The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-02-08

them to capture it as it was for a camel
to pass through the eye of needle.
But the leaders thought it good time
to again fire the southern heart by hoist
ing the flag of the State of Louisiana
over the city hall. This flag was adopted
in 1861 by the Louisiana State conven-
ton and was known by the local papers
as the Lone Star flag. 1t had thirteen
stripes; four blue, six white and three
red, beginning at the top with the colors
as written. The union was red, with its
sides equal to the width of seven stripes.
In its center was single pale, yellow
five-pointed star. This flag was hoisted
over the city building for the first time
with great eclau. Fiery speeches were
made at the hosting by Mr.. Durant da
Ponte, editor of the New Orleans Delta,
Pierre Soule, and Mayor Monroe.
These orators demanded of their hear
ers to shoot on the spot the man, or body
of men, that made the attempt to lower
that flag in the presence of the enemy,
and the multitude with one accord, and
with loud acclaim, shouted "We will"
This was the situation when Farragut
with his fleet arrived off the city and
demanded that flag be hauled down. The
mayor knew that if he, or any one acting
by his orders, should make the attempt
to haul down that flag, they would be
shot at and killed by the reckless mob
that thronged the streets at that time,
and he believed that the officer or man
of the U. S. Navy who hauled it down
would be shot also, and he knew that in
that event the United States fleet would
open fire on the city and it would be de-
stroyed; and he was extremely anxious in
relation to the outcome, and placed his
own life in jeopardy to avoid that catas-
trophe.
Here is another letter to the mayor:
U. S. Flag Ship Hartford,
At anchor off the city of New Orleans,
April 29th, 1862.
Sir: The forts at Philip and Jackson,
having surrendered, and all the military
defences of the city being captured or
abandoned, you are required, as the sole
representative of any supposed authority
in the city, to haul down and suppress
every ensign and symbol of government,
whether State or Confederate, except
that of the United States. | am now
about to raise the flag of the United
States upon the customhouse, and YOU
will see that it is respected with all the
civil power of your city.
D. G. FARRAGUT,
Flag Officer commanding West Gulf
Blockading Squadron.
TO MS honor, the Mayor of the Citv of
New Orleans.
Being fully aware of the situation in
which the mayor was placed, Farragut
yielded that point and notified the mayor
that the Union forces would haul it down
instead. Mayor Monroe at once issued
proclamation requesting all citizens to
retire to their homes during these acts
OF authority which it would be folly to
resist, and impressing upon them the
melancholy consolation that the flag was
not to be removed by their authorities
but by those who had the power and the
will to exercise it.
Following is letter from Flag Officer
Farragut to the British consul at New
Orleans:
Sir: In consequence of the determine
ton of the city authorities not to strike
the flag now flying on the city hall, and
their inability to prevent the dsorderly
people from offering insult to the officers
and men of this fleet, we may be COM
PEELED to- land for the purpose of COM
municating with them and of hosting
the U. 5. flag on the customhouse and
mint. l am unable to say how soon I
may be compelled to fire upon the city.
and it therefore becomes my DUTY to
notify you and the foreign consuls. gen.
orally, of the fact in order that you and
they may remove your families into a
place Of greater security. l have the
honor to be, very respectfully your obedi-
ent servant.
D. G. FARRAGUT,
Flag Officer Western Gulf Blockadinp
Squadron.
Her Britannia Majesty, Consul for the
! City of New Orleans.
On the morning of April 10Th the flag
officer sent on shore $50 marines and a
detachment of sailors with two boat
howitzers. under the command of Fleet
Captain H. H. Bell. Lieut.. Kautz was
second in command, with instructions to
hoist the United States flag on the GUS
tomhouse and postoffice and to haul down