The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-04-15
TARRAGUT FINISHES THE FLEET.

ragut, now free from the forts, sprang for
ward to make short work Of the mosquito
feet as it was derisively termed. There
were quite a collection of boats, but only
nine were armed and Of the latter all ex-
cept two we're old river steamboats,, carrying
one and two guns, and but poorly manned.
Most OF them did not have time TO fire more
than once or twice before they were run
down. sunk, blown up, or driven ashore, by
the powerful vessels Of the enemy. A no
table exception is made In the case of the
Governor Moore, commanded by Capt.
kenon, who seeing a Yankee boat chasing
Gen. LOvells steamboat upon which he
had just arrived from New Orleans butted
the pursuer repeatedly until he abandoned
the chase whereupon the brave Kenon put
on tull steam, and darted down among the
Federals, firing every shot at point-blank
range; then ran ashore, and applied the
torch with his own hand. Other instances
OF gallantry occurred and Farragut's flag
ship narrowly escaped destruction by q fire
raft.
| have intimated that two of the Confed-
crate boats were of a superior class. Much
was expected of the Ram, Manassa, but
she proved unmanageable. and took little,
if any part in the fight. the iron-clad LOWS
iano' built on the pattern of the famous
Merr,mdc, and carrying 9 guns, was expected
to make a brilliant record, and possibly
sink the whole Federal fleet. Indeed, the
evidence taken by the Congressional com
mittse shows that the loss of New Orleans
was due in the first place to the great ex-
pectations centered Upon the louisiana and
the Mississippi; and, in the second place, to
the abominable neglect and delay in compile
ting them; the one being found still on the
stocks, the other scarcely able to keep aAoat,
when the hour of trial came. However,
4ho IL H. loox l. -. ~
able to use more than two or three guns,
''she stood her ground" receiving re-
peated brOadsides at a dozen feet distance
without suffering any material damage.
Commodore Mcintosh and Capt. Mitchell,
remained on her open deck throughout the
fight, or until the former fell desperately
wounded. Capt. Mitchell tried to use his
vessel as a ram but found her utterly an
manageable in the strong current. Farra-
gut was not anxious to come to close quar-
tiers with the Louisiana; therefore sailed on
up stream, leaving that vessel, and three
steamers, unframed, to take refuge under
the guns of the forts. When the forts sur
rendered. Capt. Mitchell set fire to the
Louisiana, and sent her surging down among
Porter's mortar fleet. Unluckily she ex-
ploded a little too soon and the millions of
dollars wasted in her construction were
blown to the winds. ''Picayune'' Porter,
enraged at losing prize money, treated the
brave Mitchell with great indignity, and the
latter is denounced by Northern historians
without stint.
Farragut has now an open channel to New
Orleans, and as his feet of IA vessels steam
ed proudly up the river, it probably detrac-
ted nothing from his exultatiOn to know that
Ben Butler with ten thousand soldiers dare
not follow him past the forts to claim a share
IN the glory and profit OF capturing the
city.
THE BLOW FALLS ON THE CITY.
Like a blighting thunder-bolt from a blue
summer sky fell the terrible tidings upon
the Crescent city Every telegram-and re
port up to midnight had indicated perfect
security and so great was public confidence
IN the River Defences' that most persons
were rather anxious to have the Federal's
make al attempt against them. Conceive,
then, of the CONSERVATION, If not increduli-
ty, which the inhabitants, at their breakfast
tables, read the briefdespatch, -"Fdrrogut
has stIenced the forts, SIMS or burnnd oar
fleet, Is suing up tie 9trer to tOmbor1 the
totcn Z"
Hundreds of citizens refused to listen to
the story, and were not convinced until they
saw the Confederate buildings bursting into
flames. Then ensued many startling scenes
of excitement and dismay. A thousand
dlafIH-DeliS pedllng III every quarter OF the
city, called the entire population into the
streets, AMI to the wharves where the gov
eminent officers were applying the torch to
all property likely to aid the enemy New
Orleans, be it remembered, was a city of
110, 1000 inhabitants, and the largest export
ing city in the world. Its wharves, extend
ing for four miles, were lined with steam
boats, fat-boats, RATS, etc while the levee
was crowded with their cargoes, loading or
unloading. Soon the whole river-front was
ablaze. Cotton, by tens Of thousands of
bales; sugar-~hogsheads piled mountain
high, and military material of all kinds,
were given to the flames. Dozens of steam
boats, pilot boats, tug-boats, hulks, RATS,
&c, were fired and turned loose to drift
upon the foe. The mammoth Navy
Yard at Algiers, opposite the city, added its
flames to fierce c~onhagration destroying
millions on millions of dollars worth Of pro-