The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-23

Of twenty-three steamers and one sailing
frigate while Com. Porter had. under MIN
twenty-one seho0ners, each armed Wild enlr-
teen-inch mortar. Brig Gen. j. *. Duncan,
formerly distinguished artillery officer OF the
United States army, was in command OF both
forts: Lieut.. Col. Edward Higgins, an accom-
plshed officer, late of the United States navy,
was In immediate command OF Fort jackson,
while the gallant Capt. Squires, OF the First
Louisiana Artillery. had charge OF Fort st.
Philip.
APRIL NINTH.
On this day, while our working parties were
busiIy engaged in mounting guns and other
wise strengthening the defenses, q brisk
cannonading was heard from the direction Of
the passes. The long roll was sounded and
all went quickly to quarters. The firing
sounding nearer and nearer, we knew that
the Federals were in pursuit Of our reconnoit-
ering steamer, large, unarmed towboat
called the Star, so we loaded several of the
heavier guns and stood ready to protect her
and give the enemy's vessels warm recep-
ton II they should come within range In q
short time the Star was deserted steamlDg
very rapidly round the Point Of Woods,
pursued by two gunboats, which were hrlng
from their bow chasers as fast as they could
be loaded. The chase was avery exciting one,
the enemys shells bursting above and
around the Star, and we momentaTliy ex-
pected to see her struck and disabled, for, be-
ing high-pressure boat, her machinery ana
boilers were all on deck and unprotected; but
the old craft kept ON her course, and soon
found safe refuge under the guns OF the
fort.
The two pursuing gunboats had the temer-
ity to come within range of our heaviest guns,
which soon made it too warm for them, and
they disappeared behind the point This was
Farraguts first reconnaissance.
APRIL TENTH.
To-day the raft of schooners extending
across the river was badly damaged by the
prevailing high Winds which, damage was
greatly increased by several fire RATS"
breaking loose from their moorings and drift
ing against 1t, parting the chain cables and
scattering several of the schooners. This
was regarded as great calamity, for we had
depended upon this raft to be the means of
OBTAINING the enemy's ships under our fire
long enough to seriously damage them
Nothing of interest occurred until the thir-
tenth. In the meantime the garrison was
busily engaged In Strengthening the defenses
as much as possible.
APRIL THIRTEENTH.
During this day the Federal gunboats came
In sight at frequent intervals to make Obser-
vations. They would show themselves singly
or In pairs, keeping close to the opposite
shore; they would throw few shells at Fort
Jackson, to which we would respond, when
they would retire Our sharpshoOteTs at the
point annoyed them considerably, but could
not effect as much as was expected of them,
owing to the high water in the swamps pre-
venting them from obtaining good positions
the men being, in most cases, up to their
waists in water. The Federals were much ex-
asperated by the whistling OF Rebel minnies
about their heads, so they hauled off to safe
distance, and spitefully sheled the woods
which contained the blood thirsty sharpshoot-
ers, doing, however, no other damage than to
tear and mutilate the gigantic live oaks
which there abounded
APRIL FOURTEENTH.
Finding that the sharpshooters at the point
would greatly annoy him while placing his
ship and mortar vessels In position, the enemy
determined to dislodge them; SO he brought
up several Of his gunboats and passed most
of the day in pouring into the woods furious
storm of grape, canister and spherical case.
He finally succeeded in driving the sharp
shooters out. They were brought to the fort,
and, their services not being needed at any
other point, most Of them were sent up to the
city, to their great joy and relief. These men
were amateur rifle shots from New Orleans
merchants, lawyers, doctors, etc.-who came
down here with exalted ideas Of their skill
and prowess with the rifle; they we're unused
to privations and hardships, and their four
days soiouTn in the swamp made many Of
them sick, and all of them disguised with
that kind of service. When they returned
they we're in pitiable plight; many had lost
their shoes in the tenacious mud, their clothes
were soiled and torn, and their warlike ardOr
seemed to be considerably cooled by their ex-
pertence by flood and field"
APRIL FIFTEENTH.
The excitement increases as the movements
OF the enemy show that the day OF trial and
conflict draws near. The hostile ships all
came out OF the passes into the river, and ex-
tended from the point to the head of the
passes. Early on the morning of the six
teenth three OF the gunboats opened on Fort
jackson, some OF our guns responded and
soon made it too hot for the Feds, who retired.
Several times during the day this man9uvre
was repeated, and in the afternoon, under
cover OF heavy fire, two mortar vessels we're
brought out into the stream, within plain
sight OF our gunners, but barely within range
oil the largest guns. These saucy schooDers
continued to throw their ponderous globes of
iron at Fort jackson for nearly two hours,
when some of our shells falling In dangerous
proximity to them, they rejoined the fleet.
In this little encounter the inferior quality
OF our ammunition was very apparent, our
powder not being Strong enough to prevent
our shells from falling short Of the proper
range OF the guns.
During the day Com. Porter was busily en-
gagged In placing his mortar fiotilla in posi-
ton. The schooners were placed close against
the right bank OF the river, behind the woods,
and their masts were covered with leaves and
bOughs TO prevent our discovering their loca-
ton.
Early in the morning of the seventeenth,
before daylight, a fire raft was successfully
sent down the river; it drifted right among
AAao CAOAp hV5by anu RIphL COLL
motion, and it was with the greatest difficulty
the Feds prevented their mortar vessels from
catching fire. The result of this experiment
showed that these RATS, if they had been
skillfully handled during the bombardment,
would have proved exceedingly annoying, ii
not destructive to the enemy.
COMMANDMENT COMMENCED.
On April IS Good friday at o'clock a. M,
the distant booming Of q heavy gun told us
tnat the lOng-expected bOmbardment had
commenced. The first mortar shell fell within
Fort yackson-a striking proof of the skill of
the Federal gunners, and of the accuracy of
the calculations of the United States engin-
GERS. Shell followed shell in rapid succession, |
falling within the fort with almost invariable
When these ponderous missiles fell |
on the ramparts or the parade plain they
sunk into the earth distance Of six or eight |
feet, and exploding would tear hole in the |
earth large enough to admit abarrel; when |
they struck the brickwork OF the fort the |
cracking noise produced was almost stunning |
In its effect, and the bricks and mortar would |
ny In all directions. | saw poor fellow, who |
had narrowly escaped from being crushed by |
q falling shell. running AWAY from The nIace |