The morning call., 1894-01-07

New Orleans must first reduce forts st.
Philip and Jackson and the Chalmette bat
terles; and who would assist In the attem pt
upon Wick burg. must first clear the river
from New Orleans up.
The attempt to pass forts Jackson and
St. Philip had been planned for the dark
hours Of the nigh; but the enemy haviD z
sent burning RATS down the river and
lighted great hUnfires on the banks, every
foot Of the way after coming within range
of the forts had To be won with hard fight
ing.
The fleet got under way very early in
the morning OF April "a, 1862. The Hart
| ford. leading the second division. opened
her bow guns or Fort Jackson, receivin g
a heavy fire from both forts. In attempt
ing 10 avoid tire-raft she grounded on a
shOal near st. Philip, and at the same time
the rebel ram Manassas pushed blazing
raft upon her port quarter, setting her on
fire. While she backed into deep water
her crew subdued the flames, her guns,
meanw while. pouring steady fire into the
enemy.
There we were. my lad.
All aflre port quarter
Hammocks abaze in the netting.
Flames spouting in at every port
Our fourth cutter burning at the davit
tNo chance to lower away and save it,.
In twinkling the flames had risen
Haif way 30 maintop and mizzen,
Darling up the slroudS like snakest
All. how cIank ed the brakes.
Aud The deep steam pump thrObbed under
Sending ceaseless flow.
With difficulty the Hartford. turned
against the current and continued on her
way up the river, firing into the enemy's
vessels as she passed. Among them was a
! "bOarder" making straight for the flag
A smell from the Hartford exploded Ia her
and she disappeared
Before daylight The victory was COM
pete; and the feet, after reducing the
Che lmQtfQ havtariac fhrao nnilaa halo sv
New Orleans. proceeded directly ~ that
city, whence the Confederate forces had
/ already taken flight.
During the weeks Immediately succeed
lug the capture of New Orleans the Hart
/ ford participated in numerous minor en-
/ gagements incidental TO the attempt TO
/ clear the river" as ordered by the
| authorities at Washington.
in pursuance of this object. Farragut de-
| teTmlned to pass with his feet above Port
! Hudson and establish the patrol of The
| entire river between that point and Vicks-
! burg, with the special view of blockadfng
! the mouth Of the Red RIVER. Passing the
! batteries at Port Hudson was owing to
| The dangers OF navigation and the formid-
able character OF the defenses, so difficult
and hazardous an enterprise as TO be con-
/ sidered almost impracticabIe On March
! IA, 1868. the feet was assembled inst be ow
Port Hudson. About dusk the red lantern
displayed over the stern of the Hartford
gave the signal for the start. the Flag NOV
ing slow WY ahead as the ships dropped into
line.
1.-THE scene," says Farraguts biog-
rapher was one never to be forgotten
The night was closing in rapidly and not a
breath OF air was stirring. An unnatural
quiet prevailed on board. The men we're
standing at the guns. their sleeves rolled
up. eagerly awaiting the work before
| them. Forward Oh the forrcastle stood
Watson looking after his Sawyer rife.
while Tyson, Read, HaZeltlne and Wempie
moved about, giving their orders in low
tones. Broome. and Highly, with their
marines who manned the quarterback
guns, stood prepared to pull on train
tackle or repel boarders. Ensign Jones
was looking after the Parrot rifle on the
| poop. Lieutenant Kimberley saw that
| everything WAS in readiness for tire quar-