the overland route. With three or four companions, increased afterwards to one hundred, on mules, he proceeded by way of Arizona, passed through Texas, and arrived at New Orleans in safety. This was in August, 1861, and, immediately proceeding to Richmond, he was assigned to the command of the Department of the Mississippi.

In the early part of the western campaign, Gen. Johnston had fallen under the censure of the newspapers. It has been said that this censure preyed upon his mind; but if it did, he thought very nobly of it, for in a private letter, dated after the retreat from Bowling Green, and the fall of Fort Donelson, he wrote: "The test of merit, in my profession, with the people, is success. It is a hard rule, but I think it right." But a few days before the battle in which he fell, he expressed a resolution to redeem his losses at no distant day.

No more beautiful tribute could have been paid to the memory of the departed hero, than that made by Jefferson Davis himself; and no more choice and touching language ever came from the polished pen of the Confederate President, than on this occasion. He announced the death in a special message to Congress. He said: "Without doing injustice to the living, it may safely be said that our loss is irreparable. Among the shining hosts of the great and good who now cluster around the banner of our country, there exists no purer spirit, no more heroic soul, than that of the illustrious man whose death I join you in lamenting. In his death he has illustrated the character for which, through life, he was conspicuousthat of singleness of purpose and devotion to duty with his whole energies. Bent on obtaining the victory which he deemed essential to his country's cause, he rode on to the accomplishment of his object, forgetful of self, while his very life-blood was fast ebbing away. His last breath cheered his comrades on to victory. The last sound he heard was their shout of victory. His last thought was his country, and long and deeply will his country mourn his loss."

The remains were carried to New Orleans. They were laid in state in the mayor's parlour, and the public admitted. The evidences of the public sorrow were most touching. Flowers, the testimonies of tender affection, encircled his coffin simply, but beautifully. And, attended by all the marks of unaffected grief, with gentle hands and weeping eyes moving softly around him, the great commander, with his sheathed sword still by his side, was borne to his final and eternal rest.

CHAPTER XV.

THE MILITARY SITUATION OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.-THE FALL OF NEW ORLEANS.-A LONG TRAIN OF SECRET HISTORY OF THE CONFEDERATE ADMINISTRATION.-SENSE OF SECURITY IN NEW ORLEANS.-STRANGE ERROUR OF THE RICHMOND AUTHORITIES.-GEN. LOVELL'S WITH THE WAR DEPARTMENT.-STARTLING DISCLOSURES.-NAVAL STRUCTURES FOR THE DEFENCE OF NEW ORLEANS.-SECRETARY MALLORY'S STATEMENT TO THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.-TESTIMONY OF GOV. MOORE, OF LOUISIANA. HIS INTERPOSITION WITH THE SHIP-BUILDERS. THE IRON-CLADS MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.-CONDI

CORRESPONDENCE

TION OF THE DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS IN APRIL, 1862.-THE RIVER OBSTRUCTED BY A RAFT.-FARRAGUT'S FLEET AT THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.-FESTIVITY IN NEW ORLEANS.-BOMBARDMENT OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP.-PASSAGE OF THE FORTS BY THE ENEMY'S VESSELS. THE CONFEDERATE GUNBOATS ALL DESTROYED.-CONFUSION AND PANIC IN NEW ORLEANS.-GREAT CONFLAGRATION IN THE CITY.—A SCENE OF TERRIBLE GRANDEUR.-LOVELL'S EVACUATION of new ORLEANS.-DISORDER IN NEW ORLEANS. -FARRAGUT'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH MAYOR MONROE.-WHY THE MAYOR PROTRACTED THE CORRESPONDENCE.-A NEW HOPE OF DEFENCE.-SURRENDER OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP.-GEN. DUNCAN'S SPEECH ON THE LEVEE.-FARRAGUT'S ULTIMATUM.-HOISTING OF THE STARS AND STRIPES OVER NEW ORLEANS.-WHAT THE FALL OF NEW ORLEANS INVOLVED. NOTE: GEN. LOVELL'S REASONS FOR EVACUATING NEW ORLEANS.-RULE OF BUTLER IN THE CONQUERED CITY.-CHARACTER AND PERSON OF "THE TYRANT OF NEW ORLEANS."-"THE WOMAN-ORDER."-ARREST OF MAYOR MONROE AND OF VARIOUS CITIZENS.-BUTLER ON FEMALE SECESSIONISTS.-HIS OPINION OF SHE-ADDERS."-CONFISCATIONS, FINES, AND PLUNDER.—BUTLER'S DECOY FOR ASSASSINS. THE HANGING OF MUMFORD. HIS SPEECH ON THE GALLOWS.-GENERAL EXPERIENCE IN THE CONFEDERACY OF THE ENEMY'S ATROCITY.-NEW CODES AND METHODS OF WAR.-PROGRESS OF FEDERAL

CRUELTY.

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THE Confederate public had been disposed to find some consolation for the disaster at Island No. 10 in the brilliant, though unfruitful story of Shiloh. It was considered, too, that the river below Fort Pillow was safe; and that while the army at Corinth covered Memphis, and held the enemy in check on land, the rich and productive valley of the Lower Mississippi was yet secure to the Confederacy.

But in the midst of these pleasing calculations and comparative re-assurance, a great disaster was to occur where it was least expected, which was

to astound the people of the South, to involve the practical loss of another mass of rich territory, and to alarm the hopes of men in all parts of the world for the success of the Confederates. This unexpected event was the fall of New Orleans.

With respect to this disaster, we have to develop a long train of the secret history of the Confederate Administration-a history replete with evidences of mismanagement and shiftlessness that will be almost incredible to the world accustomed to read of the administration of governments in time of war, and to expect, at least, an average of intelligence in the conduct of public affairs.

THE FALL OF NEW ORLEANS.

New Orleans had been so long threatened with attack, that popular opinion in the Confederacy was disposed to take it as impregnable. For months the Federal fleet cruised about the Gulf with evident indecision, until people in New Orleans began to smile, and say: "They would think twice before attempting a rehearsal of the scenes of 1812." It was declared, on the authority of newspapers, that the city was inpregnable; the forts, Jackson and St. Philip, sixty or seventy miles below the city, were considered but as the outer line of defences; the shores of the river were lined with batteries; and in the harbour were reported to be twelve gunboats, and certain iron-clad naval structures which, it was asserted, were superiour to the famous "Virginia," and would deal with a Federal fleet as hawks might with a flock of pigeons.

But penetrating this popular conceit and confidence, and going to official records for proofs, we shall discover that the facts were that New Orleans was in a shamefully defenceless condition; that the Richmond authorities had persisted in the strange errour that the attack on the city was to come from above; that they had consequently stripped it almost en tirely of troops, and neglected the armament of its interiour line of defence; and that the naval structures, which the authorities had declared would be fully able to protect the city under any circumstances, were, by the most wretched and culpable mismanagement, neglected, delayed, and finally found in a condition in which they were not of the slightest avail.

Gen. Mansfield Lovell assumed command of the defences of New Orleans late in October, 1861. The city at that time had been "drained of arms, ammunition, medical stores, clothing and supplies, which had been sent to other points," and the defences were in a thoroughly incomplete condition. The troops raised in Louisiana had been principally sent to Virginia and Pensacola, and those that remained were necessarily inadequate to the end desired, and required organization.

THE FALL OF NEW ORLEANS.

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Several vessels were in course of construction by the Navy Department, but according to the express orders of President Davis "the fleet maintained at the port of New Orleans and vicinity formed no part of the command of Gen. Lovell." The first step taken by that officer was to secure ammunition, of which there was less than twenty pounds per gun; the second was to complete the "raft between Forts Jackson and St. Philip, so as to make a complete obstruction under the fire of those works." On the 8th November, Gen. Lovell wrote to the Department that he had increased the armament of Forts Pike and Macomb, and thought he would be able to make a complete obstruction of the raft, so that if the enemy's ships should be stopped, they would be hammered to pieces. This obstruction was calculated to delay a "fleet under the close fire of more than one hundred heavy guns." Measures were also taken to obstruct the passage at Forts Pike and Macomb, and the river above the city, the commanding General "feeling satisfied that ships under steam can pass forts in an open channel."

On the 5th December, 1861, a statement was made to the War Department of the existing condition of affairs, in which it was shown that the city was defended by two lines of works, for which Gen. Lovell had 8,000 men, besides the militia of the city. Two powder mills were in running order, and the announcement was made that with a "sufficiency of this material, he should consider himself in a position to hold New Orleans for an indefinite length of time." The city was then strong enough to withstand any attack likely to be made, and Gen. Lovell stated that the enemy, who were at that time landing troops at Ship Island in large numbers, "could not take New Orleans by a land attack with any force they could bring to bear."

In the beginning of January the attention of the Department was directed to the necessity of giving to the commanding General the control of at least so much of the Navy Department as would enable him, by means of light-draught armed vessels, to protect the navigable streams along the coast; Gen. Lovell adding, that "the blame of want of protection will rest upon me in any event, and I should, therefore, have some power to say what should be done." No answer to this request was made.

The Secretary of War, about this time, furnished Gen. Lovell with the plan and details of the river defence fleet, under Montgomery, for "service in the upper Mississippi," which was to be prepared at New Orleans, by Capts. Montgomery and Townsend, and the General was directed "merely to exercise such general supervision as to check any profligate expenditure."

On the 13th January, Gen. Lovell wrote, that "considering New Orleans to be in condition to resist an attack, I am turning my attention

to the coast of Mississippi." The obstructions in the river at this time were complete, and the forts well manned.

On the 8th of February, the Secretary of War wrote as follows: "The President desires that, as soon as possible, on receipt of this letter, you despatch 5,000 men to Columbus to reinforce that point, sorely threatened by largely superiour forces. New Orleans is to be defended from above, by defeating the enemy at Columbus." Gen. Lovell replied: "I regret the necessity of sending away my only force at this particular juncture, and feel sure that it will create a great panic here, but will do my best to restore confidence by a show of strength."

On the 27th February, Gen. Lovell notified the Secretary of War that he had sent "eight regiments and two batteries from his department, besides five hundred shot guns," and added: "People are beginning to complain that I have stripped the department so completely; but I have called upon Gov. Moore for 10,000 volunteers and militia for State service. Raw troops with double-barrelled shot guns are amply sufficient to hold our entrenchments against such troops as the enemy can send to attack them."

In the same letter he adverted to the fact that he had "furnished Gens. Johnston and Polk large supplies." In his letter of March 6th he stated:

"This Department is being completely drained of everything. We have filled requisitions for arms, men and munitions, until New Orleans is about defenceless. In return we get nothing. Mobile and Pensacola, even Galveston, are defended by ten-inch columbiads, while this city has nothing above an eight-inch, and but few of them. The fortified line about the city is complete, but I have taken ten of the guns for the navy, and sixteen for the vessels that we are fitting up for the river expedition. My reliance to defend these lines will be with militia with double-barrelled guns and 32-pound carronades. If now you take the powder from me, we shall be in no condition to resist. The only thing to provide is a sufficiency of powder, to enable us to resist a prolonged attack of ships and mortar boats upon two points, Forts Pike and Macomb, and Forts Jackson and St. Philip. If the first are passed, we still have a land defence to make; if the last, a fleet can proceed at once to the city."

On the 9th, Gen. Lovell again wrote, after enumerating the troops. sent away:

"You will thus perceive that this Department has been completely stripped of every organized body of troops. Persons are found here who assert that I am sending away all troops so that the city may fall an easy prey to the enemy. All requisitions for ammunition have been filled, until I have none left, except what is in the hands of troops. Neither have I funds placed at my disposal to create supplies in place of those sent off. If the enemy intends an attack here, he will make it soon, and I