The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-10

| The Great Federal Victory at New Or
icans-Progress or tho Revolutions TN
\ Naval Warfare.
We publish this morning full details of the
victory gained by our squadron at New Or
leans, than which, considering he obstacles
encountered, the novel character of some OF
the vessels employed by the rebels, and the
magnitude and Importance of the results reach
ed, no more memorable achievements stands re-
corded in the annals of naval warfare. Ever
since Louisiana cast off her allegiance 70 the
Union the most formidable preparations had
been made to render New Orleans impregnable
to the approach Of a federal feet. Every point
on the Mississippi river below the city was for
tilted in manner that led the rebels to enter
tain the fullest confidence in its defences. On
Forts Jackson and st. Philip were mounted
one hundred and seventy rifed sixty-eight
Founders brought from England. About
. quarter Of mile from the forts chain
was stretched, which il was calculated
would delay the attacking feet couple
Of hours, during which time il would DO ex-
posed to the fire Of all their batteries, several
Of which were prepared to discharge red hot
forts to the city ran q continuous succession Of
earthworks, and at Chalmette were redoubts
armed with rifled cannon the balls from which
were said TO be effective ut . distance
Of Ave miles In the two forts St. Philip and
Jackson were picked garrisons Of three thou
sand men, many Of whom were skilled artille-
rsts who had served in the navy. In addition
to all this the enemy had from fifteen to twenty
gunbeats, three iron rams and several IRON
plated floating batteries, and booms, torpedoes
chains, fire RATS and ships in any quantity.
Such were the obstacles that Commodore
Farragut had to encounter before he could hope
to make his way up 10 the city. Nothing
dauAtcd, he commenced the bombardment of
Fort Jackson on the 18th, and kept up most
destructive fire, without intermission, until the
principal vessels Of the squadron were pre-
pared to pass the forts, which they did on the
mosning of the Gath. On their way up they
riddled and disabled the famous ram, the Ma
nassas, which, floating down the river, was
again fred into and sunk by the fotilia under
Captain Porter. Then followed the destruction
Of thirteen gunboats and three transports be-
longing to the rebels, together with the loss OF
hundreds of lives on their side. On the 25th
at noon, two more batteries were silenced, and
in another hour the squadron lay quietly at
anchor near the city. Next day, the 2Gth,
couple of heavy field works located about nine
miles above New Orleans, were taken possess
sion Of by the federals, the enemy burning
the new ram, the Mississippi, mounting
twenty guns, to prevent her falling into
our hands. The Anglo-Nornan, another ram,
was also destroyed, though whether by the
rebels or by the fire Of our vessels is not stated
The floating battery which lay at Algers, OPP
posite New Orleans, was sunk on the same
day. General Butler landed his troops above
Fort ST Philip on the 9th, and on the day fol-
lowing both forts surrendered. The floating
battery Louisiana was blown UP previous 10
the capitulation. In the afternoon Forts Liv-
ingston and Pike were abandoned, aud thus
was completed the capture Of every point
of defence commanding the approaches to the
city. OF the rest our readers are already in
formed.
A more daring and brilliant series Of opera
tons than arc thus briefly skesched are not to be
found on record. Considering as we have
already observed, that new aud formidable
elemcnts-of defence were employed against US,
of which our officers had only a theoretical
knowledge, the boldness and dash displayed by
them arc beyond oil praise. The performances
of the Merrimac, with her iron prov, on the first
day Of her sortie in Hampton Roads, led them
to expect serious disasters in their encounter
with tie floating rams and iron-plased batteries
10 ~ har Df nh snt L.
to be prepared to receive them Instead Of
meeting with injury from them, some of our
wooden vessels succeeded in. destroying their
Monsters fact which proves, not that our pre-
vious conclusions in regard to the superiority
of iron-clad vessels arc erroneous, but that
Southern mechanical skill is unequal to the
task of properly constructing them.
This victory ut Now Orleans, all important
and decisive as it is, derives additional value
from the evidence that it presents us of the
real strength and power of o10 navy. If our
gunb3ats and mortar vessels can thus silence
forts and batter down defences that were
deemed impregnable by the highest engineer
authorities, what have we to fear in the future
from the hostility Of the maritime governments
Of Eurspei Not only are we in . position to
bid defiance to them on our own coasts, but to
carry the war into their colonial dependencies
II necessary. The American rebellion has been
fruitful in lessons and discoveries to the
European Powers. England and Spain have
wisely taken heed of them. Let France, more
reckless, take care she does not End trap in
Mexico. - LII se.ass
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.