The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-04

OF the enemy's uunboats, but which proved 10
be one OF the old hulks obstructing the channel.
For several minutes the Brooklyn was en-
tangled with the old hulk. and the ship swing
ing around fell athwart the stream, her bow
close in shore, and the jibbOom intermingled
with the bushes on the Tiverbank While in
this awkward situation the Brooklyn received
a terrific fire from Fort st. Philip, which Taked
her fore and aft, killing and wounding several
Of the crew.
After backing and sheering for several min
utes the ships head was again pointed up
stream, and we again advanced, passing the
mortar fleet and the steamers attached to the
left, holly engaged with the water battery near
Fort Jackson. The steamers were the Harriet
Lane, Owasco. Jackson, and the two converted
Staten Island feTry-boats, Clifton and Westfed.
The gallant Porter had moved his steamers up
within 500 yards Of the water battery, and
opened such fire Of grape aud canister that
the rebel gunners were driven from their guns.
And IL can be said in truth that il was largely
due 10 the indeiatigability and determined
efforts Of the brave Commander David ID. Por-
ter and his mortar fleet that the grand victory
was gained.
Hardly had tho Brooklyn gotten clear Of
the old hulk than she came IN contact with
the ram Manassas, which came bow on, making
directly for the starboard gangway, and when
yet 10 feet of she fired her rife the shot PEN
etrating the bulwarks amidships five feet
above the water-line and burying itself in the
and-bags piled around the steam.drum. Closely
upon the heel of the rihe-shOt came blow from
her iron beak. striking near the gangway, and
II was right here that the chain cable-armOr
idea proved Of great value for had il not been
for tho chain cable the ram would undoubt-
edly
HAVE PUNCHED A HOLE
in the side Of the Brooklyn. As the Manassas
backed oil the Brooklyn let her have a broad
side, after which she disappeared in the dark
ness. A little later on the Manassas was run
down by the side-wheel frgate Mississippi,
which, pouring in a broadside at the same time,
sent the Manassas drifting down the river
complete wreck.
All this time tho Brooklyn was receiving
heavy Taking FIRE from Fort Jackson, which
did much damage 10 both crew and ship.
Shortly after receiving the blow from the
Manassas one Of the enemy's gunbOats made its
appearance on the port bow within 80 yards.
4 single broadside from our port battery sent
her down the stream in flames. The Brook
lyn now found herself abreast of Fort ST.
Philip, and for the first time since the battle
opened was IN a position 10 use her brOadsde
guns on that work, which she did, using grape
and canister with such good effect that tho
gunners in the fort were driven from their
pieces in great disorder, 10 seek shelter in some
more healthy place. After passing the foEt we
Z
encmy's gunboats that still remained aflOat.
We gave them our broadsides as we passed
along, which ended their careers. The Brook
lyn was under fire about one hour and 80 min
utcs, received II hits in her hull, was much
cut up in her rigging, had eight men killed and
26 wounded-mOre than any other vessel in
the feet
During the fight the iron-elad Louisiana was
moored to the river bank under the guns of the
fort, and owing 20 her machinery being in an
unfinished condition she did not take a very
active part in the battle. She opened several
of her guns as the fleet passed by. Five days
later, when the forts surrendered 10 Commander
Porter, the Loui4ian was blown up by the Con-
fcderates TO prevent her falling into the hands
Of the yictors. OF the II ve sells that started to
make the passage Of the forts II succeeded in
| doing so. The harun2 was sunk by being
rammed by several Of the eHemy's boats after
gallant fight, during which she
DESTROYED THREE OF HER ADvERsARIEs.
! The Winona and ltasca, being the last vessels
| in line, were driven back by having all the
/ guns Of the forts directed upon them after the
\ rest Of the fleet had passed by. The Itasca had
her boiler pierced by a shot aud she dri:ted out
/ Of range. BY o'clock tho fleet was anchored
above the forts The passage Of the forts was
a grand success. Tho Confederate fleet was en-
| tirely destroyed and a glorious victory perehed
\ on the shoulder Of the grand old hero Farragut
and his brave officers aud bIue-jackets
One shot that cane aboard the brooklyn al
most cut in twain Midshipman John Anderson
aud Quartermaster, BarHy Sands. Jim Buck,
/ another QuaTtermqsteT, was struck by q large
splinter early IA H.e engagement wOuuding
1 him severely. When told 20 20 below he refused
! 10 do so, aud stuck 10 his post al the wheel un-
4 I'll peremptOrily ordered by Capt. Craven to 20
\ below. On the following morning, when the
/ ship got under way and proceeded up the river
/ in company with the rest Of the fleet, Buck
/ came on deck aud took his place at the wheel
until the ship came 10 anchor off New Orleans
/ That's the kind Of stuff the Yankee bluejackets
are made Of.
/ On the morning Of 2jth of April the fleet
proceeded mp the river, and shortly before IL
| o'clock reached the English Turn, the histOTi-
I cal battle-ground where on Jan 3 1915. that
staneh old patriot and hero, Hickory" Jack
I son, gave the "barsted Britishers under
Gen. Fackcnham such a drubbing. Whcp the
/ Chalmette batteries were brought into view the
saucy little gunbOat Cayuga. that led the fleet
. into action below the forts, now came steaming 2
up under full head, passing the Brooklyn so
/ close as almost 20 crowd her out OF her position
in line, and without paying any attention to
the remonstranco Of Capt Craven, kept right
I on up the river, passed tho Hartford aud was
soon half a mile ia the lead and
ENGAGED WITH THE BATTERIES
/ IOuT miles DtlD" tue city. 4 ne udssulp soon
after came up, closely followed by the Brook
lyn. Iroquois, Richmond, Pensacola, etc. The
Hartford ranged up aud delivered her broad
sides. The Brooklyn had already opened with
her so FOUNDER rifle, but as she came abreast of
the batteries she opened her broadside guns
and fired three rounds in succession, within a
hundred yards Of the river bank After the
third brOadside the Confederate gunneTs were
seen running out OF the works in great disor-
der. Each ship as she came abreast Of the
batteries delivered her fire as she passed by,
and in less than an hour the feet came to an
chOr abreast of the city.
The news Of the grand victory below having
preceded US up the river, we found on our ar
rival before the city the greatest panic prevail
ing. The scene which met our view was al
most indescribable. The Confederate army.
under Gen. Lowell, abandoned the city To the
ril.raf aud the mob. The torch was applied
10 upwards of 1900 bales of cotton. mum
ber Of vessels ready to run the blockade, many
steamboats,, dry-dOcks, lumber and coal yards
were ablaze. The heads Of hundreds Of hogs
heads of sugar and molasses were stove in. All
this vast amount Of property was destroyed Ia
prevent il falling into the hands of the VictO,
rioas Yanks. The monster iron-clad ram
Mississippi, which was in course OF construc
tion aud almost completed, and OH which the
rebels had placed so much reliance To sweep the
river clear OF the Yankee feet, came drifting
down the river in flames. All the vessels and
! hoe hat not