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

and 10 make matters still more dubious for the
sideWheeler, the Brooklyn opened FIRE with her
chase gun as soon as she was brought within
range IL was about o'clock D. M. when the
Brooklyn had come up within mile Of the
chase, that the commander Of the runner was
convinced that escape was impossible aud he
Therefore gave the order 10 lay 10, aud few
minutes later the Brooklyn came Up aud took
possession of her prize. She proved 70 he the
steamer Magnolia, loaded with LOO bales Of
cotton. During the chase her engineer was
KILLED BIZ A SHOT FROM THE BEOOKLYS.
She was taken TO Ship Island, where the en-
/ ginccr was buried. The steamer and cargo was
sold for $l73gj5; the guubOats Huntsville
! South Carolina Mercedita and Itasca sharing
/ ia the proceeds. The Magnolia was bought in
\ by tho Government, and converted into a gun
/ boat. She WAS attached TO the East Gulf Block
/ aiding Squadron, and while on duty OIL the
west coast OI Florida she captured two Of the
most valuable prizes taken during the war.
/ They were The steamers Memphis, which WAS
sold Tor s5l3. lA3, and Ma.agorda, which was
/ sold for s3s9367.
Shortly after the capture Of the Magnolia
i the Brooklyn received orders 70 report 10 Ad-
4 mIral FaTragut who had been selected 10 COM
I mand hecXpec itiOn against New Orleans, then
+. fitting out. The other vessels selected 10 take
part in the expedition arrived daily, so that by
the middle OF March there had assembled near
/ Ship Island "a moH-0l-waI, II mortar schOon-
/ els, aud q large feet Of transports loaded with
troops and war material.
When al the vessels had arrived, the feet
got under way and proceeded 10 the mouth oi
( the Mississippi, and after much hard labor,
/ owing 10 the great draft Of some Of the vessels,
and prevailing heavy fogs that lasted for over
a week, the feet with tho exception Of the
higate Colombo, passed over the bar al South.
west Pass and anchored of Pilot Town
On the morning Of April Is the feet got
under way aud moved up the river and an,
cAOred lew miles below the forts. The NOR
4 tar 5ch0OnCrs were now tOwed up by tht
steamers attached 10 the mortar feet into
positions ranging from 1900 TO 1900 yards o
Fort Jackson. The steamers belonging 10 tht
mortar fleet were the Harriet Lane, WestGeid
1 Owasco Clifton, J. T. Jackson, and Miami.
We wlll now give brief description Of the
FORMIDABLE DEFESsls
which guarded the mouth Of the Missssipp
River aud The almost iuEupcrable obstruction
which had 10 be overcome before the Uuiut
fleet could claim a victory
About 80 miles above the junction Of tLi
passcs stands Font Jackson, "a staT-shaped fOTti
cation mounting % guns Of various calibe
aud three mOrtars Connected with the fort j
water battery mounting seven heavy guns, al
having commanding range down the river
ON the opposite side, or eastern shore, aHt
something less THAN mile above Fort Jack son
is Situated Fort St. Philip, mounting So guns
seven m0Itars, AID three pieces OF field aTlil
Jerry.
AS a farther defense the Coufcderatos ha,
placed distractions across the river which eu
) tirely closed the passage between the two fort,
The obstuciIOus consisted Of eight old HUH.
: and RATS, securely m00red across the chauuc
3 and connected by huge chain cables Their
+ was also lect ol l3 guHbJats, two Of whic
were irQuciGds the most powerful being tA
Louisiana, mounting lG heavy guns. III
! . other was The ram Manassas, which IN appear
{ aucc rcscma.cl the back Of a turtle. She cai
7 Hcd bus one guu-at her bow The other yu,
4 sells OF thc rebel feet with the exception Of tw
\ OF Three alac-wLrel CJa-tiHg steamers, wcr
+ powerful adc-Hbcoi towbOais carrying cac
4 Two guns, These Euub5ats were known
/. "cptton-c.ads,' they having bales Of cott0
Q pIhctl around Their machinery "a protection
Their bows were sAeathui lu iron, which al
. HJlcu tHCu % 90 considerable damage 10 a
r adversary by IaWmlug lu addition 10 IN
\ above dclcnscs were five faiboats filed wit
4, pitch and pine knots, which were 10 be set o
iru and pushed down among The Onion fec
:. by which menus The enemy hoped 90 throw III
n hoet into confusion aud sci some ul the ships o
! Ere, besides furnishing light lyT the guuncIs
The forts.
4 Thus IL VIII be seen that two powerful fort
!. mounting not less than l26 pieces Of ordnanc
two iroucads, aud ~ guHboats furnished W i
! iron beAlss. carrying 80 guns mostly rincs, a
= distractions, hre rafts, aud a strong cnrrcu
4 was opposed 10 IL wooden ships, carrying J.
4 guns which
y WIRE 10 PASS THE DEFENEEs,
r. and when it is taken into consideration tl