Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[679]

It will be out of our power, I am afraid, to light up the bank below St. Philip to-night, or to set adrift fire-boats, as none are at hand, and they have all disappeared, apparently.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Captain: From all we can see and learn, the enemy, with the exception of one or two gunboats, has passed up the river, so that there will be no use in changing your present position to one further above. I regret to learn the condition of the volunteer troops on board the W. Burton. This, together with the exhausted condition of your crew, will prevent your taking up the position below, which was agreed upon this morning, for the present. You may be able to take it up, however, when your crew recover from their fatigue, and when you are able to quell the irregularities of the volunteers.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Captain: As I have no boats of any kind, I must ask of you to light up the river with fire-barges to-night, if it possibly lies in your power. The absence of light greatly impairs the accuracy and effectiveness of our fire upon the enemy.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Captain: The lower schooner will be lighted by firing her from a rowboat from Fort St. Philip at early dusk. As this light dies away the next one above will be fired, and so on, all night.

Unless you can better yourself materially, I would not advise any movement on your part from your present position, owing to all the adverse circumstances mentioned in your letter.

In regard to the Defiance, the authority over her which I formerly had has been transferred to you; but we will freely lend you any assistance which you may require in deposing her commander, or in exercising your authority over her.

Keep a vigilant lookout for another attack to-night, when we will mutually support each other, and do all that we possibly can.

Captain Squires has been directed by Colonel Higgins to furnish you such assistance as you may require.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: When I last demanded the surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, I had no positive assurance of the success of our vessels in passing safely the batteries on the river. Since then I have received communications from Flag-officer Farragut, who is now in possession of New Orleans. Our troops are or will be in possession of the prominent points on the river, and a sufficient force has been posted outside of the bayous to cut off all communications and prevent supplies. No man could consider it dishonorable to surrender, especially under these circumstances, when no advantages can arise by longer holding out, and by yielding gracefully he can save the further effusion of blood.

You have defended the forts gallantly, and no more can be asked of you. I feel authorized to offer you terms sufficiently honorable to relieve you from any feeling of humiliation. The officers will be permitted to retire on parole with their side-arms, not to serve again until regularly exchanged. All private property will be respected. Only the arms and munitions will be surrendered to the U. S. Government, and the vessels lying near the forts. No damage must be done to the defences. The soldiers also will be paroled, and be permitted to return to their homes, giving up their arms.

I am aware that you can hold out some little time longer, and am also aware of the exact condition, as reported to us by a deserter, which convinces me that you will only be inflicting on yourself and those under you unnecessary discomforts without any good result arising from so doing.

Your port has long been closed to the world, by which serious injury has been experienced by many loyal citizens. I trust that you will not lend yourself to the further injury of their interests, where it can only entail calamity and bloodshed, without any possible hope of success or relief to your forts.

Your surrender is a mere question of time, which you know is not of any extent, and I therefore urge you to meet my present proposition. By doing so you can put an end to a state of affairs which will only inflict injury upon all