captains of the civil war-第16章
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ot clear of the scrimmage and did all that skill could do with their makeshift little craft against the Federal fleet。 Kennon singled out the Varuna （the only one of Farragut's vessels that was not a real man…of…war）； raked her stern with the two guns of his own much inferior vessel； the Governor Moore； and rammed her into a sinking condition。 Warley flew at bigger game with his little ram； the Manassas； trying three of the large men…of…war； one after another； as they came upstream。 The Pensacola eluded him by a knowing turn of her helm that roused his warmest admiration。 The Mississippi caught the blow glancingly on her quarter and got off with little damage。 The Brooklyn was taken fair and square amidships； but； though her planking was crushed in； she sprang no serious leak and went on with the fight。 The wretched little Confederate engines had not been able to drive the ram home。
The Brooklyn was the flagship Hartford's next…astern and the Richmond's next…ahead； these three forming the main body of Farragut's own port column； which followed hard on the heels of the starboard one； so hard； indeed； that there were only twenty minutes between the first shot fired by the forts at the Cayuga and the first shot fired by the Hartford at the forts。 Besides the forts there was the Louisiana floating battery that helped to swell the storm of shot and shell； and down the river came a fire…raft gallantly towed by a tug。 The Hartford sheered off； over towards Fort St。 Philip； under whose guns she took ground by the head while the raft closed in and set her ablaze。 Instantly the hands on fire duty sprang to their work。 But the flames rushed in through the ports； and the men were forced a step back。 Farragut at once called out： 〃Don't flinch from the fire； boys。 There's a hotter fire than that for those who don't do their duty！〃 Whereupon they plied their hoses to such good effect that the fire was soon got under control。 Farragut calmly resumed his walk up and down the poop； while the gunners blew the gallant little tug to bits and smashed the raft in pieces。 Then he stood keenly watching the Hartford back clear； gather way； and take the lead upstream again。 Every now and then he looked at the pocket compass that hung from his watch chain； though； for the most part； he tried to scan a scene of action lit only by the flashes of the guns。 The air was dense and very still； so the smoke of guns and funnels hung like a pall over both the combatants while the desperate fight went on。
At last the fleet fought through and reached the clearer atmosphere above the forts； all but the last three gunboats； which were driven back by the fire。 Then Farragut immediately sent word to General Benjamin F。 Butler that the troops could be brought up by the bayous that ran parallel to the river out of range of the forts。 But the General； having taken in the situation at a glance from a transport just below the scene of action； had begun to collect his men at Sable Island； twelve miles behind Fort St。 Philip； long before Farragut's messenger could reach him by way of the Quarantine Bayou。 From Sable Island the troops were taken by the transports to a point on the Mississippi five miles above Fort St。 Philip。
After a well…earned rest the whole fleet moved up to New Orleans on the twenty…fifth； turning the city's lines five miles downstream without the loss of a man； for the simple reason that these had been built only to resist an army； and so lay with flanks entirely open to a fleet。 General Lovell （the able commander who had so often warned the Confederate Government of the danger from the sea） at once evacuated the defenseless city。 The best of the younger men were away with the armies。 The best of the older men were too few for the storm。 And so pandemonium broke loose。 Burning boats； blazing cotton； and a howling mob greeted Farragut's arrival。 But after the forts （now completely cut off from their base） had surrendered on the twenty…eighth a landing party from the fleet soon brought the mob to its senses by planting howitzers in the streets and lowering the Confederate colors over the city hall。 On the first of May a garrison of Federal troops took charge of New Orleans and kept it till the war was over。
New Orleans was a most pregnant Federal victory； for it established a Union base at the great strategic point where sea…power and land…power could meet most effectively in Mississippi waters。
But it was followed by a perfect anti…climax； for the Federal Government； having planned a naval concentration at Vicksburg； determined to put the plan in operation； though all the naval and military means concerned made such a plan impossible of execution in 1862。 Amphibious forcesfleets and armies combinedwere essential。 There was no use in parading up and down the river； however triumphantly； so long as the force employed could only hold the part of the channel within actual range of its guns。 The Confederates could be driven off the Mississippi at any given point。 But there was nothing to prevent them from coming back again when once the ships had passed。 An army to seize and hold strategic points ashore was absolutely indispensable。 Then； and only then； Farragut's long line of communication with his base at New Orleans would be safe； and the land in which the Mississippi was the principal highway could itself be conquered。
〃If the Mississippi expedition from Cairo shall not have descended the river； you will take advantage of the panic to push a strong force up the river to take all their defenses in rear。〃 These were the orders Farragut had to obey if he succeeded in taking New Orleans。 They were soon reinforced by this reminder： 〃The only anxiety we feel is to know if you have followed up your instructions and pushed a strong force up the river to meet the Western flotilla。〃 Farragut therefore felt bound to obey and do all that could be done to carry on a quite impossible campaign。 So； with a useless landing party of only fifteen hundred troops； he pushed up to Vicksburg； four hundred miles above New Orleans。 The nearest Federal army had been halted by the Confederate defenses above Memphis； another four hundred higher still。
There were several reasons why Farragut should not have gone up。 His big ships would certainly be stranded if he went up and waited for the army to come down； moreover； when stranded； these ships would be captured while waiting； because both banks were swarming with vastly outnumbering Confederate troops。 Then； such a disaster would more than offset the triumph of New Orleans by still further depressing Federal morale at a time when the Federal arms were doing none too well near Washington。 Finally； all the force that was being worse than wasted up the Mississippi might have been turned against Mobile； which； at that time； was much weaker than the defenses Farragut had already overcome。 But the people of the North were clamorous for more victories along the line to which the press had drawn their gaze。 So the Government ordered the fleet to carry on this impossible campaign。
Farragut did his best。 Within a month of passing the forts he had not only captured New Orleans and repaired the many serious damages suffered by his fleet but had captured Baton Rouge； and taken even his biggest ships to Vicksburg； five hundred miles from the Gulf； against a continuous current； and right through the heart of a hostile land。 Finding that there were thirty thousand Confederates in； near； or within a day of Vicksburg he and General Thomas Williams agreed that nothing could be done with the fifteen hundred troops which formed the only landing party。 Sickness and casualties had reduced the ships' companies； so there were not even a few seamen to spare as reinforcements for these fifteen hundred soldiers； whom Butler had sent； under Williams； with the fleet。 Then Farragut turned back； his stores running dangerously short owing to the enormous difficulties of keeping open his long； precarious line of communications。 〃I arrived in New Orleans with five or six days' provisions and one anchor； and am now trying to procure others 。 。 。 。 Fighting is nothing to the evils of the rivergetting on shore； running foul of one another； losing anchors；
