, 1862-05-01
THE FLEET BELOW NEW Or
LEANS.
Its Entrance of the River and Ap.
prQach to the FnrtA.


proach to the Forts.
Correspondence dated 18th } N, YEv-. Post.1
The great Gulf fleet has already passed the
bar of the Mississippi, and is now before forts
Jackeon and st. Phillip, the grinniug Cerbe1i
which guard the entrance to the HAdes Of Se-
cessia, The feet is splendid one, and during
my cruise in the Connecticut I hare enjoyed
ample opportunities Of examining it. The
fag-ehip Hartford is the ocean home Of Com
modore Farragut, who, however, has, with
untl1ipE activity, been cons .autIy running
around in little boat from one vessel to an
other, comforting with the different command
ers and cheering the waiting crews with
Them yarns to spin indefinitely after the war is
over, and Jack is iounging around the forecas-
tie and almost wishing that the piping tune of
peace had not came quite SO soon.
After the Hartford came the 6loops- of war
Pensacola, Richmond and Brooklyn, and the
old vessel Mississippi vcritable old var sea- M
horee-armed with heayier guns, borrowed
from the Colorado. These vessels constitute
most formidable arm of assault. They are
probably provided with guns as no vessels
were before; besides the usual complement of
twenty-six guns, ho,ei'zers are placed in tAe
fops. [Ihe first cross piece on the mast
Ens.J BESIDES these there are the 3roauois,
Oneida, Verona {of twelve guns), Miami, and
the calling sloop-oi-war Portsmouth, which is
towcd by the Mississippi. who has taken her
under her special care: Then came the gun
boats Wissahiehon, Ninona, Owaska, I,asco.
Pino1a, Kcnnenec, sciota, Cay Katahd.n'
and another whose name at this minute can.
net recall.
Porters mortar feet is a little Armada Of it,
stH The Spanish Armada, if I remember
Alright, consisted Of somewhere about one hun
drtd and thirty vessels, and Porter has no less
tlsn swcnty-ono bomb schooners, laden with
dra'h'desolng mortars-llnplemcnts of war,
fer one Of Which the leaders of the old Spauish
Arnlada would hare barterrd dozen Of their
best vessels. These mortar schooners would,
however, bc very much like an umbrella with.
out b. ndle, or bow without 4 string, we're
i not 'or the three ferry boats Clifton, Vest
ieldsand jackson, which are doing the State
more service down here than ever they did on
the Staten Island route. They tow the slug
sieh scloouers about, acceleratin5 their mo-
tiont degree which quite amazes the heavy
!ndep craft, il they be sensible OF a1lazcnent
One Of these ferry boats cau tow two or three
OF the mortar vessels at time.
The mortar fleet is divided into three diyis-
lo1s, known respectively as the Red, White
and Blue. The Harriet Lane is Com. Porter's
1as.ship.
Before arrived in these waters the feet had
begun the great work of entering the Missls-
sfppi. Those only familiar with the Hudson
know little Of the difficulties Of the task.
T: The Mississippi river consents to leave seces-
promise, and In the shape of huge deposit
Of saud, the famous bar which ship-n2steTs
ehoH er so many fmprecattons on. The fleet.
eDsercd the river By the Southwest Pass.
There had BEEN some intention OF trying to
reach New Orleans BY way Of Lake Poncdas-
trim, but the enemy became prema-
turrly advised Of the plan and 80 1t
WAS abandoned, and the Southwest Pass
essaycd. The water was 80 shallow that the
larger VESSELS could not pass, and the cannon,
anchors nnd almost every rnoycaale article on
f1flr Ian i =
Brooklyn were transferred to light schooners.
The h.lvy war vessels thus li,,h,eacd sailed
trfrmphaDt}y over The bur, And re e.sh,ppcd
;h.ir armament higher up. The Colorado.
being too heavy, was left outside, Tue PASS.
ing OF tho har occupied snrnc three weeks.
the last vessel crossing only the day before
the Connecticut sailed from the mouth Of the
Pasees.
The first vessels which passed the bar taok
possession Of the deserted village Of Pilot
Town, which IN the flush days Of Louisiana
vas fsvnrlte waterlng-pIace, the Long
Brsnch OF New Orleans The p1ace was de-
serted. and the spacious hotel WAS at once oc-
cup1sd by our surgeons, and fitted up as q
hospital
AS The fleet lay in the river waiting for coal,
some time, pickle. Vessels we're sent two miles
ah. sd TO notify Us If tho rebels should send
down burning rats, OF other unpleasant mes>
eepgers. One day the pickets reported rebel
lleet Of seven vessels coming down. 4 few
Federal vessels gave chase, and the rebel
steamers took to their heels, or rather to their
| {raddJe) wheels. Five were soon ont Of sight
behind the forts, and the othe: just escaped
| The last, however, was not SO lucky. Seeing
our Vessels gaining Oh them. tho laggard ran
! 10 shore, was set on fire and deserted She
| was good sized steamer.
| five take Forts ct. Phillip a1d Jackson there
| is lille TO prevent our feet from going di-
| 1ecfiy up to the city, as Fort Lcon Ia Of no
account The rebels have stretched a chain
| across the rtrer just below the forts. It Ia
supported by four hatks laden with cotton to
! avoid destruction. This chain Is q nuisance,
bnt We hope that we eau silence the forts
first, and then cut the chain At our leisure,
Our men are al ready for the conflict.
B Col Charles WFhittlesey' Of the 3oth
Ohio, who commanded a brigade 1t P1.tsburs
Landing, has tendsred his resignation, tol
/ tanses not statad