Fashionable Intelligence

Commodore Porter, after a series of balls at Fort Jackson and St. Phillip, is holding [a] levee at New Orleans.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2

From the New Orleans Fleet

The following letter is from William Sells, addressed to his father, the Secretary of State. – It gives us pleasure to publish it:

U. S. STEAMER MIAMI,
MOUTH MISSISSIPPI RIVER, April 6, ’62.

DEAR FATHER: – I have heard nothing from home since I left Baltimore, which was last of February. I have written you several letters since, one from Port Royal, one from Key West, and one from Ship Island. The great battle has not yet taken place, but will, quite soon, as the vessels are nearly all here. It may take place in the next 10 days, or sooner. Gen. Butler has landed some of his troops (about 6,000) at Biloxi, but for what purpose I cannot tell. The general impression here, is, that this will not only be the greatest battle of the war, but the greatest naval engagement on record. The Forts mount about 400 guns. Fort Jackson, the first, has two tiers of casemated guns, and one of barbette guns. One half mile above Fort Jackson is Fort Phillipi [sic], with one tier of guns.

Just below Fort Jackson there is an immense chain across the river buoyed on six schooners filled with wood so they cannot be sunk. At each end of the chain is a land battery but the worst place is above the chain at Englishtown. There they raked us four times; but land batteries are easily shelled out. But to take these place we are amply prepared, I think. There are some in the fleet that think we will be whipped; but I have no such thoughts. I think the men that have charge of the expedition, know their business. We have 21 bomb schooners, each carrying a 13-inch mortar, and will throw a shell three miles, and are very accurate and desperate. The shell contains 7 pounds of powder in addition, we will have about 30 war steamers, some of our best sloops and gunboats, including the Mississippi, Pensacola, Richmond, Hartford, Iroquois, Brooklyn, Harriet Lane, &c., including four New York ferry boats with immense power to tow schooners. – We have now two 9-inch guns, one rifle, four 24-puonders, and the best gunners in the fleet. For a while we did not practice much; but of late, the captain has taken hold personally.

We are to have for the fight, four more 6-inch guns from the frigate Colorado. She can’t get over the bar. Also 80 more men, which will give us a crew of 200 men. But we expect to come out of the fight with much less. All the large vessels carry a twelve pound howitzer “in the top” of each mast. They expect to go within three hundred yards of the forts and drive the gunners from their guns.

The captain of the Colorado, as he can’t get his vessel in, has volunteered to cut the chain. I have volunteered to take charge of our powder division, which is 30 men. They are also pikemen and boarders, and here, each man leads his men. –{Des Moines Register.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2

The Merrimac to Come Out Soon – Further from New Orleans

FT. MONROE, April 27 – A boat containing 4 black men and 1 white man arrived here this morning from Portsmouth. They report the Merrimac will come out soon.

A dispatch in yesterday’s Richmond papers received by flag of truce dated Mobile, Friday, says the Union gunboats passed Forts Jackson and St. Phillips at 4 o’clock Thursday morning and at 1 o’clock p.m. the same day were before New Orleans.

A rumor was current in Norfolk last night that New Orleans had surrendered.

Very few troops were at Norfolk or in the vicinity of it.

It was rumored that Com. Tatnal had been removed from command of the Merrimac.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 4

News From Dixie Via Fortress Monroe

ARRIVAL OF UNION REFUGEES – CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS – DESTRUCTION OF REBEL GUNBOATS AND ARMY STORES – GREAT PANIC IN DIXIE – PICAYUNE BUTLER COME AT LAST!

FORTRESS MONROE, April 29. – A flag of truce from Norfolk to-day brought down the wife and family of Parson Brownlow, and also the wife of Congressman Maynard. The party consisting of four ladies, two men and six children, are all from Tennessee. They bring the report that all Union families of Tennessee have been ordered by proclamation to leave within thirty-six hours. 1500 Union men left for Kentucky a week ago Friday. Out of a party of 400 attempting to leave, 100 had been killed.

There can be no doubt of the capture of New Orleans. The Southern newspapers speak of it in the most dismal strains, and demand that the mystery of the surrender of the city shall be explained.

The Norfolk Day Book, in an editorial, says it is by far the most serious reverse of the war. – It suggests future privations to all classes of society. but most to be lamented of all, it threatens our army supplies. The raising of meat and corn and wheat, instead of cotton and tobacco, is earnestly recommended by the discreet editor.

The Richmond Dispatch of yesterday says that when the enemy’s fleet arrived opposite the city and demanded its surrender, Gen. Lovell refused and fell back to Camp Moore, after destroying all the cotton and stores. The iron-clad vessel Mississippi was burnt to prevent her from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Nothing is said about the Louisiana, but it is supposed that she was scuttled. It is rumored that she was sunk at the first fire.

Camp Moore is 78 miles from New Orleans, on the Jackson Railroad.

The following are the latest despatches in today’s papers.

MOBILE, April 27. – The Yankee Commodore, Farrugat [sic], promised the Secretary of the Mayor of New Orleans, who visited the fleet, by a flag of truce, to make a second demand for the surrender of the city, but he had not done so up to this hour, five o’clock.

Our ship, the McRea, came up from the Forts under a flag of truce, with forty of our wounded. She communicated with the Federal Flag ship, but the result is unknown. It is rumored that the Federals refused to let her return.

The rumor that Fort Pike has been evacuated and blown up, is unreliable.

In a conference held with one of the Federal officers, after the correspondence between Mayor and Com. Farrugat, the officer left declaring that he would shoot down the flag on the City Hall, if it was not hauled down, and he actually bro’t his ship within range, but has not fired thus far.

It is reported that the French and English men of war, which are below, will enter their protest against shelling the city.

It is believed the Yankee vessels are short, both of provisions and ammunition.

The excitement in the city is intense, and the feeling of humiliation deep.

RICHMOND, April 28. – The following dispatch was received to-day, by Adj.-Gen. Cooper, from Gen. Lovell:

Camp Moore, April 27.

Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, are still in good condition and in our hands. The steamers Louisiana and McRae are safe. The enemy’s fleet is at the city, but they have not forces enough to occupy it. The in habitants are staunchly loyal.

MOBILE, April 28. – The Forts on Lake Ponchartrain [sic] were all evacuated on the 25th inst. – we have sustained considerable loss in supplies and dismounting, but not in destroying. The guns at Fort Pike and all the building[s] were burnt, including the telegraph office. The operator has gone to the limits of the city to open an office if possible. All the gunboats on the Lake have been burnt by our own people. The mobile boats Whitman, Brown and several others are moving troops, stores and ordnance to Manchock, after which we fear they will be burned.

The Yankee fleet was returning again to Ship Island.

In a local paragraph the Norfolk Day Book under the head of markets, named the ferry small supply of edibles exposed for sale and says it becomes a question of grave moment as to where and how the people are to be fed.

The death of Samuel B. Todd, brother of Mrs. Lincoln, is announced. He died on the battlefield, and from the effects of the wounds he received at Shiloh, in the action of the 7th.

It is reported by the flag of truce that the Merrimac had steamed up, and it was expected in Norfolk last night that she would come out to-day. She has not made her appearance, however.

The Charleston Mercury says that 9 schooners left that city on the previous Saturday to run the blockade. The Guild, Wave and two others were taken. The crew of the Guild was landed on Gibbs’ Island on Wednesday. On Friday they were seen by our pickets and fired upon under the supposition that they were Yankees. David Kauffer, of Augusta, was killed.

The other three vessels were sent to Fort Royal.

The gunboat Mt. Vernon arrived from the blockade of Wilmington on Sunday night. She left there the Jamestown and Victoria.

The Cambridge sailed hence for Wilmington on Sunday.

The Mt. Vernon’s boilers are defective, but she will return to her station in a few days.

There is but little news.

Fort Caswell is being strengthened by the rebels in expectation of an attack.

The schooner Kate from Nassau, was captured by the Mt. Vernon about two weeks ago while attempting the run the blockade.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 3

Reported Capture of New Orleans

FORT MONROE, April 27.

E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

A Black fugitive, just from Portsmouth, brings the Petersburg Express of yesterday containing the following:


MOBILE, April 25.

The enemy passed Fort Jackson at 4 yesterday a. m. When the news reached New Orleans the excitement was boundless, martial law put in full force, business suspended, all cotton and steamboats, except necessary for transportation, corn and ammunition, destroyed. At 1 o’clock today the operator bade good-bye, saying the enemy had appeared before the city. This is the last known. Will send particulars soon as received.

The negro bringing this reports the rebels have two iron-clad steamers nearly completed, and believed the Merrimac would go out to-morrow.

(Signed,) J. E. WOOL.


HEADQUARTERS DEPT. RAPPAHANNOCK,
April 27.

TO STANTON, Secretary of War – I was told the Richmond Examiner of the 26th has been received in Fredericksburg announcing New Orleans taken. Great destruction of property, cotton and steamboats. There were enough steamboats saved to take away the ammunition. Great consternation among the inhabitants.


WASHINGTON, April 27.

The news from New Orleans which comes from several rebel sources, is deemed of the utmost importance. What England failed to do has been accomplished by New England. The manner in which the success at Fort Jackson and Fort Phillip was followed up is highly praised. In three hours our men consummated their victory and appeared before New Orleans to receive its submission.

No mention is made by the rebels of iron clad turtles and rams.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 29, 1862, p. 2

From Fortress Monroe – Southern News

FORT MONROE, April 27.

A boat containing four black men and one white man arrived here this morning from Portsmouth. They report that the Merrimack will come out soon.

A dispatch in yesterday’s Richmond papers received by the flag of truce, dated Mobile, Friday, says that the Union gunboats passed Forts Jackson and St. Philip at 4 o’clock Thursday morning, and at 1 p.m. the same day were before New Orleans. A rumor was current in Norfolk last night, that New Orleans has surrendered.

But few troops were at Norfolk or in the vicinity. It was rumored that Com. Tatnall had been removed from command of the Merrimac.

It is stated by contrabands that the most intense excitement exists around Norfolk, and they have great fear of an attack by Burnside. Nearly all the troops have gone to South Mills to repel any advance he might make.

Contrabands state that the new prow on the Merrimac is 12 feet long, of wrought iron and steel pointed.

Many citizens of Norfolk are leaving the city.

The fall of New Orleans is conceded by everyone.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 29, 1862, p. 1

New Orleans

Formidable Rebel Preparations for Resistance

A correspondent of the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch, writing from New Orleans, says:

The Mississippi is fortified so as to be impassible for any hostile fleet or flotilla. Forts Jackson and St. Philip are armed with 175 heavy guns (68 pounders, by Barkley Britain, and received from England). The navigation of the river is stopped by a dam of about a quarter of a mile from the above forts. No flotilla on earth can force that dam in less than two hours, during which it would be within short and cross range of 170 guns of the largest caliber, many of which would be served with red hot shot, numerous furnaces for which have been erected in every fort and every battery.

In a day or two we shall have ready two iron cased floating batteries. The plates are four and a half inches thick, of the best hammered iron, received from England and France. Each iron cased battery will mount twenty 68-pounders, placed so as to skim the water, and striking the enemy’s hull between wind and water. We have an abundant supply of incendiary shells, cupola furnaces for molten iron, Congreve rockets and fireships.

Between New Orleans and the forts there is a constant succession of earthworks. At the plain of Chalmette, near Janin’s property, there are redoubts, armed with rifled cannon, which have been found to be effective at five miles range. A ditch thirty feet wide and twenty deep extends from the Mississippi to La Cypsiere.

In Forts St. Philip and Jackson there are 3,000 men, of whom a goodly portion are experienced artillerymen and gunners who have served in the navy.

At New Orleans itself, we have 32,000 infantry, and as many more quartered in the immediate neighborhood. In discipline and drill they are far superior to the Yankees. We have two very able and active Generals, who possess our entire confidence. Gen. Mansfield Lovell and Brig. Gen. Ruggles. For Commodore we have old Hollins, a Nelson in his way.

We are ready to give the Yankees a hot reception when they come. Around me all are mad excitement and rage. Our only fear is that the Northern invaders may not appear. We have made such extensive preparations to receive them that it were vexatious if their invincible armada escapes the fate we have in store for it.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p. 2

The French Marching on the City of Mexico

NEW YORK, April 24. – The Spanish steam frigate Isabella Catolica has arrived from Havana 17th.

The Diaro states that persons direct from New Orleans report the rebel defenses much exaggerated; that Forts Jackson and St. Phillip have been abandoned and the cannon taken away; there is nothing to prevent the Federal fleet sailing directly to New Orleans The Diaro does not vouch for the truth of these reports.

Later News from Vera Cruz had reached Havana.

After an unsatisfactory conference between the Allied commanders, the French General decided to march his division against the City of Mexico, taking upon himself the responsibility. The English and Spanish plenipotentiaries thereupon decided to withdraw their troops.

It was stated that the Juarez Government is ready to give every satisfaction to the Allies in the matter of claims, but will not listen to the idea of a monarchy, and in case the Allies advanced to the Capital would retire from it.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3