Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 2.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Finding.

That the whole force under his command consisted of the Louisiana, the McRae, the Manassas, the Jackson and one launch.

That on the day after he took command, Captain Mitchell descended the river Mississippi in the Louisiana, and took up a position on the left bank of the river, about half a mile above Fort Saint Philip.

That on leaving New Orleans the machinery of the Louisiana was incomplete, her motive power imperfect, and her battery improperly mounted.

That she could not, on a fair trial, stem the current of the Mississippi with her own motive power, aided by two steam tugs.

That every exertion was made by Commander Mitchell, the officers and mechanics, to get the “Louisiana” in a proper state of efficiency for the defence of the passage of the river, and that the defects in the mounting of the battery had been remedied, and the battery served with efficiency, with the exception of two guns out of place.

It appears that a request, or order, was sent by General Duncan, commanding Fort Jackson, to Commander Mitchell, to change the position of the Louisiana to a point lower down stream, which by a council of officers was unanimously deemed impracticable, and to a certain extent impossible, on account of the great depth of water, and that such change of position would endanger the safety of the Louisiana. That in the position General Duncan desired the Louisiana to assume, she would have been in range of the mortar boats of the enemy, and perfectly helpless, inasmuch as she could not give her guns more than five (5) degrees elevation — not enough to reach the enemy.

That the best disposition possible was made of the vessels under [243] the command of Commander Mitchell to resist the passage of the enemy.

That on the 24th April the enemy appeared, and his passage was hotly contested by the Louisiana, the McRae and the Manassas. That the Jackson was previously sent up the river to guard certain passes, and the Launch down the river to signal the approach of the enemy, and that they took no part in the fight.

That every possible resistance was offered by the vessels mentioned to the passage of the enemy up the river.

That at no time was the Louisiana able to leave her moorings and pursue the enemy, from want of sufficient motive power.

That the interval between the passage of the enemy, and the destruction of the Louisiana (four days), was employed in completing the machinery, to render her more able to cope with the enemy, and that it was Commander Mitchell's intention to make an attack when the Louisiana was capable of doing so.

That Commander Mitchell, when he heard that General Duncan, in command of Fort Jackson, had accepted the terms of surrender offered the day before by Captain Porter, United States navy, remonstrated with General Duncan against such course, but was told it was too late, as the flag of truce boat had already been sent.

That the enemy appeared in overwhelming force; and that at the time it was determined in council to destroy the Louisiana, the position of affairs was as follows: there were from ten to fourteen large vessels of Flag Officer Farragut's fleet above the Louisiana, and the mortar fleet and gunboats of Captain Porter were below. Two vessels of the enemy with white flags flying were coming up the river in sight, to accept the surrender of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, which had white flags flying in answer to them.

That the Louisiana could not move from where she was moored to the bank, nor could she fire on the boats with flags of truce flying; and in a short time the forts would be in the hands of the enemy, and the Louisiana would be between them.

It was then unanimously determined in a council of officers to destroy the Louisiana, as it was the only course left to prevent her from falling into the hands of the enemy.

This destruction was accordingly effected under the direction and supervision of Commander Mitchell, in an orderly and deliberate manner, and every precaution was taken to insure the safety of his men.