NAVY, U. S., OPERATIOXS OF. 



ing implements of every kind, such as nre used 

 in shipyards/' " I never witnessed such van- 

 dalism in my life," he \vrites to the Secretary 

 of the Navy, ''as the destruction of property; 

 all the shipping, steamboats, &c., were set on 

 fire and consumed." The squadron reached the 

 English Turn about 10.30 A. M. on the 25th, 

 and soon descried the new earthwork forts on 

 the old lines on both shores, some 6 or 7 miles 

 below the city ; these were known as the 

 Chalmette batteries. The fleet formed, as be- 

 fore, in two lines, each taking its own work, 

 but Captain Bailey, with the Cayuga, was far 

 in advance, not having noticed the signal for 

 close order, and sustained alone a cross fire for 

 about 20 minutes, at the end of which time the 

 Hartford ranged up ahead, and gave the bat- 

 teries a broadside of shells, shrapnell, and 

 grape, the first discharge driving the men on 

 the right bank from their guns. The Pensa- 

 cola, the Brooklyn, and then the rest of the 

 fleet, came up in quick succession, and in about 

 15 or 20 minutes "the forts were silenced, and 

 those who could run were running in every 

 direction." From this point no obstacles were 

 encountered, except burning steamers, cotton 

 ships, fire rafts, and the like, and at one o'clock 

 p. M. the squadron anchored in front of New 

 Orleans. 



A terrible and melancholy spectacle was 

 presented to the victors. The whole levee, for 

 miles, was wrapped in smoke from the burning 

 gun carriages and cotton which the authorities 

 had ordered to be consumed. In the river were 

 many hulls of burning ships, and the utmost 

 ingenuity was required to avoid them. As the 

 squadron neared the levee the sailors gave a 

 cheer which was answered by some persons in 

 the crowd on shore. Pistol shots were im- 

 mediately fired at these latter by the excited 

 multitude, and several persons were wounded. 

 After a delay of half an hour or so, Capt. Bailey 

 was sent ashore to demand the surrender of the 

 city. He was received by the mob with the 

 most violent demonstrations, but under escort 

 of a number of citizens proceeded unmolested 

 to the mayor's office, the mob at his heels con- 

 tenting itself with furiously assaulting citizens 

 suspected of sympathy'with the Federal Union. 

 On reaching the City Hall, Capt. Bailey de- 

 manded the surrender of the city, and the dis- 

 play of the United States flag over the custom 

 house, post office, mint, and city hall. The 

 mayor replied that he had no authority, the 

 city being under military control, and a mes- 

 senger was accordingly sent for Gen. Mansfield 

 Lovell, the commander of the department. 

 Gen. Lovell informed Capt. Bailey that he had 

 already evacuated the city, and would now 

 turn over the control to the municipal authori- 

 ties, leaving them free to act as they saw fit. 

 It was then arranged that Capt. Bailey should 

 return to his fleet, and await the action of the 

 common council. To the demand to haul down 

 the flag of Louisiana from the City Hall the 

 mayor gave an unqualified refusal. The com- 



mon council was already in session, and the 

 mayor at once sent in a message, recommend- 

 ing that an answer be returned to Capt. Far- 

 ragut, representing that the city being incapa- 

 ble of offering any resistance yielded to physi- 

 cal force alone, without giving up its allegiance 

 to the Confederate Government ; that the cus- 

 tom house, post office, and mint were the prop- 

 erty of the Confederate Government, and the 

 municipal authorities had no control over them ; 

 and that all acts involving a transfer of author- 

 ity must be performed by the invading forces 

 themselves. The sentiments expressed in this 

 message were unanimously adopted by the 

 council, and on the next day the following cor- 

 respondence was opened between Capt. Far- 

 ragut and the mayor : 



L". S. FLAG SHIP HARTFOBD, off New Orleans, 1 

 April 26, 1862. f 



To His Excellency the Mayor of A'cw Orleans: 



SIR : Upon my arrival before your city I had the 

 honor to send to your honor Capt. Bailey, U. S. N., 

 second in command of the expedition, to demand of 

 you the surrender of New Orleans to me as the repre- 

 sentative of the Government of the United States. 

 Capt. Bailey reported the result of an interview with 

 yourself and the military authorities. It must occur 

 to your honor that it is not within the province of a 

 naval officer to assume the duties of a military com- 

 mandant. I came here to reduce Xew Orleans to obe- 

 dience to the laws of and to vindicate the offended 

 majesty of the Government of the United States. 



The rights of persons and property shall be secured. 

 I therefore demand of you, as its representative, the 

 unqualified surrender of the city, and that the emblem 

 of the sovereignty of the United States be hoisted 

 over the City Hall, Mints, and Custom House by me- 

 ridian this d'ay ; and that all flags and other emblems 

 of sovereignty other than those of the United States 

 be removed from all the public buildings at that hour. 



I further particularly request that you shall exercise 

 your authority to quell disturbances, restore order, 

 and call upon all the good people of >"ew Orleans to 

 return at once to their vocations, and I particularly 

 demand that no person shall be molested in person or 

 property for sentiments of loyalty to their Govern- 

 ment. 



I shall speedily and severely punish any person or 

 persons who shall commit such outrages as were wit- 

 nessed vesterday, by armed men firing upon helpless 

 women and children for giving expression to their 

 pleasure at witnessing the old flag. 



I am, very respecffullv, 



D. G. FABBAGUT, 

 Flag-Officer Western Gulf Squadron. 



U. S. FLAG SHIP HAETFOED. at anchor off the | 

 City of New Orleans, April 26, 1?62. ) 



To Tiis Honor the Jfay&r of Xac Orleans : 



Your honor will please give directions that no flag 

 but that of the United States will be permitted to fly 

 in the presence of this fleet, so long as it has the power 

 to prevent it ; and as all displays of that kind may be 

 the cause of bloodshed, I have to request that you will 

 give this communication as general a circulation as 

 possible. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obe- 

 dient servant, D. G. FARRAGUT, 



Flag-Officer Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 



MA YOB'S OFFICE, CITT OF XEW OEI.EASS. Crnr I 

 HALL, April 26, 1862. f 



To Flag- Officer D. G. Farragut, U. S. Flag Ship 

 Hartford : 



SIR: In pursuance of a resolution which we thought 

 proper to take, out of regard for the lives of the wom- 

 en and children who still crowd the metropolis, Gen, 



