The National tribune., 1892-06-30

orders from the Navy department, proceeceo
in his flagship, the Powhatan, TO Boston, ano
on his arrival there received letter from
the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, Of
which the following is copy:
NAVY DEPARTMENT. I
wAsHrNGToN. July II. 1865
SIR: Your letter of the 18th inst, reporting your
arrival al Boston n the Powhatan IN pursuance oi
orders from the Department, has been received.
you are hereby detached from command oil the
late East Gulf Squadron. and Will haul down your
flag and regard yourself as waiting orders. Inc
Department takes pleasure in expressing lis appre-
tisiicn of your services while IN command oil that
souadrou Respectfully,
GIDEON WEILEs, Secretary OF the Navy.
IT should be remarked i'm this connection
that .he crooked and shallow streams on the
coast of Florida presented advantages for snug
glirg and blockade-running which required
constant vigilance on the part of our men 10
prevent. Many extensive salt works were de-
stroyed and much valuable service rendered
10 the National cause. The hlockade-runner
Memphis was captured by the gunboat Mag
oolia OF this squadron, and sent TO New ork,
where the steamer and cargo sold for So43-
495l5. The costs and court expenses IN this
ease amounted TO S32, ,5Sl.eS. This was the
most valuable prize captured hy any vessel OF
any squadron at any time during tie war.
WEST GULF SQUADRON.
This SQUADRON. by which some of the most
smportant victories of the war were achieved
extended from Pensacola on the east TO the
Rio Graude on the west distance of some 1.200
miles embracing tho coasts of Alabama Mis-
sissinpi Louisiana, Texas and part OF Florida.
The crst commander was Commodore w. w.
McKean whose flagship was the Niagara, a
splendid frigate of about DO guns. About Jan.
i. 1862. Capt. ID. G. Farrsgut was assigned to
command this squadron, his flagship being the
sloop-of-war Hartford. propeller o: 1000 tons,
% guns and about 300 men,
It's numerical strength each year OF the war,
rs indicated by the official records were as fol-
lows: From January, 1862, to December, 1o62,
So vessels 1871 men; from January, 1868, TO
December 1868, "a vessels, 6,469 men; frcm
January, 1861, TO December 1864, G2 vessels,
6.969 men; from January, 1860 10 June ~,
1865 =: vessels, g. go men.
Capt d. G. Farragut entered the {. 5. Navy
as Midshippan Dec. Il, 1910; was promoted to
lieutenant Jan. 13, 1e25; to Commander Sept.
e. 1871: 10 Captain Sept. IL lS5o; to Rear
Admiral July i6. 1852; to Vice Admiral Dec.
81. 1864; to Admiral July 20, 1866, and died IN
the service Aug. IL, 1870.
Can't Farragut sailed from Phiiadelpbia on
the Hartford the latter part of January. 1862,
stopping at Hampton Roads to await orders.
He left Hampton Roads on the Sd of February,
and OF reaching key West, remained there
few dsvs. He reached Ship Island, on the
coast e Mississippi, Feb. 90, 1862, and on the
FOLLOW = day assumed command of the Gulf
Squad.oi. Ship Island, as it appeared to the
writer IT that time, was miserable barren,
SANDY island, about two miles long, and per-
baps halfa mile wide. 1t was n desolate waste,
entirely devoid of any vegetation, and appeared
20 be about three miles off the coast or main
land.
In addition to his auties as Commander of
The squadron, Capt. Farragut was entrusted
with an important undertaking, the capture OF
al . fnll nv.
tracts from his instructions Oh the subject are
interesting in this connection.
ASCENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
On the arrival of the vessels selected to par
ficipate in the capture of New Orleans, they
Syere concentrated Ia the Mississippi at the
head of The passes, and considerable difficulty
was experienced in getting the larger vessels
over the bar. BY the middle of April all was
ready TO advance on the enemy.
The defenses of New Orleans consisted of
two forts situated about so miles below the city.
Fort Jackson. on the west side of the river.
mounted 43 guns. There were also two pieces
of light artillery, three mortars and seven guns,
mounted in a water battery. Tie garrison
consisted of about 700 men. Fort St. Phillip,
situated on the east bank of the river was much
larger than Fort Jackson, and constructed OF
stone, mounting 53 guns of different patterns,
with garrison of about 500 men. The whole
city WAS garrisoned by about 5000 troops, under
Gen. BoreFl: in addition to which there was a
naval lotiiia under Capt. J. Z. Mitchell. for
merry an officer in the United States Navy,
from which he was dismissed for disloyalty,
May q, 1861. Ills force consisted OF the iron
claGs Louisiana and Manassas, and about 20
armed steamers of every conceivable design.
The State OF Louisiana, in which New Orleans
is situated. is bounded on the west by the
Sabine River. on the north by Arkansas. On
The cast. by Mississippi, and on the south
by the Gulf OF Mexico; the area of the State
being Al 3iG gHare miles, with 26. .s6l l40 acres.
The Territory originally owned by Spain,
but ceded 10 France in the year 1862, and
sold by the Emperor Napoleon TO the United
States April 30 1909, for the sum of S15.000,-
900. II was adm itted into the Union State
April {. ISl2. The City of New Orleans
founded in the year Ills. and was the largest
and most wealthy city in the Southern States.
The Governor Of Louisiana, Thomas o. Moore,
being in sympathy with the Secession move
ment. called a special session Of the State Legis-
ture in January, 1861, and on the Goth of that
month the Ordinance of Secession was passed.
And now the presence of large hostile fleet in
the lower Mississippi gave evidence of our in
tention To bring the war to the doors Of those
who sought it, and restore National authority
where IL defed and repudiated. The loss
of New Orleans would render impossible
fOOubhtill ioHActtIdCS. anu iuuCu IU WAS lett
for its safety. Every means that human in
gennity could devise was adopted for lis safety.
Capt. Farragut made ample preparations for
the accomplishment Of the object IN view, and
found himself at the head of squadron COM
posed OF men yho like himself, were undaunted,
Zesolute aud determined.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Jan. %. 1862
SIR When the Hartford is ia Mi respects ready
for sea- yon will proceed to the Gulf of Mexico
with All possible dispateh and communicate with
Flag Cflieer W. W. Mexican, who is directed TO
transfer 10 yon the command OF the West Gulf
Squadron
Tbers viii bc attached to your squadron a feet
OF bomb vessels and armed steamers erough TO
manage ilsrm. all under command OF Commander
u. ID. Porter wiso will be directed To report you
Ae fast ths vessels got ready they will be
sent Ia Key West 80 await the arrival OF all, and
fbe commanding officers will be permitted to
ganize and practice with them at that port
When tbese formidable mortars arrive and you
completely ready. you will collec; such vessels
Sc can be spared from blockade and proceed
Up THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
and rednce The defenses which guard the ap-
OF that city and take possession Of it under the
guns of your squadron. aud hoist the American
flag therein. Keeping possession until troops eau
lie you.
IL the Mississippi expedition from Cairo shall
not have de,cruded The river, you will take ad-
vantage Of tbe panic Ia pus, strong force up the
river. io take all lheir defenses in ihe rear As
you haye expressed yourself perfectly satisfied
with iil~ ioIce given. and many powerful
vesses- Uitl be added before you can commence
operations the Department aud the country will
require oi you
1igere ullinF operations of minor importance
which wIli commend themselves Ia your Judgment
aud ssi.. but Dich must not be allowed to inter