Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-17
Operations OF General Butler at New
Orleans.

OtlSahS.
From the National Intelligencer.
The official report of Gen. Buffers share
in the expedition against New Orleans relates
the following material facts: In case the forts
had not reduced and portion of the fleet got
by them, it had been arranged, between the
flag officer and myself, that | should make a
landing from the gulf side, in the rear Of the
forts at the quarantine, and from thence at
tempt fort St Philip by storm and assault,
while tine bombardment was continued by the
fleet. | Immediately went to Sable Island
with my transports twelve miles in the'rear of
fort st. Philip the nearest point at which a
sufficient depth of water could be found for
them. Captain Porter put at my disposal the
Miami, drawing seven and half feet being
the lighteSt draft vessel in the fleet to take the
troops from the ship as far in as the water
would allow. We were delayed twentv-four
hours by her running ashore at Pass rOutre.
The 26th regiment Massachusetts volunteers.
Col. Jones, were then put on board her, and
carried within six miles Of the fort. where she
again grounded.
Captain Everett, Of the 9th Massachusetts
battery, having very fully accommodated the
waters and bayouS in that vicinity. and fore
seeing the necessity, l had collected and
brought with me some thirty boats, into which
the troops were again transhipped, and con-
veyed by most tatiguing and laboriouS row,
some four and half miles further-there be-
ing, within one mile of the steamer, only two
and half feet Of water. \ large portion of
TINS passage was against a heavy current
through bayou. At the entrance OF MameeTs
canal, a mile and half from the point of
landing, rowing became impossible. as well
from the narrOwness of the canal as the
strength of the pulrpDt which r,,, l;l,o , III
race. Through this the boats could only be
lmpelled by dragging them singly, with the
men up to their waists in water. 1t is due to
TINS 1lne regiment, and to portion of the 4th
Wisconsin volunteers and 2lst Indiana. who
landed under this hardship without murmur
that their labors should be made known to the
department, as well as to account for the slow
ness OF our operations. The enemy evidently
considered this mode Of attack impossible. rs
they had taken no measures to oppose it, which
might very easily have been successfully done.
We occupied at once both sides of the river.
thus etfectually cutting them off from all sun
pies information, or SuccOr. while we made
our dispositions for the assault
Meantime, Capt. Porter had sent into the
bayou, in the rear of fort jackson. two
schoonerS Of his mortar fleet to prevent the
escape OF the enemy from the fort in that di-
rectlon. On the night of the 9th. learning
that the fleet had got the city under its gums
l LEFT Brig. Gen. Williams in charge Of the
landing OF the troops, and went up the river to
the nag ship to procure light draft transporta-
uoh' nat night the larger portion (about
two hundred and fifty Of the garrison of fort
jackson mentioned, spiked the guns bearing
up the river, came up and surrendered them
selves to my pickcts, declaring that as we had
got In their rear resistance was useless. and
they would not be sacrificed No bomb had
been thrown at them for three DAYS, nor had
they fired shot at Us from etherfor. They
ayened that they had been impressed and
would fight no longer. On the 18th the Off
GERS Of forts jackson and st. Philip surrender
ed to Capt. Porter, he having means of water
transportation to them.
have taken possession of the forts and
find them substantially as defensible as before
the bombardment-St. Philips precisely so. if
being quite uninjurcd. They are fully pro-
yisioned, well supplied with ammunition. and
the ravages of the shells have been defensi-
bly, repaired by the labors of the rebels.
will cause Lieut.. Wietzel of the engineers, to
make detailed report Of their condition to
the department. | have left the twenty-sixth
regiment Massachusetts volunteers in garri-
son, and am now going up the river to occupv
''N NY WIN ny tlpOpS; anu make further
demonstrations in the rear Of the enemy now
at Corinth. propose so far to depart from
the letter of my instructions as to endeavor to
persuade the flag officer to pass up the river
as far as the mouth Of Red river, if possible.
so as to cut off their supplies, and make there
landing and a demonstration in their rear as
diversion in favor Of Gen. Buell., if a deci
siye battle is not fought before such move
ment is possible. Mobile is ours whenever
we chose, and we can better wait.
lind the city under the dominion of the
mob They have insulted our fag-torn if
down with indignity. This outrage will be
punished IN such a manner as inmy Judgment
VIII caution both the perpetrators and abettors
OF the act so that they shall fear the stripes if
they do not reverence the Stars Of our ban
ner, | send marked copy of Il New Orleans
paper containing an applauding account of the
outrage.