Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-05-23
The Gallant Deeds at New Orleans.

The details OF the great victory Of New Or
leans are likely to be overlooked amid the mass
of more exciting intelligence which now crowds
upon us, bat when the time for their closer px-
animation shall arrive, it will be found that Of
all the thrilling events Of the war, none can
claim a higher admiration than this. The en-
gagement Of the 24th of April. upon which
day the Cni)n fleet stormed its way past the
Rebel fortiications, is hardly paraleled in his
tory Probably no similar conflict was ever
hazarded upon such unequal chances. The ad-
vantages were immeasuraJly upon the side Of
the Rebels, who, being conscious of their su-
periorities were nerved with unusual courage.
According to the reports of our own comman-
ders, they fought with desperation from the be-
ginning to the end-not hestating, moreover
to make use Of the most dastardly means to
secure success when fair play could no longer
avail them. We gather from the documents
which have been forwarded from the squadron
a tolerab!e view of the condition under which
the triumph was achieved and the extraordina-
ry obstacles against which our commanders
were forced 10 contend.
It Is apparent that the reduction of the
powerful forts, jackson and St. Philip could
not have been effected by the mortar fleet with
out vast loss Of time and material. The bonn
bardment, which opened upon the 18th of
Api, was maintained vigorously for six days
without materially Weakening them. The
walls OF solid brick stood firm as ever, and
their two hundred odd guns responded as fierce
ly to cur fire as at the outset. Ii was there
fore determined 10 force a passage by them at
l. r
The 2IIh of April, while it was yet dark, Com.
modare Faragut led this squadron up to the
perilous work. To oppose against the cannon
Of the forts ana assaults OF formidable Rcb-
el feet, including nearly a score of steamers,
rams, AMI n jatifg batteries, he had only six
sloo.s-of- war and twelve guuboa;s. Consider
ing the superior advantages OF a la;id battery
over ships-o!-war in any contest whatsoever,
the disparity was enormous. In addition,
Co.Ymod 1re F rragat haI To cA!cu'ate upla
subm riue engines, tire-rast, lrrirrs of chain
cable, one Of which, opposite Fort jackson,
lie hal with some diff ;n.ty broken few deys
b fore But when it was imperative that the
'orts skould lie passed, no consideration was
allowed t. weigh aaans; this necessity
Just before dawn he 81 ladroa was discOv-
cred approaching the enemy The fury with
which ii was attacked is proved by the tre
mend puS cxeriiols our vessels were conpeiled
to make in ord ,r II carry through tEcir pur-
po>c. At first the Rr3cI a.et endeIvorcd oa!y
% check their progress. while the two forts
poured inccssant vo!leys upon them; but pres
emily The action became closer and m.re in
vovel, and mainly confined to the river
IIol.ias ram" the Manassas, although it af-
ferNa-d TUNED out a helpless and feeble CI0ric,
se,yed the Rebels well for time. L not only
engaged Commod Fdrragut's flagship, the
HIri fJrd, but also succeeiId in f0rciny 4 tite
raft upon her, from which sh; Irrovly a-clp
cd destruction. Il thought it was all up with
us said the Commodore in letter describing
the event to Captain Porter. The f,me3 were,
however, extinguisIei in time 10 save the ship.
and the ram betuoll itself to other errands
of destruction. The floating battery L9uisi-
ana, which lay moared not far from Fort Juck
son, ulso oc c,,sioned great Inconvenience. Its
firing was we'll directed, and its metallic sides
were found to bc quite impenerabe, 0 her
rams" cmulated the Manassas, and attacked
our gun boats with considerable effect. The
Yaruna, gaIlantly commanded by Captain
BoggS, was broken TO pieces by their repeated
onseis, but before her own destruction she made
her name memorable by disabling and destroy
ing no less than six of the Rebel craft. Five
Of these were set in flames by the Varuna ;
she'll and run ashore, and another was shattsr-
ed and forced to surrender. The intrepid ten
acity OF the Varunas officers aud crew is best
illustrated by the fact that har last broad'ide,
which beat in the sides of the ram Morgan,
was fred wAile the gun carriages on her upper
deck were already settling in the water. Dur
ing this lime our other gunbOats were not idle.
Nine Of them. together with the sloops-ol-war,
fought their way up the river, and gradually
widened the space between themselves and the
'orts.
The conf ct was a short one lasting only an
hour and half at the most. BY half past five
in the morning our success had been achieved
and the destiny of New Orleans decided. It
was a result which the rebels never had antici-
pated and which could never have been obtain
cd except by the most devoted and unshrlnking
bravery. The CONSERVATION of the people OF
New Or,elns was all the greater for the conf
dence they had cherished After this de isiye
action only the mereSt show OF resistance was
offered at the Notifications intended FOR the
immediate protection OF the city. The feet
Law before New Orleans on the morning of the
25th. The inhabitants seemed possessed with
a frenzy of rage and apprehension. They were
destroying all accessible property, the rcbe
General Lowell having set the example by
burning his own goods. The officer sent on
shore by Commodore Farragut was received
by the people whom their Mayor afterward
characterized as "gallant and sensitive to ali
that can affect their dignity and scIEreSpect, ,
with brutal and ferocious demonstrations o.
insult In spite Of this and simiia! ac tions, the
dignity Of oar own mission was sustained, unt
the quiet occupation of the city by our force:
,gas duly carried into effect.
As natural consequence, For;s Jackson ant
St. Philip surrendered on the 28th to Captain
Porter Their endeavors to interrupt the prog
ress of our feet had failed, their supplies from
/ New Orleans were cut off, aud it was usees
| for them to hold out. In fact their fate wa;
! fixed the moment that Commodore Farragu
had evaded them. The honors of the event
therefore, clearly belonged to him, since tue vic
tory was accomplished by his immediate action
OF the cooperation of Captain Porter and th
other officers associated with him, it is impossi
ole to speak in qualified terms. The battle
on the Mississippi are an honor to all Unio
men who were engaged in them, and wouI
have shed some luster upon the waning credi
OF the rebels themselves, but for their havin
conducted their side of the fight in violation {
all accepted faith aud honor.
: A few were beaten back. having received il
/ juries to their machinery which rendered ther
incapable of proceeding. The Itasca, for e1
ample, is said to have received thirteen sho
+ under her water line, beside having her boil'