Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-17

boats crew, followed up myself, raising,
by authority of the flag officer, my rcd flag,
distinguishing Inc as second in command,
first on the Oneida, Commander Lee, and
afterwards on the CdyNga.
That brave, resolute, and indciatigablc
officer, Commander ID. ID, Porter, was at
work with his mortar fleet, throwing shells
at and into Fort jackson, while General
Butler, with division of his army in
transports, was waiting favorable moment
to land, After the mortar fleet had been
playing upon the forts for six days and
nights, without perccptibly diminishing their
fire, and one or two changes had been mace
in the programme, Flag Officer Farragut
formed the ships into two columns Zine
ahead" The column of the red, under my
orders, being formed on the right, and con-
sisted of the Cdyuqa, Lieutenant Command
ing Harrison, bearing my flag and leading
the Pensacola, Captain Morris the Missis-
sippi, Commander Smith; the Oaei9o, Com
mantler s. p. Lee; the Vdrana, Commander
c. L. Boggs the Ratahdim, Lieutenant
Commanding Preble; the Kno0 Lieutenant
commanding Ransom, and the Wissehich0n,
Lieutenant Commanding A. w. Smith.
The column of the blue was formed on the
left heading up the river and consisted of
wright, and bearing the flag of Commander
in-Chief Farragut the Brooklyn, Captain 7.
T. Craven; the Richmond, Commodore
Alden; the Scioto, bearing the divisional
flag of the feet, Captain II. II. Bell, followed
by the IrognoiS, Hdsca, WinOna, and Kcnobcc.
At A. NJ, on the morning of the 2Sth,
the signal "to advance" was thrown out
from the flagship. The Cdyuga Immediately
weighed anchor and led on the column.
We were discovered at the boom, and a
little beyond both forts opened their fire.
When close up with the st. Philip we open
cd with grape and canister, still steering
on. After passing this line of fire we en-
countercd the Montgomery Flotilla," con-
sisting of eighteen gunboats, including the
ram Manassas and the iron-battery Loaisiaha,
of 20 guns. This was moment of anxiety,
as no supporting ship was in sight.
By skilful steering, however, we avoided
their attempts to butt and board, and had
succeeded in forcing the surrender of three
when the Varuna, Captain Boggs, and the
Oneida, Captain Lee, were discovered near
at hand. The gallant exploits of these ships
will be made known by their commanders.
At early dawn we discovered rebel camp
on the right bank of the river. Ordering
Lieutenant Commanding n. B. Harrison to
colonel to pile up his arms on the river bank
and come on board This proved to be the
Chalmette Regiment, commanded by Colonel
9. Zymanski. The rcgimental flag, tents
and camp equipage were captured. On the
morning of the 25th still leading and being
considerably ahead of the line, the Chalmettt
batteries, situated three miles below the city
opened cross fire on the Cdyugd.
To this we responded with our two guns
AT the end of twenty minutes the flag -shir
ranged up ahead, and silenced the enemyt
guns. From this point no other obstacle.
were encountered, except the burning o.
steamers, cotton ships, fire RATS, and tn,
like
Immediately after anchoring in front O
the city, l was ordered on shore by the flae
officer to demand the surrender of the city
and that the flag should be hoistcd on tn,
post office, custom house and mint. Wha
passed at this interview will be better stated
in the flag officers report. On the Goth
went with the flag officer some seven mile
above the city, where we found the defence
abandoned, the guns spiked, and gun car
riages burning. These defences were erected
to prevent the downward passage of Capt
Foote.
On the eth large boom, situated abov
iHeoO NNiShNto, was utSlTONCu Dy CdDt1ln
Philfps Lee. On the 2Sth General Butle
landed above Fort St. .Phillin, under, til
guns of the afi,sassiPp, and haneo. I'M
landing of the army above, together wit
the passage of the fleet, appears to have pu
the finishing stroke to the decentralization o
their carrison--3Oo having mutinied in For
Jackson.
Both forts surrendered TO Commodor
Porter. wbo was near at hand with tn
vessels crhis fotilla.
A. left the river, General Butler hat
.Irrisoned Forts Jackson and st. Phillip
and his transports, with troops, were on tn
way to occupy New Orleans. cannot to-
strongly express my admiration of the coo
and able management OF all the vessels O
my line by their respective captains. Aftc
we had passed the forts, it was a contes
between iron hearts in wooden vessels anC
iron-clads with iron beaks, and the "irol
hearts" won
On the Goth, the Cdyvgd Lioutcnat Com
manding Harrison, was selected to brin.
me home, bearer of dispatches to tn
Government
have the honor to be, very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
THEODORUS BAILEY, Captain.
Report Of Capt. Bailey, Of the Cayuga.