The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-08
THE CAPTURE OF NEW OR
LEANS.
The War Department Very Imperfect
ChrOnicler Of the War.

ChrOnIcler Of the War.
HARTFORD, Ct, Sept 3-The Hon. Gideon
Welles, Secretary Of the Navy during the
Lincoln ADMINISTRATION, has written an article
published in the Times of this city in defense
of Admiral Farraeut as the capturer of New
Orleans. The article is in reply to state
ment in recent decision of the United States
Supreme Court, delivered by Justice Swayne
in the case of the City of New Orleans, ap-
pellant, VS.. The New York Mail Steamship
Company, in which the expression occurs:
50 On the first OF May, 1862, the army of the
United States captured the city of New Or
leans"
Mr.. Welles proves that the city was captured
by Farragut on the 25th of April, and held
by him until the arrival of troops He also
quotes from the records of the War De-
partment to show that repeated injustice has
been done to the admiral A chronological
record, published by the department, and
purporting to give record of all the events
of the war, does not contain Farraguts name,
and gives credit for the capture Of the forts
on the Mississippi River, below New Orleans,
under Farragut. The article concludes: 81
have felt it duty to the navy and
to the truth of history, and to most
distinguished hero of the war, to correct the
persistent misstatements which have been
and still are made in regard to the capture of
New Orleans, and to some of the attending
circumstances and events of that period. The
document which is sent out by the War De-
partment as chronological table of battles,
skirmishes, etc., which took place during the
rebellion, sis not truthful and reliable, so
much as it suppresses or fails to make men,
ton of some of the most important and con-
hokk nh ho1lx
omits the name of one of the most distin-
guished heroes Of the war"
The chronicles of the War Department are
correct in one particular, viz In stating that
Forts jackson and st. Philip were surrendered
to Com. Porter. The United States naval
forces were divided command. Com Far
ragut commanded the sloops-of-war Hartford,
Richmond, Pensacola and Mississippi, and
the gunboats. Com. Porter commanded the
twenty-one bomb vessels and the steamer
Harriet Lane
If our memory serves US, both holding the
same titular rank, the question of seniority
was then an unsettled question.
After the passage of the forts by most of
Farragut's fleet, that commander steamed up
to New Orleans as fast as possible in order to
get all the glory attendant upon the capture
of such a rich prize as the Crescent City.
Com. Porter remained below the forts with
his flagship and mortar vessels, together with
those gunboats which were prevented from
passing the forts.
Preparations were made at Fort Jackson,
such as the cutting of new embrasures and
the planting of cannon, to resist an attack
from up the river; but mutiny among
the troops, of which Sergeant Radetzki, (who
was killed few weeks ago in Colfax by ex-
Sheriff McCoy,) was the leader, rendered the
further defense Of the forts impossible; and
on the following day, at high noon, Gen.
Duncan and Lieut.. Col. Higgins in command,
surrendered Forts jackson and ST. Philip to
Com. Porter.
The Commodore informed Gen. d. at the
same time of the capture of New Orleans,
which report, to draw it mildly, was prema.
ture. Farragut's vessels did but little dam
age, comparatively, to the forts in passing,
owing to the fact that their guns were pointed
at least one-half degree too high; the dis
of the guns, the perforation of the
walls and coverings of the casemates, and
most of the injury to the garrison, were &C
by the terrible and incessant bonn
of Porter's 13-inch bombs, prior to
the passage of the forts by Farragut. Their
walls were built years ago, when such
heavy ordnance as is now in use
was not known, consequently they could
not Withstand the imp3ct of huge
Is and Is inch bombs and 9 and II inch she'll
The United States naval authorities knew this
well-hence Porters protracted lombard
ment, and Farragut's successful attempt
with his vessels running on an even keel and
their sides protected by festoons of chain
cables, to pass by these defenses.
Though Farragut placed the city under his
guns. and rendered it no longer tenable by
the Confederate authorities, the forts were
to Com. Porter, and he deserves
credit is DUE