Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-16

7
tScir liberty: but in Gpl;c ut their eitJrss, tho
shins OF the enemy have boon able to aVold
them. and now tfercalen tho CITY. In view
Of this contingency, Gail on you 20 DO calm,
| ~ meet the enemy. not with submlsslrcccSs,
nor with indecent alscr!ty; but II tho military
sIhorities are unable longer to defend you,
to ,,xait with hope and confidence the lnevita'
ble moment when the valor Of your sons and
of your fellow countrymen will achieve your
deliycrance | Shall roman among you, to
nro,ect YOU and your property, so fir IS my
bower or authority as Ohet Magistrate can
avail. JoaS l. MONROE mayor
At about ten o'clock the Federal ships mp.
peared in sigh. off the Chslmette batteries
about 6pe miles below tho city. From the
top Of thu City Hall, they were distinctly
visible as they came on delivering their broad
sides in passing the batteries. II must De
remarked that these works were not intended
for river defence, but constituted the tanks OF
lines of infantry redoubts, constructed TO gusrd
against e land assault They mounted few
twenty-iours and thirty-twos, the n!e OF Ehlch
though well delivered and well sustained
while The ammunition lasted, was totally IN
cffectual against the heavy SHIPS cpposef TO
theru While this engagement Was IN pro-
s.ess, Mayor Monroe remarked that It was
time 10 raise the flag, saying a. IN" same Time
that lie had been thu first mau to elevate 1t
and would DO tho last to take it down. The
Louisiana flag, the only ono belong ng 10 Inc
city government, was then ho!stcd upon the
Div Hail whore i. noslcd for five days,
| haunting defiance in the faco o! p powerful
fleet, lyl,c within point blank range, with its
guns threatening destruction upon the ohdu,ate
city. Passing the lower batteries, the ships
| came up the river under full Roadway, the
| Hartford leading, then the Brooklyn, tho
Richmond, the Pensacola and six gunboats.-
Ga and on they came until they had extended
their line from the stock landing to the bar
racks, distance OF about five miles, taking
positions at intervals Of about 900 yards apart
In tne meantime the scene within tho city
was Of the most extraordinary character
The troops were marching through the streets
| to their place of rendezvous at the jackson
railroad depot; the Confederate regiment en-.
camped in Lafayette Square aud Anpunciaton
Square, was formed and despatched to tho de-
pot CARTS drays, vehicles of all descriptions
| laden with the multifsrious articles constltu-
ting the parsphcrnalia and implements Of war.
| fare, while officers on horseback and
officers on foot were hurrying hlther
and ththor, giving orders, receiving orders,
| executing orders Here vas 70 no seen
gaoping along Gen. Lswis, Maior General Of
tac State militia with his staff; there General
Lowell and his aids mere were crowds OF wo>
mcn aud children rushing about with parcels
of sugar buckets of molsSses, and packages Of
provis,ons, pundnrcG from the public stores !;
there went rumbling along hugo loads OF
cotton on is way to Toe levee 10 be consumed
| in full view Of the invaders. When the Fod
eral feet turned the point, and came III sight
OF the city, spectacle was presented which no
une of those on board can ever forgot, and which
must have impressed ali Of them with the
hopelcssnes of their mission OF suh)Ugatlon. -
| Vast cuiuluns oil smoke ascended 10 the sky,
darkening tae face OF heaven, and obScurins
the rooll.day SUM- for five miles aorg tho lsvee
fierce flames darted through the lur,d atmos
pnere, their Daleiul glare struggling in rivalry
wtn the sunlight; great ships and steamers,
wrapped in fire, hoated down the river, threat.
enng the Federal vessels with destruction by
thslr fiery contact 1t was the Offering of
d resoluio people On the altar of liberty
la front Of tue various presses, and i. other
points along tho levee, tho cotton had boon
| p!lel Up AID submitted to the torch But
this constituted scarcely 1.-THE Of the mate.
rial now embraced in the awful conisgratlon.
About dozen large river steamboats,, twelve
| or tifteon ships, somo OF them laden With cot
ton, great floating battery, several unfinished
gunboats, tho immense ram, The Mississippi,
and the docks 90, the other side of the river,
we're al embraced in The fiery sacrifice. Az
the vessels burned, they broke from their
fas,enags and fioated down ths river--soemn
messengers Of disappointment to the invaders.
In the meantime an immense COZ mrs, oil
people hsd assembled on the leyee to witness
tho arrival Of tho enemy, and to give vent to
their feelings in groans Of rage and dttanca
for the invader and tremendous cheers for
jeff Davis and the Southern Coniederacy.-
These demonstrations, coming from all classes
of tho population, were mistaken by the de-
ludsd Fcderas for manifestations Of delight a:
the sight Of the "ald ass" A worry briet es
peronce Of the temper and sentiments OF the
people among whom they had come, convinced
them OF their error. At this mcment, the Mayor
and number Of citizens, were waiting, at tho
City Hail. for the expected summons from Flag
Officer Farraeut, VINO was understood to be
in command OF the hostile feat An a.!
Of General Lowell had waited on tho Mayor
with statement that General L. desired 10
Gee hin in relation TO arrangements tor sur
render The Mayors answer was, that this
was entirely useless, M ha intended 10 so
through no such ceremony Us surrender Of
the city. 1t must be remarked, however, that
subsequently, during al interview with the
Mayor ct the City Hall, General Lowell told
him that if summons should be gent, he Gen.
l. J would respond to the demand in person :;
that be would be at the Jackson Railroad depot
experimenting the shipment of his troops !;
that be should evacuste tho city, bu; still re-
rla,ned in command that be should not sur
render anything; that on withdrawing be
should turn over the city to the Mayor to act
as be might deem expedient; and that he nd
vised tho Mayor not 10 surrender, not to haul
down the flag; but to force the enemy TO per-
| form that ceremony for themselves. At one
O'clock a boat arrived at the levee, bearing
| Capt BailY, second in command of the feet.
and his son. These officers proceeded to the
City Hall, whittier they were followed by an
Infatuated multitude, who could with difficulty
| be restrained from inf!cting personal violence
upon them. Attic City Hall, in the streets,
on the steps arr nrllic0, around tho doors OF
the Offices, an immense crowd assembled who
gave utteranco to the most emphatic expressions
Of hste and rage and defiance agsinst these
| emlssarles Of an execrated government On
achieving admittance to the Mayors parlor,
| Capt Bslly introduced himself to The Mayor,
and announced tho object Of his mission
He said hc bad come, under the inst: uc,ions Of
Flag Officer Fsrragut, conmsndinS the Unted
States squadron then lying 10 the river. to do
maud the surrender of the city of New
Orleans, the removal Of the flag flying ever
the City Hail, and the raising vi the Uaitod
States flag over the Mint, Post Office and Gus
tom House. The Mayor replied TINT Genera
Lowell, commanding tho Confederate forces
was in the city, and that the communication
must be addressed TO him as to the flag, DO
would not take it down. Captain Bs,ly said
that his mission was to the Mayor md Coun-
ell, and bis demand peromptory. Tho Mayor
r.joiued that he would return no reply 80 long
| ~ Cnparol Torn11 pnJ in p,,pp,o