The National tribune., 1898-07-28

support of the military operations directed
from Richmond.
Regiment after regiment OF Louisianians
and foreign residents We're raised and
equipped here; but most of them had, when
the hour of peril came, been drafted OFF, from
time to time, to meet pressing exlgencles on
the Potomac and higher Mississippi, or the
Tennessee, so that only about 5000 of these,
neither well armed, well drilled, nor particu-
larly well affected TO the cause, remained to
dispute the advance of the Yankee invaders.
RETIREMENT OF GEN. TwIGGs.
Gen. David E. Twiggs had been rewarded
for his stupendous treacbery to the Union in
Texas, by the command Of the Confederate
defenses of New Orleans until stern expert
ence proved him as incapable, superannuated
and inefficient as even our own Scott. At
length. on plea of declining health, he was
sent home to die, and Gen. Mansfield Lowell,
who had abandoned lucrative Office under
the Democratic Municipality of New York
to take service with the Confederates, was
appointed his successor.
On assuming command, Oct 1S 1861,
Lowell found the defenses of the great slave
mart more pretentious than formidable.
The variety of water approaches by Lakes
Pontchartrain and Borgne, and the Bayous
Barataria and La Fourche, all needed de-
fenses against an enemy of preponderant
naval force; while even the Mississippi re-
quired fortifying and watching above as well
ss below to render the city entirely safe.
Artillery by parks was indispensable; and
good many guns had been supplied from
the plunder of the Norfolk Navy-yard, and
elsewhere; but most of them were old, of
moderate caliber, unrifled, and every way
unsuited 10 the requirements of modern war
fare. He telegraphed to Richmond, Mobile
and other points for heavier and better
cannon; but obtained very few, mainly from
Pensacola, when that place was abandoned;
and had just begun to cast new ones adapted
to his needs, as also to provide himself with
ironclads, when confronted by a military
necessity for leaving that part of the country.
THE REBEL POSITION.
Lowell, knowing far better than our COM
manders the essential weakness of his posi-
ton, and early warned Of his danger by the
gathering Of our forces on Ship Island, seems
20 have eXerted himself TO the utmost He
had fortified and guarded all the Land ap-
proaches to New Orleans
But the operations Of Farragut in and
about the passes, gave unmistakable indica-
tions Of the real point of danger, so that the
rebel Generals forces and means of annoy
ance were mainly concentrated in and around
Forts Jackson and st. Philip, which, from
opposite hanks, command the passage Of the
river, 55 miles below New Orleans. Beside
these respectable and regularly constructed
fortresses of brick and earth, abundantl,
supplied with smoothbore "a and 32-pound
ers, and few better guns, Lowell and hi
naval compatriots, after blocking up most @
the water approaches TO New Orleans iron
the Gulf with strongly-braced piles, gree
Gve-oaks, and other Instructions, and callin
Feb. %, 1862, on the Governor Of Louisian
for 10000 withdrawing for answer thu
there were but 5000, of whom half had iu.
been sent TO Tennessee, upon the reauisitio
Of Gen. Beauregard-and placing his depar
ment under martial law, turned their attel
tion almost entirely to the lower Mississippi
1t was high time.
FARKAGUTis PREPARATIoNs.
Our naval force consisted of AZ armed VI
sells, eight of them large and powerful stea
sloops-of-war; II heavily-armed steam gu
boats, two sailing sloops-of-war and 81 mort
schooners, each throwing 215-po1nd she
The steam sloops carried from nine to % GU
the gunboats, five to six guns each; the VIII
number of guns and mortars was 80, ma
Of them very heavy and very good.
Capt Farragut our commander, had pas:
81 of his 63 years in the Navy, having bee
Midshipman in the War of 1872; Tenn
sean, his loyalty was of that stern and sts
ing quality whereof the best examples W
furnished by the South. His time, and 4
of his officers, had for weeks been well sp
In providing and preparing everything lik
TO be required in the intended combat
10. -l...l,t r -
steamers took four of the schooners in |