Identifier: navalbattlesanci00ship (find matches)
Title: Naval battles, ancient and modern
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Shippen, Edward, 1826-1911
Subjects: Naval battles
Publisher: Philadelphia (etc.) J.C. McCurdy & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
e Confederates, who werethus enabled to transport immense sup-plies from the southwest to the seat ofwar. Moreover, the Rebels, as they were then called,had, at New Orleans, a constantly increasing force oframs and armored vessels, under able officers of the oldNavy, with which to defend the approaches from theGulf, as well as from up the river. After long consideration, Farragut was chosen as thenaval officer to command in the Gulf. The story of hissouthern birth, and of his steadfast loyalty to his flag, istoo well known to be here repeated. His formal orders put him in command of the WesternGulf Blockading Squadron, and these were issued inJanuary, 1862. But confidential instructions were alsogiven him, by which he was especially charged with the reduction of the defences guarding the approaches toNew Orleans, and the taking possession of that city. He was to be assisted by a mortar-fleet of schooners,under Commander D. D. Porter. Farragut had long before expressed a belief that he
Text Appearing After Image:
FARRAGUT AT NEW ORLEANS. 587 could take New Orleans, and he had lltde confidence ina mortar-fleet, and would rather have dispensed with it ;but since Porter had already been ordered to prepare it,when he was detailed for the command, he acquiesced inthe arrangement. He turned out to be right, as he generally was insuch matters. On February 2d, 1862, Farragut sailed for the Gulf, inthe sloop-of-war Hartford, which was so long to bear hisflag, successfully, through manifold dangers. The Hartford was a wooden screw-steamer, full ship-rigged, and of nineteen hundred tons burthen. She wasof comparatively light draught, and, therefore, well suitedto the service she was called upon to perform. She then carried a battery of twenty-two nine-inch,smooth-bore guns, two 20-pounder Parrotts, and her foreand main-tops had howitzers, with a protection of boileriron, a suggestion of Farraguts. This battery wasafterwards increased by a rifled gun upon the fore-castle. Like Napoleon, Farragut believed

Note About Images