The Battle of New Orleans
April-May 1862
Confederate: General Twiggs, General Lovell, Sec of war Judah P. Benjamin, Commander George Hollins
Federal: General of Navy Farragut, General of Navy Porter, Captain Henry Bell, General of Army Butler, General
John Pope
New Orleans
Important ship building/ port of South
North Blockade
Ironclads in New Orleans
The Manassas, Louisiana, Mississippi—defend Fort Jackson and St. Phillip
Concerned Federals—union navy all wood
Ironclads gave confederates exaggerated sense of security
Created Chalmette Defense Line- bayou had string of fortifications (chains, anchors, etc.) across to
protect forts
Manassas
Ironclad build slow—Commander Hollins took Manassas & six lightly armed boats to:
Head of the Passes (three distinct directions of miss. to Gulf)
“Popes Run”— General Pope surprised and cost him his job. No other casualties
Spread out Confederates/ increased morale
Confederate thought up river attack—Pres. Davis sends Navy to Columbus, Kentucky
Strands New Orleans—no navy
October 5 1862— General Twiggs asks to be relieved
October 17 1862— General Lovell of Navy
Fixes inferior navy/ defenses/ men
Supplies needed sent elsewhere (VA, SC, TN) plus 10,000 to Corinth, Mississippi (Fort Henry/
Donelson)
Lovell
Federal forces Biloxi, Mississippi— 15,255 men Butler’s 24 wooden navy Farragut’s March 13
1862
Sec. of War Judah P. Benjamin— advises 14 “River Defense Fleet” separates
confederates more and low supplies—ignored advancing federals/ Lovell’s advice
Confed. outnumbered— 4,000/ 15000 army 24/ 8 vessels
April 16, 1862
3 porter schooners test Fort Jackson—17th all 21 vessels
April 18, 1862
9:00 A.M.—10 hrs every 10 min schooner shot
Nightfall realize Fort not fall as predicted
April 20, 1862
Farragut— new plan: destroy chain barrier run past w/ warships
*Once above Forts Butlers troops seize forts
Nightfall April 20th
Captain Henry Bell—break Chalmette Defense Line
Confederate— try to disrupt with fire boat/ Bell succeeds
April 23 1862
Porter’s mortars ask surrender; breaking down forts
Midnight April 24th
Farragut attack—confed. fire from forts & Manassas but pass never obstructed
3 Divisions of Ships
All made but Varuna sank and rear division gunboats—turned around
Porter
Sent to demand surrender of Forts
Butler
Army troops brought from Head of the Passes
Dawn of April 25
Lovell retreat
Farragut advances on city while Butler in city
Farragut dispatch marines take position of all public buildings and replace flag
Farragut threatens to shoot city more if don’t comply
Common council and Mayor declare New Orleans open
city— April 27 Forts surrender
May 1, 1862
Butler/ Farragut city under Federal
Unrealized Potential
Vicksburg— Farragut minor attempts to open Mississippi
Not until 4 July 1863— after lengthy campaign