the' scene with the Hartford and Brooklyn. The other ship of Farragut’s division, the Richmond, Commander James Alden, got out of the line and passed up on the west side of the river, near where I was engaged with the mortar-steamers in silencing the water-hatteries of Fort Jackson. At this moment the Confederates in Fort Jackson had nearly all been driven from their guns by bombs from the mortar-boats and the grape and canister from the steamers. I hailed Alden, and told him to pass close to the fort and in the eddy, and he would receive little damage. He followed this advice, and passed by very comfortably.
By this time the river had been illuminated by two fire-rafts, and everything could be seen as by the light of day. I could see every ship and gun-boat as she passed up as plainly as possible, and noted all their positions.
It would be a difficult undertaking at any time to keep a long line of vessels in compact order when ascending a crooked channel against a three-and-a-half-kixot current, and our commanders found it to be especially so under the present trying circumstances. The Iroquois, Commander De Camp, as gallant an officer as ever lived, got out of line and passed up ahead of her consorts ; but De Camp made good use of his opportunity by engaging and driving off a ram and the gun-boat McRae, which attacked him as soon as he had passed Fort Jackson. The McRae was disabled and her commander (Huger) mortally wounded. The Iroquois was much cut up by Fort St. Philip and the gun-boats, but did not receive a single shot from Fort Jackson, although passing within fifty yards of it.
While the events above mentioned were taking place, Farragut had engaged Fort St. Philip at close quarters with his heavy ships, and had driven the men from their guns. He was passing on up the river, when his flag-ship was threatened by a new and formidable adversary. A fire-raft in full blaze was seen coming down the river, guided toward the Hartford by a tug-boat, the Mosher. It seemed impossible to avoid this danger, and as the helm was put to port in the attempt to do so, the flag-ship ran upon a shoal. While in this position the fire-raft was pushed against her, and in a minute she was enveloped in flames half-way up to her
mortar-flotilla took their position below the water-battery of Fort Jackson, at a distance of less than two hundred yards, and, pouring in grape, canister, and shrapnel, kept down the fire of that battery. The mortars opened at the same moment with great fury, and the action commenced in earnest.
ORDER OF ATTACK.
First Division,
Captain TheodorusBailey.
Cayuga.
Pensacola.
Mississippi.
Oneida.
Varuna.
Katahdin.
Kineo.
Wissaliickon.
Center Division,
Flag-Officer Farragut.
Hartford.
Brooklyn.
Richmond.
Third Division,
Captain H. H. Bell.
Sciota.
Iroquois.
Kennebec.
Pinola.
Itasca.
Winona.
Captain Bailey, in the Cayuga, followed by the other vessels of his division in compact order, passed the line of obstructions without difficulty. He had no sooner attained this point, however, than he was obliged to face the guns of Fort St. Philip, which did him some damage before he was able to fire a shot in return. He kept steadily on, however, and as soon as his guns could be brought to bear, poured in grape and canister with good effect and passed safe above. He was here met by the enemy’s gunboats, and, although he was beset by several large steamers at the same time, he succeeded in driving them off. The Oneida and Varuna came to the support of their leader, and by the rapid fire of their heavy guns soon dispersed the enemy’s flotilla. This was more congenial work for our men and officers than that through which they had just passed, and it was soon evident that the coolness and discipline of our navy gave it a great advantage over the fleet of the enemy.
Bailey dashed on up the river, followed by his division, firing into everything they met; and soon after the head of the flag-officer’s division had passed the forts, most of the river craft were disabled, and the battle was virtually won. This was evident even to Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, who, when he saw our large ships pass by, ex-
MCRAE," CONFEDERATE.
REAR VESSEL OF BAILEY’S DIVISION.
FORT JACKSON.
“ IROQUOIS.” IND SINKING VESSELS.
RICHMOND.”
“ MANASSAS,” CONFEDERATE.
CONFEDERATE RAMS
MORTAR־FLEET IN THE. DISTANCE.
MORTAR-STEAMERS ATTACKING WATER-BATTERY, FORT JACKSON.
FARRAGUT’S DIVISION OF THE FLEET, LED BY THÉ “ HARTFORD.’1
WRECKS OF CONFEDERATE RIVER FLEET.
FORT ST. PHILIP AND CONFEDERATE IRON-CLAD “ LOUISIANA.’
BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE PASSAGE OF THE FORTS BELOW NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 24, 1862. THE SECOND DIVISION IN ACTION, 4:15 A. M.
her 8-inch guns, and finally drove her out of action in a disabled condition and in flames. But the career of the Varuna was ended; she began to fill rapidly, and her gallant commander was obliged to run her into shoal water, where she soon went to the bottom. Captain Lee, of the Oneida, seeing that his companion needed assistance, went to his relief, and rescued the officers and men of the Varuna. The two Confederate rams were set on fire by their crews and abandoned. Great gallantry was displayed on both sides during the conflict of these smaller steamers, which really bore the brunt of the battle, and the Union commanders showed great skill in managing their vessels.
Bailey’s division may be said to have swept everything before it. The Pensacola, with her heavy batteries, drove the men from the guns at Fort St. Philip, and made it easier for the ships astern to get by. Fort St. Philip had not been at all damaged by the mortars, as it was virtually beyond their reach, and it was from the guns of that work that our ships received the greatest injury.
As most of the vessels of Bailey’s division swept past the turn above the forts, Farragut came upon
claimed, “Better go to cover, boys; our cake is all dough! ”
In the meantime the Varuna, being a swift vessel, passed ahead of the other ships in the division, and pushed on up the river after the fleeing enemy, until she found herself right in the midst of them. The Confederates, supposing in the dark that the Varuna was one of their own vessels, did not attack her until Commander Boggs made himself known by delivering his fire right and left. One shot exploded the boiler of a large steamer crowded with troops, and she drifted ashore ; three other vessels were driven ashore in flames. At daylight the Varuna was attacked by the Governor Moore, a powerful steamer, fitted as a ram, and commanded by Lieutenant Beverley Kennon, late of the U. S. Navy. This vessel raked the Varuna with her bow-gun along the port gangway, killing 5 or 6 men; and while the Union vessel was gallantly returning this fire, her side was pierced twice by the iron prow of the ram. The Confederate ram Stonewall Jackson also attacked the Varuna, ramming her twice about amidships; the Varuna at the same moment punished her severely with grape and canister from