Oneida, Varuna, Katahdin, Kineo, Wissahickon; Flag-Officer Farragut leading the following, (second line:) Hartford, Brooklyn, Richmond; and Commander Bell leading the third division, composed of the following vessels: Scioto, Iroquois, Pinola, Winona, Itasca, and Kennebec. The steamers belonging to the mortar flotilla, one of them towing the Portsmouth, were to enfilade the water-battery commanding the approaches. Mortar-steamers Harriet Lane, West-ports or holes, and was discovered to be on fire field, Owasco, Clifton, and Marine-the Jackson towing the Portsmouth. The vessels were rather late in getting under way and into line, and did not get fairly started until half-past three A.M., and the unusual bustle apprised the garrison that something was going on. In an hour and ten minutes after the vessels had weighed anchor they had passed the forts under a most terrific fire, which they returned with interest. The mortar-fleet rained down shells on Fort Jackson, to try and keep the men from the guns, whilst the steamers of the mortar-fleet poured in shrapnel upon the water-battery commanding the approach, at a short distance, keeping them comparatively quiet. When the last vessel of ours could be seen among the fire and smoke to pass the battery, signal was made to the mortars to cease firing, and the flotilla steamers were directed to retire from a contest that would soon become unequal. It was now daylight, and the fleet having passed along, the forts began to pay their attention to our little squadron of steamers, the Portsmouth, which was being towed up, and three of the gunboats which failed to pass through. These latter became entangled in some wrecks and chains placed in the river to obstruct, and which were only partially removed. One of these vessels (the Winona) got through as far as Fort St. Philip, but having all the guns bearing on her she sensibly retired. The Itasca was fairly riddled, and had a shot through her boiler, and the Kennebec escaped unhurt. For I am disposed to think that our squadron received but little damage, considering the unequal contest one hundred and forty-two guns on board ship opposed to one hundred on shore, placed in a most commanding position. twenty minutes after the ships passed the forts fired very feebly on the vessels that remained outside; so much so, that the Portsmouth was enabled to drop with the current out of gun-shot, though the shot fell pretty freely about her at last. I think the fire from the ships must have been very destructive of life. The last we saw of our vessels they were standing up the river. Some explosion took place, which made us feel rather uneasy, but which may have been the rebel gunboats. We could see that our squadron had not destroyed all the enemy's vessels at the fort, for three or four of them were moving about in all directions, evidently in a state of excitement. Before the fleet got out of sight it was reported to me that the celebrated ram Manassas was coming out to attack us; and sure enough there she was, apparently steaming along shore, ready to pounce upon the apparently defenceless mortarvessels. Two of our steamers and some of the mortar-vessels opened fire on her, but I soon discovered that the Manassas could harm no one again, and I ordered the vessels to save their shot. She was beginning to emit smoke from her and sinking. Her pipes were all twisted and riddled with shot, and her hull was also well cut up. She had evidently been used up by the squadron as they passed along. I tried to save her as a curiosity, by getting a hawser around her and securing her to the bank, but just after doing so she faintly exploded. Her only gun went off, and emitting flames through her bow-port, like some huge animal, she gave a plunge and disappeared under the water. Next came a steamer on fire, which appeared to be a vessel of war belonging to the rebels, and after her two others, all burning and floating down the stream. Fires seemed to be raging all along the "up river," and we supposed that our squadron were burning and destroying the vessels as they passed along. It appears, however, that the McRae, one or two river-boats, and their celebrated floating battery, (brought down the night before,) were left unhurt, and were still flying the confederate flag. The matter of the floating battery becomes a very serious affair, as they are all hard at work at Fort Jackson mounting heavy rifled guns on it, which are no further use to them in the Fort. She mounts sixteen guns, is almost as formidable a vessel as the Merrimac, perfectly shot-proof, and has four powerful engines in her. I shall at all events take such steps as will prevent her from destroying anything, and we may still hold her in check with the steamers, though they are rather fragile for such a service. This is one of the ill effects of leaving an enemy in the rear. I suppose that the ships fired on her as they passed through, but that her mail resisted the shot. She had steam on this morning, and was moving about quite lively. I tried to put some mortarshell through her roof, but without effect, as she moved off. The Forts are now cut off from all communication with New-Orleans, as I presume that FlagOfficer Farragut has cut the wires. I have sent the Miami around with Gen. Butler to the back of Fort St. Philip to try and throw in troops at the quarantine, five miles along the Forts, and at the same time open communication that way with the Flag-Officer, and supply him with ammunition. I am also going to send part of the mortar-fleet to the back of Fort Jackson to cut off the escape of the garrison by that way, and stop supplies. A deserter, who can be relied on, informs us that they have plenty of provisions for two months, plenty of ammunition, and plenty of discomforts. Our shell set the citadel on fire the first afterno we opened. It burned fiercely for seven hou but I thought it a fire-raft behind the Fort, as render of the Forts, which was declined. On they continually send them down on us, but the twenty-seventh I sent Lieut.-Col. Higgins a without any effect. communication, herewith enclosed, asking again for the surrender. His answer is enclosed. On the twenty-eighth I received a communication from him, stating that he would surrender the Forts, and I came up and took possession, drew up articles of capitulation, and hoisted the American flag over the Forts. But few casualties occurred to vessels on this side of the Forts. The Harriet Lane lost but one man killed, and one, I fear, mortally wounded. The Winona lost three killed and three wounded, and the Itasca, with fourteen shot through her, had but few men hurt. These Forts can hold out still for some time, and I would suggest that the Monitor and Mystic, if they can be spared, be sent here without a moment's delay, to settle the question. The mortar-fleet have been very much exposed, and under a heavy fire for six days, during which time they kept the shells going without intermission. One of them, the Maria I. Carlton, was sunk by a shot passing down through her magazine, and then through her bottom. These men have defended these Forts with a bravery worthy of a better cause. I treated them with all the consideration that circumstances would admit. The three steamers remaining were under the command of Com. J. K. Mitchell. The officer of the Fort acknowledged no connec tion with them, and wished in no way to be considered responsible for their acts. While I had a flag of truce up they were employed in towing the iron floating battery of sixteen guns (a most The flotilla lost but one man killed and six formidable affair) to a place above the Forts, and, wounded. The bearing of the officers and men while drawing up the articles of capitulation in was worthy of the highest praise. They never the cabin of the Harriet Lane, it was reported to once flagged during a period of six days; never me that they had set fire to the battery and had an accident to one of the vessels by firing, turned it adrift upon us. I asked the General if and when shell and shot were flying thick above it had powder on board or guns loaded. He rethem showed not the least desire to have the ves-plied that he would not undertake to say what sels moved to a place of safety. The incidents the navy officers would do; he seemed to have a of the bombardment will be mentioned in my detailed report. I merely write this hurried letter to apprize the Department of the state of affairs, and shall send it off at once via Havana. The sight of this night attack was awfully grand. The river was lit up with rafts filled with pine-knots, and the ships seemed to be fighting literally amidst flames and smoke. Where we were the fire of the enemy was high, and comparatively harmless. I am in hopes that the ships above fared as well as we did. Though amid such a terrific fire, it was gratifying to see that not a ship wavered, but stood steady on her course; and I am in hopes (and I see no reason to doubt it) that they now have possession of New-Orleans. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of Navy. UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE, great contempt for them. I told him, "We could stand the fire and blow up if he could," and went on with the conference, after directing the officers to look out for their ships. While drifting down on us, the guns, getting heated, exploded, throwing the shot above the river. A few moments after the battery exploded with a terrific noise, throwing fragments all over the river, and wounding one of their own men in Fort St. Philip, and immediately disappeared under water. Had she blown up near the vessels, she would have destroyed the whole of them. When I had finished taking possession of the Forts, I got under way in the Harriet Lane and started for the steamers, one of which was still flying the confederate flag. I fired a shot over her and they surrendered. There was on board of them a number of naval officers and two companies of marine artillery. I made them surren der unconditionally, and for their infamous conduct in trying to blow us up while under a tlag of truce, I conveyed them to close confinement as prisoners of war, and think they should be sent Capt. Boggs has just arrived through a cut to the North, and kept in close confinement there through the swamps, and brings the following until the war is over, or they should be tried for additional intelligence: The Varuna was sunk; their infamous conduct. I have a great deal to about one hundred men were killed and wound- do here, and will send you all papers when I am ed; ships all ready for another fight; no obstruc-able to arrange them. tions on the way to New-Orleans. federate vessels sunk and burnt in passing the Forts. Gen. Butler is about to land men the back way, six miles above the Forts. No officers killed or wounded. Soldiers captured miserably armed, and without ammunition. Eleven con- I turned over the Forts to Gen. Phelps. Fort Jackson is a perfect ruin. I am told that over eighteen hundred shells fell in and burst over the centre of the Fort. The practice was beautiful. The next Fort we go at we will settle sooner, as this has been hard to get at. COM. PORTER'S SECOND REPORT. U. S. SHIP HARRIET LANE, April 29, 1862. SIR: The morning after the ships passed the Forts I sent a demand to Col. Higgins for a sur The naval officers sunk one gunboat while the capitulation was going on, but I have one of the other steamers at work, and hope soon to have the other. I find that we are to be the hewers of wood and drawers of water; but, as the sol diers have nothing here in the shape of motive belonging, together with all public property that power, we will do all we can. may be under their charge. I should have demanded an unconditional surrender, but with such a force in your rear it was desirable to get possession of these Forts as soon as possible. The officers turned over everything in good order, except the walls and buildings, which are terribly shattered by the mortars. Very respectfully, D. D. PORTER, Commanding Flotilla. Flag-Officer D. G. FARRAGUT. CAPITULATION OF THE FORTS. U. S. STEAMER HARRIET LANE, MISSISSIPPI RIVER, April 30, 1862. SIR: I enclose herewith the capitulation of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, which surrendered to the mortar flotilla on the twenty-eighth of April, 1862. I also enclose in a box (forwarded on this occasion) all the flags taken in the two Forts, with the original flag hoisted on Fort St. Philip when the State of Louisiana seceded. Fort Jackson is a perfect wreck; everything in the shape of a building in and about it was burned up by the mortar shells, and over eighteen hundred shells fell in the work proper, to say nothing of those which burst over and went around. I devoted but little attention to Fort St. Philip, knowing that when Jackson fell Fort St. Philip would follow. The mortar flotilla is still fresh and ready for service. Truly the backbone of the rebellion is broken. On the twenty-sixth of the month I sent six of the mortar schooners to the back of Fort Jackson to block up the bayous, and prevent supplies getting in. Three of them drifted over to Fort Livingston, and when they anchored the Fort hung out a white flag and surrendered. The Kittaninny, which had been blockading these for some time, sent a boat in advance of Second. It is agreed by Com. David D. Porter, commanding the mortar flotilla, that Brig.-Gen. Duncan and Lieut.-Col. Higgins, together with the officers under their command shall be permitted to retain their side-arms, and that all private property shall be respected; furthermore, that they shall give their parole of honor not to serve in arms against the Government of the United States until regularly exchanged. Third. It is furthermore agreed by Com. David D. Porter, commanding the mortar flotilla, on the part of the United States Government, that the non-commissioned officers, privates, and musicians shall be permitted to retire on parole, their commanding and other officers becoming responsible for them; and that they shall deliver up their arms and accoutrements in their present condition, provided that no expenses accruing from the transportation of the men shall be defrayed by the Government of the United States. Fourth. On the signing of these articles by the contracting parties the Forts shall be formally taken possession of by the United States naval forces composing the mortar flotilla, the confederate flag shall be lowered, and the flag of the United States hoisted on the flag-staffs of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. In agreement of the above, we, the undersigned, do hereunto set our hands and seals. DAVID D. PORTER, the mortar vessels, and, reaching the shore first, Witnesses: I have the honor to remain your obedient Hon. GIDEON WELLES, By articles of capitulation, entered into this twenty-eighth day of April, 1862, between David D. Porter, Commander U. S. Navy, commanding the United States Mortar Flotilla, of the one part, and Brig.-Gen. J. K. Duncan, commanding the coast defences, and Lieut.-Col. Edward Higgins, commanding Forts Jackson and St. Philip, of the other part, it is mutually agreed: First. That Brig.-Gen. Duncan and Lieut.-Col. Higgins shall surrender to the mortar flotilla Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the arms, munitions of war, and all the appurtenances thereunto VOL. IV.-Doc. 33 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. W. B. RENSHAW, Commander United States Navy. Lieut. Commanding Harriet Lane. Brig.-Gen. Commanding Coast Defences. Lieut.-Col. C.S.A., Commanding CAPTAIN BAILEY'S REPORT. UNITED STATES GUNBOAT CAYUGA, OFF NEW-ORLEANS, April 25, 1862. FLAG - OFFICER: Your boldly conceived and splendidly executed plan of battle having resulted in perfect success, leaves me time to make up the report of my division. You will find in Lieut. Commanding Harrison's report an accurate outline of the noble part taken by the Cayuga, under his command, and bearing my division-flag. We led off at two A.M., in accordance with your signal, and steered directly up stream, edging a little to starboard, in order to give room for your division. I was followed by the Pensacola in fine style, the remainder of my division following in regular and compact order. We were scarcely above the boom, when we were discovered, and Jackson and St. Philip opened upon us. We could bring no gun to bear, but steered directly on. We were struck from stem to stern. At length we were close up with St. Philip, when and with my aid, Acting Midshipman Higginson, we opened with grape and canister. Scarcely steward and boat's crew, followed up myself, were we above the line of fire, when we found hoisting, by authority of the flag-officer, my Red, ourselves attacked by the rebel fleet of gunboats. distinguishing flag as second in command, first This was hot, but more congenial work. Two on the Oneida, Com. Lee, and afterward on the large steamers now attempted to board at our Cayuga. starboard bow; the other astern, a third on our starboard-beam. The eleven-inch Dahlgren being trained on this fellow, we fired at a range of thirty yards. The effect was very destructive. She immediately steered in shore, run aground, and sunk. The Parrott gun on the forecastle drove off the one on the bow, while we prepared to repel boarders, so close was our remaining enemy about this time. Boggs and Lee came dashing in, and made a finish of the rebel boats, cleven in all. In the grey of the morning we discovered a camp, with the rebel flag flying; opened with canister at five A.M.; received the sword and flag of Colonel Szymanski, and his command of Fire companies, arms, and camp equipage. That brave, resolute and indefatigable officer, Com. D. D. Porter, was at work with his mortarfleet, throwing shells at and into Fort Jackson, while Gen. Butler, with a division of his army, in transports, was waiting a favorable moment to land. After the mortar-fleet had been playing upon the Forts for six days and nights, without perceptibly diminishing their fire, and one or two changes in programme, Flag-Officer Farragut formed the ships into two columns, "line ahead" the column of the Red, under my orders, being formed on the right, and consisted of the Cayuga, Lieut. Commanding Harrison, bearing my flag, and leading the Pensacola, Capt. Morris; the Mississippi, Com. M. Smith; Oneida, Com. S. P. While engaged at this point, observed the Va-Lee; Varuna, Com. C. L. Boggs; Katahdin, runa in conflict with a number of gunboats. She had been butted by one of them and sunk; but, with his forward guns still above water, he was bravely maintaining the fight, driving off his enemies, and saving his crew. Informing Captain Lee, of the Oneida, who had also been engaged with the enemy, of the Varuna's situation, he instantly steamed up, and made a finish of the rebel boats. The remainder of the fleet now came up. The Mississippi had been detained below with the Manassas and another iron-clad. After this everything passed under your observation. The pleasant duty now remains of speaking of the Cayuga and her brave officers and crew. From first to last Lieut. Commanding Harrison displayed ability in steering his vessel past the Forts, under a hurricane of shot and shell, and afterwards in manoeuvring and fighting her among the gunboats. I cannot say too much for him. He was gallantly sustained by Lieut. George H. Perkins and Acting Master Thomas H. Martin. These officers have my unbounded admiration. I must, in conclusion, express the pleasure which I experience in witnessing the seaman-like manner in which all the ships were handled. The reports of divisional captains will inform you of the particular part borne by each ship: Respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain Commanding Division of the Red. Commander-in-Chief, etc. GENERAL REPORT OF CAPTAIN BAILEY. UNITED STATES GUNBOAT CAYUGA, Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: Lieut. Commanding Preble; Kineo, Lieut. Commanding Ransom, and the Wissahickon, Lieut. Commanding A. W. Smith. The column of the Blue was formed on the left, heading up the river, and consisted of the flagship Hartford, Com. R. Wainwright, and bearing the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Farragut; the Brooklyn, Captain T. T. Craven; the Richmond, Com. Alden; the Scioto, bearing the divisional flag of the fleet, Capt. H. H. Bell, followed by the Iroquois, Itasca, Winona and Kennebec. At two A.M., on the morning of the twentyfourth, the signal "to advance" was thrown out from the flag-ship. The Cayuga immediately weighed anchor, and led on the column. We were discovered at the boom, and a little beyond both Forts opened their fire. When close up with St. Philip, we opened with grape and canis ter, still steering on. After passing this line of fire, we encountered the "Montgomery flotilla," consisting of eighteen gunboats, including the ram Manassas, and iron-battery Louisiana, of twenty guns. This was a moment of anxiety, as no supporting ship was in sight. By skilful steering, however, we avoided their attempts to butt and board, and had succeeded in forcing the surrender of three, when the Varuna, Capt. Bogg, and Oneida, Capt. Lee, were discovered near at hand. The gallant exploits of these ships will be made known by their commanders. At early dawn discovered a rebel camp on the right bank of the river. Ordering Lieut. Commanding N. B. Harrison to anchor close along. I hailed and ordered the Colonel to pile up his arms on the river-bank and come on board. This proved to be the Chalmetto regiment, commanded by Col. Szymanski. The regimental flag, tents, and camp equipage were captured. On the morning of the twenty-fifth, still leading and considerably ahead of the line, the Chalmetto batteries, situated three miles below the city, opened a cross-fire on the Cayuga. To this we responded with our two guns. At the end of twenty minutes the flag-ship ranged up ahead and silenced the enemy's guns. From this point no other obstacles were encountered except burning steamers, cotton-ships, fire-rafts, and the like. Immediately after anchoring in front of the city, I was ordered on shore by the Flag-Officer to demand the surrender of the city, and that the flag should be hoisted on the Post-Office, CustomHouse, and Mint. What passed at this interview will be better stated in the Flag-Officer's report. On the twenty-sixth I went with the Flag-Officer some seven miles above the city, where we found the defences abandoned, the guns spiked, and gun-carriages burning. These defences were erected to prevent the downward passage of Capt. Foote. On the twenty-seventh a large boom, situated above these defences, was destroyed by Capt. S. Phillips Lee. raked us along the port gangway, killing four and wounding nine of the crew, butting the Varuna on the quarter and again on the starboard side. I managed to get three eight-inch shell into her abaft her armor, as also several shot from the after rifled gun, when she dropped out of action partially disabled. While still engaged with her, another rebel steamer, iron-clad, with a prow under water, struck us in the port gangway, doing considerable damage. Our shot glanced from her bow. She backed off for another blow, and struck again in the same place, crushing in the side; but by going ahead fast the concussion drew her bow around, and I was able, with the port guns, to give her, while close alongside, five eight-inch shells abaft her armor. This settled her, and drove her ashore in flame. Finding the Varuna sinking, I ran her into the bank, let go the anchor, and tied up to the trees. During all this time the guns were actively at work crippling the Morgan, which was making feeble efforts to get up steam. The fire was kept On the twenty-eighth Gen. Butler landed above Fort St. Philip, under the guns of the Mississippi and Kineo. This landing of the army above, together with the passage of the fleet, appears to have put the finishing touch to the demoraliza-up until the water was over the gun-trucks, when tion of their garrison, (three hundred having mu-I turned my attention to getting the wounded tinied in Fort Jackson.) Both forts surrendered and crew out of the vessel. The Oneida, Capt. to Com. Porter, who was near at hand with the vessels of his flotilla. As I left the river Gen. Butler had garrisoned Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and his transports, with troops, were on the way to occupy NewOrleans. I cannot too strongly express my admiration of the cool and able management of all the vessels of my line by their respective captains. Lee, seeing the condition of the Varuna, had rushed to her assistance, but I waved her on, and the Morgan surrendered to her, the vessel being in flames. I have since learned that over fifty of her crew were killed and wounded, and she was set on fire by her commander, who burnt his wounded with his vessel. I cannot award too much praise to the officers and crew of the Varuna for the noble manner in After we had passed the Forts it was a contest which they supported me, and their coolness unbetween iron hearts in wooden vessels and iron-der such exciting circumstances, particularly clads with iron beaks, and the "iron hearts" won. when extinguishing fire, having been set on fire On the twenty-ninth the Cayuga, Lieut. Com-twice during the action by shells. manding Harrison, was selected to bring me home a bearer of despatches to the Government. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THEODORUS BAILEY, Captain. In fifteen minutes from the time the Varuna was struck she was on the bottom, with only her top-gallant forecastle out of water. The officers and crew lost everything they possessed, no one thinking of leaving his station until driven thence by the water. I trust the attention of the Department will be called to their loss, and compensation made to those who have lost their all. The crew were taken off by the different vesFlag Officer David G. Farragut, Commanding sels of the fleet as fast as they arrived, and are W. G. B. Squadron: now distributed through the squadron. COMMANDER BOGGS'S REPORT. U. S. STEAMER BROOKLYN, The SIR: I have the honor to report that after pass-wounded have been sent to the Pensacola. ing the batteries with the steamer Varuna under I would particularly commend to the notice of my command, on the morning of the twenty-the Department Oscar Peck, second-class boy, fourth, finding my vessel amid a nest of rebel steamers, I started ahead, delivering her fire, both starboard and port, at every one that she passed. The first vessel on her starboard beam that received her fire appeared to be crowded with troops. Her boiler was exploded, and she drifted to the shore. In like manner three other vessels, one of them a gunboat, were driven ashore in flames, and afterward blew up. At six A.M. the Varuna was attacked by the Morgan, iron-clad about the bow, 'commanded by Beverly Kennon, an ex-naval officer. This vessel and powder-boy of the after rifle, whose coolness and intrepidity attracted the attention of all hands. A fit reward for such services would be an appointment to the Naval School. The marines, although new recruits, more than maintained the reputation of that corps. Their galling fire cleared the Morgan's rifled gun, and prevented a repetition of her murderous fire. Four of the marines were wounded, one I fear mortally. So soon as the crew were saved, I reported to you in person, and within an hour left in the only remaining boat belonging to the Varuna with |