[684]
C. Bond, assisted by First Lieutenants Carleton Hunt and Wm. E. Ellis, and his Company K, Captain J. H. Lamon, with the assistance of First Lieutenant H. W. Fowler, with his Company C, in the lower battery, manning the forty-two and thirty-two pounders respectively; Lieutenants Lewis B. Taylor and W. B. Jones, with Company F, at the columbiad battery, and Lieutenant A. J. Quigly, with supernumeraries of Company F, taken from main work to man guns of upper water-battery, behaved with gallantry, energy, coolness, and bravery, worthy of imitation; and all, both officers and men, deserve the highest praise that could be given to any one, for the honorable part they performed during the whole time since the commencement of this trying conflict.
Captain Charles Assanheimer's Company B, did their best, both his officers and men. Individual acts of heroism are numerous; but where all did so well, it would appear invidious to mention names.
Suffice it to say, that were everything to be done again, or anything else required to be performed, one could ask no other privilege than to have the same men to do it — feeling satisfied it would be as well carried out as possible.
The injury to the fort was slight.
Of the guns, one banded seven-inch rifle was bursted by the explosion of a shell in its bore near the muzzle, and one twenty-four pounder gun was broker in two about fourteen inches in front of the trunnions, by being struck by a solid shot.
An eight-inch columbiad was dismounted, but only temporarily useless, the gun being uninjured and soon remounted.
The platform of one twenty-four-pounder gun was undermined by a shell, but not rendered entirely useless.
One of the uprights of a forty-two-pounder gun-carriage was partly shot away, but can still be of service.
With many thanks to all officers and men for their assistance and efficient aid, and humbly bowing before the will of Almighty God,
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
M. T. Squires, Captain Louisiana Atillery.
Casualties During the Bombardment.
| killed. | wounded. | total. | |
| In Fort Jackson | 9 | 33 | 42 |
| In Fort St. Philip | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Totals | 11 | 37 | 48 |
Report of Brigadier-General M. L. Smith.
Major: I herewith submit a report of the operations of the troops under my command at the Chalmette and McGee lines, on the approach of the enemy's vessels from Forts Jackson and St. Philip to the city of New Orleans.
These interior lines of defence are constructed with special reference to an attack by land, but, terminating them on the river banks, were two batteries calculated for twelve and twenty guns respectively, and at the time of the action containing five and nine. Ten forty-two-pounders, intended for this battery, were turned over to the navy for the defence of New Orleans by water.
This has been considered as depending upon the forts mentioned, which are well-constructed, permanent works, rather well armed, and far stronger than any other that could be hastily erected.
With this view, all the available material, both of guns and ammunition, had been concentrated there prior to the bombardment, and during its continuance was being added to in such quantities daily as the means of the department admitted of, it being evident that the decisive struggle was there to be made.
As soon, therefore, as it became certain that the large vessels of the enemy had succeeded in passing, there no longer existed a chance of preventing them from reaching New Orleans, and the short resistance made by the few guns mounted in the two batteries of the interior lines was made through a sense of duty, but without any expectation of success, the enemy numbering as many vessels, less one, as we had guns.
On the side of the river, where I was in person during the action, were stationed three companies of Lieutenant-Colonel Pinckney's battalion of sharpshooters.
With the five guns on the other side were Captain Patton's company of the Twenty-second Louisiana volunteers, one company from Fort Pike, under Lieutenant Butter, one company Beauregard battery, besides two battalions of infantry collected in camp for instruction, as well as to guard the line in case of the enemy's landing and attacking by land — all under immediate command of General Buisson.
The enemy's vessels had approached to within about the fourth of a mile before we opened on them, the first gun being from Pinckney's battery, and immediately followed by several from the battery on the opposite side, and as promptly replied to from the enemy's vessels.
The engagement lasted until every round of ammunition on hand was fired, both officers and men displaying a coolness and intrepidity that was gratifying, especially as regards the men, who then for the first time in their lives discharged a heavy gun. The firing on our side was spirited, perhaps a little uncertain; on the enemy's, heavy and well directed.
During the engagement their vessels gradually
