Capture of New Orleans: The Fleet Passing Forts on the Mississippi, c.1862 (engraving)

Mortar Vessels in the Distance Shelling the Forts. Elevated view of the intense fighting at mouth of Mississippi River. For 5 days the battle raged as the Union fleet under Admiral David Farragut bombarded the passage forts of St. Philip and Jackson which were blocking his passage to New Orleans. In the end the Confederates could no longer stand the constant bombardment of Farragut's big guns and the surrender of the passage forts marked the end for New Orleans as a Confederate stronghold. US Navy ships present and identified include (from left) : Varuna (fighting through iron-clad gunboats), Brooklyn, Pawnee, Hartford (flag ship, fire raft alongside), Pensacola, Mississippi, Louisiana (iron plated battery exploding) and Manassas (Ram). The Union Navy commanded by Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans from the Confederacy in 1862. Engraved by W. Ridgeway.