Capture of New Orleans

Capture of New Orleans. The Capture of New Orleans was a decisive naval and military operation during the American Civil War. A Union fleet commanded by David G. Farragut successfully ran past two Confederate forts, Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, and defeated a small Confederate naval squadron. The subsequent fall of the largely undefended city to Union forces under Benjamin Butler on May 1, 1862, was a catastrophic strategic and economic blow to the Confederate States of America.

Background

The Mississippi River was a vital economic and strategic artery for the Confederacy, and New Orleans was its largest city, principal port, and a major industrial center. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan emphasized seizing control of the river to split the Confederacy. In early 1862, Union successes at the Battle of Fort Henry and Battle of Fort Donelson opened the upper Mississippi, increasing pressure on the Confederate heartland. Confederate military authorities, including Jefferson Davis and Stephen R. Mallory, believed the river defenses below New Orleans, centered on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, were impregnable. However, the Confederate commander in the city, Mansfield Lovell, had insufficient troops and a weak naval force, the River Defense Fleet, to repel a major assault.

Opposing forces

The Union effort, the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, was commanded by Flag Officer David G. Farragut. His deep-water warship fleet included steam sloops like the USS Hartford and gunboats. A mortar flotilla under Commander David Dixon Porter was tasked with bombarding the Confederate forts. The accompanying army force, under Major General Benjamin Butler, consisted of Union Army regiments intended for occupation. The Confederate defenses were commanded locally by General Johnson K. Duncan at the forts and Captain John K. Mitchell overseeing naval forces. The fixed defenses included Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, bolstered by river obstructions and a small squadron featuring the ironclad CSS Louisiana and the ram CSS Manassas. The land forces of Mansfield Lovell were spread thin across the Department of the Gulf.

Battle of the forts

The operation began on April 18, 1862, when David Dixon Porter's mortar schooners commenced a heavy, six-day bombardment of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. Although causing damage and demoralizing the garrison, the bombardment did not silence the forts' guns. In the early hours of April 24, David G. Farragut ordered his fleet to run the gauntlet. Dividing into three divisions, the fleet engaged the Confederate squadron in a fierce night battle. The CSS Manassas rammed several ships but was eventually destroyed, while the unfinished CSS Louisiana was set afire. Despite heavy fire from the forts, most of Farragut's fleet, including the USS Hartford, USS Brooklyn, and USS Pensacola, successfully passed upstream, suffering the loss of the gunboat USS Varuna.

Fall of New Orleans

With the Union fleet now between the forts and the city, the Confederate position became untenable. The garrisons of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, whose morale collapsed after the fleet's passage, mutinied and surrendered to David Dixon Porter on April 28. David G. Farragut's warships proceeded unopposed to New Orleans, arriving on April 25. Mansfield Lovell, recognizing the city was indefensible without control of the river, evacuated his meager forces. After a period of tense confrontation with the city's civilian authorities, Union troops under Benjamin Butler marched in and formally took possession on May 1, 1862. The occupation began under Butler's controversial and strict administration.

Aftermath

The capture of the Confederacy's most important port was a devastating blow, severing a critical supply line from Europe via the Gulf of Mexico and capturing vast amounts of cotton and supplies. It cemented Union control of the lower Mississippi River and, combined with later victories at the Siege of Vicksburg and Battle of Port Hudson, effectively split the Confederacy. The event propelled David G. Farragut to national fame and led to his promotion to rear admiral. For the Confederate States of America, the loss exposed profound strategic weaknesses and crippled its international credit and morale. Benjamin Butler's harsh governance of the city, including his infamous "Woman Order," generated intense controversy and further inflamed Southern resentment.

Category:1862 in the American Civil War Category:Battles of the Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach of the American Civil War Category:History of New Orleans Category:Naval battles of the American Civil War