MAYOR MONROE ON EXHIBITION. 95 rage strove for the mastery. As our | Bailey that he had already evacuated squadron neared the levee, our sailors the city, which he now formally gave a cheer, to which some few in turned over to the municipal authothe adjacent crowd responded, pro- rities, leaving them to act as they voking thereby pistol-shots from should see fit. Capt. Bailey now rethe irate Rebels surrounding them. turned to the fleet to await such After a brief delay, Capt. Bailey was action; and the Mayor, refusing to sent ashore to demand the surrender haul down the State flag from the of the city; when the valorous mob City Hall, sent to the Common received him with groans, hootings, Council, which was in session, a mesand threats of violence, which did sage recommending that an answer ⚫ not prevent his proceeding, under the be returned to Capt. Farragut, statescort of more considerate citizens, to ing that the city, being incapable of the Mayor's office; the mob that fol- offering further resistance, yielded to lowed him contenting itself with physical force alone, without giving assaults on such citizens as were sus- up its allegiance to the Confederate pected of Unionism. On reaching Government, while it had no authe City Hall, he made his demand, thority over the Custom-House, Postrequiring that the Federal flag be Office, and Mint, and would do displayed from the public edifices; nothing with regard to them. This to which the Mayor responded, dis- undignified and ridiculous betrayal claiming any authority to comply. of spite and chagrin was reiterated A messenger was thereupon sent to by the Mayor in a letter" to Capt. Gen. Lovell, who informed Capt. Farragut, which was tersely and fitly 17 MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, "CITY HALL, April 26, 1862. "Flag-Officer D. G. FARRAGUT, United States flag-ship Hartford: "SIR-In pursuance of a resolution which we thought proper to take, out of regard for the lives of the women and children who still crowd the metropolis, General Lovell has evacuated it with his troops, and restored back to me the administration of its government and the custody of its honor. I have, in council with the City Fathers, considered the demand you made of me yesterday of an unconditional surrender of the city, coupled with a requisition to hoist the flag of the United States on the public edifices, and haul down the flag that still floats upon the breeze from the dome of this Hall. It becomes my duty to transmit to you an answer which is the universal sentiment of my constituents no less than the promptings of my own heart on this sad and solemn occasion. The city is without the means of defense; and is utterly destitute of the force and material that might enable it to resist an overpowering armament displayed in sight of it. "I am no military man, and possess no authority beyond that of executing the municipal laws of the city of New Orleans. It would be presumptuous in me to attempt to lead an army in the field, if I had one at command; and I know still less how to surrender an undefended place, held, as this is, at the mercy of your gunners and your mortars. To surrender such a place were an idle and unmeaning ceremony. The city is yours by the power of brutal force, not by my choice or the consent of its inhabitants. It is for you to determine what will be the fate that awaits us here. As to hoisting any flag not of our own adoption and allegiance, let me say to you that the man lives not in our midst whose hand and heart would not be paralyzed at the mere thought of such an act; nor could I find in my entire constituency so desperate and wretched a renegade as would dare to profane with his hand the sacred emblem of our aspirations. "Sir, you have manifested sentiments which would become one engaged in a better cause than that to which you have devoted your sword. I doubt not that they spring from a noble though deluded nature; and I know how to appreciate the emotions which inspired them. You have a gallant people to administrate during your occupancy of this city-a people sensitive to all that can in the least affect their dignity and self-respect. Pray, Sir, do not fail to regard their susceptibilities. The obligations which I shall assume in their name shall be religiously complied with. You may trust their honor, though you might not count on their submission to unmerited wrong. "In conclusion, I beg you to understand that the people of New Orleans, while unable to re answered." The malevolent folly of the municipal authorities served only to expose their city to destruction. A force landed from the Pensacola had hoisted, unopposed, a Federal flag over the Mint, and left it there unguarded. Ere it had thus remained many hours, a number of young Rebels mounted to the dome, tore it down, and dragged it through the streets. It would have been entirely justifiable and proper on the part of Farragut to have required of the authorities its immediate and respectful replacement, on penalty of the destruction of their city; but he forbore; and, even when he required them, two days afterward, to take down the flag of Louisiana, still floating over the City Hall, the Mayor positively refused. Capt. F. finally closed" the absurd altercation by sending a sist your force, do not allow themselves to be insulted by the interference of such as have rendered themselves odious and contemptible by their dastardly desertion of our cause in the mighty struggle in which we are engaged, or such as might remind them too forcibly that they are the conquered and you the conquerors. Peace and order may be preserved without resort to measures which I could not at this moment prevent. Your occupying the city does not transfer allegiance from the government of their choice to one which they have deliberately repudiated; and they yield the obedience which the conqueror is entitled to extort from the conquered. Respectfully, "JOHN T. MONROE, Mayor." 18 U. S. FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, at anchor off the City of New Orleans, "April 28, 1862. "To His Honor the Mayor and City Council of the City of New Orleans: "Your communication of the 26th inst. has been received, together with that of the City Council. "I deeply regret to see, both by their contents and the continued display of the flag of Louisiana on the Court-House, a determination on the part of the city authorities not to haul it down. Moreover, when my officers and men were sent on shore to communicate with the authorities, and to hoist the United States flag on the Custom-House, with the strictest order not to use their arms unless assailed, they were insulted in the grossest manner, and the flag force from his ships to take down tho flag: a vast crowd looking sullenly on, or giving vent to their wrath only in idle curses. They failed to comprehend their position; but they respected the two brass howitzers, well manned and supported, which stood in front of the City Hall while the operation was quietly and thoroughly performed. Capt. Farragut had not waited to obtain formal possession of the city before moving up" to the two forts at Carrollton, eight miles above, where he was surprised to find the gun-carriages on fire and the guns spiked. The works were formidable, but constructed to resist an advance from above; so that, being taken in reverse, they had been adjudged indefensible. Gen. Butler, having witnessed from which had been hoisted by my orders on the Mint was pulled down and dragged through the streets. All of which goes to show that the fire of this fleet may be drawn upon the city at any moment; and in such an event the levee would, in all probability, be cut by the shells, and an amount of distress ensue to the innocent population which I have hitherto endeavored to assure you that I desire by all means to avoid. "The election, therefore, is with you. But it becomes my duty to notify you to remove the women and children from the city within 48 hours, if I rightly understand your determination. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, It seems incredible, yet it is a fact, that Monroe sent a rejoinder to this letter; in which, amid bombastic and turgid babble about flagrant violation of those courtesies which prevail between belligerents, and shells tearing up the graves of those who are so dear to them, he whimpered out: "Our women and children cannot escape from your shells, if it be your pleasure to murder them on a question of mere eliquette." Even Pollard barely represses his disgust at the silly repetitions and vanity of literary style protruded by this Bobadil of a Mayor. May 1. 20 Afternoon of April 26. 19 SURRENDER OF THE REBEL FORTS. 97 the Saxon the success of Farragut's | above the forts towed their ram attempt to pass the Rebel forts and Louisiana out into the current, set barrier and destroy their fleet for- her on fire and abandoned her, with bidding approach to New Orleans, all her guns shotted, expecting her made haste to join his land forces to drift down upon and explode in below, and to conduct them, under the midst of Porter's fleet; but, just Weitzel's piloting, through the shal- as she was abreast of Fort St. Philip, low bays and bayous in the rear of she blew up and sunk, injuring no Fort St. Philip, landing them from one but a Rebel soldier in the fort, his row-boats on the first firm ground who was killed by a fragment. Of that he reached above the fort; the three remaining Rebel steamers, thence occupying the levee and one had been scuttled; the others throwing a detachment across the surrendered without resistance: their river so as completely to isolate both officers, with those of the Louisiana, forts and their garrisons. While he being sent North as close prisoners, was effecting this, Commander Por- because of their attempt to destroy ter, with his mortar-fleet below, our fleet while a capitulation was in resumed and continued the bombard- progress. Commander Porter turned ment, sending up" a flag of truce to the forts and their contents immedemand a surrender, which was re- diately over to Gen. Phelps," and fused; but, next day, 250 of the they were very soon being repaired garrison of Fort Jackson, having and fitted for effective service; while heard, or inferred from the blackened Gen. Butler, leaving Gen. Williams fragments floating down the river, in command there, and having easily that New Orleans was captured, re- reduced Forts Pike and Wood, at fused to fight longer, and, spiking the entrance of Lake Pontchartrain, the guns on the upper side of the brought his steamers around into the fort, sallied out and surrendered Mississippi, and, taking on board themselves to Gen. Butler's pickets. 2,000 of his men, moved up to the Lt.-Col. Higgins, who commanded city and took possession-Capt. Farthe forts, seeing that all was lost, ragut very gladly relinquishing to now made haste to accept the favor- him the difficult and disagreeable able terms of capitulation previously duty of bandying words with its offered by Commander Porter, before spiteful, shuffling authorities, and dealthe latter should be made aware of ing with its ferocious and ruffianly Butler's position above and the mob, who would have taken exquisite mutiny and surrender of half the pleasure in making mince-meat of garrison. While the terms of capitu- either of them. lation were being reduced to writing, the Confederate naval officers just "April 27. "The Rebel loss by the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip was reported by them at 11 killed and 39 wounded. The prisoners taken by us at the surrender were 393. This does not include about 300 captured with the last of VOL. IL-7 In the conferences which ensued between the commanding General their gunboats, nor the Chalmette regiment encamped on the levee, which surrendered to Capt. Bailey. Our total loss of men in the bombardment, running the batteries, destruction of the Rebel fleet, and capture of the city, was but 40 killed and 177 wounded. and the municipality, Mayor Monroe | "Picayune Butler," which none of his bands were able to play, and after having waited upon Capt. Farragut and heard his account of all that had occurred since our fleet first appeared before the city, ordered the immediate debarkation of his troops, which began at 4 o'clock that afternoon :" the crowd requiring to be slowly pressed back with the bayonet to obtain space on which our regiments were thus enabled successively to land and form; Gen. Butler and his staff-no horses having yet been landed-marching on foot at the head of the 31st Massachusetts and 4th Wisconsin to the music. of the "Star-Spangled Banner," variegated by nowise complimentary observations from the mob, along the levee to Poydras street, thence through St. Charles street and Canal street, to the vast, unfinished Custom-House, where our artillery was duly posted and the men fitly quartered; while the General and his staff returned to his steamboat, and the 12th Connecticut, Col. Deming, bivouacked on the levee by its side. was counseled and prompted by Hon. Pierre Soulé, a gentleman whose ability and tact shone forth in striking contrast with the pitiable exhibition previously made of himself by the Mayor. In fact, if Soulé had had 10 or 15 good regiments and as many batteries at his back, he might have argued Butler out of New Orleans. A wide diversity as to premises rendered the progress and results of these discussions quite unsatisfactory to the weaker party. In the contemplation of Gen. Butler, New Orleans was a city of the United States, wherein Rebellion had been temporarily dominant, but which had now been restored to its rightful and lawful allegiance, and wherein no authority must be asserted, no flag displayed, but those of the Union. Soulé, Monroe, and the mob, could not see the matter in that light; but insisted on regarding our forces as intruders, who ought in simple decency to abscond; but who, since they refused to do this, should in all things consult the feelings and tastes of the patriotic and indomitable That evening, Gen. Butler finished Southrons, who, from behind their his proclamation and sent it to the barricades of women and children, office of The True Delta to be printed, delighted in hallooing, wherever only to learn that the application was Butler appeared or was expected, too late. Next morning, it was re"Where's old cock-eye?" "Let me newed, and plumply refused by the see the damned rascal!" "I see proprietor. Two hours later, a file the damned old villain," &c., &c., of soldiers drew up before the buildinterspersed with "Hurrah for Jeff. ing, when half a dozen of their numDavis !" "Hurrah for Beauregard !" ber entered the printing office and "Go home, you damned Yankees!" proceeded inoffensively to print the &c., &c. It was amid a tempest of obnoxious paper. The True Delta such outcries from the throats of of next day commenting rebelliously 50,000 venomous Rebels, that the on this performance, Gen. Butler supGeneral, after vainly endeavoring to pressed it till further orders: which comply with a popular demand for brought the concern to reason. The 23 May 1. BUTLER AND THE SHE-REBELS. 99 next day, its publication was re- the latter—that is, by those of the sumed; and on the 6th the proclamation duly appeared in its columns. ruling caste-as their patent of nobility; and they clung to it, and stood ready to sacrifice and dare for it, as aristocrats are always ready to The great St. Charles Hotel having been suddenly closed, Gen. Butler reopened and made it his head-stand by their order.' They talked quarters, summoning the Mayor and Council to meet him there at 2 P. M. next day, which they did; and, after considerable debate, were satisfied, first, that Gen. Butler was master of the situation; secondly, that he intended to remain so; thirdly, that any who should undertake to dispute or defy his authority would certainly get into trouble; and fourthly, that the mob, though it might hoot and howl with impunity, must stop short of actual violence and mutiny, or their streets would be swept by grape and their gutters run red with blood. It took some time to impress these truths clearly on the average Rebel mind; but the work was effectively done; and New Orleans ultimately confessed that she had not before in a generation been nearly so clean, so quiet, so orderly, so free from robbery, violence, outrage, and murder, as she was under the rule of 'Beast Butler' in the year of grace 1862. Two conspicuous instances out of many must here serve as examples of his dealings with the spirit of treason. The women of New Orleans-that portion of them who arrogated to themselves the designation of ladies, with a large majority of their sisters throughout the Confederacy-had ere this become most impassioned Rebels. The aristocratic instinct being stronger in women than in men, Slavery, though it debauched the men and degraded the women of the South, had come to be regarded by The loudly of shedding their blood, if |