Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-17
GREAT NAVAL FIGHT
FARRAGUT's PASSING OF THe BAT
TeRiES At PORT HUDSON.

Among the exploits which stand out
In strong effect from the four years
work Of the federal navy in the civil
war, one or the most picturesque as
well as one OF the most valuable in its
results, was the passing of the cOnfcd-
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 said:
"My last dash past Port Hudson was
the best thing | ever did, except taking
! New Orleans" Abundant testimony
TO the Importance OF the step was also
given at the time, both by Union
officers, whom II assisted, and by the
confederates, large numbers of whom
il put on exceedingly short rations.
In the late winter and early spring
of 1868 Farraguts fleet was at New
Orleans II was well understood that
the confederates on both banks of the
Mississippi and throughout that neigh.
borhoOd generally received the bulk OF
their supplies from Texas and through
Mexican ports, and that most OF these
supplies were conveyed 10 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 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 the expedition, on his flagship. the
4 c11 80 IL L
him at this time, OF a visit, was his son
Loyal, then only boy II is interest
Ing 10 hear a description OF the action
as II was seen anG 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:
II was only a youngster at the time,
you know, and In order that might
visit my father had been assigned TO
a regular rating on board the Hart
/ ford in the summer of 1862 | was q
kind OF clerk and my duties were not
heavy. 1t was in March, 1863, that
we moved up with seven ships from
! New Orleans 10 Baton Rouge and then
still further up to a point a little be-
/ low Port Hudson. our vessels were
the Hartford. the Richmond, the Gen
| esee, the MonogaE"la, the Albatross,
the Kineo and the Mississippi. All but
/ the last were equipped with both sails
! and steam-SCrew SteameTs-but the
Mississippi was a big. old-fashioned
| side-w 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 a fight These CON
sisted IN clearing away all Superfiuous
! 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 til" boilers and engines. up
OH which so much depended.
1T was n little after dark on the
evening of March % when we got
under way from Profits island, about
seven miles below Port Hudson. In
my capacity as siGnalcr | was allowed
| TO give the signal for the feet TO get
under way and follow the flagship in
echelon order II was done by dis.
playing a red lantern over the stern OF
! the Hartford. which led Answering
! lights soon showed that the ships We're
ready. They proceeded by twos, &C.
cording 10 n plan which had been
found to work well elsewhere. Each
of the three sloops the heavier vessels.
had gunboat dashed to its port side
! the side opposite the enemeys bat.
D a
/ of this order was that the stronger
ships protected the weaker and il was
Of great value also 10 have two sets OF
engines TO depend upon. The Missis.
sippi as the odd one of the seven. came
after the three pans, and behind il,
at a considerable distance. were q
/ number of mortar boats. guarded by
the ironclad Essex 1t was not in.
/ tended that these should pass Port
/ Hudson their purpose being 10 engage
I the shore batteries and divert the fire
from us as much az possible while we
} were passing
ut was a warm damp night with
out breath OF air stirring. We moved
up slowly against the strong current
and the water in the river was 80 low
J 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
almost any time and if il had not
! zen for our pilot. old Carroll. who
knew every inch OF that part OF the
river thoroughly, we should very likely
have done so. The admiral always
placed great confidence in Carrel and
stuck to him persistently when some OF
the officers protested against his be-
setting fault Of drunkenness The ad-
miral knew that as long as Carrel was
sober he had no superior. and probably
no equal. among the Mississippi pilots.
LAS the ship steamed on my father
walked up and down the poop. watch.
Ing for the first sign Of the enemy's
guns. ] remember his stopping once TO
tell Inc the best way of stanching a
wound or using tOurniquet If I
should be hurt. 1 he men were az the
guns, and every officer was on the alert
at their post. At last fires began 10
CLEAN along the banks and rockets
were sent up. Having located us as
well as they could. the confederates
began firing from battery "A littla i'm