Semi=weekly graphic., 1899-03-18
GREAT NAVAL FIGHT
FARRAGUT'S PASSING OF THE BAT
 TERlES AT PORT HUDSON.

The Adventures of His ship Hartford
 Under Terrible Fire For Two Hours
 Almost Aground Under Guns of the
 Land Batteries-A Thrilling spectacle.
 Among the exploits which stand out ln strong effect from the four years work of the federal navy in the civil War, one of the most picturesque as well as one of the most valuable in it's results, was the passing of the confed- crate batteries at Port Hudson, in the Mississippi by Admiral Farragut, and his subsequent patrol of the river above that point. The admirals own opinion of the achievement was ex- pressed in a letter which he wrote home soon after the event. He safd;E
 My last dash past Port Hudson was the best thing eyer did, except taking New Orleans" Abundant testimony to the importance of the step was also given at the time, both by Union officers, whom it assisted, and by the confederates, large numbers of whom 1t put on exceedingly short rations.
 In the late winter and early spring of 1863 Farragut's fleet was at New Orleans. 1t was well understood that the confederates on both banks of the Mississippi and throughout that neigh berhood generally received the bulk of their supplies from Texas and through Mexican ports, and that most of these supplies were conveyed to the Missis- sippi by the way of the great Red river and other smaller streams from the west 1t was finally determined that Farragut should take several ves- sels past the batteries of Port Hudson, which was manned by q large con- federate force, and thereby cut off the supplies upon which the southern troops depended. He himself would lead the expedition, on his flagship, the steam sloop-of-war Hartford. With him at this time, on a visit, was his son Loyall, then only a boy. 1t is interest ing to hear a description of the action as it was seen and participated in by the latter. MT. 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:
 T was only a youngster at the time, you know, and in order that I might visit my father I had been assigned to regular rating on board the Hart ford in the summer of 1892 I was a kind of clerk and my duties were not heavy. It was in March, 1863, that we moved up with seven ships from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and then still further up to point q little be- low Port Hudson. Our vessels were the Hartford, the Richmond, the Gen. esee, the Monogahela, the AIbatross, the Kineo and the Mississippi All but the last were equipped with both sails and steam-screw steamers-but the Mississippi was a big, old-fashioned sidewheel 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 a fight. These con sisted in clearing away all superfuous spars, placing splinter nettings, etc. The Hartford had it's lower yards arth- 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.
 "It was a little after dark on the evening of March g when we got under way from Profits island, about seven miles below Port Hudson. In my capacity as signaler l was allowed to give the signal for the fleet to get under way and follow the flagship in echelon order It was done by dis playing a 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 well elsewhere Each of the three sloops, the heavier vessels, had a gunboat lashed to it's 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 a considerable distance, were a number of mortar boats, guarded by the ironclad Essex. It 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.
 Tt was a warm damp night with. out a breath of air stirring. We moved up slowly against the strong current and the water in the river was so low 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 if 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. The admiral always nlaced great confidence in Carrel and