Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-25

as first rate ofIlcer, but nobody outside OF
that circle knew specially OF him. He per-
formed all bis duties with cneerfulness and
showed good common sense. He was several
times disappointed In applications which he
made to the Navy department, and his journal
contains
SOME GRIM PARAGRAPHS
about those with whom he differed, and who,
he judged, did. not act fairly at all times. In
1851 he obtained captaincy. The late war was
his opportunity for fame. Many officers IL Il
we'll known, left the navy and went with the
south, the land Of their birth. On account OF
Farraguts southern nativity and southern fam.
uy Ties IL was supposed that he too would 20
with the seeding states. His residence was
then at Norfolk.
HIS STAND FOR THE UNION.
He boldly announced his Union sentiments
1t was intimated to him that further residence
among the people there might not be pleasant.
every WELL" he said. 81 will go where can live
town, On the Hudson. January 9, 1862, he was
appointed to command the western blockading
squadron. He was specially charged with the
reduction OF the defences guarding the ap-
proaches to New Orleans and the taking pos
session OF that city. But his first duty In the
civil war was to be directed against his eA4y
home.
The Advance Upon New Orleans.
The peculiar situation and Importance of
New Orleans made it necessary that the city
should be taken. With 1t would come the DOS
session OF the Mississippi, which would cut the
confederacy In two At point about thirty
miles above the passes, where the river makes
It's 1lso last great bend, the United States had
erected two forts. One, st. Phillip, was on the
left or north bank, and the other, Fort Jackson,
nttle 1urtner down stream on the right bank.
FarTagut doubted that these forts could be
Inn mt n
strongly built. They had been put in complete
ORDER. Fort jackson with Its water battery
mounted seventy. five guns, and St Phillip haa
forty. Among these guns were colum O!ads,
mortars and rifled pieces. Most of them how
ever, were 80 FOUNDERS, smooth bore. Fourteen
OF Fort Jackson,s guns were In bomb proof
about 800 men, under Gen. j. X. Duncan. In
immediate command OF St Phillip was Lieut..
Col. Edward Higgins. just above these two
foWnfng forts was rebel fleet Of fifteen YES
sells, under Commodore j. K. Mitchell. OF these
fifteen vessels one was the iron-slad Manassas
and the other an immense railroad iron COW
below Fort jackson the confederates hal ob.
structed the river with heavy iron chain, to
prevent approach from below. A row OF eight
pany Of two hundred sharpshooters ranged the the
banks OF the river. They gave the forts notfi-
cation Of any movements below, and picked off
men whenever they got the chance.
THIS WAS THE FORMIDABLE DEFENCE
Farragut was to break through, pass the forts
conquer the rebel fleet, lay New Orleans
under his guns, and demand her surrender.
Here Is what he had to do this with:-SiX
sioops OF war, sixteen gunboatS, twenty one
schOoners, each with thirteen-lnch mortar
ana LILY, nve other -, small 9 vessels. The nuEoer
dred. 1t was by far the most powerful naval
expedition that had ever sailed under the Amer
lean flag; Acting with the naval force was
General Buffers 5000 men to hold whatever
FarraguSmight capture and cooperate with
him. Much difficulty was experienced in get.
ting the heavier vessels OF the fleet over the
bar, as there was but Is feet of water there.
The Colorado could not be taken in at all.
PREPARATIONS FOR THR BATTLE.
When the day for action arrived General
Buffers forces were put on transports, to move
as the naval operations progressed. The NOR
tar schoonerS on the 18th of April, 1852 had
an reached their positions and were ready to
open fire. Before they took their positions the
masts were dressed with bushes which inter-
mingled them indiStlngulshably among the
matted vines and trees behind which tnsy were
placed. Never once during the b0mbardment
were the schOonerS seen from the forts or
course their approximate position was made
known to the enemy by the firing. On the first
Gay Six OF the mortar SchOOner5 were placed
under the left bank OF the river The remainder
1fteen-were placed under the right bank
They were about three thousand yards from
six sehooners o On tn the '1 LETT bank w ane
moved over to the right. All OF them were
moOred to the trees on shore. The mortars
s6els Of 1S pounds AS Fort
computed AIM Six days and nights the NOR
tars threw shells at the fort Nearly 6 900 shells
were thrown by them In those six days. Four
teen men were killed and thirty-n:ne wounded
Dy the bombardment. A good deal OF damage
was done to the buildings inside the fort, but
none OF Its guns were silenced. One Of Farra-
CUTS Scn0Oner5 Was sunk and one OF his steam
ers disabled by rifled shot from the fort Far
ragut ehafed at the delay.
NOT MUCH FAITH IN THE MoRTARs
he had never much .ith in the mortars. AMI
the six days trial convinced him that the feet
should at once prepare TO pass the forts. The
enemy sent down fire RATS. Only one however
did any damage. IL caused q collision between
the Sciota and Kinneo. Both OF these vessels
were greatly damaged. Having decided 60 run
by the forts FarraguG sent Capt. Bell On the
dangerous mission to work passage for the
deet through the CHI ain distractions. He took
With him the gunboats Plnola and Itasca.
BREAKING THE CHAIN.
Lieutenant Cald we'll and his party, cool and
brave, boarded one OF the hulks supporting the
ch ain across the river. They were subjected
TO heavy fire, but succeeded In efrecting an
opening In the obstruction for the feet to pass
night Of Aprll % "a During the day the forts IT'S
hardly replied to the terrific bombardment
from the mortars that was kept up. Lieuten-
ant Caldwell was sent up In the Itasca to ex-
still open. AT II O'Clock he signalled that it
was The enemy opened IRE on him. They
seemed to know that the attempt to pass was
to be made. Burning RATS were sent down.
The immense piles OF wood on shore near the
ends OF the chain were lighted. Soon
after midnight the work OF preparing the ships
for action was commenced. IL was half past
three before all Was ready. The moon had
risen and bOnt1reS and blazing rafters Lit up the
river as day. Commodore Porter with hts gun
boats the SwartOut and Portsmouth, had been
ordered to steam nearer Fort jackson and
engage Its water battery. The advance was
led by Capt Batley'S division. He had eight
vessels. They all passed through the opening
IN the cable. Soon after his flagship, the
Cuyaga, had passed the hulk both ForUs jack
son and St Phillip opened on her. In five min
utes she was p0u ring grape and canister into
st. Phillip. In ZEN minutes she was beyond the
range OF that fort
But she was surrounded By eleven rebel gun
boats. Three OF them attempted to board her
at once. An eleven-inch shot sent one of them
aground to burn up. The forecastle Parrott gun
drove another away. The Cayuga was about TO
close with the third when the Oneida and Varu-
IA came to her assistance. They had run close
into st. Phillip. The elevated guns OF the fort
were thus avoided, while the two ships swept
It's baStions with grape and Shrapnel. The
oneida. with full steam, ran her nose into one
OF the rebel ships. She nearly cut her adyer-
sary In two. The helpless wreck fiOa5o1
down stream. The Oneida next went 10 the a.