Okla-homey
4/29/2008, 07:23 AM
April 29, 1862: Combined US Army/Navy team secures New Orleans
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8522/ffffmi254ob0.jpg
US fleet's daring run past New Orleans forts on the night of April 24, 1862 setting the stage for the land assault on this day.
146 years ago today, US troops officially take possession of New Orleans, completing the combined assault that had begun four days earlier.
The capture of this vital southern city was a huge blow to the Confederacy. It had its genesis in the incorrect Cornfed assumption any attack would come downriver from the north. Thus, the Rebs focused their defenses upriver and not from the Gulf of Mexico.
In early 1862, the Confederates concentrated their forces in northern Mississippi and western Tennessee to stave off the US invasion. Many of these troops fought at Shiloh on April 6 and 7. Eight Rebel gunboats were dispatched up the great river to stop a USN flotilla above Memphis, leaving only 3,000 militia, two uncompleted ironclads, and a few steamboats to defend New Orleans.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9606/ffffcommodorefarragutoe7.jpg
The most imposing obstacles for the Union were two forts, Jackson and St. Phillip. In the middle of the night of April 24, Admiral David Farragut led a fleet of 24 gunboats, 19 mortar boats, and troopships carying 15,000 soldiers in a daring run past the forts.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2460/fftorpedo300gu5.jpg
David Farragut. The man simply knew no fear.
Now, an amphibious landing was possible at New Orleans except for the rag-tag Confederate fleet that threatened the lightly armed troop carriers. Leading with their powerful gunboats, the mighty USN armada plowed right through, sinking eight of the Rebel ships.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6024/fffh42245al6.jpg
Inside the city, Confederate General Mansfield Lovell surveyed his tiny force and realized that resistance was futile. If he resisted, Lovell told Mayor John Monroe, Farragut would bombard the city and inflict severe damage and casualties.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4592/ffffneworleanscartoonue8.jpg
Contemporary editorial cartoon depicting the roll-over of New Orleans done in order to protect local economic interests in the face of the potentially destructive US invasion.
The spectre of bombardment frightened the mayor and the local business community and they prevailed upon the Lovell to withdraw from the city in order to avoid a fight and ensuing damage.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2686/fffmansfieldlovellta2.jpg
Mansfield Lovell. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Lovell left his home in New York City and enlisted in the Confederate army. A West Pointer, he was appointed as a major general on October 7, 1861. As commander of New Orleans, he was highly criticized for evacuating the city and letting Admiral David Farragut capture it. He was later relieved of command as a consequence of his poor performance at New Orleans. Stung by this reprimand, he demanded a court of inquiry, which met in April 1863 and declared him innocent of charges of incompetence. However, he was not given any assignments for the rest of the Civil War. Lovell returned to New York City following the war and resumed his career as a civil engineer. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx in New York City.
Lovell pulled his troops out of New Orleans and the blue-clad forces of freedom prepared to enter the city. Only one thing had to happen before the US eagle could land in the Crescent City. The troops could not land until Forts Jackson and St. Phillip were secured. By order of Gen. Lovell, both forts surrendered on this day, and leaving New Orleans unprotected.
On the afternoon of April 29, US soldiers began their landings. White crowds cursed the Yankees while black folks were jubilant as all Confederate flags in the city were lowered and the Stars and Stripes were raised in their place.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1804/ffff3695431857b40b65ff9bn0.jpg
Confederate First National Flag with Seven Star “Crescent” Pattern, Captured at the Fall of New Orleans. 48″ x 33″ and accompanied by family provenance and notarized affidavit of Dorothy B. Morrill, the great-granddaughter of Commander Charles Caldwell of the U.S.S. Gunboat Itasca who captured this flag during the fall of New Orleans in 1862.
The Confederacy lost a major city, and the lower Mississippi soon became a Federal highway for 400 miles to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Farragut would go to greater naval glory when, in August of 1864, he would shout the famous order, "Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed Ahead!" as his fleet powered its way into Mobile Bay.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8522/ffffmi254ob0.jpg
US fleet's daring run past New Orleans forts on the night of April 24, 1862 setting the stage for the land assault on this day.
146 years ago today, US troops officially take possession of New Orleans, completing the combined assault that had begun four days earlier.
The capture of this vital southern city was a huge blow to the Confederacy. It had its genesis in the incorrect Cornfed assumption any attack would come downriver from the north. Thus, the Rebs focused their defenses upriver and not from the Gulf of Mexico.
In early 1862, the Confederates concentrated their forces in northern Mississippi and western Tennessee to stave off the US invasion. Many of these troops fought at Shiloh on April 6 and 7. Eight Rebel gunboats were dispatched up the great river to stop a USN flotilla above Memphis, leaving only 3,000 militia, two uncompleted ironclads, and a few steamboats to defend New Orleans.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9606/ffffcommodorefarragutoe7.jpg
The most imposing obstacles for the Union were two forts, Jackson and St. Phillip. In the middle of the night of April 24, Admiral David Farragut led a fleet of 24 gunboats, 19 mortar boats, and troopships carying 15,000 soldiers in a daring run past the forts.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2460/fftorpedo300gu5.jpg
David Farragut. The man simply knew no fear.
Now, an amphibious landing was possible at New Orleans except for the rag-tag Confederate fleet that threatened the lightly armed troop carriers. Leading with their powerful gunboats, the mighty USN armada plowed right through, sinking eight of the Rebel ships.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6024/fffh42245al6.jpg
Inside the city, Confederate General Mansfield Lovell surveyed his tiny force and realized that resistance was futile. If he resisted, Lovell told Mayor John Monroe, Farragut would bombard the city and inflict severe damage and casualties.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4592/ffffneworleanscartoonue8.jpg
Contemporary editorial cartoon depicting the roll-over of New Orleans done in order to protect local economic interests in the face of the potentially destructive US invasion.
The spectre of bombardment frightened the mayor and the local business community and they prevailed upon the Lovell to withdraw from the city in order to avoid a fight and ensuing damage.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2686/fffmansfieldlovellta2.jpg
Mansfield Lovell. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Lovell left his home in New York City and enlisted in the Confederate army. A West Pointer, he was appointed as a major general on October 7, 1861. As commander of New Orleans, he was highly criticized for evacuating the city and letting Admiral David Farragut capture it. He was later relieved of command as a consequence of his poor performance at New Orleans. Stung by this reprimand, he demanded a court of inquiry, which met in April 1863 and declared him innocent of charges of incompetence. However, he was not given any assignments for the rest of the Civil War. Lovell returned to New York City following the war and resumed his career as a civil engineer. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx in New York City.
Lovell pulled his troops out of New Orleans and the blue-clad forces of freedom prepared to enter the city. Only one thing had to happen before the US eagle could land in the Crescent City. The troops could not land until Forts Jackson and St. Phillip were secured. By order of Gen. Lovell, both forts surrendered on this day, and leaving New Orleans unprotected.
On the afternoon of April 29, US soldiers began their landings. White crowds cursed the Yankees while black folks were jubilant as all Confederate flags in the city were lowered and the Stars and Stripes were raised in their place.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1804/ffff3695431857b40b65ff9bn0.jpg
Confederate First National Flag with Seven Star “Crescent” Pattern, Captured at the Fall of New Orleans. 48″ x 33″ and accompanied by family provenance and notarized affidavit of Dorothy B. Morrill, the great-granddaughter of Commander Charles Caldwell of the U.S.S. Gunboat Itasca who captured this flag during the fall of New Orleans in 1862.
The Confederacy lost a major city, and the lower Mississippi soon became a Federal highway for 400 miles to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Farragut would go to greater naval glory when, in August of 1864, he would shout the famous order, "Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed Ahead!" as his fleet powered its way into Mobile Bay.