Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-10
idiutsns and Inspector Generals Omes.
Dr11,so1D NnvegREp ID 1p63

RICHMOND, NOVEMBER "a 1903.
General Orders, No. 1872.
u. A Court OF Enquiry having been convened at
jackson, Miss. by Special Orders, No A. from this
Office dated February Is, 1862, amended by SPECIAL
Orders No 49, OF February 20, 1868, to examine and
report the facts and circumstances attending the cap
ture of the city of New Orleans by the enemy, IN
April 1862 and the defence of the city by the Coined
crate troops under command of MAJ Gen. Mansfield
Lowell together with their opinion thereon and the
court having discharged the duty assigned them their
opinion is published for the benefit Of all whom 1t may
concern
II. OPINION OF THE CoURT.
The court having naturely considered the evidence
addueed, submit the following
OPINION
l. As against land attack by any force the enemy
could probably bring, the interior line of
as adopted and completed by Maj. Gen. Lowell,
sufficient defence of the city OF New Orleans but his
ability to hold that line against such an attack was
greatly impaired blythe withdrawal troB him, by su'
perior authority of nearly all bis effective troops
2. The exterior line, adopted and improved by him,
was we'll devised and rendered strong the means
of bis command allowed
| 3. Until the ironclad gun boats Louisiana and
Mississippi should be ready for service, it ndis
pensaby necessary obstruc the navigation OF the
| Mississippi River between Forts jackson ard st
Phillip. The raft completed under Gen. Lovels d.
rection was adequate for the purpose while in position;
bat it was swept away and left the river unmpeded,
either By Of It's construction, or
neglect in preventing tie accumulation OF DRIFT or De-
cause of insuperabe mechanical difficulties, as to which
this court feels unprepared to give an opinion zen
Lowell conmunca to the Government no opinion as
to the insecurity of the raft any apprehension that
It might be swept away, nor did he Immediately make
known that fact when it occurred. In this 1t IS con-
| sidered THAI he remiss in his duty.
4. When the raft swept away, Gen. Lowell With
great energy Immediately endeavored to replace It, and
partially succeeded but without fault on his part TINS
last obstruction broken by the careeSsness OF YES
sells Of the river defence ee" codlng with It. and by
fire RATS drifting against IT, and by the failure OF the
guard boats to pro ect it against night. expeditions o.
the enemy.
5. TIE non completion of the ir0nclad gun boats
Louisiana ard Mississippi made it inn ossIbe tor the
navy TO cooperate efficiently with Gen. Lowell
6. The called river defence fleet was wholly use
less of resistance to the enemy, for which
Gen. Lowell was in no wise responsible.
7. Under the existing circumstances, the passage o.
the forts by tie enemy8 fleet could not have been pre-
vented by General Lowell with any means under his
control aud the forts balm passed, the fall of New Or
leans inevitable, and its evacuation military ne
cessy.
s. When the fist raft was broken, and the danger
OF New Orleans thus became imminent, all nee esSary
preparation should have been made for removing the
public property and private property available for mil
ltary and when the second obstruction swept
away, the removal OF such property should have been
commenced Immediately. The failure to take these
timely steps caused the losses of property that occur
red but there comparatively bat little property
lost for which Gen. Lowell was responsible.
9. i e failure OF Gen Lowell to give proper orders
| to Brig Gen. Ii. L Smith for the retirement of his
comm and from GhaImette is not sui GENTLY planned
and is, therefore, regarded as serious
10. The proposition OF Gen. Lowell to return to \ CIV
| Orleans with his command not demanded by bis
duty soldier, involving it did the useless sacri-
fee Of himself and his troops though it explains Itself
upon the ground OF sympathy for the population and
natural sensitiyeness to their reproaches.
IL. Gen. Lowell displayed great energy and gu IN
firing industry in performing his duties His conduct
marked by all the coo!ness and selfposses8ion due
to the circumstances and his position and he evinced
high capacity Tor command, end the clearest foresight
in many of his measures for the defence OF New Or
! leans.
The court respectfully report that its assembly was
delayed by the failure Of its President to receive his
orders ia due tire and that session protracted by
the taking of testimony under the order of the War De
partzent to the conduct Of naval officers duty in
| Department No l. This order resciRded, thus
rendering useless ard irrelevant much of the labor of
the court The testimony referred to- although appear.
ing record not considered By the court in deter
mining its findings and opinion.
III. The Court of Inquiry in the foregoing case IS
hereby dissolved
! By order: s. COOPER;
Adiutant and Inspector. General.