necessary, in order to prevent the completion of what might have become
a formidable obstacle. Accordingly, on the morning of the 16th, a party
of skirmishers from the Fourth Vermont was thrown out, and took a
position near the enemy’s one gun battery, at the point named, a New
York battery being also advanced at the same time. Opposite the enemy’s
works at that place there was a considerable space clear of large wood,
overgrown with low shrubs and young pine, and surrounded in every
direction except towards the enemy by a dense forest. Warwick Creek—from
four to five feet deep and about twenty rods wide—separated this field
from the rebel battery. Through the low shrubs and young pine the
Vermonters made their way up to the edge of the stream, and poured upon
the enemy a storm of rifle shot that he soon found it impossible to
withstand. After a few moments of this fire not a man was to be seen
within the enemy’s lines.
Two pieces of the battery—ten-pound Parrots, under Lieutenant Flynn—then
took up a position in the edge of the wood, at one thousand yards from
the enemy’s line, and opened fire. Then the enemy came bravely up to the
business, and responded with the large gun in his one gun battery, and
with two others in a battery behind it. Lieutenant Stewart, with the
second section of the same battery—two twelve-pound Napoleon guns—was
ordered up, with the left section, under Lieutenant O’Donald. With this
reinforcement the fire became heavy between the artillery on both sides;
the Union skirmishers and numbers of the enemy’s skirmishers also
pouring in their fire whenever they saw an opportunity.
At about ten A. M., after nearly two hours’ sharp firing, the enemy
ceased to respond, not, it was thought, because his guns had been
disabled, but because the Union riflemen held his position so entirely
under fire that it was almost certain death for his men to be seen.
It was now deemed necessary to ascertain the enemy’s force at this point
and his disposition to fight. Upon consultation between General
McClellan and two division commanders, it was determined to make a more
decided demonstration of attack, and, accordingly, between three and
four P. M., three batteries were ordered forward into the exposed field,
and opened fire at about five hundred yards. This woke the enemy up; he
responded warmly for twenty minutes, and once more relapsed into
silence. In no way deceived by this, the three batteries continued to
play upon his position for some minutes longer, when word was brought to
the General of the Vermont brigade that the creek was easily fordable,
at some distance to the right, and Colonel Hyde, in command of four
companies of the Vermont Third, who had skirmished in advance, was
ordered to send two of his companies across the creek at the point where
it was said to be only knee-deep, advance them to the enemy’s left, and
charge the work in rear. He accordingly sent across companies D and F,
and supported them very closely with companies E and K. Meanwhile the
Federal batteries became silent. No sooner were the Vermonters in the
stream than the water was found to be much deeper than had been stated;
the men went up to their arm-pits, and every charge of their ammunition,
was, of course, thoroughly soaked. This attempt was made below the dam,
and the enemy, when he saw their intention to cross, let in more water
upon them by a floodgate.
While the men were in the stream, a large body of the enemy, estimated
at three regiments, opened upon them from a rifle-pit on the bank, and
this terrible fire cut down nearly half their number. Never was a fire
received with greater steadiness or more glorious intrepidity. Except
the poor fellows who had been killed or wounded, not a man of the
magnificent Vermonters wavered, but all pushed on, and with one shout
leaped to the bank, rushed upon the enemy with their bayonets, and
fairly drove them in utter rout and confusion. But the contest was too
unequal. No supports were within proper distance; and though the enemy
was driven away from the first line of pits, and the other two companies
of the Third were in the water to cross, those on the other side were
ordered to retreat.
After the remnant of these companies returned, the Union batteries,
which had in the mean time ceased firing, opened in full force again.
Then the Sixth Vermont regiment was ordered to storm the work by the
left flank.
Led by their gallant Colonel Lord, they rushed into the water. Seven
companies had entered, and some had reached within three yards of the
breastwork, when they were met by the fire of a long line of rebel
rifles, which appeared above the parapets. A running fire from a
thousand small arms was poured upon the Union men, who stood three feet
deep in water. It was returned as gallantly as the circumstances would
warrant. The breastwork was lighted up with a continuous sheet of flame,
the artillery belched away at the enemy, shells were bursting over their
breastworks, the smoke of the battle was ascending, and for a few
moments the scene was one of appalling grandeur. Not a man flinched, and
the fire of the enemy was returned with deadly effect. Wherever a head
appeared above the parapet it became the mark for a hundred guns.
Finding that rebel reinforcements were still advancing, and despairing
of a successful assault with the bayonet, Colonel Lord retired with his
men, who brought most of their wounded comrades away with them.
The loss of the Federals in this engagement was between thirty and forty
killed, and one hundred and thirty-two wounded and missing. The object
of the demonstration was fully accomplished, the rebels being compelled
to relinquish their work, and abandon it as a defensive position. Their
loss was not ascertained, but it must have been very considerable, their
number being large, and the firing of the Federal gunners fatally
precise. Captain Wheeler reported that he fired 313 shots, 126 of which
were case shot, the remainder shell. Ayers’ and Kennedy’s batteries
threw about 450, and Captain Mott reported 954, making more than 1,700
shot and shell hurled upon the rebels. The behavior of the Federal
troops was excellent, and the event of the day successful, although the
object was dearly purchased.
CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.
BOMBARDMENT OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP.
APRIL 18–26, 1862.
The work of opening the Mississippi river, which had been so
magnificently commenced and prosecuted by that portion of the army and
fleet above Memphis, was destined to find an equally imposing, if not
more brilliant counterpart, in the naval operations near the city of New
Orleans, once more to open that important commercial point to the world,
and restore its citizens to the protection of the national flag. As an
important auxiliary to this grand enterprise, a fleet of mortar-boats
was fitted out in Brooklyn, N. Y., and other places, which formed a
rendezvous at Ship Island, awaiting orders. Commodore DAVID D. PORTER
was assigned to the command of the mortar fleet. The entire fleet, under
the command of Commodore D. G. Farragut, was composed as follows:
[Illustration:
SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
SHOWING THE DISTANCES BELOW NEW ORLEANS.
]
_First Division of Ships_, Flag-officer D. G. FARRAGUT,
commanding—Hartford, R. Wainright; Brooklyn, Craven; Richmond, Alden.
_Second Division of Ships_—Pensacola, Morris; Portsmouth, Swartwout;
Mississippi, Smith.
_First Division of Gunboats_, Captain T. Bailey—Oneida, Lee; Varuna,
Boggs; Katahdin, Preble; Kineo, Ransom; Wissahickon, Smith; Cayuga,
Harrison.
_Second Division of Gunboats_, H. H. Bell—Iroquis, De Camp; Sciota,
Donaldson; Kennebeck, Russell; Pinola, Crosby; Itasca, Cauldwell;
Winona, Nichols. Total, 18.
The mortar flotilla consisted of twenty-one brigs and schooners, and was
divided into three squadrons of seven each. Besides these, five
steamers, the Harriet Lane, (flag-ship,) Miami, Owasco, Westfield, and
Clifton, were connected with the mortar flotilla, and these were
afterwards joined by the Octorora, a new boat, commanded by Captain
George Brown, of Indiana, which afterwards became Porter’s flag-ship.
The entire fleet, thus constituted, numbered forty-six vessels, carrying
two hundred and eighty-six guns. On the morning of April 16th, it made a
rendezvous in the river, at a distance of about four miles below Forts
Jackson and St. Philip, the two formidable fortifications on the river,
which it was necessary to pass before reaching the city of New Orleans.
On the morning of the 16th, Commodore Porter brought up several
schooners, and stationed them about two miles and a half from the forts,
in order to ascertain the range of the mortars before opening the
bombardment. After several hours of practice, in which the range was
admirably obtained, and the execution on the works was plainly visible,
Commodore Porter expressed himself fully satisfied, and suspended
operations for the night.
Fort Jackson, which is by far the stronger work, is a regular pentagonal
bastioned fortification, having two fronts bearing on the river, and
three on the land side. The land fronts have each a glacis and covered
way, and the channel is commanded by a battery of twenty-five guns. A
wet ditch, from forty to seventy feet wide, and six feet deep, surrounds
the main work on the river, and a similar ditch, one hundred and fifty
feet wide, the land fronts. There is also a wet ditch, six feet deep,
and thirty feet wide, around the channel-bearing battery. The two
channel-bearing fronts have each eight casemated guns, which are the
only casemated ones in the work. The ditches are defended by
twenty-four-pounder howitzers at either flank. The parapet is carried
across the gorge of the bastion, so that there is no flank parapet
defence. The bastions are only arranged for musketry fire from the
walls. The main work of the lower battery mounts in the aggregate one
hundred and twenty-five guns, of which one hundred bear on the channel.
There was a one-story brick citadel within the fort, having two tiers of
loop-holes for musketry defence, the walls of which are five feet thick.
The entrance to the work is by a wooden bridge on the west side,
connected with a draw bridge ten feet wide.
Fort St. Philip consists of a main work and two attached batteries,
which bear respectively up and down the river. The principal work is
irregular in form, having seventeen faces. It is surrounded by a wet
ditch six feet deep, and from twenty to thirty feet wide. At the foot of
the glacis is a ditch from seventy to one hundred and forty feet wide.
There is a glacis and covered way entirely around the fort. Outside of
the principal ditch is another, which was dug to furnish earth for the
levee, and this is twenty feet wide, and four feet deep. Fort St. Philip
mounts one hundred guns, of which seventy-five bear on the channel. All
the guns were mounted _en barbette_. The scarp works were strengthened
by relief arches, which were pierced with loop-holes for musketry.
Both forts are built of brick. The guns of Fort Jackson are twenty-five
feet above the level of the river, and those of St. Philip nineteen
feet. The guns of the outer batteries of both forts are fourteen feet
above the river. When the rebels took possession of these forts there
were only thirty-six guns mounted, none of which were of larger calibre
than thirty-two-pounders. All the carriages were poor. The plans for
completing these forts were taken from the Custom house at New Orleans,
just after the rebellion broke out, and the works were finished in
accordance with the original intention. From centre to centre of the
forts the distance is three-quarters of a mile, and the river between
them half a mile in width.
On the 17th the rebels commenced their defence against the Federal
fleet, by sending down the stream a fire raft. This incendiary messenger
was a common flat-boat, about one hundred and fifty feet long, fifty
broad and eight deep, filled with pine knots and other combustible
matter, which burned fiercely, and sent a dense column of black smoke
rolling heavily upwards as it was borne along by a fresh breeze that
blew up the river. As soon as the raft floated near enough it was fired
into and destroyed, without damage to the fleet, and then ran ashore. It
was a timely warning to the squadron, for during the day the vessels
were fitted up with grapnel-ropes, fire-buckets, axes and other
appliances with which to attack other of these fiery islands that might
be set adrift by the enemy.
The arrangements were scarcely completed, and the review made, when,
about ten o’clock at night, a brilliant fire appeared on the river,
flaming out from a heavy dense column of smoke, which rolled up and
displayed another of the fiery pioneers of the rebel flotilla lying near
the forts. It burned magnificently, and made a splendid pyrotechnic
display for the sailors, who were waiting impatiently to reach the grand
magazine whence it issued. Signals were made, and in a few moments a
vast crowd of boats were launched upon the waters and moved rapidly
toward the island of fire. The Westfield came plowing her way up and
plunged her prow into the blazing mass, at the same moment opening her
steam-pipes and pouring a heavy force of water into the hottest of the
conflagration. Amid the steam and smoke and seething struggle of the
flames, the men leaped upon the raft with their buckets, and completely
extinguished the fire. Then the blackened and smoking mass of logs was
sent contemptuously adrift to follow its companion.
The sailors of the mortar fleet enjoyed this amusement with the greatest
zest, and pursued their work among the logs with laughter and
enthusiastic cheering. When the floating monster had been sent blackened
and smoking down the river, they retired to their various boats and
slept soundly in preparation for the contest of the following day.
On the mortar fleet a portion of the day was given to the very singular
duty of disguising the vessels. Large quantities of branches were cut
from the forest trees on the banks of the river, which were bound with
all their fresh leaves to the masts, rigging, and around the hulls. This
was so adroitly done that from the distance it was impossible to
distinguish the fleet from the groups of trees on the banks, thus
concealing the position of the vessels entirely from the enemy.
On the following morning, Good Friday, April 18th, at early dawn, the
towing vessels of Commodore Porter’s fleet took each five mortar boats,
and proceeded up the river to their fighting station. The fleet thus in
motion presented a splendid spectacle—the noble steamers leading a group
of vessels, each embowered in green, as though some oasis of lofty trees
had migrated from their forest home and were on an excursion to a
distant shore. The larger number were anchored on the right bank of the
river, while five were put in position on the left bank.
At nine o’clock precisely, and before all the mortar boats had taken
their position, the rebels opened fire. It was instantly returned by the
mortars, and the grandest naval engagement of the war, and one of the
most memorable bombardments in the history of the world commenced.
For some time the fire of the forts fell short of the range, but after
about an hour their shot passed over the vessels and fell harmless
beyond the fleet. The mortar practice for the first half hour exhibited
a similar defect, but the range was then obtained, and the bombs fell
thick and fast over and around the entrenched foe. At ten o’clock the
Iroquois, Cayuga, Sciota and Wissahickon opened upon the forts with
their 11-inch shells and fifteen-second fuses.
The scene now became one of thrilling grandeur. The loud roar of the
mortars as they hurled their immense projectiles into the air, the quick
succession of guns from the war ships, and the rapid discharges from the
forts in reply; the flashes of fire, the clouds of smoke, as they rolled
blackly together, filling the air, and the shells flying up to a great
altitude, then pencilling their arching line against the blue sky as
they sped to their mark, passing and repassing in almost momentary
rapidity, presented a spectacle awfully sublime. At times eight or ten
of the destructive missiles were to be seen rushing away on their
errands of death and destruction at the same moment, sometimes exploding
and scattering the fragments in wide circles over the water, throwing it
up in vast silver columns, or on the shore plowing up the earth and
sending soil and foliage in thick masses high in the air.
The rebels diversified their operations during the day by again sending
two immense fire-rafts down the river, which would have occasioned much
confusion among the fleet, but for the precautions already taken, and
the previous experience of the sailors in the reception of these
pyrotechnic visitors. The sailors not employed at the guns were allowed
to witness the contest from the yards and rigging of the vessels. As
soon as the rafts appeared they were called down from their places,
manned the boats, and soon piloted these burning islands to the shore,
where they were left to smoulder away for the entertainment of the
fleet. These rafts were now regarded as a side-play. At six o’clock Fort
Jackson was reported to be on fire, and at half-past six the Harriet
Lane signalled the mortar boats to cease firing. Two of these boats were
struck during the day. The cabin of one was destroyed by a shot, and a
ball plunged through the magazine of another which sent her out of the
action for an hour in order to make repairs. The men on board had been
exhausted by their heavy labors, and when the night came they were
heartily glad to rest.
A morning of serene beauty dawned upon the fleet, with a light
south-east wind, that gradually increased in volume till about ten
o’clock. Notwithstanding the breeze, the sun was warm, and the heat
sometimes oppressive. At half-past six the mortar boats opened the
bombardment. The fire at first was slow, and the vessels which were on
the left bank of the river the day before, were placed in position on
the other bank near the anchorage. At seven o’clock the gunboats Oneida,
Pinola and Sciota were sent up to support and cover the mortar vessels,
while the Wissahickon and Cayuga were relieved—having been on duty
twenty-four hours. As soon as these vessels had opened fire, Fort
Jackson replied from her casemate guns, and kept up a very heavy fire.
At half-past eleven o’clock a rifle shot went through the schooner Maria
J. Carlton, and she sunk in about twenty minutes. Everything was saved
from her except the mortar, and only two or three men were injured
slightly by splinters.
Just after the sinking of the M. J. Carlton the gunboats Itasca and
Kineo were ordered into close action, the Owasco being sent up by
Captain Porter to assist. The firing now was frequent and terrific. Each
moment it seemed as if some one of the boats must be sunk. The Oneida
attracted much attention by her coolness and her heavy fire. At two
o’clock she was struck twice, one ten-inch solid shot from a Columbiad
striking a thirty-two pounder gun-carriage and knocking off one of the
trucks, and passing out of the ship on the port side. Shortly afterwards
another shot of the same description hit the forward part of the
starboard after port, striking the carriage of an eleven-inch pivot gun
and then lodging on deck. This shot wounded nine men, but none mortally.
One poor fellow lost his left hand. The pivot gun of the Oneida was not
injured, but the pivot rail was slightly damaged, and to repair it she
hauled out of action.
At about half-past three o’clock the firing from the forts began to
slacken. At four o’clock Fort Jackson was silent, and only the water
battery and Fort St. Philip were at work. The mortar shells were falling
all around the fort. One appeared to fall into the water battery soon
afterward, and silenced it. The gunboats were throwing shells with fine
effect, the Kineo in particular. At five o’clock General Butler and his
staff went on board the Hartford to confer with Commodore Farragut, and
at half-past six the signal was given to discontinue the firing.
A number of men were wounded during the day, and were placed on board of
the Katahdin, to be conveyed to the hospital at Pilot Town, down the
river.
Night closed around the fleet as it lay at its moorings. The
mortar-boats kept up the firing during the night at stated intervals, by
divisions, and so continued until the morning of Sunday, the 20th, when
the contest was renewed on both sides, with the same zeal and industry
as had marked the bombardment of the first two days. During the forenoon
a deserter from Fort Jackson came to the shore, and hailed one of the
mortar vessels. A boat was immediately dispatched to him, and he was
taken on board the Harriet Lane, where he had an interview with
Commodore Porter. He was a citizen of Pennsylvania, and reported that
great execution had been done by the well-directed fire of the fleet.
Commodore Farragut began to fear, from the protracted resistance of the
forts, that they would hold out so long that the supply of shells and
material of the fleet would become exhausted, and the enterprise result
in a simple blockade. He therefore issued orders for running the forts,
at an early opportunity, and arranged the vessels in several divisions
for this important undertaking, when the signal should be given to move.
While passing the forts, Commodore Porter’s mortar fleet were to engage
the batteries, in order to distract and divide the fire of the forts.
During the afternoon, Fort Jackson suspended its fire, but Fort St.
Philip sent its iron messengers about the fleet in a perfect hail,
without, however, doing much injury. After continuing this work for a
short time the fire was slackened, and gradually fell off, a shot only
being sent at long intervals.
During the afternoon preparations were made for removing the
obstructions which the rebels had placed in the river. The principal of
these was a strong and heavy iron chain thrown across the stream,
supported by six or eight vessels, which formed a line across from shore
to shore. Beyond this battery, and above the forts, lay a fleet of
eighteen gunboats, and a monster ram, called the _Manassas_, a massive
and heavily mailed vessel, built expressly for running down and
destroying any vessel that it might attack.
About two o’clock the expedition to accomplish this work started on its
errand. The night was as dark as could be desired, and, closely watched
by the fleet, the Itasca and Pinola left their moorings to cut the
chain, and, if possible, destroy some of the vessels supporting it. At a
given signal the mortar vessels, which had been keeping up a slow fire,
opened a tremendous volley of shell, presenting a spectacle which has
seldom been witnessed in naval warfare. The sky was like a vast arch in
conflagration from the explosions of the shells, which vaulted upwards,
and fell in a meteoric shower upon the forts. From three to eight or ten
were in the air almost all the time, and the beauty and grandeur of this
vast pyrotechnic display was heightened by the use of the Caston signal
lights. Dimly in the distance could be seen the Iroquois, Winona, and
Kennebec, who were in the advance of the mortar fleet. A signal light
was sent up from Fort Jackson, and both forts opened fire with all their
heavy guns.
An hour was spent in this manner, when the Pinola sent a boat down to
report that the chain was cut, and that the Itasca was ashore. The forts
had slackened their fire, and there was good cause to fear that if she
were not rescued before the moon rose, she would be captured by the
rebels. Orders were immediately sent to the picket boats, which repaired
to her aid, and although the project of blowing up some of the
supporting schooners was not accomplished, the vessels all returned in
safety, having cleared the river of its barrier. The mortar fleet then
subsided into the accustomed routine of a bombshell at regular
intervals, to prove to the rebels at the forts that their visitors were
at the post of duty.