating
battery Louisiana, of the enemy, were pouring
into and around US a hail storm Of iron perfectly
indescribable. Not satisfied with their firing,
tire raft after fire raft was Lit and set adrift to
DO their work OF burning. The Ram was busy
at work trying to shove them under the bows Of
our vessel. an
REBEL SHAREHOLDERS,
The rebel steamers were crowded with troops.
who fred volleys of rife balls at us, most Of
which did US no harm. One of them came near
US, and think lam safe in saying she contained
two hundred men. Our howllzers opened on
tnem, and Captain Broome, of the Marine Corps,
opened into her With two nine-inch guns.
REBEL VESSEL BLOWN TO PIEcEs- ALL HANDs
LOST. n
An exploson-terilc yells-s csreen, and
that fellow was done for. Their steamers were
bold and fearless; but no sooner did they come
in sight Of our gunners than they we're sunk.
The Varuna sunk six of them, one after an
other.
THE FLAG SHIP AGROUND AND ON FIRE.
In the midst of this awful scene down came
a tremendous fire raft, and the ram showed her
under our port quarter. The flames caught our
rigging and side, and for moment it seemed
we must fall prey to the ravages of fire. A
fire was also burning on the berth deck. The
hre hose was on hand, and we soon snbdued the
flames, and gave the ram dose of rife she'll.
She, however, came up for Us again, but come
other vessel tackled her and she hauled off,
During this stage of affairs we grounded, and
our fate seemed sealed; but our men worked
like beavers, and the engineers soon got the ship
astern and afoat. 1t defes the powers of my
brain to describe that scene at this time.
The river and its banks were one sheet of
tame, and the messengers of death were NOV
ing with lightning swiftness in all directions,
Steadily we piled shell and grape, interspersed
with shrapnel. Rebellion began to quake; her
boats were fast being ridded by well directed
broadsides, and they who were able made for
the shore to run them on, so that they could
save their lives, Some were on fire and others
were sinking. Our boys were cheering with a
hearty good will, and well they might, tor they
had almost won the day, and we were nearly
past the forts Our ship had been on fire three
times, and we were riddled from stem 20 stern
The cabin was completely gutted, the starboard
ateerage all torn up, and the armory all knock.
cd into "pi." My clothing was strewn abaft
decks, and was obliged to pick II up piece by
piece. The manuscript Of the bombardment
came near to destruction by rife she'll, which
tore up my room and killed one man.
WE ARE PAST THE FORTE.
After being under terrific fire for one hour
and twenty minutes we were past the forts, bad
ly cut up, q shot hole through the mainmast,
two In the stern, and several through us.
frankly confess am unable to describe the
scene. Words cannot express any adequate
idea of the engagement. Wrapped up in emoke,
firing and being fred at, shot and shell whist.
ling like locomotive demons around, above, be-
fore and in the rear Of you; flames from FIRE
RATS encircllng you, splinters flying in all di-
rections, and shells bursting overhead Can
you imagine this scene7 II you can, it is more
than l can describe as would wish to.
ELEVEN REBEL STEAMERS ON FIRE.
At half-past Eve O'Clock no less than eleven
rebel steamers were in flames along each side OF
the river, We steamed up to the Quarantine
TO anchor, when 10 the Ram made his appear.
ance, and ssuoily fred at the Richmond.
THE MISSISSIPPI DIsABLEs THE MANASSAS.
The Mississippi being near at hand, about
ship for the black devil, and at him she went
with the idea Of running him downs, The Ram
ran, but finding the Mississippi gaining on him,
he run his nose into the bank OF the river, and
Immediately about thirty men came up out Of
the hatch and run on shore. The Mississippi
fred two or three broadsides into her and board
ed her, but finding she was of no earthly ac.
count, again fred into her, and she drifted down
the river, sinking very fast. On reaching Quar-
antine we found that the Varuna bad been sunk,
and that, after her brave exploits she fell Grip.
pied in glorious cause. !. es.q' ~
THE SURRENDER OF THE FORTS
On the 25h Commodore Porter--gho with
bis mortar feet remained below the forts--seht
q demand for surrender, which was refused -