March 19, 1863, The New York Herald
Attack on Port Hudson and the Reported Repulse of the Union Naval Force.
The following important telegraphic despatch was received last evening:–
FORTRESS MONROE, March 18, 1863.
The Richmond papers of the 17th say that on the 14th Admiral Farragut attacked Port Hudson and was repulsed. The Mississippi was burnt. Admiral Farragut went down the river in his flagship, which was disabled. The land force did not join in the attack.
Whether or not this news be true, of course remains to be proved by the arrival of the despatches from our forces at New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi.
There is, however a shadow of probability that a portion of the report may be true, so far as the attack upon the place is concerned. But there is also a fact that stands out clearly in the above despatch, and that is that the land forces were not engaged. It therefore shows that the movement was a mere reconnoissance to draw the fire of the rebels preparatory to a general attack; and even if it has cost us the loss of a vessel, as stated by the rebels, it may have also given us the desired information that will be the means of entirely subduing the rebel stronghold – for strong it certainly is both naturally and by the aid of art. The force at the place is also variously estimated between 10,000 and 70,000; but there is little doubt but that the rebels have at least from 15,000 to 20,000 men at Port Hudson, independent of the force they may have at Vicksburg, Natchez, Jackson and other intermediate places. From New Orleans we learn that the rebel cavalry but recently patroled and scoured the district in the vicinity of the Amite river, back of Port Hudson.
One of the facts that gives a degree of probability to the rebel despatch is, that General Banks left the city of New Orleans on the night of March 7, in company with his staff and General Grover, who had but recently left Baton Rouge for General Banks’ headquarters on the most important business. The movements of the commander of the department explains the business. General Auger was already at Baton Rouge, and it was stated in New Orleans that these soon to be united commanders did not intend to return until they had witnessed the reduction of the rebel works. The fact of the army not having yet been engaged in the attack proves that the affair was but a naval reconnoissance. Troops have been forwarded to Baton Rouge from New Orleans for some time past, and every means of transportation have been collected for prompt movements in that vicinity. The navy were also partially moved up the river to take advantage of the present high stage of the water for a bombardment upon the works in front.
The vessels to be engaged were the Hartford, Richmond, Mississippi, Monougahela, Genesee, Kineo, Itasca, Essex, Sportsman, the mortar fleet and some few inferior vessels. The Hartford was to be the flagship of the Admiral of the squadron, while the Pensacola was to be stationed off the city in the charge of Captain Morris, as a kind of sub-headquarter station for the West Gulf squadron. Most of the vessels, with their officers and men, have already been under fire, and are noted for their bravery.
The following are sketches of the vessels reported destroyed and injured: –
THE MISSISSIPPI AND HER SERVICES.
The Mississippi was a side wheel war steamer, constructed of wood, and built in Philadelphia in 1841. Her register gave her rate as 1,692 tons burthen, and when first launched was intended to carry ten Paixhan guns; but during the present war her armament was increased, and consisted of twelve heavy guns. She was a companion vessel to the Missouri, which was built in this city in the same year as the Mississippi, and was accidentally destroyed by fire at Gibraltar while on special service and en route for China with the Hon. Caleb Cushing, our Minister to that empire, as passenger. The Mississippi was first attached to the Home squadron, after which, in 1843, she was laid up in ordinary at Boston. In 1845 she was again put in commission, and under the command of Captain A. Fitzhugh, was attached to the Home squadron, then under Commodore David Conner. The next year she was attached to the fleet engaged in the Mexican war, and was then placed under the command of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, who afterwards had the sole charge of the whole of the Home squadron. When Perry left the steamer Mississippi, Commander McKenzie was placed in charge, with Lieut. W. D. Porter, recently attached to the gunboat Essex, of Farragut’s squadron, as his executive officer. McKenzie died on the 13th of September, 1848, and (the Mississippi) was ordered home from Mexico. The war being ended she was laid up in ordinary at Norfolk, Va., where we find her on the 1st of January, 1849. She was next, in charge of Captain John C. Long, ordered to the Mediterranean squadron, then under Commodore Chas. W. Morgan. The vessel returned to New York in November, 1851, with Kossuth and staff on board as passengers, and was fitted out for the East India service. At the beginning of 1852 we find her thus preparing for sea. She sailed shortly afterwards, and became the flagship of the squadron then under the charge of Commodore Perry, her former commander in the Mexican war. She formed one of the fleet engaged in the expedition to Japan. In 1854 Perry changed his flag to the Susquehanna, and the Mississippi began to prepare for her return to the United States. She arrived in this harbor in April, 1855, and was sent to the Navy Yard to repair. We thus find her at the beginning of 1856 and 1856. She was during this interval thoroughly over hauled, and another gun added to her armament; making eleven in all. When ready she was again sent to join the East India squadron then under Commodore J. Tattnall, who at once chose her as his flagship. During 1859 Commodore Stribling was placed in command of the East India squadron, and as he had raised his flag on the Hartford, the Mississippi was ordered home, where she arrived in January, 1860, and was laid up in ordinary at Boston, where we find her on the 1st of January, 1861. When the rebellion broke out she was at once attached to the gulf blockading squadron under Commodore (now Admiral) Farragut. During the fight in the Mississippi river, which led to the capture of New Orleans, the Mississippi was placed in the second division of ships, and performed her portion of the arduous task. She was afterwards attached to the sub-squadron under Captain Bailey. During the action the Mississippi disabled the far famed (by the rebels) ram Manassas, which was to have destroyed the whole Union fleet. Since the capture of New Orleans this vessel has played no important part in the history of the Gulf blockading squadron, and in this last action off Port Hudson has met a similar fate to that of her sister vessel the Missouri.
THE FLAGSHIP HARTFORD.
The flagship of Admiral Farragut, which is reported to be disabled, is the Hartford, a screw steamer of 1,990 tons. The Hartford was built in Boston in 1858, and was constructed to carry fourteen guns. She was placed in commission during 1859, and her armament was increased to sixteen guns…. Until the breaking out of the rebellion she remained the flagship of the East India squadron. On the breaking out of the rebellion she was immediately ordered home, and her armament increased to twenty-five guns. Admiral (at that time Commodore) Farragut made choice of her as his flagship when he was appointed to the command of the West Gulf squadron. On the morning of the memorable 24th of April, 1862, the Hartford, as the flagship of the squadron engaged in the taking of New Orleans, was one of the first vessels to pass Fort Jackson, which work she had been engaged in silencing during the previous days of the bombardment. When the Hartford was passing the batteries the rebels succeeded in setting her on fire three times by means of fire rafts; but the flames were promptly extinguished by the brave men on board. Another danger, however, beset her on her way up the Mississippi to the Crescent City. Owing to some unfortunate mishap she grounded within range of the rebel guns. For a short time the shot and shell from the rebel works fell around her, and threatened to cripple her machinery. By the united exertions of her crew and engineers she was, however, got off, and although bearing many honorable scars from the terrible fire to which she had been exposed, the staunch ship Hartford carried the Stars and Stripes at her peak in triumph to New Orleans. Since that time she has performed much good service in preserving order among the rebels who throng the banks of the Mississippi, and who entertain such a wholesome dread of what a gunboat can do.
Sketch of Port Hudson.
Port Hudson in itself is but of small importance, but strategically is of considerable value to both the Union and rebel causes, as is plainly shown by the maps which we give today. It is a post village of East Fellciana parish, Louisiana, and is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi river, at the terminus of the Clinton and Port Hudson Railroad. It is distant about twenty five miles north of Baton Rouge, and previous to the rebellion was a place of very active business by way of the Mississippi river. The annual shipments of cotton were estimated at thirty thousand bales, in addition to about two thousand hogsheads of sugar. The population in 1860 was but three hundred, but doubtless is now much less, if we exclude the army and the camp followers.