The New York herald., 1871-01-11
TRUTH WILL OUT.
Official Dispatches from Admiral Farragut to
the Navy Department.
ADMIRAL PORTsa'S CONDUCT INDICATED
Testimony Regarding His Operations Be.
low aud Above New Orleans.

i
| TO THE EpIroR or THE HERALD:-
Asa correspondent who signs himself 3D." has
attacked Admiral Porter In the columns OF your
paper and has put words mat never could have been
uttered In the mouth of Admiral Farragut enclose
some letters from Admiral Farragut ana others
which Will vindlcate the truth OF history and dis
prove everything that "B' has advanced. The only
result Of these attacks on Admiral Porter viii be to
recall to the minds OF the people the prominent part
he took In ali 'tne late unpeasantness.n
RECORDS OF THE WAR.
LETTERS FROM ADMIRAL FARRAGuT TO SECRETARY
wEILES.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HARTFoRD,(
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, April q, 1852
Strive commenced the bOmbardmeDt OF Fort
Jackson on the 18th. which the earliest day pos
citadel was set on Are aud burned until two O'Clock
the next morning; On the l7th we made but little
dismounted one OF their heavy columbiads and
otherwise appeared to damage them, and drove the
men from tho parapet guns, so that they only APP
tho bombardment TO draw the fire from the bomb
vessels. On the lath q deserer came to US from
stated above, and much other information In
rson to the Armament the fors and
Commander Bell last evening TO destroy the chain
and raft across the river; but the current was 80
quence OF one Of his gunboats getting shore and
| were firing on them all the time.
Commander Porter, however, Kept up such q tre-
mendous nre on them from the mortars that the
emys shot did the gunboats no Injury and the cable
sufficiently to pass through on the left bank OF the
river. The petard operator failed TO re his pctards
| the full destruction OF the chain aud the vessels;
but great allowance Is to be made for the violence OF
Contend with since our srryaf IN the rver nau
'''''' "'''' '' ~ Flag onicer FARRAGUT.
To Hon. g. WELLES. Secretary OF the Navy.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HARTFORD, !
SIR the honor to inform the department that
on the 24th instant, at ABOUT halfpast three A. NJ,
little feet, while Commander Porter most galanty
bombarded them, and, besides, took them IN the
Such IRE, imagine, the world has rarely seen;
but. thank God. we got past the forts with
Sss Of only aa 1sa aer ana eggax
10 Secretary WELLEs.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HARTFORD,
AT ANCHOR OFF New ORLEANS, May 8 1902.
The fire became general, the smoke
dense, and we had nothing 10 aim at but the fash OF
tneir guns 1t very difficult to distinguish friends
moved up to certain point on the Fort jackson side
with his gunboas, and had assigned the same post
the water batteries to the southward and eastward
OF Fort Jackson while his mortar vessels poured q
| terrific fire OF shells into 1t. On the even
ing of the 10Th Captain Bailey arrived from below
with the gratifying intelligence that the forts had
surrendered M to Commander Porter, and had deiiy-
and that the navy had been made TO surrender un-
conditionally, as they had conducted themselves
with bad faith, burning ana sinking their vessels
while flag OF truce was iying aud the forts nego-
ttating for their surrender and the Louisiana, their
| great iron-cad battery, blown up almost alongside
Of the vessel where they were negotiating. :
To Secretary wEILrs detailed report
GENERAL ORDER OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUr.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HAgrFoRp,l
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, April 20 1852. I
The nag oflcer, having heard all the opinions OK.
that whatever Is to be done Will have to be done
| quickly, or we Will be again reduced to u bockad-
bombardment, as we have nearly expended all the @
shells aud fuzes and material Tor making cartridges.
He has always entertained the same opinions which
are expressed by Commander Porter-that is, that
there are three modes OF atiack-and the question
is, which is the one to be adopted. r,pn.err
Flag officer West Gulf Bloekading Squadron.
LETTER OF REDDI. MILITARY COMMANDER CAPTURED
IN FORT JACKSON.
Fort JACKSON. La, April %, 1882.
CAPTAIN-YOur note OF thls date relative to the
steamy Louisiana, the forwa:dness Of ner prepara-
&C, has been received. II IS OF vital Importance
that the present fire Of the enemy should be with.
drawn from us, which you alone can do. This can
be done IN the manner suggested this morning
under the cover Of our guns, while your work on
the boat can still be carried on In safety and
security. Our position is critical one dependent
entirely on the powers Of endurance OF our case
tered and are crumbling away by repeated SHOCKS,
and, therefore, ! respectfully but earnestly again
urge my suggestions OF TINS morning upon your
respectfully, Your obedIent servant. ls's
J. K. DUNCAN, Br:eadler General
CAPTAIN ]. K. MITCHELL commanding naval forces
Lower Mississippi river.
EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF LIEUTENANT CoMMANpER
WAINWRIGHT.
UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE,l
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, April 25, 1S62 I
In conclusion you must permit me to
render the humble tribute Of my admiration to the
played during the arduous and perous duty so gal
anty performed for the last six days by the mortar
AOtii Epph nt fat RI ofucy
the confidence OF those under your command In the
glorious success which has attended their eXertions,
hs Do RI 80 ws
most obedlent servant,
Commander DAVID D. PORTER, commanding
Mortar Flotilla.
CoNGRATULAT0RY LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT. May TO- 1862.
SR-Your despatch Of April 30, enclosing the arti.
cles Of capltulaton Of Forts Jackson and ST. Philip,
Dardment OF LA consecutive hours by the mortar
notllla, has been received.
taken In the two forts on that occasion, including
the original one holsted on Fort ST. Philip when the
seeded from the Union, which have been sent for
ward 10 the department. The important part
mortar hoiia and the movement on New orleans
has identified your name with ono OF the most brill
assistance with the notiila Is Flag Oaiccr FarraSt
much indebted for the successful results he has ac
complished. To yourself and the officers ana sea-
men OF the mortar aotilla the department extends
Its congratulations. l am, respectfully, &C.,
GIDEON WELLES
Commander DAVID D. PORTER commanding
United states Mortar Flotilla Cuff OF Mexico.
FLAG OFFICER FARRAGUrs REPORT OF THE ACTION
OF JUNE Is, 1862, AT vIcKSBURG.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HARTFORD
ABoyR VIcKsBuRG, Miss, July 2, 1852.
SIR-In obedience TO the orders OF the department
and the command Of the President proceeded back
to Vicksburg with the Brooklyn. Richmond and
Hartford, with the determination to carry out py
instructions to the best OF my ability. Ny difficulties
and expenses In getting coal aud provisions up the
river have been very great and 1t has only been
complished by great exertiens On the part OF Cap
tain H. W. Morris, aided by the army. Captain D.
ID. P0rter's mortar Utllla which was deemed lndis.
pensabe to shell out the heights, nad also to be
tewed up. all this caused great delay; but
by the steady exerti0ns OF that officer
and the assistance OF all In whose power II