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

eomplimented In the most fIattering terms the
conspicuous gallantry displayed by officers
and men In defense Of the forts announced
that New Orleans had formally surrendered
| 70 Farragut (which was then untrue) declared
Jnat 1t would lead to a useless expenditure of
nloOd TO attempt further defense, and offer
| ing the most favorable terms to the garTisons
should they capitulate. This demand was
also declined, our commander declaring his
intention tge, to defend the forts to the last.
throughout the bombardment the conduct
| OF the rank and file of the garrison of Jack
son was admirable; they had proved them
| serves excellent soldiers-bTave in action and
ODedlent 10 orders, displaying marked energy
and consistency in the performance OF their
protracted la6ors. While under the excite
ment OF actual conflict they had manifested q
cheerful, confident and enthusiastic spirit;
but after the enemy's ships had succeeded in
passing, many became respondent and Surly,
which was not surprising, when the low m oral
status OIL many Of them is taken into eonsid-
Grafton. Gen. Duncan attempted to arouse
their tagging zeal by issuing a spirited and
encouraging address.
Late in the day laundress attached to one
OF the companies, who had been sent to the
quarantine station just before the lombard
ment returned to the fort, and though not
permitted to come on shore, managed to in
form one OF our pickets that the city had
positively surrendered. This intelligence
spread quickly through the garrison, pro-
men. Shortly before midnight. at
GIVEN SIGNAL,
the men fell into line on the parade plein
under the command of their sergeants. They
were ordered by their commissioned officers
to go to their quarters, which they positively
refused to do, declaring their determination to
light no longer. In explanation of their con-
duct they stated that Gen. Duncan and Col.
Higgins had declared that they would fight
the forts to the last; that the city had capt.
ulated, that the enemy were about to attack
by land and water, and that a further de-
tense would result only in a butchery, Every
possible effort was made by the officers to in
duce these men to return tOduty; force could
not be used, for there were only thirty-seven
officers, while the mutineers numbered about
400. The St Marys Cannoneers, who were
loyal to the core, were quartered outside the
fort. That they might not come to the assis-
lance OF the officers, the mutineeFs had raised
the drawbridge and placed strong guard at
the sal1y-pOrt, thus cutting off all commune
cation with those In the fort. A strong party
went on the ramparts and spiked the guns
that bore up the river, to prevent the officers
from firing upon them after they had left the
fort Some OF
THE MUTINEERs
were at last prevailed upon to return to duty
but not unSiI they were assured that their
mutinous comrades should be permitted tn
leave unmolested. Accordingly about $50
men, with arms in their hands, marched out
| and proceeded up the river; among these
| were men from every company, except the
| Cannoneers, many Of whom had before dis
| tinguished themselves for cool bravery and
| strict adherence to duty. It soon became ap-
parent but little reliance could be placed in
the small attachments that remained. One
| company, the Cannoneers, continued intact,
| but they had been drilled in light artillery
practice, and knew nothing about the work
| Ing OF heavy guns.
| Such being the condition of affairs, it was
| the unanimous opinion of the officers that
| there was no other course left to pursue but
| TO SURRENDER.
| On the twenty-eighth of April, at an
| early hour, a flag Of truce was sent down
! to the fleet to convey written offer to sur
| render, under the terms rendered by Com.
| Porter on the previous day. Soon afteFward
| the flagship Harriet Lane, accompanied by
| four gunboats, steamed up to jackson, and
| Gen. Duncan and Col. Higgins repaired on
board to open negotiations. While these were
| pending, the iron-elad steamer Louisiana was
/ set on fire by her officers; her guns. which
protruded from the portfolios, went off at
| random, being discharged as the fire reached
them. lew minutes later deafenine report
was heard, and q huge column Ut white smoke
Vas seen ascending far up toward the heavens;
I fragments of wood and bars of iron were
thrown in all directions; some of them falling
in st. Philip killed one and wounded three
men, A large piece Of iron struck tent in
! WHICH was 4fIUB Gdpbss 1ASlubOcly blA5 GULL
mander Of the Louisiana, who bad been des
perately wounded in the action Of the twenty.
| fourth, but, fortunately, that gallant officer
escaped further injury.
! The terms OF surrender were soon agreed
upon. The garrisons were par0ied, the Off
GERS were to retain their side-arns and have
their private property respected, and Com
| Porter verbally agreed not to hoist the United
States flag until the Confederate officers had
| departed. The surrender, which was then
formally completed, was sad spectacle, and
tears came freely from the eyes of men who
never had fiinched during all the trying
scenes OF one of the severest bornbardmente
| OF modern times. In the afternoon we EN-
| barked on board the gunboats for New Or
1 leans
| From the morning of the eighteenth to the
evening Of the twenty-third of April over
| $4,000 mortar shells were thrown at jackson
of which $3.50 fell within the confines of the
! fort.
- q -