St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
The Hero of New Orleans.
GEN. BUTLER GIVES ALL THE HONOR AND
GLORY TO FARRAGUT

|
sounded as the hero of New Orleans, and
said tonight, on the anniversary of his
landing on the levee in the Crescent City,
he disclaimed any credit for his deeds and
gave all the praise to Admiral Farragnt
Surrounded by his bosom friends, the
members of the Butler Club, the General
told in graphic language the story of the
memorable struggle for the Mississippi.
He said:
"Mr. Chairman and Conference.-The
selection for our meeting OF this ami
versary gives occasion for the commence
ration of one of the most important his
torical events contributing to the pre-
servation of our natioral life. Twenty
seven years ago complete restoration of
the power and authority Of the United
States over the city of New Orleans and
State of Louisiana was fully attained and
proclaimed, thus fastening clutch upon
the throat of the Southern Confederacy
never to be released. My endeared and
loyal friend, your chairman, has spoken of
my connection with the expedition which
achieved this great success of loyal arms,
as | had command of the land forces, but
he left to me the grateful and joyful duty
to bear my testimony to the loyalty, skill,
bravery, and indomitable energy of Far
ragut, the commandant and executive
power of the naval forces on that occasion.
Of his high professional qualities as
seaman, his daring courage, his untirlng
efforts in carrying out the greatest naval
achievement, not only of our war but in
the history of the world, in sufficient
words of Characterization are left to me.
Of some of his acts, | can speak, for we
were together by day and night Sc
member with the utmost appreciation his
most ardent cooperation in every move
ment had, which cemented a friendship
which lasted to his death.
F'The passage of the forts, Phillip and
Fort jackson, was naval exploit I'M
dreamed of before in romance or history
movement unparalleled and unequaled.
Fort Jackson on the western side of the
Mississippi river, built and fully armed by
the United States, casemated and covered
with heavy guns on barbette, some larger
than any in Fsrragut's fleet, was supported
from the other side by st. Phillip, also
built by the United States, fully manned
and thoroughly armed and supported as
against the attacking force with well
placed heavy water battery. The river
rolled between, a turbid stream of a four
mile current Dozens of fire RATS lay
above the forts, to be towed or pushed,
carried by the four mile tide, down upon
the ascending Yankee gunboats. fire
raft meant a boat 200 feet long and 90 feet
wide, filled with cotton and piles of light
wood saturated with tar, pitch and turpen-
tine, and which burned with the most in
tense flame. Just above the forts was
stationed all the navy the Confederacy had
been able in a year to gather there for the
defense of their strongholds. Imagine, if
you can, the chivalric daring of the man
who, with less number and lighter guns
on his wooden vessels than the enemy had
for cross fire of two forts on land-the
rule of naval warfare, therefore, requiring
that there should be two guns at1oat to one
on shore before an attack could be made
on a fort-should at night arrange his
fleet in two parallel columns, one to attack
Fort St. Phillip, the brave Capt. Bailey
commanding, and the other, the flagship
Hartford leading, commanded by Farragut
himself.
cat o'clock in the morning the order
was given to ascend the river at eight
miles an hour, giving but about four over
land, a snails pace, when exposed to cross
fire. AS soon as he was discovered the
forts opened upon him with all the enemy's
guns, afoat or ashore. Fire raft upon
being pushed by the Rebel iron clad ram
Manassas upon the bow of the Hartford,
setting fire to all her forward sails and
rigging The whole scene was lighted up
as if for an Illuminated parade. His ships
on fire, the whole artillery of the fort
pouring shot and shell upon his disabled
vessel, see the dauntless sailor on his
quarter deck, issuing an order heard above
all the din: Cease firing; call away the
fire brigade and put out that fire. Call
away the cutter, clap on that fire raft and
send her down the river, Farragut mean
while standing quietly supervising the ex-
ecution of his orders, exposed to the whole
fire of both forts. The fire put out, his
order was given Guns on the port side
fire on the embraseurs and easements;
drive the enemy from their guns; and the
gallant old Hartford, with her smoking,
half burnt sails, steams onward past the
fort with dash for victory, and New Or
leans is ours. If any one fails to see in
this the most gallant and most glorious
achievement of naval warfare, it must be
because of the impotency of my descrip-
ton. AS the feet waR passing the forts it
was attacked by the armed vessels OF the
enemy, led by the Confederate ironclad
ram Manassas She was promptly sunk,
and the rest of the feet were either driven
ashore, sunk, or fled up the river.
Before this attack it had been arranged
between tie commanders of the co-opera-
| tive forces that if the feet failed to pass
the forts force should be landed from the
gulf side of Fort St. Phillip-if landing it
could be called where all the soil was COW
cred with water-and an assault made on
the fort from the land side, and thus the
city taken. AS soon as the fort was passed
Farragut sent Capt. Boggs around the
forts on the gulf side to meet the land
forces, and they were conducted up to the
quarantine station, where, holding the
bank of the river, they cut off the boats
from New Orleans, and the third day they
surrendered.
II have taken some minutes of your time
to renew your remembrance of this glorious
victory of Farragut and his brave officers
and sailors-hssoes, all save one, high
officer, who ran away, SO the exception
proves the rule-so that, by the testimony
of an eye witness, within some 900 yards
of the fort when the Hartford passed it,
and who saw the facts as have described
them, it may be fixed who was the sole
/ hero of the capture of New Orleans, and
should be SO recognized for all time and
by all MEM O. City Item.