Two fortifications on the
Mississippi River, 57 miles southeast of New Orleans, which command the lower approach to that city.
Both were strongly fortified by the
Confederates in the early part of the
Civil War, and were passed by the fleet under
Farragut, April 24, 1862.
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Although
Farragut had passed these forts, and the
Confederate flotilla had been destroyed, the fortifications were still firmly held.
The mortar-fleet under
Porter was below them.
General Butler, who had accompanied the gunboats on their perilous passage on the
Saxon, had returned to his transports, and in small boats his troops, under the general pilotage of
Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, passed through bayous to the rear of
Fort St. Philip.
When he was prepared to assail it, the garrison was surrendered without
resistance (April 28), for they had heard of the destruction of the
Confederate flotilla.
The commander of
Fort Jackson, fearing that all was lost, accepted generous terms of surrender from
Commodore Porter.
The prisoners taken in the forts and at the quarantine numbered about 1,000.
The entire loss of the Nationals from the beginning of the contest until New Orleans was taken was forty killed and 177 wounded.
