The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-11
aloRrAR scHonxREs

heae scAGOBefg were distributed Oh each
side of tae river. about $3.50 yards below the
two forts. At q. m April is, everything
being DO rraa mess, the mOFt2rs commenced
firing, eaci vessel shell every 10 minutes,
e0ntuEing al day and night About 800
Shells were fred the first - hours. During
tue seegad days bOmbardment q solid shot
from t0Tt Jackson struck the schooner Maria
Carlton, W0aHcing two men and causing the
Tefsel ~ gink. All the ammunition and stores
were saVed The Norfolk Packet was also
struck by solid shot, but not seriously in
gured. Tie PaFs was also struck and some Of
beT creE wounded.
Both forts replied vigorously 10 our FIRE
About 8 ?. ~. OF the first days bomhardmen
our shells set Gre % the iBterior Of Fort Jack
son. compelling the enemy 10 leave their guns
10 fght the Gafneg
Tic ere from the mortar boats was continued
without intersDissi0n until about a. M. on the
morning q the zsth Of April, during which
time 1880 shells had been fired al the two
forts and adjacent batteries, digEnonuting guns
and doing considerable damage 10 the eneuly's
works and armed fOtilia
Capt. Farragut divided bis feet into two
grand diviaiOns. The irst division, consisting
of eight alo0ps ofWaF and 10 gunbOats. were
unoeT bis own immediate command The 90
mortar sebooners and seven armed steamers
belonging thereto constituted the second diYis-
lon5 and HeTe under Commander ID. ID. Porter
PLkS or OPERATTosE
The plan Of operations was for tha first di.
vision 70 pass tie forts. capture or destroy tie
armed aoiiiis, and anchor ia front Of New Or.
leans. The second division, under Porter. was
70 remain below the forts 10 prevent the escapc
Of the garrison and receive their surrender
THIS plan wae put into execution az the close ol
TIC SIX GaEs D0lnbafdment, aud carried out t0
the lftier precisely As here stated.
During t3c siege. which continued from Aprfl
il 20 ~, Tie gunbOatsFendered elecfi7 7e service
by advancing up the river, thus drawing the
Ere q fle enemy from the mortar boatR About
O'Clock on the morning Of the 24tb, the time
agreed nPon for q general advance signal Was
made from tie flagship f0T close quarters
] lie entire squadron being nOw under lre, ths
hrEt division, under Farngnt. started ahead on
ats peTiious journey. The enemy, both ashor,
snn aiiosi. anticipated our coming, and gave a,
decidedly WARM reception. No grander OF
more sublime sight WAS ever witnessed than
what tFaHspircd that night. With the rapidlv =
increasing roar Of the heavy gems the mortar
DnfsG ldrtb intg furious e2Bnonade exceedins
All their former efforts. aud as vessel after yfsse
came into acton with port and siarboard bat
teriesi tie very earth seemed 10 quake with IN,
roar Oi artillery. The burning fre-Fafts ex.
posing onr movements, added a Iurid glare n
the scene. The fiery tracks Of the InoFtar-sbeIl,
as they passed through the darkness aloft
sometimes bursting IN InidaiF seemed 10 con
Ney the Ia preston that heaven itsclfha ieinef
~ the general strife
The Beet was now all under way with fb,
exception q the echooneTE; they. Of course. bad
~ remain ID Their original position. The aw