The Confederacy had concentrated its forces of the upper waters of the Mississippi on Island Number 10 near New Madrid. The work of putting this little Gibraltar in a state of perfect defense1 had been rushed with all possible haste. New Madrid had been found indefensible and evacuated2 on March thirteenth.
On the seventeenth, Commodore Foote's fleet steamed into position and the first shell from his guns shrieked3 its message of death across the island. The gunboats concentrated their fire on the main battery which was located on low ground, almost submerged by the high water and separated from the others by a wide slough4. Their gun platforms were covered with water—the men in gray must work their pieces standing5 half-leg deep in mud and slush. Five iron-clad gunboats led the attack. Three of them were lashed6 together in midstream and one lay under the shelter of each shore. Their concentrated fire was terrific. For nine hours they poured a stream of shot and shell on the lone7 battery with its beaver8 gunmen.
At three o'clock Captain Rucker in charge of the battery called for re?nforcements to relieve his exhausted9 men. Volunteers rushed to his assistance and his guns roared until darkness brought them respite10. It had been done. A single half-submerged battery exposed to the concentrated fire of a powerful fleet had held them at bay and compelled them to withdraw at nightfall. Rucker fired the last shot as twilight11 gathered over the yellow waters. His battery had mounted five guns at sunrise. Three of them were dismantled12. Two of them still spoke14 defiance15 from their mud-soaked beds.
On April the sixth, the fleet re?nforced succeeded in slipping past the batteries in a heavy fog. A landing was effected above and below the island in large force, and its surrender was a military necessity.
Foote and Pope captured MacKall, the commander, two brigadier generals, six colonels, a stand of ten thousand arms, two thousand soldiers, seventy pieces of siege artillery16, thirty pieces of field artillery, fifty-six thousand solid shot, six transports and a floating battery of sixteen guns.
A cry of anguish17 came from the heart of the Confederate President. The loss of men was insignificant—the loss of this enormous store of heavy guns and ammunition18 with no factory as yet capable of manufacturing them was irreparable.
But the cup of his misery19 was not yet full. The greatest fleet the United States Navy had gathered, was circling the mouth of the Mississippi with its guns pointing toward New Orleans. Gideon Welles had selected for command of this important enterprise the man of destiny, Davis Glasgow Farragut, a Southerner whose loyalty20 to the union had never been questioned.
Eighty-two ships answered Farragut's orders in his West Gulf21 squadron at their rendezvous22. His ships were wood, but no braver men ever walked the decks of a floating battery.
In March he managed to crawl across the bar and push his fleet into the mouth of the Mississippi. The Colorado was too deep and was left outside. The Pensacola and the Mississippi he succeeded in dragging through the mud.
His ships inside, the Commander ordered them stripped for the death grapple.
New Orleans had been from the first considered absolutely impregnable to attack from the sea. Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, twenty miles below the city, were each fortifications of the first rank mounting powerful guns which swept the narrow channel of the river from shore to shore.
The use of steam, however, in naval24 warfare25 was as yet an untried element of force in the attacking fleet against shore batteries. That steam in wooden vessels26 could overcome the enormous advantage of the solidity and power of shore guns had been considered preposterous27 by military experts.
Jefferson Davis had utilized28 every shipbuilder in New Orleans to hastily construct the beginnings of a Southern navy. Two powerful iron-clad gunboats, Louisiana and Mississippi, were under way but not ready for service. Eight small vessels had been bought and armed.
To secure the city against the possibility of any fleet passing the forts at night or through fog, the channel of the river between Forts Jackson and St. Phillip was securely closed. Eleven dismasted schooners29 were moored30 in line across the river and secured by six heavy chains. These chains formed an unbroken obstruction31 from shore to shore.
This raft was placed immediately below the forts.
There was no serious alarm in the city on the appearance of the fleet in the mouth of the river. For months they had been cruising about the Gulf of Mexico without apparent decision.
The people laughed at their enemy. There was but one verdict:
"They'll think twice before attempting to repeat the scenes of 1812."
Not only were the two great forts impregnable but the shores were lined with batteries. What could wooden ships do with such forts and guns? It was a joke that they should pretend to attack them. Their only possible danger was from the new iron-clad gunboats in the upper waters of the river. They were building two of their own kind which would be ready long before the enemy could break through the defenses from the North.
When Farragut stripped his fleet for action and moved toward the forts on the sixteenth of April, New Orleans was the gayest city in America. The spirit of festivity was universal. Balls, theaters, operas were the order of the day. Gay parties of young people flocked down the river and swarmed32 the levees to witness the fun of the foolish attempt of a lot of old wooden ships to reduce the great forts.
The guns were roaring now their mighty33 anthem34. Ships and forts—forts and ships. The batteries of Farragut's mortar35 schooners were hurling36 their eleven-inch shells with harmless inaccuracy.
The people laughed again.
For six days the earth trembled beneath the fierce bombardment. The fleet had thrown twenty-five thousand shells and General Duncan reported but two guns dismantled, with half a dozen men killed and wounded. The forts stood grim and terrible, their bristling37 line of black-lipped guns unbroken, their defenses as strong as when the first shot was fired.
On the evening of April twenty-third, the fire of the fleet slackened. Farragut had given up the foolish attempt, of course. He had undertaken the impossible and at last had accepted the fact.
But the people of New Orleans had not reckoned on the character of the daring commander of the Federal fleet. He coolly decided38 that since he could not silence the guns of the forts he would run past them with his swift steam craft and take the chances of their batteries sending him to the bottom.
Once past these forts and the city would be at his mercy.
He must first clear the river of the obstruction placed below the forts. Farragut ordered two gunboats to steal through the darkness without lights and clear this raft. The work was swiftly done. The task was rendered unexpectedly easy by a break caused by a severe storm.
At three o'clock in the morning of the twenty-fourth, the lookout39 on the ramparts of the forts saw the black hulls40 of the fleet, swiftly and silently steaming up the river straight for the mouths of their guns.
The word was flashed to the little nondescript fleet of the Confederacy lying in the smooth waters above and they moved instantly to the support of the forts.
The night was one of calm and glorious beauty. The Southern skies sparkled with jeweled stars. The waning41 moon threw its soft, mellow42 light on the shining waters, revealing the dark hulls of the fleet with striking clearness. The daring column was moving straight for Fort Jackson. They must pass close under the noses of her guns.
They were in for it now.
The dim star-lit world with its fading moon suddenly burst into sheets of blinding, roaring flame. The mortar batteries moored in range, opened instantly in response—their eleven-inch shells, glowing with phosphorescent halo, circled and screamed and fell.
The black hulls belched43 their broadsides of yellow flame now. From battlement and casemate of forts rolled the thunder of their batteries, sending their heavy shots smashing into the wooden hulls.
Through the flaming jaws44 of hell, the fleet, with lungs throbbing45 with every pound of steam, dashed and passed the forts!
Farragut led in the Hartford. But his work had only begun. He had scarcely reckoned on the little Confederate fleet. He found them a serious proposition.
Suddenly above the flash and roar and the batteries of the forts and over the broadsides of the ships leaped a wall of fire straight into the sky.
Slowly but surely the flaming heavens moved down on the attacking fleet lighting46 the yellow waters with unearthly glare.
The Confederates had loosed a fleet of fire ships loaded with pitch pine cargoes47. Farragut's lines wavered in the black confusion of rolling clouds of impenetrable smoke, lighted by the glare of leaping flames.
The daring little fleet of the Confederacy moved down through the blinding vapors48 of their own fires and boldly attacked the on-coming hosts. Friend could scarcely be told from foe49.
A game little Confederate tug50 stuck her nose into a fire-ship, pushed it squarely against Farragut's Hartford and slipped between his guns in the smoke and flame unharmed. The Flagship ran aground. Her sailors bravely stuck to their post and from their pumps threw a deluge51 of water on the flames and extinguished them. The engines of the Hartford, working with all their might, pulled her off the shore under her own steam. The Louisiana, the new gunboat of the Confederacy, had been pressed into service with but two of her guns working—but she was of little use and became unmanageable.
Captain Kennon, the gallant52 Confederate commander of the Governor Moore, found that the bow of his ship interfered53 with the aim of his gunners.
"Lower your muzzle54 and blow the bow of your ship away!"
The big gun dipped its black mouth and blew the bow of his own ship to splinters and through the opening poured shot after shot into the Federal fleet. Kennon fired his last shot at point-blank range, turned the broken nose of his ship ashore55 and blew her up.
For an hour and a half the two desperate foes56 wrestled57 with each other amid flame and smoke and darkness. As the first blush of dawn mantled13 the eastern sky the conflict slowly died away.
Three of Farragut's gunboats had been driven back and one sunk, but his fleet had done the immortal58 deed. Battered59 and riddled60 with shots, they had passed the forts successfully. As the sun rose on the beautiful spring morning he lifted his battle flags and steamed up the river.
New Orleans, the commercial capital of the South, the largest export city of the world, lay on the horizon in silent shimmering61 beauty, a priceless treasure, at his mercy.
Speechless crowds of thousands thronged62 the streets. The small garrison63 had been withdrawn64 and the city left to its fate. The marines stood statue-like before the City Hall, their bayonets glittering in the sunlight. Not a breath of wind stirred. In dead, ominous65 silence the flag of the South was lowered from its staff and the flag of the union raised in its old place.
There was one man among the thousands who saw this flag with a cry of joy. Judge Roger Barton, Jr., had braved the scorn of his neighbors through good report and evil report, holding their respect by the sheer heroism66 of his undaunted courage. His aged23 grandfather was in the city at the moment, having come on a visit from Fairview. Baton67 Rouge68 must fall at once. There was nothing to prevent Farragut's fleet from steaming up the river now for hundreds of miles. The old Colonel was furious when informed that he could not return to Fairview. But there was no help for it.
"Don't worry, Grandfather," the judge pleaded; "you can depend on it, Senator Barton will save Fairview if it's within human power—"
"But your grandmother is there, sir!" thundered the old man, "helpless on her back. There's no one to protect her from the damned Yankees—"
The Judge smiled.
"Maybe the Yankees will not be so bad after all, grandfather. Anyhow there's no help for it. I've got you here with me safe and sound and I'm going to keep you—"
The fall of New Orleans sent a dagger69 into the heart of the South. Ft. Donelson had broken the center. The fall of New Orleans had smashed the left wing of the far-flung battle line. The power of the Confederacy was crushed in the rich and powerful State of Louisiana at a single stroke. The route to Texas was cut. The United States Navy had established a base from which to send their fleets into the interior by the great rivers and by the gulf from the Rio Grande to the Keys of Florida.
The sleeping lioness stirred at last. The delusion70 of Bull Run had passed. It took six months of disasters to do for the South what Bull Run did for the North in six days. The South began now to rise in her might and gird her loins for the fight she had foolishly thought won on the plains of Manassas.
Senator Barton was in bed so ill from an attack of influenza71 it was impossible for him to travel.
Jennie hastily packed her trunk and left on the first train for the South. She must reach her helpless grandmother before the Federal army could attack Baton Rouge.
The tenderness with which Socola helped her on board the train had brought the one ray of sunlight into her heart. She had expected to go in tears and terror for what the future held in store in the stricken world at home.
A smile on the lips of a stranger had set her heart to beating with joy.
She was ashamed of herself for being so happy. But it was impossible to make her heart stop beating and laughing. He had not yet spoken a word of love but she knew. She knew with a knowledge sweet and perfect because she had suddenly realized her own secret. She might have gone on for months in Richmond without knowing that she cared any more for him than for a dozen other boys who were as attentive72. In this hour of parting it had come in a blinding flash as he bent73 over her hand to say good-by. It made no difference when he should speak. Love had come into her own heart full, wonderful, joyous74, maddening in its glory. She could wait in silence until in the fullness of time he must speak. It was enough to know that she loved.
"May I write to you occasionally, Miss Jennie?" he asked with a timid, hesitating look.
She laughed.
"Of course, you must write and tell me everything that happens here."
Socola wondered why she laughed. It was disconcerting. He hadn't faced the question of loving Jennie. She was just a charming, beautiful child whose acquaintance he could use for great ends. His depression came from the tremendous nerve strain of his work. The early movement of McClellan's army had kept him in that darkened attic75 on Church Hill continuously every hour of the past night. He was feeling the strain. He would throw it off when he got a good night's rest.
It was not until twenty-four hours after Jennie's departure that he waked with a dull ache in his heart that refused to go. And so while he dragged himself about his task with a sense of sickening loneliness, a girl was softly singing in the far South.
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1
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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evacuated
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| 撤退者的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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16
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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17
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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23
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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27
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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32
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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36
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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40
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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41
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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42
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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43
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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44
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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46
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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47
cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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48
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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50
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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51
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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52
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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53
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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54
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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55
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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56
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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57
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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riddled
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| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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61
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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62
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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64
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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65
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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66
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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67
baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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68
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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69
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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70
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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71
influenza
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| n.流行性感冒，流感 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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73
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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