The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner | Page 9

the "River
Defence" gunboats.
On board the Louisiana every effort was made to complete the works
upon the propellers, and in mounting the battery, on which the
mechanics worked night and day. Our "Crescent artillery;" a
detachment of artillery from the forts under Lieutenant Dixon; and
Captain Ryan's company of Sharp-shooters supplied the deficiencies in
our crew. The Commodore was unsuccessful in his efforts to induce
Captain Stevenson to employ one of his gunboats below the
obstructions at night, to watch the U. S. fleet; and we had no vessel
suitable for that purpose; the only one which would have answered (the
Jackson) having been sent, with one of the launches, to watch the U. S.
land forces near the Quarantine station, five miles above us. The only

launch which remained to us was sent, by the Commodore's orders,
below the obstructions every night, but the officer in command
afterwards proved either a traitor or a coward, failing to make the
concerted signal upon the approach of the fleet, and never reporting
himself on board the Louisiana afterwards.
General Duncan urged upon the Commodore, the first or second day
after our arrival below, to take a new position with the Louisiana at the
river bank just below Fort St. Philip, and under cover of its guns, from
whence she might open fire with effect upon the mortar fleet. The
Commodore declined the proposition, and his action was sustained in a
consultation with all the commanding officers of the C. S. naval forces
present, on the grounds, "first, that the battery of the Louisiana was not
in a condition for service;" "second, that the completion of the propeller
and other mechanical work in progress, was indispensable to the
efficiency of the vessel, and that it would be interrupted if she were
placed under fire;" and third, "that placing the Louisiana in a position to
receive the fire of the enemy, before her own battery could be served
with effect, would be improperly hazarding, not only her own safety,
but the security of the passage between the forts on which rested the
possession of New Orleans."[3]
But on the afternoon of the 23d the work had so far progressed as to
encourage the belief that the vessel might be moved to the point
proposed, and the Commodore, after making a reconnoissance, had
decided to do so, and notified General Duncan of this intention.
Captain Stevenson was to assist with two of his gunboats which were
especially well adapted to this purpose.
Commodore Mitchell, in his official report to the C. S. Secretary of the
Navy, intimates that "he fully appreciated and admitted the importance
of the proposed change of position for the Louisiana," but contends that
"the state of the battery, independent of other weighty reasons, was
sufficient to prevent its being made previous to the engagement of the
24th." One of these consists in the fact, that owing to the peculiar
construction of the Louisiana's port-holes, her guns could not be
elevated more than five degrees. The mortar fleet would have been

beyond their range.
FOOTNOTE:
[3] From Commodore Mitchell's official report to the Secretary of the
C. S. Navy, dated August 19th, 1862.
CHAPTER III.
The 24th April.--Passage of the United States Fleet.--After the
Storm.--The "River Defence" boats.--The Refuge in the
Bayou.--Surrender of the Forts.--Extracts from Commodore Mitchell's
official reports.--Council of War.--Destruction of the "Louisiana."--Our
Commander General B. F. Butler.--Transferred to the United States
frigate "Colorado."
On the night of April 23d, the bursting of the shells was as incessant as
usual. Toward daylight of the 24th, an ominous calm of brief duration
was broken by the first broadside of the advancing fleet, which had
approached so rapidly as to remove and pass the obstructions
undiscovered, and before the launch on picket duty could get back to
our fleet. For a few minutes the roar of the guns was deafening; but
objects were so obscured by the darkness and the dense smoke, that we
could only fire, with effect, at the flashes of the ship's guns. The
Louisiana's three bow guns (one rifled seven-inch and two seven-inch
shell guns) and her three starboard broadside guns (a rifled six-inch and
two eight-inch shell guns) were all that could be brought to bear during
the engagement; for being moored to the river bank, the stern and port
broadside guns were useless. The U. S. fleet came up in two divisions,
delivering their broadsides in rapid succession. One of the ships was set
on fire by one of the fireboats (a number of which had been prepared)
but the flames were speedily extinguished. It is said that the unarmed
tug Mozier, under her heroic commander, Sherman, while towing a
fireboat alongside a heavy ship, was sunk by a broadside delivered at
short range, all on