The National tribune., 1902-07-31

was determined to raise the National flag
on the Custom House. For this purpose
! a detachment of sailors and marines was
detailed from the different vessels of the
fleet, with orders to proceed on shore, TAX
ing GO rounds of ammunition and two
small howitzers. The party was COM
manded by Capt. Henry III. Bell, of the
Hartford.
On landing we proceeded to the City
Hall, from which building we hauled down
what was supposed to be Louisiana
State flag, and which the Mayor of the
city had refused to remove. We then
marched in two ranks to the Custom
House, located, l believe, on Canal street,
short distance from the Levee. We
| were followed by an angry crowd, who
gave unmistakable evidence of their dis
pleasure, and the superiority Of their. num-
bers was such as would have enabled them
| to make short work of us had they been
SO disposed. They were not at all select
| in the expression of their sentiments to-
ward us.
| On our arrival at the Custom House we
ascended to the roof, and on a flagstaff
already erected we raised a new Ameri-
soon surrounded by the angry crowd who
followed us and others who had meantime
arrived. Conspicuous in the crowd were
| members of the Home Guards, Louisiana
Tigers, the Foreign Legion, and others in
| Confederate uniform.
There were over 5000 Confederate
troops in New Orleans at that time, and
as there were only 300 of us in the landing
party, We felt decidedly uncomfortable for
a while, and the prospect Of ever getting
| back to our vessels seemed very remote
indeed, as the assembled crowd gave every
evidence of their hostility to our presence;
but, fortunately for us, no violence was at
tempted, and through the trying ordeal the
utmost stiffness prevailed. From the roof
of that building the writer looked down on
the angry crowd below on the streets, and
while we admired their good behavior so
| far, we were not sure how long it would
| last.
Fortunately for us, there We're two ele-
ments that contributed to our safety. The
Mayor of the city, John Il. Monroe had on
| that day issued proclamation calling
upon the citizens to be peaceful, law-abid-
ing and orderly in the presence of what he
was pleased to term a hostile enemy
| Another thing in our favor was the pres
ence of five sloops- s-of-war and 10 gunboats
anchored just in front of the city, and
almost within hailing distance Which of
these contributed more to our safety while
on the roof of the Custom House am IN
able to determine at this late day.
i Mansfield Lowell, who commanded the
i Confederate forces ct New Orleans, re-
fused to surrender, but the presence of our
flag on the Custom House convinced him
that his days of usefulness were over in
that particular locality. So he wisely con-
!, cluded to evacuate the city, taking his
men to join Gen. Smith at Vicksburg,
where we met them again q few weeks
afterwards.
/ The Mayor of the city also refused to
surrender, and expressed his Indignation
at our presence in very plain terms, stat
ing, among other things, that the. flag we
had raised in their midst had been de
liberatey repudiated by his people"
4 About May 1, 1862, Gen. b. Il. Butler
arrived in New Orleans with a brigade
and we were relieved from our perious
position and returned to our respective
vessels, fully convinced that we were moi
adapted for shore service anyhow, and de.
termined that in future, so far as possible
our operations would be confined to the
water.
: We feel that we owe a vote OF thanks
to Gen. Buffers troops, who relieved us
OF that memorable occasion. If not toe
late, we extend it to them now. They had
+ troubles Of their own after we sailed up
the river, but we felt confident that the
, flag we raised in New Orleans would be
!, safe in their hands.
1t is fact not generally known that the
!, Confederates contemplated the recapture
| OF the city, and Gen. Beauregard was as
!, signed to the task Gen. Breckenridge was
to cooperate in the movement; also the
!, ram Arkansas, built on the Yazoo River
E Gen. Butler meantime had our gunboats
: recalled from Vicksburg, and our presence
9 in front of the city prevented the consum
, nation of Beauregard's plan. The Ar
! kansas came down the river as far as
Baton Rouge, where it was destroyed by
! Capt. w. ID. Porter, of the gunboat Essex
on or about Aug. 6.
e During our temporary occupation OF
? New Orleans its citizens generally treated
US with courtesy and respect, and we be