The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-04-19
GREAT NAVAL FIGHT
FARRAGUT:S PASSING OF TIE BAT
TERlES AT PORT HUDSON.


Under 4 Terrible Fire For Two Hours
Almost Aground Under Guns OF the
Land Batteries-A Thrilling Spectacle.
Among the exploits which stand OUT
in strong effect from the four years
work OF the federal navy in the clVll
war. one OF the most picturesque rs
well as one Of the most valuable IN ITS
results, was the passing OF the conied-
crate batteries at Port Hudson. III the
Mississippi, by ADMIRAL Farra@ut. and
his subsequent patrol Of the rive:
above that point. The almiral'S own
opinion Of the achievement WAS cX-
pressed in 4 letter which ne wrote
home soon after the event. He said:
My last dash past Port Hudson was
the best thing l ever did. except taking
New Orleans Abundant testimony
10 the Importance Of the step was also
given at the time. both by l2ion
officers. whom it assisted. and by the
confedcrates. large numbers OF whom
it put on exceedingly short r:itiGns.
In the late winter aud early spring
of 1863 Farragut'S feet was 1t New
Orleans. 1t was we'll understood ;hat
the confederates or both banks Of the
Mississippi and throughout that neigh
b0rhood generally received the bulk OF
their supplies from Texas and through
Mexican ports and that most OF these
supplies We're conveyed to the Mi>siS-
sippi by the way of the great Red
river and other smaller Dreams from
the west. It was finally determined
that FarracUt should take several YES
sells past the batteries of Port Hudson.
which was manned by large con-
federate force. and thereby cut off the
supplies upon which the southern
troops depended. He himself would
lead tie expedition, on his flagship. the
steam sloop-of-war Hartford. With
him at this time on visit. was his son
Loyal. then only Z boy. 1t is interest
ING TO hear q description Of the action
rs it was seen ana participated in by
the latter Mr.. Farragut who was for
merly in the army. but resigned in
1872, now lives in New York City and
said. the other day. when asked about
the passing Of the batteries:
Il was only Il youngster at the time,
You know, and in order that I mickC
visit my father I had been assigned 70
regular rating on board the Hart
ford in the summer Of 1862. l was 4
kind Of clerk and my duties were not
heavy. 1t was in March. 1865. that
we moved up with seven ships from
New Orleans to Baton Rouge and then
still further up to a point Il little be-
low Port Hudson. Our vessels We're
the Hartford. the Richmond. the Gen
eSee. the Monogahela. the AlbatroSS.
the Kineo and the Mississippi. All but
the last were equipped with both sails
and steam-screw steamers-but the
Mississippi was q big, old-1ashioned
Side-wheel steamboat. such as were
used on the river Before attempting
the passage of the batteries the officers
and men were busy making the usual
preparations for & fight. These con-
sisted in clearing away all superhuous
spars. placing splinter nettings. etc.
The Hartford had its lower yards artll-
wartships, resting on the hammock
nettings, and chain cables were swung
on each side from the extreme ends.
Other chains were coiled vertically
along the sides. especially in front Of
the boilers. This was done on all the
ships. Every effect was always made
to protect the boilers and engines, up
on which so much depended.
1T was q little after dark on the
evening Of March % when we got
under way from Profits island, about
seven miles Delow Port Hudson. In
| my capacity as signaler was allowed
to give the signal for the fleet to get
under way and follow the flagship in
cchelon order 1t was done by dis
playing red lantern over the stern Of
the Hartford, which led. Answering
lights soon showed that the ships were
ready. They proceeded by twos. ac-
: .cording to a plan which had been
found to work we'll elsewhere. Each
of the three sloops, the heavier vessels,
had a gunboat laShed TO its port side
the side opposite the enemey's bat
teries at Port Hudson. The advantage
of this order was that the stronger
ships protected the weaker, and it was
of great value also to have two sets OF
engines TO depend upon. The MisSis-
.sippi. as the odd one of the seven. came
after the three pairs. and behind it.
at considerable distance. We're q
number of mortar boats. guarded by
the ironclad Essex. 1t was not in
tended that these should pass Port
Hudson. their purpose being to engage
the shore batteries and divert the fire
from us as much as possible while we
were passing.
1T was warm damp night with
out breath Of air stirring. We moved
I'D slowly against the strong current
~I,n -, -, 49, L.
that the ships bottom the Hartford
drew about seventeen feet--often act
ually touched and Scraped on the river
bed We were in danger of grounding
at almost any time and il it had not
been for our pilot. old Carrell. who
knew every inch Of that part Of the
river thoroughly. we should very likely
have done so. Tie admiral always
placed great confidence in Carrel and
stuck 70 him persiStently when some OF
the officers protested against his be-
setting fault OF drunkenness. The 2G-
miral knew that as long as Carrel was
sober he had no superior. and probably
no equal. among the Mississippi pilots.
''As the ship steamed on My father
walked up and down the poop, watch
Ing for the first sign OF the envmy'S
guns. remember his stopping once 20
tell me the best way Of StarchinG &
wound or using Il tourniQuct, il
should be hurt. he men were 2t the
guns, and every officer was on the alert
at their post. At last fires began to
CLEAN along the banks and rockets
were sent up. Having located Us rs
we'll as they could. the coGfelerates
- I. -
front Of Us SO that our bToaGsidcs
could reply, the Hartford's guns cid
good work. She carried Dahi@cn O.
inch guns. eleven on q side. Tie fires
Of the batteries on shore were oCr tar
GETS and the men blaZed away at them
vigorously. Far from needing to be
urged on, the gunners had to be re-
strained. and many Of the admiral's
orders at this were given 20 stop too
rapid firing.
t.