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

the wooden framework that supported 1t.
The sand bags having fallen upon the fire,
made tyery difficult to be reached, and we were
III imminent danger, for the second time, of
being blown sky high. Only O. wooden door
interposed between the fire and about twenty
thousand pounds of powder The men, Tealiz-
ing the perils OF the situation, went to work
with q will, the bags were quickly removed,
and o deluge of water poured on the fire, soon
extinguishing it. The door of the magazine
was found to be considerably oharred; few
minutes of delay. in putting this fire out
would have proved our destruction.
The shell that caused all this commotiOn
struck in its descent a member Of the st.
Mary'S Cannoneers, said to have been a
brother-in-laW of that distinguished lawyer
OF New Orleans, Levi Pierce, Esq, crushing
him to pieces and burying him out Of sight
among the sand bags. Three days after his
remains were exbumed, SO manged and dis
figured that they could not have been identi-
fled except by the pieces OF clothing that adj
hered to them. Another soldier standing
guard on the magazine was so terrified that
he dropped his gun and accoutrements and
escaped from the fort during the confusion.
This man, we afterwards learned,
DESERTED
to the enemy and gave much valuable in
formation concerning the condition OF Jack
son, strength OF the garrison, etc.
APRIL TwENTY-THIRD.
Bombardment very heavy during the morn
IIR+ DuL uBGfehSBu BDWHTu DOOus JIlS CIT
cumstance was conclusive that the mortar
feet was becoming exhausted, and that the
enemy was about TO change his mode OF at
tack. A short time before shutdown small
boat was deserted planting number OF small
flags on the opposite bank OF the river, above
the point of woods evidently done to indicate
the position of each ship in the contemplated
attack on the fort by broadside. This was re-
ported to the commander of our naval forces
and Capt. Mitchell was reminded by Cen
Nff two
ing the river well lighted up during the night
by means of the fire RATS, so that any move
ment OF the enemy's ships could readily be
detected. But not one fire barge was ignited
or sent down, and the river remained yelled
in darkness during the whole night.
APRIL TwENTY-FoURTH.
Long before daylight all the guns In Jack
furnaces in full blast, powder buckets, shot
and shell placed opposite each gun, and every
preparation made for
THE CONFLICT.
The night was intensely dark, not q breath of
wind stirring At o'clock a. m. the dim out
line of the flagship Hartford was seen just
above the point Of woods. A few minutes
after O red light was run up to her masthead,
the signal to the squadron to advance. At
this time the firing from the mortar fleet was
carried on with terrific vigor and rapidity, as
many as fifteen shells being, by actual
G0uHbs tblE bA bilb Sbill6 blLU5 EOiIOWIG0
the Hartford came the remaining vessels Of
Farragut's steam fleet advancing La column
OF tWOS In echeien, so as not to interfere with
the fire of each others broadsides. AS soon as
they were within range the guns OF both forts
opened well directed fire on the leading
ships, which was promptly answered by
broadside after brOadside, and the engage
ment became general. Unfortunately the air
was SO still that In q very short time the
smoke hung so low over the river that the en-
CHI "A
our gunners had to direct their fire by the
flashes OF their broadsides. At this time
twenty mortar vessels and twenty-three
steamers mounting in all about 200 heavy
guns-we pouring into the forts perfect
storm OF shot, shell, grape canister and
spherical case; the roar Of the artillery was
deafening; the rushing sound of the descend
ing bombs-the sharp, whistling noise
made by, the jagged fragments. OF ex-
ploded shells, the whirring OF grape
shot and Kissing Of canister balls
all these were well calculated to disturb the
| equanimity OF the strongest nerved man, pro-
| yided he was not too much engaged to allow
| his mind to dwell upon them, which was the
case with all of us at that time,
! 4 LUR1D GLARE
| OF light rested upon the fort produced by the
| incessant discharges of our own guns and
| the explosion Of the enemy's shells above
| and around US,
at the highest, Father Nachon. a Catholic
priest from the Jesuits Church, New Or
leans, volunteer chaplain of our garrison,
calmly stood on the ramparts an interested
spectator OF the fight. He placed his mouth
to my ear and declared that he did not believe
the Internal regions could be much more ter
rible to the sight than Fort jackson at that
time. | will here say that this good man dis
played remarkable GOODNESS and courage dur
ing the trying scenes OF the bombardmeDt:
| hn animated fh4 hia plnnn1roo on
example, and won the respect and love of all
by the unvarying faithfulness with which he
discharged the duties Of his holy Office. In
1867 the good Father fell victim to yellow
fever, In Washington, La, whittier he had
gone to minister to the spiritual wants Of the
afflicted people of that stricken town.
With daylight came the Notifying dis
covery that all but five Of Farragut's feet had
run the gauntlet OF our fire, and passed above
the forts. One .gun5oat was seen below st.
current, her crew lying close to the decks to
escape our shot. A double-banked sailing
frigate, towed by a steamer, attempted to
pass up, but our guns forced her to take
shelter behind the point OF woods.
During this action the officers and men Of
both forts displayed marked GOODNESS and
bravery, steadfastly remaining at their guns
and performing their whole duty like true
and patriotic soldiers. It was the opinion of
many that II the river had been lighted ap by
enemy ships this morning our gunners could
have fired with more accuracy, and inflicted
greater damage, perhaps have prevented the
passage of the forts, The Federal vessels had
tneir machinery protected by heavy chain
cables hung In feStoons along thei' sides
amidships, and running on an even keel In
smooth water, it was almost impossible to
get q shot into them under the water line
But Farragut's force did not escape unseathed.
All OF his ships were struck, several con-
siderably damaged, and the flagship, as re-
ported by her captain, received thirty-one
shots and was set on fire twice.
THE FEDERAL LOSS
In that action, according to official statement,
was 81 killed and III wounded; the Confed-
crates had Is killed and 60 wounded Our
river fleet was moored on either side Of the
river, few hundred yards above the fort, to
be in readiness to attack the enemy if he
should succeed in coming up. just after
daylight heavy firing was heard from that
direction, continuing for about one hour; then
the wrecks of several of our cotton-eIad
steamers were seen floating past us, and we
knew that our little fleet had yielded to the
GUDpFiOF weight and nurT1hor ~ tho ararnxy