Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-24
g. s. NAVY DEPARTMENT, }

OFFICE OF ORDERS AND DETAIL,
Richmond, Dec "a, 1862. J
! Sir: By order of the Secretary of the NAVY YOU
are hereby appointed President of Court of Inquiry
be convened in this city the 9Th day of January
next.
Captain s. S. Lee and Commander Rob't G. Robb
have been ordered to report TO You and with Yourself
will compose the Court.
MIR. George Lee Brent will report to you as recer-
der.
You will enquire into the whole official conduct of
Commander John K. Mitchell, G. S. Navy, while in
command of the steamer louisiana" and in charge Of
the vessels of the Conf derate States Navy at and be-
low New Orleans aud report the to this Depart
ment, with your opinion whether the said officer did, or
did not do all IL bis power sustain the honor of the
flag, and prevent the enemy from ascending the Msss
sppi River, and If he did ICt TO what extent did be
| fail to do 50.
Respectfully your obedent servant,
T. FORREST,
Chief of Bureau.
| Flag Officer SAM'L BARRON, C. S. n.
| Commanding, &C., James River Va.
FINDING.
"1hat Commander Mitchell assumed command of
the Louisiana New Orleans the 10Th April, 1862
and from that time until the destruction of the vessel
only period of eight days embraced.
q" hat the whole force under his command consisted
of the louisiana the McRae, the Manassas, the Jack
son, and one launch.
THAT on the day after he took command, Captain
Mitchell descended the river Mississippi in the Louisi
ana and took up position on the left bank of the
river, about half mile above Fort ST. Philip
"That on leaving New Orleans the machinery OF the
Louisiana was incomplete, her motive power imperfect
and her battery improperly mounted.
THAT she could not, fair trial stem the current
OF the Mississippi with her motive power aided by
two steam tugs.
Chat every exertion was made by Commander Mitch
ell the officers aud mechanics to get the louisiana
in proper state OF efficiency for the doience ST the pas
sage of the river and that the defects in the mounting
of the battery had been remeaed and the battery
| with he v 4,upc
out of place.
at appears that request, order, sent by Gen.
DUNCAN commanding Fort Jackson, to Commander
Mitchell, to change the position of tbs Louisiana to
point lower down stream which by council of officers
unanimously deemed impracticable, and to GER
tain extent impossible, account Of the great depth
of water, and that such change OF position would
danger the safety of the louisiana That in tbs posi-
ton Gen. Duncan desired the Louisiana to assume, she
would have been in range of the mortar boats of the
enemy, and perfectly helpless, inasmuch she could
not give her guns than five 5 degrees elevation;
not enough to reach the enemy
That the best disposition possible made of the
vessels under the command of Commander Mitchell to
resist the passage of the enemy
THAT the Oath April the enemy appeared, and
his passage hotly contested BY the louisiana the
McRae, and the Manassas. That the jackson was
previously sent up the river to guard certain passes
and the Launch down the river to signal the approach
OF the enemy, and that they took no part in the
tight.
That every possible resistance was offered by the
vessels mentioned to the passage of the enemy up the
river.
That at time the louisiana able to leave
her moorings and pursue the enemy, from want of suf
fcient motive power.
chat the interval between the passage ofthe enc
N.Y. and the destruction of the Louisiana, -four days
was employed in completing the machinery, to render
her more able to cope with the enemy and that it
Commander Mitchels intention to make attack,
when the Louisiana capable OF doing SO.
g Thn% oC10r ahLH xuHn ho han ri ~
Gen. Duncan, in comm nd OF FCrt Jackson had &C
ceped the terms Of surrender offered the day before by
Capt Porter, D. S. n, demonstrated with Gen. Dun
CAM against such course but told it too late
as the flag of truce boat had already been sent.
"That the enemy appeared in overwhelming force,
and that at the time it determined in cou0c to
destroy the Louisiana the position of affairs fol-
lows there from ten 10 fourteen large vessels OF
Flag Officer Farraguts feet above the Louisiana aud
the mortar heet and gunboats of Capt. Porter we're
below. Two vessels OF the enemy, with white flags
flying coming up the river in sight to accept the
surrender OF Forts jackson and St Philip, which had
white flags flying in answer to them.
THAT the Louisiana could not from where she
moored to the bank could she he the boats
with flags of truce flying and in short time the Forts
would be in the hands OF the enemy, aud the L0u lana
would be between them.
1t was then unanimously determined in a council
of officers to destroy the Louisiana, it the only
left to prevent her from falling into the hands
the enemy.
LIS INSTRUCTION Was tH1cteu uDEGT
direction and supervision of Commander Mitchell, in
orderly and deliberate manner, and every prfcaution
"as taken to ensure the safety 0i bis men,
OPINION.
And the court is OF opnoo FROM all the evidence
adduced, that Commander Mitchell did all in his power
to sustain the honor of the ag aud TO prevent the
my from ascending the Mississippi River and that bis
conduct and bearing throughout the period Of ha
vice while in command of the vessels of the Navy for
the defence OF the Mississippi River under the trying
and embarrassing circumstances under which he was
placid was all that could be expected by the country
and the naval service of capable and gallant officer
S. BARON, Flag Officer,
President of the Court.
GEO LEE BRENT, Recorder.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, March II, 1863. |
Proceedings and finding approved. Office of Orders
and Detail will dissolve the court
S. R. MALLORY,
Sec'y of tue Navy.
G. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT
Office of Orders and Detail,
Richmond, March Is, 1868.
Flag Officer s. BARREN, Commanding &c.
Sir The Naval Court of Inquiry on Commander
Mitchell of which you the presiding officer is hereby
dissolved.
This court convened in this city on the 5:h day OF
January and has been continued thus long in ssion
1t. Col. Edward Higgins who summoned to ap-
pear before it witnesses, by orders from the War
Department.
Learning that one of these gentleman 1t. Col Hig-
gins cannot be spared from his present command and
that Gen. Lowell has made answer to the summons
from the War Department, although they have been
than two months since summoned again and again,
there is no course LETT but to dissolve the court which
is done accordingly and you will so inform the members
he Tu6po Adpncato